Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
UNITED STATES PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION
TITLE: ANCHORABLE CLIP / WIRING HARNESS
INVENTOR: MARC LECOURS
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to anchorable clips, and more
particularly to
reconfigurable anchorable clips.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] It is well known to use insertable plastic clips to attach
netting, wires, and
the like, to articles, such as a frame, such as a hockey net frame or to an
automobile
frame or a wiring panel, respectively, among many other types of articles. It
is desirable
to have the clip be robust, both from the standpoint of insertion into a
receiving aperture
in an article, if appropriate, and also from the standpoint of precluding
removal of the
clip from the article. Also, it is desirable to have the clip be robust from
the standpoint of
precluding removal of the wires, netting or the like, as the case may be, from
the clip.
[0003] Various embodiments of such prior art clip can be found in related
United
States Patent No. 5,758,987, issued June 2, 1998, to Frame etal., and entitled
Snap-In
Fastener For Flush Mounted Panels, and United States Patent No. 6,042,296,
issued
March 28, 2000, to Wittig et al., and entitled Snap-In Fastener For Panels.
These two
patents share three common inventors, and each disclose a fastener that
connects
panel members in a flush position. The fastener includes a pair of connecting
members
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which are snap-fit within apertures provided within each of the panel members
for
securing the panel members together. The fastener also disconnects the panel
members when secured together. For this purpose, at least one of the
connecting
members is removable from the panel member aperture to disconnect the panel
members. The fastener allows the panels to be assembled together and
disassembled
quickly and with little or no tooling.
[0004] It has been found that such prior art cannot readily be used for
attaching
netting or wiring to an article.
[0005] The closest known prior art devices and their relevance will now
be
discussed.
[0006] United States Design Patent No. 0614,021S, issued April 20, 2010
to
Lecours, and entitled One-Piece Encircling Anchor, discloses an encircling
anchor
having a two-piece clip extending outwardly from one face of a two-piece base,
and an
inwardly compressible insertable shank. The insertable shank is generally
diamond
shaped with two legs that are mirror images one of the other. Each leg has a
catch
member to help preclude removal of the encircling anchor from the article it
is anchored
in. In order to be inserted into or be removed from a receiving aperture in
the article,
the two legs must deform inwardly. The diamond shape of the inwardly
compressible
insertable shank actually permits ready compression of the inwardly
compressible
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insertable shank during insertion into a receiving aperture, which is
desirable, but also
permits ready compression of the inwardly compressible insertable shank during
removal from a receiving aperture, which is undesirable.
[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide an anchorable
clip for
insertion into a receiving aperture in an article and subsequent secure
retention by the
article.
[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide an anchorable
clip for
securing to an article.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is
disclosed
a novel anchorable clip for insertion into a receiving aperture in an article
and
subsequent secure retention by the article. The anchorable clip comprises a
first main
body portion and a second main body portion together reconfigurable between an
initial
configuration and an in-use configuration. The first main body portion and the
second
main body portion together define, in the in-use configuration: an insertable
shank; a
base; and a clip member. There is at least one displaceable projection
projecting
outwardly from at least one of the first main body portion and the second main
body
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portion for engaging at least a portion of the article adjacent the receiving
aperture to
thereby preclude the anchorable clip from being removed from the receiving
aperture.
The first main body portion comprises a first shank portion of the insertable
shank, a
first base portion of the base, and a first clip portion of the clip member,
and the second
main body portion comprises a second shank portion of the insertable shank, a
second
base portion of the base, and a second clip portion of the clip member.
[00010] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there
is
disclosed a novel anchorable clip for securing to an article. The anchorable
clip
comprises: a first main body portion and a second main body portion together
reconfigurable between an initial configuration and an in-use configuration.
The first
main body portion and the second main body portion together define, in the in-
use
configuration: a base; and a clip member. The first main body portion
comprises a first
base portion of the base, and a first clip portion of the clip member, and the
second
main body portion comprises a second base portion of the base, and a second
clip
portion of the clip member. There is also means for interconnecting the first
main body
portion and a second main body portion so as to be together reconfigurable
between
the initial configuration and the in-use configuration.
[00012] Other advantages, features and characteristics of the present
invention,
as well as methods of operation and functions of the related elements of the
structure,
and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more
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apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and the
appended
claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, the latter of which is
briefly
described herein below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[00011] The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the
anchorable clip according to the present invention, as to its structure,
organization, use
and method of operation, together with further objectives and advantages
thereof, will
be better understood from the following drawings in which a presently known
embodiment of the invention will now be illustrated by way of example. It is
expressly
understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and
description only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the
invention. In the
accompanying drawings:
[00012] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first illustrated embodiment
of the
anchorable clip according to the present invention, with the anchorable clip
in its in-use
configuration;
[00013] Figure 2 is a front view of the first illustrated embodiment
anchorable clip
of Figure 1, with the anchorable clip in its in-use configuration;
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[00014] Figure 3 is a side view of the first illustrated embodiment
anchorable clip
of Figure 1, with the anchorable clip in its in-use configuration;
[00015] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the first illustrated embodiment
anchorable clip of Figure 1, but with the anchorable clip in its initial
configuration;
[00016] Figure 5 is a front view of the first illustrated embodiment
anchorable clip
of Figure 1, with the anchorable clip in its initial configuration;
[00017] Figure 6 is a side view of the first illustrated embodiment
anchorable clip
of Figure 1, with the anchorable clip in its initial configuration;
[00018] Figure 7 is a front view of the first illustrated embodiment
anchorable clip
of Figure 1, shown moving from its initial configuration to its in-use
configuration;
[00019] Figure 8 is a front view of a second illustrated embodiment of the
anchorable clip according to the present invention, with the anchorable clip
in its in-use
configuration;
[00020] Figure 9 is a rear view of the second illustrated embodiment
anchorable
clip of Figure 8, with the anchorable clip in its in-use configuration;
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[00021] Figure 10 is a top view of the second illustrated embodiment
anchorable
clip of Figure 8, with the anchorable clip in its in-use configuration;
[00022] Figure 11 is a bottom view similar of the second illustrated
embodiment
anchorable clip of Figure 8, with the anchorable clip in its in-use
configuration;
[00023] Figure 12 is a perspective view of the second illustrated
embodiment
anchorable clip of Figure 8, with the anchorable clip in its initial
configuration;
[00024] Figure 13 is a perspective view of the second illustrated
embodiment
anchorable clip of Figure 8, with the anchorable clip in its initial
configuration;
[00025] Figure 14 is a side view of the second illustrated embodiment
anchorable
clip of Figure 8, with the anchorable clip in its initial configuration;
[00026] Figure 15 is a front view of the second illustrated embodiment
anchorable
clip of Figure 8, with the anchorable clip in its initial configuration;
[00027] Figure 16 is a rear view of the second illustrated embodiment
anchorable
clip of Figure 8, with the anchorable clip in its initial configuration;
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[00028] Figure 17 is a perspective view of the second illustrated
embodiment
anchorable clip of Figure 8, shown moving from its initial configuration to
its in-use
configuration;
[00029] Figure 18 is a perspective view of a third illustrated embodiment
of the
anchorable clip according to the present invention, with the anchorable clip
in its in-use
configuration;
[00030] Figure 19 is a front view of the third illustrated embodiment
anchorable
clip of Figure 18, with the anchorable clip in its in-use configuration;
[00031] Figure 20 is a side view of the third illustrated embodiment
anchorable
clip of Figure 18, with the anchorable clip in its in-use configuration;
[00032] Figure 21 is a top view of the third illustrated embodiment
anchorable clip
of Figure 18, with the anchorable clip in its in-use configuration;
[00033] Figure 22 is a bottom view of the third illustrated embodiment
anchorable
clip of Figure 18, with the anchorable clip in its in-use configuration;
[00034] Figure 23 is a perspective view of the third illustrated
embodiment
anchorable clip of Figure 18, with the anchorable clip in its initial
configuration;
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[00035] Figure 24 is a front view of the third illustrated embodiment
anchorable
clip of Figure 18, with the anchorable clip in its initial configuration;
[00036] Figure 25 is a front view of the second illustrated embodiment
anchorable
clip of Figure 18, shown moving from its initial configuration to its in-use
configuration;
and,
[00037] Figure 26 is a perspective view of a fourth illustrated embodiment
of the
anchorable clip according to the present invention, with the anchorable clip
in its initial
configuration.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
[00038] Referring to Figures 1 through 26 of the drawings, it will be
noted that
Figures 1 through 7 show a first illustrated embodiment of the anchorable clip
100
according to the present invention, Figures 8 through 17 show a second
illustrated
embodiment of the anchorable clip 200 according to the present invention,
Figures 18
through 25 show a third illustrated embodiment of the anchorable clip 300
according to
the present invention, and Figure 26 shows a fourth illustrated embodiment of
the
anchorable clip 400 according to the present invention.
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[00039] Reference will now be made to Figures 1 through 7, which show a
first
illustrated embodiment of the anchorable clip 100 according to the present
invention.
As can be readily seen in Figure 2, the first illustrated embodiment
anchorable clip, as
indicated by the general reference numeral 100, is for insertion into a
receiving aperture
102 in an article 104 and subsequent secure retention by the article 104.
[00040] The first illustrated embodiment discloses an anchorable clip, as
indicated
by the general reference numeral 100, for insertion into a receiving aperture
102 in an
article 104, such as a circular drill hole in a hockey net. Once in place, the
anchorable
clip 100 is subsequently secure retained by way of interference fit with the
article 104.
[00041] The anchorable clip 100 is for attaching objects 108 such as
netting, wires
(not specifically shown), and the like, to articles 104, such as a frame, such
as a hockey
net frame or to an automobile frame (not specifically shown) or a wiring panel
(not
specifically shown), respectively, among many other types of articles 104.
[00042] In brief, the first illustrated embodiment of the anchorable clip
100
comprises a first main body portion 110 and a second main body portion 120,
that
together define an insertable shank 140, a base 160, and a clip member 170,
and also
comprises a hinge 130.
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[00043] More specifically, the first illustrated embodiment of the
anchorable clip
100 comprises a first main body portion 110 and a second main body portion
120. As
illustrated, but not necessarily, the first main body portion 110 and the
second main
body portion 120 are integrally formed as one over overall piece and are
formed from
injection molded from one or more plastic materials.
[00044] As can be readily seen in the figures, the first main body portion
110 and
the second main body portion 120 are together reconfigurable between an
initial
configuration, as shown in Figures 1 through 3, and an in-use configuration,
as shown in
Figures 4 through 6. The first main body portion 110 has a slot 112 therein.
The
second main body portion 120 is shaped and dimensioned to fit within the slot
112 when
the first main body portion 110 and a second main body portion 120 are
together
reconfigured to the in-use configuration. Figure 7 shows relative movement of
the first
main body portion 110 and the second main body portion 120 of the first
illustrated
embodiment anchoring clip 100 from the initial configuration to the in-use
configuration.
[00045] In order to have the first main body portion 110 and a second main
body
portion 120 as one piece, the anchorable clip 100 further comprises means for
interconnecting the first main body portion 110 and a second main body portion
120 so
as to be together reconfigurable between the initial configuration, as shown
in Figures 1
through 3, and the in-use configuration, as shown in Figures 4 through 6. In
the first
illustrated embodiment of the anchorable clip 100, the means for
interconnecting the
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first main body portion 110 and a second main body portion 120 so as to be
together
reconfigurable between the initial configuration and the in-use configuration
comprises
the hinge 130 interconnecting the first main body portion 110 and a second
main body
portion 120 for hinged movement between the initial configuration and the in-
use
configuration. Preferably, but not necessarily, the hinge 130 comprises a
living hinge
130 made from one or more plastic materials, as it is preferably integrally
formed as one
over overall piece with the first main body portion 110 and a second main body
portion
120.
[00046] In the in-use configuration, the first main body portion 110 and
the second
main body portion 120 together define the insertable shank 140, the base 160
and the
clip member 170.
[00047] The main reason that the anchorable clip 100 is movable between
the
initial configuration, as shown in Figures 1 through 3, and an in-use
configuration, as
shown in Figures 4 through 6, is to allow the placement of objects 108 such as
netting
and wires within the opening defined by the first main body portion 110 and
the second
main body portion 120.
[00048] As can be readily seen in Figures 4 through 6, the first main body
portion
110 comprises a first shank portion 141 of the insertable shank 140, a first
base portion
161 of the base 160, and a first clip portion 171 of the clip member 170, and
the second
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main body portion 120 comprises a second shank portion 142 of the insertable
shank
140, a second base portion 162 of the base 160, and a second clip portion 172
of the
clip member 170. When the first main body portion 110 and the second main body
portion 120 are brought together to form the in-use configuration, the first
shank portion
141 and the second shank portion 142 form the insertable shank 140. Similarly,
the first
base portion 161 and the second base portion 162 together form the base 160.
Also,
the first clip portion 171 and the second clip portion 172 form the clip
member 170.
[00049] The first shank portion 141 of the insertable shank 140 has a
proximal end
143p at the base 160 and a distal end 143d remote from the base 160, and the
second
shank portion 142 of the insertable shank 140 has a proximal end 144p at the
base 160
and a distal end 144d remote from the base 160. The first shank portion 141
also
comprises a reinforcing rib 145 along its length and the second shank portion
142
comprises a reinforcing rib 146 along its length.
[00050] Also, the hinge 130 is attached to the first shank portion 141 of
the
insertable shank 140 adjacent, and preferably at, the distal end 144 thereof
and wherein
the hinge 130 is attached to the second shank portion 142 of the insertable
shank 140
adjacent, and preferably at, the distal end 144 thereof.
[00051] The insertable shank 140 is insertable into an aperture in an
article 104,
such as a circular drill hole in a hockey net, as will be discussed in greater
detail
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subsequently. Preferably, the insertable shank 140 comprises solid non-
hollow
insertable shank 140 for the purposes of strength and robustness. Also
preferably, it is
contemplated that the solid insertable shank 140 is substantially
incompressible in a
lateral direction to the shank, in order to make the insertable shank 140 more
difficult to
remove from the receiving aperture 102.
[00052] It is also contemplated that the shank could be partially hollow
for the sake
of material reduction, among other reasons.
[00053] The base 160 has an exposed face 163 and a hidden face 164 that
face in
opposite directions one to the other. In the first illustrated embodiment, the
base 160 is
thin between the exposed face 163 and the hidden face 164, the exposed face
163 and
a hidden face 164 are substantially parallel one to the other, and the base
160 is
basically disc shaped. The insertable shank 140 extends outwardly from the
hidden
face 164 of the base 160 and is preferably perpendicularly oriented to the
hidden face
164 of the base 160. Similarly, the clip member 170 extends outwardly from the
exposed face 163 of the base 160 in an opposite direction to the insertable
shank 140,
and is preferably perpendicularly oriented to the exposed face 163 of the base
160.
[00054] The anchorable clip 100 comprises, as aforesaid, the first clip
portion 171
and the second clip portion 172. The first clip portion 171 and the second
clip portion
172 are each substantially quarter-circular in shape to together form the semi-
circular
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clip member 170. Any other suitable shape of clip member 170 may also be used.
The
semi-circular clip member 170 defines an opening in which objects 108 such as
netting,
wires (not specifically shown), and the like, can be received and retained. In
this
manner, the objects 108 are retained on or at an article 104, such as a frame,
such as a
hockey net frame or to an automobile frame (not specifically shown) or a
wiring panel
(not specifically shown), respectively, among many other types of articles
104.
[00055] In order to permit the anchorable clip 100 to be retained in the
article 104,
there is at least one displaceable projection 180. Each of the at least one
displaceable
projections 180 projects outwardly from at least one of the first main body
portion 110
and the second main body portion 120 for engaging at least a portion of the
article 104
adjacent the receiving aperture 102 to thereby preclude the anchorable clip
100 from
being removed from the receiving aperture 102.
[00056] In the first illustrated embodiment, the at least one displaceable
projection
180 comprises a plurality of displaceable projections 180, and even more
specifically
comprises three pairs of displaceable projections 180, with the three pairs of
displaceable projections 180 projecting outwardly from the insertable shank
140
towards the base 160 member. More particularly, three of the displaceable
projections
180 project outwardly from the first shank portion 141 of the insertable shank
140
towards the base 160 member, and three of the displaceable projections 180
project
outwardly from the second shank portion 142 of the insertable shank 140
towards the
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base 160 member. The plurality of displaceable projections 180 project
outwardly from
the first shank portion 141 are substantially parallel one to the others and
the plurality of
displaceable projections 180 project outwardly from the second shank portion
142 are
substantially parallel one to the others.
[00057] As can be readily seen, the displaceable projections 180 are shaped
and
dimensioned to preclude the anchorable clip 100 from readily being removed
from the
article 104. Often, but not necessarily, there is a threshold force above
which the
anchorable clip 100 can readily be removed from the article 104 without
fracturing the
displaceable projections 180.
[00058] Preferably, each displaceable projection 180 comprises a flexible
projection 180 in order to have the displaceable projections 180 permit
insertion of the
insertable shank 140 into the aperture, yet also be in place to preclude
subsequent
removal of the insertable shank 140 from the aperture. As can be readily seen,
each
flexible projection 180 comprises a flexible fin.
[00059] The anchorable clip 100 further comprises a first head portion 151
disposed on the first shank portion 141 and a second head portion 152 disposed
on the
second shank portion 142. The first head portion 151 narrows towards the
distal end
144 of the first shank portion 141 and the second head portion 152 narrows
towards the
distal end 144 of the second shank portion 142. The first head portion 151
comprises a
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first stop surface 153 facing the proximal end 143p of the first shank portion
141 and the
second head portion 152 comprises a second stop surface 154 facing the
proximal end
144p of the second shank portion 142. Further, the first head portion 151
comprises a
reinforcing rib 155 along its length and the second head portion 152 comprises
a
reinforcing rib 156 along its length.
[00060] In order to keep the anchorable clip 100 in the in-use
configuration, the
anchorable clip 100 further comprises a locking mechanism 190 to retain the
first main
body portion 110 and a second main body portion 120 together in their in-use
configuration. In the first illustrated embodiment, the locking mechanism 190
comprises
at least one head portion 191 disposed on the first clip portion 171 and a co-
operating at
least one socket 192 disposed on the second clip portion 172. Even more
preferably,
the at least one head portion comprises a first head portion 191a and a second
head
portion 191b each disposed on the first clip portion 171 and the co-operating
at least
one socket comprises a first socket portion 192a and a second socket portion
192b
each disposed on the second clip portion 172.
[00061] Reference will now be made to Figures 8 through 17, which show a
second illustrated embodiment of the anchorable clip 200 according to the
present
invention. As can be readily seen in Figure 17, the second illustrated
embodiment
anchorable clip, as indicated by the general reference numeral 200, is for
insertion into
a receiving aperture 202 in an article 204 and subsequent secure retention by
the article
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204. The second illustrated embodiment clip 200 is similar to the first
illustrated
embodiment anchorable clip 100 except that the insertable shank 240 is longer,
the
flexible projections 280 are semi-circular in shape and there are seven pairs
of the
flexible projections 280. Also, the at least one head portion 291 is shaped
slightly
differently.
[00062]
Reference will now be made to Figures 18 through 25, which show a third
illustrated embodiment of the anchorable clip 300 according to the present
invention.
As can be readily seen in Figure 19, the third illustrated embodiment clip, as
indicated
by the general reference numeral 300, is for securing to a receiving surface
302 on an
article 304 and subsequent secure retention by the article 304. The third
illustrated
embodiment anchorable clip 300 is similar to the first illustrated embodiment
anchorable
clip 100 and the second illustrated embodiment anchorable clip 100 except that
the
insertable shank 140,240 is not present. Further, the first base portion
161,261 and the
second base portion 162,262 are each a different shape. Further, the living
hinge 330
is attached to the first base portion 361 and is attached to the second base
portion 362.
More specifically, the living hinge 330 is attached to the first base portion
361 adjacent
the perimeter edge thereof and is attached to the second base portion 362
adjacent the
perimeter edge thereof. The first base portion 361 has a clip-presenting face
363 and a
substantially flat face 364 and the second base portion 362 has a clip-
presenting face
365 and a substantially flat face 366. There is also a rectangular protrusion
367 on the
clip-presenting face 363 of the second base portion 362. The first clip
portion 371
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projects upwardly from the clip-presenting face 363 of the first base portion
361 and the
second clip portion 372 projects upwardly from the rectangular protrusion 367
on the
clip-presenting face 365 of the second base portion 362. Further, the first
base portion
361 is thin between the clip-presenting face 363 and a substantially flat face
364 and
the second base portion 362 is thin between the clip-presenting face 365 and
the
substantially flat face 366. In the in-use configuration, the substantially
flat face 364 of
the first base portion 361 and the clip-presenting face 365 of the second base
portion
362 beyond the rectangular protrusion 367 are in contact one with the other. A
suitable
adhesive 368 on the substantially flat face 366 of the second base portion 362
is used
to adhere the anchorable clip to a receiving surface 302 on an article 304.
[00063]
Reference will now be made to Figure 26, which show a fourth illustrated
embodiment of the anchorable clip 400 according to the present invention. As
can be
readily seen in Figure 26, the fourth illustrated embodiment anchorable clip,
as indicated
by the general reference numeral 400, is for securing to a receiving surface
(not
specifically shown) in an article (not specifically shown) and subsequent
secure
retention by the article. The fourth illustrated embodiment clip 400 is
similar to the third
illustrated embodiment anchorable clip 300 except that the suitable adhesive
366is not
used. Instead a threaded fastener 465 extends through an aperture 466 in the
second
base portion 462 to secure the anchorable clip 400 to a receiving surface on
an article.
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[00064] As can be understood from the above description and from the
accompanying drawings, the present invention provides an anchorable clip for
insertion
into a receiving aperture in an article and subsequent secure retention by the
article,
and an anchorable clip for securing to an article, all of which features are
unknown in
the prior art.
[00065] Other variations of the above principles will be apparent to those
who are
knowledgeable in the field of the invention, and such variations are
considered to be
within the scope of the present invention. Further, other modifications and
alterations
may be used in the design and manufacture of the combination infant mat and
carrying
bag, of the present invention, without departing from the spirit and scope of
the
accompanying claims.
[00066] Other variations are within the spirit of the present invention.
Thus, while
the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative
constructions, a
certain illustrated embodiment thereof is shown in the drawings and has been
described
above in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention
to limit the
invention to the specific form or forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the
intention is to
cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling
within the spirit
and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.
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[00067] The use of the terms "a" and "an" and "the" and similar referents
in the
context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the
following claims) are
to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise
indicated
herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms "comprising", "having",
"including",
and "containing" are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning
"including, but
not limited to,") unless otherwise noted. The term "connected" is to be
construed as
partly or wholly contained within, attached to, or joined together, even if
there is
something intervening. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely
intended to
serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value
falling
within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value
is
incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein.
All methods
described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise
indicated
herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all
examples, or
exemplary language (e.g., "such as", "for example") provided herein, is
intended merely
to better illuminate embodiments of the invention and does not pose a
limitation on the
scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the
specification
should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the
practice
of the invention.
[00068] Illustrated embodiments of this invention are described herein.
Variations
of those illustrated embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary
skill in the
art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventor expects skilled
artisans to
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employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventor intends for the
invention to be
practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this
invention
includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in
the claims
appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of
the
above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by
the
invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted
by context.
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