Patents by Inventor Robert Carey Tucker
Robert Carey Tucker has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 7411008Abstract: The present invention provides a chemical ink comprises a solvent, a binder polymer, a colorant and optionally a crosslinker. The ink of the invention has one or more of the following characteristics: a viscosity lower than about 50 centipoises; a surface tension of from about 20 mN/m to about 60 mN/m; a particle size of less than about 5 ?m; prolonged stability; an appropriate color level (visible by eye); uniform drop formation; jet stability; good adhesion to contact lenses; good transfer from a mold to a lens made in the mold; and stability of ink in inkjet nozzles. The ink of the invention is useful for inkjet printing of a high-quality color image on a contact lens or a mold so as to produce a colored contact lens.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2002Date of Patent: August 12, 2008Assignee: Novartis AGInventors: Robert Carey Tucker, Sandra Corti
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Patent number: 7364293Abstract: A method of configuring and ordering a customized contact lens for a user. The method includes the steps of displaying a template eye image to assist the user in visualizing selected options for a customized contact lens, and displaying a plurality of contact lens selection options to the user. The information includes a plurality of selectable lens colors and lens design patterns. The method also includes the steps of sending an ordering request to order a contact lens incorporating lens colors and lens design patterns selected by the user, receiving the ordering request, and manufacturing a contact lens incorporating the lens colors and lens design patterns selected by the user.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2006Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Novartis AGInventors: Daniel F. Broderick, Ann T. Foppe, James Santilli, Robert Carey Tucker
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Patent number: 7329695Abstract: The present invention provides a chemical ink for pad printing a medical device comprising water; a colorant; and a crosslinkable, water-soluble poly(vinyl alcohol). The ink has a viscosity of greater than 50 centipoise, and good adhesion to the medical device. Method for printing contact lenses with such ink are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2003Date of Patent: February 12, 2008Assignee: Novartis AGInventors: Robert Carey Tucker, Sandra Corti
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Patent number: 7306333Abstract: The invention is directed to a colored contact lens designed for enhancing a wearer's eye color while giving the wearer's eyes a very natural appearance. A colored contact lens of the invention comprises a colored central zone which includes a colored substantially-circular pattern composed of non-opaque colored dots. Sizes of the dots and/or amounts of space between the dots are varied in a radially-controlled manner so that local colored dot coverage increases in a radial direction from the center to the peripheral edge or a position near the peripheral edge of the substantially-circular pattern.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2005Date of Patent: December 11, 2007Assignee: Novartis AGInventors: Robert Carey Tucker, Barry L. Atkins, Sandra Corti
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Patent number: 7255438Abstract: A method comprises the steps of (a) providing a water based ink in at least one cliché with a contact lens pattern; (b) transferring the water based ink from the cliché to at least a surface of at least a contact lens forming mold by means of at least a transfer pad; (c) at least partially curing the ink transferred on the mold to form a colored film; (d) dispensing a hydrogel lens-forming material into a lens-forming cavity of the mold; and (e) curing the lens-forming material within the lens-forming cavity to form the contact lens, whereby the colored film detaches from the molding surface and becomes integral with the body of the contact lens; characterized in that the relative air humidity in the immediate vicinities of the transfer pad/s is kept higher than 50% at standard temperature and pressure conditions during ink transfer.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2005Date of Patent: August 14, 2007Assignee: Novartis AGInventors: Barry L. Atkins, Norbert Doerr, Alfred Fischer, Michael Hugh Quinn, Roland Schmieder, Robert Carey Tucker
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Patent number: 7083278Abstract: A method of configuring and ordering a customized contact lens for a user. The method includes the steps of displaying a template eye image to assist the user in visualizing selected options for a customized contact lens, and displaying a plurality of contact lens selection options to the user. The information includes a plurality of selectable lens colors and lens design patterns. The method also includes the steps of sending an ordering request to order a contact lens incorporating lens colors and lens design patterns selected by the user, receiving the ordering request, and manufacturing a contact lens incorporating the lens colors and lens design patterns selected by the user.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2004Date of Patent: August 1, 2006Assignee: Novartis AGInventors: Daniel F. Broderick, Ann T. Foppe, James Santilli, Robert Carey Tucker
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Patent number: 7011408Abstract: A method of making a colored contact lens comprises printing at least one layer of a colorant onto a contact lens using a printing process selected from the group consisting of ink jet printing, electrophotographic printing, thermal transfer printing, and photographic development printing. Printing can be done directly on the contact lens, on a film in a mold where the contact lens is formed, or on a cliché pad. Multiple layers of colorants can be printed onto a contact lens.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2004Date of Patent: March 14, 2006Assignee: Novartis AGInventor: Robert Carey Tucker
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Patent number: 6955832Abstract: The present invention provides novels inks and methods for making a colored polymeric substrates, preferably a contact lens. In the inventive method at least a portion of a surface of a lens is coated with a color coat comprising at least one colorant, and a binder polymer obtained by copolymerizing a first monomer being ethylenically unsaturated and having a latent crosslinkable pendent group; and a second monomer having an ethylenically unsaturated double bond copolymerizable with the first monomer. The lens is then subjected to conditions that cause the color coat to adhere to the lens.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2002Date of Patent: October 18, 2005Assignee: Novartis AGInventors: Michael Hugh Quinn, Robert Carey Tucker, Sandra Corti, John Christopher Phelan
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Patent number: 6902274Abstract: A method of making a colored contact lens comprises printing at least one layer of a colorant onto contact lens using a printing process selected from the group consisting of ink jet printing, electrophotographic printing, thermal transfer printing, and photographic development printing. Printing can be done directly on the contac lens, on a film in a mold where the contact lens is formed, or on a cliché pad. Multiple layers of colorants can be printed onto a contact lens.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2004Date of Patent: June 7, 2005Assignee: Novartis AGInventor: Robert Carey Tucker
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Patent number: 6899426Abstract: A method of making a colored contact lens comprises printing at least one layer of a colorant onto a contact lens using a printing process selected from the group consisting of ink jet printing, electrophotographic printing, thermal transfer printing, and photographic development printing. Printing can be done directly on the contact lens, on a film in a mold where the contact lens is formed, or on a cliché pad. Multiple layers of colorants can be printed onto a contact lens.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2003Date of Patent: May 31, 2005Assignee: Novartis AGInventor: Robert Carey Tucker
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Patent number: 6811259Abstract: A method of making a colored contact lens comprises printing at least one layer of a colorant onto a contact lens using a printing process selected from the group consisting of ink jet printing, electrophotographic printing, thermal transfer printing, and photographic development printing. Printing can be done directly on the contact lens, on a film in a mold where the contact lens is formed, or on a cliché pad. Multiple layers of colorants can be printed onto a contact lens.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2001Date of Patent: November 2, 2004Assignee: Novartis AGInventor: Robert Carey Tucker
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Publication number: 20040176977Abstract: A method of configuring and ordering a customized contact lens for a user. The method includes the steps of displaying a template eye image to assist the user in visualizing selected options for a customized contact lens, and displaying a plurality of contact lens selection options to the user. The information includes a plurality of selectable lens colors and lens design patterns. The method also includes the steps of sending an ordering request to order a contact lens incorporating lens colors and lens design patterns selected by the user, receiving the ordering request, and manufacturing a contact lens incorporating the lens colors and lens design patterns selected by the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2004Publication date: September 9, 2004Inventors: Daniel F. Broderick, Ann T. Foppe, James Santilli, Robert Carey Tucker
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Patent number: 6746120Abstract: A method of configuring and ordering a customized contact lens for a user. The method includes the steps of displaying a template eye image to assist the user in visualizing selected options for a customized contact lens, and displaying a plurality of contact lens selection options to the user. The information includes a plurality of selectable lens colors and lens design patterns. The method also includes the steps of sending an ordering request to order a contact lens incorporating lens colors and lens design patterns selected by the user, receiving the ordering request, and manufacturing a contact lens incorporating the lens colors and lens design patterns selected by the user.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2001Date of Patent: June 8, 2004Assignee: Novartis AGInventors: Daniel F. Broderick, Ann T. Foppe, James Santilli, Robert Carey Tucker
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Publication number: 20040044099Abstract: The present invention provides a chemical ink for pad printing a medical device comprising water; a colorant; and a crosslinkable, water-soluble poly(vinyl alcohol). The ink has a viscosity of greater than 50 centipoise, and good adhesion to the medical device. Method for printing contact lenses with such ink are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2003Publication date: March 4, 2004Inventors: Robert Carey Tucker, Sandra Corti
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Publication number: 20030184710Abstract: A method of making a colored contact lens comprises printing at least one layer of a colorant onto a contact lens using a printing process selected from the group consisting of ink jet printing, electrophotographic printing, thermal transfer printing, and photographic development printing. Printing can be done directly on the contact lens, on a film in a mold where the contact lens is formed, or on a cliche pad. Multiple layers of colorants can be printed onto a contact lens.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2003Publication date: October 2, 2003Inventor: Robert Carey Tucker
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Publication number: 20030119943Abstract: The present invention provides a chemical ink comprises a solvent, a binder polymer, a colorant and optionally a crosslinker. The ink of the invention has one or more of the following characteristics: a viscosity lower than about 50 centipoises; a surface tension of from about 20 mN/m to about 60 mN/m; a particle size of less than about 5 &mgr;m; prolonged stability; an appropriate color level (visible by eye); uniform drop formation; jet stability; good adhesion to contact lenses; good transfer from a mold to a lens made in the mold; and stability of ink in inkjet nozzles. The ink of the invention is useful for inkjet printing of a high-quality color image on a contact lens or a mold so as to produce a colored contact lens.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2002Publication date: June 26, 2003Inventors: Robert Carey Tucker, Sandra Corti
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Publication number: 20030085934Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making colored contact lenses and an apparatus for implementing the method of the invention. The apparatus of the invention comprises a securing means for holding a contact lens or a portion of a mold for making the contact lens, a printer head, wherein the printer head comprises one or more nozzles each of which is capable of jetting droplets of color liquid independent of each other under control of a computer system; a positioning means for precisely positioning the printer head at each of a plurality of predetermined positions, one at a time, on a surface of the contact lens or the mold portion under control of the computer system. The method and apparatus of the invention are useful for producing colored contact lenses having high quality color images thereon.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2002Publication date: May 8, 2003Inventors: Robert Carey Tucker, David Hyink
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Publication number: 20030054109Abstract: The present invention provides novels inks and methods for making a colored polymeric substrates, preferably a contact lens. In the inventive method at least a portion of a surface of a lens is coated with a color coat comprising at least one colorant, and a binder polymer obtained by copolymerizing a first monomer being ethylenically unsaturated and having a latent crosslinkable pendent group; and a second monomer having an ethylenically unsaturated double bond copolymerizable with the first monomer. The lens is then subjected to conditions that cause the color coat to adhere to the lens.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2002Publication date: March 20, 2003Inventors: Michael Hugh Quinn, Robert Carey Tucker, Sandra Corti, John Christopher Phelan
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Publication number: 20030007123Abstract: A method of configuring and ordering a customized contact lens for a user. The method includes the steps of displaying a template eye image to assist the user in visualizing selected options for a customized contact lens, and displaying a plurality of contact lens selection options to the user. The information includes a plurality of selectable lens colors and lens design patterns. The method also includes the steps of sending an ordering request to order a contact lens incorporating lens colors and lens design patterns selected by the user, receiving the ordering request, and manufacturing a contact lens incorporating the lens colors and lens design patterns selected by the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2001Publication date: January 9, 2003Inventors: Daniel F. Broderick, Ann T. Foppe, James Santilli, Robert Carey Tucker
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Publication number: 20010050753Abstract: A method of making a colored contact lens comprises printing at least one layer of a colorant onto a contact lens using a printing process selected from the group consisting of ink jet printing, electrophotographic printing, thermal transfer printing, and photographic development printing. Printing can be done directly on the contact lens, on a film in a mold where the contact lens is formed, or on a cliché pad. Multiple layers of colorants can be printed onto a contact lens.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2001Publication date: December 13, 2001Inventor: Robert Carey Tucker