Abstract:
A medium dispenser ( 2 ) includes an electric drive ( 30 ) and a mechanical lock ( 23 ) which is operated by the electrical drive ( 30 ) in response to a timed schedule stored in a memory device ( 36 ). The electric drive ( 30 ) and associated parts may be removably inserted into the medium storage portion of the unit ( 1 ). An indicator ( 40 ) is provided to signal the user through a visible or audible signal, or both, when the dispenser ( 1 ) is available for dispensing operations.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a control for controlling the discharge of media from a dispenser. Such dispensers permit operation or actuation with one hand, for example, by a stroke for opening a valve, or by a pumping action. Such dispensers may be gripped or actuated single-handedly. Thereby two fingers of the hand press against remote end faces to squeeze the upper and lower ends of the dispenser towards each other and actuate the control. A return spring, then returns the control of the dispenser from the actuated end position to the initial or rest position. The dispenser may also be constructed for a single dose usage in which it is unnecessary to return the dispenser to the initial or rest position. 
     Numerous media, such as pharmaceutical media, need to be administered only at specific points in time, in given regular or irregular periods on the basis of special variables, such as medical body values or the like. Strictly maintaining this schedule is achievable only by few people, as experience shows, especially when their capabilities are reduced by illness. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus with which disadvantages of known dispenser controls are avoided or advantageous effects as explained below are achieved. Another object of the invention is to substantially automatically define the points in time of medium discharge or periods during which no medium is to be discharged. A still further object is to configure the control simply or to make it applicable to already existing dispensers. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the invention the control comprises a switching device which is actuated by a timed control signal, such as a pacing circuit, for actuating a dispenser lock, and for actuating an indicator, such as an audible or mechanical warning signal. Thus, the person using or carrying the dispenser is alerted, i.e., that the medium is to be discharged or that no medium is to be discharged. The control is suitable both for solid objects such as pills or the like, and for fluid media which may be liquid, gaseous, powdered and/or pasty. The medium may contain opiates such as morphine for oral or nasal administration. 
     The control could be actuated from a unit separate from the dispenser by receiving a signal. Otherwise it forms a unit with the dispenser in its operating state, thus disabling and enabling repeated opening or actuation. In this enabling or release action, however, the control may still disable discharge by conveying the medium only within and not out of the dispenser when actuated. For this, a valve is actuated by the control. The signal generator for the signal may be included within the control unit or located remotely therefrom, for example, when a telecontrol signal is employed. 
     For being transferred to the various indicator or working postures a drive such as a rotary or linear motor is provided within the control unit. The energy storage element is suitably a spring, such as a coil spring, a battery, such as a button-type cell, a rechargeable battery or the like. 
     The catch or locking member may be fully rotatable, pivotable and/or linearly displaceable. Thereby this member is movable in one direction only or is reversible, the same applying also to all other moving parts, for example an indicator, a counter and the like. The travel from one disabling or locking position to the next is in each case only a portion of travel possible as a whole. 
     A mechanical or electronic storage device, namely an integrated circuit, such as a chip, is provided as the information storage for emitting a signal. This data storage is replaceable or removable from the control unit at least in part for programming. The, storage unit has two or more connecting contacts for entering the digital program. The contacts are accessible for connecting a programming appliance when the storage is totally encapsulated or located within the control or dispenser. 
     The control may serve for adjusting or altering the actuating stroke of the dispenser. Thus the dispensers stop-limited stroke length can be varied. For example, several unidirectional substrokes may follow in direct sequence. Each substroke is only permitted after unlocking by the control. Also, the energy storage device driving the control, may be chargeable from the outside, while still being located inside the locking unit. Charging can be mechanical and/or electrical or as a result of the energy manually exerted by the actuating stroke. 
     A counter or some other sensing means can be provided for sensing the medium dosages discharged from the dispenser and indicating their number to be visible from without. These means may be separate from the control unit or thereon. In the first case, the display is readable on an actuating cap having the medium outlet or is actuated by a mechanical step-by-step system located within the actuating cap. In another case, the control drive may also drive the counting means. Thus, to distinguish a signaled, but missed discharge, this event is either not sensed or is displayed differently than an actual medium discharge. The electronic storage may store these data for later recall. 
     The control has a support or protective housing for the dispenser so that the latter may be replaced after emptying. The housing comprises two telescopically nested housing parts or caps. Only one of them has a passage through which the head juts outside, which has the medium outlet. Only one housing part accommodates the volumetric majority of the control elements of the control means. The other housing part almost entirely receives the dispenser unit and, at the most, the locking device. Commonly with the medium outlet and a medium impeller this housing part is displaceable relative to a medium reservoir or a pressure space and that housing part which houses the control means. The locking members may be provided directly on the dispenser. They act directly on the two housing parts. If the control unit is entirely removed from the dispenser after opening, the latter may nevertheless be directly manually actuated in the way described for discharging the media. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Example of embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail in the following description and illustrated in the drawings, which form a part here of and in which: 
     FIG. 1 shows the dispenser of the invention in a rest position and in an actuated end position, 
     FIG. 2 is an axial section taken through the dispenser of FIG. 1, 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view through the dispenser of FIG. 2, 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail from FIG. 2, 
     FIG. 5 is the detail of FIG. 4 in plan view, 
     FIG. 6 is a further detail of FIG. 4 in plan view, 
     FIG. 7 is a further embodiment in a view like in FIG. 1, 
     FIG. 8 is an axial section taken through FIG. 7, 
     FIG. 9 is a plan view of the opened control of FIG. 8, 
     FIG. 10 is view onto the inside of the bottom of the control of FIG. 8, 
     FIG. 11 is a further embodiment in a view like FIG. 2, 
     FIG. 12 is a further embodiment in a view like FIG. 2, 
     FIG. 13 is a cross-section directly above the locking member in FIG. 12 , 
     FIG. 14 section like FIG. 13, but in the locked position, and 
     FIG. 15 is a cross-section below the electronic storage in FIG.  12 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Unit  1  of FIGS. 1-15 provides a control unit which may also serve other purposes, e.g. as the outer housing for a dispenser  2 . Each unit  1 ,  2  has two subunits  3 ,  4  and  5 ,  6  which are manually mutually movable synchronously via an axial actuating stroke. Units  3 ,  5  and units  4 , 6  are fixedly connected to each other axially and/or rotatively about the center axis  10 , but releasable from each other without destruction. Unit  5  of dispenser  2  has a base body  7  fixedly connected to unit  3 . Base body  7  has a bottle-shaped reservoir  8  and a housing of a pressure space or a pump. This, housing protrudes into reservoir  8 . 
     Unit  6  of dispenser  2  has a piston unit  9  fixedly connected to unit  4 . Axial movement of unit  9  volumetrically varies the pumping space. The piston shaft protrudes out of the pump housing and is fixedly connected to a discharge head  11 . Head  11  clasp the reservoir neck by a cap. A stud  12  of head  11  has a reduced diameter protrudes out of the end of unit  4 . The bottom of reservoir  5  forms the one handle  13 . The cap shoulder of the head cap surrounds stud  12  end forms the other handle  14 . The medium outlet  15  is located at the free end of stud  12  in axis  10 . Outlet  15  issues directly into the environment. As shown in FIG. 11 the outlet may also be radially oriented relative to axis  10 . Outlet  15  may be an atomizing nozzle or a droplet dispenser. Stud  12  of FIG. 1 is suitable for nasal administration. FIG. 11 shows design for oral administration. 
     The discharge conveyor is a pump  16 , such as a thrust piston pump. Reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 5,884,819, issued Mar. 23, 1999, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,927,559, issued Jul. 27, 1999, for describing further features and effects of these pumps in the present invention. A riser tube  17  juts from the inner end of the pump housing and extends up to the bottom of reservoir  8 . On the return stroke of pump  16  medium is sucked from reservoir  8  into the pump chamber through tube  17  and a then, opening inlet valve  18 . On the actuating stroke the medium is thus delivered precisely dosed from the pump chamber through an outlet valve  19  and an outlet duct to outlet  15  where it emerges into the environment. Both mutually movable valve elements of valve  19  are provided on unit  9 . 
     Unit  1  comprises an interval switching device  20  or circuit which enables the actuating stroke only at specific points in time and otherwise disables it. A return to the locking position can only occur when an actuating stroke has occurred or, irrespective thereof, after a predetermined time period of release. Unit  3  is partially enclosed by housing  21  and unit  4  is partially enclosed by a housing  22 . The housings  21 ,  22  may accommodate dispenser  2  so that it is located entirely in housing  22  except for the stud  12  which freely protrudes. Units  3 ,  4  may be positively locked against actuation by a lock  23  irrespective of whether the dispenser  2  is arranged in unit  1  or not. Lock or catch  23  has locking members  24  acting directly on housings  21 ,  22 , namely four balls distributed about axis  10 . Balls  24  are mounted in pockets in an end face of housing  21  to be displaceable transverse to axis  10  and prevented from rolling about axis  10 . At the inner circumference of the corresponding end, the shell of housing  22  forms an annular locking shoulder  25  which is engaged by the balls  24  when locked. Upon release of the lock  23  and upon actuation, the balls  24  are moved radially inwards counter to the spring stress provided by faces  25  so that they run preloaded on the inner circumference of the adjoining housing shell. For control a locking member  26  is rotatable about axis  10 . Member  26  has at the end side or at the circumference a pitch member, namely a cam  27  acting directly on balls  24  directly or via transmission by springs  28 ,  29 . Balls  24  are located radially between faces  25 ,  27 . 
     Member  26  has the number of protruding locking cams equal to the number of balls  24 . Between each couple of cams a release recess is provided into which ball  24  can enter in overcoming the force of the two leaf springs  28 ,  29 . Spring  28  is in one part and directly in contact with balls  24 . Spring  28  is non-rotatably located on housing  21  and fixed thereto by axial insertion with a flange shell. Thus its spring end is in preloaded contact with balls  24  at the side remote from the face of shoulder  25 . This spring end may also be formed by individual axial and circumferentially interspaced spring tongues. Spring  29  is located between the parts  24 ,  28  and  26 , is rotatable with member  26  and has a spring tongue in each release recess. On translation into the release position this spring tongue  29  is able to directly slide on ball  24  or spring  28 , thus enabling ball  24  to be urged radially inwards by the shoulder  25  in overcoming the force of both springs  28 ,  29 . In the locking position only spring  28  is effective so that the locking cam directly acts or without spring action. 
     For repeatedly locking and releasing lock  23  a drive  30  is provided totally within housing  21 . Drive  30  is operable with manual energy or by a miniature electric motor  31 . A reduction gear  32  is axially directly flanged to the motor housing. The output member  33  of gear  32  is rotatably and directly connected to member  26  via an axial plug coupling  34 . The housing of each of the two units  31 ,  32  as well as both housings in common have an axial length which is smaller than their diametral extent. The coupling member of shaft  33  has a cornered cross-section and may be axially withdrawn from the coupling opening of the member  26  without destruction. Motor  31  is located on that side of gear  32  which is remote from member  26 . Thus motor  31  is further from dispenser  2  than member  26 . Motor  31  is fixed, but nondestructively releasable to a console  35  by being axially inserted into openings in bracket  35 . Console  35  forms simultaneously the end cover of housing  21  remote from dispenser  2 . Cover  35  may be axially withdrawn from housing  21  together with drive  30 . Drive  30  or member  26  is located totally within housing  21  and in axis  10  or radially thereto. 
     A member  36  or  37  is provided directly adjacent to or adjoining each end side of the drive housing. Each member  36 ,  37  may form a plate, an electronic EPROM storage or an energy storage such as a battery or a button-type cell. Member  36  is located between the drive housing and member  26 . Member  36  may be radially withdrawn through an opening from housing  21 , for example, for changing the battery or for programming the EPROM. For the same purpose member  37  is likewise accessible after cover  35  has been opened. 
     Unit  3  comprises a body or cup-shaped support  38  directly axial adjoining balls  24 . Support  38  may be separate from or in one part with housing  21 . Member  38  bounds the pockets for balls  24  with its end wall. Dispenser  2  and reservoir  8  are commonly inserted into the shell of support  38  while being exposed to radial pressure until bottom  13  abuts on the bottom of support  38 . The shell of housing  22  slides on the outer circumference of the support shell until its shell end abuts on an outer annular shoulder of housing  21 . Thus the actuating stroke is limited solely by units  3 , 4 . In an opening  39  in the bottom of support  38  the member  26  is rotatably mounted by a spigot. For assembly the member  26  is inserted into the housing, with the cover  35  open, until it abuts on the bottom of the support  38 . Spring tongues shown in FIG. 6 may permanently press member  26  against the support bottom or balls  24  and may be in one part with one of the springs  28 ,  29 . Thus, the tongues are slidingly supported on member  36  or  26 . Spring  29  is inserted into member  26  in the cited assembly direction thereof. Thus, its spring tongues are locked in the openings of member  26  against motion about axis  10 . In this position an end wall of spring  29  may abut on that face of member  26  which opposes member  36 . The spring tongues may provide skids which jut from this end wall (FIG.  6 ). Spring  28  is inserted into housing  21  in the same direction until abutting. Then spring  28  is locked with respect to counterdirected motions by member  26  and by clamping between members  21 ,  36 . 
     The locking and release states of control  23  are displayed by an optical indicator  40 . The movable indicator member is directly formed by member  26 , which has about coupling  34  a flared annular collar with corresponding indicator symbols. These symbols are visible through windows  41  in shell  21  or in spring  28  in the rest position, but are covered from view by the end of shell  22  in the actuated end position. A further indicator  42  for the number of pump strokes executed is provided exclusively on one of units  1 , 2  and actuated thereby independent of the other unit. In FIG. 2 indicator  42  is provided on dispenser  2 , which includes cap  11  having, on its inside, an indicator member including indicating symbols and rotatable about axis  10 . The indicator symbols provide a number sequence. only a single symbol is permanently visible through windows  43  in cap  11  and in shell  23 . 
     The cap shell of head  11  engages with radial pressure and axially abuts the shell of housing  22 . This shell merges into a stop clasping handle  14 . A catch  45  is provided to prevent the head  11  from being pulled out of housing  22  in an upstream direction. This preventing lock may also be a snap connector engaging behind the upstream cap end of the head  11 . A similar captive lock could also be provided directly between parts  22 ,  38  or  22 ,  21 . 
     The outside of bottom  35  forms handle  46 . The flange clasping handle  14  forms handle  47  of the unit  4 . With the dispenser  2  inserted there is no direct manual actuating contact with actuators  13 ,  14 , but the same effects occur with actuators  46 ,  47  as if handles  13 ,  14  are caused to approach each while the dispenser  2  is apart from unit  1 . Thereby a preloaded return spring  48  is further tensioned. This spring is located within the pump housing in the compression space and acts directly on the piston or plunger unit  9 . Thus, a separate return spring for units  3 ,  4  is not needed. After actuation the units  3 ,  4  are reversed to the rest position by spring  48 . 
     The EPROM  36  may be programmed with a computer by a physician, pharmacist or by the manufacturer so that lock  23  is released only at specific points in a time schedule. For that the program incorporates a time cut-out. Indicator  40  then alerts the user of unit  1 , 2  as to when he must administer a dosage of the medium and when not. The EPROM  36  is able to memorize these applications whereafter they can be visibly displayed at any given time on the screen of a computer. For programming and polling the EPROM  36  or for charging storage  37  the unit  1  may also comprise an electrical connector  49  accessible from without for a corresponding connector plug. Thus, for this purpose unit I does neither need opening nor removal of the corresponding storage  36 ,  37 . For instance after a pump stroke or at the end of the return stroke units  1 ,  2  are instantly positively locked against a further pump stroke and indicator  40  shows a red alert in window  41 . A time interval for the locking time of, for example  30  seconds, is activated with this locking action. The lock is released at the end of this interval. The release is signaled audibly by an acoustic signal and visibly, by a different color, for instance silver, which is displayed in window  41  until again locking is done. Should a locking not be possible for technical reasons then the locking drive  30  is activated repeatedly in time intervals of 15 seconds and shorter than the locking period. For example three such attempts may be programmed. Should these attempts fail to result in locking, the lock remains open. Whereas, if release is not possible on timeout of the locking period, the drive  30  is activated in the release sense after corresponding time intervals, i.e., without restricting the number of attempts. In FIG. 12 the dispenser also has a switch  76  or contact for priming or initialization. Actuation of switch  76  unlocks units  1 , 2  instantly and signals a user by an audible signal. Thus, the control is in the original starting or initial state. This state permit a plurality of five pump strokes for priming dispenser  2 , namely for filling pump  16  with the medium. Only the next pump stroke is locked by lock  23 . 
     Switch  76  is actuated with a reset key  77 , e.g., after insertion of a filled bottle  8  or a complete dispenser  2 . For this exchange cap  22  is axially withdrawn from cap  21 . The signal may also be given when only a critical number of, for example, ten strokes is still possible after which any further strokes remain locked. 
     Substantially all components of unit  1  or  2  may be injection molded or formed from plastics. Possibly balls  18 ,  24 , spring  48  and parts of drive or preassembled unit  30  may consist of metal. Instead of balls  24 , or additionally, slider tabs may also be provided for locking or unlocking. Motor  31  is driven by energy storage device  37 . An electronic control unit closes or opens the power supply via the program of data storage device  36 . Data storage device  36  is connected to the control unit via signal leads. The control unit in turn is connected via power leads to the terminals of motor  31  and energy storage device  37 . 
     The configurations as evident from FIGS. 7-15 correspond substantially to those described. Therefore like parts are identified by like reference numerals, having an appended “a”, “b” and “c”, and all passages of the description apply accordingly for all embodiments. All features of the various embodiments may be incorporated in a sole embodiment. Housing  22   a  of FIGS. 7-10 abuts against bottom  35   a  in the actuated end position. Member  26   a  is an annular plate and no springs are provided. Instead, locking members  24   a  are formed by cams  27   a . The locking faces  25   a  are formed by the ends of ribs at the inner circumference of housing  22   a . on the longitudinal edges of these ribs the support shell  38   a  slides radially centered. 
     In FIG. 11 cap  11   b  is formed in one part with housing  22   b . Handle  14   b  of both units  1   b ,  2   b  is located at the outermost end of dispenser  2   b . Stud  12   b  protrudes radially from the outer circumference of cap  11   b  and upstream of handle  14   b . Outlet  15   b  is oriented radial to axis  10   b . Handle  14   b  is formed by the outside of the end wall of cap  11   b . From this wall a sleeve or stud  71  freely protrudes upstream. Shaft  70  of piston unit  9   b  is axially inserted into stud  71  up to abutment while being fixed by a press fit. Stud  71  and cap  11  are formed commonly in one part. 
     Housing  7   b  of pump  16   b  is secured to the bottleneck by a sleeve or coupling member such as a sheet-metal crimp ring  63 , a plastics snap cap or the like. Member  63  forms a stop  64  protruding annularly beyond its outer circumference. A counterstop  65  is provided on parts  11   b ,  12   b  and is in contact with stop  64  in the rest position (FIG.  11 ). Thus, safety catch  45   b  prevents housing  22   b  from being pulled off from housing  21   b . Stops  65  are distributed about axis  10   b , to radially cushion, and are provided on the ends of axial arms which connect to the end wall of cap  11   b  with radial spacing from the inner circumference of the cap shell and in one part. 
     Housing  7   b  is assembled from two axially interconnecting parts  67 ,  68 . Longer part  67  juts much further into reservoir  8  than shorter part  68  which has within part  67  an appendage jutting into reservoir  8   b  as a closure seat for a vent valve. The movable valve body of this valve is provided on the piston unit  9   b  and closes the valve in the rest position of units  1   b ,  2   b . The shell of part  67  projects into reservoir  8   b  with a vent outlet or slot opening enveloped by ring  63  and extending up into part  68 . Part  68  may be formed in one part with part  67  and is located substantially outside of reservoir  8 . Part  68  has a protruding annular flange  69  which is axially tensioned directly against the end face of the reservoir neck with member  63  and with an annular seal  66  interposed. 
     Ring  63  has a lug or jacket projecting from flange  69  down-stream and closely resting on the outer circumference of part  68 . The end of this lug forms stop  64  of catch  45   b  and protrudes radially outwards. 
     Bottle  8  has a depression  72 , in its outer circumference and spaced from its constricted neck and handle  13   b . Annular constriction  72  or waist is positively engaged by cams of the end of clamps  38   b . Recess  72  forms at the inner circumference a protuberance so that the wall thickness of bottle  8   b  in this region is roughly equal to that in the other regions. 
     Locking member  24   b  is contained in stationary housing  22  and is formed as an axial rib  24   b  protruding from the inner circumference of the housing shell. The upstream end of rib  24   b  forms the locking shoulder  25   b  for which a counter member is directly an end face of locking member  26   b.    
     The runner or rotor of motor  31   b  is formed by member  26   b  which constitutes the motor armature and carries the motor coil  58  or the armature winding and the coil core. The coil  58  is located at the end side of plate  26   b  remote from member  24   b . The other end side of plate  26   b  forms the counter face for shoulder  25   b . Housing  21   b  or a separate housing part  51  forms the stator of motor  31   b  and the housing thereof. Permanent magnets  59  are fixed on the inner circumference of housing  21   b  or  51 . Magnets  59  are uniformly distributed about axis lob. No gear is provided between motor  21   b  and member  26   b . Two separate coils  58  may also be provided. Sliding contact within bearing  39   b  and/or on the circumference of disk  26   b  may supply coil means  58  with electrical power from battery  37   b.    
     Motor  31   b  belongs to a unit  50  inserted as pre-assembled module into the lower end of housing  22   b , from which it may also be withdrawn. Unit  50  has two caps or housing parts  51 ,  52 . The oppositely directed housing shells  53 ,  54  are fixedly interconnected by a snap connector  55 . To the one-part housing  51  belongs support  38   b  and shell  53 . Shell  53  protrudes upstream from the support bottom and slidingly rests on the inner circumference of housing  22   b . Shell  54  belongs to the one-part console  35   b , is in contact with the inner circumference of shell  52  and comprises at its end the resilient snap members of connector  55 . The inner space of housing  51 ,  52  is subdivided transverse to axis  10  by an intermediate plate  74  into two separate spaces  56 ,  57 . Coil  58  and magnets  59  are located in the downstream space. The EPROM  36 , battery  37  and a signal generator  73  for emitting an acoustic signal or the like are located in the upstream space. Plate  74  also forms the stationary bearing body of bearing  39 . The movable bearing body or spigot is in one part with member  26   b . Bearing  39   b  is a radial and axial bearing, whereby the axial forces oriented upstream may directly act on part  36   b . EEPROM circuit support  36   b  is secured to the upstream end side of plate  74  and may in turn comprise holders to which battery  37   b  and signal generator  73  are secured to be exchangeable irrespective of all other parts. 
     In FIG. 11 the rest position of the dispenser  2   b  and the release position of switching device  20   b  is shown. In the stroke motion region of member  24   b  a passage opening is provided for element  24   b  on disk  26   b  and, where necessary, on winding  58  as well as on magnet  59  located in this region. A corresponding passage is also provided in disk  74 . At the end of the pump stroke the shoulder  25   b  may reach into the region of plate  36   b  where it, as on actuating member, activates a switching action mechanically or without direct contact via a magnetic field. This switching action is used to reverse the action of motor  31   b  in the release sense so that member  26   b  snaps into the locked position at the end of the return stroke. For positively limiting the pump stroke the shoulder  25   b  may abut, for example at the end of shell  54  on which also plate  74  is supported. A passage for member  24  is also provided in the end wall as well as in shell  53  of housing part  51  and directly adjoins the outer circumference of the associated clip  38 . 
     For removal, the unit  50  is to be fully withdrawn downwards from the housing  22   b . Thereby support  38   b  releases reservoir  8   b  in overcoming a spring force. Thereafter parts  51 ,  52  may be untied from each other so that parts  36   b ,  37   b ,  73  may be replaced or adjusted. Furthermore, control means may be provided which by actuating a separate handle releases catch  45   b  so that dispenser  2  may be withdrawn downwards from the housing  22  commonly with or after unit  50 . Thereby shaft  70  releases from stud  71 . A further dispenser  2   b  may then be inserted in the reverse direction and sequence. 
     Units  1   b ,  2   b  include a tamper-evident closure  60  which only permits use or a pump stroke once a tamper member  61  has been destroyed, displaced or removed. Member  61  is in one part with housing  22   b  namely as a lower extension of the housing shell. The sleeve or member  61  abuts against the end wall of console  35   b , adjoins by a knockout  62  the housing shell  22   b  and has a length about equal to the length of the pump stroke. On the right in FIG. 11 the member  61  is shown in a state in which it has already been separated from the knockout  62  and lifted off from the outer circumference of shell  53 . The pump stroke is unlocked only after member  61  is fully unwound. The first pump stroke then starts the electronics of the switching device  20   b . Drive  30   b  requires very little power due to the disclosed constructions. Window  41   b  also traverses housing shell  22   b.    
     In FIGS. 12 to  15  the locking member  24   c  is exchangeable on housing  22   c . By selecting members  24   c  of varying length the stroke of units  1   c ,  2   c  may be altered. The output member  22   c  is a friction wheel or gear wheel which drivingly engages a counter face of member  26   c . This counter face is concavely curved about axis  10   c  can be formed by an opening which is circumferentially and uninterruptedly bounded. The ends of this opening form stops for the locking and release position. The rotation direction motor  31   c  is thus reversed for locking and releasing. Motor  31   c , battery  37   c  and switch  76  stand on plate  36   c  directly juxtaposed with console  35 . Motor  31  carries plate  36   c  with the remaining components being arranged thereon solely by the other motor end being fixed to the bottom of housing  21 . Member  26   c  is located between this bottom and the bottom of support  38   c.    
     Member  26   c  extends only over part of a full circle, namely over more than 180°. Member  26   c  has at its outer circumference a recess for one of the two locking members  24   c . When released the other member  24   c  is located besides member  26   c  (FIG.  13 ). Plate  36   c  could directly positively engage housing  21   c  for preventing rotation with a lock  75 . Lock  75  has circumferential cutouts in plate  36   c  and internal circumferential cams on housing  21   c.    
     Switch key  77  is accessible through a window  78  in shell  53  or in housing  22   c  by means of a pin or the like. 
     It will be appreciated that the cited features, such as properties, effects, configurations etc. may be provided precisely as described, or merely substantially or approximately so and may also greatly deviate therefrom depending on the particular requirements.