JP2003532590A - Articles with stackable containers - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: An article comprising at least two stackable containers each capable of holding an eye device (8), each of the stackable containers (1) receiving an eye device (8). It comprises a container part (2), a first part (4) with engaging means (6), and a second part (5) with engaging means, one of said stackable containers (1). Since the first part (4) of the stackable container (1) can be operatively engaged with the second part (5) of another or other stackable container (1), each said stackable container (1) Articles which can be releasably connected by respective first and second parts (5).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to an article comprising at least two stackable containers, each of which may contain an eyeball device. The invention also relates to a stackable container for use in such articles.

For many years, contact lenses have been substituted for spectacles to correct incomplete human vision.

Until recently, patients have worn a pair of lenses that can be used repeatedly (one in each eye) because of their high cost. In order to maintain the hygiene of such repetitively used lenses, the user has to purchase and apply a large number of cleaning products. This is inconvenient for the user both in terms of cost and time required. If the lens is not properly cleaned, bacteria can propagate and damage the lens, irritating or even damaging it.

Because of the above problems, “single use” or “daily disposable (d
There is a desire for "aily disposable)" contact lenses. As the name implies, these lenses are used in a short period of time and then disposed of. The user then uses a new pair of lenses. , The need to clean contact lenses can be avoided.

As will be appreciated, by using daily disposable contact lenses instead of reusing one lens for as long as a year, the user can get the two or four lenses previously needed. In contrast, it requires hundreds of lenses.

For the reasons mentioned above, any lens worn on the eye must be substantially free of bacterial contamination. Therefore, it is a problem in the industry to provide a package for supplying a large number of lenses necessary for daily use so as to minimize the possibility of bacterial contamination and the cost of packaging. Came. The cost of the packaging accounts for a significant portion of the cost of manufacturing the lens and providing it to the user. In order to make daily disposable lenses attractive to consumers, it is important to minimize the cost of the lenses.

The prior art has addressed these issues by providing lenses packaged in “blister packaging”. Such packages are used for lenses commercially available from Vistakon, Bausch & Lomb (B & L) and Civa Vision.

This type of prior art packaging has been simplified by Award plc (a subsidiary of Bausch & Lomb) by using a lens mold as the basis for a blister package, while reducing the cost to it. .

However, blister packages have many disadvantages. In particular, it is extremely bulky--some lenses may be housed in packs of a manageable size.

Furthermore, for economy, the blister package is manufactured in strips and packaged in a box as several strips. Thus individual lenses cannot be delivered without breaking the overall package of the box or cutting a single strip. Cutting the strip can damage the blister package and cause bacterial contamination. In addition, blister packages can be difficult to open as desired. At the same time as the seal of the pack is peeled off, the lens or the fluid in which the lens is immersed may escape from the pack. Furthermore, the merchant is very reluctant to sell a small number of lenses from such a pack, as the rest of the pack is then unsellable.

The present invention contemplates overcoming the problems associated with blister packaging, and in particular contact lens packaging.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an article comprising at least two stackable containers each capable of holding an eyeball device, each stackable container housing an eyeball device. A container part, a first part having engaging means and a second part having engaging means, wherein the first part of one stackable container of the stackable containers is another or another stackable An article capable of being operatively engaged with a second portion of the container such that each stackable container is releasably couplable by means of a respective first and second portion,
Will be provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the container comprises a container part for accommodating an eyeball device, a first part having engaging means, and a second part having engaging means. Prepare,
A container for use in an article as described above is provided.

The present invention is preferred because it overcomes the above mentioned problems with the prior art. The article provides, among other things, a densely packed storage location for ocular devices contained within the article.

Further, one or more containers may be removed and supplied. This second feature is very suitable because it allows the supplier to supply a small quantity of lenses, even when housing a plurality of contact lenses, for example. The vendor may supply several or indeed a single lens or a pair of lenses for trial use, for example to a new user or a user who is considering a change to a new type or brand of lens. Alternatively, the vendor may contemplate supplying a small number of lenses for special use, such as tinted lenses on sunny days. This is in contrast to prior art packages.

[0016]   In a preferred embodiment, the ocular device is a contact lens.   Suitably, the second portion of the container is spaced from the first portion.   Suitably, the first portion of the container is the top of the container.   Suitably, the second portion of the container is the bottom of the container.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention said first and / or second part of said container comprises a protrusion or a raised part. This allows a tight joint between at least two stackable containers. Alternative preferred embodiment means are provided to allow a twist fit or a snug fit between at least two stackable containers. In a further preferred embodiment said first and second parts are provided such that a slip joint is obtained between at least two stackable containers.

In the preferred embodiment, the wall of the container provides a shoulder. The shoulder can then be engaged with the inner surface of the wall of a similar container to provide a releasable connection between the two containers.

In the preferred embodiment, the stackable container is substantially cylindrical. This has the advantage that each container can be stacked without setting the container orientation prior to the releasable bond.

In a further preferred embodiment, the wall of the container extends over at least one end face of the container to form the container portion for housing the ocular device.

[0021]   Suitably, the container portion containing the ocular device is concave.

In a further preferred embodiment, the container comprises at least one ridge. If the container is substantially cylindrical, the ridge may be annular. Deployment of such ridges increases the rigidity of the container.

The container may be formed of any suitable material. Such materials are well known in the packaging industry. In the preferred embodiment, the container is formed from polycarbonate, polysulfone or polypropylene. In a more preferred embodiment, the container is made of polypropylene. This material is easy to handle, easy to obtain and inexpensive.

The material should be selected to withstand the conditions to which the container is exposed.
For example, when the container is to be sterilized by heating, the material must be selected to withstand the temperatures to which it is exposed. Suitably, the material is at a temperature above about 80 ° C,
More preferably it must withstand temperatures above about 100 ° C, more preferably above about 120 ° C.

[0025]   In the preferred embodiment, the container is formed by injection molding.

In a further preferred embodiment, the container part of the container is sealed. More preferably, the container portion is sealed with a metal foil or metal foil / polymer laminate or polymer.

In a preferred embodiment, the stackable container of the invention, or at least the top stackable container of the article of the invention, has a cover capable of sealing the container portion.
More preferably, each of the containers of the article of the present invention comprises a cover. Suitably the cover is formed from a polymer, a metal foil or a laminate thereof.

The one stackable container may include two contact lenses for each of the user's left and right eyes.

The container may have a mark indicating which eye is used for the lens it contains. This is particularly useful when the eyes of the user require different degrees of correction.

In a preferred embodiment, the container is provided with an indentation that allows an object such as a claw to be inserted between the releasably coupled container and any container. This allows each container to be easily separated.

Suitably, the article according to the invention comprises two or more stackable containers arranged in a stack. In a more preferred embodiment, the article of the present invention comprises at least 5 in a laminate,
Preferably at least 15 and more preferably at least 30 are provided. In this preferred embodiment, the first portion of one stackable container operatively engages the second portion of an adjacent stackable container.

In the preferred embodiment, the articles of the present invention are "shrink wrapped", but methods of achieving this packaging are well known in the art. In this preferred embodiment, the packaging is perforated for repeated container increments to aid container separation. The increments may be 30, 24, 20, 14, 14, 10, 7, 5, 2 or 1 containers, or combinations thereof.

In certain embodiments, the container may allow for inspection of an ophthalmic device contained therein, in particular automated inspection. Suitably in the example, the container portion is transparent to visible light. More preferably, any cover on the container is transparent to visible light. More preferably, both the container part and any cover are transparent to visible light.

The present invention is alternatively an article comprising at least two stackable containers, each container having a cavity suitable for containing an ophthalmic device and a resistance to at least one other container. And a surface for removable engagement.

A further embodiment of the present invention alternatively comprises a cavity suitable for housing an ophthalmic device and a surface for resistive and removable engagement with a similar container in use. Stackable container.

A further embodiment of the present invention alternatively comprises a cavity suitable for housing an ophthalmic device and a surface for resistive and removable engagement with a similar container in use. Stackable contact lens container.

[0037]   The present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a container 1 according to the invention. The container comprises a container part 2 and a first part which is an annular ridge or shoulder 3 for operative engagement with a similar container.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a container similar to that of FIG. The first part 4 and the second part 5 of the container can be clearly understood. The container also has certain additional preferred features. It is a projection 6 that provides and / or strengthens a releasable connection with a similar container.
, And a recess 7 which aids in the separation of the container from similar containers to which it may be attached.

FIG. 3 is a cross section of a container similar to that of FIG. The container part 2 and the shoulder 3 are visible.

FIG. 4 shows a container similar to that of FIG. The container has six protrusions 6 which are separated by about 60 °.

[0042]   FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the protrusion 6 of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a container similar to the container of FIG. The container has four protrusions 6 which are separated by about 90 °.

FIG. 7 shows a container in which the eyeball device, particularly the contact lens 8, is housed in the container portion 2.

FIG. 8 is an article 8 comprising five containers in stacked form. The first part 4 of each container other than the container at the top of the article is operatively engaged with the second part 5 of another container. Similarly, the second portion 5 of each container other than the container at the bottom of the article is operatively engaged with the first portion 4 of another container. Recesses 7 are provided to assist in separating each container.

[0046]   FIG. 9 is an article comprising 30 containers in laminated form.

Example A container was prepared by providing a mold (not shown) defining a cavity having the shape of the container of FIG. The mold was filled with polypropylene using known injection molding techniques. The molded container was removed from the mold.

[0048]   This process was repeated several times to prepare multiple containers.

A contact lens was placed in the container portion of each container, and a predetermined volume of sterile liquid of the type commonly used for contact lens storage was provided in the container portion.

Next, a releasable metal foil / polymer laminate sheet was adhered to the periphery of the container portion of each container to seal the contact lens and solution in each container.

Each container was then laminated with the first portion of each container engaging the second portion of the adjacent container, or vice versa.

[0052]   Other modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

[Brief description of drawings]   FIG. 1 shows a container according to the present invention.   FIG. 2 is a container according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.   FIG. 3 is a cross section of a container according to the present invention.   FIG. 4 is a container according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.   FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the preferred features of the present invention.   FIG. 6 is a container according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.   FIG. 7 is a container according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.   FIG. 8 shows an article according to the present invention.   FIG. 9 is an article according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (81) Designated countries EP (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, I T, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE), OA (BF, BJ , CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG), AP (GH, GM, K E, LS, MW, SD, SZ, UG, ZW), EA (AM , AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM) , AL, AM, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR, BY, CA, CH, CN, CU, CZ, DE, D K, EE, ES, FI, GB, GE, GH, GM, HR , HU, ID, IL, IS, JP, KE, KG, KP, KR, KZ, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, L V, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, NO, NZ , PL, PT, RO, RU, SD, SE, SG, SI, SK, SL, TJ, TM, TR, TT, UA, UG, U S, UZ, VN, YU, ZW

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. An article comprising at least two stackable containers each capable of holding an eyeball device, each stackable container having a container portion for containing the eyeball device, and an engagement means. One portion and a second portion having engaging means, wherein the first portion of one of the stackable containers is operatively engaged with the second portion of another or another stackable container. As such, each stackable container is releasably couplable by means of its respective first and second parts. 2. The article of claim 1, wherein the container portion is sealed. 3. The article of claim 1 or 2 wherein the releasable bond is provided or enhanced by a protrusion on the first or second portion. 4. The article of any of the preceding claims, wherein the container is substantially cylindrical. 5. Article according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the container comprises at least one annular ridge. 6. Article according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the container is molded from polypropylene. 7. Article according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the container is molded by injection molding. 8. An article according to any of the preceding claims, wherein one or more, and preferably all, of the stackable containers have an ophthalmic device within each container portion. 9. The article of any of the preceding claims, wherein the ocular device is a contact lens. 10. An article according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the containers are in a stacked arrangement (form). 11. The container comprises:   A container portion for receiving the ocular device,   A first portion having engagement means,   A second portion having engaging means,   A container for use in an article according to any of the preceding claims, comprising: 12. The container of claim 10, wherein each container has an ocular device. 13. An article or container substantially as described herein with respect to any of the accompanying drawings.