Abstract:
A system for releasing a contained volume of gas. The system has a base with a pressure-release vent positioned within a flex region and a seal to disengagably seal the pressure-release vent. The seal has a gas vent path that extends from the pressure-release vent. The contained volume of gas passes through the gas vent path to apply force against the flex region and disengage the seal from the pressure-release vent, allowing the gas to exit through the pressure-release vent.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/707,097, filed May 8, 2015, which is entirely incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates generally to the field of lens care, and more particularly to a container for disinfection and storage of contact lenses. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Contact lens containers of various styles and functionality are utilized for storing, cleaning and/or disinfecting contact lenses. In some lens containment and care systems a hydrogen peroxide based lens care solution is used, wherein the contact lenses to be cleaned and/or disinfected are deposited in contact with the hydrogen peroxide solution for a certain period of time, in order that cleaning and/or disinfecting of the contact lenses can take place to a satisfactory extent. The contact lens containers utilized in such lens care systems typically comprise closable baskets, which open to receive the contact lenses to be cleaned and close to retain the lenses during treatment. The baskets are typically part of a contact lens holder component, which in turn can be connected to the cap of a contact lens container, for example via a stern or rib. Before the cap is placed onto the container cup, the container cup is dosed to a prescribed fill level with a hydrogen peroxide lens care solution. A catalyst tablet, for example catalase which gives delayed release of catalase, can be added to the container cup before or after adding the hydrogen peroxide solution. Finally, the contact lens holder containing the lenses to be treated is immersed into the hydrogen peroxide solution in the container cup, and the container is closed by screwing the cap onto the container cup. 
         [0004]    The closure of the cap on the container cup may form a water-tight seal, to prevent leakage of the cleaning solution. The contact lenses are allowed to remain immersed in the solution for a period of time sufficient to complete the specified cleaning and/or disinfecting process. The oxygen produced from decomposition of hydrogen peroxide in the cleaning solution typically must be allowed to discharge from the container in some manner. Attempts to provide oxygen discharge exist, for example U.S. Pat. No. 6,945,389 and U.S. Pat. No. 8,757,367. 
         [0005]    Continued improvements to lens care systems for cleaning, disinfecting and storing contact lenses are desired. It is to the provision of improved lens care systems that the present invention is primarily directed. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a lens care container for cleaning with cleaning solution. The lens care container includes a container cup defining an interior chamber accessible through an opening bounded by a rim having an outer diameter. The container cup is configured to hold the lens cleaning solution. The cap can be removably attachable to the container cup to cover the opening. The cap can further include a top panel, a coupling hub, and a collar having an inner diameter extending transversely from the top panel. The inner diameter can be configured to receive the container cup outer diameter. The top panel can include a pressure-release vent positioned within a deflection region. The coupling hub can define an interior gas vent path that extends from the top panel and bounded by an anti-rotation mechanism and at least one channel. The lens holder can include a stem having an anti-rotation mechanism that cooperates with the cap anti-rotation mechanism. The interaction between the stem anti-rotation mechanism and the cap anti-rotation mechanism can prevent rotation of the cap with respect to the lens holder. The lens holder can also include a seal which can sealably engage the cap pressure-release vent when the cap and lens holder are received within the container cup. During a disinfection process, a volume of gas generated from the cleaning solution passes through the at least one channel vent into the interior gas vent path to apply force against the deflection region and disengage the lens holder seal from the cap pressure-release vent to allow the gas to exit through the cap pressure-release vent. 
         [0007]    Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a system for releasing a volume of gas from a container that has a contained volume and a connector. The system includes a base that is removably connected to the container connector. The base includes a pressure-release vent that is positioned within a flex region. The system also includes a seal to disengagably seal the pressure-release vent. The seal includes a gas vent path that extends from the pressure-release vent into the container contained volume. The volume of gas passes through the gas vent path to apply force against the flex region and disengage the lens holder seal from the cap pressure-release vent, allowing the gas to exit through the cap pressure-release vent. 
         [0008]    A still further aspect of the present disclosure relates to a system for releasing a volume of gas from a container that includes a contained volume and a connector. The system includes a cap that is removably attachable to the container cup connector to enclose the volume of gas. The cap includes a top panel that includes a pressure-release vent positioned within a deflection region. The system also includes a coupling hub that includes a seal to removably seal the pressure-release vent, and an interior gas vent path extending from the top panel and bounded by at least one channel vent. The volume of gas passes through the at least one channel vent into the interior gas vent path to apply force against the deflection region and unseal the lens holder seal from the cap pressure-release vent, allowing the gas to exit through the cap pressure-release vent. 
         [0009]    A still further aspect of the present disclosure relates to a system for releasing a contained volume of gas. The system has a base with a pressure-release vent positioned within a flex region and a seal to disengagably seal the pressure-release vent. The seal has a gas vent path that extends from the pressure-release vent. The contained volume of gas passes through the gas vent path to apply force against the flex region and disengage the seal from the pressure-release vent, allowing the gas to exit through the pressure-release vent. 
         [0010]    A still further aspect of the present disclosure relates to a lens care container with a container defining an interior chamber and a cap which is removably attachable to the container. The cap has a pressure-release vent positioned within a deflection region. The lens care container also has and a lens holder with a seal to sealably engage the cap pressure-release vent. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective assembly view of a lens care system according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the contact lens holder component of the lens care system shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view with partial cutaway of the cap component of the lens care system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a perspective cross sectional view of the cap component of the lens care system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 5A  is a cross sectional view of the contact lens holder component of  FIG. 2  in a sealed state. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5B  is a cross sectional view of the contact lens holder component of  FIG. 5A  in an unsealed state. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6 . is an exploded view of the contact lens holder component of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 7 . is an underneath exploded view of the contact lens holder component of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 8 . is a perspective cut away view of the stem and neck of the contact lens holder component of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 9 . is a perspective view of the stem and neck of the contact lens holder component of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the cap removed from the stem and neck of the contact lens holder component of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the cap of  FIG. 10 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  is a bottom view of the cap of  FIG. 10 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    The present disclosure may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing figures, which form a part of this disclosure. It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific devices, methods, conditions or parameters described and/or shown herein, and that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting of the claimed invention. Any and all patents and other publications identified in this specification are incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein. 
         [0025]    An example lens care container  10  for cleaning with cleaning solution is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-12 . As illustrated, the container  10  includes a cup  100 , a cap  20  and lens holder  30 . The cap  20  can be a monolithic structure. The lens holder  30  can be a unitary structure. The lens holder  30  is illustrated to support a catalyst  40  disc. 
         [0026]    The illustrated container cup  100  defines an interior chamber accessible through a top opening bounded by a rim  105 . The interior chamber holds a volume of cleaning and/or disinfection solution. The catalyst disc  40  interacts with the cleaning and/or disinfection solution when the cap  20  is inserted into the container cup  100 . 
         [0027]    The container cup  100  rim  105  includes an outer diameter. As illustrated, a connection collar  101  extends from the rim  105  along the outer surface of the container cup  100 . The connection collar  101  can have a securing surface, for example threading. As illustrated, the threaded connection collar surface  101  can have a channel  103  of unthreaded sections to provide a discharge channel for gas vented from the container during use, as will be described further below. The unthreaded channel  103  can extend generally linearly from the rim of the container cup  100  through the length of the threaded surface  101 . 
         [0028]    The illustrated container  10  also includes a cap  20  that is removably attachable to the container cup  100  to cover the opening. The cap  20  includes a top panel  21 , a coupling hub  26 , and a collar  24 . The illustrated collar  24  includes an inner diameter that extends transversely from the top panel  21 . The inner diameter of the collar  24  is configured to receive the outer diameter of the collar  101  of the container cup  100 . 
         [0029]    The top panel  21  includes a pressure-release vent  23  that is positioned within a deflection region  27 . The deflection region  27  is defined by an annular geometry, for example a ring, of reduced thickness recessed away from the interior gas vent path  37 . 
         [0030]    The coupling hub  26  defines an interior gas vent path  37  that extends from the top panel  21  and is bounded by an open distal end with an anti-rotation mechanism  42  and at least one channel vent  28 . As illustrated, the cap pressure-release vent  23  includes an aperture extending through the top panel  21 . The illustrated cap pressure-release vent  23  aperture can also include a funneled mouth  29  that leads from the inner surface of the cap  21 . 
         [0031]    The illustrated lens holder  30  includes a stem  33  with an anti-rotation mechanism  38  that cooperates with the cap anti-rotation mechanism  42  to prevent rotation of the cap  20  with respect to the lens holder. The illustrated stem  33  also includes a seal  35  which can sealably engage the cap pressure-release vent  23  when the cap  20  and lens holder  30  are received within the container cup  100 . The illustrated lens holder seal  35  can include a dome  39  extending from the stem  33 , such that the dome sealably engages the inner circumference of the cap pressure-release vent  23  aperture. The illustrated lens holder seal  35  can also include a chamfered ring  41  surrounding the dome  39 . The chamfered ring  41  sealably inserts into the funneled mouth  29  on the pressure-release valve  23 . 
         [0032]    As particularly depicted in  FIG. 5A , when the catalyst disc  40  interacts with the cleaning and/or disinfection solution in the container cup  100 , a volume of gas passes through the channel vents  28  into the interior gas vent path  37 . This escaping gas applies an outwardly-directed force against the deflection region  27  of the cap  21 . As particularly depicted in  FIG. 5B , this application of force flexes the cap top surface  21  and disengages the lens holder seal  35  from the cap pressure-release vent  23  to allow the gas to exit through the cap pressure-release vent. 
         [0033]    The illustrated lens holder stem  33  also includes at least two passageways  37 . The at least two passageways  37  can be defined by at least two intersecting plates. As illustrated, the at least two intersecting plates support the lens holder seal  35 . When the lens holder  30  is secured to the cap  20 , the at least two passageways in the stem  33  can be aligned with the interior gas vent path  37  in the hub  26  to allow free passage of the gas entering through the at least one channel vent  28 . 
         [0034]    As illustrated, the cap anti-rotation mechanism  42  includes a male orientation key, and the lens holder anti-rotation mechanism  38  includes a female receiver to receive the cap anti-rotation mechanism orientation key. 
         [0035]    As illustrated, the cap coupling hub  26  can include a snap ring  31 , for example a ridge, protruding within the interior gas vent path  37 . The lens holder stem  33  can include a snap groove  43  to receive the snap ring  31 . 
         [0036]    As illustrated, the lens holder  30  can also include a pair of repositionable lens baskets  32 . The lens holder  30  can also include a neck  34  that extends between the pair of lens baskets  32  and the stem  33 . The stem  33  also includes a radial flange  36  that extends between the neck  34  and the stem  33 . The lens holder anti-rotation mechanism  38  can be defined within the radial flange  36 . 
         [0037]    As illustrated, the cap top panel  21  can also include a rim wall  25  extending within the collar  24 . The rim  105  of the container cup  100  is received between the cap collar  24  inner diameter and the rim wall  25 . 
         [0038]    Although specific embodiments of the disclosure have been described, numerous other modifications and alternative embodiments are within the scope of the disclosure. For example, any of the functionality described with respect to a particular device or component may be performed by another device or component. Further, while specific device characteristics have been described, embodiments of the disclosure may relate to numerous other device characteristics. Further, although embodiments have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as illustrative forms of implementing the embodiments. Conditional language, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments could include, while other embodiments may not include, certain features, elements, and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements, and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments.