Reusable plastic container for sharps waste with disposable internal recycled cardboard container

Abstract

The present invention concerns a reusable plastic container for sharps waste with a disposable internal recycled cardboard container, wherein a generator of medical waste can dispose of sharps waste in a reusable plastic container that contains a second disposable cardboard container, such that both containers can be sterilised in a pressurised steam autoclave and that the plastic container can be reused, while the internal cardboard container can be used only once, being disposable.

Description

[0001] REUSABLE PLASTIC CONTAINER FOR SHARPS AND CUTTING WASTE WITH RECYCLED DISPOSABLE CARDBOARD INTERNAL CONTAINER.

[0002] OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention considers the generation of medical waste so that it can be disposed of where said sharp and cutting waste is deposited in a reusable plastic container, inside of which is housed a second disposable cardboard container; in such a way that both containers can be sterilized in a pressurized steam autoclave and that the plastic container can be reused and the inner cardboard one only allows a single use being disposable.

[0004] To this end, the reusable plastic container described in the present invention comprises a main bucket or container, a reusable plastic lid, and a second disposable cardboard container with a mechanism attached to said cardboard container, which allows the lid of the reusable plastic container to be anchored to the disposable cardboard container; in such a way that, if said mechanism attached to said cardboard container is not deactivated, it prevents the cardboard container from being removed from said reusable plastic lid, unless it has been previously sterilized in the steam autoclave.

[0005] The disposable cardboard containers come folded, saving space and volume for storage, and can be easily unfolded and assembled when needed.

[0006] As a novel contribution of the present invention, it is important to take into consideration the extra volume of safety for disposing of waste in the container with a novel system that now allows, indeed, leaving a space between the lid of the container and the waste inlet.

[0007] The field of application of the invention is included within the sector of the manufacture and marketing of waste containers for sharps and cutting objects, thus allowing, in this way, not generating an environmental impact from disposable plastic containers for medical use, because the disposable one is the cardboard container.

[0008] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Utility model No. CN216495674 describes a sharp instrument box and relates to the field of medical waste collection devices. The utility model provides a sharp instrument box that is convenient for the batch entry of sharp instruments and offers good safety. The sharp instrument box comprises a box body and a box lid. The device further includes a box cover and a positioning structure.The support flanges are arranged on the top of the box body; the box sleeve wraps around the box body and can move up and down, and the top of the box sleeve is provided with a pressure flange; the box lid is hinged to the side surface of the box sleeve; when the box sleeve is located in the lower position, the support flange holds the box lid, and the pressure flange presses the box lid, so that the box lid covers the box body; when the box sleeve is in the upper position, the box lid opens by rotating; when the box sleeve is located in the lower and upper positions, the positioning structure limits the box sleeve from moving up and down.When sharp instruments are loaded or poured in batches, the positioning mechanism is activated to move the box cover upwards, placing it in a raised position. The raised cover then pushes the outer side of the box lid upwards, allowing the lid to open with a twisting motion. The lid opening is large, allowing for the convenient placement of sharp instruments in batches. The cover also serves a protective function, significantly increasing the height of the sharp instrument box and preventing the instruments from easily falling out.

[0010] Patent WO2017031434 describes a method for sterilizing medical waste that includes placing the medical waste in an elastic compression bag; dispensing fluid into the elastic compression bag; sealing the elastic compression bag; placing the sealed elastic compression bag in a container; placing the container inside a sterilization autoclave chamber; and sterilizing the medical waste by vaporizing the fluid using the sterilization autoclave chamber. A container system for containing medical waste includes a container comprising an outer support, an inner support disposed on the outer support, a protective padding disposed on the inner support to receive a sharp object, and a lid that is fixed to the outer support.The lid is configured to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise around a longitudinal axis of the outer support to provide at most partial access to the protective padding for the sharp object through one of a plurality of through-holes in the lid. The container system also includes a capsule to house the container; and a red cap attached to the capsule that closes the plurality of through-holes.

[0011] Patent EP1143868 describes a medical supply and sharps container (10) comprising a container body (11) with a lid (16). The medical device (S) can be dispensed to the user in the container (10). The lid (16) includes a cap or door (L) defining an entry slot into the container after the medical device (S) has been removed and the container has been converted into a sharps container (10). In one embodiment, a cap (L) defines an entry slot through the lid (16) for the disposal of medical waste material over an inclined conduit beneath the lid, such that a person's hand or fingers cannot pass through the entry slot into the container.In another form, a balanced cover and shelf arrangement is loosely attached to the lid so that a door located over an opening through the lid opens when the arrangement is attached to the lid and the door closes when the arrangement is removed from the lid.

[0012] As can be seen, none of the documents considered prior art for the present invention relate to a reusable container for disposing of sharps, which houses a second disposable cardboard container. This invention is characterized in that both containers can be sterilized in a pressurized steam autoclave, and the plastic container is reusable, while the inner cardboard container is for single use only. Currently, containers for disposing of medical sharps are single-use and made of plastic. Once filled with this waste, these containers are treated and disposed of in landfills.

[0013] The enormous amount of daily use of these types of single-use containers in all medical centers contributes drastically to the proliferation of discarded plastics in the environment. This novel invention allows for the reuse of the plastic container, requiring only the disposal of the inner cardboard container. The waste is not stored in the reusable plastic container, but rather in the disposable cardboard container, which can be recycled or decomposed more easily in the environment than plastic.

[0014] It should be mentioned that there are plastic waste containers on the market that have a raised lid to provide extra space for safety; however, this safety margin is not met because the system that closes the opening in the lid through which sharp waste is introduced is located at the top.

[0015] Nor are there any containers on the market that incorporate a passive radio frequency antenna label that allows you to know where the container is located or where it comes from when it passes under an active radio frequency antenna.

[0016] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The present invention relates to a reusable container characterized by being composed of two plastic pieces (a container or bucket and a lid). The lid has a recess where the deformable (high-temperature) plastic stud of the disposable cardboard container will be placed.

[0018] The disposable cardboard container is slid into the reusable plastic lid until the deformable plastic tab on the cardboard container engages in a recess in the lid. This secures the cardboard container to the lid, preventing it from being slid out or removed.

[0019] The peg has a rubber band attached to its body at both ends and under tension, so that the peg is in a resting position under tension from the rubber band.

[0020] When the reusable plastic container, which houses the disposable cardboard container inside, is placed inside a pressurized steam autoclave chamber, the high temperature generated by the autoclave will eventually deform the tab, and due to the retractable effect of the tensioned rubber, the tab will oscillate and come out of the hole in the reusable plastic lid, allowing the cardboard container to slide and separate from the reusable plastic lid.

[0021] Once this process is complete, another new disposable cardboard container can be placed in the container with a plastic lid for reuse.

[0022] It should be mentioned that the disposable cardboard container has a hole or opening through which to insert sharp waste and where there is also a cardboard gate or lid which, through a plastic piece anchored to the disposable cardboard container and the disposable cardboard lid, which acts as a rotational axis and allows it to oscillate; it can be opened and closed as many times as required by means of a reusable plastic piece housed in the center of the reusable plastic lid as a crank and which can be attached or connected at its end and by pressure to the plastic piece of the lid of the aforementioned cardboard container.

[0023] When the cardboard container is full, the lid can be closed as mentioned previously, and if we move the plastic part of the crank outwards, it will detach from the plastic axle of the disposable cardboard container, also preventing it from being reattached.

[0024] On the other hand, the rim of the opening in the disposable cardboard container will already be coated with heat-activated adhesive. When the heat from the autoclave softens this adhesive and the cardboard lid is in its closed position, the two parts (cardboard container and lid) will be bonded together. When the adhesive cools again, it will solidify and seal the lid, preventing it from being turned or opened.

[0025] In addition, another transparent plastic piece will be incorporated into the top of the reusable plastic lid. Its function is to raise the mouth (where sharp waste enters), detach it from the top of the lid, and leave a safety margin for filling the container.

[0026] The significant advantage of this system is that the cardboard lid of the container (which allows it to be opened and closed) is located at the bottom of the transparent plastic section. This means that when the cardboard lid is closed, there is now a space available, as the opening for depositing waste is located at the top of the plastic piece, away from the cardboard lid. This transparent lid contains a compartment or space for a QR code or a passive radio frequency antenna, enabling the reading and traceability of the waste and allowing its origin to be determined.

[0027] To complete the description being made and in order to provide a clear and precise understanding of the characteristics of the present invention, a set of drawings is included as an integral part thereof, through which, for illustrative but not limiting purposes, the following has been represented:

[0028] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0029] FIG 1. Shows a perspective representation of the unfolded parts of the reusable plastic container for sharp and pointed waste with a disposable cardboard inner container.

[0030] Figures 2a-2b show a perspective view of the disposable cardboard container with its parts or components. Figure 3a shows in detail how the disposable cardboard containers are folded to take up less space or volume during storage.

[0031] FIG 3b. Shows in detail how the disposable cardboard container is assembled or made.

[0032] FIG 4a-4c. They show a longitudinal section where you can see how the cardboard container is inserted, step by step, into the reusable plastic lid.

[0033] FIG 5a. Shows a representation of the reusable plastic container with its disposable cardboard container inside. It also shows how the container's pin is anchored in the lid's recess, preventing it from sliding back onto the lid and separating from it, thus securing it to the reusable plastic lid.

[0034] FIG 5b. Shows how the plastic pin deforms and retracts due to the heat of the autoclave chamber and the tension effect of the rubber housed at the bottom of the pin; thus releasing itself from the lock of the lid compartment of the reusable container.

[0035] FIG 6. Shows a representation of how the disposable cardboard container connects via the anchor piece attached to the lid to the rotating handle of the reusable plastic lid. Insert your fingers through the hole in the container and press the plastic shaft of the container upwards until you hear a “click” and it is locked into the rotating handle of the plastic lid.

[0036] FIG 7. Shows the tab of the disposable cardboard container inside the reusable plastic lid, thus preventing it from sliding back and detaching from the reusable plastic lid.

[0037] FIG 8. Shows a representation of one possible method for introducing sharps and cutting waste into the container. FIG 9. Shows how, once the waste container is full, the lid is rotated and closed, and the rotating shaft of the reusable lid is moved upwards, detaching from the plastic piece on the container shaft.

[0038] FIG 10. Shows how the container on top of the reusable lid has a housing to accommodate either a QR code (19) or an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification Tag) or passive radio frequency antenna (20).

[0039] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0040] The present invention relates to a reusable container (1) for the disposal of sharp and cutting waste, inside of which is housed a second disposable cardboard container (2); characterized in that both containers can be sterilized in a pressurized steam autoclave and that the plastic container can be reused and the inner cardboard container only allows for single use.

[0041] The reusable container with a disposable cardboard container is composed (see figure 1) of: a reusable plastic container of different capacities (1); inside it is housed the disposable cardboard container (2) which consists of an impenetrable cardboard lid (3), a plastic piece as an axle driven to said cardboard lid (4), a thermoformable plastic stud piece (8) which has an elastic band incorporated (9), a cardboard appendage to place the flaps of the container packaging (14), a chemical indicator (15) of color change by steam sterilization and an area where a hot melt glue is housed (11) (see figure 3a).

[0042] It should be mentioned that the peg (8) has a tensioned rubber (9) incorporated and anchored at its ends to its body, so that the peg is in a resting position tensioned by the rubber.

[0043] Furthermore, the present invention includes a plastic axle (5) for rotating the container lid by attaching it to the cardboard axle, a reusable plastic lid (6) for attaching the container to the lid and closing it, symmetrical plastic pieces (16), a transparent plastic piece providing a safety zone where needles are released and which also houses a QR code or passive radio frequency antenna (7), an internal recess in the lid (10) to accommodate the stud of the thermoformable plastic piece of the container (8), a housing for a passive radio frequency antenna label (19), and a QR code (20) (see Figure 10). The openings in the transparent piece (13), the plastic lid (12), and the container (17) through which the sharps waste is inserted and stored in the disposable container are also indicated.

[0044] The present invention allows for the connection between the disposable cardboard container and the reusable plastic lid, via the anchoring piece (5) fixed to the lid with the rotating handle of the reusable plastic lid. In this operation, the fingers are inserted through the hole in the container and the plastic shaft of the container is pressed upwards until a "click" is heard, at which point it is anchored to the rotating handle of the plastic lid.

[0045] It should be noted that once the waste container is full, the lid (3) is turned and closed, and the rotating shaft of the reusable lid moves upwards, detaching from the plastic piece on the container's shaft. This prevents the lid from being reopened, as the latches between the two parts are now separated. Furthermore, the two parts cannot be reconnected because the lid is now closed, and it is impossible to reach inside the container to re-engage them.

[0046] Once the container is closed, it is sterilized by the steam autoclave and the heat generated by it softens the glue covering the waste inlet hole of the disposable container and when it cools, the lid of the container will stick to the body of the container.

[0047] During this sterilization process, the plastic pin (8) is deformed and retracted by the heat of the autoclave chamber and by the tension effect of the rubber housed at the bottom of the pin; thus releasing it from the lock of the lid compartment of the reusable container.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A reusable plastic container for sharps and cutting waste, characterized in that it comprises: a main reusable bucket or container, a reusable plastic lid and a second disposable cardboard container, with a mechanism coupled to said disposable cardboard container that allows anchoring between the lid of the reusable plastic container and the disposable cardboard container; wherein the mechanism coupled to said disposable cardboard container is not deactivated unless it has been previously sterilized in a steam autoclave.

2. The reusable plastic container for sharp and cutting waste according to claim 1, wherein the disposable cardboard container is formed by an impenetrable cardboard lid, a plastic piece as an axle driven to said cardboard lid, a thermoformable plastic stud piece, a cardboard appendage for locating the container packaging flaps, a chemical indicator, and an area where a hot melt adhesive is housed.

3. The reusable plastic container for sharp and cutting waste according to claim 2, wherein the pin has a tensioned rubber band (9) incorporated and anchored at its ends to its body, such that the pin is in a rest position tensioned by the rubber band.

4. The reusable plastic container for sharp and cutting waste according to claim 1, wherein the coupled mechanism contains a gate or lid also made of cardboard which, through a plastic piece anchored to the disposable cardboard container and the disposable cardboard lid, acts as a rotational axis and allows the oscillation thereof; it allows opening and closing as many times as required through a reusable plastic piece housed in the center of the reusable plastic lid as a crank and which can be coupled or connected at its end and by pressure to the plastic piece of the lid of the cardboard container.

5. The reusable plastic container for sharps waste according to claim 1, wherein the second disposable cardboard container has a chemical indicator that changes color upon steam sterilization.

6. The reusable plastic container for sharps waste according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive covering the waste inlet opening of the disposable container is heat-fusible upon steam sterilization.

7. The reusable plastic container for sharp and cutting waste according to claim 1, wherein the reusable plastic lid has a housing for a QR code or a passive radio frequency antenna label.

Images