Endcap for hypodermic syringe

Claim 1

An endcap for a syringe including a needle, the endcap comprising; a. a hollow, resiliently deformable sheath having: (i) an open slit extending substantially the length of said sheath and terminating at a proximal end of said sheath, said slit having a substantially uniform slit width; (ii) an open proximal end having a periphery adapted to encircle and compressively attach to such syringe; and, b. a base section attached to and extending radially outwardly from a portion of said periphery of said proximal end, said base section being disposed opposite said slit whereby said proximal end of said sheath is supported by said base section such that said slit faces upwardly when said base section is disposed on a support surface.

Claim 8

A method of inserting a needle of a syringe into an endcap, said syringe comprising a hollow syringe barrel including a fitting at a distal end of said barrel, a plunger insertable in said barrel, and a needle assembly, said needle assembly including a needle, a needle base and a needle fitting at the proximal end of the needle assembly, said needle fitting adapted to coact with said syringe barrel fitting to removably secure said needle assembly to said syringe barrel, said needle base having an outer diameter, said endcap comprising a hollow, resiliently deformable sheath having a proximal and distal end and longitudinal slit extending substantially the length of the sheath, the length of said slit exceeding the length of said needle and an open proximal end, said proximal end having an inner diameter substantially equal to said outer diameter of said needle base, a tapered, outwardly opening v-shaped groove adjacent said proximal end, said groove centered about said slit, and a base section attached to and extending radially outwardly from the periphery of the proximal end of the sheath and being disposed opposite of the slit, the steps of the method comprising: a. positioning said endcap on a support surface such that said base section is in contact with said surface and said slit is upwardly facing; b. grasping said syringe barrel and positioning said syringe above said endcap such that a longitudinal axis of said needle is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the endcap; c. aligning said needle base with said sheath's v-shaped groove; and, d. moving said syringe vertically downward so that said needle base passes through said slit at said sheath's proximal end and said proximal end of said sheath encircles and is compressively attached to said outer diameter of said needle base.

Claim 9

A method of inserting a needle of a syringe into an endcap, said syringe comprising a hollow syringe barrel including a fitting at a distal end of said barrel, a plunger insertable in said barrel, and a needle assembly, said needle assembly including a needle, a needle base and a needle fitting at the proximal end of the needle assembly, said needle fitting adapted to coact with said syringe barrel fitting to removably secure said needle assembly to said syringe barrel, said needle base having an outer diameter, said endcap comprising a hollow, resiliently deformable sheath having a proximal and distal end and longitudinal slit extending substantially the length of the sheath, the length of said slit exceeding the length of said needle and an open proximal end, said proximal end having an inner diameter substantially equal to said outer diameter of said needle base, a tapered, outwardly opening v-shaped groove adjacent said proximal end, said groove centered about said slit, and a base section attached to and extending radially outwardly from the periphery of the proximal end of the sheath and being disposed opposite of the slit, the steps of the method comprising: a. positioning said endcap on a support surface such that said base section is in contact with said surface and said slit is upwardly facing; b. grasping said syringe barrel and positioning said syringe above said endcap such that a longitudinal axis of said needle is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the endcap; c. aligning said needle base with said sheath's v-shaped groove; and, d. moving said syringe vertically downward so that said needle base passes through said slit at said sheath's proximal end and said proximal end of said sheath encircles and is compressively attached to said outer diameter of said needle base.