Abstract: An appliance for disinfecting contact lenses wherein the lenses are disposed within a disinfecting solution which liberates a gas during the disinfecting process. The appliance has a container body with a removable cap which forms a sealed chamber having a normally closed vent conduit, and a lens holder is provided to support the contact lenses within the container body. The cap includes a resiliently deflectable flange which defines a check valve in the conduit which is deflected by excessive pressure within the container to open the valve enabling passage of effluent gas from the chamber through the conduit.

Abstract: A contact lens disinfecting apparatus includes a housing defining a pair of receptacles for receiving a pair of contact lenses and a quantity of liquid therein, a heater responsive to a predetermined electrical current for producing heat, the heater being configured and positioned in the housing for radiating heat to the receptacles for disinfecting contact lenses therein, energizing-and-timing circuit also mounted in the housing for controlling the application of the predetermined electrical current to the heater, an AC connector coupled with the housing for coupling with mating AC connector for energizing the circuit, and a shield interposed between the receptacle on the one hand and both the circuit and the heater on the other hand and providing collecting and draining for respectively collecting and directing outwardly of the housing any liquid which may escape or otherwise exit beneath the receptacle, so as to prevent the liquid from contacting the heater or the electrical circuit.

Abstract: A retractable, non-reusable bleeding time lancet apparatus comprises a housing having an end opening, a blade, and a carrier for fixedly mounting the blade and mounted in the housing for sliding motion toward and away from the end opening. A resilient biasing member is mounted in the housing in a prestressed condition and is operatively coupled for selectively urging the carrier for achieving sliding motion toward and away from the housing end opening. A non-resettable release member normally retains the biasing member in its prestressed condition and is selectively activatable for releasing the resilient biasing member to urge the carrier in a sliding motion for projecting at least a cutting edge of the blade through the end opening. Cooperating surfaces on the housing and carrier define respective limits of sliding motion of the carrier corresponding to extended and retracted positions of the blade cutting edge relative to the housing end opening.

Abstract: An adjusting mechanism for a headlamp or the like, comprises a first housing piece and a second housing piece defining first and second orthogonally disposed gear-receiving bores when assembled. The bores intersect at a peripheral location with respect to each other so as to receive respectively a drive gear member and an adjusting gear member disposed with the gear members being engageable at the locations where the bores intersect. The housing pieces receive and guide a drive shaft for engagement with the drive gear and extending outwardly from the housing. The second housing piece receives an adjusting shaft for engagement with the adjusting gear and extending from the housing for engagement with a headlamp or the like, such that by rotation of the drive gear members, rotational movement will be imparted to the adjusting shaft to effect adjustment of a headlamp assembly or the like.

Abstract: There is disclosed a modular contact lens disinfecting system comprising a combination carrying case-and-heater module including a pair of receptacles for receiving a pair of contact lenses therein, a heating arrangement responsive to a predetermined electrical current for producing heat and positioned and configured for radiating heat to the receptacle, and electrical connectors coupled with the heating arrangement for receiving electrical current; and an energizing-and-timer module including a housing, an AC plug coupled with the housing for coupling an AC receptacle to receive electrical current, mating electrical connectors coupled to the housing for complementary mating with the electrical connectors of the case-and-heater module, and a timer coupled in electrical circuit intermediate the plug and the mating electrical connectors for controlling the time duration during which electrical current is applied to the mating electrical connectors.

Abstract: An optical system is provided for viewing a sterilization indicator including a receptacle, the receptacle having a translucent portion and being carried interiorally of an incubator. The optical system comprises a light source, and first light transmission structure located intermediate the light source and the receptacle for redirecting light from the light source through the translucent portion of the receptacle. A viewing window is located in an external surface of said incubator; and second light transmission structure is located on a side of the receptacle generally opposite the first light transmission means for redirecting light transmitted through the translucent portion of said receptacle to the viewing window.

Abstract: A rinsing apparatus is provided for a contact lens cleaning system. This rinsing apparatus comprises a container for receiving a quantity of rinsing fluid, receptacles for receiving contact lenses and an agitator mounted in the container for a compound agitating motion and coupled to the receptacles for agitating the receptacles. A base unit includes a platform for mounting the container in a stationary position and a drive assembly for driving the agitator to achieve the desired compound agitating motion. Advantageously, this drive assembly is operatively coupled with the agitator only by a magnetic coupling arrangement, obviating the need for any mechanical connection or coupling therebetween, or for extending any rotating members through the container.

Abstract: A headband electrode system comprises an elongate flexible band, a center electrode coupled to a central portion of the band and a pair of temporal electrodes coupled with the band, one to either side of the center electrode. A pivotal mounting arrangement is provided for each of the temporal electrodes for pivotal movement relative to the band for positioning the temporal electrodes for predetermined placement relative to the center electrode.

