Locking safety needle protection system

Abstract

A needle protection safety package, instead of being enclosed in a pouch or other containment wrappings, has fitted thereto at respective ends thereof caps or sheaths so that both the needle and the end to which a syringe is adapted to mate remain enclosed and sterile. Such an arrangement enables easy transport of the safety needle package and provides convenience for the user at the same time. The safety package is further designed to prevent burring of the tip of the needle as the cap or sheath is removed from the needle portion of the package. The safety device of the safety package incorporates a locking mechanism which prevents contact between the needle and the housing as the housing is pivoted to envelop the needle after use.

I claim:  
     
       1. A safety device to be used with a needle comprising: 
       a base having a first end for mating with said needle  and a second end for mating with a syringe ;  
       a housing extending  pivotable from said base and pivotable  to a position in alignment with said base for enveloping said needle; and  
       means cooperating between said base and said housing for fixedly  non- reversibly  retaining said housing relative to said base when said housing is pivoted to said alignment position so that said housing could no longer be pivoted away from said base.  
     
     
       2. The safety device of claim  1 , wherein said retaining means comprises: 
       at least one aperture formed at said housing and at least one anchor means extending from said base for projecting through said aperture and anchoring said housing to said base when said housing is pivoted to said alignment position.  
     
     
       3. The safety device of claim  1 , wherein said retaining means comprises: 
       fingers formed at said housing lockingly fixed to  clasping corresponding flanges formed at said base when said housing is pivoted to said alignment position.  
     
     
       4. The safety device of claim  1 , wherein said retaining means comprises: 
       at least one pair of apertures formed at said housing lockingly mating with at least a corresponding pair of extensions formed at said base when said housing is pivoted to said alignment position.  
     
     
       5. A safety device, comprising: 
       a base having a first end matable with a needle  and a first locking portion;  
       a housing having a second locking portion and flexibly connected to said base, said housing  pivotable to an alignment position to envelop said  a needle extending from said first end;  
       wherein when said housing is pivoted to said alignment position, said first and second locking portions cooperate to fixedly  non- reversibly  retain said housing to said base so that said housing could no longer pivot away from said alignment position.  
     
     
       6. The safety device of claim  5 , wherein said first locking portion comprises at least one anchor means extending from said base and said second locking portion comprises at least one corresponding aperture formed at said housing such that, when said housing is pivoted to said alignment position, said anchor means projects through said aperture and is anchored thereto. 
     
     
       7. The safety device of claim  5 , wherein said first locking portion comprises flanges and said second locking portion comprises corresponding fingers for fixedly mating with  clasping said flanges when said housing is pivoted to said alignment position. 
     
     
       8. The safety device of claim  5 , wherein said first locking portion comprises at least one pair of extensions extending from said base and said second locking portion comprises at least one corresponding pair of apertures formed at said housing for lockingly mating with said extensions when said housing is pivoted to said alignment position. 
     
     
       9. Safety device of claim  1 , wherein said needle is mated to said first end of said base. 
     
     
       10. A needle protection apparatus, comprising: 
       
         a base;  
       
       
         a housing hingedly attached to said base, said housing being pivotable to a position substantially in alignment along a longitudinal axis of said base;  
       
         means cooperating between said base and said housing for non - reversibly retaining said housing to said base when said housing is pivoted to said alignment position, said housing and said base not movable away from each other once they are non - reversibly retained by said cooperating means.   
     
     
       11. Needle protection apparatus of claim  10 , further comprising: 
       
         a needle mated to and extending from said base, said needle being enveloped by said housing when said housing is pivoted to said alignment position. 
       
     
     
       12. Needle protection apparatus of claim  10 , wherein said cooperating means comprises: 
       
         at least one clasping portion formed at said housing; and  
       
       
         at least one corresponding portion formed at said base;  
       
         wherein said at least one clasping portion and said corresponding portion coact to non - reversibly maintain said housing relative to said base when said housing is pivoted to said alignment position.   
     
