US3602238A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Contact lens case
Assignee: Allergan Inc
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Filing: 1969-03-25
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Granted: 1971-08-31
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Expires: 1989-03-25
Abstract
Abstract A case for storing and cleaning contact lenses comprising a normally upwardly opening, fluid-handling receptacle, a carrier with a cap portion releasably engageable with the receptacle to close the upper open end thereof and a receiver portion depending into the receptacle and a volume of cleansing fluid therein, the receiver portion slidably receiving a pair of trays; each tray having a lens-receiving cavity therein which cavity is covered by a portion of the receiver portion when the tray is fully engaged therein and which is uncovered and accessible when the tray is partially withdrawn from the receiver portion, the trays and receiver portion having venting means to assure the free flow of air and cleansing fluid in, through, and between the receiver portion, trays and lens-receiving cavities upon engagement and disengagement of the carrier in and with the receptacle.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank E Brown
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 11:35
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02C; G02C13/00; G02C13/008; A; A45; A45C; A45C11/00; A45C11/005; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S134/00; Y10S134/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
A case for contact lenses comprising an elongate, normally vertically extending fluid receiving receptacle with an open upper end, an elongate carrier with an upper cap portion releasably engageable in the upper open end of the receptacle and a lower receiver portion slidably engaged in the receptacle, a pair of elongate trays with contact lens receiving cavities slidably carried by the carrier and shiftable from a normal in position within the carrier where said cavities are closed to access to an actuated out position where they project from the carrier and said cavities are open to access, the receptacle having a longitudinally extending cylindrical bore and said receiver portion is cylindrical and is slidable into and out of engagement in said bore, said receiver having a pair of downwardly opening longitudinally extending semicircular chambers, said trays being semicircular in cross section and slidably engaged in said chambers, said cap portion having a thread portion screw threaded in the upper end of the receptacle, said carrier carrying a sealing ring below said threaded portion to seal between the carrier and the bore in the receptacle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
184 words
A case for contact lenses comprising an elongate, normally vertically extending fluid receiving receptacle with an open upper end, an elongate carrier with an upper cap portion releasably engageable in the upper open end of the receptacle and a lower receiver portion slidably engaged in the receptacle, a pair of elongate trays with contact lens receiving cavities slidably carried by the carrier and shiftable from a normal in position within the carrier where said cavities are closed to access to an actuated out position where they project from the carrier and said cavities are open to access, the receptacle having a longitudinally extending cylindrical bore and said receiver portion is cylindrical and is slidable into and out of engagement in said bore, said receiver having a pair of downwardly opening longitudinally extending semicircular chambers, said trays being semicircular in cross section and slidably engaged in said chambers, said cap portion having a thread portion screw threaded in the upper end of the receptacle, said carrier carrying a sealing ring below said threaded portion to seal between the carrier and the bore in the receptacle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
A structure as set forth in claim 1 including a volume of cleansing fluid in the receptacle, vent means in the trays and the carrier in communication with each other and with the exterior of the carrier to conduct air and fluid through the trays and cavities therein and into and out of the carrier when the carrier is moved into and out of engagement in the receptacle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
A structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein said vent means includes longitudinally extending downwardly opening channels in the trays intersecting the cavities therein and longitudinally extending radially opening slots in the trays and the carrier communicating with the space about and between the carrier and the trays and with each other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
162 words
A case for contact lenses comprising an elongate, normally vertically extending fluid-receiving receptacle with an open upper end, an elongate carrier with an upper cap portion releasably engageable in the upper open end of the receptacle and a lower receiver portion slidably engaged in the receptacle, a pair of elongate trays with contact lens receiving cavities slidably carried by the carrier and shiftable from a normal in position within the carrier where said cavities are closed to access to an actuated out position where they project from the carrier and said cavities are open to access, and a predetermined volume of cleansing fluid in the receptacle, the combinEd volumetric displacement of the portion of the carrier engageable in the receptacle and the trays being sufficient with respect to the effective volumetric extent of the receptacle and the volume of fluid therein whereby the interior of the case is substantially fully occupied with said fluid when the carrier is engaged in the receptacle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
162 words
A case for contact lenses comprising an elongate, normally vertically extending fluid-receiving receptacle with an open upper end, an elongate carrier with an upper cap portion releasably engageable in the upper open end of the receptacle and a lower receiver portion slidably engaged in the receptacle, a pair of elongate trays with contact lens receiving cavities slidably carried by the carrier and shiftable from a normal in position within the carrier where said cavities are closed to access to an actuated out position where they project from the carrier and said cavities are open to access, and a predetermined volume of cleansing fluid in the receptacle, the combinEd volumetric displacement of the portion of the carrier engageable in the receptacle and the trays being sufficient with respect to the effective volumetric extent of the receptacle and the volume of fluid therein whereby the interior of the case is substantially fully occupied with said fluid when the carrier is engaged in the receptacle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
A structure as set forth in claim 3 wherein the combined volumetric displacement of the portion of the carrier engageable in the receptacle and the trays being sufficient with respect to the effective volumetric extent of the receptacle and the volume of fluid therein whereby the interior of the case is substantially fully occupied with said fluid when the carrier is engaged in the receptacle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
176 words
A case for contact lenses comprising an elongate, normally vertically extending fluid-receiving receptacle with an open upper end, an elongate carrier with an upper cap portion releasably engageable in the upper open end of the receptacle and a lower receiver portion slidably engaged in the receptacle, a pair of elongate trays with contact lens receiving cavities slidably carried by the carrier and shiftable from a normal in position within the carrier where said cavities are closed to access to an actuated out position where they project from the carrier and said cavities are open to access, the receptacle having a longitudinally extending bore and said receiver portion including a cylindrical tubular sidewall slidable into and out of engagement in the bore, and a central, transversely extending, longitudinal partition defining two downwardly opening, semicircular in cross section chambers, said trays being equal in longitudinal extent and the same cross section as the chambers and slidable into and out of engagement therein, said cavities opening laterally inwardly and shiftable into and out of opposing relationship to said partition.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
176 words
A case for contact lenses comprising an elongate, normally vertically extending fluid-receiving receptacle with an open upper end, an elongate carrier with an upper cap portion releasably engageable in the upper open end of the receptacle and a lower receiver portion slidably engaged in the receptacle, a pair of elongate trays with contact lens receiving cavities slidably carried by the carrier and shiftable from a normal in position within the carrier where said cavities are closed to access to an actuated out position where they project from the carrier and said cavities are open to access, the receptacle having a longitudinally extending bore and said receiver portion including a cylindrical tubular sidewall slidable into and out of engagement in the bore, and a central, transversely extending, longitudinal partition defining two downwardly opening, semicircular in cross section chambers, said trays being equal in longitudinal extent and the same cross section as the chambers and slidable into and out of engagement therein, said cavities opening laterally inwardly and shiftable into and out of opposing relationship to said partition.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
80 words
A structure as set forth in claim 6 including means to releasably retain the trays fully engaged in the chambers and releasably holding the trays in an actuated position where they project a predetermined distance from the open ends of the chambers, said means including longitudinally extending channels with longitudinally spaced protuberances therein in the chambers and lugs on the trays slidably engaged in the channels and shiftable into and out of engagement with and yieldingly shiftable over said protuberances.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
87 words
A structure as set forth in claim 7 including fluid and air conducting vent means to conduct air and fluid in, through and about the carrier, trays and the cavities in the trays upon shifting the carrier into and out of engagement in the receptacle and including longitudinally extending radially opening, registering slots in the wall of the receiver portion of the carrier and the trays, longitudinally extending channels in the trays intersecting the cavities therein and radially extending ports in the trays communicating with the cavities.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-30 | 1975-03-01 | 1975-08-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-30 | 1979-03-01 | 1979-08-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-30 | 1983-03-01 | 1983-08-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |