Patent US4547049A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4547049A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Composite ophthalmic lens system
Assignee: C AND H CONTACT LENS Inc
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Filing: 1983-09-01
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Granted: 1985-10-15
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Expires: 2003-09-01
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for a multi-element lens system which combines pre-selected radial differences of separate ophthalmic lenses with non-mating curvatures into a single, flexibly conforming laminated unit. The system comprises a primary lens element of structural rigidity and at least one additive lens having an initially non-mating curvature formed of a thin, pliable plastic for providing a complemental ophthalmic correction or addition when flexibly conformed and bonded thereto. The assembled lens is therein capable of providing virtually any optical correction or addition by the determination and application of the appropriate additive lens having the requisite radial difference. In this manner, the ophthalmic inventory of practitioners can be reduced by providing a series of additive lenses in graduated radial differences which may be bonded to any of a stock of ophthalmic lens configuration with different initial curvatures. This method allows the practitioner to define ophthalmic corrections in terms of radial differences which may then be laminated into a single lens assembly or superimposed upon existing lenses no matter what the lens curvature.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert L. Cotie
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 14:00
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02C; G02C7/00; G02C7/02; G02C7/08; G02C7/086; G02C2202/00; G02C2202/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
201 words
Apparatus for ophthalmic use in treating bi-optical deficiencies of the eye in accordance with a prescription correction, said apparatus comprising: a first structural lens of pre-determined optical prescription and surface curvature for treating a first ophthalmic eye deficiency; a second additive lens of pre-determined radial difference affording a select optical prescription when applied to said structural lens and formed of thin, pliable light transmitting plastic material of sufficiently thin, cross-sectional area to afford pliability for flexibly conforming to said bonding surface curvature of said structural lens and having first and second opposed surfaces for treating a second ophthalmic eye deficiency; said first opposed surface of said additive lens being smoothly formed and provided in a curvature different from and greater than the bonding surface curvature of said structural lens and bonded in flexible conforming relationship to said structural lens; and said second opposed surface of said additive lens being formed with a continuous, smoothly formed surface configuration comprising a single light refractive element having refractive properties which differ from and complement those of said first spectacle lens for bi-optical refraction of the light rays transmitted by said bonded first and second lenses to said eye in accordance with said prescription correction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
201 words
Apparatus for ophthalmic use in treating bi-optical deficiencies of the eye in accordance with a prescription correction, said apparatus comprising: a first structural lens of pre-determined optical prescription and surface curvature for treating a first ophthalmic eye deficiency; a second additive lens of pre-determined radial difference affording a select optical prescription when applied to said structural lens and formed of thin, pliable light transmitting plastic material of sufficiently thin, cross-sectional area to afford pliability for flexibly conforming to said bonding surface curvature of said structural lens and having first and second opposed surfaces for treating a second ophthalmic eye deficiency; said first opposed surface of said additive lens being smoothly formed and provided in a curvature different from and greater than the bonding surface curvature of said structural lens and bonded in flexible conforming relationship to said structural lens; and said second opposed surface of said additive lens being formed with a continuous, smoothly formed surface configuration comprising a single light refractive element having refractive properties which differ from and complement those of said first spectacle lens for bi-optical refraction of the light rays transmitted by said bonded first and second lenses to said eye in accordance with said prescription correction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first structural lens comprises a spherical lens having a pre-determined spherical optical correction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said first, spherical lens comprises a negative diopter correction power for treating a myopic eye deficiency.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said first, spherical lens comprises a positive diopter correction for treating a hypermetropic eye deficiency.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second additive lens comprises a cylindrical lens having a pre-determined cylindrical, optical correction and defined cylindrical axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said cylindrical lens is flexibly conformed to and bonded with said first lens with said cylindrical axis in pre-defined angular alignment relative thereto for correction of astigmatic ophthalmic conditions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said structural lens comprises a cylindrical lens and said additive lens comprises a thin, pliable spherical lens, each having a pre-determined ophthalmic correction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein a third, additive lens of pre-determined optical prescription, formed of flexible, light transmitting plastic material is bonded to said first and second lenses for providing a third optical correction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said third, additive lens comprises a thin, pliable prismatic lens of basic ophthalmic design.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first structural lens comprises a spherical lens having a pre-determined spherical, optical correction power and said second, additive lens comprises a cylindrical lens having a pre-determined radial difference and defined cylindrical axis, said axis being aligned relative to said spherical lens for correction of astigmatism in conjunction with said spherical correction.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
202 words
A method of treating bi-optical deficiencies of the eye in accordance with a prescription correction comprising the steps of: determining a first, ophthalmic correction prescription for a first optical deficiency; determining a second, ophthalmic correction prescription for a second optical deficiency; providing a plurality of spectacle lenses having first ophthalmic corrections in pre-defined power graduations and surface curvature; providing a plurality of additive, lenses having predefined radial differences in pre-defined graduations for affording a select optical prescription when applied to said structural lens, each of said additive lenses comprising a single, light refractive element formed of thin, pliable, light transmitting plastic material with a first opposed surface having a curvature generally different from and greater than the surface curvature of said first line and of sufficiently thin, cross-sectional area to afford pliability for flexibly conforming to said surface curvature of said spectacle lenses and bonding thereto; selecting a first, spectacle lens comprising said determined first ophthalmic correction prescription; selecting a second, additive lens having a radial difference which, when applied to said first lens, will provide said determined second opthalmic correction; and flexibly conforming said second pliable lens to said first lens and bonding said lenses together for correcting said bi-optical deficiency.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
202 words
A method of treating bi-optical deficiencies of the eye in accordance with a prescription correction comprising the steps of: determining a first, ophthalmic correction prescription for a first optical deficiency; determining a second, ophthalmic correction prescription for a second optical deficiency; providing a plurality of spectacle lenses having first ophthalmic corrections in pre-defined power graduations and surface curvature; providing a plurality of additive, lenses having predefined radial differences in pre-defined graduations for affording a select optical prescription when applied to said structural lens, each of said additive lenses comprising a single, light refractive element formed of thin, pliable, light transmitting plastic material with a first opposed surface having a curvature generally different from and greater than the surface curvature of said first line and of sufficiently thin, cross-sectional area to afford pliability for flexibly conforming to said surface curvature of said spectacle lenses and bonding thereto; selecting a first, spectacle lens comprising said determined first ophthalmic correction prescription; selecting a second, additive lens having a radial difference which, when applied to said first lens, will provide said determined second opthalmic correction; and flexibly conforming said second pliable lens to said first lens and bonding said lenses together for correcting said bi-optical deficiency.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method as set forth in claim 11 wherein said step of conforming said second lens to said first lens also includes aligning the respective axes of first and second lenses with one another for astigmatic correction.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein said first ophthalmic lens comprises a spherical correction and said second ophthalmic lens comprises a thin, pliable lens having a cylindrical correction.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein said first ophthalmic lens comprises a cylindrical correction and said second ophthalmic lens comprises a thin, pliable lens having a spherical correction.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method as set forth in claim 11 and further including the steps of providing a plurality of additive lenses having basic prismatic corrections, selecting a prismatic additive lens, and bonding said selected prismatic lens to said first and second lenses.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
179 words
Apparatus for ophthalmic use in treating optical deficiencies of the eye in accordance with a prescription correction, said apparatus comprising: a first structural lens of pre-determined optical prescription and surface curvature for treating an ophthalmic eye deficiency; a second additive lens of pre-determined radial difference for providing an additive, ophthalmic correction to said first lens and being formed of thin, pliable light transmitting plastic material of sufficiently thin, cross-sectional area to afford pliability for flexibly conforming to said surface curvature of said first lens and having first and second opposed surfaces of said select radial difference; said first opposed surface of said additive lens being constructed of a curvature generally different from and greater than the curvature of said surface curvature of said structural lens and smoothly formed and bonded in flexible conforming relationship to said structural lens; and said second opposed surface of said additive lens being formed with a continuous, smoothly formed surface configuration comprising a single light refractive element having refractive properties which complement those of said first structural lens in accordance with said prescription correction.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
179 words
Apparatus for ophthalmic use in treating optical deficiencies of the eye in accordance with a prescription correction, said apparatus comprising: a first structural lens of pre-determined optical prescription and surface curvature for treating an ophthalmic eye deficiency; a second additive lens of pre-determined radial difference for providing an additive, ophthalmic correction to said first lens and being formed of thin, pliable light transmitting plastic material of sufficiently thin, cross-sectional area to afford pliability for flexibly conforming to said surface curvature of said first lens and having first and second opposed surfaces of said select radial difference; said first opposed surface of said additive lens being constructed of a curvature generally different from and greater than the curvature of said surface curvature of said structural lens and smoothly formed and bonded in flexible conforming relationship to said structural lens; and said second opposed surface of said additive lens being formed with a continuous, smoothly formed surface configuration comprising a single light refractive element having refractive properties which complement those of said first structural lens in accordance with said prescription correction.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
178 words
A method of treating optical deficiencies of the eye in accordance with a prescription correction comprising the steps of: determining an ophthalmic prescription for an optical deficiency; providing a spectacle lens having ophthalmic correction and surface curvature; determining an ophthalmic correction prescription for said spectacle lens to correct said optical deficiency; providing a plurality of additive lenses in pre-defined radial difference graduations for providing additive ophthalmic corrections to said spectacle lens, each of said additive lenses comprising a single, light refractive element formed of thin, pliable, light transmitting plastic material constructed with a first opposed surface having a curvature generally different from and greater than that of the surface curvature of the spectacle lens and of sufficiently thin, cross-sectional area to afford pliability for flexibly conforming to said surface curvature of said spectacle lenses and bonding thereto; selecting an additive lens having a radial difference which, when applied to said spectacle lens, will provide said determined ophthalmic correction; and conforming said second, pliable lens to said first lens and bonding said lenses together for correcting said optical deficiency.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
178 words
A method of treating optical deficiencies of the eye in accordance with a prescription correction comprising the steps of: determining an ophthalmic prescription for an optical deficiency; providing a spectacle lens having ophthalmic correction and surface curvature; determining an ophthalmic correction prescription for said spectacle lens to correct said optical deficiency; providing a plurality of additive lenses in pre-defined radial difference graduations for providing additive ophthalmic corrections to said spectacle lens, each of said additive lenses comprising a single, light refractive element formed of thin, pliable, light transmitting plastic material constructed with a first opposed surface having a curvature generally different from and greater than that of the surface curvature of the spectacle lens and of sufficiently thin, cross-sectional area to afford pliability for flexibly conforming to said surface curvature of said spectacle lenses and bonding thereto; selecting an additive lens having a radial difference which, when applied to said spectacle lens, will provide said determined ophthalmic correction; and conforming said second, pliable lens to said first lens and bonding said lenses together for correcting said optical deficiency.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-10-14 | 1989-04-15 | 1989-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-10-14 | 1993-04-15 | 1993-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-10-14 | 1997-04-15 | 1997-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |