Substance Source

Abstract

A source of gaseous, gas borne or droplet substance having: an inner pressurised container ( 1 ), a substance-release valve ( 2 ) device sealed across an end of the container ( 1 ), a spout ( 4 ) displaceable inwards of the container ( 1 ) against a spring of the valve ( 2 ) device for substance release; the source also includes: an outer enclosure enclosing the inner container along its length ( 12 ), at least partially its end ( 14 ) remote from the spout ( 4 ) and partially at its spout end ( 19 ), the outer enclosure ADN the inner container ( 1 ) being arranged to react force for displacement of the spout ( 4 ) on substance release; a counter ( 20 ) accommodated within the outer enclosure for counting substance release displacements of the spout ( 4 ); and a window ( 22 ) in the outer enclosure for viewing the count of the counter ( 20 ).

1 - 34 . (canceled) 
   
   
       35 . A source of a gaseous, gas borne or droplet substance having:
 an inner pressurised container for the substance,   a substance-release valve device sealed across an end of the container and having a spring,   a spout at a spout end of the container, which is displaceable inwards of the container against the spring of the valve device for substance release,   the source also including:   an outer enclosure enclosing the inner container along its length, at least partially across its end remote from the spout and partially at its spout end, the outer enclosure and the inner container being arranged to be capable of reacting to cause displacement of the spout inwards of the container for substance release;   a counter accommodated within the outer enclosure for counting substance release displacements of the spout; and   a window in the outer enclosure for viewing the count of the counter.   
   
   
       36 . A source as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein the inner container and the outer enclosure react on each other. 
   
   
       37 . A source as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein the inner container and the outer enclosure react on a dispenser. 
   
   
       38 . A source as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein the counter is arranged at an end of the outer enclosure, for transmitting spout-displacement force between the inner container and the outer enclosure and counting occurrences of such force from 
   
   
       39 . A source as claimed in  claim 38 , wherein the counter is a single-use or multi-use electronic counter. 
   
   
       40 . A source as claimed in  claim 38 , wherein the counter is a removable or irremovable mechanical counter. 
   
   
       41 . A source as claimed in  claim 40 , wherein the mechanical counter includes a dual set of ratchet teeth and pawls, with angular incrementation determined by the ratchet teeth. 
   
   
       42 . A source as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein the counter is arranged to be incremented on displacement of the spout, and the counter includes a rotatable member indexed by one increment on each displacement of the spout. 
   
   
       43 . A source as claimed in  claim 42 , wherein the mechanical counter includes a dual set of ratchet teeth and pawls, one of either of the teeth and the pawls being displaced with the spout the other being fast with the outer enclosure and the rotatable member being incremented partially by one of the dual set of teeth on inwards displacement of the spout and partially by the other of the dual set of teeth on return outwards displacement of the spout, or
 a single set of ratchet teeth and at least one pawl and a frictional member restraining the rotatable member, one of either of the teeth and the pawls being displaced with the spout the other being fast with the outer enclosure and the rotatable member being incremented by the pawl and teeth on inwards displacement of the spout and held by the frictional member on return outwards displacement of the spout.   
   
   
       44 . A source as claimed in  claim 42 , wherein:
 the rotatable member is a portion of the inner pressurised container or a sleeve fast with the container, the container or the sleeve being adapted to be indexed by one increment on each displacement of the spout, or the rotatable member is a member internal of the outer enclosure, extending around the inner container,   the rotatable member has a helical track,   the window extends axially and/or circumferentially of the outer enclosure, and   the source includes an indicator adapted to co-operate with the helical track which operates as an indicator by movement along the window.   
   
   
       45 . A source as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein
 the rotatable member has a curved surface; and   the indicator has:   engages the helical track for movement of the indicator, and has   a curved inner face engaging the rotatable member at the helical track for location of the indicator circumferentially of the rotatable member, and   a flat outer face engaging the window for locating the indicator at the window circumferentially of the outer enclosure.   
   
   
       46 . A source as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein the indicator and the outer enclosure have a complementary non-circular cross-section for locating the indicator in the window circumferentially of the outer enclosure. 
   
   
       47 . A source as claimed in  claim 43 , wherein one of the sets of teeth and pawl(s) or the frictional member, whichever is provided, is arranged at the end of the inner member having the helical track remote from the spout and co-operates with the end of the outer enclosure on incrementing of the inner member. 
   
   
       48 . A source as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein the member having the helical track comprises a circular cylindrical member around the inner container and the helical track is a channel or groove in the cylindrical member or a rib or ridge on the cylindrical member. 
   
   
       49 . A source as claimed in  claim 48 , Wherein the member having the helical track, the indicator and the window are all adapted for plunging movement of the member and the indicator with the spout, a return spring being provided for return movement on outwards movement of the member and indicator after inwards, dispensing movement, the member having the helical track is axially located with respect to the outer enclosure and a separate member plungeable with respect to the outer enclosure is provided, the plungeable member being adapted for driving the helical track member in rotation. 
   
   
       50 . A source as claimed in  claim 48 , wherein the plungeable member is provided
 with:   means for irrotationally locating it with respect to the outer enclosure; and   pawls or teeth for rotationally driving the helical track member;   cooperating teeth or pawls respectively being provided on the member having the helical track.   
   
   
       51 . A source as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein the helix of the helical track is regular, or the helix of the helical track is less steep in its portion occupied by the indicator on initial use of the source and steeper in its portion indicating imminent exhaustion of the source. 
   
   
       52 . A source as claimed in  claim 35 , including an end cap of the outer enclosure at its end remote from the spout, the end cap being connected to an outer sleeve of the enclosure, at a position such that dispensing operation of the spout and incrementing operation of the counter are synchronised. 
   
   
       53 . A source of a gaseous, gas borne or droplet substance having an inner
 subassembly and an outer subassembly,   the inner subassembly having:
 an inner pressurised container for the substance 
 a substance-release valve device sealed across an end of the container and having a spring, 
 a spout displaceable inwards of the container against the spring of the valve device for substance release, and 
 an overall length from the distal end of the spout to the remote end of the container, which length decreases on substance release and having at least:
 a first quiescent length and 
 a second length at which the valve is opened for substance release; and 
 
   the outer subassembly having:
 an outer enclosure at least partially enclosing the inner container along its length, 
 an enclosure cap across the end of the enclosure remote from the spout and at least partially at its spout end, 
 the enclosure cap and the inner container being arranged to be capable of reacting on each other to cause displacement of the spout to cause substance release; 
 a counter accommodated within the outer enclosure for counting substance release displacements of the spout; and 
 a counter actuation member arranged beside the spout for displacement inwards to increment the counter 
 an overall length from the actuation member at the spout to a pressurised-container reaction surface, which length decreases on substance release and having at least:
 a first quiescent length and 
 a second length at which counter incrementation is initiated, and 
 
 a tolerance adjusted connection of the cap to the outer enclosure set with respect to a use installation of the source, whereby the stroke between the first and second lengths of the respective assemblies is compensated for synchronisation of substance release and count incrementation. 
   
   
   
       54 . A dispenser for a gaseous, gas borne or droplet substance, the dispenser comprising:
 a source as claimed in  claim 35 :   a mouth piece in connected to the outer enclosure;   a junction member receiving the spout of the source;   a nozzle connected to the junction member and arranged to direct a dose of the substance out through the mouth piece; and   means for actuating the dispenser to dispense the dose and increment the counter.