WO1993009692A2

WO1993009692A2 - A device containing contact lenses and vessels containing a treatment liquid

Info

Publication number: WO1993009692A2
Application number: PCT/IT1992/000143
Authority: WO
Inventors: Carla Chiaffrino
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-11-22
Filing date: 1992-11-11
Publication date: 1993-05-27
Anticipated expiration: 1994-05-22
Also published as: ITMI913123A1; IT1252058B; ITMI913123A0; WO1993009692A3

Abstract

Device containing contact lenses (3) and vessels (4, 5) for the relative treatment liquids, including a flat support body (2) of an oblong shape, with one or more openings for housing the spouts (11) of vessels (4, 5), containing a treatment liquid and with the support body (2) having one or more visible sealed cavities (6, 7) housing the contact lenses, the whole forming a flat whole in tablet form.

Description

A device containing contact lenses and vessels containing a treatment liquid

This invention refers to a device for containing contact lenses and vessels containing a treatment liquid.

It is known that each time they are taken out contact lenses are kept in a container filled with a soaking solution. Before insertion, the lenses are treated with a cleaning liquid. It is also known that before cleaning the lenses, they are rinsed in a special liquid to remove the soaking solution. For care of the lenses during brief periods spent away from home there are known devices formed by a container for the lenses and vessels for the treatment liquid. All the containers have the same cross section and are connected in a block, one on top of the other. In a formation with cylindrical flask vessels, in the upper flat surface of the liquid vessels a bush is fitted which forms the mouth of the vessel and houses the liquid supply spout. The mouth of the vessel may be screwed into a united connecting housing formed in the base of the vessel above. The upper container for the lenses has two. hinged half- lids" on a diametrical cross piece screwed into the container.

Vessels with mouths formed as inserts and subjected to handling cannot guarantee hermetic sealing. In the assembled position, liquid may even leak out of the spouts. Likewise the tilting half-lids do not guarantee hermetic closing. What is more, the semi¬ circular shape of the lids does not facilitate access to the lenses. This manufacture requires a large number of moulds and assembly stages.

In a formation with vessels of oblong transverse section, the vessels are connected through dovetail joints. The supply spouts project laterally. In this formation the slight play needed to prevent accidental removal between the containers makes it difficult to separate and link the containers. The projecting spouts do not facilitate handling and emptying the containers. The lens container features large chambers which require a considerable consumption of treatment liquid. As in the formation with cylindrical vessels, problems of sealing also occur in the case of projecting spouts. The invention intends to create a device to contain contact lenses and their relative treatment liquids which prevents the problems of the state of the technique and which has a compact shape, being easy to handle and guaranteeing hermetic sealing. In a containing device according to the introduction in claim 1 this intention is fulfilled, according to the invention, in that ; Device for containing contact lenses and vessels for the relative treatment liquids, characterized in that it consists of a flat support body, oblong in shape, with one or more openings for housing the spouts of vessels containing a treatment liquid and that the support body has one or more cavities to house the contact lenses, forming a flat whole in tablet form. If, for example, two treatment liquids are present, a particularly compact form is obtained due to the fact that the lens container forms a "T", and that on the inner sides of the cross pieces of the --T", one connecting housing is made for each liquid vessel.

If there are three treatment liquids, a compact and easily handled form is obtained due to the fact that the lens container forms an "I" and that on one longitudinal side of the "I" three connecting housings are made for the liquid vessels. The containing device is simple to form given the fact that the mouths of the liquid vessels and the connecting housings in the lens container are connected by screwing in.

80 Likewise an extremely simple construction is obtained as well as rapid application and separation of the containers due to the fact that the mouths of the liquid vessels and the connecting housings in the lens container are connected by

85 means of press-on geometric coupling.

A hermetic closure is also obtained on the supply spouts due to the fact that in the base of the connecting housings a plug is fitted and that, with the vessels inserted, the tip of the spout presses

90 against the plug. It is therefore easy to remove the right lens and the left lens with precision, and the hermetic seal of the chambers housing the lens is guaranteed due to the fact that the lens container features two chambers housing the lens

95 and that the housing chambers have a concave base and may both be closed with a screw-down cap. With the containing device as according to the invention the problems of the known devices are avoided and there are several advantages. The lens 00 container acts as a handy grip when separating or connecting the liquid vessels, and also for removal of the lenses. By ensuring that no liquid leaks out, stickiness during transport is avoided. The liquid vessels in bottle form guarantee a simple

105 and complete flow of liquid. Removal of the lenses is extremely simple and the housing chambers of the lenses enables the lenses to be preserved correctly using small quantities of liquid. The housing device is compact and flattened and may even be

110 housed in small bags or handbags or slimline cases. The operation of lens insertion is facilitated if at least one of the surfaces of the lens container features a mirror. Besides the treatment liquid vessels, the lens container may also feature a

115 container for accessories, for example, cotton wool balls, small brushes, and a mirror, in addition or as an alternative and a mirrored surface on the lens container. The container device may be manufactured with a small number of moulds.

