Indicating device for aerosol container
First Claim
1. An indicating device suitable for indicating the number of metered dosages that have been dispensed from or remain in a container, said indicating device comprising:
- a base member adapted to be mounted to the container;
a cap member moveably connected to said base member, said cap member moveable relative to said base member along an axial path;
an indicator member rotatably mounted to said cap member about a first axis substantially parallel to the axial movement of said cap member relative to said base member, said indicator member rotatable about said first axis between at least an initial position wherein said indicator member comprises indicia adapted to indicate that the container is full and a final position wherein said indicator member comprises indicia adapted to indicate that the container should be replaced, and wherein said indicator member comprises a first stop member; and
a drive member rotatably mounted to one of said cap member and said base member about a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first rotational axis of said indicator member and wherein said drive member is selectively engaged with said indicator member upon a predetermined number of axial movements of said cap member relative to said base member so as to rotate said indicator member an incremental amount relative to said cap member, and wherein said drive member comprises a second stop member; and
wherein said first stop member engages said second stop member as said indicator is moved to said final position, wherein said engagement between said first and second stop members prevents said drive member from being rotated about said second axis.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An indicating device suitable for indicating the number of metered dosages that have been dispensed from or remain in a container including a base member, a cap member moveably connected to the base member, an indicator member rotatably mounted to one of the cap member and base member and a drive member. The indicator member comprises a first stop member, and the drive member comprises a second stop member. The first stop member engages the second stop member as the indicator is moved to the final position. The engagement between the first and second stop members prevents the drive member from being rotated about the second axis. In another preferred embodiment, an inhalation device for dispensing metered dosages of medicaments from a container includes a container having a predetermined number of metered doses and the indicating device. A method for indicating the number of metered dosages of medicaments dispensed from or remaining in the container is also provided.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. An indicating device suitable for indicating the number of metered dosages that have been dispensed from or remain in a container, said indicating device comprising:
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a base member adapted to be mounted to the container;
a cap member moveably connected to said base member, said cap member moveable relative to said base member along an axial path;
an indicator member rotatably mounted to said cap member about a first axis substantially parallel to the axial movement of said cap member relative to said base member, said indicator member rotatable about said first axis between at least an initial position wherein said indicator member comprises indicia adapted to indicate that the container is full and a final position wherein said indicator member comprises indicia adapted to indicate that the container should be replaced, and wherein said indicator member comprises a first stop member; and
a drive member rotatably mounted to one of said cap member and said base member about a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first rotational axis of said indicator member and wherein said drive member is selectively engaged with said indicator member upon a predetermined number of axial movements of said cap member relative to said base member so as to rotate said indicator member an incremental amount relative to said cap member, and wherein said drive member comprises a second stop member; and
wherein said first stop member engages said second stop member as said indicator is moved to said final position, wherein said engagement between said first and second stop members prevents said drive member from being rotated about said second axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An inhalation device for dispensing metered dosages of medicaments from a container comprising:
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said container having a predetermined number of metered doses;
a base member mounted to said container;
a cap member moveably connected to said base member, said cap member reciprocally moveable relative to said base member along an axial path a first predetermined number of times corresponding to said predetermined number of metered doses;
an indicator member rotatably mounted to one of said cap member and said base member, wherein said indicator member comprises a first stop member; and
a drive member rotatably mounted to said one of said cap member and said base member, wherein said drive member is selectively engaged with said indicator member upon a second predetermined number of axial movements of said cap member relative to said base member so as to rotate said indicator member an incremental amount relative to said cap member, and wherein said drive member comprises a second stop member; and
wherein said first stop member engages said second stop member upon completion of said first predetermined number of reciprocal movements of said cap relative to said base, wherein said engagement between said first and second stop members prevents said drive member from being rotated. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for indicating the number of metered dosages of medicaments dispensed from or remaining in a container, said method comprising:
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providing said container filled with a predetermined number of measured dosages;
providing an indicating device comprising;
a base member mounted to said container;
a cap member moveably connected to said base member;
an indicator member rotatably mounted to one of said cap member and said base member, wherein said indicator member comprises a first stop member; and
a drive member rotatably mounted to said one of said cap member and said base member, wherein said drive member comprises a second stop member;
reciprocally moving said cap member relative to said base member along an axial path a first predetermined number of times corresponding to said predetermined number of metered doses;
selectively engaging said indicator member with said drive member upon a second predetermined number of axial movements of said cap member relative to said base member, and thereby rotating said indicator member an incremental amount relative to said cap member; and
engaging said first stop member with said second stop member upon completion of said first predetermined number of reciprocal movements of said cap relative to said base, and thereby immobilizing said drive member. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification