Classifications

• • 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
  • B65D85/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials
  • B65D85/30—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for articles particularly sensitive to damage by shock or pressure
  • B65D85/38—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for articles particularly sensitive to damage by shock or pressure for delicate optical, measuring, calculating or control apparatus
• • 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
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10S134/00—Cleaning and liquid contact with solids
  • Y10S134/901—Contact lens

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a package which is intended to contain an ophthalmic lens.
• a glass of ophthalmic spectacles is obtained from an ophthalmic lens by performing a trimming, or edging, of the latter. Trimming involves machining the lens on its peripheral edge to bring it to the dimensions of a housing of a pair of glasses, in which the glass is to be assembled.
• the ophthalmic lens before the trimming operation, has standard dimensions parallel to the optical faces thereof.
• the ophthalmic lens has a peripheral edge that is circular, with a diameter of about 70 mm.
• the lens is clamped between two holding parts of the clipping tool, which are applied against the two opposite faces of the lens. Under the effect of the machining stress that is exerted during the trimming, the lens can slide between the two holding pieces. A clipping contour is then obtained, which no longer corresponds to the housing of the pair of glasses frames. The friction layer prevents such sliding of the lens in the clipping tool. For this, it must not itself be damaged.
• a removable protective pad is sometimes glued on a central portion of the convex face of the lens.
• Such a tablet effectively protects the convex face of the lens against any other external contact, and the lens thus protected can be placed in a flexible pouch, for example paper.
• JP 11-011562 proposes to stick a band on the peripheral edge of the lens. This band overflows with respect to each face of the lens, and has a width that is equal to the inner height of the box. But such packaging is difficult to implement, especially because of the bonding of the band around the lens.
• An object of the invention is therefore to provide a package which effectively protects an ophthalmic lens, in particular the convex face thereof, and which is compatible with the possible presence of a friction layer and an ink marking. present on this face.
• the present invention provides a package which is adapted to contain an ophthalmic lens having a predetermined peripheral edge, and which comprises:
• a box which itself has a bottom, an opening and closing lid substantially parallel to the bottom when the box is closed, and at least one side wall element defining an inner height of the box between the bottom and the lid;
• a support which is adapted to support the lens by its peripheral edge.
• Box and support dimensions are adapted so that the box can hold the holder with the lens in a fixed position when the lid is closed. In this position, a convex face of the lens is turned towards the lid.
• a height of the support contained in the closed box is equal to the inner height of the box.
• the support comprises at least one flexible portion which is located near the peripheral edge of the lens carried by the support. This flexible portion extends towards the lid when the closed box contains the support with the lens, with a length of the flexible portion that is adapted for the lid to close the curve by pressure. The curved flexible portion then presses against the peripheral edge of the lens so as to keep the lens away from the lid within the box.
• a package according to the invention comprises two parts, the box and the lens holder, which cooperate to determine the position of the lens in the box when it is closed.
• the flexible portion of the support is deformed by the cover in the closed configuration of the box, being bent, and this deformation in turn causes proper retention of the lens inside the box.
• the lens is thus held by its peripheral edge away from the closed lid.
• Such protection is effective for the lens itself, as well as for a friction layer possibly carried by the face of the lens which is turned towards the lid in the closed box. It is also compatible with the presence of an ink marking on such a friction layer: the Friction layer and marking are intact after opening the box to recover the ophthalmic lens.
• a first advantage of a package according to the invention arises from the fact that the flexible portion which wedges the lens in the box is actuated by the lid, when the latter is closed. A manipulation gain is thus obtained during the conditioning of the lens in the box.
• a second advantage results from the use of a flexible portion, or elastic.
• the portion When the box is reopened, the portion at least partially resumes its original shape, so that the setting of the lens inside the box is released.
• the lens is thus released at least in part and can be removed easily from the support.
• the packaging is reusable for a new lens package.
• a third advantage comes from the fact that no packaging part is attached or fixed on the lens. Packaging the lens for storage or transport is then particularly fast to implement.
• the support may comprise at least two flexible portions which are adapted to support each one against the peripheral edge of the lens, at two locations distant from this edge, each being bent by the lid when the closed box contains the support with the lens;
• the cover may have, within the closed box, a recess which is located vis-à-vis a central portion of the lens, so as to locally increase a distance between the lens and the cover;
• the support can grip laterally a portion of the peripheral edge of the lens, and can deform elastically in order to release the lens;
• the support may comprise two arms which are adapted to extend on two opposite sides of the peripheral edge of the lens. He can then be adapted to release the lens during a spacing of these two arms;
• the support may furthermore comprise:
• rigid spacer portions which are adapted to maintain, when the closed box contains the support, a distance between the bottom and the cover which is at least equal to the inner height of the box, independently of the flexible finger;
• At least one flange segment which is oriented toward the lid when the closed box contains the support with the lens, the flange segment being adapted to maintain a fixed gap between the lens and the bottom of the can;
• At least one lateral support portion which is disposed on one side of the support substantially opposite to the flexible portion, and which is adapted so that when the closed box contains the support with the lens, the peripheral edge of the lens is blocked laterally between this support portion and the curved flexible portion;
• the flexible portion of the support may comprise a recess which is situated on one side of this portion opposite to the cover when the closed box contains the support with the lens.
• Such removal has an abutment surface that is oriented towards the bottom of the box, and is adapted to receive an angle of the lens which is located between the peripheral edge and a face of the lens facing the lid, so as to maintain the lens remote from the cover in a further manner with respect to the curvature of the flexible portion.
• the invention further proposes to use a package as described above with an ophthalmic lens so that the face of the lens which is directed towards the lid is separated from it by a distance greater than 2 mm, in a part central of this face, when the closed box contains the support with the lens.
• FIGS. 2a and 2b are perspective views respectively of a box and a support constituting a package according to the present invention
• Figures 3a and 3b are side views and in section respectively of a box and a support according to Figures 2a and 2b;
• FIGS. 4a-4d illustrate the use of a package according to FIGS. 2a and 2b, in perspective views for FIGS. 4a and 4a.
• FIGS. 5a and 5b are enlargements showing the principle of operation of a flexible portion of the support.
• an ophthalmic lens 100 for which a package according to the invention is intended, has a circular peripheral edge marked B.
• the diameter of the lens 100 is fixed. Preferably, it is common to a large number of lenses.
• the package which is described below is intended for the lens 100 before it is cut off, so that the shape and the diameter of the peripheral edge B are predetermined. Commonly, this diameter is equal to about 70 mm.
• the ophthalmic lens 100 has a convex face and a concave face respectively denoted S1 and S2.
• the S1 face has a shape that is generally definitive, and may carry functional coatings such as antireflective coating, hard coating, antifouling coating, etc., or a combination of some of these coatings. It can also carry a friction layer and / or ink inscriptions.
• the face S2 concave may be final or intended to be resumed machining, depending on whether the lens 100 is a lens blank or lens already machined according to an ametropia correction prescription that is established for a carrier to which the lens is intended.
• the lens 100 may be of any material that is used in the ophthalmic field, and the package described hereinafter is suitable for any material.
• the package comprises a box referenced globally 200 (FIGS. 2a and 3a), and a lens support referenced overall 300 (FIGS. 2b and 3b).
• the support 300 may be of an injected material, such as polypropylene, and the box 200 may be formed from a sheet of thermoformable material, such as polystyrene.
• the complete package can have a very low cost price.
• various elements may be reported on the thermoformed sheet of the box 200, but it is particularly economical that such elements are made in a form integrated with the sheet during thermoforming.
• the box 200 comprises a bottom 201, a cover 202 and two side wall members 203a and 203b.
• the cover 202 is connected to the bottom 201 by a hinge 204.
• the wall elements 203a and 203b are respectively carried by the bottom 201 and the cover 202, and together form the side wall of the box when the cover 202 is turned around the hinge 204 so as to come in parallel and vis-à-vis with the bottom 201.
• This position of the cover 202 corresponds to the closed configuration of the box 200.
• the side wall elements 203a and 203b which then abut one another, fix an internal height of the closed box, denoted H (FIG. 4d).
• This height H corresponds to the separation distance between the bottom 201 and the cover 202 for the closed configuration.
• the wall elements 203a and 203b completely close the internal volume of the box 200, to isolate any projections of particles that would occur outside.
• the box 200 is opened by rotating the cover 202 around the hinge 204, by
• the box 200 may comprise fastening elements 205a and 205b which are respectively connected to the bottom 201 and the cover 202, and which are adapted to maintain the closed box.
• the fastening elements 205a and 205b are adapted in pairs to lock into each other with locking during a closure of the box 200.
• the box 200 may also include gripping portions 206a and 206b, which are respectively connected to the bottom 201 and the cover 202. These gripping portions are adapted to allow opening of the box 200 by spacing them.
• portions 206a and 206b which are located vis-à-vis when the box is closed have respective edges which are offset relative to each other. In this way, the gripping portions 206a and 206b is facilitated.
• all of the above-mentioned box elements are integrally formed in a thermoformed sheet by appropriate offsets and cut-outs of parts of the box. this leaf.
• the hinge 204 is formed by a reversible folding of the sheet.
• the support 300 is adapted to laterally grip a portion of the peripheral edge B of the lens 100, and to deform radially to release it.
• it comprises two arms 301a, 301b which are adapted to extend on two opposite sides of the edge B of the lens 100, when the latter is placed on the support 300 ( Figure 4a).
• the two arms 301a and 301b are connected by a central portion 302 of the support 300.
• the portion 302 is elastically deformable, to release the lens 100 by radially spacing the two arms, in the manner of a gripper which grips the lens 100 by its edge B.
• the support 300 may be called "gripper".
• the two arms 301a and 301b may each be provided with an actuating portion of the support.
• actuating portions referenced 303a and 303b, are adapted to cause a spacing of the arms 301a and 301b when an external force is applied between them. In this way, the support 300 is easily actuated to grip or release the lens 100.
• the actuation of the support 300 by the portions 303a and 303b can be manual or mechanical, by means of tool heads that are adapted to exert pressure appropriate on these portions.
• the lens 100 is placed on the support 300 as shown in FIG. 4a, by actuating the support in the manner just described. At this moment, the convex face S1 of the lens 100 is turned upwards, and the concave face S2 is turned downwards. Then all of the support 300 and the lens 100 thus placed on it is placed in the open box 200, as shown in Figure 4b.
• the cover 202 can then be closed again.
• the convex face S1 of the lens 100 is then turned towards the cover 202, inside the box 200.
• the inner height H of the closed box 200 is strictly greater than the total thickness between the bottom 201 of the box. and the convex face S1 of the lens 100 in the configuration of Figure 4d.
• the convex face S1 of the lens is not in contact with the inner face of the closed cover 202.
• the same package may be suitable for lenses 100 which have variable total thicknesses, as long as the cover 202 does not come into contact with the convex face of the lenses when it is closed.
• a plurality of packages may be provided which have different interior heights H to cover a range of lenses to be packaged which have varying thickness values over a wide range.
• H may be about 17.5 mm for such a box 200.
• the support 300 and the bottom 201 of the box may comprise respectively portions with complementary reliefs 311 (FIG. 2b) and 211 (FIG. 2a), which are situated facing each other when the support 300 is in position. Ia box 201.
• These relief portions which fit into each other when the support 300 is deposited on the bottom 201, prevent a movement of the support 300 parallel to the bottom and the lid of the box.
• the box 200 may be wider than the support 300, which facilitates the introduction of the support into the box, without lateral movements of the support in the closed box can occur.
• such portions with complementary reliefs can be carried respectively by an upper portion of the support 300 and the cover 202, so as to come to fit into each other when the cover 202 is closed.
• the support 300 may comprise at least one flange segment 304 which is oriented towards the cover 202 when the closed box contains the support with the lens.
• a flange segment 304 is adapted to maintain a fixed gap between the lens 100 and the bottom 201 of the box.
• the support 300 has four flange segments 304 which support the lens 100 by its concave face S2 near the peripheral edge B.
• the flange segments are preferably located at a distance from each other on the arms 301a and 301b , so as to support the lens 100 stably.
• the flange segments 304 have a common thickness e of 2 mm so as to impose this distance between the edge B of the lens 100 and the bottom 201 (FIGS. 5a and 5b).
• 305 are resiliently connected to the arms 301a and 301b. They can be injected in one piece with the arms 301a, 301b and the central portion 302 of the support 300.
• the fingers 305 are directed toward the cover 202, and may initially be bent or bent toward the center of the lens 100 when the cover 202 is not yet closed. They each have a length L such that their upper free ends 305a protrude through the opening of the box
• the cover 202 bears on the ends 305a of the fingers 305 when closed, by bending them even more towards the center of the lens 100 ( Figures 4c, 4d, 5a and 5b).
• the 301 b can also deform elastically, in particular by torsion, and thus participate in a pivoting of the fingers 305 towards the center of the lens 100 when the cover 202 is closed.
• the curvature of the fingers 305 towards the center of the lens results from a deformation of the fingers themselves as well as the arms 301a and 301b.
• a main portion of each finger pivots simultaneously around the base of the fingers on the arms 301a and 301b, towards the center of the lens 100 and towards the bottom 201 of the box.
• the space of the lens 100 above the arms 301a and 301b is thus reduced and the lens 100 is then locked radially and against the rim segments 304.
• the convex face S1 of the lens is held by the fingers 305 away from the inner face of the cover 202, automatically when the cover 202 is closed.
• the lens 100 is thus immobilized inside the box 200 closed, even when the latter is returned or agitated during transport.
• the support 300 may further comprise at least one lateral support portion 306, which may be disposed on one side thereof substantially opposite to one of the fingers 305.
• the portion 306 is adapted so that, when the closed box contains the support 300 with the lens 100, the edge B of the lens is blocked laterally between the bearing portion 306 and this finger 305 curved by the cover 202. In this case, the lens 100 is blocked by relative to lateral displacements, between one of the fingers 305 and the lateral bearing portion 306 which is situated opposite it.
• each finger 305 may have a recess 305b on one side of the finger which is opposite to the lid, at the base of the finger on the corresponding arm 301 a, 301 b.
• This withdrawal 305b can optionally be extended on the arm 301a, 301b which carries the finger. It has an abutment surface that is oriented towards the bottom 201 of the box and is adapted to receive an angle of the lens 100 which is located between the peripheral edge B and the face thereof which faces the closed lid 202 ( Figure 5b). In this way, when the closed box 200 contains the holder 300 with the lens 100, the lens is more effectively maintained away from the cover 202 by the recesses 305b.
• the support 300 may also comprise one or more other flexible portions 307 which extend towards the cover 202 when the closed box 200 contains the support 300.
• Each of these other flexible portions 307 which may also be in the form of an additional finger, has a length which is adapted so that the closed lid 202 presses on it so as to maintain at least one side of the support 300 against the bottom 201 inside the box 200 closed.
• Each finger 307 thus contributes, like the fingers 305, to prevent any displacement of the support 300 in a direction perpendicular to the bottom
• the fingers 305 have the additional function of locking the lens 100 by pressing on the peripheral edge B thereof.
• the support 300 may further comprise rigid spacer portions 308. These portions 308 have a height adapted to maintain, when the closed box 200 contains the support 300, a spacing distance between the bottom 201 and the cover 202 which is at least equal to the inner height H of the box 200.
• This spacer function portions 308 is independent of the fingers 305 and possibly 307.
• the portions 308 can have an equal height at the distance H, so as to be in contact simultaneously with the bottom 201 and the closed cover 202.
• the portions 308 help to prevent the closed box 200 from being crushed when it is compressed by its bottom and its cover.
• the inner height H of the closed box 200 is adapted so that the face of the lens 100 which is turned towards the cover 202 is separated therefrom by a distance which is greater than 2 mm, in a central part of this face, when the closed box contains the support 300 with the
• the cover 202 does not come into contact with the upper face of the lens 100. In this way , damages of the face S1 of the lens are still avoided, even when the cover 202 is a little depressed.
• the cover 202 may have shape patterns 209 which are adapted to increase its rigidity.
• a withdrawal 210 is located inside the box closed in relation to a central portion of the lens 100. In this way, the distance between the lens 100 and the cover 202 is increased locally by the height of the withdrawal 210.
• This withdrawal height 210 can be equal to 2.5 mm, for example. It is understood that many modifications can be made to the packaging which has just been described in detail, while retaining at least some of the advantages of the invention. In particular, it is recalled that the rim segments 304 are not essential to the implementation of the invention.
• the fingers 305 press the lens 100 directly onto the bottom 201 of the box 200.
• the additional fingers 307 and the spacer portions 308, in particular, are not essential.
• the number of fingers 305, which simultaneously hold the lens 100 in the support 300 and this support against the bottom 201 of the closed box, can be varied from the moment when at least one such finger is provided on the support 300.
• the box 200 may carry an inscription to identify the lens 100 that is contained therein. Such an inscription may be, for example, a barcode to allow easy optical reading.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Purses, Travelling Bags, Baskets, Or Suitcases (AREA)
• Packaging Frangible Articles (AREA)
• Eyeglasses (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=38566044

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Families Citing this family (5)

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• 2007
  • 2007-02-22 FR FR0701268A patent/FR2913006B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2008
  • 2008-02-19 MX MX2009009038A patent/MX2009009038A/es active IP Right Grant
  • 2008-02-19 CN CN2008800075388A patent/CN101657363B/zh active Active
  • 2008-02-19 EP EP08762120.7A patent/EP2121484B1/de active Active
  • 2008-02-19 US US12/526,791 patent/US8028827B2/en active Active
  • 2008-02-19 BR BRPI0807611A patent/BRPI0807611A8/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2008-02-19 WO PCT/FR2008/050272 patent/WO2008113930A2/fr active Application Filing

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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