Patent US4597918A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4597918A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of removing soft contact lenses from the mold
Assignee: Sunsoft Corp
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Filing: 1985-04-22
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Granted: 1986-07-01
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Expires: 2005-04-22
Abstract
Abstract A method of removing the hard xerogel spin cast lens from the concave spin cast mold by hydrating the lens in the mold. The water is removed from the concave lens surface by evaporation, the convex lens surface in contact with the lens mold retains its moisture. The drying lens having a longer convex surface and a shorter concave lens surface becomes more curved and moves away from the lens mold releasing the xerogel lens from the mold.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles W. Neefe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 06:09
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29D; B29D11/00; B29D11/00009; B29D11/0048; B29D11/00519; B29C; B29C41/00; B29C41/02; B29C41/04; B29C41/042; B29C41/045; B29D11/00019; G; G02; G02C; G02C7/00; G02C7/02; G02C7/04; G02C7/046; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/76
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of removing spin cast xerogel lenses from the concave surface of the spin cast mold by the steps of hydrating and swelling the lens, allowing the hydrated lens to shrink and partially dehydrate by evaporating water from the concave lens surface, the convex lens surface being attached to the concave mold surface remains swelled and hydrated, the shrinkage of the concave lens surface provides a lens having a shorter radius of curvature than the radius of curvature present on the concave spin casting mold and the shorter radius lens separates from the longer radius lens mold.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of removing spin cast xerogel lenses from the concave surface of the spin cast mold by the steps of hydrating and swelling the lens, allowing the hydrated lens to shrink and partially dehydrate by evaporating water from the concave lens surface, the convex lens surface being attached to the concave mold surface remains swelled and hydrated, the shrinkage of the concave lens surface provides a lens having a shorter radius of curvature than the radius of curvature present on the concave spin casting mold and the shorter radius lens separates from the longer radius lens mold.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of removing undistorted spin cast xerogel lenses from the concave surface of the spin cast mold by the steps of hydrating and swelling the lens, the hydrated convex surface remaining attached to the concave mold surface, allowing the hydrated lens to dehydrate by evaporating water from the concave lens surface, the dehydration and shrinkage in volume of the concave lens surface provides a lens having a shorter radius of curvature than that present on the concave spin casting mold and the shorter radius lens is freed from the spin cast lens mold.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of removing undistorted spin cast xerogel lenses from the concave surface of the spin cast mold by the steps of hydrating and swelling the lens, the hydrated convex surface remaining attached to the concave mold surface, allowing the hydrated lens to dehydrate by evaporating water from the concave lens surface, the dehydration and shrinkage in volume of the concave lens surface provides a lens having a shorter radius of curvature than that present on the concave spin casting mold and the shorter radius lens is freed from the spin cast lens mold.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of removing an undistorted spin cast xerogel lens from the concave surface of a spin cast mold by the steps of, hydrating and swelling the lens, the convex lens surface remaining attached to the concave spin cast mold surface, evaporating water from the concave lens surface to partially dehydrate the lens, the dehydration and shrinkage of the concave lens surface provides a lens having a radius of curvature shorter than the radius of curvature present on the concave spin casting mold and the shorter radius lens is separated and freed from the longer radius spin cast mold, the lens is allowed to fully dehydrate and assume the undistorted xerogel lens shape.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of removing an undistorted spin cast xerogel lens from the concave surface of a spin cast mold by the steps of, hydrating and swelling the lens, the convex lens surface remaining attached to the concave spin cast mold surface, evaporating water from the concave lens surface to partially dehydrate the lens, the dehydration and shrinkage of the concave lens surface provides a lens having a radius of curvature shorter than the radius of curvature present on the concave spin casting mold and the shorter radius lens is separated and freed from the longer radius spin cast mold, the lens is allowed to fully dehydrate and assume the undistorted xerogel lens shape.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein alcohol is added to the hydrating water in amounts of from 10 percent to 70 percent by weight.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 2 wherein methyl alcohol is added to the hydrating water in amounts of from 10 percent to 70 percent by weight.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 3 wherein ethyl alcohol is added to the hydrating water in amounts of from 10 percent to 70 percent by weight.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein alcohol is added to the hydrating saline in amounts of from 10 percent to 70 percent by weight.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 2 wherein ethyl alcohol is added to the hydrating saline in amounts of from 10 percent to 70 percent by weight.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 3 wherein methyl alcohol is added to the hydrating saline in amounts of from 10 percent to 70 percent by weight.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the edges are contoured and polished after the lens is removed from the mold.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 2 wherein the edges are contoured and polished after the lens is removed from the mold.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 3 wherein the edges are contoured and polished after the lens is removed from the mold.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-06-30 | 1989-12-30 | 1990-07-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-06-30 | 1993-12-30 | 1994-07-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-06-30 | 1997-12-30 | 1998-07-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |