Medical waste receptacle

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;

a chute extending below the cover opening for directing medical waste into the interior of the medical waste receptacle base;

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 interior of the medical waste receptacle base, 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 skirt operatively connected to the closure, said skirt sweeping medical waste on the chute toward the waste receptacle base interior as the closure moves from the closed position to the open position, the skirt being separable from the chute as the closure moves from the open position to the closed position to pass over medical waste positioned on the chute.

2. A lid as set forth in claim 1 wherein the closure translates with respect to the cover when moving between the open position and the closed position.

3. A lid as set forth in claim 2 wherein the skirt is pivotably connected to the closure.

4. A lid as set forth in claim 3 further comprising a stop operatively connected to the skirt for preventing the skirt from separating from the chute when the closure is in the open position.

5. 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 chute extending below the cover opening for directing medical waste into the interior of the base;

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 interior of the base, 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 skirt operatively connected to the closure, said skirt sweeping medical waste on the chute toward the waste receptacle base interior as the closure moves from the closed position to the open position, the skirt being separable from the chute as the closure moves from the open position to the closed position to pass over medical waste positioned on the chute.

6. 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 chute extending below the cover opening for directing medical waste into the interior of the medical waste receptacle base;

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 interior of the medical waste receptacle base, 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 skirt operatively connected to the closure, said skirt being biased toward the chute and adapted to sweep medical waste on the chute toward the interior of the medical waste receptacle base, the skirt being separable from the chute as the closure moves from the open position to the closed position to pass over medical waste positioned on the chute.

7. A lid as set forth in claim 6 wherein the skirt sweeps medical waste on the chute toward the waste receptacle base interior as the closure moves from the closed position to the open position.

8. A lid as set forth in claim 7 wherein the skirt sweeps medical waste on the chute toward the waste receptacle base interior as the closure moves from the closed position to the open position.

9. A lid as set forth in claim 6 wherein the closure translates with respect to the cover when moving between the open position and the closed position.

10. A lid as set forth in claim 9 wherein the skirt is pivotably connected to the closure.

11. A lid as set forth in claim 10 further comprising a stop operatively connected to the skirt for preventing the skirt from separating from the chute when the closure is in the open position.

12. A lid as set forth in claim 6 wherein the skirt is biased by gravity toward the chute.

13. 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 chute extending below the cover opening for directing medical waste into the interior of the base;

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 interior of the base, 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 skirt operatively connected to the closure, said skirt being biased toward the chute for sweeping medical waste on the chute toward the interior of the base, the skirt being separable from the chute as the closure moves from the open position to the closed position to pass over medical waste positioned on the chute.

14. A lid as set forth in claim 13 wherein the skirt sweeps medical waste on the chute toward the interior of the base as the closure moves from the closed position to the open position.

15. A lid as set forth in claim 13 wherein the skirt sweeps medical waste on the chute toward the interior of the base as the closure moves from the closed position to the open position.