The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 27, 1998
Filed:
Sep. 13, 1996
Sharon R Benjamin, Oakdale, MN (US);
Michael Govek, Lakeville, MN (US);
Patrick D Hyde, Burnsville, MN (US);
John H Ko, Woodbury, MN (US);
Philip G Martin, Forest Lake, MN (US);
Joel D Oxman, St. Louis Park, MN (US);
William L Parish, Jr, Maplewood, MN (US);
Carole Sedlock, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Richard L Severance, Stillwater, MN (US);
F Andrew Ubel, St. Paul, MN (US);
Todd R Williams, Lake Elmo, MN (US);
Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides methods of holding ophthalmic lens blanks using thermoplastic lens blocking compositions. Preferred compositions either comprise a homopolymer or copolymer of epsilon-caprolactone, have a number average molecular weight between 3,000 and 100,000, or have a polydispersity less than 10. The composition may also comprise one or more modifiers, fillers or heat absorbing materials. In one method, the composition is injected into the cavity between a preformed lens block and a lens. In another method, the surface of a lens block comprising the thermoplastic lens blocking composition is heated and formed against the lens blank. Tapes that provide a receptive surface against which the composition may be adhered are disclosed.