FR2873808A1 - Dose indicator for liquid/powdery product dispensing device, has tabs co-operating with counting unit teeth to rotate unit in direction when actuating unit is displaced from idle to actuating position and from actuating to idle position - Google Patents

Abstract

The indicator has a driving unit (6) including two flexible tabs (7, 8) and an actuating unit (1) that is axially displaced between an idle position and an actuating position. The tabs (7, 8) respectively co-operate with a teeth (9) of a counting unit (5) in order to rotate the counting unit in a counting direction when the actuating unit is displaced from the idle to actuating position and from actuating to idle position. An independent claim is also included for a liquid or powdery product dispensing device.

Description

The present invention relates to an indicator, and more particularly to a

  dose indicator for indicating to the user the number of doses dispensed or remaining to be dispensed from a fluid or powder dispensing device.

  The use of meters or indicators is well known in the field of fluid dispensers, particularly in the pharmaceutical field. In particular when these counters or indicators are used with dispensing devices of the MDI (Metered Dose Inhalers) type, in which a reservoir containing fluid and a propellant gas is movably mounted in a body, the displacement of said reservoir causing the actuation a metering valve mounted on said reservoir for dispensing a dose of product, several constraints are based on said indicator. On the one hand, to avoid any risk of under-counting, it is generally required that the operation of the counter is performed before or at the very beginning of the actuating stroke of the valve or the pump, to prevent a Partial actuation does not distribute a partial or complete dose that would not be counted by the indicator. The problem that arises in this case is that this stroke is generally very short and that the tolerances of the device tend to further reduce the distance available effectively to achieve this actuation. This generally requires the use of a complex mechanism to provide a functional and safe count. On the other hand, to ensure a reliable and efficient operation of the meter, especially when it has a rotary counting element, pawls with similar systems preventing rotation of the counter in the opposite direction are generally provided, which also increases the complexity of the device as a whole.

  The object of the present invention is to provide an indicator, more particularly a dose indicator for a fluid or powder dispensing device that does not reproduce the aforementioned drawbacks.

  The present invention is intended in particular to provide such an indicator that ensures actuation of the counter regardless of the length of the actuating stroke of the pump or the valve used in the device.

  The present invention also aims to provide such an indicator that does not require a complex ratchet system or the like to prevent rotations in the opposite direction of one or more element (s) of this counter.

  The present invention also aims to provide such an indicator that is simpler and therefore less expensive to manufacture and assemble, and more reliable operation.

  The subject of the present invention is therefore an indicator for a fluid or powder product dispensing device, comprising an actuating element axially displaceable between a rest position and an actuating position, a rotary counting element, and an element of driving, said driving element transforming an axial displacement of said actuating element into a rotary displacement of said counting element, said counting element comprising a toothing cooperating with elastic means of said driving element, said elastic means comprising at least two flexible tabs, at least a first flexible tab cooperating with said toothing of the counting element for rotating said counting element in a counting direction when the actuating element is moved from its rest position to its position of actuation, and at least one second flexible tab cooperating with said toothing of the counting element for rotating said counting element in the same counting direction when the actuating element returns from its operating position to its rest position.

  Advantageously, said drive element is fixed in rotation relative to said actuating element, so that when. the actuating element moves axially towards its actuating position, it deforms said elastic means, and when the actuating element returns axially towards its rest position, said elastic means elastically take up their undistorted shapes.

  Advantageously, the elastic means comprise a first flexible tab which pushes a respective tooth of the toothing of the counting element at each actuation, and a second flexible tab which pulls on a respective tooth of the toothing of the counting element at each actuation.

  Advantageously, each tooth of the toothing has an abutment surface and an inclined surface connected on one side to said abutment surface and on the other side to the abutment surface of the next tooth of the toothing.

  Advantageously, the actuating element moves axially towards its actuating position, it elastically deforms said first flexible tab whose free end cooperates with the abutment surface of a tooth of the toothing to push said counting element into position. rotation, said second flexible tab also being elastically deformed with its free end sliding along the inclined surface of a tooth.

  Advantageously, when the actuating element returns axially from its actuating position to its rest position, said second flexible tab returns elastically towards its undistorted position, its free end cooperating with the abutment surface of the circumferentially located tooth. the inclined surface of the tooth for pulling said counting element in rotation, said first flexible tab also returning elastically towards its undeformed position, its free end sliding on the inclined surface of the tooth to be placed in the rest position of the actuating element, in the circumferentially located tooth after the inclined surface of the tooth.

  Advantageously, the free end of the first flexible tab comprises a tip for pushing on the abutment surface of the teeth of the toothing, and the free end of the second flexible tab comprises a hook for pulling on the abutment surface of the teeth of the teeth. the teeth.

  Advantageously, the teeth of the toothing cooperating respectively with said flexible tabs are substantially diametrically opposite on the toothing.

  Advantageously, the counting element is a disc comprising indicating means cooperating with a viewing window provided in the actuating element.

  According to a first embodiment of the invention, the axis of rotation of said counting element is parallel to the axis of displacement of said actuating element.

  Advantageously, said indicator is fixed on the bottom of a reservoir of a fluid or powder dispensing device, to indicate to the user the number of doses dispensed or remaining to be dispensed from said reservoir.

  According to a second embodiment of the invention, the axis of rotation of said counting element is perpendicular to the axis of displacement of said actuating element.

  Advantageously, said indicator is formed on a lateral side of a body of a fluid or powder dispensing device, to indicate to the user the number of doses dispensed or remaining to be dispensed from said reservoir.

  Advantageously, said actuating element is made in one piece with said drive element.

  According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, said first and second flexible tabs are flexible perpendicular to the axial displacement of said drive member.

  Advantageously, the drive element is axially displaceable in a body along a longitudinal axis of said body, and stop means are provided to define a stop for the axial displacement of said drive element.

  Advantageously, the driving element comprises an elastically deformable portion supporting the actuating element so that said actuating element is axially displaceable over a greater distance than the rest of the driving element.

  Advantageously, said body comprises shoulders cooperating with elastic means of the driving element, said elastic means forming a return spring for the driving element.

  Advantageously, said indicator comprises guiding means cooperating with an axial extension of the drive element to guide it during its axial displacement relative to said body.

  The present invention also relates to a fluid or powder dispenser device comprising a reservoir, a dispenser member, such as a metering valve, mounted on said reservoir, and a body incorporating a dispensing orifice, said reservoir being movable in said body for dispensing fluid or powder, said device having an indicator as described above.

  According to a first variant embodiment, said indicator is fixed on the bottom of the reservoir opposite said dispensing member, the actuation of the device being carried out by an axial manual pressure of the user on the actuating element of the indicator for moving said reservoir relative to said body.

  Advantageously, the indicator is at least partially actuated before any displacement of the reservoir in the body.

  Advantageously, a first part of the actuation cycle of the indicator is carried out before any displacement of the reservoir in the body, and a second part of the actuation cycle of the indicator is performed when the reservoir returns to its rest position, so that there is no actuation of the indicator during the dispensing of fluid or powder.

  According to a second variant embodiment, said indicator is attached laterally to the body, the actuation of said device being carried out by an axial manual pressure of the user on the reservoir and the actuation of said indicator being achieved by said axial displacement of said cooperating reservoir with said actuator element of the indicator.

  Advantageously, the indicator is at least partially actuated before any distribution of fluid or powdery product by said dispensing member.

  Advantageously, a first part of the actuation cycle of the indicator is carried out before any distribution of fluid or powdery product, and a second part of the operating cycle of the indicator is performed after dispensing fluid or powder, so that there is no actuation of the indicator during the dispensing of fluid or powdery product.

  Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly in the following detailed description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples, and in which: FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view an indicator according to a particular embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the drive element of the indicator shown in Figure 1; FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are two schematic perspective views showing the interaction between the counting element and the driving element, taken from two opposite angles of view; Figure 5 is a partial schematic view of an indicator assembled on the bottom of a tank; Figure 6 is a view similar to that of Figure 5 of another embodiment showing an indicator assembled laterally with respect to a reservoir; Figs. 7-17 show schematic views showing an indicator operating cycle according to a particular embodiment of the present invention, Figs. 7-11 showing one side of the indicator while Figs. 12-17 show the opposite side of this indicator; Figures 18 to 20 show schematically a fluid dispenser device having an indicator according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, during the first part of an actuation cycle; Figure 21 is a partial exploded view of a dispensing device having an indicator according to another embodiment of the invention; Figure 22 is a partial schematic view of a portion of the indicator of Figure 21 assembled in the body of the device; Fig. 23 is a perspective view of the indicator driving member of Figs. 21 and 22; Fig. 24 is a schematic top view showing the interaction of the driving and counting elements of the indicator of Figs. 21 to 23; FIG. 25 is a schematic side view similar to FIG. 24, further showing the reservoir; and Figs. 26-36 show schematic views showing an operating cycle of the indicator of Figs. 21-25, with Figs. 26-30 showing one side of the indicator while Figs. 31-36 showing the opposite side of the indicator. this indicator.

  Referring to Figure 1, there is shown an indicator or dose counter in an exploded view which corresponds to a particular embodiment of the present invention. Of course, this implementation is only an example of embodiment and several elements of this indicator could be realized differently. The present invention more specifically relates to the actuating means which make it possible to actuate said counter, and it is understood that the indication means may be arbitrary and are not limited to those shown in the drawings.

  More precisely, the indicator according to the invention comprises at least one counting element 5, an actuating element 1 and a driving element 6. The actuating element 1 is axially displaceable, preferably in translation, and the counter element 5 is rotatably mounted about said axis of movement of the actuating element 1. The driving element 6 is provided for converting the axial displacement of the actuating element 1 into a rotary displacement of the counting element 5.

  It should be noted that in the example of FIG. 5 (and FIGS. 18 to 20), the indicator is assembled on the bottom of a tank 10, in which case the actuating element 1 (not shown on FIG. FIG. 5) may be similar to that shown in FIG. 1. In this case, the counting element 5 is moved towards said driving element 6. On the other hand, in the example of FIG. 6, in which FIG. the indicator is mounted laterally relative to a reservoir 10, the actuating element 1 can be formed, for example, by an at least partially spherical projection 1 integral with the driving element 6. During a movement of said tank 10 vertically downwards in the configuration shown in FIG. 6, this projection 1 causes an axial displacement of said drive element 6 in the direction of the counting element 5.

  In the two cases shown above in FIGS. 5 and 6, the actuating element 1 and the driving element 6 are fixed in rotation with respect to each other, and the element of FIG. drive 6 comprises flexible or elastic means 7, 8 which are adapted to transform an axial displacement of the actuating element 1 and / or the driving element 6 into a rotary movement of the counting element 5.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the indicator comprises a cover element forming the actuating element 1, which can be provided with a viewing window 60. An indication disc 2, a cover plate 3 and a guide disc 4 can be interposed between said actuating element 1 and said counter element 5.

  The indication disc 2 may comprise colored sectors or the like 120; 121 and a window 125 arranged facing the viewing window 60 of the actuating element 1. A guide rail 126 and a central hole 127 may also be provided in said indication disk 2. Similarly, the drive plate 3 can support a first driving pin 130 engaged in the guide rail 126 of the indicating disc 2, and a second driving pin (not shown), which is placed on the opposite side of said drive plate. The drive plate may also be provided with a linear window 16. Finally, the guide disc 4 may be provided with a window 145 which fits with the window 60 of the driving element 1, a central hole 147, a linear guide seat 149 adapted to receive the drive plate 3 and an opening 144 to allow the passage of the lower drive pin (not shown) of the plate 3. The all these elements are then assembled on a central axis 157 provided on the counting element 5, the latter also comprising a profile or rail 158 at least partially spiral adapted to cooperate with the guide pin or lower drive (not shown) of the drive plate 3. In this example, it is possible for example to provide two hundred doses in the reservoir, the first one hundred and fifty doses being represented in the viewing window 60 by the two sectors 120, 121 of the disk. indica tion. At the beginning, when the sector 120 is completely in the viewing window 60, this means that the tank is full. Then, gradually, as doses are dispensed, the indicator disc 2 rotates and the sector 121 gradually takes the place of the sector 120 in the viewing window 60. The rotation of the indication disc 2 is realized by means of the counting element 5 which, by turning, drives the drive plate 3 in translation in its guiding seat 149, because the lower driving pin (not shown) cooperates with the part rail spiral 158. This translation of the drive plate 3 causes a rotation of the indicator disk due to the cooperation of the upper pin 130 with the guide rail 126. Finally, when there are only fifty doses within the tank, the drive plate 3 arrives at the end position and it is then the indication means 50, or more precisely the numbers, represented on the counting element 5 which appear at the end intérieu r windows 60 and 125 of the actuating elements 1 and the indication disc 2. Then, the profile 158 then being substantially circular, the following actuations of the indicator no longer causes displacement or the indication disc 2, neither of the drive plate 3, and only the counting element 5 rotates inside the actuating element 1 to gradually show the decreasing numbers of the number of doses remaining inside the tank. Of course, this is only a particular embodiment, and any other mode of indication is possible, either to indicate the number of dispensed dose or the number of dose remaining to be dispensed in the reservoir.

  Preferably, the actuating element 1 is snapped inside the driving element 6 to prevent disassembly of the indicator, and in this case, the actuating element 1 can slide axially on the Within this drive member 6 again. This is only an example embodiment and these different elements could be made to cooperate in different ways.

  According to the invention, the counting element 5, which is preferably in the form of a thin disk, comprises on one side the indication means 50 intended to be visible through the viewing window 60 provided in FIG. the cover 1, and on the other side a toothing 9 intended to cooperate with the elastic means 7, 8 of the driving element 6. These resilient means comprise at least two flexible tabs. At least a first flexible tab 7 cooperates with said toothing 9 of the counting element 5 when the actuating element 1 is moved from its rest position to its actuated position. This has the consequence of rotating said counting element 5 in a counting direction. The elastic means of the driving element 6 also comprise at least a second flexible tab 8 which cooperates with said toothing 9 of the counting element 5 to rotate said counting element 5 in the same counting direction when the actuating element 1 returns from its actuating position to its rest position. In other words, the operating cycle of the indicator is separated into two distinct parts, a first part made when the actuating element is moved from its rest position to its actuating position and a second part which is performed when the actuating element returns from its actuating position to its rest position.

  Figures 2, 3 and 4 show more precisely said flexible tabs 7 and 8 of the driving element 6. Of course, even if in the example shown there is only a first flexible tab 7 and a second flexible tab 8, any number of these tabs could be considered, and these tabs are not necessarily diametrically opposed as in the example shown. As can be seen in these FIGS. 2 to 4, the first flexible tab 7 advantageously comprises a free end approximately in the form of a point, whereas the second flexible tab 8 advantageously comprises a free end approximately in the form of a hook. Referring now to FIG. 3, it can be seen how the first flexible tab 7 cooperates with the toothing 9 of the counting element 5, that is to say that its free end cooperates with a tooth 9a of FIG. said toothing. Similarly, FIG. 4 shows the cooperation between the second flexible tab 8 with the same set of teeth 9, in which case the hook-shaped free end of this second flexible tab 8 cooperates with a tooth 9b of the set of teeth 9 of the set of teeth 9. Counting element 5. Advantageously, each tooth of this toothing 9 has an abutment surface and an inclined surface which connects this abutment surface to the abutment surface of the directly adjacent tooth in said toothing 9. Thus, when the user actuates the actuating element 1, it moves axially relative to the driving element 6, without rotating relative thereto, so that it compresses or elastically deforms the flexible tabs 7 and 8. The deformation of the first flexible tab 7 then causes a rotation of the counting element 5 as will be described below with reference to Figures 7 to 9. When the actuating element 1 returns to its po resting position, the two lugs 7 and 8 elastically return to their undeformed positions, and during this movement the second flexible lug 8 cooperates with the toothing 9 to also cause a rotation of the counter element 5 in the same counting direction than that which was given to it during the first part of the operating cycle by the first flexible tab 7. This second part of the operating cycle is more precisely represented in FIGS. 15 to 17.

  Referring now more specifically to FIGS. 7 to 17, FIGS. 7 to 11 show schematic views showing the interaction between the first flexible tab 7 and the toothing 9 of the counting element 5 during a complete cycle of FIG. Actuation of the meter and similarly Figures 12 to 17 show the cooperation between the second flexible tab 8 and the same toothing 9 of the counting element 5 during the same complete counting cycle of the indicator. The side-by-side figures represent the two flexible tabs 7 and 8 at the same time during the same operating cycle.

  More clearly, at the beginning of the operating cycle, when the user moves the actuating element 1 from its rest position to its actuating position, the free end of the first flexible tab 7 is located facing a abutment surface of a tooth 9a of the toothing 9. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, as the actuating element 1 is moved towards its actuating position, the counter element 5 moves axially towards the driving element 6 causing an elastic deformation of the first flexible tab 7, the latter then pressing on the abutment surface of the tooth 9a, which causes the rotation of the counting element 5 around the axis of rotation. Simultaneously, and as visible in FIGS. 12 to 14, the free end, advantageously in the form of a hook, of the second flexible tab 8 slides along an inclined surface of a tooth 9b 'located immediately adjacent to a tooth 9b of the toothing 9. In particular, with reference to FIGS. 12 to 14, it can be seen that the counter element 5 is progressively closer to the driving element 6, which causes the elastic deformation of the second leg flexible 8 and thus the sliding of its free end on this inclined surface. When one reaches the position in FIG. 14, as more clearly visible on the small enlarged detail of this FIG. 14, the edge of said hook-shaped free end of the second flexible tab 8 passes the inclined surface of the tooth 9b. to the abutment surface of tooth 9b. The passage between FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 is done automatically by the elasticity of this second flexible tab 8 deformed by the actuation of the actuating element 1. From this moment on, when the free end the second flexible tab 8 is inside the tooth 9b, when the actuating element returns from its actuating position to its rest position, the counting element 5 will progressively move axially away from the driving element 6, which automatically will allow the second flexible tab (and the first flexible tab 7) to elastically resume its original undistorted position. During this process, and as is clear from FIGS. 15 to 17, the free end of the second flexible tab 8 cooperates with the abutment surface of the tooth 9b to pull said counting element 5 in rotation about said axis in the same direction of counting as before. Simultaneously, and as can be seen in FIGS. 10 to 1, the free end of the first flexible tab 7 slides along the inclined surface of the tooth 9a. Finally, in the rest position of the actuating element, the first flexible tab 7 will be positioned inside the tooth 9a 'directly adjacent to said inclined surface of the tooth 9a, the indicator then being ready for a next actuation cycle.

  The indicator as described above has many advantages. Thus, in particular, it does not require any ratchet system or the like to prevent the counting element 5 from rotating in the opposite direction to that given by the two flexible tabs 7 and 8. Indeed, whenever one two flexible tabs 7, 8 slide along an inclined surface of a tooth, which could have caused friction to cause displacement of the counting element in opposite direction, the other flexible leg rotates the element of counting in the counting direction, thus overcoming the effect of these possible friction.

  On the other hand, in a first embodiment shown in Figures 18 to 20, that is to say with the indicator disposed on the bottom of the tank 10, the first part of the actuation cycle, which corresponds to the passage of the actuating element 1 from its rest position to its actuating position can be achieved before any displacement of the reservoir 10 inside the body 150 of the inhaler. This is the case from the moment when the resistance to deformation of the flexible tabs 7, 8 of the indicator is lower than the resistance to deformation of the metering valve 100. This has the consequence that the operating cycle starts before that the actuating stroke of the valve (or pump) 100 does not start, which eliminates any risk of under-counting. Indeed, from the moment when the actuating element 1 arrives in the actuating position, a continuation of the pressure exerted by the user on this actuating element 1 will cause displacement of the reservoir 10, and from the beginning of this displacement, the free end of the second flexible lug 8 will pass from the tooth 9b 'to the tooth 9b, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, with the consequent guarantee that the complete cycle of counting of the indicator will be completed even if the actuation of the valve (or pump) is only partial.

  In a second alternative embodiment, shown in FIG. 6, the indicator is placed laterally with respect to the reservoir 10, and an actuating element integral with the driving element 6 then transforms an axial displacement of the reservoir 10 into a radial displacement of the driving element 6 to rotate the counting element 5. In this case too, the operating cycle of the indicator can start at the very beginning of the stroke of the reservoir 10, so that the indicator is operated before the product is dispensed.

  FIGS. 21 to 36 show another embodiment of the invention, which differs mainly from what has been previously described in that the counting element 5 is not rotatable about the axis of axial displacement of the actuating element 1, but about an axis substantially perpendicular to this axial displacement. In this embodiment, the indicator is arranged laterally, as in the variant of FIG. 6, but here the actuating element 1 and the driving element 6, made in a single piece, move axially together with the reservoir, along a longitudinal axis of the body (and the tank), to rotate the counting element 5. The lid that closes the indicator is not shown in the figures.

  As can be seen in FIG. 22 in particular, the driving element 6 is mounted in the body 150 in an axially displaceable manner. Advantageously, stop means are provided to form a stop for this axial displacement. These abutment means may comprise a lug 35 of the body 150 which can cooperate with a window 25 of the driving element 6. Other abutment means are also conceivable. The tabs 7 and 8 each support a respective tooth 7 'and 8' which cooperates with the toothing 9 of the counting member 5. The shapes of the teeth 7 'and 8' are inverted so that the first tooth 7 'grows a tooth 9a during the descent of the reservoir 10 in the body 150 and the second tooth 8 'pulls a tooth 9b during the ascent of the reservoir 10 in the body 150. This cycle is shown in Figures 26 to 36, and is similar to that described with reference to Figures 7 to 17. It will therefore no longer be described in detail below. It may however be noted that the baseline B has been represented respectively by both sides of the indicator, to visualize the axial displacement of the driving element 6 with respect to the counting element 5, which remains fixed axially. .

  Advantageously, the flexible tabs 7 and 8 are substantially axially rigid and are flexible only in a direction perpendicular to the axial displacement of the driving element 6.

  Advantageously, the driving element 6 comprises elastic means 21, 22, such as resilient blades, which cooperate with appropriate shoulders 31, 32 of the body 150 to form a return spring for the drive element.

  Preferably, the actuating element 6 further comprises an axially deformable portion 24 supporting the actuating element 1. This makes it possible to continue the axial displacement of the actuating element 1 (and therefore of the reservoir 10) after that the stop position defined by the pin 35 and the window 25 has been reached. This makes it possible to fix this stop so that exactly one half-tooth rotation is obtained during the descent of the reservoir (when the first tooth 7 'pushes the toothing 9) and that the rotation of the remaining half-tooth is obtained during the ascent of the reservoir 10, and therefore of the driving element 6 under the effect of the elastic means 21, 22 (when the second tooth 8 'pulls on the toothing 9). The actuation of the valve generally requiring an upper stroke, and therefore an upper axial displacement of the reservoir 10, the deformable portion 24 of the driving element 6 allows the continued axial displacement of the reservoir until its completion. Moreover, this system makes it possible to actuate the indicator before the beginning of the distribution of the product.

