Abstract: A closure includes: a body having a skirt wall in which an internal thread is formed; and a cylindrical tamper evident bottom portion which is connected to the skirt wall via a plurality of breakable bridge portions, and in which an engaging pieces to be engaged with an engaging jaw portion is disposed on an inner peripheral surface of the tamper evident bottom portion. A protruding piece protruding downward is disposed on the skirt wall of the body. An unbroken connecting piece is disposed to connect the skirt wall of the body and the tamper evident bottom portion and to allow the body to be moved upward with respect to the tamper evident bottom portion. An extending portion is formed at an engaging piece serving as the engaging pieces at least in an angle region where the protruding piece is present.

Abstract: Tracking the use of an inhaler having a body in which a canister of respiratory medication is mounted. The body also having a mouthpiece through which medication is inhaled. Mounting a flexible shell over the body of the inhaler, sensing activation of the canister with an inhaler use sensor, storing inhaler use data in a memory embedded in the shell, and wirelessly transmitting stored inhaler use data by a communications component embedded in the shell. The flexible shell is mounted to the inhaler body so that the shell may be removed from the inhaler body and attached to a different inhaler body thereby allowing multiple use of the flexible shell.

Abstract: A respiratory system and method comprise a tracker module adaptable to be secured to a variety of inhalers, the tracker module sensing activation of the medication canister of the inhaler for delivery of medication to a user. The tracker module also senses the rate of inhalation air flow of the user when inhaling medication for determination of proper inhaler use. Upstream and downstream sensors provide flow information to determine quality of the inhalation. Other sensors are provided that monitor user presence at the inhaler, user technique in using the inhaler, and the attitude of the inhaler when it was used. Low power devices are used to conserve battery power.

Abstract: A dispensing system (40, 40A) includes a body (54, 54A) having an outer wall (56, 56A) defining a volume for storing a substance, the outer wall (64, 64A) having a top end (66, 66A) and a sealed bottom end (70, 70A). The top end (66, 66A) is covered by a flexible lid (56, 56A) that is connected to the body (54, 54A). The lid (56, 56A) has a press portion (88, 88A) for being engaged to move the lid (56, 56A) from a first position into a second, deflected position. A post (58, 58A) is connected to the lid (56, 56A) and is configured in the second position of the lid (56, 56A) to breach the sealed bottom end (70, 70A) to form a dispensing orifice (80, 80A) to accommodate movement of a substance out of the body (54, 54A).

Abstract: A dispensing closure (40) for use with a container (44) includes a body (54) having a dispensing spout (72) with an interior surface (80) that defines at least a portion of a passage (132) for communicating with the container interior to permit the flow of a fluent substance through the body (54). The dispensing closure (40) includes a closing element (56) attached to the body (54). The closing element (56) defines a transverse cover (130) having a closed position relative to the body (54) and an actuated, open position relative to the body (54). The transverse cover (130) has an outwardly projecting toggle tab (58) for being engaged by a user to move the transverse cover (130) from the closed position to the actuated, open position. The transverse cover (130) further has a flexible, resilient cantilevered sealing portion (142) that seals against the interior surface (80) of the dispensing spout (72) with the transverse cover (130) located in the closed position.

Abstract: An inhaler tracker module is secured to an inhaler and has an activation sensor for sensing use of the inhaler. The tracker module includes a memory for storing inhaler use data, and a communications component for wirelessly transmitting the stored inhaler use data. The tracker module is wrapped around the inhaler body and includes a pressure switch located at the top of the canister to detect a user pressing the canister into the body for inhaler use. The tracking module has a standby mode in which it remains until inhaler use or until inhaler use data is stored and it is transmitted. A pairing function is provided.

Abstract: An improved actuator (20) for actuating a container of a pressurized fluent product includes a body (56) having a dispensing flow path (76) to direct a pressurized fluent product from the container to an exterior of the actuator (20) via an exit orifice (80) located at an end of the flow path (76). The body (56) further includes a front exterior face (84) located adjacent to the exit orifice (64) and a hollow extension (88) defining a portion of the flow path (76) and extending along, and centered on, a longitudinal axis (92). The hollow extension (88) configured to retain an accumulation of the fluent product at the exit orifice (80) at a location that is spaced away from the front exterior face (84).

Abstract: A closing element (28) for restricting communication of a substance through an access passage (34) of a body (24) includes a first portion (68) for being removably affixed to the body (24), the first portion (68) having an inner wall (80), an outer wall (96) surrounding the inner wall (80), and at least one bridge (100) connecting the outer wall (96) with the inner wall (80). The closing element (28) has a second portion (72) for being non-removably affixed to the body (24) and a movable connecting element (76) extending between the first portion (68) and the second portion (72). The closing element (28) has an unactuated configuration wherein a major portion (78) of the length of the connecting element (76) is located laterally between the inner wall (80) and the outer wall (96) to shield the major portion (78) of the length of the connecting element (76).

Abstract: An aerosol spout dispenser is disclosed for dispensing an aerosol product from an aerosol container through an aerosol valve. The aerosol spout dispenser comprises a base secured to the aerosol container with a dispensing head mounted to the base. A dispensing spout extends outwardly from the dispensing head beyond the mounting cup of the aerosol container. A depression of the dispensing head actuates the aerosol valve to dispense the aerosol product from a terminal orifice. A dispensing head retainer cooperates with a base retainer for inhibiting separation of the dispensing head from the base when a separating force is applied between the dispensing head and the base. An auxiliary latching mechanism inhibits separation of the dispensing head from the base when a separating force is applied between the dispensing spout and the base.

Abstract: A closure (20, 20A, 20B) for a container (22) with an outwardly projecting flange (25). The closure including a skirt (50, 50A, 50B) for attaching the closure (20, 20A, 20B) to the container (22). The skirt (50, 50A, 50B) has an annular, flexible retention member (66, 66A) extending laterally inwardly from a lower end portion (54, 54A, 54B) of the skirt (50, 50A, 50B) to define a connection (62, 62A, 62B) therebetween. In one form, the flexible retention member (58, 58A, 58B) has (a) an initial, undeflected configuration, (b) a deflected configuration rotated away therefrom about the connection (62, 62A, 62B), and (c) a proximal end surface (126, 126A) located at the connection (62, 62A, 62B) defining a shoulder when the flexible retention member (58, 58A, 58B) is in the undeflected configuration. In another form, the flexible retention member (58, 58A, 58B) is movable into the deflected configuration when subjected to an axial force of between about 100 Newtons and about 150 Newtons.

Abstract: A respiratory system and method comprise a tracker module adaptable to be secured to a variety of inhalers, the tracker module sensing activation of the medication canister of the inhaler for delivery of medication to a user. The tracker module also senses the rate of inhalation air flow of the user when inhaling medication for determination of proper inhaler use. Upstream and downstream sensors provide flow information to determine quality of the inhalation. Other sensors are provided that monitor user presence at the inhaler, user technique in using the inhaler, and the attitude of the inhaler when it was used. Low power devices are used to conserve battery power.

Abstract: An improved actuator (20) for actuating a container of a pressurized fluent product includes a body (56) having a dispensing flow path (76) to direct a pressurized fluent product from the container to an exterior of the actuator (20) via an exit orifice (80) located at an end of the flow path (76). The body (56) further includes a front exterior face (84) located adjacent to the exit orifice (64) and a hollow extension (88) defining a portion of the flow path (76) and extending along, and centered on, a longitudinal axis (92). The hollow extension (88) configured to retain an accumulation of the fluent product at the exit orifice (80) at a location that is spaced away from the front exterior face (84).

Abstract: A dispensing closure (40) includes a body (54) for being located at the opening of a container (44) defining a central axis (30) and having a pour spout (72). The body (54) including a crushable seal (200) surrounding the pour spout (72), and the body (54) including a lateral projection (210) extending therefrom. The closure (40) includes a closing element (56) for being removably attached to the body (54) and having a lateral projection (220) extending therefrom. The closing element (56) and the body (54) have a closed condition in which the crushable seal (200) seals between the closing element (56) and the body (54) and the lateral projections (210, 220) are confronting to inhibit separation of the closing element (56) away from the body (54) along the central axis (30).

