Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02397704 2002-07-16
WO 01/72261 PCT/US01/01976
Patent application of
ICuldip Chand Tangri
Title: Handheld Eye Washing Apparatus
Field of the invention
This invention relates to the maintenance and hygiene of the eye, specifically
washing
proteins, eyelash and foreign objects from the eye.
Background--of the invention
Nature made eyes self-cleaning and lubricating. Sometimes due to unexplainable
reasons or with a,ging it ceases to provide adequate tear flow which in turn
causes the eyes to
feel crusty and tired. A satisfactory hygienic apparatus for eye washing is
not readily available
in the marketplace at the present time. There are numerous apparatuses exist
to wash the
proteins from contact lenses for the eyes, but there is nothing currently
available to wash the
proteins from the actual eyes. The few eyecups, which do exist in the
marketplace, are quite
ineffective. A cursory search of the US issued patents revealed sprayers, mist
generators and
squeeze bottles, etc., but nothing close. Except U.S. Patent No. 4,758,237
(Sacks) discloses
device with an eye chamber in which eyewash liquid moves in a direction
transverse to the axis
of the chamber opening and along the eye surface. Mr. Sacks tried to achieve
an effective eye.
washer design but the design is still inadequate. It may be expensive to make.
There are
possibilities of flaws such as focusing of eyewash liquid towards the eye
improperly and if
filter 8 is clogged, it could damage the eyeball due to the pressure build up
in chamber 3.
Further possibilities of eyewash liquid contamination, high quantity of
eyewash liquid
utilization due to separate sump for the eyewash liquid and a pump to pump the
eyewash liquid
etc. Comparing to Mr. Sacks's device, The Handheld Eye Washing apparatus
covers all of
the eye and area around the eye. It is very inexpensive to make, no knoivm
flaivs, adaptable due
to its size, no liquid lines from the pump, no sump, no sump pump, no filter.
Only one
CA 02397704 2002-07-16
WO 01/72261 PCT/US01/01976
2
chamber, it is used similar to the traditional eyecup by filling with eyewash
liquid except it has
an agitator to stir the eyewash liquid in it. It makes a small quantity of
eyewash liquid plentiful
to flood the eye with it. Its rim and opening size is widened to gain the
utmost comfort around
the eye. Its size is little larger then an inhaler (a drug-dispensing device
for the human lungs in
U.S.). It can be carried in a purse.
Summary
In this invention, an eyecup has a stirring mechanism to stir the eyewash
liquid inside of it
during utilization and it has an appropriate opening with an appropriate width
rim contoured to
fit the eye orbital. It has ample room for the eyelids and eyeball movement.
Its rim
compensates orbital variation, seals better and comforts around the eye.
Further, an optional
soft-liner may be added to the rim. The stirring mechanism consists of an
agitator and a driver
for the agitator. The agitator is inside and the driver and its operating
necessities are outside
the eyecup. In some cases eyecup is made separable from driver means as an
adapter eyecup,
similar to electric toothbrush head from the driver and electric toothbrush
driver is used as a
driver for this eyecup. Its access port is made according to the brand to be
utilized. Last but not
least an eyecup is built around the toothbrush head and bristles of the
toothbrush head are
replaced with an agitator. The contour of the left and right eyes is
different. This device has a
universal rim; it may be made contoured to the left and right eye individually
or joint for both
eyes. The eyecup of this apparatus has a grille between the rim and the
agitator to protect the
eye injury from the moving parts. A magnetic strip to attract ferrous Mattel
during the
utilization. To make it compact, components of the Handheld Eye Washing
Apparatus may be
laid out differently and an eyewash liquid warmer may be added to this
apparatus. Depending
on consumer and the manufacturing needs, this eyecup can be made in sections
and assembled
accordingly. Further, a single driver may be used with multi eyecups by making
the driver
detachable from the eyecup. To utilize user doesn't need to move head side to
side or tilt
CA 02397704 2002-07-16
WO 01/72261 PCT/US01/01976
3
backward. Just fill the eyecup with eyewash liquid or even with clean water at
room
temperature. Tilt the head forward to place the eyecup, rim matching against
the eye orbital,
IZold it firmly, bring the head straight up, operate the stirring mechanism
and it is done. To
remove the eyecup for cleaning storage reverse the procedure.
Objects of invention
The object of this invention is to provide a handy, portable and an
inexpensive hygiene-aiding
apparatus for the eye and it is well achieved. It provides an effective flow
of eyewash liquid to
flush out the proteins and foreign materiel from the eye and it is a boon for
the contact lens
wearers. The description and the drawings of all the embodiments are included
to justify the
attached claims.
Brief Description of the drawings
Fig.1 is a side elevation view of the present invention, applied to the eye.
Fig.2 is a top
view of the apparatus. Fig.3 is a bottom view of the apparatus. Fig.4, is a
frontal view or view
from the rim of the apparatus. Fig.5 is a rear view of the apparatus. Fig.6,
7, and 8 are shown
disassembled apparatus to show the assembly achievement of the agitator in
different
situations. Fig.9, is an assembled device of embodiments shown in fig, 7 and
8; it is similar to
the embodiment in fig. 1 except aperture 45 in the driver housing 25 between
the eyecup and
the driver for the drainage. Fig. 10 Handheld Eye Washing Apparatus is laid
out differently and
the outlook of the eyecup is different. Fig. 11 has a hand-operated driver and
magnetic
coupling between agitator and driver where agitator is ferrous metal
impregnated. Fig. 12 uses
electromagnet as a driver and agitator is a ferrous metal impregnated
straiglit blade mouiited
inside the eyecup. Fig. 13 is a detachable rim. Fig 14 is an eyecup wliere rim
of fig. 13 fits.
Fig. 15 is an explicit view of the detachable eyecup from the driver. Fig. 16
is an assembly of
fig. 15 and Fig 17 is the top view of the device in fig. 16. Fig 18 is one of
the numerous drivers
available in the market can be used with detachable eyecup.
Description of the drawings
Fig.1 illustrates the preferred embodiment of the apparatus. It is shown in
use. It is a
one-piece molded throwaway type where a user uses it a certain number of times
and throws it
away like a toothbrush. In this figure user fills the eyecup 21, with eyewash
liquid 20, and
CA 02397704 2002-07-16
WO 01/72261 PCT/US01/01976
4
places it on the eye orbital area by tilting the head forcvard and bringing
the head straight up.
Then pushes the momentary switch 24, to activate the driver 23, which is an
electrical motor,
electrical motor 23 activates agitator 22 inside of eyecup 21. Momentary
switch 24 has an
internal circuitry to stop the apparatus after a predetermined time even the
switch is held on
(close). To restart the driver the momentary switch must be released and
pushed again. Driver
23, powering source and the momentary switch 24 are held accordingly in
housing 25. Its
access door 35 for batteries is watertight. Rim 27 of the eyecup 21 is
contoured to fit the eye
orbit. Grille 28 is a physical barrier within eyecup 21 to prevent the user's
eye from
inadvertently contacting the agitator 22. Magnetic strip 29 attached to the
eyecup 21 closer to
the bottom part of the rim, to attract and retain ferrous metal particles.
Fig.2 is the top view of the apparatus. It illustrates eyecup 21 with
momentary switch
24 and housing 25 for the driver, powering source and the momentary switch for
the driver.
Rim 27 and magnetic strip 29 as dotted line.
Fig.3 it illustrates a bottom view of the apparatus. Eyecup2l, rim 27 and
magnetic strip
29.
Fig. 4 shows rim 27 and through this rim, a grille 28, further in is an
agitator 22 and on
the top housing 25 to hold the driver and required components for the driver.
A momentary
pushbutton switch 24.
Fig.5 is a posterior view of the apparatus, eyecup 21, rim 27 and housing 25.
Fig.6 illustrates detached driver 23 from the eyecup 21 and agitator 22
mounted on
shaft 33. The shaft side of the driver 23 is watertight. When it is assembled
the portion of the
driver 23 is press fitted into the aperture 31 of the eyecup 21. In this fig.
Assembly of agitator
is achieved through the main opening that is through rim 27, grille 28 is
snapped in afterwards
and 29 is a magnetic strip.
Fig.7 illustrates an embodiment in which eyecup 21 consist of two detacliable
parts,
that is front eyecup 51 and posterior eyecup 50. In this embodiment, shaft 33
of the driver 23 is
detached from the agitator 22, and agitator remains within the interior of
posterior eyecup 50.
Seal 41 mounted in aperture 31. and when assembled, shaft 33 penetrates seal
41, thus
preventing eyewash liquid leakage. As in previous diagrams rim 27, grille 28
and magnetic
strip 29. It is shown assembled in figure 9.
CA 02397704 2002-07-16
WO 01/72261 PCT/US01/01976
Fig.8 is similar to No.7 except the eyecup 21 does not come apart and the
agitator 22
has an extended hollow shaft. It is extended out through seal 41 where seal 41
is mounted in
the opening 31. When it is assembled shaft 33 of driver 23 enters the hollow
shaft of the
agitator 22. This embodiment of the apparatus is used to make internal parts
of the apparatus
corrosion resistive where the agitator is made of corrosion resistive
material. In this
embodiment grille 28 is snapped in from the main opening after the agitator is
assembled,
similar to fig.6.
Fig.9 this embodiment is similar to embodiment of Fig.1 except there is an
aperture 45
in housing 25 between the driver 23 and the eyecup 21 to prevent eyewash
liquid accumulation
and reentering the eyecup 21 if sea141 leaks. This seal is not shown in this
Fig. And it is
shown in Fig.7 and S. Where this is an assembled embodiment of Fig.7 or Fig.g.
20 is liquid in
the eyecup 21, an agitator 22 mounted on the shaft of motor 23, a momentary
switch 24,
housing 25 and battery access door35, rim 27, grille 28 and a magnetic strip
29.
Fig. 10 is another embodiment of the apparatus where housing 25 for the driver
23,
powering source and momentary switch 24 for the driver is laid out
differently. The eyecup 21
is shaped different and it is detachable. Where 31 is an opening of the eyecup
21 and the
eyecup can be detached from the housing 25. Agitator 22 stays on the driver
23. Further
housing has a switching mechanism not to let the driver go on unless eyecup is
attached to it. It
is not shown. All other numbers correspond to embodiment of Fig. 1.
Fig. 11 illustrates a hand operated driver 43 instead electric motor 23 of the
preferred
embodiment. Driver 43 is an arrangement of gears to get the proper speed for
the agitator
where a thumb wheel 44 operates driver 43. A hand crank or a spring-loaded
hand winding
meclianism is also appropriate in place of thumb wheel. It also uses magnetic
coupling to
transfer the power from driver to the agitator. In this embodiment, the disc
46 is impregnated
with magnetic segments and it is installed on the shaft 33 of the driver 43.
Further, it is aligned
with agitator 42 to form a magnetic coupling to transfer the power from driver
43 to agitator
42. Agitator 42 is impregnated with ferrous metal. It can be impregnated with
magnetic
segments to match the disc 46 as well. This embodiment does not have any
opening in the
eyecup wall or a direct coupling between disc 46 and agitator 42 except
magnetic force. 26 is
an axle for the agitator attached to the wall of the eyecup 21. 36 are the
magnetic impregnation.
When it is assembled the magnetic force makes a coupling between agitator 42
and disc 46,
driver 43 turns the disc 46 and it turns agitator 42 inside the eyecup 21. As
in previous
CA 02397704 2002-07-16
WO 01/72261 PCT/US01/01976
6
diagrams rim 27 and magnetic strip 29. 28 grille is eliminated. In this
embodiment, switching
and powering mechanism is not needed. Remaining assembly is similar to as in
figure 1.
Fig. 12 has different agitator and driver where agitator 32 is a straight
blade
impregnated with ferrous metal mounted inside the eyecup 21 to stir the
eyewash liquid.
Outside of the eyecup 21 electromagnet driver 34 has an oscillator (not shown)
to control its
energizing frequency. When driver 34 is energized, it pulls the straight blade
agitator 32
towards driver 34 and when it is de energized it releases the agitator 32 to
move back to its
original position. It causes the agitator 32 move back and forth and creates
an agitation in the
eyecup and to the eyewash liquid inside of the eyecup 21. Oscillator is not
shown in the
diagram because it is a well-known art. Rest powering, controlling and housing
system for this
driver is similar to the embodiment in Fig. 1.
Fig. 13 is a detachable adapter rim 37. It has a groove 47 to fit on the rim
of a straight
rim eyecup shown in fig. 14. This detachable adapter rim may be made to use on
the previously
known eyecups or for the manufacturing conveniences.
Fig. 14 shows an eyecup without a wide rim 57, it is the rim where the groove
47 of the
detachable adapter rim 37 shown in fig. 13 fits. Remaining Numbers correspond
to embodiment
in Fig. 1.
Fig. 15 in this seventh embodiment where driver 64 (Fig.18) is detachable in a
manner
similar to any off the shelf electric toothbrush [Braun D 8511]. In this
particular embodiment, a
family can have multi eyecups and a single driver. It illustrates an
embodiment in which
eyecup 21 comprises of two detachable parts similar to fig. 7. Front eyecup
component 51 and
posterior eyecup component 50. Rim 27 and magnetic strip 29 correspond to
embodiment
Fig. 1. Driver 64 (fig. 18) doesn't operate in circular motion it operates
back and forth with a
limited stroke (sonic). To make eyecup detachable, adaptable and to stabilize
the agitator for
driver 64 (fig. 18) a gearbox 69 is added. It has its own gear arrangement to
improve the stroke
of the agitator, agitator shaft stabilization system and seals as needed. This
gear box has
agitator shaft 33A, a skirt 62, inside of skirt 62 there is a sub skirt 61 and
a port 63 for the
movable shaft 67 of toothbrush driver 64 (fig.18). Skirt 62 and sub skirt 61
slide on the driver's
non-moving part 66, 65 and beyond the moving part 67 until 67 engages into 63
which is
powering port of the gear box 69. Skirt 62 and sub skirt 61 hold the eyecup in
place on driver
64 while shaft 67 moves port 63 of gearbox 69. Port 63 is keyed to slid on
shaft 67. Gearbox
CA 02397704 2002-07-16
WO 01/72261 PCT/US01/01976
7
69 shaft 33A for the agitator fits into the eyecup through aperture 31. In
simple this eyecup
functionally slides on and off the driver (fig.18) as easy as its toothbrush.
Fig. 16 shows assembly of Fig. 15 all the numbers correspond to fig. 15 except
31, 61
and 63 are not shown and agitator 22 is in place.
Fig. 17 illustrates the components of Fig. 15 the seventh embodiment in top
view. Rim
27, posterior eyecup component 50, front eyecup component 51, sub skirt 61,
skirt 62, gearbox
port 63 and gearbox 69.
Fig. 18 illustrates an electrical toothbrush driver 64(handle) its nonmoving
parts 65,66
and moving part 67. It is Braun model number D8511. It also shows an eyecup is
built around
the tootlibrush head and bristles of the toothbrush are replaced with an
agitator. A seal or ring
38 is provided by the manufacturer. Body of the toothbrush head in this case
may call eyecup
detachment 48, agitator 49 and posterior eyecup 50.
In all embodiments.
Eyewash liquid 20, an eyecup 21, agitator 22, motor 23, momentary switch 24,
housing
25, rim 27, grille 28, magnetic strip 29.
Aperture 31, ferrous metal impregnated straight blade agitator 32, shafts 33
and 33A,
electromagnet driver 34, battery access door 35, magnetic segments 36,
detachable rim 37 and
a seal or a ring 38.
Seal 41, ferrous metal impregnated agitator blade 42, hand operable driver 43,
thumb
wheal 44, aperture in the housing 45, magnetic impregnated disc 46, groove on
detachable rim
47 and eyecup detachment 48.
Eyecup 21 divided into two parts posterior 50, front 51, a place to fit
detachable rim 57.
Sub skirt 61, skirt 62, gearbox port for the driver 63, Braun electric tooth
brush driver
64, nomnoving parts of the driver 65and66, moving part of driver 67 and
gearbox 69.
In some cases aperture 31 has circular groove to compensate seal 41.
Assembly is achieved with all available options in the known art.
I3alidle is a name of the toothbrush driver picked by the manufacturer.
An agitator is a part of stirring mechanism.
