Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1
CONVERTIBLE SKI BOOT ATTACHMENT
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This relates to a ski boot attachment for attaching a ski,
snowboard, or other
boot to a ski or snowboard that can be converted between modes of use.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Ski boots are generally uncomfortable whereas snowboard boots
provide more
long lasting comfort for the wearer. The outer shell of ski boots is comprised
of hard
plastic and is thus makes the boot difficult to maneuver in when not latched
into skis. The
flexible leather that comprises the synthetic shell of a snowboard boot
provides more
comfort and mobility. The thick hard soles of ski boots can be ruined once
worn off of the
snow and restrict cushioning on the feet. The soles of snowboarding boots are
similar to
those of athletic shoes, allowing them to be more versatile as well as
provides more
cushioning for the feet. Many skiers have switched to snowboarding due to the
more
comfortable boot.
[0002a] Typical ski bindings include toe binding attachments and heel
binding
attachments that releas ably attach to the toe and heel of a ski boot. The
releasable toe and
heel connections cooperate to secure the boot on the ski under normal use. Ski
bindings
are designed to release the ski boot when a potentially dangerous force is
applied between
the boot and the ski, such as in the event of a crash, or when a user applies
a force to a
catch. Some example of known ski bindings that include releasable toe and heel
connections are described in: U.S. patent no. 3,727,933 (Allsop) entitled "Ski
Binding";
U.S. patent no. 4,522,422 (Jaeger) entitled "Ski Binding"; U.S. patent no.
5,056,808
(Holzl et al.) entitled "Ski Binding"; and U.S. patent no. 5,211,417 (Holzl et
al.) entitled
"Ski Binding".
SUMMARY
[0003] According to an aspect, there is provided a boot attachment for
attaching a
boot to a ski, the boot having an ankle portion and a foot portion, the boot
attachment
comprising a base having a toe binding and a heel binding, a boot receiver
having a lower
Date recue/Date Received 2020-09-22
la
portion and an upper portion, wherein, in use the lower portion retains the
foot potion of
the boot, and the upper portion retains the ankle portion of the boot, a pivot
connecting
the boot receiver to the base, such that movement of the receiver about the
pivot causes
the upper portion of the boot receiver to move away from the base, and a pivot
lock that
selectively locks the pivot.
[0004] According to another aspect, the pivot lock may comprise a first
locking state
in which the boot receiver is adjacent to the base and a second locking state
in which the
boot receiver is pivoted about the pivot relative to the base.
[0005] According to another aspect, the pivot may connect the rigid
boot receiver to
the base toward the toe binding of the boot attachment.
[0006] According to another aspect, selectively locking the pivot may
change a state
of
Date recue/Date Received 2020-09-22
CA 02913330 2015-03-26
the boot receiver between a locked state and a movable state.
[0007] According to another aspect, the boot attachment may further
comprise
selectively deployable traction enhancing devices.
[0008] According to another aspect, the boot attachment may further
comprise a
rotatable attachment having an axis of rotation that is perpendicular to an
upper face of the ski
when the boot attachment is mounted to the ski, and the rotatable attachment
may permit
selective rotational movement of the boot attachment relative to the ski.
[0009] According to another aspect, the rotatable attachment may be
connected toward
the toe binding or toward the heel binding.
[0010] According to another aspect, at least a portion of the boot
receiver may be rigid.
[0011] According to another aspect, the pivot may have an axis that is
parallel to an
upper face of the ski when the boot attachment is mounted to the ski.
[0012] According to another aspect, the toe binding and the heel binding
may be
configured to mount the boot attachment to the ski.
[0013] According to another aspect, the base may comprise two
substantially parallel
bars.
[0014] According to another aspect, the boot receiver may comprise one or
more curved
bars and one or more straps connected at either end to the one or more curved
bars.
[0015] According to an aspect, there is provided a boot attachment for
attaching a boot to
a ski. The boot attachment comprises a base that comprises a toe binding and a
heel binding
and a boot receiver that comprises at least one side support and an ankle
support. The boot
receiver is carried by the base. There is at least one strap configured to
secure a boot to the
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boot receiver. A rotatable attachment rotatably mounts the boot receiver above
an upper
surface of a ski, the rotatable attachment having an axis of rotation that is
perpendicular to the
upper face of the ski when the boot attachment is mounted to the ski. The
rotatable
attachment permits selective rotational movement of the boot receiver relative
to the ski.
[0016] According to another aspect, the rotatable attachment may permit
rotation of the
boot receiver relative to the base and the base is stationary relative to the
upper surface of the
ski.
[0017] According to another aspect, the rotatable attachment may permit
rotation of the
base relative to the upper surface of the ski and the boot receiver moves with
the base.
[0018] According to another aspect, the rotatable attachment may be
connected toward
the toe binding or toward the heel binding.
[0019] According to another aspect, the toe binding and the heel binding
may be
configured to attach the boot frame to a binding on a ski.
[0020] According to another aspect, the ankle support may comprise at
least one curved
bar connected at both ends to the base.
[0021] According to another aspect, the boot attainment may comprise a
toe strap, an
ankle strap, and a calf trap.
[0022] According to another aspect, the rotatable attachment may be mounted
to a track
that permits movement of the rotatable attachment along a length of the ski.
[0023] According to another aspect, the track may be part of the base and
extends
between the toe binding and the heel binding.
[0024] In other aspects, the features described above may be combined
together in any
reasonable combination as will be recognized by those skilled in the art.
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4
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] These and other features will become more apparent from the
following
description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings
are for the
purpose of illustration only and are not intended to be in any way limiting,
wherein:
FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of a ski boot attachment.
FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of an embodiment of a ski boot attachment.
FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of an embodiment of a ski boot attachment with
detachable components.
FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of an embodiment of a ski boot frame having
adjustable side supports.
FIG. 5 is an exploded view of an embodiment of a heel binding.
FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of an embodiment of a heel binding.
FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of a convertible embodiment of a ski boot
attachment.
FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of a convertible embodiment of a ski boot
attachment in a lowered position.
FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of a convertible embodiment of a ski boot
attachment in a raised position.
FIG. 10 is a detailed side elevation view of a selectively deployable traction
enhancing device in a storage position.
FIG. 11 is a detailed side elevation view of a selectively deployable traction
enhancing device in a deployed position.
FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of a ski boot attachment
having a rotatable attachment shown in a first position.
FIG. 13 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of a ski boot attachment
having a rotatable attachment shown in a second position.
FIG. 14 is a side elevation view of an embodiment of a ski boot attachment
that
permits lateral and pivotal movement of the ski boot.
FIG. 15 is a top plan view of a pair of bindings on tracks and rotatable
attachments in a snowboarding configuration.
CA 02913330 2015-03-26
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] A boot attachment generally identified by reference numeral 100,
will now be
described with reference to FIG. 1 through 14.
5 [0027] Disclosed herein are devices for the support of snowboard
boots to be used with
skis as ski boots. Embodiments of the devices may also permit the same boots
and bindings
to be used in different configurations, such as in a telemark configuration, a
snowboard
configuration, and a touring or climbing configuration.
[0028] Throughout this disclosure, "front" refers to the area where the toe
section of a
boot would tit in the disclosed device, and "rear" refers to the area where
the heel section of a
boot would fit in the disclosed device. FIG. 1 shows a schematic drawing of
one embodiment
of devices disclosed herein. The devices are described with reference to FIG.
1, but those of
skill in the art recognize that variations, including those described herein,
arc still within the
scope of the present disclosure.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, disclosed herein is a boot frame
100. The frame
100 comprises a base 102. As shown in FIG. 1, the base 102 has two
substantially parallel
bars. In some embodiments the bars are present in various quantities and
positions. For
example, in some embodiments the bars are not parallel. In other embodiments,
the bars
intersect. In some embodiments, the base 102 is a solid piece, whereas in
other embodiments
it is a perforated piece. Some embodiments are comprised of a single bar and
other
embodiments are comprised of multiple, e.g. more than two, bars.
[0030] In some embodiments, the base 102 has an adjustable length. In these
embodiments the base 102 comprises two interconnected pieces, a front piece
and a rear
piece. When the length of the base 102 is adjusted, the front of the base 102
moves closer to,
or further away, from the rear of the base 102. The adjustable length allows
the user to adjust
the frame 100 to fa the user's boot size.
[0031] In other embodiments, the base 102 has a fixed length. In these
embodiments,
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6
frames 100 of various lengths are manufactured and the users use a frame 100
that fits the
user's boot size.
[0032] In some embodiments base 102 is made of a metal. Examples of
metals include
those that are strong enough to hold the boot to skis and not bend under
pressure. These
examples include, but are not limited to, iron, steel, titanium, and composite
metals. In certain
embodiments, base 102 is made of wood. In other embodiments, base 102 is made
of a
synthetic material, such as, hut not limited to, plastics, carbon fibre, fibre
glass, and the like.
[0033] The base 102 comprises a toe binding 104 at the front end of the
frame 100. The
toe binding 104 is configured to secure the -frame 100 into a ski binding the
way a typical ski
boot would latch in. As shown in FIG. 1 the toe binding 104 comprises a small
piece of hard
material in the shape of a trapezoid. In some embodiments the toe binding 104
is present in
different shapes, including but riot limited to, a square, oval, or
rectangular shape. The shape
of the toe binding 104 is dependent on the type of ski binding used on skis,
i.e., the toe
binding 104 is shaped to match the binding of the skis. In some embodiments,
the toe binding
104 comprises metal. In certain embodiments the toe binding is made of one or
more material
including, but not limited, to iron, steel, titanium, composite metals, wood,
a synthetic
material, such as, but not limited to, plastics, carbon fibre, fibre glass,
and the like, hard
plastic or rubber.
[0034] In some embodiments, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, the top
surface of toe
binding 104 is higher than the base 102 of the frame 100. In these
embodiments, the raised toe
binding 104 provides a snug fit for a boot when the boot is placed in the
frame 100. In other
embodiments, a boot has a corresponding binding at the toe area and the boot
binding latches
into the toe binding 104.
[0035] The base 102 comprises a heel binding 106 at the rear end of the
frame 100. The
heel binding 106 is configured to secure the frame 100 into a ski binding the
way a typical ski
boot would latch in. In some embodiments, the heel binding 106 comprises
metal. In certain
embodiments the heel binding 106 is made of' one or more material including,
but not limited,
CA 02913330 2015-03-26
7
to iron, steel, titanium, composite metals, wood, a synthetic material, such
as, but not limited
to, plastics, carbon fibre, fibre glass, and the like, hard plastic or rubber.
In some
embodiments, the heel binding 106 is located at the far rear of the base 102.
In other
embodiments, the base 102 extends farther to the rear than where the heel
binding 106 is
located.
[0036] In some embodiments, the boot is held in place on the frame 100 by
at least two
side supports 108. In some embodiments, the boot side supports 108 are
connected near the
front of the frame 100. In some embodiments they are located towards the rear
of the frame
100 or in the middle of the frame 100. In some embodiments the side supports
108 are
comprised of solid metal and in some embodiments they are comprised of
perforated metal. In
certain embodiments the side supports 108 is made of one or more material
including, but not
limited, to iron, steel, titanium, composite metals, wood, a synthetic
material, such as, but not
limited to, plastics, carbon fibre, fibre glass, and the like, hard plastic or
rubber. In some
embodiments the side supports curve around the shape of the boot and in other
embodiments
the side supports have various shapes including but not limited to vertical
and parallel bars.
Some embodiments comprise one set of parallel side supports 108. Other
embodiments
comprise more than one set of parallel side supports 108 for example two or
three sets. Some
embodiments, for example the one shown in FIG. 3, do not have any side support
108.
[0037] In some embodiments, for example that shown in FIG. 4, the side
supports 408
are adjustable. In these embodiments, the user can move the side supports 408
towards the
centre of the base 102 or away from the base 102. In some embodiments, the two
side
supports 408 move together and in the same direction when they are adjusted.
In other
embodiments, the two side supports 408 move together but in the opposite
direction when
they are adjusted. In still other embodiments, each side support 108 moves
independently.
[0038] Often times, when a person stands, the natural inclination of the
feet is to either
turn in, i.e., with toes facing toward each other and inward, or turn out,
i.e., with toes tending
away from each other and outward. Regular ski boots force everyone's feet to
line up parallel
with the skis. This unnatural positioning of the feet puts great pressure on
the skier's knees
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and causes knee and hip injuries over time. By adjusting the side supports
408, a skier can
allow for the boot to line up at an angle to the base 102, which angle is the
natural angle of the
skier's feet when the skier stands. This way, the base 102 lines up with the
skis and the skier's
feet rest at their natural and comfortable angle, thereby reducing the
pressure on knees and
hips.
[0039] The boot is held in place at the rear of the frame 100 by an ankle
support 110. In
some embodiments the ankle support I 10 comprises a curved bar that is
connected to either
side of the base 102. In other embodiments the ankle support 110 comprises
various bars are
connected to either side of the base 102, for example, two bars intersecting
each other,
multiple bars attached vertically from the base of the base 102, or multiple
curved bars
attached starting from the heel leading up to the ankle. In some embodiments
the ankle
support 110 comprises metal for example a solid or perforated metal. In
certain embodiments
the ankle support 110 is made of one or more material including, but not
limited, to iron, steel,
titanium, composite metals, wood, a synthetic material, such as, but not
limited to, plastics,
carbon fibre, fibre glass, and the like, hard plastic or rubber.
[0040] In some embodiments a calf support 112 is connected to the ankle
support 110.
The calf support 112 can be attached anywhere from the front to the rear of
the ankle support
110. In some embodiments the calf support 112 comprises a curved metal bar
attaching to
either side of the ankle support 110. In other embodiments the calf support
112 comprises
various bars attaching to either side of the ankle support 110, for example,
two or more bars
intersecting each other, multiple bars attached vertically from the base of
the frame 102 or
base of the ankle support 110, or multiple curved bars attached starting from
the top of the
ankle leading up to the calf. In some embodiments the calf support 112
comprises metal for
example a solid or perforated metal. In certain embodiments the calf support
112 is made of
one or more material including, but not limited, to iron, steel, titanium,
composite metals,
wood, a synthetic material, such as, but not limited to, plastics, carbon
fibre, fibre glass, and
the like, hard plastic or rubber.
[0041] Referring to FIG. 3, to keep the boot attached to the frame 100,
some
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9
embodiments include boot straps located at, for example, but not limited to,
the toe 302, ankle
304, and calf 306. In some embodiments, each of the straps 302, 304, 306
independently
comprises various materials including but not limited to plastic, cloth,
rubber, Kevlat. , or a
combination thereof
[0042] In some embodiments the toe strap 302 connects on either side of
the frame 102
near the front. In some embodiments, the ankle strap 304 connects to either
side of the ankle
support 110 near the rear. In other embodiments the ankle strap 304 is located
in various
locations, for example, connected to either side of the metal frame 102 near
the rear. In some
embodiments the calf strap 306 is connected to opposite sides of the calf
support 1 12 near the
top. In other embodiments the calf strap 306 is attached in various locations,
for example,
either side of the calf support 112 near the middle or bottom.
[0043] In some embodiments, each of the straps 302, 304, 306
independently is
connected to the frame 100 at one end and is loose at the other end. In these
embodiments,
after the boot is inserted into the frame 100, the loose end of the strap 302,
304, 306 is then
attached to the frame 100 to hold the boot in place.
[0044] In other embodiments, both ends of each of the straps 302, 304,
306
independently are connected to the frame 100. In these embodiments, after the
boot is inserted
into the frame 100 the straps 302, 304, 306 are tightened to secure the boot
in place.
[0045] In some embodiments, the height of the heel binding 106 is
adjustable. In an
embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the heel binding 106 comprises one or more plates
506. The
user can add additional plates 506 in the location of the heel binding 106
thereby raising the
height of the heel binding 106. In these embodiments, the plates 506 are
secured in place
using screws 504, which screw into holes 502. In some embodiments, for example
the one
shown in FIG. 5, two screws 504 secure the plates 506 in place. In other
embodiments,
additional screws are used. It is preferable to have at least two screws 504,
because a single
screw may result in the rotation of the plate 506 in place. FIG. 6 shows a
side view of a heel
binding 106 having four plates 506 held in place by screws 504.
CA 02913330 2015-03-26
[0046] In other embodiments (not shown), the user can turn a dial that
cranks the heel
binding 106 up or down and adjusts it to the desired height. By changing the
height of the
heel binding 106 the user raises or lowers the height of the boot heel, which
results in a more
5 comfortable stance on the skis and provides greater control while skiing.
[0047] Referring to FIG. 7, another embodiment of the boot attachment 100
will be
described. Base 102 has a toe binding 104 and a heel binding 106 as previously
described.
The boot attachment 100 has a boot receiver 114, with the lower portion
retaining the foot
I 0 portion of a boot (not shown), and the upper portion, including the
ankle support 110 and the
calf support 112, retaining the ankle portion of a boot. In this embodiment
boot attachment
100 has a pivot 116 that connects boot receiver 114 to base 102. Pivot 116
allows movement
of the boot receiver 114 about pivot 116, allowing the upper portion 118 of
boot receiver 114
to move away from base 102. Pivot 116 preferably has an axis that is parallel
to an upper face
of the ski when boot attachment 100 is mounted to the ski. Pivot 116 is
provided with a pivot
lock 120 that allows pivot 116 to be selectively locked. Referring to FIG. 8,
pivot lock 120
may have a first locking state where boot receiver 114 is adjacent to base
102, as shown, and
referring to FIG. 9, pivot lock 120 may have a second locking state in which
boot receiver
114 is pivoted about pivot 116 relative to base 102, as shown. Pivot lock 120,
may, for
example, be two separate locking mechanisms as shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 11 or
may be a
single locking mechanism as shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 10. Separate locking
mechanisms
may be used when more than one locking position is desired, or when a more
secure lock may
be desired.
[0048] Pivot lock 120 may take various forms, as will be understood by one
skilled in the
art. For example, pivot lock 120 may be a pin connection or other releasable
connection that
is spaced from pivot 116 and connects boot receiver 114 to base 102 such that
boot receiver
114 is prevented from being rotated away from base 102. Pivot lock 120 may
also be
positioned at pivot 116, and may be incorporated into pivot 116. In addition,
pivot lock 120
.. may have multiple locking positions in addition to the position shown in
FIG. 8. For
example, pivot lock 120 may have one or more positions that lock boot receiver
114 at an
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11
angle relative to base 102, which may be useful in some back-country
applications. In this
case, pivot lock 120 may have multiple components, such as a locking arm (not
shown) that
folds down from boot receiver 114 to hold it at an angle. Alternatively, if
pivot lock 120 is
located at pivot 116, pivot lock 120 may engage pivot 116 to secure it in one
or more
positions.
[0049] Pivot 116 is preferably placed towards toe binding 104 of boot
attachment 100.
The location of pivot 116 may be varied depending on the type of boot that is
to be received
by boot attachment 100, the preferences of the user, or the intended use.
Pivot 116, may, for
example, be placed at the end of the foot portion, and may cooperate with toe
binding 104.
Pivot 116 may also be placed under the metatarsal region of the foot, allowing
for the toe
region to bend, raising the heel of the boot. For example, pivot 116 may be
designed to allow
the user to mimic a telemark style, in which case pivot 116 should be
positioned to enhance
this option. In another example, pivot 116 may be positioned immediately
adjacent to the toe
binding, such that the toes are not required to bend.
[0050] In use, pivot 116, in cooperation with pivot lock 120, allows boot
attachment 100
to be used with different boots and different skis for different types of
skiing. For example, a
user may choose to use downhill, or alpine skis, with snowboarding boots, and
by releasing
pivot lock 120, may be able to engage in telemark style skiing, with movement
of boot
receiver 114 relative to base 102. Pivot lock 120 may also lock boot receiver
114 away from
base 102, for example, to allow a user to engage in touring style skiing.
[0051] Referring to FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, boot attachment 100 may have
selectively
deployable traction enhancing devices 122. Selectively deployable traction
enhancing devices
122 may take various forms, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.
For example,
selectively deployable traction enhancing devices 122 may be a gripping
surface, an ice pick,
a crampon, or other devices known for increasing traction on snow and ice.
Selectively
deployable traction enhancing devices 122 may allow a user to safely travel
over an icy
region while skiing, or may be used for hiking or other activities while
wearing skis. In one
example, traction devices 122 may be deployed with pivot lock 120 holding boot
receiver 114
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1.7
in an angled position, to assist a user in scaling an inclined surface.
100521 Referring to FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, boot attachment 100 may have a
rotatable
attachment 124 that has an axis of rotation that is perpendicular to an upper
face of the ski
when boot attachment 100 is mounted to the ski. Rotatable attachment 124
permits selective
rotational movement of boot attachment 100 relative to the ski. As shown,
rotatable
attachment 124 allows boot receiver 114 to rotate relative to base 102.
However, it will be
understood that rotatable attachment 124 may also allow base 102 to rotate
relative to the ski.
Rotatable attachment 124 may also allow for horizontal movement of boot
receiver 114 along
base 102, allowing boot receiver 114 to move closer to either toe binding 104
or heel binding
106. As discussed above, for many users, a position having feet and knees
directly parallel to
the skis can be uncomfortable and cause joint strain or other injury.
Rotatable attachment 124
may be selectively rotated to allow a user to place their feet in a more
natural and comfortable
position.
[0053] Rotatable attachment 124 may also be used to allow different types
of snow
activities, as discussed above. For example, it may be possible to attach two
skis to mimic the
shape of d snowboard, or to provide a detachable snowboard that allows a
snowboard to
mimic skis. In this case, rotatable attachment 124 may be used to assist in
the conversion.
Referring to FIG. 14 and 15, this may be enhanced by designing base 102 to
have a track 126
that allows boot receiver 114 to travel along the length of the ski/snowboard,
such that, when
converting to a snowboard position, one foot may be moved forward and the
other foot
moved back prior to pivoting boot receiver 114 to ensure the feet are properly
spaced in the
snowboard position. In this case, the pivot may be placed at the toe of one
boot receiver and
the heel of the other boot receiver in a pair of bindings, such that the
bindings are able to
remain immediately above the ski or the snowboard, depending on the pivotal
position.
Alternatively, rotatable attachment 124 may also permit boot receiver 114 to
shift the length
of boot receiver 114. It will be understood that, while track 126 is shown as
part of base 102,
an alternate design may have base 102 or the bindings to which base 102 is
attached mounted
on a track. Similarly, rotatable attachment 124 may be designed to permit
rotation between
boot receiver 114 and base 102, or may be designed to permit rotation between
base 102 and
CA 02913330 2015-03-26
13
the top surface of the ski.
[0054] It will be understood that the features described above may be
used individually,
or in cooperation, depending on the desires of a user. For example, boot
attachment 100 may
have only a pivot 116 and a pivot lock 120 that allow a user to use boot
attachment 100 as
either a downhill ski when pivot lock 120 is locked, or as a telemark ski when
pivot lock 120
is released. Alternatively, boot attachment 100 may have a pivot lock which
locks in both a
position adjacent to base 102 and a position pivoted relative to base 102, and
may have
selectively deployable traction enhancing devices 122. As another example,
boot attachment
100 may have a rotatable attachment 124 that allows for adjustment of the
angle of the feet
and knees, in conjunction with pivot 116 allowing for movement of the boot
receiver 114
relative to base 102.
[0055] In this patent document, the word "comprising" is used in its non-
limiting sense
to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically
mentioned are
not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article ''a" does
not exclude the
possibility that more than one of the elements is present, unless the context
clearly requires
that there be one and only one of the elements.
[0056] The scope of the following claims should not be limited by the
preferred
embodiments set forth in the examples above and in the drawings, but should be
given the
broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.