120 Other characteristics and advantages will emerge from the following description with reference to the drawings which exemplify two types of formation of the container device according to the invention. The drawings show:

125 in figure l, an overhead view in perspective of an initial type of formation, partially exploded; in figure 2 a section according to the line II-II of figure 1, in figure 3 an overhead view of figure i;

130 figure 4 shows an overhead view of a second type of formation; figure 5, using an enlarged scale, shows a detail in view of a variation of the upper part of a vessel for liquids; and

135 figure 6, in enlarged scale and in section, shows a variation of the detail A in figure 3. With reference to the figures 1 to 3, the device 1 containing the contact lenses and the vessels for the treatment liquids, includes a support 2 for the

140 lenses 3 and for two vessels 4 and 5 for the treatment liquids. The support 2 of the lenses has two chambers 6, 7 , for the separate housing of the right lens and the left lens. The chambers 6 and 7 have a concave base and may each be closed with a

145 respective screw-down lid 8, 9. The support 2 of the lenses is flat in shape or "T" shaped and has all the connecting housings 13 for the vessels 4 and 5. The chambers 6, 7 are formed for example on the stalk of the "T". The vessels 4, 5 are formed

150 as bottles, preferably of oval section and have a mouth 10 in a single piece with the body of the vessel. In Figure 1 the mouths 10 have a thread and house a delivery spout 11. The spout 11 houses a tube, not shown, which reaches down towards to the

155 bottom of the vessel. This construction allows the vessel to be refilled. The connecting housings 13 are formed on the inner sides 12 of the cross piece of the "T" and consist of a threaded part 14 and a tapered cavity 15 following. The mouth 10 of a

160 vessel 4, 5 may be screwed into part 14. The spout 11 is housed in the cavity 15.

The drawing shows that with vessels 4, 5 presenting a tapered upper part 16, there is a corresponding recess 17 in the support 2. The sides 18 of the

165 stalk of the "T" may be rounded to further reduce the overall dimensions.

The example of figure 4 differs in that the support 2 has an "I" shape. There are three vessels 4, 5, 19 for the liquids, aligned with each other. On the

170 opposite side of the support 2 there are the two chambers 6, 7 housing the lenses. The formation of the vessels 4, 5, 19 of the connecting housings 13, and the chambers 6, 7 corresponds to the example of the figures from 1 to 3.

175 As an alternative to the screw-in connection 10, 14 between the liquid vessels and the support 2, in figure 5 the mouth 10 of the vessel 5 has an external ring collar 22. The spout 11 is pressed or screwed into the mouth 10. As indicated in figure

180 3, the part 14 of the connecting housings will have a cylindrical formation with a ring groove 21 into which the collar 22 is pressed. The cross section of the collar 22 and the groove 21 may present any of the known shapes allowing a pull-off coupling.

185 Figure 6 contains a detail guaranteeing a secure seal even on spout 11. In a chamber 23 fitted in the base 24 of the housing 13, a plug 25 is housed, loaded by a spring 26. In the example illustrated, the plug 25 is a sphere.

190 The plug body could be directly formed in the housing 13 at the moulding stage. The plug may also consist of a spring-loaded cap, not shown. The container device according to the invention is handled as follows:

195 when the lenses are used, the liquid vessels are connected with the support 2. The vessels are removed by unscrewing, or by slight pulling to unfasten the press-down connection. When the vessels are separated and inserted, the support 2

200 of the lenses acts as a handy grip. The connecting mouths in one single piece with the liquid vessels guarantee total sealing. An excellent seal is also obtained on the spouts since when the liquid vessels are fitted into the lens container, the

205 upper tip of the spout rests against the plug and counterpressure is provided by a spring or by the plug itself.

To facilitate the application of the lenses, at least one flat surface, for example the surface 28

210 in figure 1, may have a mirror finish or have a mirror glued on, for example. To further reduce the overall dimensions, the lids of the housing chambers of the lenses may also be embedded in cavities pre-formed in the body of the lens

215 support.

There may also be a hollow shell-shaped lid, not shown, which may be fitted onto the device. The shell lid may for example strike against a perimeter flange p—rojecting from the lens

220 container.

Claims

1. Device for containing contact lenses and vessels for the relative treatment liquids, characterized in that it consists of a support body (2) , flat and oblong in shape, fitted with one or more openings (13) for housing the spouts (11) of the vessels (4, 5) holding a treatment liquid and that the support body (2) has one or more visible sealed cavities (6, 7) , housing the contact lenses, forming a whole (1) which is flat and in the form of a tablet.

2. Containing device according to claim l, characterized in that the support (2) is "T" shaped

» and that the inner sides (12) of the cross piece of the "T" feature connecting housings (13) for vessels (4, 5) .

3. Containing device, according to claim 1, characterized in that the support (2) of the lenses has an "I"-shaped form which features connecting housings (13) for the vessels (4, 5, 19) on one longitudinal side.

4. Containing device, according to claim 1, characterized in that the mouths (10) of the vessels (4, 5, 19) of the liquids and the connecting housings (13, 14) in the support (2) of the lenses are connected by screwing (10, 14). II

5. Containing device, according to claim 1, characterized in that the mouths (10, 22) of the vessels (4, 5, 19) of the liquids and the connecting housings (13, 14, 21) in the support (2) are connected by press-coupling (21, 22) .

6. Containing device, according to claim 1, characterized in that a plug body (25) is fitted into the base (24) of the connecting housings (13) , and that with the vessels (4, 5, 19) of liquid fitted in the support (2) , the tips of the spouts (11) press against the plugs (25) .

7. Containing device, according to claim 1, characterized in that the support (2) has two chambers (6, 7) for housing the lenses (3) and that the chambers (6, 7) have a concave base and may be closed with a threaded cap (8, 9).

8. Containing device, according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one surface of the support (2) for the lenses has a mirror finish.