Lens processes incorporating job bags

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to job bags for use in the processing, handling, storage and/or transportation of lenses. In several embodiments, the job bags are used in combination with lens bags to transport lenses between various stations in a facility, where processes are applied to the lenses. One embodiment of the invention includes a front panel secured to a back panel, where the front and back panels are joined at least along a bottom edge and form a pocket configured to receive a document, and two vertical pockets formed on the front panel, where each vertical pocket is configured to receive a lens and to retain the lens in the vertical pocket when the job bag rests on its bottom edge.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A job bag configured to transport a pair of lenses and at least one associated document, comprising:
 a front panel secured to a back panel, where the front and back panels are joined at least along a bottom edge and form a pocket configured to receive said document; and   two vertical pockets formed on the front panel, where each vertical pocket is configured to receive a lens and to retain the lens in the vertical pocket when the job bag rests on its bottom edge.   
     
     
         2 . The job bag of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the front and back panels include at least a bottom edge, a top edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge; and   the front and back panels are joined along at least their bottom edges and one of their side edges to form a lateral pocket configured to receive said document inserted between at least the other side edges of the front and back panels.   
     
     
         3 . The job bag of  claim 2 , wherein:
 said document includes a bar code on a portion of said document; and   the front and back panels are configured to form the lateral pocket so that the portion of said document including the bar code extends from the job bag when said document is contained within the lateral pocket.   
     
     
         4 . The job bag of  claim 3 , wherein the side edges of the front and back panels of the job bag are formed so that the opening of the lateral pocket is shaped to expose the portion of said document including the barcode when said document is contained within the lateral pocket. 
     
     
         5 . The job bag of  claim 1 , wherein the two vertical pockets are configured to receive lenses contained in lens bags. 
     
     
         6 . The job bag of  claim 1 , wherein the opening of each of the two vertical pockets is at least 4.5 inches wide. 
     
     
         7 . A job bag assembly, comprising:
 a job bag including:   a front panel secured to a back panel, where the front and backs panel are joined at least along a bottom edge and form a pocket; and   two vertical pockets formed on the front panel, where each vertical pocket is configured to receive a lens and to retain the lens in the vertical pocket when the job bag rests on its bottom edge;   a document inserted into the pocket formed by the front and back panels of the job bag; and   a lens inserted in each of the vertical pockets.   
     
     
         8 . The job bag assembly of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the front and back panels include at least a bottom edge, a top edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge; and   the front and back panels are joined along at least their bottom edges and one of their side edges to form a lateral pocket configured to receive the document inserted between at least the other side edges of the front and back panels.   
     
     
         9 . The job bag assembly of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the document includes a bar code on a portion of the document; and   the portion of the document including the bar code extends from the job bag.   
     
     
         10 . The job bag assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the side edges of the front and back panels of the job bag are formed so that the opening of the pocket configured to contain the document is shaped to expose the portion of the document including the barcode. 
     
     
         11 . The job bag assembly of  claim 7 , wherein each lens inserted in each of the vertical pockets is contained within a lens bag. 
     
     
         12 . The job bag assembly of  claim 11 , wherein each lens bag is a grease free bag. 
     
     
         13 . The job bag assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the opening of each of the two vertical pockets is at least 4.5 inches wide. 
     
     
         14 . A method of transporting a pair of lenses, comprising:
 inserting each lens into a separate vertical pocket of a job bag, where the job bag includes at least two vertical pockets; and   transporting the job bag.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising inserting a document associated with the lenses in a separate pocket in the job bag. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the document includes a barcode on a portion of the document and the portion of the document that includes the barcode extends from the job bag when the document is inserted in the job bag. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the job bag is formed so that the opening of the pocket containing the document is shaped to expose the portion of the document including the barcode. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising reading the bar code at a point during the transportation of the job bag. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising inserting each lens in a separate lens bag prior to inserting the lenses into the vertical pockets of the job bag. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein each lens bag is a grease free bag.