Abstract: An inhaler tracker module is secured to an inhaler and has an activation sensor for sensing use of the inhaler. The tracker module includes a memory for storing inhaler use data, and a communications component for wirelessly transmitting the stored inhaler use data. The tracker module is wrapped around the inhaler body and includes a pressure switch located at the top of the canister to detect a user pressing the canister into the body for inhaler use. The tracking module has a standby mode in which it remains until inhaler use or until inhaler use data is stored and it is transmitted. A pairing function is provided.

Abstract: A respiratory system and method comprise a tracker module adaptable to be secured to a variety of inhalers, the tracker module sensing activation of the medication canister of the inhaler for delivery of medication to a user. The tracker module also senses the rate of inhalation air flow of the user when inhaling medication for determination of proper inhaler use. Upstream and downstream sensors provide flow information to determine quality of the inhalation. A flow sensor is an integral part of the tracking module and can be used on multiple inhalers. Other sensors are provided that monitor user presence at the inhaler, user technique in using the inhaler, and the attitude of the inhaler when it was used. Low power devices are used to conserve battery power. A spirometer provides user lung function data.

Abstract: A closure (40, 40A, 40B) for use with a container includes a body (54, 54A, 54B) defining a passage (72, 72A, 72B) and a first latch portion (92, 92B). The closure (40, 40A, 40B) has a lid (56, 56A, 56B) defining a deflectable press portion (96, 96A, 96B) that has a connection (100, 100A, 100B) to the closure body (54, 54A, 54B). The lid (56, 56A, 56B) has a cover portion (100, 100A, 100B) including a second latch portion (120, 120A, 120B) for engaging the first latch portion (92, 92B) to releasably hold the cover portion (100, 100A, 100B) in a latched closed position in which the cover portion (100, 100A, 100B) at least partially occludes the passage (72, 72A, 72B). The lid (56, 56A, 56B) has a biased hinge (104, 104A, 104B) connecting the cover portion (100, 100A, 100B) with the press portion (96, 96A, 96B) to accommodate movement of the cover portion (100, 100A, 100B) between the latched closed position and an unlatched open position.

Abstract: An inhaler tracker module is secured to an inhaler and has an activation sensor for sensing use of the inhaler. The tracker module includes a memory for storing inhaler use data, and a communications component for wirelessly transmitting the stored inhaler use data. The tracker module is wrapped around the inhaler body and includes a pressure switch located at the top of the canister to detect a user pressing the canister into the body for inhaler use. The tracking module has a standby mode in which it remains until inhaler use or until inhaler use data is stored and it is transmitted. A pairing function is provided.

Abstract: A closure (40) includes a closure body (54) defining a first latch portion (60) and a lid (56) connected to the body (54) movable between (i) a closed position, and (ii) an open position. The lid includes a flexible, recessed press portion (58) defining a second latch portion (64). The closure body (54) and the lid (56) have (i) a latched configuration with the lid (56) in the closed position wherein the first latch portion (60) and the second latch portion (64) are oriented in a confronting relationship to prevent the lid (56) from moving into its open position, and (ii) an unlatched configuration with the lid (56) in the closed position wherein the recessed press portion (58) is deflected inwardly to move the second latch portion (64) out of the confronting relationship with the first latch portion (60) to permit the lid (56) to move from its closed position.

Abstract: A liner (100) and closure (106) are provided for being initially assembled and subsequently installed on a container (104) of a product to create a package (107, 107A). The liner (100) is provided for being disposed between, and sealed to, the container (104) and the closure (106) mounted thereon. The liner (100) includes a metallic substrate layer (200) that is an aluminum alloy and that is located between first and second heat-sealable layers (212, 200), respectively. The liner (100) has a through hole (252), and the metallic substrate layer (200) has a laterally inward edge surface (210) that is exposed at the through hole (252).