Patent Description:
Soft contact lenses, for example hydrogel and silicone hydrogel contact lenses, are stored in an aqueous solution in order to keep them hydrated and in a useable condition. Contact lenses are typically individually packaged in sealed blister packaging. Blister packages provide a sterile and secure environment for unused contact lenses, allowing them to be transported and stored safely until such time as they are required by an end user. A conventional blister package comprises a base member made of a plastics material and a sealing member that is sealed to that base member to form a blister cavity. A typical blister package of the prior art has a blister cavity in which the unused contact lens is stored and a handle that can be held between the finger and thumb of the user. The blister cavity is often configured as a well in the base member, the well being capable of holding a volume of contact lens packaging solution and the contact lens itself.

Martinez <CIT> discloses a molded blister package for storing and dispensing a hydrophilic contact lens which comprises a base portion which includes a cavity surrounded by an outstanding flange, and a cover sheet sealed to the flange to enclose the cavity.

<CIT> discloses a blister package housing a contact lens including a base member that includes a grip region including a curved top surface shaped to accommodate a thumb and a curved bottom surface shaped to accommodate an inner curve of a forefinger.

<CIT> discloses a blister package for a contact lens that includes a base sheet and sealing sheet where one includes a bowl and the other includes a dome.

A blister package is disclosed in <CIT> which includes a thermoplastic base member with a grip portion, a distal end region, a first side region extending from the proximal end region to the distal end region, a second side region opposing the first side region, and a cavity configured to contain a packaging solution and a contact lens.

<CIT> discloses a blister pack for a contact lens including a container body comprising a semi-spherical depressed section, a flange section which is extended to the external periphery of the depressed section, and supporting sections.

<CIT> discloses a package for contact lenses in which the overall volume of the package and the internal volumes of the lens-holding cavities in the package are minimised.

The disclosure of <CIT> is taken to be the closest prior art. The characterising feature of claim <NUM> of the present invention over the disclosure of <CIT> is that the base member has a female connecting feature and a male connecting feature and the female connecting feature is configured to interlock with a corresponding male connecting feature on a substantially identical base member to mechanically fasten the base member to the substantially identical base member to form a base member assembly.

<CIT> discloses another example of a blister package for a contact lens.

In use, a user typically removes the sealing member from the plastic base member, removes the unworn contact lens, and discards the empty blister package in the trash where it will not be recycled. Each individual plastic base member is too small to be recycled as plastic at a recycling centre because plastic recycling processes typically require objects to have dimensions greater than specified minimum dimensions and if these requirements are not met, the recycling lines have steps to remove these smaller objects and will not recycle them. This means that small pieces of plastic, such as individual plastic base members, may not be recycled, due to their small size, even if they are made of recyclable plastic. The material that the base members of blister packages is made from is recyclable, and therefore there is a need to address this problem so that contact lens packaging can be recycled in the same way as larger plastic items.

The technical effect of the female connecting feature being configured to interlock with a corresponding male connecting feature on a substantially identical base member to mechanically fasten the base member to a substantially identical base member to form a base member assembly, is that an object can be formed that is large enough to be recycled at recycling centres. The objective technical problem is how to reduce the environmental impact of the base members disclosed in <CIT>.

The present invention provides, according to a first aspect, a hermetically sealed blister package having the features set out in claim <NUM> below. Preferred but optional features of the hermetically sealed blister package are set out in the dependent claims <NUM> to <NUM>.

The female connecting feature and the male connecting feature allow multiple base members to be mechanically fastened together to form a base member assembly. A base member assembly can be formed by a user when the user is ready to discard the blister packs. A base member assembly can be formed that is of the size and weight required to be recycled by recycling centres. This allows the base members to be recycled, which reduces the environmental impact of the blister packs as they will not be discarded and sent to landfill.

As used herein, the term "substantially identical base member" encompasses identical base members as well as base members having differences that are immaterial to the substance of the invention.

The blister well may have a concave interior surface depending from the upper surface of the base member and a convex exterior surface depending from the lower surface of the base member. The blister well may have a sidewall.

The flange may be planar. The flange may have a thickness of <NUM> to <NUM>. The flange may have a thickness of <NUM> to <NUM>. The flange may have a thickness of <NUM>. The flange may have a thickness of <NUM>.

The base member may have an outer edge that is, in plan view, symmetric about a line running through the centre of the handle and the centre of the blister well.

The sealing member may be a laminated structure including foil and one or more layers of a plastics material. The sealing member may be made of a plastics material. The sealing member may be made of foil. The thickness of the sealing member can be from about <NUM> micrometers to about <NUM> micrometers. The sealing member may be printed with words or numbers. The sealing member may have a thickness of <NUM> micrometers to <NUM> micrometers. Suitable materials for the sealing member can be obtained from AMCOR (Switzerland). The sealing member may have an area equal to the area of the top surface of the base member. The sealing member may have an area greater than the area of the top surface of the base member. The sealing member may have an area less than the area of the top surface of the base member.

The blister well may be hemispherical or substantially hemispherical in shape. The blister well may be an irregular shape. The blister well may be cylindrical in shape. The blister well has a wall, referred to herein as a sidewall. The sidewall may include a flat portion, which may be adjacent to the handle. The blister well may have a rim.

The base member may include two or more stabilising legs. The base member may include three or more stabilising legs. The stabilising legs may extend down from the lower surface of the base member. The stabilising legs may be vertically aligned with the rim of the blister well. The stabilising legs may extend down from the lower surface of the base member such that they extend out as far as the furthest extent of the blister well. The stabilising legs may extend down from the lower surface of the base member such that they extend out further than the furthest extent of the blister well. The stabilising legs may extend out far enough to provide stability to the base member when it is placed upright on a flat surface. The stabilising legs may allow a reduction in the weight of the blister package to be achieved while still providing a blister package that is stable when placed upright on a flat surface without the handle formed by the flange having to serve as a stability support and whilst maintaining enough structural integrity to avoid problematic deformation and enough structural integrity to adequately protect a contact lens during transportation and storage.

The base member may include at least two side tabs. The side tabs may be positioned on either side of the blister well, wherein the side tabs extend down from the upper surface of the base member. The side tabs may have a height from <NUM> to <NUM>. The side tabs may have a height from <NUM> to <NUM>. The side tabs may have a height of <NUM>. The side tabs may have a height of <NUM>. The side tabs may have a length along the upper surface of the flange of <NUM> to <NUM>. The side tabs may have a length along the upper surface of the flange of <NUM> to <NUM>. The side tabs may have a length along the upper surface of the flange of <NUM>. The side tabs may increase the structural integrity of the base member. The side tabs may reduce the likelihood of problematic deformation of the base member. The side tabs may increase the stability of the base member when it is placed upright on a flat surface. The side tabs may provide a gripping region.

The female connecting feature may comprise a hole in the flange of the base member. The hole in the flange of the base member may be rectangular. The hole in the flange of the base member may be oval shaped. The hole in the flange of the base member may be circular. The hole in the flange of the base member may be key-shaped. The female connecting feature may be located at a greater distance from the perimeter of the blister well than from a perimeter of the handle. The female connecting feature may be a hole extending through the flange. The hole may be located closer to an outer edge of the handle than to the centre of the blister well. The hole may be located at a distance of <NUM> to <NUM> from the centre of the blister well. The hole may be located at a distance of <NUM> from the centre of the blister well. The hole may be a slot having a width of <NUM> to <NUM>. The hole may be a slot having a width of <NUM>. The hole may be a slot having a width of <NUM>. The hole may be a slot having a width of <NUM>. The width of the hole may be the shorter dimension of the slot. The hole may be a slot with a length of <NUM> to <NUM>. The hole may be a slot with a length of <NUM> to <NUM>. The hole may be a slot with a length of <NUM>. The hole may be a slot with a length of <NUM>. The side or the length of the hole may be parallel to the end of the handle. The length of the hole may be perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the base member. The length of the hole may be parallel to a longitudinal axis of the base member. The length of the hole may by between <NUM> degrees and <NUM> degrees from being perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the base member. The female connecting feature may be a hole that includes a notch at an edge of the hole. The hole may include a notch in the longest side of the hole. The notch may be central along the length of the hole. The notch may be off centre along the length of the hole. The notch in the edge of the hole may protrude from the hole by <NUM> to <NUM>. The notch in the edge of the hole may protrude from the hole by <NUM>. The notch in the edge of the hole may have a length of <NUM> to <NUM>. The notch in the edge of the hole may have a length of <NUM>. The notch may have a square shape. The notch may have a curved shape. The notch may have an oval shape. The notch may have a circular shape. The female connecting feature may include only one hole extending through the flange. The female connecting feature may include more than one hole extending through the flange. One or more holes in the handle may reduce the weight of the base member.

The blister package may include a contact lens. The contact lens may be a hydrogel contact lens. The contact lens may be a silicone hydrogel contact lens.

The base member may be made from a recyclable thermoplastic material.

The sealing member is hermetically sealed to the base member. The sealing member may be hermetically sealed to the base member at a sealing region. The sealing region may be substantially annular, when viewed in a top plan view. The sealing region may be on the base member. It may be that the sealing region is not annular when viewed from a top plan view (i.e. from above). The sealing region may have a vertex adjacent to the handle of the base member. As used herein, a vertex is understood to be a portion of a geometric shape having the sharpest turn relative to the rest of the shape. For example, the vertex can be a point where two or more line segments meet. However, if the line segments are curved it can be appreciated that the intersection may be blended in such a way that there is a region having a smaller radius than a portion of the line segments located away from the vertex. A sealing region with a vertex reduces the separation force required to separate the sealing member from the sealing region. If a lower separation force is required to separate the sealing member from the sealing region, the base member can have a reduced structural integrity, i.e. be less robust (and can therefore be made lighter) without reducing the protection that the blister package provides to a contact lens.

The sealing region may have a width from <NUM> to <NUM>. The sealing region may have a width from <NUM> to <NUM>. The sealing region may have a width of <NUM>. The sealing region may have a width of <NUM>. The sealing region may have a width of <NUM>. A reduced width of the sealing region may improve the ease of opening the blister pack whilst maintaining a hermetic seal.

The blister well may hold a volume of contact lens packaging solution of <NUM> to <NUM>. It may be that the blister well holds a volume of contact lens packaging solution of <NUM> to <NUM>. The blister well may hold a volume of contact lens packaging solution of <NUM> to <NUM>. The blister well may hold a volume of contact lens packaging solution of <NUM>. The blister well may hold a volume of contact lens packaging solution of <NUM>. The blister well may hold a volume of contact lens packaging solution of <NUM>. The base member may have a length from <NUM> to <NUM> and a width from <NUM> to <NUM>. The base member may have a length from <NUM> to <NUM>. The base member may have a length from <NUM> to <NUM>. The base member may have a length of <NUM>. The base member may have a length of <NUM>. The base member may have a width of <NUM> to <NUM>. The base member may have a width of <NUM> to <NUM>. The base member may have a width of <NUM> to <NUM>. The base member may have a width of <NUM>. The base member may have a weight of <NUM> or less. The base member may have a weight of <NUM> or less. The base member may have a weight of less than <NUM>. The base member may have a weight of less than <NUM>. The base member may have a weight of less than <NUM>. The base member may have a weight from <NUM> to <NUM>. In an example, the base member has a weight of <NUM>. The base member may have a weight of <NUM>. The base member may have a weight of less than <NUM>. The base member may have a weight of less than <NUM>. A reduction in the weight of the blister package allows the environmental impact of the blister pack to be further reduced by reducing the amount of fossil fuels required to transport the blister package.

The blister well may have a depth at its centre of <NUM> to <NUM>. The blister well may have a depth at its centre of <NUM> to <NUM>. The blister well may have a depth at its centre of <NUM>. The blister well may have a depth at its centre of <NUM>.

The flange of the base member may have a thickness that is no greater than the thickness of the sidewall of the blister well. The flange of the base member may have a thickness that is no greater than <NUM>% of the thickness of the sidewall of the blister well. The flange of the base member may have a thickness that is no greater than <NUM>% of the sidewall of the blister well. The flange of the base member may have a thickness that is no greater than <NUM>% of the thickness of the sidewall of the blister well.

The sidewall of the blister well may have a thickness of <NUM> to <NUM>. The sidewall of the blister well may have a thickness of <NUM> to <NUM>. The sidewall of the blister well may have a thickness of <NUM>. If the sidewall of the blister well is too thin, evaporation might occur through the plastic resulting in changes in the packaging solution, potentially resulting in the contact lens drying out and becoming unusable. The blister well sidewall thickness may allow a reduction in weight of the blister package whilst still being thick enough to avoid any evaporation of the contact lens packaging solution. That enables the lens to remain hydrated prior to use by a contact lens wearer.

The blister well sidewalls may facilitate retention of the base member in a base member carrier of a heat sealing system or machine. It can be understood that slots may be provided in the base member carrier to receive one or more sidewalls to provide a physical fit between the base member and the base member carrier to ensure that the upper surface of the base member remains stable and parallel to a surface of a heat sealing die that is pressed against the sealing member on top of the upper surface of the base member to seal the sealing member to the base member.

The flange of the base member may have a stiffness from <NUM>,000psi. mm<NUM> to <NUM>,000psi. The flange of the base member may have a stiffness from <NUM>,<NUM> psi. mm<NUM> to <NUM>,<NUM> psi. The flexural modulus of the base member material may be from <NUM>,000psi to <NUM>,000psi. The stiffness of the present base members is calculated by multiplying the flexural modulus of the base member material by the square of the thickness of the flange in mm. The flexural modulus can be measured using conventional equipment, such as equipment provided by Instron (Norwood, MA, USA) or it can be provided by the plastics manufacturer as part of the plastics technical data. The flexural modulus can be used as determined by the ISO <NUM> testing method.

The flange includes a male connecting feature. The male connecting feature may comprise a clip, or a barb, or a combination thereof. The male connecting feature may comprise a latch. The latch may be configured to interlock with the female connecting feature. The male connecting feature may be a protrusion. The male connecting feature may be a protrusion on the outer edge of the handle. The male connecting feature may be located at a gripping portion of the base member. The protrusion may have a length along the flange of <NUM> to <NUM>. The protrusion may have a length along the flange of <NUM>. The protrusion may extend out <NUM> to <NUM> from the edge of the base member. The protrusion may extend out <NUM> from the edge of the base member. It may be that inserting the male connecting feature of one base member into the female connecting feature of a second substantially identical base member joins the two base members together in a specific orientation and prevents the male connecting feature from being removed from the female connecting feature.

The male connecting feature may include a key-shaped protrusion. The key-shaped protrusion may be configured to fit within a notch of a corresponding female connecting feature on a substantially identical second base member. The key-shaped protrusion and the notch may be configured such that when the key-shaped protrusion is inserted into a notch of a second base member, the second base member is oriented in a specific manner relative to the base member. The male connecting feature may be a protrusion that includes a tab. The male connecting feature may be a rectangular shaped protrusion that has a tab extending from its side such that the protrusion appears key-shaped. The male connecting feature may be a rectangular shaped protrusion that has a tab extending centrally from its side. The tab may be positioned off-centre along the side of the rectangle. The tab may extend downwards from the upper surface of the flange. The tab may have a length of <NUM> to <NUM> along the flange. The tab may have a length of <NUM> to <NUM> along the flange. The tab may have a length of <NUM> along the flange. The tab may have a height of <NUM> to <NUM>. The tab may have a height of <NUM>. The male connecting feature may comprise a protrusion that extends down along the entire width of the end of the handle. The tab may be sized and configured to fit into a female connecting feature of a substantially identical base member. The male connecting feature may latch on to the female connecting feature of a substantially identical base member to mechanically fasten the base member to a substantially identical base member. The female connecting feature may be a hole in the flange. The female connecting feature may include a notch in the hole in the flange. The male connecting feature on the base member is configured to interlock with a corresponding female connecting feature on a substantially identical base member. This means that a plurality of base members may be attached together, for example to form a base member assembly or a base member recycling unit, which means the base members may be accepted for recycling in a recycling centre.

The female connecting feature may be a concave inner surface of a second well. The male connecting feature may be a convex exterior surface of the second well. The male connecting feature may be a protrusion on a convex exterior surface of the second well. The female connecting feature may interlock with a corresponding male connecting feature on a substantially identical base member by an interference fit between the male and female connecting features.

The base member may include three stabilising legs. The base member may include four stabilising legs. The base member may include five stabilising legs. The base member may include three stabilising legs that are positioned approximately <NUM> degrees apart from each other about a vertical axis extending through the centre of the blister well. The base member may include four stabilising legs that are positioned approximately <NUM> degrees apart from each other about a vertical axis extending through the centre of the blister well. The stabilising legs may include a planar lower edge. The stabilising legs may include a rounded lower edge. The stabilising legs may include a curved lower edge.

When the base member is placed upright on a flat surface it may have more than one point of contact with the surface. When the base member is placed upright on a flat surface it may have more than two points of contact with the surface.

When the base member is placed upright on a flat surface it may have more than three points of contact with the surface. When the base member is placed upright on a flat surface it may have more than four points of contact with the surface. Multiple points of contact between the base member and the flat surface may allow a force exerted on the base member by the surface to be distributed across the base member. This may reduce the stiffness required in any individual region of the base member, for example the blister well, which may allow the weight of material used to make the base member to be reduced. The weight of material used to make the base member may be reduced without compromising the ability of the blister package to provide adequate protection to a contact lens.

When the lower surface of a first base member, according to an embodiment of the invention, is placed up against the lower surface of a second base member, according to the same embodiment, there may be more than one point of contact between the base members. There may be more than two points of contact between the base members. There may be more than three points of contact between the base members. There may be more than four points of contact between the base members. Multiple points of contact between the base members may allow a force exerted on the first base member by the second base member to be distributed across the first base member and vice versa. This may reduce the stiffness required by any individual region of a base member, for example the blister well. A reduction in the stiffness required may allow the weight of material used to make the base member to be reduced. The weight of material used to make the base member may be reduced without compromising on the ability of the blister package to provide adequate protection to a contact lens during storage and transportation.

The blister well may be reinforced by supporting ribs. The blister well may be reinforced by two or more supports. The blister well may be reinforced by three or more supports. The blister well may be reinforced by supports so that the thickness of the sidewall of the blister well may be reduced without compromising on the ability of the blister package to provide adequate protection to a contact lens.

The blister well may have a rim. The rim of the blister well may be enclosed on the upper surface of the base member by a sealing region.

The male connecting feature may be a barb configured to be inserted into a female connecting feature of a second base member from a first direction. The female connecting feature of the second base member may be configured to prevent the barb from exiting in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

The male connecting feature may include a first end defining a barb and a second end defining a barb. The first barb and the second barb may be configured to be inserted into a female connecting feature of a second base member from a first direction and the female connecting feature of the second base member may be configured to prevent the first barb and the second barb from exiting in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

The base member can be made by injection molding a plastics material into a suitably shaped base member cavity of a conventional injection molding machine, as understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art.

The present invention provides, according to a second aspect, a base member assembly according to claim <NUM>. Thus, the base member assembly includes a plurality of base members, wherein the base members are made of plastics material and have an upper surface and a lower surface and include a blister well and a handle. The handle is provided by a flange that extends out from the blister well. The flange includes a female connecting feature and a male connecting feature. The female connecting feature is located between a perimeter of the blister well and an edge of the flange. The male connecting feature is located outside of the perimeter of the blister well. The female connecting feature on the base member is configured to interlock with a corresponding male connecting feature on a substantially identical base member to mechanically fasten the base member to the substantially identical base member to form a base member assembly. The base member assembly includes base members which are each mechanically connected to one or more other base members in the assembly, wherein each mechanical connection is between the female connecting feature on one of the base members and a corresponding male connecting feature on another of the base members. The base member assembly may comprise at least <NUM> base members. The base member assembly may comprise at least <NUM> base members. The base member assembly may comprise at least <NUM> base members. The base member assembly may have a height of at least <NUM>. The base member assembly may have a height of at least <NUM>.

The present invention provides, according to a third aspect, a method of manufacturing a packaged contact lens according to claim <NUM> as set out below.

The step of sealing a sealing member to the sealing region of the base member may be carried out by pressing a foil laminate sealing member against a plastic base member under heat, to melt the layer of plastic of the foil laminate and the sealing region of the base member together. The step of sealing a sealing member to the sealing region may be done at a temperature of <NUM> degrees to <NUM> degrees Celsius. The step of sealing a sealing member to the sealing region may be done using a heated die pressing the sealing member against the flange of the base member at a pressure of <NUM> PSI to <NUM> PSI. The heated die may press the sealing member against the flange for a time of <NUM> to <NUM>.

Desirably, the sealing region provides a sufficient seal between the base member and the sealing member to withstand separation forces that occur during a contact lens autoclave sterilization process, and also is relatively easy for a person to peel open using the person's fingers. If a lower separation force is required to separate the sealing member from the sealing region, the base member can be made lighter without reducing the protection that the blister package provides to a contact lens.

For example, the sealing region may be configured to provide an average separation force of less than <NUM> Newtons (N). In some embodiments, the sealing region is configured to provide a separation force from about <NUM> N to about <NUM> N. In further embodiments, the sealing region is configured to provide a separation force from about <NUM> N to about <NUM> N. In yet further embodiments, the sealing region is configured to provide a separation force from about <NUM> N to about <NUM> N.

The peel strength can be measured using an INSTRON Model <NUM> machine. For purposes of these measurements, the angle of pull is set at <NUM> degrees. The load cell of the machine is calibrated prior to testing the peel strength. Generally, the operating instructions are set by the manufacturer.

The sealing configuration can be adjusted by controlling the temperature of a heat sealing head surface that is pressed against the sealing member on the top surface of the base member, controlling the pressure with which the sealing head is applied to the sealing member, or controlling the time for which the sealing head is applied to the sealing member, or combinations thereof, as described above.

The present invention provides, according to a fourth aspect, a method of recycling a sealed blister package, comprising: removing the sealing member from the base member; removing the contact lens from the blister well; removing the liquid contact lens packaging solution from the blister well; mechanically fastening the base member to a substantially identical base member by interlocking the female connecting feature on the base member with a corresponding male connecting feature on the substantially identical base member to form a base member assembly. The method may also include the step of mechanically fastening additional base members to the base member assembly to form an assembly comprising at least <NUM> base members fastened together to form a base member recycling unit. The method may alternatively include the step of mechanically fastening additional base members to the base member assembly to form an assembly comprising at least <NUM> base members fastened together to form a base member recycling unit. The method may further comprise the step of mechanically fastening additional base members to the base member assembly to form a base member recycling unit having a height of at least <NUM>. The method may further comprise the step of mechanically fastening additional base members to the base member assembly to form a base member recycling unit having a height of at least <NUM>. The method may also include the step of placing the base member recycling unit in a recycling receptacle. This may allow the base members to be recycled as the base member recycling unit has a large enough volume to be recycled.

In example embodiments of the invention, the base member is a recyclable plastic material. The base member includes a blister well and a handle. The base member may include stabilising legs and side tabs. The base member includes a lower surface designed to face downwards during use and an upper surface designed to face upwards during use, such as when using the blister pack to present a hydrated contact lens to a person to remove from the blister pack. The blister well extends downwards from the upper surface of the base member with a concave interior surface and protrudes downwards from the lower surface of the base member with an opposing convex exterior surface. The blister well may have a rim. The rim of the blister well may be where the concave interior surface of the blister well meets the planar upper surface of the base member. The rim of the blister well may be enclosed on the upper surface of the base member by a sealing region. This sealing region in use is the region at which the base member of the blister pack is hermetically sealed to a sealing member of the blister pack. A flange extends from a perimeter of the blister well to an edge of the base member. At a first end of the base member the flange may extend out to a curved edge at a constant distance from the perimeter of the blister well. At a second end of the base member the flange may extend out further than at the first end and form a handle suitable to be held between the thumb and finger of a user when in use. The flange includes a female connecting feature and a male connecting feature. The female connecting feature is located between a perimeter of the blister well and an edge of the flange. The male connecting feature is located outside of the perimeter of the blister well. The blister well is dimensioned to hold a contact lens and contact lens packaging solution. A plurality of stabilising legs may extend down from a lower surface of the flange around the convex exterior surface of the blister well. When in use the stabilising legs may allow the base member to be placed with the lower surface of the base member contacting a surface without tipping. A side tab may extend down from the edge of the flange on either side of the blister well, thus there may be a side tab extending symmetrically either side of the line running centrally from the first end of the base member to the second end of the base member, where the line passes through the central point of the blister well. The female connecting feature may be a hole extending through the flange of the base member. The male connecting feature may be located at the end of the handle of the base member. The male connecting feature may be a protrusion at the end of the handle. The protrusion may include a tab which extends down from the lower surface of the flange of the base member.

The contact lens contained in the blister package is preferably a soft contact lens. A soft contact lens can be a hydrogel contact lens in that it has an equilibrium water content (EWC) from <NUM>-<NUM>%. Preferably, the soft contact lens is a silicone hydrogel contact lens (that is, a hydrogel contact lens that comprises polymeric units derived from at least one silicone-containing chemical).

A first example embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to <FIG>. <FIG> shows a base member <NUM> formed from a thermoplastic layer. The base member <NUM> has a weight of <NUM>. The base member <NUM> is made of a recyclable plastics material. The base member <NUM> has a length of <NUM> at its longest point and a width of <NUM> at its widest point. The base member <NUM> includes a blister well <NUM> and a handle <NUM>. The blister well <NUM> is dimensioned to accommodate a contact lens. The blister well <NUM> has a sidewall <NUM> (<FIG>). The blister well <NUM> has a rim <NUM>. The rim <NUM> is substantially circular apart from a linear portion <NUM>. The handle <NUM> provides a gripping portion configured to be held between a thumb and finger of a user. <FIG> shows a cross sectional view of the base member <NUM>.

The base member has a lower surface <NUM> and an upper surface <NUM>. The lower surface <NUM> and the upper surface <NUM> meet at an edge <NUM>, which runs around the boundary of the base member.

The blister well <NUM> is formed as a well in the upper surface <NUM> of the thermoplastic layer, which extends down to form a concave interior surface. The thickness of the blister well <NUM> sidewall <NUM> is <NUM>, i.e. the distance between the upper surface <NUM> of the base member <NUM> and the lower surface <NUM> of the base member in the region of the blister well <NUM> is <NUM>. The depth of the blister well <NUM> is <NUM> at its maximum point. The blister well <NUM> is sized to hold a maximum of <NUM> of contact lens packaging solution.

<FIG> shows a base member <NUM> and a sealing member <NUM>. Where the sealing member <NUM> is joined to the base member <NUM> at a sealing region <NUM> which is shown in dotted lines to indicate that it is located between the sealing member <NUM> and the base member <NUM> and is not directly visible from above. The sealing region <NUM> is used to hermetically seal the base member <NUM> to the sealing member <NUM> to form a blister cavity. The sealing region <NUM> has a width of <NUM>. <FIG> shows a top view of the base member <NUM>. A flange extends out from the perimeter of the blister well <NUM> to the boundary of the base member <NUM>. At a first end <NUM> of the base member the flange extends out to form a curved edge at a distance of <NUM> from a perimeter of the blister well <NUM>. At a second end <NUM> of the base member the flange extends out further to form a substantially planar handle <NUM> which can be used as a gripping portion. Along the width of the base member <NUM> the flange extends out from the perimeter of the blister well <NUM> to form two flat edges <NUM> at the boundary of the base member <NUM>. The flat edges <NUM> have a length of <NUM>. The distance between the flat edges <NUM> is <NUM>.

Two side tabs <NUM> (one of which is visible in <FIG>) extend downwards from the lower surface <NUM> (<FIG>) of the base member <NUM> from the area adjacent to the flat edges <NUM>. The side tabs <NUM> have a height of <NUM> and a length of <NUM>. These side tabs increase the structural integrity of the base member <NUM> and act to provide a grip-able portion for the user to pinch between their finger and thumb when lifting the base member <NUM>. The side tabs <NUM> also act to stabilise the base member <NUM> when it is placed upright on a flat surface.

The thickness of the handle <NUM> is <NUM>. At a distance of <NUM> from the second end <NUM> of the base member <NUM> there is a hole <NUM> extending through the thickness of the flange. The hole <NUM> is the female connecting feature. <FIG> shows the shape of the female connecting feature in isolation. The hole <NUM> is a slot, which is essentially rectangular in shape, with a length <NUM> of <NUM> and a width <NUM> of <NUM>. The hole <NUM> has a notch <NUM> on one side that extends a portion of the long side of the slot facing the second end <NUM> of the base member. The notch <NUM> has a length of <NUM> and protrudes <NUM> from the slot. As shown in <FIG>, at the far end of the handle <NUM> (at the second end <NUM> of the base member <NUM>) the handle <NUM> includes a protrusion <NUM> that extends out <NUM> from the edge of the base member <NUM>. The protrusion <NUM> is the male connecting feature. The protrusion <NUM> has a linear outer edge <NUM> when viewed from above (as in <FIG>). The linear outer edge <NUM> has a length of <NUM>. There is a tab <NUM> which extends down from the flat outer edge <NUM> of the protrusion <NUM> (<FIG> and <FIG>).

The tab <NUM> has a length of <NUM> and extends down <NUM> away from the upper surface of the base member <NUM>. Three stabilising legs 116a-c extend down from the lower surface <NUM> of the base member <NUM> and are vertically aligned with the rim <NUM> of the blister well on the upper surface <NUM> of the base member <NUM>. The three legs 116a-c are arranged around the convex exterior surface of the blister well <NUM>. At the first end <NUM> of the base member <NUM> one of the stabilising legs 116a is positioned so that it is in the middle of the width of the base member <NUM>. The second leg 116b and third leg 116c are shown in <FIG> and are arranged either side of the central line running along the length of the base member <NUM> from the first end <NUM> to the second end <NUM>. The centre points of the three legs 116a-c are positioned approximately <NUM> degrees apart around an axis that runs vertically down through the centre of the blister well.

<FIG> and <FIG> show how <NUM> base members <NUM> according to this embodiment can be joined together by inserting the protrusion <NUM> of one base member <NUM> into the hole <NUM> of another base member <NUM>, with the tab <NUM> acting to hold each protrusion inside the hole <NUM> of each base member. The tab <NUM> has an inward facing surface <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. The inward facing surface <NUM> of the tab <NUM> presses against a region of the flange adjacent to the hole <NUM> of another base member <NUM>, stopping the base members <NUM> from coming apart. Each base member <NUM> is joined to at least one other base member <NUM> at an approximate <NUM> degree angle. The base members <NUM> in the assembly are joined in this way so that half the base members <NUM> are parallel to each other and the other half are joined at a <NUM> degree angle to the first half.

In a method <NUM> of manufacturing a packaged contact lens according to a second embodiment, shown in <FIG>, a contact lens blister package according to the first aspect of the invention is provided <NUM>. A contact lens is placed into the blister well of the thermoplastic base member of the blister package <NUM>. A volume of liquid contact lens packaging solution is placed into the blister well of the thermoplastic base member <NUM>. A sealing member is sealed to the sealing region of the thermoplastic base member <NUM>. The method optionally includes the step <NUM> of autoclaving the sealed contact lens blister package to sterilize the contact lens and the packaging solution.

<FIG> shows the steps of a method <NUM> of recycling the contact lens blister package of the present invention according to a third embodiment. The steps of the method are as follows. The sealing member is removed from the thermoplastic base member <NUM>. The contact lens is removed from the blister well <NUM>. The liquid contact lens packaging solution is removed from the blister well in the thermoplastic base member <NUM>. In step <NUM>, the thermoplastic base member is mechanically fastened to a substantially identical thermoplastic base member by interlocking the female connecting feature on the thermoplastic base member with a corresponding male connecting feature on the substantially identical thermoplastic base member to form a base member assembly. The thermoplastic base member is interlocked with a substantially identical thermoplastic base member by inserting the protrusion of the thermoplastic base member into the hole of a substantially identical base member thermoplastic base member so that the tab lines up with the notch in the hole. The two base members together form a base member assembly <NUM>. The method optionally includes the step <NUM> of mechanically fastening additional thermoplastic base members to the base member assembly to form an assembly including at least <NUM> thermoplastic base members coupled together to form a base member recycling unit. The method optionally includes the step <NUM> of placing the base member recycling unit in a recycling receptacle.

Another example embodiment of the invention (<FIG>) is similar to the first example embodiment of the invention but has some alternative features. A base member <NUM> includes a blister well <NUM> and a handle <NUM>. The blister well <NUM> has a rim <NUM>. The rim <NUM> is enclosed by a sealing region <NUM>. A flange extends out from the perimeter of the blister well <NUM> to the boundary of the base member. At one end of the base member the flange extends out to form a handle <NUM>. The base member <NUM> has a hole <NUM> extending through the thickness of the handle <NUM>. The hole <NUM> is the female connecting feature. The hole <NUM> is a slot, which is essentially rectangular in shape. The hole <NUM> has an inner side wall <NUM>. The hole <NUM> has a length <NUM> of <NUM> and a width <NUM> of <NUM>. The long side of the hole <NUM> is parallel to a central line running down the length of the base member <NUM>. The hole <NUM> has a notch <NUM> on one side that extends a portion of one of the long sides of the slot. The notch <NUM> is off centre along the length of the rectangle, which makes the hole <NUM> appear key shaped. The notch has a length of <NUM> and protrudes <NUM> from the slot. There is a region <NUM> of the flange adjacent to the hole <NUM> on the upper surface of the base member <NUM>. There is a region <NUM> (<FIG>) of the flange adjacent to the hole <NUM> on the lower surface of the base member <NUM>. The base member <NUM> has two larger holes 456a and 456b on either side of the hole <NUM>. The holes 456a and 456b reduce the amount of material needed to make the base member <NUM> and therefore reduce its weight. At the end of the handle <NUM> furthest from the blister well <NUM>, the handle includes a protrusion <NUM> (<FIG>). The protrusion <NUM> is the male connecting feature. <FIG> shows this protrusion <NUM> from a lower surface of the base member <NUM>. The protrusion <NUM> has a lower surface <NUM> which is parallel with the lower surface of the base member <NUM>. A lip <NUM> (<FIG> and <FIG>) is parallel with the upper surface of the base member <NUM>. Between the lower surface <NUM> of the protrusion <NUM> and the lip <NUM> of the protrusion <NUM> there is a curved portion <NUM> (<FIG>). The protrusion includes a surface <NUM> which faces away from the base member <NUM> in the plane of the flange (as shown in <FIG>). The surface <NUM> is perpendicular to the lip <NUM>. The protrusion <NUM> includes a tab <NUM> which aligns with a notch <NUM> in a hole <NUM> on a second substantially identical base member. The tab <NUM> extends away from the lip <NUM> in a direction perpendicular to the upper surface of the base member <NUM>. The protrusion <NUM> is shaped such that it can be slotted through the hole <NUM> of the second base member 400b (<FIG>). The protrusion <NUM> is shaped such that a first base member 400a can be placed perpendicular to a second base member 400b with the protrusion <NUM> sitting in hole <NUM>. In this position, the lip <NUM> of the first base member 400a is next to the side wall <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>) of the hole <NUM> of the second base member 400b. The tab <NUM> of first base member 400a is aligned with the notch <NUM> (see <FIG>) of the second base member 400b. The surface <NUM> perpendicular to the lip of first base member 400a is next to the region <NUM> (<FIG>) of the flange adjacent to the hole <NUM> of the second base member 400b.

Once the protrusion <NUM> of the first base member 400a is aligned with hole <NUM> of the second base member 400b, the first base member 400a can be rotated <NUM> degrees so that the flange of the first base member 400a is parallel to the flange of the second base member 400b as shown in <FIG>. In this position, the lip <NUM> of first base member 400a is exerting a pressure on the region <NUM> (<FIG>) of the flange adjacent to the hole <NUM> on the lower surface of the second base member 400b. The lip <NUM> of the first base member 400a acts to stop the protrusion <NUM> of the first base member 400a from coming out of the hole <NUM> of the second base member 400b. The tab <NUM> of the first base member 400a is aligned with the notch <NUM> (<FIG>) of the second base member 400b. Thus, the act of rotating the first base member 400a by <NUM> degrees with respect to the second base member 400b can lock the two base members together.

Another example embodiment of the invention (<FIG>) is similar to the first example embodiment of the invention but has some alternative features. A base member <NUM> includes a blister well <NUM> and a handle <NUM>. Where a concave interior surface of the well <NUM> meets an upper surface of the base member, the blister well has a rim <NUM>. The rim <NUM> of the blister well <NUM> is enclosed by a sealing region <NUM>. A flange extends out from the perimeter of the blister well <NUM> to the boundary of the base member <NUM>. At one end of the base member <NUM> the flange extends out to form a handle <NUM>. The base member <NUM> has a hole <NUM> extending through the thickness of the handle <NUM>. The hole <NUM> is the female connecting feature. The hole <NUM> is a slot, which is rectangular in shape. The hole <NUM> has a length <NUM> of <NUM> and a width <NUM> of <NUM>. The long side of the hole <NUM> is perpendicular to a central line running down the length of the base member <NUM>. At the end of the handle <NUM> furthest from the well <NUM>, the handle includes a protrusion <NUM> which extends out in the plane of the flange. The protrusion <NUM> is symmetrical about a central line running down the length of the base member <NUM>. The protrusion <NUM> has a pair of hooks <NUM> positioned on either side of the central line. The hooks <NUM> have a surface <NUM> facing towards the blister well in the plane of the flange.

<FIG> shows the lower surface of the base member <NUM>. The hooks <NUM> have a diagonal outward facing surface <NUM> that faces away from the base member <NUM> in the plane of the flange. There is an indent <NUM> between the widest point of the hooks <NUM> and the rest of the flange of the base member <NUM>. There is a tab <NUM> that extends downwards from the lower surface at the end of the protrusion <NUM> furthest from the well <NUM>. The protrusion <NUM> and the tab <NUM> are the male connecting feature. The tab <NUM> includes the outward end of the protrusion <NUM> which faces away from the base member in the plane of the flange. The tab <NUM> includes an inward facing surface <NUM> which is shown in <FIG>. The protrusion <NUM> and the tab <NUM> are shaped to be able to be slotted through a hole <NUM> of a second substantially identical base member <NUM> according to this embodiment. The hole <NUM> is surrounded by a region <NUM> of the lower surface of the flange. The hole <NUM> is surrounded by a region <NUM> (<FIG>) of the upper surface of the flange. The hole <NUM> is defined by an inner side wall <NUM> (<FIG>) of the flange. In order to insert the protrusion <NUM> and the tab <NUM> into a hole <NUM> of a second base member, the user must exert a pressure between the diagonal outward facing surface <NUM> of the hooks and the region <NUM> (<FIG>) surrounding the hole <NUM> on the upper surface of the flange. This will also exert a pressure between the end of the protrusion <NUM> and the region <NUM> surrounding the hole <NUM> on the upper surface of the flange. The diagonal outward facing surface <NUM> and the end of the protrusion <NUM> will flex slightly under the pressure, allowing the surfaces to pass through the hole <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, once the protrusion <NUM> has been slotted through the hole <NUM> of the other base member <NUM>, the tab <NUM> and the hooks <NUM> act to stop the protrusion <NUM> from coming out of hole <NUM>. The inward facing surface <NUM> of the tab <NUM> rests against the region <NUM> of the lower surface of the flange surrounding the hole <NUM>, which stops the protrusion <NUM> from coming out of the hole <NUM>. The indent <NUM> of the flange of one base member is next to the inner side wall of the hole <NUM> (<FIG>). The surface <NUM> of the hooks (<FIG>) which faces towards the blister well of the first base member presses against the flange surrounding the hole on the lower surface of the base member <NUM>, and stops the protrusion <NUM> from coming out of the hole <NUM>. Once the male connecting feature (in this embodiment the protrusion <NUM>) of one base member has been mechanically fastened to the female connecting feature (in this embodiment hole <NUM>) of a second base member, the male connecting feature of the second base member can be mechanically fastened to the female connecting feature of a third base member. This can be done repeatedly to form an assembly of base members <NUM>. <FIG> shows how <NUM> base members <NUM> according to this embodiment can be joined together by inserting the protrusion <NUM> of one base member <NUM> into the hole <NUM> of another base member <NUM>, with the tab <NUM> and hooks <NUM> acting to hold each protrusion inside the hole <NUM> of each base member <NUM>. Each base member <NUM> is joined to at least one other base member <NUM> at an approximately <NUM> degree angle. The base members <NUM> in the assembly are joined in this way so that half the base members <NUM> are parallel to each other and the other half are joined at a <NUM> degree angle to the first half.

Another example embodiment of the invention (<FIG>) is similar to the first example embodiment of the invention but has some alternative features. A base member <NUM> includes a blister well <NUM> and a handle <NUM>. Where a concave interior surface of the well <NUM> meets an upper surface of the base member <NUM> the blister well has a rim <NUM>. The rim <NUM> of the blister well is enclosed by a sealing region <NUM>. A flange extends out from the perimeter of the blister well <NUM> to the boundary of the base member <NUM>. At one end of the base member <NUM> the flange extends out to form a handle <NUM>. The base member <NUM> has a second well <NUM> which extends down from an upper surface of the handle <NUM> to form a concave upper surface and extends down from the lower surface of the handle <NUM> to form a convex lower surface. The concave upper surface of the second well <NUM> is the female connecting feature. <FIG> shows the concave upper surface of the second well <NUM>. <FIG> shows a lower surface of the base member <NUM>. A protrusion <NUM> extends down from the convex lower surface of the second well <NUM>. The protrusion <NUM> is the male connecting feature. The protrusion <NUM> is shaped to be able to be pushed into the second well <NUM> of another base member <NUM> according to this embodiment and then be held there by an interference fit. <FIG> shows how the protrusion <NUM> of a first base member <NUM> slots into the second well <NUM> of a second base member <NUM>. The interference fit between the protrusion <NUM> and the second well <NUM> holds the two base members <NUM> together. This can be done repeatedly to form an assembly of base members <NUM>.

Another example embodiment of the invention (<FIG>) is similar to the first example embodiment of the invention but has some alternative features. A base member <NUM> includes a blister well <NUM> and a handle <NUM>. Where a concave interior surface of the well <NUM> meets an upper surface of the base member <NUM> the blister well has a rim <NUM>. The rim <NUM> of the blister well is enclosed by a sealing region <NUM>. A flange extends out from the perimeter of the blister well <NUM> to the boundary of the base member <NUM>. The flange extends out from the perimeter of the blister well <NUM> to a curved edge <NUM> which is at a substantially equal distance from the perimeter of the blister well <NUM> all the way around the well <NUM>. The flange extends out from the curved edge <NUM> to form a handle <NUM> on one side of the base member. The handle <NUM> is planar with the sealing region <NUM>. Four protrusions <NUM> extend downwards from the upper surface of the flange at approximately <NUM> degree intervals around an axis that runs vertically through the centre of the blister well <NUM>. The protrusion <NUM> are the male connecting features. <FIG> shows the protrusions <NUM> extending downwards from the upper surface of the base member <NUM>. The end of the protrusions <NUM> that is furthest from the upper surface of the base member <NUM> is hooked. <FIG> shows that when the well <NUM> of one base member <NUM> is slotted into the well <NUM> of a second base member <NUM> according to this example embodiment, the protrusions <NUM> fit over the curved edge <NUM> of the second base member in regions <NUM> that are slightly indented. Regions <NUM> are the female connecting features. The hook of the protrusions <NUM> acts to hold the protrusion in place and keep the two base members <NUM> joined together. This can be done repeatedly to form an assembly of base members.

Claim 1:
A hermetically sealed blister package for a contact lens, wherein the blister package includes a base member made of plastics material, and a sealing member joined to the base member to form a blister cavity arranged to hold an unworn contact lens and contact lens packaging solution;
the base member having an upper surface and a lower surface and including a blister well and a handle, the handle being provided by a flange that extends out from the blister well;
the base member including a female connecting feature and a male connecting feature;
the female connecting feature on the base member being configured to interlock with a corresponding male connecting feature on a substantially identical base member to mechanically fasten the base member to the substantially identical base member to form a base member assembly;
CHARACTERISED IN THAT:
the flange is planar;
the planar flange includes the female connecting feature and the male connecting feature,
the female connecting feature comprises a hole in the flange located between a perimeter of the blister well and an edge of the flange and the male connecting feature is located outside of the perimeter of the blister well.