Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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WARMING CELL PATTERN FOR GARMENTS AND OTHER OUTDOOR
EQUIPMENT
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This Application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No.
62/754,506, filed November 1, 2018, entitled "WARMING CELL PATTERN FOR
GARMENTS AND OTHER OUTDOOR EQUIPMENT," currently pending. The entire
disclosure, including the specification and drawings, of the above-referenced
application is
incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0002] The
present invention relates generally to garments and/or other outdoor
equipment, and more particularly to a pattern of warming cells that may be
used to improve
the heat retention and warming properties of garments and/or other outdoor
equipment.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0003]
Both down insulation and synthetic insulation are often used as heat
insulators
in coats, pants, gloves, comforters, sleeping bags, and the like. Such
insulation can affect
warmth, weight, water resistance, compressibility, and price of garments
and/or sleeping
bags.
[0004]
Down insulation is made up of the plumage found underneath the exterior
feathers on waterfowl such as ducks and geese. The down insulation consists of
soft, fluffy,
wispy filaments, and not feathers, although some products use a blend of down
and feathers.
Down insulates by trapping air and is desired because it is lightweight, easy
to compress,
long-lasting, and breathable.
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[0005]
Synthetic insulation is popular for its strong overall performance and lower
price compared to down. Synthetic insulation is typically made of polyester,
is quick-drying,
and insulates even if it is wet.
Furthermore, synthetic insulation is durable and
hypoallergenic.
[0006] Some manufacturers make garments and/or sleeping bags with a
combination
of down and synthetic insulations. Such a hybrid construction can provide the
benefits of
both materials while limiting each material's imperfections.
[0007] In
garments and/or sleeping bags, down and/or synthetic insulation is often
quilted in a grid-like fashion where different "pockets" of down material are
sewn apart from
one another but adjacent to one another. Alternatively, in garments and/or
sleeping bags that
are made in the "puffer-style," elongated sections, or baffles, of quilted
down are sewn
adjacent to one another. This design is often provided on both the interior
and exterior of a
garment and/or outdoor equipment. For example, both the interior and exterior
of a jacket or
a sleeping bag may be of the "puffer-style."
[0008] For garments or sleeping bags with such quilted down patterns, when
the
garment is worn or the sleeping bag is slept in, portions of the quilted
sections may be
compressed. With the particular sections compressed, whether they are
fashioned as square,
diamond, or other shapes, or if they are provided as elongated sections, the
insulation
associated with any particular section is also compressed. Compressed sections
of insulation
make the layer between a person wearing or using the garment or sleeping bag
thinner and
thus less insulating in quality. Thinner sections of the garment caused by
compression are
thus colder than other sections, decreasing the overall performance of the
garment or sleeping
bag.
[0009]
Such decreases in performance are further exacerbated by the down sections
being exposed to each of the interior and exterior of the garment or sleeping
bag. When a
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down section is compressed, that section places only a thin barrier of
material between the
wearer and the cold atmosphere. A solution is desired that keeps a wearer or
user of a down-
insulated garment or other outdoor equipment warm, but is less susceptible to
the decrease in
performance caused by compression in a down section that is present on the
interior and
exterior of a garment or sleeping bag.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The
invention disclosed herein improves upon prior art systems designed to
increase the warmth of garments and other outdoor equipment. More
particularly, the
invention uses a number of warming cells arranged in a pattern to warm and
insulate the
interior portion of a jacket, sleeping bag, or the like.
[0011] In
a first embodiment, the warming cells are formed as three dimensional
cubes having four equal sides. The cube-shaped warming cells are preferably
independently
formed and are spaced apart from one another such that an air channel is
formed completely
around each cell. The warming cells may be provided in a range of heights from
about 1/4
inch to 3 inches, and they may be the same height within a single product.
Each of the
warming cells is preferably stuffed with goose or duck down, a featherless
material, synthetic
material, or a combination thereof
[0012]
When pressure is applied by a wearer or user, the cube-shaped warming cells
preferably lose less heat than the long baffles of the prior art. They are
better able to keep the
down in place because the individual warming cells are formed as smaller
cells, and as such,
even if one cell is compressed, other surrounding cells are not necessarily
compressed.
[0013] The
cube-shaped warming cells are preferably arranged in a "running bond"
brick-like pattern. More particularly, the warming cells are placed end to end
in a particular
row, with vertical channels formed between the sides of warming cells next to
one another
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within that same row. In any particular row, the vertical channels align with
the middle of a
warming cell on a row above or below the particular row.
[0014]
This "running bond" pattern is a well-known and understood pattern in other
industries including the brick and tile laying industries and creates an
offset arrangement
between adjacent cells positioned and located both above and below a
particular cell.
Horizontal channels are also formed between the sides of cube-shaped warming
cells in
adjacent rows to one another. While the channels may be a variety of widths,
they are
preferably between 3/8 and 1/4 inches wide.
[0015]
Both the vertical and horizontal channels play an important role in the
warming properties of the warming cell pattern. When a wearer's or a user's
body covers the
channels, an air-filled space or pocket is formed by the channels and the
person's body. The
air pockets may trap and contain body heat therein to add to the warmth of the
garment or
outdoor equipment. Because air has strong heat retaining properties, the air
pockets improve
the heating performance of the interior including the warming cells.
[0016] In alternative embodiments, other cell shapes may be used such as
rectangular,
triangular, diamond, hexagonal (and other polygons), and the like. Similarly,
a combination
of differently shaped warming cells may be provided, and the warming cells may
be arranged
in other patterns, including the warming cells having variable thicknesses. In
any given
embodiment, the shapes and patterns should produce the channels that form air
pockets when
the garment is worn or the equipment is used.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] For
a better understanding of the various embodiments of the present
invention, reference may be made to the accompanying drawings in which:
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[0018] Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a jacket including an interior
warming cell pattern
constructed according to the teachings of the present invention;
[0019] Fig. 2 is a first perspective view of the interior warming cell
pattern of Fig. 1;
[0020] Fig. 3 is a second perspective view of the interior warming
cell pattern of Figs.
1 and 2;
[0021] Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a first alternative warming cell
pattern for garments
and other outdoor equipment;
[0022] Fig. 5 is a top plan view of a second alternative warming cell
pattern for
garments and other outdoor equipment; and
[0023] Fig. 6A is a plan view of a first panel of a garment having an
additional
embodiment of a warming cell pattern.
[0024] Fig. 6B is a plan view of a second panel of a garment having
the warming cell
pattern of Fig. 6A.
[0025] Fig. 6C is a plan view of a third panel of a garment having the
warming cell
pattern of Figs. 6A and 6B.
[0026] Fig. 7A is a cross-section view taken across line 7A-7A in Fig.
6A.
[0027] Fig. 7B is a cross-section view taken across line 7B-7B in Fig.
6B.
[0028] Fig. 7C is a cross-section view taken across line 7C-7C in Fig.
6C.
[0029] Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the garment illustrated in
Figs. 6A-6C and
7A-7C assembled and worn by a user.
[0030] While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications
and alternative
forms, several but not all specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of
example in the
drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood,
however, that the
drawings and detailed description presented herein are not intended to limit
the disclosure to
any particular embodiment disclosed, but to the contrary, the intention is to
cover all
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modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and
scope of the present
disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0031] The invention will now be described with reference to the drawing
figures, in
which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout. For purposes of
clarity in
illustrating the characteristics of the present invention, proportional
relationships of the
elements have not necessarily been maintained in the drawing figures.
[0032]
Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates a jacket 1 having an interior
portion 5 and an exterior portion 10. As shown in Fig. 1, the exterior portion
10 of the jacket
1 includes quilted elongated down or synthetic sections 15 like those
described in the prior
art, though in the case of this particular jacket 1, the down sections 15 do
not serve as the
principal insulator. The exterior portion 10 is preferably made of a synthetic
material that is
commonly used as a "shell layer."
[0033] The interior portion 5 of the jacket 1 preferably includes a
plurality of
warming cells 20 that are arranged relative to one another to form a pattern
that preferably
increases the heating properties of the interior portion 5 of the jacket 1.
While the warming
cells 20 are illustrated in Figs. 1-3 on the interior portion 5 of the jacket
1, in other
embodiments, the warming cells 20 may be provided on the interior of garments
including,
but not limited to, pants, gloves, hats, etc., as well as the interior of
outdoor equipment
including, but not limited to, sleeping bags, camp pillows, comforters, etc.
Furthermore, in
yet alternative embodiments, each or only one of the interior portion 5 and
the exterior
portion 10 may include the warming cells 20.
[0034]
Turning to Figs. 2 and 3, the warming cells 20 and a first embodiment of a
.. pattern formed by the plurality of warming cells 20 of the interior portion
5 of the jacket 1 are
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illustrated in greater detail. In the illustrated embodiments, most of the
warming cells 20 are
formed as three dimensional cubes, meaning sides 25 that make up each of the
warming cells
20 are equal in length. In the illustrated embodiment, the warming cells 20
have sides 25 that
measure approximately 4 inches long, but in alternative embodiments, the sides
25 may be a
limitless number of different lengths depending on the application for which
the pattern of
warming cells 20 is being used.
[0035]
While the height of individual warming cells 20 is not explicitly illustrated,
the cells 20 may be at a height from about 1/4 inch to 3 inches, and they may
be the same
height within a single product. Each of the warming cells 20 are preferably
stuffed with
goose or duck down, a featherless material, synthetic material, or any
combination thereof
The warming cells 20 are preferably constructed of a material that is down-
and fiber-proof,
meaning neither down nor synthetic fibers is able to leak through the fabric.
[0036]
Unlike the long down baffles described in the prior art, the warming cells 20
preferably keep the down in place when pressure is applied because the
individual cells 20
are formed as smaller cells that are near to one other. As such, even if one
warming cell 20 is
compressed, the dramatic temperature drop generated by a compressed baffle is
not
present. Moreover, a thermal effect is created when an outer shell or layer
made of synthetic
material (or a down, or comparable, outer layer) such as is provided for the
exterior portion
10 is combined with an inner shell/layer of down such as the interior portion
5 including the
pattern of warming cells 20. There is a dead air chamber formed between these
two layers
that fills with warm air and thereby maintains a warmer temperature.
[0037] It
should be noted however, that it is possible to use only the warming cells 20
without the outside synthetic layer. In such an embodiment, the additional
warming effect
provided by the air chamber formed between the outer synthetic layer and the
shell/inner
layer of down may be absent. Additional heating properties are created by the
presence of
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the space formed between adjacent warming cells 20. Such properties are
described in
greater detail herein below.
[0038] The
warming cells 20 are illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 as arranged in a "running
bond" brick-like pattern. More particularly, the warming cells 20 are placed
end to end in a
particular row, with vertical channels 30 formed between the sides 25 of
adjacent warming
cells 20 within that same row. The purpose of the vertical channels 30 and the
benefits they
provide are described in greater detail below. For a given row, the vertical
channels 30 align
with the middle of a warming cell 20 on a row above or below the given row.
For example,
in row 35, the vertical channel 30a formed next to a side 25a of the warming
cell 20a aligns
with a middle 40 of a warming cell 20b of a row 45 above the row 35 (see Fig.
2). It is
recognized and anticipated that the vertical channels 30 can align with any
portion of the
above or below warming cell.
[0039]
Between adjacent rows such as the rows 35, 45, horizontal channels 50 are
formed between the sides 25 of warming cells 20. Unlike the vertical channels
30, the
horizontal channels 50 may abut one another so that they form one continuous
channel
between adjacent rows. In a preferred embodiment, the channels 30, 50 are
between 1/4 and
3/8 inches wide, but in alternative embodiments, the channels 30, 50 may be
wider or even
somewhat narrower, or they may be variable in width. Moreover, while the cells
20 are
described as being in the "running bond" pattern, in alternative embodiments
the warming
cells 20 may be arranged in an altogether different pattern.
[0040]
When the interior portion 5 and more particularly the warming cells 20 abut a
wearer or user (for example when the jacket 1 is worn), the wearer's body
covers the
channels 30, 50 such that the channels 30, 50 and the wearer's body form an
air-filled space
or pocket (not illustrated) between the cells 20. This space preferably traps
and contains
body heat therein that adds to the warmth of the garment or outdoor equipment,
in this case,
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the jacket 1. Because air is a better insulator than the down itself, the air
pockets formed by
the channels 30, 50 increase the warming qualities of the pattern of warming
cells on the
interior portion 5.
[0041] In
a preferred embodiment, the horizontal channels 50 are formed as
continuous rather than the vertical channels 30 because air escaping the
horizontal channels
50 is more likely retained in the interior portion 5 than in the vertical
channels 30, where air
is more likely to escape from the neck or waist openings provided in a jacket
such as the
jacket 1. Even still, in a non-limiting alternative embodiment, the pattern
shown in Figs. 2
and 3 may be rotated by 90 degrees (not illustrated) so that the vertical
channels form a
continuous channel rather than the horizontal channels.
[0042]
Other cell shapes may be used such as rectangles, triangles, diamonds, and the
like to form warming cells. For example, at an upper portion 55 of the jacket
1, rectangular
warming cells 60 are provided above a row of cube-shaped warming cells 20.
Those
rectangular warming cells 60 are arranged above the uppermost row of cube-
shaped warming
cells 20 in the "running bond" brick-like pattern described above. Thus in
some
embodiments, including the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1-3, a combination
of differently
shaped warming cells may be provided. In other embodiments, only one shape of
warming
cells may be provided.
[0043] In
Figs. 4 and 5, two alternative warming cell shape patterns are provided that
may be utilized in an interior portion of a garment or outdoor equipment such
as the interior
portion 5 of the jacket 1. Turning first to Fig. 4, a portion of a warming
cell pattern 65 is
provided that is made up of a plurality of three dimensional triangle-shaped
warming cells 70
each including three sides 75. Three rows 80a, 80b, and 80c of warming cells
70 are shown
in the portion of the warming cell pattern 65. As illustrated, each row 80a,
80b, and 80c
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includes each of warming cells 70a where the triangle's vertex is pointing
upwardly and
warming cells 70b where the triangle's vertex is pointing downwardly.
[0044] As
was the case for the pattern of warming cells 20 described above, channels
that form air-filled spaces or pockets when a garment or other outdoor
equipment is worn or
used are located between adjacent cells 70. More particularly, angled channels
85 are formed
between adjacent triangle-shaped warming cells 70 in the same row and
horizontal channels
90 are formed between triangle-shaped warming cells 70 in one row and triangle-
shaped
warming cells 70 in a row above or below a given row. Channels 85 are offset
relative to
those in adjacent rows 80a, 80b, and 80c, as illustrated in Fig. 4.
[0045] As was the case for the warming cells 20, when the warming cells 70
abut a
wearer or user (for example when the jacket 1 is worn), the wearer's body
covers the
channels 85, 90 so as to form an air-filled space or pocket (not illustrated)
between the cells
70. This space preferably traps and contains body heat in order to increase
the warmth of the
garment or outdoor equipment, such as the jacket 1.
[0046] Yet another portion of a warming cell pattern 95 is provided in Fig.
