Abstract: A counter containing a first ring member having first indicia and a second ring member having second indicia, each of the first and second ring members being rotatable in increments about a common axis, one or both of the first and second indicia indicating a count; and a drive mechanism for rotating the first ring member and for rotating the second ring member after one or more predetermined degrees of rotation of the first ring member, wherein the drive mechanism contains a pawl-and-teeth mechanism which contains a first and second pawl engageable with a plurality of teeth, and wherein each of the first and second pawls contains a driving engagement face for engaging in a driving engagement with one of the plurality of teeth, and a sliding engagement face for sliding over one of the plurality of teeth.

Abstract: A source of gaseous, gas borne or droplet substance having: an inner pressurized container (1), a substance-release valve (2) device sealed across an end of the container (1), a spout (4) displaceable inwards of the container (1) against a spring of the valve (2) device for substance release; the source also includes: an outer enclosure enclosing the inner container along its length (12), at least partially its end (14) remote from the spout (4) and partially at its spout end (19), the outer enclosure and the inner container (1) being arranged to react force for displacement of the spout (4) on substance release; a counter (20) accommodated within the outer enclosure for counting substance release displacements of the spout (4); and a window (22) in the outer enclosure for viewing the count of the counter (20).

Abstract: The present invention provices a counter comprising: a first member disposed in at least a partial helical turn about a longitudinal axis of an entity whose movements and/or contents are to be counted, said first member having an indicium or indicia indicative of a count; a second member extending generally in the direction of said longitudinal axis, said second member being operatively disposed in overlapping relationship under and over one or more portions of said at least partial helical turn of said first member; and means to effect relative movement between said first and second members, said movement comprising a relative incremental rotation about said longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A counter containing a first ring member having first indicia and a second ring member having second indicia, each of the first and second ring members being rotatable in increments about a common axis, one or both of the first and second indicia indicating a count; and a drive mechanism for rotating the first ring member and for rotating the second ring member after one or more predetermined degrees of rotation of the first ring member, wherein said drive mechanism contains a pawl-and-teeth mechanism which contains a first and second pawl engageable with a plurality of teeth, and wherein each of the first and second pawls contain a driving engagement face for engaging in a driving engagement with one of the plurality of teeth, and a sliding engagement face for sliding over one of the plurality of teeth.

Abstract: A joining element for square U-Shaped channelled structural members that have formed longitudinal ribs and an open slot. The joining element comprises a central body having one or more cruciform shaped protrusions. Each protrusion has a plurality of landing surfaces that engage with the channelled structural member so that when a protrusion is inserted into the end of the channelled structural member the landing surfaces of the protrusions positioned inside the arms of the crucifix protrusion, engage the free edges of the longitudinal ribs making a snug fit. The plurality of landing surfaces allows the channelled structural members to be independently rotated so that the open slot formed by the longitudinal ribs is oriented in the desired direction.

Abstract: A joining element for square U-Shaped channelled structural members that have formed longitudinal ribs and an open slot. The joining element comprises a central body having one or more cruciform shaped protrusions. Each protrusion has a plurality of landing surfaces that engage with the channelled structural member so that when a protrusion is inserted into the end of the channelled structural member the landing surfaces of the protrusions positioned inside the arms of the crucifix protrusion, engage the free edges of the longitudinal ribs making a snug fit. The plurality of landing surfaces allows the channelled structural members to be independently rotated so that the open slot formed by the longitudinal ribs is oriented in the desired direction.

Abstract: A counter containing: a first ring member having first indicia and a second ring member having second indicia, each of the first and second ring members being rotatable in increments about a common axis, one or both of the first and second indicia indicating a count; a drive mechanism for rotating the first ring member; and a coupling mechanism for releasably coupling the first ring member to the second ring member, to allow the first and second ring members to rotate cooperatively when coupled and to allow independent rotating of the first ring member when not coupled; wherein the coupling mechanism contains first and second engagement structures, the first engagement structures being movable radially outwardly and radially inwardly relative to the axis.

