US2593150A - Artificial eye and method of making same - Google Patents

Description

April 15, 1952 F. w. JARDON Y 2,593,150

ARTIFICIAL EYE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed April 2, 1948 INVENTOR. FRn-z w. JARDON ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 15, 1952 ARTIFIGIAL EYE AN D METHOD OF MAKING Fritz W. Jard'on, Southbridge, Mass., assignor to American Optical Company,

Southbridge,

Mass, a voluntary association of Massachusetts Application April 2, 1948, SeriaI'No. 1'8;5I4

7 21 Claims.

1 This invention relates to artificial eyes. One of the principal objvectsof. the invention is to provide artificial eyes of. plastic material wherein definite given patterns and colors may be relatively easil'y and more positively reproduced and with the resultant eye having, an appearance more closely approachingv that of the human eye.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and novel artificial eye wherein the iris may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims. I; therefore, do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction and arrangement of parts, shown and described as the preferred forms only have been given by way of illustration.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the eye embodying the invention; 7

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a view generallysimilar to Fig. 2 illustrating some of the steps of the process of manufacture;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a die employed in one of the steps of the process of manufacture;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view ofthe die shown in Fig. 4 and illustrating a further step in the process of manufacture;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged bottom planview of the iris button embodying the invention and illustrating a step in the process of manufacture;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken 'on line 11 of Fig. 6 and looking in the direction indicated bythe arrows;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view generally similar to Fig. 7 illustrating a further step in the process of manufacture;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view generally similar to Fig. 5 illustrating a modified form of the invention; and

Fig. 10 is a reduced sectional view similar to Fig. 8 illustrating a further modification of the invention;

In the art of forming artificial eyes, there are several controlling factors in obtaining an eye having a'life-like and realistic appearance which might be outlined substantially as follows:

2 I. The obtaining of a definite iris pattern simulating the iris patern of the human eye; v

2; The color control and color patternfor matching that of the human eye to be replaced and which will function cooperatively with the iris pattern to give the realistic appearance;

3. The introduction of a third dimensional effect to introduce appearance characteristics simulating those of the humaneye;

4. The reproducing of the appearance, veining structure, and surface color of the sclera; and

'5. The controlling of the-overall dimension and surface shape and surface finish of the eye to introduce the life-like appearance.

The present invention introduces all the above factors in a simple and efficient manner and provides a method of fabrication whereby substantially exact reproductions of given iris and color patterns may be obtained. It facilitates the establishing and reproduction of standardized patterns which may be reproduced in an extremely efficient and simple manner. It enable a homogeneous all-plastic and durable eye tobe formed which is light in weight, resistant to eye secretions and which may be fitted tothe requirements of the individual for whom the eye is being made.

Referring to the drawings wherein like characters of reference designate like partsthroughout the several views, the eye embodying the invention comprisesa scleral portion HF, an iris portion H, a pupil portion I-2 and a corneal portion Hi. In fabricating the eye; the seleral portion i0 is" preferably formed of a whitish transluscent plastic such as methyl methacrylate having white or other desired color pigments added thereto and is preferably formed by molding to the desired size and shape in the conventional manner. During the melding of the scleral portion to the size and shape desired, a recess M, as shown best in- Fig. 3, is simultaneously formed in the front of said scleral portion. The moulding is accomplished through the use of moulds having a cavity therein of the size and s 'ape desired of the scleral portion into which a suitable deposit of a whitish translucent plastic in a doughy state is deposited and then subjected top-ressure and heat of an amount sufiicient to cause the plastic to assume the shape of the mould cavity and to set and harden to said shape through the completion of polymerization The recess M is formed to a depth sufficient to receive a disk l-5 embodying the iris pattern, the disk l5, diagrammatically illustrated in 7 Figs. 6 and 7, being formed of a transparent side walls I8. The disk, although preferably formed of sheet material, may be moulded or cast to the desired size and shape set forth above. In forming the iris pattern and color desired of the iris, the disk I5, as shown in Fig. 5, is placed within a recess I9 formed in a suitable supporting die 20. The said supported disk I is subjected to a surface treatment to produce the iris pattern 2! thereon, see Fig. 6, through the use of a punch 22 having the desired iris pattern formed throughout the area 23 thereof. A face view of the punch 22 is illustrated in Fig. 4 and the iris pattern throughout the area 23 is formed on the face of the punch preferably by engraving or the like in following commonly known methods with the exception that the engraved area is initially curved or cupped outwardly. This outward cupping of the engraved area causes the embossed portions of the iris pattern to be higher at the center of the area than adjacent the marginal portions thereof resulting from the engraving being done throughout a flat plane at the depth of the engraving. This causes the resultant recessed areas throughout the center of the engraved area to be deeper than throughout the marginal areas thereof and has a definite control as to the resultant pattern formed as will be hereinafter more clearly described.

Subsequent to the forming of the engraved pattern in the iris disk I5, through compression of the engraved iris pattern area 23 inwardly of the disk I5, the recessed portions of the pattern are filled in, as shown best in Fig. 8, with powdered pigments 24 preferably mixed with fine mesh powdered polymer of methyl methacrylate. The recessed areas are preferably filled in with a dry mixture of powdered methyl methacrylate and pigments of color or colors selected according to the desired resultant color of the iris. The recessed portions of the iris pattern are filled with the mixture of powdered methacrylate and pigments by a wiping action which causes the powdered mixture to remain only in the recesses with the front surfaces 25 of the raised portions of the pattern being free from such pigmentations. As stated above, due to forming the area 23 of the punch having the iris pattern engraved therein to an outwardly cupped curvature, the depth of the engraved pattern in the iris button I5 will be greater as illustrated at 25 throughout the central area of the pattern than at the marginal edges thereof as illustrated at 21.

and pigments to exist throughout the central area of the pattern than at the marginal portions thereof. The curve which defines the This causes a more dense filling of the powdered methyl methacrylate depth of the pattern formed in the button l5 is illustrated diagrammatically by the dash line 28.

After the recessed portions of the pattern have been filled with the mixture of powdered methyl methacrylate and pigments, a foundation coating 29 is then painted on the button I5 over the iris pattern. This forms the base of the pattern and the paint is. preferably formed by suspending an inorganic pigment or pigments in a syrupy liquid consisting of methyl methacrylate polymer dissolved in methyl methacrylate monomer or partially polymerized methyl methacrylate which may contain a plasticizer such as dibutyl phthalate or the like. The color of the inorganic pigment used, of course, is selected according to the color of the eye to be produced and one or 4 more of several different colors may be used. The pigment is essentially opaque and thereby causes the pigmented coating 29 resulting from the above to be of an opaque nature. It is to be understood that the engraved pattern may be produced in a surface of the disc opposed to the surface carrying the base or foundation coating such as by providing the upper surface of the disk I5 with the engraved and pigmented pattern and depositing the base coating 29 on the under side thereof. The button I5 having the iris pattern formed therein together with the powdered filling of methyl methacrylate and pigment or pigments throughout the recessed portions of the iris pattern and the base coating 29 thereon is then placed in the recess I4 of the scleral portion In in overlying relation with a disk or film 30 of methyl methacrylate containing black pigment. This black pigmented film or disk is visible through the iris opening I'I formed in the central area of the disk I5. The iris disk I5 is secured within the recessed area I4 by a doughy mixture of a polymer and monomer having a white or other desired color pigments therein similar to that used in forming the scleral portion I0. Care is taken that the doughy mixture completely fills in the space surrounding the disk, that is, the space between the bevelled edge I6 of the disk and the adjacent wall of the recess I4 as indicated by numeral 3 I. The excess portion of the doughy mixture which oozes out is removed to substantially flush relation with the front surface of the disk and the adjacent front area of the scleral portion H] and the said mixture is then allowed to harden by evaporation at room temperature or by other known methods. The bevelled edge I6 causes the doughy mixture surrounding the iris button l5 to form a ring-like insert tapering inwardly to a knife edge and produces a blend ring decreasing in density in a direction towards said inwardly disposed knife edge.

A veining pattern, as diagrammatically illustrated at 32 in Fig. 1, is then formed on the outer surface of the scleral portion to simulate the vein pattern of the sclera to be reproduced and surface colorings are also applied to the outer surfaces to simulate any surface portions which might exist in the eye being reproduced. Subsequent to this latter step, a transparent covering 33 is placed over the button insert and outer surface of the scleral portion, as illustrated in Fig. 2, and is provided with an outer surface shaped substantially to the shape of the outer surface of the cornea of the eye being reproduced. This coating 33 is preferably formed of a clear transparent methyl methacrylate. In completing the eye as set forth above, heat and pressure is applied thereto of an amount to bring about an integral bond'of the various methacrylate members including the scleral portion Ill, the black pigmented pupil coating or film 30, iris button I5, pigmented coating 29 and transparent coating 33.

If desired, a collarette may be first painted on the area surrounding the iris opening [1 prior to forming the base coating 29 on the button I5. This collarette might be painted on the rear surface of the disk I5 or might be painted on the front surface of the disk I5 or the parts thereof might be painted on each of said surfaces and part of the iris color might likewise be painted on each of said surfaces in addition to the foundation coloring 29 and the overall scleral pattern formed by the engraved die and the powdered filling 24 of methyl methacrylate and powdered pigment.

Although the filling" 24 is described as being formed of powdered methyl methacrylateand inorganic pigment, the filling may be of powdered polymer having powdered opaque mineral colors or oXid'esmiXed therewith. Theamountof powdered polymer or methyl methacrylate mixed with the pigments depends upon the density of the color desiredof the pigments.

If desired, as diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 9, instead of filling the recessed portions of the iris pattern formed by the" die with a powdered mixture of methacrylateand pigment, a thin film" 34' of coloring material in substantially sheet form might be placed over the disk [5 prior to compressin the die 22 thereon. This would cause the projecting portions of the engraved iris pattern 23 to force the coloring material of the sheet 34 inwardly of the recesses. The outer surface of the iris pattern could then be cleared of any pigment coloring as by wiping, scraping, sanding or grinding to remove said pigment material from the raised portion of the iris the major dominating shapes of the various components of the iris pattern are carefully traced thereby causing the; engraved pattern to have component parts simulating those of the actual human iris pattern. I

Although the punch 22 has been described above as having its engraved area 23 formed with protruding portions having contour shapes simulating those of the various component parts of the actual iris pattern of the human eye, which protruding parts form depressions of similar related contour shapes within the transparent disk It, it is to be understood that the punch could be so formed as to produce a reversed pattern. This reversed pattern would have its raised areas formed to contour shapes simulating the component parts of the actual iris pattern of the human eye as shown at 35 in Fig. 10. Inthis instance, the tops of each of said raised portions 35- are provided with a coating of a polymer-monomer syrupy mixture 36 having pigment therein of the color required to form the iris pattern. This p-igmented coating could be applied by pressing the disk downwardly on a flat surface having the syrupy pigmented mixture thereon similar to placing a rubber stamp on an ink pad thereby forming a skeleton iris pattern simulating the'iris pattern of the human eye. This coatin is then allowed to dry and a subsequent coating 31 of a syrupy mixture of a polymer-monomer embodying the pigment coloring desired of the foundation or base color of the eye may then be placed over the iris pattern. This forms an iris disk substantially. reversedto that of the iris disk illustrated in Fig. 8 with the foundation or base coloring showing between and partially through the iris pattern 36'. It is to be understood that the color or colors of the base coating is selected according to the coloring desired of the resultant eye.

a further modification, either the disk shown in Fig. 8 or the disk showninr'ig. 10 may have its frontsinface formed with depressed and raised. pattern portions as diagrammatically illustrated at- 38 in Fig; 10; The component parts of the front pattern, in this instance, arestaggered relative to the component parts of the base or main iris pattern and areada'pte'd to function cooperatively therewith to produce the resultant iris pattern desired.

As a further modification, the base or foundation color orc'ol'or's could be obtained by'substantially uniformly dispersing the color pigments substantially uniformly throughout the body of the button itself thereby forming a sort of a translucent button with the foundation coloring therein. An iris pattern such as shown diagrammatically at 3-8 might then be formed onthe front surface of the button using the technique of Fig. 8' or Fig. 10 in producing the pattern.

It is further to be understood that a collarette or blend ring of given color or colors is desired a syrupy mixture of polymer and monomer having the desired pigment or pigments therein can be applied to the disk by a fine brush or the like;

As a further modification, the button, such as shown at 15, can be formed of two superimposed layers of' clear methyl methacrylate having one of the intermediate surfaces provided with the iris pattern of raised and depressed areas following the technique of either Fig. 8 or Fig. 10. The foundation coloring in this instance is preferably placed on the rear surfaceof the composite button. The composite button may further. have other desired c'olori'ngsthereon' as stated above either on the front or rear surfaces thereof. In all instances, it is to be understood that the iris pattern isformed separately of the foundation coloring and the two function cooperatively to produce the resultant iris pattern and color desired,

The two separate transparent layers of the composite button might be subsequently bonded with each other or placed separately in superim-' posed relation with each other in the recess [4.

Acollarette or blend ring might also be formed on the intermediate iris pattern surface or might be placed on the front or rear surface of the com posite button as desired.

It is further to be understood that the pupil coloring might be placed directly within the recess l1 instead of using the separate backing film or coating such as described in connection with Fig. 3 or might be painted on one of the intermediate surfaces of the composite buttons.

From the foregoing description, it .will be seen that simple, efiicient and economical means have been provided for accomplishing all of theobiects and advantages of the invention.

1. An artificial eye comprising a :ball portion formed of translucent plastic material, an outer layer of transparent plastic material, and an iris portion interposed therebetween, said iris portion comprising a transparent disc member having a surface with a plurality of indentations therein filled with pigment and arranged to about the level of the surface to simulate the fibrous iris produce the resultant appearance desired of said iris portion.

.2. An artificial eye comprising. a ball portion formed of translucent plastic material, an outer layer of transparent plastic material, and an iris portion interposed therebetween, said iris portion comprising a disc member having a plurality of indentations in one surface, said indentations being filled with pigment to about the level of the surface and being of contour shapes as to collectively simulate the fibrous iris pattern appearance desired of the resultant iris, and a layer of additional coloring material on a surface of said disc of a color desired for the base color of the iris and functioning cooperatively with said pigment filled indentations to produce the resultant appearance desired of said iris portion, said disc member having a central opening therein and means embodying a black material positioned to be visible through said opening and for forming the pupil of the resultant eye.

3. An artificial eye comprising a ball portion formed of translucent plastic material, an outer layer of transparent plastic material, and an iris portion interposed therebetween, said iris portion comprising a disc member having a plurality of indentations on a surface thereof to simulate the fibrous pattern appearance desired of the resultant iris and having coloring material disposed in indentations to the-level of said surface and of a color desired to simulate the color of the iris of the resultant eye, and a coating of a second coloring material disposed over said indented surface and functioning cooperatively with said iris pattern and said first coloring material to produce the resultant appearance desired of said iris portion.

4. An artificial eye comprising a ball portion formed of translucent plastic material, an outer layer of transparent plastic material, and an iris portion interposed therebetween, said iris portion comprising a disc member having a plurality of depressed portions on a surface thereof, said depressed portions being of a contour shape to reproduce the corresponding portions of the fibrous pattern of the human iris and having coloring 'material disposed in the depressed portions of said surface of a color desired to simulate the color of the iris of the resultant eye, said coloring material being to substantially the level of said surface and a coating of additional coloring material disposed over said surface and functioning cooperatively with said iris pattern and said first coloring material to produce the resultant appearance desired of said iris portion, said disc member having a central opening therein and means embodying a black material positioned to be visible through said opening and for forming the pupil of the resultant eye.

5. An artificial eye comprising a ball portion formed of translucent plastic material, an outer layer of transparent plastic material, and an iris portion interposed therebetween, said iris portion comprising a disc of relatively thin transparent plastic material having impressions formed in a surface thereof of contour-shapes such as to reproduce the fibrous pattern appearance desired of the resultant iris, said disc having coloring material within said impressions filled to the level of said surface and having a coating of additional coloring material disposed over the entire impressed surface thereof and functioning cooperatively with said impressions and said first coloring material to produce the resultant appearance desired of said iris portion.

6. An artificial eye comprising a ball portion formed of translucent plastic material, an outer portion interposed therebetween, said iris portion comprising a disc of relatively thin transparent plastic material having impressions formed in a surface thereof to contour shapes such as to reproduce in substantial detail the fibrous pattern appearance of a human iris, said disc having coloring material filling said impressions to the level of said surface to form a pattern of transparent and color-filled areas on said surface, and having a coating of a second coloring material disposed over the opposed surface thereof and functioning cooperatively with said a pattern of transparent and color-filled areas to produce the resultant appearance desired of said iris portion.

'7. An artificial eye comprising a ball portion formed of translucent plastic material, an outer layer of transparent plastic material, and an iris portion interposed therebetween, said iris portion comprising a disc of relatively thin transparent plastic material having a central opening and having impressions formed in a surface thereof of contour shape such as to reproduce in substantial detail corresponding portions of the fibrous pattern of a human iris, the impressions varying in depth from relatively shallow near the outer contour edge of the disc and becoming progressively deeper toward the central opening, coloring means disposed within the impressions of said impressed surface to substantially the level of the surrounding surface, and a base lay,- er of coloring material disposed over the entire impressed surface of the disc, the coloring filled impressions and base layer of coloring material functioning cooperatively to vary the color densities of the iris pattern and so produce the color pattern and appearance desired in the resultant 8. An artificial eye comprising a ball portion formed of translucent plastic material, an outer layer of transparent plastic material, and an iris portion interposed therebetween, said iris portion comprising a disc of relatively thin transparent plastic material having a central opening and having impressions formed in a surface thereof to provide raised and depressed portions simulating the fibrous pattern appearance desired of the resultant iris, the depressed portions being shallow near the outer contour edge of the disc and becoming progressively deeper toward the central opening, coloring means disposed within the depressed portions of said impressed surface to the level of the raised portions thereof, and a base coating of coloring material disposed over the opposed surface of the disc, the coloring filled depressed portions and base coating of coloring material functioning cooperatively with said transparent raised portions to produce the color pattern and appearance desired in the resultant lI'lS.

9. An artificial eye comprising a ball portion formed of translucent plastic material, an outer layer of transparent plastic material, and an iris portion interposed therebetween, said iris portion comprising a disc of relatively thin transparent plastic material having a central opening and having impressions formed in the opposed side surfaces thereof simulatin the fibrous pattern appearance desired of the resultant iris, the impressions being relatively shallow near the outer contour edge of the disc and becoming progressively deeper toward the central opening, said impressed surfaces having the depressed portions thereof filled with coloring material to layer of transparent plastic material, and an iris 76 the level of said surface, the coloring material being of a color desired to simulate the color of of .a :second coloring material disposed over one of the impressed surfaces of the disc, the color- :ing material filling said depressed portions and .the base coating of coloring material functioning cooperatively to control the color densities of the iris pattern and so produce the color pattern and appearance desired in the resultant iris, said iris portion having means positioned to be visible through said central openin for producing the pupilof the eye.

10. An artificial eye comprising a ball portion formed of translucent material bonded with an outer layer of transparent material and an iris portion interposed therebetween, said iris portion comprising a disc.of transparent plastic material (having a central opening therein, said disc having a beveled edge surrounding the contour thereof and a'beveled edge surrounding the central opening and having a pattern impressed in a surface thereof simulating the fibrous pattern appearance desired of the resultant iris, coloring material disposed within said pattern impressions to the level of the surface to provide juxtaposed portions of coloring material and transparent plastic and a base coating of coloring material disposed over an entire surface of the disc and functioning cooperatively with the coloring :material filling the pattern impressions to produce the color effect and appearance desired of :the resultant eye. 7 11. An artificial eye comprising a ball portion formed of translucent material bonded with an outer layer of transparent material and an iris portion interposed therebetween, said iris portion comprising a disc of transparent plastic material having a central opening therein, said disc having a beveled edge surrounding the contour thereof and a beveled edge surrounding the centralopening and having a pattern impressed ina surface thereof, said pattern embodying depressions of contour shapes to substantially exactly reproduce the fibrous pattern of the human iris, coloring material disposed within said pattern depressions to the level of said surface, and a base coating of coloring material disposed over an entire surface of the disc and functioning cooperatively with the coloring material filling the pattern impressions to produce the color effect and appearance desired of the resultant eye, and means positionedto be visible through the central opening for producing the pupilof the-,eye.

12. An artificial eye comprising a ball portion formed of translucent material bonded with an outer layer of transparent material and an iris portion interposed therebetween, said iris portion comprising a disc of transparent plastic material having a central opening therein, said disc having a beveled edge surrounding the contour thereof and a beveled edge surrounding the central opening and having a pattern impressed in a surface thereof embodying a plurality of depressions of contour shape to reproduce in substantial detail corresponding parts of the fibrous pattern of the human iris, said depressions being relatively shallow adjacent the contour edge of the disc and becoming progressively deeper toward the central opening, coloring material disposed within said pattern depressions to the level of the surrounding surface, and a base coating of coloring material disposed over the entire impressed surface of the disc and functioning cooperatively with the coloring material filled pat tern depressions to produce the :color effect and appearance desired of the resultant eye.

13. An artificial eye comprising a ball portion formed of translucent material bonded with an outer layer of transparent material and an'iris portion interposed therebetween, said iris portion comprising a disc of transparent plastic material lraving a central opening therein, said disc having a beveled edge surrounding the contour thereof and a beveled edge surrounding the central Opening and having a pattern impressedin the opposed surfaces simulating the fibrous pattern appearance desired of the resultant iris, the pattern impressions being relatively shallow adjacent the contour edge of the disc and becoming progressively deeper toward the central opening,

coloring material disposed in said pattern impressions, to the level of the surrounding surface, and a base coating of coloring material disposed over one of said surfaces of the disc and functioning cooperatively with the coloring material filling the pattern impressions to produce the color effeet and appearance :desired of the resultant eye, and means positioned to bevisible through the central opening for producing the pupil of the eye.

14. An artificial eye comprising a ball portion formed of translucent plastic material having an outer layer of transparent material and an iris portion interposed therebetween, said iris portion comprising a relatively thin piece of transparent material having pigmentfilledimpressionsformed ina surface thereof to about the levelof said surface, the impressions in the disc being of varying depths to vary the depth :ofthepigments disposed therein at desired locations-on said iris portion, and a base coating of coloring material provided over the entire impressed surface of the disc and functioning cooperatively with the pigment filled impressions to produce the desired resultant appearance of the'iris.

15. An artificial eye comprising a ball portion formed of translucent plastic material having an outer layer of transparent material, an iris portion interposed therebetween, said iris portion comprising a relatively thin piece of transparent material having a central opening therein and having a plurality of radially arranged depressions and-raised areas formed in a surface thereof, the depressions of said surface being filled to the level of the raisedareas with material of a color desired to simulate the color of the of the resultant eye, the depressions in the disc being of varying depths to vary the amount of the coloring material disposed therein at desired locations on said iris portion and said disc having a base coloring material functioning cooperatively with the coloring material insaid depressions to produce the desired resultant appearance of the iris, and means positioned to be visible through the central opening of the iris disc for producing the pupil of the eye.

16. An artificial eye comprising a main scleral portion formed of translucent material bonded with an outer layer portion of transparent material and an iris portion interposed therebetween, one of said portions throughout the area of the iris portion having an irregular surface constituting raised and depressed areas of contour shapes to reproduce corresponding portions of the fibrous pattern of 'a human eye, one of said areas having pigment of controlled color thereon with the other of said areas being substantially free from said pigment to form a skeleton pattern simulating the iris pattern of an eye and a desired.

1'7. An artificial eye comprising a ball portion of translucent material having an outer coat of transparent material on one side thereof and a transparent disc interposed between, said disc having on one side thereof a layer embodying a plurality of colored and uncolored areas, portions radially arranged in juxtaposed relation, and with said portions each being of a contour shape to collectively reproduce in substantially exact detail the fibrous pattern of a human eye, and said disc having a continuous layer of opaque coloring material between said reproduction of the fibrous pattern of a human iris and the ball portion, said base layer being of a color which will function with said reproduction to produce a substantially natural appearing simulation of the human eye.

18. An artificial eye comprising a ball portion of translucent material having an outer coat of transparent material on one side thereof and an iris disc interposed between, said disc having a plurality of individual portions formed of colored plastic radially arranged in spaced relation on one side thereof, and each of a contour shape such as collectively to reproduce in substantially exact detail the fibrous pattern of a human eye, and a continuous layer of opaque coloring material between said reproduction of the fibrous pattern of a human eye and the ball portion and visible therethrough, said base layer being of a color to function with said reproduction to produce a substantially natural appearing simulation of the human eye.

19. An artificial eye comprising a ball portion having a transparent scleral member on its forward side and an iris disc secured intermediate said ball portion and the scleral portion, said disc having indentations impressed on a surface thereof simulating the veining pattern of a natural iris, coloring material filling said indentations to approximately the level of the plane of the surface of raised portions on said surface, said indentations individually being of a contour shape to reproduce in substantial detail the corresponding portion of a human iris, and an opaque pigmented layer posed intermediate the ball portion and the indented surface of the disc.

20. An artificial eye comprising a ball portion having a transparent scleral member on its forward side and an iris disc secured on one side of the ball portion and covered by the scleral portion, said disc having indentations impressed on a surface thereof simulating the veining pattern of a natural iris, the indentations being deeper adjacent the center of said surface than adjacent its margin, coloring material filling said indentations to the level of the adjacent surrounding surface portion of the disc, said adjacent surface portion of the disc being substantially free of the coloring material, and an opaque pigmented layer posed intermediate the ball portion and the indented surface of the disc.

21. An artificial eye comprising a ball portion having a transparent scleral member on its forward side and an iris disc secured therebetween, said disc having indentations impressed on its inner surface to form thereon alternate depressed and raised areas to collectively simulate the veining pattern of a human iris, the indentations individually being of a contour shape to reproduce in substantial detail the corresponding part of said iris, the depressed areas being deeper adjacent the center of said surface than adjacent its margin, coloring material filling said depressed areas to the level of the raised portions of said surface, said raised portions being substantially free of said coloring material, and an opaque coating of pigmented material underlying said indented surface of the disc so as to be visible therethrough.

FRITZ W. JARDON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Making Plastic Artificial Eyes, by J. H. Prince, from the Optician, Feb. 16, 1945; vol. CIX #2812; pages 37-40. A copy is in Div. of the Patent Oifice.

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