Abstract:
A holder and disposal device for hypodermic needles safely detaches a needle from a syringe, permits use of multiple needles in sequence, and allows for the re-capping of needles without accidental puncture. The device includes a container having an interior space configured for receiving needles and needle covers. A top edge of the container defines an opening into the interior space. A lid is couplable to the container and is positionable in a closed position to cover the opening and in an open position to expose the opening. A gap is positioned in the lid. A clamp is couplable to the lid proximate the gap wherein pivoting the clamp opens and closes a pair of jaws above the gap such that the needles and needle covers positioned over the needles extend through the gap when the jaws are clamped onto the needle cover.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Field of the Disclosure 
     The disclosure relates to holder and disposal devices and more particularly pertains to a new holder and disposal device for safely and efficiently detaching a needle from a syringe, permitting use of multiple needles in sequence, and allowing for the re-capping of needles without accidental puncture to the medical provider. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a container having an interior space configured for receiving needles and needle covers. A top edge of the container defines an opening into the interior space. A lid is couplable to the container and is positionable in a closed position to cover the opening and in an open position to expose the opening. A gap is positioned in the lid. A clamp is couplable to the lid proximate the gap wherein pivoting the clamp opens and closes a pair of jaws above the gap such that the needles and needle covers positioned over the needles extend through the gap when the jaws are clamped onto the needle cover 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a top front side perspective view of a holder and disposal device for hypodermic needles according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a top front side perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure similar to  FIG. 4 , except that  FIG. 5  shows the needle cover retained in the clamp while the syringe and needle are detached from the needle cover. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure similar to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , except that  FIG. 6  shows the needle and needle cover detached from the syringe while the needle cover and needle positioned therein are falling downwardly into the container. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 6  thereof, a new holder and disposal device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 6 , the holder and disposal device for hypodermic needles  10  generally comprises a container  12  having a top wall  14  opposite a bottom wall  16  and a peripheral wall  18  extending upwardly from the bottom wall  16 . The container  12  may have a plurality of rounded edges  20 . The container  12  may have an outwardly projecting lip  22  extending upwardly from the top wall  14 . The lip  22  is preferably annular and offset from the peripheral wall  18 . An inner side  24  of the lip  22  may be threaded. An interior space  26  of the container  12  is defined by the top wall  14 , the bottom wall  16 , and the peripheral wall  18  wherein the interior space  26  is configured for receiving hypodermic needles  28  and needle covers  30  therein. 
     A top edge  32  of the container  12  defines an opening  34  into the interior space  26 . The lip  22  preferably extends a full length around the opening  34 . A lid  36  is couplable to the container  12  wherein the lid  36  is positionable in a closed position  38  to cover the opening  34  and in an open position  40  to expose the opening  34 . The lid  36  comprises a top surface  42  and a lower portion  44  wherein the lower portion  44  extends downwardly from the top surface  42 . The lower portion  44  is abuttable against the inner side  24  of the lip  22  when the lid  36  is coupled to the container  12 . The lower portion  44  may be concavely arcuate. The lid  36  may be annular and disposed of separately from the container  12 . A gap  46  is positioned in the lid  36 . The gap  46  may be centrally positioned in the top surface  42  of the lid  36 . The gap  46  has a size and shape configured to prevent a syringe  48  attached to the needle  28  from extending therethrough. The gap  46  is preferably rectangular. A grip  50  may be coupled to the lid  36 . The grip  50  preferably extends outwardly from the top surface  42  of the lid  36  wherein the grip  50  is configured for manual grasping by a user to facilitate transfer of the lid  36 . The grip  50  has a pair of side portions  52  and a top portion  54 . The top portion  54  extends between each of the side portions  52 . The side portions  52  may be angled outwardly away from one another. 
     A clamp  56  has a first member  58  and a second member  60 . The first member  58  may be positioned above the second member  60 . Each of the first  58  and second  60  members has an associated jaw  62  positioned distally relative to a handle  64 . The jaws  62  are preferably serrated. The first member  58  is moveable relative to the second member  60 , and the second member  60  is preferably stationary. The jaws  62  are coupled to a pivot point  66  such that urging of the handles  64  together slides the first member  58  toward the second member  60  such that the jaws  62  are configured for retaining the needle cover  30  therebetween when the jaws  62  are slid together. The clamp  56  may be couplable to the lid  36  via a quick-release attachment  68 . The clamp  56  is positioned parallel to the gap  46 . The second member  60  is couplable to the lid  36  proximate the gap  46  wherein pivoting of the first member  58  opens and closes the jaws  62  above the gap  46  such that the needle  28  and needle cover  30  positioned over the needle  28  extend through the gap  46  when the jaws  62  are clamped onto the needle cover  30 . The clamp  56  is disposed of after caring for one patient. 
