Contact lens storage case

Abstract

A single unit contact lens storage device that comprises a bottle that is squeezable for dispensing and rinsing contact lenses housed within storage trays of the device is described. The squeezable bottle serves as a fresh contact lens solution reservoir. Channels with both inlet and outlet holes built into the bottle provide for delivery of fresh solution to the contact lens storage trays. Contact lens tray caps are then screwed onto the lens trays to prevent the freshly delivered solution from traveling back to the fresh solution reservoir. The device also contains a dispensing cap for the rinsing of contact lenses with fresh solution from the fresh solution reservoir.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 881,925, filed Jan. 23, 2007.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The invention relates to contact lens care and the items typically used by contact lens wearers. Such items include contact lens storage trays, as well as a bottle of contact lens storage and disinfecting solution. Handling of these separate items is time consuming and inefficient. Contact lens storage tray units are small and are difficult to handle because they sit close to the surface on which they are used, such as a countertop. The use of multiple items is also time consuming and makes countertop arrangement inefficient. Travel with a small item such as a contact lens storage tray and bottle of solution is frustrating, when at times one of the items is lost or forgotten.[0003]U.S. Pat. No. 6,311,833 to Collier seeks to make contact lens care more efficient with a contact lens care organizi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]The purpose of the invention is to ultimately save a contact lens wearer time by reducing the number of steps and lens care items presently required to care for contact lenses.

[0007]Due to the fact that the invention combines common lens care items into one functional unit, it is a further purpose of the invention to make countertop storage more efficient, and to make travel and transport simpler for contact lens wearers.

[0008]The present invention is a device comprising a bottle made of molded squeezable plastic. The present invention has a contact lens solution dispensing cap, and also has contact lens storage and disinfecting trays on each side of the solution dispensing cap. When lenses are ready for storage with the present device, a user simply removes the caps on the storage trays and then squeezes the bottle. As a direct result of the squeezing action by a user, the bottle's features allow fresh contact lens storage and disinfection solution to be dispensed into the contact lens storage and disinfecting trays. After a user places the contact lenses in their respective trays, the user then replaces the lens tray caps so that the lenses may be stored and disinfected. Special cap design prevents solution that is being actively used in the lens trays from traveling into the bottle where fresh solution is stored.

[0009]With the present contact lens storage device, it is no longer necessary for a contact lens wearer to handle both a storage tray and a bottle of contact lens storage and disinfecting solution. Aiming a bottle of contact lens solution into small trays is no longer needed. That is because squeezing the plastic bottle results in the contact lens trays being automatically filled with fresh solution.

[0010]Because there aren't multiple items to arrange or organize, a further benefit of the present contact lens storage device comprising a combination of contact lens trays with a bottle of solution is that the device makes countertop organization simpler. Because there isn't a need to pack multiple items, travel is also made more efficient. Searching for a contact lens storage tray isn't as difficult, because such small and hard to locate items are built within a relatively larger and easier to handle squeezable bottle.

[0011]Another benefit of the bottle's design is that the contact lens storage trays sit higher up off a typical surface, such as a countertop, and are closer to a user than a standard contact lens tray. This results in easier removal of lens tray caps, easier placement of lenses into the lens storage trays, and easier replacement of lens tray caps.

Problems solved by technology

Handling of these separate items is time consuming and inefficient.

Contact lens storage tray units are small and are difficult to handle because they sit close to the surface on which they are used, such as a countertop.

The use of multiple items is also time consuming and makes countertop arrangement inefficient.

Travel with a small item such as a contact lens storage tray and bottle of solution is frustrating, when at times one of the items is lost or forgotten.

As a further drawback, while the separate contact lens care items may be arranged in an organized fashion, these items remain substantially independent of one another, and the steps necessary to use them remain unchanged.

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