GB2442570A

GB2442570A - Sharps container with handle connected closure

Info

Publication number: GB2442570A
Application number: GB0719042A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Garry Pettigrew
Original assignee: HEALTHCARE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVI
Current assignee: HEALTHCARE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVI
Priority date: 2006-10-03
Filing date: 2007-10-01
Publication date: 2008-04-09
Anticipated expiration: 2027-10-01
Also published as: GB2442570B; GB0619495D0; GB0719042D0

Abstract

A container 10 for clinical waste comprises an opening 12 for receiving clinical waste, particularly sharps, a closure member 14, and means for supporting the closure member 14 for movement between an open condition, in which clinical waste can be inserted through the opening 12, and a closed condition. A handle means 24 for facilitating carrying of the container 10 is also provided, the handle means 24 being operatively connected to the closure member 14 and adapted such that selective movement of the handle 24 between a non-operative and operative condition causes a corresponding movement of the closure member 14 between its open and closed conditions respectively. This arrangement ensures that lifting of the container 10 by the handle 24 results in closure of the closure means 14, and unwanted egress of the clinical waste is prevented. A locking means 34 manually operable to permanently lock the closure member 14 in its closed position may also be provided. The closure member 14 may also be cantilevered into its closed position via a cantilever portion 22.

Description

"Container" The present invention relates to containers for clinical

waste and particularly, but not exclusively, to containers for safely storing and transporting used sharps.

Sharps is a collective term used to identify objects that can cause cuts or puncture injuries and comprises needles, scalpels, stitch cutters, razor blades, glass ampoules, sharp instruments and spicules of bone and teeth etc. The phrase "clinical waste" is not limited to sharps, but also includes sanitary products etc. Containers which allow a safe and convenient means for disposing of used sharps are well known in the healthcare sector. However, there are several problems associated with existing sharps containers.

Generally, sharps containers are single-use containers which, when filled to capacity, are sealed and then transported for subsequent off-site incineration. In the United Kingdom, approximately 10,000 sharps containers are destroyed per week with consequent cost and environmental implications.

In the United Kingdom, organisations such as the Department of Health have issued guidelines (for example, SN2001 (19)) on the safe use and disposal of sharps. Emphasis is placed on the safe disposal of sharps using properly constructed containers that meet the stringent requirements of the British Standard: BS 7320:1990 and which are transported under UN 3291 safe practice. Whilst the adoption of best practice helps to minimise the risk of transmission of blood-borne viruses (BBV's) resulting from needle-stick or sharps injuries, inevitably human error on the part of healthcare professionals or disposal contractors means that such risks cannot be entirely eliminated.

In order to meet best practice, sharps should be disposed of at the point of use. Accordingly, sharps containers often require to be manually carried from one position to another whilst partially full in order that they are conveniently located at the point of use. It will be appreciated that there is a potential risk associated with moving a partially filled sharps container due to the possibility that sharps and associated fluid content within the container will be dislodged and expelled from the container's opening, particularly if the container is knocked whilst nearly full.

Some sharps containers are provided with a locking mechanism to enable their lids to be closed in readiness for collection and transportation to an off-site facility. However, many sharps containers employ only basic snap-fit locking arrangements which can inadvertently re-open during transportation.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a container for clinical waste, the container comprising: an opening for receiving clinical waste; a closure member; means for Supporting the closure member for movement between an open condition in which clinical waste can be inserted through the opening, and a closed condition; and handle means for facilitating carrying of the container; wherein the handle means are operatively connectable to the closure member and adapted such that selective movement of the handle between a non-operative and operative condition causes a corresponding movement of the closure member between its open and closed conditions respectively.

Preferably, the operative connection of the handle means to the closure member is provided by interacting formations provided on the handle means and the closure member respectively.

Preferably, the interacting formations are a cam surface and a co-operable protrusion.

Most preferably, the cam surface is provided on the handle means and the protrusion is provided on the closure member.

Preferably, the handle means is pivotally supportable on the container by shaft means, the cam surface being provided on the shaft proximate the protrusion on the closure member.

Preferably, the shaft means extends into the container, and the cam surface is located on a portion of the shaft means within the container.

Preferably, the protrusion is resiliently connected to the closure member.

Preferably, the closure member is pivotally supportable on the container.

Preferably, the closure member is provided with biasing means which bias the closure member towards its open condition.

Preferably, the biasing means is provided by a counterbalance.

Preferably, the protrusion provided on the closure member also serves to limit the opening movement of the closure member.

Preferably, a sealing means is provided to seal the opening when the closure member is in its closed condition.

Preferably, the clinical waste is sharps waste.