     A pair of projections  70  may be coupled to the clamp  56 . Each of the projections  70  is coupled to an associated one of the first  58  and second  60  members. Each of the projections  70  extends outwardly from an inner side  72  of an associated one of the handles  64  such that closing the jaws  62  of the clamp  56  causes the projections  70  to overlap. A clasp  74  is coupled to the clamp  56 . The clasp  74  has a first portion  76  and a second portion  78  each coupled to an associated one of the projections  70 . The first portion  76  of the clasp  74  is coupled to a bottom side  80  of the projection  70  of the first member  58  and the second portion  78  of the clasp  74  is coupled to a top side  82  of the projection  70  of the second member  60  wherein closing the jaws  62  of the clamp  56  causes the first  76  and second  78  portions of the clasp  74  to overlap such that the clasp  74  retains the jaws  62  in a closed position  84 . The clasp  74  may provide for adjustable locking of the clamp  56 . The clasp  74  may use a serrated slide, snaps, or the like to secure the projections, and the corresponding jaws  62 , in place. 
     A fastener  86  is couplable to the container  12 . The fastener  86  comprises a first clamping member  88  and a second clamping member  90 . The first  88  and second  90  clamping members may couple the container  12  to a vertical support structure  92  such that the first  88  and second  90  clamping members are configured for positioning the vertical support structure  92  between the first  88  and second  90  clamping members. The vertical support structure  92  may include an intravenous pole, a wall, or the like. When the support structure  92  is a wall, an inverted groove-wedged triangle is coupled to the container  12  in order to secure the container  12  to the wall. The device  10  may also be freestanding and positioned on a counter, table, cart, or the like. A key may be used to lock the fastener  86  to the container  12 . The first clamping member  88  may be positioned on a first side  94  of the peripheral wall  18 . The first clamping member  88  comprises a pair of side portions  96  and a medial portion  98  extending between each of the side portions  96 . The second clamping member  90  comprises a main portion  100 , a projection  102 , and a screw  104  wherein the projection  102  extends outwardly from an inside face  106  of the main portion  100  and the screw  104  extends outwardly from the projection  102 . The screw  104  extends into a first one  108  of the side portions  96  of the first clamping member  88  and is configured to abut the vertical support structure  92  when the first clamping member  88  is coupled to the second clamping member  90 . 
     An opening  34  of the container  12  has a diameter between 2.0 cm and 8.0 cm. Similarly, the top surface  42  of the lid  36  has a diameter between approximately 2.0 cm and 8.0 cm so as to correspond to the size of the opening  34 . The lip  22  has a thickness between approximately 2 mm and 10 mm. The height of the lid  36  is between approximately 1.0 cm and 5.0 cm. The gap  46  has a length between approximately 1.0 cm and 4.0 cm and a width between approximately 0.25 cm and 3.0 cm. The handles  64  have a diameter between approximately 1.0 cm and 5.0 cm. The distance from the pivot point  66  to the end of the jaws  62  measures between approximately 1.0 and 6.0 cm. 
     Similarly, the distance from the pivot point  66  to the clasp  74  measures between approximately 1.0 cm and 6.0 cm. The grip  50  has a length between approximately 1.0 cm and 6.0 cm and width between approximately 0.5 cm and 5.0 cm. 
     In use, as stated above and shown in the Figures, the needle cover  30  and a covered needle  28  is placed between the jaws  62  of the clamp  56 . The clasp  74  secures the jaws around the needle cover  30  and enables the jaws  62  to securely retain the needle cover  30  therebetween. In this manner, the needle  28  is able to be re-capped by inserting the needle  28  back into the needle cover  30  and releasing the clasp  74  on the clamp  56 . The needle cover  30  is disposed into the container  12  by clamping tighter onto the needle cover  30  when the needle cover  30  is held between the jaws  62  and then opening the jaws  62  to permit the needle cover  30  to fall into the interior space  26 . To also dispose of the needle  28 , the same is done while the needle  28  is positioned within the needle cover  30 . The container  12  can be freestanding and mounted on a table, countertop, or the like or secured to a vertical support structure  92  using the fastener  86 . The grip  50  is used to facilitate transfer of the lid  36 . 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure.