# US 11,992,608 B2 · Locking mechanism for an aerosol dispenser > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,992,608 B2 - Document ID: US11992608B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/275,613 - Filed: 2019-09-12 - Published: 2022-02-17 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2018-09-27 - Assignees: Shl Medical AG - Applicants: Shl Medical AG - Inventors: Daniel Säll - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11992608B2 ## CPC - A61M 5/50: having means for preventing re-use, or for indicating if defective, used, tampered with or unsterile {(retractable needles or needle protectors with means for preventing re-use A61M5/321)} - A61M 15/0081: {Locking means} - A61F 9/0008: {Introducing ophthalmic products into the ocular cavity or retaining products therein (putting in contact lenses A61F9/0061; introducing or retaining media in cavities of the body in general A61M31/00)} - A61M 15/00: Inhalators {(drug delivery in endotracheal tubes A61M16/04)} - A61M 15/0068: {Indicating or counting the number of dispensed doses or of remaining doses} - A61M 15/0071: {having a display or indicator} - B05B 11/108: {Means for counting the number of dispensing strokes} - B05B 11/1091: {being first hold in a loaded state by locking means or the like, then released (B05B11/1092 takes precedence)} - A61M 5/30: Syringes for injection by jet action, without needle, e.g. for use with replaceable ampoules or carpules - A61M 2205/273: preventing reuse, e.g. of disposables - 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)} - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D) ## Abstract A locking mechanism for an aerosol dispenser is presented having a first body structure, a second body structure rotatably attached to the first body structure, a spindle rotatably attached to the second body structure, the spindle having an actuator rotationally cooperating with the first body structure such that rotation of the first body structure relative to the second body structure causes rotation of the actuator and of the spindle, a movable element arranged around the spindle, the spindle being rotatable relative to the movable element, wherein rotation of the spindle causes movement of the movable element along the spindle from an initial position to a final position, and a locking element, wherein in the final position the movable element applies a radial force onto the locking element causing the locking element to bend in the radial direction thereby preventing rotation between the first body structure and the second body structure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A locking mechanism for an aerosol dispenser, wherein the locking mechanism comprises: a first body structure, a second body structure configured to be rotatably attached to the first body structure, a spindle configured to be rotatably attached to the second body structure, the spindle having an actuator configured to rotationally cooperate with the first body structure such that rotation of the first body structure relative to the second body structure causes rotation of the actuator and of the spindle, a movable element arranged around the spindle, the spindle being rotatable relative to the movable element, wherein rotation of the spindle causes movement of the movable element along the spindle from an initial position to a final position, and a locking element, wherein the locking element is arranged in a first recess of a wall and attached to the wall of one of the first body structure and the second body structure, wherein in the final position the movable element is configured to apply a radial force onto the locking element causing the locking element to bend in the radial direction thereby preventing rotation between the first body structure and the second body structure, and wherein the moveable element is configured to axially slide against the locking element as the movable element is moved towards the final position to thereby bend the locking element radially such that it engages with a second recess of a wall of the other one of the first body structure and the second body structure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The locking mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the movable element is a dose indicator configured to provide an indication of the remaining number of doses. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The locking mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking element is a spring. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The locking mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein the spring is a sheet spring. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The locking mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spindle and the movable element have a threaded connection. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The locking mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the movable element has an elongated axially extending end portion which has a bevelled cross-section, and wherein the locking element has a radially curved section configured to cooperate with the axially extending end portion to thereby cause bending of the locking element. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An aerosol dispenser comprising a locking mechanism according to claim 1. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The aerosol dispenser as claimed in claim 7, wherein the aerosol dispenser is an inhaler or an eye dispenser. ### Claim 9 A locking mechanism for an aerosol dispenser, wherein the locking mechanism comprises: a first body structure; a second body structure rotatably attached to the first body structure; a spindle rotatably attached to the second body structure, where the spindle comprises an actuator that is rotationally cooperate with the first body structure such that rotation of the first body structure relative to the second body structure causes rotation of the actuator and of the spindle; a dose indicator configured to provide a user an indication of a remaining number of doses and that is arranged around the spindle, where the spindle is rotatable relative to the dose indicator and where rotation of the spindle causes movement of the dose indicator along the spindle from an initial position to a final position; a locking element comprising a spring wherein the spring is arranged in a first recess of a wall and attached to the wall of one of the first body structure and the second body structure, wherein in the final position the dose indicator will apply a radial force onto the locking element causing the locking element to bend in the radial direction thereby preventing rotation between the first body structure and the second body structure; and wherein the dose indicator axially slides against the spring as the dose indicator moves towards the final position thereby bending the spring radially such that it engages with a second recess of a wall of the other one of the first body structure and the second body structure. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The locking mechanism of claim 9, wherein the spindle and the dose indicator are threadedly connected. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The locking mechanism of claim 10, wherein the dose indicator has an elongated axially extending end portion having a bevelled cross-section, where the locking element has a radially curved section configured to cooperate with the axially extending end portion to thereby cause bending of the locking element. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The locking mechanism of claim 9, wherein the spring is a sheet spring.