Contact lens packages having a pivot mechanism and methods of handling

Abstract

A contact lens package includes a lid and a container defining a cavity configured to house a contact lens and packaging solution, the lid being sealedly coupled to the container, and a lens support including a lever and a lens support disposed within the cavity. The lens support is pivotably coupled to the container such that the lever is configured to raise the lens support at least partially out of the cavity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A contact lens package comprising:
 a lid;   a container defining a cavity configured to house a contact lens and packaging solution, the lid being sealedly coupled to the container, and   a lens support comprising a lever and a lens support disposed within the cavity, and   wherein the lens support is pivotably coupled to the container such that the lever is configured to raise the lens support at least partially out of the cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a cavity base which at least partially defines the cavity, and
 wherein the lens support is coupled to the container such that the lens support pivots about an axis separated by a distance from the cavity base and disposed between the cavity base and the lid.   
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a cavity base which at least partially defines the cavity, and
 wherein the lever is coupled to the container such that the lens support pivots about an axis disposed on the cavity base.   
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a cavity base which at least partially defines the cavity, and wherein the cavity base comprises a lever receiver adjacent the lever such that the lever is movable into the lever receiver when the lever manipulated to raise the lens support at least partially out of the cavity. 
     
     
         5 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the cavity is a blister bowl integral to the container. 
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the lens support defines a cut-out that extends through the lens support. 
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the lens support defines a cut-out that extends through the lens support, and wherein the cut-out is configured to guide a user's finger to a convex surface of a contact lens. 
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the lens support defines a cut-out that extends through the lens support, and wherein the cut-out defines a c-shape in the lens support. 
     
     
         9 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the lever and the lens support are substantially coplanar. 
     
     
         10 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the lever and the lens support are substantially disposed in separate planes. 
     
     
         11 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the cavity is adjacent the lens support, such that packaging solution drained from the lens support is collected by the cavity. 
     
     
         12 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the lever and the lens support are a single component. 
     
     
         13 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the lever and the lens support are separate components that are coupled together. 
     
     
         14 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the lever and the lens support are made of a uniform material. 
     
     
         15 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the lens support and the container are made of a uniform material. 
     
     
         16 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises polypropylene. 
     
     
         17 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the lens support comprises polypropylene. 
     
     
         18 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the lid is hermetically sealed to the container. 
     
     
         19 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the lid is foil. 
     
     
         20 . A method of applying a contact lens to a wearer's eye, the contact lens stored in a package comprising a lid, a container defining a cavity configured to house a contact lens and packaging solution, the lid being sealedly coupled to the container, and a lens support comprising a lever and a lens support, the lens support being configured to support a convex surface of the contact lens, wherein the lens support is disposed within the cavity, and wherein the lens support is pivotably coupled to the container such that the lever is configured to raise the lens support at least partially out of the cavity, the method comprising:
 pressing the lever, thereby lifting the lens support,   removing a contact lens from the lens support by placing a finger on a convex surface of the contact lens; and   applying the contact lens to the wear's eye.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the applying the contact lens is performed by a person touching only a convex surface of the contact lens. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the lid is sealedly coupled to the container, the method further comprising removing the lid prior to pressing the lever. 
     
     
         23 . A method of packaging a contact lens, comprising:
 providing packaging solution in a container;   providing a lever and lens support pivotably coupled to the container;   providing a contact lens in a concave up orientation in the lens support; and   sealing the container by applying a lid to the container.