EP2858528A1

EP2858528A1 - Contact lens case

Info

Publication number: EP2858528A1
Application number: EP13733409.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Robin Sayer; James Vale; Alastair Knox
Original assignee: VIOPTI Ltd
Current assignee: VIOPTI Ltd
Priority date: 2012-06-06
Filing date: 2013-06-05
Publication date: 2015-04-15
Also published as: WO2013182849A1; GB201209979D0

Abstract

A contact lens case (10) includes a base (12) and a lid (14). The base (12) includes at least one receiving channel (12L, 12R) adapted to receive at least one removable container (50). The lid (14) includes a rim (17) that extends towards the base (12). The lid (14) and rim (17) are shaped to enclose the container (50) when the lid (14) is closed against the base (12). The lid (14) also includes a sealing element (15) on its inside surface. The sealing element (15) is configured to engage with an area of the container (50) such that an airtight seal is achieved when the lid (14) is closed against the base (12).

Description

CONTACT LENS CASE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a case for contact lenses. More particularly, the present invention relates to a re-useable case for contact lenses. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Before placing a contact lens in contact with the eye the contact lens wearer should make sure that their contact lenses are clean and disinfected properly before inserting them.

For wearers who do not use daily disposable contact lenses they would typically, after removing a contact lens from the eye, place the lens in the palm of their hand and apply a few drops of multi-purpose solution to help clean the contact lens. Generally, cleaning the lens involves rubbing the lens with a finger to ensure that the solution acts on the surface of the lens. Rubbing is also effective in removing any deposits from the lens surface, where the lens surface is protected by the viscosity of the solution against possible scratches. Both sides of the lens are generally cleansed in the same way. The lens is rinsed with solution to ensure that any deposits are flushed away and then each lens is placed into its appropriate chamber filled with fresh and clean multi-purpose solution such that the lenses are soaked in solution until next use. This process helps to disinfect the lenses. The multi-purpose solution could also be in the form of separate bottles of cleaning, disinfecting and soaking solution. Sometimes protein tablets can be used along with the relevant solution to aid in the removal of protein deposits.

The lenses and solution are removed from the case for application to the eye and then the above process is repeated.

The case should be cleaned and sterilised between uses and generally the recommended period for repeated use of a case is no more than one month. Incomplete cleansing of the case between uses increases the risk of contaminants or bacteria being present in the case and being transferred from the case to the contact lens and to the eye. Also, using the lens case for a period of time beyond the recommended period increases the risk of contaminants or bacteria being present in the case and being transferred from the case to the contact lens and to the eye. Accordingly, there is a risk of eye infection from wearing a contact lens that has been contaminated from an unclean case.

General recommendations are that contact lens solution should be discarded within three months from first opening and contact lens cases should be discarded and replaced with a new case each month. It is desirable to provide a contact lens case that avoids the problems described above.

It is further desirable to provide a contact lens case that is fully reusable without risk of contamination and therefore reduces the occurrence of eye infection due to contaminated contact lenses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A first aspect of the present invention provides a contact lens case comprising: a base portion and a lid portion, wherein the base portion comprises at least one receiving channel adapted to receive at least one removable container, wherein the lid portion comprises a rim that extends towards the base portion, wherein the lid and rim are shaped to enclose the container when the lid portion is in a closed position relative to the base portion; wherein the lid portion comprises a sealing element on an inside surface, wherein the sealing element is adapted to engage with an area of the container to effect an airtight seal when the lid is in the closed position. Advantageously, the channels within the base portion provide means to insert and remove a container safely and most importantly hygienically. The container may provide a self- contained receptacle within the contact lens case.

The container may contain contact lens cleaning solution. Contact lenses are placed inside the container within the contact lens case. The container may comprise a lid that is separate from the lid of the contact lens case. Advantageously, when the lid of the container is closed no part of the contact lens case is in contact with the contact lens solution or the contact lenses themselves. Therefore, the risk of contaminants entering the solution or being in contact with the contact lenses is minimised or indeed eliminated. It will be appreciated that the contact lens case according to the present invention is fully reusable and operates in conjunction with a consumable product provided by the removable container that is inserted into the contact lens case.

The channel may be oriented substantially horizontally and includes a mouth for receiving the container, wherein the mouth is open in a direction towards a free edge of the base portion.

The channel may comprise one or more upstanding edges that stand up from the base portion. The edges may provide stops that define how far the container can be inserted into the base portion. The edges may also help in aligning the container with the sealing element inside the lid portion such that an efficient seal is achieved when the lid portion of the contact lens case is closed.

The edges may include one or more grooves along the one or more upstanding edges, wherein the grooves act to receive the rim of the container and thereby guide the container into the base portion. The grooves may also act to restrain the container from movement whilst located in the contact lens case. The channel may be substantially U-shaped and wherein the mouth of the U is open in a direction towards a free edge of the base portion.

The bottom of the channel, located opposite the mouth, may comprise a ledge portion, wherein upon insertion of the container a portion of the container is received under the ledge portion.

The ledge portion may act to restrain the container when located within the channel.

The base portion may further comprise an engaging element. The engaging element may be a concave recess located within the channel. The engaging element is configured to centralise the container within the channel and relative to the sealing element such that an efficient seal is achieved when the lid portion is in the closed position.

The lid portion may be hinged to the base portion.

The lid portion may be hinged to an edge of the base portion opposite the mouth of the channel.

The lid portion may be hinged to an edge of the base portion adjacent the edge of the base portion with the mouth of the channel.

The contact lens case may comprise two lid portions, wherein a lid is provided for a right side contact lens and a lid is provided for a left side contact lens. The two lid portions may be hinged to one edge of the base of the portion. Alternatively, the lid portions may be hinged to opposite or adjacent edges of the base portion. The contact lens case may comprise two channels, wherein a first channel is provided to receive a container for a right contact lens and a second channel is provided to receive a container for a left side contact lens. Each channel comprises a mouth, wherein each mouth may be open in a direction towards the same edge of the base portion. Alternatively, each mouth may open towards opposite or adjacent edges of the base portion.

The sealing element may comprise a rigid element and a deformable element such that when contact is made with the container located within the channel the rigid element acts to apply pressure to the deformable element against a surface of the container to effect an active sealing engagement between the lid portion and the container.

The deformable member may be on the inside of the lid portion. Alternatively, the deformable member may be located on or within the container. The deformable element may be an o-ring.

The sealing element may act against the container when the lid is closed to provide a hermetic seal such that the contents of the container and the contact lens case remain sterile. Advantageously, the sealing element provides an active seal such that when the lid is closed a contaminant free and hygienic environment is provided in which contact lenses are stored.

The contact lens case may further comprise a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism may comprise a lip and groove arrangement, wherein the lip is located on one of the base portion or the lid portion and the groove is located on the opposite one of the base portion or the lid portion. The latch mechanism may ensure that the lid portion is not opened unintentionally.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a disposable container for contact lenses, wherein the container comprises a cup of concave shape for receiving a contact lens, wherein the cup comprises a rim that is engageable with a channel in a contact lens case according to a first aspect of the invention, wherein the cup is sealed by a peelable and re- sealable membrane that extends across the cup and the rim such that the contents of the cup are sterile until first opening, the membrane is resealable against the rim upon application of pressure from the sealing element within the lid portion of the contact lens case when in the closed position.

The disposable container may further comprise a ledge between the cup and the rim. The disposable container may comprise a seal element under the membrane upon the ledge, wherein when the lid portion of the case is closed pressure may be applied to the membrane by the seal element in the lid portion in the region of the seal element of the container to provide an airtight/hermetic seal.

When the disposable container is located within the case, the ledge at the bottom of the channel may prevent removal of the peelable membrane. By preventing removal of the membrane lid portion resealing is simplified because it is not necessary to realign the lid relative to the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a plan view of an open contact lens case according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of an open contact lens case according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3 illustrates a cross sectional view of the open contact lens case of Figure 1 viewed along the line A-A in Figure 1 ; Figure 4 illustrates an exploded view of the container for use with the contact lens case illustrated in Figures 1 to 3

Figure 5 illustrates a cross sectional side elevation of the container of Figure 4, assembled and closed; Figure 6 illustrates a perspective view of an open contact lens case including the container as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5;

Figure 7 illustrates a cross sectional view of the contact lens case of Figure 6 when closed; Figure 8 illustrates a perspective view of the contact lens case of Figure 7; and Figure 9 illustrates a consumer pack including five containers of Figures 4 and 5. BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Referring to Figure 1 , there is illustrated a contact lens case 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The contact lens case 10 includes a base 12 and a lid 14. The lid 14 includes a hinge 16 that attaches a rear edge 18 of the lid 14 to a rear edge 20 of the base 12. The lid 14 includes a rim 17 that extends towards the base 12 and locks against the base 12 when the lid 12 is in the closed position.

The base 12 is divided by two channels 12L, 12R into two halves. The first channel 12L represents a location in the case for housing a contact lens (not illustrated) for wearing on the left eye and the second channel 12R represents a location in the case 10 for housing a contact lens for wearing on the right eye.

The lid 14 is also split in two halves, such that the channels 12R and 12L can each be accessed independently of the other when the contact lens wearer wishes to place the contact lenses in the case 10 or remove contact lenses from the case 10. The first lid portion 14L covers the left side 12L of the base 12 and the second lid portion 14R covers the right side of the base 12R when the lid 14 is in the closed position (see Figures 6 and 7 described below). For clarity for the user, the left side of the case 10 is indicated by the letter "L" on the inside of the left side lid portion 14L and the right side of the case 10 is indicated by the letter "R" on the inside of the right side lid portion 14R. The letters "L" and "R" refer to which eye the contact lens should be applied. In Figures 1 and 2 a circle 15 is illustrated around each of the letters "L" and "R". The circles 15 each provide a secondary seal which acts against a container (see Figure 6) located in a respective channel 12L, 12R such that upon closing the lid 14 relative to the base 12 an airtight seal is formed. Operation of the secondary seal will be described further below with regards to Figures 4 and 8. Referring to Figure 2, the perspective view shows more clearly than Figure 1 the arrangement of the channels 12L and 12R in the base portion 12.

For clarity one channel, the left side channel 12L will be described, but it should be appreciated that the second channel, the right side channel 12R, is exactly the same.

The left side channel 12L includes a raised edge 22 that forms a U-shape when viewed from above in the direction of arrow 24. The mouth 26 of the channel 12L is open in the direction of a front edge 28 of the base 12. The raised edge 22 includes a groove 30 that acts as a guide member to guide and locate a disposable container (see Figure 6) within the case 10.

The channel 12L also includes a circular concave shaped recess 32 in the base 12 and substantially central to the channel 12L. The recess 32 acts together with the grooves 30 to ensure that the container is located correctly.

The insertion and location of the container will be described further below.

Opposite the mouth 26 of the channel 12L, the bottom 27 of the channel 12L includes a stop element 34. The stop element 34 is provided by a flat overhang portion towards the rear edge of the base 12. The overhang portion is better illustrated in Figure 3, which shows a cross-section of the case taken midway through the channel 12L.

The case 10 also includes a locking arrangement where a lip 40 and groove 42 are located at the front edges of the base 12 and the lid portions 14L and 14R. The lip 40 engages with the groove 42 upon closing the lid portions 14L and 14R such that the case 10 does not open unintentionally. In the illustrated example the lip 40 is part of the base 12 and the groove 42 is part of the lid portions 14L, 14R. It will be appreciated that other locking mechanisms may be used, with the same intention as the lip and groove arrangement to avoid unintentional opening of the case.

Figures 4, 5, and 6 illustrate an example of a container 50 for use with the contact lens case 10.

Referring to Figure 4, an exploded view of a suitable container 50 is illustrated. With reference to Figure 5 also, the container 50 includes a cup portion 52 for receiving a contact lens (not illustrated). The cup portion 52 includes a rim 54 which provides a part of the container for the user to grip to place the container in the case 10 and also provides a part of the container 50 that can be guided by the walls and grooves 30 of the channels 12L and 12R within the case 10.

The container 50 also includes a lid 60 in the form of a peelable membrane. The lid 60 is sealed around the rim 54 to form a hermetic seal such that the contents of the container remain sterile until needed.

The lid 60 as shown in Figure 5 also comprises a tab 64 or an extension to the lid 60 that provides easy grip for the user such that the user can pull back the lid 60 to gain access to the inside of the container. The rim 54 and the lid 60 are bonded together, for example by induction heating or thermal bonding, to create an impermeable hermetic seal.

The cup portion 52 and the lid 60 are of materials that limit moisture vapour transmission rate such that the normal shelf life of contact lens solution, whilst in a sealed container is maintained. An unopened bottle of cleansing solution has a normal shelf life in the region of five years.

The cup portion 52 is concave to correspond with the conventional shape of a contact lens (not shown). Within the sealed container 50, the cup portion 52 is partially filled with contact lens cleaning solution 62. The cup portion 52 is dimensioned such that each container 50 can contain sufficient contact lens solution to immerse a contact lens without the fluid 62 content spilling out of the container 50.

The rim 54 includes a step 56 around the perimeter of the cup portion 52. The step 56 defines a ledge upon which a seal 58 can rest. The seal 58 provides a secondary seal after first opening of the lid 60 as is described further below with reference to Figures 6 and 7.

Figure 6 illustrates a perspective view of the contact lens case 10 and shows the contact lens case 10 including two containers 50. One container 50 is located in the left side channel 12L and another container is located in the right side channel 12R.

The rim 54 of the container is guided by the groove 30 to insert the container 50 fully and accurately. The rear edge of the container is located under the overhang portion 34 such that the containers 50 are each fully located in the case 10.

Figure 7 illustrates that the concave shape at the bottom of the cup 52 corresponds with the concave shape of the recess 32 in the base of the channels 12L and 12L. As such the recess 32 acts as a stop and adds additional stability to the container 50 whilst located in the base portion 12L, 12R.

As illustrated best in Figure 7 a rear portion of the rim 54 of the container 50 is received under the overhang portion or stop element 34 at the rear of the base 12 when the container is fully located in the case 10.

The function of the stop 34 is twofold; firstly it acts to steady the container 50 when it is in the case and secondly the stop 34 prevents the lid 60 from being removed fully from the container. As such replacing the lid 60 to reseal the container 50 after initial opening will need little or no reorientation to replace it.

As described briefly above, the seal elements 15 on the inside of the lid and the seal element 58 inside the container 50 act together to form a secondary seal, the secondary seal is best described with reference to Figure 7, where the lid 14 is in the closed position relative to the base 12 and a container 50 is located within one or both channels 12L, 12R. The lid 60 is placed across the opening of the cup 52 and the seal elements 15, 58 act together when the lid 14 is closed. The seal element 15 on the inside of the lid 14 applies pressure in the region of the seal element 58 seated on the rim 54 such that when the lid 14 is closed a hermetic seal is created between the two surfaces.

The seal element 15 on the inside of the lid 14 comprises a moulded ring extending down from the inside of the lid portion 12L, 12R. The seal element 58 inside the container 50 is deformable, for example an o-ring, such that contact between the ring 15 extending down from the lid 14 and the deformable seal applies pressure to the lid 60 by the seal element 15 in the region of the deformable seal 58 and results in deformation of the seal 58 such that an airtight seal is formed when the lid 14 or the lid portion 14L, 14R is closed.

Figure 8 illustrates a perspective view of the contact lens case 10 when the lid portions 14L, 14R are in the closed position. Figures 7 and 8 illustrate how the front edge 70L and 70R of the lid portions 14L, 14R overlap the front edge of the base 12 such that the container 10 is fully enclosed inside the closed contact lens case 10. In Figure 7 engagement of the lip 40 and groove 42 is illustrated.

Figure 9 illustrates a consumer pack 72 including five containers 50 as described above. The consumer pack 72 as illustrated is formed as a strip with perforations 74 between each container 50 such that containers 50 can be removed from the strip as single or multiple units. The rim 54 provides an area to grip each container as it is removed from the strip 72 and therefore helps to avoid unintentional opening or tearing of the peelable membrane lid across each container 50.

Conventionally, a lens is cleaned by rubbing and rinsing the lenses with lens cleansing solution before immersing the lenses in fluid in a carry case. Using the lens case and the containers described above allows the user to avoid carrying bottles of lens cleaning solution. Instead, the disposable nature of the containers 50 means that the contents of a container could be used in the initial cleaning stage when the lenses are removed from the eyes, following which the container and its contents may be discarded. A new, clean and sterile container can be inserted and ready for use in the case 10 after the initial cleaning and as such this ensured that the lenses are clean and free of contaminants before applying the lens to the eye.

The containers include measured volumes of lens cleaning solution. Therefore, using a lens case 10 as described above results in less waste because the container 50 seal remains intact for a single use.

By using a disposable container within the case 10, neither the cleaning solution nor the contact lenses make contact with the case 10. As such, sterility of the contact lenses is ensured. Accordingly, the case is reusable because the container is disposed of after a single use. Whilst specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it will be appreciated that departures from the described embodiments may still fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A contact lens case comprising: a base portion and a lid portion; wherein the base portion comprises at least one receiving channel adapted to receive at least one removable container; wherein the lid portion comprises a rim that extends towards the base portion, wherein the lid portion and the rim are shaped to enclose the container when the lid portion is in a closed position relative to the base portion; and wherein the lid portion comprises a sealing element on an inside surface, wherein the sealing element is adapted to engage with an area of the container to effect an airtight seal when the lid is in the closed position.

2. A case according to Claim 1 , wherein the channel is oriented substantially horizontally and includes a mouth for receiving the container, wherein the mouth is open in a direction towards a free edge of the base portion.

3. A case according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the channel comprises one or more upstanding edges that stand up from the base portion.

4. A case according to Claim 3, wherein the channel includes one or more grooves along the one or more upstanding edges.

5. A case according to any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the channel is substantially U- shaped and wherein the mouth of the U is open in a direction towards a free edge of the base portion.

6. A case according to Claim 5, wherein located opposite the mouth of the channel, the bottom of the channel includes a ledge portion.

7. A case according to Claim 6, wherein the ledge portion overlaps at least a portion of the container when a container is in the channel.

8. A case according to any preceding claim, further comprising an engaging element in the base portion.

9. A case according to Claim 8, wherein the engaging element comprises a concave recess on the base portion within the channel.

10. A case according to any preceding claim, wherein the lid portion is hinged to the base portion.

1 1. A case according to Claim 10 when dependent on Claims 2 to 9, wherein the lid portion is hingedly attached to an edge of the base portion opposite the mouth of the channel.

12. A case according to Claim 10 when dependent on Claims 2 to 9, wherein the lid portion is hingedly attached to an edge of the base portion, wherein the edge is adjacent the edge of the base portion including the mouth of the channel.

13. A case according to any preceding claim, comprising two lid portions, wherein a lid is provided for a right side contact lens and a lid is provided for a left side contact lens.

14. A case according to Claim 13, wherein the two lid portions are each hinged to one edge of the base of the portion.

15. A case according to Claim 13, wherein the two lid portions are each hinged to opposite or adjacent edges of the base portion.

16. A case according to any preceding claim, comprising two channels, wherein a first channel is provided to receive a container for a right contact lens and a second channel is provided to receive a container for a left side contact lens.

17. A case according to Claim 16, wherein each channel comprises a mouth, wherein each mouth is open towards one edge of the base portion.

18. A case according to Claim 16, wherein each channel comprises a mouth, wherein the mouth of the first channel is open towards an edge of the base portion that is opposite or adjacent the edge of the base portion towards which the mouth of the second channel is open.

19. A case according to any preceding claim, wherein the sealing element comprises a rigid element and a deformable element such that when contact is made between the lid portion and the container where the container is located within the channel active sealing engagement is made.

20. A case according to Claim 19, wherein the lid portion comprises the deformable element.

21. A case according to Claim 19 or 20, wherein the container comprises the deformable element on or within the container.

22. A case according to Claim 19, wherein the deformable element is an o-ring.

23. A case according to any preceding claim, further comprising a locking mechanism.

24. A case according to Claim 23, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a lip and groove arrangement, wherein the lip is arranged on one of the base portion or the lid portion and the groove is located on the opposite one of the base portion or the lid portion, and wherein the case is lockable when the lip is received in the groove when the lid portion is in the closed position.

25. A disposable container for contact lenses, wherein the container comprises a cup of concave shape for receiving a contact lens, wherein the cup comprises a rim that is engageable with a channel in a contact lens case according to Claim 1 , wherein the cup is sealed by a peelable membrane that extends across the cup and the rim, wherein the membrane is resealable against the rim upon application of pressure from the sealing element within the lid portion of the contact lens case when in the closed position.

26. A disposable container according to Claim 25, further comprising a ledge between the cup and the rim.

27. A disposable container according to Claim 26, further comprising a seal element under the membrane and locatable upon the ledge, wherein the seal element is in sealing contact with the sealing element of the lid portion of the case according to Claims 1 to 24, when the lid portion is closed.

28. A disposable container according to Claim 27, wherein the seal element is integral with the ledge.

29. A disposable container according to Claim 27, wherein the seal element is integral with the membrane.

30. A disposable container according to Claim 27, wherein the seal element is detachable from the container.

31. A contact lens case as substantially hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.