IP Library Granted Patent US 11,559,369
Granted Patent B2
US 11,559,369 · App. 16/845,842 · Granted Jan 24, 2023

Sharps container

Inventors: James Burgess (Lake Bluff, IL); Scott Bedoe (McHenry, IL); Hongmeng Tian (Shenzhen, CN)
Assignee: Medline Industries, LP
A61B50/36A61B50/362A61B50/37A61B2050/005A61B2050/375
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,559,369
App. No.
16/845,842
Granted
Jan 24, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A container for disposal of medical waste is provided that comprises a receptacle with an open top. A lid is attached to the receptacle to cover the open top of the receptacle. The lid has an elongated opening sized to permit the introduction of medical waste into the receptacle. A closure flap is connected to the lid to selectively close the lid opening. The closure flap is movable between an open position, a closed position and a locked position. The closure flap is attached to the lid by axial hubs that extend from each side of the closure flap through openings in the side walls of the lid. Covers attached to the outside of the side wall of the lid and engaged with the closure flap axial hub. The container may also include a locking external cabinet that encloses the receptacle and can be mounted to a wall.

Claims (34)

1. A container for disposal of medical waste comprising:

a cabinet comprising a first wall; and

a disposable container positioned within the cabinet, the disposable container comprising:

a receptacle having an open top, a bottom wall and a side wall;

a lid attached to the receptacle, the lid comprising a top wall, a back wall, a front wall having an opening sized to permit the introduction of medical waste into the receptacle, and a side wall;

a closure flap movable between an open position and a closed position, the closure flap comprising an axial hub extending from a side of the closure flap through an opening in the lid side wall; and

a cover attached to an outside surface of the lid side wall and covering a portion of the closure flap axial hub that extends through the lid side wall opening;

wherein the cabinet is selectively openable to remove the disposable container, and the cabinet first wall restricts access to the disposable container cover.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein the cabinet further comprises a second wall and a hinge connecting the first wall with the second wall.

3. The container of claim 2 wherein the second wall pivots on the hinge to open the cabinet.

4. The container of claim 3 wherein the first wall is a side wall and the second wall is a front wall.

5. The container of claim 1 wherein the cabinet further comprises a second wall, a third wall, and a hinge connecting the second wall with the third wall.

6. The container of claim 5 wherein the second wall is a front wall and the third wall is a bottom wall.

7. The container of claim 1 wherein the cabinet further comprises a fastener securing the cabinet to a surface.

8. The container of claim 7 wherein the fastener is only accessible when the cabinet is open.

9. A container for disposal of medical waste comprising:

a cabinet comprising a bottom wall, a rear wall, a side wall, and a front wall; and

a disposable container positioned within the cabinet, the disposable container comprising:

a receptacle having an open top, a bottom wall and a side wall;

a lid attached to the receptacle, the lid comprising a top wall, a back wall, a front wall having an opening sized to permit the introduction of medical waste into the receptacle, and a side wall;

a closure flap movable between an open position and a closed position, the closure flap comprising an axial hub extending from a side of the closure flap through an opening in the lid side wall; and

a cover attached to an outside surface of the lid side wall and covering a portion of the closure flap axial hub that extends through the lid side wall opening;

wherein the cabinet side wall covers and restricts access to the disposable container cover.

10. The container of claim 9 wherein the cabinet is selectively opened to remove the disposable container.

11. The container of claim 10 wherein the cabinet further comprises a hinge.

12. The container of claim 11 wherein the front wall of the cabinet is hinged to the side wall of the cabinet, and the front wall swings open to remove the disposable container from the cabinet.

13. The container of claim 11 wherein the front wall of the cabinet is hinged to the bottom wall of the cabinet, and the front wall swings open to remove the disposable container from the cabinet.

14. The container of claim 10 wherein the cabinet further comprises a lock.

15. The container of claim 14 wherein the lock comprises a keyed lock.

16. The container of claim 10 wherein the cabinet is secured to a surface.

17. The container of claim 16 wherein the surface is a surface of an object chosen from the group of objects consisting of a wall, a desk, a table, a counter, a door, or a cabinet.

18. The container of claim 16 wherein the cabinet is secured to the surface by a fastener.

19. The container of claim 18 wherein the fastener is a mechanism chosen from the group of mechanisms consisting of a screw, a nail, adhesive, or hook-and-loop.

20. The container of claim 11 wherein the fastener is only accessible when the cabinet is opened and the disposable container is removed.

Assignments (7)
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 28, 2026
From: MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, LP
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 075643/0462 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 20, 2025
From: MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, LP
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071672/0100 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE APPLICATION NUMBER PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 057787 FRAME: 0814. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Mar 1, 2022
From: MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, INC.
To: MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, LP
Reel/Frame 059277/0151 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 21, 2021
From: MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, LP
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 057927/0091 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 21, 2021
From: MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, LP
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 058040/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 12, 2021
From: MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, INC.
To: MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, LP
Reel/Frame 057787/0814 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 10, 2020
From: BURGESS, JAMES; BEDOE, SCOTT; TIAN, HONGMENG
To: MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 052367/0701 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 16436920 · Jun 11, 2019
Continuation 14921586 · Oct 23, 2015
Related Publication 20200237473A1 · Jul 30, 2020