Patent US2056619A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4084458A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Manufacture of contact lenses
Assignee: Global Vision (U K) Ltd
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Filing: 1975-09-29
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Granted: 1978-04-18
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Expires: 1995-09-29
Abstract
Abstract A method of manufacturing a contact lens by machining a lens blank in a suitable machinable condition. The concave lens surface is machined first and the circumferential edge surface is then machined with the blank mounted in the same position. The partly formed blank is repositioned and the convex lens surface machined.
Inventors
- 👤 Geoffrey Harrison Galley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 14:30
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29D; B29D11/00; B29D11/00932; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T82/00; Y10T82/10; Y10T82/14; Y10T82/148
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
In a method of manufacturing a contact lens having a first and second lens surfaces, said method including the steps of: a. centering a contact lens blank on the chuck of a lens lathe having at least a radius cutting tool and edge cutting tools means, b. machining the centered blank with said radius cutting tool to form the first curved lens surface, and c. machining the second opposite curved lens surface, the improvement comprising machining a peripheral edge portion with the edge tool cutting means while the blank is still centered on the chuck, after performing step (b), so as to form a circumferential edge surface adjacent said first curved surface and to separately form a frusto-conical surface adjoining said circumferential edge surface and opposite the peripheral portion of said first curved surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
In a method of manufacturing a contact lens having a first and second lens surfaces, said method including the steps of: a. centering a contact lens blank on the chuck of a lens lathe having at least a radius cutting tool and edge cutting tools means, b. machining the centered blank with said radius cutting tool to form the first curved lens surface, and c. machining the second opposite curved lens surface, the improvement comprising machining a peripheral edge portion with the edge tool cutting means while the blank is still centered on the chuck, after performing step (b), so as to form a circumferential edge surface adjacent said first curved surface and to separately form a frusto-conical surface adjoining said circumferential edge surface and opposite the peripheral portion of said first curved surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the second curved lens surface is cut by removing the partly worked blank after machining the peripheral edge portion, remounting it in the lathe or in another lathe and machining the second curved lens surface so that the second curved lens surface leads into the frusto-conical surface.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of manufacturing a contact lens comprising the steps of: a. providing a contact lens blank, b. rotatably mounting said blank in a material removal machine provided with at least a first material removal tool adapted to move in an arc and a second material removal tool means, c. machining said mounted blank with said first tool to form a first curved lens surface, d. machining a peripheral portion of said mounted blank with said second tool to form a circumferential edge surface, e. machining a frusto-conical surface on said blank opposite and concentric with said first curved lens surface and adjacent said edge surface, and f. machining a second opposite curved lens surface adjoining said frusto-conical surface.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of manufacturing a contact lens comprising the steps of: a. providing a contact lens blank, b. rotatably mounting said blank in a material removal machine provided with at least a first material removal tool adapted to move in an arc and a second material removal tool means, c. machining said mounted blank with said first tool to form a first curved lens surface, d. machining a peripheral portion of said mounted blank with said second tool to form a circumferential edge surface, e. machining a frusto-conical surface on said blank opposite and concentric with said first curved lens surface and adjacent said edge surface, and f. machining a second opposite curved lens surface adjoining said frusto-conical surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 3, wherein said blank is rotatably mounted in a first position in said machine while said first curved surface and said peripheral edge portion are machined.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method according to claim 4, wherein said blank is maintained in said first position in said machine while said frusto-conical surface is machined, and thereafter the partly worked blank is removed from said first position and then rotably mounted in a second position in the machine, said second surface being machined while the partly worked blank is in said second position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein the first curved lens surface is the concave surface of the lens and the frusto-conical surface is an external frusto-conical surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
78 words
A method according to claim 6 including viewing the crown of the machined first, concave lens surface through the body of the partly worked blank in a direction perpendicular to the lens axis to determine the position of said crown relative to a further working tool, setting said further tool in accordance with said determined position, and then machining said second, convex lens surface by means of said further tool to provide a lens of predetermined thickness dimension.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein the second material removal tool means comprises an edge cutting tool adapted to form said circumferential edge surface and a further cutting tool adapted to form said frusto-conical surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 8 wherein said first tool and said edge cutting tool move in arcs about a common axis to effect their respective machining operations, said edge cutting tool engaging the blank subsequent to a traverse of said first tool.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of manufacturing a contact lens comprising: a. providing a contact lens blank, b. rotatably mounting said blank in a material removal machine, c. machining said mounted blank to form a first curved lens surface, d. machining a peripheral portion of said mounted blank to form a circumferential edge surface, e. machining a frusto-conical surface on said blank opposite said first curved lens surface and adjacent said edge surface, and f. removing said blank after machining said circumferential edge surface and said frusto-conical surface, remounting said blank in the same or another material removing machine, and machining a second opposite curved lens surface adjoining said frusto-conical surface.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of manufacturing a contact lens comprising: a. providing a contact lens blank, b. rotatably mounting said blank in a material removal machine, c. machining said mounted blank to form a first curved lens surface, d. machining a peripheral portion of said mounted blank to form a circumferential edge surface, e. machining a frusto-conical surface on said blank opposite said first curved lens surface and adjacent said edge surface, and f. removing said blank after machining said circumferential edge surface and said frusto-conical surface, remounting said blank in the same or another material removing machine, and machining a second opposite curved lens surface adjoining said frusto-conical surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
126 words
A machine for manufacturing a contact lens from a contact lens blank said machine comprising: i. a lens blank support rotatable about an axis; ii. first and second material removing tools mounted on a table on a radius arm, said radius arm being traversable in an arc about an axis and adapted to permit said first tool to contact said lens blank and machine a curved lens surface thereon, and to permit said second tool to thereafter contact said blank and machine a circumferential edge surface thereon without removing the blank from the support, and iii. a third material removing tool adapted to advance transversely of the axis of rotation of the blank support and to form a frusto-conical surface on the blank at its periphery.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
126 words
A machine for manufacturing a contact lens from a contact lens blank said machine comprising: i. a lens blank support rotatable about an axis; ii. first and second material removing tools mounted on a table on a radius arm, said radius arm being traversable in an arc about an axis and adapted to permit said first tool to contact said lens blank and machine a curved lens surface thereon, and to permit said second tool to thereafter contact said blank and machine a circumferential edge surface thereon without removing the blank from the support, and iii. a third material removing tool adapted to advance transversely of the axis of rotation of the blank support and to form a frusto-conical surface on the blank at its periphery.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
74 words
A machine according to claim 11, including a viewing device arranged to view and determine the position of the crown of a machined concave lens surface on such blank through the body of the blank in a direction perpendicular to the lens axis, a gauge to indicate such determined position, and a further material removal tool settable in accordance with said determined position for traversal of said support to machine a convex lens surface.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-04-17 | 1981-10-17 | 1982-04-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-04-17 | 1985-10-17 | 1986-04-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-04-17 | 1989-10-17 | 1990-04-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |