Patent ID: 7556149

Claim:
A sharps container for facilitating the (i) safe transportation of said container and a large number of unused pen needle assemblies therein, (ii) the safe dispensing of said unused pen needle assemblies from said container and (iii) the safe feeding of used pen needle assemblies into said container for safe storage therein, said sharps container comprising: a receptacle having a longitudinal axis, first and second transverse axes, a top, and a bottom portion, said receptacle being sized to hold a plurality of unused pen needle assemblies in said bottom portion, said receptacle being further characterized by having an exit opening for said bottom portion and being sized to facilitate withdrawal therethrough of unused pen needle assemblies; a plurality of unused pen needle assemblies positioned within said receptacle and connected, in spaced-apart series relationship, to a coiled, flexible tape means, wherein the unused pen needle assemblies connected to the coiled flexible tape means are coiled about one of said transverse axes; cover means attached to said top of said receptacle; and manually operable means in said cover means for facilitating the disposal of individual used pen needle assemblies into said receptacle for safe storage therein; wherein said unused pen needle assemblies each comprise (i) an outer, cylindrical shield and a pen needle positioned therein, said cylindrical shield having an open proximal end and a reduced diameter distal end, and (ii) a removable seal attached to said open proximal end; and wherein said tape has a plurality of spaced-apart apertures sized to receive said outer, cylindrical shields of said unused pen needle assemblies.