Patent ID: 7587988
Filing Date: 2009-09-15
Classification: A61M,G06M

Abstract:
1. An inhaler counter comprising: a ratchet wheel, a pawl, and a display, the ratchet wheel and the pawl being arranged to transform a linear actuation motion into a rotational motion that advances the display by the pawl engaging a tooth of the ratchet wheel, the pawl and ratchet wheel arranged to effect the disengagement of the pawl from the engaged tooth on the ratchet wheel by establishing abutment of the pawl and the ratchet wheel at a lever point following the engaged tooth with respect to the direction of the rotational motion of the ratchet wheel; wherein the lever point on the ratchet wheel is located on a tooth subsequent to the engaged tooth, and wherein the subsequent tooth includes a convex back surface and the pawl includes a low profile pawl counter surface that abuts the convex back surface to form the lever point.