Contact Lens Case

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to the storage and cleaning of contact lens, and in particular, to contact lens cases.

During soaking, disinfecting, or neutralizing, contact lens are usually contained within a small case, along with an appropriate liquid solution. After a given amount of time, the contact lens must be carefully removed from the case. The lens are fragile and can be easily damaged.

Background Art

In most contact lens cases, the lens must be fished out of the solution with a finger or some form of tweezers. The lens can be easily scratched or oil from the finger can get on the lens. Handling the lens gives increased opportunity for contamination and damage.

United States Patent No. 2,944,661 issued to Goldstein shows the use of a removable basket with a long "agitator arm" used for moving the contact lens through the solution and agitating the solution around the lens.

United States Patent No. 3,168,100 issued to Rich shows a container with a tray having a peripheral upstanding wall and apertures spread throughout. A cover is used to keep the lens in place. The lens must still be fished out because of the peripheral wall which prevents access to the edges of the lens.

United States Patent No. 3,536,082 issued to Kolbeck shows a case with a removable tray. The tray forms deep pockets or compartments with apertures formed at the bottom of those pockets or compartments for ensuring that the lens are pulled to the bottom of the pockets as the tray is removed. The lens thus do not float off of the tray or get mixed up, but they are even more difficult to remove.

Disclosure of the Invention

In accordance with the present invention, a contact lens case for containing a pair of contact lens in a liquid solution includes both a container for the solution and a tray for holding the lens in the solution. The container forms a bottom and a substantial y upright wall. The top surface of the tray includes a substantially flat circular inner portion for the contact lens to rest on and an annular beveled outer portion for retarding the outward movement of the contact lens.

A divider, in a preferred form a dividing perpendicular bar which also serves as a handle, extending from the top surface of the tray, separates the top of the tray into roughly equal sections. Each section is larger than one contact lens of the pair. The tray forms a plurality of apertures from top to bottom on each side of and adjacent to or in near proximity to the divider. Most of the liquid solution flows through these apertures when the tray is being lifted out of the solution. The height of the dividing perpendicular bar is less than one third of either length or diameter of the top of the tray and serves as a handle for lifting the tray. Because of the room left

on the flat portion of the top surface which is adjacent to a lens because of the semicircular shape, a user has easy access to opposite positions of the lens edge. A support member is formed on the inside of the upright wall for supporting the tray in a position where the tray does not touch the bottom of the container.

In one arrangement, the tray forms at least one aperture from top to bottom on one side of the divider forming the letter "L' and at least one aperture from top to bottom on the other side of the divider forming the letter "R".

A removable cap screws onto the container to prevent spillage of the liquid and lens. In one arrangement, the inside of the cap forms a series of ridges to prevent the creation of suction between the inside of the cap and the lens.

These and other objects, advantages and features of this invention will be apparent from the following description taken with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein is shown the preferred embodiments of the invention.

Brief Description of Drawing

FIGURE 1 is an exploded view of a contact lens case according to the present invention showing liquid solution;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional elevational view thereof at a smaller scale, showing contact lens in section and liquid solution; FIGURE 3 is a sectional view thereof taken at 3-3 of Figure 2;

FIGURE 4 is a bottom view of a cap of a contact lens case according to the present invention; and

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view thereof taken at 5-5 of Figure 4.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Referring now to the drawing, and in particular to Figure 1, a contact lens case according to the present invention is referred to generally by reference numeral 10. Case 10 includes a container 12, a tray 14 and a removable cap 16. Referring also to Figure 2, container 12 includes both a bottom 18 and a substantially upright wall 20 for containing a quantity of liquid solution 22. Tray 14 is designed to loosely fit within upright wall 20 for easy removal. Top surface 24 of tray 14 includes a substantially flat circular inner portion 26 for contact lens 28 to rest on and an annular beveled outer portion 30 for retarding outward movement of contact lens 28.

Referring now also to Figure 3, a divider such as a dividing perpendicular bar 32 extends from top surface 24, separating the top of the tray into roughly equal sections, each section slightly larger than one contact lens 28. Tray 14 forms a plurality of apertures 34 from top surface 24 through to bottom surface 36 on each side of and adjacent to or in near proximity to dividing perpendicular bar 32. Most of liquid solution 22 flows through apertures 34 when tray 14 is lifted out of the solution, pulling lens 28 toward the center of the tray rather than washing or floating it over the side. Tray 12 also forms at least one aperture 44 from top to bottom on one side of dividing perpendicular bar 32 forming the letter "L" and at least one aperture 46 from top to bottom on the other side of the dividing perpendicular bar forming the letter "R". The large

letters "R" and "L" formed by apertures are easily seen and can even be distinguished by feel in the dark. Apertures 44 and 46 also help drain tray 12 as it is lifted from the solution, but most of the drainage is still from apertures 34 near the dividing bar.

Dividing perpendicular bar 32 also acts as a handle for lifting the tray. The height of dividing bar 32, being the distance from its base at top surface 14 to the point on the bar which is the greatest perpendicular distance away from the top surface, is less than one third of its length or the diameter of the tray. This allows the lens to only be a certain distance under the fluid, reducing the chance of spilling from taking the lens out of the solution and reducing the chance of floating the lens off the tray. Because of the semicircular shape of each tray half formed by dividing bar 32, a user has easy access to opposite portions 38 and 40 of the lens edge when the lens is resting convex side down on the tray top and the tray is removed from the container.

Contact lens case 10 also includes a support member 42 for keeping bottom surface 36 of tray 14 from resting on the bottom 18 of container 12. This allows the keeping of the required amount of solution in the case and essentially keeping lens 28 in the middle of the solution. It also makes it easier to remove tray 14.

Referring now to Figure 4 and Figure 5, inside 48 of removable cap 16 forms ridges 50 to prevent the creation of suction between the inside of the cap and the concave side of the lens should the case be turned upside down or sideways during travel .

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends

and objects hereinabove set forth, together with other advantages which are inherent to the apparatus.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the figures of the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.