Patent ID: 8029463

Claim:
In combination, a needle hub having a length extending along a longitudinal axis and including a proximal portion and a distal portion, at least one set of arms extending circumferentially about a given section at the distal portion of said needle hub, each pair of the circumferentially extending adjacent arms forming a slot at the given section of the distal portion of said needle hub, a needle extending from said distal portion of said hub along a longitudinal axis of said hub, a collar rotatably mounted about said needle hub, said collar having at the inner surface of its distal portion at least one retainer, a sheath having at least one internal spline fittable to a slot of a pair of adjacent arms of said one set of arms, said sheath being an enclosed sheath except for one open end, a rim formed circumferentially proximate to the open end at the outer surface of said sheath, said sheath being removably connected to said collar through the open end and by the non-permanent holding of the rim by the retainer for covering said needle prior to its use, a housing having an off centered longitudinal opening connected to said collar and pivotable to a position substantially in alignment along said longitudinal axis for covering said needle after removal of said needle sheath from said collar.