Dose Indicator or Dose Counter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016136365-A1
Application number	US-201414904321-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 8, 2014
Priority date	Jul 11, 2013
Publication date	May 19, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A dose indicator or dose counter is disclosed which includes an indexable first display unit indexable about a first display axis, an indexable second display unit indexable about a second display axis, the second display axis being transverse to the first display axis, and a chassis comprising a chassis frame, a displacement portion comprising a drive means to engage the first display unit, and at least one hinge means directly or indirectly connecting the displacement portion and chassis frame. The drive means is preferably configured to index the dose indicator. The dose indicator/counter has a small number of components yet is effective, reliable and compact.

First claim

1 . A dose indicator comprising,
an indexable first display unit indexable about a first display axis, an indexable second display unit indexable about a second display axis, the second display axis being transverse to the first display axis, and a chassis comprising a chassis frame, a displacement portion comprising a drive means to engage the first display unit, and at least one hinge means directly or indirectly connecting the displacement portion and chassis frame.

2 . A dose indicator as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first display unit and/or the second display unit are substantially circular and are rotatably indexable about the first display axis and/or about the second display axis respectively.

3 . A dose indicator as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2 , wherein the drive means is adapted to engage the first display unit.

4 . A dose indicator as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the drive means is adapted to engage the first display unit on a curved path, the drive means being driven by a force from outside the circumference of the first display unit.

5 . A dose indicator comprising,
an indexable first display unit rotatably indexable about a first display axis, optionally an indexable second display unit indexable about a second display axis, and a chassis comprising a chassis frame, a displacement portion comprising a drive means to engage the first display unit, and at least one hinge means directly or indirectly connecting the displacement portion and chassis frame, wherein the drive means is adapted to engage the first display unit on a curved path, the drive means being driven by a force from outside the circumference of the first display unit.

6 . A dose indicator as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 , wherein the first display unit is rotatable in a first plane transverse to the first display axis.

7 . A dose indicator as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the curved path is at least partly outside the first plane.

8 . A dose indicator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the chassis is moulded as a unitary piece.

9 . A dose indicator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the drive means is integrally comprised in the displacement portion.

10 . A dose indicator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the drive means comprises a drive pawl.

11 . A dose indicator as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the drive pawl has an end that engages with the first display unit, said end being angled in towards the axis of rotation of said first display unit.

12 . A dose indicator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the displacement portion is adapted to be displaced along a displacement path.

13 . A dose indicator as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the displacement path is at least partly transverse to the first display axis.

14 . A dose indicator as claimed in either claim 12 or claim 13 , wherein the displacement path is at least partly arcuate.

15 . A dose indicator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the drive means is located on the displacement portion at a position remote from the hinge means or hinges, preferably at a position distal to the hinge means or hinges.

16 . A dose indicator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the displacement portion comprises at least one press member.

17 . A dose indicator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least a first display non-return means, the first display non-return means being preferably at least partly located on the chassis frame.

18 . A dose indicator as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the first display non-return means comprises a non-return arm adapted to interact with one or more detents on the first display unit.

19 . A dose indicator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the chassis further comprises at least one return means.

20 . A dose indicator as claimed in claim 18 wherein the return means comprises at least one spring.

21 . A dose indicator as claimed in claim 20 , wherein the at least one spring comprises a leaf spring, preferably a curved leaf spring.

22 . A dose indicator as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 21 , wherein the at least one return means directly or indirectly connects the displacement portion and chassis frame, preferably at a position remote from the hinge means or hinges.

23 . A dose indicator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the first and/or the second display unit is adapted to index through between 5 and 25 indicia, preferably 8 to 12 indicia.

24 . A dose indicator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising first display unit mounting means for mounting the display unit on the chassis frame so that it is indexable about the first display axis.

25 . A dose indicator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the first display unit is a units display unit.

26 . A dose indicator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second display unit is a tens display unit.

27 . A dose indicator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first display unit comprises a drive arm adapted to index the second display unit.

28 . A dose indicator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first display unit has a substantially circular cross section.

29 . A dose indicator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second display unit has a substantially annular cross section.

30 . A dose indicator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and/or the second display unit comprises a zero stop means.

31 . A dose indicator as claimed in claim 30 , wherein the zero stop means interacts with a stop arm located on the chassis.

32 . A dose indicator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the chassis comprises polyoxymethylene.

33 . An actuator for an inhaler, the actuator comprising a dose indicator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

34 . An inhaler comprising an actuator as claimed in claim 33 .

35 . A dose indicator substantially as hereinbefore described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings.

36 . An actuator for an inhaler comprising a dose counter substantially as hereinbefore described.

Assignees

• 3M Innovative Properties Co

Inventors

• Stuart Adam J
• Howgill Stephen J

Classifications

• G06M1/04

  for driving the stage of lowest order (with variable ratio of drive G06M1/38) · CPC title

• A61M15/009

  using medicine packages with incorporated spraying means, e.g. aerosol cans (pocket atomiser of the injector type A61M11/08) · CPC title

• A61M15/0075 Primary

  on a disc · CPC title

• A61M15/0073

  on a ring · CPC title

• G06M1/042

  with click devices (electromagnetic driving means G06M1/102) · CPC title