Indicating device for aerosol container
First Claim
1. An indicating device suitable for indicating the number of metered dosages that have been dispensed from or remain in a container, said indicating device comprising:
- a base member adapted to be mounted to the container;
a cap member moveably connected to said base member, said cap member moveable relative to said base member along an axial path;
an indicator member rotatably mounted to said cap member about a first axis substantially parallel to the axial movement of said cap member relative to said base member, said indicator member rotatable about said first axis between at least an initial position wherein said indicator member comprises indicia adapted to indicate that the container is full and a final position wherein said indicator member comprises indicia adapted to indicate that the container should be replaced, and wherein said indicator member comprises a first stop member; and
a drive member rotatably mounted to one of said cap member and said base member about a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first rotational axis of said indicator member and wherein said drive member is selectively engaged with said indicator member upon a predetermined number of axial movements of said cap member relative to said base member so as to rotate said indicator member an incremental amount relative to said cap member, andwherein said drive member comprises a second stop member; and
wherein said first stop member engages said second stop member as said indicator is moved to said final position, wherein said engagement between said first and second stop members prevents said drive member from being rotated about said second axis.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An indicating device suitable for indicating the number of metered dosages that have been dispensed from or remain in a container including a base member, a cap member moveably connected to the base member, an indicator member rotatably mounted to one of the cap member and base member and a drive member. The indicator member comprises a first stop member, and the drive member comprises a second stop member. The first stop member engages the second stop member as the indicator is moved to the final position. The engagement between the first and second stop members prevents the drive member from being rotated about the second axis. In another preferred embodiment, an inhalation device for dispensing metered dosages of medicaments from a container includes a container having a predetermined number of metered doses and the indicating device. A method for indicating the number of metered dosages of medicaments dispensed from or remaining in the container is also provided.
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Citations
75 Claims
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1. An indicating device suitable for indicating the number of metered dosages that have been dispensed from or remain in a container, said indicating device comprising:
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a base member adapted to be mounted to the container; a cap member moveably connected to said base member, said cap member moveable relative to said base member along an axial path; an indicator member rotatably mounted to said cap member about a first axis substantially parallel to the axial movement of said cap member relative to said base member, said indicator member rotatable about said first axis between at least an initial position wherein said indicator member comprises indicia adapted to indicate that the container is full and a final position wherein said indicator member comprises indicia adapted to indicate that the container should be replaced, and wherein said indicator member comprises a first stop member; and a drive member rotatably mounted to one of said cap member and said base member about a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first rotational axis of said indicator member and wherein said drive member is selectively engaged with said indicator member upon a predetermined number of axial movements of said cap member relative to said base member so as to rotate said indicator member an incremental amount relative to said cap member, and wherein said drive member comprises a second stop member; and wherein said first stop member engages said second stop member as said indicator is moved to said final position, wherein said engagement between said first and second stop members prevents said drive member from being rotated about said second axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An inhalation device for dispensing metered dosages of medicaments from a container comprising:
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said container having a predetermined number of metered doses; a base member mounted to said container; a cap member moveably connected to said base member, said cap member reciprocally moveable relative to said base member along an axial path a first predetermined number of times corresponding to said predetermined number of metered doses; an indicator member rotatably mounted to one of said cap member and said base member, wherein said indicator member comprises a first stop member; and a drive member rotatably mounted to said one of said cap member and said base member, wherein said drive member is selectively engaged with said indicator member upon a second predetermined number of axial movements of said cap member relative to said base member so as to rotate said indicator member an incremental amount relative to said cap member, and wherein said drive member comprises a second stop member; and wherein said first stop member engages said second stop member upon completion of said first predetermined number of reciprocal movements of said cap relative to said base, wherein said engagement between said first and second stop members prevents said drive member from being rotated. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for indicating the number of metered dosages of medicaments dispensed from or remaining in a container, said method comprising:
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providing said container filled with a predetermined number of measured dosages; providing an indicating device comprising; a base member mounted to said container; a cap member moveably connected to said base member; an indicator member rotatably mounted to one of said cap member and said base member, wherein said indicator member comprises a first stop member; and a drive member rotatably mounted to said one of said cap member and said base member, wherein said drive member comprises a second stop member; reciprocally moving said cap member relative to said base member along an axial path a first predetermined number of times corresponding to said predetermined number of metered doses; selectively engaging said indicator member with said drive member upon a second predetermined number of axial movements of said cap member relative to said base member, and thereby rotating said indicator member an incremental amount relative to said cap member; and engaging said first stop member with said second stop member upon completion of said first predetermined number of reciprocal movements of said cap relative to said base, and thereby immobilizing said drive member. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. An indicating device suitable for indicating the number of metered dosages that have been dispensed from or remain in a container, said indicating device comprising:
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a housing comprising an indicator member rotatably mounted in said housing; said indicator member rotatable between at least an initial position wherein said indicator member comprises indicia adapted to indicate that the container is full and a final position wherein said indicator member comprises indicia adapted to indicate that the container should be replaced, and wherein said indicator member comprises a first stop member; a drive member rotatably mounted in said housing and wherein said drive member advances said indicator member an incremental amount upon a predetermined number of axial movements of said container and wherein said drive member comprises a second stop member; and wherein said first stop member engages said second stop member as said indicator member is moved to said final position, wherein said engagement between said first and second stop members prevents said drive member from being rotated. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. An indicating device suitable for indicating the number of metered dosages that have been dispensed from or remain in a container, the indicating device comprising:
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an indicator moveable between at least a first position wherein said indicator comprises indicia adapted to indicate that the container has at least one metered dosage and a second position wherein said indicator comprises indicia adapted to indicate that the container should be replaced; and a drive mechanism selectively engaged with said indicator and operable to move said indicator between said first and second positions, said drive mechanism comprising a ratchet member and a pawl, wherein said pawl is moveable between a ratcheting position and a non-ratcheting position as said indicator is moved to said second position, wherein said pawl is selectively engaged with said ratchet member when said pawl is in said ratcheting position, and wherein said pawl is non-engageable with said ratchet member when said pawl is in said non-ratcheting position, and wherein said pawl is non-moveable from said non-ratcheting position to said ratcheting position. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59)
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60. An indicating device suitable for indicating the number of metered dosages that have been dispensed from or remain in a container, the indicating device comprising:
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an indicator moveable between at least a first position wherein said indicator comprises indicia adapted to indicate that the container has at least one metered dosage and a second position wherein said indicator comprises indicia adapted to indicate that the container should be replaced; a drive mechanism selectively engaged with said indicator and operable to move said indicator between said first and second positions, said drive mechanism comprising a ratchet member and a pawl, wherein said pawl is moveable between a ratcheting position and a non-ratcheting position, wherein said pawl is selectively engaged with said ratchet member when said pawl is in said ratcheting position, and wherein said pawl is non-engageable with said ratchet member when said pawl is in said non-ratcheting position; and a housing, wherein said indicator is moveably mounted in said housing, and wherein said housing comprises a base member adapted to be mounted to the container and a cap member moveably connected to said base member, said cap member moveable relative to said base member along an axial path. - View Dependent Claims (61)
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62. An indicating device suitable for indicating the number of metered dosages that have been dispensed from or remain in a container, the indicating device comprising:
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an indicator moveable between at least a first position wherein said indicator comprises indicia adapted to indicate that the container has at least one metered dosage and a second position wherein said indicator comprises indicia adapted to indicate that the container should be replaced; and a drive mechanism selectively engaged with said indicator and operable to move said indicator between said first and second positions, said drive mechanism comprising a ratchet member and a pawl, wherein said pawl is moveable between a ratcheting position and a non-ratcheting position, wherein said pawl is selectively engaged with said ratchet member when said pawl is in said ratcheting position, and wherein said pawl is non-engageable with said ratchet member when said pawl is in said non-ratcheting position, wherein said drive mechanism further comprises a drive member connected to said ratchet member.
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63. An indicating device suitable for indicating the number of metered dosages that have been dispensed from or remain in a container, the indicating device comprising:
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an indicator moveable between at least a first position wherein said indicator comprises indicia adapted to indicate that the container has at least one metered dosage and a second position wherein said indicator comprises indicia adapted to indicate that the container should be replaced; a drive mechanism selectively engaged with said indicator and operable to move said indicator between said first and second positions, said drive mechanism comprising a ratchet member and a pawl, wherein said pawl is moveable between a ratcheting position and a non-ratcheting position, wherein said pawl is selectively engaged with said ratchet member when said pawl is in said ratcheting position, and wherein said pawl is non-engageable with said ratchet member when said pawl is in said non-ratcheting position, wherein said indicator comprises a first stop member and further comprising a second stop member, wherein said first stop member engages said second stop member as said indicator is moved to said second position, wherein said engagement between said first and second stop members prevents movement of said ratchet member.
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64. A method of indicating the number of metered dosages that have been dispensed from or remain in a container, the method comprising:
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reciprocally moving said container; successively moving an indicator between a plurality of first positions wherein said indicator comprises indicia indicating to a user that the container has at least one metered dosage; providing an audible signal in response to each reciprocal movement of said container while said indicator is in one of said first positions; moving said indicator to a second position wherein said indicator comprises indicia indicating to the user that the container should be replaced; and eliminating said audible signal for each reciprocal movement of said container after said indicator is moved to said second position. - View Dependent Claims (65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71)
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72. A method of indicating the number of metered dosages that have been dispensed from or remain in a container, the method comprising:
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reciprocally moving said container; successively moving an indicator between a plurality of first positions wherein said indicator comprises indicia indicating to a user that the container has at least one metered dosage; successively engaging a ratchet member with a pawl in response to each reciprocal movement of said container while said indicator is in one of said first positions; moving said indicator to a second position wherein said indicator comprises indicia indicating to a user that the container should be replaced; and moving said pawl out of engagement with said ratchet member after said indicator is moved to said second position. - View Dependent Claims (73, 74, 75)
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Specification