DEVICE FOR DISTRIBUTING A FLUID PRODUCT

• US 20100258120A1
• Filed: 12/02/2008
• Published: 10/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptar France S.A.S (AptarGroup Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Valois SAS (Mestdagh Family)
• Inventors: Colomb, Arnaud
• Granted Patent: US 9,050,426 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/203.210
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0008 rotating by airflow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0026 Hinged caps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0036 hollow piercing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/004 with fixed piercing or cutting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0041 with movable piercing or cutting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0045 using multiple prepacked dosages on a same carrier, e.g. blisters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0051 the dosages being arranged on a tape, e.g. strips
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0075 on a disc
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0078 on a strip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0091 mechanically breath-triggered
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0096 Hindering inhalation before activation of the dispenser
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/064 Powder
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8281 spring operated
• CPC Class Codes: G06M 1/041 for drum-type indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: G06M 1/045 for dial, pointer, or similar type indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: G06M 1/241 Drums

Abstract

A fluid dispenser device comprising: a body (10) provided with a dispenser orifice (15); dispenser means (50, 80) for dispensing a dose of fluid on each actuation; and a dose counter for indicating the number of doses that have been dispensed or that remain to be dispensed, said counter comprising: a first rotary counter element (127) provided with a first surface including first indicator means (125), such as digits, and provided with at least one first set of teeth (128, 129); a second rotary counter element (227) provided with a second surface including second indicator means (225), such as digits, and provided with at least one second set of teeth (228, 229); and a movable actuator element (160) that is displaceable between a first position and a second position, said actuator element including a projection (168) that is adapted to co-operate with said first set of teeth (128) of said first counter element (127), so as to cause said first counter element (127) to turn while said actuator element (160) is being displaced from its first position to its second position; said first counter element (127) including at least one deformable finger (1270) that is displaceable between a non-deformed position and a deformed position, and that is adapted to co-operate, in its deformed position, with said second set of teeth (229) of said second counter element (227), so as to cause said second counter element (227) to turn; said body including a cam (325) that is adapted to deform said at least one deformable finger (1270) towards its deformed position.

Claims

1. A fluid dispenser device comprising:

a body provided with a dispenser orifice;

a plurality of individual reservoir each containing a dose of powder;

dispenser means for dispensing a dose of fluid on each actuation, said dispenser means including reservoir-opening means comprising a reservoir-perforator element that is stationary relative to the body, and second reservoir displacement means for displacing a full reservoir against said perforator element, thereby opening it and releasing the dose of powder, said second displacement means being controlled by the user inhaling; and

a dose counter for indicating the number of doses that have been dispensed or that remain to be dispensed, said device being characterized in that said counter comprises;

a first rotary counter element provided with a first surface including first indicator means, such as digits, and provided with at least one first set of teeth;

a second rotary counter element provided with a second surface including second indicator means, such as digits, and provided with at least one second set of teeth; and

a movable actuator element that is displaceable between a first position and a second position, said actuator element including a projection that is adapted to co-operate with said first set of teeth of said first counter element, so as to cause said first counter element to turn while said actuator element is being displaced from its first position to its second position, said actuator element being rotatably mounted on the body, turning in a first direction bringing the projection to push a tooth of said first set of teeth of the first counter element so as to cause said first counter element to turn, and turning in the opposite direction bringing the projection to slide over said tooth so as to engage in the following tooth without causing said first counter element) to turn;

said first counter element including at least one deformable finger that is displaceable between a non-deformed position and a deformed position, and that is adapted to co-operate, in its deformed position, with said second set of teeth of said second counter element, so as to cause said second counter element to turn;

said body including a cam that is adapted to deform said at least one deformable finger towards its deformed position; and

said second displacement means co-operating with said actuator element of the counter, such that when said second displacement means displace a reservoir against or away from the perforator element, the actuator element causes said first counter element

to turn.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said first indicator means comprise digits 0 to 9 that form the units of the counter.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein said first indicator means comprise four series of digits 0 to 9 that are distributed over the periphery of said first counter element.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein said first set of teeth of the first counter element comprises forty teeth, each actuation of the counter causing said first counter element to turn through an angle of 9°

.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein said second indicator means comprise digits that form the tens of the counter.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein said second indicator means comprise digits from 0 to 6 disposed over a peripheral portion of said second counter element.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein said second set of teeth of said second counter element comprises at least seven teeth, and each time said cam deforms the deformable finger towards its deformed position, said second counter element is caused to turn through an angle of 9°

.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein said second surface of said second counter element is coplanar with, and radially inside, said first surface of said first counter element, said first and second counter elements being concentric.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein said first and second indicator means are digits having a height that is greater than or equal to 2.5 millimeters (mm), preferably about 2.8 mm.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein said first and second indicator means are digits having a width that is greater than or equal to 1.5 mm, preferably about 2.1 mm.

11. A device according to claim 1, wherein said body includes a viewing window in which first and second indicator means are displayed simultaneously.

12. A device according to claim 1, wherein said first rotary counter element includes four deformable fingers that are disposed regularly around a periphery of said first counter element.

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein said first counter element is a first ring including a radially-outer periphery and a radially-inner periphery, said deformable fingers being disposed at 90°

from one another on said radially-inner periphery, and co-operating with a cam that is disposed radially inside said first ring, such that when a deformable finger co operates with said cam, it is deformed radially outwards into its deformed position, so as to become engaged with said second set of teeth of said second counter element (227).

14. A device according to claim 1, wherein first anti-return means are provided so as to prevent said first counter element from turning in the direction opposite to the direction imparted thereto by said actuator member.

15. A device according to claim 14, wherein said first anti-return means include at least one flexible tab that co-operates with a set of teeth, in particular a second set of teeth, of said first indicator element.

16. A device according to claim 1, wherein second anti-return means are provided so as to prevent said second counter element from turning in the direction opposite to the direction imparted thereto by said at least one deformable finger.

17. A device according to claim 16, wherein said second anti-return means include at least one second flexible tab that co-operates with a set of teeth, in particular a first set of teeth, of said second indicator element.

18. A device according to claim 1, wherein the counter includes abutment means that prevent any additional actuation after the last dose has been counted.

19. A device according to claim 1, wherein said projection (168) is secured to a deformable branch of said actuator element.

20. A device according to claim 1, wherein said actuator element includes a first gear that co-operates with a second gear that is secured to a movable member that is displaced when the user inhales.

21. A device according to claim 1, wherein said second rotary counter element is made in the form of an angular ring section, in particular a ring section of about 90°

or less.