Low profile sharps container system

Abstract

A closure is provided for a medical waste receptacle defining a receptacle opening positioned to receive medical waste. The closure includes a hood positionable adjacent the receptacle opening of the medical waste receptacle. The hood has a limiting surface at least partially defining an access opening facilitating access to an interior of the hood. A door is mounted at least partially within the interior of the hood. The door is mounted for movement about a pivot axis between an opened position and a closed position. In the opened position, a support surface of the door substantially permits access through the access opening of the hood, and in the closed position, the support surface of the door substantially prevents access through the access opening of the hood. The door is biased by gravity to rotate from the closed position toward the opened position. The support surface of the door in the closed position forms an angle at least about 100° with respect to a horizontal plane. The door has a width and a depth defining the support surface, and the door has a width:depth ratio at least about 1.9:1. The door and the hood together define the access opening in the opened position, forming an access angle. The access angle is defined by the pivot axis of the door and the access opening, and is at least about 60°.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A closure for a medical waste receptacle defining a receptacle opening positioned to receive medical waste, said closure comprising: 
 a hood positionable adjacent the receptacle opening of the medical waste receptacle, said hood having a limiting surface at least partially defining an access opening facilitating access to an interior of said hood; and    a door mounted at least partially within said interior of said hood, said door being mounted for movement about a pivot axis between an opened position wherein a support surface of said door substantially permits access through said access opening of said hood and a closed position wherein said support surface of said door substantially prevents access through said access opening of said hood;    said door being biased by gravity to rotate from said closed position toward said opened position, said support surface of said door in said closed position forming an angle at least about 100° with respect to a horizontal plane;    said door having a width and a depth defining said support surface, said door having a width:depth ratio at least about 1.9:1; and    said door and said hood together defining said access opening in said opened position and forming an access angle defined by said pivot axis of said door and said access opening, said access angle being at least about 60°.    
     
     
         2 . The closure recited in  claim 1 , wherein said support surface of said door in said closed position forms an angle at least about 105° with respect to a horizontal plane.  
     
     
         3 . The closure recited in  claim 1 , wherein said door has a width:depth ratio at least about 2.2:1.  
     
     
         4 . The closure recited in  claim 1 , wherein said access angle is at least about 80°.  
     
     
         5 . The closure recited in  claim 1 , wherein said door is substantially planar.  
     
     
         6 . The closure recited in  claim 5 , wherein the plane of said door traverses through said pivot axis.  
     
     
         7 . The closure recited in  claim 1 , wherein said door rotates backwards from said opened position to said closed position.  
     
     
         8 . The closure recited in  claim 1 , wherein said door rotates forward from said closed position to said opened position.  
     
     
         9 . The closure recited in  claim 1 , wherein said pivot axis of said door is a vertex of said access angle.  
     
     
         10 . The closure recited in  claim 1 , wherein said closure further comprises a lid positionable adjacent said hood, said hood being supported by said lid.  
     
     
         11 . The closure recited in  claim 10 , wherein said lid has a portion contoured to deflect medical waste toward the medical waste receptacle.  
     
     
         12 . A closure for a medical waste receptacle defining a receptacle opening positioned to receive medical waste, said closure comprising: 
 a hood positionable adjacent the receptacle opening of the medical waste receptacle, said hood having a limiting surface at least partially defining an access opening facilitating access to an interior of said hood; and    a door mounted at least partially within said interior of said hood, said door being mounted for movement about a pivot axis between an opened position wherein a support surface of said door substantially permits access through said access opening of said hood and a closed position wherein said support surface of said door substantially prevents access through said access opening of said hood;    said door being biased by gravity to rotate from said closed position toward said opened position, said support surface of said door in said closed position forming an angle at least about 100° with respect to a horizontal plane; and    said door having a width and a depth defining said support surface, said door having a width:depth ratio at least about 1.9:1.    
     
     
         13 . The closure recited in  claim 12 , wherein said door and said hood together define said access opening in said opened position and form an access angle defined by said pivot axis of said door and said access opening, said access angle being at least about 60°.  
     
     
         14 . The closure recited in  claim 12 , wherein said support surface of said door in said closed position forms an angle at least about 105° with respect to a horizontal plane.  
     
     
         15 . The closure recited in  claim 12 , wherein said door has a width:depth ratio at least about 2.2:1.  
     
     
         16 . The closure recited in  claim 13 , wherein said access angle is at least about 80°.  
     
     
         17 . The closure recited in  claim 12 , wherein said door is substantially planar.  
     
     
         18 . The closure recited in  claim 18 , wherein the plane of said door traverses through said pivot axis.  
     
     
         19 . The closure recited in  claim 12 , wherein said door rotates backwards from said opened position to said closed position.  
     
     
         20 . The closure recited in  claim 12 , wherein said door rotates forward from said closed position to said opened position.  
     
     
         21 . The closure recited in  claim 12 , wherein said pivot axis of said door is a vertex of said access angle.  
     
     
         22 . The closure recited in  claim 12 , wherein said closure further comprises a lid positionable adjacent said hood, said hood being supported by said lid.  
     
     
         23 . The closure recited in  claim 22 , wherein said lid has a portion contoured to deflect medical waste toward the medical waste receptacle.  
     
     
         24 . A closure for a medical waste receptacle defining a receptacle opening positioned to receive medical waste, said closure comprising: 
 a hood positionable adjacent the receptacle opening of the medical waste receptacle, said hood having a limiting surface at least partially defining an access opening facilitating access to an interior of said hood; and    a door mounted at least partially within said interior of said hood, said door being mounted for movement about a pivot axis between an opened position wherein a support surface of said door substantially permits access through said access opening of said hood and a closed position wherein said support surface of said door substantially prevents access through said access opening of said hood;    said door having a width and a depth defining said support surface, said door having a width:depth ratio at least about 1.9:1; and    said door and said hood together defining said access opening in said opened position and forming an access angle defined by the pivot axis of said door and said access opening, said access angle being at least about 60°.    
     
     
         25 . The closure recited in  claim 24 , wherein said door is biased by gravity to rotate from said closed position toward said opened position, said support surface of said door in said closed position forming an angle at least about 100° with respect to a horizontal plane.  
     
     
         26 . The closure recited in  claim 24 , wherein said support surface of said door in said closed position forms an angle at least about 105° with respect to a horizontal plane.  
     
     
         27 . The closure recited in  claim 24 , wherein said door has a width:depth ratio at least about 2.2:1.  
     
     
         28 . The closure recited in  claim 24 , wherein said access angle is at least about 80°.  
     
     
         29 . The closure recited in  claim 24 , wherein said door is substantially planar.  
     
     
         30 . The closure recited in  claim 29 , wherein the plane of said door traverses through said pivot axis.  
     
     
         31 . The closure recited in  claim 24 , wherein said door rotates backwards from said opened position to said closed position.  
     
     
         32 . The closure recited in  claim 24 , wherein said door rotates forward from said closed position to said opened position.  
     
     
         33 . The closure recited in  claim 24 , wherein said pivot axis of said door is a vertex of said access angle.  
     
     
         34 . The closure recited in  claim 24 , wherein said closure further comprises a lid positionable adjacent said hood, said hood being supported by said lid.  
     
     
         35 . The closure recited in  claim 34 , wherein said lid has a portion contoured to deflect medical waste toward the medical waste receptacle.  
     
     
         36 . A closure for a medical waste receptacle defining a receptacle opening positioned to receive medical waste, said closure comprising: 
 a hood positionable adjacent the receptacle opening of the medical waste receptacle, said hood having a limiting surface at least partially defining an access opening facilitating access to an interior of said hood; and    a door mounted at least partially within said interior of said hood, said door being mounted for movement about a pivot axis between an opened position wherein a support surface of said door substantially permits access through said access opening of said hood and a closed position wherein said support surface of said door substantially prevents access through said access opening of said hood;    said door being biased by gravity to rotate from said closed position toward said opened position, said support surface of said door in said closed position forming an angle at least about 100° with respect to a horizontal plane; and    said door and said hood together defining said access opening in said opened position and forming an access angle defined by the pivot axis of said door and said access opening, said access angle being at least about 60°.    
     
     
         37 . The closure recited in  claim 36 , wherein said door has a width and a depth defining said support surface, said door having a width:depth ratio at least about 1.9:1.  
     
     
         38 . The closure recited in  claim 36 , wherein said support surface of said door in said closed position forms an angle at least about 105° with respect to a horizontal plane.  
     
     
         39 . The closure recited in  claim 37 , wherein said door has a width:depth ratio at least about 2.2:1.  
     
     
         40 . The closure recited in  claim 36 , wherein said access angle is at least about 80°.  
     
     
         41 . The closure recited in  claim 36 , wherein said door is substantially planar.  
     
     
         42 . The closure recited in  claim 41 , wherein the plane of said door traverses through said pivot axis.  
     
     
         43 . The closure recited in  claim 36 , wherein said door rotates backwards from said opened position to said closed position.  
     
     
         44 . The closure recited in  claim 36 , wherein said door rotates forward from said closed position to said opened position.  
     
     
         45 . The closure recited in  claim 36 , wherein said pivot axis of said door is a vertex of said access angle.  
     
     
         46 . The closure recited in  claim 36 , wherein said closure further comprises a lid positionable adjacent said hood, said hood being supported by said lid.  
     
     
         47 . The closure recited in  claim 46 , wherein said lid has a portion contoured to deflect medical waste toward the medical waste receptacle.