Sharps disposal container with locking cover

Abstract

A portable medical sharps disposal device and methods are disclosed including a container having an opening for receiving items including medical sharps for disposal. A reversible cap or lid covers the opening of the container in two different orientations, and locks with the container for disposal. The cap or lid may be provided as having a one side for use in an unlocked orientation, with the cap or lid having another side for use in a locked or sealed orientation. Various embodiments are disclosed in which the cover may be flipped over, rotated, or slid with respect to the opening of the container to facilitate the respective unlocked or locked orientations. The device may alternatively be provided with an indicator for showing when the cover is in the unlocked orientation or when the cover is in the locked.

1 . A portable medical sharps disposal device, comprising:
 a container having an opening for receiving items including medical sharps for disposal; and   a cover having a first unlocked orientation with respect to the opening of the container for initial delivery; and   said cover having a second locked orientation with respect to the opening such that the cover locks with the container.   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the cover is reversible or rotatable with respect to the opening of the container as between the first unlocked orientation and the second locked orientation. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the cover comprises a first side for use with the first unlocked orientation and the cover comprises a second side for use with the second locked orientation. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the cover may be flipped over with respect to the opening of the container to provide respectively the first unlocked orientation and the second locked orientation. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the cover may be rotated about an axis with respect to the opening of the container to provide respectively the first unlocked orientation and the second locked orientation. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the cover may be slid with respect to the opening of the container to provide respectively the first unlocked orientation and the second locked orientation. 
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1  comprising an indicator for showing when the cover is in the first unlocked orientation and when the cover is in the second locked orientation. 
   
   
       8 . A portable medical sharps disposal device, comprising:
 a container having an opening for receiving items including medical sharps for disposal; and   a reversible cap or lid which covers the opening of the container in two different orientations and locks with said container.   
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 8  wherein the cap or lid comprises a first side for use with a first unlocked orientation and the cap or lid comprises a second side for use with a second locked orientation. 
   
   
       10 . A portable medical sharps disposal method, comprising:
 providing a container having an opening for receiving items including medical sharps for disposal;   releasably engaging a cover in a first unlocked orientation with respect to the opening of the container for initial delivery; and   lockingly engaging the cover in a second locked orientation with respect to the opening such that the cover locks with the container.   
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 10  wherein the cover may be flipped over with respect to the opening of the container to provide respectively the first unlocked orientation and the second locked orientation. 
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 10  wherein the cover may be rotated about an axis with respect to the opening of the container to provide respectively the first unlocked orientation and the second locked orientation. 
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 10  wherein the cover may be slid with respect to the opening of the container to provide respectively the first unlocked orientation and the second locked orientation. 
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 10  comprising an indicator for showing when the cover is in the first unlocked orientation and when the cover is in the second locked orientation. 
   
   
       15 . A portable medical sharps disposal device, comprising:
 a container having an opening for receiving items including medical sharps for disposal; and   a cover having a first side for use with the first unlocked orientation; and   said cover having a second side for use with the second locked orientation there upon the cover cannot be removed requiring disposal of the device.   
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 15  wherein the cover may be flipped over with respect to the opening of the container to provide respectively the first unlocked orientation and the second locked orientation. 
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 15  wherein the cover may be rotated about an axis with respect to the opening of the container to provide respectively the first unlocked orientation and the second locked orientation. 
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 15  wherein the cover may be slid with respect to the opening of the container to provide respectively the first unlocked orientation and the second locked orientation. 
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 15  comprising an indicator for showing when the cover is in the first unlocked orientation and when the cover is in the second locked orientation.