Counter
AssigneeEuro-Celtique S.A.
InventorCathal Duignan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This invention generally relates to counters and in particular to counters for use with dispensers and to dispensers comprising said counters. More particularly the present invention relates to counters for use with metered-dose dispensers, such as metered-dose inhalers (MDIs). In particular, the present invention provides a counter comprising: a first ring member having a first indicia and being rotatable in increments about an axis, the first indicia indicating a count; a limiting member comprising a limiting mechanism, wherein the limiting mechanism comprises an engaging portion arranged to act radially with respect to the first ring member to contact the first ring member to limit free rotation of the first ring member relative to the limiting member about the axis.
Claims23
A counter comprising:
- a first ring member having a first indicia and being rotatable in increments about an axis, the first indicia indicating a count;
- and
- a limiting member comprising a limiting mechanism,
- wherein the limiting mechanism comprises:
- an engaging portion arranged to act radially with respect to the first ring member to contact the first ring member to limit free rotation of the first ring member relative to the limiting member about the axis;
- and
- a guide, the guide comprising an arm spaced apart from the limiting member engaging portion in a fixed relation, the guide being configured to contact the first ring member on an outer circumferential surface such that the limiting member engaging portion maintains contact with the first ring member.
A limiting member comprising a limiting mechanism for limiting free rotation of a rotating member about an axis, the limiting mechanism comprising:
- the rotating member having the axis of rotation;
- an engaging portion arranged to act radially with respect to the rotating member to contact the rotating member to limit free rotation of the rotating member about the axis;
- and
- a guide comprising an arm spaced apart from the limiting mechanism engaging portion in a fixed relation, the guide being configured to contact the rotating member on an outer circumferential surface such that the limiting mechanism engaging portion maintains contact with the rotating member;
- wherein the engaging portion comprises one or more teeth arranged to contact an inner circumferential surface of the rotating member.
A limiting member comprising a limiting mechanism for limiting free rotation of a rotating member about an axis, the limiting mechanism comprising:
- the rotating member having the axis of rotation;
- an engaging portion arranged to act radially with respect to the rotating member to contact the rotating member to limit free rotation of the rotating member about the axis;
- and
- a guide comprising an arm spaced apart from the limiting mechanism engaging portion in a fixed relation, the guide being configured to contact the rotating member on an outer circumferential surface such that the limiting mechanism engaging portion maintains contact with the rotating member;
- wherein the rotating member comprises an engaging portion arranged to co-operate with the engaging portion of the limiting mechanism to limit free rotation of the rotating member about the axis;
- and
- wherein the engaging portion on the rotating member comprises a plurality of teeth on an inner circumferential surface of the rotating member.
A counter comprising:
- a first ring member having a first indicia and being rotatable in increments about an axis, the first indicia indicating a count;
- and
- a limiting member comprising a limiting mechanism,
- wherein the limiting member comprises a limiting ring member coaxially arranged about the same axis as the first ring member and the limiting ring member comprises one or more locating recesses disposed in an upper circumferential surface for engaging with correspondingly-shaped protrusions in a housing for preventing rotation of the limiting ring member about the axis;
- and
- wherein the limiting mechanism comprises:
- an engaging portion arranged to act radially with respect to the first ring member to contact the first ring member to limit free rotation of the first ring member relative to the limiting member about the axis;
- and
- a guide, the guide comprising an arm spaced apart from the limiting member engaging portion in a fixed relation, the guide being configured to contact the first ring member such that the limiting member engaging portion maintains contact with the first ring member.
A counter comprising:
- a first ring member having a first indicia and being rotatable in increments about an axis, the first indicia indicating a count;
- a second ring member having second indicia, the second ring member being rotatable in increments about the same axis as the first ring member, the second indicia indicating a count;
- a coupling mechanism for releasably coupling the second ring member to the first ring member, to allow the second and first ring members to rotate cooperatively when coupled and to allow independent rotating of the second ring member when not coupled;
- wherein the coupling mechanism comprises first and second engagement means, the first engagement means being movable radially outwardly and radially inwardly relative to the axis;
- and
- a limiting member comprising a limiting mechanism,
- wherein the limiting mechanism comprises:
- an engaging portion arranged to act radially with respect to the first ring member to contact the first ring member to limit free rotation of the first ring member relative to the limiting member about the axis;
- and
- a guide, the guide comprising an arm spaced apart from the limiting member engaging portion in a fixed relation, the guide being configured to contact the first ring member such that the limiting member engaging portion maintains contact with the first ring member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.