Medical waste receptable

1. A lid for covering an interior of a medical waste receptacle base, said lid comprising:

a cover sized and shaped for covering the interior of the medical waste receptacle base, the cover having an opening sized for passing medical waste therethrough;

an intermediate waste repository connected to the cover, said repository being moveable between a holding position adapted for holding waste segregated from the receptacle base interior, and a dumping position adapted for biasing waste by gravity into the receptacle base interior;

a closure sized for blocking the opening operatively connected to the cover for movement between an open position, in which the closure is at least partially out of alignment with the opening to allow medical waste to pass through the opening toward the intermediate waste repository, and a closed position, in which the closure is aligned with the opening to block the opening to prevent medical waste from passing through the opening, the closure comprising a door slidably attached to the cover for movement between the open position and the closed position; and

a link operatively connecting the closure and the intermediate waste repository so the intermediate waste repository moves to the dumping position as the closure moves to the closed position and so the intermediate waste repository moves to the holding position as the closure moves to the open position.

2. A lid as set forth in claim 1 wherein the intermediate waste repository comprises a hopper pivotally mounted on the cover.

3. A lid as set forth in claim 2 wherein the cover includes a chute positioned for directing medical waste from the opening to the hopper when the waste repository is in the holding position.

4. A lid as set forth in claim 2 wherein the hopper comprises opposing walls at least in part defining a volume sized and shaped for receiving medical waste.

5. A lid as set forth in claim 4 wherein the cover includes a chute positioned for directing medical waste from the opening to the hopper when the waste repository is in the holding position.

6. A lid as set forth in claim 5 wherein the walls of the hopper include an upper wall, which engages a lower end of the chute when the repository is in the dumping position, and a lower wall, which engages the lower end of the chute when the repository is in the holding position.

7. A lid as set forth in claim 6 wherein the hopper is V-shaped.

8. A lid as set forth in claim 6 wherein the link comprises a cam connected to one of the closure and the intermediate waste repository and a follower operatively engaging the cam extending from another of the closure and the intermediate waste repository.

9. A lid as set forth in claim 8 wherein:

the cam is connected to the intermediate waste repository; and

the follower extends from the closure.

10. A lid as set forth in claim 9 wherein the cam extends downward from a lower surface of the upper wall.

11. A lid as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

the closure comprises an arm extending downward from the door and beside the upper wall of the hopper; and

the follower extends between the upper and lower walls of the hopper to engage the cam.

12. A lid as set forth in claim 11 wherein:

the cam includes a camming surface that the follower engages; and

a first portion of the camming surface extends parallel to a direction in which the door slides when moving from the open position to the closed position so the repository stays in the holding position until the door is between the open position and the closed position.

13. A lid as set forth in claim 12 wherein a second portion of the camming surface extends parallel to a direction in which the door slides when moving from the closed position to the open position so the repository stays in the dumping position until the door is between the closed position and the open position.

14. A lid as set forth in claim 13 wherein said first and second portions of the camming surface are joined by a smooth transitional portion of the camming surface.

15. A medical waste receptacle comprising:

a base having an interior sized and shaped for receiving medical waste;

a cover sized and shaped for covering the interior of the base, the cover having an opening sized for passing medical waste therethrough;

an intermediate waste repository connected to the cover, said repository being moveable between a holding position adapted for holding waste segregated from the receptacle base interior, and a dumping position adapted for biasing waste by gravity into the receptacle base interior;

a closure formed separately from the intermediate waste repository and sized for blocking the opening operatively connected to the cover for movement between an open position, in which the closure is at least partially out of alignment with the opening to allow medical waste to pass through the opening toward the intermediate waste repository, and a closed position, in which the closure is aligned with the opening to block the opening to prevent medical waste from passing through the opening; and

a link operatively connecting the closure and the intermediate waste repository, said link moving the intermediate waste repository to the dumping position as the closure moves to the closed position and moving the intermediate waste repository to the holding position as the closure moves to the open position.

16. A lid for covering an interior of a medical waste receptacle base, said lid comprising:

a cover sized and shaped for covering the interior of the medical waste receptacle base, the cover having an opening sized for passing medical waste therethrough;

a closure sized for blocking the opening operatively connected to the cover for movement between an open position, in which the closure is at least partially out of alignment with the opening to allow medical waste to pass through the opening, and a closed position, in which the closure is aligned with the opening to block the opening to prevent medical waste from passing through the opening; and

an intermediate waste repository operatively connected to the closure so the repository moves from a holding position adapted for holding waste segregated from the receptacle base interior to a dumping position adapted for biasing waste by gravity into the receptacle base interior as the closure moves to the open position and so the repository moves from the dumping position to the holding position as the closure moves to the closed position; and

wherein the closure moves at least partway from the open position to the closed position before the repository moves from the holding position toward the dumping position.

17. A lid as set forth in claim 16 wherein the closure moves at least partway from the closed position to the open position before the repository moves from the dumping position toward the holding position.

18. A medical waste receptacle comprising:

a base having an interior sized and shaped for receiving medical waste;

a cover sized and shaped for covering the interior of the base, the cover having an opening sized for passing medical waste therethrough;

a closure sized for blocking the opening operatively connected to the cover for movement between an open position, in which the closure is at least partially out of alignment with the opening to allow medical waste to pass through the opening, and a closed position, in which the closure is aligned with the opening to block the opening to prevent medical waste from passing through the opening; and

an intermediate waste repository operatively connected to the closure so the repository moves from a holding position adapted for holding waste segregated from the interior to a dumping position adapted for biasing waste by gravity into the interior as the closure moves to the open position and so the repository moves from the dumping position to the holding position as the closure moves to the closed position; and

wherein the closure moves at least partway from the open position to the closed position before the repository moves from the holding position toward the dumping position.

19. A waste receptacle as set forth in claim 18 wherein the closure moves at least partway from the closed position to the open position before the repository moves from the dumping position toward the holding position.