Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02452320 2010-04-29
A DISPENSER FOR WET AND DRY INTERFOLDED SHEETS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The use of premoistened or "wet" sheets has gained wide acceptance for a
variety
of uses, particularly premoistened bathroom applications. The premoistened
sheets are
generally formed from an absorbent material such as a paper or a polymeric
web, or
combinations thereof, and may contain a disinfectant, medicant, deodorant,
anti-microbial,
anti-bacterial, cleansing agent, and so forth, in one or more combinations, in
the "wet"
formulation. The sheets are generally stored and dispensed from a sealable
container to
prevent the sheets from drying out.
Various premoistened dispenser designs have been used with existing bathroom
fixtures, such as fixtures for conventional rolled products. These separate or
combined
dispensers are often cumbersome and bulky, and they are problematic with
regard to
space and mounting considerations. Refilling one or both dispensers can also
be difficult.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a dispenser capable of
dispensing wet
and dry sheets simultaneously from a common fixture. In addition, it would be
desirable to
provide a non-refillable, disposable dispenser that is adapted for use in a
conventional
rolled product dispenser.
DEFINITIONS
As used herein, the term "fasteners" means devices that fasten, join, connect,
secure, hold, or clamp components together. Fasteners include, but are not
limited to,
screws, nuts and bolts, rivets, snap-fits, tacks, nails, loop fasteners, and
interlocking
male/female connectors, such as fishhook connectors, a fish hook connector
includes a
male portion with a protrusion on its circumference. Inserting the male
portion into the
female portion substantially permanently locks the two portions together.
As used herein, the term "hinge" refers to a jointed or flexible device that
connects
and permits pivoting or turning of a part to a stationary component. Hinges
include, but
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are not limited to, metal pivotable connectors, such as those used to fasten a
door to
frame, and living hinges. Living hinges may be constructed from plastic and
formed
integrally between two members. A living hinge permits pivotable movement of
one
member in relation to another connected member.
As used herein, the term "couple" includes, but is not limited to, joining,
connecting,
fastening, linking, or associating two things integrally or interstitially
together.
These terms may be defined with additional language in the remaining portions
of
the specification.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In response to the difficulties and problems discussed above, a non-refillable
dispenser containing both premoistened and dry sheets is provided. The non-
refillable
dispenser includes a housing having a polygonal shape. The housing has a first
compartment configured to hold and dispense therefrom a plurality of
premoistened
sheets and a second compartment configured to hold and dispense therefrom a
plurality of
dry sheets. The dispenser has a dispensing opening defined in each of the
first and
second compartments for dispensing the sheets therefrom. In addition, the
dispenser
includes at least one pair of openings positioned through at least one of the
first and
second compartments of the housing. The openings are configured to receive a
roll
mount of a standard rolled bath tissue fixture therethrough, which is used to
couple the
dispenser thereto. The housing has a width dimension which is less than a
length
dimension of a roll mount.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a non-
refillable
dispenser containing both premoistened and dry sheets, comprising: a housing
including a
first compartment configured to hold and dispense therefrom a plurality of
premoistened
sheets and a second compartment configured to hold and dispense therefrom a
plurality of
dry sheets, a dispensing opening defined in each of the first and second
compartments for
dispensing sheets therefrom; and at least one pair of openings positioned
through at least
one compartment of the housing, the openings positioned on opposing side
walls, each
opening defining a slot having a resilient material positioned to partially
block each slot to
resiliently hold a roll mount of a standard rolled bath tissue fixture
thereagainst, the
openings configured to receive the roll mount of the standard rolled bath
tissue fixture
therethrough to couple the housing thereto.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a non-
refillable dispenser, comprising: a housing including opposing sidewalls, an
upper and
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lower wall, and a front and back wall, the housing including a first
compartment configured
to hold and dispense therefrom a plurality of premoistened sheets, and a
second
compartment configured to hold and dispense therefrom a plurality of dry
sheets, a
dispensing opening defined in each of the first and second compartments for
dispensing
sheets therefrom; and a plurality of openings positioned on the opposing
sidewalls of the
housing, at least one pair of openings of the plurality of openings positioned
through the
first compartment of the housing and the first compartment configured to
receive a roll
mount therethrough such that when a roll mount is positioned through the pair
of
openings, the premoistened sheets are positioned adjacent the roll mount and
the housing
is supported on a standard rolled bath tissue fixture in a position to
facilitate easy removal
of premoistened sheets and dry sheets from the housing.
In another aspect of the invention, a dispensing system is provided. The
dispensing system includes a standard rolled bath tissue fixture. The fixture
has a pair of
spaced-apart and confronting support arms positioned to engage a roll mount
which
extends therebetween. The dispensing system also includes a non-refillable,
disposable
dispenser. The non-refillable, disposable dispenser includes a housing having
a polygonal
shape. The housing has a first compartment configured to hold and dispense
therefrom a
plurality of premoistened sheets, and a second compartment configured to hold
and
dispense therefrom a plurality of dry sheets. The housing is configured to fit
between the
support arms of the fixture when positioned therebetween. The dispenser has a
dispensing opening defined in each of the first and second compartments for
dispensing
the sheets therefrom. In addition, the dispenser includes at least one pair of
openings
positioned through at least one of the first and second compartments of the
housing. The
roll mount is positioned through the openings and supports the housing in the
fixture in a
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fixed position to facilitate easy removal of premoistened sheets and dry
sheets from the
housing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the dispenser of the
present
invention, showing a first compartment and a second compartment;
Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the dispenser of the first
embodiment
and a standard rolled product bath fixture with a roll mount of the fixture
positioned in the
dispenser;
Figure 3 is a top plan view of the dispenser of the first embodiment
positioned on
the fixture;
Figure 4 is a side view of the dispenser of the first embodiment positioned on
the
fixture;
Figure 5 is another side view of the dispenser of the first embodiment
positioned
on the fixture;
Figure 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the dispenser of the
present invention;
Figure 7 is a side view of the embodiment of Figure 6, but positioned on a
fixture;
Figure 8 is another side view of the embodiment of Figure 6, positioned on a
fixture;
Figure 9 is a side view of another embodiment of the present invention,
showing
the dispenser positioned on a fixture and a securing flap positioned against a
support
surface for securing the dispenser in a fixed, unmovable position for
dispensing;
Figure 10 is a side view of the embodiment of Figure 9, showing the securing
flap
positioned adjacent the lower surface of the dispenser being unfolded outward;
Figure 11 is another side view of the embodiment of Figure 9, showing the
securing flap being positioned;
Figure 12 is yet another side view of the embodiment of Figure 9, showing the
securing flap with a connecting member thereon;
Figure 13 is a top plan view of a cored or coreless roll dispenser; and
Figure 14 is still yet another side view of the embodiment of Figure 9,
showing the
securing flap as a sliding securing flap which is positioned in the housing
(shown in
phantom lines) prior to being moved outward to secure the housing in a
dispensing
position.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Reference will now be made in detail to one or more embodiments of the
invention,
examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example and embodiment
is
provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not meant as a limitation
of the
invention. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one
embodiment may
be used with another embodiment to yield still a further embodiment. It is
intended that
the invention include these and other modifications and variations as coming
within the
scope and spirit of the invention.
Referring to the figures in general, a dispenser is provided for storing and
dispensing both premoistened sheets and dry sheet from a single dispenser
housing. It
should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to any
particular type of dry
or premoistened sheets. The dispenser is well suited for dispensing individual
stacked
interfolded sheets, as generally illustrated in the figures. Non-limiting
examples of
premoistened sheets are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,741,944 and 4,865,221,
both to
Jackson et. al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,629,081 to Richards et al., U.S. Pat. No.
5,656,361 to Vogt
et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,964,351 to Zander. Non-limiting examples of dry
sheets are
disclosed in U.S. Pat No. 3,301,746 to Sanford et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,322,617
to Osborne,
U.S. Pat. No. 5,048,589 to Cook et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,399,412 to Sudall et
al.,U.S. Pat.
