US5137441A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mold assembly for making an ocular lens blank
Assignee: 3M Co
•
Filing: 1990-10-30
•
Granted: 1992-08-11
•
Expires: 2010-10-30
Abstract
Abstract An assembly for molding an ocular lens blank which may be lathed into a contact lens or intraocular lens includes a sleeve, and a first and second mold segment placed within the sleeve. After a lens blank is molded in a space between the two segments and the sleeve, the two segments are removed from the sleeve and the second mold segment then functions as a holder for the lens blank during a lathing operation. The second mold segment has an outer cylindrical surface for gripping by a collet, and also has an internal frustoconical recess for a mounting pin, and thus can be used with a variety of lathes known to the optical industry.
Inventors
- 👤 Terence M. Fogarty
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 17:35
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29D; B29D11/00; B29D11/00932; B29D11/00942; B24; B24B; B24B13/00; B24B13/005; B29D11/00009; B29D11/00038; B29D11/0048; B29D11/02; B29D11/023; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S425/00; Y10S425/808
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
A mold assembly for making an ocular lens blank comprising: a sleeve having a passage; a first mold segment connected to said sleeve; and a second mold segment removably received in said passage at a location spaced from said first mold segment to present a mold cavity therebetween, said second mold segment including a central section and a tubular section connected to said central section, said tubular section including an outer cylindrical surface remote from said central section for gripping by a collet, said tubular section including a recess and an inner wall facing said recess having a frustoconical configuration for optional mounting by a tapered mounting pin, said tubular section including a laterally extending portion for stiffening said tubular section, said laterally extending portion being located within said sleeve.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
130 words
A mold assembly for making an ocular lens blank comprising: a sleeve having a passage; a first mold segment connected to said sleeve; and a second mold segment removably received in said passage at a location spaced from said first mold segment to present a mold cavity therebetween, said second mold segment including a central section and a tubular section connected to said central section, said tubular section including an outer cylindrical surface remote from said central section for gripping by a collet, said tubular section including a recess and an inner wall facing said recess having a frustoconical configuration for optional mounting by a tapered mounting pin, said tubular section including a laterally extending portion for stiffening said tubular section, said laterally extending portion being located within said sleeve.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The assembly of claim 1; and including a fluid seal between said sleeve and said tubular section located between said cylindrical surface and said mold cavity in order to hinder mold material in said mold cavity from contact with said cylindrical surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The assembly of claim 1, wherein said laterally extending portion circumscribes said tubular section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The assembly of claim 1, wherein said laterally extending portion extends outwardly in a direction away from said recess.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The assembly of claim 4, wherein said laterally extending portion is substantially cylindrical.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The assembly of claim 1, wherein said frustoconical wall has a Morse taper.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The assembly of claim 6, wherein said frustoconical wall has a zero Morse taper.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The assembly of claim 1, wherein said central section has a convex face.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The assembly of claim 1, wherein said tubular section includes a projecting surface for a reference during lathing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3697629A
Cited
US3761208A
Cited
US3773868A
Cited
US3840977A
Cited
US4197266A
Cited
US4113224A
Cited
US4121896A
Cited
US4208364A
Cited
US4188353A
Cited
US4239712A
Cited
US4179484A
Cited
US4166088A
Cited
US4165158A
Cited
US4347198A
Cited
GB2027386A
Cited
CA1098665A
Cited
US4208365A
Cited
US4254065A
Cited
US4209289A
Cited
US4229390A
Cited
US4497754A
Cited
EP0035310A1
Cited
US4382902A
Cited
US4284399A
Cited
EP0051027B1
Cited
US4407766A
Cited
US4469646A
Cited
US4597918A
Cited
US4457880A
Cited
US4562018A
Cited
US4944899A
Cited
US4786444A
Cited
US4955580A
Cited
GB2187999A
Cited
US4985186A
Cited
US4749530A
Cited
US4836960A
Cited
US4865779A
Cited
GB2219241A
Cited
US4874561A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-08-11 | 1996-02-10 | 1996-08-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-08-11 | 2000-02-10 | 2000-08-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-08-11 | 2004-02-10 | 2004-08-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |