Indicating device with warning dosage indicator

• US 9,968,748 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2013
• Issued: 05/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trudell Medical International (Trudell Medical Limited)
• Original Assignee: Trudell Medical International (Trudell Medical Limited)
• Inventors: Morton, Robert, Lu, Winston Z.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vasat, Peter S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Luarca, Margaret
• Application Number:
  US14/054,179
• Publication Number:
  US 20140165998A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,673 Days
• Field of Search: 12820014, 12820017
• 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 15/0073 on a ring
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0075 on a disc
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0076 on a drum
• 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: A61M 2205/6045 having complementary physical shapes for indexing or registration purposes

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 housing member having laterally spaced apart first and second guide members and a second housing member. The first and second housing members are moveable relative to each other along a longitudinal axis. The second housing member includes laterally spaced apart first and second guides shaped to receive the first and second guide members respectively, and wherein the first and second guides are not shaped to receive the second and first guide members respectively. A biasing member biases the second member relative to the first member along the longitudinal axis. An indicating member is disposed between the first and second housing members.

Claims

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

a first housing member comprising a first peripheral wall extending in a longitudinal direction and laterally spaced apart first, second, and third guide members spaced radially inwardly from said first peripheral wall;

a second housing member comprising a second peripheral wall extending in said longitudinal direction, wherein said first and second housing members are reciprocally moveable relative to each other along a longitudinal axis, said second housing member comprising laterally spaced apart first, second, and third guides spaced radially inwardly from said second peripheral wall, wherein said first, second and third guides are shaped to receive said first, second, and third guide members respectively, and wherein said first and second guides are not shaped to receive said second and first guide members respectively, wherein one of said first and second housing members has a generally open bottom and the other of said first and second housing members has a generally open top, wherein said first and second housing members define a cavity between said first and second housing members;

a biasing member biasing said second member relative to said first member along said longitudinal axis; and

an indicating member disposed in said cavity between said first and second housing members, wherein said indicating member is moveable in response to said reciprocal movements of said first and second housing members along said longitudinal axis, and wherein said first, second and third guide members are reciprocally moveable within said first, second and third guides in response to said reciprocal movements of said first and second housing members along said longitudinal axis.

2. The indicating device of claim 1 wherein said first and second guide members have differently configured cross-sections.

3. The indicating device of claim 2 wherein said cross-sections of said first and second guide members comprise circular shapes having different first and second diameters respectively.

4. The indicating device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second guide members has a T-shaped cross-section.

5. The indicating device of claim 1 wherein said first and second guides have differently configured cross-sections.

6. The indicating device of claim 1 wherein said first, second and third guide members have differently configured cross-sections.

7. The indicating device of claim 1 wherein one of said first and second housing members comprises a pawl positioned to engage a drive gear supported by the other of the first and second housing members when said first and second guide members are disposed in said first and second guides.

8. The indicating device of claim 1 wherein one of said first and second housing member comprises an engagement member engaging the other of said first and second housing members.

10. The indicating device of claim 1 wherein indicating member is positioned between said first and second guide members.

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

a first housing member having laterally spaced apart first and second guide members, wherein said first housing member comprises a first peripheral wall extending in a longitudinal direction, and wherein said first and second guide members are positioned interiorly of said first peripheral wall;

a second housing member comprising a second peripheral wall extending in said longitudinal direction, wherein said first and second housing members are reciprocally moveable relative to each other along a longitudinal axis, said second housing member comprising laterally spaced apart first and second guides positioned interiorly of said second peripheral wall, wherein said first and second guides are shaped to receive said first and second guide members respectively, and wherein said first and second guides are not shaped to receive said second and first guide members respectively, wherein one of said first and second housing members has a generally open bottom and the other of said first and second housing members has a generally open top, wherein said first and second housing members define a cavity between said first and second housing members;

a biasing member biasing said second member relative to said first member along said longitudinal axis; and

an indicating member disposed in said cavity between said first and second housing members, wherein said indicating member is moveable in response to said reciprocal movements of said first and second housing members along said longitudinal axis, and wherein said first and second guide members are reciprocally moveable within said first and second guides in response to said reciprocal movements of said first and second housing members along said longitudinal axis.

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

a first housing member having laterally spaced apart first and second guide members, wherein said first housing member comprises a first peripheral wall extending in a longitudinal direction, and wherein said first and second guide members are positioned interiorly of said first peripheral wall, and wherein said first and second guide members have differently configured cross-sections;

a second housing member comprising a second peripheral wall extending in said longitudinal direction, wherein said first and second housing members are reciprocally moveable relative to each other along a longitudinal axis, said second housing member comprising laterally spaced apart first and second guides positioned interiorly of said second peripheral wall, wherein said first and second guides are received in said first and second guide members respectively;

a biasing member biasing said second member relative to said first member along said longitudinal axis; and

at least one indicating member disposed between said first and second housing members and positioned between said first and second guide members, wherein said indicating member is moveable in response to said reciprocal movements of said first and second housing members along said longitudinal axis, and wherein said first and second guide members are reciprocally moveable within said first and second guides in response to said reciprocal movements of said first and second housing members along said longitudinal axis.

12. The indicating device of claim 11 wherein at least one of the first and second guide members has a T-shaped cross-section.

13. The indicating device of claim 11 wherein said first and second guides have differently configured cross-sections.

14. The indicating device of claim 11 wherein said first housing member comprises a third guide member laterally spaced from said first and second guide members, and said second housing member comprises a third guide laterally spaced from said first and second guides, wherein said third guide member is received in said third guide.

15. The indicating device of claim 14 wherein said at least one indicating member is positioned between said first and third guide members.

16. The indicating device of claim 14 wherein said first, second and third guide members have differently configured cross-sections.

17. The indicating device of claim 11 wherein one of said first and second housing members comprises a pawl positioned to engage a drive gear supported by the other of the first and second housing members when said first and second guide members are received in said first and second guides.

18. The indicating device of claim 11 wherein one of said first and second housing member comprises an engagement member engaging the other of said first and second housing members.

19. The indicating device of claim 11 wherein said first housing member comprises a peripheral wall extending in said longitudinal direction, and wherein said first and second guide members are positioned adjacent said peripheral wall.

20. An aerosol delivery device comprising:

a dispenser housing;

a container comprising a medicament, said container coupled to said dispenser housing, wherein said container is moveable in a longitudinal direction relative to said dispenser housing to dispense a dosage of medicament; and

an indicating device engaged with said container, said indicating device comprising;

a first housing member comprising a first peripheral wall extending in a longitudinal direction and laterally spaced apart first, second, and third guide members spaced radially inwardly from said first peripheral wall;

a second housing member comprising a second peripheral wall extending in said longitudinal direction, wherein said first and second housing members are reciprocally moveable relative to each other along a longitudinal axis, said second housing member comprising laterally spaced apart first, second, and third guides spaced radially inwardly from said second peripheral wall, wherein said first, second and third guides are shaped to receive said first, second, and third guide members respectively, and wherein said first and second guides are not shaped to receive said second and first guide members respectively, wherein one of said first and second housing members has a generally open bottom and the other of said first and second housing members has a generally open top, wherein said first and second housing members define a cavity between said first and second housing members;

a biasing member biasing said second member relative to said first member along said longitudinal axis; and

an indicating member disposed in said cavity between said first and second housing members, wherein said indicating member is moveable in response to said reciprocal movements of said first and second housing members along said longitudinal axis, and wherein said first, second and third guide members are reciprocally moveable within said first, second and third guides in response to said reciprocal movements of said first and second housing members along said longitudinal axis.

21. The aerosol delivery device of claim 20 wherein said first and second guide members have differently configured cross-sections.

22. The aerosol delivery device of claim 20 wherein said first, second and third guide members have differently configured cross-sections.

23. The aerosol delivery device of claim 20 wherein one of said first and second housing members comprises a pawl positioned to engage a drive gear supported by the other of the first and second housing members when said first and second guide members are disposed in said first and second guides.

24. The aerosol delivery device of claim 20 wherein indicating member is positioned between said first and second guide members.

25. An aerosol delivery device comprising:

a dispenser housing;

a container comprising a medicament, said container coupled to said dispenser housing, wherein said container is moveable in a longitudinal direction relative to said dispenser housing to dispense a dosage of medicament; and

an indicating device engaged with said container, said indicating device comprising;

a first housing member having laterally spaced apart first and second guide members, wherein said first and second guide members have differently configured cross-sections, and wherein said first housing member comprises a first peripheral wall extending in said longitudinal direction, and wherein said first and second guide members are positioned interiorly of said first peripheral wall;

a second housing member comprising a second peripheral wall extending in a longitudinal direction, wherein said first and second housing members are reciprocally moveable relative to each other along a longitudinal axis, said second housing member comprising laterally spaced apart first and second guides positioned interiorly of said second peripheral wall, wherein said first and second guides are received in said first and second guide members respectively;

a biasing member biasing said second member relative to said first member along said longitudinal axis; and

at least one indicating member disposed between said first and second housing members and positioned between said first and second guide members, wherein said indicating member is moveable in response to said reciprocal movements of said first and second housing members along said longitudinal axis, and wherein said first and second guide members are reciprocally moveable within said first and second guides in response to said reciprocal movements of said first and second housing members along said longitudinal axis.

26. The aerosol delivery device of claim 25 wherein said first housing member comprises a third guide member laterally spaced from said first and second guide members, and said second housing member comprises a third guide laterally spaced from said first and second guides, wherein said third guide member is received in said third guide.

27. The aerosol delivery device of claim 26 wherein said at least one indicating member is positioned between said first and third guide members.

28. The aerosol delivery device of claim 26 wherein said first, second and third guide members have differently configured cross-sections.