Indicating device

An inhalation device for dispensing metered dosages of medicaments comprising:

• a container having first and second opposites ends, wherein said first end comprises a valve stem extending longitudinally therefrom;
• and
• an indicating device comprising:
• a base member mounted to said second end of said container, said base member comprising a bottom portion and a circumferential skirt extending upwardly from said bottom portion and defining a first cavity;
• a cap member moveably connected to said base member, wherein said cap member is moveable relative to said base member along an axial path in an axial direction, said cap member comprising a top portion and a circumferential skirt extending from said top portion and defining a second cavity, said circumferential skirt of said cap member having a viewing window formed therein;
• and
• an indicator member rotatably mounted to said cap member within said second cavity, wherein said indicator member is moveable with said cap member relative to said base member along said axial path in said axial direction, wherein said indicator member comprises a surface visible in said viewing window and indicia disposed on said surface.

An inhalation device for dispensing metered dosages of medicaments comprising:

• a dispenser housing having a longitudinally extending cavity, a well located at a bottom of said cavity and a generally open end at a top of said cavity;
• a container having first and second opposites ends, wherein said first end comprises a valve stem extending longitudinally therefrom, wherein said container is disposed in said cavity with said valve stem inserted in said well and with said second end of said container extending from said generally open end of said dispenser housing;
• and
• an indicating device comprising:
• a base member mounted to said second end of said container, said base member comprising a bottom portion and a circumferential skirt extending upwardly from said bottom portion and defining a first cavity;
• a cap member moveably connected to said base member, wherein said cap member is moveable relative to said base member along an axial path, said cap member comprising a top portion and a circumferential skirt extending from said top portion and defining a second cavity, said circumferential skirt of said cap member having a viewing window formed therein, wherein at least a portion of said circumferential skirt of said cap member is received within said first cavity of said base member as said cap member is moved axially relative to said base member;
• and
• an indicator member rotatably mounted to said cap member within said second cavity, wherein said indicator member is rotatably mounted to said cap member about an axis substantially parallel to the axial movement of said cap member relative to said base member, wherein said indicator member comprises an outer circumferential surface visible in said viewing window and indicia disposed on said outer circumferential surface.

A method for operating an inhalation device comprising:

• providing a container having first and second opposite ends, wherein said first end comprises a valve stem extending longitudinally therefrom;
• providing an indicating device comprising a base member mounted to said second end of said container, said base member comprising a bottom portion and a circumferential skirt extending upwardly from said bottom portion and defining a first cavity;
• a cap member moveably connected to said base member, said cap member comprising a top portion and a circumferential skirt extending from said top portion and defining a second cavity, said circumferential skirt of said cap member having a viewing window formed therein;
• and an indicator member rotatably mounted to said cap member within said cap member, wherein said indicator member comprises an outer circumferential surface visible in said viewing window and indicia disposed on said outer circumferential surface;
• moving said cap member and said indicator member relative to said base member along an axial path;
• and
• rotating said indicator member relative to said cap member about an axis substantially parallel to the axial movement of said cap member relative to said base member.