Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CONTAINER WITH TAMPER-EVIDENT LOCKING MEANS /
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to containers which are primarily used for foodstuffs,
but
which may also be used for other products such as medications and the like.
The
containers of the present invention, especially when used with foodstuffs, are
primarily of
the sort in which various foodstuffs will be placed into the containers at the
place of
distribution, so that the containers are packed when they are shipped to the
retailer, and
remain packed or filled when they are purchased by the consumer. The primary
purpose of
the present invention, however, is to assure the distributor, the shipper, the
receiver, the
retailer, and/or the purchaser or any other party, that at no time after the
container was
packed has it been tampered with. This also can include containers which are
packaged by
the retailer shortly before being purchased by the consumer.
Thus, the present invention provides containers which have special locking
means
to lock the containers in their closed condition, and which are such that if
there has been
any tampering with the container in any manner so as to try to disengage the
locking
means, damage will occur to the locking means, and that damage will be
evidence of
tampering. As a result, the present invention provides containers with an
integral tamper-
evident locking means.
Background of the Invention
It is found most often in retail stores, particularly those selling
foodstuffs, that many
products being sold have been pre-packaged at the source from which they have
been
distributed, or even packaged by the retailer shortly before placing the goods
for sale. This
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is particularly true when the foodstuffs are materials such as salads, baked
goods, fruits
and berries, vegetables, cookies or cakes, pre-packaged fast food meals, and
any other
foodstuffs which lend themselves to being pre-packaged. Typically, such
products will be
pre-packaged at the farm site where they have been grown, or at a farmers'
cooperative, or
in the case of baked goods from the factory where they have been made.
However, other
packaging points are not excluded from the present invention.
Other pre-packaged materials can include materials other than foodstuffs, such
as,
for example, nuts or bolts provided in containers, or the like, and as such,
the present
invention is preferably not limited to foodstuffs only.
in any event, one purpose for pre-packaging the goods is to protect them from
damage while in transit. Consumers are much more likely to buy items when they
are
evidently in pristine quality. Even more so, baked items such as cookies or
cakes, must be
seen to be unbroken or otherwise undamaged in any way. As a result, these
types of
products are typically pre-packaged prior to being shipped to the retailer.
In general, typically, the materials and foodstuffs of the sort contemplated
herein are
generally displayed for retail sale in containers which are transparent and/or
clear, or at
least translucent, so that the purchaser may inspect the product without the
necessity for
opening the same. Indeed, the purpose of the present invention is to allow the
consumer to
view the product, while being assured that the package has not been opened,
because to
do so requires that the package be tampered with. It will be understood, of
course, the
packages of the sort described herein are otherwise reclosable using
conventional bead
and recess means, or the like, as are well known in the art. This, of course,
means that
once the consumer has purchased the product, he or she will purposely damage
the locking
means so as to gain access to the product in the container; but in this case,
such actions
are not tampering because they are purposeful on the part of the consumer.
Once the
package has been opened though, the consumer can preferably re-close it using
the
conventional bead and recess closure means, or other closure means, without
any adverse
interference or obstruction of the closure means. As such, the tamper-evident
feature of the
present invention preferably does not interfere with the normal container
closure
mechanism.
It will be understood, of course, that containers in keeping with the present
invention
may vary considerably in size. For example, a container into which a single
portion of salad
greens has been placed is typically much smaller than one into which an entire
head of
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lettuce has been placed.
Still further, the present invention may lend itself to the care giving
industry, such as
hospitals and nursing homes. Here, individual medications intended for
specific patients
may be dispensed into specific containers either by the pharmaceutical
company, or by
such person as a pharmacist. Very clearly, it is important that there shall be
no tampering
with specific medications that are intended for specific patients, thereby so
as to assure that
the intended patient receives the intended medication.
The inventors herein have unexpectedly discovered that typical containers for
foodstuffs and the like, with which this invention is particularly concerned,
may be
configured in such a manner that the material from which the container is
manufactured can
have a specific fault zone formed therein so as to assure that forces which
are less than the
disengagement forces which would otherwise be required to unlock a locking
means in
keeping with the present invention will instead cause a failure of that
material in the fault
zone. Thus, the locking means per se will remain in its locked condition, but
because of the
damage which is done in the fault zone in the immediate region of the locking
means,
evidence of tampering with the container at any time prior to its opening by
the ultimate
consumer, is observable by the user.
Moreover, a specific fault zone can be formed by the mere act of creating
perforations - which may take the form of small holes, slits, or slots -
through the thickness
of the material in the region where the specific fault zone is to be created.
Other mechanism
for providing a fault zone can also be including, such as providing a thinner
material
construction, which provides a weakened area in the fault zone.
As will be seen hereafter, the locking means which are at the heart of this
present
invention may generally comprise two differing configurations. The usual
configuration is
for there to be a post which has an outwardly extending bead portion near the
convex end
thereof, where the material of the post, at least at the bead portion, may be
temporarily
deformed so as to pass through a cooperating opening. Due to the undercut
which is
formed beneath the bead portion on the post, a locking engagement zone is
formed
whereby the bead is precluded from passing back through the opening without
the exertion
of a sufficient disengagement force by momentarily deforming the bead portion
and/or the
region immediately surrounding the cooperating opening. An alternative
configuration for a
locking means is for a post and a cooperating recess into which the post will
be engaged
and will remain therein due to a friction fit. In that configuration, the post
can only be
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disengaged from the cooperating recess by the exertion of sufficient
disengagement force
to overcome the friction fit.
However, in all cases, as noted hereafter, the material of the container in
the region
of the post and/or its cooperating opening or recess, has had perforations
created therein,
or is otherwise weakened, so as to form a fault zone which will fail upon the
exertion of a
force which is less than the disengagement force.
Description of the Prior Art
United States Patent Application Publication 2009/0134180 Al, describes a
container which has a plurality of locking mechanisms, where each locking
mechanism
includes an extending latching portion and a corresponding circular opening
for
engagement thereof. The locking mechanism is configured so as to securely lock
the lid to
the base of the container, and an appropriate amount of pulling force must be
applied in
order to disengage the lid from the base. However, the container as it is
described in the
publication requires that once the locking mechanism has been disengaged, it
must be
reclosable. In other words, there is no provision whatsoever to indicate
whether or not the
container has been tampered with by having been opened prior to purchase and
consumption of the product contained therein.
While this described container has been shown to be of utility, it would be
desirable
to modify this type of container to provide tamper evidence. As such, the
present invention
is described with particular focus on the container described in US
2009/0134180, but it will
be clear to the skilled artisan that any other suitable container might also
be used in the
practise of the present invention.
Summary of the Invention
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided in
an
exemplary implementation, a packaging container having an upper top member and
a lower
bottom member, wherein the top and bottom members are adapted to fit to one
another
with an optional closure means, and also include a locking device which can
lock the
container in a closed condition, by the use of at least one cooperating
locking means.
Moreover, each cooperating locking means preferably comprises an upstanding
post formed in an outwardly extending lip on one of the top and bottom
members, and a
corresponding mated opening which is formed in an outwardly extending lip on
the other of
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the top and bottom members.
The post is preferably configured so as to have a lower stem portion, and an
upper
engagement portion having an outwardly extending bead portion and a convex
end,
whereby an engagement zone of the post is formed around the periphery of the
stem
portion at least in the region immediately below the bead portion.
The shape and size of each the opening is sufficient to accommodate the stem
portion of the cooperating post when fitted therein. The outwardly extending
bead portion is
preferably larger than the opening, and as such, at least the bead portion of
the post is
preferably temporarily deformable so as to pass through the opening. As a
result, the
engagement zone and the opening are in cooperating relationship to each other,
so as to
lock the container in a closed condition.
Normally, the engagement of a post together with its cooperating opening may
only
be disengaged by applying sufficient disengagement force so as to deform the
bead portion
to permit it to pass back through the cooperating opening.
However, in the practise of the present invention, a weakened area, preferably
provided by a plurality of perforations, is formed in a location chosen from
the group
consisting of around the periphery of the stem portion of each post, in the
immediate region
of the outwardly extending lip in which the post is formed and circumscribing
the post, and
in the immediate region of the outwardly extending lip in which the opening is
formed and
circumscribing the opening. By forming the plurality of perforations, the
region where the
plurality of perforations is formed, is thereby weakened. As a result, any
attempt to
disengage a post from its cooperating opening by exerting the disengagement
force thereto
will result instead in failure of the material of the package in the region of
weakened area,
and more specifically, the area of the plurality of perforations.
Accordingly, any such attempt to disengage a post from its cooperating opening
will
result in a breakage of the locking tab, and this can be seen and construed by
the
consumer as evidence of tampering.
In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a packaging
container
having an upper top member and a lower bottom member, wherein the top and
bottom
members are adapted to fit to one another so as to lock the container in a
closed condition
by at least one cooperating locking means; but in this case, each cooperating
locking
means comprises an upstanding post formed in and outwardly extending lip on
one of the
top and bottom members, and a cooperating recess formed in an outwardly
extending lip on
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the other of the top and bottom members.
Here, the engagement of a post together with its cooperating recess is by
friction fit
so as to lock the container in a closed condition, and may only be disengaged
by applying
sufficient disengagement force so as to overcome the friction fit.
As before, a weakened area, such as an area with a plurality of perforations,
is
formed in a location chosen from the group consisting of around the periphery
of each post,
in the immediate region of the outwardly extending lip in which the post is
formed and
circumscribing the post, and in the immediate region of the outwardly
extending lip in which
the cooperating recess is formed and circumscribing the cooperating recess; so
that the
region where the plurality of perforations is formed is weakened thereby, and
so that any
attempt to disengage a post from its cooperating recess by exerting the
disengagement
force thereto will result instead in failure of the material of the package in
the region of the
plurality of perforations.
Accordingly, any such attempt to disengage a post from its cooperating recess
may
be construed as tampering, and so that the damaged material of the package in
the region
of the weakened area, is evidence of tampering.
Typically, top and bottom portions may be connected to each other by a
flexible
hinge means, and wherein there are at least two cooperating locking means.
The openings may be formed in the bottom portion thereof, and the upstanding
posts may be formed in the top portion thereof; or alternatively, the openings
may be
formed in the top portion thereof, and the upstanding posts may be formed in
the bottom
portion thereof.
In a preferred embodiment, at east two perforations are formed so as to
provide the
a weakened area, and generally, there are a plurality of perforations that are
formed in the
perforation location.
In the usual embodiments of the present invention, the perforation location is
in the
stem portion of each post, whereby failure of the material of the post upon
tampering will
result in the post being broken near its end, and thereby create a visible
lack of integrity of
the post.
However, where the perforation location is located in the region of the
opening,
failure of the material in the region of the opening upon tampering will
result in
disengagement of the region of the lip surrounding the opening from the rest
of the lip, and
thereby create a visible lack of integrity of the lip.
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Moreover, the perforation location may be in the region of the post, whereby
failure
of the material in the region of the post upon tampering will result in
disengagement of the
region of the lip surrounding the post from the rest of the lip, and thereby
create a visible
lack of integrity of the lip.
In order to improve visibility of the tamper-evident feature of the present
invention,
the material of each outwardly extending lip may be hatched in the region
surrounding the
respective post or opening.
Typically, the material of any packaging container in keeping with the present
invention chosen from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate
(PET),
polystyrene, polypropylene, and vinyl. Preferably, the containers are made by
typical plastic
packaging techniques including injection moulding, blow moulding, vacuum
moulding, or
the like, as will be known to those skilled in the art.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Embodiments of this invention will now be described by way of example only in
association with the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a typical container of the sort used for
produce, in
keeping with the present invention;
Figure 2 is a plan view from the top of the container of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a side view of the container of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a perspective view showing a typical embodiment of the post of a
locking
means in keeping with the present invention;
Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, showing another embodiment of the
present
invention;
Figure 6 is a perspective view of a typical embodiment of a opening adapted to
receive a post of a locking means of the type described in the present
invention, with Figure
6A showing an enlarged view of the opening of Figure 6; and
Figure 7 is a partial cross-section of the locking means according to another
aspect
of the present invention.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the present
invention,
as to its structure, organization, use and method of operation, together with
further
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objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the
following drawings in
which a presently preferred embodiment of the invention will now be
illustrated by way of
example only. In the drawings, like reference numerals depict like elements.
It is expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of
illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the
limits of the
invention. Also, unless otherwise specifically noted, all of the features
described herein may
be combined with any of the above aspects, in any combination.
In each of Figures 1, 2, and 3, a typical packaging container in keeping with
the
present invention is shown generally at 10. The container has an upper or top
member 12
and a lower or bottom member 14. As will be discussed hereafter, the top and
bottom
members 12, 14 are preferably joined together with a flexible hinge 56, and
are adapted to
fit to one another so as to lock the container in a closed condition by at
least one
cooperating locking means shown generally at 16 and 18.
In the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 3, and in greater detail in Figures 4
to 6,
the cooperating locking means generally comprises an upstanding post 16 and a
cooperating opening 18. Each upstanding post 16 is formed in an outwardly
extending lip
20, and each opening 18 is formed an outwardly extending lip 22. As shown, the
posts 16
are formed in outwardly extending lips 20 which are formed on the top member
12, and the
openings 18 are formed in the outwardly extending lips 22 which are on the
bottom member
14. It will become very evident hereafter that the posts could be formed on
outwardly
extending lips 22 in the bottom member 14, and the openings could be formed in
outwardly
extending lips 20 in the top member 12. However, the configuration shown is
more general,
because it assures that the posts 16 when they are locked in place as
described hereafter
extend downwardly and are therefore less likely to be damaged in transit.
In any event, as can be determined from each of Figures 1 and 3, and as is
shown
in more detail in each of Figures 4 and 5, each post 16 is configured so as to
have a lower
stem portion 26 and an upper engagement portion 28. However, the upper
engagement
portion 28 is preferably configured so as to have an outwardly extending bead
portion 30
and a convex or conical end 32. By such configuration, it is easily seen that
there is an
engagement zone 34 formed on each post 16 around the periphery of the stem
portion 26
at least in the region immediately below the bead portion 30.
The shape and size of each opening 18 is such as to accommodate the stem
portion 26 of each cooperating post 16 when it is fitted therein. However, it
will be noted
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that the outwardly extending bead portion 30 is larger than the opening 18. In
order for the
cooperating post to be fitted into the respective cooperating opening 18, at
least the
material of the bead portion 30 (or an angled sidewall of the receiving hole)
is temporarily
deformable so as to pass through the opening 18. Once the bead portion 30 has
passed
through the cooperating opening 18, then it will be evident that the
engagement zone 34
and the opening 18 are in cooperating relationship to each other. The
engagement of each
bead portion 30 with the underside of the outwardly extending lip 22 in the
region
immediately surrounding the respective cooperating opening 18 thereby assures
that the
container 10 is locked in its closed position.
However, it must be noted that the engagement of a post 16 with its
cooperating
opening 18 may only be disengaged by applying sufficient disengagement force
so as to
once again deform the bead portion 30 and so as to permit it to pass back
through the
cooperating opening 18. Of course, there may also be some temporary
deformation of the
region of the lip 22 immediately surrounding the opening 18.
Since the purpose of the present invention is to assure that a tamper-evident
locking means is provided for any container 10, it follows that there must be
other means
whereby any attempt to disengage a post 16 from its cooperating opening 18
will result in a
physical evidence of such attempt. This is achieved by providing a fault zone
in which the
material from which the container has been manufactured is weakened in such a
manner
that the material will fail in the fault zone. By failure of the fault zone it
is meant that the
material of the container will tear or break.
The weakened area can be provided using any suitable method including
providing
thinner areas of construction. Preferably, failure in the weakened area is
provided by a
plurality of perforations, and as such, a plurality of perforations is formed
in a chosen fault
zone, which may be any one of (A) the periphery of the stem portion 26 of a
post 16, in a
location below the bead portion 30; (B) in the immediate region of the
outwardly extending
lip 20 in which a post 16 is formed, and in such a manner so as to
circumscribe the post;
and (C) in the immediate region of the outwardly extending lip 22 in which an
opening 18 is
formed, and in such a manner so as to circumscribe the opening.
Referring to Figure 4, a plurality of perforations 40 is shown surrounding the
periphery of the stem portion 26 of the post 16. Here, the perforations are
shown to take
the form of small holes 42, thereby leaving unperforated regions 44 between
the
perforations 42. As is well known to any person skilled in the art, the region
of the post 16
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where the perforations 42 are formed will become a weakened region in the
material of the
container 10, which may thereby be considered to be a fault zone. Accordingly,
any attempt
to disengage the post 16 from its cooperating opening 18 will result in
failure of the material
of the post in the region where the perforations 42 have been formed, if such
attempt is less
than the disengagement force required, but is sufficient to cause failure of
the material of
the container 10 in the fault zone. That being the case, the post 16 is
broken, and in the
embodiment shown where the post is formed in the top member 12, the end of the
post will
fall away. This, therefore, provides physical evidence of the fact that the
container 10 has
been subject to an attempt to open the same; and in the circumstances
considered by the
present invention, the broken post 16 is evidence of tampering.
In other words, the exertion required to cause failure of the post 16 in the
region
where the perforations 42 are formed is less than the disengagement force that
would be
required to disengage the post 16 from its cooperating opening 18,
Also, since the post 16 will fall away, this embodiment is not as preferred as
the
embodiment of Figures 1 to 3, wherein the post is retained. However, the
embodiment of
Figure 4 provide clear evidence of tampering if post 16 is already removed.
It will be understood, of course, that the purchaser of the product contained
within
container 10 will be required to overcome the locking means by which the
container has
been locked in its closed condition, but in that case the broken locking means
is deliberate,
and any consideration of tampering will thereby be disregarded. It will also
be understood
that once the container 10 has been opened, it preferably can still be opened
and reclosed
multiple times, and will remain in a closed position by the cooperation of an
optional
upstanding bead 50 and a cooperating recess 52. Such closure means for
container of the
sort contemplated herein, and variations thereof, are well known to those
skilled in the art
and form no part of the present invention.
It will also be understood that the configuration of the container 10 as shown
in each
of Figures 1, 2, and 3, is typical of such a container but is not important to
the present
invention. The container 10, as illustrated, is of the sort generally defined
as a clamshell
container, having a flexible hinge 56 in the region 58 between the top member
12 and the
bottom and 14. However, depending on the size and configuration of the
container 10, there
may be as few as one tamper-evident locking means 16, 18 (for example, if the
container is
very small and/or is round), or there may be three or more tamper-evident
locking means
16, 18 if the container 10 is exceptionally long as compared to its width.
Still further, if the
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top and bottom members 12, 14 are independent one from the other, and the
container 10
is generally rectangular as shown in the drawings, then there will preferably
be at least four
tamper-evident locking means 16, 18.
Referring now to Figure 5, a plurality of perforations 60 is shown having been
formed in the outwardly extending lip 20 and through the thickness of the
same. Between
each of the perforations 60 there is therefore an unperforated region 62. In
this case, the
perforations 60 are shown as slits, and it will be seen that the perforations
60 circumscribe
the post 16 around its intersection with the respective outwardly extending
lip 20.
Nonetheless, the purpose of the perforations 60 and the unperforated region 62
therebetween is the same as described above; that is, upon application of an
exertion which
is less than the disengagement force to disengage the post 16 from its
cooperating opening
18, the fault zone formed by the perforations 60 and regions 62 will fail.
The ring formed by perforations 60 will preferably have a diameter larger than
the
diameter of opening 18 so that post 16 will be retained in opening 18 after
perforations 60
have been broken.
Likewise, as seen in Figure 6, a plurality of perforations 70 surrounds and
circumscribes an opening 18 in its respective outwardly extending lip 22.
Here, the
perforations are shown as slots, and regions 72 are formed between the slots
70. Once
again, it will be dearly understood that a weakened area fault zone has been
created by the
presence of the perforations 70 and the unperforated regions 72; so that upon
application of
an exertion which is less than the disengagement force to disengage a post 16
from the
cooperating opening 18, the fault zone formed by the perforations 70 and the
unperforated
region 72 will fail.
The perforations described herein have been defined as being small holes 42,
slits
60, and slots 70. In each case, the presence and formation of those
perforations results in
unperforated areas being between the perforations; and in each case the
material of the
container 10 in the region of the stem of the post, the post, or the opening,
is weakened and
will thereby fail. Put in other words, upon failure of the fault zone, there
will result a
concomitant lack of integrity of the post or the outwardly extending lip in
which either the
post or the opening has been formed.
It should also be evident that the number of perforations that is formed is
immaterial, so long as the region of the respective fault zones is weaker than
the
disengagement force required to unlock the tamper-evident locking means. Thus,
it is
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possible that as few as a single or two perforations will meet the
requirements of the
present invention. Otherwise, the number and nature of the perforations may be
an artifact
of the size of the post, the size of the hole, and the manufacturing equipment
on which
containers in keeping with the present invention are made.
It will be understood, of course, that the posts 16 and their cooperating
openings 18
need not be round, but that is the usual configuration. They may be square or
rectangular,
or otherwise, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
invention.
Also, the area around hole 18 can be recessed in recessed area 71, as shown in
Figure 6A, which is a cross-sectional view of an alternative arrangement for
opening 18.
This arrangement permits the hole to deform slightly when the post is inserted
without
breaking the area around the perforations 70, and aids in forming a lock onto
an inserted
post 16.
Turning now to Figure 7, another form of tamper-evident locking means for
containers which are otherwise similar to or identical to those described
above, is shown at
80. Here, the locking means comprises an upstanding post 82 formed in an
outwardly
extending lip 84, and a cooperating recess 86 formed in an outwardly extending
lip 88. As
will be evident from the above discussion, the post and lip 82, 84, and the
recess and lip 86,
88, may be formed in either of the top or bottom members of a container, and
vice versa.
Here, the engagement of the post 82 is generally by friction fit, whereby the
container may be locked in its closed condition. The friction fit may only be
overcome, and
the post disengage from its cooperating recess, by applying sufficient
disengagement force
so as to overcome the friction fit. Of course, in keeping with the spirit and
scope of the
present invention, it will be understood that the configuration of the post 82
and recess 86
may be round, square or rectangular, or otherwise. Moreover, the friction fit
may be an
enhanced by the provision of such as a laterally extending bead on one of the
post or
recess, and a cooperating groove on the other of the post or recess.
Once again, there are typically three options for the formation of a fault
zone in the
locking means 80. They include (A) forming a plurality of perforations in the
region of the
post generally indicated at 90, which may be located anywhere along the length
of the post;
(B) in the region generally indicated at 92, and circumscribing the post 82;
and (C) in the
region generally indicated at 94, and circumscribing the recess 86.
It will be very clear that failure in the fault zones 90, 92, and 94 will come
as a
consequence of a force being exerted to the locking means 80 which is less
than the
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necessary disengagement force to disengage the post 82 from its friction fit
with the
cooperating recess 86. Therefore, the nature of the tamper-evident locking
means 80
remains the same as has been described above with reference to any of Figures
1 to 6.
Moreover, it follows that the materials and manufacturing techniques required
for
production of a container having a locking means 80 remain otherwise the same
as
described above, and are well-known to those skilled in the art.
For purposes of easy and deliberate unlocking of the locking means 16, 18, or
80,
the material of the container in the region of the outwardly extending lips
20, 22, 84, or 88,
may be hatched in the manner shown at 96 in Figures 1 and 2.
There has been described containers having tamper-evident locking means
whereby the containers will remain locked in their closed position until such
time as they are
purchased or otherwise placed into the hands of the ultimate consumer.
However, each
container in keeping with the present invention is such that if the container
has in any way
been tampered with by an attempt to unlock the tamper-evident locking means,
physical
evidence of that attempt will be easily visible. Accordingly, the ultimate
consumer may be
assured that the contents of the container have not been tampered with or
changed in any
way since they were placed in the container and the container was closed and
locked using
the locking means in keeping with the present invention.
Thus, it is apparent that there has been provided, in accordance with the
present
invention, a packaging container which fully satisfies the goals, objects, and
advantages set
forth hereinbefore. Therefore, having described specific embodiments of the
present
invention, it will be understood that alternatives, modifications and
variations thereof may be
suggested to those skilled in the art, and that it is intended that the
present specification
embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the
scope of the
appended claims.
Additionally, for clarity and unless otherwise stated, the word "comprise" and
variations of the word such as "comprising" and "comprises", when used in the
description
and claims of the present specification, is not intended to exclude other
additives,
components, integers or steps. Further, the invention illustratively disclosed
herein suitably
may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically
disclosed herein.
Moreover, the words "substantially" or "essentially", when used with an
adjective or
adverb is intended to enhance the scope of the particular characteristic;
e.g., substantially
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CA 02752612 2011-09-16
planar is intended to mean planar, nearly planar and/or exhibiting
characteristics associated
with a planar element.
Further, use of the terms "he", "him", or "his", is not intended to be
specifically
directed to persons of the masculine gender, and could easily be read as
"she", "her", or
"hers", respectively.
Also, while this discussion has addressed prior art known to the inventor, it
is not an
admission that all art discussed is citable against the present application.
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