Abstract:
A portable case for carrying contact lenses and treating them with solution. A collapsible solution reservoir is housed in a chamber including a tab to squeeze or collapse the reservoir, preferably with temporary anchoring elements, for incrementally feeding solution to a well or wells for contact lenses and solution. A removable spout permits delivery of solution outside the portable case.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    In the past, contact lens users who travel have had to carry separate solution bottles and cases for their lenses. Insertion and removal of lenses into and from the eyes for various reasons such as athletics, work activities, or moving from one social environment to another can be awkward and inconvenient, sometimes resulting in spilling of the solution and dropping one or both lenses.  
           [0002]    There is a need for a convenient, compact, portable device which can be used to treat contact lenses with solution, prepare them for wear, and store them for travel or other movement without undue concern about spilling.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Our invention comprises a unitary case having lens wells, a collapsible solution reservoir, and an incremental solution dispensing system. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0004]    [0004]FIG. 1 is a preferred base for my device  
         [0005]    [0005]FIG. 2 is a preferred exterior lid.  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 3 is a preferred lens well unit.  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 4 is a preferred constrictor, in particular a carriage, for a collapsible solution reservoir.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 5 a  shows the carriage of FIG. 4 and the well unit of FIG. 3 installed in a base of FIG. 1. FIG. 5 b  includes the collapsible reservoir.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 6 shows a preferred valve for controlling flow of solution to the lens wells.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 7 is a preferred interior lid.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 8 shows a removable spout having valve apertures.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 9 illustrates the preferred device as assembled and closed, and showing the recessed position of the spout.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 10 shows the exterior lid in the open or flip position.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIGS. 11 a  and  11   b  are side sectional views, showing two valve positions, with a partially closed external lid. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015]    In FIG. 1, a base  1  is of a generally rectangular shape and has side walls  2  and  3 , a carriage end  4 , and a well end  5 . In this preferred version, the base  1  has guides  6  and  7  for guiding the progress of a solution reservoir carriage, which is further illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. Receptacles  47  may be used for retaining nubs (see FIG. 4). Connector  8  and hinge elements  9  permit a lid to be fastened to or hinged to the base  1 .  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 shows the construction of a preferred exterior lid  20  from its under side. The exterior lid is distinguished by the well covers  21  for the lens wells  31  and  32  (see FIG. 3). Well covers  21  are designed to seal fluid in the wells  31  and  32  when the lid is correctly closed. Preferably the exterior lid  20  includes hinge elements  22  for contacting with hinge element  9  of base  1  at its well end  5 , to form a complete hinge, permitting the exterior lid  20  to be lifted to access the lens wells  31  and  32  while still remaining oriented to close accurately over the lens wells. At the opposite end of lid  20  is a connector  23  for securing with base  1 . A recess  24  may be designed into the lid for a mirror (see FIG. 10).  
         [0017]    The lens well unit  30  in FIG. 3 comprises two wells  31  and  32 . It contains a duct  33  leading from a prong  34  to a “Y”  37  and then to the two lens wells  31  and  32 . Prong  34  is designed to connect to the collapsible solution reservoir not shown. The connection may be made by puncturing an opening in the solution reservoir, and thus the prong  34  has a pointed insert  35 . Duct  33  passes through prong  34  and valve container  36 , which will accommodate a manually operated valve  60  illustrated in FIG. 6. Lens well unit  30  also has a passage  38  for a rinse spout illustrated in FIGS. 5, 8 and  10 . When rinse spout  80  (FIG. 8) is inserted into passage  38  in the appropriate manner, it blocks duct  33 , assuring that no liquid will come out of the solution reservoir.  
         [0018]    The carriage  40  shown in FIG. 4 is basically L-shaped, comprising support elements  41 ,  42 , and  43 , and upright element  44 . Support elements  41 ,  42 , and  43  are designed to ride between guides  6  and  7  illustrated on base  1  in FIG. 1, while supporting the collapsible reservoir not shown. Nubs  45  and  46  are dimensioned to fit temporarily in receptacles  47  as seen in FIG. 1, as the carriage  40  is moved incrementally toward lens wells  31  and  32 . The distance between receptacles  47  is preferably calculated so that the incrementally reduced volume of a collapsible solution reservoir is substantially the amount of solution required for treatment of lenses in wells  31  and  32 .  
         [0019]    In FIG. 5 a,  both the well unit  30  and the carriage  40  are shown installed in the base  1 . The collapsible solution reservoir, not shown, is to be placed between carriage upright element  44  and well unit  30 , and connected to port  34  of the well unit  30 . An exterior end  82  of spout  80  is seen projecting from side wall  2  of base  1 . Valve handle  63  is turned to permit the flow of solution to rinse spout  80 . In FIG. 5 b,  the collapsible reservoir  85  is illustrated; it is in fluid communication with prong  34  but otherwise simply rests in the area between well unit  30  and upright element  44 .  
         [0020]    The valve  60  of FIG. 6 is seen to have perpendicular passages  61  and  62 . Passage  61  is designed to complete duct  33 , permitting fluid to pass from the reservoir  85  and well unit  30 , and passage  62  is designed to permit insertion of a rinse spout (see FIG. 8) for conveying solution to the exterior of the device. Valve  60  is for positioning in valve container  36  of lens well unit  30  (see FIG. 3), and may be accessed by the user by lifting exterior lid  20 , which is hinged on base  1  by hinge elements  9  and  22 . It is turned by valve handle  63 .  
         [0021]    In FIG. 7, the interior lid  70  is shown. It is designed to cover primarily the collapsible solution reservoir  85 , seen in FIGS. 5 b,    11   a  and  11   b.  Interior lid  70  is retained by snap-in retainers  71  which connect with base  1  at connector  8 . Interior lid  70  may be removed in order to insert a new solution reservoir but otherwise is intended to remain in place when the user moves carriage  40  incrementally to inject solution into the lens wells or cause it to flow through rinse spout  80 . When interior lid  70  is in place, upright element  44  (See FIG. 5) is accessible through aperture  72 . The user ejects solution from the reservoir by grasping upright element  44  and moving it from one receptacle  47  to the next receptacle  47 , engaging the nubs  45  and  46  in the receptacles  47 .  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 8 shows a rinse spout  80  for insertion through passage  61  or  62  of valve  60 . It is designed with a transverse passage  81  to connect with duct  33  of well unit  30 , and passes through side wall  2  of base  1 —see also FIGS. 5 and 10.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 9 is the preferred appearance of the assembled unit in its closed configuration. Exterior lid  20  is seen to be closed on base  1 , while rinse spout  80  is recessed in base  1 .  
         [0024]    In FIG. 10, the exterior lid  20  is flipped open, revealing the upright element  44  forming a tab which is used to constrict the reservoir  85  (see FIGS. 11 a  and  11   b ) by moving it incrementally through aperture  72 . The liquid reservoir is not shown in this view, but it would normally be immediately visible in aperture  72 . The lower side of exterior lid  20  may have a mirror  84  for the convenience of the user. In this posture of the device, rinse spout  82  is shown to be extended and turned downward, which will permit liquid to flow from the liquid reservoir through duct  33  to liquid spout  82 , so it may be directed to the user&#39;s palm or other outside receptacle.  
         [0025]    In FIG. 11 a,  it may be observed that the exterior lid  20  will not close because the valve handle  63  is turned to a position which will block the downward movement of the lid  20 . This is the position permitting fluid to flow. In FIG. 11 b , the valve handle  63 , in the closed position to prevent the flow of liquid, the external lid  20  will close.  
         [0026]    In operation, a filled solution reservoir  85  is placed on the carriage  40  and oriented so its opening faces pointed insert  35  of the lens well unit  30 . The reservoir opening is then connected with the pointed insert  35 , enabling fluid to pass from reservoir  85  into duct  33 . Valve  60  should be closed for storage or transport by inserting rinse spout  80  completely into passage  38  and, as mentioned above, lid  70  cannot be closed unless valve handle  62  is closed. Contact lenses may be placed in the wells  31  and  32  either in the presence of solution or in a dry state. The lids  20  and  70  are then closed and the unit is ready for travel. When it is time for use, the exterior lid  20  is opened, exposing upright element  44  of carriage  40  so the user may inject solution into the wells  31  and  32  by first opening valve  60  and then moving carriage  40  towards the wells one notch—that is, to the next receptacle  47 . Movement of carriage  40  the first increment will cause a measured dose of solution to pass through duct  33  to the wells  31  and  32 . Preferably each well will be filled to about ¾ level. After removing the lenses from the wells, the lids may be closed and the unit is ready to transport again. Alternatively, rinse spout  80  is withdrawn a short distance out of side wall  2  and turned ninety degrees to divert the flow of solution from duct  33  to the rinse spout  80 . The flow of solution may then be directed into the user&#39;s hand so the lens can be wetted prior to use.  
         [0027]    The particular construction illustrated can be varied considerably within the scope of the claims below. For example, it is not necessary for the carriage to be guided by guides  6  and  7  on base  1 ; guides need not be used at all, or, if they are, they can be placed on the walls of the base rather than on its floor. Likewise, the illustrated receptacles and nubs are a presently preferred design for ensuring more or less measured doses of fluid; this also is not necessary since the user can easily see the amount of fluid entering the wells, but if used, could also be on the walls  2  and/or  3 . The carriage itself is not necessary, since any device capable of constricting the reservoir is contemplated within our invention. The constrictor may be built into the reservoir—that is, it may simply be part of the wall of the reservoir. While we prefer that the reservoir be constructed with a neck or opening that can be punctured by prong  34  or a similar device, any convenient device for establishing fluid flow between the reservoir and the duct ( 33 ) or Y ( 37 ) may be used.  
         [0028]    Our invention therefore includes a contact lens carrying and treating device comprising (a) a case (b) at least one lens well in said case, (c) a collapsible solution reservoir within the case, (d) a constrictor for the collapsible solution reservoir for incrementally collapsing the collapsible solution reservoir within the case (e) a duct for conveying solution from the solution reservoir to the at least one lens well as the solution reservoir is collapsed, and (f) a valve in the duct for permitting solution to flow towards the at least one lens well when the solution reservoir is incrementally collapsed.  
         [0029]    Our invention also includes a contact lens travel case comprising (a) a base, (b) at least two lens wells on the base, (c) a liquid reservoir on the base (d) a duct leading from the liquid reservoir to the lens wells, (e) a constrictor for constricting the reservoir to cause liquid to pass from the reservoir through the duct to the wells, (f) an internal lid covering the wells while permitting a user to access the constrictor, and (g) an external lid closing off access to said constrictor.  
         [0030]    In another version, our invention includes a container and applicator for contact lens solution comprising a contact lens solution reservoir, the reservoir being reducible in volume as a function of the amount of solution therein, at least one solution well, the solution well having a connection to the solution reservoir to convey solution from the reservoir to the at least one well, and a valve for blocking and opening the connection.