Tinted Contact Lens Packaging with Iris-Matching Color Indicator

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current contact lens packaging does not provide an accurate representation of how tinted lenses will appear on the eye, making it difficult for consumers to choose cosmetic contact lenses based on color before purchase.

Innovation Solution

A transparent molded base package with a flexible cover sheet that includes a colored area visible from the lens-facing surface, approximating human iris colors, allowing consumers to view the lens color through the package without opening it, using materials like metallocene polymers and co-polymers for the base and adhesive laminates for the cover sheet.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If a transparent bowl portion is used for packaging, then the lens is viewable through the package, but the lens color representation is inaccurate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelens color representation accuracyVSAvoidcolor appearance accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

A colored foil or colored layer is introduced as an intermediary element between the transparent bowl and the external environment. This intermediary layer reflects or transmits light in a way that accurately represents the lens color when viewed through the transparent packaging, solving the problem of inaccurate color representation while maintaining package transparency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The packaging incorporates color-changing elements such as a colored foil or colored layer that matches the lens color. This allows the package to display accurate lens color information to consumers through the transparent bowl portion, enabling informed cosmetic contact lens purchases without compromising the transparency of the packaging.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

2Loss of information

If a colored foil is added to the package, then the lens color can be viewed accurately, but the package complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelens color representationVSAvoidpackage structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The colored foil or colored layer is integrated with the existing transparent bowl structure to form a unified packaging system. The colored element is positioned within the bowl assembly, combining the transparency function with the color representation function in a single integrated package design, thereby minimizing structural complexity while achieving accurate lens color display.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If the bowl portion is made from hydrophobic material, then the lens is properly contained, but the material compatibility with tinted lenses is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelens containment reliabilityVSAvoidmaterial compatibility with tinted lenses
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The packaging employs composite material construction, combining hydrophobic materials for the structural bowl portion with colored foils or colored layers for optical representation. This composite approach allows the hydrophobic material to maintain reliable lens containment while the added colored elements provide versatility in representing different tinted lens colors, expanding adaptability without compromising containment reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP2588386B1Blister packages for tinted ophthamlic lenses
Publication Date: 2015.08.19 JOHNSON & JOHNSON VISION CARE INC
  • EP2588386B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2588386B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

A package for contact lenses having a transparent molded base and a flexible cover containing an area of color.