US5034166A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of molding a colored contact lens
Assignee: Novartis AG
•
Filing: 1988-07-21
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Granted: 1991-07-23
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Expires: 2008-07-21
Abstract
Abstract A process for the manufacture of a molded contact lens containing a transparent central visual region circumscribed by a colored iris portion which comprises a. coating a colored liquid which is either curable or thermoplastic in a mold for making a contact lens onto a surface thereof where the iris portion of the lens is formed to produce a colored film thereon which film contains a surface exposed to the interior of the mold and a surface in contact with the mold, b. charging the mold with the resin used to form the body of the lens while maintaining the colored film in the iris portion and configuring the resin about the colored film whereby the surface of the film becomes integral with the body of the lens and the surface of the film becomes part of the outer surface of the lens when the molded lens is removed from the mold.
Inventors
- 👤 David L. Rawlings
- 👤 Qi-Bin Bao
- 👤 Patrick Chen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 12:55
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29D; B29D11/00; B29D11/00009; B29D11/00317; B29C; B29C37/00; B29C37/0025; B29C37/0028; B29C37/0032; B29D11/00038; B29D11/00471; B29D11/00865; B29D11/00894; G; G02; G02B; G02B1/00; G02B1/04; G02B1/041; G02B1/043
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
A process for the manufacture of a molded contact lens containing a transparent central visual region circumscribed by a colored iris portion which comprises a. coating a colored liquid which is either thermosetting or thermoplastic in a mold for making a contact lens onto a surface thereof where the iris portion of the lens is formed to produce a colored film providing a pattern thereon which film contains a surface exposed to the interior of the mold and a surface in contact with the mold, b. charging the mold with the lens-forming liquid used to form the body of the lens while maintaining the colored film in the iris portion and configuring the lens-forming liquid about the colored film whereby the surface of the film becomes integral with the body of the lens and the surface of the film becomes part of the outer surface of the lens when the molded lens is removed from the mold.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
157 words
A process for the manufacture of a molded contact lens containing a transparent central visual region circumscribed by a colored iris portion which comprises a. coating a colored liquid which is either thermosetting or thermoplastic in a mold for making a contact lens onto a surface thereof where the iris portion of the lens is formed to produce a colored film providing a pattern thereon which film contains a surface exposed to the interior of the mold and a surface in contact with the mold, b. charging the mold with the lens-forming liquid used to form the body of the lens while maintaining the colored film in the iris portion and configuring the lens-forming liquid about the colored film whereby the surface of the film becomes integral with the body of the lens and the surface of the film becomes part of the outer surface of the lens when the molded lens is removed from the mold.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the surface of the film and the lens is essentially smooth and continuous.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the colored liquid comprises a thermosetting liquid which is essentially the same as that comprising the lens-forming liquid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the colored liquid comprises a thermoplastic coating composition.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 4 wherein the thermoplastic coating composition comprises an acrylic resin.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the colored film is opaque.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the colored film is transparent.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the colored film contains voids.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 8 wherein the voids comprise 5 to about 80% of the area of the film.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the colored film occupies from 50% to all of the area of the lens in the iris region thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 10 wherein the colored film occupies all of the area of the lens in the iris region.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 11 wherein the colored film is provided on at least one of the anterior and posterior mold surfaces.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 12 wherein the colored film is provided on the posterior surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 12 wherein the colored film is provided on the anterior surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 12 wherein the colored film is provided on both the anterior and posterior surfaces.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 12 wherein the lens is molded by spincasting.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 12 wherein the lens is molded by casting molding.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the colored film is provided on at least one of the anterior and posterior mold surfaces.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 18 wherein the colored film is provided on the posterior surface.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 18 wherein the colored film is provided on the anterior surface.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 18 wherein the colored film is provided on both the anterior and posterior surfaces.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the lens is molded by spincasting.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the lens is molded by casting molding.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the colored film occupies the area on the mold equal to the area of the iris portion of the lens formed on the mold.
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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) | 1994-07-22 | 1995-01-21 | 1995-07-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-07-22 | 1999-01-21 | 1999-07-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-07-22 | 2003-01-21 | 2003-07-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |