CA2580144A1

CA2580144A1 - Contact lens package and assembly

Info

Publication number: CA2580144A1
Application number: CA002580144A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Eoin Roche; Neil Hirst; Tanja Langgner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Bausch and Lomb Inc
Priority date: 2004-09-23
Filing date: 2005-04-08
Publication date: 2006-03-30
Anticipated expiration: 2025-04-08
Also published as: GB2442618A; EP1799585B1; TW200618756A; GB0721196D0; EP1799585A1; MX2007002711A; ATE547347T1; GB0421190D0; GB2418418A; EP2239208B1; JP4642851B2; ES2347449T3; CA2580144C; HK1093007A1; DE602005022464D1; TWI398225B; GB2418418B; CN101027226B; ES2380571T3; WO2006032829A1

Abstract

A single package (10) includes a flange (13) with a well (16) formed therein for holding a contact lens (20) in solution (22). A flexible cover sheet (18) extends over the flange and is sealed about the perimeter (16a) of the well to seal the lens and solution in the well. The cover sheet may by easily peeled from the flange by a user to access the lens held therein. First and second support (24, 26) structures are formed opposite each other and extend generally perpendicularly from the flange. The support structures are configured to stably support the package on a flat surface such as a take.
Each support structure includes a major wall (28) and a minor wall (30) lying in generally spaced, parallel planes to each other although the major and minor walls may interconnect or touch along one or more points thereof. A
package assembly (50) is also disclosed including a second package configured substantially the same as a first package wherein the first and second packages may be releasably attached to each other with the first and second support structures of each in meshing engagement with each other.

Claims

1. A package for a contact lens comprising:
a) ~a base having a flange;

b)~a well formed in said base, said flange extending from the perimeter of said well, said well configured for holding a contact lens and quantity of solution therein;

c) ~first and-second support structures extending substantially opposite each other from said flange, said first and second support structures each including a major wall and a minor wall, said major and minor walls lying in spaced, parallel planes.

2. The package of claim 1 wherein said minor wall is located inwardly of a respective major wall.

3. The package of claim 2 wherein said package is a first package and further comprising a second package in substantially the same configuration as said first package whereby said second package may be releasably attached to said first package with said first and second support structures of said first package in meshing engagement with said first and second support structures of said second package, respectively.

4. The package of claim 3 wherein when said first and second packages are in meshing engagement, said major walls of each package lie in coplanar, abutting relation.

5. The package of claim 2 and further comprising a cover sheet sealed about the perimeter of said well and lying in contacting, covering relation to said flange.

6. The package of claim 1 wherein said flange includes a curved tongue portion extending in a direction away from said well.

7. The package of claim 6 wherein said tongue portion includes a through hole.

8. The package of claim 7 and further comprising a cover sheet sealed about the perimeter of said well, said cover sheet extending over said flange including said tongue portion and said hole.

9. The package of claim 8 wherein said cover sheet extends at least partially within said hole.

10. The package of claim 1 wherein said minor wall and a respective major wall at least partially overlap.

11. The package of claim 10 wherein said minor wall is substantially triangularly shaped.

12. A package for a contact lens comprising:
a) ~abase;

b) ~a curved well having a perimeter formed in said base, said well being symmetrical about perpendicular x and y axes, the radius of curvature along the x axis being larger than the radius of curvature along the y axis, said well perimeter tapering inwardly about said x axis from a point where the x and y axes intersect to provide a narrowing slope along which a user may slide and retrieve the lens from the well.

13. A package for a contact lens comprising:
a) ~a base;

b) ~a curved well having a perimeter formed in said base, said well being symmetrical about one axis, the well perimeter tapering inwardly about said axis to form an egg-shaped perimeter to provide a narrowing slope along which a user may slide and retrieve the lens from the well, the well having a bottom and a sidewall extending from the bottom to the perimeter which has substantially the same radius of curvature completely around the perimeter.

14. The package of claim 12 or Claim 13, and further comprising a flange extending outwardly from said well and first and second support structures extending substantially opposite each other from said flange, said first and second support structures each including a major wall and a minor wall, said major and minor walls lying in spaced, parallel planes.

15. The package of claim 14 wherein said minor wall is located inwardly of a respective major wall.

16. The package of claim 14 wherein said package is a first package and further comprising a second package in substantially the same configuration as said first package whereby said second package may be releasably attached to said first package with said first and second support structures of said first package in meshing engagement with said first and second support structures of said second package, respectively.

17. The package of claim 16 wherein when said first and second packages are in meshing engagement, said major walls of each package lie in coplanar, abutting relation.

18. The package of claim 14 and further comprising a cover sheet sealed about the perimeter of said well and lying in contacting, covering relation to said flange.

19. The package of claim 14 wherein said flange includes a curved tongue portion extending in a direction away from said well.

20. The package of claim 19 wherein said tongue portion includes a through hole.

21.The package of claim 20 and further comprising a cover sheet sealed about the perimeter of said well, said cover sheet extending over said flange including said tongue portion and said hole.

22. The package of claim 21 wherein said cover sheet extends at least partially within said hole.

23. The package of claim 14 wherein said minor wall and-a respective major wall at least partially overlap.

24. The package of claim 14 wherein said minor wall is substantially triangularly shaped.

25. A package for a contact lens comprising:
a) ~a base having a flange;

b) ~a well formed in said base, said flange extending from the perimeter of said well, said well configured for holding a contact lens and quantity of solution therein;
c) ~a raised surface surrounding said well;

d) ~a cover sheet placed in covering relation over said well and said flange and secured to said raised surface with pressure and/or heat, said raised surface forming a spread portion; and e) ~a ledge formed between said raised surface and said well to accommodate said spread portion thereby preventing the lens from striking the spread portion upon removal of said lens from said well.

26. A package for a contact lens comprising:
a) ~a base having a flange;

b) ~a well formed in said base, said flange extending from the perimeter of said well, said well configured for holding a contact lens and quantity of solution therein;
said flange including a curved tongue portion extending in a direction away from said well;

c) ~a through hole formed in said tongue portion; and d) ~a cover sheet sealed about the perimeter of said well, said cover sheet having unsealed portions extending over said flange including said tongue portion and said hole, said cover sheet unsealed portions extending at least partially within said hole to create an interference fit between said cover sheet unsealed portions and said flange.