Hypodermic needle safety clip

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In one embodiment of a unitary needle safety clip, as illustrated in FIG.
1, a thin piece of metal, molded plastic or other suitable material is formed in a manner such that when it is installed on a needle, forces are directed in minimally two opposing directions, at the same time, toward a common axis defined by the needle.
In the embodiments of FIGS.
1 and 2 the unitary clip 20 has a hole 22 which is sized to accommodate a hypodermic needle 24.
An alignment portion 26 of clip 20 has a slightly angled engagement surface which is substantially parallel to the hypodermic needle 24.
The alignment portion engagement surface has a guide means 28 which maintains the safety clip 20 in alignment with the needle 24.
Guide means 28 may be furcated as in FIG.
2, or it may be any other geometric configuration having two sides and a bottom 27, wherein the two sides are fitted to contact the periphery of the needle in order to maintain alignment.
The bottom 27 of guide means 28 also contacts the periphery of the needle and exerts a force thereon.
A compression portion 30 of the clip 20 has a sliding surface 32 which contacts the periphery of the hypodermic needle 24.
Sliding surface 32 exerts a force on needle 24 in a direction opposing the force exerted by the bottom 27 of guide means 28.
Compression portion 30 is bent in a manner which creates opposing or transverse forces between compression portion 30 and alignment portion 26.
Including bends, the compression portion is slightly longer than the alignment portion 26 such that the sliding surface 32 is closer to the injecting end of the needle 24 than the contacting portion of guide means 28.
The compression portion 30 also has an abutting engagement surface 34.
When safety clip 20 is in a first position, in which the injecting end is exposed, the clip 20 is proximate to a syringe/needle interface or hub 35 which typically comprises male/female threaded members.
In this position virtually the entire length of the needle is exposed for injecting purposes