US3908680A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Methods for cleaning and bleaching plastic articles
Assignee: Wesley Jessen Inc
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Filing: 1973-10-12
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Granted: 1975-09-30
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Expires: 1993-10-12
Abstract
Abstract Plastic articles are cleaned by successively immersing them in two aqueous solutions, with each solution containing an active oxygen yielding per compound and preferably a chelating agent. One of the solutions is formulated to be acidic and the other is formulated to be basic. After the article is removed from the last solution, it is treated with a non-ionic cleaner and then rinsed with water. The method produces a remarkable cleaning and bleaching action on dirty, discolored plastic compositions. This is particularly apparent when the method is applied to contact lenses.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph Z Krezanoski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:03
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02C; G02C13/00; G02C13/008; A; A61; A61L; A61L12/00; A61L12/08; A61L12/12; A61L12/124; C; C11; C11D; C11D3/00; C11D3/39; G02C7/00; G02C7/02; G02C7/04; C11D2111/00; C11D2111/10; C11D2111/14; C11D2111/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
A METHOD OF CLEANING PLASTICS WHEREIN SAID PLASTICS ARE SUITABLE FOR USE IN HARD AND SOFT LENSES COMPRISING: A. SUCCESSIVLEY CONTACTING THE PLASTIC WITH A FIRST AQUEOUS SOLUTION AND THEN A SECOND AQUEOUS SOLUTION, WITH EACH SOLUTION CONTAINING AN ACTIVE OXYGEN YELDING PER COMPOUND IN A CONCENTRATION OF 0.1-15% BY WEIGHT AND ONE OF SAID SOLUTIONS BEING ACIDIC AND THE OTHER OF SAID SOLUTIONS BEING BASIC, AND B. REMOVING THE PLASTIC FROM THE SECOND SOLUTION, CONTACTING IT WITH A NON-IONIC DETERGENT, AND RINSING IT WITH WATER.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
86 words
A METHOD OF CLEANING PLASTICS WHEREIN SAID PLASTICS ARE SUITABLE FOR USE IN HARD AND SOFT LENSES COMPRISING: A. SUCCESSIVLEY CONTACTING THE PLASTIC WITH A FIRST AQUEOUS SOLUTION AND THEN A SECOND AQUEOUS SOLUTION, WITH EACH SOLUTION CONTAINING AN ACTIVE OXYGEN YELDING PER COMPOUND IN A CONCENTRATION OF 0.1-15% BY WEIGHT AND ONE OF SAID SOLUTIONS BEING ACIDIC AND THE OTHER OF SAID SOLUTIONS BEING BASIC, AND B. REMOVING THE PLASTIC FROM THE SECOND SOLUTION, CONTACTING IT WITH A NON-IONIC DETERGENT, AND RINSING IT WITH WATER.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the per compound of the first and second solutions is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, alkali metal perborates, percarbonates, perphosphates, persulfates, and peroxides.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the peroxy compound of the first and second solutions is independently selected frOm the group consisting of potassium monopersulphate, sodium perborate, urea peroxide, sodium percarbonate and hydrogen peroxide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second solutions independently contain 0.001 to 5 weight percent of a chelating agent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the chelating agent of the first and second solutions is an amino carboxylic acid or a water-soluble salt thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the chelating agent is selected from the group consisting of ethylene diemine tetraacetic acid, nitrilo triacetic acid, diethylene triamine penta-acetic acid, hydroxyethyl ethylene diamine triacetic acid, 1,2-diaminocyclohexane tetra-acetic acid, amino diacetic acid, hydroxyethyl amino diacetic acid, and their water soluble alkali metal salts.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the first solution is heated to a temperature in excess of room temperature but less than that which would initiate boiling.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the article is boiled in the first solution.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the second solution is heated to a temperature in excess of room temperature but less than that which would initiate boiling.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the article is boiled in the second solution.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the acidic solution has a pH of between about 1 and less than 7 and the basic solution has a pH of between greater than 7 and about 12.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of said solutions contains an inert water soluble salt to control the tonicity of the solution.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of cleaning a hydrophilic gel lens comprising: a. successively contacting the lens with a first aqueous solution heated to a temperature in excess of room temperature but less than that which would initiate boiling and then a second aqueous solution, heated to a temperature in excess of room temperature but less than that which would initiate boiling with each solution containing an active oxygen yielding per compound in a concentration of 0.1 - 15% by weight and one of said solutions being acidic and the other of said solutions being basic; and b. removing the lens from the heated second solution, contacting it with a non-ionic detergent, and rinsing it with water.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of cleaning a hydrophilic gel lens comprising: a. successively contacting the lens with a first aqueous solution heated to a temperature in excess of room temperature but less than that which would initiate boiling and then a second aqueous solution, heated to a temperature in excess of room temperature but less than that which would initiate boiling with each solution containing an active oxygen yielding per compound in a concentration of 0.1 - 15% by weight and one of said solutions being acidic and the other of said solutions being basic; and b. removing the lens from the heated second solution, contacting it with a non-ionic detergent, and rinsing it with water.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the first and second solutions are boiled.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 13 wherein after rinsing, the lens is maintained in a given environment until the system comes to equilibrium in a solution isotonic with respect to a reference solution and sterilized.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the first and second solutions are boiled.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the first and second solutions independently comprise from 0.1 to 15 weight percent of said per compound and 0.001 to 5 weight percent of a chelating agent.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the lens is alternately expanded and contracted to aid in removing debris and dirt.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the tonicities of the first and second solutions, relative to a reference solution, are selectively maintained at desired levels to bring about the expansion and contraction.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 18 where one of said first and second solutions is hypertonic relative to said reference solution to bring about contraction of the lens.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 18 where one of said first and second solutions is hypotonic relative to said reference solution to bring about expansion of the lens.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 18 where one of said first and second solutions is hypertonic with respect to a reference solution to bring about contraction of the lens and the other of said first and second solutions is hypotonic with respect to said reference solution to bring about expansion of the lens.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of cleaning an article made from a hydrophilic plastic comprising: a. successively contactinG the article with a first aqueous solution heated to a temperature greater than room temperature but less than that required to initiate boiling and then a second aqueous solution heated to a temperature greater than room temperature but less than that required to initiate boiling, with each solution containing an active oxygen yielding per compound in a concentration of 0.1 - 15% by weight and one of said solutions being acidic and the other of said solutions being basic; b. removing the article from the heated second solution, contacting it with a non-ionic detergent, and rinsing it with water; and c. alternately expanding and contracting the article to aid in removing debris and dirt.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of cleaning an article made from a hydrophilic plastic comprising: a. successively contactinG the article with a first aqueous solution heated to a temperature greater than room temperature but less than that required to initiate boiling and then a second aqueous solution heated to a temperature greater than room temperature but less than that required to initiate boiling, with each solution containing an active oxygen yielding per compound in a concentration of 0.1 - 15% by weight and one of said solutions being acidic and the other of said solutions being basic; b. removing the article from the heated second solution, contacting it with a non-ionic detergent, and rinsing it with water; and c. alternately expanding and contracting the article to aid in removing debris and dirt.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 23 wherein the tonicities of the first and second solutions relative to a reference solution are selectively maintained at desired levels to bring about the expansion and contraction.
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) | 1978-09-29 | 1979-03-31 | 1979-09-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-29 | 1983-03-31 | 1983-09-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-29 | 1987-03-31 | 1987-09-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |