Indicating device

• US 7,575,130 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2005
• Issued: 08/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Trudell Medical International (Trudell Medical Limited)
• Original Assignee: Trudell Medical International (Trudell Medical Limited)
• Inventors: Blacker, Richard, Engelbreth, Daniel K., Schmidt, James N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nicolas; Frederick C.
• Application Number:
  US11/287,818
• Publication Number:
  US 20060086749A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,359 Days
• Field of Search: 222/23, 222/32, 222/36, 222/183, 222/38, 222/325, 222/162, 222/1, 128/200.14, 128/200.24, 128/200.12, 128/200.18, 128/203.12, 128/203.23, 128/200.23
• US Class Current: 222/23
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0021 Mouthpieces therefor
• 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 15/0071 having a display or indicator
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0075 on a disc
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0076 on a drum
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0081 Locking means
• 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 1/083 by mechanical means counting of stacked objects G06M9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06M 1/163 with drums

Abstract

A dispenser for dispensing metered dosages of a substance from a container includes a dispenser housing having a top, a bottom, and a wall defining an elongated cavity open at the top and extending along a longitudinal axis. An indicating device includes a face member defining a viewing window. The face member is snap-fitted to the dispenser housing wall. The indicating device further includes an indicator member having a surface visible through the viewing window. The surface includes dosage indicia. The indicator member is rotatable about an axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. An indicator actuator has at least a portion disposed in the cavity. The actuator is adapted to be moved by an actuation of the container, with the actuator adapted to rotate the indicator member upon a predetermined number of actuations of the container.

Claims

1. A dispenser for dispensing metered dosages of a substance from a container, the dispenser comprising:

a dispenser housing comprising a top, a bottom, and a wall defining an elongated cavity open at said top and extending along a longitudinal axis, wherein said wall has at least one opening, said dispenser housing further comprising a support block disposed in said bottom, said support block comprising a well adapted to receive a stem on the container; and

an indicating device comprising a face member defining a viewing window, said face member snap-fitted into said at least one opening in said dispenser housing wall with at least a portion of said viewing window aligned with said at least one opening, said indicating device further comprising an indicator member having a surface visible through said viewing window, said surface comprising dosage indicia, wherein said indicator member is rotatable about an axis substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, and further comprising an indicator actuator at least a portion of which is disposed in said cavity and is adapted to be moved by an actuation of the container, said actuator adapted to rotate said indicator member upon a predetermined number of actuations of the container.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said indicator member comprises a plurality of teeth.

3. The dispenser of claim 2 further comprising a spring biasing said actuator in a direction parallel to said longitudinal axis.

4. The dispenser of claim 3 further comprising a ratchet mechanism coupled between said actuator and said indicator member.

5. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said predetermined number is equal to one.

6. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said indicator window is closed such that said indicator member is not exposed to the ambient environment.

7. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said viewing window faces outwardly along a lateral axis substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

8. A dispenser for dispensing metered dosages of a substance from a container, the dispenser comprising:

a dispenser housing comprising a top, a bottom, and a wall defining an elongated cavity open at said top and extending along a longitudinal axis, wherein said wall has at least one opening, said dispenser housing further comprising a support block disposed in said bottom, said support block comprising a well;

said container disposed in said cavity and comprising an end portion and a stem, wherein said stem is disposed in said well, said container moveable between first and second positions; and

an indicating device comprising a face member defining a viewing window, said face member snap-fitted into said at least one opening in said dispenser housing wall with at least a portion of said viewing window aligned with said at least one opening, said indicating device further comprising an indicator member having a surface visible through said viewing window, said surface comprising dosage indicia, wherein said indicator member is rotatable about an axis substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, and further comprising an indicator actuator at least a portion of which is disposed in said cavity and is coupled to said container, said actuator moveable between first and second positions as said container is moved between said first and second positions, wherein said actuator rotates said indicator member upon a predetermined number of actuations of the container.

9. The dispenser of claim 8 wherein said indicator member comprises a plurality of teeth.

10. The dispenser of claim 9 further comprising a spring biasing said actuator in a direction parallel to said longitudinal axis.

11. The dispenser of claim 10 further comprising a ratchet mechanism coupled between said actuator and said indicator member.

12. The dispenser of claim 8 wherein said predetermined number is equal to one.

13. The dispenser of claim 8 wherein said viewing window is closed such that said indicator member is not exposed to the ambient environment.

14. The dispenser of claim 8 wherein said indicator window faces outwardly along a lateral axis substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

15. A dispenser for dispensing metered dosages of a substance from a container, the dispenser comprising:

a dispenser housing comprising a top, a bottom, and a wall defining an elongated cavity open at said top and extending along a longitudinal axis, said dispenser housing further comprising a support block disposed in said bottom, said support block comprising a well adapted to receive a stem on the container; and

an indicating device comprising a face member defining a viewing window, said face member snap-fitted to said dispenser housing wall, said indicating device further comprising an indicator member having a surface visible through said viewing window, said surface comprising dosage indicia, wherein said indicator member is rotatable about an axis substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, and further comprising a spring biasing an indicator actuator in a direction parallel to said longitudinal axis, at least a portion of said actuator being disposed in said cavity and adapted to be moved by an actuation of the container, and further comprising a ratchet mechanism coupled between said actuator and said indicator member wherein said actuator is adapted to rotate said indicator member upon a predetermined number of actuations of the container, wherein said ratchet mechanism comprises a ratchet gear, and further comprising a drive gear coupled between said ratchet gear and said indicator member.

16. The dispenser of claim 15 wherein said drive gear is rotatable about an axis substantially perpendicular to said axis of rotation of said indicator member.

17. The dispenser of claim 15 wherein said indicator member comprises a plurality of teeth, wherein at least one of said plurality of teeth is selectively engaged by said drive gear.

18. A dispenser for dispensing metered dosages of a substance from a container, the dispenser comprising:

a dispenser housing comprising a top, a bottom, and a wall defining an elongated cavity open at said top and extending along a longitudinal axis, said dispenser housing further comprising a support block disposed in said bottom, said support block comprising a well;

said container disposed in said cavity and comprising an end portion and a stem, wherein said stem is disposed in said well, said container moveable between first and second positions; and

an indicating device comprising a face member defining a viewing window, said face member snap-fitted to said dispenser housing wall, said indicating device further comprising an indicator member having a surface visible through said viewing window, said surface comprising dosage indicia, wherein said indicator member is rotatable about an axis substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, and further comprising a spring biasing an indicator actuator in a direction parallel to said longitudinal axis, at least a portion of said actuator being disposed in said cavity and is coupled to said container, and further comprising a ratchet mechanism coupled between said actuator and said indicator member, wherein said actuator is moveable between first and second positions as said container is moved between said first and second positions, wherein said actuator rotates said indicator member upon a predetermined number of actuations of the container, and wherein said ratchet mechanism comprises a ratchet gear, and further comprising a drive gear coupled between said ratchet gear and said indicator member.

19. The dispenser of claim 18 wherein said drive gear is rotatable about an axis substantially perpendicular to said axis of rotation of said indicator member.

20. The dispenser of claim 18 wherein said indicator member comprises a plurality of teeth, wherein at least one of said plurality of teeth is selectively engaged by said drive gear.

21. A method of assembling a dispenser for dispensing metered dosages of a substance from a container, the method comprising:

providing a dispenser housing comprising a top, a bottom, and a wall defining an elongated cavity open at said top and extending along a longitudinal axis, wherein said wall has at least one opening, said housing further comprising a support block disposed in said bottom, said support block comprising a well;

providing an indicating device comprising a face member defining a viewing window, said indicating device further comprising an actuator and an indicator member having a surface visible through said viewing window, said surface comprising dosage indicia, wherein said indicator member is rotatable about an axis substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis;

snap-fitting said face member into said at least one opening in said dispenser housing wall, with at least a portion of said viewing window aligned with said at least one opening;

inserting said container into said cavity of said dispenser housing;

engaging said well with a stem of said container; and

coupling said container to said actuator.