FR2500644A1 - SUPPORT FOR EXAMINATION OF A CONTACT LENS - Google Patents

Abstract

THE SUPPORT INCLUDES A COLUMN 7 ADAPTED TO SUPPORTING A CONTACT LENS L BY ITS REAR SIDE AND A CONTAINER 3, 1 ADAPTED TO KEEPING THE LENS L IMMERSED IN A LIQUID. UNIVERSAL CENTERING MEANS 15, 11 FACILITATE THE ALIGNMENT OF THE LENS AXIS WITH THE COLUMN AXIS. EXAMINATION OF CONTACT LENSES THAT DO NOT REQUIRE DEXTERITY ON THE PART OF THE OPERATOR.

Description

-1 - The present invention relates, in general, to

  devices adapted to support a contact lens for its optical examination and, more particularly for quickly and universally centering the lens regardless of the operator's dexterity.

  U.S. Patent No. 3,985,445, issued Oct. 12-

  bre 1976 in the name of Tagnon, describes a series of cups adapted

  tees to support a lens and present it to a test instrument for examination. Each cup is designed

  so as to support a lens of a single size and cen-

  trate the lens when supplied to the instrument. Therefore, it is necessary to know the diameter of the lens to select the correct cup. Alternatively,

  in a preferred embodiment, the Tagnon patent describes -

  a support provided with micrometric positioning screws allows-

  both move the lens after it has been put in

place in the holder.

  U.S. Patent Application No. 091,317, filed November 1979 and currently pending, describes an improved device for transporting and positioning a contact lens while it is immersed in a liquid. If this device eliminates the need to use a series

  means of transport as does the Tagnon patent, in

  the centering of the lens requires from the operator

  rator of care and manual dexterity.

  The object of the present invention is to provide a device capable of centering all of the contact lenses without being

  hand over to the operator's dexterity.

  It also aims to provide a device allowing

  both to quickly position immersed contact lenses

  for their optical examination.

  The invention further proposes to quickly center a submerged contact lens on a column for its

  examination without having to take into account the dexterity of the operation

  lens parameters.

  These goals are achieved in the sense that the device according to

  the present invention comprises a deployable element vertica-

  also has a tapered top surface

  inward and downward, suitable for moving a lens

  -2- contact lenses to bring it into axial coincidence with a

  support column. When the element is raised, the area e-

  spun puts the lens in alignment and when lowered

  the lens is supported by the column above the over-

  tapered face. The centering device can be used for

  all soft contact lenses regardless of their pa-

  rameters. The invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the invention; - Figure 2 is a side plan view, partially in section, of the embodiment of Figure 1; and

  - Figure 3 is a section showing the left side.

  If we refer to Figures 1 and 2, we see that the base

  1 is provided with a wall 3 extending vertically and forming

  mant a container whose hollow part 5 is adapted to receive

  see a liquid (not shown). Preferably, the liquid is a buffered saline solution such as that used to store contact lenses. A hollow column 7 projects upwards in the vicinity of one end of the

  base 1 and it has a window 9 closing its upper part

  and providing a flat window suitable for transmitting

  light reflection. The element 11 has a central bore 13 capable of cooperating with the column 7 in order to give this element 11 a correct position while

  allowing it to slide up and down.

  There is a carriage 15 provided with a pair of fingers 17

  arranged in grooves 19 in which they can slide

  ser. The fingers 17 are provided with edges 21 which become thinner

  downwardly supporting the element 11 at the bottom tapered bottom surface 23. The downwardly and inwardly tapered surfaces 25a, 25b and 25c of the element 11 are separated by notches 27a, 27b and 27c which act as a fluid passage around the lens

  contact L when it moves in the liquid of the

  hollow tie 5. Vertical grooves 29a, 29b and 29c provided-

  Likewise feels passages for the liquid when

element 11 is moved.

  Referring now to FIG. 3, it can be seen that, when the carriage 15 is moved to the right, the edges 21 move on the lower surface 23 by lowering the element 11. When the element 11 descends, the lens L comes into contact with the window 9 and is supported by the latter. A cover 31 rests on shoulders 33. When the carriage is arranged on the left (FIG. 1), there is provision for access to introduce or remove the contact lens L. When it

  is placed on the right, the cover comes into contact with the surface

  face of the liquid above the lens so that the latter is not disturbed when it rests on the column 7 and to give a uniform smooth surface in contact with the liquid in the hollow part 7 for the light transmitted through

  of window 35. A depression 37 provides a means of gripping

  to facilitate sliding of the cover 31 towards the rear

re and forward.

  To use the device, a contact lens is placed

  tact under the surface of the liquid and in contact with surfaces

  a, 25b and 25c and the cover 31 is slid over the

  element 11. The carriage 15 is moved several times backward.

  first and forward then left in the position shown in Figure 3. This allows you to center the lens whatever

  its parameters because, if the lens is off-center before removal

  placement of the carriage 15, it rests in an offset position

  (relative to the horizontal on column 7 while the ele-

  When the element 11 is raised as a result of the movement of the carriage 15, the initial contact with the element 11 will be made with the lower edge of the lens. The continued elevation of element 11 means that one of the surfaces in

  slope 25a, 25b or 25c moves the lens to bring it in line

  axial alignment with column 7. The elevation of element 11

  to move the lens stops as soon as you get the ali-

  the fact that the edge of the lens is in uniform contact

  form with the corresponding part of each surface 25a, 25b and 25c. The passages 27a, 27b and 27c are important in that they prevent the liquid from being trapped under the lens.

  which would float it when the element 11 is lowered.

2l5 A 03644 -4-

Claims (6)

  1- Support for examining a contact lens comprising a column (7) adapted to support a contact lens (L) by its rear face and a container (3,1) adapted to keep the lens (L) immersed in a liquid, characterized in that it comprises universal centering means (15, 11 'facilitating the alignment of the axis of the lens with the axis of the   column regardless of the operator's dexterity.   2- Support according to claim 1, characterized in that said centering means (l5, ll 'comprise an element (11) sliding vertically and having a normal position and an elevated position, said element i1 having an upper end portion extending inward and downward, said upper end portion being spaced from the edge of the lens   (L) when said element (11) is in the normal position and sup-   carrying said lens (L) by its edge when said element (11) is in the raised position.   3- Support according to claim 2, characterized in that   that it further comprises an elongated element (15) mounted to slide   in the container (3,1), said elongated member (15) having an inclined surface (21) near one end and said inclined surface (21) being adapted to lift said member (11) sliding vertically from its normal position towards his high position.   4- Support according to claim 3, characterized in -   that said inclined surface (21) is planar and that said vertically sliding element (11) has a lower part   inclined plane (23) adapted to come into contact with said sur- inclined face (21.   - Support according to claim 4, characterized in that   said elongated element (15) can be actuated manually.   6- Support according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the container (3,1) has a vertical cylindrical inner wall extending coaxially with said column (7) and in that the sliding element (15) has a complementary external wall_ said internal and external walls cooperating to guide said   sliding element (15) along a track (17 'substantially ver-   during the movement between the normal and high positions   vee and said upper part having a frustoconical surface (25).   -5- 7- Support according to claim 6, characterized in that   that said frustoconical surface (25) comprises a series of sizes (29a, 29b, 29c).   8- Support according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a cover adapted to give an inter- smooth optical side with liquid.