Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
T I T L E
A METHOD AND CONSTRUCTION FOR A
- GREENHOUSE OR THE LIKE INCORPORATING
SPLIT GLAZING BARS SUITABLE FOR
CURVED SECTIONS
.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to greenhouse constructions
suitable for lean-to type greenhouse constructionssuch as
solariums and the like and, mor particularly, relates to con-
structions providing for prefabricated greenhouse constructions
in the form of modules which are readily assembled at the site
of installation. \~
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BACKGROVND
Commercialiy available lean to type greenhouse
constructions are known to enable exquisite additions to homes
and business structures while at the same time affording
significant savings in fuel due to utilization of solar energy.
These constructions are provided fox installation
by professional installers and are also provided in kits which
can be used by homeowners who wish to do their own installations.
Most commercially available units require a~ least
a modest knowledge of mechanics as well as a fair amount of
patience due to the fact that there are a large number of parts
to be interconnected and due also to the fact that parts to
be interconnected have to be matched.
Modular types of construction are known which tend
to reduce requirements with respect installation time and cost.
These construction techniques do not respond to the more
sophisticated requirements of solarium c~nstruction, especially
those which involve the use of curved gla~ing and curved
glazing bar installations.
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SU M~RY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide improved
structures and methods relating to the installatlon of green-
house structures such as solariums and particularly such
structures as involve the use of curved glazing and curved
glazing bars.
In achieving the above and other objects of the
invention, there is provided a greenhouse construction comprising
at least first and second adjacent panels, each including a
front wall section, a sloped roof sec-tion and a curved section
between and connecting the wall and roof sections to form a
continuous module. Each such panel or module is laterally
bordered by glazing bar sections and further includes glazing
extending between the glazing bar sections with the glazing
being at least partly supported by the glazing sections and
including at least one curved glazing section corresponding to
and constituting, at least in part, the curved section of the
associated panel. The glazing bar sections of each panel
include front wall, sloped roof and interconnecting curved
sections corresponding to what has been mentioned above. One
of the glazing bar sections of the first of the aforesaid panels
abuts one of the glazing bar séctions of the second of these
panels and is in mirror image and matched relationship. The
glazing bar sections when in abut-ting relationship cooperatively
constitute respective glazing bars. To form the abutting
glazing bar sections there are provided matched curved sections
which may be formed in various ways. One particularly unique
way involves the sections being matched by being bent simul-
taneously by a common bending force. This force is preferably
exerted with the sections in juxtaposition in a common bending
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die or the like. It should be no-ted that matched sections may
also be prepared by separate bending. In any event, -the glazing
bar sections are preferably coded to indicate the matched
relationship therebetween.
As has been stated above, the inven-tion also relates
to methods. One method of the invention may be viewed as a method
of fabricating a greenhouse structure with a vertically disposed
front wall section, a sloped roof section and a curved section
connecting the front wall and sloped roof sections, said method
specifically comprising forming the greenhouse structure of
prefabricated modules which are interconnected through the
intermediary of glazing bars which support glazing in the modules
and which are formed of sections which are first connected to
respective of the modules and are then connected to each other
in matching pairs to form the glaæing bars.
Other objects, features and advantages of the inven-
tion will be found in the detailed description which follows
hereinafter as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
z
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE
DRAWING
In the drawing:
Figure l is a diagrammatic perspective view showlng
a modular construction of the greenhouse or solarium construction
embodying curved sections and modules in accordance with the
invention ;
Figure 2 is a diagrammati/c view of an end wall
construction suitable for use in the construction of Fig. l in
which the end wall of Fig. 2 would be used in duplicate;
`;
Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view,
partly broken away, of matching glazing bar sections joined in
a unit t~ form a glazing bar to support glazing panes;
Figure 4 is a fragmentary~detail of Fig. 3 shown in
revised form to constitute another embodiment of the invention;
: Figure 5 is a side view partially`in section andpartially br~ken away to illustrate the co~nnectlon of a panel to a
ridge bar in accordance with the invention;
Figure 6 is a side view partially in secti.on and
par~ially ~roken away of ~he base sill employed with the
construction o the inveniion;
Figure 7 is a side view partially broken away of a
: gla2ing bar~ illustraf~ng how the gIazing bar is accommodated
in a ridge ~ar~;and ~ a base sill and showing fuxther a cross
muntin whic~ bë~ ~ odied in a preferred version of the
nvention;~
Figure 8 shows on enlarged scale the cross muntin
arrangement seen in Fig. 7;
Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view which diagrammatically
illustrates the bending of matching glazing sections in
accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
Figure 10 is a further diagrammatic view illustrating
the bending of matching glazing bar sections in accordance with
one embodiment of the invention; and
Figure 11 diagrammatically illustrates the arrangement
of the plurality of glazing bars in nesting relationship enabling
the associated members or modules to be readily transported to
a job site;
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DETAILED DESC~IPTION
The drawing illustrates preferred embodiments of the
invention in accordance with which a modular system is provided
for erecting a greenhouse structure with special provision
being made for prefabricating the panels,bays or modules
especially as regards the formation of the curved sections which
are used intermediate the SlOped roof sections and the front
wall sections of the various panels or modules.
In Fig. 1 is shown a supporting structure 10 which
may be, for example, a dwelling or a business installation of
any known construction. F~g. 1 shows a plurality of panels 12,
14,16 and 18. Panel 18 is not yet assembled with the other
panels(inclusive of panels 12,14 and 16)which have pr~viously been
fastened together. Panel 18 is to be moved in the direction
indicated by arrows 20 and 22 so that its glazing bar section(which
is to be discussed in greater detail hereinunder)is brought
into abutting relationship with the corre ~onding matched
glazing bar section of panel 16 whereafter these two glazing
bar sections are connectE1together to constitute a glazing bar,
the abutment therebetweenbeingconcealed by a concealing member
to be discussed in greater detail hereinbelow.
To enable the mounting of the various panels there is
provided a l ~gi~udinally extending and continuous ridge bar 24.
This rid ~ ~ ~h`g'~ious ~eatures to be described hereinbelow.
Its purpo~ s~`~o-;600perate with base sill 26 to provide
supporting elem~nts~ for the glazing bar~ so that the glazing
bars can be installed in appropriate posture. For this purpose
the ridga bar 24 is mounted against the supporting structure 10
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and is in horizontal attitude or, in other words, is parallel to
the ground. At the same time, the base sill 26 is
parallel to the ridge bax 24 and is mounted in a position whereat
it is spaced from the supporting structure lOo
Each panel is provided in the illustrated embodiment
with three sections, namely a front wall section 28, a sloped
roof section 30 and an intermediate curved section 32 which
serves to connect the vertically disposed front wall section 28
with th~ sloped roof section 30. The intermediate curved
section 32 merges with sections 28 and 30 and forms a unitary
panel therewith taking into consideration the additional elements
which are also included in each panel. Thus, for example, there
are provided-cross muntins 34 and 36 and glazin~ bars 38 and
40, the constructions of which will become apparent hereinbelow.
The greenhouse or solarium construction of the
invention is moreover provided with two ènd~walls which may be
constructed as illustrated in Fig. 2. T~se end walls are
intended to bracket the assembled panels 12,19,16 and 18 and to
constitute~ end walls with respect to the enclosure defined by
~ the aforesaid panels. It is to be noted that the s ructure
illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 is diagrammatic in nat~ re only and
that there are no details set forth therein. Thus, for example,
the end wall illustrated in Fig. 2 is provide* with gla7.ing
46,48,SO~G~ `this glazing being separated by glazing
~; and being framed by bar 61
bars 54,~6,;-58~ nd ~ The construction of the glazing bars 54,
56,58 and 60 is simLlar to that to~'~e discussed hereinbelow and,
hence, no detail will be describedlat this time. However, it
should be noted ~hat the end walls and other panels may be
supplied with power venting systems, windows and doors as may be require
for any custom design system and the absence of such features
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is not to be considered limiting of the present invention in
any respect.
Fig. 3 illustrates the joining of panels 16 an~ 18
when the glazing bar sections thereof have been brouqh-t into
contact and engaged to constitute ~he glazing bar 70 (equivalent
e.g., to bar 40). In Fig. 3 can be seen glazin~ bar section
72 and glazing section 74. These two glazing bar sections have
~een manufactured in order to provide the bend therein simul-
taneously and in identical fashion as discussed in greater detail
hereinbelow.
It will be noted that these sections are s~mmetrical
with one another and that therefore these sections 72 and 74 are
in mirror image relationship with one another. ~Cooperatively
they define a plane of symmetry indicated at 76.
The main bodies of sections 72 and 74 cooperatively
define an interior chamber indicated at 78. This interior
chamber is intended to accommodate t!e tubular member 80 which
constitutes a splicing or splining dl~ice fo~ the tube sections
80 and which aligns the same. It will be noted that the outer
profile of the tubular member 80 correspon~s with the profile
of the chamber 78. The tubular member 80 is moreover a longi-
tudinally extending member which fits in the chamber 78 which
extends throughout the length o the associated sections. Member
80 may be one of a number of such members which are spaced along
the chamber 78 or may be elongated to extend along relatively
long portions of the chamber or along the entire ahamber~
A pàir of~onnecting devices are shown in Fig. 3.
The e connecting devl!ces are indicated at 82 and 84. These
connecting devices are bolts or the like which are accommodated
in threaded receptacles provided in respective glazing bar sec-
tions 72 ànd 74. It~will be appreciated that such connecting
devices will be distributed longitudinally along the lengths of the
respective glazing bar sections 72 and 74 as required. It will
be noted that this splicing arrangement is what generally
maintains the sections 72 and 74 in face-to-face abutting
relationship, although other connections are available and are
furthermore possible in addition to devices such as holts ~2
and 84.
The gla~ing bar sections 72 and 74 are provided with
extensions 90 and 92 which are planar elements symmetrical
about the plane of symmetry 76 and which ar~ in face-to-face
relationship. They are maintained in face-to-~ace relationship
not only by the operation o~ bolts 82 and 84, but also by means
o~ a plastic or metal clip such as indicated 94. Cooperatively,
extensions 90 and 92 definea threaded receptacle 96 which
accommodates a bolt or screw 98 w~ ch connects to the extensions
90 and 92 a cap indicated at 100. This cap is provided with
in
sockets 102 and 104/which are accommodated cushion 106 and 108
These cushions are formed, for example, o~ glazing cord which
are cushions which may readily be compressed to perform the
function indicated hereinbelow.
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Sections 72 and 74 are moreover provided with
extensions 110 and 112 within which are provided sockets 114
and 116. These sockets serve to anchor cushions 118 and 120
which are in spaced and facing relationship relative to cushions
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106 and 108. These cushions serve to entrap glazin~!126 and
~S 128 therebe~tween and!as a consequence, the gla~ing which is
illustrated is aflxèd to the gla~ing bar 70. l
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Glazing bar 70 is moreover provided with threaded
recept~cle 130 as well as threaded receptacles 132 and 134.
These threaded r~ceptacles provide for a number o~ functions
and in general for the connection of various ancillary features
which may be providsd within the greenhouse constructions.
Thus, for example, a picture frame may be mounted by means of a
bolt accommodated in threaded receptacle 130. However, it will
be noted that there is moreover provi~ed a clip 136. This clip
has prongs 138 and 140 serving to be accommodated in
receptacles 132 and 134. The clip 136 may thus function to
assist in holding the glazing bar sections 72 and 74 together
as a consequence of which the action of bolts 82 and 83 as well
as of cl~p 94 is supplemented.
The extensions 90 and 92 define with extensions 110, 112
gutters 150 and 152 respectively. These gutters serve as
internal weeps for the drainage of accumulated moisture. At
the same time there are provided external flanges 154 and 156
de~ining gutters 158 and 160 which serve as external weeps for
the drainage of moisture accumulating on the exterior of
extensions 110 and 112.
The cap 100 serves to conceal the line or seam of abutment
between sections 9o and 92. At the same time, there is
provided a cap 162 which serves to conceal the head of bolt 98.
Clip or cap 136 serves to conceal the line or seam of abutment
between sections 72 and 74 at the bottom of Fig. 3 and thus
these elements contribute significantly to the beauty of the
design~ It is also to be noted that sections 72 and 74 are
respectively provided with shade tracks 170 and 17~. The
function of the shade tracks is to accommodate the bulbous
peripheries of the associated sections as described in detail
in United States Patent No. 4,606,157 to Esposito issued August
19, 19~6.
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With further reference to Fig. 3 there is to be noted
cross muntins 174 and 176 which perform a function and which
are installed as described in detail hereinbelow. It will be
noted that the glazing panels illustrated in Fig. 3 may be
made of plastic or may be for example of 7/8 inch insulated
tempered glass. The size of the glass or the material of which
the glazing is made is not a limitation of the instant invention.
A variation of the embodiment of the invention of
Fig. 3 is illustrated in Fig. 4 where are shown equivalents to
the ex~e~sio~s 90 and 92. These equivalents are indicated at
90' and 92'. These are provided with grooves 180 and 182 and
a plastic cap 184 (serving as a thermal break) is provided
having fingers 186 and 188 extending therefrom and accom~odated
at their outermost extremities in the grooves 180 and 182.
lS Thus the extensions 90' and 92' are held together bv the clip
arrange~ent formed by fingers 186 and 188 supported on a base
190 which serves the purpose of concealing the line of abutment
of 192 whiah exists between extensions 90' and 92' and thus
between glazin~ sections 72 and 74. A metal or plastic
part 191 is engaged on cap 184 and serves\the function of part
100 in FigO 3.
The support of glazing 126 with respect to the ridge
bar 24 mounted on supporting structure 10 and associated with
glazing bar 70 is shown by wav of example in Fig. 5. Therein
it will be seen that the ridge bar 24 includes a lower flanqe
200 and a çentral rib 202. The central rib hals an upper
extensiQ ~4 ~`~d-~'lower sxtension 206. The upper extension 204
defines a groGv~ 8.~ The lower extenslon 206 defines a down-
wardly open~groove 210.
The upper extremity 212 of glazing 126 is provided
with a bay ridge ox xidge cap 214 in the orm of a continuous
channel preferably the width of the gla~ing of the panel. This
ridye cap is in the form of a channel having, extending from
a corner thereof, the flange 216, Flange 216 is accommodated
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within or hooked into the groove 208 therebv to form a support
in part or the weight of the glazing 126. An additional part
of the weight of the glazing is supported by t~e glazing bar
70 with respect to which there is provided a clip 220. The
S clip 220 has a tongue 222 which is fastened by means of a screw
224 to the glazing bar 70. The clip also includes a tongue
226 which is accommodated in the g~oove 210 provided by the
extension 206 on r1b 202 of the ridge bar 24~The bottom portion
228 of the clip rests against the flange 200 with the tongue
226 being ac~ommodated in groove 210 whereby a hooking engage-
ment between the glazing bar 70 and the ridge bar 24 is provided.
The ridge bar 24 moreover comprises ~ section 230
connected to the main body of ridge bar 24 by means of a plastic
insert 232 constituting a thermal break. Section 230 includes
a flange 234 having a tongue 236 thereon which traps against
the cap 214 a gasket member 238 which includes a tongue 240
~ressing up against the glazing 126. In addition, the glazing
126 is insulated from contact from metal b~ insulating ribbons
242 and 246. ~`
It wlll.be noted that the cap 214/provided with an
extension 250 by which a direct connection is afforded with
glazing bar 70 through a coupling device ~52 which may be a
bolt or screw~ or the like. Attachment of the ridge bar 24
with supporting structure 10 is ''~.~iagram~atically indicatec~ bv the
provision of a bolt 256.
~ ,noted that there is no fixed connection
of the..~z:in.g:::1.2.~;.;i.~ith the ridge bar 24 which does no~ provide
a slidi~g;longit~'~i'nal movemen~ with respect to the ri~ge bar
24 all a~s enabled by the engagement of flange 216 in groove
208. In Fig. 5 provision of shade track 170 will also be noted
.as well as glazing cord 260 the purpose of which is to provide
~or the supporting of the weight of glazing 126 ~ithout there
being direct contact between this glazing and the glazing bar
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As to the base 5ill providing a suppo~t for the panels
or modules of the invention, thls is illustrated in Fig. 6.
In Fi~. 6 is shown a wooden beam which may be treated two by four
as indicated at ,280, A continuous sill is indicated at 282
with a caulking being indicated at 284 with respect to cap 2~6
which is provided at the bottom of the respective panels.
Element 282 is provided with ther~.al break element 288 whereb~
connection is made with another section of the continuous sill
indicated at 290. Ele~ent 290 is connected to block 280 by means
of bolt 292, a plurality of which may be provided.
A sill trim element is indicated at 294. Base sill 296
is connected by means of bolt 298 to the end of the glazing
bar. Glazing bar 70 is illustrate(' by way of example along
with glazing 126. Connection between element 296 and the er,d
of glazing bar 70 is also indicated in the form of a bolt or
lS screw 300. EleMent 296 is furthermore connected to element 290
by means of bolt or screw 302. ~ wood trim concealing the
mechanical interior of the device may be provided in the form
of wood trim 204. At~least some of the W~`7 ght,of the glazing
126' is supported on setting blocks indicated at 306, these
being supported on flange 308 constituting an extension from
element 286.
Varlous of the above-identified elements are shown in
cooperation in Fig. 7 wherein is illustrated by way of example
the gla~ing bar 70. Therein maY be seen the cap 214 (see also
Fig. 5) and base 9Lll element 296 ~See also Fig. 6). The glazinq
126 is also ~i~ible''in Fig. 7. Another element which is yet
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to be described in,de,tail appears in the form of cross muntin
320. This corresponds to the cross muntins 34 and 3~ in Fig. 1.
The cross muntin 320 is also shown ln Fig. 8 wherein
appears tfie head of, or example, bolt 82 (see also Fiq. 3).
In Fig. 8, it can be seen that cross muntin 320 is provided
with a bottom cap plate 322. Also provided are bolts 324 and
326 which connect glazing bar 70 to cross muntin 320 from
within chamber 78 (see FigO 3) through pre-drilled holes in the
side of the glazing bar 70. The cross muntin 320 is separated
from a mounting structure 328 by means of a thermal break
element 33~ The mounting structure 328 is in~ended to receive
by way of a snap fit prongs 332 and 334 of a snap-on muntin can
336 the purpose of which is to conceal the ~ap between glazin~
sections 126' and 126''.
The cross muntin 320 is also provided with sockets
340 and 342 which accommodate cushions 344 and 346. Cap 336
is provided with cushions 348 and 350, all of tLese cushions
entrapping the glazlng 126' and 126'' thereby to yieldingl~
provide support for the same.
Setting blocks 354 and 35~ may be provided at the
end of each of the glazing panels. IThese two blocks are shown
by way at the edge of g}azing panel 126 by way of
example.
As a further feature of the construction of the inven-
tion cross muntin 320 is provided with a flange 360 defining
a groove 362,serving as a condensation dra~n which weeps into
the corresponding glazing bar drain for purposes of moisture
removal.
