Abstract: A method of making an optical element that includes a thermoplastic power portion, the method including laminating a first thermoplastic sheet to one side of a functional film, laminating a second thermoplastic sheet to a second side of the functional film, and affixing either the first thermoplastic sheet or the second thermoplastic sheet to the power portion, with the other of the first or second thermoplastic sheets being open to atmosphere.
Abstract: A functional wafer of the present invention is disclosed to solve manufacturing difficulties involved in the production of optical elements such as polycarbonate ophthalmic lenses. The functional wafer may include a front layer, a functional layer, and a back layer, whereas the front layer and the back layer are bonded to the functional layer with or without additional adhesive. Said functional layer is smaller than at least the front layer by about 0.5 mm to 5 mm along the perimeter edge. A functional wafer of this construction can be conveniently and effectively incorporated into a lens through an insert injection molding process, in which said back layer will be in contact with the lens material.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 6, 2003
Date of Patent:
May 2, 2006
Assignee:
Vision-Ease Lens
Inventors:
Michael S. Boulineau, Eric J. Woelfle, Xuzhi Qin, Hideyo Sugimura, Derek Harris
Abstract: A dip coating process is disclosed that provides a coating on the surfaces of an optical element with more consistent coating thickness. The objectives of this invention are accomplished by holding the coated optical element so that a meniscus is created between the element and the surface of the coating solution. At such a position, the capillary force generated by the touching meniscus helps drain down excessive coating at the bottom of the substrate to quickly yield a consistent coating thickness over the coated surface.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 31, 2003
Date of Patent:
April 11, 2006
Assignee:
Vision-Ease Lens
Inventors:
Tuyethoa T. Trinh, Mohamed-Shahih Smihi, Luben Koev, Richard E. Zielinski
Abstract: Disclosed is a process for molding plastic optical articles with a hard coated film, comprising steps of coating one side of an optical film with a hard coating, pre-curing the hard coating to a tack free state while still maintaining the coating flexibility, making an insert from the coated film for the desired optical article, molding the plastic resin onto the insert through insert injection molding, and post-curing the molded article. The utilization of the pre-curing and post-curing steps have been found to eliminate hard coating cracks during the insert making and the molding step, while providing a hard coating with desired properties. Such an optical article possesses a hard coating integrated on its surface, thus, eliminating the need to further coat the optical article.
Abstract: A photochromic naphthopyran displays good color distribution when the naphthopyran has a central nucleus of the formula: wherein F is a 5-member, 6-member, or 7-member heterocyclic ring group having only one heteroatom, the heteroatom selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulfur, and nitrogen, the 2,3 or 3,2 positions of the heterocyclic ring fused to the g, h, or i side; R1 and R2 are the atoms or groups providing photochromic properties to the naphthopyran.
Abstract: This invention relates to novel naphthopyrans having an oxygen-containing heterocyclic group F annelated on the i, j, or k side of the naphthopyran ring, having certain substituents at the 2, 5, and 6 positions of the naphthopyran ring. These naphthopyrans may have the formula (I) presented below: These compounds (I) have interesting photochromic properties. Also related to this invention are host materials that contain such naphthopyran compounds, and articles such as ophthalmic lenses or other plastic transparencies that incorporate the naphthopyran compounds.
Abstract: A method of making an optical element that includes a thermoplastic power portion, the method including laminating a first thermoplastic sheet to one side of a functional film, laminating a second thermoplastic sheet to a second side of the functional film, and affixing either the first thermoplastic sheet or the second thermoplastic sheet to the power portion, with the other of the first or second thermoplastic sheets being open to atmosphere.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 20, 2003
Date of Patent:
May 3, 2005
Assignee:
Vision - Ease Lens, Inc.
Inventors:
Thomas J. Moravec, Michael S. Boulineau
Abstract: A photochromic [1,2-b] naphthopyran having a fluoro substituent in at least one of the 7-position or the 9-position of the naphthopyran provides a stable photochromic compound with a narrow range of absorption. A preferred photochromic naphthopyran has the 2-position of the naphthopyran with two aromatic substituents thereon. It is further preferred to have at least one 2-position aromatic substituent comprising a phenyl group.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 21, 2000
Date of Patent:
March 8, 2005
Assignee:
Vision-Ease Lens, Inc.
Inventors:
Frank J. Hughes, Xuzhi Qin, J. Thomas Ippoliti
Abstract: Benzodioxino-naphtho[1,2-b]pyran compounds having particularly advantageous photochromic properties, such as, high sensitivity/coloration, two distinct absorption bands in the 430-500 nm range and 520-620 nm range of the visible spectrum may be generally described as a naphthopyran having a central nucleus of the formula: wherein F is a 1,4-benzodioxine ring with its 2,3 positions fused to the i, j, or k faces; and R1 and R2 are the atoms or groups providing photochromic properties to the naphthopyran.
Abstract: A method of making an optical element that includes a thermoplastic power portion, the method including laminating a first thermoplastic sheet to one side of a functional film, laminating a second thermoplastic sheet to a second side of the functional film, and affixing either the first thermoplastic sheet or the second thermoplastic sheet to the power portion, with the other of the first or second thermoplastic sheets being open to atmosphere.
Type:
Application
Filed:
June 20, 2003
Publication date:
December 23, 2004
Applicant:
Vision-Ease Lens, Inc.
Inventors:
Thomas J. Moravec, Michael S. Boulineau
Abstract: A method provides high-vacuum vapor coating methods, with the methods producing novel coating compositions with surprisingly increased performance levels over coatings produced from the same materials under different processing conditions. Compounds of the general formulae II, III and IV, defined herein, can be applied by vapor deposition from a merely compacted, rather than fused or sintered porous matrix source with improved performance, even where the same chemicals are used in the coating, at the same coating temperatures. The generally useful materials include silanes and siloxanes, and siloxazanes of formulae I, II, III and IV.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 2, 2000
Date of Patent:
December 21, 2004
Assignee:
Vision-Ease Lens, Inc.
Inventors:
Michael S. Boulineau, Thomas J. Moravec
Abstract: A polarizing plate is formed with a non-polyvinyl alcohol based polarizing film, a thermoplastic support layer bonded to one surface of the polarizing thin layer, and a thermoplastic protective layer bonded to the other surface of the polarizing thin layer. The thermoplastic support layer is constructed from the same or similar material as the eyewear plastic article base. The thermoplastic protective layer is constructed from a resin sheet that is non-birefringent or highly birefringent. The polarizing plate can be advantageously used in eyewear articles such as sunglasses and goggles for glare reduction. The polarizing plate can be more advantageously used for the production of eyewear optical articles through an insert injection molding technique due to its high heat stability and moisture resistance.
Abstract: A method of making an optical element that includes a thermoplastic power portion, the method including laminating a first thermoplastic sheet to one side of a functional film, laminating a second thermoplastic sheet to a second side of the functional film, and affixing either the first thermoplastic sheet or the second thermoplastic sheet to the power portion, with the other of the first or second thermoplastic sheets being open to atmosphere.
Abstract: This invention relates to novel naphthopyrans having an oxygen-containing heterocyclic group F annelated on the i, j, or k side of the naphthopyran ring, having certain substituents at the 2, 5, and 6 positions of the naphthopyran ring.
Abstract: A photochromic polyurethane film of improved light fatigue resistance is disclosed. A stabilizer system combining two hindered amine light stabilizers and one phenolic antioxidant is incorporated in the photochromic polyurethane film in an amount so that the film will have more than 40% of light fatigue improvement and less than 6 units in &Dgr;b* of CIELAB system after a given light fatigue test. The film can be conveniently laminated between two transparent plastic sheets and incorporated into a plastic article.
Type:
Application
Filed:
January 26, 2004
Publication date:
September 16, 2004
Applicant:
Vision-Ease Lens, Inc.
Inventors:
Thomas J. Moravec, Michael S. Boulineau
Abstract: Disclosed is a process to rapidly spin-apply an AR coating system to a backside of a prescription lens. The AR coating system comprises a polyurethane primer layer, a siloxane thermally cured scratch resistant coating layer, a two-layer sol-gel AR coating, and a hydrophobic layer. The process comprising steps of spin-applying each of the layers provides a quick way to furnish a prescription lens that is AR coated on both sides.
Type:
Application
Filed:
December 17, 2003
Publication date:
August 12, 2004
Applicant:
Vision-Ease Lens, Inc.
Inventors:
Thomas J. Moravec, Martin L. Hage, Michael S. Boulineau
Abstract: The temporary protection of polymeric articles, particularly polymeric articles with optical qualities such as ophthalmic lenses formed by the lamination of individual lens blanks, can be effected by the application of protective polymeric compositions to the surface of the polymer article, the composition being applied as a dry film or coating a film on a surface of the polymeric article. The individual lens blank is prepared for lamination or coating by application of a selective solvent to the polymeric film, the selective solvent dissolving, dispersing or otherwise removing the protective polymeric film but neither reacting with, etching or dissolving the composition of the polymeric article. The solvent even may comprise water or aqueous solutions (especially pH 8.0 to 12), although C1 to C5 alcohols and alkylene glycol ethers may also be used as the solvent.
Abstract: A dichroic dye can be blended with a non-dichroic dye (melanin and melanin derivatives) and still maintain a commercially acceptable level of polarizing efficiency. Efficient polarizers exhibit polarizing efficiencies of greater or equal to 95% and the best are even greater than or equal to 98%. Since melanin has unique features with respect to absorption of wavelengths of light, melanin is very useful to have in combination with a polarizer that takes advantage of this absorption. The blending can be done by a mixture (preferably an aqueous mixture) of melanin and a dichroic dye in a ratio sufficient to achieve the desired color and polarizing effect.
Abstract: Disclosed is a process for molding plastic optical articles with a hard coated film, comprising steps of coating one side of an optical film with a hard coating, pre-curing the hard coating to a tack free state while still maintaining the coating flexibility, making an insert from the coated film for the desired optical article, molding the plastic resin onto the insert through insert injection molding, and post-curing the molded article. The utilization of the pre-curing and post-curing steps have been found to eliminate hard coating cracks during the insert making and the molding step, while providing a hard coating with desired properties. Such an optical article possesses a hard coating integrated on its surface, thus, eliminating the need to further coat the optical article.
Abstract: A functional wafer of the present invention is disclosed to solve manufacturing difficulties involved in the production of optical elements such as polycarbonate ophthalmic lenses. The functional wafer may include a front layer, a functional layer, and a back layer, whereas the front layer and the back layer are bonded to the functional layer with or without additional adhesive. Said functional layer is smaller than at least the front layer by about 0.5 mm to 5 mm along the perimeter edge. A functional wafer of this construction can be conveniently and effectively incorporated into a lens through an insert injection molding process, in which said back layer will be in contact with the lens material.
Type:
Application
Filed:
October 6, 2003
Publication date:
July 1, 2004
Applicant:
Vision-Ease
Inventors:
Michael S. Boulineau, Eric J. Woelfle, Xuzhi Qin, Hideyo Sugimura, Derek Harris