MXPA06005425A - Inhaler cap strap - Google Patents

Abstract

An inhaler (1) for dispensing doses of medicament from a container under user activation said inhaling which comprises a body (7) which includes a mouthpiece (5) through which the medicament is dispensed and a cap (2) which can be place in a position to substantially occlude the mouthpiece (5). The cap (2) is attached to said body (7) by a strap (3) which pivots from said body (7), said cap (2) being arranged to slide on the strap (3) such that the cap (2) must translate away from the mouthpiece (5) prior to the pivoting of the strap (3).

Description

BELT FOR INHALER COVER DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an inhaler for administering medication by inhalation and in particular to a strap for retaining a nozzle cap. For some time, inhalers have been known to deliver metered doses of medication from aerosol canisters through a mouthpiece. These inhalers vary in complexity and may comprise a single integral molding or may consist of multiple molded parts. Inhalers are often constructed of plastic, since this material is strong, lightweight, can be easily molded and is hygienic. Inhalers are frequently transported by users in their pockets or bags and such environments are often dirty and dusty. It is known to provide a cap to occlude the nozzle of an inhaler to prevent the ingress of dust and dirt. Such caps can easily be lost if they are not retained in the inhaler in some way. It is possible to join the lid by means of a flexible strap, which can be made of a rubber material. This complicates the manufacturing process since the rest of the inhaler is made of plastic. Other means of joining the belt are not pleasing to the eye. The inhalers are usually colored to identify REF. 172600 The medication that is supplied and is useful to ensure that the cap and the strap are the same color. It is also useful to ensure that the cap and strap follow the contours of the inhaler to prevent dirt getting attached in recesses and allow the inhaler to remain vertical in the base. Then when the belt follows the contours of the base of the inhaler it is also possible that the inhaler remains vertical in the base in such a way that it allows it to be stored in an orientation that allows exact dosing such as known forms of pressurized bottle, providing the exact dosage when it is activated even if it is vertical. A preferred form of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures wherein Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a mounted inhaler, including a strap according to a preferred form of the present invention, the strap shown in FIG. a closed condition; Figure 2 shows a view similar to that shown in Figure 1 however in this view the belt is shown in an open condition and is shown in a condition in which it is not underlying the base of the main body of the inhaler; Figure 3 shows a front view of the mouthpiece of an inhaler, incorporating a preferred shape of the present invention, the portion of the nozzle, which fits into the main body of the. inhaler, is shown in the upper portion of this view; Figure 4 shows a side view of a nozzle cap that can be incorporated in an inhaler according to a preferred form of the present invention, the lid is shown sideways and the lid is in the closed position in which it fits over the nozzle to occlude it; and Figure 5 shows a bottom view of a preferred form of the invention, in this view the cap fits over the nozzle covering the portion of the nozzle projecting the shape of the main body of the inhaler and occluding the mouthpiece aperture a Through which the medication leaves the inhaler. Various forms of inhalers (1) are known, a subset of these inhalers provides a dose of medicament from a vial in which the medicament is stored under pressure together with a suitable propellant. In such inhalers the medication comes out via a mouthpiece through which a user inhales. The medication often comes out from a mouth in the mouthpiece and the mouths are often small and thus are easily blocked by things such as dirt and dust. For this reason, known forms of inhalers frequently include a cap that can be placed in or on the mouthpiece to block it and prevent the exit of such dirt and dust. These caps can get lost if they are separated from the mouthpiece or the main body of the inhaler which thus loses its purpose. The known forms of inhalers (1) provide a union of the cap to the mouthpiece or to the main body of the inhaler by means of a strap or tape. Known forms of belt are made of rubber or a similar material but this can involve manufacturing difficulties as, for various reasons, the main body of inhalers is often made of plastic. At least one additional manufacturing step must be provided in addition to the cost. There is a problem in trying to ensure that any binding strap remains closely underlying or follows the contours of the parts of the inhaler near the nozzle when the material of the strap is plastic without sufficient elasticity and flexibility to stretch so that it pulls tight against the inhaler. In a preferred form of the present invention, the cover (2) is attached in a sliding arrangement (4) to the belt (3). So you can slide back and forth between the stops. The possible amount of movement must be sufficient to allow the lid (2) to rest in a position in which it fully covers the nozzle (5) but allows it to slide out of the body (7) to allow the belt to rotate away from the body. base (6) of the body main (7) of the inhaler (1). In preferred forms of the invention, the strap (3) can be rotated (8) so that it can cover or abut the back of the main body (7) of the inhaler. In the most preferred form of the invention, the belt does not follow the outline of the rear wall of the main body. However in other forms of the invention, the rear wall could have a notch (10), which could allow the belt to lean and perhaps even be secured therein. This could keep the strap (3) and the cap (2) also completely away from the nozzle (5) and thereby ensure that the user can inhale freely even if he has not placed his hands to hold the strap and cap it out of place . In the forms of the invention, the sliding connection (4) of the lid (2) to the belt (3) can be such that they can not be separated without destroying any of them. In other ways it may be possible to separate them, for example, by applying pressure when pulling them. It is not expected that the user has any cause to remove or replace the lid (2). However, this can provide means by which the user can remove the lid (2) and obtain a dose in an emergency when the lid (2) is damaged in such a way as to prevent it from being used in the normal manner. This may be a further advantage of an alternative form of the present invention.

Those skilled in the art to which the invention relates will see that the present invention can be used in a number of different inhalers. The inhaler may include a dose or counter of drives to provide an indication of the number of doses distributed from the bottle or, as is known the number of doses present in a bottle when, the number of doses remaining in the bottle is full, and it in the inhaler. This is important information because it allows the user to make sure that they have enough doses -rests in their inhaler and when they should get a refill of a bottle or a replacement inhaler. Sometimes the inhalers are colored to indicate the medication contained in the inhaler or the company that manufactures the inhaler. A different number of doses within an inhaler can also be indicated by several color schemes. Therefore, it is convenient for the strap and the main body of the inhaler to make the same material. In other less preferred forms of the invention, the strap could be of the same material as the base of the main body of the inhaler. The strap and base of the main body of the inhaler could then be co-molded into the rest of the main body. The present invention provides an inhaler having an integrated strap, which attaches a cover to the body of the inhaler. Therefore, in a first aspect, the present invention consists of an inhaler (1) for delivering doses of medication from a container under the activation of the user, the inhaler comprises a body (7) that includes a nozzle (5) through the which medicine is supplied and a lid (2) that can be placed in a position to substantially occlude the mouthpiece (5) where the lid (2) is attached to the body (7) by a strap (3) that rotates from the body ( 7), the lid (2) is arranged to slide on the belt (3) such that the lid (2) must be moved out of the nozzle (5) before turning the belt (3). Preferably the nozzle (5) projects from the body (7). Preferably the nozzle (5) is substantially oval in cross section. Preferably the lid (2) occludes the nozzle (5) and covers the projection of the nozzle (5). The inhaler (5) preferably is made of a plastic material where the belt and the body are molded as a unit. The strap (3) is preferably underlying the body and substantially follows the contours thereof (10). The figures also show how the inhaler can be mounted. The main body (7) of the inhaler (1) so that the strap is subjacent to the base of the main body (7). The mouth of the nozzle (5) is inserted in the lid (2) and the combined lid (2) and the nozzle (5) are oriented so that when pulling, which joins the lid to the belt, it is aligned with the belt. The combined lid and the mouthpiece and the main body of the inhaler are then pushed together. The pull causes the cap to attach to the strap (3) and thus the rest of the inhaler. The above-mentioned steps are, of course, better automated, and several phases or stages of testing can be included in the process. These stages may include checks to ensure that the parts are properly arranged in relation to each other. The tests can also verify the functionality of the parts and any mounted subassemblies. Finally, it will be understood by one skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the described embodiment but can be modified in many different ways within the scope of the appended claims.

It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.

Claims (8)

2. Having described the invention as above, the claim contained in the following claims is claimed as property: 1. Inhaler for the supply of medication doses from a container under the activation of the user, characterized in that it comprises a body that includes a nozzle through the wherein the medicament is supplied and a cap that can be placed in a position to substantially occlude the nozzle where the cap is attached to the body by a belt that rotates from the body, the cap is arranged to slide on the strap, such that the Cover must be moved away from the nozzle before the belt turns. 2. Inhaler for delivering medication doses from a container under user activation according to claim 1, characterized in that the nozzle projects from the body.
3. 3. Inhaler for delivering medication doses from a container under the activation of the user according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cap occludes the nozzle and covers the projection of the nozzle.
4. 4. Inhaler to deliver dose of medication from a container under the activation of the user of according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the inhaler is a plastic material in which the belt and the body are molded as a unit.
5. 5. Inhaler to deliver dose of medication from a container under the activation of. user according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the belt is subjacent to the body and substantially follows the contours thereof.
6. 6. Inhaler for delivering medication doses from a container under user activation according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the container is pressurized.
7. 7. Inhaler for delivering medication doses according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the inhaler is a metered dose inhaler.
8. 8. Inhaler for delivering medication doses according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the lid is attached to the strap by means of a pull.