Abstract: An appliance for disinfecting contact lenses utilizes a disinfecting solution, such as hydrogen peroxide, that liberates a gas during disinfecting action. The appliance has a container body with a removable cap that provides a sealed chamber except for a vent opening through the cap. A hydrophobic membrane filter is disposed across said vent opening and is substantially impermeable to the disinfecting solution but permeable to the liberated gas.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided. The method for tinting soft contact lenses comprises the steps of mounting a contact lens to a fixture of the apparatus including an inlet and an outlet for directing predetermined fluids therethrough for engagement with predetermined surfaces of the contact lens to tint the lens; mounting the fixture to a carrier in a predetermined orientation; guiding the carrier along a predetermined path of travel; arranging a plurality of fluid application stations along the predetermined path of travel, each fluid application station including a fluid release member; and further moving the carrier as it moves along said path of travel in a direction for aligning the inlet of the fixture with each of the fluid release members, in sequence, for delivering a quantity of fluid to the inlet.

Abstract: A collapsible painting cart apparatus comprises a mobile frame, a receptacle for receiving a container of paint, and an extendable and retractable mounting and guide member for mounting the receptacle and for guiding the direction of paint released from the container. The mounting and guide member is mounted to the frame for movement between a first position extended from the frame for applying paint to a desired surface and a second position retracted within the frame for storage. A handle is attachable to the frame and extendable outwardly therefrom for gripping by an operator to propel the mobile frame relative to the desired surface.

Abstract: A contact lens cleaning system comprises a container for receiving a quantity of cleansing fluid and a contact lens therein and a vibrator including a vibration generator and a vibration transmitting assembly for transmitting vibration from the vibration generator to a predetermined portion of the container. The container includes fluid agitator components including a resilient diaphragm comprising the just-mentioned predetermined portion, which resilient diaphragm is locatable for contact with the vibration transmitting assembly so as to transmit vibration therefrom to an agitator member immersed within the cleansing fluid.

Abstract: A sterilization indicator device comprises a receptacle for containing a spore disc and a sealed ampule of culture medium. A closure is threaded onto the receptacle and cooperates with the receptacle to provide a passageway for the sterilization gases to reach the spore disc. Upon completion of the sterilization, the closure is threaded further onto the receptacle to fracture the ampule and cause the nutrient to come into contact with the spore disc. At the same time an indicator flag is moved from an initial position to a second position to indicate that the device has been activated. Also, a seal is provided between the closure and the receptacle to seal off the spore disc from exposure to ambient air during incubation of the spore strip.

Abstract: There is disclosed a fixture or apparatus for use in the tinting of a contact lens or the like. The fixture includes a tube having a body portion and a closed end portion, which includes an annular masking structure to support the lens and define a ring-like unmasked area. Proximate the masking structure, a tinting medium receiving chamber is defined. A method for using the fixture is also disclosed. In an upright position, the tube body portion is filled with a preparatory solution. Into this fluid-filled tube, a contact lens is dropped. As the dropped lens passes through the liquid column, the hydraulic forces acting thereon produce a state of dynamic equilibrium, with the lens convex side down. This action tends to properly position and center the lens as it comes to rest upon the mask structure. Next, a mandrel device is inserted into the tube to fix the lens in place against the mask.

Abstract: A contact lens disinfector has a pair of wells that are axially aligned and open in opposite directions from the disinfector casing. Between the wells is a positive temperature coefficient thermistor which serves as a heater to supply heat through a pair of heat sinks on opposite sides of the heater. Each heat sink has a spherically curved surface which engages flush with a companion shaped wall of the lens well to enhance the transfer of heat from the heater to the solution within the lens well.

Abstract: A reuseable plastic cap is disposed over a seal closure on a vial neck to retain the seal closure in place thereon, the cap comprising a body of resilient material having a base overlying the seal closure, opposed jaws on the base for gripping a bead on the vial neck, gripper flanges for manual engagement to spread apart the jaws so as to install or remove the cap on the vial neck, and a releasable locking bar to hold the gripper flanges spread apart and thereby retain the jaws in a locked condition on the vial neck.

Abstract: A lens disinfecting unit comprises a housing with adjacent compartments separated by a barrier wall. One compartment is adapted to receive the lens case for heating while the other compartment contains the heater and related circuitry. The barrier wall includes a heat sink which is insert-molded into the barrier wall to provide a water-tight seal such spilled liquid cannot leak from the lens case compartment to the heater compartment. The casing for the unit is made up of sections permitting sequential assembly, namely, two members are employed, one being a lid pivotally mounted over the heating well and the other being snap-fitted over the compartment containing the circuitry; and a third member serves to maintain the other two members in captive relationship.