Patent Publication Number: US-2011056849-A1

Title: Contact lens container with solution injection system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/315,850, filed Dec. 3, 2008, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/285,785, filed Nov. 21, 2005, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/382,703, filed Mar. 6, 200 3 , which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties, including but not limited to those portions that specifically appear hereinafter, the incorporation by reference being made with the following exception: In the event that any portion of the above-referenced application is inconsistent with these applications, this application supercedes said above-referenced applications. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. The Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to contact lens storage cases, and more particularly, but not necessarily entirely, to compact contact lens storage cases having an integrated fluid storage reservoir with a system for injecting solution from the reservoir into the storage cases. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Contact lenses were invented more than 100 years ago as an alternative to eye glasses. Though they were originally made from glass, and later hard plastic, contact lenses today are customarily made from soft plastic. Contact lenses are small, thin disks specially designed to be placed directly onto the surface or cornea of the eye. While they are most commonly used to correct vision problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism, they may also be used to treat certain eye conditions and diseases. For example, contacts often are used by individuals who have had cataract surgery but did not receive lens implants. In addition, people without vision problems occasionally wear contact lenses to enhance or manipulate the colors of their eyes. 
     There are two primary types of contact lenses: hard and soft. Hard contact lenses come in two forms: non-gas permeable and gas permeable. Gas-permeable lenses allow oxygen to reach the corneal surface, are more flexible than the non-gas permeable lenses, and are the most commonly used form of hard contact lens. Soft contact lenses also come in two forms: daily wear and extended wear. Both types of lenses are made from thin, flexible, plastic material. The daily-wear lenses require daily removal, cleaning and storage. Extended-wear lenses are designed to be worn overnight; however recent studies indicate that extended-wear lenses should be worn for the shortest practical period, ideally for one day, because of the increased risk of infection associated with these lenses. This recommendation militates against overnight wear. 
     While contact lenses provide a great benefit to their users, they require significantly more attentiveness than a pair of simple eyeglasses. Mineralized deposits can form on the surface of the contact lenses, thereby causing discomfort to the wearer. In addition, micro-organisms can flourish on the lenses as well. Even without the mineralized deposits and the micro-organisms, nearly all contact lenses need to be hydrated periodically in order to maintain their proper flexibility and comfort to the user. It should be recognized, that contact lenses are also easily damaged and are notoriously difficult to locate once they have been lost or misplaced. 
     Appropriate cleansing of contact lenses varies depending on the type of lenses. But, all lenses require regular, thorough cleaning and disinfecting. It is especially important that daily-wear and extended-wear users follow the recommended regimen of lens cleaning, rinsing, disinfecting, enzymatic cleaning and lens case cleaning. With all lenses, only commercially prepared sterile solutions are recommended. Lenses that are cleaned regularly last longer, are more comfortable and lower the risk of eye infection. 
     As mentioned above, commercially available contact lens solution has been developed to aid contact lens wearers in cleaning and disinfecting their lenses. The contact lens solutions have also been developed to aid in re-hydrating the lenses. The solution is normally marketed in large bottles usually containing a supply of solution for several weeks or up to several months. 
     Various types of contact lense storage cases have been devised as a convenient means of cleaning, disinfecting and storing the lenses. The most simple device consists of a small fluid-tight storage compartment of sufficient size to receive one or two of the lenses. Typically, the lenses are stored in separate compartments so as not to reverse the lenses as they may be different. One compartment is usually marked with an “L” denoting the left lens and the other an “R” denoting the right lens. 
     Once the lenses have been removed from the eyes of the wearer and placed into their respective storage compartments, a small amount of solution, usually just enough to cover the contact lens lenses, is added to the storage compartment. The lenses are typically soaked overnight or until needed again. The soaking process acts to clean, disinfect and re-hydrate the lenses. 
     One significant drawback that exists in the prior art is that the contact lens storage container and contact lens solution bottles are not integrated into one portable compact unit, thus, the contact lens wearer must carry a separate storage case and solution bottle. One attempt to overcome this drawback is found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,905,819 and 5,127,517, both awarded to Clements et al. These patents describe a contact lens storage case attached to the top of a bottle of treatment solution. While the Clements et al. patents disclose a contact lens storage case with an included fluid container, these devices still have undue limitations. Most importantly, the devices disclosed in the Clements et al. patents do not lend themselves easily to the portability required by today&#39;s active lifestyles. In particular, the shape and the size of the devices are not conducive to easily fit in a pocket or small purse. For example, the disclosed devices are bulky and would not be convenient for biking, hiking, or other outdoor activities. In addition, the devices are excessively heavy due to the size of the treatment solution bottle. This characteristic of the inventions disclosed in Clements et al. is problematic because without a convenient and portable contact lens case, wearers of contact lenses tend to forego the requisite cleaning and disinfecting if they are away from home. 
     Thus, there exists a need for a truly portable contact lens storage container with an integrated solution reservoir containing an extended supply of contact lens treatment solution that can be injected directly into the storage container. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     The present embodiment comprises an all-in-one portable contact lens storage case with an integrated storage reservoir and a solution injection system. The present embodiment is characterized by its compact size and portability. In addition, the solution injection system allows an effective amount of the contact lens treatment solution to be directly injected into the contact lens receptacles. The injection system also allows excess solution to be discharged from the contact lens receptacles. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the subsequent detailed description presented in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an perspective view of one previously available device; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a first embodiment illustrated with the lid open; 
         FIG. 3  is a profile view of the first embodiment with the lid closed; 
         FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of the first embodiment, illustrated with the lid closed; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the first embodiment illustrated with the lid open; 
         FIG. 5  is an elevated perspective view showing the first embodiment in a disassembled state; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a partial view of a second embodiment having a recess for an eye drop bottle; and 
         FIG. 8  is a view of a third embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles provided in accordance with the present invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein, which would normally occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention claimed. 
     It must be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a solution” includes a mixture of two or more of such solutions and reference to “an airtight seal” includes reference to one or more of such seal. 
     As used herein, “comprising,” “including,” “containing,” “characterized by,” and grammatical equivalents thereof are inclusive or open-ended terms that do not exclude additional, unrecited structural elements or method steps. 
     The previously available devices are characterized by large and bulky contact lens holders that are impracticable for away-from-home use due to their relatively heavy weight, especially if the user is participating in an outdoor activity such as skiing, biking or hiking. In particular, the previously available devices lack an all-in-one portable contact lens case with an integrated container for storing contact lens solution. 
     An example of one previously available device is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The contact lens holder  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1  is comprised of a contact lens case  11  connected to the top of a solution bottle  16 . The solution bottle  16  contains treatment solution for cleaning the contact lenses (not shown) placed in the recessed chambers  12 . The contact lens case  11  is designed to fit on a wide range of commercially available containers. Thus, when empty, the solution bottle  16 , may be replaced with another purchased at a retail site, or it may be refilled. In general, the solution bottle  16 , when full, is heavy and contains a supply of treatment solution which may last several months. 
     The contact lens case  11  of  FIG. 1  has two recessed chambers  12  for storing contact lenses. A lid  18  closes over the recessed chambers  12 . A distributor head  20  is used to fill the recessed chambers  12  with the treatment solution. When the lid  18  is closed, the distributor head  20  cannot squirt solution into the recessed chambers  12 . Further, the distributor head  20  cannot discharge excess treatment solution from the recessed chambers  12  without the user opening lid  18 . As discussed above in connection with the device shown in  FIG. 1 , the overall length, width, height and cylindrical shape of the device make it impracticable to place into a pocket or small purse. While the contact lens holder  10  is portable in the sense that it can be taken from place to place, it is not convenient to be constantly carried by a user, especially when outdoors or at work. 
     As will be seen and described below, the illustrative embodiments are compact and extremely portable, unlike the previously available devices, making it extremely useful to contact wearers. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2-7 , generally, the illustrative embodiments are directed to a portable light-weight contact lens container, generally designated at  100 , which includes its own integrated supply reservoir  112 , with an internally situated system for injecting the contact lens solution into the lens receptacles  116 . A front perspective view of the first embodiment is shown in  FIG. 2 , with a lid  104  assuming an open position. 
     The contact lens container  100  comprises a base member  110  integrated with the reservoir  112  as shown in  FIG. 2 . The base member  110  has two lens receptacles  116  recessed in its top surface  118  for holding contact lenses. The base member  110  and the lens receptacles  116 , are one example of a means for receiving and holding contact lenses. The receiving means can refer to any storage case designed to receive and hold contact lenses. It will be appreciated that the means for receiving is merely one example of accomplishing the storage of the contact lenses, other suitable arrangements known or readily ascertainable, to those skilled in the art, may be used and are within the scope of the present invention. 
     The receiving means can refer to any storage case designed to receive and hold two contact lenses. The lens receptacles  116  should be of sufficient depth to receive a contact lens (not shown) and hold a effective amount of contact lens solution to clean, disinfect and hydrate the lenses. The lens receptacles  116  are preferably cupped shaped with a circular opening, but may be any shape as long as it is of sufficient volume to hold a contact lens. Each of the two receptacles  116  is provided with one of two solution ports  108  located below the respective rims  119  of the receptacles  116 , whose purpose an function will be further explained below. The lens receptacles  116  may optionally have a textured surface  117  as shown best in  FIG. 4 , and explained in connection therewith. The textured surface aids in cleaning the contact lenses when the lenses make contact with the surface. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 2 , the reservoir  112  is preferably comprised of a flexible resilient material, such as plastic or the like, and should be capable of storing a supply of treatment solution. The reservoir  112  should be of sufficient internal volume to store a supply of treatment solution for up to several days or weeks, depending on the recommended usage and needs of the user. For example, one illustrative volume for the reservoir  112  is in the range from about 150 ml to about 400 ml while another illustrative volume is 250 ml to about 750 ml. The reservoir  112  can be replenished with treatment solution from a larger commercially available product, normally sold in a bulk amount and in a cylindrical type container. The reservoir  112  should also be of sufficient durability to withstand the rigors of outdoor activity such as backpacking, skiing or biking The oblong shape of the reservoir  112 , as particularly shown in  FIG. 4  also promotes efficient squeezing. The reservoir  112 , is one example of a fluid storage means for storing a supply of treatment solution. Other suitable arrangements known or readily ascertainable, to those skilled in the art, may be used and are within the scope of the present invention. 
     Pivotally mounted on the rear of the base member  110  with a hinge  120  is a lid  104  having a lid lock  102 . The hinge  120  comprises a pin connecting the lid  102  to the base member  110 . Other suitable arrangements known or readily ascertainable, to those skilled in the art, may be used and are within the scope of the present invention, i.e., a composite lid  104  and base member  110  having a flexible connection allowing the lid  104  to assume an open position and a closed position. Further, the lid lock  102  may be substituted for by any number of equivalent structures known or readily ascertainable, to those skilled in the art, such as a clasp or elastic member. In short, any means whereby the lid is held shut. The bottom surface of the lid  104  optionally having a reflective surface  106 , such as a mirror, attached thereto to assist the lens wearer in inserting and removing the lenses from his or her eyes. 
     The front of the base member  110  further having a second lid latch  114  to releasably receive the lid lock  102  when the lid  104  is closed. When the lid  104  is closed, as seen in  FIGS. 3 and 3A , a substantially fluid tight seal should be formed between the lid  104  and the top surface  118  of the base member  110  thereby preventing any contact lens solution from leaking undesirably from the lens receptacles  116 . A gasket or other sealing material may be used to create the fluid tight seal between the top surface  118  and the lid  104 . A raised ridge or flange may also be used to form the seal. The lid  104  in the closed position also serves to maintain the lenses in the lens receptacles  116 . 
     The lid  104  is one example of a lid means for forming a fluid tight seal. It will be appreciated that the system for fastening disclosed herein is merely one example of accomplishing a fluid type seal over the lens receptacles, other suitable arrangements known or readily ascertainable, to those skilled in the art, may be used and are within the scope of the present invention, i.e., a separate lid for each of the lens receptacles  116 . Further, one skilled in the art can design other lid means to create a fluid type seal, that would be encompassed by the scope of the present invention. 
     Referring now specifically to  FIGS. 3 ,  3 A, and  4 , the contact lens container  100  is illustrated showing one overall illustrative shape.  FIGS. 3 and 3A  show the contact lens container  100  with its lid  104  closed in a profile view and front view, respectively. The length  140  and height  144  of the present invention are no greater than five inches as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 3A . The width  142 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , of the illustrated embodiment is typically no greater than three inches. The length, width and height may be smaller than the above indicated measurements thereby making it more convenient to carry. 
     In one embodiment, the general shape of the contact lens container  100  can be compared to that of a whiskey flask, but is by no means limited to that shape. A whiskey flask is characterized by its thin profile and curved body. The curvature allows the whiskey flask to conform to a part of the human body, such as a hip. A cross-sectional view of the contact lens container  100  is oblong as can be seen in  FIG. 4 . A separate embodiment is approximately the size and shape of a pack of cigarettes. 
     The contact lens container  100  is compact and portable, and its size should allow the user to easily store it in a pocket or a purse out of view. It will be appreciated that one advantage of the present invention is its narrow profile. It would be undesirable to have a contact lens case that is cylindrical in shape, as represented in  FIG. 1 , since it would be difficult to store in a small pocket or purse. 
     The embodiment represented in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  3 A and  4  is shown disassembled in  FIG. 5 . Disassembly allows the reservoir  112  to be filled with treatment solution. In the embodiment represented in  FIG. 5 , the base member  110  has a threaded neck  122  extending from its bottom surface (not explicitly represented in  FIG. 5 ). The reservoir  112  has a threaded bore  124  adapted to receive the threaded neck  122  of the base member  110 . When assembled, the threaded bore  124  and threaded neck  122  form a fluid tight seal. The threaded bore  124  also serves as a means to fill and empty the reservoir  112  with contact lens treatment solution or other fluid. It will be appreciated that the threaded bore  124  disclosed herein is merely one example of accomplishing the means to fill and empty the reservoir  112 , other suitable arrangements known or readily ascertainable, to those skilled in the art, may be used and are within the scope of the present invention. 
     Directional arrows  128  show the respective engagement of the base member  110  and reservoir  112 . Also shown is a supply tube  126 , extending below the threaded neck  122 . 
     When the base member  110  and reservoir  112  are assembled by rotatably engaging the threaded neck  122  within the threaded bore  124 , the supply tube  126  should extend into the reservoir  112  as shown in  FIG. 6 . The free end of the supply tube  126  should be of sufficient length to reach the bottom of the reservoir  112  or close thereto. It will be appreciated that the supply tube  126  thereby serves as a means for carrying the contact lens solution from the reservoir  112  to the lens receptacles  116  by way of the solution ports  108 . 
     The lens receptacles  116  can be filled with contact lens solution by compressing the reservoir  112  by, for example, simultaneously squeezing the front and back of the reservoir  112 . This compression action reduces the internal volume of the reservoir  112  and thereby increases the pressure in the interior of the reservoir  112 . The increase in pressure forces the treatment solution stored in the reservoir  112  into the supply tube  126 . The solution then exits the supply tube  126  through the solution ports  108  and into the lens receptacles  116 . Further, since the solution ports  108  are disposed in the receptacles  116 , the receptacles  116  can be filled or emptied either while the lid  104  is either open or closed. The above described structure and structure illustrate one type of injection means. It is within the scope of the present invention that any system using positive and negative pressure to fill and empty the receptacles  116  is within the scope of this invention, whether presently known or unknown. 
     It will be appreciated that the base member  110  and reservoir  112  may be coupled by a variety of different methods known to one skilled in the art other than the threaded bore  124  and threaded neck  122  as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , such as, a snap-on method. The base member  110  and reservoir  112  may also be hermetically sealed together, with the reservoir  112  being filled through a separate orifice having its own cap. It will be further appreciated that any liquid with beneficial properties may be used for the treatment solution. Typically, however, it is anticipated that the treatment solution will be a commercially available contact lens solution. 
       FIG. 7  shows a second embodiment. The reservoir  112 A is essentially identical to reservoir  112  as described previously, but reservoir  112 A has been modified to accept and hold a bottle  132  of eye-drops. The modification includes forming a contoured recess  134  on the bottom  130  of the reservoir  112  adapted to completely contain the bottle  132 . When placed in the bottom  130  of the reservoir  112 , the bottle  132  should not impede the contact lens container  100  from standing upright on a flat surface. The bottle  132  is illustratively held in place by a tight fit in the contoured recess  134  on the bottom  130  of the reservoir  112 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a third embodiment. A base member  110 A is similar to the base member  110  except that it comprises a sealing wall  150  extending from the top surface  188 . The sealing wall  150  fitting into a channel  151  on a lid  104 A when the lid  104 A is in the closed position to thereby form a fluid tight seal to prevent any treatment solution from leaking. Additionally, the base member  110 A further comprises two lid latches  154  to receive two lid locks  152  extending from the lid  104 A. The two lid latches  154  ensure a more secure lock between the lid  104 A and the base member  110 A. The lid  104 A may optional comprise a reflective surface  106 . Further the base member  110 A is attached to the reservoir  112 . 
     It will be appreciated that the present embodiments provide a portable compact contact lens case with an integrated fluid reservoir with an internal injection system. 
     It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and the appended claims are intended to cover such modifications and arrangements. Thus, while the present invention has been shown in the drawings and described above with particularity and detail, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications, including, but not limited to, variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use may be made without departing from the principles and concepts set forth herein.