Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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VENTURI-TYPE LIQUID PUMP
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates generally to a venturi-type liquid pump used to
move a body of liquid from one area to another area and more particularly to
the use
of a liquid in a liquid-powered venturi-type pump to safely and efficiently
remove
standing liquid from its current location to a more desirable location.
State of the Art
[0002] Swimming pools, swimming pool covers, above-ground pools, hot tubs,
ponds, aquariums, flooded basements and other areas that retain relatively
small
bodies of liquid often need to be drained before they are cleaned, serviced,
repaired,
restored, or relocated as the case might be. Devices used to remove liquid
from these
areas are known in the art. Nevertheless, these conventional devices are
inefficient,
produce unwanted side-effects, and create undesired hazards.
[0003] Conventional pumps used to remove stationary bodies of liquid often
require an electric or gasoline-powered power source to supply the power
necessary to
produce the pumping action that removes the liquid. Consequently, these pumps
are
not cost-effective, in that they consume expensive resources to operate.
Further, in
addition to the costs for electricity and fuel, it is expensive to maintain
the moving
parts of these conventional devices. For instance, the moving parts of the
engine need
be serviced and inspected by trained technicians before being operated to
ensure
proper function. Moreover, these moving parts must be maintained in operating
condition even when not in use in order to function properly when needed.
Also, over
time and under normal operating conditions, the moving parts eventually wear
out and
need to be replaced. In some instances, overheating and/or overuse can require
additional repair and expense.
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[0004] Aside from the costs to operate these conventional devices, the moving
parts of these devices frequently create unwanted noise and or pollution. Both
electric-powered pumps and gasoline-powered pumps require motors to operate
and
thus produce noise. The resulting noise can be inconvenient, and with extended
use
can be irritating and even annoying. In addition to the noise, gasoline-
powered
pumps pollute the surrounding environment with their resulting exhaust fumes.
[0005] Many of these conventional devices create additional environmental
hazards. Various electric-powered pumps require that they be immersed in the
very
liquid they are meant to remove in order to perform their intended operation.
Thus,
these electric-powered pumps may potentially short-circuit in the body of
liquid they
are meant to remove and thus ruin the pump and create a dangerous electric
shock in
the liquid. Likewise, gasoline-powered pumps may spring a leak in the gas line
and
pollute the ground, near the liquid to be removed, upon which they stand, or
even the
liquid itself.
[0006] These conventional devices also pose undesired functional problems. For
example, because the inlet, into which the liquid to be removed enters the
device and
is pumped out, on many conventional devices is located above the bottom of the
body
of liquid, many of these conventional devices cannot remove substantially all
of the
liquid that they are meant to remove. In addition, the conventional devices
that
contain electric-powered or gasoline-powered motors may be too heavy for the
weakest users to use. In other words, these devices may be too heavy or
cumbersome
for all users to effectively operate. Moreover, in some cases, it may not be
possible at
all for any user to move these conventional devices if they are permanently
fixed
above the body of liquid they are to remove.
[0007] Therefore, there is a need in the art for a cost-effective, productive,
safe,
and light-weight device capable of removing relatively small bodies of liquid
from
areas in which undesired liquid has accumulated. The present invention
satisfies
these needs, in addition to other related advantages.
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DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present disclosure relates to a venturi-type pump comprising a
supply
line having a front end and a rear end, wherein the front end of the supply
line
includes a connector for connecting a supply of pressurized liquid to the
supply line
and the rear end of the supply line includes a nozzle having an exit orifice
through
which the pressurized liquid exits the supply line; and a suction line having
a first end
and a second end, wherein the suction line is positioned in relation to the
supply line
to define a gap between the exit orifice and the first end such that the
pressurized
liquid exiting the exit orifice traverses the gap and entrains a second liquid
within the
gap before entering the first end of the suction line together with the
entrained second
liquid.
[0009] An aspect may include the venturi-type pump wherein the nozzle is a
tapered nozzle having a first tapered portion and a second tapered portion,
wherein the
first tapered portion tapers toward the second tapered portion and the second
tapered
portion tapers toward the rear end, the first tapered portion being tapered at
an angle
greater than the tapered angle of the second tapered portion and the second
tapered
portion defining the exit orifice.
[0010] Another aspect may include the venturi-type pump wherein the supply
line
and the suction line are hollow and cylindrical in shape. The suction line is
connected
to the supply line in parallel along a single line in an axial direction of
the supply line.
Such a configuration allows the aforementioned gap between the supply line and
the
suction line to be as open as structurally possible. In other words, the
supply line and
the suction line are connected such that the gap is sufficiently structurally
supported
while having the fewest number of impediments in the gap.
[0011] Another aspect may include the venturi-type pump wherein the gap is
capable of resting on the bottom floor of the body of water so as to allow
substantially
all of the body of water to be removed by the operation of the venturi-type
pump.
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[0012] Another aspect may include the venturi-type pump further comprising a
concave portion in the suction line, wherein the concave portion defines a
venturi and
the concave portion is positioned in an initial section of the suction line.
[0013] Another aspect may include the venturi-type pump wherein the structure
of
the nozzle in the supply line decreases the pressure in the nozzle of the
supply line,
which consequently increases the velocity of the liquid in the nozzle due to
the venturi
effect, such that the liquid exiting the exit orifice in the nozzle exits in a
high-velocity
liquid stream. The increased velocity of the liquid stream creates a vacuum
effect in
the gap, due to Bernoulli's Principle, as the high-velocity liquid stream
traverses the
gap and enters the suction line such that the standing liquid in the gap
enters the
suction line along with the liquid stream.
[0014] Another aspect may include the venturi-type pump wherein the gap is
sufficiently large to allow a flow rate of liquid that exits the suction line
to be greater
than a flow rate of liquid that enters the supply line.
[0015] Another aspect may include the venturi-type pump wherein the diameter
of
the exit orifice is of a sufficient size to permit the high-velocity liquid
stream to exit
the exit orifice at low volume, whereas the liquid exiting the second end of
the suction
line exits at a relatively high-volume.
[0016] Another aspect may include the venturi-type pump wherein the radial
circumferential wall thickness of the supply line and the suction line are
sufficient to
withstand the pressure within the respective lines.
[0017] Another aspect may include the venturi-type pump wherein the front end
of the supply line and the second end of the suction line are structurally
configured to
detachably receive connecting hoses that may be used to supply and remove
water,
respectively.
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[0018] Another aspect may include the venturi-type pump wherein the front end
of the supply line is structured to be a quick snap connector for connecting
to a high-
pressure supply of liquid and the second end of the suction line is structured
to loosely
receive an end of any hose-like tubing.
[0019] Another aspect may include the venturi-type pump wherein the diameter
of
the front end of the supply line is smaller than the diameter of the second
end of the
suction line.
[0020] Another aspect may include the venturi-type pump wherein the front end
of the supply line comprising the quick snap connector is positioned at an
angle
relative to a remaining portion of the supply line or the second end of the
suction line,
such that connecting the quick snap connector to the high-pressure supply of
liquid
does not interfere with connecting the second end of the suction line to the
end of the
hose-like tubing.
[0021] The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present
disclosure
will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the
particular
embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] FIG. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial plan view;
[0024] FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial perspective view;
[0025] FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial rear-perspective view;
[0026] FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial perspective view;
[0027] FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial front-perspective view;
[0028] FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial side-perspective view.
[0029] FIG. 8 is a plan view of an embodiment of the present invention.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0030] As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to a
venturi-type liquid pump used to move a body of liquid from one area to
another area
and more particularly to the use of a liquid in a liquid-powered venturi-type
pump to
safely and efficiently remove standing liquid from its current location to a
more
desirable location.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 1, particular embodiments include a venturi-type pump
10. The venturi-type pump 10 includes a supply line 20, a suction line 60, and
an gap
40 between the supply line 20 and the suction line 60.
[0032] The supply line 20 is a hollow cylindrical pipe-type structure and
includes
a front end 22 and a rear end 32. The supply line 20 is structured to receive
a high-
pressure supply of liquid (not shown) at the front end 22 and subsequently
channel the
supply of liquid from the front end 22 through the hollow supply line 20 to
the rear
end 32, where the supply of liquid exits the supply line 20. The supply line
20
includes radial walls that are sufficiently thick to hold the pressurized
liquid as well as
sustain the variable pressures created by the liquid flowing through the
supply line 20.
[0033] As shown in FIG. 1, the supply line 20 further includes an initial
angled
portion 26, beginning from the front end 22 and terminating at an intersection
27.
The initial angled portion 26 includes a connecting portion 24 that is
structured to
receive the high-pressure supply of liquid from a connecting hose (not shown).
The
initial angled portion 26 is angled with respect to a main body portion 28 of
the
supply line 20. The initial angled portion 26 ends at the intersection 27,
where the
initial angled portion 26 meets the main body portion 28. The main body
portion 28
extends linearly until the main body portion 28 reaches a curvature portion 30
of the
supply line 20. The curvature portion 30 is approximately a 180 curve in the
supply
line 20 that terminates at a nozzle portion 33. The nozzle portion 33
terminates at the
rear end 32 of the supply line 20. The nozzle portion 33 will be described in
further
detail below.
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[0034] As shown in FIG. 1, the diameter of the supply line 20 is uniform along
the length of the main body portion 28 and the curvature portion 30. However,
the
diameter of the connecting portion 24 of the initial angled portion 26 is
smaller than
the diameter of the main body portion 28. This smaller diameter permits the
connecting portion 24 to connect with the high-pressure supply of liquid.
[0035] Moreover, the outer circumferential portion of the connecting portion
24
may be structurally configured to receive the corresponding component of
conventional high-pressure liquid supply coupling lines that are known in the
art. In
other words, the connecting portion 24 may be structured to be one of the
corresponding components of a high-pressure coupling device that comprises
known
conventional high-pressure liquid supply coupling lines. In addition, the
structure of
the outer circumferential portion of the connecting portion 24 could vary to
incorporate the structural configuration of other known, or even later
developed, high-
pressure hose connectors.
[0036] The initial angled portion 26 allows the connecting portion 24 to
connect
to the high-pressure supply of liquid without structurally interfering with a
larger
diameter portion 70 of the suction line 60, which will be described in greater
detail
below.
[0037] As shown in FIG. 2, the nozzle portion 33 includes a first tapered
portion
35 that tapers toward a second tapered portion 37. The first tapered portion
35 has an
initial diameter at an initial point 34 that is equal to the diameter of the
supply line 20.
From the initial point 34, the first tapered portion 35 diminishes in
diameter, or tapers,
until the first tapered portion 35 meets the second tapered portion 37 at a
meeting
point 36. From the meeting point 36, the second tapered portion 37 diminishes
in
diameter, or tapers, until the second tapered portion 37 reaches the rear end
32 of the
supply line 20. The taper angle of the first tapered portion 35 is greater
than the taper
angle of the second tapered portion 37. In other words, the diameter of the
first
tapered portion 35 diminishes at a greater rate than does the diameter of the
second
tapered portion 37.
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[0038] The first tapered portion 35 and the second tapered portion 37 of the
nozzle 33 create a venturi effect. In other words, the tapered diameters of
the first
tapered portion 35 and the second tapered portion 37 cause the pressure of the
liquid
flowing through the nozzle portion 33 to decrease due to the increased
velocity of the
liquid flowing through the nozzle portion 33. Thus, the velocity of the liquid
increases within the nozzle portion 33 until the liquid flowing through the
nozzle
portion 33 exits through the exit orifice 39, as shown in FIG. 3. Moreover,
whereas
the structure of the first tapered portion 35 functions to create more of the
venturi
effect than the structure of the second tapered portion 37, the structure of
the second
tapered portion 37 functions to shape the liquid exiting the exit orifice 39
into a
uniform high-velocity stream. The effects of the high-velocity stream will be
discussed in more detail below.
[0039] As shown in FIG. 1, the suction line 60 is a hollow cylindrical pipe-
type
structure and includes a first end 62 and a second end 72. The suction line 60
is
structured to receive the high-velocity stream exiting from the supply line 20
and
subsequently channel the stream from the first end 62 through the hollow
suction line
60 to the second end 72, where the liquid exits the suction line 60. The
suction line
60 includes radial walls that are sufficiently thick to hold the liquid as
well as sustain
the variable pressures created by the liquid flowing through the suction line
60.
[0040] The suction line 60 further includes an initial concave section 64. The
initial concave section 64 begins at the first end 62 of the suction line 60
and ends at
an ending point 65, as shown in FIG. 2, where the diameter of the concave
section 64
is equal to the diameter of a main body portion 66 of the suction line 60. The
concave
section 64 gradually decreases in diameter from the first end 62 to a point of
minimal
diameter 63, the point of minimal diameter 63 being positioned approximately
midway between the first end 62 and the ending point 65. From the point of
minimal
diameter 63, the diameter of the concave section 64 gradually increases until
the
ending point 65, where the diameter of the concave section 64 and the diameter
of the
main body portion 66 are equivalent, as mentioned above.
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[0041] The diameter of the first end 62 of the concave section 64 is larger
than the
diameter of the ending point 65 of the concave section 64. The increased
diameter at
the first end 62 allows the suction line 60 to intake an increased volume of
liquid, as
will be discussed below. In other embodiments, to adjust the intake of liquid
into the
suction line 60, the diameter of the first end 62 can be adjusted.
[0042] The main body portion 66 extends linearly until the main body portion
66
reaches the large diameter portion 70 at junction 68. The large diameter
portion 70
has a larger diameter than the diameter of the main body portion 66. The large
diameter portion 70 extends linearly from the junction 68 to the second end
72. The
large diameter portion 70 defines a second exit orifice 74, as shown in FIG.
6, from
which the liquid exits the suction line 60.
[0043] The large diameter portion 70 is structured to receive a hose-type
tubing
(not shown) of various sizes and configurations. Accordingly, the hose-type
tubing
may be placed around and over the exterior surface of the large diameter
portion 70
or, alternatively, the hose-type tubing may be placed entirely within the
inner surface
of the large diameter portion 70. One of ordinary skill in the art will
understand that
several methods may be employed to secure or attach the hose-type tubing to
the large
diameter portion 70. For example, in the case where the hose-type tubing is
placed
over the exterior surface, the tubing may expand over the exterior surface to
be held
by friction. Alternatively, in the case where the hose-type tubing is placed
within the
large diameter portion 70, the tubing may constrict within the inner surface
to be held
by friction. Moreover, adhesives of all varieties may be employed to
detachably
connect the hose-type tubing to the large diameter portion 70. Further yet, in
other
embodiments, the threads on the end of the hose-type tubing may be screwed
into the
corresponding threads on the large diameter portion 70 (not shown).
[0044] As shown in FIG 1, the supply line 20 and the suction line 60 are
positioned such that the main body portion 28 of the supply line 20 and the
main body
portion 66 of the suction line 60 are substantially parallel to one another.
Further, in
this configuration, the supply line 20 and the suction line 60 are in contact
with one
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another along a contact line 50, which runs along the length of the main
bodies 28 and
66. As such, the supply line 20 and the suction line 60 are connected to each
other
along the length of the contact line 50. Alternatively, the supply line 20 and
the
suction line 60 may be attached to each other at various points along the
contact line
50. Nevertheless, because the supply line 20 and the suction line 60 are
coupled
together along the line 50, or at a number of points along the line 50, the
structural
integrity of the pump is provided. The external and internal forces acting on
the pump
are supported and sustained by the strong coupling between the respective
lines 20
and 60 along the contact line 50. Indeed, the strength of the contact line 50
allows the
supply line 20 and the suction line 60 to remain in place with respect to one
another to
permit the gap 40 to function as explained herein.
[0045] In addition, coupling the supply line 20 and the suction line 60 as
described above allows a connecting hose attached to each of the supply line
20 and
the suction line 60 to extend from the pump 10 in substantially the same
direction. As
a result, because the pump 10 thus does not have a connecting hose stemming
from
each of its ends, or from opposing ends, the pump 10 is able to fit in tighter
and
smaller areas. Moreover, because the pump 10 thus does not have a connecting
hose
stemming from each of its ends, the weight of the connecting hoses or the
forces
acting on the connecting hoses do not act to twist, bend, or otherwise
displace the
supply line 20 or the suction line 60 from their respective positional
relationship with
each other. In this way, the structural integrity of the gap 40 is preserved.
[0046] As shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5, the positioning of the suction line 60
in
relation to the supply line 20 defines the gap 40, mentioned above.
Specifically, the
suction line 60 is connected to the supply line 20 so as to position the first
end 62 of
the suction line 60 proximate the rear end 32 of the supply line. Such a
configuration
allows the high-velocity stream that exits the exit orifice 39 of the supply
line 20 to
traverse the gap 40 and enter the first end 62 of the suction line 60. The
exit orifice
39 is positioned in a cross-sectional center of the supply line 20, such that
the high-
velocity stream that exits the exit orifice 39 traverses the cross-sectional
center of the
gap 40 and enters the cross-sectional center of the suction line 60.
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[0047] The high-velocity stream that traverses the gap 40 creates a vacuum
effect
in and around the high-velocity stream due to Bernoulli's Principle. Thus,
under the
condition that the venturi-type pump 10 is immersed, or submerged, in a
standing
body of liquid, the vacuum effect created by the high-velocity stream causes
the
standing liquid within and around the gap 40 to entrain with the high-velocity
liquid
traversing the gap 40, such that the standing liquid and the high-velocity
stream enter
the first end 62 together. In fact, the structure of the venturi-type pump 10
described
above permits the volume of standing liquid that enters the first end 62 to be
substantially greater than the volume of high-velocity liquid that enters the
first end
62. Accordingly, the liquid that flows through the suction line 60 and exits
the second
exit orifice 76 is comprised primarily of the standing liquid and not the high-
velocity
stream.
[0048] In addition, the concave portion 64 creates a venturi effect on the
entrained
liquid entering the first end 62. As a result, the entrained liquid initially
increases in
velocity as it flows into the suction line 60, which, together with the vacuum
effect
described above, increases the volume of liquid that flows into and through
the
suction line 60.
[0049] FIGS. 4 and 5 further show that attaching the suction line 60 in
parallel
with the supply line 20 along the contact line 50 allows the greatest volume
of water
to enter into the first end 62. By connecting the supply line 20 to the
suction line 60
along the contact line 50, there is no need to place additional structural
elements
across the gap 40 to secure the supply line 20 to the suction line 60.
Moreover, the
circular shape of the supply line 20 and the suction line 60 permit the
efficient flow of
liquid over and around their outer surfaces, respectively. Further, the
tapered shape of
the nozzle 33 also allows more of the standing water to fill the gap 40 to be
entrained
by the high velocity stream. As a result, the gap 40 can be relatively narrow,
placing
the exit orifice 39 relatively close to the first end 62, and yet the pump 10
can still
entrain the requisite amount of standing water from within the gap 40. As a
result, the
structural configuration of the venturi-type pump 10, as shown in FIGS. 4 and
5,
permits the gap 40 to be open and free-flowing.
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[0050] The above-described structural configuration also permits the venturi-
type
pump 10 to remove substantially all of the standing liquid it is meant to
remove. The
venturi-type pump 10 is structured to allow the first end 62 to rest flat
against a
bottom surface of the standing body of water. Because the first end 62 is flat
against
the bottom surface, the venturi-type pump 10 is capable of removing the
standing
liquid down to the bottom surface against which the first end 62 rests.
[0051] As shown in FIG. 7, broken-line arrows show the flow of liquid in the
pump 10. Liquid flows through the supply line 20 and changes direction as it
rounds
about the curvature portion 30 at the latter end of the supply line 20. The
liquid then
enters the nozzle 33 and increases in velocity until it exits the nozzle at
the exit orifice
39 as a high-velocity stream. Once exited, the high-velocity stream crosses
the gap 40
and enters the first end 62 of the suction line 60. As the high-velocity
stream crosses
the gap 40, it entrains the standing liquid in and around the gap 40. Solid-
line arrows
show the flow of standing liquid surrounding the gap 40 as it is entrained by
the high-
velocity stream and enters the suction line 60 together with the high-velocity
stream.
[0052] As shown in FIG. 8, the venturi-type pump 10 can be utilized
effectively
to drain standing bodies of liquid of any shape and size. Indeed, the pump 10
may
form part of a liquid-removal system in which a pressurized supply of water
80, or
other liquid, is releasably coupled to the front end of the supply line 20.
The
pressurized supply of water 80 provides the pressurized water, or other
liquid, to the
pump 10 and drives the flow of liquid through the pump 10. The pump 10 is
immersed in a standing body of liquid. The standing body of liquid can be
water, or it
can be any other type of liquid. Indeed, the liquid supplied in the
pressurized supply
need not be of the same type as the standing body of liquid. As the
pressurized flow
of water exits the exit orifice 39 in a high-velocity stream, the flow of
water entrains
any liquid, as mentioned above, standing in the gap 40. The entrained liquid
and the
high-velocity stream both enter the suction line at the first end 62 and exit
the suction
line at second end 72. A drain hose 82 is releasably coupled to the second end
72 and
facilitates the draining of the entrained liquid and the high-velocity stream
from the
pump 10. In this way, the pump 10 is part of a larger system that effectively
and
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efficiently removes standing bodies of liquid. This is accomplished without
the need
for gasoline-powered, propane-powered, or other fuel-powered motors to provide
the
pumping or siphoning action to remove the standing body of liquid. Indeed, the
pump
does not require any moving parts whatsoever. In addition, the pump 10 does
not
require any external electric power source to properly function. The pump 10
simply
operates by being immersed in a body of liquid and receiving and channeling a
pressurized supply of water that functions to remove the body of liquid from
its
location.
[0053] The components defining the above-described venturi-type pump 10 may
be formed of any of many different types of materials or combinations thereof
that
can readily be formed into shaped objects provided that the components
selected are
consistent with the intended operation of a venturi-type pump. For example,
the
components may be formed of. rubbers (synthetic and/or natural) and/or other
like
materials; glasses (such as fiberglass) carbon-fiber, aramid-fiber, any
combination
thereof, and/or other like materials; polymers such as thermoplastics (such as
ABS,
Fluoropolymers, Polyacetal, Polyamide; Polycarbonate, Polyethylene,
Polysulfone,
and/or the like), thermosets (such as Epoxy, Phenolic Resin, Polyimide,
Polyurethane,
Silicone, and/or the like), any combination thereof, and/or other like
materials;
composites and/or other like materials; metals, such as zinc, magnesium,
titanium,
copper, iron, steel, carbon steel, alloy steel, tool steel, stainless steel,
aluminum, any
combination thereof, and/or other like materials; alloys, such as aluminum
alloy,
titanium alloy, magnesium alloy, copper alloy, any combination thereof, and/or
other
like materials; any other suitable material; and/or any combination thereof.
[0054] Furthermore, the components defining the above-described venturi-type
pump 10 may be purchased pre-manufactured or manufactured separately and then
assembled together. However, any or all of the components may be manufactured
simultaneously and integrally joined with one another. Manufacture of these
components separately or simultaneously may involve extrusion, pultrusion,
vacuum
forming, injection molding, blow molding, resin transfer molding, casting,
forging,
cold rolling, milling, drilling, reaming, turning, grinding, stamping,
cutting, bending,
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welding, soldering, hardening, riveting, punching, plating, and/or the like.
If any of
the components are manufactured separately, they may then be coupled with one
another in any manner, such as with adhesive, a weld, a fastener (e.g. a bolt,
a nut, a
screw, a nail, a rivet, a pin, and/or the like), wiring, any combination
thereof, and/or
the like for example, depending on, among other considerations, the particular
material forming the components. Other possible steps might include sand
blasting,
polishing, powder coating, zinc plating, anodizing, hard anodizing, and/or
painting the
components for example.
[0055] The embodiments and examples set forth herein were presented in order
to
best explain the present invention and its practical application and to
thereby enable
those of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention. However,
those of
ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the foregoing description and
examples
have been presented for the purposes of illustration and example only. The
description as set forth is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the
invention to the
precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in
light of the
teachings above without departing from the spirit and scope of the forthcoming
claims.