5 that may
be utilized in an interior portion of a garment or outdoor equipment such as
the interior
portion 5 of the jacket 1. The warming cell pattern 95 is composed of a number
of hexagon-
shaped warming cells 100, each of which includes six sides 105. The warming
cells 100 are
preferably spaced in the pattern 95 using a known method to place a column 110
of cells 100
offset relative to an adjacent column 115. This column arrangement may
alternate
continuously in either direction to form the portion of the pattern 95. In any
event, a number
of channels 120 that run in six different directions are formed around and
between adjacent
sides 105 of adjacent cells 100. Like the warming cells 20, 70, when the
warming cells 100
abut a wearer or user (for example when the jacket 1 is worn), the channels
120 are blocked
by the wearer to form an air-filled space or pocket (not illustrated) between
the cells
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100. This space, like the spaces associated with the above described patterns
of warming
cells, preferably traps and contains body heat to increase the warmth of the
garment or
outdoor equipment being worn or utilized.
[0047]
Figs. 6A, 6B, and 6C illustrate three garment panels 125A, 125B, and 125C
that when attached to one another may form a vest-shaped garment that may be
worn alone or
integrated into a garment such as a jacket or coat. As illustrated in Figs.
6A, 6B, and 6C,
columns 130A, 130B, and 130C may be located near the center of a wearer when
the panels
125A, 125B, and 125C are assembled. The cells 135A, 135B, 135C that make up
the
columns 130A, 130B, and 130C, respectively, are nearly rectangular in shape.
From an
upper portion 140A, 140B, and 140C toward a lower portion 145A, 145B, and 145C
of the
panels 125A, 125B, 125C, respectively, the panels 135A may become somewhat
smaller in
area. In alternative embodiments, the cells 135A, 135B, 135C may be the same
size or even
increase in size from the upper portions 140A, 140B, 140C toward the lower
portions 145A,
145B, 145C.
[0048] Second columns 150A, 150B, 150C and third columns 155A, 155B, 155C
may also be provided within each panel 125A, 125B, 125C, respectively. The
cells 160A,
160B, 160C and 165A, 165B, 165C that make up the columns 150A, 150B, 150C and
155A,
155B, 155C, respectively, may be substantially quadrilateral. The cells 160A,
160B, 160C
also decrease in size from the top portions 140A, 140B, 140C toward the lower
portions
145A, 145B, 145C. The cells 165A, 165B, 165C may also be quadrilaterals, but
in a
preferred embodiment, as illustrated in Figs. 7A, 7B, and 7C, are elongated as
compared to
the other cells that make up the panels 125A, 125B, 125C.
[0049] The
panels 125A, 125B, 125C generally include each of horizontal channels
170A, 170B, 170C and vertical channels 175A, 175B, and 175C, respectively. The
channels
170 and 175 that make up the panels 125A, 125B, and 125C may be less linear
than those
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provided in other embodiments. This is because the cells that make up the
panels 125A,
125B, 125C may be asymmetrical quadrilaterals such as those illustrated in
Figs. 6A, 6B and
6C. Nevertheless, the channels 170A, 170B, and 175C may function in
substantially the
same manner as the channels described hereinabove.
[0050] In the illustrated embodiment, the panels 6A and 6C are
substantially mirror
images of one another, and the panel 6B is symmetrical about its vertical
axis. In alternative
embodiments, this may not be the case, and the panels 6A and 6C may differ
relative to one
another more substantially.
[0051]
Turning now to Figs. 7A, 7B, and 7C, example embodiments of warming cells
from the panels 125A, 125B and 125C are illustrated. Unlike the cells
described above, the
cells 135, 160, and 165 that make up the panels 125 may vary in thickness. For
example, as
provided in Fig. 7A, the cell 135A is thicker than the cell 160A, which in
turn is thicker than
the cell 165A. In Fig. 7B, the cell 135B is thicker than the cells 160B, which
are thicker than
the cells 165B. In Fig. 7C, the cell 135C is thicker than the cell 160C, which
is thicker than
the cell 165C in substantially the same manner as Fig. 7A, though in mirror-
image form. The
variable shape and thicknesses of the cells 135, 160, and 165 may be
physiologically mapped
to the body to conform more easily therewith.