No. 5,607,551 to Farrington et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,672,248 to Wendt et
al. Such stack
configurations for dry or premoistened sheets are well known to those of
ordinary skill in
the art and need not be described in great detail herein.
As illustrated in Figures 1-5, a dispenser 10 according to the invention is
provided
for dispensing promoistened sheets 12 and dry sheets 14 from a single housing
unit 16.
The housing 16 includes a first compartment 18 in which a container 20 of
premoistened
sheets 12 is stored, and from which the premoistened sheets 12 are dispensed,
as shown
in Figures 1 and 2. The housing 16 also includes at least a second compartment
22 in
which dry sheets 14 are stored and from which the sheets 14 are dispensed.
A first dispensing opening 24 is defined in the housing 16 to permit access to
the
first compartment 18 or the container 20 of premoistened sheets 12 therein.
The first
dispensing opening 24 desirably is provided, by way of non-limiting example,
on an upper
wall or upper surface 26 of the housing 16. Any wall or surface of the housing
16 may be
used, however, to dispense the premoistened sheets 12. The container 20 of
premoistened sheets 12 is exposed through the first dispensing opening 24,
which
provides access thereto.
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Similarly, a second dispensing opening 32 is provided in the housing 16 to
permit
access to the dry sheets 14 contained in the second compartment 22. The second
dispensing opening 32 is provided, for example, but not by way of limitation,
in a lower
wall or lower surface 34 of the housing 16, a front wall 36 of the housing 16,
and any
combination thereof. The dispensing openings 24 and 32, however, may be
provided in
any wall structure(s), wall(s), and/or portion(s) of the housing 16. It will
be appreciated
that the dispensing openings 24 and 32 may take on any suitable shape or
configuration.
The dispensing openings shown and/or described herein may be covered, for
example,
but not by way of limitation, by a plastic film (not shown), and so forth. The
dispensing
openings may be formed from perforated portions that, when removed, provide
the
openings (not shown), and so forth.
Referring to Figures 3-5, the housing 16 has a configuration with a width
dimension
38 between opposing side walls 40, a length dimension 41 between front and
back walls
36, 63 and a depth dimension 42 between upper and lower surfaces 26 and 34 so
as to be
supported by a conventional roll product fixture. Such fixtures are well known
and a
typical fixture 44 is illustrated in Figures 2-5 as having a base or back
member 45 and a
pair of transversely extending side support arms 46. Alternatively, fixtures
44' (Figures 6-9)
have side support arms 46 mounted to and extending transversely from a
generally
vertically disposed support surface 48. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, each of
the support
arms 46 has a length 49 which extends from a coupled end 50 to a free end 52
of the arm
46. A divot or recess 54 is typically provided near each free end 52. The
support arms 46
also have a width dimension 55 between each support arm 46 across which a roll
mount
56 extends and which also generally corresponds to a length dimension 55' of
the roll
mount 56. The width 55/length 55' is typically in a range of about 6.0 inches
(15.2 cm) to
about 4.0 inches (10.2 cm). Desirably, the width 55/length 55' is in a range
of about 5.6
inches (14.2 cm) to about 4.75 inches (12.1 cm). It will be appreciated that
the width
dimension 38 of the housing 16 is less than the width 55 between the support
arms, and
less than the length 55' of the roll mount 56 which extends across the width
55. That is,
the housing 16 desirably has a width 38 in a range of about 5.5 inches (14 cm)
to about
4.70 inches (11.9 cm). Even more desirably, the housing has a width in a range
of about
5.25 inches (13.3 cm) to about 4.6 inches (11.7 cm). Yet even more desirably,
the
housing has a width in a range of about 5.25 inches (13.3 cm) to about 4.5
inches (11.4
cm).
The roll mount 56, in the present embodiment, for example, a conventional
spindle,
is provided. In the present embodiment, the roll mount 56 has connecting or
protruding
members 58 on each end 59 is typically inserted through a hollow core of a
roll product
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CA 02452320 2010-04-29
and the protruding members 58 are received in the recesses 54. The roll mount
56 is
received through a portion of the housing 16 in order to couple the dispenser
10 to the
fixture 44 or 44'. As used herein, the term "roll mount" includes a spindle,
and also
includes a pair of prongs 56' mounted on each arm 46 or side portion of a
fixture, such as
may be used with a coreless bath tissue roll, shown generally in Figure 13,
one non-
limiting example of which is illustrated and described in detail in U.S. Pat.
No. 5.620.148 to
J. Mitchell.
The dispenser 10 has at least one positioning means such as a pair of slots
60, as
illustrated in Figures 2 and 3-5. A resilient material 62 may be positioned
adjacent each
slot 60 to partially block a portion of each slot 60. The resilient material
62 is desirably a
natural or a synthetic foam, sponge, and/or rubber, and combinations thereof.
The
resilient material 62 may comprise any material which when compressed and then
un-
compressed permits the resilient material to spring back to its original size,
shape, position,
and so forth.
The roll mount 56 of the fixture 44 is positioned to extend through each slot
60, as
illustrated in Figures 2-5. That is, the slots 60 in the housing 16 are
configured, in the
present embodiment, so that the roll mount 56 extends through the side walls
40 and
adjacent the upper surface 26 of the housing 16. The housing 16 is configured
so that
each end 59 of the roll mount 56 and the protruding member 58 thereon extends
out of
each slot 60, as shown in Figure 2. The protruding members 58 typically
releasably
couple to the recesses 54 on each free end 52 of each of the side support arms
46,
thereby firmly pressing a back wall 63 the housing 16 against at least one of:
(a) the
coupled ends 50 of the side support arms 46, (b) the back member 45, and/or
(c) the
support surface 48, thereby securing the housing 16 of the dispenser 10 in a
relatively
fixed and unmovable position in the fixture 44. Since the length 49 of the
support arms 46
may vary among different fixtures, the resilient material 62 positioned
adjacent to and
blocking a portion of each slot 60 is configured to compress if the length 49
of the side
support arms 46 is relatively short (Figure 4), but to fill in at least a
portion of the slots 60 if
the length 49 of the side support arms 46 is relatively long (Figure 5). In
either alternative,
the resilient material 62 assists in moving the roll mount 56 to a position
where the back
wall 63 is positioned against one of the previously described elements, as
illustrated in
Figures 3-5, so that unwanted rotation or movement of the housing 16 is
prevented. It will
be understood that the slots 60 and/or the roll mount 56 may be positioned
adjacent or
through any compartment(s), wall(s), surface(s) and/or portion(s) of the
housing 16.
Alternatively, the resilient material, or a material attached thereto (not
shown), may
contain an aperture through which the roll mount is positioned, in order to
hide or mask the
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CA 02452320 2003-12-08
larger slots. It will be understood that the resilient material will act as
previously described
herein to position the housing in a fixed position for dispensing sheets
therefrom.
The housing 16 is desirably a non-refillable, disposable housing 16 which may
be
formed from any conventional material, and may be a relatively inexpensive
cardboard,
paperboard, plastic, any combinations thereof, and so forth. Alternatively,
the housing 16
has a separate sidewall which is hinged or coupled thereto to permit refilling
(not shown).
As illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5, the housing 16 desirably is an
integral unit such that
the first and second compartments 18 and 22 are joined and non-separable. For
example,
the first and second compartments 18 and 22 may be formed separately, but be
bonded or
coupled together, by way of heat sealing, adhesively sealing, ultrasonically
sealing,
stapling, taping, shrink wrapping, and so forth. In another example, the
housing 16 may
contain an internal wall 64, as shown in Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5. This wall 64
may define a
lower surface 65 of the first compartment 18 as well as an upper surface 65'
of the second
compartment 22. It may be desired to form at least a portion of the housing 16
from a
liquid impermeable material so as to properly contain the premoistened sheets
12.
However, portion(s) of the housing 16 may be formed partially or entirely of
any type of
material, including a liquid absorbent or liquid impermeable material. For
example, the
premoistened sheets 12 may be encased in a liquid impermeable film 66, as
illustrated
generally in Figure 1, and this film 66 may provide a portion, or all, of the
container 20
and/or the first compartment 18 (not shown). In a further example, the film 66
may provide
all or a portion of the internal wall 64 (not shown). Alternatively, one or
more
compartments 18, 22 of the housing 16 may be lined with the film 66 (not
shown). The
premoistened sheets 12 may be provided in the container 20 which is lined with
film 66, as
illustrated in Figure 1. The container 20 desirably will be smaller than the
compartment in
which it is contained, or the container may form the first compartment without
need for an
internal wall 64 (not shown). Further, the container 20 may be movable within
the
compartment, to accommodate a roll mount positioned adjacent to it, as shown
generally
in Figures 1-8.
As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the resealable cover 68 is positioned over the
first
dispensing opening 24 in the housing 16, which permits access to the
premoistened
sheets 12, which are disposed in the container 20 which is positioned in the
first
compartment 18. Alternatively, or in addition thereto, the container 20 for
the
premoistened sheets 12 may include a resealable cover (not shown) which is
positioned
on an upper surface 70 of the container 20 to permit access to the
premoistened sheets
12 through an opening in the container 20 (not shown). Such a resealable cover
is
accessed through the first dispensing opening 24 in the housing 16.
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The resealable cover 68 serves to maintain the moisture conditions within the
first
compartment 18 and/or the container 20 and prevents undesired drying out of
the
premoistened sheets 12. The resealable cover 68 includes an upper flap 72
which is
coupled to a portion of a lower flap 74, which has a slit or opening 76
therein, through
which the premoistened sheets 12 are withdrawn. The resealable cover 68 may be
is
positioned over the first dispensing opening 24 in the first compartment 18,
an opening
(not shown) in the container 20, or both (not shown). The upper flap 72
releasably
engages the lower flap 74 to provide a releasable closure to the first
compartment 18
and/or the container 20. Such releasable and resealable features between the
upper and
lower flaps 72, 74 is provided, by way of non-limiting example, by an
adhesive, such as a
pressure sensitive adhesive, a cohesive adhesive, such as a latex or other
natural rubber
material, and so forth. The present resealable cover 68 is presented herein by
way of
example, and not by way of limitation. Other resealable mechanisms, such as,
by way of
non-limiting example, snap-fit, hinged cover and lid, and so forth are known,
and any
commercially available resealable mechanism may be used with any compartment
18, 22
or container 20.
It will be appreciated that the housing 12 of the dispenser 10 may take on any
configuration, however, a generally polygonal shape is desirable. The
generally
rectangular, box-shaped configuration of the present embodiments, however, is
for non-
limiting illustrative purposes only. It will also be understood that the first
and second
compartments 18 and 22 may be reversed in position, need not be in a stacked
configuration, and may take on any suitable arrangement, including a side-by-
side
arrangement, a coaxial arrangement, and so forth. Any number of compartments
and/or
configurations may be used for simultaneously dispensing dry and premoistened
sheets
from a single housing, the housing being supported by a roll product dispenser
fixture. All
such configurations are within the scope and spirit of the present invention.
In another embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in Figures 6-8, the
dispenser
110 and housing 116 are similar to the dispenser 10 and the housing 16 shown
in Figures
1-5 and previously described in detail herein. The housing 116, however,
includes a
positioning means such as a plurality of apertures 161 provided on opposing
side walls
140. The plurality of apertures 161 are provided to accommodate different
lengths of side
support arms 46 of various fixtures 44'. That is, some apertures 161 are
positioned in the
sidewalls 140 to accommodate shorter side support arms 46 of a fixture 44'.
Other
apertures 161 are positioned in the sidewalls 140 to accommodate longer side
support
arms 46 of a fixture 44'.
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As illustrated in Figure 8, the side support arms 46 have a relatively shorter
length
49. Therefore, the roll mount 56 of the fixture 44' is inserted into apertures
161 that are
similar to the length 49 of the side support arms 46, so that the back wall 63
of the housing
116 will be held securely against at least one of: (a) the coupled ends 50
(not shown)
and/or (b) the support surface 48. The plurality of apertures 161 are provided
to adapt to
different lengths of side support arms 46 of the fixture 44', such as the
relatively longer
length 49 of the side support arms 46 shown in Figure 7. Such adaptation is
provided by
turning the housing 116 around in a direction 162 by 180 degrees, as
illustrated in Figure
6, so that the plurality of apertures 161 are presented at different positions
relative to the
length of the side support arms 46. Turning the housing 116 provides apertures
in a
position to accommodate most different lengths of side support arms 46 of
different
fixtures 44', which may not be accommodated by the housing 116 in its previous
position,
as shown in Figures 7 and 8. It will also be appreciated that any number and
location of
apertures 161 may be provided in any structure(s), wall(s), surface(s), and/or
portion(s) of
the housing 116 to permit the present dispenser 110 to be supported by a
standard bath
roll product dispenser fixture. Desirably, the container 20 holding the
premoistened sheets
12 will be movable within the compartment in which it is contained within the
housing 116
to accommodate the position of the roll mount 56 inserted therethrough, as
shown
generally in Figure 6. Alternatively, the container 20 is positioned within
the compartment
to avoid the roll mount 56 when it is disposed through the housing 116.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a dispenser 210 similar to
the
dispensers 10, 110 shown in Figures 1-5 and 6-8, respectively, and described
in detail
herein is provided. As shown in Figures 9-12, the dispenser 210 includes
positioning
means or a single pair of apertures 290 which are provided in opposite
sidewalls 240 of
the housing 216. In addition, a securing means or securing flap 292 is
provided on an
outer surface 294 of the housing 216, in this instance, but not by way of
limitation, on a
lower surface 234 thereof, as shown generally in Figure 10. As illustrated in
Figures 9, 11
and 12, the securing flap 292 includes a free end 296. At least a portion of
the free end
296 includes an additional securing means or contact member 298, such as, by
way of
non-limiting example, an adhesive, such as a pressure sensitive adhesive, one
or more
suction cups, and so forth.
The roll mount 56 of a fixture 44 is inserted through the apertures 290, as
shown in
Figure 9, and each protruding member 58 is releasably coupled to one of the
recesses 50
(Figure 2) of the side support arms 46. The housing 216 is positioned a
distance 299
from the back member 45 and/or the support surface 48. The free end 296 of the
securing
flap 292 is detached from its position against the housing 216. The free end
296 is
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CA 02452320 2003-12-08
positioned such that the contact member 298 is positioned against at least one
of the back
member (not shown) or the support surface 48 illustrated in Figure 9, to
secure the
housing 216 in a relatively fixed, unmovable position, and to prevent unwanted
movement
or rotation of the housing 216.
The securing flap 292 may be provided as a slide-out flap, as illustrated in
Figure
14, which is positioned adjacent on an inner surface 297 opposite the lower
surface 234 of
the dispenser 210. The flap 292 (shown in phantom in its non-dispensing
position) is
moved out of its non-dispensing position adjacent an inner surface of the
housing 216 and
moved into a position against the support surface 48, as described above. The
securing
flap 292 may be provided from any wall and/or surface of the dispenser 210. It
will be
understood that the securing flap 292 may be utilized with any embodiment
shown and/or
described herein. It will be appreciated that the housing of any embodiment
shown and/or
described herein may be secured to any portion of a roll product fixture
and/or a support
surface by other securing means. Such securing means include, but is not
limited to, tape,
bars, fasteners, plastic or elastomeric strips or strings, hook and loop
fasteners, any
combination thereof, and so forth.
While the present invention has been described in connection with certain
preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the subject matter
encompassed by
way of the present invention is not to be limited to those specific
embodiments. On the
contrary, it is intended for the subject matter of the invention to include
all alternatives,
modifications and equivalents as can be included within the spirit and scope
of the
following claims.
