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Publication Number
US-11426532-B2
Publication Date
2022-08-30
Expiration Date
Abstract
A needle guard for protecting a human or animal from accidental contact with a needle connected to said needle guard is disclosed. The needle guard comprises a mounting base for the needle, a hinge structure connecting the mounting base to a needle shield, and a needle shield hinge adjacent to the hinge structure and needle shield. The hinge structure is adapted to pivot the needle shield relative to the mounting base from an open position in which the needle shield is separated from the needle, to a closed position in which the needle shield encloses the needle. The needle shield hinge is adapted to pivot the needle shield relative to the hinge structure. A method of manufacturing the needle guard is also disclosed.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a needle guard for protecting a human or animal from accidental contact with a needle connected to the needle guard. The needle guard includes a mounting base configured for the needle and a first hinge structure, where the first hinge structure includes a spring member and a spring plate configured to pivot relative to a needle shield. The spring plate pivots the needle shield relative to the mounting base from an open position, in which the needle shield is separated from the needle, to a second position in which the needle shield advances towards enclosing the needle.
The mechanism is implemented with a multi-hinge arrangement in which a second hinge structure connects the mounting base to the spring member and a third hinge structure connects the needle shield to the spring plate. The needle shield includes an outer surface having an aperture for receiving the spring plate, and the third hinge structure is located adjacent to the needle shield to pivot the needle shield relative to the first hinge structure. The second hinge structure is located between the mounting base and the first hinge structure, and the first hinge structure is located between the needle shield and the second hinge structure.
The invention also provides a separate needle shield hinge that enables independent pivoting of the needle shield relative to the hinge structure for improved positioning during packaging and storage. The description further characterizes the needle guard as having dead-center toggle joint functionality, including a dead-center position/angle range associated with snap action behavior, and includes needle shield features such as an elongated slot, a needle lock, and an aperture receiving a spring plate. The needle guard is described as being formed from a thermoplastic/plastic/polymeric monolithic injection molding that can reduce cost and enable color coding and corrosion resistance.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim defines a needle guard with a mounting base and a multi-hinge spring-biased mechanism that pivots a needle shield from an open position to an enclosing position. The inventive features cover the hinge structure layout, spring plate aperture engagement, needle-shield pivoting via an adjacent third hinge structure, and the needle-to-base interface. Dependent claims further refine the hinge mechanism and structural/manufacturing/material features.
Multi-hinge spring plate pivots a needle shield from open to enclosing
A needle guard with a mounting base configured for the needle and a first hinge structure including a spring member and a spring plate configured to pivot relative to a needle shield, a second hinge structure connecting the mounting base to the spring member, and a third hinge structure connecting the needle shield to the spring plate, wherein the spring plate pivots the needle shield from an open position to a second position enclosing the needle.
Aperture in the needle shield for receiving the spring plate
The needle shield includes an outer surface having an aperture for receiving the spring plate.
Adjacent third hinge pivots the needle shield relative to the first hinge structure
The third hinge structure is located adjacent to the needle shield and is adapted to pivot the needle shield relative to the first hinge structure.
Hinge structure placement relative to mounting base and needle shield
The second hinge structure is located between the mounting base and the first hinge structure, and the first hinge structure is located between the needle shield and the second hinge structure.
Needle hub bore for receiving the needle hub
The mounting base has a needle hub bore configured to receive a needle hub connected to a needle.
Thermoplastic/plastic/polymeric material for the needle guard
The needle guard is made from a thermoplastic, plastic, or polymeric material.
Overall, the claim set emphasizes a hinge-structured, spring-biased pivoting needle shield with defined aperture engagement and specific hinge adjacency/placement, together with a needle hub bore interface. Dependent subject matter further constrains features of the hinge subsystem and material/manufacturing form as described in the partial content.
Stated Advantages
The separate needle shield hinge enables independent pivoting of the needle shield relative to the hinge structure for improved positioning during packaging and storage.
The thermoplastic/plastic/polymeric monolithic injection molding can reduce cost and enable color coding and corrosion resistance.
Dead-center toggle joint functionality includes a dead-center position/angle range associated with snap action behavior.
Documented Applications
Protecting a human or animal from accidental contact with a needle connected to the needle guard.
Packaging and storage.
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