Abstract:
A contact lens case containing design asymmetries sufficient to allow the ready distinction of the left and right wells by touch alone, but also containing optical asymmetries sufficient to aid in the distinction of left and right wells under poor vision conditions. Asymrnetries include large tactile asymmetries, such as curvature of the case; small tactile asymmetries, such as raised symbols; and grossly visible asymmetries, such as different well lid designs. The present invention also provides structural enhancements that improve the durability of the case and facilitate lens removal and insertion. Furthermore, the cases are manufactured in a variety of colors and designs, allowing the wearer to customize the cases in order to readily distinguish between different cases and, consequently, between different pairs of lenses.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (1) Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to contact lens cases and, more particularly, to contact lens cases having asymmetric properties for facilitating proper orientation of the case for accurate lens removal and insertion. Furthermore, the cases are manufactured in a variety of colors and designs, allowing the wearer to customize the cases in order to readily distinguish between different cases and, consequently, between different pairs of lenses. 
     (2) Description of the Prior Art 
     Contact lens cases are ubiquitous in modern society and many improvements have been made since their first invention. 
     Generally in the relevant art, the contact lens cases were marked in a manner that would allow the wearer to distinguish the left lens from the right lens because of the possibility that the wearer might need different lenses for each eye. Alternately, persons may not have different prescriptions for each eye, but may simply have a desire to keep the left and right lenses separated. Usually, the individual wells holding the lenses were marked with a visual marking of an L (for left) and an R (for right). Other symbols were doubtlessly also used, depending in part on the language and alphabet of the region in which the case would be used. The letters or symbols may also have been printed in relief to provide the contact lens case user with some indication of left and right sides of the case. No known improvements have been made on this convention. 
     Although these case characteristics allowed most wearers to easily distinguish the case wells under normal circumstances, wearers with severely impaired vision or wearers in areas of bad lighting may have found the task difficult. Wearers of contact lenses having poor touch or tactile sensitivity would be particularly disadvantaged in such a situation and would doubtlessly have to determine the proper lens for a particular eye by trial and error-insertion of a lens into an eye to determine if it properly corrects that eye&#39;s vision. Inserting and removing contact lenses can be a difficult task even under favorable conditions, and often lenses are dropped. 
     Contact lenses are small and transparent by design; these are properties that make them difficult to find when dropped. Dropping lenses under difficult circumstances can therefore lead to the loss of a lens. Furthermore, the advent and popularity of colored and/or designed or decorated lenses for cosmetic apparent alteration of eye color also requires quick recognition of the type of lens included within a given case for holding contact lenses. Insertion of the wrong lens type or style into the incorrect eye necessitates removal and reinsertion of the lens into the correct eye. These factors increase the chance of dropping and losing a lens. Again, dropping a lens often results in the loss of or damage to the lens. 
     In addition to these problems, persons with only minor vision differences between eyes may not be able to readily determine if the lenses are inserted into the proper eye. Also, some persons require different vision-correction power for each eye. In such circumstances, the person, upon arrival in better lighting conditions or after a period of time has passed since insertion, may notice the slight aberration of their vision. This annoyance may necessitate removal and reinsertion of the lenses into the correct eyes. Having to stop unexpectedly to exchange lenses between eyes may increase the possibility of contamination or damage to the lens or eye because the wearer may be in a hurry at the moment. In addition, stopping one&#39;s activity to correct this mistake is a definite annoyance and may even be a source of embarrassment if one has to explain to bystanders the motive for exchanging the lenses between eyes. 
     Traditionally, prior art has consistently used symmetrical cases to house or contain contact lenses. A few ornamental exceptions exist without any functional benefit being derived from the ornamental shape. Furthermore, complex ornamental designs of contact lens cases as in prior art compromise the structural integrity and fitness of use of the contact lens cases under normal, daily use. The shapes were purely decorative and the ornamentation often resulted in a structurally weak case with less-than-desirable compensatory characteristics, such as flip-top lids. In others, the non-symmetry was slight and difficult to distinguish visually or tactilely. As stated, these cases were typically structurally weak and easily broken. Thus, there remains a need for a durable case that will allow the contact lens wearer to easily distinguish the orientation of the case and easily remove and replace lenses into the case. 
     Additionally, the shapes, colors, and designs of contact lenses have recently expanded greatly due to advances in lens manufacturing technology and a demand by users for more creative and expressive lenses. This growth in the variety of lenses available has created a greater need for contact lens users to more easily distinguish lens pairs. This need can be satisfied by modification of case properties, including using different case colors, using customized well lids, and/or using transparent well lids, to make the cases or lens pairs readily distinguishable. 
     Therefore, a need exists to improve on the current art by allowing the wearer to more easily distinguish the left and right wells by incorporating more advanced physical, optical, and tactile qualities into the design, shape, and structure of the case. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a contact lens case for allowing the wearer to more easily distinguish the left and right wells by incorporating more advanced physical, optical, and tactile qualities into the design, shape, and structure of the case. As such, it is within the scope of the present invention is to provide contact lens cases having structural characteristics that improve the durability of the case and/or facilitate the handling of the case and/or lens. Also, it is within the scope of the invention to incorporate structural characteristics that make individual cases readily distinguishable or that allow the ready incorporation into the case of different ornamental designs such that individual cases can be made to be readily distinguishable or easily customizable. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a contact lens case that allows the user to distinguish the left and right wells of the case for quickly identifying which well from which to remove or to insert the respective and corresponding contact lens. Thus, one aspect of the present invention includes incorporating several physical, tactile, and/or optical asymmetries along one or both horizontal axes of the case. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a contact lens case having improved structural stability for durability in daily use over time. As such, one aspect of the present invention is to provide a contact lens case that incorporates structural improvements that allow the wearer to more easily retrieve and/or replace the lenses from/in the case without damage or breakage to the case. 
     A final scope of the invention is to make individual cases customizable and/or readily distinguishable. To this end, the cases are designed such that structural characteristics are incorporated that will allow the ready incorporation into the case of different ornamental designs or characteristics such that individual cases can be made to be readily distinguishable or easily customizable. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows a top view of a preferred embodiment according to the present invention. 
     FIGS. 2A and 2B show top views of an alternative embodiment according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 shows a side view of an embodiment according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of an embodiment according to the present invention. 
     FIGS. 5A and 5B show side views of an embodiment according to the present invention. 
     FIGS. 6 a ,  6   b  and  6   c  a side view of a section of an embodiment according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 shows a top inside view of an embodiment according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DEFINITIONS 
     For the purposes of improved clarity of the detailed description of the invention and preferred embodiments thereof, the following definitions are set forth but are not intended to otherwise limit the terms as understood in the art. 
     “Opening position” is intended to describe the position of the case in which it is upright in front of the opener with the well containing the left lens (left well) towards the left of the opener and the well containing the right lens (right well) toward the right of the opener. 
     “X-axis” is intended to describe the axis of the case that runs from left to right when the case is held in opening position in front of the wearer. 
     “Y-axis” is intended to describe the axis of the case that runs from front to back when the case is held in opening position in front of the wearer. 
     “Z-axis” is intended to describe the axis of the case that runs from top to bottom when the case is held in opening position in front of the wearer. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In the following description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views. Also in the following description, it is to be understood that such terms as “forward,” “rearward,” “front,” “back,” “right,” “left,” “upwardly,” “downwardly,” and the like are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms. Referring now to the drawings in general, the illustrations are for the purpose of describing a preferred embodiment of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention thereto. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the invention, generally referenced  10 , a contact lens case  10  is shown that includes at least two independent containers  12  and  14 , cylindrically-shaped at respective top interiors  16  and  18 , as best shown in FIGS. 6 a ,  6   b  and  6   c , and converging at respective bottom interiors  20  and  22 , in a gradual arc  24 , as best shown in FIG. 7, that may also be patterned, e.g. beveled, spiral, or other 3-dimensional pattern, to form two independent well-shaped cavities  26  and  28 , respectively. The respective exteriors  30 ,  32  of the wells are cylindrical and threaded at the top region  34  in order to accept a screw-type lid  36 , then tapered conically  38  towards flat bottoms  40 ,  42  to form the case base  44 , as shown in FIGS. 6 a ,  6   b  and  6   c . Significantly, the screw-type lids include a threaded top region  34  having at least 2.5 turns, preferably 3.5 turns. The at least 2.5 turns on each threaded top region ensures secured lid placement and sealed closure when the lids are screwed onto the respective case wells. 
     The wells  26 ,  28  are connected by a bridge region  46  at the exterior convergence  48  of the upper cylindrical portion  30 ,  32  and the bottom conical portions  38  of the wells, as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. This bridge region  46  is in the form of an arcuate plane  50  formed by the area  55  between two parallel arcs  52 ,  54 , respectively. The area  55  between the arcs is defined by the distance k between two parallel arcs which are semicircles  56 ,  58  of two circles having the same origin O and having radii r and r 1 , wherein k=r−r 1 . The distance k is also the approximate diameter of a case lid  36 . The arcuate plane connects the wells beginning in the region where the rear boundary arc  60  of the arcuate plane meets the wells, which are posterior tangents  64 , and extending to the region where the front boundary arc  62  of the arcuate plane meets the wells at front tangents  66 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, the wells and arcuate plane together form a base  68  that can be of a variety of colors to facilitate distinction between cases. This color-coded distinction advantageously facilitates distinction between contact lens cases housing different types of contact lenses. Furthermore, the case in the preferred embodiment includes a high polish finish. Importantly, this high polish finish prevents the accumulation of dust and other particulate matter that might contaminate or otherwise negatively impact the sterility of the lenses enclosed within the case wells. Also importantly and surprisingly, the ridged regions on the exterior circumference of each of the lids to facilitate lid removal and closure include ridges  90  at a spaced apart distance equal to at least the width dimension  92  of each of the ridges. Preferably, the spaced apart distance is equal to at least about 1.5 to 2.0 times the width dimension of each of the ridges. This spaced apart distance is also important in preventing the accumulation of dust and other particulate matter that might contaminate or otherwise negatively impact the sterility of the lenses enclosed within the case wells. 
     As set forth in the foregoing, the wells are covered with screw-type lids designed to form a waterproof seal (not shown) with the top of the wells. In addition, these lids are designed to accommodate adhesive stickers  70 ,  71  as shown in FIGS. 2A,  2 B on their upper exterior surface  72  such that the cases are customizable in a variety of patterns. Notably, the upper exterior surface  72  includes a lip  74  that is approximately equal to the thickness of the sticker  70  and constructed and configured such that when the sticker is applied to the upper exterior surface the sticker does not protrude above the plane  76  established by the exterior surface lip. Alternately, the lids may be sufficiently transparent or translucent to allow the user to identify the contents directly. 
     The arcuate plane, formed by the two parallel arcs of, is designed such that the case holder can readily discern the front  80  and rear edges  82  of the case. A shape of two parallel arcs is more advantageous to the user for the task of orientation than other designs, for example, designs wherein the bridge has no symmetry whatsoever or designs wherein the bridge is formed by the area between two opposing arcs. In this latter configuration, it is necessary for the holder to be able to distinguish between the orientation of the curvature of the arcs and the degree of curvature of the anterior and posterior arcs as with prior art cases. Determining the degree of curvature of the arcs may be difficult for persons with poor tactile abilities, large digits, bandaged fingers, or prostheses. Therefore, elimination of this step in the task of case-orientation is a definite benefit. This difficulty is eliminated with the present invention. 
     In preferred embodiments, the case incorporates one or more of the following characteristics either separately or in combination. 
     The case orientation by the user is improved and facilitated by a variety of characteristics, primarily asymmetry of case configuration and construction serves as the predominant orientation characteristic. An asymmetry along the x-axis  102  of the case is advantageously incorporated as an aid for case orientation. For example, this asymmetry can be a curvature in the case, such as is shown in FIG. 1, and/or the incorporation of a distinguishing symbol  106  on one side of the axis. An asymmetry along the y-axis  108  may also advantageously be incorporated as an aid for case-orientation. This asymmetry, as best shown in FIG. 2A, is provided by dissimilar optical designs  70 ,  71  on the lids of the left and right wells. Also, the shape or size of the lids may be different, allowing the wearer to distinguish the left and right cases by touch as well as sight. For example, as best shown in FIG. 3, one lid may be domed  312 , whereas the other may be flat  314 . Alternately, both lids may be flat, as shown in FIG. 5A, or domed, FIG.  5 B. Regardless of the shape or size of the lids, they are interchangeable with respect to the wells to allow for easier production of the complete case line and rapid adaptability of the lids to changing buying forecasts or patterns. Also, as shown in FIG. 4, the letters L ( 416 ) and R ( 418 ) may be printed in relief on the bottom of the wells such that when the wearer holds these in the legible orientation, the case can be moved to the opening position by simply rotating the case around the x-axis. 
     Structural characteristics that improve the durability of the case and/or facilitate the handling of the case and/or lens may also be incorporated into the case. Such improvements include a multiplicity of ridges, preferably triple ridges  419 , that follow the curve of the case and connect the wells in order to provide strength and stability such that the case will not snap or break. These ridges may be rounded for handling comfort and of sufficient thickness and depth to impart adequate strength and rigidity to the case. Another improvement is the incorporation of sufficient spacing  520  between lids to facilitate their removal and replacement. Base thickness  522  may also be such as to provide adequate support, strength, and stability. Ridged-edged lids  624  to prevent slippage when opening or closing the well may also be included. Lipped lids (not shown) and screw-on lids to facilitate waterproof closure of the wells are definite benefits that may be included in case design. Wells that are patterned  730  on the interior, e.g., faceted, spiraled, ridged, or the like, wide, and/or deep in order to facilitate removal of the lenses from the wells are other characteristics that may be included into the design of the case. 
     Structural characteristics that make individual cases customizable and/or readily distinguishable may also be incorporated into the case. Lids may be provided that incorporate recessed top exteriors to accommodate an adhesive in such a fashion that the top of the adhesive is sufficiently flush with the bordering top of the lid such that the edge of the adhesive cannot be lifted from the lid by simple contact. This characteristic allows for a variety of designs to be adhered onto the well lids in an aesthetically pleasing manner. These stickers may be in a variety of designs including, but not limited to, product brands, logos, and custom designs. Using adhesive stickers also allows the user to easily change case design should they need to or so desire. Additionally, using adhesive stickers allow the manufacturer to manufacture “blank” cases and then decorate them with appropriate adhesives as required. This flexibility in design facilitates meeting forecasts and/or buying patterns and allows a more rapid change in production of individual designs. A final characteristic that can be used to customize cases or make cases readily distinguishable is case color. For example, a case color may be selected that matches or complements the lens color. 
     Certain modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the foregoing description. All modifications and improvements have been deleted herein for the sake of conciseness and readability but are properly within the scope of the following claims.