[0052]
Fig. 8 illustrates a garment 180 that a wearer 185 has donned. The garment
180 is embodied as a vest, though it may be just a portion of a larger garment
such as a jacket
or coat that has integrated the garment 180 into its assembled structure. In
the garment 180, a
plurality of warming cells 190 are provided as quadrilaterals having four
sides (though
alternative geometries are foreseeable and envisioned). In some of the cells
190 such as cell
190A, an upper edge 195 may be at least partially curved. In at least some
embodiments of
the garment 180, more edges such as the edge 195 may be curved, or fewer edges
such as the
edge 195 may be curved.
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[0053] In
the garment 180, a variety of horizontal channels 200 and vertical channels
205 are provided. The channels 200, 205 provide substantially the same
function as the
channels for the above described embodiments. Unlike the previously described
channels,
however, the channels 200, 205 have variable widths across their lengths. Such
variation
may act to facilitate flow of air upwards or from side to side, so as to
increase the heat
retaining properties of the garment 180.
[0054] The
warming cells described herein may be attached to the fabric of a garment
or other outdoor equipment in a variety of methods. More particularly, the
warming cells
may be attached to a strip of fabric before they are attached to the garment
or other outdoor
equipment, or they may be sewn directly onto the garment or other outdoor
equipment. The
lower portions of the cells may be attached to the garment or other outdoor
equipment
(directly or indirectly) at a turned edge, using an edge stitch. The corners
of the cells are also
preferably darted. Notwithstanding the above, other foreseeable sewing methods
to attach the
warming cells to a garment or other outdoor equipment are contemplated herein.
[0055] The description above identifies the warming cells as being cube,
triangle, or
hexagon shaped. However, the cells in any particular pattern may take on a
number of cross-
sectional shapes including diamonds, rectangles, octagons (and other
polygons), stars, circles,
parallelograms, and many others, as well as any combination of shapes. In any
event,
channels are preferably formed between and around any shaped cells that are
utilized so that
those channels may be covered when a garment or other outdoor equipment is
worn or
utilized. As such, air-filled spaces or pockets are formed by the channels and
a user's body
traps and warms the air in such channels thereby increasing the warmth of the
garment being
worn or equipment being utilized.
[0056] The
description generally provides that warming cells may be in the "core" of
a jacket or garment. It should be noted that warming cells substantially
similar to those
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described above may also be present in a jacket or garment's hood, sleeves, or
anywhere else
on a garment. Moreover, as set forth above, the warming cells may also be
utilized in
equipment such as sleeping bags, blankets, and the like.
[0057]
From the foregoing, it will be seen that the various embodiments of the
present
invention are well adapted to attain all the objectives and advantages
hereinabove set forth
together with still other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent
to the present
structures. It will be understood that certain features and sub-combinations
of the present
embodiments are of utility and may be employed without reference to other
features and sub-
combinations. Since many possible embodiments of the present invention may be
made
without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, it is
also to be
understood that all disclosures herein set forth or illustrated in the
accompanying drawings
are to be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting. The various
constructions described
above and illustrated in the drawings are presented by way of example only and
are not
intended to limit the concepts, principles and scope of the present invention.
[0058] As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the
present
invention are not limited by the particular details of the examples
illustrated herein, and it is
therefore contemplated that other modifications and applications, or
equivalents thereof, will
occur to those skilled in the art. The terms "having" and "including" and
similar terms as
used in the foregoing specification are used in the sense of "optional" or
"may include" and
not as "required."
[0059]
Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the
present constructions will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the
art after
considering the specification and the accompanying drawings. All
such changes,
modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart
from the spirit
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and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is
limited only
by the claims which follow.
