U.S. patent application number 09/925117 was filed with the patent office on 2003-02-13 for contact lens package.
Invention is credited to Duarte, Mark Alan, Phillips, Robert Briggs.
Application Number | 20030029736 09/925117 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25451250 |
Filed Date | 2003-02-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030029736 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Phillips, Robert Briggs ; et
al. |
February 13, 2003 |
Contact lens package
Abstract
This invention provides a disposable contact lens package
comprising a base having a top surface and a recessed well having a
perimeter in the top surface, said well for holding said contact
lens therein, said top surface comprising a raised seal volume
surrounding said perimeter of said recessed well said raised
surface having a cross-sectional shape comprising two linear sides
that intersect the horizontal plane at angles alpha and beta,
respectively, wherein angles alpha and beta independently have
values from 125 to 170 degrees; and wherein said package further
comprises a removable lidstock sealed to said raised seal
volume.
Inventors: |
Phillips, Robert Briggs;
(Orange Park, FL) ; Duarte, Mark Alan;
(Jacksonville, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
AUDLEY A. CIAMPORCERO JR.
JOHNSON & JOHNSON
ONE JOHNSON & JOHNSON PLAZA
NEW BRUNSWICK
NJ
08933-7003
US
|
Family ID: |
25451250 |
Appl. No.: |
09/925117 |
Filed: |
August 9, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/5.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2585/545 20130101;
B65D 85/54 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/5.1 |
International
Class: |
A45C 011/04 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A disposable contact lens package comprising a base having a top
surface and a recessed well having a perimeter in the top surface,
said well for holding said contact lens therein, said top surface
comprising a raised seal volume surrounding said perimeter of said
recessed well said raised surface having a cross-sectional shape
comprising two linear sides that intersect the horizontal plane at
angles alpha and beta, respectively, wherein angles alpha and beta
independently have values from 125 to 170 degrees; and wherein said
package further comprises a removable lidstock sealed to said
raised seal volume.
2. The contact lens package of claim 1, wherein the linear sides
are independently from 0.1 mm to 0.65 mm in length.
3. The contact lens package of claim 1, wherein the overall width
of the raised seal volume is from 1.16 mm to 2.3 mm.
4. The contact lens package of claim 1, wherein the distance of the
raised seal volume from the perimeter of the well is from 0 to 6
mm.
5. The contact lens package of claim 1, wherein the height of the
raised seal volume from the flange of the package is from 0.1 mm to
0.3 mm.
6. The contact lens package of claim 1, wherein angles alpha and
beta independently have values from 145 to 165 degrees.
7. The contact lens package of claim 1, wherein angles alpha and
beta independently have values from 155 to 165 degrees.
8. The contact lens package of claim 1, wherein the distance of the
raised seal volume from the perimeter of the well is from 1 to 5
mm.
9. The contact lens package of claim 6, wherein the distance of the
raised seal volume from the perimeter of the well is from 1 to 5
mm.
10. The contact lens package of claim 1, wherein the height of the
raised seal volume from the flange of the package is from 0.12 mm
to 0.24 mm.
11. The contact lens package of claim 6, wherein the height of the
raised seal volume from the flange of the package is from 0.12 mm
to 0.24 mm.
12. The contact lens package of claim 7, wherein the height of the
raised seal volume from the flange of the package is from 0.12 mm
to 0.24 mm.
13. The contact lens package of claim 1, wherein the height of the
raised seal volume from the flange of the package is from 0.14 mm
to 0.16 mm.
14. The contact lens package of claim 6, wherein the height of the
raised seal volume from the flange of the package is from 0.14 mm
to 0.16 mm.
15. The contact lens package of claim 7, wherein the height of the
raised seal volume from the flange of the package is from 0.14 mm
to 0.16 mm.
16. The contact lens package of claim 15, wherein the linear sides
are independently from 0.1 mm to 0.65 mm in length.
17. The contact lens package of claim 15, wherein the overall width
of the raised seal volume is from 1.16 mm to 2.3 mm.
18. The contact lens package of claim 1 further comprising a
rounded surface from said linear sides.
19. The contact lens package of claim 18 wherein said radius of
said rounded surface is from 1 to 10 mm.
20. The contact lens package of claim 17, further comprising a
rounded surface between said linear sides wherein said radius of
said rounded surface is from 1.5 to 6 mm.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to contact lens packages, and
in particular to disposable contact lens packages commonly referred
to as blister packages.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Soft hydrogel contact lenses have been increasing in
popularity ever since they were first introduced in the 1970's.
Such contact lenses are conventionally packaged in the hydrated
state and in a storage solution. Currently, many contact lenses are
packaged, along with the aqueous storage solution, in a disposable
plastic blister package. Examples of blister packages can be seen
in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,691,820; 5,524,419; 5,578,331, 5,649,410 and
5,722,536, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein
by reference. The base of a blister package can either be part of
the original contact lens mold or a separately molded base.
Examples of packages using the mold as part of the package can be
seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,036,971; 5,143,660; 5,407,062 and
5,573,108, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein
by reference. In all of the above mentioned package types, the base
that contains the contact lens and any aqueous storage solution,
whether it is a separated molded base or part of the original
contact lens mold, is sealed by a flexible lidstock. This lidstock
is typically a laminated foil which can be pulled back by a user to
access the lens contained in the base. Typically, this lidstock is
sealed to the area surrounding the portion of the base containing
the contact lens. This sealing area of the base has typically been
a flat surface area, or a raised flattened annular surface as seen,
for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,536. However, it has been found
that this flat surface, whether raised or not, can pose problems
during the sealing process. If a molding process is used to form
the blister package, for example, the material may have some
shrinkage, resulting in somewhat concave sealing surface. Any low
spots or unevenness of the sealing surface can additionally cause
microbubbles and result in a poor seal. Storage solution used to
keep the contact lens hydrated can inadvertently spill and then
remain on the sealing area; this can lead to a poor seal between
the lidstock and the package base.
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 6,082,533 attempted to address the
just-described problem by providing a heat-sealing area consisting
of a raised annular area having an arcuate surface on the top of
the raised area. That invention only partially addresses the
problem of storage solution splashing onto the heat-seal area of
the package. For the design shown in FIG. 3 of that patent, the
wall 220 that defines one side of the raised heat-seal area meets
the surface of the flange at a 90 angle. This may cause problems
when a lidstock is heat-sealed to the package after storage
solution has been spilled on the package, because when the plastic
begins to flow during heat-seal it can trap the solution between
the wall 220 and the flowing plastic. The solution may become super
heated and may blow holes in the plastic of the heat-seal or in the
sealed joint between the melting plastic and the flexible
lidstock.
[0004] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
provide a package for contact lenses that includes an improved
sealing area on the base of contact lens package.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] This invention provides an improved contact lens package
that comprises a base and a recessed well within the base for
containing a contact lens, wherein the base comprises a raised seal
volume comprising two linear sides that meet the upper surface of a
horizontal plane at an angle from 125 to 165 degrees. A lidstock is
removably sealed to the base at this raised seal volume. This
package is preferably a disposable package.
[0006] This invention provides the benefit that when the plastic
within the raised seal volume begins to flow during the sealing
process, then the linear sides of the raised seal volume will
provide a means for removing, or pushing away any solution that was
splashed onto the top surface of the package including the raised
seal volume. Further, this invention prevents that solution from
getting trapped within, or under the flowing plastic of the seal
volume when a lidstock is heat sealed to the base at the seal
volume, which as described above causes the solution to superheat
and explode channels within the heat seal plastic and/or within the
interface bonding joint between the heat seal plastic and the
flexible lidstock.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0007] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a contact lens package
of this invention shown prior to heat-sealing lidstock onto the
package;
[0008] FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the sealing
area of the package of FIG. 1, with an exploded view of the seal
volume, taken along the line 2-2 shown in FIG. 1;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of an alternative
embodiment of a contact lens package of this invention shown prior
to heat-sealing lidstock onto the package; and
[0010] FIG. 4 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the sealing
area of the package of FIG. 3, with an exploded view of the seal
volume, taken along the line 4-4 shown in FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0011] FIG. 1 shows a disposable plastic blister package used for
packaging a contact lens. More specifically, as seen in FIG. 1,
package 10 generally comprises support base 12 with recessed well
area 14 for receiving and holding a contact lens (not shown).
Generally, the contact lens will be packaged along with an aqueous
storage fluid, such as buffered saline solution, in well area 14.
Package 10 may be molded from a material such as polypropylene,
polystyrene, or similar plastic. Base 12 includes a flange 15
having a top surface 16. The flange 15 is present all around, that
is surrounding, the well area 14. As shown, the flange further
comprises a raised seal volume 20 encircling the perimeter 28, that
is, following the contour, of well 14 in the top surface 16. In
use, a contact lens is deposited in well 14 with a quantity of
aqueous storage fluid, lidstock is applied, so as to cover at least
the raised seal volume 20 or substantially the entire top surface
16, typically by heat-sealing the lidstock to the raised seal
volume 20, thereby hermetically sealing the contact lens in well 14
of package 10. The shape of the package 10, the base 12, the well
14, and the raised seal volume 20 can vary as long as the elements
of the raised seal volume claimed below are present in the package
20.
