Abstract:
A contact lens case includes a cup adapted to receive minimized quantity of cleaning solution and a cap removable of the opening mouth of the cup. The lens support structure is pivotally connected to the cap that holds one of a pair of lens within the cup. The lens support structure consists of a base plate where a pair of contact lenses lay on each side and is held by a pair of swiveling arms, one on each side. The lens support structure also acts as two contact lens eye wearing device, one on each side, when removed from cup and having the arms swiveled mechanically downward. When swiveled back to upright position the suction cup at the end of the swivel holds the contact lens against the lens support structure plate.

Description:
DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART  
       [0001]     Contact lenses have become popular since their inception over a decade ago. No longer are nearsighted users bound to glasses and spectacles, but users may now scuba dive, play basketball and handle a wide variety of competitive sporting events without the traditional restraint of glasses. Recently, contact lenses have become less expensive and more affordable increasing its popularity.  
         [0002]     One drawback of contact lenses is its susceptibility to protein deposits. Naturally occurring protein deposits in the eye built up over time and require a user to remove the contact lenses usually at night for storage in contact lens solution. The contact lenses are typically stored in a contact lens case. The traditional contact lens case includes a pair of containers forming shallow depressions each having a cap. A user typically stores a single contact lens in each shallow depression.  
         [0003]     While it is easy for most users to remove contact lenses, it is much more difficult to install them. The disposable version of contact lenses is much softer and more difficult to install in the eye. Also, a person&#39;s hands often has irritants such as dust, flaky skin or skin lotion that can irritate the eye. This requires a person to rinse the contact lens by hand before installation. A person must also wash hands and prevent contamination by irritants. When a user goes camping or is otherwise traveling, the user may have difficulty finding water to wash hands before installing contact lenses.  
         [0004]     A variety of travel kits include multiple case holders, bottles, disinfecting towels and tissues. One such accessory kit is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,915,545 and has a patent date of Jun. 29, 1999 to Shackel. While a handy invention, use of an accessory kit is sometimes too bulky. Unfortunately, most people do not like to carry too many implements unless they are absolutely necessary.  
         [0005]     Other kits such as the one described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,236,236 to Girimont requires numerous parts and implements for cleaning, rinsing, inserting and storing an extended wear contact lens. U.S. Pat. No. 4,520,923 to Waldman shows an interesting contact lens holder configuration patented in Jun. 4, 1985. The contacts lens rests on a dome and is strapped down with a strap. The contact lens case shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,981,657 by inventor Ryder shows a contact lens case with raised protective ribs that retains the contact lens in a basket like cover. Although the basket cover offers protection for the contact lens, the entire device still requires manual contact with contact lenses. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of the holder assembly.  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view showing enjoining between the lower holder assembly and the upper holder assembly.  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the assembled holder assembly.  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the holder assembly having one arm extended.  
         [0010]      FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of the container with portions of the holder assembly fitting into the container for showing orientation.  
         [0011]      FIG. 6  is a side cross sectional view of the lens supporting member and the suction cup member holding a contact lens. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0012]     The imprint  111 ,  FIG. 1  on the logo cap  112  can be molded in relief or otherwise printed on the top surface. The logo can be a trademark, or advertising slogan, or other commercial message modular and customizable by interchangeable selection of the logo imprint cap  112 . The entire device can be assembled lacking the logo imprint cap allowing final assembly of inserting only the imprint cap.  
         [0013]     A locking outside spool  116  fits over a locking inside spool  115 . The locking inside spool can be mounted to the logo imprint cap  112  and the locking outer spool  116  attached to the holder assembly  120 . The inside and outside spool form a spool means  118 . Between the logo imprinted cap and the holder assembly upper  120 , the cap  119  not shown on  FIG. 1  is sandwiched between as seen in  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 4 . The cap  119  has a bore defining an opening such that the opening allows the cap  119  to rotate around the spool means  118 . The turning of the cap  119  threaded upon the vial  510  does not rotate the spool means  118  because the spool means  118  has a clearance between it and the cap  119 .  
         [0014]     Therefore, the cap rotates while attached to the holder assembly upper portion  120 . The logo imprint cap portion  112  can be formed with the cap  119  as a single piece. Once formed as a single piece, the locking outside spool can be mounted to the upper cap portion or can be mounted to the holder assembly upper portion  120 . Also, the locking in side spool  115  can be mounted to the upper cap portion or be mounted to the holder assembly upper portion  120  as seen in  FIG. 1 . Also, the locking outside spool is not necessarily cylindrical and may have a varying cross section such that it has a larger diameter at a first end and tapers. The tapered profile biases the cap  119  in secure position when the cap  119  is closed on the container  510 .  
         [0015]     Also, the locking inner spool  115  optionally rotates around the locking outer spool  116 . When the inner spool  115  rotates around the outside spool  116 , the cap  119  is preferably secured in relation to the outside spool  116  not allowing rotation. The locking spools preferably have a tapered profile wherein the radius varies from a small to large radius. The profile can be seen in  FIG. 1 . The locking outside spool  116  and inside spool  115  snaps together and maintains a tight mechanical fit so that they do not separate in the ordinary course of usage.  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  The holder assembly upper  120  connects to the holder assembly lower  122  by a holder joint  121 . The holder joint preferably snaps together forming a non-removable integral unit.  
         [0017]     The holder assembly lower forms a Y configuration having a pair of arm joint inner members  132  at their ends. Although the arm joint outer  131  is commonly attached to the arm second end  134 , the joint mechanism can also be reversed having the arm joined other formed on the holder assembly  122  and the arm joint inner  132  mounted on the arm second end  134 . The best mode envisions the arm joint as a pivot having a single plane of motion. Alternatively, an arm joint inner  132  can be formed as a ball fitting within a socket arm joint outer  131 .  
         [0018]     The arms if optionally omitted would require the suction cups to be mounted to the lower holder assembly at the joint where the arms would otherwise be mounted. In this case, the well would not be rectangular in cross-section and would be of the same cross-section as the remainder of the container. Preferably, arms are included as they allow user improved dexterity and comfort when installing contact lenses.  
         [0019]     The lens support member  125  is formed on the holder assembly  120  or  122  and receives a contact lens  150  that is held in a suction cup  140 . The suction cup is attached to a first arm end  133 . The suction cup has a small enough diameter so that it loses connection with the contact lens  150  upon tangential force applied to the contact lens. The direction of the tangential force is in a direction that is perpendicular to the plane of the interface between the contact lens  150  and the suction cup  140 .  
         [0020]     The lens support member optionally omitted would require free floating of the contact lens still attached to the suction cup. Unfortunately, the contact lens may detach from the suction cup more easily because of agitation such as when a user participates in sports and carries the container in a pocket.  
         [0021]     The suction cup  140  has a greater curvature than the contact lens  150  which it holds. The curvature difference creates a gap of low pressure between the suction cup and the contact lens. The suction cup  140  is approximately half of the diameter of the contact lens or smaller. The smaller diameter allows the user to break the seal that is the gap of low pressure. A user can break the seal a variety of ways. The preferred mode for breaking the seal is to turn the suction cup allowing air to enter through one edge of the suction cup.  
         [0022]     The suction cup is mounted on the first arm end  133  so that it is centered over the lens-supporting member. The arm second end  134  has an arm joint connecting to an arm joint on the lower holder assembly  122 . The arm joint can be made as a joint outer which is a socket receiving a joint pin. The socket has preferably a single degree of motion such that it rotates one hundred eighty degrees from an extended arm position  222 ,  FIG. 3  to a stowed arm position  210 .  
         [0023]     In  FIG. 3 , the extended arm holds a suction cup that can be placed on a human eyeball by a user holding the cap  119  as a handle. The cap forming the handle does not rotate freely in relation to the spool means  118 , although it rotates when biased by a user. Similarly, the extended arm  222  does not swing freely relative to the holder assembly when the arm is extended for placements of the contact lens on top of a user&#39;s eyeball.  
         [0024]     As a safety feature, the arm joint  132  and  131  are formed not having sufficient bearing force to protect a user accidentally sticking the implement into the user&#39;s eyeball such as if a user involuntarily sneezes. In the safety mode, the arm joint outer  131  breaks off of the form joint inner  132  so that the user does not harm the eyeball. Also, the edges of the suction cup are soft preventing scratching to the cornea in case of accidents. The contact lens suction cup can be formed as a soft member having a cup portion and a mounting portion protruding from the cup portion. The mounting portion can be attached to the arm. Optionally, the mounting portion can also be attached to the joint where the arm is attached as long as the well is reconfigured in shape.  
         [0025]     A user manually removes contact lenses from the eye and places them upon the suction cup for storage. The suction cup  140  adheres to the contact lens upon contact. The user folds the arm and stores the lenses until next use. The lenses soak in contact lens solution felt in the vial or container  510 . In the morning typically, a user opens the container and unfolds the arms into extended position  222 . The user holds the cap and positions the contact lens  150  and suction cup  140  to the eye. The user places the contact lens on the eye and then turns the device and suction cup to an off-center position breaking the suction between the contact lens and the suction cup such that the contact lens stays adhered to the eye.  
         [0026]     As seen in figure five, a well  530  in a basically rectangular cross section shape stores the stowed arms  210  and prevents the turning or rotation of the holder assembly when the holder assembly is placed within the vial or container  510 .  
         [0027]     If a user can unfold the stowed arms, the user places the contact lens on the suction cup  140  and then folds the suction cup and contact lenses adhered to the suction cup into stowed position.  
         [0028]     The spoke openings  129  formed between the supporting spokes  128  and the central depression  127  formed inside the supporting spokes  128  provide a supporting structure capable of holding a contact lens while not causing an abrasion to the contact lens or causing adhesion of the contact lens to the supporting structure. The supporting spokes  128  ideally form an arched profile matching the profile of the inside of a contact lens. The spokes preferably have rounded smooth top surfaces maintaining soft contact with the contact lens inside surface.  
         [0029]     The out side annular support ring  126  prevents the slippage of the contact lens  150 . The annular ring  126  retains the contact lens. Thus, when the contact lens is stowed it is held between the supporting structure, the suction cup  140  and the annular support ring  126 . A left right insignia designation  160  is placed on the holder assembly lower portion  122  designating the contact lens as being from the left or right eye. The vial or container should be made of inert plastic such as polycarbonate.  
         [0030]     The central depression  127  can be formed as a hollow passing through the lens support member  125  such that a user looking at the lenses support member can see through the central depression just as the spoke opening  129  communicates through the lens support member. The central depression is shaped so that it does not create substantial suction on the contact lens, although slight suction is allowable. The dimensions of a contact lens may differ and have different variances according to the user such as sphere, power, and diameter. The contact lens case including the lens support member and suction cup  140  are adapted and sized to the particular dimensions of the users.  
         [0031]     The cap may have indentations allowing ease of grip when a user rotates the cap to secure it to the container. The indentations are often evenly spaced and can be decorative.  
       CALL OUT LIST OF ELEMENTS  
       [0000]    
       
           111  Logo Imprint  
           112  Logo Imprint Cap  
           115  Locking Inner Spool  
           116  Locking Outer Spool  
           118  Spool Means  
           119  Cap  
           120  Holder Assembly—Upper  
           121  Holder Joint  
           122  Holder Assembly—Lower  
           125  Lens Support Member  
           126  Outer Annular Support  
           127  Central Depression  
           128  Supporting Spoke  
           129  Spoke Opening  
           131  Arm Joint—Outer  
           132  Arm Joint—Inner  
           133  Arm First End  
           134  Arm Second End  
           140  Suction Cup  
           150  Contact Lens  
           160  Left Right Designation  
           210  Stowed Arm  
           222  Extended Arm  
           510  Vial or Container  
           530  Well