Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CONTACT LENS PACKAGE
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a contact lens package and, more
particularly, to a package adapted to contain multiple contact lenses.
Background of the Invention
Conventionally, contact lenses have been packaged in blister packs.
Each blister pack typically comes with a single lens and has a receptacle for
receiving the lens and a cover in the form of a foil laminate or a lid stock
removably attached to the receptacle for enclosing the lens in the receptacle.
While conventional blister packs provide a convenient means for shipping and
storing contact lenses, they are not adapted for display on a conventional
retail
display unit, such as peg-hook-type or wire-hook-type displays or display
shelves.
Accordingly, there is a need for a contact lens package adapted for display on
a
conventional retail display unit.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention overcomes the disadvantages and
shortcomings of the prior art discussed above by providing a new and improved
package for contact lenses. More particularly, the package includes a first
panel
having a housing means, such as wells or receptacles, for housing a set of
contact
lenses in the first panel and a covering means removably attached to the first
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panel for enclosing the set of contact lenses in the housing mechanism. The
package also includes a second panel attached to the first panel. The second
panel is pivotable relative to the first panel between a first position, in
which the
second panel is folded onto the first panel, and a second position, in which
the
second panel is pivoted away from the first panel. When the second panel is
positioned in its first position, the first and second panels form a
substantially flat
package which is adapted for display on a conventional display unit.
Brief Description of the Drawings
For a more complete understanding of the present invention,
reference is made to the following detailed description of two exemplary
embodiments considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in
which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a contact lens package constructed in
accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view, taken along section lines 2-2 and
looking in the direction of the arrows, of the contact lens package shown in
FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the contact lens package of FIG. 1,
the contact lens package having panels -which are shown in their partially
open
positions;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the contact lens package of FIG. 1,
the panels being shown in their fully open positions;
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FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a contact lens package constructed in
accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, a lid panel of
the
contact lens package being shown in its closed position;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the contact lens package of FIG. 5, a
lid panel being shown in its open position; and
FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the contact lens package of FIG. 5,
illustrating the movement of the lid panel from its closed position to its
open
position.
Detailed Description of the Invention
The invention includes a package for at least one contact lens,
comprising
a first panel comprising at least one housing means for housing at least one
contact lens in said first panel and a covering means removably attached to
said
first panel for enclosing at least one contact lens in said housing means; and
a second panel attached to said first panel, said second panel being pivotable
relative to said first panel between a first position, in which said second
panel is
folded onto said first panel, and a second position in which said second panel
is
pivoted away from said first panel. With reference to FIGS. 1-4, there is
shown a
contact lens package 10 constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention. The package 10 is made from a sheet 12 folded upon itself
to
form a pair of panels 14, 16. More particularly, sheet 12 includes integrally
formed
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or living hinges 18 located between the panels 14, 16 such that the panels 14,
16
are pivotable relative to one another. A cutout 20 is formed in the sheet 12
between the hinges 18 so as to facilitate the pivotal movement of the panels
14,
16. As a result, the package 10 can assume a folded orientation (see FIGS. 1
and
2), in which the panels 14, 16 are pivoted toward each other and are hence
positioned adjacent to one another, or an unfolded orientation (see FIG. 4),
in
which the panels 14, 16 are pivoted away from each other and are hence
positioned remote from one another. In Figure 4, panel 14 has a shape which is
basically identical to the shape of the panel 16, those panels may have non-
identical shapes.
Still referring to FIGS. 1-4, the panels 14, 16 include a set of wells or
recesses 22, 24, respectively. Each of the wells 22, 24 has an open upper end
26
(see FIG. 2) and is sized and shaped so as to receive (i.e., house) therein a
contact lens 28 and a conventional contact lens solution. These housing means,
wells 22, 24 project outwardly from the panels 14, 16, respectively, thereby
providing substantially planar sides 30, 32, respectively, and hence allowing
the
package 10 to be folded into a substantially flat or slim package unit.
A cover layer 34 (see FIG. 4) is affixed to each of the sides 30, 32 of
the panels 14, 16, respectively, in a conventional manner so as to seal off
the
open ends 26 of the wells 22, 24 and to thereby enclose the contact lenses 28
therein. More particularly, the cover layers 34, are perforated or sliced
along a
predetermined 'line so as to form a plurality of individual covers 36, each of
which
seals off a corresponding one of the wells 24. Each of the covers 36 has a tab
38
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which is folded over onto its corresponding cover 36 and which is releasably
attached thereto. Each of the tabs 38 is adapted to be gripped by a user's
fingers
when peeling off (see phantom in FIG. 4) or detaching a corresponding one of
the
covers 36 from the corresponding panel 14, 16 (see FIG. 4). Each of the cover
layers 34 has a banner section 40 (see FiG. 4) extending across a
corresponding
one of the panels 14, 16. The banner sections 40 can be pre-printed with
indicia,
such as a product name, instructions and other writings and graphics.
With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, prongs 42 are provided on the
panel 14, while receptacles 44 are provided on the panel 16 (42 and 44 are non-
limiting examples of retaining means). Each of the receptacles 44 is sized and
shaped so as to receive and releasably retain therein a corresponding one of
the
prongs 42 such that the package 10 can be releasably maintained in its folded
orientation. Each of the panels 14, 16 also includes a mounting hole 46. The
mounting holes 46 are adapted to align with one another when the package 10 is
in its folded orientation. The mounting holes 46 are sized and shaped so as to
receive therethrough a hook or a wire 48 (see FIG. 1) of a conventional
display
(e.g., a peg-hook-type or wire-hook-type display). In this manner, the package
10
can be conveniently and easily placed on such a display.
The sheet 12 can be formed by any conventional processes. For
instance, the sheet can be made from a polymer material with the use of a
conventional injection-molding,process. Alternatively, the sheet 12 can be
formed
by die-cutting a blank from a suitable material and then forming the wells 22,
24,
the prongs 42 and the receptacles 44 into the blank with a conventional
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thermoforming process. Sheet 12, is made from conventional materials including
but not limited to polypropylene, polyethylene, nylons, olefin co-polymers,
acrylics,
rubbers, urethanes, polycarbonates, fluorocarbons.
The cover layer 34 may be formed of conventional construction, for
example from an adhesive laminate of an aluminum foil and one or more polymers
such as polypropylene film, or any other polymer, extruded film, or co-
extruded
film that can be sealed to sides 30 and 32 to form a hermetic seal. Examples
of
cover layers are disclosed in the following patents, which are hereby
incorporated
by reference in their entirety, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,054,090 and 5,656,362.
In use, the package 10 is opened from its folded orientation to its
unfolded orientation by pivoting the panels 14, 16 away from one another. When
the package 10 is opened, the covers 36 can be peeled off from the panels 14,
16
to remove the contact lenses 28 therefrom. The package 10 can then be folded
back into its folded orientation for storing unused contact lenses 28.
It should be appreciated that the present invention provides a
number of advantages and benefits. For instance, the present invention
provides
a contact lens package that can be displayed easily in a retail outlet on a
conventional display. More particularly, the package 10 can be hung from a
wire
or peg hook in its folded orientation. Moreover, because the package 10 can be
folded substantially flat, it can be stacked or arranged with other identical
or similar
packages on a conventional display shelf. In addition, due to its
substantially flat
folded shape, the package 10 is adapted for easy shipping, storage and/or
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distribution. As a result, the package 10 can be shipped easily to a retail
outlet
and can be carried conveniently by a user.
It should be noted that the package 10 can have numerous
variations and modifications. For instance, the panels 14, 16 can be formed as
separate pieces that are pivotally attached to each other. Moreover, one of
the
panels 14, 16 can be eliminated, thereby providing a contact lens package
having
a single panel. Alternatively, the package 10 can be equipped with more than
two
panels, thereby allowing the package 10 to include additional wells for
storing
more contact lenses. The prongs 42 and the receptacles 44 can also be replaced
with other mechanisms (e.g., a hook-and-loop or VELCR fastener). Further,
the
covers 36 can be formed separately and applied to the panels 14, 16
individually.
FIGS. 5-7 depict another embodiment of the present invention.
Elements illustrated in FIGS. 5-7, which correspond, either identically or
substantially, to the elements described above with respect to the embodiment
of
FIGS. 1-4, have been designated by corresponding reference numerais increased
by one hundred. Unless otherwise stated, the embodiment of FIGS. 5-7 is
constructed and assembied in the same basic manner as the embodiment of
FIGS. 1-4.
Referring to FIGS. 5-7, there is shown a contact lens package 110
constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.
More particularly, the package 110 includes a pair of panels 114, 116
integrally
formed with one another. Integrated hinges (i.e., living hinges) 118 are
formed
between the panels 114, 116 such that the panel 116 is pivotable relative to
the
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panel 114. As a result, the panel 116 is movable between a closed position
(see
the broken line representation of the panel 116 in FIG. 7) and an open
position
(see FIG. 6). The package 10 can thus be folded substantially flat so as to be
stacked or arranged with identical or similar packages on a conventional
display
(e.g., a display shelf). Velcro-type fasteners 142 are provided on the panels
114,
116 so as to maintain the panel 116 in its closed position.
The panel 114 includes a plurality of wells 122 (see FIG. 7), each of
which is sized and shaped so as to receive a contact lens and a conventional
contact lens solution. A transparent covering layer, 134 is made from a
polymer
that may be hermitically sealed to panels 114 and 116 to cover the plurality
of
wells, 122. Covering layer 134 is attached to the panel 114 and is perforated
so
as to form a plurality of individual covers 136. Each of the covers 136 is
provided
with a tab 138 for facilitating its peeling or removal from the panel 114.
Alternatively, the covering layer 134 can be opaque.
With reference to FIGS. 5-7, unlike the panel 114, the panel 116 is
not provided with wells. The panel 116 includes a plurality of substantially
circular
openings 150 positioned such that, when the package 110 is in its folded
orientation, each of them is aligned with a corresponding one of the wells 122
of
the panel 114. In this manner, the contact lenses contained in the wells 122
are
visible to (i.e., can be viewed by) a user or consumer through the openings
150
without opening the package 110. The panel 116 thus functions as a lid for the
panel 114.
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Referring now to FIG. 5, the panel 116 can be provided with indicia,
such as a product name, instructions and other writings and graphics, placed
thereon. For instance, the panel 116 can include the letters "L" and "R"
placed or
printed on opposing sides of the panel 116 so as to indicate that the contact
lenses corresponding to each of the letters are for the right or left eye of a
user.
Due to the fact that two wells are positioned on each side of the panel 114,
the
package 110 is adapted to provide a two-day supply of daily disposable contact
lenses. Alternatively, the package 110 can be equipped with additional wells,
thereby providing an additional number of contact lenses. Also, the package
110
can be provided with a total of two wells (i.e., the package 110 can be a one-
day
pack).
It will be understood that the embodiments described herein are
merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art may make many variations
and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention. All
such variations and modifications, including those discussed above, are
intended
to be included within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended
claims.
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