JP2003175969A - Contact lens package - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a contact lens package having an improved seal area on a base portion of the contact lens package. <P>SOLUTION: The disposable contact lens package comprises an upper face 16 and a base portion 12 which has a recessed well 14 having an outer perimeter 28 on the upper face 16. The well 14 holds a contact lens therein. The upper face 16 includes a raised seal volume portion 20 surrounding the outer perimeter 28 of the well 14. The raised seal volume portion 20 has a cross-sectional shape which comprises two straight edges crossing a horizontal face at an angle αand an angle β. The angle α and the angle β are in a range of 125° to 170°, independently. The package 10 further comprises a removable lid sheet sealed on the seal volume portion 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a contact lens package, and more particularly, to a disposable contact lens package generally called a blister package. [0002] Soft hydrogel contact lenses are
Its popularity has only grown since its launch in the 1970s. Such a contact lens is conventionally packaged in a state of being hydrated in a storage solution. Currently, many contact lenses are packaged in a disposable plastic blister package with a preservative solution. Examples of blister packages include U.S. Patent Nos. 4,691,820, 5,524,419, 5,578,331, 5,649,410,
And U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,536, which are incorporated herein by reference. The base of the blister package may be part of the original contact lens mold or may be a separately molded base. Examples of packages that use a mold as part of the package are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,036,971,
No. 5,143,660, No. 5,407,062
No. 5,573,108, which are hereby incorporated by reference. In all types of packages described above, the base part, which is part of the original contact lens mold and the separately molded base part, which receives the contact lens and any preservative solution, is an elastic lid sheet. Sealed by. The lid sheet is usually a laminated foil that can be peeled off when removing the contact lens in the base. The lid sheet is sealed against an area surrounding the base portion that receives the contact lens. This sealing area of the base is usually a flat surface area or a raised flat annular surface as disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,722,536. However, there is a problem when sealing, whether it is a raised surface or a flat surface. When forming a blister package by molding, for example, the material may shrink somewhat and the sealing surface may be concave. If there is a low portion or unevenness on the sealing surface, minute bubbles may be formed and poor sealing may occur. If the storage solution used to keep the contact lens hydrated accidentally spills and remains on the sealing surface, the seal between the lid sheet and the base of the package may be poor. [0003] US Patent No. 6,082,533 discloses a method for providing a heat sealing area to solve the above-mentioned problems. The heat-sealing area is formed by a raised annular area, and the upper surface of the annular area is arcuate. The present invention only partially addresses the problem of preservative splattered on the heat-sealed surface of the package. For the design shown in FIG. 3 of the present invention, a wall 220 defining one surface of the raised heat seal area
Intersects the flange surface at an angle of 90 degrees. If the lid sheet is heat-sealed to the package after the preservative has spilled onto the package, a problem may arise because the plastic begins to flow during heat sealing and the preservative is trapped between the wall and the flowing plastic. The trapped preservative may be overheated, creating holes in the plastic of the heat seal or at the seal joint between the molten plastic and the resilient lid sheet. [0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a contact lens package having an improved seal area at the base of the contact lens package. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an improved contact lens package having a base and a concave well in the base for receiving a contact lens. This base can be from 125 degrees to 16 degrees
Includes a raised seal volume with two flat sides that intersect the top surface of the horizontal plane at an angle of 5 degrees. Lid seat (li
dstock) is removably sealed to the raised seal volume of the base. This package is preferably a disposable package. The present invention also provides that the flat sides of the raised seal volume cause the plastic to begin to flow into the raised seal volume during the sealing process and splatter on the top surface of the package containing the raised seal volume. All of the solution is flushed away. Further, according to the present invention, when the lid sheet is heat-sealed to the seal volume of the base portion, the solution is not trapped in the plastic flowing in the seal volume or under the plastic, as described above. In addition, the solution is prevented from overheating in the heat-sealable plastic and / or in the joint between the heat-sealable plastic and the resilient lid sheet, thereby preventing the grooves from bursting. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a disposable plastic blister package used to package a contact lens. In particular, as shown in FIG. 1, the package 10 includes a support base 12 having a concave well region 14 for receiving and holding a contact lens (not shown). Generally, contact lenses are packaged in well region 14 with a preservative such as buffered saline. Package 10 may be molded from polypropylene, polystyrene, or a similar plastic. The base 12 includes a flange 15 having an upper surface 16. A flange 15 is present around the well region 14 and surrounds the well region 14. As shown, the flange 15 further includes a raised seal volume 20 surrounding an outer periphery 28 according to the contour of the well 14 on the upper surface 16. Typically, a contact lens is introduced into a well 14 containing a predetermined amount of a preservative solution, and is typically covered by a lid sheet so as to cover at least the raised seal volume 20 or substantially the entire top surface 16. Is heat-sealed and attached to the raised seal volume 20 to form a package 1
The contact lens is hermetically sealed in the 0 well 14. The shape of the package 10, base 12, well 14, and raised seal volume 20 may take any form as long as the package 10 includes the elements of the raised volume claimed. FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the package 10 of FIG. 1 along line 2-2 of FIG. As shown, the raised seal volume 20 has two straight sides, a first flat side, a straight side 21, and a second flat side, a straight side 22. including. These straight sides correspond to the raised seal volume 20.
Are connected by a tip, that is, a round portion 23 at the highest position. The first straight side 21 is close to the well 14 and the second straight side is far from the well 14. The first straight side 21 intersects the well 14 at a corner 27 that defines an outer periphery 28. The corner 27 may be rounded or may have any other desired shape. The angle α of the base of the straight side 21 is defined by the intersection of the straight side 21 and the horizontal plane P as shown. If the package is mounted on a flat surface, the horizontal plane P
Is parallel to the well opening. Most packages have
A support 29 and other support structures are provided. Is preferably between 125 and 170 degrees, more preferably between 135 and 165 degrees, more preferably between 145 and 165 degrees, most preferably between 1 and 165 degrees.
55 degrees to 165 degrees. The second straight side 22 is
It intersects the upper surface 16 of the flange at an angle β. However, when the flange 15 is not a horizontal plane, the angle β is an angle defined by the intersection of the straight side 22 and the horizontal plane P. Is preferably between 125 and 170 degrees, more preferably between 135 and 165 degrees, more preferably between 145 and 165 degrees, and most preferably between 155 and 165 degrees. The straight sides have lengths D and E, respectively, which are preferably 0.10 mm to 0.65 mm, more preferably 0.14 mm to 0.45 mm, and most preferably 0.18 mm. To 0.25 mm. The overall width A of the raised seal volume 20 is preferably between 1.16 mm and 2.30 mm, more preferably between 1.22 mm and 1.85 mm, and most preferably between 1.34 mm and 1.56 mm. The overall height B of the raised seal volume 20 is preferably between 0.1 mm and 0.3 mm, more preferably between 0.12 mm and 0.24 mm, and most preferably between 0.14 mm and 0.16 mm. The straight sides 21 and 22 are mirror images of each other, but need not necessarily be mirror images as long as the straight sides are part of the raised seal volume 20. The angles α and β are also mirror images of each other, but need not necessarily be mirror images as long as both angles are within a predetermined range of each other. The lengths D and E and the angles α and β are within the design of the package,
Depending on the position of the raised seal volume 20 with respect to other structures, it may be of various lengths and angles, each of which may be different from each other. As shown, in a preferred embodiment, the flange extends beyond the seal volume away from the well, but with the outer edge of the flange not exceeding the seal volume. You can also. An alternative embodiment of the package of the present invention is shown in FIGS. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the package, and FIG. 4 is a view of the package 1 taken along line 4-4 in FIG.
0 is an enlarged sectional view of a part of FIG. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the raised volume 20 of the package is located at a distance C between the perimeter of the well 14 and the nearest surface of its sealing volume 20 closer to the well 14. It is provided in. The distance C is such that the raised volume does not have to coincide with the outer periphery of the well, or does not have to follow at all,
It depends on the package design. The distance C is preferably 0 to 6 mm, more preferably 1 to 5 mm
And most preferably 2 mm to 5 mm. Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the raised volume 20 has a rounded upper surface 43 adjacent to and located between the straight sides 21 and 22. Round top surface 4
The radius of 3 is preferably between 1.0 mm and 10.0 mm, more preferably between 1.5 mm and 6.0 mm, and most preferably between 2.0 mm and 5.0 mm.
The width F of the round upper surface 43 is preferably 0.50 mm to 2.0 mm, and more preferably 0.5 mm to 1.
5 mm, most preferably 0.5 mm to 1.0 m
m. The alternative structure of this embodiment is similar to that of the previous embodiment, ie, the angle, side length, heat seal width, and seal volume height. In the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the molten plastic in the raised seal volume flows and does not form a rough surface adjacent to, above, or in the well. Thus, the distance C exists. Therefore, when the contact lens is taken out from the concave well, the contact lens is not damaged. However, in the present invention, if appropriate sealing conditions and materials are used, it is also possible to increase the length D of the side surface 21 to provide a raised seal volume close to the well. [0013] Various modifications and variations of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the above disclosure. Therefore, it can be understood that the present invention can be implemented in a form different from the above-described embodiment within the scope of the present invention. The embodiments of the present invention are as follows. (1) each of the two linear sides is independently
The contact lens package according to claim 1, having a length in the range of 0.1 mm to 0.65 mm. (2) The overall width of the raised seal volume is 1.16 mm
The contact lens package according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the contact lens package is in a range from about 2.3 mm to about 2.3 mm. 3. The contact lens package according to claim 1, wherein a distance of the raised seal volume from the outer periphery of the well is 0 to 6 mm. 4. The contact lens package according to claim 1, wherein the height of the raised seal volume from the flange is 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm. (5) The contact lens package according to claim 1, wherein the angles α and β are independently in a range of 145 degrees to 165 degrees. (6) The contact lens package according to claim 1, wherein the angles α and β are individually in the range of 155 to 165 degrees. (7) The contact lens package according to claim 1, wherein a distance of the raised seal volume from the outer periphery of the well is 1 mm to 5 mm. (8) The contact lens package according to embodiment (5), wherein a distance between the raised seal volume and the outer periphery of the well is 1 mm to 5 mm. (9) The contact lens package according to claim 1, wherein the height of the raised seal volume from the flange is 0.12 mm to 0.24 mm. (10) The contact lens package according to the embodiment (5), wherein the height of the raised seal volume from the flange is 0.12 mm to 0.24 mm. (11) The contact lens package according to the embodiment (6), wherein the height of the raised seal volume from the flange is 0.12 mm to 0.24 mm. (12) The contact lens package according to claim 1, wherein the height of the raised seal volume from the flange is 0.14 mm to 0.16 mm. (13) The contact lens package according to the embodiment (5), wherein the height of the raised seal volume from the flange is 0.14 mm to 0.16 mm. (14) The contact lens package according to embodiment (6), wherein the height of the raised seal volume from the flange is 0.14 mm to 0.16 mm. (15) Each of the two linear sides is independently
The contact lens package of claim 14, having a length in the range of 0.1 mm to 0.65 mm. (16) The contact lens package according to the mode (14), wherein the whole width of the raised seal volume is 1.16 mm to 2.3 mm. (17) The contact lens package according to claim 1, further comprising a round surface extending from the two linear sides. (18) The contact lens package according to the embodiment (17), wherein the radius of the round surface is in a range of 1 mm to 10 mm. (19) The contact lens package according to (16), further including a round surface between both sides of the linear shape, wherein the radius of the round surface is 1.5 mm to 6 mm. According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a contact lens package having an improved sealing area at the base of the contact lens package.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a package before a heat seal lid sheet is attached to a contact lens package of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the seal area of the package of FIG. 1, including a view showing details of the seal volume, taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the contact lens package of the present invention before the heat seal is applied to the package. FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the seal area of the package of FIG. 3, including a view showing details of the seal volume, taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3; [Description of Signs] 10 Package 12 Base portion 14 Well 15 Flange 16 Upper surface 28 Outer periphery 29 Support

Continuation of front page    (72) Inventor Dualte Mark Allan             The United States, 32257 Florida, The             Jacksonville, Cornelia Drive             3128 F-term (reference) 2H006 BC00 DA00                 3E067 AA13 AB99 AC01 BA15A                       BB16A BC04A CA24 EA06                       EA29 EB27 EC08 FA01 FB02                       FC01 GA23

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. A disposable contact lens package, comprising: a base portion having an upper surface and a concave well having an outer periphery on the upper surface, the well holding the contact lens therein. Wherein the top surface includes a raised seal volume surrounding the outer periphery of the concave well, wherein the raised seal volume comprises:
Each having a cross-sectional shape including two linear sides intersecting the horizontal plane at angles α and β, wherein the angles α and β each independently range from 125 to 170 degrees, and the package further comprises A contact lens package comprising a removable lid sheet sealed to said seal volume.