Abstract: A needle protector device including a mount having a needle subassembly attached to an upper end, an open lower end, and an aperture in the side of the mount. The aperture includes an entrance position adjacent to the lower end of the mount and an armed position radially spaced from the entrance position by an angled portion of the mount. A protective cover is coupled to the mount and has a protruding lug which engages the mount aperture. The cover is adapted for being a needle protection position in which the needle tip is covered and the cover is not retractable, an armed position in which the needle tip is covered and the cover is retractable, and a retracted position in which the needle tip extends through an open lower end of the cover. A spring having a pair of axial extensions is coupled between the mount and the cover. The spring is biased in rotation and compression during assembly of the device, causing the cover to be automatically urged to the needle protection position.