Patent US4271925A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent EP0347043A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0347043A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Contact lenses and means and methods of producing same
Assignee: Pilkington Visioncare Inc
•
Filing: 1989-05-16
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2009-05-16
Abstract
Abstract New means and methods for casting optical lenses in which an integral lens blank-mold cup (10) unit is created by placing liquid monomers in a cup mold (11) which tightly adheres to polymerized lens material. A radial die (13) is disposed upon the cup mold to contain the monomers during polymerization and to provide the polymerized material with an optical surface. A contact lens is manufactured from the integral lens blank-mold cup unit by machining off the first cup and then extraneous portions of the blank to create a finished lens.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur J. Drew, Jr.
- 👤 Donald J. Ratkowski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 03:24
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C39/00; B29C39/22; B29C39/26; B29D; B29D11/00; B29D11/00009; B29D11/00038; B29C2793/00; B29C2793/009; B29C33/00; B29C33/38; B29C33/40; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S425/00; Y10S425/808
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
A mold assembly for producing an integral lens blank-mold cup unit suitable for subsequent finishing into an optical lens comprising: a mold cup having a cavity defined therein for receiving uncured lens material monomers and a die supporting surface superposed to and circumscribing said cavity and adapted to receive a die thereupon for coaction therewith to contain said monomers within said covered cavity while said monomers are cured; and a radius die positionable upon said die supporting surface while said monomers are cured into adhering engagement with said mold cup and removable therefrom to provide an integral lens blank-mold cup unit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
101 words
A mold assembly for producing an integral lens blank-mold cup unit suitable for subsequent finishing into an optical lens comprising: a mold cup having a cavity defined therein for receiving uncured lens material monomers and a die supporting surface superposed to and circumscribing said cavity and adapted to receive a die thereupon for coaction therewith to contain said monomers within said covered cavity while said monomers are cured; and a radius die positionable upon said die supporting surface while said monomers are cured into adhering engagement with said mold cup and removable therefrom to provide an integral lens blank-mold cup unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A mold assembly according to claim 1 in which said die has a radial lower surface formed thereupon and coactive with polymerizing lens materials engaged thereby to form a radial optical surface therewith.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A mold assembly according to claim 2 in which said die is formed of a non-adhering material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, phenolformaldehyde polymers, urea-formaldehyde polymers, poly(chlorotrifluoroethylene) and Teflon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A mold assembly according to claim 1 in which said mold cup has a cylindrical body portion circumscribing and enclosing said cavity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A mold assembly according to claim 4 in which said cavity has a lower surface for supporting said lens material monomers before and during curing and firmly adhering to said fully cured lens material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
A mold assembly according to claim 5 in which said lower surface is planar.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
A mold assembly according to claim 5 in which said lower surface is curved.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A mold assembly according to claim 5 in which said lower surface has a plurality of spaced concentric grooves defined therein.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A mold assembly according to claim 5 in which said cavity has a plurality of spaced axially extending splines defined on the inner perimeter thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
152 words
A mold assembly according to any preceding claim in which said mold cup is formed of a monomer or mixture of monomers selected from the group consisting of polyetherimide, polyamide, nylon, polycarbonate, acrylonitrile, polysulfone, PMMA, ethylene terehthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polymethyl pentene as well as blended materials such as acrylate styrene acrylonitrile ("ASA") and polycarbonate ("PC") acrylonitrile butadiene styrene ("ABS") and nylon; ABS and PC; ABS and polytetrafluoroethylene ("PTFE"); ABS and polysulfone; ABS and polyvinyl chloride ("PVC"); ABS and styrene methacrylate ("SMA"); ASA and polymethylmethacrylate ("PMMA"); ASA and PVC; acetal and PTFE; PC and PE; PC and polyethylene terephthalate ("PET"); PC and SMA; PC and polyurethane ("TPU"); polybutylene terephthalate ("PBT") and PET; PBT and elastomer; PET and elastomer; PET and polysulfone, polyphenylene ether ("PPE") and polystyrene ("PS"); PPE and polyamide; polyphenylene sulfide ("PPS") and PTFE; PS and elastomer; styrene acrylonitrile ("SAN") and ethylene propylene diene ("EPDM"); and SMA and PS and the like.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
230 words
A method of producing a lens blank-mold cup unit comprising preparing a mold cup having a cavity defined therein from a plastic material selected from the group consisting of polyethermide, polyamide, nylon, polycarbonate, polysulfone, PMMA, polyethylene terephthalate, polymethyl pentene as well as blended materials such as ASA and polycarbonate ("PC"); acrylonitrile butadiene styrene ("ABS") and nylon; ABS and PC; ABS and polytetrafluoroethylene ("PTFE"); ABS and polysylfone, ABS and polyvinyl chloride ("PVC"); ABS and styrene methacrylate ("SMA"); ASA and polymethylmethacrylate ("PMMA"); ASA and PVC; acetal and PTFE; PVC and acrylic; nylon and ethylene copolymers; nylon and polyethylene ("PE"); nylon and PTFE; PC and PE; PC and polyethylene terephthalate ("PET"); PC and SMA; PC and polyurethane ("TPU"); polybutylene terephthalate ("PBT") and PET; PBT and elastomer; PET and elastomer; PET and polysulfone; polyphenylene ether ("PPE") and polystyrene ("PS"); PPE and polyamide; polyphenylene sulfide ("PPS") and PTFE; PS and elastomer; styrene acrylonitrile ("SAN") and ethylene propylene diene ("EPDM"); and SMA and PS and the like; pouring a mixture of uncured lens material monomers into said cavity; placing a radius die cover on said mold cup to enclose said monomers; curing said monomers in said cup by application of heat thereto until the monomers are cured in adherent relationship to said mold cup to form an integral line blank-mold cup unit; and removing the radius die therefrom leaving an optical surface on said cured monomer.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
230 words
A method of producing a lens blank-mold cup unit comprising preparing a mold cup having a cavity defined therein from a plastic material selected from the group consisting of polyethermide, polyamide, nylon, polycarbonate, polysulfone, PMMA, polyethylene terephthalate, polymethyl pentene as well as blended materials such as ASA and polycarbonate ("PC"); acrylonitrile butadiene styrene ("ABS") and nylon; ABS and PC; ABS and polytetrafluoroethylene ("PTFE"); ABS and polysylfone, ABS and polyvinyl chloride ("PVC"); ABS and styrene methacrylate ("SMA"); ASA and polymethylmethacrylate ("PMMA"); ASA and PVC; acetal and PTFE; PVC and acrylic; nylon and ethylene copolymers; nylon and polyethylene ("PE"); nylon and PTFE; PC and PE; PC and polyethylene terephthalate ("PET"); PC and SMA; PC and polyurethane ("TPU"); polybutylene terephthalate ("PBT") and PET; PBT and elastomer; PET and elastomer; PET and polysulfone; polyphenylene ether ("PPE") and polystyrene ("PS"); PPE and polyamide; polyphenylene sulfide ("PPS") and PTFE; PS and elastomer; styrene acrylonitrile ("SAN") and ethylene propylene diene ("EPDM"); and SMA and PS and the like; pouring a mixture of uncured lens material monomers into said cavity; placing a radius die cover on said mold cup to enclose said monomers; curing said monomers in said cup by application of heat thereto until the monomers are cured in adherent relationship to said mold cup to form an integral line blank-mold cup unit; and removing the radius die therefrom leaving an optical surface on said cured monomer.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of casting lens blanks having an optical finish on at least one surface thereof from a polymerizable lens material comprising the steps of: providing an optical surface on a mold die formed from a material which will not adhere to the polymerizable lens material when polymerized solid; providing a mold cup formed from a material which will adhere to the polymerizable lens material when polymerized; pouring a preselected polymerizable lens material to fill said mold cup; covering said lens cup and said polymerizable lens material with said mold die to create a mold assembly; treating said filled mold assembly to polymerize said polymerizable lens material into a polymerized solid which adheres to said mold cup but not to said mold die; and removing said mold die from said mold assembly to provide a lens blank-mold cup unitary assembly.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of casting lens blanks having an optical finish on at least one surface thereof from a polymerizable lens material comprising the steps of: providing an optical surface on a mold die formed from a material which will not adhere to the polymerizable lens material when polymerized solid; providing a mold cup formed from a material which will adhere to the polymerizable lens material when polymerized; pouring a preselected polymerizable lens material to fill said mold cup; covering said lens cup and said polymerizable lens material with said mold die to create a mold assembly; treating said filled mold assembly to polymerize said polymerizable lens material into a polymerized solid which adheres to said mold cup but not to said mold die; and removing said mold die from said mold assembly to provide a lens blank-mold cup unitary assembly.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method of manufacturing a lens from a lens blank-mold cup assembly produced according to the method of claim 12 comprising machining said unitary assembly to remove the mold cup therefrom, further machining the polymerized solid lens material to remove all extraneous lens material therefrom; and finishing the remainder of said solid lens material into a finished contact lens.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
11 words
A finished optical lens prepared according to method of claim 11.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
A finished lens according to claim 14 in which the lens is a contact lens.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
77 words
The method of fitting a contact lens to a patient having a known prescription comprising preparing a lens blank-mold cup unit according to the method of claim 11; machining the lens blank mold cup unit to remove the mold cup and all extraneous lens material therefrom; finishing the remaining solid lens material into a finished contact lens conforming to said known prescriptions; and fitting the finished contact lens to the patient to whom said known prescription pertains.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.