U.S. patent application number 10/116967 was filed with the patent office on 2003-10-09 for interfitting toy figure.
Invention is credited to Teel, Michael A..
Application Number | 20030190855 10/116967 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 28674105 |
Filed Date | 2003-10-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030190855 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Teel, Michael A. |
October 9, 2003 |
Interfitting toy figure
Abstract
A unitary humanoid figure comprising a robust torso from which
projects a head, oppositely extending arms, diverging legs, a neck,
shoulders, hands having palms and backs, and feet having bridges,
soles, toes, and heels. The body parts of plural figures can be
interconnected in a variety of combinations and orientations. Both
the projecting body parts and the part-receiving openings, spaces,
pockets, etc. have close dimensional tolerances to insure that
interfitting parts will easily slide into engagement with one
another yet stay in place due to frictional force resisting
disassembly.
Inventors: |
Teel, Michael A.; (Viola,
IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Joseph W. Holloway
8832 White Oak Road
Liberty
IL
62347
US
|
Family ID: |
28674105 |
Appl. No.: |
10/116967 |
Filed: |
April 5, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
446/101 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 33/06 20130101;
A63H 3/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
446/101 |
International
Class: |
A63H 003/16 |
Claims
What I claim as my invention is:
1) like humanoid figures having front and back surfaces connected
by a profile surface defining projecting body parts having
interstices therebetween; said body parts of a first figure being
configured and dimensioned for insertion into interstices of a
second figure with a surface-to-surface sliding fit therebetween;
and, the force of friction between the surface of an inserted body
part and the surface of its receiving interstices forestalling
separation of said first and second figures:
2) The figures set forth in claim 1, wherein: a) said body parts of
said figures are symmetrical and include a head, opposite feet and
opposite hands; b) said hands and said feet define therebetween
hand-to-foot interstices opening laterally to opposite sides of
said figures; and, c) either of said feet or the head of said first
figure are receivable into either of the hand-to-foot interstices
of said second figure.
3) The figure set forth in claim 2, wherein: abutting opposite feet
of a pair of figures are receivable in a common hand-to-foot
interstices.
4) The figures set forth in claim 2, wherein: a) said opposite feet
define therebetween foot-tofoot interstices; and, b) abutting
opposite feet of a pair of figures are receivable in said
foot-to-foot interstices.
5) The figures set forth in claim 4, wherein: a) said body parts
include diverging legs and a neck; b) said head is receivable in an
interstices defined by said legs; and, c) and said neck is received
in said foot-to-foot interstices.
6) The figures set forth in claim 1, wherein: said first and second
figures are pivotable with respect to one another.
7) The figures set forth in claim 6, where n: said figures are
pivotable from a substantially coplanar relationship to a normal
relationship.
8) The figures set forth in claim 4, wherein: a) said feet have
toes, pointing toward opposite sides of said figures, together with
heel, sole and bridge surfaces; b) said sole and bridge surfaces
are parallel with one another and are normal to said heel surfaces;
and, c) said foot-to-foot interstices is equal in length to the
distance between said heel surfaces.
9) The figures set forth in claim 8, wherein: the sole-to-bridge
thickness of a foot is half the length of the foot-to-foot
interstices.
10) The figures set forth in claim 8, wherein: the sole-to-bridge
thickness of a foot is one half the front-to-back thickness of said
figures.
11) The figures set forth in claim 1, wherein: said figures molded
of polypropylene copolymer and have hard rectilinear surfaces.
12) A set of toy figures comprising a plurality of the figures set
forth in claim 1.
13) Plural humanoid toy blocks joined together and extending in
substantially the same plane; and, said blocks are pivotable with
respect to one another to lie in angularly spaced planes.
14. The blocks set forth in claim 13, wherein: a pair of blocks are
remote from each other and are each pivotably joined to an
intermediate block; and, said pair of blocks are individually
movable with respect to said intermediate block to lie selectively
in planes normal to one another and in planes normal to said same
plane.
15. The blocks set forth in claim 13, wherein: a pair of blocks
abutt one another and are pivotably joined by another block; and,
said pair of blocks are pivotable relative to one another and
relative to said another block.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] This invention pertains generally to toy figures having
humanoid structural features which make such figures especially
suitable for use as interfitting building blocks.
