Patent ID: 7513363

Claim:
A sharps dispensing and disposal system comprising: an enclosure having an interior; a disposal chamber positioned in said interior of said enclosure, said disposal chamber defining an inlet opening for passage of soiled sharps into said disposal chamber; and a dispensing chamber positioned in said interior of said enclosure adjacent said disposal chamber, said dispensing chamber including an inlet opening and a lid movable to an open position in which sharps can be deposited into said dispensing chamber through said inlet opening, said dispensing chamber further defining an access opening for passage of sharps from said dispensing chamber, and said dispensing chamber including a trough portion defining said access opening and positioned proximal a base of said dispensing chamber, wherein said trough portion comprises a door moveable between an open position and a closed position, wherein said trough portion provides a passage through said access opening when said door is in said open position and said trough portion obstructs said access opening when said door is in said closed position; said enclosure defining an first opening substantially aligned with said inlet opening of said disposal chamber for passage of soiled sharps into said disposal chamber and said enclosure defining a second opening substantially aligned with said access opening of said dispensing chamber for passage of sharps from said dispensing chamber, said enclosure including a door hingedly connected to said enclosure, wherein said door of said enclosure at least partially defines said second opening to accommodate said door of said trough portion of said dispensing chamber in said open position; wherein said dispensing chamber and said disposal chamber are defined by separate containers.