CONTAINER FOR A CONTACT LENS
This invention provides a container for a contact lens, comprising: a central recess; a peripheral groove surrounding the central recess; and a rim surrounding the peripheral groove; wherein the central recess is a curved surface having one or a plurality of continuous R values less than an R value of the contact lens in its natural state, and wherein the R value is a radius of curvature of a curved surface.
This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on Patent Application No. 100113855 filed in Taiwan, R.O.C. on Apr. 21, 2011, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a container for a contact lens, and more particularly, to a disposable container for a contact lens.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Nowadays people spend more time watching TV and multimedia materials due to the great audio and visual effects provided thereby and the popularity of mass media. Therefore, the number of short-sighted youngsters is growing. Short-sighted people need to wear glasses to correct their vision, and there are generally two types of glasses, (rimmed/rimless) glasses with temple arms and contact lenses.
Contact lens has been a popular option since being invented in the 1970s. As the improved manufacturing methods drive down the production cost and many consider their appearance to be more attractive with contact lenses than with glasses, the popularity of contact lenses has surged. With the change in life style, there is an increasing demand for disposable contact lenses. A growing number of people turn to disposable contact lenses because they are cheap and need no maintenance.
Generally, the package of a disposable contact lens (prescribed to be disposed of on a monthly, weekly or daily basis) comprises a plastic-injection-molded container and a flexible lid covering the container. The container has a recess for holding a contact lens and an antiseptic solution. The flexible lid is made of flexible material and configured to seal the recess so that the contact lens will not be contaminated. The user can tear off the flexible lid to pick up the contact lens and wear it.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA container for a contact lens of the present invention is configured to produce a contact lens. The container comprises a central recess, a peripheral groove and a rim. The central recess is provided with a protruding portion to prevent the contact lens from being flung away from the container during the production process or having burrs or a rough edge.
The present invention provides a container for a contact lens, comprising: a central recess; a peripheral groove surrounding the central recess; and a rim surrounding the peripheral groove; wherein the central recess is a curved surface having one or a plurality of continuous R values less than an R value of a contact lens in its natural state, and wherein R is a radius of curvature of the curved surface.
The present invention provides another container for a contact lens, comprising: a central recess; a peripheral groove surrounding the central recess; a rim surrounding the peripheral groove; and a tenon disposed on a supporting portion of the container; wherein the central recess is a curved surface having one or a plurality of continuous R values less than an R value of a contact lens in its natural state, and wherein R is a radius of curvature of the curved surface.
The present invention provides yet another container for a contact lens, comprising: a central recess; a ring-shaped region surrounding the central recess; and a rim surrounding the ring-shaped region; wherein the central recess is a curved surface having one or a plurality of continuous R values less than an R value of a contact lens in its natural state, and wherein R is a radius of curvature of the curved surface.
The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown.
The second embodiment and the first embodiment are substantially the same in terms of the structure of the main parts except that the supporting portion 7′ of the container 1 for a contact lens of the second embodiment is a continuous surface of a constant dimension in the perpendicular direction (for example, the supporting portion 7′ does not have any notches, as shown in
The third embodiment and the second embodiment are substantially the same in terms of the structure of the main parts except that the container 11 for a contact lens of the third embodiment is provided with four raised sections 18, and that the supporting portion 17 of the container 11 for a contact lens of the third embodiment is a round peripheral surface while the supporting portion 7′ of the container 1 for a contact lens of the second embodiment is not a round peripheral surface. Additionally, the bottoms of the containers 1 and 11 are slightly different.
The container 51 for a contact lens of the seventh embodiment further comprises an aluminum foil lid (not shown) adhered to the rim 54 of the container 51 for a contact lens to seal the contact lens and a solution in the accommodation space. The distance between the protruding portion 56 of the container 51 for a contact lens and the aluminum foil lid is shorter (compared with other embodiments) so that the hydrous contact lens tends to attach to the aluminum foil lid and the user can pick it up easily.
While this invention has been described by way of examples and in terms of preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited hereto. Various substitutions and modifications made without departing from the spirit of this invention are intended to be embraced within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
Claims
1. A container for a contact lens comprising:
- a central recess;
- a peripheral groove surrounding the central recess; and
- a rim surrounding the peripheral groove;
- wherein the central recess is a curved surface having one or a plurality of continuous R values less than an R value of the contact lens in its natural state, and wherein the R value is a radius of curvature of a curved surface.
2. The container for a contact lens according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral groove comprises at least one raised section.
3. The container for a contact lens according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral groove and the central recess form an accommodation space for holding the contact lens and a solution.
4. The container for a contact lens according to claim 3 further comprising a lid adhered to the rim of the container to seal the contact lens and the solution in the accommodation space.
5. The container for a contact lens according to claim 1, wherein the central recess comprises a protruding portion.
6. A container for a contact lens comprising:
- a central recess;
- a peripheral groove surrounding the central recess;
- a rim surrounding the peripheral groove; and
- a tenon disposed on a supporting portion of the container;
- wherein the central recess is a curved surface having one or a plurality of continuous R values less than an R value of the contact lens in its natural state, and wherein the R value is a radius of curvature of a curved surface.
7. The container for a contact lens according to claim 6, wherein the peripheral groove comprises at least one raised section.
8. The container for a contact lens according to claim 6 further comprising a hand-held section having an opening and an extended portion extending outward from the opening, wherein the opening is provided with an engaging portion at an internal wall thereof, and wherein the tenon of the container is connected by the engaging portion of the hand-held section correspondingly.
9. The container for a contact lens according to claim 8, wherein the peripheral groove and the central recess form an accommodation space for holding the contact lens and a solution.
10. The container for a contact lens according to claim 9 further comprising a lid adhered to the rim of the container to seal the contact lens and the solution in the accommodation space.
11. The container for a contact lens according to claim 6, wherein the central recess comprises a protruding portion.
12. A container for a contact lens comprising:
- a central recess;
- a ring-shaped region surrounding the central recess; and
- a rim surrounding the ring-shaped region;
- wherein the central recess is a curved surface having one or a plurality of continuous R values less than an R value of the contact lens in its natural state, and wherein the R value is a radius of curvature of a curved surface.
13. The container for a contact lens according to claim 12, wherein the ring-shaped region comprises at least one raised section.
14. The container for a contact lens according to claim 12, wherein the ring-shaped region and the central recess form an accommodation space for holding the contact lens and a solution.
15. The container for a contact lens according to claim 14 further comprising a lid adhered to the rim of the container to seal the contact lens and the solution in the accommodation space.
16. The container for a contact lens according to claim 12, wherein the central recess comprises a protruding portion.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 11, 2011
Publication Date: Oct 25, 2012
Applicant: BIO-OPTIC, INC. (Taichung City)
Inventors: Chung-Lin Wang (Taichung City), Chen-Yi Huang (Taichung City), Tsung-Lin Wu (Taichung City)
Application Number: 13/180,334