Patents by Inventor Stephen Sams

Stephen Sams 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).

  • Patent number: 12667172
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved contact lens packages comprising arms and methods of use. A contact lens package (100) houses a contact lens (138) and packaging solution and is configured to lift via arms (134, 144) the contact lens out of the packaging solution when the lid (106) is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2026
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Sam Jonathan Popwell, Daniel Graham Ward, Stephen Sams, William Stephen Honey
  • Publication number: 20260077909
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved contact lens packages and lens supports for use therein. A contact lens package may have a lid, a base having a cavity that houses a contact lens and packaging solution and a lever. A lens support configured lift the contact lens out of the packaging solution in a position on the lens support capable of single-touch transfer by a user. The package may include a locking mechanism configured to lock the lever in place when the lens support is lifted to a predetermined lift angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2023
    Publication date: March 19, 2026
    Inventors: Sam Jonathan POPWELL, Scott F. ANSELL, Daniel Graham WARD, Stephen SAMS, Brett SHORE, Ismail AKRAM
  • Publication number: 20260008609
    Abstract: The present invention relates to contact lens packages which allow the lens to be removed from the lens package with a single touch. The lenses packages comprise a lens support which holds the lens in a convex position. When the package is drained there is less contact area between the support and wetted contact lens than between the user's finger and the contact lens, providing the desired one touch transfer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2025
    Publication date: January 8, 2026
    Inventors: Sam Jonathan Popwell, Scott F. Ansell, Daniel Graham Ward, Stephen Sams, William Stephen Honey, Ismail Akram
  • Publication number: 20260000172
    Abstract: The present invention relates to contact lens cases which allow the lens to be removed from the lens case with a single touch. The lenses cases comprise a lens support which holds the lens in a convex position. When package is drained there is less contact area between the support and wetted contact lens, than between the user's finger and the contact lens, providing the desired one touch transfer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2025
    Publication date: January 1, 2026
    Inventors: Sam Jonathan Popwell, Scott F. Ansell, Daniel Graham Ward, Stephen Sams, William Stephen Honey, Ismail Akram
  • Patent number: 12503289
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved contact lens packages and methods of use and manufacture/assembly. A contact lens package may include a cavity that houses a contact lens and packaging solution. In one aspect, an absolute pressure within the cavity may be greater than standard atmospheric pressure when the package is in an unopened state. In another aspect, an absolute pressure within the cavity may be less than standard atmospheric pressure when the package is in an unopened state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2025
    Assignee: JOHNSON & JOHNSON VISION CARE, INC.
    Inventors: Sam Jonathan Popwell, Daniel Graham Ward, Stephen Sams, William Stephen Honey
  • Publication number: 20250338934
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved contact lens packages. The package may be configured such that upon opening the package by a wearer the packaging solution drains away from the contact lens and is substantially recaptured in the lid. Lens packages also may include a lens support that facilitates single touch transfer or a colored region that visually indicates to a wearer where to hold the package for opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2025
    Publication date: November 6, 2025
    Inventors: Sam Jonathan Popwell, Scott F. Ansell, Daniel Graham Ward, Stephen Sams, William Stephen Honey, Ismail Akram
  • Patent number: 12458121
    Abstract: A contact lens package includes a base having a proximal end and a distal end, a solution well between the proximal end and the distal end, a contact lens support in the solution well, a top opening between the proximal end and the distal end and over the contact lens support, and a via through a wall of the base adjacent the well, the via providing a fluid exit for solution within well. A removable lid overlying the top opening may be removably affixed over the top opening such that a user may remove the lid to access the contact lens. Using this package, fluid can be drained away from the contact lens in the package before removal from the package by a user, thus providing good adhesion between a user's finger or applicator and the lens over prior packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2024
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2025
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Sam Jonathan Popwell, Daniel Graham Ward, Stephen Sams, Ismail Akram
  • Patent number: 12414615
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved contact lens packages. The package may be configured such that upon opening the package by a wearer the packaging solution drains away from the contact lens and is substantially recaptured in the lid. Lens packages also may include a lens support that facilitates single touch transfer or a colored region that visually indicates to a wearer where to hold the package for opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2025
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Sam Jonathan Popwell, Scott F. Ansell, Daniel Graham Ward, Stephen Sams, William Stephen Honey, Ismail Akram
  • Publication number: 20250250099
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved contact lens packages and methods of use and manufacture/assembly. A contact lens package houses a contact lens and packaging solution and is configured to lift the contact lens out of the packaging solution when force is applied to a lever of the package and/or when the package is squeezed by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2025
    Publication date: August 7, 2025
    Inventors: Sam Jonathan Popwell, Scott F. Ansell, Daniel Graham Ward, Stephen Sams, Brett Shore, Ismail Akram
  • Publication number: 20250058951
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved contact lens packages and methods of use and manufacture/assembly. A contact lens package may include a cavity that houses a contact lens and packaging solution. In one aspect, an absolute pressure within the cavity may be greater than standard atmospheric pressure when the package is in an unopened state. In another aspect, an absolute pressure within the cavity may be less than standard atmospheric pressure when the package is in an unopened state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2022
    Publication date: February 20, 2025
    Inventors: Sam Jonathan POPWELL, Daniel Graham WARD, Stephen SAMS, William Stephen HONEY
  • Publication number: 20250058950
    Abstract: A contact lens package includes a lid and a container defining a cavity configured to house a contact lens and packaging solution, the lid being sealedly coupled to the container, and a lens support including a lever and a lens support disposed within the cavity. The lens support is pivotably coupled to the container such that the lever is configured to raise the lens support at least partially out of the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2022
    Publication date: February 20, 2025
    Inventors: Sam Jonathan POPWELL, Daniel Graham WARD, Stephen SAMS, William Stephen HONEY
  • Publication number: 20250049184
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved contact lens packages and methods of use and manufacture/assembly. A contact lens package includes a base and a lid connected to the base. The base includes a base cavity that houses a contact lens and packaging solution, and at least one projection (140) disposed at least partially within the base cavity. The at least one projection may extend along an internal surface of the base toward an end of the base cavity. The lid extends over and cover the base cavity when the package is in an unopened state. In another embodiment, at least a portion of the base cavity is formed by a bowl comprising a main portion (236) and a channel portion (238) extending away from the main portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2022
    Publication date: February 13, 2025
    Inventors: Sam Jonathan POPWELL, Daniel Graham WARD, Stephen SAMS, William Stephen HONEY
  • Publication number: 20250051087
    Abstract: A new contact lens dispenser provides one-touch contact lens handling capabilities. The contact lens dispenser is designed to house a plurality of contact lenses in individual pods, each of which in turn contains a solution to keep the contact lens hydrated. The contact lens dispenser is equipped with an actuator that allows a contact lens to be dispensed out of its pod onto a fingertip ready for insertion in the eye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2022
    Publication date: February 13, 2025
    Inventors: Sam Jonathan POPWELL, Daniel Graham WARD, Stephen SAMS, William Stephen HONEY
  • Publication number: 20250041114
    Abstract: Described herein are devices and methods for storage and application of a contact lens. The device includes an applicator cap (102) including a handle portion (106a) having a first end, a second end, and a body that extends between the first end and the second end. The body includes at least one lever surface. The device includes a container (104) having a reservoir configured to house a contact lens and packaging solution. The at least one lever surface is configured to provide at least one leverage point for movement of the applicator cap relative to the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2022
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Inventors: Sam Jonathan POPWELL, Daniel Graham WARD, Stephen SAMS, William Stephen HONEY
  • Publication number: 20250019147
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved contact lens packages and methods of use. A contact lens package (100) may include a base (110) and a lid (140) connected to the base. The base may include a base cavity (124) that houses a contact lens (150) and packaging solution, and a slot (130) extending through the base from an internal surface (132) to an external surface (134) of the base and in communication with the base cavity. The lid may extend over the external surface of the base and cover the slot when the package is in an unopened state, and the lid may not cover the slot when the package is in an opened state, such that the contact lens is accessible to a user through the slot when the package is in the opened state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Publication date: January 16, 2025
    Inventors: Sam Jonathan POPWELL, Daniel WARD, Stephen SAMS, William Stephen HONEY
  • Publication number: 20250009094
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved contact lens packages comprising arms and methods of use. A contact lens package (100) houses a contact lens (138) and packaging solution and is configured to lift via arms (134, 144) the contact lens out of the packaging solution when the lid (106) is removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Inventors: Sam Jonathan POPWELL, Daniel Graham WARD, Stephen SAMS, William Stephen HONEY
  • Patent number: 12187522
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved contact lens packages and methods of use and manufacture/assembly. A contact lens package may include a cavity that houses a contact lens, packaging solution, and an absorbent member. In one aspect, the absorbent member may be configured for transitioning between an expanded state and a compressed state, and the absorbent member may be in the compressed state when the package is in an unopened state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Sam Jonathan Popwell, Daniel Graham Ward, Stephen Sams, Ismail Akram
  • Publication number: 20240425263
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved contact lens packages and methods of use and manufacture/assembly. A contact lens package may include a cavity that houses a contact lens, packaging solution, and an absorbent member. In one aspect, the absorbent member may be configured for transitioning between an expanded state and a compressed state, and the absorbent member may be in the compressed state when the package is in an unopened state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2024
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Inventors: Sam Jonathan Popwell, Daniel Graham Ward, Stephen Sams, Ismail Akram
  • Patent number: D1061023
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Sam Jonathan Popwell, Scott F. Ansell, Daniel Graham Ward, Stephen Sams, Brett Shore, Ismail Akram
  • Patent number: D1062223
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Sam Jonathan Popwell, Scott F. Ansell, Daniel Graham Ward, Stephen Sams, Brett Shore, Ismail Akram