Sharps disposal assembly having user-friendly unwinding feature

Abstract

A sharps disposal assembly has a recessed unwinder opening in a container lid. The recess has a vertical wall portion integral with a horizontal platform for locating the bottom wall of a tube holder. Another vertical wall portion depending downwardly from the platform has a width congruent with the nose portion of the tube holder.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A sharps disposal assembly comprising: 
 a) a substantially rigid storage receptacle;    b) a cap for said receptacle comprising a flat top surface including a plate section, said plate section defining a plurality of openings into said receptacle;    c) a first wall means perpendicularly disposed downward from said plate section and having a width matching the length of a nose portion of a tube holder;    d) shelf means projecting horizontally from said first wall means; and    e) a second wall means projecting perpendicularly downward from said shelf means.    
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a shoulder projecting from said second wall means.  
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said plate section is slanted downwardly at an angle from the plane of said top surface.  
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein a first of said openings tapers from a wide end to a narrow end.  
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein a second of said openings is substantially rectangular and dimensioned to receive a large medical article.  
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said flat top surface defines a third annular opening containing an insert to engage a needle holder.  
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said cap further comprises a flap to cover one of said openings.  
     
     
         8 . A sharps disposal assembly comprising 
 a) a substantially rigid storage receptacle;    b) a cap for said receptacle having a flat top surface and a plate section, said plate section being slanted downwardly at an angle from the plane of said top surface and defining a plurality of openings into said receptacle, a first of said openings being a V-shaped unwinder opening;    c) a recess in said plate including said unwinder opening, said recess being bounded by a first vertical wall projecting downwardly from said plate section and circumscribing a horizontal platform, said platform connecting to a second vertical wall projecting downwardly from said platform and circumscribing a horizontal shelf, said shelf connecting to a third vertical wall, said second wall having a width matching the length of a nose portion of a tube holder; and    e) flaps affixed to said cap to cover said openings.    
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 8  wherein a second of said openings is substantially rectangular and dimensioned to receive a large medical article.  
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 9  wherein said flat top surface defines a third annular opening containing an insert to engage a needle holder.