  Advantageously, the driving element 6 further comprises an axial extension 23 cooperating with guide means, such as a rail 37, of the body 150, and possibly a tab of the cover (not shown), to guide the element 6 during its displacement and / or avoid parasitic movements. Other guide means are also conceivable.

  The indicator of FIGS. 21 to 36 notably has the advantage over that of FIG. 6 of being less thick, thus making it possible to reduce the external dimensions of the device.

  Advantageously, in the various variants described above, provision may be made for the actuation of the indicator to be in two parts, a first part before dispensing the fluid through the dispensing orifice 151 of the body 150, and a second portion after fluid dispensing. In this case, the indicator does not work while the product is actually being dispensed, and its safe and reliable operation is therefore totally independent of how the user operates the device to perform a product distribution.

  Of course, compared to the description above, the indicator could be made in a different way to that shown. In particular, the shapes and positions of the first and second flexible tabs 7 and 8 could be different, provided that the first flexible tab is adapted to urge the counting member 5 to rotate and then the second flexible tab is adapted to pulling the same counting element 5 in rotation in the same direction. Of course, it is also possible to consider reversing the functions of the first and second flexible tabs 7, 8, namely that the first flexible tab 7 could pull the counting element 5 while the second flexible tab 8 could push it. Another advantage of the indicator according to the present invention is that it comprises only one element provided with a toothing, unlike many indicators of the prior art, in which two or more separate teeth are provided to allow Safe and reliable actuation of the indicator, and to avoid any risk of under-counting.

  Other modifications are also conceivable for those skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. io

Claims (26)

