Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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ILLUMINATED CLOTHING APPARATUS AND METHOD
Field of Invention
[0001] This description relates to the field of illuminated clothing
apparatus.
Background of the Invention
[0002] A description of known references pertaining to garments or
apparel, or
clothing, having illumination elements is provided in US Patent 5,690,411 of
Jackman at col.
1, line 16 to col. 2, line 14, as follows:
[0003] "There have been and are many items of equipment and
apparel intended for
use by persons undertaking activities in areas that they must share with
motorized vehicles,
so that these persons will be seen by motorists .... Today, many of these
persons wear bright
colored or reflective clothing, in order to be visible to oncoming motorists.
Furthermore,
there have been and are garments equipped with means of illumination and
lights that are
portable or securable to an article of clothing."
[0004] "U.S. Pat. No. 5,070,436, issued to Alexander et al Dec. 3, 1991,
discloses a
signal vest. Alexander et al is provided in front and back with flashable
lights, provided
solely as visibility means. The overall circuit in Alexander et al is divided
into two separate
sub-circuits, to assure the operation of some of the lights should one of
these sub-circuits fail
to operate. U.S. Pat. No. 4,328,533, issued to Paredes May 5, 1982, discloses
an illuminated
safety harness. Like Alexander et al, lights in Paredes are provided solely as
extended
visibility means. U.S. Pat. No. 5,488,361, issued to Perry Jan. 30, 1996,
discloses a
navigation lights device for personal watercraft. The lights in Perry enable
observers to
navigate around a user of Perry. These lights also indicate the position and
immediate
heading of the user of Perry."
[0005] "Also among the related prior art: U.S. Pat. No. 5,307,251,
issued to Shaffer
Apr. 26, 1994, discloses a pedestrian crossing safety device, intended to
arrest the movement
of traffic. U.S. Pat. No. 4,709,436, issued to Branson Nov. 24, 1987,
discloses an article of
clothing having an illuminated display sign on the backside thereof. U.S. Pat.
No. 4,480,293,
issued to Wells Oct. 30, 1984, discloses a lighted sweatshirt. U.S. Pat. No.
5,113,325, issued
to Elsenbrawn May 12, 1992, discloses a light assembly kit for illuminating an
article of
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clothing. U.S. Pat. No. 5,278,734, issued to Ferber Jan. 11, 1994, discloses
light illuminating
assemblies for wearing apparel with light element securement means. U.S. Pat.
No. Des.
259,146, issued to Can, Jr. May 12, 1981, discloses a combined vest and
blinker lights. U.S.
Pat. No. Des. 277,808, issued to Nichols Mar. 5, 1985, discloses a combined
florescent and
reflecting safety vest. U.S. Pat. No. 4,412,205, issued to Von Kemencsky Oct.
25, 1983,
discloses a switching construction responsive to motions of a wearer. U.S.
Pat. No. 5,424,922
issued to Wise Jun. 13, 1995, discloses fiber optic apparel and safety gear."
[0006] "An Interact search for "reflective or illuminated
garments . . . " discovered
several Traffic Vests.TM., provided with PVC reflective tape. These items are
offered for
purchase by AGO Industries, Inc. Root International, Inc. sells a luminous
vest and a
luminous belt. Bike Nashbar sells the Nathan Reflective Biking Vest.TM..
Nashbar also sells
the SL-20 Flashing Light.TM., Model 340C Yellow Clip Light.TM., and Model 300C
Red
Clip Light.TM."
[0007] "With the exception of Perry, the foregoing references are
intended for use by
persons undertaking activities in areas that they must share with motor
vehicles. Yet, none of
these references enables users to communicate their intention to commence,
continue, or
resume forward motion, to turn or bear to the right or left, to cross the
roadway, or to stop."
[0008] A further description of references is given in US Patent
6,538,567 of Stewart
at col. 1, line 13 to col. 2, line 18, as follows:
[0009] "Turn signals on articles of apparel have long been the
subject of inventor's
endeavors, but to date, none have been particularly satisfactory."
[0010] "An early attempt is seen in U.S. Pat. No. 1,209,059,
issued Dec. 19, 1916, to
Smith. A bare bulb, electrically connected to a battery, is attached to the
sleeve of a driver, so
that when the driver's arm is out of the window making the motions of a turn
signal, the light
will move with the arm and be visible to other motorists. Japanese Patent No.
