Aerosol dispenser comprising an indicator assembly
First Claim
1. An aerosol dispenser comprising a housing having a patient port, the housing being adapted to accommodate an aerosol vial equipped with a metered-dose dispensing valve that comprises a valve stem movable between closed and discharge positions, the dispenser further comprising a support block having a socket adapted to receive a valve stem and an orifice having open communication with the socket and the patient port, the support block being reciprocally movable relative to an aerosol vial accommodated within the housing, the dispenser having an indicator assembly comprising a rotatable indicator, the indicator comprising a circumferential rack and being mounted for rotation about an axis parallel to said reciprocal movement of the support block relative to an aerosol vial accommodated within the housing;
- a worm-gear engaging said circumferential rack, and a movement detecting member movable in response to said reciprocal movement, wherein movement of the movement detecting member in response to said reciprocal movement causes rotation of said worm gear and indicator.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An aerosol dispenser for use with an aerosol vial. The dispenser contains an assembly that indicates the quantity of doses dispensed from or remaining in the aerosol vial. The assembly comprises a rotatable indicator comprising a circumferential rack that is engaged by a worm-gear. Reciprocal movement of an aerosol vial within the dispenser causes rotation of the worm-gear which in turn causes rotation of the rack.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An aerosol dispenser comprising a housing having a patient port, the housing being adapted to accommodate an aerosol vial equipped with a metered-dose dispensing valve that comprises a valve stem movable between closed and discharge positions, the dispenser further comprising a support block having a socket adapted to receive a valve stem and an orifice having open communication with the socket and the patient port, the support block being reciprocally movable relative to an aerosol vial accommodated within the housing, the dispenser having an indicator assembly comprising a rotatable indicator, the indicator comprising a circumferential rack and being mounted for rotation about an axis parallel to said reciprocal movement of the support block relative to an aerosol vial accommodated within the housing;
- a worm-gear engaging said circumferential rack, and a movement detecting member movable in response to said reciprocal movement, wherein movement of the movement detecting member in response to said reciprocal movement causes rotation of said worm gear and indicator.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
Specification