# US 5,699,900 A · Contact lens case with automatic counter

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- Number: US 5,699,900 A
- Document ID: US5699900A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/688,269
- Filed: 1996-07-29
- Granted: 1997-12-23
- Earliest claimed: 1996-07-29
- Inventors: Derrick L. Artis
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5699900A

## CPC

- A45C 11/005: {Contact lens cases (A45C11/046 takes precedence)}
- A45C: PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS

## Abstract

A contact lens storage device and method is provided. The contact lens storage device includes a housing, a cover for the housing and a counter. The cover is cooperatively arranged with and attached to the housing such that the counter automatically operates to display number of days that the contact lenses have been worn by the contact lens wearer. Thus, the contact lens wearer is likely to refrain from using contact lenses beyond the useful life of the lenses.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A device for storing contact lenses and for tracking a number of uses of contact lenses comprising:
a housing having an open end and a closed end;
a cover removably attached to the open end of said housing, the cover forming a substantially liquid tight seal with the open end of said housing;
a contact lens retaining member coupled to said cover, said contact lens retaining member including a support having a lens holder disposed at a first end and being coupled to said cover at a second end, and said contact lens retaining member including a base coupled to the lens holder; and
a counter that engages said contact lens retaining member when said cover is attached to the open end of said housing and that disengages said contact lens retaining member when said cover is removed from said housing, thereby automatically counting a number of times said cover is removed from and attached to said housing, said counter including a button disposed on the closed end of said housing, the button being positioned to engage the base of said contact lens retaining member.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1 wherein the cover includes a plastic cap.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1 wherein the lens holder includes first and second lens baskets.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The device of claim 3 wherein the first lens basket faces the second lens basket.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1 wherein said counter includes a display.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1 wherein said counter includes a display showing the count value.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The device of claim 6 wherein the display of said counter shows a warning sign when said counter exceeds the maximum count value.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The device of claim 7 wherein the warning signal includes a message disposed on a colored background.

### Claim 9

A device for storing contact lenses and for tracking a number of uses of the contact lenses comprising:
a housing having an open end and a closed end;
a cover removably attached to the open end of said housing;
counting means for counting the number of times that said cover is removed and attached to the open end of said housing, said counting means being disposed on the closed end of said housing;
a contact lens retaining member coupled to said cover, said contact lens retaining member including a support having a lens holder disposed at a first end and being coupled to said cover at a second end, and said contact lens retaining member including a base coupled to the lens holder arranged to engage said counting means on the closed end when said cover is attached to the open end of said housing and to disengage said counting means when said cover is removed from the open end of said housing.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The device of claim 9 wherein said counting means includes a predetermined maximum count value.