SCREW CAP PACKAGE FOR CONTACT LENS

EMBALLAGE POUR LENTILLES DE CONTACT COMPRENANT UN RECEPTACLE A CAPUCHON A VIS

English Abstract

A contact lens package (10) includes a holder (12) having a receptacle for holding a contact lens and a (cap14) having a seal for sealing a contact lens within the receptacle. The cap (14) is attached to the holder and is movable from an end of the holder where the receptacle is formed toward an opposite end of the holder. As the cap moves toward the opposite end of the holder, the end of the holder where the receptacle is formed ruptures the seal such that the contact lens can be removed from the package.

French Abstract

L'invention concerne un emballage de lentilles de contact (10) comportant un support (12) muni d'un réceptacle conçu pour recevoir une lentille de contact et d'un capuchon (14) équipé d'un joint d'étanchéité permettant de sceller de façon étanche une lentille de contact à l'intérieur du réceptacle. Le capuchon (14) est solidaire du support et peut se déplacer d'une extrémité du support sur lequel est formé le réceptacle vers une extrémité opposée du support. A mesure que le capuchon se déplace vers l'extrémité opposée du support, l'extrémité du support sur laquelle est formé le réceptacle ouvre le joint d'étanchéité de telle sorte que la lentille de contact peut être retirée de l'emballage.

Claims

WE CLAIM:
1. A package for contact lenses, comprising a holder having
a receptacle formed in one end of said holder, said receptacle being sized and
shaped so as to hold a contact lens; and a cap attached to said holder such
that said cap is movable relative to said holder, said cap having a seal
positioned adjacent said one end of said holder for sealing said contact lens
within said receptacle, said cap being movable from a first position, in which
said cap is proximal to said one end of said holder, to a second position, in
which said cap is intermediate said one end of said holder and an opposite end
thereof, whereby said one end of said holder ruptures said seal as said cap
moves from its said first position to its said second position.
2. The package of Claim 1, wherein said holder includes a
series of external threads.
3. The package of Claim 2, wherein said cap includes a
series of internal threads adapted to threadedly mate with said external
threads
of said holder.
4. The package of Claim 3, wherein said external threads of
said holder and said internal threads of said cap cooperate with each other so
as to allow said cap to be connected to said holder.
5. The package of Claim 4, wherein said external threads of
said holder and said internal threads of said cap cooperate with each other so
6

as to allow relative movement between said holder and said cap when said
screw cap is rotated relative to said holder.
6. The package of Claim 5, wherein said holder has an
internal bore in said opposite end thereof.
7. The package of Claim 6, wherein said one end of said
holder includes an annular rim adjacent said receptacle.
8. The package of Claim 7, wherein said cap includes
gripping means for gripping and rotating said cap.
9. The package of Claim 8, wherein said gripping means
includes a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves formed in said cap.
10. The package of Claim 9, wherein said cap includes an
annular edge which supports said seal.
11. The package of Claim 10, wherein said seal is made of a
clear high barrier polymer laminate.
12. The package of Claim 10, wherein said seal is made of a
clear high barrier coextrusion.
13. A package for contact lenses, comprising a holder having a
receptacle formed in one end of said holder; a contact lens stored in said
receptacle along with a predetermined quantity of contact lens solution; and a
cap attached to said holder such that said cap is movable relative to said
holder, said cap having a seal positioned adjacent said one end of said holder

7

for sealing said contact lens within said receptacle, said cap being movable
from a first position, in which said cap is proximal to said one end of said
holder, to a second position, in which said cap is intermediate said one end
of
said holder and an opposite end thereof, whereby said one end of said holder
ruptures said seal as said cap moves from its said first position to its said
second position.
14. The package of Claim 13, wherein said holder includes a
series of external threads.
15. The package of Claim 14, wherein said cap includes a
series of internal threads adapted to threadedly mate with said external
threads
of said holder.
16. The package of Claim 15, wherein said external threads of
said holder and said internal threads of said cap cooperate with each other so
as to allow said cap to be connected to said holder.
17. The package of Claim 16, wherein said external threads of
said holder and said internal threads of said cap cooperate with each other so
as to allow relative movement between said holder and said cap when said
screw cap is rotated relative to said holder.
18. The package of Claim 17, wherein said cap includes
gripping means for gripping and rotating said cap.
19. The package of Claim 18, wherein said gripping means
includes a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves formed in said cap.
8

20. The package of Claim 19, wherein said holder has an
internal bore in said opposite end thereof.
9

Description

CA 02657564 2009-01-12
WO 2008/008073
PCT/US2006/027469
SCREW CAP PACKAGE FOR CONTACT LENS
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a contact lens package and,
more particularly, to a screw cap package adapted for improved accessibility.
Backcround of the Invention
Typically, contact lenses have been packaged in blister packs.
Each blister pack is equipped with a single lens and has a concave-shaped
receptacle for receiving the lens and a cover 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 designed to consistently provide easy access to the contact lenses.
Accordingly, there is a need for a contact lens package that consistently
provides easy accessibility to the contact lens enclosed therein.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention overcomes the disadvantages and
shortcomings of the prior art discussed above by providing a new and improved
contact lens package which includes a holder having a receptacle formed in
one end of the holder, the receptacle being sized and shaped so as to hold a
contact lens. The package also includes a cap attached to the holder such that
the cap is movable from the end of the holder where the receptacle is formed
toward an opposite end thereof. The cap has a seal positioned adjacent the
1

CA 02657564 2009-01-12
WO 2008/008073
PCT/US2006/027469
end of the holder where the receptacle is formed for sealing the contact lens
within the receptacle. The cap is movable from a first position, in which the
cap
is proximal to the end of the holder where the receptacle is formed, to a
second
position, in which the cap is intermediate the ends of the holder. As the cap
moves from its first position to its second position, the end of the holder
where
the receptacle is formed ruptures the seal.
Brief Description of the Drawings
For a more complete understanding of the present invention,
reference is made to the following detailed description of an exemplary
embodiment considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in
which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a screw cap package constructed
in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,
showing the screw cap package in its closed position;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the screw cap package of FIG. 1,
showing the screw cap package in its open position;
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the screw cap package
shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view, taken along section lines 4-4 and
O looking in the direction of the arrows, of the screw cap package shown in
FIG. 1
in its closed position; and
2

CA 02657564 2009-01-12
WO 2008/008073
PCT/US2006/027469
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view, taken along section lines 5-5 and
looking in the direction of the arrows, of the screw cap package shown in FIG.
1
in its open position.
Detailed Description of the Invention
FIGS. 1-5 show a screw cap package 10 (or contact lens
package) which includes a holder 12 and a screw cap 14 adapted to be
moveable relative to the holder 12. The holder 12 has a main section 16 and a
base 18 attached to the main section 16. The main section 16 of the holder 12
has a series of external threads 20 adapted to mate with the screw cap 14 for
purposes to be discussed hereinafter.
With particular reference to FIG. 3, the main section 16 of the
holder 12 includes an annular rim 22, an opening 24 and a concave-shaped
receptacle 26, all of which are formed in one end of the holder 12. The
receptacle 26 is sized and shaped so as to receive a contact lens 28 and a
conventional contact lens solution 30 (see FIGS. 4 and 5), such as saline
solution, for maintaining the contact lens 28 in a hydrated state. The holder
12
has an internal bore 32 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) formed within an opposite end 34
of the holder 12. Alternatively, the holder 12 can be completely solid.
Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the screw cap 14 includes a cylindrically-
shaped external wall 36 having an annular edge 38 and a center opening 40
(see FIG. 3). The external wall 36 has a plurality of longitudinally extending
grooves 42 spaced along an outer surface thereof. The grooves 42 are
designed for allowing a user to attain a firm grip on the screw cap 14 and to
make it easier to rotate the screw cap 14. A breakable seal 44 is affixed to
the
3

CA 02657564 2009-01-12
WO 2008/008073
PCT/US2006/027469
annular edge 38 of the screw cap 14 so as to cover the center opening 40. The
seal 44 can be made from any suitable material (e.g., a clear high barrier
polymer laminate or a clear high barrier coextrusion) adapted to provide a
reliable liquid-tight seal and to break in response to the application of a
predetermined force.
Referring again to FIG. 3, the screw cap 14 also includes a series
of internal threads 46 adapted to threadedly engage and mate with the external
threads 20 on the main section 16 of the holder 12. The internal threads 46
and the external threads 20 cooperate with each other so as to allow the screw
cap 14 to be securely connected to the holder 12 and also to allow relative
movement between the screw cap 14 and the holder 12, as the screw cap 14 is
rotated relative to the holder 12.
With reference to FIG. 4, the screw cap 14 is attached to the
holder 12 such that the internal threads 46 of the screw cap 14 mate with the
external threads 20 of the holder 12 and the breakable seal 44 is positioned
above the opening 24 of the holder 12. In this position, the seal 44 of the
screw
cap 14 covers the receptacle 26 formed in the opening 24 of the holder 12 to
thereby enclose and seal the contact lens 28 stored within the receptacle 26.
The screw cap package 10 is assembled and delivered to the user in this
closed position, as shown in FIG. 1.
Referring to FIG. 5, the screw cap package 10 is opened as
follows. A user grips the screw cap 14 with his or her fingers and then
rotates
the screw cap 14 relative to the holder 12. In this manner, the screw cap 14
is
screwed (threaded) down over the holder 12. As a result, the breakable seal
44 on the screw cap 14 is forced against the annular rim 22 of the holder 12,
4

CA 02657564 2013-02-26
thereby rupturing the seal 44 so as to expose the contact lens 28 (see
FIG. 2) stored within the receptacle 26. The contact lens 28 can then be
removed from the screw cap package 10.
It should be appreciated that the present invention provides
a number of advantages and benefits. For instance, the present invention
provides a screw cap package 10 adapted for improved accessibility.
It will be understood that the embodiment described herein
is merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art may make many
variations and modifications to the invention. For example, although the
internal threads 46 and the external threads 20 cooperate with each other
so as to allow relative movement between the screw cap 14 and the
holder 12, other mechanisms can be utilized to allow relative movement
between the screw cap 14 and the holder 12. The scope of the claims
should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description
as a whole.
5

Representative Drawing