Hypodermic needle protector

Claim 1

A hypodermic needle protector for a needle extending from a proximal needle end portion to a distal needle end portion, said protector comprising: a single protector piece of molded synthetic resin having a distal protector portion and a proximal protector portion, said single protector piece pivotable between a first covering position and a second uncovering position; said distal protector portion forming a cap housing said distal needle end portion when said single protector piece is in said first position and having two walls meeting obliquely along a zone which extends along said needle and which rises ahead of said distal needle end portion such that said cap has a generally V-shaped cross-section formed by said two walls with an opening angle thereof decreasing as said walls of said cap approach a distal end of said cap; and said proximal protector portion having a hub in which said proximal needle end portion is affixed, said proximal protector portion further comprising two flaps hinged laterally to said hub by respective hinges with each of said two flaps respectively extending from one of said two walls of said cap and is hinged to one of said two walls by a thin connecting zone forming an elastic effect fold line such that upon said flaps being pivoted on said hub toward each other, said cap pivots from said first covering position to said second uncovering position and upon a release of said flaps, said flaps pivot away from each other and said cap returns to said first covering position.

Claim 3

A method of positioning a hypodermic needle protector relative to a hypodermic needle, said protector including a single protector piece of molded synthetic resin having a distal protector portion, having a proximal protector portion, and pivotable between a first covering position and a second uncovering position relative to said needle which extends from a proximal needle end portion to a distal needle end portion, said method comprising: affixing a hub of said proximal protector portion with respect to said proximal needle end portion such that said distal protector portion forms a cap housing said distal needle end portion when said single protector piece is in said first position and having two walls meeting obliquely along a zone which extends along said needle and which rises ahead of said distal needle end portion such that said cap has a generally V-shaped cross-section formed by said two walls with an opening angle thereof decreasing as said walls of said cap approach a distal end of said cap; compressing two flaps hinged laterally to said hub by respective hinges, each of said flaps respectively extending from one of said two walls of said cap and is hinged to one of said two walls by a thin connecting zone forming an elastic effect fold line such that when said flaps are pivoted on said hub toward each other, said cap pivots from said first covering position to said second uncovering position; and releasing said flaps such that said flaps pivot away from each other causing said cap to return to said first covering position.

Claim 4

A method of positioning a hypodermic needle protector relative to a hypodermic needle, said protector including a single protector piece of molded synthetic resin having a distal protector portion, having a proximal protector portion, and pivotable between a first covering position and a second uncovering position relative to said needle which extends from a proximal needle end portion to a distal needle end portion, said method comprising: affixing a hub of said proximal protector portion with respect to said proximal needle end portion such that said distal protector portion forms a cap housing said distal needle end portion when said single protector piece is in said first position and having two walls meeting obliquely along a zone which extends along said needle and which rises ahead of said distal needle end portion such that said cap has a generally V-shaped cross-section formed by said two walls with an opening angle thereof decreasing as said walls of said cap approach a distal end of said cap; compressing two flaps hinged laterally to said hub by respective hinges, each of said flaps respectively extending from one of said two walls of said cap and is hinged to one of said two walls by a thin connecting zone forming an elastic effect fold line such that when said flaps are pivoted on said hub toward each other, said cap pivots from said first covering position to said second uncovering position; and releasing said flaps such that said flaps pivot away from each other causing said cap to return to said first covering position.