One way sharps receptacle

A disposable receptacle for disposing of sharp and hazardous objects such as syringes, razor blades and similar objects discarded from clinics and hospitals, includes a generally box-like container preferably constructed of a rigid durable plastic having a circular opening in the top with a neck projecting from the opening and including a closure having a plurality of pie-shaped spring flaps forming a one way closure for permitting the insertion of objects but preventing the withdrawal of objects from the container. Shoulders project upward from the top of the container at each side of the neck with handles extending between the neck and shoulders providing handles for carrying, and forming slots therebetween for receiving a generally D-shaped lock strap member for lockably attaching the container to a vertical support surface preferably at an elevated position to reduce access by children and the like. Grooves are formed around the perimeter of the container for receiving straps for mounting the container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to security containers and pertains 
particularly to a disposable security container for receiving sharp and 
hazardous objects or articles for disposal and for frustrating access 
thereto. 
Hospitals and clinics utilize a great number of disposable syringes, 
cutting instruments such as razor blades and the like and other similar 
disposable hazardous objects. The disposition of such objects and articles 
to prevent them from falling into the hands of children, or others who 
might accidentally misuse or injure themselves with such articles, is a 
long-standing problem. It is desirable that a disposable container be 
available which is inexpensive to manufacture, yet durable enough and have 
means to prevent ready acceass thereto. It is also desirable that such 
means be available for securely locking the container to prevent 
unauthorized removal thereof. 
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
It is the primary object of the present invention to provide an improved 
disposable container for hazardous articles. 
In accordance with the primary aspect of the present invention, a sharp or 
hazardous article disposable container is constructed of an inexpensive, 
durable, lightweight material and includes an access opening permitting 
the insertion of disposable objects and restricting access to the interior 
of the container for removal of such objects. Another aspect of the 
invention includes locking means for locking the container to a secure 
anchoring system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Turning to the drawings, there is illustrated a container designated 
generally by the numeral 10, having a generally flat bottom 12 with a 
continuous upstanding sidewall 14 extending upward therefrom to a top 
which includes a centrally located neck 16 with an opening at the upper 
end thereof covered by a closure member 18. Extending upward adjacent to 
each side of the neck 16 is a pair of shoulders 20 and 22 which include 
flat horizontal portions for stacking of containers on top of one another. 
Extending between the neck and each of the shoulders on each side is a 
pair of handles 24 for grasping and carrying the container and also for 
providing means for security anchoring of the container as will be 
described. 
The container is preferably blow-molded of a suitable durable plastic 
material of high strength and durability, yet light and sufficiently 
inexpensive for disposal. The illustrated shape permits it to be 
blow-molded and retain a uniform thickness preferably on the order of 
about 0.040 thousandths or one millimeter. The container is preferably of 
a size to receive and accommodate the largest of syringes utilized in 
clinics and hospitals. The container is primarily for use in the disposal 
of sharp and hazardous objects and instruments from hospitals and clinics 
and the like. Such objects and things are typically referred to in the 
trade as Sharps. These objects include syringes, razor blades and the like 
and present a problem of disposal to prevent them from falling into the 
hands of children and unauthorized users thereof. 
The container has a capacity on the order of about two gallons and is 
configured to have a generally oval plan view cross section as seen in 
FIG. 2 defined by generally flat front and back walls and semi-cylindrical 
end walls and a generally rectangular front and side view cross sections. 
The width of the container defined by the space between the generally 
semi-cylindrical end walls is on the order of about nine inches and about 
four to four and one-half inches thick defined by the distance between the 
front and back walls and about twelve to fourteen inches high. This 
provides a container sufficiently high and with a width that accommodates 
the largest of syringes typically used today. The neck 16 has a length 
that is on the order of about between two and three inches, which 
eliminates or at least reduces the hazard of a syringe falling into the 
container and turning upward with the point thereof closely adjacent the 
closure such that attempt to insert another syringe or disposable object 
results in puncturing the hand or fingers. The neck is on the order of 
approximately two and one-half inches in diameter with the closure opening 
itself being on the order of approximately two and one-eighth inches in 
diameter at the opening. 
The body of the container as seen in FIG. 1 and 3 include a pair of grooves 
consisting of an upper groove 28 and a lower groove 30 molded or formed 
therein for receiving upper mounting strap 32 and the lower mounting strap 
34 and also for reinforcing the walls of the container. These mounting 
straps are preferably flexible straps with hook and loop-type faasteners 
such as sold under the Mark "Velcro" or other suitable latch or fastening 
means for quick mounting and release of the container such as from a 
mounting panel or wall or the like. Preferably the container is mounted on 
a wall or other vertical support means at a distance above the floor to 
prevent access to the opening therein by children and the like. 
The neck 16 and handles 24 and 26 between the neck and shoulders provide 
means for additional security of the container. This permits the use of a 
locking device as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 for locking the container 
to a support structure such as a wall or upstanding support preferably at 
a convenient height for use yet at a height inaccessible to children. 
The locking device comprises a base, bar or plate 36 having a pair of 
spaced apart holes through which the curved ends of a generally D-shaped 
strap 38 extend with hook or arm portions 40 and 42 extending through the 
holes in the bar 36 and around opposite sides of the neck of the 
container. The locking member of a padlock or the like 48 extends through 
aligned holes in the outer adjacent terminal ends of the two arm portions 
40 and 42. This locks the two arms in place around neck 16 of the 
container until the padlock is removed, which permits removal of the bars 
and removal of the container 10. This provides a security measure that 
prevents the container from being removed by unauthorized persons. 
Details of the closure are best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The closure 18 
preferably comprises a substantially flat disk of a material having a 
memory or spring-like characteristics. With such material, the many 
pie-shaped flaps of the closure return to their original closed 
configuration after being deformed or pushed aside for insertion of an 
article or object into the container. 
The cover may be removable or may be nonremovably secured to the container 
as desired. The closure comprises a disk-like structure slit along radial 
lines forming a plurality of pie-shaped flaps 50. These flaps as best seen 
in FIGS. 4 and 6 deform downward to permit the insertion of an object such 
as a syringe or the like 50 into the neck of the container. Preferably the 
container neck is of sufficiently small diameter .pa (on the order of 
about 2 inches or 50 millimeters) that the average adult cannot insert a 
hand into the container. However, due to the necessity of making the 
opening in the closure 18 large enough to accept the largest syringe to be 
discarded, it will be large enough that a child's hand may be inserted 
into the container. The length of the neck provides some space to prevent 
the hand from coming into immediate contact with needles and objects 
within the container. Additionally, the flap structure of the closure will 
tend to discourage attempts to gain access to the container. 
While we have illustrated and described our invention by means of specific 
embodiments, it is to be understood that numerous changes and 
modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and 
scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.