Multiple configuration disposable sharps container system

A secure disposable container assembly for disposal of medical sharps, comprising:

• an open top container defined by a bottom, a front wall, a back wall, and opposed side walls integral with and extending upward from said bottom terminating in an upper peripheral rim defining an upwardly directed rectangular opening;
• an elongated top cover having a longitudinal central axis having a front side and a back side and a lower peripheral edge with means for attachment to said upper peripheral rim for covering said upwardly directed rectangular opening;
• an elongated opening in said top cover disposed predominately to said front side of said central axis for receiving said medical sharps;
• and
• an elongated pivoting closure pivotally mounted about said longitudinal central axis within said top cover and comprising a receptacle area having a width about equal to the radius of said top cover normally disposed in a first position extending from proximate said axis horizontally outward solely to said front side of said central axis for normally closing said elongated opening and for receiving a disposable article and self-dumping in response thereto, and a curved portion jointed to and extending upward from proximate said central axis to a position above and on the back side of said central axis for and responsive to pivoting of said closure in response to said disposable article on said receptacle area for moving to a second position over and covering said elongated opening for preventing access to the interior of said container wherein said closure comprises an elongated member extending the length of said top, and said curved portion is defined by a semi-cylindrical portion extending along the axis thereof.

A secure disposable container assembly for disposal of medical sharps, comprising:

• an open top container defined by a bottom, a front wall, a back wall, and opposed side walls integral with and extending upward from said bottom terminating in an upper peripheral rim defining an upwardly directed rectangular opening;
• an elongated semi-cylindrical top cover having a longitudinal central axis having a front side and a back side and a lower peripheral edge with means for attachment to said upper peripheral rim for covering said upwardly directed rectangular opening;
• an elongated opening in said to cover extending from one end to proximate the center thereof and disposed predominately to said front side of said central axis for receiving said medical sharps;
• and
• an elongated pivoting closure pivotally mounted about said longitudinal central axis within said top cover and comprising a receptacle area having a width about equal to the radius of said top cover normally disposed in a first position extending from proximate said axis horizontally outward solely to said front side of said central axis for normally closing said elongated opening and for receiving a disposable article and self-dumping in response thereto, and a curved portion joined to and extending upward from proximate said central axis to a position above and on the back side of said central axis for and responsive to pivoting of said closure in response to said disposable article on said receptacle area for moving to a second position over and covering said elongated opening for preventing access to the interior of said container wherein said closure comprises an elongated member extending the length of said top, and said curved portion is defined by a semi-cylindrical portion extending along the axis thereof;
• a mounting bracket for mounting said container to a supporting structure comprising a generally rectangular back panel having first attaching means for attachment to a vertical support structure;
• and
• latching means at a lower edge of said back panel comprising a horizontally extending ledge, and a lower actuated cam for biasing a tab on said container into latching engagement with said ledge.

A secure disposable container assembly for disposal of medical sharps, comprising:

• an open top container defined by a bottom, a front wall, a back wall, and opposed side walls integral with and extending upward from said bottom terminating in an upper peripheral rim defining an upwardly directed rectangular opening;
• an elongated top cover having a longitudinal central axis having a front side and a back side and a lower peripheral edge with means for attachment to said upper peripheral rim for covering said upwardly directed rectangular opening;
• an elongated opening in said top cover defined by an elongated horizontally extending slot extending substantially the full length of said top cover and disposed predominately to said front side of said central axis for receiving said medical sharps;
• an elongated pivoting closure pivotally mounted about said longitudinal central axis within said top cover and comprising a receptacle area having a width about equal to the radius of said top cover normally disposed in a first position extending from proximate said axis horizontally outward solely to said front side of said central axis for normally closing said elongated opening and for receiving a disposable article and self-dumping in response thereto, and a curved portion joined to and extending upward from proximate said central axis through said elongated opening to a position above said top cover and on the back side of said central axis for and responsive to pivoting of said closure in response to said disposable article on said receptacle area for moving to a second position over and covering said elongated opening for preventing access to the interior of said container, wherein said closure comprises an elongated member extending the length of said top, and said curved portion is defined by a semi-cylindrical portion extending along the axis thereof;
• and
• an outer housing having a chamber and an access door for mounting said container in said housing, said housing having a top housing cover with an access slot for alignment with said elongated horizontally extending slot in said top cover of said container, and a curved cowling extending over said access slot and said curved portion of said pivoting closure.

A multiple mode secure disposable container assembly for disposal of medical sharps, comprising:

• a substantially rigid open top container defined by a bottom, a front wall, a back wall, and opposed side walls integral with and extending upward from said bottom terminating in an upper peripheral rim defining an upwardly directed rectangular opening;
• a plurality of attachment slots formed in said upper peripheral rim for attachment of an elongated top cover;
• said elongated top cover having a longitudinal central axis having a front side and a back side and a lower peripheral edge with a plurality of first locking tabs for extending into a first set of said attachment slots for attachment of said cover to said container in spaced relation for defining a shipping mode of said container, a second plurality of locking tabs for extending into a second plurality of said slots for attaching said top cover to said upper peripheral rim for covering said upwardly directed rectangular opening;
• an elongated horizontally extending access opening in said top cover disposed predominately to said front side of said central axis for receiving said medical sharps;
• and
• an elongated horizontally extending self dumping closure member extending the length of said top cover pivotally mounted about said central axis within said top cover and comprising a receptacle area having a width about equal to the radius of said top cover normally disposed in a first position extending horizontally outward from proximate said central axis solely to said front side of said central axis to a wall of said top cover and directly below said access opening for normally closing said access opening and for receiving a disposable article, and a curved portion joining said receptacle area proximate said central axis and extending upward from and on the back side of said central axis and responsive to pivoting of said closure member to a second position in response to said disposable article on said receptacle area for moving over and covering said access opening for preventing access to the interior of said container, said closure member includes locking means for permanently locking said closure member in said second position.

A secure disposable container assembly for disposal of medical sharps, comprising:

• a substantially rigid open top container defined by a bottom, a front wall, a back wall, and opposed side walls integral with and extending upward from said bottom terminating in an upper peripheral rim defining an upwardly directed rectangular opening;
• a plurality of attachment slots formed in said upper peripheral rim for attachment of an elongated semi-cylindrical top cover;
• said elongated top cover having a longitudinal central axis having a front side and a back side and a lower peripheral edge with a plurality of first locking tabs for extending into a first set of said attachment slots for attachment of said cover to said container in spaced relation for defining a shipping mode of said container, a second plurality of locking tabs for extending into a second plurality of said slots for attaching said top cover to said upper peripheral rim for covering said upwardly directed rectangular opening;
• an elongated horizontally extending access opening in said top cover extending from one end to proximate the center thereof and disposed predominately to said front side of said central axis for receiving said medical sharps and defining a self-contained mode of said container;
• an elongated horizontally extending self dumping closure member extending the length of said top cover pivotally mounted about said central axis within said top cover and comprising a receptacle area having a width about equal to the radius of said top cover normally disposed in a first position extending horizontally outward from proximate said central axis solely to said front side of said central axis to a wall of said top cover and directly below said access opening for normally closing said access opening and for receiving a disposable article, and a curved portion joining said receptacle area proximate said central axis and extending {outward and} upward from and on the back side of said central axis and responsive to pivoting of said closure member to a second position in response to said disposable article on said receptacle area for moving over and covering said access opening for preventing access to the interior of said container, said closure member includes locking means for permanently locking said closure member in said second position;
• a mounting bracket for mounting said container to a supporting structure comprising a generally rectangular back panel having first attaching means for attachment to a vertical support structure;
• and
• latching means at a lower edge of said back panel comprising a horizontally extending ledge, and a lower actuated cam for biasing a tab on said container into latching engagement with said ledge.

A secure disposable container assembly for disposal of medical sharps, comprising:

• a substantially rigid open top container defined by a bottom, a front wall, a back wall, and opposed side walls integral with and extending upward from said bottom terminating in an upper peripheral rim defining an upwardly directed rectangular opening;
• a plurality of attachment slots formed in said upper peripheral rim for attachment of an elongated top cover having a substantially flat top surface;
• said elongated top cover having a longitudinal central axis having a front side and a back side and a lower peripheral edge with a plurality of first locking tabs for extending into a first set of said attachment slots for attachment of said cover to said container in spaced relation for defining a shipping mode of said container, a second plurality of locking tabs for extending into a second plurality of said slots for attaching said top cover to said upper peripheral rim for covering said upwardly directed rectangular opening;
• an elongated horizontally extending access opening defined by a slot in said top cover extending substantially the length thereof and disposed predominately to said front side of said central axis for receiving said medical sharps;
• and
• an elongated horizontally extending self dumping closure member extending the length of said top cover pivotally mounted about said central axis within said top cover and comprising a receptacle area having a width about equal to the radius of said top cover normally disposed in a first position extending horizontally outward from proximate said central axis solely to said front side of said central axis to a wall of said top cover and directly below said access opening for normally closing said access opening and for receiving a disposable article, and a curved portion joining said receptacle area proximate said central axis and extending upward from from said access opening above said top cover and on the back side of said central axis for defining a disposable insert mode of said container and responsive to pivoting of said closure member to a second position in response to said disposable article on said receptacle area for moving over and covering said access opening for preventing access to the interior of said container, said closure member includes locking means for permanently locking said closure member in said second position;
• an outer housing having a chamber and an access door for mounting said container in said housing, said housing having a top housing cover with an access slot for alignment with said elongated horizontally extending access opening in the top cover of said container, and a curved cowling extending over said access slot and said curved portion of said pivoting closure.

A multiple mode secure disposable container system for disposal of medical sharps, comprising:

• a substantially rigid open top container defined by a bottom, a front wall, a back wall, and opposed side walls integral with and extending upward from said bottom terminating in an upper peripheral rim defining an upwardly directed rectangular opening;
• a plurality of attachment slots formed in said upper peripheral rim for receiving attachment tabs for attachment of an elongated top cover thereto;
• said elongated top cover having a longitudinal central axis having a front side and a back side and a lower peripheral edge with a plurality of first attachment tabs for extending into a first set of said attachment slots for attachment of said cover to said container in spaced relation for defining a shipping mode of said container for accommodating a shipping carton therein, a second plurality of attachment tabs for extending into a second plurality of said slots for attaching said top cover to said upper peripheral rim for secure covering of said upwardly directed rectangular opening;
• an elongated horizontally extending slot defining an access opening in said top cover disposed predominately on said front side of said central axis for providing access to the interior of said container for receipt of said medical sharps therein;
• and
• an elongated horizontally extending self-dumping closure member extending the length of said top cover pivotally mounted about said central axis within said top cover and comprising a receptacle area having a width about equal to the radius of said top cover normally disposed in a first position horizontally outward solely on said front side of said central axis and directly below said access opening for normally closing said opening and for receiving a disposable article, and a curved portion extending upward from proximate and on said back side of said central axis and responsive to pivoting of said closure member to a second position in response to said disposable article on said receptacle area for moving over and covering said access opening for preventing access to the interior of said container, said closure member includes locking means for permanently locking said closure member in said second position.