JP2265101,
issued Oct. 29, 1990 to Hitoshi et al. discloses a jacket with a printed
circuit board attached
in the middle of its back. A matrix of light emitting diodes (LEDs) are
mounted on the
printed circuit board which is operationally connected with a motorcycle power
source via a
programmable operating system. A manipulated graphic with or without text can
be
displayed on the printed circuit board. The disclosure is very broad with few
details, but
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apparently, when used as a turn signal, a large arrow is formed across the
entire board by
lighted LEDs, when a turn signal switch is activated by the biker, the arrow
pointing in the
direction of the turn. While the patentees state that the "turn signal" is
activated by a
"blinker," it is not clear whether or not the arrow itself flashes on and off.
Other displays,
such as personal messages, are also programmed into the operating system. The
system is
expensive, requires separate attachment to the jacket, and the turn signal
indication is not the
type to which United States drivers are accustomed, opening the possibility
that rather than
being a clear notification of a turn, it could actually confuse other
drivers."
[0011] "Warning lights, including turn signals, have been placed on
motorcycle
helmets in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,559,516, issued Dec. 17, 1985 to Schott et al.,
5,207,500, issued
May 4, 1993 to Rios et al., and 6,097,287, issued Aug. 1, 2000 to Lu. The
helmet of Schott
et al. is self-contained with the battery, switches, circuitry, and lights
built-in, a complicated
combination, which is expensive to manufacture and which adds to the weight of
the helmet.
The turn signal switches are inertia switches operable by movements of the
cyclist's head, a
system prone to accidental actuation, for a motorcyclist's head is constantly
moving. Rios et
al. include turn signals, a brake light, a tail light, and a head light in
their helmet design,
making for a large and heavy combination. All of the lights of Rios et al. are
powered and
actuated by the motorcycle's electrical system. While a multi-lighted helmet
is more easily
seen by other motorists than one without lights, the light array disclosed by
Rios et al. must
present a confusing display. The cyclist's head is constantly rotating,
thereby constantly
changing the position of the left and right turn lights relative to the bike
body, which leaves
following drivers to wonder what, if anything, is being indicated. Lu adds to
the
conventional helmet only a brake light, inductively coupled to the brake
system of the
motorcycle. No indications of turns are involved."
[0012] "Safety lights have also been placed on other wearing
apparel, to be worn by
policemen, joggers, runners, bicyclists, etc., to warn motorists or others in
the vicinity of
their presence. See U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,153,745; 5,070,436; 5,488,361; and
5,690,411. Only the
last, issued Nov. 25, 1997, to Jackman includes manually actuated "turn
signals"
incorporated into a jogger's vest. They are powered by batteries carried by
the wearer, adding
to the garment's weight and complexity."
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[0013] "Many other lighted apparel have been patented, most for
decorative or
entertainment purposes. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,602,191; 4,709,307;
5,113,325;
5,278,734; and 5,613,756. They are not germaine to the instant invention."
Summary of Invention
[0014] The following summary may introduce the reader to the more
detailed
discussion to follow. The summary is not intended to, and does not, limit or
define the
claims.
[0015] In an aspect of the invention there is an illuminated
clothing apparatus. It has
a body-worn member, and at least a first hand-wear member. The body-worn
member has a
dorsal portion worn across the wearer's back. The dorsal portion has an
illumination array,
such as may be visible from behind. The first hand-wear member has at least a
first control
signal input interface; control circuitry; and a power source connection. The
power source
connection, the control circuitry, the first signal input interface and the
illumination array are
co-operatively mounted; and, as worn in operation. At least the first signal
input interface of
first hand-wear element is (or are, as may be) operable to control a plurality
of functions of
the illumination array.
[0016] In a feature of that aspect of the invention, the power
source connection is
connected to a power supply chosen from the set of power supplies consisting
of: (a) a
motion driven generator; (b) a bicycle mounted battery; (c) a pocket-carried
battery pack;
(d) a ventrally mounted battery; and (e) a dorsally mounted battery. In
another feature, the
hand wear element is connected to the body worn element by a hard-wired
connection. In
still another feature, the body-worn element includes sleeves, and at least
one of the sleeves
includes circuitry by which, in use, the first hand wear element is connected
to at least one of
the control circuitry, the power source connection, and the illumination
array. In another
feature, the illumination array includes at least a left turning display and a
right turning
display, and the plurality of functions includes at least a function for
indication a left turn and
another function for indicating a right turn. In a further feature, the
illuminating apparatus
includes any combination of at least three of: (a) a left turn signal display;
(b) a right turn
signal display; (c) a braking display; (d) a body mounted running light; and
(e) an arm
mounted running light. In still a further feature, the apparatus includes the
first hand-wear
member and a second hand wear member, the second hand-wear member having a
second
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control signal input interface. In a still further feature, the body-worn
member is a jacket
having sleeves. In another further feature the body-worn member is a rain
jacket.
[0017] In another feature of that aspect of the invention, the
first hand-wear member
is a glove, and the apparatus includes a second hand-wear member, the second
hand-wear
member being a mating glove of opposite handedness. In another feature , the
first control
signal input interface includes at least one of (a) a squeezable pressure
switch; and (b) a
contact switch. In another feature, the illuminating array includes at least
one running light.
In still another feature, the apparatus includes a light sensor, the light
sensor being
operatively connected to at least a first member of the illuminating array. In
yet a further
feature, the illuminating array includes at least one running light and the
light sensor is
connected to cause that running light to illuminate when dusk falls.
[0018] In another feature, the body-worn member includes a
controller
accommodation and a controller disconnect. In a further feature, the clothing
includes the
first hand wear member and a second hand-wear member, the first and second
hand-wear
members being first and second gloves of a pair of gloves, the first and
second hand-wear
members having at least first and second control signal input interfaces, the
control signal
input interfaces being operable to initiate a plurality of functions of the
illuminating array. In
still another feature, the-body worn member is a jacket having first and
second sleeves, the
jacket being a rain protector and having a hood. The hand-wear includes the
first hand wear
member and a second hand-wear member. The first and second hand-wear members
define a
pair of gloves. The first hand-wear member has at least the first control
signal input
interface. The second hand-wear member has at least a second control signal
input interface.
The gloves have cuffs for co-operation with the sleeves of the jacket. The
gloves and the
sleeves having co-operable releasable electrical connections by which the
first and second
control input interfaces are connected to the control circuitry.
[0019] In another aspect of the invention there is a method of
operating any apparatus
according to any combination of the features above, whether that operation
includes
intermittent flashing operation or otherwise. The operation includes hand
motion while not
letting go of a bicycle handle, and may include passive operation initiated by
a photo-
sensitive switch as darkness falls.
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Brief Description of the Illustrations
[0020] These and other features and aspects of the invention may
be explained and
understood with the aid of the accompanying illustrations, in which:
[0021] Figure 1 shows a general arrangement view of a cyclist
wearing clothing
according to an aspect of the principles and features described herein, viewed
from in front and to the left;
[0022] Figure 2 is a view of the cyclist of Figure 1 as seen from
behind;
[0023] Figure 3 is a rear view of clothing of the cyclist of Figures 1 and
2 including a
body-wear garment and hand-wear garments;
[0024] Figure 4 is a front view of the body-wear garment of Figure
3, with zipper
undone and vest portions opened to reveal internal details;
[0025] Figure 5 is a palm-view of an embodiment of glove of the
hand-wear of
Figure 3, with fingers extended;
[0026] Figure 6 is a front view of another embodiment of glove to
that of Figure 5,
and an associated sleeve cuff of the body wear garment of Figure 3, with the
sleeve cuff partially turned back to reveal internal details;
[0027] Figure 7 is a front view of an alternate glove and cuff
arrangement to that of
Figure 6 showing an alternate embodiment of connection; and
[0028] Figure 8 is a simple wiring schematic for apparatus such as
employed in the
clothing of Figure 2.
Detailed Description
[0029] The description that follows, and the embodiments described
therein, are
provided by way of illustration of an example, or examples, of particular
embodiments
incorporating one or more of the principles, aspects and features of the
invention. These
examples are provided for the purposes of explanation, and not of limitation,
of those
principles, aspects and features. In the description, like parts are marked
throughout the
specification and the drawings with the same respective reference numerals.
The drawings
may be taken as being to scale, or generally proportionate, unless indicated
otherwise.
[0030] The scope of the invention herein is defined by the claims.
Though the claims
are supported by the description, they are not limited to any particular
example or
embodiment. Other than as indicated in the claims themselves, the claims are
not limited to
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apparatus or processes having all of the features of any one apparatus or
process described
below, or to features common to multiple or all of the apparatus described
below. It is
possible that an apparatus, feature, or process described below is not an
embodiment of any
claimed invention.
[0031] The terminology used in this specification is thought to be
consistent with the
customary and ordinary meanings of those terms as they would be understood by
a person of
ordinary skill in the art in North America. The Applicant expressly excludes
all
interpretations of terminology that are inconsistent with this specification,
and, in particular,
expressly excludes interpretation of the claims or the language used in this
specification such
as may be made in the USPTO, or in any other Patent Office, other than those
interpretations
for which express support can be demonstrated in this specification or in
objective evidence
of record, demonstrating how the terms are used and understood by persons of
ordinary skill
in the art generally, or by way of expert evidence of a person or persons of
experience in the
art.
[0032] The commonly used engineering terms "proud", "flush" and
"shy" may be
used herein to denote items that, respectively, protrude beyond an adjacent
element, are level
with an adjacent element, or do not extend as far as an adjacent element, the
terms
corresponding conceptually to the conditions of "greater than", "equal to" and
"less than".
[0033] In this discussion it may be helpful to make reference to a
frame of reference.
By the nature of the clothing described herein being intended for use while
the wearer is in
motion, the frame of reference is that of a body generally ¨ forward being
generally the front
or direction of motion, rearward being the direction facing backward toward
over-taking
traffic, left and right, up and down being as generally understood while
riding a bicycle, for
example.
[0034] Considering Figure 1, a cyclist is shown seated on a
bicycle. The cyclist has a
clothing apparatus, indicated generally as 20. The clothing apparatus, or
apparel, or however
it may be termed, includes a body-worn member, or body wear, or garment, 22,
and a first
hand-wear member 24. It may also typically include a second hand-wear member
26.
[0035] Body-worn member, or garment, 22 may have the form of a
jacket 30. Jacket
30 may have a main body with a dorsal portion 32, and left and right hand
ventral portions
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34, 36, such as may mate at a zipper 38. Jacket 30 may also have a collar, 40,
and a hood 42.
In some embodiments hood 42 may be foldable, such that it may be rolled up and
stored
within collar 40. Further, jacket 30 may have left and right hand sleeves, 46,
48. Which
terminate at respective cuffs 44. In another embodiment, the hood itself
defines a pouch into
which the entire jacket may be rolled-up, or folded, as for storage. The
package may have a
strap, or elastic belt, or clip by which it may be worn at the rider's waist,
or put in a back-
pack.
[0036] Jacket 30 may be a rain jacket, and may be water-resistant
or water-proof
Jacket 30 may have a lining 50. Jacket 30 may have left and right hand pockets
52, 54, and
may have an internal right or left hand vest pocket 56. It may also have, or
may alternatively
have, a dorsal compartment, such as may be a zipper-closed or Velcro-closed
compartment
or pouch 58.
[0037] Looking at garment 22 externally, as from behind, the shoulder
portions may
have left hand and right hand illuminating elements 60, 62, respectively, such
as may be lit
up when the rider wishes to indicate an impending left- or right-hand turn.
Illuminating
elements 60, 62 may have the form of an array, such as an arrow, of a
plurality of lighting
elements such as may light all at once, or may light sequentially in
progression in the
direction of the arrow. Lighting elements 64 may be LED elements, and may
typically be
red, although another colour such as yellow might be chosen in another
embodiment.
[0038] Additionally, garment 22 may have running light elements
such as vertically
along the wearer's side or horizontally along a waist band, as at 66, or on
the underside, or
rear side, of the arms between the elbows and the sleeve cuffs, as at 68.
These running lights
may be LED elements, and may have a white or yellow colour. In all cases,
whether signal
elements 64 or running light elements 66, when emitting light each of the LED
elements, or
all of them, may do so in a flashing manner such as may be more prone to
attract attention, or
to conserve energy, or both. The distinction is made between running lights
and signalling
lights. The term running light applies lights whose operation is not for the
purpose of
signalling, but for the purpose of steady state illumination, whether steady
or flashing, merely
to show the presence of the person or object, even if it is not moving. It is
in that sense a
passive light, and may be white or yellow.
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100391 In another embodiment, jacket 30 may additionally have
reflective bands,
such as at the waist at 70, along the sides of the body as at 72, along the
line of the arm from
shoulder to cuff as at 74, or at the cuff as at 76, or any combination
thereof. Jacket 30 may
also have a light sensor, 80, such as may be connected to cause one or more of
the running
light elements to operate when external ambient lighting goes dim, as at dusk,
whether the
running lights have been manually activated by the rider or not. Sensor 80 may
be mounted
on a chest portion of jacket 30, perhaps near collar 40, facing outwardly to
sense ambient
light.
[0040] The apparatus may have a power supply 78, and a power supply
connection,
or wiring harness or circuitry, as indicated generally at 82, and control
circuitry as indicated
at 84. The control circuitry may include a programmable computer, or micro-
computer, 86,
such as a Lilypad Arduino (t.m.) microcontroller, a well-known and
conveniently available
type of open-source controller that is waterproof and shatter resistant.
[0041] Power may be supplied by a bicycle generator such as may
run against one of
the wheels, or by the turning of a wheel hub and such as may have a lanyard or
tether
connection or plug suitable for mating with the connection of the clothing. In
such case the
generator and clothing may be sold as a kit. Alternatively the clothing may be
sold with an
adapter connection suitable for use with an existing generator set.
[0042] Alternatively, as shown in the embodiment herein, power may
be supplied
from batteries 75. Batteries 75 may be rechargeable batteries. Batteries 75
may be mounted
in pouch 58 with control circuitry 84. Alternatively, the batteries may be
mounted in a
battery pack, 88 such as may be carried in any one of pockets 52, 54 or 56.
Battery pack 88
may be part of a package that includes programmable computer, or micro-
controller, 86. The
package of batteries and controller may be removable from jacket 30, as by a
single quick-
disconnect plug connection e.g., as when inside and wishing to recharge.
[0043] However the power may be supplied, electrical leads or connections
90, which
may be a quick disconnect connections, run from power supply 78 to supply
power to the
control circuitry. Part of all of those leads or connections may be sewn into,
or immediately
adjacent to, a seam or seams of jacket 30, in the body or torso portion and in
the sleeves, as
may be, and may include electrically conductive thread. The electrically
conductive thread
may be sewn in multiple strands. Similarly, leads or connections or strands
supply power to
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the LED lighting elements, as at 92, 94 (1/h); 96, 98 (r/h); 100, 102 (running
lights) and other
leads such as 104, 106, 108 connect light sensor 80 to the control circuitry.
Lead line 108
may connect a manual running light switch 110 to operate running lights 66, 68
independently of photo-sensitive switch 80. Further electrical leads, 112, 114
may be sewn
into the seams of the respective sleeve, or sleeves, left or right as may be,
to extend from the
control circuitry to the cuffs 44 of sleeves 46, 48 at which they may have
respective terminal
connections 116, 118.
[0044] Similarly, whether using opposed contacts or an internal
pressure switch or
switches, wiring, or wiring harnesses in the form of conductors or
electrically conductive
thread, which may be multiple strands, may be sewn into hand wear members 24,
26, and
may terminate at terminal connections 120, 122, respectively.
[0045] Terminal connections 116 and 120, or 118 and 122 may be
mating pairs, and
may have a male-female releasable engagement relationship. In one embodiment
they may
be electrically conductive snaps. In another embodiment, as seen in Figure 7
there may be a
mating plug 124 and a socket 126, in which, for example, one or other
connection may be on
a line, or lanyard, or lead, 125 providing a measure of slack between the
respective hand-
wear member and the sleeve cuff such as to facilitate connection and
disconnection by the
wearer. In another embodiment, the transmission may be I/R, and remote, in the
manner of
an electrical car-key, with the sending units in the gloves, and the receiving
unit in the battery
pack or micro-controller, as may be, such that sewn leads and contacts are not
required.
[0046] Hand-wear members 24 and 26 may be gloves, or mittens, as
may be, having
a thumb portion 128 and at least one opposed finger portion 130. It may be
expected that one
glove or mitten is the left hand glove or mitten, and the other is the right
hand glove or
mitten. Each glove or mitten may have a palm portion 132, and a back of hand
portion 134.
The back-of-hand portion may have a tightening strap 136 such as may be
cinched and held
with a fabric fastener strip (of which an example is sold under the trade name
"Velcro", t.m.)
in the manner of a golfing glove.
[0047] Although a glove with thumb and four fingers is shown, it
may be understood
that a mitting with thumb and one or two fingers may also be contemplated. In
the instance
shown, palm portion 132 may have a slip resistant gripping surface or
treatment 138, whether
rubberized or otherwise, such as may be suitable for riding a bicycle. In
warmer weather
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embodiments, it may also be that hand-wear members 24, 26 may have open
finger, or at
least partially cut-off finger and thumb portions, such as might be suitable
for wear in
relatively warm seasons of the year.
[0048] On the inside of one or more fingers, or on the inside of the thumb,
either or
both of hand wear members 24, 26 may have a switch, 140, which may be a
pressure
sensitive switch 142. Squeezing of the thumb or finger, or fingers, such as by
tightening
one's grip on the handle-bars of the bicycle may tend to close switch 140. In
an alternate
embodiment, switch 140 may have the form of first and second contacts 144, 146
such as
may be located between the thumb and side of the forefinger. Moving the thumb
and
forefinger together may tend to close contacts 144, 146. As with jacket 30,
the wiring for
switch 120 is sewn into the glove, most typically along or adjacent to a seam.
[0049] In some climates, and at some times of the year, the
weather may be less than
optimal for cycling. In some climates it may frequently be overcast or rainy.
In some
locations the hours of daylight may be short. It may be uncomfortably cold to
hold the
handle bars with bare hands, or to have bare hands exposed to the wind. It
may, nonetheless,
be desirable to indicate, for example, when one is turning, or when one is
stopping. It may
be desirable to be able to make such a signal without removing one's hands
from the handle
bars. It may also be that in colder weather, it may be helpful not to have to
fumble with
switches while wearing gloves or mittens, or to activate switches on a body
pack.
[0050] In the embodiment illustrated, pressing the switch (or
closing the opposed
contacts) with the left fingers may indicate a left turn; pressing the switch
(or closing the
opposed contacts) with the right hand or fingers may indicate a right turn.
Closing both
together may indicate "Stop". In this embodiment the operator, i.e., the
cyclist, may do so
without taking his or her hands of the handle bars, and may thereby be able to
steer and
operate the brakes while signalling. This same task may not be as easy where
the cyclist has
to fumble with switches that are either on the bike or on the body of the
garment. Further,
the cyclist may be able to do so without having to remove the gloves or
mittens, as may be
desirable on a less-than-warm or miserably wet day.
[0051] Whether by pressure switch 122 in the embodiment of Figure
5, or by contact
or proximity elements 124, 126 in the embodiment of Figure 6, once switch 120
is closed or
otherwise activated, controller 86 may operate to cause the various elements
to illuminate.
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The elements 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, such as may be activated may be caused to
flash in a strobe-
light like manner with timed spacing between short flash discharges. In
respect of the turn
indicators, the flashes may proceed in a sequence such as to suggest
directional motion to the
"arrow" flashes. In this DC system the voltage is low, less than 24 V, the
embodiment
shown being 12V; and the current is very low, being of the order of a few
milli-amps, with
the overall power being a fraction of a Watt or a few Watts. Although the
description is
written in the context of cycling, the clothing apparatus may be worn while
running or
walking, while skiing, while on a snowmobile, or motor-bike, and so on.
[0052] That
is, while the description is made in the context of a rain jacket, or rain
coat, the apparatus could also be applied to active wear, or to breathable,
non-waterproof
material such as might be worn in an exercise context. In such an embodiment,
while the
fabric may not be waterproof, the other components of the jacket are
waterproof, including
the lights, wiring, and controller, and the battery pack is a water-sealed
container.
The term "hard-wired" has been used in this description. It is used as a
contrast to
"wireless". The "hard" wiring may be electrically conductive thread. Subject
to detachment
of the battery pack (or battery pack and controller if they are supplied in a
single package),
the garment is machine washable. The LEDs, wiring, and micro-controller in
those
embodiments are all washable.
[0053]
What has been described above has been intended illustrative and non-
limiting and it will be understood by persons skilled in the art that other
variances and
modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure
as defined in
the claims appended hereto. Various embodiments of the invention have been
described in
detail. Since changes in and or additions to the above-described best mode may
be made
without departing from the nature, spirit or scope of the invention, the
invention is not to be
limited to those details but only by the appended claims.
