Dose indicating device
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 first housing having a longitudinally extending cavity shaped to receive the container, and a second housing disposed in a bottom of said first housing;
an indicator member disposed in said cavity and having a longitudinally extending wall shaped to surround at least a portion of the container, wherein said indicator member comprises dosage indicia disposed on said wall, said indicator member rotatably mounted within said first housing and rotatable relative thereto about a longitudinal axis, said indicator member comprising a driven gear;
a drive gear comprising a drive portion selectively engaged with said driven gear; and
an actuator adapted to move with the container, said actuator selectively engaged with said drive gear;
wherein said drive gear and said actuator are disposed at least in part in said second housing, wherein said second housing is positioned adjacent an end of said indicator member, and wherein said wall is disposed entirely above said second housing.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An indicating device includes a housing having a longitudinally extending cavity shaped to receive the container and an indicator member disposed in the cavity and having a longitudinally extending wall shaped to surround at least a portion of the container. The indicator member is rotatably mounted within the housing and is rotatable relative thereto about a longitudinal axis. The indicator member includes a driven gear. A drive gear is disposed in the housing and includes a drive portion selectively engaged with the driven gear. An actuator is adapted to move with the container and is selectively engaged with the drive gear.
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Citations
20 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 first housing having a longitudinally extending cavity shaped to receive the container, and a second housing disposed in a bottom of said first housing; an indicator member disposed in said cavity and having a longitudinally extending wall shaped to surround at least a portion of the container, wherein said indicator member comprises dosage indicia disposed on said wall, said indicator member rotatably mounted within said first housing and rotatable relative thereto about a longitudinal axis, said indicator member comprising a driven gear; a drive gear comprising a drive portion selectively engaged with said driven gear; and an actuator adapted to move with the container, said actuator selectively engaged with said drive gear; wherein said drive gear and said actuator are disposed at least in part in said second housing, wherein said second housing is positioned adjacent an end of said indicator member, and wherein said wall is disposed entirely above said second housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A dispensing device suitable for indicating the number of metered dosages that have been dispensed from or remain in a container, the dispensing device comprising:
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a housing having a longitudinally extending cavity; a container of medicament disposed in said cavity and operably engaged with said housing, wherein said container is reciprocally moveable relative to said housing along a longitudinal axis, wherein said container comprises a hub and a valve stem extending longitudinally from said hub; an indicator member disposed in said cavity and having a longitudinally extending wall surrounding at least a portion of the container, wherein said wall extends wall surrounding at least a portion of the container, wherein said indicator member comprises dosage indicia disposed on said wall, said indicator member rotatably mounted within said housing and rotatable relative thereto about said longitudinal axis, said indicator member comprising a driven gear; a drive gear disposed in said housing and comprising a drive portion selectively engaged with said driven gear; and an actuator moveable in response to the reciprocal movement of said container, said actuator selectively engaged with said drive gear. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for 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 a container of medicament along a longitudinal axis relative to a housing, wherein said container is disposed in a longitudinally extending cavity defined by said housing, wherein said container comprises a hub and a valve stem extending longitudinally from said hub; moving an actuator with said container; selectively engaging a drive gear with said actuator, wherein said drive gear comprises a drive portion; selectively engaging a driven gear with said drive portion, and thereby rotating an indicator member about said longitudinal axis, wherein said indicator member comprises a longitudinally extending wall surrounding at least a portion of the container, wherein said indicator member comprises dosage indicia disposed on said wall, wherein said indicator member is disposed in said cavity, and wherein said wall extends longitudinally past, and is disposed around, said hub of said container. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification