US4702574A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Contact lenses having fluorescent colorants and apparatus for making such lenses
Assignee: Bausch and Lomb Inc
•
Filing: 1985-10-15
•
Granted: 1987-10-27
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Expires: 2005-10-15
Abstract
Abstract Cosmetic contact lenses, which are tinted with daylight fluorescent pigments in the iris area, can change the wearer's apparent iris color to any desired color, including changing a dark iris to a lighter color such as blue or green.
Inventors
- 👤 Rajan Bawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 04:18
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29D; B29D11/00; B29D11/00009; B29D11/00317; B29D11/00038; B29D11/00048; B29D11/00125; B29D11/00134; B29D11/00153; G; G02; G02B; G02B1/00; G02B1/04; G02C; G02C11/00; G02C11/02; G02C7/00; G02C7/02; G02C7/04; G02C7/046; B29K; B29K2995/00; B29K2995/0018; B29L; B29L2011/00; B29L2011/0016; B29L2011/0041; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S425/00; Y10S425/808
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
27 words
A contact lens comprising an optical zone, at least a portion of the optical zone being colored by a fluorescent colorant compound which fluoresces visibly in daylight.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
27 words
A contact lens comprising an optical zone, at least a portion of the optical zone being colored by a fluorescent colorant compound which fluoresces visibly in daylight.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A lens according to claim 1 in which the optical zone comprises a central pupilar zone which is substantially free of fluorescent colorant and a contiguously surrounding annular iris zone which is colored by fluorescent colorant.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A lens according to claim 2 in which the lens is a polymeric hydrogel lens.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A lens according to claim 3 in which the fluorescent colorant emits in the range from about 400 to 530 nm when exposed to daylight.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
A lens according to claim 3 in which the central pupilar zone is circular.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A lens according to claim 5 in which the lens also has an annular transparent peripheral zone which is free of colorants.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A lens according to claim 1 in which the fluorescent colorant is dispersed in at least a portion of the polymer of the optical zone.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A lens according to claim 7 in which the fluorescent colorant is uniformly dispersed throughout the optical zone.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A lens according to claim 1 in which at least a portion of the optical zone is also colored by a non-fluorescent colorant compound.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A lens according to claim 9 in which the non-fluorescent colorant compound reflects at about the same wavelength as the emission of the fluorescent colorant compound.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
95 words
Apparatus for making contact lenses which comprises a rotatable contact lens mold having a concave upper surface adapted to receive a monomer composition for polymerization and, positioned above the mold, an opaque mask in the form of an inverted, truncated, hollow cone or pyramid, the truncated lower end of the mask defining an aperture for irradiation of a circular central area of the surface of the mold and the wall of said mask having at least one horizontal slot defining an aperture for irradiation of a peripheral annular area of the surface of the mold.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
95 words
Apparatus for making contact lenses which comprises a rotatable contact lens mold having a concave upper surface adapted to receive a monomer composition for polymerization and, positioned above the mold, an opaque mask in the form of an inverted, truncated, hollow cone or pyramid, the truncated lower end of the mask defining an aperture for irradiation of a circular central area of the surface of the mold and the wall of said mask having at least one horizontal slot defining an aperture for irradiation of a peripheral annular area of the surface of the mold.
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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) | 1990-10-26 | 1991-04-27 | 1991-10-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-10-26 | 1995-04-27 | 1995-10-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-10-26 | 1999-04-27 | 1999-10-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |