# US 10,478,573 B2 · Counter and handheld device with counter > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,478,573 B2 - Document ID: US10478573B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/026,270 - Filed: 2014-10-07 - Published: 2016-09-01 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2013-10-15 - Applicants: Alfred Von Schuckmann - Inventors: Alfred Von Schuckmann - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10478573B2 ## CPC - A61M 15/0075: {on a disc} - A61M 15/0025: {with caps} - G01F 11/42: with supply or discharge valves of the rotary or oscillatory type - G06M 1/041: {for drum-type indicating means} - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME - G06M: COUNTING MECHANISMS; COUNTING OF OBJECTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A counter for a handheld device for dispensing a pharmaceutical substance includes at least one counter wheel having legible characters. The counter wheel is rotatable about a rotational axis, and a drive part having a shaped engagement section rotates the counter wheel. An acting part, displaceable relative to the counter wheel in the direction of extension of the rotational axis against a spring force, is connected to and rotates together with the drive part. A base part which can form a part of the housing and can be inserted into the housing at least partly overlaps the substance container in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the substance container, and has a stationary rotational axis for the counter wheel, the drive part preferably being guided in the rotational axis. The drive part is located on the side of the substance container with respect to the counter wheel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A counter (6) for a handheld device (1) for dispensing pharmaceutical substances, with at least one counter wheel (20) that features legible characters, wherein the counter wheel (20) is rotatable about a rotational axis (14) and a drive part (10) for the counter wheel (20) is provided in order to rotationally act upon the counter wheel (20), wherein said drive part (10) features a shaped engagement section for cooperating with the counter wheel (20), and wherein an acting part (49) is furthermore provided and is configured to be displaced relative to the counter wheel (20) in the direction of the rotational axis (14) against a spring force, wherein the acting part (49) is rotationally moved and connected to the drive part (10) in order to rotate jointly therewith, and wherein the drive part (10) features a guide section (13), by which it is seated on the rotational axis (14) of the counter in the assembled state of the counter (6), wherein the rotational axis of the counter is realized in the form of a stationary pin, wherein the drive part (10) and/or the acting part (49) feature a shaped gear section, and wherein the shaped gear section comprises a slotted link (18) on one of the drive part (10) and rotational axis (14), as well as a slide block (17) on the other of the drive part (10) and rotational axis (14). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The counter according to claim 1, wherein a rotational motion of the acting part (49) is superimposed with a motion in the direction of the rotational axis (14). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The counter according to claim 1, wherein the shaped gear section is designed for cooperating with a gear part provided on the rotational axis (14) or separately of the rotational axis (14). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The counter according to claim 1, wherein the drive part (10) is arranged coaxial to the rotational axis (14). ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The counter according to claim 1, wherein the drive part (10) is completely separated from the counter wheel (20) prior to a displacement. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The counter according to claim 1, wherein the drive part (10) is also coaxial with the rotational axis (14) prior to a displacement. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The counter according to claim 1, wherein the counter (6) comprises a bottom part (7) that forms part of a housing of the handheld device (1). ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The counter according to claim 7, wherein a spring (19) acting upon the drive part (10) and/or the acting part (9) is supported on an inner side of the bottom part (7). ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The counter according to claim 7, wherein the rotational axis (14) is rigidly connected to the bottom part (7). ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The counter according to claim 1, wherein several counter wheels (20) are provided. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The counter according to claim 10, wherein all counter wheels (20) are arranged coaxial. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The counter according to claim 1, wherein the drive part (10) features a shaped engagement section in the form of an engagement pin (21). ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The counter according to claim 1, wherein a shaped engagement section extends axially parallel to the rotational axis (14). ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The counter according to claim 1, wherein a counter wheel (20) directly assigned to the drive part (10) features an engagement opening (22). ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The counter according to claim 14, wherein the engagement opening (22) is designed and arranged for accommodating a shaped engagement section. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The counter according to claim 1, wherein a transmission gearwheel (23) is provided between two counter wheels (20) that are arranged directly adjacent to one another in the direction of the rotational axis (14), wherein said transmission gearwheel extends transverse to a second rotational axis (29) such that it overlaps both counter wheels (20). ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The counter according to claim 16, wherein a transmission gearwheel (22) is rotatably held on a radial arm (30) of the rotational axis (14). ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The counter according to claim 16, wherein two transmission gearwheels (23) are provided. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The counter according to claim 17, wherein two radial arms (30) are provided. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The counter according to claim 19, wherein the radial arms (30) are spaced apart in the direction of the rotational axis (14). ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The counter according to claim 1, wherein a spring (19), which generates the spring force for the drive part (10) and/or the acting part (49), extends laterally of a counter wheel (20) and in the direction of the rotational axis (14) such that it overlaps the counter wheel (20). ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The counter according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the counter wheels (20) cooperate with a reverse lock (34). ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The counter according to claim 22, wherein a reverse lock (34) is realized in the form of a locking part that acts upon an outer circumferential surface of a counter wheel (20) featuring the characters. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The counter according to claim 23, wherein a motion plane of the locking part extends transverse to the rotational axis (14) and/or the locking part is fixed on a bottom part (7) of the counter.