A counting mechanism (100) for a dispenser comprising: a first and a second housing part (110, 120) that are rotatable relative to each other; and a counting ring (130) disposed between the housing parts. The first housing part has a protrusion (111) which abuts the counting ring, holding a portion of the counting ring in contact with the second housing part. The relative rotation of the housing parts causes the protrusion to slide against the surface of the counting ring to drive a rolling movement of the counting ring around the circumference of the second housing part, such that a predefined rotation of the housing parts produces an incremental rotational displacement between the counting ring and second housing part to record a count. The counting mechanism provides a large gear reduction ratio in a compact form which is straightforward to manufacture and provides an accurate and reliable record of counts.

Approaches describe a mobile computing device, e.g., an ergonomically configured connected counting device, to capture counts of people, products, or any countable object, store the counts and associated information in a central repository for access by other connected counting devices. The counts and associated qualifying information can then be displayed through mobile devices and web applications, and can display count data with sales, demographic and other qualifying data sources to provide information for qualitative and quantitative reporting, as well as enable count based automated promotions through traditional channels and social networks.

This invention generally relates to counters and in particular to counters for use with dispensers and to dispensers comprising said counters. More particularly the present invention relates to counters for use with metered-dose dispensers, such as metered-dose inhalers (MDIs). In particular, the present invention provides a counter comprising: a first ring member having a first indicia and being rotatable in increments about an axis, the first indicia indicating a count; a limiting member comprising a limiting mechanism, wherein the limiting mechanism comprises an engaging portion arranged to act radially with respect to the first ring member to contact the first ring member to limit free rotation of the first ring member relative to the limiting member about the axis.

This invention generally relates to counters and in particular to counters for use with dispensers and to dispensers comprising said counters. More particularly the present invention relates to counters for use with metered-dose dispensers, such as metered-dose inhalers (MDIs). In particular, the present invention provides a counter comprising: a first ring member having a first indicia and being rotatable in increments about an axis, the first indicia indicating a count; a limiting member comprising a limiting mechanism, wherein the limiting mechanism comprises an engaging portion arranged to act radially with respect to the first ring member to contact the first ring member to limit free rotation of the first ring member relative to the limiting member about the axis.

A fluid dispenser comprising a body (1), a fluid reservoir (2), a dispenser member, such as a pump or a valve, mounted on said reservoir (2), and a dose indicator device for indicating the number of doses of fluid that have been dispensed or that remain to be dispensed from said reservoir, the dispenser being characterized in that said dose indicator device includes a first safety system for actuating the dose indicator device once the dispenser has performed a predetermined incomplete actuation stroke, even if the dispenser does not perform the complete actuation stroke.

A fluid dispenser comprising a body (1), a fluid reservoir (2), a dispenser member, such as a pump or a valve, mounted on said reservoir (2), and a dose indicator device for indicating the number of doses of fluid that have been dispensed or that remain to be dispensed from said reservoir, the dispenser being characterized in that said dose indicator device includes a first safety system for actuating the dose indicator device once the dispenser has performed a predetermined incomplete actuation stroke, even if the dispenser does not perform the complete actuation stroke.

To reduce false counts of a device that counts a user's step count. A pedometer device, a step counting method, and a recording medium are provided. The pedometer devices includes: an acquiring unit that acquires a sensor signal output by a sensor carried by a user; an extracting unit that extracts a feature quantity from the sensor signal; a storage unit that stores a walking model which represents walking motions, the walking model being formed based on a feature quantity extracted from a sensor signal corresponding to a predetermined number of steps of walking; a comparing unit that compares the feature quantity extracted at the extracting unit with the walking model; and a deciding unit that decides whether the user has walked a predetermined number of steps, based on a result of the comparison performed by the comparing unit.

To reduce false counts of a device that counts a user's step count. A pedometer device, a step counting method, and a recording medium are provided. The pedometer devices includes: an acquiring unit that acquires a sensor signal output by a sensor carried by a user; an extracting unit that extracts a feature quantity from the sensor signal; a storage unit that stores a walking model which represents walking motions, the walking model being formed based on a feature quantity extracted from a sensor signal corresponding to a predetermined number of steps of walking; a comparing unit that compares the feature quantity extracted at the extracting unit with the walking model; and a deciding unit that decides whether the user has walked a predetermined number of steps, based on a result of the comparison performed by the comparing unit.

A counting mechanism (100) for a dispenser comprising: a first and a second housing part (110, 120) that are rotatable relative to each other; and a counting ring (130) disposed between the housing parts. The first housing part has a protrusion (111) which abuts the counting ring, holding a portion of the counting ring in contact with the second housing part. The relative rotation of the housing parts causes the protrusion to slide against the surface of the counting ring to drive a rolling movement of the counting ring around the circumference of the second housing part, such that a predefined rotation of the housing parts produces an incremental rotational displacement between the counting ring and second housing part to record a count. The counting mechanism provides a large gear reduction ratio in a compact form which is straightforward to manufacture and provides an accurate and reliable record of counts.

A fluid dispenser comprising a body (1), a fluid reservoir (2), a dispenser member, such as a pump or a valve, mounted on said reservoir (2), and a dose indicator device for indicating the number of doses of fluid that have been dispensed or that remain to be dispensed from said reservoir, the dispenser being characterized in that said dose indicator device includes a first safety system for actuating the dose indicator device once the dispenser has performed a predetermined incomplete actuation stroke, even if the dispenser does not perform the complete actuation stroke.