Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
  • A45C11/00—Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00
  • A45C11/04—Spectacle cases; Pince-nez cases
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
  • A45C11/00—Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00
  • A45C11/005—Contact lens cases
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
  • A45C11/00—Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2585/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages specially adapted for particular articles or materials
  • B65D2585/54—Containers, packaging elements or packages specially adapted for particular articles or materials for articles of special shape not otherwise provided for
  • B65D2585/545—Contact lenses

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an ophthalmic lens package and, more particularly, to an ophthalmic lens package adapted for improved accessibility to the contents thereof.
• a blister pack comprises a rigid plastic (e.g., polypropylene), concave-shaped receptacle for receiving an ophthalmic lens and a flexible cover, typically made from a laminate material (such as metal foil), which is removably attached to the receptacle for enclosing the lens therein.
• a rigid plastic e.g., polypropylene
• concave-shaped receptacle for receiving an ophthalmic lens
• a flexible cover typically made from a laminate material (such as metal foil)
• a laminate material such as metal foil
• FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an ophthalmic lens package constructed in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention
• FlG. 2 is a cross-sectional view the ophthalmic lens package of FIG. 1 in a closed position
• FIG. 3 is a top perspective view, of a ophthalmic lens package of the invention in an open position; and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the ophthalmic lens package in an open position.
• the invention includes a package for enclosing an ophthalmic lens comprising, a deformable bottom comprising a deformable well, said deformable bottom comprising an outer surface, an inner surface and two or more deformable arms extending from said inner surface wherein said two or more deformable arms and said deformable well may be moved together between an open and a closed position, wherein an ophthalmic lens and its packaging solution are enclosed by said two or more deformable arms and said deformable well in the closed position and said ophthalmic lens is exposed when said package is in the open position.
• FIGS. 1 , 2 and 3 illustrate an ophthalmic lens package 10 includes circular side wall 14, deformable bottom 16, and four deformable arms 18.
• Circular side wall 14 has a top 15 and a bottom 17.
• Deformable well 20 extends from deformable bottom 16 and deformable arms 18 extend from the inner surface 22 of deformable bottom 16.
• Flexible cover 12 is shown as partially attached to top 15 of side wall 14.
• Fig. 2 illustrates a cross sectional view of a closed package.
• Deformable arms 18 and deformable well 20 enclose ophthalmic lens 24 and its solution. This package is sealed by flexible cover 12, which is attached to top 15 of side wall 14.
• the furthest surface of said deformable arms from said deformable bottom do not touch in the closed position.
• the furthest surface of said deformable arms 18 may contact or overlap one another when the package is in the closed position, However, when package 10 is in the closed position, it is preferred that the furthest surface of said deformable arms 18 be close enough to one another to enclose lens 24 if package 10 is moved by any or all of the following, seating the package on its flexible cover, rolling it on its side wall, shaking it, and the like.
• Figures 3 and 4 illustrate package 10 in the opened position. Deformable well 20 of Fig. 4 is moved in the direction of arrow 26 by a force such as a user's finger.
• deformable well 20 from the outer surface 28 displaces deformable arms 18 to expose lens 24.
• Lens 24 is presented to the user and may be easily removed without requiring the user to insert his or her finger into a well containing packaging solution.
• An additional advantage of the invention is that the enclosed ophthalmic lens does not come into contact with the flexible cover when said two deformable arms and said deformable well are in the closed position. This prevents the ophthalmic lens from sticking to the flexible cover.
• ophthalmic lens refer to a device that resides on the eye, including but not limited to soft contact, lenses, hard contact lenses, intraocular lenses, overlay lenses, preferably soft contact lenses.
• Flexible cover 12 may be manufactured from a foil/polymer laminate or coextrusion, comprising a metal layer, such as aluminum, and a polymer layer, such as polypropylene, coating the metal layer.
• flexible cover 12 may be manufactured from other materials, such as a combination of polymers with various barrier and sealing characteristics formed into a laminate or coextrusion.
• flexible cover 12 when package 10 is closed, flexible cover 12 is sealed to the top 15 of circular side wall 14 in order to prevent the loss or evaporation of the solution from the package 10 and to prevent contamination of the contents thereof from foreign objects such as debris and dirt particles.
• the preferred method of sealing the surface preferably by heat sealing.
• other sealing means such as adhesives, induction sealing or sonic welding, may be utilized.
• Packaging solutions for the ophthalmic lenses include but are not limited to saline solution, water or buffered aqueous solutions, and the preferred solution is aqueous saline solution.
• the packaging solution is present in a quantity sufficient to keep the ophthalmic lens saturated to retain its intended shape (i.e. convex shape) and softness when release from package 10.
• the invention includes a method of packaging an ophthalmic lens comprising inserting an ophthalmic lens into a package comprising, a deformable bottom comprising a deformable well, said deformable bottom comprising an outer surface, an inner surface and two or more deformable arms extending from said inner surface wherein said two or more deformable arms and said deformable well may be moved together between an open and a closed position, wherein an ophthalmic lens and its packaging solution are enclosed by said two or more deformable arms and said deformable well in the closed position and said ophthalmic lens is exposed when said package is in the open position and sealing said package with a flexible cover.
• the invention includes a package for an ophthalmic lens comprising, side walls and a deformable bottom comprising a deformable well, said deformable bottom comprising an outer surface, an inner surface and two or more deformable arms extending from said inner surface wherein said two or more deformable arms and said deformable well may be moved together between an open and a closed position, wherein an ophthalmic lens and its packaging solution are enclosed by said two or more deformable arms and said deformable well in the closed position and said ophthalmic lens is exposed when said package is in the open position.
• the invention includes a method of inserting an ophthalmic lens into the eye of a user comprising opening a package comprising, a deformable bottom comprising a deformable well, said deformable bottom comprising an outer surface, an inner surface and two or more deformable arms extending from said inner surface wherein said two or more deformable arms and said deformable well may be moved together between an open and a closed position, wherein an ophthalmic lens and its packaging solution are enclosed by said two or more deformable arms and said deformable well in the closed position and said ophthalmic lens is exposed when said package is in the open position pushing said deformable well from the outer surface of said package, removing the ophthalmic lens and inserting the ophthalmic lens into a user's eye.

Priority Applications (5)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=37888424

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (12)

Families Citing this family (9)

Citations (1)

Family Cites Families (7)

• 2006
  • 2006-09-25 EP EP06815306A patent/EP1937100A2/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2006-09-25 US US11/526,330 patent/US20090139879A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2006-09-25 KR KR1020087009581A patent/KR20080065620A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2006-09-25 CA CA002624079A patent/CA2624079A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2006-09-25 WO PCT/US2006/037199 patent/WO2007038400A2/en active Application Filing
  • 2006-09-25 BR BRPI0616568-0A patent/BRPI0616568A2/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2006-09-25 JP JP2008533472A patent/JP2009510523A/ja not_active Abandoned
  • 2006-09-25 AU AU2006294878A patent/AU2006294878A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2006-09-25 RU RU2008116058/12A patent/RU2008116058A/ru not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2006-09-25 CN CNA2006800356467A patent/CN101272708A/zh active Pending
  • 2006-09-26 TW TW095135476A patent/TW200735808A/zh unknown
  • 2006-09-27 AR ARP060104238A patent/AR055661A1/es unknown

Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events