[0002] Toy blocks in a wide variety of configurations approximating
the shape of the human body are well known as are the many ways
children play with such blocks. Block constructions and manners of
play pertinent to the present invention are shown and described in
these United States patents:
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 1,648,199 issued to H. J. Sargent on Nov. 08,
1927
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 2,078,709 issued to C. J. Hecht on Apr. 27,
1937
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 2,691,243 issued to W. C. Rade on Oct. 12,
1954
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 4,682,966 issued to Neil Kagan on Jul. 28,
1987
[0007] Each of these previously patented toy figures comprises a
flat, unitary block of wood, plastic or similarly rigid material.
The blocks are usually cut, molded or otherwise shaped to display a
connected head and torso, the latter having identifiable arms,
legs, hands and feet projecting therefrom. The front-to-back width
or thickness of the block is such that, when resting on a level
surface, the bottoms of the legs or feet will support and maintain
individual blocks in a freestanding, upright attitude.
[0008] The cited prior art patents suggest various structural means
for arranging and assembling a plurality of block figures in a wide
variety of entertaining and instructive configurations. The
thickness of the aforementioned blocks affords a degree of
stability necessesary to their being stacked one upon another;
however, vertical instability is usually unavoidable after only a
few blocks have been stacked thereby causing this simple block
assembly to collapse. The vertical front and back surfaces of the
previously known blocks are perpendicularly intersected by a
horizontal surface defining the profile or outline of the figure.
Thus, the head, neck, torso, and limbs are in part defined by
peripheral surfaces displaying variously shaped curves, notches,
cavities and projections which provide opportunities for
interstitial interfitments between projecting body parts of two or
more figures.
[0009] Although the cited Sargent patent speaks of his blocks as
being "hooked" together, careful examination reveals that only the
weight of the blocks maintains them in interfering engagement with
one another. The Rade patent teaches that two blocks can be
assembled by pressing a projecting dovetail shaped limb of one
block laterally into a dovetail shaped recess in the periphery of
another block. Such locking of two blocks together requires that a
child juxtapose the blocks with their dovetail elements in
registration before lateral pressure is applied to interfit the
blocks in flush relationship. Such an operation demands a high
degree of dexterity and physical control as well as carefully sized
and cut dovetail elements.
[0010] Hecht provides interfitiing notches and projections adjacent
the feet of his figures whereby dovetail-like joints connect two
figures in end-to-end relationship. Otherwise, Hecht assembles his
figures by stacking, and balancing as does Sargent.
[0011] Kagan discloses figures similar to Sargent's but with the
center of gravity of each lying laterally with respect to vertical
plane passing through the figures head and torso. While this
modification of the Sargent figures provides a variety of new
configurations in which his figures can be oriented and assembled,
Kagan, like Sargent essentially balances his figures one upon the
other.
[0012] Thus, the prior art figure combinations and assemblies
mentioned heretofore have at least these constraining
characteristics:
[0013] 1. All comprise an assemblage of balanced figures which
extend upwardly from a fixed base.
[0014] 2. The width of the supportive base of any assembly
corresponds to the front-to-back dimension of a single figure which
mandates that the center of gravity of the assembly be located
between rather narrow limits.
[0015] 3. The vertical stability of the stacked assemblies is
critically dependent not only upon the accuracy acheived in sizing
and shaping each figure but also upon the care with which figures
are stacked upon one another.
[0016] 4. None shows that body parts of different figure will slide
together in surface-to-surface engagement and will thereafter
exhibit substantial resistance to disassembly solely due to
frictional forces acting between the engaged surfaces.
[0017] 5. While the prior art figures are connectable when extended
along a single plane, none are connectable when the figures lie in
planes which are angularly displaced from one another whereby three
dimensional assemblages are possible.
[0018] 6. None provides a block configured to connect figures
oriented in spaced planes to other figures lying in planes
perpendicular to such spaced planes.
[0019] 7. None shows body parts of two distinct figures that can be
frictionally gripped and joined in abutting relationship by
coacting parts by a third figure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0020] The general object of the present invention is to provide
toy figures which can be assembled in challanging and entertaining
combinations and orientations not attainable with known toy figures
of a similar nature.
[0021] It is an additional general object of this invention to
overcome the aforelisted constraints on the construction,
application and utility of toy building blocks.
[0022] Yet another objective is to provide a unitary humanoid
figure comprising a robust torso from which projects a head,
oppositely extending arms and diverging legs. Other recognizable
human-like features include a neck, shoulders, hands having palms
and backs, and feet having bridges, soles, toes, and heels. The
aforenoted human-like body parts of plural figures can be
interconnected in a variety of combinations and orientations. To
this end, both the projecting body parts and the partreceiving
openings, spaces, pockets, etc. have close dimensional tolerances
to insure that interfitting parts will easily slide into engagement
with one another yet stay in place due to frictional force
resisting disassembly. However, it is intended that the force
required to slide close fitting parts together can be provided by a
child.
