Patent ID: 6945958

Claim:
A safety needle apparatus including a needle, the safety needle apparatus comprising: a first cylinder extending from a proximal end to a distal end thereof and defining a longitudinal axis, the first cylinder further defining at least one longitudinal keyway in a side wall thereof and a plurality of keyslots disposed adjacent the distal end of the first cylinder and rotationally spaced apart from the at least one keyway relative to the longitudinal axis, wherein the at least one keyway includes a raised surface relative to and disposed adjacent the distal end of the first cylinder; and a shield mounted for relative movement with the first cylinder and defining a plurality of radially projecting keys adjacent a proximal end thereof, at least one of the keys being configured for axial movement along the keyway such that the shield is movable between an activated position, whereby the at least one of the keys is releasably engaged with a proximal end of the at least one keyway to expose the needle, and a transport position, whereby the at least one of the keys is releasably disposed adjacent the distal end of the first cylinder via an interference engagement with the raised surface of the first cylinder to releasably enclose the needle within the shield, the shield being further movable from the transport position to a locked position, whereby the at least one of the keys is rotated relative to the first cylinder for fixed disposal within the at least one keyslot to fixedly enclose the needle within the shield.