Preferably, the handle means are adapted for manual carrying of the container.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container for clinical waste, the container comprising: an opening for receiving clinical waste; a closure member; means for supporting the closure member for movement between an open condition in which clinical waste can be inserted through the opening, and a closed condition; and closure member locking means; wherein the locking means is manually operable to permanently lock the closure member in its closed condition.

Preferably, the locking means is provided inside the container whilst being manually operable by an actuation means provided on the outside of the container.

Preferably, a locking surface is provided on the closure member and the locking means comprises a locking member which is capable of movement into locking engagement with the locking surface when the closure member is in its closed condition.

Preferably, a recess is provided in the locking member, the recess being dimensioned to lockably receive the locking surface.

Preferably, the locking member is mounted on an inner surface of the Container.

Preferably, the locking member is mounted for slidable movement.

Preferably, a catch arrangement is provided to prevent the release of the locking member from its locking engagement with the locking surface.

Preferably, the catch arrangement comprises a resilient pawl member on the locking member which is adapted for engagement with a fixed detent extending from an inner surface of the container.

Preferably, lock-prevention means are provided to prevent movement of the locking member into locking engagement with the locking surface when the closure member is not in its closed condition.

Preferably, the lock-prevention means comprises co-operable parts of the locking member and closure member respectively which, when the closure member is not in its closed condition, are aligned to prevent movement of the locking member by an amount sufficient to actuate the catch arrangement.

Preferably, the clinical waste is sharps waste.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container for clinical waste, said container being provided with a handle means in accordance with the first aspect in combination with a locking means in accordance with the second aspect.

Optionally, movement of the handle between into its operative condition causes the locking means to permanently lock the closure member in its closed condition.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. I is a perspective view (from above) of the container's closure member; Fig. 2 is a perspective view (from below) of the container's closure member; Fig. 3 is a perspective view (as viewed from the inside of the container) of the container's closure member connected to the opening of the container whilst in its closed condition; Fig. 4 is a perspective view (as viewed from the inside of the container) of the container's closure member connected to the opening of the container whilst in its open condition; Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the interacting formations provided on the handle means and the closure member respectively; Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the container's locking member in-situ in its un-locked condition; Figs. 7a and 7b are perspective views of the container's locking member; and Fig. 8 shows the actuation means for the locking member.

The container (10) of the present invention is provided with an opening (12) which is selectively closed by a closure member (14). The closure member (14) is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and is formed from a unitary piece of moulded plastics material. The part of the closure member (14) which is visible in use from the exterior of the container is provided with an upper wall (1 6a) shaped to substantially correspond with the shape of the opening (12), side walls (16b) and a back wall (16c). Part of the back wall (16d) is forwardly inclined with respect to the back wall (16c) to define a waste-receiving surface. The walls (1 6a-d) are arranged to provide a physical barrier between a user's hand and the container's contents when the closure member (14) is in its open condition.

The closure member (14) is provided with two outwardly directed opposing pins (18), each mounted the respective side walls (16b) proximate the upper wall (1 6a). The pins (18) are located on resiliently mounted tabs (20) to facilitate their positive engagement within corresponding passages provided in opposing side walls of the opening (12). As shown in Figs. 3 to 5, the pins are supported in the passages to allow pivoting movement of the closure member (14) about a pivot axis between a closed condition (see Fig. 3) and an open condition (see Figs. 4 and 5).

A slight uneven distribution of the mass of the closure member (14) about the pivot axis acts as a counterbalance to bias the closure member (14) into its open condition. A cantilevered portion (22)is provided with a lattice of plastics material to increase its mass and provide the counterbalance. Further features of the closure member (14) will be discussed in further detail below.

As is best shown in Fig. 5, the container (10) is also provided with a handle (24) which is pivotally connected thereto about two inwardly extending shafts (not visible in the Figs.). The shafts each pass through the wall of the container (10) and extend into the interior of the container (10). A formation (26) is connected to, and rotates with, the distal end of each shaft. The formation (26) is provided with a cam surface (28).

Also shown in Fig. 5 is a protrusion (30) which protrudes from the closure member (14) from a continuation of its side wall 16(b) which connects the side wall (1 6b) to the cantilevered portion (22). The protrusion (30) is located on a resiliently mounted tab (32).

In use, the closure member (14) is biased into an open condition such that the walls (1 6a-d) define a receptacle for receiving sharps (or other clinical waste). The opposed protrusions (30) are located such that they are engageable with the side wall of the opening (12) to thus limit the degree to which the closure member (14) can open.

Once sharps objects are placed within the receptacle, their mass exerts a downward force on the inclined wall (1 6d) which overcomes the counterbalance provided by the cantilevered portion (22) and moves the closure member (14) into a closed condition. When the closure member (14) is in its closed position, the angle of the inclined wall (1 6d) allows the sharps object to fall into the container (10) under the influence of gravity.

