Patent ID: 6156012
Filing Date: 2000-12-05
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
A needle cover assembly used in conjunction with a hollow hub member, the hollow hub member having a bottom end connectable to a syringe and a top end connected to a hypodermic needle with a tip, the assembly comprising:a) a rotatable collar member having a bottom rim, a top rim with a central opening, and a circumferential sidewall, the circumferential sidewall having a knurled exterior surface, an interior surface with an annular locking groove located adjacent to the bottom rim, a first smooth curve shaped channel, and an opposite second smooth curve shaped channel, each smooth curve shaped channel beginning at the top rim and extending downwardly to a midsection of the rotatable collar member;b) a frustum-shaped base member having a bottom end, a top end with a circular flange projecting inwardly, a circumferential sidewall, and a hollow chamber therethrough, the circumferential sidewall having two small exterior voids located at locations opposite to each other and adjacent to the bottom end and a protruding sidewall adjacent to the bottom end;c) said circumferential sidewall of said frustum-shaped base member further having two vertical exterior plane surfaces at locations opposite to each other and each above a respective one of said two small exterior voids, each vertical exterior plane surface having an acute angle is defined by a vertical edge and an inclined edge, and wherein the two vertical exterior plane surfaces of said circumferential sidewall of said frustum-shaped base member possess a plurality of ridges located at locations opposite to each other;d) an elongated cover member having a first half or arm and an opposite unequal second half or arm, each half or arm having a bottom end and a top end, the top end of the first half or arm being arc-shaped, the top end of the second half or arm being complementary to the arc-shaped top end of the first half or arm, to form a hollow chamber enclosing said hypodermic needle, wherein the bottom end of the first half or arm possesses a 45 degree angle cut, which extends from the lower base to the lower one-third region of said first half or arm so as to allow the first and second halves or arms to securely interlock when the elongated cover member assembly is placed in the fully closed position;e) said first half or arm of said elongated cover member having a greater arc than said unequal second half or arm of said elongated cover member such that said top end of said first half or arm covers said tip of said hypodermic needle when in the closed position;f) said unequal second half or arm of said elongated cover member having an arc-shaped inner shell similar to said first half or arm of said cover member, the arc-shaped inner shell having reduced dimensions such that the arc-shaped inner shell is completely enclosed by said first half or arm of said cover member when in the closed position and the arc-shaped inner shell also covers said tip of said hypodermic needle for double protection;g) two L-shaped arms each having a bottom end and a top end, each top end integrally molded to a respective one of said bottom ends of said first and second halves or arms of said cover member, each bottom end having a projecting boss for engaging with a respective one of said two small exterior voids of said circumferential sidewall of said frustum-shaped base member, where said rotatable collar member can be snapped onto said frustum-shaped base member such that said annular locking groove of said rotatable collar member engages with said protruding sidewall of said frustum-shaped base member for securing said rotatable collar member and said first and second halves or arms of said cover member to said frustum-shaped base member; andh) whereby said hollow hub member is press-fitted through said hollow chamber of said frustum-shaped base member such that said hypodermic needle projects through said top end of said frustum-shaped base member and said circular flange prevents said top end of said hollow hub member from extending above said top end of said frustum-shaped base member, and when rotating said rotatable collar member, said L-shaped arms of said first and second halves or arms of said elongated cover member are allowed to travel downwardly along said first and second smooth curve shaped channels respectively such that said incline edges of said frustum-shaped base member can stop the downward movements of said first and second halves or arms of said cover member, and thereby said cover member is open to expose said hypodermic needle, and when said rotatable collar member is rotated back, said L-shaped arms of said first and second halves or arms of said cover member are allowed to travel upwardly along said first and second smooth curve shaped channels respectively such that said vertical edges of said frustum-shaped base member can stop the upward movements of said first and second halves or arms of said cover member, and thereby cover said hypodermic needle.