Indicating device

• US 7,341,057 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2005
• Issued: 03/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Trudell Medical International (Trudell Medical Limited)
• Original Assignee: Trudell Medical International (Trudell Medical Limited)
• Inventors: Foley, Martin P., Grychowski, Jerry R., Scarrott, Peter Mycola, Schmidt, James Nick
• Primary Examiner(s): MITCHELL, TEENA KAY
• Application Number:
  US11/289,050
• Publication Number:
  US 20060150976A1
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.14, 128/200.18, 128/200.23, 128/203.15, 128/203.12, 128/203.23, 128/205.23, 222/162, 116307-309, 116/317, 116/318
• US Class Current: 128/200.23
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/002 with air flow regulating means
• 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 15/0068 Indicating or counting the number of dispensed doses or of remaining doses
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0073 on a ring
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0075 on a disc
• 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: G06M 1/041 for drum-type indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: G06M 1/283 with drums

Abstract

An indicating device for indicating the number of dosages of a substance that have been dispensed from or remain in a container includes a first indicator member incrementally moveable to a plurality of positions and a second indicator member operably connected to the first indicator member. The second indicator member is moveable in response to a predetermined number of movements of the first indicator member. One of the first and second indicator members includes numerical indicia and the other thereof includes color indicia.

Claims

1. An indicating device suitable for indicating the number of metered dosages dispensed from or remaining in a container, said indicating device comprising:

a cam member;

an advancement member disposed adjacent said cam member, said advancement member moveable relative to said cam member, said advancement member comprising a flexible tab member; and

an indicator member rotatable about an axis defining a first direction, said indicator member having a tab receiving opening and comprising indicia disposed on an indicia surface such that said indicia are visible when viewing said indicator member from said first direction;

wherein said cam member biases said flexible tab member from a nonengaged position to an engaged position as said advancement member is moved relative to said cam member, wherein said tab member is engaged with said indicator member at said tab receiving opening, and said advancement member rotates said indicator member an incremental amount, when said tab member is in said engaged position.

2. The indicating device of claim 1 wherein said axis is a first axis, and wherein said advancement member is rotatable relative to said cam member about a second axis extending in said first direction substantially parallel to said first axis.

3. The indicating device of claim 2 wherein said indicator member comprises a first indicator member, said indicia comprises first indicia and said indicia surface comprises a first indicia surface, and wherein said advancement member comprises a second indicator member comprising second indicia disposed on a second indicia surface such that said second indicia are visible when viewing said second indicator member from said first direction.

4. The indicating device of claim 3 wherein at least a portion of each of said first and second indicia surfaces face said first direction.

5. The indicating device of claim 2 wherein said first and second axes are coaxial.

6. The indicating device of claim 3 wherein said cam is formed on a housing, wherein said first and second indicator members are disposed in said housing.

7. The indicating device of claim 6 wherein said housing comprises a cap member and a base member, wherein said cap member is moveable toward and away from said base member.

8. The indicating device of claim 7 wherein said cap member is moveable toward and away from said base member in said first direction.

9. The indicating device of claim 3 wherein said first indicator member has a plurality of tab receiving openings, wherein said cam member successively biases said flexible tab member from said non-engaged position to said engaged position upon successive rotations of said second indicator member relative to said cam member, wherein said tab member is successively engaged with said first indicator member at successive ones of said plurality of tab receiving openings as said tab member is successively biased to said engaged position.

10. The indicating device of claim 9 wherein said plurality of tab receiving openings are defined by a plurality of teeth.

11. The indicating device of claim 1 wherein said cam member comprises a ramped surface.

12. An indicating device suitable for indicating the number of metered dosages dispensed from or remaining in a container, said indicating device comprising:

a first indicator member rotatable about a first axis defining a first direction, said first indicator member comprising first indicia disposed on a first indicia surface such that said first indicia are visible when viewing said first indicator member from said first direction, said first indicator member comprising an engagement member; and

a second indicator member rotatable about a second axis extending in said first direction substantially parallel to said first axis, wherein said second axis is spaced from said first axis with portions of said first and second indicator members being superimposed relative to each other, said second indicator member having an engagement surface and comprising second indicia disposed on a second indicia surface such that said second indicia are visible when viewing said second indicator member from said first direction;

wherein said first indicator member is rotatable relative to said second indicator member from a non-engaged position to an engaged position, wherein said engagement member engages said engagement surface, and said first indicator member rotates said second indicator member an incremental amount, when said first and second indicator members are in said engaged position.

13. The indicator device of claim 12 wherein said second indicator member is superimposed over said first indicator member.

14. The indicating device of claim 13 wherein said second indicia surface is non-planar.

15. The indicating device of claim 12 wherein at least a portion of said first and second indicia surfaces face said first direction.

16. The indicating device of claim 12 wherein said engagement surface is defined by a tooth.

17. The indicating device of claim 12 wherein said second indicator member comprises a plurality of engagement surfaces, wherein said first indicator member successively moves relative to said second indicator member from said non-engaged position to said engaged position upon successive rotations of said first indicator member relative to said second indicator member, wherein said engagement member is successively engaged with said second indicator member at successive ones of said plurality of engagement surfaces upon said successive rotations of said first indicator member relative to said second indicator member.

18. The indicating device of claim 17 wherein said plurality of engagement surfaces are defined by a plurality of teeth.

19. The indicating device of claim 18 wherein said plurality of teeth are disposed circumferentially around said second indicator member.

20. The indicating device of claim 12 wherein said second indicia surface is planar.

21. An indicating device suitable for indicating the number of metered dosages dispensed from or remaining in a container, said indicating device comprising:

a first indicator member rotatable about a first axis, said first indicator member comprising first indicia disposed on a first indicia surface, said first indicia surface facing in a direction substantially non-perpendicular to said first axis; and

a second indicator member rotatable about a second axis extending substantially parallel to said first axis, said second indicator member comprising second indicia disposed on a second indicia surface, wherein said second indicia surface is non-planar, said second indicia surface facing in a direction substantially non-perpendicular to said second axis;

wherein said first and second indicator members are selectively engageable.

22. The indicating device of claim 21 wherein said first and second axes are spaced apart.

23. The indicating device of claim 22 wherein said second indicia surface has a domed shape.