US5486163A — Protective shield for hypodermic syringe

Claim 1

Independent Claim 133 words

A shield for protecting the needle of a syringe, said syringe having a body portion and a needle, said shield comprising: a connector for connecting the shield to the syringe; at least one protective arm hinged to said connector; biasing means normally biasing said arm to a closed position wherein said arm conceals said needle, said protective arm being manually displacable with respect to said syringe to an open position to expose said needle; said protective arm automatically traveling from the open position to the closed position and being unhindered throughout its travel from the open position to the closed position; said protective arm and said connector being integrally formed as a one piece unit, with said biasing means being defined by a living hinge formed between said protective arm and said connector.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 133 words

A shield for protecting the needle of a syringe, said syringe having a body portion and a needle, said shield comprising: a connector for connecting the shield to the syringe; at least one protective arm hinged to said connector; biasing means normally biasing said arm to a closed position wherein said arm conceals said needle, said protective arm being manually displacable with respect to said syringe to an open position to expose said needle; said protective arm automatically traveling from the open position to the closed position and being unhindered throughout its travel from the open position to the closed position; said protective arm and said connector being integrally formed as a one piece unit, with said biasing means being defined by a living hinge formed between said protective arm and said connector.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 37 words

The shield of claim 1, further including a control grip extending outwardly from said protective arm, said control grip being adapted to be grasped by a user to manually displace said protective arm to expose said needle.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 22 words

The shield of claim 2, wherein said control grip extends at approximately a 90 degree angle with respect to said protective arm.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 19 words

The shield of claim 2, wherein said control grip includes a knurled surface to facilitate engagement by a user.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 14 words

The shield of claim 1, wherein said protective arm is generally convex in cross-section.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 23 words

The shield of claim 1, wherein said protective arm is generally tubular and has a longitudinally extending slot for receipt of said needle.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 39 words

The shield of claim 6, wherein said longitudinally extending slot has a width which is slightly greater than the diameter of said needle such that said needle can move into and out off said protective arm through said slot.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 27 words

The shield of claim 6, wherein said longitudinal slot of said protective arm includes a restrictive means restricting the egress of said needle from said protective arm.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 45 words

The shield of claim 6, wherein said longitudinal slot of said protective arm includes a restrictive means for restricting the egress of said needle from said protective arm, said restrictive means providing relatively minimal restriction to the ingress of said needle into said protective arm.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 29 words

The shield of claim 1, wherein said protective arm has integrally formed flaps defining a longitudinal slot for restricting the unintentional egress of said needle from said protective arm.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 62 words

The shield of claim 1, wherein said protective arm is defined by a generally tubular wall and includes flaps which are integrally formed with said wall, said flaps having a reduced width relative to said wall to define a resilient hinge between said flaps and said wall, to permit the ingress and egress of said needle with respect to said protective arm.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 27 words

The shield of claim 11, wherein said flaps are pre-stressed inwardly to provide greater resistance to the egress of said needle than the ingress of said needle.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 18 words

The shield of claim 1, wherein said shield is formed in two longitudinal halves which are joined together.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 30 words

The shield of claim 13, wherein said longitudinal halves are hinged together by a longitudinal hinge extending along one side such that said shield can be folded over said hinge.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 25 words

The shield of claim 13, wherein one of said longitudinal halves includes a longitudinal slot extending the length of said one of said longitudinal halves.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 20 words

The shield of claim 15, wherein said longitudinal halves include laterally extending slots between said connector and said protective arm.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 16 words

The shield of claim 16, wherein one of said lateral slots extends through said respective side.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 20 words

The shield of claim 1, wherein said protective arm has an end portion that covers the end of said needle.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 46 words

The shield of claim 1, wherein said connector has a tapered cavity with a first and second opening, said first opening having a larger diameter than said second opening, such that said syringe can be inserted into said first opening and press fit along said taper.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 13 words

The shield of claim 1, wherein said hinge includes a generally sinusoidal surface.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 48 words

The shield of claim 1, further including a locking bar for locking the protective arm in said closed position; said locking bar having a resilient hinge such that said locking bar can be folded against a bias as said protective arm is displaced with respect to said needle.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 58 words

The shield of claim 1, wherein said protective arm includes a slot adapted to receive said needle: said protective arm further including at least one biased flap partially closing said slot; said biased flap resisting movement of said protective arm from said closed position with relatively little resistance against said protective arm moving to said normally closed position.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 17 words

The shield of claim 1, wherein said protective arm includes a pocket for receipt of said needle.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 21 words

The shield of claim 23, wherein said protective arm is angled with respect to the longitudinal center line of said needle.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 44 words

The shield of claim 1, wherein said protective arm includes a longitudinally extending slot for the ingress and egress of said needle, said slot being angled with respect to the longitudinal centerline of said needle when said protective arm is in the closed position.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 77 words

The shield of claim 25, wherein said protective arm includes a control grip extending outwardly from said protective arm, said control grip being adapted to be grasped by a user to manually displace said protective arm to expose said needle, said control grip being angled with respect to a line perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline of said needle such that movement of said control grip results in said protective arm twisting and rotating to expose said needle.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 20 words

The shield of claim 25, wherein said living hinge is offset with respect to the longitudinal centerline of said needle.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 114 words

A shield for protecting the needle of a syringe, said syringe comprising: a connector for connecting the shield to the syringe; at least one protective arm hinged to said connector, said protective arm being pivotable between first and second positions which define said protective arm's travel path, said first position being the normal position wherein said protective arm conceals said needle, said second position corresponding to said protective arm being pivotally displaced to expose said needle; biasing means for automatically biasing said protective arm to said first position throughout the full extent of said travel path with said protective arm being unhindered throughout said travel path from said second position to said first position.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 114 words

A shield for protecting the needle of a syringe, said syringe comprising: a connector for connecting the shield to the syringe; at least one protective arm hinged to said connector, said protective arm being pivotable between first and second positions which define said protective arm's travel path, said first position being the normal position wherein said protective arm conceals said needle, said second position corresponding to said protective arm being pivotally displaced to expose said needle; biasing means for automatically biasing said protective arm to said first position throughout the full extent of said travel path with said protective arm being unhindered throughout said travel path from said second position to said first position.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 37 words

The shield of claim 28, further including a control grip extending outwardly from said protective arm, said control grip being adapted to be grasped by a user to manually displace said protective arm to expose said needle.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 15 words

The shield of claim 28, wherein said protective arm and said connector are integrally formed.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 34 words

The shield of claim 28, wherein said biasing means is defined by a notch formed between said protective arm and said connector to form a resilient hinge between said protective arm and said connector.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 21 words

The shield of claim 29, wherein said control grip extends at approximately a 90-degree angle with respect to said protective arm.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 19 words

The shield of claim 28, wherein said control grip includes a knurled surface to facilitate engagement by a user.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 19 words

The shield of claim 28, wherein said biasing means is a resilient hinge interconnecting said arm to said connector.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 25 words

The shield of claim 28, wherein said protective arm has sidewalls that extend about said needle when said protective arm is in said first position.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 20 words

The shield of claim 28, wherein said protective arm has an end portion that covers the end of said needle.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 32 words

The shield of claim 35, wherein said protective arm has integrally formed flaps defining a longitudinal slot which permits restricted egress of said needle from said protective arm and relatively unrestricted ingress.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 11 words

The shield of claim 37, wherein said flaps are pre-stressed inwardly.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 58 words

The shield of claim 28, further including a locking bar for locking the protective arm in said closed position; said locking bar having a resilient hinge such that said bar articulates about said hinge; said bar being adapted to fold against the bias of said resilient hinge as said protective arm is displaced with respect to said needle.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 57 words

The shield of claim 28, wherein said protective arm includes a slot adapted to receive said needle; said protective arm further including at least one biased flap partially closing said slot; said biased flap resisting movement of said protective arm from said first position with relatively little resistance against said protective arm moving to said first position.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 43 words

The shield of claim 40, wherein said needle engages said flap as said protective arm moves to or from said first position; said flap providing greater relative resistance to said protective arm movement as said protective arm is moved from said first position.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 17 words

The shield of claim 28, wherein said protective arm includes a pocket for receipt of said needle.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 21 words

The shield of claim 42, wherein said protective arm is angled with respect to the longitudinal center line of said needle.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 44 words

The shield of claim 28, wherein said protective arm includes a longitudinally extending slot for the ingress and egress of said needle, said slot being angled with respect to the longitudinal centerline of said needle when said protective arm is in the first position.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 77 words

The shield of claim 28, wherein said protective arm includes a control grip extending outwardly from said protective arm, said control grip being adapted to be grasped by a user to manually displace said protective arm to expose said needle, said control grip being angled with respect to a line perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline of said needle such that movement of said control grip results in said protective arm twisting and rotating to expose said needle.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 20 words

The shield of claim 28, wherein said living hinge is offset with respect to the longitudinal centerline of said needle.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 153 words

A shield for protecting the needle of a syringe, said syringe having a body portion and a needle, said shield comprising: a connector for connecting the shield to the syringe, said connector being generally annular and adapted to slip fit over the syringe; at least one protective arm hingedly mounted upon said connector; biasing means normally biasing said arm to a closed position wherein said arm conceals said needle, said protective arm being manually displaceable with respect to said syringe to expose said needle; said protective arm and said connector being integrally formed as a one piece unit, with said biasing means being defined by a living hinge formed between said protective arm and said connector; and said shield being formed in two longitudinal halves which are joined together, said longitudinal halves being hinged together by a longitudinal hinge extending along one side such that said shield can be folded over said hinge.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 153 words

A shield for protecting the needle of a syringe, said syringe having a body portion and a needle, said shield comprising: a connector for connecting the shield to the syringe, said connector being generally annular and adapted to slip fit over the syringe; at least one protective arm hingedly mounted upon said connector; biasing means normally biasing said arm to a closed position wherein said arm conceals said needle, said protective arm being manually displaceable with respect to said syringe to expose said needle; said protective arm and said connector being integrally formed as a one piece unit, with said biasing means being defined by a living hinge formed between said protective arm and said connector; and said shield being formed in two longitudinal halves which are joined together, said longitudinal halves being hinged together by a longitudinal hinge extending along one side such that said shield can be folded over said hinge.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 25 words

The shield of claim 47, wherein one of said longitudinal halves includes a longitudinal slot extending the length of said one of said longitudinal halves.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 20 words

The shield of claim 47, wherein said longitudinal halves include laterally extending slots between said connector and said protective arm.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 16 words

The shield of claim 49, wherein one of said lateral slots extends through said respective side.

Claim 54

Dependent Claim 56 words

The shield of claim 47, wherein said protective arm is generally tubular and has a longitudinally extending slot for receipt of said needle, said longitudinally extending slot has a width which is slightly greater than the diameter of said needle such that said needle can move into and out of said protective arm through said slot.

Claim 55

Dependent Claim 58 words

The shield of claim 47, wherein said protective arm includes a slot adapted to receive said needle; said protective arm further including at least one biased flap partially closing said slot; said biased flap resisting movement of said protective arm from said closed position with relatively little resistance against said protective arm moving to said normally closed position.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1999-01-22	1999-07-24	2000-01-23	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2003-01-22	2003-07-24	2004-01-23	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2007-01-22	2007-07-24	2008-01-23	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Protective shield for hypodermic syringe

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