Claims for Patent: 10,561,808

Summary for Patent: 10,561,808

Title:	Dose counter for inhaler having an anti-reverse rotation actuator
Abstract:	A dose counter for an inhaler includes a counter display arranged to indicate dosage information, and a drive system arranged to move the counter display incrementally in a first direction from a first station to a second station in response to actuation input. A regulator is provided which is arranged to act upon the counter display at the first station to regulate motion of the counter display at the first station to incremental movements.
Inventor(s):	Walsh; Declan (County Kilkenny, IE), Fenlon; Derek (County Wexford, IE), Kaar; Simon (County Cork, IE), Hazenberg; Jan Geert (County Kilkenny, IE), Buck; Daniel (County Waterford, IE), Clancy; Paul (Waterford, IE), Uschold; Robert Charles (Leominster, MA), Karg; Jeffrey A. (Hopkinton, MA)
Assignee:	IVAX PHARMACEUTICALS IRELAND (Waterford, IE) NORTON (WATERFORD) LIMITED (Waterford, IE) TEVA PHARMACEUTICALS IRELAND (Waterford, IE)
Application Number:	15/262,818
Patent Litigation and PTAB cases:	See patent lawsuits and PTAB cases for patent 10,561,808
Patent Claims:	1. A dose counter for an inhaler, the dose counter having a counter display arranged to indicate dosage information, a drive system arranged to move the counter display incrementally in a first direction from a first station to a second station in response to actuation input, wherein a regulator is provided which is arranged to act upon the counter display at the first station to regulate motion of the counter display at the first station to incremental movements. 2. The dose counter as claimed in claim 1 in which the counter display comprises a tape. 3. The dose counter as claimed in claim 2 in which the tape has dose counter indicia displayed thereon. 4. The dose counter as claimed in claim 2 wherein the first station comprises a first shaft, the tape being arranged on the first shaft and to unwind therefrom upon movement of the counter display. 5. The dose counter as claimed in claim 4 in which the first shaft is mounted for rotation relative to a substantially rotationally fixed element of the dose counter. 6. The dose counter as claimed in claim 5 in which the regulator comprises at least one projection on one of the first shaft and the substantially rotationally fixed element, which is arranged to engage incrementally with one or more formations on the other of the substantially rotationally fixed element and the first shaft. 7. The dose counter as claimed in claim 6 in which at least two said projections are provided. 8. The dose counter as claimed in claim 6 in which exactly two said projections are provided. 9. The dose counter as claimed in claim 6 in which each projection comprises a radiused surface. 10. The dose counter as claimed in claim 6 in which the at least one projection is located on the substantially rotationally fixed element which comprises a fixed shaft which is fixed to the main body of the dose counter, the first shaft being rotationally mounted to the fixed shaft. 11. The dose counter as claimed in claim 10 in which the fixed shaft has at least two flexible legs, and each leg has at least one said projection formed in an outwardly facing direction thereon, said one or more formations being formed on an inwardly facing engagement surface of the first shaft, said at least one projection being arranged to resiliently engage said one or more formations. 12. The dose counter as claimed in claim 10 in which the fixed shaft comprises a split pin with fork legs and in which each projection is located on a said fork leg. 13. The dose counter as claimed in claim 6 in which a series of said formations are provided. 14. The dose counter as claimed in claim 6 in which an even number of said formations is provided. 15. The dose counter as claimed in claim 6 in which from eight to twelve of said formations are provided. 16. The dose counter as claimed in claim 15 in which ten of said formations are provided. 17. The dose counter as claimed in claim 6 in which each said formation comprises a concavity formed on an engagement surface. 18. The dose counter as claimed in claim 17 in which each concavity comprises a radiused surface wall portion which merges on at least one side thereof into a flat wall portion surface. 19. The dose counter as claimed in claim 18 in which the engagement surface includes a series of said concavities and in which convex wall portions of the engagement surface are formed between each adjacent two said concavities, each said convex wall portion comprising a convex radiused wall portion. 20. The dose counter as claimed in claim 19 in which each convex radiused wall portion of each convex wall portion is connected by said flat wall portion surfaces to each concavity which is adjacent thereto. 21. The dose counter as claimed in claim 4 in which the first shaft comprises a substantially hollow bobbin. 22. The dose counter as claimed in claim 21 in which said one or more formations are located on an inner surface of the bobbin. 23. The dose counter as claimed in claim 4 wherein the drive system comprises a tooth ratchet wheel arranged to act upon a second shaft which is located at the second station, the second shaft being rotatable to wind the tape onto the second shaft. 24. The dose counter as claimed in claim 23 in which the second shaft is located on the main body of the dose counter spaced from and parallel to the first shaft. 25. The dose counter as claimed in claim 23 in which the tooth ratchet wheel is fixed to the second shaft and is arranged to rotate therewith. 26. The dose counter as claimed in claim 23 which includes an anti-back drive system which is arranged to restrict motion of the second shaft in a tape winding direction. 27. The dose counter as claimed in claim 1 in which the regulator provides a resistance force of greater than 0.1 N against movement of the counter display. 28. The dose counter as claimed in claim 27 in which the resistance force is greater than 0.3 N. 29. The dose counter as claimed in claim 27 in which the resistance force is from 0.3 to 0.4 N.