Details for Patent: 7,984,826

Title:	Indicating device
Abstract:	A dispensing device for use in dispensing metered dosages of substance from a container includes a dispenser housing having a support block defining a longitudinal axis and an indicator member rotatably disposed in the dispenser housing. The indicator member is rotatable about a rotation axis forming an obtuse angle with the longitudinal axis. An indicating device includes an actuator member moveable along a longitudinal direction and an indicator member rotatably mounted in the indicator housing about a rotation axis forming an obtuse angle with an axis extending in the longitudinal direction. An indicating device includes an indicator housing having an upper surface with an opening formed therein and an actuator ring having a flange moveable through the opening in a longitudinal direction. An indicator member is rotatably mounted in the indicator housing. A medicament assembly and method for dispensing a metered dose of medicament are also provided.
Inventor(s):	Blacker; Richard (London, CA), Engelbreth; Daniel K. (London, CA), Schmidt; James N. (London, CA)
Assignee:	Trudell Medical International (London, CA)
Filing Date:	May 19, 2009
Application Number:	12/454,564
Claims:	1. A dispensing device for use in dispensing metered dosages of substance from a container having a valve moveable between a closed position and an open position, the dispensing device comprising: a dispenser housing comprising a support block adapted to receive a valve stem on the container, said support block defining a longitudinal axis; and an indicator member rotatably disposed in said dispenser housing, wherein said indicator member is rotatable about a rotation axis forming an obtuse angle with said longitudinal axis. 2. The dispensing device of claim 1 wherein said dispenser housing comprises a cavity surrounding said support block, and further comprising an indicator housing disposed in said cavity, wherein said indicator member is rotatably mounted in said indicator housing. 3. The dispensing device of claim 2 wherein said indicator housing circumferentially surrounds at least a portion of said support block. 4. The dispensing device of claim 2 wherein said indicator housing comprises a viewing window, and wherein said indicator member comprises dosage indicia visible through said viewing window. 5. The dispensing device of claim 4 wherein said viewing window comprises a first viewing window, and wherein said dispenser housing comprises a second viewing window aligned with said first viewing window such that said dosage indicia are visible to a user. 6. The dispensing device of claim 1 wherein said indicator member has a face oriented non-parallel to said rotation axis, and further comprising dosage indicia applied to said face. 7. The dispensing device of claim 1 wherein said indicator member comprises a gear. 8. The dispensing device of claim 2 wherein said indicator housing comprises first and second housing components coupled together by a snap-fit. 9. An indicating device for use in indicating the number of metered dosages of substance dispensed from or remaining in a container, the indicating device comprising: an indicator housing; an actuator member moveably disposed in said indicator housing, said actuator member moveable in a longitudinal direction; an indicator member rotatably mounted in said indicator housing about a rotation axis forming an obtuse angle with an axis extending in said longitudinal direction. 10. The indicating device of claim 9 wherein said indicator housing has a wall extending in the longitudinal direction, wherein said wall defines an inner concave surface. 11. The indicating device of claim 9 wherein said indicator housing comprises a viewing window, and wherein said indicator member comprises dosage indicia visible through said viewing window. 12. The indicating device of claim 9 wherein said indicator member has a face oriented non-parallel to said rotation axis, and further comprising dosage indicia applied to said face. 13. The indicating device of claim 12 wherein said indicator member comprises a gear. 14. The dispensing device of claim 9 wherein said indicator housing comprises first and second housing components coupled together by a snap-fit. 15. The dispensing device of claim 9 further comprising a spring biasing said actuator in said longitudinal direction. 16. The dispensing device of claim 15 wherein said spring comprises a leaf spring. 17. The dispensing device of claim 16 wherein said leaf spring comprises a metal material. 18. The dispensing device of claim 9 wherein said indicator housing has an opening, wherein at least a portion of said actuator extends through said opening. 19. A medicament assembly comprising: a dispenser housing comprising a support block defining a longitudinal axis; a container of medicament disposed in said dispenser housing and comprising a valve stem disposed in said support block, wherein said container is moveable along said longitudinal axis relative to said dispenser housing so as to dispense a metered dose of medicament from said container; and an indicator member rotatably disposed in said dispenser housing, wherein said indicator member is rotatable about a rotation axis forming an obtuse angle with said longitudinal axis. 20. The medicament assembly of claim 19 wherein said dispenser housing comprises a cavity surrounding said support block, and further comprising an indicator housing disposed in said cavity, wherein said indicator member is rotatably mounted in said indicator housing. 21. The medicament assembly of claim 20 wherein said indicator housing circumferentially surrounds at least a portion of said support block. 22. The medicament assembly of claim 20 wherein said indicator housing comprises a viewing window, and wherein said indicator member comprises dosage indicia visible through said viewing window. 23. The medicament assembly of claim 22 wherein said viewing window comprises a first viewing window, and wherein said dispenser housing comprises a second viewing window aligned with said first viewing window such that said dosage indicia are visible to a user. 24. The medicament assembly of claim 19 wherein said indicator member has a face oriented non-parallel to said rotation axis, and further comprising dosage indicia applied to said face. 25. The medicament assembly of claim 19 wherein said indicator member comprises a gear. 26. The medicament assembly of claim 19 wherein said container of medicament comprises a metered dose inhaler. 27. A method of dispensing a metered dose of medicament from a container comprising: moving a container of medicament relative to a valve stem extending from said container along a longitudinal axis a number of predetermined times, wherein said valve stem is disposed in a support block of a dispenser housing, and thereby dispensing a predetermined number of metered dosage of substance; and rotating an indicator member about a rotation axis forming an obtuse angle with said longitudinal axis in response to said predetermined number of metered dosages of substance. 28. The method of claim 27 wherein said container of medicament comprises a metered dose inhaler. 29. The method of claim 27 further comprising moving an actuator in a longitudinal direction in response to said moving said container of medicament, and wherein said rotating said indicator comprises rotating said indicator in response to said moving said actuator. 30. The method of claim 29 wherein said indicator member is disposed in an indicator housing, and wherein at least a portion of said actuator extends through an opening in said indicator housing. 31. The method of claim 29 further comprising biasing said actuator in said longitudinal direction with a spring. 32. The method of claim 31 wherein said spring comprises a leaf spring. 33. The method of claim 32 wherein said leaf spring comprises a metal material.