Discharge apparatus for media

• US 6,427,684 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2001
• Issued: 08/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aptar Radolfzell GmbH (AptarGroup Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Ing. Erich Pfeiffer GmbH
• Inventors: Fuchs, Karl-Heinz, Ritsche, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): Derakshani, Philippe
• Application Number:
  US09/780,856
• Publication Number:
  US 20010013525A1
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 222/153.14, 222/321.6, 222/642, 222/183, 128/200.23, 128/204.21
• US Class Current: 128/200.23
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0445 for preventing drug dispensing during a predetermined time period
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0065 Inhalators with dosage or measuring devices A61M15/0028 takes precedence; dosage devices incorporated in aerosol cans B65D83/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0081 Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/215 Tilt detection, e.g. for warning or shut-off
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0027 Means for neutralising the actuation of the sprayer pump locking means B05B11/1059; Means for preventing access to the sprayer actuation means
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/10 Pump arrangements for transferring the contents from the container to a pump chamber by a sucking effect and forcing the contents out through the dispensing nozzle
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/02 for controlling time, or sequence, of delivery
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 50/06 requiring the combination of different actions in succession
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/565 the delivery-preventing means being responsive to the orientation of the container

Abstract

The problem of the invention is to so further develop a discharge apparatus according to the preamble that it is possible during each individual actuating stroke to reliably discharge a predetermined volume of medium.

A discharge apparatus for media according to the invention has a casing, on which is located an actuator. During each actuator actuation an actuating stroke takes place and consequently a given volume of the medium stored in the casing is discharged. According to the invention the gravity dependently operating blocking means are constructed in such a way that they can block the performance of an actuating stroke as a function of the spatial position of the discharge apparatus.

Claims

1. Discharge apparatus for media for spraying a fluid optionally containing a pharmaceutical substance, wherein when the discharge apparatus is used, in the actuation of the discharge apparatus in each case an actuating stroke of an actuator with respect to the discharge apparatus casing is performed, wherein a gravity dependent blocking means is provided by which an actuation stroke can be blocked.

2. Discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gravity dependent operating blocking means includes a movably mounted, mechanical operating means.

3. Discharge apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the operating means are guided in such a way that under a preset spatial orientation of the discharge apparatus the operating means block an actuating stroke of the actuator (50).

4. Discharge apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the operating means are balls (61) guided in a curved path (62).

5. Discharge apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the diameter of the balls (61) is smaller than the path of an actuating stroke.

6. Discharge apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the diameter of the ball (61) almost corresponds to the path of an actuating stroke.

7. Discharge apparatus according to one of the claim 4, wherein the curved path (62) is formed by an inclined plane (63).

8. Discharge apparatus according to one of the claim 4, wherein the curved path (62) has at least one dwell trough (65) defining a holding position and serving to receive the balls (61).

9. Discharge apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a dwell trough (65) is formed in the area of the curved path (62) in which the balls (61) block an actuating stroke of the actuator.

10. Discharge apparatus according to claim 2, wherein at least two operating means movable in different, independent directions are provided.

11. Discharge apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the operating means in each case have on one side a stop member (66) and wherein on the side of the operating means remote from the stop member (66) is the position blocking the actuating stroke of the actuator.

12. Discharge apparatus according to claim 11, wherein in each case one pair of operating means are provided and their stop members (66) are formed on opposite sides of the actuating path.

13. Discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gravity dependent blocking means block an actuating stroke if the divergence of the orientation of the discharge apparatus from the vertical exceeds an angle of at least 30°

.

14. Discharge appartus according to claim 13, wherein the blocking means block an actuating stroke if the divergence of the orientation of the discharge apparatus from the vertical exceeds an angle of at least 45°

.