The construction of the closure member (14) is such that the container (10) cannot be filled beyond a predetermined maximum volume. This is because once the sharps objects reach a sufficient height within the container (10) they impede the downward motion of the cantilevered portion (22) such that movement of the closure member (14) into its open condition is prevented.

When there is a requirement to move the container (10) to a new location, this is achieved by pivoting the handle (24) into a position above the opening (12) in readiness for carrying. The pivoting movement of the handle (24) causes a corresponding rotation of the formation (26) provided on each of its shafts. Progressive rotation of the formations (26) causes them to first rotate into contact with the protrusions (30) and then forces the protrusions (30) to pivot about the pins (18). The pivoting motion of the protrusions (30) serves to rotate the closure member (14) into a closed condition.

The cam surfaces (28) of the formations (26) facilitate a smooth transfer of forces between the relatively moving parts. The resiliently mounted tabs (32) upon which the protrusions are mounted provide a positive closure of the closure member (14) and ensure a fluid tight seal, if an appropriate seal is provided around the opening (12) or the closure member (14).

Further features are provided in the formations (26) which act to resist disengagement of the protrusions (30) during their relative movement.

Once the container (10) is carried to a new location, lowering of the handle (24) reverses the above steps and allows the closure member to re-open.

Fig. 6 shows a further feature of the container which allows the closure member (14) to be permanently locked in its closed condition. A locking member (34) is slidably mounted on an inner surface of the container (10) and user-actuatable by means of a slider (36) provided on an outer surface of the container (see Fig. 8). The slider (36) is located within a passage formed in the base of the locking member (34). The locking member (34) shown in Fig. 6 is in its un-locked condition whereby the closure member (14) is free to move between its open and closed conditions.

As is best shown in Figs. 7a and 7b, the locking member (34) is provided on one side thereof with a slot (38). On an opposite side, the locking member (34) is provided with a flange (40). Two parallel fingers (42) extend from, and are resiliently connected to, a front surface of the locking member (34). Each linger (42) is provided with a flared distal end (44). A triangular lip (46) extends substantially perpendicularly with respect to each flared distal end (44). A recess is provided on the base of the locking member (34) for receiving an RFID chip if required. The significance of the aforementioned features will become apparent below.

Also shown in Fig. 6 is a locking surface (48) which projects from the cantilevered portion (22) of the closure member (14) towards the locking member (34). A further projection (50) projects from the back wall (1 6c) of the closure member towards the locking member (34). Finally, a pair of detents (52) (only one visible in the Figs.) extend from an inner surface of the container (10) proximate the flared distal ends (44) of each finger (42).

In use, the closure member (14) can be locked in its closed condition by sliding the slider (36) (see Fig. 8) to move the locking member (34) in a locking direction (right to left as viewed in Fig. 6). Locking the closure member (14) against movement to its open condition is achieved by location of its locking surface (48) within the slot (38) of the locking member (34). When the locking member (34) is slid in the locking direction by a sufficient amount, the triangular lip (46) on each finger (42) moves over its corresponding detent (52) such that the fingers (42) are resiliently biased towards each other and hence out of parallel alignment.

Further sliding movement of the locking member (34) in the locking direction causes the lips (46) to move beyond their corresponding detents (52) at which point the fingers (42) snap back into parallel alignment. The lips (46) therefore engage behind their corresponding detents (52) in the manner of a pawl arrangement such that the closure arrangement is permanently locked by preventing movement in a direction opposite to the locking direction.

The term "permanent" is used above in the sense that the locking action is irreversible as far as a normal end-user (i.e. a clinician) of the container (10) is concerned (i.e. it cannot be unlocked by means of the slider (36)).

However, once the container (10) is transported off-site for safe disposal of its contents (for example, by waste management contractors), the locking member (34) can be released. This is achieved by exposing the inner surface of the container (10) (i.e. by removing its lid using specialised tools) and manually squeezing the fingers (42) together at their flared distal ends (44) to enable the lips (46)10 slide past the detents (52).

The locking member is therefore arranged such that it cannot be easily unlocked by a normal user of the container (10).

When the closure member (14) is in any condition other than a substantially closed condition, the locking member (34) is prevented from moving sufficiently far In the locking direction to cause an obstruction to, or inadvertent locking of, the closure member (14). This is because the flange (40) is shaped and positioned such that it will be in alignment with the projection (50) provided on the closure member (14) unless the closure member (14) is in a substantially closed condition. The relative alignment of the flange (40) and projection (50) whilst the closure member (14) is in an open condition is best shown in Fig. 4.

