Patent ID: 6986759

Claim:
A device for protecting a needle for medical use or the like, the needle having a sharp end and a base end, comprising: a sleeve having a through bore defined on a given axis, said through bore being of a section that is not less than that of the needle to be protected; a first link having first and second ends, said link being of a length “L1” defined between said two ends, wherein the first link is able to take at least three positions when the needle is positioned vertically upright with the sharp end of the needle above the base end of the needle, the three positions being an equilibrium starting position, an equilibrium in use position, and a locked position; a first resilient return hinge means for connecting the first end of the first link to the sleeve, the resiliency of said first hinge means allowing said first link to takes up one or the equilibrium in use position and the equilibrium starting position, wherein the link makes an acute angle (ÿ) with respect to the axis of the through bore, when no force is applied to the link, and the needle is positioned vertically upright with the sharp end of the needle above the base end of the needle; a base means suitable for receiving the base end of the needle to be protected; a first crank arm, said first crank arm being defined between first and second ends, said crank arm being of a length “I1” defined between its two ends, the length “I1” of the first crank arm being no greater than the length “L1” of the first link; and first means for mounting each of said first and second ends of the first crank arm to pivot freely respectively on the second end of the first link and on the base means: a second link having first and second ends said second link being of a length “L2” defined between said two ends; second resilient return hinge means for connecting the first end of the second link to the sleeve, said second hinge means being organized so that said second link takes up a defined equilibrium position on a direction that makes an acute angle (ÿ′) with the axis of the through bore; a second crank arm, said second crank arm being defined between first and second ends, said second crank arm being of a length “I2” defined between its two ends, the length “I2” of the second crank arm being no greater than the length “L2” of the second link; and second means for mounting each of said first and second ends of the second crank arm to pivot freely respectively on the second end of the second link and on the base means.