In the generalized description of the invention
whic~ appears hereinabove, reference has been made to the fact
that the glazing bar sections of the various gl~zing bars
(see for exa~ple glazing bar 70) are prepared ln such a wav as
to provide~an effec~ive correspondence of configuration between
these sectiohs.i Thus,,~for example, the method of the invention
is a method~of fabr,icating a greenhouse structure ~referably
with a vert~.cally dlsposed front wall section, a sloped roof
section and a curved section connec-ting the front wall and
sloped roof sectiorls. Th.is method more particularly comprises
forming the greenhouse structure of prefabricated modules which
are interconnected through the intermediary of glazing bars
which support glaæing in the modules and which are formed of
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sections which are first connected to the respecti~e modules
and then are connected to each other in matching pairs to
form the glazing bars. It has been noted that the glazing bar
sections which are to be connected ~ogether ma~ be matched bv bending
the same to~ether. The pu~se of this feature, when it is employed, is to make
sure that no variation is introduced by separatelv manufacturing
the glazing bar sections so that they do not connect together
appropriately. More particularly Lhis is accomplished by form-
ing the sections as mirror image sectlons and bending the same
in juxtaposition with the same bending force in the same
bending d~e. This ~eature of the invention is generallv indi-
cated in diagr~atic fashion in Fig. 9 whereare seen die sections
400 and 402. Therein are defined cavity section 404 for re-
ceiving the glazing bar sections 72 and 74 so that these sec-
tions are held in juxtapOsition and are entrapped in such a
manner that the bending force may be applied as a unitary force
in a single bending die. The bending force is indicated
diagrammatlcally by arrow 410 in FigO lO wherein it is seen
that the two ~ections are clamped together by clamps 412 and 414
to be bent around a mandri'l 416 thus moving from the position
indicated at 70 to the position indicated at 70' thereby to
form a glazing bar having a vertical section,a sloped roof
section and~a curved section all as has been diagrammatically
indicated in the illustration of the greenhouse construction
set forth ~k Fi~. l.
~ a further feature of the invention it has been
indicated that-the glazing bars and thus the panels may be
packed in nesting relationship thereby to be transferred from
the site o prefabrlcation to the job install~tion at which
installation is to take place. This is illustrated in Fig. l~.
In Fig. ll are illustrated by way of example panels 12, 14 and
16 with their corresponding glaziny and glazing bars all bent
to the same profile 50 to have the ~ertical front wall section,
32
sloped roof section and intervening or intermediate curved
section all as has been noted hereinabove. In Fig. 11 the
panels 12, 14 and 16 (and as many other panels as may be
necessary) are packed with spacers such as indicated for example
420,
at/422, 424 and 426. These thusly nested panels or modules
may be readily transported with economy of space and free
from damage to the site at which installation is to be made.
To be certain that appropriate glazing bar sections will be
connected to one another in accordance with their unitary
manufacture the matched glazing bar section may be provided
with a coding representation. A color coding is indicated by
way of example in Fig. l at Cl and C2. This coding may take
the form of appropriate color printing on the matching sections
so that matching sections may be readily identified and put
into cooperating relationship.
From the above it will be`seen that the method of
the invention comprises forming a greenhous~e structure of
prefabricated modules which are interconn~cted-through the
intermediary of glazlng bars which support glazing in the
modules and which are formed of sections which are first
connected to the respective modules and are then connected to
each other in matching pairs to form the glazing bars, The
glazing bar sections which are to be connected together ma~be
,
matched bv bending the same together and are formed preferablv
as mir ~ g~ se~ons which are bent ir. juxta~osi-tion
with the sa?~e-berdi~n~ force in the,same bendin~ die. The sections
are formed-to define~cooperatively a longitudinally extending
to
interior chamber in which is mounted a tubular member ~hich the
sections are fastened. The modules are aligned by mounting the
same in a common ridge bar and base sill which are appropriately
positioned~
More particularly the ridge bar of the invention is
preferably mounted on a supporting structure s~ch as a building
or the like with the base sill being spaced from the supporting
structure. The glazing bar sections are inst1alled between ~he
base siIl and rldgè bar and are connected together in the manner
indicated. The matching is facilitated as noted above by marking
the modules so that matchedgla~ing bar sections can be connected
together. To enable the above,the, mirror image sections of the
glazing bars are separated after they are collectively bent in
the same die and the separated mirror image sections are in-
corporated into different modules. The modules may as noted
above be stac~ed in nesting relationship for shipment to a job
sit~ for installation.
There will now be obvious to those skilled in the ar-t
and
many modifications/variations of th`e methodsand construction
set forth hereinabove. These modifications and variations
will not depart from the scope of the invention if defined by
the fo1lowing cl~lms.
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