Patent ID: 7201736

Claim:
Apparatus, comprising: a needle hub having a longitudinal axis and a needle extending from one of its ends; a collar rotatably mounted about said needle hub; a needle sheath removably attached to said collar for covering said needle extending from said needle hub prior to its use; and a housing connected to said collar and pivotable to a position substantially in alignment along said longitudinal axis of said needle hub for covering said needle after said needle sheath is removed from said collar; wherein said housing has a longitudinal opening formed by first and second lips each extending along substantially the length of said housing, said first lip overlapping a portion of said second lip with said opening being off centered from said longitudinal axis, each of said lips being angled toward the interior of said housing with the respective angles of said lips being varied along the length of said housing to effect a guide for said needle to smoothly enter into said housing at an angle through said opening when said housing is pivoted to cover said needle, said needle not removable from said housing once said needle fully enters into said housing.