Needle incinerator

Abstract

The invention provides an incinerator adapted for disintegrating metal needles and lancets such as are used in the medical profession. An incinerator is provided that includes first and second electrodes, each having a contact edge spaced apart in an overlapping relationship to one another. The second electrode is rotated relative to the first electrode so as to define a tapered gap between the contact edges. A controlled power source is selectively interconnected to the first and second electrodes, with both being supported by a housing. The housing defines an opening adjacent to the electrodes for receiving metal, such as hypodermic needles, interveinous needles, lancets, etc., to be incinerated by the electrodes. In another embodiment of the invention, a residue collection drawer is slidably mounted within the housing adjacent to the electrodes so as to capture residue from the incineration. An electrode broom is movably mounted within the housing or the drawer, adjacent to the gap between the electrodes, so as to be movable against the contact edges thereby to remove a build-up of debris resulting from incineration.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A metal incinerator comprising: 
 first and second electrodes each having a contact edge spaced apart in an overlapping relationship to each other, wherein said second electrode is rotated relative to said first electrode so as to define a tapered gap between said contact edges;    a controlled power source selectively interconnecting said first and second electrodes; and    a housing supporting said electrodes and said power source and defining an opening adjacent to said electrodes for receiving metal to be incinerated by said electrodes.    
     
     
         2 . An incinerator according to  claim 1  wherein said first electrode comprises a substantially straight and elongate mounting arm having a through hole defined along its length and a needle engagement plate positioned at one end.  
     
     
         3 . An incinerator according to  claim 2  wherein said through-hole is sized to receive a portion of a mounting bolt for securely fastening said first electrode to a portion said housing.  
     
     
         4 . An incinerator according to  claim 3  wherein said needle engagement plate comprises a substantially flat surface defining said contact edge.  
     
     
         5 . An incinerator according to  claim 2  wherein said first electrode is mounted to a portion of said housing so that said mounting arm is oriented substantially parallel to a sidewall of said housing, with said contact edge disposed substantially under said opening.  
     
     
         6 . An incinerator according to  claim 2  wherein said first electrode is oriented at an angle of between about twelve degrees to about twenty-five degrees relative to said mounting arm.  
     
     
         7 . An incinerator according to  claim 2  wherein said first electrode is oriented at an angle of about seventeen degrees relative to said mounting arm.  
     
     
         8 . An incinerator according to  claim 1  wherein said second electrode comprises a substantially straight and elongate mounting arm having a through hole defined along its length, a bent end portion, and a needle engagement plate positioned on a top surface of said bent end.  
     
     
         9 . An incinerator according to  claim 8  wherein said through-hole is sized to receive a portion of a mounting bolt for securely fastening said second electrode to a portion said housing.  
     
     
         10 . An incinerator according to  claim 9  wherein said needle engagement plate comprises a substantially flat surface defining said contact edge.  
     
     
         11 . An incinerator according to  claim 8  wherein said second electrode is mounted to a portion of said housing so that said mounting arm is oriented substantially parallel to a sidewall of said housing, with said contact edge disposed substantially under said opening.  
     
     
         12 . An incinerator according to  claim 8  wherein said second electrode is oriented at an angle of between about thirty-five degrees to about fifty degrees relative to said mounting arm.  
     
     
         13 . An incinerator according to  claim 8  wherein said second electrode is oriented at an angle of about forty-five degrees relative to said mounting arm.  
     
     
         14 . An incinerator according to  claim 1  wherein said second electrode is oriented rotationally oriented relative to said opening at an angle of between about two degrees and about six degrees.  
     
     
         15 . An incinerator according to  claim 8  wherein said second electrode is oriented rotationally oriented relative to said first electrode at an angle of about four degrees relative to said opening.  
     
     
         16 . An incinerator according to  claim 1  comprising a residue collection drawer slidably mounted within said housing adjacent said first and second electrodes.  
     
     
         17 . A needle incinerator according to  claim 16  comprising a momentary action switch electrically interconnected between said power source and said first and second electrodes and positioned within said housing so that when said residue collection drawer is positioned fully within said housing said momentary action switch is fully actuated thereby allowing power to flow to said first and second electrodes.  
     
     
         18 . A needle incinerator for disposing of needles comprising: 
 a housing having an opening therein for receiving a needle,    needle destruction means disposed within said housing adjacent said opening for contacting and destroying said needle; and    a residue collection drawer slidably mounted within said housing adjacent said needle destruction means.    
     
     
         19 . A needle incinerator according to  claim 18  wherein said residue collection drawer comprises four sidewalls and a bottom that together form an open receptacle that is sized and shaped to be slid through said opening of said housing and beneath said needle destruction means so as to collect the waste residue formed as a result of incineration of a plurality of needles.  
     
     
         20 . A needle incinerator according to  claim 19  wherein two of said sidewalls are oriented longitudinally relative to said bottom and include a recessed channel that is sized and shaped to receive corresponding guide rail located on a lower portion of said housing wherein said recessed channels and guide rails cooperate when said residue drawer is slid into and out of said opening so to properly align said residue drawer within said housing.  
     
     
         21 . A needle incinerator according to  claim 18  comprising a power source adapted for providing power to said needle destruction means and a momentary action switch electrically interconnected between said power source and said needle destruction means and positioned within said housing so that when said residue collection drawer is positioned fully within said housing said momentary action switch is fully actuated thereby allowing power to flow to said needle destruction means.  
     
     
         22 . A metal incinerator comprising: 
 first and second electrodes each having a contact edge spaced apart in an overlapping relationship to each other, wherein said second electrode is rotated relative to said first electrode so as to define a tapered gap between said contact edges;    a controlled power source selectively interconnecting said first and second electrodes;    a housing supporting said electrodes and said power source and defining an opening adjacent to said electrodes for receiving metal to be incinerated by said electrodes; and    an electrode broom movably mounted within said housing adjacent said gap so as to be movable against said contact edges thereby to remove a build-up of debris resulting from incineration of said metal.    
     
     
         23 . A metal incinerator according to  claim 22  wherein said electrode broom comprises an elongate rod having means for brushingly engaging said contact edges.  
     
     
         24 . A metal incinerator according to  claim 22  wherein said electrode broom comprises at least one of an abrasive wire, a plate, and a bristle assembly fastened to an end adjacent to said contact edges.  
     
     
         25 . A metal incinerator according to  claim 22  wherein said electrode broom is sized and shaped to be slid within said tapering gap, from a narrowest end to a widest end, and back, so as to scrape and brush residue from said contact edges.  
     
     
         26 . A metal incinerator according to  claim 23  comprising a residue collection drawer slidably mounted within said housing adjacent said first and second electrodes wherein said rod is fastened to a sidewall of residue drawer.  
     
     
         27 . A metal incinerator according to  claim 26  wherein said rod projects upwardly relative to said bottom of said residue collection drawer, with said electrode broom so that when said residue collection drawer is slid into said opening of said housing, said electrode broom is in coaxial aligned relation with said gap and spaced away from said first and said second electrodes.  
     
     
         28 . A metal incinerator comprising: 
 first and second electrodes each having a contact edge spaced apart in an overlapping relationship to each other, wherein said second electrode is rotated relative to said first electrode so as to define a tapered gap between said contact edges;    a controlled power source selectively interconnecting said first and second electrodes;    a housing supporting said electrodes and said power source and having an opening for receiving metal to be incinerated by said electrodes and a residue collection drawer slidably mounted within said housing adjacent said first and second electrodes; and    an electrode broom mounted to said residue collection drawer and adjacent said gap so as to be movable within said gap and against said contact edges thereby to remove build-up of debris resulting from incineration of said metal.    
     
     
         29 . A needle incinerator according to  claim 18  comprising a momentary action switch electrically interconnected between said power source and said first and second electrodes and positioned within said housing so that when said residue collection drawer is positioned fully within said housing said momentary action switch is fully actuated thereby allowing power to flow to said first and second electrodes.