← Back to Patent Explorer
US5020898A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Contact lens for correction of astigmatism

Assignee: WJ ACQUISITION CORP
•
Filing: 1990-01-29
•
Granted: 1991-06-04
•
Expires: 2010-01-29
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A contact lens for correcting astigmatism. The front surface has a central optical zone and an outer carrier having two points of maximum thickness located at an oblique angle of about 110° to 130° as measured from the vertical axis of the lens. The anterior surface of the lens is symmetrical about its vertical axis. The carrier tapers from the points of maximum thickness to thin portions at the top and bottom of the lens. The rear surface of the lens has an outer spherical base curve zone, an inner toric zone, and an intermediate transition zone having thickness that gradually increase from the base curve zone to the toric zone. By making the radius of the base curve zone substantially equal to that of the toric zone's major meridian, a thinner, more comfortable lens is obtained.

Inventors

  • 👤 Malcolm Townsley

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 11:27
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02C; G02C7/00; G02C7/02; G02C7/04; G02C7/048

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim 145 words
A contact lens of general concavo-convex configuration having improved rotational stability and rotational orientation wherein the anterior surface of said lens comprises a central optical zone and an outer carrier having a generally tapered surface with a thin portion at the upper edge of the lens and two points of maximum thickness located at oblique angles, α, of about 110° to about 130° as measured from the vertical axis from the top of the lens; the anterior surface of said lens being symmetrical about the vertical axis, the carrier tapering from the points of maximum thickness to a thin portion located at the top of the lens and a thin portion located at the lower edge of the lens in a smooth curve and the carrier tapering in a smooth curve along the vertical axis from the optical zone to the bottom of the lens.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 145 words
A contact lens of general concavo-convex configuration having improved rotational stability and rotational orientation wherein the anterior surface of said lens comprises a central optical zone and an outer carrier having a generally tapered surface with a thin portion at the upper edge of the lens and two points of maximum thickness located at oblique angles, α, of about 110° to about 130° as measured from the vertical axis from the top of the lens; the anterior surface of said lens being symmetrical about the vertical axis, the carrier tapering from the points of maximum thickness to a thin portion located at the top of the lens and a thin portion located at the lower edge of the lens in a smooth curve and the carrier tapering in a smooth curve along the vertical axis from the optical zone to the bottom of the lens.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 32 words
The contact lens according to claim 1 wherein the maximum thickness of the lens is located on radii at points about 0.7 to about 1.5 mm from the edge of the lens.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 19 words
The contact lens according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the angle, α, is about 115° to about 125°.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 13 words
The contact lens according to claim 3 wherein the angle, α, is 120°.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 22 words
The contact lens according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the anterior surface of the lens is provided with a concentric trim.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 17 words
The contact lens according to claim 3 wherein the anterior surface is provided with a concentric trim.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 17 words
The contact lens according to claims 4 wherein the anterior surface is provided with a concentric trim.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 148 words
A contact lens for correcting astigmatism of general concavo-convex configuration having a posterior surface comprising: (a) an outer annular spherical base curve zone; (b) an inner toric zone having a major meridian and a minor meridian orthagonal to each other; and (c) transition zone between the toric zone and the base curve zone having thickness that gradually increases from the base curve zone to the toric zone; wherein the radius of the base curve zone is substantially equal to the radius of the major meridian; the intersection of the minor meridian and the transition zone is located no more than 0.12 mm below an imaginary extension of the spherical base curve zone passing above that intersection; and the intersection of the major meridian and the transition zone is located no more than 0.07 mm below an imaginary extension of the spherical base curve zone passing above that intersection.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 148 words
A contact lens for correcting astigmatism of general concavo-convex configuration having a posterior surface comprising: (a) an outer annular spherical base curve zone; (b) an inner toric zone having a major meridian and a minor meridian orthagonal to each other; and (c) transition zone between the toric zone and the base curve zone having thickness that gradually increases from the base curve zone to the toric zone; wherein the radius of the base curve zone is substantially equal to the radius of the major meridian; the intersection of the minor meridian and the transition zone is located no more than 0.12 mm below an imaginary extension of the spherical base curve zone passing above that intersection; and the intersection of the major meridian and the transition zone is located no more than 0.07 mm below an imaginary extension of the spherical base curve zone passing above that intersection.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 36 words
A contact lens in accordance with claim 8 wherein the intersection of the minor meridian and the transition zone is located from 0.04 to 0.12 mm below an imaginary extension of the spherical base curve zone.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 107 words
The lens of claim 8 wherein the anterior surface comprises a central optical zone and an outer carrier having a generally tapered surface with a thin portion at the upper edge of the lens and two points of maximum thickness located at an oblique angle α of about 110° to about 130° as measured from the vertical axis of the lens, said anterior surface being symmetrical about its vertical axis, the carrier tapering from the points of maximum thickness to a thin portion located at the top of the lens and to a thin portion located at the lower edge of the lens in a smooth curve.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 30 words
The contact lens of claim 10 wherein the maximum thickness of the lens is located on radii at points about 0.7 to 1.5 mm from the edge of the lens.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 14 words
The lens of claim 10 wherein the angle α is about 115° to 125°.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 12 words
The lens of claim 12 wherein the angle α is about 120°.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 13 words
The lens of claim 10 wherein the anterior surface has a concentric trim.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 13 words
The lens of claim 11 wherein the anterior surface has a concentric trim.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 43 words
The lens of claim 10 wherein the angle α is measured from the vertical axis from the top of the lens and the carrier tapers in a smooth curve along the vertical axis from the optical zone to the bottom of the lens.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 30 words
The contact lens of claim 16 wherein the maximum thickness of the lens is located on radii at points about 0.7 to 0.15 mm from the edge of the lens.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 14 words
The lens of claim 16 wherein the angle α is about 115° to 125°.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 12 words
The lens of claim 18 wherein the angle α is about 120°.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 13 words
The lens of claim 16 wherein the anterior surface has a concentric trim.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 13 words
The lens of claim 17 wherein the anterior surface has a concentric trim.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3503942A Cited
US3639524A Cited
US4084890A Cited
US4095878A Cited
GB2033101A Cited
US4324461A Cited
US4405773A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1994-06-03 1994-12-03 1995-06-04 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1998-06-03 1998-12-03 1999-06-04 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2002-06-03 2002-12-03 2003-06-04 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag