MXPA96004424A - Packing disposal for conta lenses - Google Patents

Abstract

A packing arrangement for containing in a bubble pack less than hydrophilic contact lens in a sterile aqueous solution is described. The incorporation of support structure in the form of rigid channel or wall elements in flanges of the base members of the bubble packets is provided to facilitate an improved bonding between the base members of the packages accommodating contact lenses and a flexible cover used for the adjustment of the seal with the base members while incorporating additional strength to the structures of the bubble pack

Description

PACKING DISPOSAL FOR CONTACT LENSES DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a packaging arrangement for containing at least one hydrophilic contact lens in a sterile aqueous solution. More specifically, the invention pertains to a packaging arrangement for containing a plurality of disposable hydrophilic contact lenses in a specific number of individual packet distributions in the form of bubble packets which are adapted to collectively reside in a structure. of acceptable receptacle, such as a container in the form of a box or carton so as to provide a specific or essentially indispensable supply of contact lenses for use by the consumer after a predetermined period. In particular, the invention is directed to the aspect of incorporating support structure in the form of rigid ribs or corrugated wall elements to flanges of base members to facilitate an improved bonding between the base members of the bubble packages that house contact lenses. , and a flexible cover used for the adjustment of the seal with the base members while incorporating additional strength to the structures of the bubble package. Packaging of hydrophilic contact lenses in a sterile aqueous solution is well known in contact lens manufacturing technology. In particular, such packaging distributions often consist of so-called bubble packages which are used for the storage and distribution of hydrophilic contact lenses by a medical practitioner or consumer who attempts to use contact lenses. Generally, such hydrophobic contact lenses, which may be disposable after use only once or after short term use, are manufactured from suitable hydrophilic polymeric materials. These materials may be, inter alia, hydroxyethyl ethacrylate (HEMA) copolymers containing from 20% to 90% or more of water, depending on the composition of the polymer. Ordinarily, such contact lenses should be stored in a sterile aqueous solution that usually consists of an isotonic saline solution, in order to prevent dehydration and to maintain the lenses in the condition of being ready for use. In the past, contact lens manufacturers normally used capped glass bottles containing sterile saline within which contact lenses were immersed as storage and shipping containers for individual contact lenses. Each bottle was sealed with a suitable silicone plug and was provided with a metal closure or a safety seal in the form of a hood. When trying to remove the contact lens from the bottle for the use of a patient, it was required to remove the metal safety seal from the bottle, after that, remove the silicone stopper and remove the lens from the bottle through the intermediate of suitable plastic clips or pour the contents. This caused the need to implement an extremely complicated procedure, since the contact lens was difficult to grasp and remove from the saline contained in the bottle due to the transparent nature of the contact lens which made it practically invisible or at least extremely difficult to discover, to the human eye. More recently, containers have been developed in the form of bubble packs for hydrophobic contact lenses, which allow the storage and shipping of contact lenses in a conveniently simple and inexpensive manner, while concurrently facilitating easy lens removal. of contact by a medical practitioner or a patient. For example, a bubble pack that is adapted to provide a sealed sterile storage environment for a disposable or disposable hydrophilic contact lens, wherein the lens is immersed in a sterile aqueous solution.; for example, such as in an isotonic saline solution, is described in the US patent. No. 4,691,620 granted to Martinez. Thus, in the patent of E.U.A. of Martinez mentioned above, the bubble pack for storing and distributing a hydrophilic contact lens includes an injection molded or heat formed plastic base member that incorporates a molded cavity which is surrounded by a flat projecting flange approximatively the edge of the cavity. A flexible cover is adhered to the surface of the flange to thus seal the cavity in a generally liquid-tight manner. Within the cavity of the base portion, a hydrophilic contact lens is immersed in a sterile aqueous solution, such as an isotonic saline solution. A portion of the side wall of the cavity is tilted to form a ramp that extends upward toward the flange from the bottom of the cavity, and the cover sheet is adapted to be detached from the flange in order to expose the cavity and the inclined side wall thereof on which the lens can be manually removed in a simple manner by unlocking it upwards and outwards from the cavity along the inclined ramp surface of the cavity. Other embodiments of bubble packages have the lens-containing cavity shaped to be an essentially hemispherical configuration to which its dimension is set to adapt to closely support the contact lens while it is immersed in an aqueous solution, for ease of removal and also to facilitate an inspection procedure. Moreover, the above constructions primarily consider the use of such bubble packs for the distribution of individual contact lenses, with such bubble packs being ordinarily separated or individual packages or interconnected sets of bubble packs which could be accommodated in larger quantities in other containers, such as a hard cardboard carton or construction carton of usual construction as used for the retail sale of the lenses; or possibly be wrapped by a plastic film. It is an important commercial aspect to be able to provide a user with such disposable hydrophobic contact lenses with a specific supply of contact lenses, the latter of which is normally used only for one day; in essence, during fi lfi hours ordinarily within a period of 24 hours and then discarded. Hence, the packaging of a supply of contact lenses should allow the user to store and provide indication to refill the supply of contact lenses at regular intervals; for example, to periods of 5, 10, 15, 30 days or even longer. Accordingly, provision is made during packing distributions including specified amounts of such hydrophilic contact lenses contained in bubble packs, such as being appropriately interconnected or freely placed assemblies, wherein these packing distributions are adapted to be stored in a packaging box. The carton allows a rapid and accurate determination of the amount of hydrophilic contact lenses contained therein, and with such packing distributions being of a compact nature which is completely protective of the hydrophobic lenses. The present invention is directed to a packaging arrangement for the sealed containment of at least one hydrophilic contact lens in a sterile aqueous solution, characterized in that it comprises: (a) at least one plastic base member molded by injection or formed by heat incorporating having a cavity for containing a contact lens submerged in said solution, said base member including a flat flange extending outward approximately at the periphery of the outer edge of said cavity, said cavity consisting of a slit extending from the plane of the upper surface of said flange, a dependent wall projecting downward from a bottom surface of said flange closely inward of the edges of the periphery of said flange and extending approximately in the last portions of the periphery of said flange; and (b) a flexible cover sheet superimposed on said base member and its dimension set to be removably sealed toward the upper surface areas of said flange to close sealant between said cavity. The present invention further relates to a packaging arrangement for the sealed container of at least one hydrophilic contact lens in a sterile aqueous solution; the improvement comprising at least one base member of injection molded plastic or formed by heat incorporating having a cavity for containing a contact lens submerged in said solution, said base member including a flat flange extending outward approximately in the periphery of the outer edge of said cavity, said cavity consisting of a slit extending from the plane of the upper surface of said flange and a dependent wall projecting downward from a bottom surface of said flange and extending approximately in the last portions of the periphery of said tab. In essence, the inventive concept refers to packaging distributions in which each of the bubble packages has a base member made of injection molded plastic or formed by heat which has a cavity containing respectively a contact lens hydrophilic in a sterile aqueous solution. A specified amount of such bubble packs may be the ßbase members thereof each containing a contact lens placed in a contiguous array, and is initially covered by a preferably, but not necessarily, single flexible cover sheet which may be constituted of laminated sheet or other materials, such as Metallized PET, PC to improve the barrier properties, or a suitable clear plastic laminate layer including a silicone oxide barrier to provide the barrier properties against the transmission therethrough of oxygen, water, bacteria or the like, with In order to provide a sealed environment for each of the contact lenses contained in the cavity formed in each base member. The flexible cover sheet may have a dimension made to cover a single base member and provide a single packing arrangement, or, in an alternative concept, may be in the form of strips by means of which the associated arrangements or members of The base plates are interconnected detachably to allow distribution of individual bubble packs each containing one of the hydrophilic contact lenses as the user may require. In particular, a plurality of such sets of packing arrangements for contact lenses, in sets or individual bubble packs, are adapted to be distributed in one or more containers. Each of the base members of the bubble packages may possess a preferably substantially rectangular projecting flap encompassing a respective contact lens receiving cavity formed therein, the latter of which may be misaligned towards one end of the flange, and with the flange incorporating an integral support structure by formulating the rigidly enhanced force and compact packing arrangements such that the cavities containing the hydrophilic contact lenses of overlapping assemblies are substantially protected against potentially harmful external influences, such as shocks or impacts which can be imparted to them during their handling. Each molded plastic base member of a foamed pack can be constituted from an injection molded or heat formed thermoplastic material, such as, for example, polypropylene, PET. PC and other thermoplastic materials; while the flexible cover sheet can be constituted by a sheet or a clear plastic laminate incorporating a barrier material, such as aluminum sheet or silicone oxide as mentioned above, properly printed and which is adapted to be heat sealed the flange of the base member extending through the cavity containing the hydrophilic contact lens in a sterile aqueous solution. The multilayer laminate sheet includes an outer layer of a plastic film material of a suitable polyolefin, preferably but not necessarily polyester, which is adhesively bonded to the surface of a metal support sheet, which may consist of aluminum and which prints the outer layer on both sides; indeed, on both opposite surfaces thereof. The surface of the outer layer of plastic film which faces towards and sticks to the metal sheet, is printed with signs and legends that may consist of permanent information concerning the manufacturer and the product, logos, instructional material, and decorative signs and of advertising relating to the product inside the fluffed package; while the opposite surface of the outer layer of the plastic film material may include suitable exchangeable information, such as expiration dates, lot numbers, adjustment parameters and other data specific to the packaged product. The inner surface of the outer layer of plastic film material can be printed through the appropriate lithographic printing intermediate, either in one color or several colors and also provided with an appropriate printed background; while the product-specific changeable information which is printed on specific areas of the surface that it sees out of the outer layer of film, can be printed on it through thermal transfer printing. Adhered to the opposite surface of the metal sheet is a layer of plastic film made of polypropylene, which is adapted to be adhesively sealed to the base member of the foamed pack, which is also made of a compatible composition of polypropylene.

In order to achieve a stiffening or reinforcing effect for the base member, the base member as described below is equipped with a peripheral rib or wall portions extending downward, depending on the flange, thereby The rib or reinforcing walls may comprise a continuous continuous wall extending along at least a large extension of the surface of the flange. This, in essence, effect of rigidity or reinforcement produced thus allows the base member to be substantially stiffened or strengthened against deflection or distortion and allow proper application of a heat seal union of the flexible cover sheet thereto, thereby ensuring in this way a suitable sealing of the contents of the cavity, in effect, the contact lens that is immersed in the sterile aqueous solutions. The rib or the dependent wall portions, or in essence, the dependent wall, can also serve as a location structure for the handling and / or manufacturing processes. According to a specific aspect of the invention, the base member is provided with a raised flange surface portion encompassing the contact lens receiving cavity to ensure that at least the cavity is properly sealed by the flexible cover sheet , while allowing the remaining portions of the flexible cover sheet which comes into contact with the surface areas of the flange which are located in an outward direction to be selectively sealed thereto or only to be freely placed on it in various places for providing a structure that can be adjusted to the fingers which facilitates a user to detach and detach the flexible cover sheet from the base member when looking for access to the contact lens which is contained in the cavity of the base member. Although the above is described with respect to the bubble packs each having a base member containing a hydrophilic contact lens in a cavity ordinarily isospheric, the inventive structure is equally applicable to the bubble packs with base members having a cavity with a generally rectangular configuration with a ramp surface with an upward inclination as described in the US patent No. 4,691,620, issued to Martinez previously mentioned. In accordance with the present invention, it is also possible to form a peripheral groove in the edge portion of the flange surface which extends along a portion of the rectangular boundaries of the base member and forms a rigid structure, while allowing concurrently that the material of the flexible cover sheet is pressed to adjust with the peripheral groove, thereby forming a sealing connection with the base member. Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a novel construction of base members for bubble packages containing a cavity housing a hydrophilic contact lens immersed in an aqueous solution, wherein a rigid or reinforcing dependent wall portion extends. downward from a flange of the base member along at least a portion of the peripheral extension thereof. The present invention can also provide the attachment of a flexible cover sheet to a flange portion of a base member for a foamed pack by effecting a sealing fit between the flexible cover sheet material and a raised surface structure. in the portion of the flange of the base member for sealingly sealing a contact lens receiving cavity in the base member. Reference may now be had to the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, taken in conjunction with the appended drawings; wherein: Figure 1 illustrates a top plan view of a first embodiment of a base member for a foamed pack according to the present invention; Figure 2 illustrates a bottom view of the base member of Figure 1; Figure 3 illustrates a sectional view of the base member taken along the line 3-3 in Figure 1; Figure 4 illustrates a fragmentary enclosed view of the portion A enclosed in a circle in Figure 3; Figure 5 illustrates a top plan view of a second embodiment of a base member for a foamed pack according to the present invention; Figure 6 illustrates a bottom view of the base member of Figure 5; Figure 7 illustrates a sectional view of the base member taken along line 7-7 in Figure 5; Figure fi illustrates a fragmentary enclosed view of portion A enclosed in a circle in Figure 7; Figure 9 illustrates a fragmentary enclosed view of the portion B enclosed in a circle in Figure 7; Figure 10 illustrates a top plan view of a third embodiment of a base member for a foamed pack according to the present invention; Figure 11 illustrates a bottom view of the base member of Figure 10; Figure 12 illustrates a sectional view of the base member taken along line 12-12 in Figure 10; and Figure 13 illustrates a fragmentary enclosed view of the portion A enclosed in a circle in Figure 12; Referring now in specific detail to the first embodiment of a foamed package construction, particul as shown in Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a top plan view of a base member 10 which is constituted preferably an injection molded or heat formed plastic material such as polypropylene. The base member 10 includes a flat, substantially rectangular flange 12 having elongated parallel side edges 14 and end edges 16, and by means of which the generally rectangular flange 12 can have rounded end corners lfi as shown, although these corners of lfi ends can also easily have sharp or bevelled configuration. As illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, a cavity 20 is formed to receive a single contact lens (not shown) in a sterile saline solution in the flange 12, by means of which the cavity may possess a configuration generally hemispherical, and is misaligned towards an end edge 16 of the flat flange 12, although equidistant or centered between the side edges 14. A raised surface portion 22 of the upper flat surface 24 of the flange 12 surrounds the cavity 20, with an inner edge 26 of the surface portion 22 being at a small distance radially outwardly thereof to form an elevated or slightly convex annular planar surface relative to the upper planar surface 24 remaining of the flange 12. Extending downwards from of the lower surface 2fi of the rectangular flange 12 and misaligned closely inward with respect to the peripheral edges 14, 16 thereof, is a rib or dependent wall structure which extends continuously within the complete parameter of the rectangular flange 12. The dependent wall or rib structure 30, which is formed integrally with the flange 12, is essentially an element of stiffness or strength for the base member extending through the cavity 20. Moreover, the dependent wall or rib structure may serve as a location feature during the handling and / or manufacture of the foamed package. In addition, the lower surface 26 of the flange 12 extending through the cavity can be provided with a small annular groove 34 below the raised surface portion 22 which can impart some degree of flexibility to the flange 12 relative to the cavity containing the contact lens. A flexible cover sheet 36, shown in faded lines, which may be a laminated clear sheet or plastic such as described in the copending applications referred to in the present invention, may be adhesively bonded or heat sealed to regions of the upper surface 24 of the flange and the raised surface portion 22 for sealing the contact lens in the cavity 20, and can be heat sealed in a convenient manner to different upper surface areas of the flange 12. For example, an edge of the flexible cover sheet 36 which extends towards one of the edges of the ends 14, 16 of the flange 12 adjacent the cavity 20, may be positioned freely external to the circumferential raised surface 22 to provide a finger gripping portion for the user attempting to detach the flexible cover sheet from the base member 10 while allowing a the essentially handle-shaped remnant portion of the flange 12 formed between the cavity 20 and the edge of the distal end 16, as shown in Figure 3, is handled by the user while the flexible cover sheet 36 is detached from the cavity 20. allowing with this the access to the content of the interior; in effect, the contact lens. With respect to the second embodiment of a base member 40, as illustrated in Figures 5 to 9 of the drawings, in which elements that are similar to or identical with those of Figures 1-4 are identified by the same numerals of reference, in this case a generally flat and rectangular flange 12 of base member 40 has a cavity 42 for receiving a misaligned contact lens towards an end 16 thereof, while centering between the side edges 14. The cavity 42 has a configuration by means of an upper portion 44 thereof extending on the upper flat surface 24 of the flange 12 which is generally a funnel-shaped ring or truncated cone that is widened upwards which at its lower end 46 becomes in a curvilinear or hemispherical background 46. This can help to make the removal of the contact lens easier by a user. As in the previous embodiment of Figures 1 to 4, the lens receiving cavity 42 is at its upper end and is enclosed by a raised annular surface portion 22 extending over the upper flat surface 24 of the flange 12 and whereby the flexible cover sheet 36 can be adhesively heat sealed to seal the cavity 42 while it is also sealed to several other top surface portions of the flange 12. As illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, in FIG. this embodiment extending inward of and close to the side edges 14 and the edge of the end 16 which is remote from the cavity 42, is the grooved opening 4fi in the upper flat surface 24 of the flange 12 so that a "U" is defined in which the legs thereof end close to the outside of the cavity 42. In the cross section, as shown in the elongated fragmentary detail in Fig. ura 9, which represents the part "B" enclosed in Figure 7, the grooved opening 4fi has a "U" shape that extends downward, so that the structure thereof forms a reinforcing or stiffening wall element for the base member 40. If desired, portions of the cover sheet 36 may be pushed, when it is superimposed and adhesively or heat sealablely secured to the flange 12, within the U-shaped grooved opening 46 extending to along the three sides of the flange, the opposite end where the cover sheet 36 can extend beyond the raised annular surface portion 22 enclosing the cavity 42 can be loosely placed on the flange 12 to provide a grip end for the fingers and thus assist the user in detaching the flexible cover sheet 36 from the base member 40. The raised annular surface 22, as shown in the insert A of Figure 7 and in elongated detail in Figure 6 of the Draw It may have a flat or slightly convex surface on the remaining upper surface 24 of the flat flange 12, to provide a good contact surface for heat sealing the flexible cover sheet 36 thereto around the cavity 42. In a manner which similarly, the dimension of the grooved opening 46 extending along the three edges of the flat flange 12, as illustrated more specifically in Figure 9, can be established so as to be capable of receiving portions bent inwardly or Pressed in case it is desired to adjust in this manner to retain the flexible cover sheet to the base member of the complete fluff pack. As illustrated in the third embodiment of the invention, in Figures 10 to 13, in this case the construction of the base member 50 is quite similar to that of the base member 10 in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4, hence identifies similar or identical elements with the same reference numbers. However, in this embodiment, the lens receiving cavity 52 is configured in such a way that the curvilinear or hemispherical portion 54 thereof extends at one end 56 towards an upward inclined ramp 56 which is, in a view of plant, in a manner similar to a cuvette or truncated cone or narrow pyramid and has a curved or convex projecting end surface 60 where it joins the flange 12. This inclined ramp 56 also forms an aid for a user allowing the removal more Simple contact lens of the cavity 52 by a smooth and reliable method of sliding in the lens shift up along the ramp surface. The peripheral dimensions of the contact lens receiving cavity 52 and the ramp 56 extend towards the peripheral surface 62 which rises on the upper surface 24 of the flange 12, as shown in Figure 13, where the surface 62 may be flat or slightly convex to allow heat sealing of flexible cover sheet 36 thereto, as indicated above. The ramp 56 facilitates the removal of the contact lens from the cavity 52 after detaching the cover sheet 36. In this embodiment as well as in the embodiment of the figures 4, the flat flange 12 possesses a dependent wall structure 30. which extends around and at the full perimeter thereof slightly inward from its peripheral edges 14, 16 to form a stiffening or reinforcing structure and a location feature as described above. While it has been shown and described what are considered the preferred embodiments of the invention, it should be understood, of course, that the various modifications and changes in form or detail can easily be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is, therefore, intended that the invention not be limited to the exact form and detail that is shown and described herein, or to nothing less than the entire invention described herein as claimed below.

Claims (7)

1. NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS 1. A packing arrangement for the sealed contents of at least one hydrophilic contact lens in a sterile aqueous solution, characterized in that it comprises: (a) at least one base member made of injection molded plastic or formed by heat having a cavity for containing a contact lens submerged in said solution, said base member including a flat flange extending outwardly around the periphery of the outer edge of said cavity, said cavity consisting of a notch extending from the plane of the upper surface of said flange, a dependent wall projecting downwards from a lower surface of said flange and extending around the peripheral edges of said flange and extending around at least portions of the periphery of said flange eyelash; and (b) a flexible cover sheet superposed on said base member and whose dimension is set to be removably sealed in the upper surface areas of said flange to seal said cavity sealingly. A packaging arrangement according to claim 1, further characterized in that said flange is rectangular and the cavity in said molded plastic base member is misaligned towards an end of said flange. 3. A packing arrangement according to claim 1, further characterized in that the upper surface of said flange is facing said cover sheet superimposed in contact relation. A packing arrangement according to claim 3, further characterized in that a seal is formed between said cover sheet and at least the raised surface of said flange sealingly extending around the periphery of said pocket. 5. A packing arrangement according to claim 4, further characterized in that said seal comprises a heat seal. 6. A packing arrangement according to claim 31, further characterized in that said raised surface is convex in cross section. 7. A packaging arrangement according to claim 1, further characterized in that said dependent wall extends around the entire periphery of said flange. fi A packing arrangement according to claim 1, further characterized in that said dependent wall forms a stiffening element for said flange. 9. A packaging arrangement according to claim 1, further characterized in that said dependent wall acts as a location structure during the handling and / or manufacturing processes. 10. A packing arrangement according to claim 1, further characterized in that said dependent wall is integrally formed with said flange. A packing arrangement according to claim 2, further characterized in that said dependent wall extends along three sides of said flange including a far end edge of said cavity and along two lateral edges and ending close to said cavity. A packing arrangement according to claim 11, further characterized in that said dependent wall defines a U-shaped configuration. 13. A packing arrangement according to claim 11, further characterized in that said dependent wall comprises a grooved opening. which is formed on the upper surface of said flange. A packing arrangement according to claim 13, further characterized in that said grooved opening is U-shaped in cross-section. 15. A packing arrangement according to claim 1, further characterized in that said cavity generally has a rich hemies shape. 16. A packaging arrangement according to claim 1, further characterized in that said cavity has a cylindrical upper portion of truncated cone that is sharpened towards the lower end, and in that said lower end extends into a hemispherical bottom for said cavity. A packing arrangement according to claim 1, further characterized in that said cavity is generally hemispherical and includes a ramp portion inclined in an upward and outward direction extending to the upper surface of said flange. lfi. A packing arrangement according to claim 17, further characterized in that said ramp is narrowed along its upward inclination in a truncated cone configuration. 19. A packaging arrangement according to claim 1, further characterized in that said plastic base member is constituted by a heat-orgazable polymer, such as polypropylene. 20. A packaging arrangement according to claim 1, further characterized in that said flexible cover sheet has an expansion to which its dimension is established so that it is within the limits of the periphery of said base member. 21. A packaging arrangement according to claim 1, further characterized in that said flexible cover sheet is dimensioned so that it is interconnected with a plurality of said base members in a strips arrangement for the containment of a specified number of said contact lenses arranged one in each cavity of each base member. 22. A packing arrangement according to claim 21, further characterized in that said flexible cover sheet extends over said plurality of base members and connects sealingly to each of said flanges of each of the respective base members. 23. A packaging arrangement according to claim 22, further characterized in that said flexible cover sheet is adapted to be connected with said plurality of base members in a planar arrangement. 24. A packaging arrangement according to claim 1, further characterized in that said packaging arrangement comprises a single foamed pack containing a single contact lens. 25. A packaging arrangement according to claim 2, further characterized in that said flexible cover sheet has a substantially rectangular configuration. 26. A packaging arrangement according to claim 1, further characterized in that said flexible cover sheet is a multilayer laminate having a layer of said laminate consisting of a thermal plastic film that comes in contact with the surface portions. top of the flange of said molded plastic base member. 27. A packaging arrangement according to claim 26, further characterized in that said thermal plastic film is heat sealed to said flange surface of the base member to seal the cavity containing the contact lens. 26. A packaging arrangement according to claim 1, further characterized in that said base member and said flexible cover sheet jointly form a sealed impenetrable vapor and moisture container for said contact lens in said cavity. 29. A packaging arrangement according to claim 26, further characterized in that said flexible cover sheet comprises a laminated sheet. 30. A packaging arrangement according to claim 26, further characterized in that said flexible cover sheet is transparent and comprises at least one barrier layer of silicone oxide and a plurality of layers of plastic. 31. In a packing arrangement for the sealed container of at least one contact lens in a sterile aqueous solution; the improvement comprising at least one injection molded or heat formed plastic base member having a cavity for containing a contact lens immersed in said solution, said base member including a flat flange extending outwardly from of the plane of the upper surface of said flange, and a dependent wall projecting down from a lower surface of said flange closely inward of the peripheral edges of said flange and extending around the last portions of the periphery of said flange. eyelash. 32. A packaging arrangement according to claim 31, further characterized in that said flange is rectangular and the cavity in said molded plastic base member is misaligned toward an edge of said flange. 33. A packaging arrangement according to claim 31, further characterized in that the upper surface of said flange has a high surface area extending around said cavity. 34. A packing arrangement according to claim 33, further characterized in that it is adapted to a seal that is formed between a flexible cover sheet and at least the raised surface sealingly extending around the periphery of said pocket. 35. A packaging arrangement according to claim 34, further characterized in that said seal comprises a heat seal. 36. A packing arrangement according to claim 33, further characterized in that said surface is convex in its cross section. 37. A packing arrangement according to claim 31, further characterized in that said dependent wall extends around the entire periphery of said flange. 36. A packing arrangement according to claim 31, further characterized in that said dependent wall forms a stiffening element for said flange. 39. A packing arrangement according to claim 31, further characterized in that said dependent wall is formed integrally with said flange. 40. A packing arrangement according to claim 32, further characterized in that said dependent wall extends along three sides of said flange including a far end edge of said cavity and along two lateral edges and ending close to said cavity. 41. A packaging arrangement according to claim 40, further characterized in that said dependent wall defines a U-shaped configuration. 42. A packing arrangement according to claim 40, further characterized in that said dependent wall comprises a grooved opening. which is formed on the upper surface of said flange. 43. A packing arrangement according to claim 42, further characterized in that said grooved opening is U-shaped in cross section. 44. A packing arrangement according to claim 31, further characterized in that said cavity is generally hemispherical. 45. A packing arrangement according to claim 31, further characterized in that said cavity has a cylindrical upper portion of truncated cone that narrows toward a lower end, and in that said lower end extends into a hemispherical bottom for said cavity . 46. A packing arrangement according to claim 31, further characterized in that said cavity is generally hemispherical and includes a ramp inclined upwards and outwardly extending towards the upper surface of said flange. 47. A packing arrangement according to claim 46, further characterized in that said ramp is narrowed along its upward inclination in a generally truncated cone configuration. 46. A packaging arrangement according to claim 31, further characterized in that said plastic base member is constituted of a heat-formable polymer, such as polypropylene.