Dispensing device

• US 20080029085A1
• Filed: 07/31/2007
• Published: 02/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trudell Medical International (Trudell Medical Limited)
• Original Assignee: Trudell Medical International (Trudell Medical Limited)
• Inventors: Lawrence, Greg, Scarrott, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 8,141,550 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/200.14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0076 on a drum
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0081 Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0086 Inhalation chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/009 using medicine packages with incorporated spraying means, e.g. aerosol cans pocket atomiser of the injector type A61M11/08
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 11/04 the elements being secured to rotating discs G09F11/025 takes precedence

Abstract

A dispenser includes a dispenser housing, an indicating device connected to the dispenser housing and a container removably engaged with the dispenser housing. The container and the dispenser housing remain connected as the container is moved between an engaged position and a disengaged position relative to the dispenser housing. The dispenser housing includes an upper portion pivotally connected to a lower portion.

Claims

1. A dispenser that dispenses dosages of a substance comprising:

a container comprising an end portion and a valve stem extending from said end portion; and

a dispenser housing comprising;

a lower portion having a support block; and

an upper portion pivotally connected to said lower portion and moveably coupled to said container, wherein said upper portion is pivotable relative to said lower portion from a first position, wherein said valve stem is engaged with said support block in an engaged position, to a second position, wherein said valve stem is disengaged from said support block in a disengaged position, and wherein said container is moveable relative to said upper portion along a longitudinal axis at least when said upper portion is in said first position.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 further comprising an indicating device connected to said lower portion of said dispenser housing, said indicating device comprising an indicator comprising dosage indicia.

3. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said upper portion is moveably connected to said container with a retainer.

4. The dispenser of claim 3 wherein said retainer comprises a retainer ring disposed around a portion of said container and an engaging portion extending from said retainer ring and moveably engaging said upper portion.

5. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said upper portion is pivotally connected to said lower portion about a second longitudinal axis.

6. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said upper portion is pivotally connected to said lower portion about a pivot axis oriented non-parallel to said longitudinal axis.

7. The dispenser of claim 6 wherein said pivot axis is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

8. The dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a locking member connecting said upper and lower portions when in said first position, wherein said locking member is moveable from a lock position, wherein said upper and lower portions are non-moveably connected in said first position, to a release position, wherein said upper and lower portions are moveably connected and are moveable to said second position.

9. The dispenser of claim 8 wherein said locking member comprises a first slot, said upper portion comprises a second slot aligned with said first slot, and further comprising a retainer coupled to said container, wherein said retainer comprises a follower moveable in said first and second slots.

10. The dispenser of claim 9 wherein at least a portion of said first slot is ramped along a longitudinal direction, wherein said valve stem is moved from said engaged position to said disengaged position as said follower travels along said ramped portion of said first slot.

11. The dispenser of claim 10 wherein said locking member further comprises a third slot oriented substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, wherein said upper and lower portions each comprise a guide member disposed in said third slot, wherein said upper and lower portions are rotatable relative to said locking member as said guide members are moved in said third slot.

12. The dispenser of claim 8 wherein said locking member comprises a first stop member engaged with a second stop member so as to prevent movement of said locking member from said release position when said upper portion is in said second position relative to said lower portion.

13. The dispenser of claim 12 further comprising a pivot member pivotally connecting said upper and lower portions, and wherein said pivot member defines said second stop member.

14. A dispenser adapted to dispenses dosages of a substance from a container comprising:

a dispenser housing comprising;

a lower portion having a support block; and

an upper portion pivotally connected to said lower portion, wherein said upper portion is pivotable relative to said lower portion from a first position to a second position; and

a retainer adapted to be coupled to said container, said retainer moveably connected to said upper portion.

15. The dispenser of claim 14 further comprising an indicating device connected to said lower portion of said dispenser housing, said indicating device comprising an indicator comprising dosage indicia.

16. The dispenser of claim 14 wherein said retainer comprises a retainer ring adapted to be disposed around a portion of the container and an engaging portion extending from said retainer ring and moveably engaging said upper portion.

17. The dispenser of claim 14 wherein said support block extends in a longitudinal direction, and said upper portion is pivotally connected to said lower portion about a longitudinal axis.

18. The dispenser of claim 14 wherein said support block extends in a longitudinal direction, and said upper portion is pivotally connected to said lower portion about a pivot axis oriented non-parallel to a longitudinal axis.

19. The dispenser of claim 18 wherein said pivot axis is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

20. The dispenser of claim 14 further comprising a locking member connecting said upper and lower portions when in said first position, wherein said locking member is moveable from a lock position, wherein said upper and lower portions are non-moveably connected in said first position, to a release position, wherein said upper and lower portions are moveably connected and are moveable to said second position.

21. The dispenser of claim 20 wherein said locking member comprises a first slot, said upper portion comprises a second slot aligned with said first slot, and said retainer comprises a follower moveable in said first and second slots.

22. The dispenser of claim 21 wherein at least a portion of said first slot is ramped along a longitudinal direction.

23. The dispenser of claim 22 wherein said locking member further comprises a third slot oriented substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, wherein said upper and lower portions each comprise a guide member disposed in said third slot, wherein said upper and lower portions are rotatable relative to said locking member as said guide members are moved in said third slot.

24. The dispenser of claim 20 wherein said locking member comprises a first stop member engaged with a second stop member so as to prevent movement of said locking member from said release position when said upper portion is in said second position relative to said lower portion.

25. The dispenser of claim 24 further comprising a pivot member pivotally connecting said upper and lower portions, and wherein said pivot member defines said second stop member.

26. A method of using a dispenser housing having a container that dispenses dosages of a substance, the method comprising:

providing a container comprising a valve stem disposed in a support block formed in a lower portion Of said dispenser housing, wherein a portion of said container is moveably connected to an upper portion of said dispenser housing pivotally connected to said lower portion;

successively moving said container relative to said support block along a longitudinal axis a plurality of times and thereby dispensing a plurality of dosages of medicament;

indicating to a user the number of dosages of medicament dispensed from or remaining in said container;

disengaging said valve stem of said container from said support block in said lower portion while maintaining a connection between said container and said upper portion; and

pivoting said upper portion with said container connected thereto relative to said lower portion.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein said pivoting said upper portion with said container connected thereto relative to said lower portion comprises pivoting said upper portion and said container about a second longitudinal axis.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein said pivoting said upper portion with said container connected thereto relative to said lower portion comprises pivoting said upper portion and said container about an axis substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

29. The method of claim 26 wherein said disengaging said valve stem of said container from said support block in said lower portion while maintaining a connection between said container and said upper portion comprises moving a locking member connecting said upper and lower portions from a lock position to a release position.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising moving said lower portion relative to said upper portion along said longitudinal axis when said locking member is in said release position.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein said moving said lower portion relative to said upper portion comprises locking said locking member in said release position.

32. An indicating device comprising:

a cantilevered actuator arm pivotal about a first axis, said actuator having a pawl spaced apart from said first axis;

an indicator member rotatable about a second axis;

a ratchet wheel operably coupled to said indicator member;

wherein said actuator arm is pivotable about said first axis between an engaged position, wherein said pawl is selectively engaged with said ratchet wheel, and a disengaged position, wherein said pawl is not engaged with said ratchet wheel; and

a spring biasing said actuator arm in a first rotation direction from said engaged position to said disengaged position.

34. The indicating device of claim 32 wherein said spring is integrally formed with said actuator arm.

35. The indicating device of claim 32 wherein said spring comprises a cantilever spring member, and wherein said actuator arm comprises a ramped surface engaging said cantilever spring member.

36. The indicating device of claim 32 wherein said spring engages said actuator arm at a location spaced apart from said first axis.

33. The indicating device of claim 33 comprising a plurality of indicator members.