Sharps container for "no-touch," sequential safe storage of used pen needles

Abstract

A sharps container for safe storage of used pen needles comprises a housing within which is rotatably mounted a used pen needle receiving and ejecting means. Used pen needles are inserted into the receiving means. The receiving and ejecting means is rotated; during the rotation, cam follower means connected to the ejecting means engages cam means within the housing to cause the ejection of the used pen needle into the housing.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A sharps container for facilitating the safe manual, sequential feeding of cylindrically shaped used pen needles into said sharps container for safe storage therein, said used pen needles having a pre-selected outer diameter, said sharps container comprising:
 a housing;   a cover section, which together with the housing defines an internal storage space sized to facilitate the safe storage therein of a plurality of used pen needles, said housing and the cover section are configured to lock together;   an internal cam associated with the sharps container; and   a rotatable used pen needle receiver having an ejector mechanism associated therewith located within at least one of the housing and the cover section, said rotatable used pen needle receiver having a first position and a second position,   wherein the ejector mechanism of the rotatable used pen needle receiver is capable of cooperating with the internal cam upon rotation of the used pen needle receiver to convey a pen needle positioned within the used pen needle receiver in the first position to a second position and to eject the used pen needle within the internal storage space in the second position of the used pen needle receiver.   
     
     
         3 . The sharps container of  claim 2 , wherein the housing and the cover section include mutually engaging members. 
     
     
         4 . The sharps container of  claim 3 , wherein the housing has a rim. 
     
     
         5 . The sharps container of  claim 4 , wherein the cover section has a latch portion which co-acts with the rim of the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The sharps container of  claim 5 , wherein the latch portion is inwardly extending.