Patent US4856647A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4856647A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for connecting containers
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1988-08-19
•
Granted: 1989-08-15
•
Expires: 2008-08-19
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for connecting containers to each other. The apparatus has three of elastic loops which compressively secure three containers inserted therein. One loop is oriented with respect to two other loops such that its longitudinal axis is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the two other loops and is saubstantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the longitudinal axes of the two other loops. The apparatus has particular advantages in connecting together cleaning solution containers for contact lenses and a case for storing contact lenses.
Inventors
- 👤 Cynthia F. Dahne
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 18:29
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61L; A61L12/00; A61L12/08; A61L12/086; A45; A45C; A45C11/00; A45C11/005; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S134/00; Y10S134/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
An apparatus for storing contact lenses and cleaning material for cleaning contact lenses, the combination comprising: a contact lens case for storing the contact lenses; a first container for storing a saline solution for cleaning contact lenses; a second container for storing a daily contact lens cleaning material; and a connecting assembly for connecting together said contact lens case, said first container and said second container, said connecting assembly including a first elastic loop for receiving said first container, said first elastic loop having a longitudinal axis A, a second elastic loop for receiving said second container, said second elastic loop having a longitudinal axis B substantially parallel to said axis A, said axes A and B defining a plane, means, coupled to said first and second elastic loops, for coupling said first and second elastic loops together, a third elastic loop for receiving said contact lens case, said third elastic loop having a longitudinal axis C substantially perpendicular to said axes A and B and substantially perpendicular to said plane, and means, coupled to said first and third elastic loops, for coupling said first and third elastic loops together.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
190 words
An apparatus for storing contact lenses and cleaning material for cleaning contact lenses, the combination comprising: a contact lens case for storing the contact lenses; a first container for storing a saline solution for cleaning contact lenses; a second container for storing a daily contact lens cleaning material; and a connecting assembly for connecting together said contact lens case, said first container and said second container, said connecting assembly including a first elastic loop for receiving said first container, said first elastic loop having a longitudinal axis A, a second elastic loop for receiving said second container, said second elastic loop having a longitudinal axis B substantially parallel to said axis A, said axes A and B defining a plane, means, coupled to said first and second elastic loops, for coupling said first and second elastic loops together, a third elastic loop for receiving said contact lens case, said third elastic loop having a longitudinal axis C substantially perpendicular to said axes A and B and substantially perpendicular to said plane, and means, coupled to said first and third elastic loops, for coupling said first and third elastic loops together.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said first, second and third elastic loops comprise elastic fabric.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for coupling said first and second loops together includes stitching.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for coupling said first and third loops together includes stitching.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for coupling said first and third elastic loops together includes a tab, coupled to said first elastic loop and to said third elastic loop, for spacing said first elastic loop from said third elastic loop.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for coupling said first and second elastic loops together includes an extension, coupled to said first elastic loop and to said second elastic loop, for spacing said first elastic loop from said second elastic loop.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said first and second containers has a longitudinal axis substantially coincident with said axes A and B and said contact lens case has a longitudinal axis substantially coincident with said axis C.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second elastic loops are oriented in a side by side relationship.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first, second and third elastic loops are substantially aligned in a side by side relationship.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for coupling said first and third elastic loops together comprises means for coupling said third elastic loop to said first elastic loop at a single location along said first elastic loop.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first elastic loop has first and second ends, said second elastic loop being located at said first end and said third elastic loop being located at said second end.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2882087A
Cited
US3326358A
Cited
US3682352A
Cited
US3640018A
Cited
US3702203A
Cited
US3695280A
Cited
US3751082A
Cited
US3823814A
Cited
US3785484A
Cited
US3856571A
Cited
US4103811A
Cited
US3930578A
Cited
US3891174A
Cited
US4061256A
Cited
US4062510A
Cited
US4089412A
Cited
US4390095A
Cited
US4377234A
Cited
US4544194A
Cited
US4537341A
Cited
US4620631A
Cited
US4686745A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-08-14 | 1993-02-13 | 1993-08-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-08-14 | 1997-02-13 | 1997-08-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-08-14 | 2001-02-13 | 2001-08-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |