Patent ID: 6955169

Claim:
An inhaler device for use with a medicinal fluid canister, the device comprising: a transparent inhaler body having a minor cavity in communication with a major cavity and an interior wall between the major cavity and the minor cavity limiting communication between the major cavity and minor cavity to less than half of the area common between the major cavity and minor cavity; a float indicator sized and shaped to moveably fit within the minor cavity having a gasket about a side surface of the float indicator providing a seal between the float indicator and the inner walls of the minor cavity; an inhaler top sized and shaped to sealedly fit a first end of the body having a seat structure sized and shaped to accept a medicine canister containing a medicinal fluid, the inhaler top having a nozzle aperture sized and shaped to accept a nozzle connected to the canister oriented such that medicinal fluid released from the nozzle enters the major cavity of the body and a channel adjacent the nozzle aperture controlling the intensity and direction of the medicinal fluid within the major cavity; an inhaler bottom sized and shaped to sealedly fit a second end of the body forming an air tight chamber within the major cavity and within the minor cavity above the float indicator; a float indicator seat within the minor cavity, the float indicator resting upon the float indicator seat while the inhaler device is not in use; at least one inlet aperture allowing air from the outside of the body to enter through an outer wall of the minor cavity below the float indicator seat maintaining pressure within the minor cavity below the float indicator substantially equal to ambient pressure outside of the body, the float indicator seat preventing the float indicator from obstructing the inlet aperture; and a mouth piece in communication with the interior of the body by way of a one way valve within an outer wall of the body situated such that inhalation through the mouth piece reduces the pressure within the major cavity and within the minor cavity above the float indicator drawing the medicinal fluid through the one way valve and mouth piece creating a pressure difference across the float indicator causing the float indicator to move toward the inhaler top, the transparency of the body allowing visualization of the float indicator moving toward the inhaler top as the medicinal fluid moves from the major cavity and through the one way valve and mouthpiece.