AU641415B2

AU641415B2 - Container for medical waste

Info

Publication number: AU641415B2
Application number: AU59918/90A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Peter Donnell
Original assignee: Nylex Corp Ltd
Current assignee: Nylex Corp Ltd
Priority date: 1989-07-31
Filing date: 1990-07-27
Publication date: 1993-09-23
Anticipated expiration: 2010-07-27
Also published as: AU5991890A

Description

641415 COMMONWEALTH OF AUS TRALIA PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (Original) FOR OFFICE USE Class Int.Class Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: S Priority: SRelated Art: Name of Applicant: NYLEX CORPORATION LIMITED Address of Applicant: 15th Floor, 390 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne 3004, in the State of Victoria, Commonwealth of Australia Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: DAV-I-ES-&--GQLl-SON7-P-a-ten-t-A--ternes, te -L-c--e-rtie-e oil--tr s--StreMt-E-Ml-bourrre- 00.

Complete specifidation for the invention entitled: "CONTAINER FOR MEDICAL WASTE" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us:- 900627 ARfSDAT.050.cap, 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 14 0:09s: 15 16 17 18 see 19 21 22 0 0 23 •24 see 26 27 28 29 31 32 33 34 36 A 0 0062 This inv in the storag such as hypod other materia Over the awareness of disposal of n of contamina products is accidental sp major concern It is an improved cont storage.

"CONTAINER FOR MEDICAL WASTE" ention relates to containers suitable for use e and transportation of medical waste products ermic needles, scalpels, bottles, ampoules and ls and articles.

past few years there has been an increasing the hazards involved in the handling and nedical waste products and material. The risk ition from handling of such materials and a serious problem and the possibility of illage during handling and storage have become

S.

object of the present invention to provide an :ainer which is more stable during handling or pffll.-al -4 4 x~typflt-4, A nA. .0 itr..

co ainer which is suitable for use in the containment of waste materials such as medical waste materials and products the container comprising a container body having a base wall, top wall and a peripheral side wall, an opening in the top wa and a closure adapted to close the opening, a carrying han e which is disposed within a handle receiving recess in he top and/or peripheral side wall, the carrying handle inc ding a gripping section which is adapted to be hand held en the container is being carried, said carrying handle bein disposed within the handle receiving recess so that su tantially no part of the gripping section projects beyond region defined by planes containing the walls of the containe body.

Because of the disposition of the handle the container, when carried, is far more stable and re sts uncontrolled tipping.

The top wall of the container body ma, include an upstanding peripheral flange around the opening which is adapted to be engaged by the closure. The closure ay be adapted to co-operate with the flange so as to provide r a rol e-Sable sap fit b inthe 4w. prts Such t 7,ARSSPE.037,medwaste.

1B According to the present invention there is provided a container which is suitable for use in the containment of waste materials such as medical waste materials and products the container comprising a container body having a base wall, a top wall, peripheral side walls, an opening in the top wall, a closure adapted to close the opening and a carrying handle which is disposed within a handle receiving recess in the top wall and a corner section of two adjacent peripheral side walls, said handle extending generally diagonally between portions of the side walls and a portion of the top wall and being located intermediate the recess so that there is space to either "side of the handle, the carrying handle including a gripping section which is adapted to be hand held when the 15 container is being carried, said carrying handle being Sdisposed within the handle receiving recess so that substantially no part of the gripping section projects beyond a region defined by planes containing the 0'0 peripheral side walls and the top wall of the container body in those portions of the walls which do not extend into said handle receiving recess.

0 00 Because of the disposition of the handle the container, when carried, is far more stable and resists •S S uncontrolled tipping.

25 The top wall of the container body may include an upstanding peripheral flange around the opening which is adapted to be engaged by the closure. The closure may be adapted to cooperate with the flange so as to provide for a releasable snap fit between the two parts. Such an S 2 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 00 14 16 17 00 21 22 23 24 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 36 37 38 arrangement minimizes the risk of spillage.

Advantageously the carrying handle recess is formed in the side wall of the container body and may be adjacent the top wall of the container body and may be adjacent the top wall or with the recess extends into the top wall of the container body. The positioning of the gripping section in this recess in this particular position permits ready access to the handle.

The peripheral side wall of the of the container body may be generally square or rectangular in plan and desirably the carrying handle recess may be formed at a corner section thereof. The carrier handle may extend generally diagonally and be intermediate the recess so that there is space to either side of the carrier handle providing room for the hand when the carrying handle is gripped. This particular disposition of the handle improves access and stability.

The closure may be in the form of a lid having a circumferential bead which is adapted to co-operate with a rib on the upstanding flange so as to provide a snap fit between the two parts. The closure lid may further include mounting means for securing the lid to the container body.

Such mounting means may be in the form of a securing element at one end of a strap with the. closure lid being disposed at the other end of the strap, the securing element being connected to a bracket or flange on the container body. The securing element may be in the form of a tapered head or barbed element which is receivable within an aperture in the flange.

Advantageously the base wall recess may comprise a first recess section which is adapted to receive the upstanding flange surrounding the opening in the top wall and a second recess section which is adapted to receive an upper part of the carrying handle. The first recess section may be formed by two wall portions interposed by spaces and arranged so that when the containers are placed one on top of the other, lateral movement of the two containers relative to one another is inhibited.

The container may be formed from any suitable material 900627,ARSSPE.037,medwaste, 3 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 14 15 o 16 17 17 18 19 19 21 22 23 24 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 36 rFli 37 and manufactured in any suitable manner. For example, the container may be formed from plastics material as an integral unit by a molding process such a blow molding or the like. The plastics material may be formed of a homopolymer which can be incinerated without the omission of toxic fumes. In addition, the containers may be substantially rigid and puncture resistant.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: c tainer according to the invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the container viewed in the d ection of arrow A in Figure 1; Fi re 3 is a side elevation of the container viewed in the direct on of arrow B in Figure 1.

Figure is an underside view of the container shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a top plan view of another embodiment of container according to the present invention; Figure 6 is a si e elevation of the container viewed in the direction of arrow in Figure Figure 7 is a side e vation of the container viewed in the direction of arrow B in igure Figure 8 is a side elev tion of the container viewed with direction of arrow C in Fig e Figure 9 is an underside view f the container shown in Figure 5; and Figures 10 and 11 are plan and ide elevations of a closure lid for the container shown in th earlier drawings.

Referring to the drawings where like n erals have been used to identify like parts on each of the e odiments, the container generally indicated at 1 comprises container body 3 having a base wall 4, a top wall 5 and a eripheral side wall 6. As can be seen, the peripheral side all is generally rectangular or square in plan. The containe body is formed from a homopolymer and is also puncture resista t and -iuch that the eentainr- forms a ubeant-l1 g '27,ARSSPE.037,medwaste.

3a Figure 1 is a perspec-ive view of one embodiment of container according to the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of container according to the invention; Figure 3 is the top plan view of the container shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is the underside view of the container shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a side view of two similar containers made in accordance with the invention stacked one on top of the other.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of a closure of the container of the invention; and Figure 7 is a cross-sectional, view of the closure shown in Figure 6.

Referring to the drawings where like numerals have been used to identify like parts on each of the embodiments, the container generally indicated at 1 comprises a container body 3 having a base wall 4, a top wall 5 and a peripheral side wall 6. As can be seen, the peripheral side wall is generally rectangular or square in plan. The container body is formed from a homopolymer and is also puncture resistant and is such that the container forms a substantially rigid A6** a.- 4 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 s* 17 19 21 S* 22 23 O020 O0 24 0* 25 26 27 28 S 29 30 31 32 33 34 36 37 38 structure.

The top wall 5 has an opening 10 therein with an upstanding flange 11 surrounding the opening. The opening is of a relatively large size taking up a major part of the top wall. A closure 25 is in the form of a cap 26 having a bead 29 thereon is receivable on the upstanding flange 11 by way of a snap fit engagement. The closure 25 further includes a securing element 27 which is connected to the closure 25 by a strap 28 the securing element having a barbed head which is attached to a closure mounting bracket or flange The container 1 further includes a carrying handle which includes a gripping section 16 formed within a handle receiving recess 17 in the side wall and top wall of the container body, the gripping section 16 being centrally disposed within the recess 17 so as to provide a space 19 to each side thereof. The recess 17 is defined by a substantially vertical wall 18 which extends across a corner section of the container and a base wall 23. The carrying handle 15 extends between wall 18 and wall 23. Thus the arrangement is such that the gripping section 16 of carrying handle 15 is immediately adjacent the opening The container further includes a base wall recess having a first recessed section 21 for receiving the upstanding flange 11 and a' second recess section 22 receiving an upper portion of the gripping section 16 of carrying handle As can be seen, the first recessed section is of similar dimension to that of flange 11 and the second recess section 22 is of similar dimension to the width of the upper portion of the gripping section of carrying handle Finally, it is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and or additions may be incorporated into the various constructions and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit and ambit of the invention.

900627.ARSSP. 037, medwaste,

Claims

2. A container according to claim 1 wherein said base *is provided with a base wall recess which is adapted to receive therein a section of the top wall and/or said 25 carrying handle of another like container so that like containers can be stacked one on top of the othec in a nested configuration.
3. A container according to claim I or claim 2 wherein said top wall of the container body includes an upstanding peripheral flange around the opening which is adapted to be engaged by the closure, said closure being adapted to cooperate with the flange so as to provide for a releasable snap fit between the two parts.
4. A container according to any preceding claim wherein there is space to either side of the carrier handle providing sufficient room for a hand when the carrying handle is gripped. A container according to claim 3 wherein said Sclosure comprises a lid having a circumferentially bead -6- which is adapted to cooperate with a rib on the upstanding flange so as to provide a snap fit therebetween, and mounting means for securing the lid to the container body.
6. A container according to claim 2 wherein said base wall recess comprises a first recess section which is adapted to receive the upstanding flange surrounding the opening in the top wall and a second recess section which is adapted to receive an upper part of the carrying handle.
7. A container according to claim 6 wherein said recess section is formed by two wall portions interposed by spaces and arranged so that when the containers are placed one on top of the other, lateral movement of the two containers relative to one another is inhibited. S8. A container which is suitable for use in the 15 containment of waste materials such as medical waste materials and products the container comprising a @000 container body having a base wall, a top wall, peripheral o@ side walls, an opening in the top wall, a closure adapted S"to close the opening and a carrying handle which is disposed within a handle receiving recess in the top wall and a corner section of two adjacent peripheral side walls; wherein said closure is secured to the container body by a strap connected at one end to the closure and at 00 0 the other end to the container body and wherein said 25 carrying handle extends generally diagcnally between portions of the side walls and a portion of the top wall and is located intermediate the recess so that there is space to either side of the handle; the carrying handle including a gripping section which is adapted to be hand held when the container is being carried; said carrying handle being disposed within the handle receiving recess so that substantially no part of the gripping section projects beyond a region defined by planes containing the peripheral side walls and the top wall of the container body in those portions wh.ich do not extend into said handle 7 receiving recess.
9. A container as claimed in claim 8 wherein said strap securing the closure to the container body includes a securing element and the said securing element is connected to a bracket or flange on the container body. A container according to claim 9 wherein said bracket or flange is located on the top wall of the container adjacent to the container opening.
11. A container according to any one of claims 8 to wherein said strap is integrally connected to said closure.
12. A container according to any one of claims 8 to 11 wherein said peripheral side wall of the container body is generally square or rectangular in plan and said carrying handle recess is formed at a corner section thereof, said carrier handle extending generally diagonally and being intermediate the recess so that there is space to either side of the carrier handle providing room for the hand S when the carrying handle is gripped.
13. A container substantially as hereinbefore described 25 with reference to what is shown in any of the accompanying drawings. o DATED: 31 December, 1992 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK S Attorneys for: NYLEX CORPORATION LIMITED Ln 3156V