US 7,597,102 B2 · Indicating device for aerosol container

Abstract

An indicating device suitable for indicating the number of metered dosages that have been dispensed from or remain in a container including a base member, a cap member moveably connected to the base member, an indicator member rotatably mounted to one of the cap member and base member and a drive member. The indicator member comprises a first stop member, and the drive member comprises a second stop member. The first stop member engages the second stop member as the indicator is moved to the final position. The engagement between the first and second stop members prevents the drive member from being rotated about the second axis. In another preferred embodiment, an inhalation device for dispensing metered dosages of medicaments from a container includes a container having a predetermined number of metered doses and the indicating device. A method for indicating the number of metered dosages of medicaments dispensed from or remaining in the container is also provided.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A method for indicating the number of metered dosages of medicaments dispensed from or remaining in a container, said method comprising:

providing said container filled with a predetermined number of metered dosages;
providing an indicating device comprising a first component mounted to said container;
a second component member moveable relative to the first component along an axial path;
and an indicator member rotatably mounted to one of said first or second components;
reciprocally moving said first component relative to said second component along said axial path a first predetermined number of times corresponding to said predetermined number of metered dosages;
making at least one audible indicating sound upon each of said first predetermined movements of said first component relative to said second component;
and
reciprocally moving said first component relative to said second component along said axial path at least one auxiliary time after said moving said first component relative to said second component along said axial path said first predetermined number of times, wherein said first component is reciprocally moved relative to said second component along said axial path said at least one auxiliary time without making said at least one audible indicating sound.

5 more elements

A method for indicating the number of metered dosages of medicaments dispensed from or remaining in a container, said method comprising:

actuating said container a first predetermined number of times corresponding to a first predetermined number of metered dosages and thereby dispensing said first predetermined number of metered dosages;
moving an indicator member with a drive mechanism at least once in response to said actuating said container said first predetermined number of times;
making at least one audible indicating sound upon each of said first predetermined actuations of said container;
actuating said container at least one auxiliary time after said actuating said container said first predetermined number of times, wherein said container is actuated said at least one auxiliary time without making said at least one audible indicating sound;
and
deforming a component of said drive mechanism while actuating said container said at least one auxiliary time and thereby disabling said drive mechanism.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Indicating device for aerosol container

Life of this patent

Indicating device for aerosol container

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30