Patent ID: 7569033

Claim:
A catheter assembly comprising: a needle; a catheter hub having an axial bore extending through said catheter hub and a notch extending outwardly in said axial bore; a needle cover having a notch clip comprising a normal non-biased position with said notch clip being spaced-apart from said needle when said needle is disposed in said needle cover, and when said needle cover is completely removed from said catheter hub said notch clip is not in contact with said needle; said notch clip positionable to engage said notch of said catheter hub and lock said catheter hub to said needle cover when said notch clip is inserted in said axial bore and a tip of said needle is inserted at least adjacent or past a distal portion of said notch clip, and positionable to disengage said notch when a tip of said needle is located prior to said distal portion of said notch clip to unlock said catheter hub from said needle cover; said notch clip being maintainable adjacent said needle throughout a range of positions from being in contact with said needle to being generally spaced from said needle when said tip of said needle is inserted at least adjacent or past a distal portion of said notch clip, and maintainable adjacent said catheter hub throughout a range of positions from being in contact with said catheter hub to being generally spaced from said catheter hub when said tip of said needle is inserted at least adjacent or past a distal portion of said notch clip; and wherein said notch clip and said needle are movable in at least one of frictionless and near friction less relationship relative to one another when said needle is inserted past a distal portion of said notch clip.