Needle safety guard adapted to attach to a liquid container
A needle safety guard device adapted to attach to a liquid container is provided. The device includes a disk-shaped shield having a medial opening connected with a radial opening between two radial edges. The device also includes a substantially U-shaped holder having two sidewalls coupled substantially perpendicular to the disk-shaped shield along the two radial edges, and a top cover connecting to the two sidewalls and extending from the shield above the radial opening. The U-shaped holder includes a wedged protrusion and a curved protrusion extending from each of the two sidewalls, the curved protrusion being between the top cover and the wedged protrusion for blocking a cap of the liquid container from moving toward the medial opening.
1. A needle safety guard device adapted to attach to a liquid container, the device comprising:
a disk-shaped shield having a medial opening connected with a radial opening between two radial edges; and
a substantially U-shaped holder having two sidewalls coupled substantially perpendicular to the disk-shaped shield along the two radial edges, and a top cover connecting to the two sidewalls and extending from the shield above the radial opening, wherein:
the U-shaped holder comprises a wedged protrusion and a curved protrusion extending from each of the two sidewalls, the curved protrusion being between the top cover and the wedged protrusion for blocking a cap of the liquid container from moving toward the medial opening.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the wedged protrusion has a tapered portion near an outer edge of the shield such that the tapered portion generates enough upward wedging force to remove the cap.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the disk-shaped shield comprises a recessed bottom portion below an outer circumferential edge of the disk-shaped shield and an inner circumferential edge around the medial opening.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the two radial edges are separated by a distance gradually decreasing toward the medial opening such that the liquid retainer is retained within the medial opening.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the two sidewalls and the wedged protrusion and the curved protrusion are substantially symmetric to the top cover.
6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the shield and raised U-shaped holder comprise a plastic.
7. A needle safety guard device adapted to attach to a liquid container, the device comprising:
a disk-shaped shield having a medial opening connected with a radial opening between two radial edges; and
a substantially U-shaped holder having two sidewalls coupled substantially perpendicular to the disk-shaped shield along the two radial edges, and a top cover connecting to the two sidewalls and extending from the shield above the radial opening, wherein:
the U-shaped holder comprises a wedged protrusion and a curved protrusion extending from each of the two sidewalls, the curved protrusion being between the top cover and the wedged protrusion for blocking a cap of the liquid container from moving toward the medial opening;
the wedged protrusion has a tapered portion near an outer edge of the shield such that the tapered portion generates enough upward wedging force to remove the cap;
the disk-shaped shield comprises a recessed bottom portion below an outer circumferential edge of the disk-shaped shield and an inner circumferential edge around the medial opening;
the two radial edges are separated by a distance gradually decreasing toward the medial opening such that the liquid retainer is retained within the medial opening;
the two sidewalls and the wedged protrusion and the curved protrusion are substantially symmetric to the top cover; and
the shield and raised U-shaped holder comprise a plastic.
8. A method for decapping a vial with a safety shield with a substantially U-shaped holder extending upward from a shield base, the method comprising:
placing the vial with a vial cap on a pair of wedged protrusions extending from two opposing sidewalls of the U-shaped holder, wherein the two opposing sidewalls are separated by a top wall of the U-shaped holder;
sliding the vial along the wedged protrusion toward a central opening;
forcing the vial against a pair of curved protrusions extending from the two sidewalls between the top wall and the wedged protrusions; and
retaining the vial cap within the substantially U-shaped holder and the vial within the central opening.