Single touch contact lens package

Abstract

The present invention relates to contact lens packages which allow the lens to be removed from the lens package with a single touch. The lenses packages comprise a lens support which holds the lens in a convex position. When the package is drained there is less contact area between the support and wetted contact lens than between the user's finger and the contact lens, providing the desired one touch transfer.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A contact lens package comprising:
 a lid;   a base comprising:   a cavity that houses a contact lens and packaging solution; and   a lifting means comprising a lever; and   a lens support for maintaining the contact lens in a convex position on the support during storage and upon opening the package, the lens support coupled to the lever and configured to lift the contact lens out of the packaging solution in a position on the lens support capable of single-touch transfer by a user.   
     
     
         2 . The contact lens package of  claim 1 , wherein the lever and the lens support are a unitary component that is fixedly attached to a front section of the base. 
     
     
         3 . The contact lens package of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises at least one material selected from a flat sheet of foil or plastic, a laminate film, or plastic or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The contact lens package of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises plastic, and the lid comprises foil or a laminated film. 
     
     
         5 . The contact lens package of  claim 1 , wherein the lever and the lens support are a single unitary component. 
     
     
         6 . The contact lens package of  claim 1 , wherein the lever is coupled to the base by at least one of: i) a laser weld; ii) heat; iii) an ultrasonic weld; and iv) an adhesive. 
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the lifting means raises the lens from the packaging solution by tilting the lens support and base away from each other to an angle of about 15 to about 80°, about 20° to about 70°, about 30° to about 60° or about 40° to about 60° relative to level. 
     
     
         8 . The contact lens package of  claim 1  wherein the lens support has open structure. 
     
     
         9 . The contact lens package of  claim 1  wherein the lens comprises an apex centered in the optic zone, the support further comprising a central support having a height, measured from the lens periphery, of not greater than 0.5 mm below the contact lens apex. 
     
     
         10 . The contact lens package of  claim 1  wherein the lens support comprises a plurality of arms each arm comprising:
 a flat top section, an optional side section and an optional peripheral support, a shoulder transition connecting the top and optional side sections, and an optional elbow transition connecting the optional side and optional peripheral support. 
 
     
     
         11 . The contact lens package of  claim 10  wherein the plurality of arms in the flat top section connect to each other in a center point under the lens apex, or connect to an open full or partial ring centered under the lens apex. 
     
     
         12 . The package of  claim 10  comprising at least a partial ring connected to the elongated peripheral supports. 
     
     
         13 . The package of  claim 10  further comprising at least a partial ring around the distal ends of the peripheral supports, at least 2 mm beyond the contact lens peripheral edge. 
     
     
         14 . The package of  claim 10  wherein the lever comprises at least one peripheral support that is elongated and comprises an opening extending distally at or before the periphery of the contact lens to form a drainage channel for the drainage of packaging solution from the contact lens and the lens support. 
     
     
         15 . The package of  claim 14  where the lever comprises the drainage channel which is fixedly attached at the drainage channel distal end to the package base. 
     
     
         16 . The package of  claim 14  wherein the package base comprises a hinge line transverse to the drainage channel between the at least partial peripheral ring or an arc formed by the distal ends of the peripheral supports and the fixed attachment point between the drainage channel and package base. 
     
     
         17 . The package of  claim 16  wherein the hinge line is at least 1 mm, about 2 to about 4 mm or about 2.5 to about 3.5 mm in length beyond the at least partial peripheral ring or lens periphery if no peripheral ring is included in the lens support. 
     
     
         18 . The package of  claim 13  wherein the lever is formed by at least 2 elongated peripheral supports connected at their distal end with an opening therebetween to form the drainage channel. 
     
     
         19 . The package of  claim 18  wherein the elongated arms are planar. 
     
     
         20 . The package of  claim 12  wherein the partial ring comprises an outwardly extending tab with an open drainage channel for the drainage of packaging solution from the contact lens and support structure. 
     
     
         21 . The package of  claim 10  wherein the lens support comprises at least one side section and the lens does not contact the at least one arm side sections. 
     
     
         22 . The package of  claim 1  further comprising a reservoir for capturing packaging solution when the lens and support are separated from the package base. 
     
     
         23 . The package of  claim 15  wherein the lever comprises the drainage channel is fixedly to the base via an adhesive, glue, heat, ultrasonic welding or laser welding, or a mechanical trap. 
     
     
         24 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the base is substantially flat.