Contact lens disinfector with temperature indicator

Claim 2

A disinfector unit for disinfecting contact lenses comprising: a housing; heating means arranged to heat the contact lenses to a disinfecting temperature; and temperature indicating means for indicating first and second temperature ranges with respect to a portion of said housing, said temperature indicating means comprising a prismatic lens means, first and second temperature indicia behind said prismatic lens means, and a pivotally mounted member carrying said prismatic lens means and said temperature indicia, said prismatic lens means being arranged for movement such that said first temperature indicia is viewable and the second temperature indicia is obscured when said prismatic lens means is at a first position, and said second temperature indicia is viewable and said first temperature indicia is obscured when said prismatic lens means is at a second position, and temperature responsive means for moving said pivotally mounted member and said prismatic lens means between said first and second positions as a function of the temperature of said housing portion.

Claim 3

A disinfector unit as defined in claim 1, wherein said temperature responsive means comprising a bi-metallic strip having a first end secured to said heating means and a second end engaging said pivotal member, said second end being arranged for moving in first and second directions responsive to the temperature of said heating means for pivoting said pivotal member between said first and second positions.

Claim 4

A disinfector unit according to claim 1 including a viewing window in said housing, and wherein said first and second positions are angular positions relative to said viewing window.

Claim 5

A disinfector unit as defined in claim 3 further including tunnel means having an end wall forming said viewing window and a cavity, and wherein said prismatic lens means is pivotally mounted within said tunnel means.

Claim 6

A disinfector unit as defined in claim 4 wherein said tunnel means cavity has a plurality of sidewalls, and wherein said prismatic lens means is pivotally mounted on an opposing pair of said sidewalls.

Claim 7

A disinfector unit as defined in claim 5 wherein said pivotally mounted member is mounted across said pair of opposing sidewalls and having a surface generally facing said viewing window, and wherein said mounting member has an extension extending through one of said sidewalls and coupled to said actuating means.

Claim 8

A disinfector unit as defined in claim 6 wherein said heating means comprises a heating block, and wherein said actuating means includes a bi-metallic strip having a first end connected to said heating block and a second end coupled to said mounting member extension, said second end being arranged to move in first and second directions responsive to the temperature of said heating block for causing said mounting member and said prismatic lens means and said temperature indicia mounted thereto to pivot between said first and second angular positions relative to said viewing window.

Claim 9

For use in a contact lens disinfector of the type having a housing with heating means for heating contact lenses to at least a disinfecting temperature and thereafter for terminating the application of heat allowing the contact lenses to cool, a temperature indicating arrangement comprising: prismatic lens means, first and second temperature indicia disposed behind said lens means, means mounting said lens means for pivotal movement between a first and second angular position for rendering only said first temperature indicia viewable in said housing when said lens means is at said first angular position and for rendering only said second temperature indicia viewable in the housing when at said second angular position, and actuating means responsive to the temperature of said heating means for moving said lens means between said first and second angular positions.

Claim 10

For use in a contact lens disinfector of the type having a housing with heating means for heating contact lenses to at least a disinfecting temperature and thereafter for terminating the application of heat allowing the contact lenses to cool, a temperature indicating arrangement comprising: prismatic lens means, first and second temperature indicia disposed behind said lens means, means mounting said lens means for pivotal movement between a first and second angular position for rendering only said first temperature indicia viewable in said housing when said lens means is at said first angular position and for rendering only said second temperature indicia viewable in the housing when at said second angular position, and actuating means responsive to the temperature of said heating means for moving said lens means between said first and second angular positions.

Claim 11

A structure as defined in claim 8 wherein said lens means includes a substantially planar under-surface, wherein said first and second temperature indicia are affixed to said lens means under-surface and wherein each said indicia comprises a plurality of segment strips arranged side-by-side and wherein said strips one of said indicia alternate with said strips of said other indicia.

Claim 12

A contact lens disinfector unit for sterilizing contact lenses contained within a contact lens case comprising: a housing; a heating block arranged to contact the lens case for heating the contact lenses to a disinfecting temperature and for thereafter terminating the application of heat for allowing the contact lenses to cool; and heating block temperature indicating means for indicating first and second temperatures of said heating block comprising, a vertical hollow column having a plurality of sidewalls including a pair of opposing sidewalls and a top surface defining a viewing window formed in said housing, prismatic lens means having a substantially planar under-surface within said column, first and second temperature indicia affixed to said prismatic lens means under-surface, a pivotal member pivotally mounted between said pair of opposing sidewalls and having an upper surface carrying said prismatic lens means and said temperature indicia and having an extension extending through one of said column sidewalls, said pivot member being pivotal between first and second angular positions for rendering said first temperature indicia visible through said lens means and said window when at said first angular position and for rendering said second temperature indicia visible through said lens means and said window when at said second angular position, and a bi-metallic strip having a first end connected to said heating block and a second end coupled to said pivotal member extension and arranged for reciprocating movement responsive to the temperature of said heating block for pivoting said pivotal member between said first and second angular positions.

Claim 13

A contact lens disinfector unit for sterilizing contact lenses contained within a contact lens case comprising: a housing; a heating block arranged to contact the lens case for heating the contact lenses to a disinfecting temperature and for thereafter terminating the application of heat for allowing the contact lenses to cool; and heating block temperature indicating means for indicating first and second temperatures of said heating block comprising, a vertical hollow column having a plurality of sidewalls including a pair of opposing sidewalls and a top surface defining a viewing window formed in said housing, prismatic lens means having a substantially planar under-surface within said column, first and second temperature indicia affixed to said prismatic lens means under-surface, a pivotal member pivotally mounted between said pair of opposing sidewalls and having an upper surface carrying said prismatic lens means and said temperature indicia and having an extension extending through one of said column sidewalls, said pivot member being pivotal between first and second angular positions for rendering said first temperature indicia visible through said lens means and said window when at said first angular position and for rendering said second temperature indicia visible through said lens means and said window when at said second angular position, and a bi-metallic strip having a first end connected to said heating block and a second end coupled to said pivotal member extension and arranged for reciprocating movement responsive to the temperature of said heating block for pivoting said pivotal member between said first and second angular positions.