Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~ WO96/05381 PCT~S9~10128
~ ~Lr~/3~52
TRENCH COVER AS8EMBLY AND M~.
~nNlCAL FIELD
The present invention relates to trench
components and, more particularly to a trench cover
assembly whereby the cover member is held captive by
C-~hAp~A ~u~Ol~ members.
s
BACKGROUND OF THE lNvh~llON
There are many working environments where
trenche~ perform a useful function. Often cable is
laid in the ch~nnel defining the trench. Also,
tr~nr-h~c are used to convey water and/or other fluids
at commercial and industrial sites. Since a trench is
essentially an open cavity in the ground, a cover is
nececfi~ry to maintain continuity with the ~L.ou.lding
terrain. In most commercial and industrial
applications, grates having apertures allowing the
passage of fluid therethrough are used to cover the
trench.
Trenches are sometimes formed from a
moldable composition that hardens to include flat
horizontal ledges on opposing sides. Alternatively,
a preformed element such as a metal pan having opposed
flat horizontal ledges may be installed in the
terr~n~n void or ditch to create the trench. The
flat horizontal ledges on opposing sides of the trench
act as support surfaces for opposed L-shaped angle
irons. The horizontal leg of each L-shaped angle iron
supports the covering grates which are laid thereon.
Although it is common to allow the grates to
lay freely on the angle irons, in some ins~nseC it is
neC~fi~ry to secure the grates in place either to
satisfy functional requirements or to prevent removal.
In those specific settings, the most common method of
WO96/05381 pcT~s9sllol28 ~
~1737~2
` 2
securement is to bolt the grates in place. More
specifically, the grates are each formed with a hole
for receiving the bolt therethrough. A cross plate
attached to and bridging opposed angle irons
threadably receives the bolt to thus secure each
grate. In this manner, the grates are held against
vertical movement.
It can be appreciated, since the bolt may be
removed, the bolt-down method is not a fool-proof
method of preventing theft or unwanted removal of the
grates. In order to ultimately secure a bolted down
grate against removal, additional locking methods are
required, further increasing the cost and complexity
of the assembly. In addition, the cross plate may
interfere with the flow of fluid within the trench.
If, for instance, solid material is entrained within
the fluid, the cross plate may act as a collection
point for the golid material. This could eventually
lead to blockage of the trench.
Accordingly, the need is identified to
provide a trench cover assembly that is easy and
economical to manufacture and install while providing
complete security against cover removal.
SUMMARY OF THE lNv~NllON
It is a primary object of the present
invention to provide a trench cover assembly in which
the cover member is completely secure against removal.
It is an additional object of the present
invention to provide a trench cover assembly in which
the cover member can be secured against removal in
conjunction with initial assembly and installation.
It is still another object of the present
invention to provide a trench cover assembly having a
cover member and a pair of opposed support members
~0 96/05381 PCT/US95110128
~73752
therefor and in which the cover member is held against
vertical movement by the support members.
An additional object of the present
invention i8 to provide a trench cover assembly in
which the cover member is held against removal along
its entire longit~ length.
It is a further object of the present
invention to provide a trench cover assembly that is
easy and economical to manufacture and install.
Additional objects, advantages and other
novel ~eatures of the invention will be set forth in
part in the description that follows and in part will
become apparent to those skilled in the art upon
examination of the following or may be learned with
the practice of the invention. The objects and
advantages of the invention may be realized and
obtained by means of the instrumentalities and
combinations particularly pointed out in the app~
claims.
To achieve the foregoing and other objects,
and in accordance with the ~uL~G~es of the present
invention as described herein, a trench cover assembly
in accordance with the teaching of the present
invention is provided. In its broadest æense, the
trench cover assembly comprises a cover member and a
pair of opposed support members. Furthermore, there
is means associated with the support members for
holding the cover member against vertical movement,
thus securing the cover member against removal.
In the preferred embodiment of the
invention, the holding means operates along the entire
longitl-~; n~ 1 length of the cover member.
Specifically, the holding means acts against the
entire length of cover members along both of the
opposed top edges thereof. Furthermore, the cover
WO 96/05381 . PCT/US95/1012X
7,1737~2
.
member and the support members cooperate to form a
flat surface. This aspect of the design is of
particular importance in locations where vehicles
travel over the trench.
Preferably, each of the pair of support
members comprises horizontally disposed upper and
lower legs bridged by a vertical wall. In order to
create the level trench cover for accommodating
traffic, the top ~urfaces of the upper legs are
substantially parallel with the top surface of the
cover member. In the particular preferred embodiment,
the support members are substantially C-sh~re~ in
cross-section. In accordance with this design and
when in opposed relation, the upper and lower legs of
the pair of ~u~p~ members extend inwardly
substantially the same distance from the vertical
bridging wall. It can be appreciated by those skilled
in the art that the upper and lower legs and the
vertical wall of the pair of support members thus
cooperate to define ret~;n;ng areas within which the
cover member is held against vertical movement.
In an important aspect of the invention, the
cover member is formed with a bottom surface and a top
surface of reduced lateral dimension relative to the
bottom surface. The top surface is defined by rabbets
formed in the top outer edge of each of opposing sides
of the cover member. This configuration allows the
cover member to be received within the ret~;n;ng areas
of the support members so that the top surface of the
cover member substantially horizontally aligns with
the top surface of the upper legs of the opposed
support members.
The opposing support members may be fixed to
a pre-formed trench body such as a metal pan. It can
be appreciated that the design of the trench cover
WO96/05381 ~1~ 3 7 ~ ~ PCT~S95110128
assembly is thus sufficiently versatile to allow it to
be included as part of a composite preformed trench or
to be delivered æeparately and installed at the work
site in association with the pour of a moldable trench
composition.
In order to ensure that the cover member is
sufficiently secured against removal, each end of the
pair of support members is blocked against passage
after the cover member has been received therein.
This is contemplated as being done using a moldable
trench forming composition such as concrete that is
poured around the pair of support members when this
composition is used to form the trench. Such a
composition may also be used at the ends of the
preformed trench body to secure the body within a
terranean void.
In an alternative design of the trench cover
assembly, an upper leg of at least one of the pair of
support members is formed with a gap of length greater
than the length of the cover member. This is to allow
the cover member to pass through the gap to rest on
the lower leg of the support member during the
installation pro~e~l~re. In this design, a flat bar of
substantially equal thickness to the upper leg of the
support member cooperates therewith, as by welding, to
fit into and close the gap in the upper leg following
placement of the cover member.
In still another alternative design, the
trench cover assembly has at least one of the pair of
support members that is an angle iron defined by a
vertical rail and a horizontal rail. A vertical post
is fixably attached to the vertical rail of the angle
iron. A horizontal plate is removably attached to the
vertical post. When so attached, a portion of the
plate extends in overlying relation to a horizontal
~096/05381 ~ 7~ PCT~S95/10128
- 6
rail of the angle iron. Accordingly, with this
design, the re~in;ng area of this support member is
created and the securing configuration is established
following the placement of the cover member therein by
5attaching the horizontal plate to the vertical post.
The invention further contemplates the
cQncApt of securing a trench cover assembly in
association with a trench. The method comprises
providing a cover member and a pair of opposed C-
10shaped support members. The support members each have
a ret~; n; n~ area within which the cover member i5
cooperatively held. A trench is prepared in a
terranean void so as to place the support members in
position to receive the cover member. In the
15preferred inventive method, the cover member is slid
into a common accessible end of the pair of support
members. This is followed by closing access to both
ends of the pair of support members so that the cover
member is secured against removal. In the preferred
20practice of the inventive method, the step of
preparing the trench comprises pouring a moldable
trench composition into the terranean void and around
the pair of support members to fix them in place while
allowing free access to at least one common end of
25each of the pair of support members.
Alternatively, the trench preparing step
entails fixing the pair of support members to a
preformed trench body and placing the trench body into
the terranean void. r
30The method of securing a trench cover
assembly in association with a trench can be practiced
in other alternative ways. More specifically, as with
the preferred practice of the method, a cover member
is provided. A pair of opposed support members is
35also provided, at least one of the pair of support
W096/OS381 ~ 37 52 PCT~S95/10128
members having a gap in an upper horizontal leg of
length greater than the length of the cover member.
A trench is prepared in a terranean void 80 as to
place the ~U~OL L members in position to receive the
cover member. The cover member is inserted through
the gap in the upper leg of the at least one of the
pair of ~u~o~ members so as to rest on its lower
horizontal leg. The cover member is placed to be
received with the ret~; n; ~g area of the opposed
~u~uLL member. A flat bar is fixedly attached to the
at least one of the support members to close the gap
therein. In this manner, the cover member is secured
against removal.
In a further alternative method, a cover
member is also provided. A pair of opposed support
members is also provided, each of the pair of support
members having a surface on which the cover member is
supported. At least one of the pair of support
members comprises an angle iron with a vertical post
fixedly attached to a vertical rail of the angle iron.
The cover member is laid upon the supporting surfaces
of the support members. A horizontal plate is
attached to the vertical post to extend in overlying
relation to the ~u~o~L surface of the angle iron.
The cover member is thus secured against removal.
Still other objects of the present invention
will become apparent to those skilled in this art from
the following description wherein there is shown and
described a preferred embodiment of this invention,
simply by way of illustration of one of the modes best
suited to carry out the invention. As will be
realized, the invention is capable of other different
embodiments and its several details are capable of
modification in various, obvious aspects all without
departing from the invention. Accordingly, the
wos6los38l æ~ ~ 7~ PCT~S95/10128
drawings and descriptions will be regarded as
illustrative in 'nature and not as restrictive.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawing, incorporated in
and forming a part of the specification, illustrates
several aspects of the present invention and together
with the description serves to explain the principles
of the invention. In the drawing:
Figure l is a perspective view of the
components of the preferred emho~iment of the
inventive trench cover assembly;
Figure 2 is an end view of the components of
the trench cover assembly shown in Figure l;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the trench
cover assembly shown attached to a preformed trench
body;
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken
across lines 4-4 of Figure 3;
Figures 5a-5e are a series of views showing
the method of securing a trench cover assembly in
association with a trench;
Figure 6 is perspective view of an
alternative embodiment of the trench cover assembly,
showing a gap in the upper horizontal leg of one of
the support members and a flat bar that is used to
fill the gap after placement of the cover member;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of another
embodiment of the trench cover assembly, showing an
angle iron as one of the support members and the
horizontal plate that is cooperatively attached
thereto; and
Figure 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view
of the angle iron and horizontal plate shown in Figure
7.
~WO 96/05381 PCT/U$95J10128
7~ S2
Reference will now be made in detail to the
present preferred emho~; ment of the invention, an
example of which is illustrated in the accompanying
drawing.
D~ATT~n DESCRIPTION OF T~ lNv~NllON
A trench cover assembly 10 constructed in
accordance with the teachings of the present invention
comprises at least one cover member 12 and a pair of
opposed support members 14a, 14b. In typical
situations, the length of the trench is significantly
greater than the conventional length of the cover
member 12. Therefore, a plurality of cover members 12
are commonly positioned end-to-end to cover the
trench. Although the ~;~c~ ion below refers
primarily to the singular, the inventive trench cover
assembly may include one or more cover members 12,
with each cover member having the same configuration.
As will be realized in accordance with the details of
the design ~et out below, the cover member 12 of the
assembly 10 is advantageously secured against removal
following installation at its operational site.
The inventive design advantageously
contemplates the inclusion of means that overlies the
cover member 12 to.hold it against vertical movement
when in place. The preferred design involves
associating the holding means with the support members
14a, 14b.
In the particular preferred embodiment as
shown in Figures 1 and 2, the support members 14a, 14b
are substantially C-~h~p~ in cross-section. As is
obvious from Figure 2, when in opposed relation, one
~u~poLL member (14a) presents a C-sh~re~ configuration
and the other ~U~OL L member (14b) presents an
inverted or mirror-image C-sh~r~ configuration. The
W096/05381 PCT~S95/10128 ~
7~
use of "C-shaped" as a descriptor is for purposes of
simplicity and consistency and refers equally to both
ones of the pair of support members 14a and 14b.
With specific reference to the support
member correspo~ g to numeral 14a, each support
member is formed with a lower horizontal leg 16a, an
upper horizontal leg 18a and a vertical wall 2Oa that
bridges the lower and upper horizontal legs. The legs
16a, 18a and wall 20a define a ret~;ning area 21a
within which the cover member 12 is held when the
assembly 10 is completed. The opposed support member
14b has identical ~tructure enumerated 16b, 18b, 20b
and 21b. Also illustrated as fixed to the support
members 14a, 14b are vertically projecting anchor
lS studs 22a, 22b and horizontally projecting anchor
studs 24a, 24b. The anchor studs 22, 24 assist in
securely fixing the support members 14 when the trench
is constructed and do not relate directly on the
inventive co~c~pt.
Those skilled in the art r~Cogn;7e that, in
present applications, the conventional trench cover
assembly uses angle irons upon which the cover member
rests. It can be appreciated that the ~u~olL members
14a, 14b of the preferred inventive design actually
incorporate an angle iron with the addition of the
upper horizontal legs 18a, 18b. Accordingly, as is
shown in Figure 4, the cover member 12 rests upon the
lower horizontal legs 16a, 16b and the vertical walls
20a, 20b substantially prevent the cover member from
shifting in a horizontal direction.
In an important aspect of the invention, the
upper horizontal legs 18a, 18b overlie a portion of
the cover member 12 following assembly. As can be
seen from Figures 1 and 3, the overlying relationship
occurs along substantially the entire longitll~in~l
~ WO96/05381 PCT~S95/10128
21737S2
length of the cover member 12. When assembled, the
upper horizontal legs 18a, 18b of the support members
14a, 14b prevent the cover member 12 from being lifted
away. This prevents the cover member 12 from being
removed from the assembly 10.
In most industrial and commercial sites, the
cover member 12 in such an ~e~hly takes the form of
a grate with drain slots 26 that allows fluid such as
rain water to pass through into the underlying trench
to be carried away to a storm sewer. While the
drawing figures illustrate the use of such a
conventional grate as the cover member 12, the
inventive trench cover assembly contemplates the use
of other types of elements that are conducive to being
supported and covering a trench.
A key aspect of the invention involves the
particular configuration of the cover member 12 to
enable a cooperative fit within the retA;~; ng areas
21a, 21b of the ~U~Ol L members 14a, 14b. More
particularly, the cover member 12 has a substantially
flat bottom surface 28 to enable it to rest on the
lower horizontal legs 16a, 16b of the ~u~p~,~ members
14a, 14b. The lateral dimension of the bottom surface
28 defines the overall width dimension of the cover
member 12. The particular specifications of each
installation site determines the needed width
dimension of the cover member 12. It is desirable in
all cases, however, to space the opposed support
members 14a, 14b at such a distance relative to each
other to provide a small amount of clearance between
the vertical walls 20a, 20b and the side surfaces 30
of the cover member 12. This is to allow the cover
member 12 to slide longitll~inAlly along the support
members 14a, 14b during assembly as is described
below.
WO96/05381 ~l~ 3 7 ~ ~ PCT~S95/10128
The cover member 12 has a top surface 32 of
reduced lateral dimension relative to the bottom
surface 28. The relative difference in lateral
dimension of the bottom surface 28 and the top surface
32 is created by forming rabbets 34 along the top
surface of opposing sides of the cover member 12. The
rabbets 34 each form a relief area into which the
upper horizontal legs 18a, 18b extend to overlie and
hold the cover member 12 against vertical movement.
With this design, the primary goal of preventing the
removal of the cover member 12 when functionally
placed is achieved. As with the clearance between the
vertical walls 20a, 20b and the side surfaces 30 of
the cover member 12, it is desirable to form the
rabbets 34 in such a manner as to allow clearance
between the relief surfaces 35a and 35b thereof and
the upper horizontal legs 18a, 18b to further allow
the cover member to slide within the support members
14a, 14b.
As illustrated by the embodiment shown in
Figure 4, it is also preferable to design the
inventive cover assembly 10 80 that the top surface 32
of the cover member 12 is substantially horizontally
aligned with the top æurfaces 36a, 36b of the upper
horizontal legs 18a, 18b of the support members 14a,
14b. This allows the presentation of a substantially
flat surface across the entire extent of the trench
cover assembly 12. This design is of particular
importance at commercial and industrial sites where
substantial vehicle traffic takes place. The
continuous level surface eliminates jarring of the
vehicle since the wheels thereof roll along a constant
plane.
The inventive trench cover assembly 10 is
adapted for use with trenches formed in accordance
~ WO96/05381 2 ~ 7 3 7 5 ~ PCT~S95110128
with the teachings of the applicant's patented method
disclosed in U.S. Patent 5,281,051, issued January 25,
1994, entitled TRENCH FORMING ASSEMBLY AND METHOD, the
content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The trench cover assembly 10 is also contemplated as
being fixed to preformed trench bodies that have long
been used in the art.
Figures 3 and 4 illustrate a typical
preformed trench body with which the trench cover
assembly 10 is adapted to be used. More particularly,
a metal pan 38 is shown fixed to the lower horizontal
legs 16a, 16b through welds 40a, 40b. As is common,
the pan 38 includes locking ribs 42 on opposed sides
thereof to assist in securing the pan in its
~L r Gul.ding environment. By fixing the support
members 14, 14b to the preformed trench body prior to
functional placement, aligned positioning of the
trench cover assembly 10 over the trench is assured.
The inventive method of securing a trench
cover assembly 10 over a trench is illustrated in the
series of Figures 5a-5e. The trench in this series of
figures may be formed in accordance with the teaching
of U.S. Patent 5,281,051 cited above using a moldable
trench composition such as concrete.
Beginn;~g with Figure 5a, the components of
the trench cover assembly 10, including the cover
member 12 and ~u~o~L members 14a, 14b, are provided
at the installation site. A terranean void or ditch
44 is dug in the ground 46. In this illustrated
emho~iment of the method, a trench form 48 is placed
in the ditch 44 in preparation for receiving a
moldable trench composition 50, such as concrete,
therearound.
Figure 5b illustrates the trench composition
50 ~u~Loullding the form 48. The composition 50
WO96/05381 ~1 ~ 3 7 ~ 2 PCT~S95/10128 ~
~ . .. .
14
hardens around the form 48 as it dries and, after the
form is removed, the hardened composition defines the
body of the trench 51 (see Figure 5c). It can be
appreciated by comparing Figures 5a and 5b that the
An~hor studs 22 and 24 have been enveloped by the
hardened trench composition 50 to thus provide
reinforcement for stable positioning of the ~uy~o~L
members 14a, 14b within the trench.
After the trench form 48 has been removed,
the support members 14a, 14b are ready to receive the
cover member 12. At least one common end of each of
the support members 14a, 14b are allowed to remain
accessible following the pour of the moldable trench
composition 50 around the trench form 48. As shown in
Figure 5c, the cover member or members 12 are slid
into the accessible end of the support members 14a,
14b in accordance with direction arrow A. It can be
appreciated that both ends of the support members 14a,
14b may be allowed to remain accessible when a trench
51 of significant length is being constructed. The
cooperative receipt of the opposed rabbets 34 of the
cover member 12 within the ret~i n i ng areas 2la, 2lb
allows this assembly step to be accomplished.
Once all cover members 12 to be used are in
place, the ends of the support members 14a, 14b are
closed. This involves filling the balance of the
terranean void 44 with trench composition 50 as shown
in Figure 5d to block the ends of the support members
14a, 14b. The cover members 12 are thus æecure
against removal and present a level surface in
combination with the support members 14a, 14b to allow
smooth travel thereover (see Figure 5e).
An alternative embodiment of the trench
cover assembly 10 is shown in Figure 6. In this
embodiment, the ~u~o~L member 14b is shown with a gap
~ WO96/U5381 PCT~S95110128
~73752
52 in the upper horizontal leg 18b. The gap 52 has a
dimension that is greater than the dimension of the
longitll~; n~ 1 length of each of the cover members 12.
This allows the cover members 12 to be p~s~ through
the gap to rest on the lower horizontal leg 16b and be
manipulated to comfortably fit within the ret~; n; ng
area 21a of the opposed support member 14a. Once all
of cover members 12 are in their proper position, a
flat bar 54 of length equal to the gap 52 is directed
thereto (note arrow B) and is fixed in place,
preferably by welding. The flat bar 54 is also of a
thick~es~ substantially equal to the thic~n~ss of the
upper horizontal leg 18b. The size consistency of the
re~;n;ng area 21b is thus preserved upon attachment
of the bar 54 to the leg 18b. The gap 52 is thus
eliminated following attachment and the cover members
12 are held against removal at the operational site.
Although Figure 6 illustrates a gap 52 only
in --u~polL member 14b, the inventive assembly 10
contemplates a like gap in the opposed ~u~o~L member
14a. Regardless of whether a gap 52 exists in either
one or both of the ~u~po~L members 14a, 14b, the
filling of the gap(s) by the flat bar(s) 54 creates in
essence C-~h~pe~ ~u~po~L members 14a, 14b having
ret~;ning areas 21a, 21b for holding the cover members
12 against vertical movement.
A further alternative embodiment of the
trench cover assembly 10 is illustrated in Figures 7
and 8. The ~u~u~ L member 14b in this embodiment is
formed as an angle iron 56. The angle iron 56 has a
vertical rail 58 and a horizontal rail 60. The
horizontal rail 60 supports the cover member 12 laying
thereon. At least one vertical post 62 is fixed to
the vertical rail 58 of the angle iron 56. Each
WO96/05381 ~17 3 7 5 2 PCT~S95/10128 ~
16
vertical post 62 has a threaded orifice 64 adapted to
receive a bolt 66.
In order to create the holding means in this
embodiment, a horizontal plate 68 cooperatively
attaches to the angle iron 56. The horizontal plate
68 is formed with at least one hole 70 through which
the bolt 66 extends. When the horizontal plate 68 i8
bolted to the angle iron s6, a portion of the plate
forms an upper horizontal leg that overlies the area
above the horizontal rail 60 and ultimately, the cover
member 12.
Figure 7 depicts the horizontal plate 68 as
having three spaced holes 70 that, when positioned for
assembly, align with three vertical posts 62 on the
vertical rail 58 of the angle iron 56. This is for
illustration purposes only and a greater or lesser
number of holes 70 and the resulting spacing thereof
may be used.
When this embodiment is in use, the trench
51 is formed in the same manner as described above.
When the cover members 12 are ready to be put in
place, they are laid upon the horizontal rail 60 of
the angle iron 56 and manipulated so as to comfortably
fit within the ret~ining area 2la of the opposed
support member 14a. The horizontal plate 68 is
properly aligned with the angle iron 56 and bolts 66
are inserted through the holes 70 and threaded into
the orifices 64 of the posts 62. Since the horizonal
plate 70 overlies the horizontal rail 60 and thus the
cover members 12, the cover members cannot be lifted
from their position within the support members 14a,
14b.
Those skilled in the art can recognize that
both support members 14a, 14b can be formed as angle
irons to be used with cooperating horizontal plates.
~ WO96/05381 ~1~3~5~ PCT~S9~/10128
As with the other embodiments, when in final assembly,
the vertical rail 58, the horizontal 60 and the
overlying portion of the horizontal plate 68 define a
C-shaped ffU~O~ L member (14a and/or 14b) with a
retA;n;ng area (21a and/or 21b) within which the cover
member 12 is confined.
It is recogni~ed that the embodiment of the
inventive trench cover assembly 10 just described
differs from the other embodiments in that the cover
member 12 is releasably restrained within the support
members 14a, 14b following assembly and functional
placement. Nevertheless, this particular design
provides advantages over prior art mo~ in that it
involves fewer components and less material that
require an element that extends between the support
members and may interfere with the flow of fluid
within the trench.
In summary, numerous benefits derive from
employing the inventive trench cover assembly 10 and
the method securing such an assembly in association
with a trench. The C-~h~pe~ ~u~u~L members 14a, 14b
presented in the functional environment hold the cover
member 12 against removal without the use of elements
that may interfere with the flow of fluid within the
trench 51. The formation of rabbets 34 on the top
outer edges of the cover member 12 allows its
cooperating receipt within the support members 14a,
14b and the capability of sliding for entry and/or
positioning. The design of the trench cover assembly
10 also presents a level surface over which vehicles
may smoothly travel.
The foregoing description of a preferred
embodiment of the invention has been presented for
purposes of illustration and description. It is not
inten~e~ to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to
Wo96/05381 ~1 7 3 7 ~ 2 ~ PCT~S9S/10128
the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or
variations are possible in light of the above
teachings. The embodiment was chosen and described to
provide the best illustration of the principles of the
invention and its practical application to thereby
enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the
invention in various emhoA; ments and with various
modifications as is suited to the particular use
contemplated. All such modifications and variations
are within the scope of the invention as determined by
the app~nA~ claims ~hen interpreted in accordance
with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and
equitably entitled.
