WO2003038507A1

WO2003038507A1 - Washing apparatus for contact lenses

Info

Publication number: WO2003038507A1
Application number: PCT/KR2001/001835
Authority: WO
Inventors: Seong Mook Leem
Original assignee: Seong Mook Leem; Nowmedic Co Ltd
Priority date: 2001-10-31
Filing date: 2001-10-31
Publication date: 2003-05-08

Abstract

Disclosed is a washing apparatus for contact lenses which is provided with a lenses case hung on the upper portion of a washing tank and an ultrasonic oscillator attached on the bottom surface of the washing tank, such that the contact lenses within the lenses case are washed by virtue of the vibration of the ultrasonic waves generated from the ultrasonic oscillator, thereby enabling the fat on the contact lenses to dissolve and disappear and the lenses case can be separated from the washing tank, if a cover that covers the washing tank is opened, thereby enabling the contact lenses to be exchanged and kept in a convenient manner. The washing apparatus for contact lenses which includes: a washing tank where washing solution is contained provided on the inside of a body opened and closed with a cover; a lenses case provided on the inner surface of the cover and having a pair of rotary wings rotating around a wing pin; a lenses cover adapted to be opened and closed from/with the lenses case and having a plurality of frames through which the washing solution flows toward the contact lenses disposed on the pair of rotary wings; and an oscillator provided on the outer periphery of the washing tank to generate the vibration of ultrasonic waves so that the fat and protein on the surfaces of the contact lenses dissolve and disappear and to generate the current of the washing solution so that the pair of rotary wings rotates.

Description

WASHING APPARATUS FOR CONTACT LENSES

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a washing apparatus for contact lenses, and more particularly, to a washing apparatus for contact lenses which is provided with a lenses case hung on the upper portion of a washing tank and an ultrasonic oscillator attached on the bottom surface of the washing tank, such that the contact lenses within the lenses case are washed by virtue of the vibration of the ultrasonic waves generated from the ultrasonic oscillator, thereby enabling the fat on the contact lenses to dissolve and disappear and the lenses case can be separated from the washing tank, if a cover that covers the washing tank is opened, thereby enabling the contact lenses to be exchanged and kept in a convenient manner.

Background Art

If contact lenses are worn for a long time, fat and protein or all kinds of foreign materials may stay on the surfaces of the contact lenses, which gives an

affect to the user's eyes. In that case, the lenses should be washed by washing solution once a day in order to remove the fat and protein or the foreign materials out of the contact lenses. The contact lenses were generally washed by the washing solution or appropriate medicines; in more effective manner, however, they can be washed by using the vibration generated from the ultrasonic waves. This inventor has filed Korean Patent Application No. 2000-15555 where such the washing apparatus using ultrasonic waves is disclosed.

The washing apparatus using ultrasonic waves, as filed, is provided with an ultrasonic oscillator on the lower portion of the washing tank in which the washing solution is retained, from which the ultrasonic waves are generated to form a substantially wave length, thereby making a spray of water raised with a result that the protein and fat attached on the contact lenses can dissolve and disappear.

In this prior art, however, the contact lenses are fixedly disposed in the interior of the washing apparatus, such that the foreign materials aren't well removed. In more detail, the protein and fat on the contact lenses can easily dissolve with the help of the vibration of the ultrasonic waves, but the foreign materials such as the dusts on the surfaces of the contact lenses are not well removed. In that case, the contact lenses should rub by using the fingers of the user.

To solve these problems, this inventor has proposed another washing apparatus which is provided with a pair of rotary wings on which the contact lenses are disposed rotating by the current of the washing solution generated upon the vibration of the ultrasonic waves, as disclosed in Korean Utility Model Registration No. 203247. The prior art washing apparatus is capable of dissolving and removing the protein and fat on the contact lenses by using the vibration of the ultrasonic waves generated from an oscillator and also removing the foreign materials such as dusts that have not dissolved by the vibration of the ultrasonic waves, as the pair of rotary wings rotates by a substantially strong vortex of the washing solution generated upon the vibration of the ultrasonic waves, thus to wash the surfaces of the contact lenses.

However, the pair of rotary wings is disposed on the bottom portion of the washing tank and thus submerged in the washing solution, such that the fingers of the user are essentially touched with the washing solution while disposing the contact lenses on the pair of rotary wings. This is not good for health of the user. If the contact lenses are disposed on the pair of rotary wings with no washing solution in the washing tank, the washing solution can't be further reused.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a washing apparatus for contact lenses that is provided with an oscillator on the bottom surface of a washing tank for the contact lenses and a lenses case on a cover for covering the washing tank, whereby the contact lenses are mounted on the lenses case after the cover is separated from the washing tank and if the cover is closed, the contact lenses are under washing solution, with a result that they can be washed in good condition for health of a user.

To accomplish the above object of the present invention, there is provided a washing apparatus for contact lenses which includes: a washing tank where washing solution is contained provided on the inside of a body opened and closed with a cover; a lenses case provided on the inner surface of the cover and having a pair of rotary wings rotating around a wing pin; a lenses cover adapted to be opened and closed from/with the lenses case and having a plurality of frames through which the washing solution flows toward the contact lenses disposed on the pair of rotary wings; and an oscillator provided on the outer periphery of the washing tank to generate the vibration of ultrasonic waves so that the fat and protein on the surfaces of the contact lenses dissolve and disappear and to generate the current of the washing solution so that the pair of rotary wings rotates.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Further objects and advantages of the invention can be more fully

understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the

accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a separated perspective view of a washing apparatus for contact lenses according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the washing apparatus for contact lenses according to the present invention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are sectional views of the lenses case of the washing apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the rotary wing of the washing apparatus of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the circuit configuration of the washing apparatus of the present invention. Best mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Now, an explanation of a washing apparatus for contact lenses according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be in detail discussed. FIG. 1 is a separated perspective view of a washing apparatus for contact lenses according to the present invention and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the washing apparatus for contact lenses according to the present invention. The washing apparatus for contact lenses according to the present invention is comprised of a body 1 and a washing tank 2 in the interior of the body 1. The washing apparatus of the present invention is further comprised of a cover 3 for covering the body 1 and the washing tank 2 at the same time and an oscillator 17 disposed on the bottom surface of the washing tank 2, for generating the vibration of ultrasonic waves in washing solution in the washing tank 2.

The washing tank 2 is made of a synthetic resin, and a metal plate is disposed between the oscillator 17 and the washing tank 2 so that it can apply power to the oscillator 17. At that time, the vibration generated from the oscillator 17 is delivered to the washing tank 2 through the metal plate.

There is provided a power charging part for supplying the power to the oscillator 17 in the interior of the body 1. The power charging part operates during the application of the external power, and with the power charging part, the washing apparatus of the present invention can be used outdoors. The power charging part includes a charging battery la for the charge of power and a transformer lb for maintaining voltage at a constant level.

The cover 3 is provided with a lenses case 4 on the inner surface thereof, for accommodating the lenses 4a. The lenses case 4 has a pair of fixing protrusions 7 on the top surface thereof, and the cover 3 has a pair of fixing lock 8 to which the corresponding fixing protrusions 7 are locked. As the fixing protrusions 7 and the fixing lock 8 are assembled to each other, the lenses case 4 can be coupled with the cover 3. The lenses case 4 is provided with a pair of rotary wings 6 on which the contact lenses 4a are disposed. Each of the pair of rotary wings 6 includes a wing pin 9 and a locking protrusion 10 on the front end of the wing pin 9. The lenses case 4 has a pin hole 11 through the wing pin 9 is inserted to allow the locking protrusion 10 to be locked, with a result that the pair of rotary wings 6 rotates in the lenses case 4.

The lenses case 4 is provided with a plurality of fence bars arranged radically for surrounding each of the pair of rotary wings 6 such that the contact lenses 4a aren't deviated from the lenses case 4. Also, the lenses case 4 is opened and closed by a lenses cover 5 that is adapted to cover the pair of rotary wings 5 to surround the contact lenses 4a.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are sectional views of the lenses case of the washing apparatus of the present invention and FIG. 4 is a plan view of the rotary wing of the washing apparatus of the present invention. The lenses cover 5 is comprised of a pair of semicircular covers for covering the pair of contact lenses 4a, each of which is of a frame in shape so that the pair of contact lenses 4a can be deeply submerged in the washing solution.

The lenses case 4 is provided with a square pin 13 having a substantially square section for the purpose of coupling the lenses cover 5, and the lenses cover 5 is provided with a square pin holder 15 that is inserted into the square pin 13. Each edge of the square pin 13 is in a direction of an angle of 90 ° and each edge of the square pin holder 15 is also in a direction of an angle of 90 °, with a result that the lenses cover 5 is opened and closed at an angle of 90 °. Since the square pin holder 15 is inserted into the square pin 13 in the state where the lenses cover

5 has been opened, the lenses cover 5 is not arbitrarily went down or closed. In addition, the lenses case 4 is provided with a locking protrusion 14 for fixing the lenses cover 5, and the lenses cover 5 is provided with a locking groove 16 in which the locking protrusion 14 is locked. In each of the pair of rotary wings 6 each of a plurality of wing pieces is provided with a bending part 6a that is bent in one direction for guiding the rotation of the rotary wings 6 along the current of the washing solution.

The pair of rotary wings 6 freely rotates along the current of the washing solution when the washing solution 24 creates a vortex. The pair of rotary wings

6 is processed with platinum plating so that the plated platinum reacts with the washing solution 24 during the pair of rotary wings 6 rotates, thus to generate ozone which sterilizes the contact lenses 4a.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the circuit configuration of the washing apparatus of the present invention. If a power part 19 applies power to a switching part 22, an oscillating signal is sent from an oscillating part 21 to the switching part 22 and then, the switching signal in the switching part 22 is applied to a switching transformer 23. Next, the switching transformer 23 induces a high voltage to a secondary side thereof to thereby drive the oscillator 17. The oscillator 17 generates the vibration by the ultrasonic waves and provides a substantially strong current in the washing solution 24 to thereby generate a vortex therein such that the pair of rotary wings 6 rotates in one direction and the foreign materials such as dusts on the surfaces of the lenses are completely separated. And a central processing unit 20 adjusts an output frequency of the oscillating part 21 according to the value set in a switch 18, thereby enabling the strength of the oscillator 17 to be appropriately controlled.

Under the above construction, the washing solution 24 is vibrated while the oscillator 17 mounted on the exterior of the washing tank 2 is operating so that it generates a vortex therein. At this time, the contact lenses 4a that are in the washing solution 24 freely rotate along the current of the washing solution 24 with a consequence that the protein, fat and foreign materials staying on the surfaces of the contact lenses can be completely separated and removed. In more detail, the cover 3 is opened from the body 1 and the lenses cover

5 of the lenses case 4 on the cover 3 is then opened. At this time, since the lenses case 4 and the lenses cover 5 are coupled by means of the square pin 13 and the square pin holder 15, the lenses cover 5 is opened at the angle of 90 °. In that case, the pair of rotary wings 6 is exposed. Therefore, the contact lenses 4a are disposed on the pair of rotary wings 6 and if the lenses cover 5 is closed, the locking groove 16 on the lenses cover 5 is locked to the locking protrusion 14 of the lenses case 4, with a result that the lenses case 4 and the lenses cover 5 can be coupled.

If the cover 3 is covered on the body 1 after disposing the lenses 4a in the lenses case 4, the lenses case 4 and the lenses 4a are submerged in the washing solution 24 retained in the washing tank 2. After covering the cover 3 if the power is applied, it is applied to the oscillator 17 through the transformer lb and the charging battery la, such that the oscillator 17 generates vibration by the ultrasonic waves. If the power is applied to the switching part 22, the oscillating signal is sent from the oscillating part 21 to the switching part 22 and the switching signal outputted from the switching part 22 is then applied to the switching transformer 23. Next, the transformer 23 induces the high voltage to the secondary side thereof to thereby drive the oscillator 17. If the oscillator 17 operates, the vibration therefrom is transmitted through the metal plate to the washing tank 2 so that the washing solution 24 is vibrated. The formation of the vibration of the washing solution 24 causes substantially vortex and current in the washing solution 24, with a result that the pair of rotary wings 6 freely rotates. As each of the pair of rotary wings 5 is comprised of the plurality of wing pieces and coupled to the lenses case 4 through the wing pin 9 formed on the center thereof, it rotates in one direction along the current of the washing solution 24. Since each of the plurality of wing pieces in each rotary wing 6 is provided with the bending part 6a bent in one direction on the end thereof, the strong current of the washing solution 24 can be formed, which enables the pair of rotary wings 6 to rapidly rotate.

The contact lenses 4a are rotated as the pair of rotary wings 6 rotates, such that the protein and fat on the surfaces of the lenses dissolve and disappear by the washing solution 24. During the rotation, the pair of rotary wings 6 rubs on the surfaces of the lenses, such that the foreign materials such as dusts are separated from the surfaces of the lenses. As the pair of rotary wings 6 is processed with platinum plating, the plated platinum reacts with the washing solution 24 during the pair of rotary wings 6 rotates, thus to generate ozone which sterilizes the contact lenses 4a during the washing.

As the electricity is charged to the charging battery la during the washing, the washing apparatus of the present invention can be used outdoors. When the washing is completed, if the cover 3 is opened from the body 1 and then the lenses cover 5 is opened, the lenses disposed on the pair of rotary wings 6 can be used. In addition, if the lenses are to be inserted or drawn into the lenses case 4, the cover 3 is separated from the body 1, such that the washing solution 24 can be retained in a good condition for health.

Industrial applicability

As set forth in the foregoing, a washing apparatus for contact lenses according to the present invention is capable of providing a lenses case where the contact lenses are disposed on the bottom surface of a cover of a body, thereby making the contact lenses exchanged in a convenient manner after separating the cover from the body and preventing the washing solution in a washing tank from being contaminated. In addition, the lenses case and the cover are assembled to each other and the lenses case and a pair of rotary wings and the lenses case and a lenses cover are respectively assembled to each other, such that each of them is convenient to be disassembled. The lenses can be neatly washed as the pair of rotary wings rotates by the vortex of the washing solution generated from the vibration of the ultrasonic waves.

Claims

What Is Claimed Is:

1. A washing apparatus for contact lenses comprising: a washing tank where washing solution is contained provided on the inside of a body opened and closed with a cover; a lenses case provided on the inner surface of said cover and having a pair of rotary wings rotating around a wing pin; a lenses cover adapted to be opened and closed from/with said lenses case and having a plurality of frames through which said washing solution flows toward said contact lenses disposed on said pair of rotary wings; and an oscillator provided on the outer periphery of said washing tank to generate the vibration of ultrasonic waves so that the fat and protein on the surfaces of said contact lenses dissolve and disappear and to generate the current of said washing solution so that said pair of rotary wings rotates.

2. The washing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said lenses case has a pair of fixing protrusions on the top surface thereof, said cover has a pair of fixing lock to which the corresponding fixing protrusions are locked, and said lenses cover has a square pin holder that is inserted into a square pin formed in said lenses case so that said lenses cover is opened and closed at an angle of 90 °.

3. The washing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said pair of rotary wings has a wing pin on the center of the bottom surface thereof and a locking protrusion on the front end of said wing pin, and said lenses case has a pin hole through said wing pin is inserted to allow said locking protrusion to be locked, such that said pair of rotary wings rotates in said lenses case.

4. The washing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said pair of rotary wings has a plurality of wing pieces rotating along the current of said washing solution vibrated, each of said plurality of wing pieces being processed with platinum plating in manner to react with said washing solution to thereby generate ozone that sterilizes said contact lenses and having a bending part bent in one direction on the end thereof to thereby form a substantially strong current of said washing solution.

5. The washing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein if power is applied to a switching part, an oscillating signal is sent from an oscillating part to said switching part and a switching signal outputted from said switching part is then applied to a switching transformer; said switching transformer induces a substantially high voltage to the secondary side thereof to thereby drive said oscillator; and a central processing unit adjusts an output frequency of said oscillating part according to the value set in a switch, thereby enabling the strength of said oscillator to be appropriately controlled.