Abstract:
A contact lens package case includes a case frame having a case frame panel with a right panel edge, a left panel edge and first and second panel surfaces extending between the right panel edge and the left panel edge; a right contact lens compartment including a right compartment end cap carried by the first panel surface at the left panel edge of the case frame panel; and a right compartment cover carried by the case frame in sliding relation thereto. The right compartment cover is positional between a closed position engaging the right compartment end cap and an open position disengaging the right compartment end cap. A left contact lens compartment includes a left compartment end cap carried by the second panel surface at the right panel edge of the case frame panel and a left compartment cover carried by the case frame in sliding relation thereto. The left compartment cover is positional between a closed position engaging the left compartment end cap and an open position disengaging the left compartment end cap.

Description:
FIELD 
     Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure generally relate to receptacles for the storage of contact lens packages. More particularly, illustrative embodiments of the disclosure relate to a contact lens package case which separately organizes, stores and protects packages containing contact lenses for the left and right eyes of a user and facilitates easy access to the contact lens packages. 
     SUMMARY 
     Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure are generally directed to a contact lens package case. An illustrative embodiment of the contact lens package case includes a case frame having a case frame panel with a right panel edge, a left panel edge and first and second panel surfaces extending between the right panel edge and the left panel edge; a right contact lens compartment including a right compartment end cap carried by the first panel surface at the left panel edge of the case frame panel; and a right compartment cover carried by the case frame in sliding relation thereto. The right compartment cover is positional between a closed position engaging the right compartment end cap and an open position disengaging the right compartment end cap. A left contact lens compartment includes a left compartment end cap carried by the second panel surface at the right panel edge of the case frame panel and a left compartment cover carried by the case frame in sliding relation thereto. The left compartment cover is positional between a closed position engaging the left compartment end cap and an open position disengaging the left compartment end cap. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the contact lens package case; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of an illustrative embodiment of the contact lens package case; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the contact lens package case, with a right contact lens compartment and a left contact lens compartment shown in partially opened positions and multiple contact lens packages (illustrated in phantom) in the right and left contact lens compartments; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the partially opened contact lens package case illustrated in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the contact lens package case, with the right contact lens compartment partially opened and the left contact lens compartment closed; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the contact lens package case, with a right compartment cover removed to expose the right contact lens compartment; 
         FIG. 7  is a top perspective view, partially in section, of an illustrative embodiment of the contact lens package case with the right compartment cover partially opened to expose the right contact lens compartment; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view, partially in section, of the contact lens package case with both the right compartment cover and the left compartment cover partially opened; 
         FIG. 9  is a longitudinal sectional view, taken along section lines  9 - 9  in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a longitudinal sectional view, taken along section lines  10 - 10  in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a transverse sectional view, taken along section lines  11 - 11  in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a transverse sectional view, taken along section lines  12 - 12  in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a top perspective view of a typical case frame component of the contact lens package case, with the right compartment cover and the left compartment cover removed from the case frame; 
         FIG. 14  is a bottom perspective view of the case frame with the right and left compartment covers removed; 
         FIG. 15  is a top view of an illustrative embodiment of the contact lens package case; and 
         FIG. 16  is a bottom view of an illustrative embodiment of the contact lens package case. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable users skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims. Moreover, the illustrative embodiments described herein are not exhaustive and embodiments or implementations other than those which are described herein and which fall within the scope of the appended claims are possible. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. Relative terms such as “front” and “rear” are used in aid in an understanding of the illustrative embodiments of the contact lens package case and are not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. 
     Referring to the drawings, an illustrative embodiment of the contact lens package case is generally illustrated by reference numeral  1 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4  and will be hereinafter further described, the contact lens package case  1  is suitable for containing multiple contact lens packages  64  (illustrated in phantom) in which are packaged contact lenses corresponding to the right eye and the left eye of a user (not illustrated). In some applications, the contact lenses which are packaged in the contact lens packages  64  may include daily contact lenses which are replaced by the user on a daily basis. The contact lens package case  1  organizes, stores and protects the contact lens packages  64  from damage. The contact lens package case  1  keeps the contact lens packages  64  for the right eye separate from the contact lens packages  64  for the left eye since the contact lens prescriptions for the right and left eyes may be different for the user. The contact lens package case  1  allows the user to easily access a contact lens package  64  for the right eye or the left eye when a contact lens for that eye is needed. Accordingly, the contact lens package case  1  includes a right contact lens compartment  8  and a left contact lens compartment  28  which can be selectively and independently opened to separately access the contact lens packages  64  containing the contact lenses for the right eye and the left eye, respectively, of the user. The right contact lens compartment  8  and the left contact lens compartment  28  may be mirror images and may be rotated 180 degrees and inverted relative to each other, as will be hereinafter further described. The contact lens package case  1  may be fabricated of metal, plastic and/or other materials using molding, casting, machining and/or other fabrication techniques known by those skilled in the art. 
     The contact lens package case  1  may include a case frame  2 . As particularly illustrated in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , the case frame  2  may include a case frame panel  3  which may be generally flat or planar, elongated and rectangular in shape. The case frame panel  3  may have a first panel surface  7   a  and a second panel surface  7   b  which is opposite the first panel surface  7   a . The case frame panel  3  may have a right panel edge  4  and a left panel edge  5 . The right panel edge  4  and the left panel edge  5  may be generally parallel and spaced-apart to each other. A pair of panel side edges  6  may extend between the right panel edge  4  and the left panel edge  5 . The panel side edges  6  may be generally parallel and spaced-apart to each other and generally perpendicular to the right panel edge  4  and the left panel edge  5 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 13 , the right contact lens compartment  8  may include a right compartment end cap  10  on the first panel surface  7   a  at the left panel edge  5  of the case frame panel  3 . The right compartment end cap  10  may have a pair of spaced-apart right compartment end cap side walls  11  which extend from the first panel surface  7   a  at the respective panel side edges  6  of the case frame panel  3 . A right compartment end cap rear wall  12  may extend from the first panel surface  7   a  at the left panel edge  5  of the case frame panel  3  and between the right compartment end cap side walls  11 . A right compartment end cap main wall  13  may extend between the right compartment end cap side walls  11  and from the right compartment end cap rear wall  12  over the first panel surface  7   a  of the case frame panel  3 . 
     A pair of generally elongated, parallel, spaced-apart right compartment side walls  18  may extend from the respective right compartment end cap side walls  11  of the right compartment end cap  10  along the first panel surface  7   a  and adjacent and parallel to the respective panel side edges  6  toward the right panel edge  4  of the case frame panel  3 . At least one wall rail  21  may be provided along an exterior surface of each corresponding right compartment side wall  18  for purposes which will be hereinafter described. In some embodiments, a pair of access notches  23  may be provided in the respective right compartment side walls  18 . A right compartment end wall  19  may extend from the first panel surface  7   a  between the extending or distal ends of the right compartment side walls  18 . A right compartment cover stop  20  may protrude from the edge of the right compartment end wall  19  for purposes which will be hereinafter described. A right compartment interior  22  may be formed within the right compartment end cap  10  and by and between the first panel surface  7   a  and the right compartment side walls  18  and the right compartment end wall  19 . A right cover space  24  may be formed between the right compartment end wall  19  and the right panel edge  4  of the case frame panel  3  for purposes which will be hereinafter described. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 14 , the left contact lens compartment  28  may include a left compartment end cap  30  on the second panel surface  7   b  at the right panel edge  4  of the case frame panel  3 . The left compartment end cap  30  may include a pair of spaced-apart left compartment end cap side walls  31  which extend from the second panel surface  7   b  at the respective panel side edges  6  of the case frame panel  3 . A left compartment end cap rear wall  32  may extend from the right panel edge  4  between the left compartment end cap side walls  31 . A left compartment end cap main wall  33  may extend between the left compartment end cap side walls  31  and from the left compartment end cap rear wall  32  over the second panel surface  7   b  of the case frame panel  3 . 
     A pair of generally elongated, parallel, spaced-apart left compartment side walls  38  may extend from the respective left compartment end cap side walls  31  of the left compartment end cap  30  along the second panel surface  7   b  and adjacent and parallel to the respective panel side edges  6  toward the left panel edge  5  of the case frame panel  3 . At least one wall rail  41  may be provided along an exterior surface of each corresponding left compartment side wall  38  for purposes which will be hereinafter described. In some embodiments, a pair of access notches  43  may be provided in the respective left compartment side walls  38 . A left compartment end wall  39  may extend from the second panel surface  7   b  between the extending or distal ends of the left compartment side walls  38 . A left compartment cover stop  40  may protrude from the edge of the left compartment end wall  39  for purposes which will be hereinafter described. A left compartment interior  42  may be formed within the left compartment end cap  30  and by and between the second panel surface  7   b  and the left compartment side walls  38  and the left compartment end wall  39 . A left cover space  44  may be formed between the left compartment end wall  39  and the left panel edge  5  of the case frame panel  3  for purposes which will be hereinafter described. 
     As particularly illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the right contact lens compartment  8  may include a right compartment cover  46  which slidably engages the right compartment side walls  18  of the case frame  2  to facilitate selective opening and closing of the right compartment interior  22 . The right compartment cover  46  may include a cover main wall  47  which may be generally elongated and rectangular in shape. As illustrated in  FIGS. 9-12 , a right cover depression  53  may be provided in an interior surface of the cover main wall  47  of the right compartment cover  46 . A pair of spaced-apart cover side walls  48  may extend from opposite side edges of the cover main wall  47 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , at least one rail groove  51  may be provided in the interior surface of each cover side wall  48 . A cover end wall  49  may extend from an outside edge of the cover main wall  47  between the cover side walls  48 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , in some embodiments, a cover stop flange  50  may extend from an inside edge of the cover main wall  47  opposite the cover end wall  49 . Accordingly, as illustrated in  FIGS. 3, 4 and 10 , the rail grooves  51  ( FIGS. 11 and 12 ) in the interior surfaces of the cover side walls  48  on the right compartment cover  46  slidably engage the companion wall rails  21  on the exterior surfaces of the respective right compartment side walls  18  to facilitate selective opening and closing of the right compartment interior  22  in the right contact lens compartment  8 . As illustrated in  FIG. 15 , a label (not illustrated) which includes the designation “RIGHT” may be included on or stamped or molded into the right compartment cover  46  to indicate the right contact lens compartment  8 . As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , when the right compartment cover  46  is in the closed position, the right cover space  24  may accommodate the cover end wall  49  of the right compartment cover  46  such that the cover end wall  49  is generally flush with the right panel edge  4  of the case frame panel  3 . 
     The left contact lens compartment  28  may include a left compartment cover  56  which slidably engages the left compartment side walls  38  of the case frame  2  to facilitate selective opening and closing of the left compartment interior  42 . The left compartment cover  56  may include a cover main wall  57  which may be generally elongated and rectangular in shape. As illustrated in  FIGS. 9-12 , a left cover depression  63  may be provided in an interior surface of the cover main wall  57  of the left compartment cover  56 . A pair of spaced-apart cover side walls  58  may extend from opposite side edges of the cover main wall  57 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , at least one rail groove  61  may be provided in the interior surface of each cover side wall  58 . A cover end wall  59  may extend from an outside edge of the cover main wall  57  between the cover side walls  58 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , in some embodiments, a cover stop flange  60  may extend from an inside edge of the cover main wall  57  opposite the cover end wall  59 . Accordingly, as illustrated in  FIGS. 3, 4 and 10 , the rail grooves  61  in the interior surfaces of the cover side walls  58  on the left compartment cover  56  slidably engage the companion wall rails  41  on the exterior surfaces of the respective left compartment side walls  38  to facilitate selective opening and closing of the left compartment interior  42  in the left contact lens compartment  28 . As illustrated in  FIG. 15 , a label (not illustrated) which includes the designation “LEFT” may be included on or stamped or molded into the left compartment cover  56  to indicate the left contact lens compartment  28 . As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , when the left compartment cover  56  is in the closed position, the left cover space  44  may accommodate the cover end wall  59  of the left compartment cover  56  such that the cover end wall  59  is generally flush with the left panel edge  5  of the case frame panel  3 . 
     As further illustrated in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , in some embodiments, a right cover securing mechanism  14  may include at least one pair of right cover magnets  15  provided along the inside edge of the cover main wall  47  on the right compartment cover  46  and on the inside edge of the right compartment end cap main wall  13  of the right compartment end cap  10 , respectively. Similarly, a left cover securing mechanism  34  may include at least one pair of left cover magnets  35  provided on the inside edge of the cover main wall  57  on the left compartment cover  56  and on the inside edge of the left compartment end cap main wall  33  on the left compartment end cap  30 , respectively. Accordingly, the right compartment cover  46  of the right contact lens compartment  8  may be secured in the closed position by magnetic engagement of the right cover magnets  15  to each other. Likewise, the left compartment cover  56  of the left contact lens compartment  28  can be secured in the closed position by magnetic engagement of the left cover magnets  35  to each other. Opening of the right contact lens compartment  8  may be accomplished by orienting the contact lens packaging case  1  such that the right compartment cover  46  faces upwardly, breaking the magnetic engagement between the right cover magnets  15  and sliding the right compartment cover  46  to the right on the right compartment side walls  18  of the case frame  2 . Opening of the left contact lens compartment  28  can likewise be accomplished by orienting the contact lens packaging case  1  such that the left compartment cover  56  faces upwardly, breaking the magnetic attraction between the left cover magnets  35  and sliding the left compartment cover  56  to the left on the left compartment side walls  38  of the case frame  2 . The cover stop flange  50  ( FIGS. 9 and 10 ) on the cover main wall  47  of the right compartment cover  46  may engage the right compartment cover stop  20  on the right compartment end wall  19  to prevent the right compartment cover  46  from inadvertently sliding and falling from the case frame  2  upon opening of the right contact lens compartment  8 . Likewise, the cover stop flange  60  on the cover main wall  57  of the left compartment cover  56  may engage the left compartment cover stop  40  on the left compartment end wall  39  to prevent the left compartment cover  56  from inadvertently sliding and falling from the case frame  2  upon opening of the left contact lens compartment  28 . In some embodiments, the right cover securing mechanism  14  and the left cover securing mechanism  34  may include earth magnets. In other embodiments, the right cover securing mechanism  14  and the left cover securing mechanism  34  may include alternative securing mechanisms known by those skilled in the art such as clamps or brackets, for example and without limitation. 
     In typical application of the contact lens case  1 , contact lens packages  64  (illustrated in phantom in  FIG. 3 ) which contain contact lenses for the right eye of a user may be stored in the right contact lens compartment  8 . Accordingly, the right contact lens compartment  8  may be opened by initially orienting the contact lens package case  1  such that the right contact lens compartment  8  faces upwardly and the right compartment cover  46  is to the right of the right compartment end cap  10 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The right compartment cover  46  is slid to the right on the right compartment side walls  18  of the case frame  2 , away from the right compartment end cap  10  from the closed position illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 2 and 9  to the open position illustrated in  FIGS. 3, 4 and 10 . Multiple contact lens packages  64 , each of which contains at least one contact lens (not illustrated) for the user&#39;s right eye, may be placed in the right compartment interior  22  of the right contact lens compartment  8 . The right contact lens compartment  8  may then be closed by sliding the right compartment cover  46  to the left on the case frame  2  toward the right compartment end cap  10  until the right cover magnet  15  on the right compartment cover  46  magnetically engages the companion right cover magnet  15  on the right compartment end cap  10 . 
     Contact lens packages  64  ( FIG. 3 ) which contain contact lenses for the left eye of the user may be stored in the left contact lens compartment  28 . Accordingly, the left contact lens compartment  28  may be opened by initially orienting the contact lens package case  1  such that the left contact lens compartment  28  faces upwardly and the left compartment cover  56  is to the left of the left compartment end cap  30 . The left compartment cover  56  is slid to the left on the left compartment side walls  38  of the case frame  2 , away from the left compartment end cap  30  from the closed position illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 2 and 9  to the open position illustrated in  FIGS. 3, 4 and 10 . Multiple contact lens packages  64 , each of which contains at least one contact lens for the user&#39;s left eye, may be placed in the left compartment cover  56 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The left contact lens compartment  28  may then be closed by sliding the left compartment cover  56  to the right toward the left compartment end cap  30  until the cover magnets  35  magnetically engage each other. As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the right compartment cover  46  can be selectively removed from the case frame  2  by sliding the right compartment cover  46  to the right on the right compartment side walls  18  until the cover stop flange  50  ( FIG. 9 ) engages the right compartment right compartment cover stop  20  and lifting the right compartment cover  46  from the case frame  2 . The left compartment cover  56  can be selectively removed from the case frame  2  in like manner. 
     The contact lens case  1  can be easily transported by the user and selectively opened to access the contact lens packages  64  for the user&#39;s right eye, contained in the right contact lens compartment  8 , or to access the contact lens packages  64  for the user&#39;s left eye, contained in the left contact lens compartment  28 . Accordingly, the contact lens packages  64  in the right contact lens compartment  8  may be accessed by initially positioning the contact lens case  1  such that the right contact lens compartment  8  faces upwardly. The right compartment cover  46  is slid to the right on the right compartment side walls  18  of the case frame  2  to break the magnetic attraction between the right cover magnets  15  and expose the right compartment interior  22  and facilitate access of the contact lens packages  64 . The contact lens packages  64  for the user&#39;s left eye can be obtained from the left contact lens compartment  28  in like manner. In some embodiments, the access notches  23  in the respective right compartment side walls  18  and the access notches  43  in the respective left compartment side walls  38  may facilitate removal of the contact lens packages  64  from the right contact lens compartment  8  and the left contact lens compartment  28 , respectively. 
     While certain illustrative embodiments of the disclosure have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications can be made to the embodiments and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the disclosure.