Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TRAILER OPERABLE IN LOWERED AND RAISED TRANSPORT
POSITIONS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a trailer of the type having a flat deck
which can be positioned in raised and lowered positions, and more particularly
relates
to trailer operable to support a load in both the raised and lowered positions
in which
the lowered position corresponds to a deck height below the wheel height and
in
which the raised position corresponds to a deck height substantially at or
above the
wheel height.
BACKGROUND
Open deck trailers for being towed behind a towing vehicle are
commonly available in two varieties. One variety is a deck over configuration
in which
the deck surface of the trailer is positioned at or above the wheel height of
the trailer
so that the deck surface is continuous across the wheels. This type of trailer
is
convenient for side loading the trailer with pallets from a fork lift for
instance as the
weight of the material loaded onto the trailer can be centered at the wheel
axle
without interference of the wheel height interrupting the deck surface.
Alternatively, trailers are available in a deck between configuration in
which the deck surface is recessed below a height of the wheels and spans
between
the wheels, thus limiting the overall width of the deck surface at the wheel
location.
This configuration is particularly useful for lowering the overall height of
the deck
surface to permit more convenient loading as a ramp when positioning a vehicle
on
the trailer for instance and for lowering the overall height of the load on
the trailer.
To assist in lowering the deck height for loading, many trailers are
known to have wheels supported on a bell crank arrangement operated by a lift
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cylinder to control the wheel height. Various examples are disclosed in US
patents
4,943,202 to Galloway, 6,135,700 to Coilins, 4,008,902 to Dill, 2,762,631 to
Entz and
3,335,887 to Snook. In each instance however the load of the trailer is
carried by the
lift cylinder of the bell crank arrangement so that safe operation is fully
dependent
upon the proper operation of the lift cylinder. In general no additional load
support is
provided separate of the lift cylinder to safely ensure that the deck is
properly
supported in relation so the wheels. Furthermore, all of the above examples
permit
only a single transport height and cannot be operated in either a deck over
configuration or a deck between configuration in use. Consumers are thus
required to
purchase two separate trailer configurations if features of both a deck over
configuration and a deck between configuration are desired.
Canadian patent 1,283,673 to Orr discloses a trailer in which the deck
frame is similarly supported on the wheels by a bell crank arrangement
dependent
upon a lift cylinder to control height of the deck relative to the wheels. The
trailer
cannot be operated in a deck over configuration. As there is no additional
load
support, the load being carried relies heavily on the lift mechanism in order
to avoid
failure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a trailer
comprising:
a hitch connector for connection to a towing vehicle;
a deck frame for bearing a load thereon;
wheels;
a linkage supporting the deck frame on the wheels for relative
movement between a lowered transport position in which the deck frame is
spaced
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above the ground below a height of the wheels and a raised transport position
in
which the deck frame is spaced above the ground substantially at or above the
height
of the wheels; and
load supports supporting the deck frame on the wheels so as to be
arranged to bear a load on the deck frame in both the lowered transport
position and
the raised transport position for rolling movement along the ground.
By providing a linkage which supports the deck frame in either a lowered
transport position comprising a deck between configuration and a raised
transport
position comprising a deck over configuration consumers are only required to
purchase a single trailer to meet the advantages of both trailer
configurations. The
use of load supports in addition to the linkage ensures that the deck frame is
supported on the wheels in a manner so as to bear a load on the deck frame in
both
the lowered and raised positions. The load supports further ensure that the
trailer is
much safer to operate as it is not dependent upon a lift mechanism, for
example a
hydraulic lift cylinder or the like, to prevent failure and potential
excessive damage to
the trailer or surrounding property in use.
The linkage is preferably rotated over-centre between the lowered
transport position and the raised transport position.
The wheels are preferably supported on a common base frame wherein
the linkage comprises a 4-bar linkage coupled between the base frame and the
deck
frame. The wheels are preferably connected to the common base frame by
respective torsion axles.
Pivoting links of the linkage are preferably near horizontal in the lowered
transport position. In this instance, preferably there is provided a lift
mechanism for
lifting the deck frame in the lowered position relative to the wheels.
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The lift mechanism may be operatively connected between the base
frame and the deck frame, in rolling contact with at least one of the base
frame and
the deck frame.
