Patent ID: 7147624

Claim:
A needle protecting device for an apparatus for administering an injectable product or for sampling a body fluid, wherein the administering or sampling is performed by means of an injection needle, said needle protecting device comprising: a) a carrier connected to or integrated with said administering or sampling apparatus; b) a needle cover connected to said carrier at a distal needle cover end, wherein the distal needle cover end abuts the carrier, and the needle cover comprising a proximal needle cover end movable relative to said distal needle cover end such that the needle cover may be elongated in the longitudinal direction of said injection needle from an exposing position in which the injection needle protrudes through the needle cover to a protecting position in which the needle cover substantially surrounds the injection needle at least as far as a tip of the needle, wherein the needle cover produces and is elongated by an elasticity force, said needle cover comprising a catch at an interior portion of the proximal needle cover end; and c) locking elements inside the needle cover, comprising at least a distal locking element and a proximal locking element, for locking the needle cover against shortening in said protecting position, said locking elements movably connected to each other and are in a locked position with respect to the needle when the needle cover catch engages with said proximal locking element and said needle cover is elongated, said distal locking element locked on the carrier at least in the locked position, wherein the distal locking element abuts the carrier, and the proximal locking element is immovably connected to the catch at the interior portion of the proximal needle cover end.