Contact lens disinfecting apparatus

Claim 1

Apparatus for disinfecting contact lenses contained within a contact lens carrying case, comprising: a housing defining a well for supporting a contact lens carrying case, said well being defined by side walls, end walls and bottom support means for supporting and conducting heat to contact lenses contained within said carrying case; a heat sink positioned in said housing to directly contact said well bottom support means for conducting heat to said bottom support means; a PTC heater element for providing, and automatically controlling, heat supplied to said heat sink, said PTC heater element being electrically energizable and having the characteristics to initially sharply rise in temperature until a preset temperature is achieved and thereafter maintain that temperature until said PTC heater element is de-energized; a spring biasing member supporting said PTC heater element and locating and biasing said PTC heater element against said heat sink, including a central portion for receiving and positioning said PTC heater element in close relationship with said heat sink and a pair of extensions extending outwardly from said central portion to form legs for engagement with said housing for locating said PTC heater element relative to said housing and said heat sink; and locating means being defined in said housing so as to receive and engage said legs of said spring biasing member in order to cause said extensions to sufficiently flex to urge and maintain said PTC heater element in close contact with said heat sink.