Container, indicator device with moveable piercing part, and nebulizer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10576222-B2
Application number	US-201515308506-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 4, 2015
Priority date	May 7, 2014
Publication date	Mar 3, 2020
Grant date	Mar 3, 2020

Abstract

A nebulizer as well as a container and an indicator device for such a nebulizer are proposed. The indicator device is fixedly mounted from the bottom of the container and comprises a piercing element for opening an aeration of the container. The indicator device and its piercing part are preferably actuated by axial movement of the indicator device and container within the nebulizer.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An indicator device for a container containing a fluid to be nebulized by a nebulizer, the indicator device comprising:
an indicator element for counting or indicating a number of uses performed or still possible with the container,
a piercing part for opening an aeration of the container, and a housing,
wherein the indicator element is arranged within an internal space of the housing,
wherein the piercing part is arranged entirely within the internal space of the housing, if not actuated or before first use or actuation, and
wherein the piercing part is moveable such that it protrudes outwards from the housing and external to the internal space of the housing for opening or piercing the container.

2. The indicator device according to claim 1 , wherein the piercing part is held in an initial or non-opening position before first actuation or use.

3. The indicator device according to claim 1 , wherein the piercing part is held by one or more flexible arms in the initial or non-opening position before first actuation or use.

4. The indicator device according to claim 3 , wherein the one or more arms are radially flexible.

5. The indicator device according to claim 1 , wherein the piercing part comprises a tip.

6. The indicator device according to claim 1 , wherein the piercing part or its tip comprises one or more venting channels or grooves.

7. The indicator device according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the piercing part and an associated support structure comprises or forms a compensation portion for compensating tolerances or over-travel in axial direction or actuation.

8. The indicator device according to claim 1 , wherein the piercing part is held in an opening or piercing or protruding position after first actuation or use.

9. The indicator device according to claim 1 , wherein the piercing part is biased into a retracted or non-opening position by a biasing arm, spring or support structure.

10. The indicator device according to claim 1 , with at least one of the features: the piercing part comprising a spring and the piercing part being made of at least one of plastics and metal.

11. The indicator device according to claim 1 , wherein the piercing part is at least one of axially moveable, axially guided and torsionally guided.

12. The indicator device according to claim 1 , wherein the indicator device comprises an insertion opening and is constructed to close the insertion opening in a locked state when a predetermined number of uses has been reached or exceeded.

13. The indicator device according to claim 12 , wherein the closed insertion opening is configured to prevent actuation of at least one of the indicator device, the indicator element and the piercing element.

14. The indicator device according to claim 1 , wherein the indicator device comprises a protection or closure for closing an insertion opening of the indicator device.

15. The indicator device according to claim 1 , wherein the indicator device comprises an insertion opening allowing insertion of a driving part of the nebulizer.

16. The indicator device according to claim 15 , wherein the indicator device is adapted such that the movement of the driving part into the indicator device pushes the piercing part from an initial non-opening position up to a final opening position.

17. A container for a nebulizer,
the container containing a fluid, and
the container comprising an indicator device with an indicator element for counting or indicating a number of uses performed or still possible with the container,
wherein the indicator device comprises a piercing part for opening an aeration of the container,
wherein the indicator device comprises a housing,
wherein the indicator element is arranged within an internal space of the housing,
wherein the piercing part is arranged entirely within the internal space of the housing, if not actuated or before first use or actuation, and
wherein the piercing part is moveable such that it protrudes outwards from the housing and external to the internal space of the housing for opening or piercing the container.

18. Container according to claim 17 , wherein the indicator device is inseparable from the container.

19. Container according to claim 17 , wherein the indicator device is arranged adjacent to or over an aeration opening or venting hole or to an associated closure or foil of the container.

20. Container according to claim 17 , wherein the indicator device is fixedly arranged at a base of the container or opposite to an outlet or head of the container.

21. Container according to claim 17 , wherein the diameter of the indicator device is at least essentially equal to the diameter of the container.

22. A nebulizer for a fluid, the nebulizer comprising:
a replaceable container containing the fluid;
a nebulizer housing for receiving the container;
a housing part which can be detached from the nebulizer housing or opened for replacing the container; and
an indicator device with an indicator element for counting or indicating a number of uses performed or still possible with the container;
wherein the indicator device comprises a piercing part for opening an aeration of the container,
wherein the indicator device comprises a housing,
wherein the indicator element is arranged within an internal space of the housing of the indicator device,
wherein the piercing part is arranged entirely within the internal space of the housing of the indicator device, if not actuated or before first use or actuation, and
wherein the piercing part is moveable such that it protrudes outwards from the housing of the indicator device and external to the internal space of the housing of the indicator device for opening or piercing the container.

23. The nebulizer according to claim 22 , wherein the container is moveable axially within the closed nebulizer housing during nebulization.

24. The nebulizer according to claim 22 , further comprising a driving part for driving or actuating or triggering the indicator device as well as for aerating, opening or piercing the container or actuating the piercing part of the indicator device.

25. The nebulizer according to claim 24 , wherein the driving part is moveable relative to the container or indicator device for driving or actuating or triggering the indicator device and for opening or piercing the container.

26. The nebulizer according to claim 24 , wherein the indicator device comprises an insertion opening allowing insertion of the driving part of the nebulizer.

27. The nebulizer according to claim 26 , wherein the indicator device comprises a protection or closure for closing the insertion opening before at least one of first use and insertion of the container together with the indicator device into the nebulizer.

28. The nebulizer according to claim 27 , wherein the driving part is configured to open or pierce the protection or closure during first use or tensioning or closing the nebulizer.

29. The nebulizer according to claim 24 , wherein the nebulizer is constructed such that the driving part is configured to actuate the piercing part.

30. The nebulizer according to claim 22 , wherein the indicator device comprises an indicator element and an actuation element for indexing the indicator element, wherein the nebulizer comprises

Assignees

• Boehringer Ingelheim Int

Inventors

• Eicher Joachim
• Wuttke Gilbert
• Von Schuckmann Alfred

Classifications

• B05B11/00

  Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use · CPC title

• A61M15/0041

  with movable piercing or cutting means · CPC title

• A61M2205/273

  preventing reuse, e.g. of disposables · CPC title

• A61M15/0035

  Piercing means · CPC title

• A61M15/0021

  Mouthpieces therefor · CPC title