Counter attachment for product dispensers

• US 5,411,173 A
• Filed: 12/17/1993
• Issued: 05/02/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Albert Weinstein
• Original Assignee: Albert Weinstein
• Inventors: Weinstein, Albert
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kaufman, Joseph A.
• Application Number:
  US08/168,143
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 222/32, 222/36, 222/38, 222/162, 235/114, 235/117 A
• US Class Current: 222/38
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/008 Electronic counters
• 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: G01F 11/006 Details or accessories general details G01F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 13/008 taps comprising counting- and recording means counting devices, counting of objects in general G06M

Abstract

A counter device attachment for a depressible spray dispenser for products such as medicine. The dispenser comprises a clip to fit about the side wall of the dispenser'"'"'s casing, a foot-leg positioned beneath the dispenser and connected to the clip, and a counter actuated by the shaft which moves within a shaft housing, wherein a button on the counter is incremented each time the tank is depressed. The length of the vertical shaft is adjustable by controlling the rotation of the top end of the shaft which is mateably threaded to the bottom end of the shaft. The bottom end of the shaft can be threaded within the top end of the shaft or vice-versa. The clip can alternatively be curved or have a dimpled surface which may contact another dimple through a hole in the side of the dispenser. A second embodiment features the counter located beneath the dispenser which is also incremented each time the tank is depressed.

Claims

1. A counter attachment for a fluid dispenser, the dispenser includes a fluid tank with a top portion extending into a hollow casing and abutting against a dispenser cap, the container having a bottom portion extending beneath the bottom of the casing, the counter attachment comprising;

a clip with a first end and second end, the first end contacting an inner side of the casing;

a shaft housing connected to the second end of the clip;

a counter;

a vertical shaft with top end extending into the shaft housing and a bottom end extending below the shaft housing;

a foot-leg positioned beneath the fluid tank and connected to the bottom end of the vertical shaft; and

an indexing button which is located between the fluid tank and the foot-leg, wherein the button abuts against the bottom of the fluid tank and is depressed each time the tank and foot-leg is depressed, wherein depressing the tank and foot-leg increments the counter.

2. The counter attachment of claim 1, wherein the counter further includes:

a reset button.

3. The counter attachment of claim 1, wherein the vertical shaft further includes:

threads on the top end that contact mating threads on the bottom end, which enables the length of the vertical shaft to be adjustable.

4. The counter attachment of claim 1, wherein the vertical shaft further includes:

an area of indentation on the top end of the shaft which moves about a ringed area inside the shaft housing.

5. The counter attachment of claim 1, wherein the clip further includes:

a curved portion.

6. The counter attachment of claim 1, wherein the clip further includes:

a dimple portion.

7. The counter attachment of claim 1, further comprising:

a dimple on the clip abutting toward a dimple on the shaft housing.

8. The counter attachment of claim 7, further including:

an opening in the casing which allows the dimple on the clip and the dimple on the shaft to contact one another.

9. The counter attachment of claim 1, wherein the dispenser is for medication.

10. The counter attachment of claim 1, wherein the dispenser is for spray.

11. A counter attachment for a liquid dispenser, the dispenser includes a fluid tank with a top portion extending into a hollow casing and abutting against a dispenser cap, the container having a bottom portion extending beneath the bottom of the casing, the counter attachment comprising;

a clip with a first end and second end, the first end having a curved portion, contacting an inner side of the casing;

a shaft housing connected to the second end of the clip;

a vertical shaft with it top end extending into the shaft housing and a bottom end extending below the shaft housing;

a foot-leg positioned beneath the fluid tank and connected to the bottom end of the vertical shaft; and

a counter having an indexing button which is contacted by the top end of the vertical shaft each time the dispenser top is depressed.

12. The counter attachment of claim 11, wherein the vertical shaft further includes:

threads on the top end that contact mating threads on the bottom end, which enables the length of the vertical shaft to be adjustable.

13. The counter attachment of claim 11, further including:

a dimple on the clip abutting toward an opening in the casing to contact a dimple on the shaft housing.

14. A counter attachment for a fluid dispenser, the dispenser includes a fluid tank with a top portion extending into a hollow casing and abutting against a dispenser cap, the container having a bottom portion extending beneath the bottom of the casing, the counter attachment comprising:

a clip with a first end and second end, the first end contacting an inner side of the casing;

a shaft housing connected to the second end of the clip;

a vertical shaft with a top end extending into the shaft housing and a bottom end extending below the shaft housing;

a foot-leg positioned beneath the fluid tank mad connected to the bottom end of the vertical shaft; and

a counter having an indexing button which is located between the fluid tank and the foot-leg, wherein the button abuts against the bottom of the fluid tank and is depressed each time the tank and foot-leg are depressed.

15. The counter attachment of claim 14, wherein the vertical shaft further includes:

threads on the top end that contact mating threads on the bottom end, which enables the length of the vertical shaft to be adjustable.

16. The counter attachment of claim 14, wherein the clip further includes:

a curved portion.

17. The counter attachment of claim 14, further including:

a dimple on the clip abutting toward an opening in the casing to contact a dimple on the shaft housing.

18. A counter attachment for a spray dispenser comprising;

a clip for attachment to the dispenser;

a shaft housing connected to said clip;

a vertical shaft with top end extending into the shaft housing and a bottom end extending below said shaft housing;

a foot-leg connected to the bottom end of said vertical shaft;

threads on the top end of the vertical shaft that contact mating threads on the bottom end, which enables the length of the vertical shaft to be adjustable; and

a counter having an indexing button which is depressed in response to actuation of said foot-leg each time the dispenser dispenses spray.