claims   1.- Indicator for a fluid or powder product dispensing device, comprising an actuating element (1) movable axially between a rest position and an actuating position, a counting element (5) rotating, and a d the drive (6), said drive element (6) transforming an axial displacement of said actuating element into a rotary displacement of said counter element (5), said counter element (5) having a toothing (9) cooperating with elastic means (7, 8) of said driving element (6), characterized in that said elastic means (7, 8) comprise at least two flexible lugs (7, 8) at least a first flexible lug (7) cooperating with said toothing (9) of the counter element (5) for rotating said counter element (5) in a counting direction when the actuating element (1) is moved from its rest position to its position actuation, and at least one second flexible tab (8) cooperating with said toothing (9) of the counting element (5) for rotating said counting element in the same counting direction when the actuating element (1) returns from its position actuating to its rest position.   2. The indicator according to claim 1, wherein said driving element (6) is fixed in rotation with respect to said actuating element (1), so that when the actuating element (1) moves axially towards its actuating position, it deforms said elastic means (7, 8), and when the actuating element (1) returns axially towards its rest position, said elastic means elastically take up their undistorted shapes.   3. Indicator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the elastic means (7, 8) comprise a first flexible tab (7) which pushes a respective tooth (9a) of the toothing of the counting element (5) to each actuation, and a second flexible tab (8) which pulls on a respective tooth (9b) of the toothing (9) of the counting element (5) at each actuation.   4. The indicator according to claim 3, wherein each tooth of the toothing (9) has an abutment surface and an inclined surface connected on one side to said abutment surface and on the other side to the stop surface of the abutment. the next tooth of the toothing (9).   5. Indicator according to claim 4, wherein, when the actuating element (1) moves axially towards its actuating position, it deforms elastically said first flexible tab (7) whose free end cooperates with the abutment surface of a tooth (9a) of the toothing (9) for urging said counter element (5) into rotation, said second flexible tab (8) also being elastically deformed with its free end sliding along the inclined surface of a tooth (9b ').   6. An indicator according to claim 4 or 5, wherein, when the actuating element (1) returns axially from its actuating position to its rest position, said second flexible tab (8) elastically returns to its position. undeformed, its free end co-operating with the abutment surface of the tooth (9b) located circumferentially after the inclined surface of the tooth (9b ') for pulling said counter element (5) in rotation, said first flexible tab (7) also returning elastically to its undeformed position, its free end sliding on the inclined surface of the tooth (9a) to be placed, in the rest position of the actuating element (1), in the tooth (9a ') circumferentially located after the inclined surface of the tooth (9a).   7. An indicator according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the free end of the first flexible tab (7) comprises a tip for pushing on the abutment surface of the teeth of the toothing (9), and the free end of the second flexible lug (8) has a hook for pulling on the abutment surface of the teeth of the toothing (9).   8.- indicator according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the teeth (9a and 9b) of the toothing (9) are substantially diametrically opposed to the toothing (9).   9. Indicator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the counting element (5) is a disc having indication means (50) cooperating with a viewing window (60) provided in the element d actuation (1).   10. An indicator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the axis of rotation of said counter element (5) is parallel to the axis of movement of said actuating element (1).   11. The indicator of claim 10, wherein said indicator is fixed on the bottom of a reservoir (10) of a fluid or powder dispensing device, to indicate to the user the number of doses dispensed or remaining dispensing from said reservoir (10).   12. Indicator according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the axis of rotation of said counter element (5) is perpendicular to the axis of movement of said actuating element (1).   The indicator of claim 12, wherein said indicator is formed on a lateral side of a body (150) of a fluid or powder dispensing device, to indicate to the user the number of doses dispensed or remaining to be dispensed from said reservoir (10).   14. Indicator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said actuating element (1) is made in one piece with said drive element (6).   15. An indicator according to claims 12 and 14, wherein said first and second flexible tabs (7, 8) are flexible perpendicular to the axial displacement of said drive member (6).   16. The indicator according to claim 15, wherein the driving element (6) is axially displaceable in a body (150) along a longitudinal axis of said body (150), and stop means (25). , 35) are provided for defining a stop for axial displacement of said drive member (6).   17. The indicator according to claim 16, wherein the driving element (6) comprises an elastically deformable portion (24) supporting the actuating element (1) so that said actuating element (1) is displaceable axially over a greater distance than the rest of the driving element (6).   18.- indicator according to claim 16 or 17, wherein said body (150) has shoulders (31, 32) cooperating with elastic means (21, 22) of the driving member (6), said elastic means (21, 22) forming a return spring for the driving element (6).   19.- indicator according to any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein said indicator comprises guiding means (37) cooperating with an axial extension (23) of the driving element (6) to guide it during its axial displacement relative to said body (150).   20.- fluid or powder dispensing device comprising a reservoir (10), a dispensing member (100), such as a metering valve, mounted on said reservoir (10), and a body (150) incorporating an orifice dispenser (151), said reservoir (10) being movable in said body (150) for dispensing fluid or powder, characterized in that said device comprises an indicator according to any one of the preceding claims.   21.- Device according to claim 20, wherein said indicator is fixed on the bottom of the tank (10) opposite said dispensing member (100), the actuation of the device being achieved by an axial manual pressure of the user on the actuating member (1) of the indicator for moving said reservoir (10) relative to said body (150).   22.- Device according to claim 21, wherein the indicator is at least partially actuated before any displacement of the reservoir (10) in the body (150).   Apparatus according to claim 22, wherein a first portion of the indicator operating cycle is performed prior to any displacement of the reservoir (10) in the body (150), and a second portion of the operating cycle of the the indicator is performed when the reservoir (10) returns to its rest position, so that there is no actuation of the indicator during the dispensing of fluid or powder.   24.- Device according to claim 20, wherein said indicator is attached laterally to the body (150), the actuation of said device being achieved by an axial manual pressure of the user on the reservoir (10) and the actuation of said indicator being achieved by said axial displacement of said reservoir (10) which cooperates with said actuating element (1) of the indicator.   25.- Device according to claim 24, wherein the indicator is at least partially actuated before any distribution of fluid or powder by said dispensing member (100).   26. The device according to claim 25, wherein a first portion of the indicator operating cycle is performed before any fluid or powder product is dispensed, and a second portion of the indicator operating cycle is performed after distribution of fluid or powder, so that there is no actuation of the indicator during the dispensing of fluid or powder. * * *