Device for disposing of sharp instruments

Claim 1

A device for protecting personnel from sharp instruments that are to be discarded, consisting essentially of: a substantially rectangular flexible body member having side and end edges and opposite surfaces, said body member being constructed of a closed cell sponge for resisting penetration by a sharp instrument, one of said surfaces having a pressure sensitive adhesive thereon capable of forming a secured, substantially permanent bond between overlapping areas of said surface when folded on itself, a protective layer on said pressure sensitive adhesive surface arranged to be removed before said body member is folded on itself, said body member being foldable upon itself with portions of said adhesive surface in engagement whereby upon placing a single sharp instrument to be discarded on said adhesive surface and folding the body member upon itself and said adhesive surface around the instrument, a casing is formed for the instrument to hold it securely between said fold portions and to protect personnel therefrom, said body member being approximately 4×5 cm. in its dimensions and arranged to receive only a single instrument, an auxiliary protective layer of high density, tough flexible material integral with said body member on the opposite surface from said adhesive surface preventing penetration by a sharp instrument, each of said body member and auxiliary protective layer having a uniform uninterrupted thickness throughout its full length and width and being hingedly foldable along any portion of said body member and in any direction, and a lateral tab on said body member projecting beyond one side edge of the body member, said tab member also having a pressure sensitive adhesive thereon and covered by said removable protective layer.

Claim 2

A device for protecting personnel from sharp instruments that are to be discarded, consisting essentially of: a substantially rectangular flexible body member having side and end edges and opposite surfaces, said body member being constructed of a closed cell sponge for resisting penetration by a sharp instrument, one of said surfaces having a pressure sensitive adhesive thereon capable of forming a secured, substantially permanent bond between overlapping areas of said surface when folded on itself, a protective layer on said pressure sensitive adhesive surface arranged to be removed before said body member is folded on itself, said body member being foldable upon itself with portions of said adhesive surface in engagement whereby upon placing a single sharp instrument to be discarded on said adhesive surface and folding the body member upon itself and said adhesive surface around the instrument, a casing is formed for the instrument to hold it securely between said fold portions and to protect personnel therefrom, said body member being approximately 4×5 cm. in its dimensions and arranged to receive only a single instrument, an auxiliary protective layer of high density, tough flexible material integral with said body member on the opposite surface from said adhesive surface preventing penetration by a sharp instrument, each of said body member and auxiliary protective layer having a uniform uninterrupted thickness throughout its full length and width and being hingedly foldable along any portion of said body member and in any direction, and a lateral tab on said body member projecting beyond one side edge of the body member, said tab member also having a pressure sensitive adhesive thereon and covered by said removable protective layer.

Claim 3

A device for protecting personnel from sharp instruments that are to be discarded, consisting essentially of: a substantially rectangular flexible body member having side and end edges and opposite surfaces, said body member being constructed of a closed cell sponge for resisting penetration by a sharp instrument, one of said surfaces having a pressure sensitive adhesive thereon capable of forming a secured, substantially permanent bond between overlapping areas of said surface when folded on itself, a protective layer on said pressure sensitive adhesive surface arranged to be removed before said body member is folded on itself, said body member being foldable upon itself with portions of said adhesive surface in engagement whereby upon placing a single sharp instrument to be discarded on said adhesive surface and folding the body member upon itself and said adhesive surface around the instrument, a casing is formed for the instrument to hold it securely between said fold portions and to protect personnel therefrom, said body member being approximately 4×5 cm. in its dimensions and arranged to receive only a single instrument.

Claim 4

A device for protecting personnel from sharp instruments that are to be discarded, consisting essentially of: a substantially rectangular flexible body member having side and end edges and opposite surfaces, said body member being constructed of a closed cell sponge for resisting penetration by a sharp instrument, one of said surfaces having a pressure sensitive adhesive thereon capable of forming a secured, substantially permanent bond between overlapping areas of said surface when folded on itself, a protective layer on said pressure sensitive adhesive surface arranged to be removed before said body member is folded on itself, said body member being foldable upon itself with portions of said adhesive surface in engagement whereby upon placing a single sharp instrument to be discarded on said adhesive surface and folding the body member upon itself and said adhesive surface around the instrument, a casing is formed for the instrument to hold it securely between said fold portions and to protect personnel therefrom, said body member being approximately 4×5 cm. in its dimensions and arranged to receive only a single instrument.