The container of the present invention has several safety enhancing features as compared to known containers for clinical waste. For example, the automatic (temporary) closure of the container's closure member whilst it is being moved in a partially filled state is an example of a passive safety feature (i.e. a safety feature which does not rely on a user to remember to actively use it). The locking member ensures that the container can be safely and "permanently" locked in its closed condition until it is collected and transported oft-site for emptying/recycling. The temporary and permanent closure of the closure member minimises the risk of sharps objects and/or associated fluids escaping from the container. The container (10) is reusable and an AFID chip can be located in the circular recess shown in Fig. 7a to allow traceability of a particular container (10). It is envisaged that the RFID chip could also be employed to ensure that shredding machinery (used to shred clinical waste such as sharps objects) does not shred the container (10).

Modifications and improvements may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the cam surfaces (28) could be provided on the closure member (14) and the protrusions (30) could be provided on the shaft of the handle (24). The detents (52) could be provided on the closure member (14) instead of the inner surface of the container (10).

Whilst the handle means and locking means are described above as independently operable features of the container, it is envisaged that the locking means could be actuated upon operation of the handle means.

Such an arrangement may be suitable for containers which are not intended to be moved from location to location and therefore do not require a temporary closure means.

Claims

1. A container for clinical waste, the container comprising: an opening for receiving clinical waste; a closure member; means for supporting the closure member for movement between an open condition in which clinical waste can be inserted through the opening, and a closed condition; and handle means for facilitating carrying of the container; wherein the handle means are operatively connectable to the closure member and adapted such that selective movement of the handle between a non-operative and operative condition causes a corresponding movement of the closure member between its open and closed conditions respectively.

2. A container according to claim 1, wherein the operative connection of the handle means to the closure member is provided by interacting formations provided on the handle means and the closure member respectively.

3. A container according to claim 2, wherein the interacting formations are a cam surface and a co-operable protrusion.

4. A container according to claim 3, wherein the cam surface is provided on the handle means and the protrusion is provided on the closure member.

5. A container according to claim 4, wherein the handle means is pivotally supportable on the container by shaft means, the cam surface being provided on the shaft proximate the protrusion on the closure member.

6. A container according to claim 5, wherein the shaft means extends into the container, and the cam surface is located on a portion of the shaft means within the container.

7. A container according to any one of claims 4-6, wherein the protrusion is resiliently connected to the closure member.

8. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the closure member is pivotally supportable on the container.

9. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the closure member is provided with biasing means which bias the closure member towards its open condition.

10. A container according to claim 9, wherein the biasing means is provided by a counterbalance.

11. A container according to any one of claim 3-7 and any one of claims 8-10 when dependent upon claim 7, wherein the protrusion provided on the closure member also serves to limit the opening movement of the closure member.

12. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a sealing means is provided to seal the opening when the closure member is in its closed condition.

13. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the clinical waste is sharps waste.

14. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the handle means are adapted for manual carrying of the container.

15. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, further including closure member locking means.

16. A container according to claim 15, wherein movement of the handle between into its operative condition causes the locking means to permanently lock the closure member in its closed condition.

17. A container for clinical waste, the container comprising: an opening for receiving clinical waste; a closure member; means for supporting the closure member for movement between an open condition in which clinical waste can be inserted through the opening, and a closed condition; and closure member locking means; wherein the locking means is manually operable to permanently lock the closure member in its closed condition.

18. A container according to any one of claims 15 -17, wherein the locking means is provided inside the container whilst being manually operable by an actuation means provided on the outside of the container.

19. A container according to any one of claims 15 -18, wherein a locking surface is provided on the closure member and the locking means comprises a locking member which is capable of movement into locking engagement with the locking surface when the closure member is in its closed condition.

20. A container according to claim 19, wherein a recess is provided in the locking member, the recess being dimensioned to lockably receive the locking surface.

21. A container according to any one of claims 18-20, wherein the locking member is mounted on an inner surface of the container.

22. A container according to any one of claims 19-21, wherein the locking member is mounted for slidable movement.

23. A container according to any one of claims 19-22, wherein a catch arrangement is provided to prevent the release of the locking member from its locking engagement with the locking surface.

24. A container according to claim 23, wherein the catch arrangement comprises a resilient pawl member on the locking member which is adapted for engagement with a fixed detent extending from an inner surface of the container.

25. A container according to any one of claims 19-24, wherein lock-prevention means are provided to prevent movement of the locking member into locking engagement with the locking surface when the closure member is not in its closed condition.

26. A container according to claim 25, wherein the lock-prevention means comprises co-operable parts of the locking member and closure member respectively which, when the closure member is not in its closed condition, are aligned to prevent movement of the locking member by an amount sufficient to actuate the catch arrangement.

27. A container according to any one of claims 17-26, wherein the clinical waste is sharps waste.

28. A container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figs 1-8 of the accompanying drawings.