     
       13. Needle protection apparatus of claim  10 , wherein said cooperating means comprises: 
       
         a pair of clasping portions formed at said housing; and  
       
         a pair of corresponding portions formed at said base for non - reversibly mating with said clasping portions when said housing is pivoted to said alignment position.   
     
     
       14. Needle protection apparatus of claim  10 , wherein said cooperating means comprises: 
       
         at least one aperture formed at said housing; and  
       
         at least one anchor means extending from said base for projecting through said aperture to non - reversibly retain said housing to said base when said housing is pivoted to said alignment position.   
     
     
       15. Needle protection apparatus of claim  10 , wherein said cooperating means comprises: 
       
         at least one pair of apertures formed at said housing; and  
       
       
         at least a corresponding pair of extensions formed at said base for lockingly mating with said apertures when said housing is pivoted to said alignment position. 
       
     
     
       16. Safety apparatus, comprising: 
       
         a base;  
       
       
         a housing pivotable relative to said base; and  
       
         cooperating means respectively formed at said base and said housing engaging to each other for non - reversibly retaining said housing to said base when said housing is pivoted to a position in substantial alignment along a longitudinal axis of said base, said housing and said base not movable away from each other once said cooperating means at said base and housing are engaged to each other.   
     
     
       17. Safety apparatus of claim  16 , further comprising: 
       
         a needle mated to and extending from said base, said needle being enveloped by said housing when said housing is pivoted to said alignment position. 
       
     
     
       18. Safety apparatus of claim  16 , wherein said cooperating means comprises: 
       
         at least one finger formed at said housing; and  
       
       
         at least one corresponding flange formed at said base;  
       
         wherein said at least one finger and flange engagingly coact to non - reversibly retain said housing to said base when said housing is pivoted to said alignment position.   
     
     
       19. Safety apparatus of claim  16 , wherein said cooperating means comprises: 
       
         a pair of fingers formed at said housing; and  
       
       
         a corresponding pair of flanges formed at said base for matingly engaging with said fingers when said housing is pivoted to said alignment position. 
       
     
     
       20. Safety apparatus of claim  16 , wherein said cooperating means comprises: 
       
         at least one aperture formed at said housing; and  
       
         at least one anchor means extending from said base for projecting through said aperture to non - reversibly retain said housing to said base when said housing is pivoted to said alignment position.   
     
     
       21. Safety apparatus of claim  16 , wherein said cooperating means comprises: 
       
         at least one pair of apertures formed at said housing; and  
       
       
         at least a corresponding pair of extensions formed at said base for lockingly mating with said apertures when said housing is pivoted to said alignment position. 
       
     
     
       22. A needle protection apparatus, comprising: 
       
         a base;  
       
       
         a housing hingedly attached to said base, said housing being pivotable to a position substantially in alignment along a longitudinal axis of said base;  
       
         a pair of locking means on opposite sides of said base, and a pair of locking means on opposite sides of said housing such that said locking means on said base and housing engage one another for non - reversibly retaining said housing to said base when said housing is pivoted to said alignment position, said housing and said base not movable away from each other once said locking means at said base and housing are engaged to each other.   
     
     
       23. Safety apparatus, comprising: 
       
         a base;  
       
       
         a housing pivotable relative to said base; and  
       
         a pair of locking means on opposite sides of said base, and a pair of locking means on opposite sides of said housing such that said locking means on said base and housing engage one another for non - reversibly retaining said housing to said base when said housing is pivoted to said alignment position, said housing and said base not movable away from each other once said locking means at said base and housing are engaged to each other.   
     
     
       24. Needle protection apparatus of claim  12 , wherein said clasping portion comprises a finger and said corresponding portion comprises a flange. 
     
     
       25. Needle protection apparatus of claim  13 , wherein said pair of clasping portions each comprise a finger and said pair of corresponding portions each comprise a flange.