US Patent 8016797 Needle protection device with a blocked protection position

A needle protection device for use with an injection device, the needle protection device including a moveable needle protection element which moves through a release course of movement into a locking engagement position as a result of an elastic force, the locking engagement position being achieved when the needle protection element moves from a starting position to a triggering position, when the needle protection element moves over a small portion of the release course, and being maintained when the needle protection element is no longer subjected to an external force in the triggering position.