Pressure venting system for lens cases

Abstract

An appliance for disinfecting contact lenses wherein the lenses are disposed within a lens disinfecting solution which produces a gas during the disinfecting action. The appliance has a container body with a lens holder for supporting a pair of contact lenses within the container and a removable cap with a vent means which seals the container to prevent contamination while permitting the venting of gases developed during the disinfecting action. The vent consists of a post positioned in a bore such that the post does not obstruct passage of gas from the inside of the container through the bore and a resiliently deflectable apertured diaphragm through which the post protrudes. The aperture in the diaphragm deflects away from the post when the pressure within the container exceeds a threshold pressure. Once the pressure within the container is equalized with the ambience, the diaphragm resiliently deflects to close the vent thereby protecting the contents of the container from contamination. Additionally, the apertured diaphragm scrapes small particles of proteinaceous material and other matter off of the post. Such matter is deposited on the post by the exhausting gas and, if not for the scraping action, would build up on the post rendering the vent useless.