Optics: eye examining – vision testing and correcting – Spectacles and eyeglasses – Ophthalmic lenses or blanks
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-29
2001-11-27
Sugarman, Scott J. (Department: 2873)
Optics: eye examining, vision testing and correcting
Spectacles and eyeglasses
Ophthalmic lenses or blanks
C351S177000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06322214
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to colored contact lenses, and in particular to color contact lenses having opaque colored portions corresponding to the iris portion of the human eye such that when the lenses are placed on the eye of a dark-eyed person, the lenses are capable of making subtle changes to the color of the human eye and thereby enhancing the color of the eyes of the dark-eyed person.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Over the years many attempts have been made to modify or enhance the color of one's eyes using colored contact lenses with varying degrees of success. Attempts to produce an opaque lens with a natural appearance are disclosed in. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,536,386, (Spivak); 3,679,504 (Wichterle); 3,712,718 (LeGrand), 4,460,523 (Neefe), 4,719,657 (Bawa), 4,744,647 (Meshel et al.), 4,634,449 (Jenkins); European Patent Publication No. 0 309 154 (Allergan) and U.K. Patent Application No. 2 202 540 A (IGEL).
Commercial success was achieved by the colored contact lens described in Knapp (in U.S. Pat. No. 4,582,402) which discloses a contact lens having, in its preferred embodiment, colored, opaque dots. The Knapp lens provides a natural appearance with a lens that is simple and inexpensive to produce, using a simple one-color printed dot pattern. Although, in Knapp, the intermittent pattern of dots does not fully cover the iris, the invention provides a sufficient density of dots that a masking effect gives the appearance of a continuous color when viewed by an ordinary observer. Knapp also discloses that the printing step may be repeated one or more-times using different patterns in different colors, since upon close examination the iris's of many persons are found to contain more than one color. The printed pattern need not be absolutely uniform, allowing for enhancement of the fine structure of the iris. The one-color Knapp lenses currently achieving commercial success have their dots arranged in an irregular pattern to enhance the structure of the iris. However, neither the Knapp commercial lenses, nor the Knapp patent disclose or suggest a contact lens designed for the person having dark-colored eyes in which the colored contact lens provides a subtle change or enhancement to the eyes of a dark-eyed person.
Various efforts have been made to improve on the Knapp lens. U.S. Pat. No. 5,414,477 to Jahnke discloses the application of the intermittent ink pattern in two or more portions of distinct shades of colorant to provide a more natural appearance.
Other attempts to create a more natural appearing lens include U.S. Pat. No. 5,120,121 to Rawlings which discloses a cluster of interconnecting lines radiating from the periphery of the pupil portion to the periphery of the iris portion. Further, European Patent No. 0 472 496 A2 shows a contact lens having a pattern of lines that attempts to replicate the lines found in the iris.
Although many attempts have been made to create colored contact lenses that change or modify the color of the iris, none of the colored contact lenses have addressed the particular subtle change or enhancement required by a person having dark-eyes who wants a subtle enhancement rather than a dramatic change in eye color.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is based on the surprising discovery that certain opaque patterns on colored contact lenses can achieve a subtle enhancement to the appearance of the iris for people having dark-colored irises, or dark-eyed people. The improvement in appearance for dark-eyed people over existing lenses using different colors of existing patterns and different patterns altogether is startling. Unlike previous one and two color lenses, the lenses of this invention are able to cause subtle change or enhancement to the color of the dark-eyed wearer's iris, i.e. a brown-eyed person. Although the preferred embodiment of the invention is a dot pattern, other patterns are contemplated.
One objective of the invention is to provide a colored contact lens with a non-opaque pupil section, an iris section surrounding said pupil section, and a colored, opaque intermittent pattern over the entire iris section, the elements of said pattern being opaque and indiscernible to the ordinary viewer. The elements of the pattern are of a shade, such as red, mahogany, light hazel or starburst hazel which provides a lens capable of making subtle changes or enhancements to the color of the iris of a dark-eyed person wearing the lens while imparting a very natural appearance.
Another objective of the invention is to provide a colored contact lens comprising a non-opaque pupil section, an iris section surrounding said pupil section, and a colored, opaque intermittent pattern over the iris section that leaves a substantial portion of the pattern non-opaque, said pattern covering at least about 15 percent of the area of said iris section. The pattern is made up of opaque elements of colorant, in a pattern which is a plurality of radial stripes stretching from the non-opaque pupil section to the outer periphery of the iris section. Each radial stripe is bounded on each side by a non-opaque portion, such that each non-opaque portion and each radial stripe cover the same approximate area, thereby providing a lens capable of making a subtle change and enhancing the color of the iris of a person having dark colored eyes while importing a very natural appearance.
Another objective of the invention is to provide a colored contact lens with a non-opaque pupil section, an iris section surrounding the pupil section, and a colored, opaque intermittent pattern over the iris section, that leaves a substantial portion within the interstices of the pattern non-opaque, the pattern covering at least about 15 percent of the area of said iris section. The elements of the pattern are opaque and indiscernible to the ordinary viewer. The elements of the pattern, which is a starburst, is located generally on the inner portion of the iris section of the contact lens adjacent to the non-opaque pupil section and has an uneven border at its outer end. The uneven border is a minimum distance of about 5% to about 60% of the radial width of said iris section, and the maximum distance of the uneven border from the outer perimeter of said iris section is from about 25% to about 90% of the radial width of said iris section, thereby providing a lens capable of making subtle changes or enhancements to the color of the iris of a dark-eyed person wearing the lens while imparting a very natural appearance.
Another objective of the invention is to provide printing methods for manufacturing the above-described and similar contact lenses.
The term “non-opaque” as used herein is intended to describe a part of the lens that is uncolored or colored with translucent coloring.
The term “ordinary viewer” is intended to mean a person having normal 20—20 vision standing about 5 feet from a person wearing the lenses of this invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3536386 (1970-10-01), Spivack
patent: 3679504 (1972-07-01), Wichterle
patent: 3712718 (1973-01-01), LeGrand et al.
patent: 4405773 (1983-09-01), Loshaek et al.
patent: 4460523 (1984-07-01), Neefe
patent: 4582402 (1986-04-01), Knapp
patent: 4634449 (1987-01-01), Jenkins
patent: 4668240 (1987-05-01), Loshaek
patent: 4719657 (1988-01-01), Bawa
patent: 4744647 (1988-05-01), Meshel et al.
patent: 5034166 (1991-07-01), Rawlings et al.
patent: 5116112 (1992-05-01), Rawlings
patent: 5120121 (1992-06-01), Rawlings et al.
patent: 5414477 (1995-05-01), Jahnke
patent: 6132043 (2000-10-01), Atkins et al.
patent: 0 309 154 B1 (1989-03-01), None
patent: 0 472 496 A2 (1992-02-01), None
patent: 2 202 540 A (1988-09-01), None
Atkins Barry L.
Quinn Michael H.
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Shurtz Steven P.
Sugarman Scott J.
Wesley Jessen Corporation
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