Indicating device

• US 7,516,738 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2006
• Issued: 04/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• 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): Douglas; Steven O
• Application Number:
  US11/370,748
• Publication Number:
  US 20060162724A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,133 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 includes an indicator housing member having a first circumferential wall defining an interior surface and a substantially circumferential cavity having a longitudinal axis. An engagement member is formed on the interior surface and a viewing window is formed through the first wall. An indicator member has a second circumferential wall with an exterior surface having dosage indicia and a bottom rim. The indicator member is rotatably mounted within the indicator housing member about the longitudinal axis and interiorly of the substantially circumferential cavity with at least a portion of the dosage indicia being progressively visible through the viewing window as the indicator member is rotated about the longitudinal axis relative to the indicator housing. The bottom rim of the indicator member is supported by the engagement member. One of the indicator member or indicator housing has a plurality of indentations, while the other of the indicator member or indicator housing has at least one indexing member, with the indexing member being selectively engaged with at least one of the plurality of indentations.

Claims

1. An indicating device suitable for indicating the number of dosages of a substance that have been dispensed from or remain in a container, said indicating device comprising:

an indicator housing member comprising a first circumferential wall defining an interior surface and a substantially circumferential cavity having a longitudinal axis, said indicator housing member further comprising an engagement member formed on said interior surface, said first circumferential wall having a viewing window formed therethrough; and

an indicator member comprising a second circumferential wall, said second circumferential wall having an exterior surface comprising dosage indicia and a bottom rim, said indicator member rotatably mounted within said indicator housing member about said longitudinal axis and interiorly of said substantially circumferential cavity with at least a portion of said dosage indicia being progressively visible through said viewing window as said indicator member is rotated about said longitudinal axis relative to said indicator housing, wherein said bottom rim of said indicator member is supported by said engagement member; and

wherein one of said indicator member or said indicator housing member comprises a plurality of indentations, and the other of said indicator member or said indicator housing member comprises at least one indexing member, wherein said at least one indexing member is selectively engaged with at least one of said plurality of indentations.

2. The indicating device of claim 1 wherein said at least one indexing member is formed on said interior surface of said indicator housing member and said plurality of indentations are formed on said indicator member.

3. The indicating device of claim 1 wherein said indicator member further comprises a plurality of drive teeth and further comprising a drive member connected to said indicator housing member, said drive member selectively engageable with at least one of said plurality of drive teeth so as to rotate said indicator member relative to said indicator housing member an incremental amount.

4. The indicating device of claim 3 wherein said indicator housing member comprises a first housing member, and further comprising a second housing member reciprocally moveable relative to said first housing member along said longitudinal axis, said second housing member comprising an actuator pawl moveable relative to said drive member between a disengaged position and an engaged position, wherein said actuator pawl moves said drive member when moved from said disengaged position to said engaged position.

5. The indicating device of claim 4 wherein said first housing member has an opening at a bottom thereof, wherein said actuator pawl extends upwardly through said opening into said first housing member.

6. The indicating device of claim 1 wherein said indicator housing member comprises a first housing member, and further comprising a second housing member reciprocally moveable relative to said first housing member along said longitudinal axis, said second housing member comprising an arm member slidably engaging a ramped surface as said first and second housings are reciprocally moved relative to each other.

7. A dispensing device for dispensing doses of medicament from a container, said dispensing device comprising:

said container;

an indicator connected to said container, said indicator comprising;

an indicator housing member comprising a first circumferential wall defining an interior surface and a substantially circumferential cavity having a longitudinal axis, said indicator housing member further comprising an engagement member formed on at least a portion of said interior surface, said first circumferential wall having a viewing window formed therethrough; and

an indicator member comprising a second circumferential wall, said second circumferential wall having an exterior surface comprising dosage indicia and a bottom rim, said indicator member rotatably mounted within said indicator housing member about said longitudinal axis and interiorly of said substantially circumferential cavity with at least a portion of said dosage indicia being progressively visible through said viewing window as said indicator member is rotated about said longitudinal axis relative to said indicator housing member, wherein said bottom rim of said indicator member is supported by said engagement member; and

wherein one of said indicator member or said indicator housing member comprises a plurality of indentations, and the other of said indicator member or said indicator housing member comprises at least one indexing member, wherein said at least one indexing member is selectively engaged with at least one of said plurality of indentations.

8. The dispensing device of claim 7 wherein said at last one indexing member is formed on said interior surface of said indicator housing member and said plurality of indentations are formed on said indicator member.

9. The dispensing device of claim 7 wherein said indicator member further comprises a plurality of drive teeth and further comprising a drive member connected to said indicator housing member, said drive member selectively engageable with at least one of said plurality of drive teeth so as to rotate said indicator member relative to said indicator housing member an incremental amount.

10. The dispensing device of claim 9 wherein said indicator housing member comprises a first housing member, and further comprising a second housing member reciprocally moveable relative to said first housing member along said longitudinal axis, said second housing member comprising an actuator pawl moveable relative to said drive member between a disengaged position and an engaged position, wherein said actuator pawl moves said drive member when moved from said disengaged position to said engaged position.

11. The dispensing device of claim 7 wherein said indicator is connected to said container with an adhesive.

12. The dispensing device of claim 11 wherein said indicator is connected to said container with a tape.

13. The dispensing device of claim 7 wherein said container has an outermost periphery, and wherein no portion of said indicator extends beyond said outermost periphery of said container.