Abstract: A source of gaseous, gas borne or droplet substance having: an inner pressurised container (1), a substance-release valve (2) device sealed across an end of the container (1), a spout (4) displaceable inwards of the container (1) against a spring of the valve (2) device for substance release; the source also includes: an outer enclosure enclosing the inner container along its length (12), at least partially its end (14) remote from the spout (4) and partially at its spout end (19), the outer enclosure ADN the inner container (1) being arranged to react force for displacement of the spout (4) on substance release; a counter (20) accommodated within the outer enclosure for counting substance release displacements of the spout (4); and a window (22) in the outer enclosure for viewing the count of the counter (20).

Abstract: A source of gaseous, gas borne or droplet substance having: an inner pressurised container (1), a substance-release valve (2) device sealed across an end of the container (1), a spout (4) displaceable inwards of the container (1) against a spring of the valve (2) device for substance release; the source also includes: an outer enclosure enclosing the inner container along its length (12), at least partially its end (14) remote from the spout (4) and partially at its spout end (19), the outer enclosure ADN the inner container (1) being arranged to react force for displacement of the spout (4) on substance release; a counter (20) accommodated within the outer enclosure for counting substance release displacements of the spout (4); and a window (22) in the outer enclosure for viewing the count of the counter (20).

Abstract: A medicament source has a container and a crimped closure. The closure sealingly holds to the container a metered-dose release valve, of which the spout only is visible externally. The container has a neck and a protruding rim at which the crimp locates. The container is of molded polymer and has an outer, perforate sleeve of aluminum, providing mechanical strength for pressure retention. The neck has a relatively thicker wall thickness and the end is domed inwards, both for pressure retention. The polymer is of three layers or laminations. The innermost layer is of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) material to provide an inert layer with which the medicament and its propellant will not react or combine in any way. The middle polymer layer is of nylon material to provide a propellant tight layer, to contain the propellant, whose molecules may be able to pass through the PTFE layer. The outer polymer layer is of polypropylene (PP) to provide both water tightness and mechanical integrity of the container.

Abstract: A counter comprising: a first ring member having first indicia and a second ring member having second indicia, each of said first and second ring members being rotatable in increments about a common axis, one or both of said first and second indicia indicating a count; a drive mechanism for rotating said first ring member; and a coupling mechanism for releasably coupling said first ring member to said second ring member, to allow said first and second ring members to rotate cooperatively when coupled and to allow independent rotating of said first ring member when not coupled; wherein said coupling mechanism comprises first and second engagement means, said first engagement means being movable radially outwardly and radially inwardly relative to said axis.

Abstract: The present invention provices a counter comprising: a first member disposed in at least a partial helical turn about a longitudinal axis of an entity whose movements and/or contents are to be counted, said first member having an indicium or indicia indicative of a count; a second member extending generally in the direction of said longitudinal axis, said second member being operatively disposed in overlapping relationship under and over one or more portions of said at least partial helical turn of said first member; and means to effect relative movement between said first and second members, said movement comprising a relative incremental rotation about said longitudinal axis.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the starting and stopping of an AC induction motor, the apparatus comprises a first and a second magnetic permeable portions having a plurality of legs wherein a magnetic control flux of the second magnetic has an opposite magnetic polarity to the magnetic control flux of the first magnetic permeable portion; anon-spacer separating the first and second magnetic permeable portions to prevent magnetic control flux cancellation between the first and second magnetic permeable portions; a first and second AC power phase windings; and a first and second group of DC excitation control windings.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for controlling the starting and stopping of an AC induction motor, the apparatus (10) comprising: a first magnetic permeable portion (20) having first (21), second (22) and third legs (23); a second magnetic permeable portion (40) arranged relative to the first magnetic permeable portion (20) such that a magnetic control flux of the second magnetic permeable portion (40) has an opposite magnetic polarity to a magnetic control flux of the first magnetic permeable portion (20), the second magnetic permeable portion (40) having fourth (41), fifth (42) and sixth legs (43); a non-magnetic spacer (3) separating the first and second magnetic permeable portions (20, 40) to prevent magnetic control flux cancellation between the first and second magnetic permeable portions (20, 40); a first AC power phase winding (90) wound around the first and fourth legs (21, 41); a second AC power phase winding (100) wound around the third and sixth legs (23, 43); a first pair of DC excitation control windings (70

Abstract: A source of gaseous, gas borne or droplet substance having: an inner pressurised container (1), a substance-release valve (2) device sealed across an end of the container (1), a spout (4) displaceable inwards of the container (1) against a spring of the valve (2) device for substance release; the source also includes: an outer enclosure enclosing the inner container along its length (12), at least partially its end (14) remote from the spout (4) and partially at its spout end (19), the outer enclosure ADN the inner container (1) being arranged to react force for displacement of the spout (4) on substance release; a counter (20) accommodated within the outer enclosure for counting substance release displacements of the spout (4); and a window (22) in the outer enclosure for viewing the count of the counter (20).

Abstract: A medicament source has a container and a crimped closure. The closure sealingly holds to the container a metered-dose release valve, of which the spout only is visible externally. The container has a neck and a protruding rim at which the crimp locates. The container is of moulded polymer and has an outer, perforate sleeve of aluminium, providing mechanical strength for pressure retention. The neck has a relatively thicker wall thickness and the end is domed inwards, both for pressure retention. The polymer is of three layers or laminations. The innermost layer is of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) material to provide an inert layer with which the medicament and its propellant will not react or combine in any way. The middle polymer layer is of nylon material to provide a propellant tight layer, to contain the propellant, whose molecules may be able to pass through the PTFE layer. The outer polymer layer is of polypropylene (PP) to provide both water tightness and mechanical integrity of the container.

Abstract: The dispenser has a body (1), with a mouthpiece cover (2). Opening of the cover urges a junction member (3) towards a source (4) of a medicament to be released as a dose by pressing a spout (5) of the source inwards of the source. The source is supported by a cap (11) clipped to the end of a source-enclosing barrel (12) with intern al splines (10). The barrel is welded (15) to the main to part (16) of the body at a position determined by the extension of the source towards the distal end (17) of the barrel when the cover is open, the welding position being determined by a plug (18) simulating the cap and its bush.

Abstract: A dispenser (1) has a source (2) of medicament with a transparent reservoir (3) of glass sheathed in a transparent plastics material shrink wrapping (4), which provides an enclosure against explosion of the glass in the event of accidental breakage of the glass. The reservoir contains not only a liquid medicament (5), but also a gaseous propellant liable to cause the glass to explode if broken. A valve (6) of the source is within a body (7) of the dispenser. The valve is attached to the reservoir by a crimped on aluminum sleeve (8). With the dispenser inverted the level (14) of the medicament (5) is within the tapered tip when the medicament is close to being used up. As use of the dispenser continues, the level falls progressively faster, giving the user an indication that a fresh dispenser will soon be required.

Abstract: A dispenser (1) comprises a can (2) and body (3). The can is an aluminum extrusion with a valve crimped into its mouth, the valve having an outlet spout (4). The crimped region (5) of the can surrounding the valve has a lesser diameter than the can has through the main part (6) of its length. The body has a mouthpiece (11) with a pivotal cover (12) drivingly connected to a cam (13). This bears on the underside of junction member (14), into a socket (15) of which the spout 4 fits. A breath actuated dose release mechanism (16) is provided. The body has a tubular section (7) for receiving the necked down region (5) of the can. A printed paper label (21) is wrapped around the joint between the body and the can to unite the can to the body in position such that when the cover is opened, a dose is dispensed by the cam (13) lifting the junction member and depressing the spout.

Abstract: An inhalant dispenser has a cover 3 pivotally carried on a body 6. The cover has a cam arrangement for lifting a junction member 41 against the action of the spring in an inhalant can C. Lifting of the junction member cocks a breath actuated dose release mechanism. The latter includes a flap 61 in the breath path. The flap is carried on the junction member and is arranged to release a hinged member 48 by action of latches 70 on the flap and sears on the hinged member.