초록 ▼

A rotatably actuated counter is disclosed. The counter includes a ratchet driven unit wheel nested within a tens wheel. Each wheel has a radial face displaying counting indicia. The tens wheel is transparent, allowing the indicia on the unit wheel to be viewed adjacent to the indicia on the tens whe

A rotatably actuated counter is disclosed. The counter includes a ratchet driven unit wheel nested within a tens wheel. Each wheel has a radial face displaying counting indicia. The tens wheel is transparent, allowing the indicia on the unit wheel to be viewed adjacent to the indicia on the tens wheel to provide a total count. A slave wheel is positioned between the unit and tens wheels. A gear on one face of the slave wheel engages gear teeth on the tens wheel. A Geneva mechanism on the other face is engaged by a foot on the unit wheel once per rotation. The wheels are rotatably mounted within a housing having a sidewall with a window through which the count indicia may be viewed. The unit wheel rotates in ten increments and then rotates the tens wheel through one increment by engaging and rotating the slave wheel.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A rotatably actuated counter mechanism, comprising: a first wheel rotatable about a first axis of rotation, said first wheel having a first display surface extending circumferentially there around for displaying counting indicia thereon, said first wheel also having a plurali

What is claimed is: 1. A rotatably actuated counter mechanism, comprising: a first wheel rotatable about a first axis of rotation, said first wheel having a first display surface extending circumferentially there around for displaying counting indicia thereon, said first wheel also having a plurality of gear teeth extending circumferentially there around; a second wheel also rotatable about said first axis, said second wheel having a second surface extending circumferentially there around for displaying counting indicia thereon, said second wheel having a wall projecting in a direction substantially parallel to and substantially surrounding said first axis, said wall having a plurality of openings therethrough, said second wheel also having a foot projecting therefrom in a direction substantially parallel to said first axis; a slave wheel positioned between said first and second wheels, said slave wheel being rotatable about a second axis of rotation offset laterally from said first axis, a gear being positioned on one face of said slave wheel, said gear being engaged with said gear teeth of said first wheel, said first wheel being rotated about said first axis upon rotation of said slave wheel about said second axis, a Geneva mechanism being positioned on an opposite face of said slave wheel, said Geneva mechanism having a plurality of receptacles adapted to receive said foot projecting from said second wheel, engagement of said foot with one of said receptacles incrementally rotating said slave wheel in response to rotation of said second wheel and thereby incrementally rotating said first wheel, a plurality of pins being mounted in spaced relation around said Geneva mechanism, said pins projecting in a direction parallel to said second axis and being engageable with said wall, said pins aligning with and passing through said openings in said wall when said foot engages one of said receptacles, said pins otherwise engaging said wall, engagement of said pins and said wall preventing rotation of said slave wheel and thereby said first wheel. 2. A counter mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of wall segments positioned on said second wheel in spaced apart relation to said wall and projecting in a direction substantially parallel to said first axis, said wall segments being positioned relatively to said openings in said wall such that one of said pins projecting from said Geneva mechanism is positioned between said wall and said wall segment when another of said pins is positioned adjacent to an opening of said wall. 3. A counter mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said first and second display surfaces face radially outwardly from said first axis. 4. A counter mechanism according to claim 3, wherein said first wheel is positioned in overlying relation with said second wheel, said first display surface being transparent and surrounding said second display surface, each of said indicia on said first display surface representing ten units, each of said indicia on said second surface representing one unit, said indicia on said surfaces cooperating to indicate a total number of units counted by said counter. 5. A counter mechanism according to claim 4, further comprising: a housing having a bottom, said first wheel being rotationally supported thereon; an axle extending from said bottom and oriented coaxially with said first axis of rotation, said second wheel being rotatably mounted on said axle; an offset axle extending from said bottom and oriented coaxially with said second axis of rotation, said slave wheel being rotatably mounted on said offset axle; a sidewall attached to said bottom and surrounding said first and second wheels, a window being positioned within said sidewall, indicia on said first and second wheels being visible through said window, said visible indicia being indicative of a count registered by said counter. 6. A counter mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said second wheel rotates through ten increments for every one incremental rotation of said first wheel. 7. A counter mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said Geneva mechanism has four receptacles spaced at substantially equal angular intervals around said Geneva mechanism and four pins, each pin being positioned between two of said receptacles. 8. A counter mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said gear teeth on said first wheel face inwardly toward said first axis and said gear on said slave wheel has teeth facing outwardly from said second axis. 9. A mechanism, comprising: a slave wheel rotatable about an axis of rotation, said slave wheel having first and second faces oppositely disposed, said axis being oriented substantially perpendicular to said faces; a toothed gear mounted on said first face, said teeth projecting substantially radially outwardly from said axis; a Geneva mechanism mounted on said second face, said Geneva mechanism having a plurality of receptacles extending in spaced relation circumferentially therearound, each receptacle having an opening facing substantially radially outwardly from said axis; a plurality of pins positioned on said Geneva mechanism between said receptacles, said pins projecting in a direction substantially parallel to said axis. 10. A mechanism according to claim 9, wherein said Geneva mechanism comprises four of said receptacles spaced at substantially equal angular intervals around said slave wheel. 11. A mechanism according to claim 10, wherein said Geneva mechanism comprises four of said pins. 12. A mechanism according to claim 9, wherein said slave wheel has a centrally located aperture for rotatably mounting said slave wheel on an axle parallel to said axis of rotation. 13. A dry powder inhaler for administering a dose of a medicament, said inhaler comprising: a reservoir holding said medicament; a device core engaged with and rotatably movable relatively to said reservoir for receiving said dose of medicament upon said relative motion; a rotatably actuated counter mechanism for counting a number of doses dispensed or remaining in said reservoir, said counter mechanism comprising: a first wheel rotatable about a first axis of rotation, said first wheel having a first display surface extending circumferentially there around for displaying counting indicia thereon, said first wheel having a plurality of gear teeth extending circumferentially there around; a second wheel also rotatable about said first axis, said second wheel having a second surface extending circumferentially there around for displaying counting indicia thereon, said second wheel having a wall projecting in a direction substantially parallel to and substantially surrounding said first axis, said wall having a plurality of openings therethrough, said second wheel also having a foot projecting therefrom in a direction substantially parallel to said first axis; a coupling extending between said device core and said second wheel for transmitting rotational motion of said device core to said second wheel, said rotational motion being indicative of a dose of said medicament delivered from said reservoir; a slave wheel positioned between said first and second wheels, said slave wheel being rotatable about a second axis of rotation offset laterally from said first axis, a gear being positioned on one face of said slave wheel, said gear being engaged with said gear teeth of said first wheel, said first wheel being rotated about said first axis upon rotation of said slave wheel about said second axis, a Geneva mechanism being positioned on an opposite face of said slave wheel, said Geneva mechanism having a plurality of receptacles adapted to receive said foot projecting from said second wheel, engagement of said foot with one of said receptacles incrementally rotating said slave wheel in response to rotation of said second wheel and thereby incrementally rotating said first wheel, a plurality of pins being mounted in spaced relation around said Geneva mechanism, said pins projecting in a direction along said second axis and being engageable with said wall, said pins aligning with and passing through said openings in said wall when said foot engages one of said receptacles, said pins otherwise engaging said sidewall, engagement of said pins and said sidewall preventing rotation of said slave wheel and said first wheel. 14. An inhaler according to claim 13, further comprising: a plurality of wall segments positioned on said second wheel in spaced apart relation to said wall and projecting in a direction substantially parallel to said first axis, said wall segments being positioned relatively to said openings in said wall such that one of said pins projecting from said Geneva mechanism is positioned between said wall and said wall segment when another of said pins is positioned adjacent to an opening of said wall. 15. An inhaler according to claim 13, wherein said first and second display surfaces face radially outwardly from said first axis. 16. An inhaler according to claim 15, wherein said first wheel is positioned in overlying relation with said second wheel, said first display surface being transparent and surrounding said second display surface, each of said indicia on said first display surface representing ten units, each of said indicia on said second surface representing one unit, said indicia on said surfaces cooperating to indicate a total number of units counted by said counter mechanism. 17. An inhaler according to claim 16, further comprising: a housing mounted on said inhaler, said housing having a bottom, said first wheel being rotationally supported thereon; an axle extending from said bottom and oriented coaxially with said first axis of rotation, said second wheel being rotatably mounted on said axle; an offset axle extending from said bottom and oriented coaxially with said second axis of rotation, said slave wheel being rotatably mounted on said offset axle; a sidewall attached to said bottom and surrounding said first and second wheels, a window being positioned within said sidewall, indicia on said first and second wheels being visible through said window, said visible indicia being indicative of a count registered by said counter mechanism. 18. An inhaler according to claim 13, wherein said second wheel rotates through ten increments for every one incremental rotation of said first wheel. 19. An inhaler according to claim 13, wherein said Geneva mechanism has four receptacles spaced at substantially equal angular intervals around said Geneva mechanism and four pins, each pin being positioned between two of said receptacles. 20. An inhaler according to claim 13, wherein said gear teeth on said first wheel face inwardly toward said first axis and said gear on said slave wheel has teeth facing outwardly from said second axis.