US4996027A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Contact lens case having pressure venting gasket
Assignee: Ciba Vision Corp
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Filing: 1989-04-07
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Granted: 1991-02-26
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Expires: 2009-04-07
Abstract
Abstract An appliance for containing and venting fluid, typically for disinfecting contact lenses, includes a container body which has an access opening and a removable closure for the opening. A gasket is seated to form a normally liquid-tight seal between the container body and the closure, and the gasket means has a composition which is sufficiently resilient to at least partially deflect and unseat from the container body upon exertion against the gasket of elevated gas pressure developed within the container, for example, during a disinfection process. The pressurized gas can then be vented past the unseated gasket which forms a vent passageway between the closure and the container body, after which venting the gasket redeflects to reseat and seal against the container body to prevent any subsequent leakage of fluid from the container body. As a result, the gasket serves not only as a closue seal, but also as a one-way check value for release of pressure, for example, during the disinfection process so that the alternative sealing and venting by the gasket are performed repeatedly.
Inventors
- 👤 Rowland W. Kanner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 10:13
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61L; A61L12/00; A61L12/08; A61L12/12; A61L12/124; A61L12/128; A45; A45C; A45C11/00; A45C11/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
An appliance for disinfecting contact lenses or the like immersed within a disinfecting solution which liberates gas during the disinfecting process, said appliance comprising: a container body including an opening at one end thereof; a removable cap means for closing said opening; and self-reseating, unitary gasket means disposed to form a normally liquid tight seal between said container body and an engaged surface of said cap means, wherein said self-reseating, unitary gasket means comprises a composition sufficiently resilient to at least partially deflect and unseat from said container body while said cap means remains stationary upon said container body upon exertion against said self-reseating, unitary gasket means of elevated pressure by gas liberated within said container body during said disinfection process so that said pressurized gas is vented past said unseated gasket means which forms a vent passageway between said cap means and container body, after which venting said self-reseating, unitary gasket means redeflects to reseat and seal against said container body in order to prevent any subsequent leakage of said solution therefrom.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
An appliance for disinfecting contact lenses or the like immersed within a disinfecting solution which liberates gas during the disinfecting process, said appliance comprising: a container body including an opening at one end thereof; a removable cap means for closing said opening; and self-reseating, unitary gasket means disposed to form a normally liquid tight seal between said container body and an engaged surface of said cap means, wherein said self-reseating, unitary gasket means comprises a composition sufficiently resilient to at least partially deflect and unseat from said container body while said cap means remains stationary upon said container body upon exertion against said self-reseating, unitary gasket means of elevated pressure by gas liberated within said container body during said disinfection process so that said pressurized gas is vented past said unseated gasket means which forms a vent passageway between said cap means and container body, after which venting said self-reseating, unitary gasket means redeflects to reseat and seal against said container body in order to prevent any subsequent leakage of said solution therefrom.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
An appliance according to claim 1 wherein said self-reseating, unitary gasket means is mounted on said removable cap means for providing said normal seal against said opening end of said container body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
An appliance according to claim 2 wherein said cap means further comprises lens holder means for supporting contact lens within said container body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
An appliance according to claim 2 wherein said cap means further comprises closure flange means on which said self-reseating, unitary gasket means is carried for said normal seating against a peripheral rim formed on said opening end of said container body.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
An appliance according to claim 4 wherein said gasket means is fabricated in annular configuration for alignment with said peripheral rim.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
An appliance according to claim 1 wherein said self-reseating, unitary gasket means composition comprises a plastic having a closed cell foam structure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
An appliance according to claim 6 wherein said plastic comprises an olefin polymer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
An appliance according to claim 7 wherein said olefin polymer is cross-linked.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
An appliance according to claim 7 wherein said olefin polymer comprises polypropylene.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
An appliance according to claim 7 wherein said olefin polymer comprises polyethylene.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
An appliance according to claim 7 wherein said olefin polymer comprises cross-linked polyethylene.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
181 words
An appliance for disinfecting contact lenses or the like immersed within a disinfecting solution which liberates gas during the disinfecting process, said appliance comprising: a container body including an opening at one end thereof; a removable cap means for closing said opening; and gasket means disposed to form a normally liquid tight seal between said container body and cap means, wherein said gasket means has a composition comprising cross-linked polyethylene having a closed cell foam structure and wherein said gasket means further comprises at least one surface layer of continuous polyethylene without foam cells, such that said gasket means is sufficiently resilient to at least partially deflect and unseat from said container body upon exertion against said gasket means of elevated pressure by gas liberated within said container body during said disinfection process so that said pressurized gas is vented past said unseated gasket means which forms a vent passageway between said cap means and container body, after which venting said gasket means redeflects to reseat against said container body in order to prevent any subsequent leakage of said solution therefrom.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
181 words
An appliance for disinfecting contact lenses or the like immersed within a disinfecting solution which liberates gas during the disinfecting process, said appliance comprising: a container body including an opening at one end thereof; a removable cap means for closing said opening; and gasket means disposed to form a normally liquid tight seal between said container body and cap means, wherein said gasket means has a composition comprising cross-linked polyethylene having a closed cell foam structure and wherein said gasket means further comprises at least one surface layer of continuous polyethylene without foam cells, such that said gasket means is sufficiently resilient to at least partially deflect and unseat from said container body upon exertion against said gasket means of elevated pressure by gas liberated within said container body during said disinfection process so that said pressurized gas is vented past said unseated gasket means which forms a vent passageway between said cap means and container body, after which venting said gasket means redeflects to reseat against said container body in order to prevent any subsequent leakage of said solution therefrom.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
140 words
An appliance for containing and venting fluid, comprising: a container body including an opening; closure means for closing said opening; an self-reseating, unitary gasket means disposed to form a normally tight seal between said container body and said closure means wherein said self-reseating, unitary gasket means comprises a composition sufficiently resilient to at least partially unseat from said container body while an engaged surface of said cap means remains stationary upon said container body upon exertion against said self-reseating, unitary gasket means of fluid pressure within said container body, so that said pressurized fluid is vented past said unseated gasket means which forms a vent passageway between said closure means and said container body, after which said self-reseating, unitary gasket means deflects to reseat and seal against said container body in order to prevent any subsequent leakage of fluid therefrom.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
140 words
An appliance for containing and venting fluid, comprising: a container body including an opening; closure means for closing said opening; an self-reseating, unitary gasket means disposed to form a normally tight seal between said container body and said closure means wherein said self-reseating, unitary gasket means comprises a composition sufficiently resilient to at least partially unseat from said container body while an engaged surface of said cap means remains stationary upon said container body upon exertion against said self-reseating, unitary gasket means of fluid pressure within said container body, so that said pressurized fluid is vented past said unseated gasket means which forms a vent passageway between said closure means and said container body, after which said self-reseating, unitary gasket means deflects to reseat and seal against said container body in order to prevent any subsequent leakage of fluid therefrom.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
An appliance according to claim 13 wherein said self-reseating, unitary gasket means composition comprises a plastic having a closed cell foam structure.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
An appliance according to claim 14 wherein said plastic comprises an olefin polymer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
12 words
An appliance according to claim 15 wherein said olefin polymer is cross-linked.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
12 words
An appliance according to claim 15 wherein said olefin polymer comprises polypropylene.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
An appliance according to claim 15 wherein said olefin polymer comprises polyethylene.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
An appliance according to claim 15 wherein said olefin polymer comprises cross-linked polyethylene.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
149 words
An appliance for containing and venting fluid, comprising: a container body including an opening; closure means for closing said opening; and gasket means disposed to form a normally tight seal between said container body and said closure means wherein said gasket means has a composition comprising cross-linked polyethylene having a closed cell foam structure and wherein said gasket means further comprises at least one surface layer of continuous polyethylene without foam cells, such that said gasket means is sufficiently resilient to at least partially unseat from said container body upon exertion against said gasket means of fluid pressure within said container body, so that said pressurized fluid is vented past said unseated gasket means which forms a vent passageway between said closure means and said container body, after which said gasket means deflects to reseat against said container body in order to prevent any subsequent leakage of fluid therefrom.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
149 words
An appliance for containing and venting fluid, comprising: a container body including an opening; closure means for closing said opening; and gasket means disposed to form a normally tight seal between said container body and said closure means wherein said gasket means has a composition comprising cross-linked polyethylene having a closed cell foam structure and wherein said gasket means further comprises at least one surface layer of continuous polyethylene without foam cells, such that said gasket means is sufficiently resilient to at least partially unseat from said container body upon exertion against said gasket means of fluid pressure within said container body, so that said pressurized fluid is vented past said unseated gasket means which forms a vent passageway between said closure means and said container body, after which said gasket means deflects to reseat against said container body in order to prevent any subsequent leakage of fluid therefrom.
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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) | 1994-02-25 | 1994-08-27 | 1995-02-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-02-25 | 1998-08-27 | 1999-02-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-02-25 | 2002-08-27 | 2003-02-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |