Inhalation actuable aerosol dispenser

Claim 2

In an inhalation actuable dispenser for use with an aerosol dispensing container equipped with a metering valve means movable between an inner, charging position and an outer, discharging position, and further equipped with spring means biasing said metering valve means outwardly toward said discharging position, the improvement comprising: a. a housing having therein a compartment receiving said container and having an air passage therethrough with which said metering valve means communicates; b. means carried by said housing and engageable with said container and said metering valve means for relatively moving said containEr and said metering valve means into said charging position of said metering valve means; c. latch means for releasably retaining said metering valve means in said charging position in opposition to the biasing action of said spring means; and d. inhalation responsive means in said air passage, and actuable by air flowing therethrough, for releasing said latch means so that said spring means produces relative movement of said container and said metering valve means into said discharging position of said metering valve means, whereby said metering valve means discharges a metered amount from said container into said air passage.

Claim 3

In an inhalation actuable dispenser for use with an aerosol dispensing container equipped on one side thereof with a metering valve means movable between an inner, charging position and an outer, discharging position, and further equipped with spring means biasing said metering valve means outwardly toward said discharging position, the improvement comprising: a. a housing having therein a compartment receiving said container, having an air passage therethrough, and having therein a vane chamber adjacent said compartment and forming part of said air passage; b. a support in said housing engageable by said metering valve means and provided therein with passage means for conveying a discharge from said metering valve means to said air passage; c. charging means connected to said housing and engageable with said container on the side thereof opposite said metering valve means for moving said container toward said support to position said metering valve means in said charging position; d. latch means connected to and actuable by said charging means for releasably retaining said container in a position to retain said metering valve means in said charging position, in opposition to the biasing action of said spring means; and e. inhalation responsive vane means in said vane chamber and connected to said latch means, and actuable by air flowing through said air passage, for releasing said latch means so that said spring means moves said container away from said support to position said metering valve means in said discharging position, whereby said metering valve means discharges a metered amount from said container into said passage means leading to said air passage.

Claim 4

In an inhalation actuable dispenser for use with an aerosol dispensing container equipped on one side thereof with a metering valve means movable between an inner, charging position and an outer, discharging position, and further equipped with spring means biasing said metering valve means outwardly toward said discharging position, the improvement comprising: a. a housing having therein a compartment receiving said container, having an air passage therethrough, and having therein a vane chamber adjacent said compartment and forming part of said air passage; b. a support in said housing engageable by said metering valve means and provided therein with passage means for conveying a discharge from said metering valve means to said air passage; c. charging means connected to said housing and engageable with said container on the side thereof opposite said metering valve means for moving said container toward said support to position said metering valve means in said charging position; d. latch means connected to and actuable by said charging means for releasably retaining said container in a position to retain said metering valve means in said charging position, in opposition to the biasing action of said spring means; and e. inhalation responsive vane means in said vane chamber and connected to said latch means, and actuable by air flowing through said air passage, for releasing said latch means so that said spring means moves said container away from said support to position said metering valve means in said discharging position, whereby said metering valve means discharges a metered amount from said container into said passage means leading to said air passage.

Claim 5

An inhalation actuable dispenser as defined in claim 2 wherein: a. said charging means includes a charging lever pivotally connected at one end to said housing adjacent said compartment and engageable intermediate its ends with said one side of said container, said charging lever having a free end registering with said vane chamber; and b. said latch means includes a latch member pivotally connected at one end to said charging lever adjacent said free end thereof and having its other end pivotally connected to said vane means in said vane chamber, said latch member being provided thereon intermediate its ends with a latch element and said housing being provided thereon with a keeper engageable by said latch element to releasably retain said container in a position to retain said metering valve means in said charging position.

Claim 6

An inhalation actuable dispenser according to claim 3 wherein: a. said latch means includes an actuating lever pivotally connected at one end to said housing adjacent said compartment and having a free end aligned with said vane chamber; and b. said latch member is provided at said one end thereof with cam means engageable and actuable by said free end of said actuating lever for pivoting said latch member in a direction to engage said latch element thereon with said keeper.

Claim 7

An inhalation actuable dispenser as set forth in claim 4 wherein: a. said charging lever and said actuating lever are disposed in side-by-side relation with said actuating lever outwardly of said charging lever; b. a common pivot means pivotally connects said actuating liver and said charging lever to said Housing adjacent said compartment; and c. said actuating lever, when displaced, displaces said charging lever through said latch member.

Claim 8

An inhalation actuable dispenser according to claim 2 wherein: a. said latch means includes a latch member pivotally connected at one end to said charging means and having its other end pivotally connected to said vane means in said vane chamber, said housing being provided thereon with a keeper and said latch member being provided thereon intermediate its ends with a latch element engageable with said keeper to releasably retain said container in a position to retain said metering valve means in said charging position; and b. said charging means including means for pivoting said latch member about said one end thereof to engage said latch element thereon with said keeper in response to movement of said container toward said support to position said metering valve means in said charging position.

Claim 9

An inhalation actuable dispenser as defined in claim 6 wherein said vane means includes: a. a vane in said vane chamber and pivotally connected at one end to said other end of said latch member, said vane being pivotable relative to said latch member between blocking and nonblocking positions relative to said air passage; and b. release means for disengaging said latch element from said keeper in response to pivotal movement of said vane from said blocking position to said nonblocking position by air flowing through said air passage.

Claim 10

An inhalation actuable dispenser as set forth in claim 7 wherein said release means includes a fulcrum acting between said housing and said vane adjacent the pivotal connection of said vane to said latch member, said fulcrum being carried by said vane.

Claim 11

An inhalation actuable dispenser according to claim 2 including gravity responsive pendulum means for preventing operation of said charging means in the event of a deviation in the orientation of said dispenser relative to the vertical exceeding a predetermined amount.