Contact lens package with reduced head space

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9439487-B2
Application number	US-201414185207-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 20, 2014
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Sep 13, 2016
Grant date	Sep 13, 2016

Abstract

The packages described by this invention all have reduced “head space,” that is, the distance from lid to lens. Packages contain dimples to achieve this reduced head space. Specifically, packages are designed with dimple sag equal to or less than 1.90-mm, or volume displaced equal to or less than 360 μl. Combined with the existing primary packaging, it has been found that such conditions provide for reduction in folded lens rate during shipping and handling. As well, lenses stored or having an extended time in low head space packages in a “foil down” orientation now have characteristics closer lenses stored in a “foil up orientation.”

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A lens package, comprising:
a bulb having a rim and comprising a volume;
a generally thin cover placed over said bulb, said cover having a generally flat configuration;
a contact lens contained in solution in said bulb;
such that said cover is sealed to said bulb at said rim, and said cover formed from a generally flexible material, such that when said cover is sealed to said bulb, a dimple is formed in said cover, said dimple having a concavity defining a sag depth, such that the concavity displaces volume from the volume of the bulb.

2. The package of claim 1 wherein the dimple has a diameter of 11 to 20-mm.

3. The package of claim 2 wherein the dimple has a diameter of 13 mm.

4. The package of claim 1 wherein the dimple has a sag depth of 0.9 to 2.2-mm.

5. The package of claim 4 wherein the dimple has a sag depth of 1.2 to 1.9-mm.

6. The package of claim 5 wherein the dimple has a sag depth of 1.3 mm.

7. The package of claim 1 wherein the dimple has an elliptical profile of 16 mm by 13 mm.

8. The package of claim 1 wherein the dimple has an ornamental emboss.

9. A lens package, comprising:
a bulb having a rim and comprising a volume, and containing a generally circular opening formed by said rim and a surface projecting from said opening such that said volume is contained therein;
a generally thin cover placed over said bulb at said opening;
a contact lens contained in solution in said bulb; and
wherein said cover is sealed to said bulb where said rim meets said cover, such that said solution in the bulb entirely covers the lens and further such that the cover formed from a generally flexible material placed close enough to the lens to prevent the lens from folding within said package.

10. The package of claim 9 wherein the cover contains a dimple with a diameter of 11 to 20-mm.

11. The package of claim 10 wherein the dimple has a diameter of 13 mm.

12. The package of claim 9 wherein the cover contains a dimple comprising a sag defined by a sag depth of 0.9 to 2.2-mm.

13. The package of claim 12 wherein the dimple has a sag depth of 1.2 to 1.9-mm.

14. The package of claim 13 wherein the dimple has a sag depth of 1.3 mm.

15. The package of claim 9 wherein the cover contains a dimple with an elliptical profile of 16 mm by 13 mm.

16. The package of claim 9 wherein the cover contains a dimple with an ornamental emboss.

17. A lens package, comprising:
a bulb having a rim and comprising a volume;
a generally thin cover sealed to said bulb, said cover having a generally flat configuration;
a contact lens contained in solution in said bulb; and
such that said cover is sealed to said bulb along a circumference where said rim meets said cover;
and such that the cover formed from a sufficiently flexible material to provide a dimple therein with a sag defining a sag depth such that a head space is formed between the cover and the solution said head space smaller than that formed by a cover without the dimple.

18. The package of claim 17 wherein the dimple has a diameter of 11 to 20-mm.

19. The package of claim 18 wherein the dimple has a diameter of 13 mm.

20. The package of claim 17 wherein the dimple has a sag depth of 0.9 to 2.2-mm.

21. The package of claim 20 wherein the dimple has a sag depth of 1.2 to 1.9-mm.

22. The package of claim 21 wherein the dimple has a sag depth of 1.3 mm.

23. The package of claim 17 wherein the dimple has an elliptical profile of 16 mm by 13 mm.

24. The package of claim 17 wherein the dimple has an ornamental emboss.

Assignees

• Johnson & Johnson Vision Care

Inventors

• Barre Vincent
• Kernick Edward
• Gourd Dominic
• Lilac Douglas
• Medovich Charles
• Adams Jonathan

Classifications

• B65D81/22

  in moist conditions or immersed in liquids · CPC title

• B65D85/00

  Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials (bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport B65D71/00) · CPC title

• A45C11/005 Primary

  Contact lens cases (A45C11/046 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65D2585/545

  Contact lenses · CPC title

• B65D75/32

  one or both sheets or blanks being recessed to accommodate contents · CPC title