Needle disposal device and method for preventing accidental contact with a needle

Claim 2

A disposal device for a needle which is adapted for use in a hypodermic syringe, or other sharp medical device, comprising: at least two planar members, each planar member having front and back surfaces, and top edge, bottom edge, and side edge surfaces and formed of a material able to withstand accidental piercing contact with the needle; the two planar members being fixedly connected together along a side edge surface of each planar member; first means for securing the needle to the front surface of one of the planar members wherein the first securing means is an adhesive material disposed on the front surface of one of the planar members and the needle contacts the adhesive material; and second means for securing together the front surfaces of the planar members upon one of the planar members being moved into contact with the other planar member, whereby the needle may be first associated with the first securing means, and a planar member is then moved to engage the second securing means to fixedly sandwiched the needle between the planar members.

Claim 3

The disposal device of claim 1, wherein the second securing means is a portion of the same adhesive material that forms the first securing means.

Claim 4

The disposal device of claim 1, wherein the second securing means is a connector mechanism having cooperating elements disposed on both planar members.

Claim 5

The disposal device of claim 1, wherein the adhesive material is a layer of foam adhesive tape.

Claim 6

The disposal device of claim 1, wherein the first securing means includes an indentation formed in at least one front surface of a planar member, the indentation forming a cavity adapted for receipt of the needle.

Claim 7

The disposal device of claim 5, wherein the second securing means is a connector mechanism having cooperating elements disposed on both planar members.

Claim 8

The disposal device of claim 5, wherein at least a portion of the cavity has an adhesive material therein.

Claim 9

The disposal device of claim 1, wherein a sheath is associated with the hypodermic syringe and, wherein the back surface of one of the planar members has an adhesive mounting surface adapted to hold the sheath.

Claim 10

The disposal device of claim 1, wherein the adhesive material is provided with a removable protective layer, which may be readily removed prior to a needle being associated with the adhesive material.

Claim 11

A disposal device for a needle which is adapted for use in a hypodermic syringe, comprising: four planar members, each planar member having front and back surfaces, and top edge, bottom edge, and side edge surfaces; two of the planar members being flexibly connected together along a side edge surface of each of the two planar members to form a first connected pair of planar members; each of the other two planar members being flexibly connected along its top edge surface to the bottom edge surface of one of the planar members of the first connected pair of planar members; first means for securing a first portion of the needle to the front surface of one of the planar members of the first connected pair of planar members; second means for securing together the front surfaces of the first connected pair of planar members, upon one of planar members of the first connected pair being moved into contact with the other planar member of the first connected pair; third means for securing together the front surfaces of the other two planar members upon the movement of one of the other planar members toward one of the other planar members, whereby the first portion of the needle may be first associated with the first securing means, one of planar members of the first connected pair of planar members is moved to engage the second securing means to fixedly sandwich the first portion of the needle between the first connected pair of planar members, and the other two planar members are moved toward each other until one of them engages the third securing means.

Claim 12

A disposal device for a needle which is adapted for use in a hypodermic syringe, comprising: four planar members, each planar member having front and back surfaces, and top edge, bottom edge, and side edge surfaces; two of the planar members being flexibly connected together along a side edge surface of each of the two planar members to form a first connected pair of planar members; each of the other two planar members being flexibly connected along its top edge surface to the bottom edge surface of one of the planar members of the first connected pair of planar members; first means for securing a first portion of the needle to the front surface of one of the planar members of the first connected pair of planar members; second means for securing together the front surfaces of the first connected pair of planar members, upon one of planar members of the first connected pair being moved into contact with the other planar member of the first connected pair; third means for securing together the front surfaces of the other two planar members upon the movement of one of the other planar members toward one of the other planar members, whereby the first portion of the needle may be first associated with the first securing means, one of planar members of the first connected pair of planar members is moved to engage the second securing means to fixedly sandwich the first portion of the needle between the first connected pair of planar members, and the other two planar members are moved toward each other until one of them engages the third securing means.

Claim 13

The disposal device of claim 10, including a fourth means for securing a second portion of the needle, which downwardly depends from the first portion of the needle, to the front surface of one of the other planar members.

Claim 14

The disposal device of claim 10, wherein the first securing means comprises an adhesive material disposed on the front surface of one of the planar members of the first connected pair of planar members.

Claim 15

The disposal device of claim 11, wherein the fourth securing means comprises an adhesive material disposed on the front surface of one of the other planar members.

Claim 16

The disposal device of claim 12, wherein the second securing means is a portion of the same adhesive material that forms the first securing means.

Claim 17

The disposal device of claim 10, wherein the third connector means comprises an adhesive material disposed on the first surface of one of the other planar members.

Claim 18

The disposal device of claim 13, wherein the third connector means comprises an adhesive material disposed on the first surface of one of the other planar members.

Claim 19

The disposal device of claim 16, wherein the fourth securing means is a portion of the same adhesive material that forms the third securing means.

Claim 20

The disposal device of claim 12, wherein the second securing means is a connector mechanism having cooperating elements disposed on both planar members of the first connected pair.

Claim 21

The disposal device of claim 12, wherein the adhesive material is a layer of foam tape.

Claim 22

The disposal device of claim 15, wherein the adhesive material is a layer of foam tape.

Claim 23

The disposal device of claim 21, wherein the first securing means includes an indentation formed in at least one front surface of one of the planar members of the first connected pair, the indentation forming a cavity adapted for receipt of the first portion of the needle.

Claim 24

The disposal device of claim 21, wherein the second securing means is a connector mechanism having cooperating elements disposed on both planar members of the first connected pair.

Claim 25

The disposal device of claim 21, wherein at least a portion of the cavity has an adhesive material therein.

Claim 26

The disposal device of claim 10, wherein the back surface of one of the planar members has an adhesive mounting surface adapted to hold a sheath associated with the hypodermic syringe.

Claim 27

The disposal device of claim 12, wherein the adhesive material is provided with a removable protective layer, which may be readily removed prior to the first portion of the needle being associated with the adhesive material.

Claim 30

The method of claim 26, wherein the second planar member is secured to the first planar member by an adhesive material disposed upon the first planar member.

Claim 31

The method of claim 26, wherein the second planar member is secured to the first planar member by a connector mechanism having cooperating elements on both of the planar members.