The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 03, 2014
Filed:
Nov. 30, 2004
Graham R. Purkins, Loughborough, GB;
Lee A. Kristensen, Ipswich, GB;
Sarah Jones, Olney, GB;
David J. Greenleaf, Loughborough, GB;
Graham R. Purkins, Loughborough, GB;
Lee A. Kristensen, Ipswich, GB;
Sarah Jones, Olney, GB;
David J. Greenleaf, Loughborough, GB;
3M Innovative Properties Company, St. Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
A dose counter for use with an inhaler comprising a container for medicament equipped with a reciprocal actuation means to dispense a dose of medicament therefrom, the dose counter comprising: a fixed ratchet member, a trigger member constructed and arranged to undergo reciprocal movement coordinated with the reciprocal movement between the actuation means and the container, said reciprocal movement comprising an outward stroke and a return stroke, a counter member constructed and arranged to undergo a predetermined counting movement each time a dose is dispensed, the counter member being biased towards the ratchet and trigger members and being capable of counting motion in a direction generally orthogonal to the direction of reciprocal movement of the trigger member, the counter member comprising: a first region for interaction with the trigger member which comprises at least one inclined surface which is engaged by the trigger member during its outward stroke causing the counter member to undergo counting motion, and a second region for interaction with the ratchet member which comprises at least one inclined surface which is engaged by the ratchet member during the return stroke of the trigger member causing the counter member to undergo further counting motion to complete said predetermined counting movement.