Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
  • A45C11/00—Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00
  • A45C11/005—Contact lens cases
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
  • A45C11/00—Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00
  • A45C11/04—Spectacle cases; Pince-nez cases
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02C—SPECTACLES; SUNGLASSES OR GOGGLES INSOFAR AS THEY HAVE THE SAME FEATURES AS SPECTACLES; CONTACT LENSES
  • G02C7/00—Optical parts
  • G02C7/02—Lenses; Lens systems ; Methods of designing lenses
  • G02C7/04—Contact lenses for the eyes
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2585/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages specially adapted for particular articles or materials
  • B65D2585/54—Containers, packaging elements or packages specially adapted for particular articles or materials for articles of special shape not otherwise provided for
  • B65D2585/545—Contact lenses

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an ophthalmic lens package and, more particularly, to an ophthalmic lens package adapted for improved accessibility to the contents thereof.
• Ophthalmic lenses including contact lenses, intra-ocular lenses and overlay lenses and particularly disposable contact lenses, have been conventionally packaged in "blister packs."
• a blister pack comprises a rigid plastic
• each blister pack are a single ophthalmic lens and a sufficient amount of contact lens solution to prevent drying of the ophthalmic lens and to maintain the ophthalmic lens readily available for use.
• conventional blister packs provide many users with a convenient means for shipping and storing ophthalmic lenses, some users have difficulty grasping the cover portion of the blister package and are frustrated by the process. This frustration can encourage those users to use sharp instruments to open their packages which can damage both the user and the lens. Accordingly, there is a need for an ophthalmic lens package that provides easy access to its contents (i.e., contact lens and contact lens solution) on a consistent basis.
• FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a contact lens package constructed in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in a closed position;
• FIG. 2 is a top elevational view of the contact lens package of FIG. 1 ;
• FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view, taken along section line 3-3 and looking in the direction of the arrows, of the contact lens package shown in FIG. 1; and
• FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the contact lens package shown in FIG. 1 in an open position.
• the invention includes an ophthalmic lens package, comprising a first shell member having a first end and a second end; a second shell member having a first end and a second end, said first and second shell members being pivotable relative to each other between a closed position, in which said first and second shell members are removably attached to each other, and an open position, in which said first and second shell members are pivoted away from each other; a connecting means for connecting said first and second members at their said first ends; and a receptacle interposed between said first and second shell members while they are in their said closed position, said receptacle being adapted to receive and house an ophthalmic lens and an amount of solution.
• a contact lens package 10 includes a pair of shell members 12, 14 and a pair of semi-spherical-shaped absorbent members 16, 18. The functions of the shell members 12, 14 and the absorbent members 16, 18 shall be described hereinafter.
• the shell member 12 includes a circular-shaped body 20 and a semi-circular-shaped tab 22 that radially extends from the body 20, thereby forming a pear shape.
• the shell member 14 includes a circular- shaped body 24 and a semi-circular-shaped tab 26 that radially extends from the body 24, thereby forming a pear shape.
• the shell members 12, 14 are identical in size and shape to each other.
• the tabs 22, 26 are juxtaposed with one another when the shell members 12, 14 are attached to each other (i.e., when the package 10 is in a closed position), which will be described in more detail hereinafter. Also, the functions of the tabs 22, 26 shall be described hereinafter.
• the body 20 of the shell member 12 includes a circular-shaped, concave cavity 28 and an annular flange 30 that extends around the periphery of the body 20 (see FIG. 4).
• the body 24 of the shell member 14 includes a circular-shaped, concave cavity 32 and an annular flange 34 that extends around the periphery of the body 24.
• the shell members 12, 14 are removably attached to each other at the flanges 30, 34, preferably by heat sealing.
• other attachment means such as adhesives, induction sealing or sonic welding, may be utilized to attach the shell members 12, 14 to each other at their flanges 30, 34.
• An impermeable seal (not shown in the Figures) is formed between the flanges 30, 34 in order to prevent the loss or evaporation of the solution from the package 10 and to prevent contamination of the contents thereof from foreign objects such as debris and dirt particles.
• the flange 30 is truncated at an end 36 of the body 20, while the flange 34 is truncated at an end 38 of the body 24, thereby forming a living hinge 40.
• the function of the hinge 40 shall be described hereinafter.
• ends 36 and 38 are opposite tabs 22 and 26, respectively and that is the preferred location of the ends 36 and 38. However the invention contemplates positioning ends 36 and 38 in other positions on flanges 30 and 34
• the tab 22 of the shell member 12 includes a plurality of circular-shaped bumps 42, each of which protrudes from an outer surface 44 of the tab 22.
• the tab 26 of the shell member 14 includes a plurality of circular-shaped bumps 46, each of which protrudes from an outer surface 48 of the tab 26.
• the pattern of the bumps 42 is congruent with the pattern of the bumps when the tabs 22, 26 are juxtaposed with one another.
• the functions of the bumps 42, 46 shall be described hereinafter.
• the package 10 need not include the bumps 42, 46.
• the tab 22 includes a pair of arc-shaped, convex bands 50, 52 each of which transversely extends across an inner surface 54 of the tab 22.
• the tab 26 includes a pair of arc-shaped, concave grooves 56, 58 each of which transversely extends across an inner surface 60 of the tab 26.
• the band 50 and the groove 56 are sized and shaped to interlock with one another when the tabs 22, 26 are juxtaposed with one another.
• the band 52 and the groove 58 are sized and shaped to interlock with one another when the tabs 22, 26 are juxtaposed with one another.
• the band 50 and the groove 56 are maintained in an interlocking configuration by heat sealing.
• the band 52 and the groove 56 are maintained in an interlocking configuration by heat sealing.
• other attachment means such as adhesives, induction sealing or sonic welding, may be utilized.
• the tab 22 includes the two bands 50, 52, but it may include a greater of lesser number than two.
• the tab 26, preferably, includes the two grooves 56, 58, but it may include a greater or lesser number than two.
• the package 10 need not include the bands 50, 52 and the grooves 56, 58. Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the absorbent member 16 is positioned within the cavity 28, while the absorbent member 18 is positioned within the cavity 32.
• the size and shape of the absorbent member 16 are substantially similar to the size and shape of the cavity 28 in order to allow the absorbent member 16 to firmly fit therein.
• the size and shape of the absorbent member 18 are, preferably, substantially similar to the size and shape of the cavity 32 in order to allow the absorbent member 18 to firmly fit therein.
• the size and shape of each of the absorbent members 16, 18 maintains the shape of the package 10.
• the absorbent member 16 maintains the size and shape of the body 20 of the shell member 12, while the absorbent member 18 maintains the size and shape of the body 24 of the shell member 14.
• the absorbent member 16 is attached to an inner surface 62 of the cavity 28, preferably by an adhesive known in the art.
• the absorbent member 18 is attached to an inner surface 64 of the cavity 32, preferably by an adhesive known in the art.
• each of the absorbent members 16, 18 need not be attached to respective cavities 28, 32.
• the absorbent members 16, 18 are separate and distinct.
• the package 10 may include a single frangible absorbent member (not shown in the Figures) which will be described in more detail hereinafter.
• the absorbent member 16 includes a circular-shaped recess 66 centrally formed in an exposed surface 68 thereof.
• the absorbent member 18 includes a circular shaped recess 70 centrally formed in an exposed surface 72 thereof.
• the recesses 66, 70 form a central chamber 74 (see FIG. 3) which houses a contact lens 76 (see FIG. 4).
• the absorbent members 16, 18 are saturated with contact lens solution (not shown in the Figures), which can be any known solution useful for storing contact lenses, such as saline solution, water or buffered aqueous solutions, thereby keeping the contact lens 76 saturated. It is preferred that the solution is an aqueous saline solution.
• the chamber 74 may be partially or fully filled with contact lens solution (not shown in the Figures). It is noted that the preferred interior volume of the chamber 74 is one that is sufficient to house the contact lens 76 and enough contact lens solution to keep it saturated and retain the intended shape and softness of the lens 76 (i.e., a convex-shape).
• each of the body 20 and the cavity 28 of the shell member 12 and the body 24 and the cavity 32 of the shell member 14 are each preferably semi-circular in shape, it should be noted that each can consist of other shapes and sizes.
• each of the tabs 22, 26 is, preferably, semi-circular in shape, but each can consist of other shapes and sizes.
• each of the absorbent members 16, 18 is, preferably, semi-circular in shape, but it can consist of other shapes and sizes.
• each of the recesses 66, 70 of the absorbent member 16, 18 is, preferably, circular in shape, but each can consist of other shapes and sizes.
• the shell members 12, 14 are each, preferably, manufactured from a foil/polymer laminate or coextrusion, comprising a metal layer, such as aluminum, and a polymer layer, such as polypropylene, coating the metal layer.
• the shell members 12, 14 can be manufactured from other materials, such as a combination of polymers with various barrier and sealing characteristics formed into a laminate or coextrusion.
• Each of the absorbent members 16, 18 is preferably manufactured from an absorbent sponge material, such as MEROCEL® brand polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) sponge, manufactured by Medtronic Xomed, Inc.
• PVA polyvinyl alcohol
• Each of the absorbent members may be manufactured from other materials.
• the material of the absorbent member should be should be able to absorb about 500 ⁇ l_ to about 1500 ⁇ l_ of solution, more preferably about 900 ⁇ l_ to about 1 ,000 ⁇ L.
• the package 10 is opened as follows.
• a user uses his or her finger(s) or other means to separate the tabs 22, 26 from their juxtaposed position.
• the bumps 42, 46 allow the user to maintain a better grip when separating the tabs 22, 26.
• the user simultaneously pulls each of the tabs 22, 26 and peels apart the shell members 12, 14, which pivot at the hinge 40, thus breaking the seals between the bands 50, 52 and the grooves 56, 58 and the seal between the flanges 30, 34.
• the seals between the bands 50, 52 and the grooves 56, 58 prevent inadvertent opening of the package 10 when it is in a closed position.
• the shell members 12, 14 are sufficiently flexible to enable a user to easily peel them apart from one another.
• the strength of the seal between the shell members 12, 14 is weak enough to allow a user to easily peel them apart from one another, but strong enough for the package 10 to retain a liquid-tight seal so as to prevent any evaporation of the contact lens solution therefrom or any contamination of the contact lens 76 and the contact lens solution from foreign materials.
• the aforesaid seals are broken and the shell members 12, 14 are separated, the contact lens 76 is exposed and made accessible to the user.
• the absorbent members 16, 18 are, preferably, separate and distinct members.
• the package 10 may include a single frangible absorbent member capable of being torn apart at a weakened section along its medial axis (not shown in the Figures) when the package 10 is opened in the manner previously described.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Ophthalmology & Optometry (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Packages (AREA)
• Eyeglasses (AREA)
• Prostheses (AREA)
• Absorbent Articles And Supports Therefor (AREA)
• Packaging Frangible Articles (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=36602577

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (11)

Families Citing this family (31)

Family Cites Families (13)

• 2005
  • 2005-03-22 US US11/085,924 patent/US20060213783A1/en not_active Abandoned
• 2006
  • 2006-03-21 TW TW095109520A patent/TW200700033A/zh unknown
  • 2006-03-21 AR ARP060101110A patent/AR053188A1/es unknown
  • 2006-03-22 CN CNA200680017846XA patent/CN101252853A/zh active Pending
  • 2006-03-22 AU AU2006227122A patent/AU2006227122A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2006-03-22 WO PCT/US2006/010347 patent/WO2006102384A2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2006-03-22 BR BRPI0609320-5A patent/BRPI0609320A2/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2006-03-22 CA CA002602677A patent/CA2602677A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2006-03-22 JP JP2008503118A patent/JP2008535002A/ja active Pending
  • 2006-03-22 KR KR1020077023030A patent/KR20070116084A/ko not_active Withdrawn
  • 2006-03-22 EP EP06739226A patent/EP1887904A2/en not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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