14. The dispensing device of claim 13 wherein said outermost periphery comprises a first outer circumferential surface, and wherein said indicator has a second outer circumferential surface.

15. The dispensing device of claim 14 wherein said first and second outer circumferential surfaces have substantially the same diameter.

16. A kit capable of being assembled into a dispensing system for dispensing doses of medicament from a container, the kit comprising:

said container;

an indicator comprising;

an indicator housing member comprising a first circumferential wall defining an interior surface and a substantially circumferential cavity having a longitudinal axis, said indicator housing member further comprising an engagement member formed on at least a portion of said interior surface, said first circumferential wall having a viewing window formed therethrough; and

an indicator member comprising a second circumferential wall, said second circumferential wall having an exterior surface comprising dosage indicia and a bottom rim, said indicator member rotatably mounted within said indicator housing member about said longitudinal axis and interiorly of said substantially circumferential cavity with at least a portion of said dosage indicia being progressively visible through said viewing window as said indicator member is rotated about said longitudinal axis relative to said indicator housing member, wherein said bottom rim of said indicator member is supported by said engagement member, wherein one of said indicator member or said indicator housing member comprises a plurality of indentations, and the other of said indicator member or said indicator housing member comprises at least one indexing member, wherein said at least one indexing member is selectively engaged with at least one of said plurality of indentations; and

a tape configured for connecting said indicator and said container.

17. The kit of claim 16 wherein said tape is configured to bond said indicator to said container.

18. The kit of claim 16 wherein said indicator member further comprises a plurality of drive teeth and further comprising a drive member connected to said indicator housing member, said drive member selectively engageable with at least one of said plurality of drive teeth so as to rotate said indicator member relative to said indicator housing member an incremental amount.

19. The kit of claim 18 wherein said indicator housing member comprises a first housing member, and further comprising a second housing member reciprocally moveable relative to said first housing member along said longitudinal axis, said second housing member comprising an actuator pawl moveable relative to said drive member between a disengaged position and an engaged position, wherein said actuator pawl moves said drive member when moved from said disengaged position to said engaged position.

20. The kit of claim 16 wherein said container has a first outer circumferential surface and wherein said indicator has a second outer circumferential surface, wherein said first and second outer circumferential surfaces have substantially the same diameter.

21. The kit of claim 16 wherein said at least one indexing member is formed on said interior surface of said indicator housing member and said plurality of indentations are formed on said indicator member.

22. A method of assembling a dispensing system for dispensing doses of medicament from a container, the method comprising:

providing said container;

providing an indicator comprising;

an indicator housing member comprising a first circumferential wall defining an interior surface and a substantially circumferential cavity having a longitudinal axis, said indicator housing member further comprising an engagement member formed on at least a portion of said interior surface, said first circumferential wall having a viewing window formed therethrough; and

an indicator member comprising a second circumferential wall, said second circumferential wall having an exterior surface comprising dosage indicia and a bottom rim, said indicator member rotatably mounted within said indicator housing member about said longitudinal axis and interiorly of said substantially circumferential cavity with at least a portion of said dosage indicia being progressively visible through said viewing window as said indicator member is rotated about said longitudinal axis relative to said indicator housing member, wherein said bottom rim of said indicator member is supported by said engagement member, and wherein one of said indicator member or said indicator housing member comprises a plurality of indentations, and the other of said indicator member or said indicator housing member comprises at least one indexing member, wherein said at least one indexing member is selectively engaged with at least one of said plurality of indentations; and

connecting said indicator to said container.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein said connecting said indicator to said container comprises bonding said indicator to said container.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein said bonding said indicator to said container comprises taping together said indicator and said container.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein said at last one indexing member is formed on said interior surface of said indicator housing member and said plurality of indentations are formed on said indicator member.

26. An indicating device suitable for indicating the number of dosages of a substance that have been dispensed from or remain in a container, said indicating device comprising:

an indicator housing comprising first and second housing components moveable relative to each other along a longitudinal axis, at least one of said first and second housing components comprising a circumferential wall having a viewing window formed therethrough; and

an indicator member comprising a circumferential surface comprising dosage indicia, said indicator member rotatably mounted within said indicator housing about said longitudinal axis with at least a portion of said dosage indicia being progressively visible through said viewing window as said indicator member is rotated about said longitudinal axis relative to said indicator housing.

27. The indicating device of claim 26 wherein said indicator member comprises a first indicator member and wherein said dosage indicia comprises first dosage indicia, and further comprising a second indicator member rotatably mounted in said indicator housing and comprising second dosage indicia.

28. The indicating device of claim 27 wherein said first dosage indicia of said first indicator member are arranged in increments of ten and wherein said second dosage indicia of said second indicator member are arranged in increments of one.

29. The indicating device of claim 26 wherein said first housing component comprises a cap member and said second housing component comprises a base member.

30. The indicating device of claim 26 wherein said first housing component comprises a base member and said second housing component comprises a cap member.

31. The indicating device of claim 30 wherein said base member has a circumferential skirt nesting within a circumferential skirt of said cap member.

32. The indicating device of claim 26 wherein one of said first or second housing components has a bottom portion adapted to be connected to the container.

33. The indicating device of claim 26 wherein said first housing component comprises a first circumferential wall extending in a first direction and having a first viewing window formed therein and wherein said second housing component comprises a second circumferential wall extending in a second direction opposite said first direction and having a recess defining a second viewing window formed therein in alignment with said first viewing window, said first and second viewing windows defining said viewing window.