Preferably the load supports support the deck frame for bearing a load
independently of the lift mechanism.
In the lowered transport position, the load supports preferably comprise
a portion of the base frame which supports the deck frame directly thereon.
In the raised transport position, the load supports preferably comprise
stops on the linkage which prevent rotation beyond the raised transport
position.
In the raised transport position, the load supports preferably also
comprise rigid posts extending downwardly and forwardly from the deck frame to
the
base frame so as to prevent rotation of the linkage beyond the raised
transport
position. The rigid posts may be telescopically extended in the lowered
transport
position in relation to the raised transport position.
Preferably the linkage is pivoted upwardly and forwardly from the
lowered transport position to the raised transport position.
The trailer preferably includes brakes for braking rotation of the wheels
for displacing the deck frame between the lowered transport position and the
raised
transport position with a towing vehicle.
There may be provided a latch mechanism which latches the deck frame
in the raised transport position and which is biased into latching engagement.
The latch mechanism may comprise a plurality of latch members
operatively connected to a common release mechanism for simultaneously
releasing
engagement of all of the latch members.
The release mechanism may include a catch which selectively maintains
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the latch mechanism in a released position.
When the base frame includes fenders supported thereon above the
wheels respectively, preferably there is provided a clearance gap between the
fenders
and the deck frame in both the lowered transport position and the raised
transport
5 position.
The deck frame preferably includes decking material thereon which lies
substantially flush at a top side thereof with a top side of the fenders.
The linkage may comprise a parallel linkage which maintains the deck
frame in horizontal orientation in both the lowered transport position and the
raised
transport position.
One embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the trailer in lowered transport
position.
Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the trailer in a raised transport
position.
Figure 3 is side elevational view of the trailer in which the hitch
connector of the trailer has been pivoted to tilt the trailer deck.
Figure 4 is a top plan view of the trailer.
Figure 5 is a partly sectional side elevational view of the linkage in the
lowered transport position.
Figure 6 is a partly sectional side elevational view of the linkage in the
raised transport position.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of the linkage in the raised transport
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position.
Figures 8A through 8C illustrate the sequence of the linkage being
displaced between the raised transport position and the lowered transport
position in
perspective views of the latches being engaged, the latches being retained in
a
released position by the release mechanism and the latch and release
mechanisms
both being disengaged in the lowered transport position respectively.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts
in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to the accompanying figures there is illustrated a trailer
generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The trailer 10 comprises a deck
type
trailer which is convertible between a lowered transport position comprising a
deck
between configuration as shown in figure 1 and a raised transport position
comprising
a deck over configuration as shown in figure 3.
The trailer includes wheels 12 which support the trailer for rolling
movement in a forward working direction 14 which comprises the longitudinal
direction
of the trailer. A hitch connector 16 is provided at a forward end of the
trailer for
connection to a towing vehicle 18 in a conventional manner.
The trailer 10 comprises a base frame 20 in the form of a rigid
rectangular plate which is supported horizontally to commonly span all of the
wheels
12. Two torsion axles 22 are supported beneath the rectangular plate forming
the
base frame so that the axles are oriented parallel and spaced apart from one
another
perpendicular to the longitudinal forward direction of the trailer. Torsion
arms 24 are
supported at opposing ends of each torsion axle so as to extend radially
therefrom to
support a wheel axle of a respective wheel 12 thereon. Two pairs of wheels are
thus
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supported by the axles 22 to support the base frame 20 thereon for rolling
movement
along the ground in the longitudinal forward direction of the trailer. The
base frame 20
is substantially fixed in height in relation to the wheels 12 and the ground
with the
exception of the suspension travel of the wheels relative to the base frame as
the
torsion arms 24 are rotated about the respective longitudinal axes of the
axles 22.
The base frame includes fenders 26 supported at opposing sides
thereof to extend over the wheels 12 of the trailer. There is sufficient space
provided
between the top of the wheels and the underside of the fenders to provide
clearance
for suspension travel. The fenders 26 are fixed in relation to the base frame
20 by
rigid struts 28 which support the fenders 26 to span laterally outwardly
beyond the
base frame spaced above the rectangular plate.
The trailer further comprises a deck frame 30 which is elongate in the
longitudinal direction of the trailer. The deck frame includes two parallel
beams 32
which are spaced apart the width of the base frame plate and which extend
substantially the full length of the deck in the longitudinal direction. The
beams 32 are
joined by a plurality of crossbars 34 connected between the top sides of the
beams to
span therebetween at various longitudinally spaced positions.
The crossbars 34 are parallel to one another and perpendicular to the
beams. At the wheels 12, the crossbars 34 have a length approximately equal to
the
width of the base frame 20 between the wheels which is in the order of 83
inches wide
so that the overall width of the trailer including the wheels and fenders fits
within the
required maximum dimension for road transport regulations. Ahead of and behind
the
wheels in the longitudinal direction, the crossbars 34 extend beyond the beams
at
both ends thereof a full width between opposing exterior sides of the fenders.
The
deck frame 30 thus defines wing portions 36 ahead and behind the wheels 12 in
the
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longitudinal direction of the trailer where the width of the trailer
perpendicularly to the
longitudinal direction is approximately 102 inches.
The deck frame 30 further includes side rails 38 which extend above the
crossbars 34 at a perimeter of the deck frame 30 for retaining decking
material 40 on
top of the deck frame 30 which lies flush with the tops of the rails 38.
The hitch connector 16 comprises a hitch frame 42 which is pivotally
connected at an inner end on the deck frame therebelow ahead of the wheels 12
of
the trailer. A suitable tilt mechanism 44 is coupled between the hitch frame
42 and the
front end of the deck frame for adjusting the relative spacing therebetween to
tilt the
deck frame in a conventional manner as shown in figure 3.
A linkage is provided which is coupled between the base frame and the
deck frame to control the relative movement therebetween. The linkage
comprises a
parallel 4-bar linkage including two pairs of parallel links coupled between
the
common base frame supporting the wheels i 2 thereon and the deck frame to
which
all of the links are connected.
Each pair of links is connected along a respective side of the base frame
at longitudinally spaced positions so as to define a front link 48 at a front
edge of the
base frame adjacent the respective side and a rear link 50 pivotally coupled
to a rear
of the base frame adjacent the respective side. Each of the links 48 and 50
comprises
a pair of parallel plates coupled at opposing ends of a pivot shaft 52
rotatably
supported within a bearing housing on the base frame.
The links 48 and 50 are similarly coupled to the respective beams of the
deck frame at longitudinally spaced positions in which the parallel plates
forming the
link are coupled to opposing ends of a pivot shaft 52 received within a
bearing
housing secured to the respective beam so that the plates lie in respective
pivot
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planes receiving the beam therebetween. Distance between pivot points along
each
link and the orientation of all of the links are identical to one another so
that the deck
frame remains parallel to the base frame as the linkage 46 is rotated between
the
lowered transport position and the raised transport position of the trailer.
In the lowered transport position, the beams rest on the top side of the
base frame so that the deck frame and surface material thereon are below a
height of
the wheels 12. The links in this instance extend generally rearwardly from the
pivot
connection on the base frame to the pivot connection of the deck frame so that
all of
the links are near horizontal in orientation. Innermost plates of the front
links 48
include a forward offset portion for extending over the front edge of the
plate forming
the base frame when the links are near horizontal. The front edge of the plate
forming
the base frame is also notched to partially receive the link therein in the
lowered
transport position.
The links are then pivoted upwardly and forwardly from the lowered
transport position to the raised transport position so that the deck frame
pivots in an
arc like motion relative to the base frame and the wheels over-center and then
slightly
downwardly into the raised transport position. In the raised position, the
beams are
spaced higher in elevation above the base frame in relation to the lowered
transport
position so that the deck frame and decking material on a top surface thereof
are
substantially flush with a top side of the fender near but slightly above the
wheel
height of the wheels 12. The links in the raised transport position extend
upwardly at a
slight forward incline so as to be rotated over-center in relation to the
lowered
transport position.
Load supports are provided for supporting the deck frame in a load
bearing position with a load thereon in both the lowered and raised transport
positions
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so that the deck frame is horizontal and spaced above the ground and supported
for
rolling movement in the forward direction in both positions.
