Dose indicators with a resilient deformable element
The present disclosure relates to a dose indicator for a pressure-actuated metered dose inhaler (pMDI) device. In an embodiment, the dose indicator comprises a chassis element having a viewing portion, a display element located within the chassis element, a resilient deformable element, and an indexing element having an axis, translation of the indexing element along its axis from a first position to a second position causing deformation of the resilient deformable element in the same direction as translation of the indexing element resulting in generally greater displacement of portions of the resilient deformable element nearer to the axis relative to portions thereof further from the axis, the displacement of the portions of the resilient deformable element in the same direction as translation of the indexing element inducing indexing of the display element from a current position to a subsequent position relative to the viewing portion of the chassis element.
1. A dose indicator for a pressure-actuated metered fluid dispensing device, the dose indicator comprising:
a chassis element having a viewing portion;
a display element located within the chassis element;
a resilient deformable element; and
an indexing element having an axis, translation of the indexing element along its axis from a first position to a second position causing deformation of the resilient deformable element in the same direction as translation of the indexing element resulting in generally greater displacement of portions of the resilient deformable element nearer to the axis relative to portions thereof further from the axis, the displacement of the portions of the resilient deformable element in the same direction as translation of the indexing element inducing indexing of the display element from a current position to a subsequent position relative to the viewing portion of the chassis element, wherein the outline shape of the resulting displacement of the resilient deformable element comprises an inverted frustum of a cone.
2. A dose indicator according to claim 1 , wherein the resilient deformable element is arranged around the axis of the indexing element.
3. A dose indicator according to claim 1 , wherein the outline shape of the resulting displacement of the resilient deformable element is symmetrical about the axis.
4. A dose indicator according to claim 1 , wherein the display element is arranged around the axis of the indexing element.
5. A dose indicator according to claim 1 , wherein the display element comprises a continuous display ring.
6. A dose indicator according to claim 1 , wherein the display element comprises a discontinuous ring.
7. A dose indicator according to claim 1 , wherein the display element comprises a disc centred about the axis of the indexing element.
8. A dose indicator according to claim 1 , wherein the indexing element comprises a tube element connected to the resilient deformable element.
9. A dose indicator according to claim 1 , wherein the resilient deformable element comprises a grille element.
10. A dose indicator according to claim 9 , further comprising a further grille element located adjacent the resilient deformable grille element, the further grille element substantially abutting the resilient deformable grille element in the first position to restrict the passage of air through the abutting grille elements.
11. A dose indicator according to claim 10 , wherein, when the indexing element is in the second position, the resilient deformable grille element is spaced from the further grille element to allow the passage of air through the spaced apart grille elements.
12. A dose indicator according to claim 10 , wherein the further grille element is associated with one of: the display element and the chassis element.
13. A dose indicator according to claim 12 , wherein the resilient deformable grille element is associated with the other one of: the display element and the chassis element.
14. A dose indicator according to any one of claim 9 , wherein the chassis element comprises a housing including a base portion and a lid portion, the base portion including the indexing element and the resilient deformable grille element.
15. A dose indicator according to claim 14 , wherein the lid portion is connected to the base portion by a living hinge.
16. A dose indicator according to claim 14 , wherein the lid portion is closable with respect to the base portion.
17. A dose indicator according to claim 14 , wherein the base portion comprises a wall portion having the viewing portion formed therein.
18. A dose indicator according to claim 9 , wherein the chassis element comprises an inner wall portion and an outer wall portion joined by a rim portion, the inner and outer wall portions defining an annulus therebetween, the display element being mounted within the annulus with a portion thereof being visible through the viewing portion formed in the outer wall portion.
19. A pressure-actuated metered dispensing device comprising:
an actuator portion;
a window formed in the actuator portion;
a dispensing portion;
a nozzle block located between the actuator portion and the dispensing portion;
a dose indicator according to any one of the preceding claims, the indexing element being aligned with the nozzle block and the viewing portion being aligned with the window in the actuator portion; and
a canister comprising a container and a metering valve housed within the actuator portion, the metering valve having a valve stem that engages the nozzle block and wherein, in use, relative movement of the container and the nozzle block causes the translation of the indexing element from the first to the second position as a result of engagement of a portion of the canister and the indexing element.