U.S. patent application number 10/647934 was filed with the patent office on 2005-03-03 for reusable container for contact lenses and other materials.
Invention is credited to Dalsing, Martin, Dalsing, Troy A..
Application Number | 20050045495 10/647934 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34216628 |
Filed Date | 2005-03-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050045495 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dalsing, Troy A. ; et
al. |
March 3, 2005 |
Reusable container for contact lenses and other materials
Abstract
A reusable container that includes a lid and a chamber adapted
for leaktight coupling to the lid, where the chamber includes a
base unit attachment to attach the chamber to a base unit, and
where two or more of the reusable containers can be attached to the
base unit. Also, a method of storing a material in a reusable
container that includes the steps of placing the material into the
reusable container and leaktightly sealing the container
sterilizing the container, attaching the container to a base unit
that holds two or more of the reusable containers, where the
reusable container includes a lid, and a chamber adapted for
leaktight coupling to the lid, and where the chamber includes a
base unit attachment to attach the chamber to the base unit.
Inventors: |
Dalsing, Troy A.; (Calhan,
CO) ; Dalsing, Martin; (Grand Junction, CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HOGAN & HARTSON LLP
ONE TABOR CENTER, SUITE 1500
1200 SEVENTEENTH ST
DENVER
CO
80202
US
|
Family ID: |
34216628 |
Appl. No.: |
10/647934 |
Filed: |
August 25, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/5.1 ;
206/1.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 11/005
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/005.1 ;
206/001.5 |
International
Class: |
A45C 011/04; A45C
013/10 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A reusable container comprising: a lid; and a chamber adapted
for leaktight coupling to the lid, wherein the chamber comprises a
base unit attachment to attach the chamber to a base unit, and
wherein two or more of said reusable containers can be attached to
the base unit.
2. The reusable container according to claim 1, wherein said
container comprises a flexible member attached to the lid and the
chamber, said flexible member keeping the lid flexibly attached to
the chamber.
3. The reusable container according to claim 1, wherein the base
unit attachment comprises and opening attached to the chamber,
wherein the opening is coupled to an anchor tab on the base unit to
attach the reusable container to the base unit.
4. The reusable container of claim 1, wherein 2 to 12 of the
reusable containers can be attached to the base unit.
5. The reusable container of claim 1, wherein 6 of the reusable
containers can be attached to the base unit.
6. The reusable container of claim 1, wherein said container is
made tamper evident after the lid is leaktightly coupled to the
chamber.
7. The reusable container of claim 6, comprising a tear strip
attached to the container that is irreversibly removed before the
container is opened.
8. The reusable container of claim 1, wherein the lid comprises a
window to permit viewing contents of the chamber when the lid is
leaktightly coupled to the chamber.
9. The reusable container of claim 8, wherein the window comprises
a magnifying lens to magnify the contents of the chamber.
10. The reusable container according to claim 1, wherein a contact
lens is stored within the chamber of the container.
11. The reusable container according to claim 10, wherein the
container is sterialized after the contact lens is placed in the
chamber of the container.
12. The reusable container according to 10, wherein the chamber has
a concave or convex shaped interior.
13. The reusable container according to 10, wherein the chamber has
an open interior and is coupled to a separate container.
14. A reusable contact lens container comprising: a lid; and a
chamber to hold the contact lens adapted for leaktight coupling to
the lid, and a base unit attached to two or more of the containers,
wherein each of the containers has an opening that is attached to
one or more anchor tabs that are formed on the base unit to attach
the container to the base unit.
15. A method of storing a material in a reusable container
comprising: placing said material into the reusable container and
leaktightly sealing the container; sterilizing the container; and
attaching the container to a base unit that holds two or more of
the reusable containers, wherein said reusable container comprises
a lid, and a chamber adapted for leaktight coupling to the lid, and
wherein the chamber comprises a base unit attachment to attach the
chamber to the base unit.
16. The method according to claim 15, comprising: dispensing two or
more of the reusable containers attached to said base unit to a
consumer of the material.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein said material comprises a
contact lens.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein said material comprises a
medication.
19. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of sterilizing of the
container comprises steam sterilization, ethylene oxide
sterilization, or irradiation sterilization.
20. The method of claim 15, comprising: making the container tamper
evident after the container is leaktightly sealed.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates, in general, to reusable
containers for storing, transporting and dispensing materials such
as medications and contact lenses. Two or more of the reusable
containers may be attached to a base unit so that they can be
transported and dispensed together as a set.
[0003] 2. Relevant Background
[0004] One conventional method for packaging contact lenses is to
place them in glass vials. In glass vial packaging, the contact
lenses are typically stored in 3 to 5 milliliters of a storage
solution in a vial that is plugged with a silicone rubber stopper
held firmly in place by a crimp capped aluminum safety seal. The
aluminum caps are not easily removed, and are not designed for
reuse. To reseal these vials, a new aluminum safety seal has to be
crimped onto the vial using a special crimping tool.
[0005] There are a number of problems associated with storing and
dispensing contact lenses in glass vials: Because the vials are not
easy to reseal, they are not a practical container for contact lens
wearers to store their contact lenses between uses. Thus, contact
lens wearers have to purchase separate contact lens cases while
throwing the glass vials away. Also, because the vials are
typically made of glass, they are easily breakable during transport
and the glass shards can present a safety hazard. Still another
problem with the vials is that they typically weigh much more than
the contact lenses themselves and the extra weight increases
shipping costs.
[0006] Another conventional method for packaging contact lenses is
to place them in blister packs. In blister packaging, the contact
lenses are sealed with 1 to 2 milliliters of solution in plastic
and/or foil packaging, which is torn open when the contact lens
wearer is ready to wear the lens. Like glass vials, blister packs
are not designed for reuse by the contact lens wearer, and are
typically used to store disposable contact lenses. Thus, like for
glass vials, separate contact lens cases have to be purchased by
contact lens wearers for storing the lenses between uses.
[0007] Still another conventional method for packaging contact
lenses is to place them in flat packs without any solution. The
contact lenses are shipped in a dry non-hydrated state in the flat
packs. The contact lens wearer tears open the flat pack to access
the lens and the packs are not reused. Separate contact lens cases
have to be purchased by the contact lens wearer for storing the
lenses between uses.
[0008] The problems with conventional packaging for contact lenses
also extend to other materials. For example, many types of
medications are shipped from manufacturers in the same type of
glass vials used for shipping contact lenses. Like the glass vials
for contact lenses, the vials used for medications are not designed
for reuse or refilling, and are simply thrown away once they are
empty. Thus, there remains a need for packaging for materials like
medications and contact lenses that is convenient to reuse.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Briefly stated, one embodiment of the invention is a
reusable container that includes a lid and a chamber adapted for
leaktight coupling to the lid, where the chamber includes a base
unit attachment to attach the chamber to a base unit, and where two
or more of the reusable containers can be attached to the base
unit.
[0010] Another embodiment of the invention is a reusable contact
lens container that includes a lid and a chamber to hold the
contact lens adapted for leaktight coupling to the lid, and a base
unit attached to two or more of the containers, where each of the
containers has an opening that is attached to one or more anchor
tabs that are formed on the base unit to attach the container to
the base unit.
[0011] Still another embodiment of the invention is a method of
storing a material in a reusable container that includes the steps
of placing said material into the reusable container and
leaktightly sealing the container, sterilizing the container, and
attaching the container to a base unit that holds two or more of
the reusable containers, where the reusable container includes a
lid and a chamber adapted for leaktight coupling to the lid, and
where the chamber includes a base unit attachment to attach the
chamber to the base unit.
[0012] Additional novel features shall be set forth in part in the
description that follows, and in part will become apparent to those
skilled in the art upon examination of the following specification
or may be learned by the practice of the invention. The features
and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by
means of the instrumentalities, combinations, and methods
particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 shows a reusable container in an open position
according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 shows a cross sectional view of a reusable container
in an open position according to an embodiment of the
invention;
[0015] FIG. 3 shows a reusable container in a closed position for
storing contact lenses according to an embodiment of the
invention;
[0016] FIG. 4 shows a reusable container for storing materials
according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0017] FIG. 5 shows a reusable container attached to a base unit
according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0018] FIG. 6 shows six reusable containers attached to a base unit
according to an embodiment of the invention; and
[0019] FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of method of storing material in a
reusable container according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] Referring now to FIG. 1, a reusable container 100 in an open
position according to an embodiment of the invention is shown. In
this embodiment, lid 102 and chamber 104 of container 100 are
flexibly attached to each other by flexible member 106. Flexible
member 106 allows easy coupling and decoupling of lid 102 and
chamber 104 while insuring these parts stay in close proximity to
each other.
[0021] Lid 102 includes lid surface 108 which may be opaque, or
transparent. When lid surface 108 is transparent it acts as a
window that allows one to view the contents of container 100 when
lid 102 is coupled to chamber 102 (i.e., when container 100 is
closed). When lid surface 108 is a window, it may be shaped to act
as a magnifying lens to magnify the contents of container 100. Lid
surface 108 may also include an area that is easily penetrable by a
syringe needle that can extract materials held by chamber 104.
[0022] Lid 102 may also include a seal 110 that provides a leak
tight seal when coupled to flange face 122 and/or flange sidewall
124. Seal 110 may include a first surface that sealingly engages
flange face 122 and/or a second surface that sealingly engages
flange sidewall 124. Seal 110 may also extend over the surface of
lid 102 to form a membrane (not shown) for needle insertion into
chamber 104.
[0023] A leak tight seal is formed when the first surface of seal
110 is compressed against flange face 122 and the second surface is
compressed against flange sidewall 124. Sealing pressure between
seal 110 and flange face 122 and flange sidewall 124 may be
maintained by locking container 100 in a closed position with lid
lock member 118. Seal 110 may be constructed of, among other
materials, rubber materials such as a non-hydroscopic, low-impurity
thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV).
[0024] Lid 102 may also include tear strip 112 that makes container
100 tamper evident after being closed. In this embodiment, tear
strip 112 is attached to lid 102 such that it may be irreversibly
torn from lid 102 by pulling on pull tab 114. Once a portion of
tear strip 112 is torn from lid 102, it cannot be reattached.
[0025] Tear strip 112 includes strip openings 116 through which
strip lock tabs 117 are inserted when container 100 is first
closed. After strip lock tabs 117 are inserted through strip
openings 116, container 100 cannot be opened without tearing at
least a portion of tear strip 112 away from lid 102, providing
conspicuous evidence of tampering.
[0026] Alternatively, tear strip 112 may be replaced by a permanent
seal that keeps lid 102 coupled to chamber 104. In this example,
lid surface 108 may include an area that is easily penetrable by a
syringe needle that can extract materials held by chamber 104.
[0027] Chamber 104 may include cavity 120 for holding a material in
container 100. In this embodiment, cavity 120 has a concave
hemispherical shape, and other shapes may be used as well, such as
a convex hemisphere. Alternatively, chamber 104 may be open ended
such that no closed cavity is formed. In this embodiment, container
100 acts as a cap and open chamber 104 can be coupled to a separate
container (not shown) to form a closed cavity inside the container.
The closed cavity may hold a variety of materials such as food
(e.g., ketchup), or medicine (e.g., aspirin).
[0028] Chamber 104 also includes base collar 126 in which opening
128, a base unit attachment, is formed. Opening 128 couples
container 100 to a base unit (not shown) by inserting a portion of
a base unit anchor tab through opening 128.
[0029] One or more openings like opening 128 may be formed in
collar 126 to attach container 100 to a base unit. For example, two
openings like opening 128 may be positioned 180.degree. apart
around collar 126 to match two base anchor tabs on the base unit
that align with the openings. In another example, 4 openings
positioned 90.degree. apart may be formed in collar 126.
[0030] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a reusable container
according an embodiment of the invention like the one shown in FIG.
1. Container 200 includes seal 210 that is attached to two adjacent
sides of lid 202. In this embodiment, when lid 202 is coupled to
chamber 204 a first surface 211 of seal 210 sealingly engages
flange face 222, and a second surface 213 of seal 210 sealing
engages flange sidewall 224. When the first and second surfaces 211
and 213 engage flange face 222 and flange sidewall 224 with
sufficient pressure, container 200 is leaktightly sealed.
[0031] Leak tight pressure between seal 210 and the flange of
chamber 204 may be maintained by locking lid 202 and chamber 204
together. In one embodiment the locking mechanism includes lid lock
member 218 that engages lock tab 219 on chamber 204. Lock tab 221
may be attached to lid lock 218 to provide tamper evident
protection to container 200. Lock tab 221 is irreversibly torn away
from lid lock member 219 before lid lock member 219 is disengaged
from lock tab 219 providing evidence that container 200 has been
opened after lock tab 221 was first set. In another example, lock
tab 221 may act as a second lid lock after the tear strip is
removed.
[0032] FIG. 3 shows a reusable container according to an embodiment
of the invention like the one shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but now in a
closed position. The reusable container 300 includes lid 302 and
chamber 304 attached to each other by flexible member 306. Tear
strip 312 is shown in a sealed position where strip lock tabs 317
are at least partially inserted through strip openings 316, and
tear strip 312 covers lid locking member 318.
[0033] Before opening container 300, tear strip 312 is removed from
lid 302 by pulling on pull tab 314 and irreversibly separating tear
strip 312 from lid 302. Attempts to open container 300 while tear
strip 312 is still attached to lid 302 results in at least a
portion of the tear strip 312 irreversibly separating from lid 302
and/or breaking a part of tear strip 312 itself, providing evidence
of tampering.
[0034] FIG. 4 shows reusable container 400 having elongated chamber
404 according to another embodiment of the invention. In this
embodiment, chamber 404 attaches to collar 426 by inserting at
least a portion of chamber tab 430 through opening 428. When
chamber tab 430 engages opening 428, a leak tight seal may be
formed between chamber 404 and lid 402. When container 400 is
closed, lid 402 is sealingly coupled to chamber 404 to form the
leak tight seal.
[0035] In another embodiment, lid 402 and chamber 404 form an
integral unit and collar 426 with opening 428 extends from the
bottom of chamber 404. In this embodiment, container 400 may be
attached to a base unit for transporting two or more containers 400
as a set.
[0036] FIG. 5 shows reusable container 501 attached to base unit
534, which is configured to hold up to two containers. The base
unit 534 includes anchor tabs 530 that at least partially insert
through openings 528 in collar 526 to attach container 501 to base
unit 534. The container 501, may be reversibly or irreversibly
attached to the base unit 534.
[0037] In another embodiment (not shown) anchor tabs 530 may be
replaced with a threaded collar that forms part of the base unit
and that can engage threads formed on collar 526. In this
embodiment, container 501 may be reversibly attached to base unit
534 by being screwed onto base unit 534.
[0038] FIG. 6 shows a six-pack arrangement 600 of six reusable
containers 601 attached to base unit 634 according to another
embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, containers 601
attached to base unit 634 with anchor tabs 630 at least partially
inserted through openings 628.
[0039] The reusable containers of the present invention may be made
from a wide variety of materials, including, without being limited
to, plastic polypropylene. The materials may also include an
anti-microbial additive or agent that kills microbes coming into
contact with a surface of the reusable container. When the reusable
containers are made of plastics, they may be produced by
co-molding, shot molding, and/or injection molding, among other
plastic molding techniques. In one embodiment, the process of
making the reusable container may include using two-shot injection
molding to integrally attach a seal with the lid of the container.
Alternatively, the lid may be formed to accept a separate o-ring
that is used to form a leaktight seal when the reusable container
is closed.
[0040] The reusable containers of the present invention may be used
as packaging to store and dispense materials such as contact lenses
and medications. FIG. 7 shows flowchart steps for a method of
storing materials in a reusable container according to a method of
the present invention. In this embodiment of the method, the
reusable container and material are obtained 602 and a decision 604
is made about whether the material can be sterilized in the
containers.
[0041] A wide variety of materials may be stored, transported and
dispensed in the reusable containers of the present invention, some
of which should not undergo to a sterilization process. Examples of
materials that may be stored by the present invention include,
without being limited to, contact lenses such as soft contact
lenses, rigid contact lenses, and interocular lenses, medications
such as vaccines and other medicines in a liquid state, cosmetics,
soap, cleaners and solvents.
[0042] If the materials cannot be sterilized inside the container,
then the empty container may be sterilized 606 before the material
is added 608 to the container and the container is leaktightly
sealed 610. Alternatively, if the decision 604 goes the other way
and the materials can be sterilized in the container, then the
materials are added 612 to the container, the container is
leaktightly sealed 614, and then the container and materials are
sterilized 616.
[0043] A variety of sterilization processes may be used with the
present invention. Examples include, but are not limited to, steam
sterilization, ethylene oxide sterilization, and irradiation
sterilization (e.g., gamma irradiation), among other sterilization
processes. The particular sterilization technique selected may
depend on a number of variables, including the composition and size
of the reusable container and the materials being stored inside the
container, among other variables.
[0044] The sterilized and leaktightly sealed containers may be
attached 618 to a base unit. Alternatively, the containers may be
attached to the base unit before adding materials and/or
sterilization. The containers attached to the base unit may be
stored until ready for transport to a dispensing location or
consumer (e.g., contact lens wearer).
[0045] Although the invention has been described and illustrated
with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the
present disclosure has been made only by way of example, and that
numerous changes in the combination and arrangement of parts can be
resorted to by those skilled in the art without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention, as hereinafter claimed.
[0046] The words "comprise," "comprising," "include," "including,"
and "includes" when used in this specification and in the following
claims are intended to specify the presence of stated features,
integers, components, or steps, but they do not preclude the
presence or addition of one or more other features, integers,
components, steps, or groups.
* * * * *