In the lowered transport position, the load supports comprise portions of
the base frame along opposing longitudinally extending sides thereof which are
5 directly below the beams of the deck frame so that once that the deck frame
is
lowered into engagement with the base frame, the portions of the base which
are
engaged by the beams prevent further downward pivoting movement of the links
beyond the lowered transport position. Any loads supported on the deck frame
are
thus directly supported in the base frame and accordingly the wheels 12
through the
10 torsion axles 22.
In the raised transport position, the load supports in part comprise stops
54 which are supported on the rear links 50 at a read side thereof. The stops
54
comprise an acute angle wedge rigidly fixed on the rear links near the pivot
connection to the beams to span between the parallel plates defining the link.
The
stop 54 is thus aligned with the beam between the plates and directly
thereabove to
engage that beam when the link if pivoted to extend upwardly at a slightly
forward
incline in the raised transport position of the trailer. The stop 54 thus
prevents further
rotation of the links beyond the over-center raised transport position.
In the raised transport position, the load supports further comprise rigid
support posts 56. Two posts 56 are provided at laterally spaced apart
positions near
the front of the base frame. Each post comprises a main portion 58 which is
pivoted at
a top end on a front face of a respective one of the crossbars 34 of the deck
frame.
The posts are pivoted about a common horizontal axis oriented perpendicularly
to the
longitudinal direction of the trailer. A cradle is formed at the upper end of
the main
portion 58 which closely fits to the cross section of the underside of the
respective
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crossbar to distribute the weight from the crossbar onto the post.
At a lower end, the main portions 58 of the posts are received through
respective openings 60 in the plate forming the base frame. A stop collar 62
slidably
and telescopically receives the main portion 50 of each post 56 therein. The
stop
collar 62 is supported on a respective pivot shaft at a rear side thereof and
at a rear
side of the respective opening 60 for aligning the stop collar 62 with the
opening 60
when the collar is pivoted into a generally upright orientation. The stop
collars 62 are
similarly pivoted about a respective common axis extend laterally across the
frame
perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the trailer. The posts 56 are
thus
arranged to be telescopically extended by slidably displacing the main portion
58
within the respective stop collar 62 as the deck frame is pivoted in relation
to the base
frame.
Stop flanges 64 are provided at the base of the stop collar 62 for
engaging the plate defining the base frame surrounding the opening 60 when the
stop
collar is substantially upright at a rearward angle in the raised transport
position of the
trailer. The stop flanges 64 prevent further forward rotation of the stop
collars 62
forwardly and downwardly beyond the raised transport position.
Stop flanges 66 are also provided on the main portion 58 of the rigid
posts for engaging the top side of the respective stop collar 62 when the
rigid posts
are retracted in the raised transport position of the trailer. The stop
flanges 64 and 66
permit weight carried on the deck frame to be transmitted to the main portion
of the
post through the cradle and subsequently to the stop collar 62 by the stop
flanges 66
and then the base frame by the stop flanges 64. The rigid support posts 56 in
the
raised transport position are sloped downwardly and forwardly in the direction
of
movement of the deck frame towards the raised transport position, from the
deck
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1z
frame to the base frame. The rigid posts are strong enough to resist downward
force
of the load of the deck frame to prevent further pivoting of the linkage
beyond the
raised transport position. Alternatively, when returning the deck frame back
to the
lowered transport position, the stop flanges 64 and 66 do not interfere with
the rigid
posts 56 being telescopically extended as the deck frame is pivoted from the
raised
transport position rearwardly towards the lowered transport position.
A latch mechanism 68 is provided to latch the deck frame in the raised
position as desired. The latch mechanism generally comprises two latches 70
which
are spaced laterally apart along the front of the base frame. Each latch is
pivoted at a
rear end on a respective one of the crossbars 34 of the deck frame to extend
downwardly and forwardly towards the front edge of the base frame. A hook
flange 72
is provided at a lower free end of each latch 70. The hook flange 72 is
oriented
generally tangentially to the pivot axis which extends commonly between the
rear
pivots of each the latches 70 so that the hook flanges can be readily released
simply
by pivoting the latches about the respective pivot axis.
A spring 74 is coupled under tension between each latch 70 at an
intermediate location therealong to a respective anchor 75 spaced below the
crossbar
34 supporting the latches pivotally thereon. The springs thus act to bias the
latches
downwardly into engagement with the base frame at the free ends thereof. The
hook
flanges extend downwardly and slightly rearwardly in use for overlapping the
front
edge of the plate forming the base frame in a latched position.
A release mechanism 76 is provided for commonly releasing all of the
latches 70 simultaneously and for selectively maintaining the latches in a
released
position disengaged from the base frame. The release mechanism comprises a
carrier bar 78 extending laterally ahead of the base frame for supporting pair
of ramp
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members 80 slidably thereon in alignment with the latches 70 respectively.
Each of
the ramp members 80 includes a top camming face which extends at an upward
incline in a common lateral direction for engaging respective followers 82
supported
on the latches 70. Each follower 82 comprises a bar projecting generally
forwardly
from the free end of the latch adjacent the hook flange.
A common actuator rod 84 is coupled between the ramp members 80
for common sliding movement therewith in a lateral direction. A handle 86 at
one end
of the rod permits the rod to be gripped and displaced laterally from an
engaged
position of the latch mechanism to a released position of the latch mechanism.
In
doing so, the followers 82 are slidably displaced along the upwardly sloped
top
camming face of the ramp members to urge the latches 70 to be pivoted upwardly
about the pivot axis at the rear thereof sufficiently that the hook flanges
are released
from the forward edge of the base frame.
Each camming surface of the ramp members includes a catch 88
formed thereon in the form of a notch so that upon riding up the ramp surface,
the
biasing of the latches ensures that the followers remain in contact with
downward
pressure on the camming face to engage the followers downwardly into the
respective
notches forming the catches 88 and thereby prevent return sliding of the
followers
back down the camming face. Accordingly the latches are prevented from
pivoting
back downwardly into the engaged position and are maintain released by the
release
mechanism.
Moving the deck frame rearwardly in relation to the base frame from the
raised transport position to the lowered transport position causes the
followers on the
latches to be displaced rearwardly with the deck frame pivotally carrying the
latches
thereon until followers are released from the ramp members. At this point the
hook
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flanges overlap the top side of the base frame and continue moving rearward
with
displacement towards the lowered transport position to prevent the latches
from being
engaged. A spring 90 is provided on the common actuator rod 84 which is
compressed as the rod is pulled into the released position of the latches.
Once the
followers are caught within the notches on the camming face of the ramp
members,
the spring 90 is held in a compressed condition, but as soon as the followers
are
displaced rearwardly with the respective latches into the lowered position,
the
followers are released from the respective catches 88 and the spring 90 biases
the
common actuator rod of the release mechanism 76 back into a position which
permits
the latch members to be returned to the latched and engaged position.
A lift mechanism 92 is supported for being operatively connected
between the deck frame and the base frame to assist in lifting the deck frame
from the
lowered transport position to the raised transport position. The lift
mechanism
comprises as screw jack which is fixed onto the base frame at an intermediate
location towards the rear of the base frame. Rollers 94 are provided at a top
end of
the screw jack for rolling contact within a corresponding channel 96 on the
base frame
which extends in the longitudinal direction of the trailer between a
respective pair of
the crossbars 34 of the deck frame. The rollers 94 accommodate for
longitudinal
displacement of the deck frame in relation to the base frame as it is pivoted
upwardly
by the linkage in an arc like motion from the lowered transport position to
the raised
transport position. A socket connection 98 is provided at the rear end of the
deck
frame for connection to the screw jack by suitable drive shaft so that any
rotary power
tool can be connected to the socket connection 98 to drive rotation of the
screw jack
for raising and lowering the lift mechanism as desired.
When initially in the lowered transport position, the deck frame rests on
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the base frame with the links of the parallel 4-bar linkage extending
generally
rearwardly from the base frame to the deck frame. The screw jack in this
instance is
collapsed between the base frame and the channel 96 within the deck frame. Due
to
the low angle of the links, a very large force in the longitudinal horizontal
direction
5 would be required to rotate the links forwardly towards the raised transport
position,
and thus the deck frame is safely supported directly on the base frame in the
lowered
transport position.
In order to lift the deck frame from the lowered transport position, the lift
mechanism is used to increase the vertical spacing between the deck frame and
the
10 base frame and pivot the links into a more upright configuration. Once the
links are in
a more upright configuration, a towing force in the longitudinal direction is
then
capable of pivoting the links over-centre to the raised transport position and
back.
In extending the lift mechanism, vertical forces applied to the deck frame
and the arcing motion towards the raised position begins at which point the
rollers
15 assume rolling contact within the channel in the deck frame. As the links
approach a
near vertical orientation extending at an upward and rearward incline, the
user may
brake the wheels of the trailer as the trailer is provided with conventional
trailer brakes
operable independently of the towing vehicle brakes, but actuatable from
within the
towing vehicle. Towing the deck frame forwardly with the base frame being
fixed by
the braked wheels in the longitudinal direction permits the linkage to be
rotated over
center by first displacing the deck frame upwardly and forwardly and then
downwardly
and forwardly at which point the weight of the deck frame is removed from the
lift
mechanism and transferred onto the load supports in the form of the stops 54
and the
rear links and the rigid posts 56.
The lift mechanism may be maintained in a raised lifting position for
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convenience of subsequent reverse of the trailer back into the lowered
transport
position, however the deck frame is fully separated from the lift mechanism in
the
raised transport position and carries no weight on the lift mechanism as all
of the
weight is independently supported by the load supports. Once displaced towards
the
raised transport position, the springs of the latches 70 urge the hook flanges
of the
latches downwardly over top of the front edge of the base frame to effectively
latch
the deck frame in the raised transport position and prevent return of the deck
frame
into the lowered transport position as rearward movement of the deck frame
relative
to the base frame is prevented by the latches.
To return the trailer to the lowered transport position from the raised
transport position, the release mechanism 76 is activated pulling on the
common
actuator rod 84 until the followers of the latches are displaced upwardly by
the
respective camming surfaces of the ramp members 80 until the followers are
maintained in a released position by the catches 88 respectively. By similarly
breaking
the wheels on the trailer, the towing vehicle can displace the deck frame
rearwardly
relative to the base frame and thereby rotate the linkage rearwardly over
center first
upwardly, then downwardly back onto the screw jack of the lift mechanism 92.
By
maintaining the lift mechanism 92 in a raised and extended position, the deck
frame
falls only slightly downward and rearward from the over center position to an
engaged
position supported on the lift mechanism. The lift mechanism can then be
lowered
until the links are oriented substantially horizontally again with the weight
of the deck
frame being fully engaged directly upon the base frame.
For safety reasons, the wing portions of the deck frame are positioned
sufficiently ahead and sufficiently rearward of the respective wheels that a
clearance
gap 100 is defined between the fenders and the wing portions of the deck frame
both
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at the front and rear sides of the fender in both the raised and lowered
transport
positions. Maintaining the lift mechanism extended while the trailer is in the
raised
transport position also contributes to safety as the deck frame falls only
slightly
downwardly from the over-center position onto the lift mechanism when
returning
towards the lowered transport position. When other lift mechanisms are used,
for
example a hydraulic jack, it is desirable to configure the lift mechanism to
remain
extended during the raised transport position. In a hydraulic system, a valve
may be
connected in series with the drain of the hydraulic lift to force a long slow
draining and
retraction of the hydraulic lift when returning towards the lowered transport
position.
As described herein, a trailer is provided which can be used in either a
deck between configuration or a deck over configuration. The advantages of a
low
loading height of a deck between configuration and the advantages of a trailer
including a deck which is flush the wheel wells so to have an uninterrupted
deck
surface as in a deck over configuration, can both be realised with a single
purchase
by the consumer.
In further embodiments, the latch mechanism may be provided with a
locking mechanism to prevent release by unauthorized persons. In the simplest
form,
the locking mechanism may comprise overlapping co-operating apertures for
receiving a padlock type locking member.
The trailer can be made available to support loads ranging from 1000
pounds to 21,000 pounds by varying the number of axles. When 3 axles are
provided, additional links or load supports, such as the rigid posts noted
above, can
also be provided to safely support the load in both raised and lowered
positions.
Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein
above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made
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18
within the spirit and scope of the claims without department from such spirit
and
scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying
specification shall
be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.
