Safety packaging for hypodermic syringes with needles and the like

Abstract

A safety package (54) for preventing accidental skin pricking by a hypodermic syringe type needle (16) having a needle hub (14) joining the needle (16) to the syringe (18) and comprising a first tubular section (12) securable at its first end to the needle hub (14). A second tubular section (54) is secured at a first end to a hinge (56) and surrounds the needle (16) in a first position (FIG. 1) with a longitudinal slot (58) formed therein and positioned to pivot about the hinge (56) and away from the needle (16) to a second position (FIG. 2) with the needle (16) passing through the longitudinal slot (58, FIG. 3) to expose the needle (16) for use and, after use of the needle, to pivot the second tubular section (54) back to its first position. The second tubular section is axially connected to the first tubular section (12) and has its second end extending beyond the needle point and containing therein a non-attached, movable element (19) therein which is positioned to allow the second tubular section (54) to pivot away from the needle (16) before use of the needle, and which, after use of the needle and the pivoting back of the second tubular section (54) to its first position, is positionable by applying force thereto to grip the pointed end of the needle (16) to lock the needle point within the movable element (19) and the second tubular section (54) of the safety package in its first position.