GB2275673A

GB2275673A - Waste disposal unit

Info

Publication number: GB2275673A
Application number: GB9403466A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Norman Mclennan Anderson; Michael Read
Original assignee: POET PLASTICS Ltd
Current assignee: POET PLASTICS Ltd
Priority date: 1993-03-03
Filing date: 1994-02-23
Publication date: 1994-09-07
Also published as: GB9304359D0; WO1994021538A1; GB9403466D0

Abstract

A box suitable for the disposal of syringes of the type comprising mutually-fitting body and needle parts has a relatively small aperture (5) into which the needle part can be inserted and retained while the body part is removed, and a larger aperture (6), having a cover (7) biased towards closure, through which the body part can be introduced. Preferably, the apertures (5, 6) lead to separate chambers. <IMAGE>

Description

WASTE DISPOSAL UNIT This invention relates to a unit for the disposal of waste, and particularly of syringes and other "sharps".

Sharps boxes are widely used in hospitals and doctors' surgeries. However, there are many circumstances, e.g.

when a doctor is on call, where syringes etc are used but no conventional sharps box is available. It is also very desirable to ensure that the risk of a doctor's accidentally pricking himself with a needle, when disposing of a syringe, is minimised.

According to the present invention, a sharps box, which may be portable, is particularly adapted for the disposal of syringes of the type comprising mutuallyfitting body and needle parts. The box has two apertures, one of which is relatively small and into which the needle part can be introduced and retained while the body part is removed. The second aperture is larger, and may be elongate; it is intended for the introduction of the body part therethrough, and has a cover biased towards closure.

A box according to the present invention is extremely simple in design, and can be readily manufactured as a twopiece plastics moulding, each piece being produced in a two-part mould. If necessary, the hinged cover may be made separately.

The present invention is particularly adapted for use with syringes of the type in which the body portion has an outlet member co-operating with the inlet part of the needle portion which itself has an external flange. The relatively small aperture in the box is suitably a slot of the key-hole type, so that the whole of the needle member can be inserted through the circular part of the slot and the flange engaged behind the walls of the U-shaped part of the slot. This allows the user to detach the needle part from the body part without any risk of contact, whereupon the body part is disposed through the elongate aperture.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a pernpective view of a box embodying tne invention and Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view, the section being along a plane bisecting the same embodiment.

Figure 2 at least shows an integral box 1 having, internally, a wall 2 defining relatively small and large chambers 3 and 4. These chambers are intended to hold respectively the needle part and the body part of a used syringe. The needle part may be inserted through a keyhole slot 5 in the chamber 3 (in the manner described above) and the body part through an elongate aperture 6 in the chamber 4. The elongate aperture 6 has two flexible cover members 7 biased towards closure.

The advantages of the novel device lie in its simplicity and effectiveness. It can be particularly suited to hold up to, say, 10 to 20 syringes. This may be particularly suitable for a general practitioner, in which case the device should be no longer than fits in a typical briefcase, e.g. having maximum width and depth dimensions of 100-150 mm, and a length of up to, say, 200-300 mm.

For occasional use, the device may be integral, as illustrated in the drawings. In another embodiment of the invention, the device may be made reusable, e.g. provided in the form of two sections that may be hinged and releasably-held together, e.g. by providing a suitable lock of any conventional type.

Boxes of the dimensions given above are easily portable. If desired, they may be made much larger, for general use in hospitals and doctors' surgeries, to replace conventional sharps boxes.

Claims

1. A box suitable for the disposal of syringes of the type comprising mutually-fitting body and needle parts, the box having a relatively small aperture into which the needle part can be inserted and retained while the body part is removed, and a larger aperture, having a cover biased towards closure, through which the body part can be introduced.

2. A box according to claim 1, which is integral.

3. A box according to claim 1, in two hinged sections releasably-held together.

4. A box according to any preceding claim, which comprises separate chambers respectively associated with the apertures, the chamber for syringe body parts being the larger.

5. A box according to any preceding claim, wherein the relatively small aperture is in the form of key-hole slot.

6. A box according to any preceding claim, in the form of a two-piece plastics moulding.

7. A box according to any preceding claim, wherein the larger aperture is elongate.

8. A box according to claim 1, substantially as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.