Patent US5729288A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5036592A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5036592A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Determining and marking apparatus and method for use in optometry and ophthalmology
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1990-01-19
•
Granted: 1991-08-06
•
Expires: 2010-01-19
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method for subjectively determining the proper positioning of progressive power or other corrective lenses are disclosed. The apparatus includes a target such as a small fiber optic or other light source and one or more marking rods which may be activated by the patient. While wearing prefitted frames and fixating on a remote target, the patient places the light source against or immediately adjacent the exterior surface of the simulated or other lens within either of the frames and positions the light so that it is centered in his or her line or sight. Once the light is centered the patient activates the marking rod which contacts, and marks, the exterior surface of the lens. Because the light source and marking rod or rods are designed to obstruct very little of the patient's vision, his or her peripheral vision remains intact during the process, thereby allowing binocular fusion to occur and avoiding introduction of phoria errors into the positioning process.
Inventors
- 👤 Forrest A. Marshall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 15:03
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02C; G02C13/00; G02C13/003; G02C13/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A device capable of being used by a patient having an eye and a visual axis associated with the eye and in connection with spectacles having a lens through which the visual axis may pass, comprising: a. a target; b. means, positionable adjacent the lens opposite the lens from the eye, for permitting alignment of the target with the visual axis without preventing binocular fusion from occurring; and c. means, connected to the aligning means, for marking two points on the lens, each of which points is equidistant from the point on the lens through which the visual axis passes.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
100 words
A device capable of being used by a patient having an eye and a visual axis associated with the eye and in connection with spectacles having a lens through which the visual axis may pass, comprising: a. a target; b. means, positionable adjacent the lens opposite the lens from the eye, for permitting alignment of the target with the visual axis without preventing binocular fusion from occurring; and c. means, connected to the aligning means, for marking two points on the lens, each of which points is equidistant from the point on the lens through which the visual axis passes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device according to claim 1 in which the aligning means comprises a rod connected to the target and is capable of being held by the patient.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device according to claim 2 in which the target comprises a fiber optic light source.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device according to claim 2 in which the target comprises a light emitting diode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device according to claim 2 in which the aligning means is attachable to the spectacles.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
119 words
A device for permitting a patient having an eye and a visual axis associated with the eye to determine the appropriate position of graded components of a first corrective lens within a pre-fitted spectacle frame having a second lens through which the visual axis may pass, comprising: a. an illuminated target alignable by the patient with the visual axis and positionable adjacent the second lens opposite the second lens from the eye so that the target does not prevent binocular fusion from occurring; and b. means, associated with the target, for allowing the patient to mark the second lens at two points bearing a determinable relationship to the point on the second lens through which the visual axis passes.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
119 words
A device for permitting a patient having an eye and a visual axis associated with the eye to determine the appropriate position of graded components of a first corrective lens within a pre-fitted spectacle frame having a second lens through which the visual axis may pass, comprising: a. an illuminated target alignable by the patient with the visual axis and positionable adjacent the second lens opposite the second lens from the eye so that the target does not prevent binocular fusion from occurring; and b. means, associated with the target, for allowing the patient to mark the second lens at two points bearing a determinable relationship to the point on the second lens through which the visual axis passes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device according to claim 6 in which the allowing means comprises at least one spring-loaded marking rod.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
112 words
A device according to claim 6 in which the allowing means comprises: a. an actuator arm in a first position and depressible by the patient to a second position; b. a torsion spring stressed by depression of the actuator arm, for causing the actuator arm to return to its first position when no longer depressed; c. a rack gear having rack teeth, which rack gear is connected to the actuator arm; d. a pinion gear having teeth engaged by the rack teeth; e. first and second marking rods; and f. means for transmitting movement caused by depression of the actuator arm from the pinion gear to the first and second marking rods.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
91 words
A method for permitting a patient having an eye and a visual axis associated with the eye to assist in determining the appropriate position of a first corrective lens within a spectacle frame having a second lens through which the visual axis may pass, comprising the steps of: a. aligning a target with the visual axis a determined by the patient so that the target does not prevent binocular fusion from occurring; and b. marking the second lens in at least one location with a marking means associated with the target.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
91 words
A method for permitting a patient having an eye and a visual axis associated with the eye to assist in determining the appropriate position of a first corrective lens within a spectacle frame having a second lens through which the visual axis may pass, comprising the steps of: a. aligning a target with the visual axis a determined by the patient so that the target does not prevent binocular fusion from occurring; and b. marking the second lens in at least one location with a marking means associated with the target.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 9 in which the aligning step further comprises the step of positioning the target adjacent the second lens opposite the second lens from the eye.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 10 further comprising the step of causing the patient to focus on a distant object while maintaining the patient's head in its primary position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 11 further comprising the step of repeating steps (a) and (b) for the second lens and visual axis associated with the other eye of the patient.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
52 words
A device for marking a lens worn by a patient having a visual axis, comprising: a. a frame for positioning the device adjacent the lens; b. a light source connected to the frame and alignable with the visual axis; and c. a first marker connected to the frame for marking the lens.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
52 words
A device for marking a lens worn by a patient having a visual axis, comprising: a. a frame for positioning the device adjacent the lens; b. a light source connected to the frame and alignable with the visual axis; and c. a first marker connected to the frame for marking the lens.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device according to claim 13 further comprising a second marker connected to the frame equidistant the light source from the first marker.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device according to claim 14 in which the frame comprises means for being held by the patient while the device is in use.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device according to claim 13 further comprising means for actuating the first marker in order to mark the lens.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device according to claim 14 further comprising means for actuating the second marker in order to mark the lens.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device according to claim 14 further comprising means for concurrently actuating the first and second markers in order to mark the lens.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1750731A
Cited
US1751425A
Cited
US2536367A
Cited
US2884832A
Cited
US4115924A
Cited
US4206549A
Cited
US4216588A
Cited
US4252419A
Cited
US4575946A
Cited
US4653192A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-08-05 | 1995-02-04 | 1995-08-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-08-05 | 1999-02-04 | 1999-08-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-08-05 | 2003-02-04 | 2003-08-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |