U.S. patent number 3,661,248 [Application Number 05/081,855] was granted by the patent office on 1972-05-09 for contact lens case.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Griffin Laboratories Inc.. Invention is credited to Allan A. Isen, Fredric M. Kirchner.
United States Patent |
3,661,248 |
Isen , et al. |
May 9, 1972 |
CONTACT LENS CASE
Abstract
A case for storing a contact lens, particularly a semi-scleral
type lens, comprises a bottom and a cover hinged thereto. The
bottom has a recess or depression formed therein to receive the
base of the contact lens. The cover is provided with a domed recess
to generally conform to the conical top surface of the lens. Thus,
the lens is positioned in the closed case, with its base in the
recess and its upper conical surface in contact with the
complementary inner domed surface of the cover, whereby the danger
of catching the base of the lens between the bottom and cover and
causing damage thereto is eliminated.
Inventors: |
Isen; Allan A. (Buffalo,
NY), Kirchner; Fredric M. (Buffalo, NY) |
Assignee: |
Griffin Laboratories Inc.
(Buffalo, NY)
|
Family
ID: |
22166838 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/081,855 |
Filed: |
October 19, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/5; 220/835;
134/137; 206/5.1; 220/252 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C
11/005 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A45C
11/00 (20060101); A45c 011/00 (); B65d
085/54 () |
Field of
Search: |
;206/5A ;220/31S
;134/147,137 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Dixson, Jr.; William T.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A contact lens case for a semi-scleral type lens having a base
section and a domed section, comprising a bottom, a recess formed
in the bottom, said recess being dimensioned to receive the base
section of the lens, a cover for said case to cooperate with said
bottom for enclosing the lens, said cover having a domed recess
therein of a size to encompass the outer surface of the domed
section of the lens, the cover when closed aligning the domed
recess with the recess in the bottom the peripheral portion of the
base of the lens positioned in the recess to prevent damage to the
base of the lens when the cover is closed.
2. The contact lens case set forth in claim 1, wherein said cover
is hinged to said bottom and perforations are formed in the bottom
and in the cover.
3. The contact lens case set forth in claim 2, wherein said bottom
comprises a flat body and said cover comprises a hollow cylinder
and wherein said perforations in the bottom are formed by a hub and
radiating spokes construction which serves as the floor of the
recess, and said perforations in the cover are formed by a hub and
radiating spokes formation serving as the top of the cylindrical
cover, the spokes in the cover having arcuate inner surfaces which
form said domed recess within the cover.
Description
This invention relates to a case construction particularly suitable
to store contact lenses of the scleral type.
Contact lenses of the scleral type are somewhat larger than
conventional type contact lenses because they are designed to
overlay or cover the sclera or portions thereof. The semiscleral
lens covers a portion of the sclera and comprises a base, which is
in the form of a tapered rim or flange, positioned on the sclera,
and a conical corneal portion which covers the cornea.
In storing the lens in a conventional lens case, great care must be
taken to avoid pinching the base or rim portion of the lens between
the bottom and cover of the case as the cover is closed. Such
pinching may damage and break the base portion.
An object of this invention is to provide a contact lens case
wherein the lens may easily and properly be positioned in the case
without any danger of its base being pinched between the cover and
bottom when the case is closed.
Another object is to provide a contact lens case having a recess in
its bottom to receive the base portion of the lens, whereby parts
of the cover cannot pinch or forcibly contact the base portion of
the lens when the cover is closed thereon.
A further object is to provide a contact lens case, particularly
for storing a semi-scleral contact lens, wherein a cylindrical
recess is formed in the bottom of the case and a domed recess is
formed within the cover. The base portion of the lens is positioned
in the cylindrical recess and the domed corneal portion of the lens
is received in the domed recess within the cover. Thus, there is
not possibility for a portion of the lens being pinched between the
bottom and top as the cover is closed on the bottom.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent
from the following specification, the accompanying drawing, and the
appended claims .
In the drawing:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the contact lens case with the
cover in open position;
FIG. 2 is a top view of a fully opened case;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the fully opened case of FIG. 2,
taken along line 2--2 thereon; and
FIG. 4 is a sectional view through the closed case with the contact
lens stored therein.
The case of this invention may be made from a variety of metal or
plastic materials. The material should be shock and abrasion
resistant and inert with respect to the conventional contact lens
cleaning and storing solutions. Preferably, the case is made from
suitable plastic material having the above properties and also
being somewhat softer than the material of the contact lenses to
avoid abrasion of the lenses. Such material may be polypropylene,
polyethylene and similar synthetic plastic which can be easily
molded.
The case comprises a platform 1, which may serve as the bottom of
the case, and a cover structure 2. Bottom 1 may be solid but
preferably it is perforated to permit cleansing and storage fluid
to contact the lens stored therein. A recess or depression 3 is
formed in the bottom, the depth of the recess being about a third
to a half of the thickness of the bottom. While the cross section
of the recess may be of any shape, such as square, elliptical or
circular, it is preferably of circular cross section dimensioned to
receive the base section of the contact lens. The semi-scleral
contact lens is usually of conical shape having a general circular
tapered base section in the form of a rim or flange 4, and a domed
corneal section 5 rising therefrom. The base 4 is positioned over
the sclera so that the dome 5 is located over the cornea. The cross
section of recess 3 is such that it is somewhat larger than base 4
of the lens which is to be stored therein, whereby the base of the
lens can be easily placed into recess 3. Wall 6 of recess 3 is of
sufficient depth to house base 4, or at least to house the
peripheral portion of the base, so that it is not pinched by the
cover when the case is closed.
The floor portion of recess 3 is formed by a hub and radiating
spokes structure 7, which is cast integrally with body 8 of the
bottom. Thus, the open spaces between the spokes permit flow of
cleaning or storage fluid to contact the lens stored in the case.
It is conventional to store the case in a container filled with the
proper storage solution.
Cover 2 comprises an open ended cylinder 9 in which spokes 10
radiating from hub 11 are located at one end thereof, the cylinder,
spokes and hub forming an integral molded structure. The spokes
merge with the inner wall of cylinder 9 at a point spaced from the
end whereby a clear cylindrical surface 12 is formed. The inner
surface 13 of each spoke 10 is arcuate whereby the spokes form a
domed space or recess 14 within the cover. This recess generally
conforms to the outer conical surface 5 of the corneal portion of
the scleral lens. When the case is closed, surfaces 13 either
contact or nearly contact the domed outer surface of the lens
whereby the lens is centered with respect to the bottom and the
cover of case 1. Thus, any undesirable pinching of portions of the
edges of base 4, or of other portions of the lens, between the
contacting surfaces of the bottom and top is eliminated and the
lens is securely held within recesses 3 and 14, as illustrated in
FIGS. 3 and 4.
The hub and spokes in cover 2 provide spaces in the cover to permit
the cleaning and storage fluid to contact the lens.
Cover 2 is hinged to bottom 1 by utilizing a conventional hinge
structure 16 molded integrally with the bottom and cover. A latch
means 17 is provided on bottom 1 having a catch 18 which cooperates
with a tongue 19 on the cover to maintain the cover closed, as
illustrated in FIG. 4. Preferably, the latch and tongue means 17,
18 and 19 are molded integrally with the bottom and cover. The
front face of the latch means may carry a letter or word to
indicate whether the lens in the case is for the left or for the
right eye.
In use, when it is desired to store the lens in the case, the case
is opened and base 4 of the lens is inserted in recess 3. Recess 3
is so dimensioned that it is easy to slide or place the base of the
lens therein. The recess wall 6 is of sufficient depth to securely
hold the base of the lens therein while the cover is closed. After
the lens is placed in recess 3, the cover may be closed without
fear that the lens would shift in relation to the domed recess 14
in the cover and thereby cause pinching of the lens. With the base
of the lens positioned and retained in recesses 3, the recess 14
will properly encompass the outer conical surface of the lens and
thereby hold the lens securely but not forcibly in the case. Wall
surface 12 of cover 15 is generally coextensive with the inner wall
6 of recess 3 and aids in positioning and holding the lens as the
cover is closed.
While a specific, preferred embodiment of the invention has been
disclosed, it is evident that various structural changes may be
made without departing from the scope and spirit of the
invention.
* * * * *