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Last Updated: March 28, 2024

Details for Patent: 6,142,339


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Title: Aerosol dispensing device
Abstract:An aerosol dispenser for dispensing metered dosages of medicaments from a container having a valve stem extending longitudinally therefrom and moveable between an open and closed position. The container is reciprocally moveable within the housing along a longitudinal axis. The housing has a well adapted to receive the valve stem and an exhaust port. The well communicates with the port such that the metered dosage of medicament is dispensed through the port when the valve stem is moved to the open position. A worm is rotatably mounted in the housing about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis and is responsive to the movement of the reciprocal movement of the container within the housing such that the longitudinal movement causes the worm to rotate about its axis. An indicator member includes dosage indicia visible to a user and a circular gear mounted in the housing about an axis transverse to the axis of the worm and to the longitudinal axis. The circular gear engages the worm. In a preferred embodiment, the indicator assembly is provided in an indicator module. A method for dispensing measured dosages includes the steps of moving the container along the longitudinal axis so as to cause the worm to rotate about its axis, which causes the worm gear to rotate about its axis.
Inventor(s): Blacker; Richard (London, CA), Engelbreth; Daniel K. (London, CA), Schmidt; James N. (London, CA)
Assignee: 1263152 Ontario Inc. (London, CA)
Filing Date:Jan 16, 1998
Application Number:09/008,184
Claims:1. An aerosol dispenser for dispensing metered dosages of medicaments from a container having a valve stem extending longitudinally therefrom and moveable between a closed position and an open position, said container dispensing said metered dosage when said valve stem is moved to the open position, said aerosol dispenser comprising:

a housing adapted to support said container reciprocally moveable within said housing along a longitudinal axis, said housing having a well adapted to receive said valve stem and an exhaust port, said well communicating with said exhaust port such that said metered dosage of medicament is dispensed through said exhaust port when said valve stem is moved to the open position;

a ratchet wheel rotatably mounted in said housing and adapted to be responsive to the reciprocal movement of said container in said housing along said longitudinal axis such that said longitudinal movement of said container causes said ratchet wheel to rotate;

a worm rotatably mounted in said housing along a first rotation axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the movement of the container within the housing, said worm connected to said ratchet wheel such that rotation of said ratchet wheel causes said worm gear to rotate about said first rotation axis; and

an indicator member comprising a circular gear engaging said worm, said circular gear mounted in said housing about a second axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the movement of the container within said housing and to the first rotation axis of the worm, said indicator member comprising dosage indicia visible to the user.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 further comprising an actuator member moveably mounted in said housing, said actuator member adapted to move in response to the movement of the container within said housing along said longitudinal axis and to operably engage said ratchet wheel so as to rotate said ratchet wheel in response to the longitudinal movement of the container within said housing.

3. The dispenser of claim 2 wherein said actuator member comprises an arm adapted to selectively engage and rotate said ratchet wheel.

4. The dispenser of claim 3 wherein said actuator member further comprises a ring adapted to engage the container, said ring moveably mounted in said housing, wherein said arm extends longitudinally from said ring.

5. The dispenser of claim 2 further comprising a spring biasing said actuator member away from said selective engagement with said ratchet wheel.

6. The dispenser of claim 5 wherein said actuator member comprises a post having an end adapted to operably engage said container and an arm adapted to selectively engage said ratchet wheel, said spring disposed about and engaging said post so as to bias said actuator member away from said selective engagement with said ratchet wheel.

7. The dispenser of claim 5 wherein said housing further comprises a viewing window, said dosage indicia visible to the user through said window.

8. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said indicator member further comprises an indicator wheel coaxially mounted with said circular gear, said indicator wheel having said dosage indicia applied to a planar face of said indicator wheel so as to be visible to the user.

9. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said ratchet wheel and said worm are coaxially mounted within said housing.

10. The dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a module mounted in said housing, wherein said ratchet wheel, said worm and said indicator member are rotatably mounted within said module.

11. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said housing further comprises a mouthpiece, said mouthpiece forming said exhaust port.

12. An aerosol dispenser for dispensing metered dosages of medicaments from a container having a valve stem extending longitudinally therefrom and moveable between a closed position and an open position, said container dispensing said metered dosage when said valve stem is moved to the open position, said aerosol dispenser comprising:

a housing adapted to support said container reciprocally moveable within said housing along a longitudinal axis, said housing having a well adapted to receive said valve stem and an exhaust port, said well communicating with said exhaust port such that said metered dosage of medicament is dispensed through said exhaust port when said valve stem is moved to the open position;

a worm rotatably mounted in said housing about a first rotation axis transverse to said longitudinal axis, said worm adapted to be responsive to the reciprocal movement of said container in said housing along said longitudinal axis such that said longitudinal movement of said container causes said worm to rotate about said first rotation axis; and

an indicator member comprising a circular gear engaging said worm, said circular gear mounted in said housing about a second axis of rotation transverse to the longitudinal axis of the movement of the container within said housing and to the first rotation axis of said worm, said indicator member comprising dosage indicia visible to the user.

13. The dispenser of claim 12 further comprising a ratchet wheel rotatably mounted in said housing coaxially with said worm, said ratchet wheel adapted to rotate in response to said longitudinal movement of said container with said housing.

14. The dispenser of claim 13 further comprising an actuator member moveably mounted in said housing, said actuator member adapted to move in response to the movement of the container within said housing along said longitudinal axis and to operably engage said ratchet wheel so as to rotate said ratchet wheel in response to the longitudinal movement of the container within said housing.

15. The dispenser of claim 14 wherein said actuator member further comprises a ring adapted to engage the container, said ring moveably mounted in said housing, wherein said arm extends longitudinally from said ring.

16. The dispenser of claim 14 further comprising a spring biasing said actuator member away from said selective engagement with said ratchet wheel.

17. The dispenser of claim 16 wherein said actuator member comprises a post having an end adapted to operably engage said container and an arm adapted to selectively engage the ratchet wheel, said spring disposed about and engaging said post so as to bias the actuator member away from said selective engagement with said ratchet wheel.

18. The dispenser of claim 12 wherein said indicator member further comprises an indicator wheel coaxially mounted with said circular gear, said indicator wheel having said dosage indicia applied to a face of said indicator wheel visible to the user.

19. The dispenser of claim 12 wherein said housing further comprises a viewing window, said dosage indicia visible to the user through said viewing window.

20. The dispenser of claim 12 wherein said housing further comprises a mouthpiece forming said exhaust port.

21. The dispenser of claim 12 further comprising a module mounted in said housing, wherein said worm and said indicator member are rotatably mounted within said module.

22. An inhalation device for dispensing metered dosages of medicaments from a container comprising:

a housing having a longitudinally extending cavity and a well located at a bottom of said cavity, said housing comprising a mouthpiece having an exhaust port communicating with said well;

said container comprising a valve stem extending longitudinally therefrom and moveable between a closed position and an open position, said container containing a plurality of metered dosages of medicaments, said valve stem dispensing one of said plurality of said metered dosages when said valve stem is moved to the open position, said container disposed in said cavity of said housing such that said valve stem is received within said well, said container reciprocally moveable within said housing along said longitudinal extent of the cavity such that said valve stem is moved between said open and closed position by engagement with said well;

a ratchet wheel rotatably mounted in said housing;

an actuator member moveably mounted within said housing and comprising an arm having an end portion selectively engaging said ratchet wheel in response to the reciprocal movement of said container in said housing along said longitudinal axis such that said longitudinal movement of said container and said actuator arm causes said ratchet wheel to rotate about a first rotation axis;

a worm rotatably mounted in said housing along said first rotation axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the movement of the container within the housing, said worm coaxially mounted to said ratchet wheel such that rotation of said ratchet wheel in response to the selective engagement of said arm of said actuator member causes said worm gear to rotate about said first rotation axis; and

an indicator member comprising a circular gear engaging said worm and a indicator wheel coaxially mounted to said circular gear, said circular gear and said indicator wheel mounted to said housing on an axle defining a second axis of rotation transverse to the longitudinal axis of the movement of the container within the housing and to the first rotation axis of the worm, said indicator wheel having a planar face comprising dosage indicia visible to the user.

23. An indicator module adapted to be received within a aerosol dispenser housing for indicating the number of metered dosages of medicaments dispensed from a container disposed within said dispenser housing and having a valve stem extending longitudinally therefrom and moveable between a closed position and an open position along a longitudinal axis, said container dispensing said metered dosage when said valve stem is moved to the open position, said dispenser housing comprising a wall and a support block supporting said valve stem spaced apart from said wall, said indicator module comprising:

a key member adapted to be mounted to said container;

a module housing adapted to be received within said dispenser housing between said support block and said wall of said housing, wherein said module housing has a passageway shaped to receive at least a portion of said key member as said container is disposed in said dispenser housing; and

an indicator member mounted in said module housing, said indicator member comprising dosage indicia.

24. The indicator module of claim 23 wherein said module further comprises an actuator member adapted to engage said container, said actuator member moveable within said module housing and adapted to selectively move said indicator member in response to the longitudinal movement of said container relative to said dispenser housing.

25. The indicator module of claim 24 wherein said module further comprises a worm rotatably mounted in said module housing about a first axis, said worm engaging said indicator member, said actuator member adapted to selectively rotate said worm in response to the longitudinal movement of the container within the housing.

26. The indicator module of claim 25 further comprising a spring disposed within said module housing and engaging said actuator member so as to bias said actuator member upwardly within said module housing and into engagement with said container.

27. The indicator module of claim 26 wherein said actuator member further comprises a stop surface and wherein said spring engages said stop surface so as to bias said actuator member upwardly within said enclosure.

28. The indicator module of claim 24 wherein said indicator member further comprises a gear engaging said worm, said gear mounted in said module housing about a second axis of rotation transverse to the first axis of the worm.

29. The indicator module of claim 23 wherein said module housing comprises a first and second member joined to form an enclosure.

30. The module of claim 23 further comprising a viewing window formed in said module housing.

31. An aerosol dispenser for dispensing metered dosages of medicaments from a container having a valve stem extending longitudinally therefrom and moveable between a closed position and an open position, said container dispensing said metered dosage when said valve stem is moved to the open position, said aerosol dispenser comprising:

a housing adapted to support said container reciprocally moveable within said housing along a longitudinal axis, said housing having a well adapted to receive said valve stem and an exhaust port, said well communicating with said exhaust port such that said metered dosage of medicament is dispensed through said exhaust port when said valve stem is moved to the open position;

a worm rotatably mounted in said housing about a first rotation axis transverse to said longitudinal axis, said worm adapted to be responsive to the reciprocal movement of said container in said housing along said longitudinal axis such that said longitudinal movement of said container causes said worm to rotate about said first rotation axis; and

an indicator member comprising a circular gear engaging said worm, said circular gear mounted in said housing on an axle forming a second axis of rotation transverse to the first rotation axis of the worm and non-parallel to the longitudinal axis of the movement of the container within the housing, said indicator member comprising dosage indicia visible to the user.

32. A method for dispensing metered dosages of medicaments from a container having a valve stem extending longitudinally therefrom and moveable between a closed position and an open position, said container dispensing said metered dosage when said valve stem is moved to the open position, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a housing having a well and an exhaust port, said well communicating with said exhaust port;

providing said container filled with a predetermined number of said metered dosages, said container moveably supported in said housing along a longitudinal axis, said container comprising a valve stem received within said well of said housing and moveable between a closed and open position as said container is moved longitudinally within said housing, said container adapted to discharge one of said metered dosages when said valve stem is moved to the open position;

moving said container along said longitudinal axis so as to move said valve stem to the open position and thereby discharge one of said metered dosages through said well and said port;

rotating a worm mounted in said housing a predetermined angular amount in response to said longitudinal movement of said container, said worm mounted along an axis transverse to said longitudinal axis of said movement of said container within said housing;

providing an indicator member mounted in said housing about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis and to said axis of said worm, said indicator member comprising a circular gear;

engaging said circular gear with said worm so as to rotate said circular gear about said axis transverse to said longitudinal axis and to said axis of said worm; and

providing indicia on said indicator member to indicate the number of metered dosages remaining in or dispensed from said container.

33. The method of claim 32 further comprising the steps of providing a ratchet wheel coaxially mounted to said worm in said housing and rotating said ratchet wheel so as to rotate said worm.

34. The method of claim 33 further comprising the steps of engaging an actuator member with said container such that actuator member moves in response to the movement of the container within the housing along said longitudinal axis, and engaging said ratchet wheel with said actuator member so as to rotate said ratchet wheel in response to the longitudinal movement of the container within the housing.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein said actuator member comprises an arm having an end adapted to selectively engage and rotate the ratchet wheel.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein said actuator member further comprises a ring adapted to engage the container, said ring moveably mounted in said housing and wherein said arm extends longitudinally from said ring.

37. The method of claim 35 further comprising a spring biasing actuator away from said selective engagement with said ratchet wheel.

38. The method of claim 37 further comprising a post member mounted within said housing, said spring disposed on said post member.

39. The method of claim 33 wherein said indicator member further comprises a indicator wheel coaxially mounted with said circular gear, said indicator wheel having said indicia applied to a face of the indicator wheel visible to the user.

40. The method of claim 33 wherein said housing further comprises a viewing window, said indicia visible to the user through said window.

41. The method of claim 33 wherein said ratchet wheel and said worm are coaxially mounted within said housing.

42. An apparatus for dispensing metered dosages of medicaments from a container, said apparatus comprising:

a dispenser housing comprising a support block and a wall spaced apart from said support block, said support block having a well and an orifice communicating with said well, said dispenser housing having a cavity formed above said support block;

said container comprising a valve stem, wherein said container is disposed in said cavity and said valve stem is mounted in said well of said support block;

a dose indicator module for indicating the number of metered doses remaining in or dispensed from said container, said dose indicator module comprising a module housing mounted in said dispenser housing below said container in the space between said support block and said dispenser housing wall, wherein said module housing has a passageway formed therein; and

a key member mounted to said container, said key member shaped to be received in said passageway as said valve stem of said container is mounted in said support block.

43. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein said dose indicator module further comprises an indicator member visible to a user for indicating the number of metered doses remaining in or dispensed from said container.

44. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein said dispenser housing further comprises a viewing window, wherein said indicator member is visible to the user through the viewing window.

45. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein said dose indicator module further comprises a worm rotatably mounted in said module housing about a first axis, said worm engaging said indicator member.

46. The apparatus of claim 45 further comprising a ratchet wheel coaxially mounted in said module with said worm.

47. The apparatus of claim 46 further comprising an actuator member comprising a post member protruding from said module housing, said post member adapted to engage said container, said actuator member moveable within said module housing and selectively engaging said ratchet wheel.

48. The apparatus of claim 47 further comprising a spring disposed within said module housing and engaging said actuator member so as to bias said post member upwardly within said module housing.

49. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein said module housing comprises a first and second member joined to form an enclosure.

50. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein said indicator module further comprises an actuator member extending into said passageway, wherein said key member engages said actuator member when said key member is received in said passageway.

51. The apparatus of claim 50 wherein said indicator module housing comprises an upper surface and wherein said actuator member does not extend beyond said upper surface when disengaged from said key member.

52. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein said passageway comprises a slot.

53. The apparatus of claim 52 wherein said slot is arcuate shaped and wherein said key member comprises a base portion mounted to said container and a key portion extending from said base portion, said key portion shaped to be received within said groove.

54. The apparatus of claim 53 wherein said key portion comprises a circular flange.

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