Patent ID: 7004164

Claim:
An indicating device suitable for indicating the number of metered dosages that have been dispensed from or remain in a container, said indicating device comprising: a base member adapted to be mounted to the container; a cap member moveably connected to said base member, said cap member moveable relative to said base member along an axial path; an indicator member rotatably mounted to said cap member about a first axis substantially parallel to the axial movement of said cap member relative to said base member, said indicator member rotatable about said first axis between at least an initial position wherein said indicator member comprises indicia adapted to indicate that the container is full and a final position wherein said indicator member comprises indicia adapted to indicate that the container should be replaced, and wherein said indicator member comprises a first stop member; and a drive member rotatably mounted to one of said cap member and said base member about a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first rotational axis of said indicator member and wherein said drive member is selectively engaged with said indicator member upon a predetermined number of axial movements of said cap member relative to said base member so as to rotate said indicator member an incremental amount relative to said cap member, and wherein said drive member comprises a second stop member; and wherein said first stop member engages said second stop member as said indicator is moved to said final position, wherein said engagement between said first and second stop members prevents said drive member from being rotated about said second axis.