[0012] FIG. 2 shows an enlarged cross-section of a portion of the
package 10 of FIG. 1 along the line 2-2, shown in FIG. 1. The
raised seal volume 20 is shown comprising two linear sides, a first
linear side 21, and a second linear side 22, which meet at a point
or rounded point 23 which is the uppermost surface of the raised
seal volume 20. The first linear side 21 is located closer to the
well 14. The second linear side 22 is located further from the well
14. The first linear side 21 meets the well 14 at corner 27 which
defines the perimeter 28. The corner may be rounded or sharp as
desired. Angle alpha shown at the base of linear side 21 is defined
by the intersection of linear side 21 with the horizontal plane P
as shown. Typically horizontal plane P is parallel to the opening
of the well when the package is resting on a flat surface. Most
packages provide supports 29 or other structures for this purpose.
Angle alpha is preferably from 125 to 170 degrees, more preferably
from 135 to 165 degrees, and most preferably from 145 to 165
degrees, and even more preferably from 155 to 165 degrees. The
second linear side 22 meets the top surface of the flange 16 at
angle beta. However, if the flange 16 is not in the horizontal
plane then angle beta is defined as the angle formed at the
intersection of linear side 22 and the horizontal plane P. Angle
beta is preferably from 125 to 170 degrees, more preferably from
135 to 165 degrees, and most preferably from 145 to 165 degrees,
and even more preferably from 155 to 165. Preferably, the linear
sides have respective lengths D, E from 0.10 mm to 0.65 mm, more
preferably from 0.14 mm to 0.45 mm, and most preferably from 0.18
mm to 0.25 mm. The preferred overall width A of the raised seal
volume 20 is from 1.16 mm to 2.30 mm, more preferably from 1.22 mm
to 1.85 mm, and most preferably from 1.34 mm to 1.56 mm. The
preferred overall height B of the raised seal volume 20 is from 0.1
mm to 0.3 mm, more preferably from 0.12 mm to 0.24 mm, and most
preferably from 0.14 mm to 0.16 mm.
[0013] It is preferred that linear sides 21 and 22 and angles alpha
and beta are mirror images of each other; however that is not
required as long as both linear sides are present as parts of the
raised seal volume 20, and as long as the angles are both within
the ranges specified. Lengths D and E and angles alpha and beta can
vary and be different from one another, depending on location of
raised seal volume 20 in relation to other features and
considerations within the package.
[0014] As shown, in the preferred embodiments, the flange extends
away from the well past the seal volume as shown, but in
alternative embodiments, the outside edge of the flange may not
extend beyond the seal volume.
[0015] FIGS. 3 and 4 show an alternative embodiment of the package
of this invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective plan view of the package
and FIG. 4 shows an enlarged cross-section of a portion of the
package 10 of FIG. 3 along the line 4-4. FIGS. 3 and 4 show a
package having a raised seal volume 20 that is located a distance C
between the perimeter 28 of the well 14 and the surface of the
raised seal volume 20 closest to the well 14. Note that C may vary
in a package design, because it is not required that the raised
seal volume follow the perimeter of the well exactly or even at
all. Preferably C is from 0 and 6 mm, more preferably from 1 to 5
mm and most preferably from 2 to 5 mm. Additionally, the raised
seal volume 20 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 has a rounded top surface
43 contiguous with and located between the linear sides 21 and 22.
The radius of the rounded surface 43 is preferably from 1.0 mm to
10.0 mm, more preferably from 1.5 mm to 6.0 mm, and most preferably
from 2.0 mm to 5.0 mm. Further the width F of the rounded surface
43 is preferably from 0.50 mm to 2.0 mm, more preferably from 0.50
mm to 1.5 mm, and most preferably from 0.50 mm to 1.0 mm. The other
features of this embodiment are as described for the earlier
embodiment, namely, the angles, lengths of the linear sides, the
width of the heat seal, and the height of the seal volume.
[0016] FIGS. 3 and 4 shows the preferred embodiment, because the
distance C provides a space in which the melted plastic of the
raised seal volume may flow and not create a rough surface that
would be adjacent to, extend above, or flow into the well that may
damage a contact lens as it is removed from the recessed well.
However it may be possible in accordance with this invention, if
the correct sealing conditions and materials are used, to locate
the raised seal volume adjacent to the well by providing a large
length D of side 21.
[0017] Many other modifications and variations of the present
invention are possible to one skilled in the field in the field in
light of the teachings herein. It is therefore understood that,
within the scope of the claims, the present invention can be
practiced other than as herein specifically described.
* * * * *