[0023] Where an assemblage of figures made in accordance with this
invention is constructed by frictionally interconnecting multiple
figures, it has been observed that such an assemblage exhibits a
substantial and surprising degree of stability and resistance to
deformation. Due to this rigidity and the myriad opportunities to
connect figures without balancing them vis a vis one another, the
hereinafter described figures can be joined together to form
structures that are more varied and complex than those known
heretofore.
[0024] These and other advantageous features of this invention will
become apparent and the invention will be best understood and fully
appreciated by having reference to the following detailed
description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a toy figure according to
this invention;
[0026] FIG. 2 is a front elevation;
[0027] FIG. 3 is a top plan view;
[0028] FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view;
[0029] FIG. 5 is a side elevation;
[0030] FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are elevational views of pairs of figures
wherein the upper figure is balanced atop the lower figure;
[0031] FIGS. 9 and 10 are elevational views of two sets of three
interfitted figures;
[0032] FIGS. 11 and 12 are top plan views of two assemblages of
figures;
[0033] FIG. 13 is an end elevation looking along line 13-13 of FIG.
12; and,
[0034] FIGS. 14 and 15 are fragmentary elevational views of
assembled blocks depicting modifications of the block shown in FIG.
1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0035] The figures indicated generally by letters A through Y in
the appended drawings are identically configured; accordingly,
throughout the following description the same numeral will be
employed to indicate corresponding body parts. The figures have
symetrical right and left sides; accordingly a body part of a
figure looking out of the drawing will be designated by an
identifying numeral followed as appropriate by letter R or L.
[0036] Preferably, the blocks are composed of a plastic material
suitable for injection molding. One such material is polypropylene
copolymer of a selected grade which produces defining surfaces for
the figures which are relatively hard, flat and smooth. The
selected plastic material should exhibit a force of friction when
surfaces of two blocks of such material tend to slide relative to
one another that will suffice to forestall unintended separation of
interfitted figures such as those shown in the drawings in FIGS. 9
through 13. A fuller appreciation of the important role which
intersurface frictional force plays in realizing the benefits of
this invention will be had from a detailed description of several
possible combinations and arrangements of the figures.
[0037] As best shown in FIGS. 1-5, figure A comprises a solid,
unitary block in the form of a human-like figure of rugged
proportions. The front-to-back thickness of the figure, therefore
the width of the peripheral surface outlining the figure, is
sufficiently wide to permit the figure to stand uprightly on its
feet, head, arms and legs in a variety of vertical
orientations.
[0038] Turning now to a detailed description of the features of the
figures depicted in the drawings, a robust torso 10 displays broad
shoulders 12R, 12L and supports a thick neck 14 and an anvil-shaped
head 16 having a flat top surface 18 and flat side surfaces 19R,
19L. Extending from the torso sides are muscular arms 20R, 20L
having sloped top surfaces 22R, 22L. The arms terminate in hands
26R, 26L having back surfaces 28R, 28L, palm surfaces 30R, 30L and
terminal surfaces 32R, 32L. Thick, outwardly diverging thighs 34R,
34L and depending legs 36R, 36L define therebetween a crotch area
40. Feet 42R, 42L point laterally outwardly from their points of
attachment to legs 36R, 36L and have identifiable bridges 44R, 44L;
soles 46R, 46L; heel backs 48R, 48L; heel tops 49R, 49L; and, toes
50R, 50L.
[0039] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, the rectilinear figures
are defined by flat surfaces some of which intersect and others
which lie in common planes or in spaced parallel planes. The
horizontally spaced front and back surfaces of a figure are
parallel and extend vertically when the figure is oriented in an
upright position. The horizontally extending head surface 18;
shoulder surfaces 12R, 12L; hand surfaces 30R, 30L; and foot
surfaces 44R, 44L; 46R, 46L and 49R, 49L are normal to the figure's
front and back surfaces. The vertically extending head side
surfaces 19R, 19L; neck surfaces 14R, 14L; hand surfaces 32R, 32L;
leg surfaces 37R, 37L; and, foot surfaces 48R, 48L and 50R, 50L are
normal to the just mentioned horizontal surfaces and are also
normal to the figures's front and back surfaces. The remaining
surfaces which in part define the arms 26R, 26L, and the inner and
outer surfaces of thighs 34R, 34L are inclined to the
aforedescribed horizontal and vertical surfaces but are likewise
normal to the figure's front and back surfaces. Some of the
described surfaces are coplanar, namely, surface 14R and 48R, 14L
and 48L, 32R and 50R, and 32L and 50L.
[0040] If desired, the figures may exhibit friendly, cartoonlike
features as suggested by a face depicted on the front surface of
head 16. Appropriate sports or military attire and gear could be
painted on, molded into or otherwise associated with the rugged
looking figures. To enhance a younger child's interest in the
figures as toys and to suggest various play activities involving
patterns and sorting, the figures could be numbered or made of
plastic materials of various colors, for example. At an early age,
children begin simply to stack blocks and later to develop skills
in arranging and connecting blocks for imaginative play. Humanoid
blocks, individually and collectively, stimulate children to
interact with the figures and with other children. The figures may
simply be laid horizontally on their major front or back surfaces
or stood erectly on the undersides or soles 46R, 46L of their feet
42R, 42L.
[0041] Vertical stacking of upright figures in various arrangements
is illustrated in FIGS. 6-8 where it will be noted that the pairs
of figures BC, DE and FG are not actually interconnected or
interfitted, but are merely balanced one atop the other in
surface-to-surface contact. Although the blocks are identically
configured, they afford a substantial variety of balanced stacking
orientations. In FIG. 6, the lower figure C balances on the flat
rectangular top 18 of its head 16 with its feet 42R, 42L abutting
those of Figure C. The engaging soles 46R, 46L of the feet of
figures B and C as well as head surfaces 18 of figures B and C are
made substantially flat and normal to the front and back surfaces
of the figure to assure vertical alignment and stability for the
balanced figures. This being the case additional figures could be
stacked alternately head-to-head and feet-to-feet atop figure
B.
[0042] As noted earlier, the terminal hand and foot surfaces 32R,
50R and 32L, 50L are coplanar; and, these surfaces are equidistant
from the vertical centerline CL of the figure. Thus, figure E, if
reclined on its right side on a horizontal surface, will balance on
surfaces 32R and 50R with its left arm 26L and left leg 34L
extending upwardly. A reversely reclining figure D can then be
balanced atop figure E with the terminal hand surface 32L and the
outer leg surface 37L of Figure D respectively engaging the outer
leg surface 37L and the terminal hand surface 32L of figure E. In a
similar manner, alternately reversed figures could be stacked to
form a balanced vertical column of several reclining figures.
[0043] While figures C and E have horizontal surfaces engaging a
subjacent support surface,the figures F and G of FIG. 8 are
angularly displaced so that lower figure G rests on and balances on
two edges, one defined by the intersection of head surfaces 18 and
19L and another defined by the intersection of the back of hand 26R
and terminal hand surface 32R. Figure F inclines from horizontal to
a like degree as does figure G and is supported and held on figure
G by the interaction of the engaged left hands 32L of figures F and
G. With the facing palm surfaces 30L of hands 32L engaged as shown
in FIG. 8, the extending terminal hand surfaces 32L of each figure
will engage the sloped outer surface of the thigh 34L of the other
figure to prevent angular displacement of figure F relative to
figure G.
[0044] The previously described figures B through G illustrate some
of the many balancing and stacking possibilities of the invention.
Certain heretofore unattainable interfitting features of the
invention will now be explained in detail.
[0045] The geometry of the block's surfaces and the spatial
relationships of such surfaces depicted in FIGS. 1-5, provides
interstices between certain body parts which afford distinct
opportunities to assemble one or more blocks in interfitting
relation. Among such interstices is a pair of opposed pockets or
receptacles 51R, 51L opening laterally to the right hand and left
hand sides of the figures. As best shown by figure H in FIG. 9, the
pocket 51R is principalby defined by surfaces 30R, 37R and 44R
while corresponding left hand surfaces define pocket 51L. The
pocket 51L of figure H provides a receptacle for the right foot 42R
of figure I and the corresponding pocket 51L of figure I provides a
receptacle for the head 16 of figure J. FIG. 10 shows figure L
having its left foot 42L received in pocket 51R of figure M and its
right foot 42R received in pocket 51L of figure K. FIG. 11 shows
that the right foot 42R of figure N and the left foot 42L of figure
O are both received in pocket 5IR of figure P and that the left
foot 42L of figure N and the right foot 42R of figure O are both
received in the pocket 51L of figure Q.
[0046] An essential feature of the figures is that the pockets 51R,
51L have the same, or very nearly the same dimension between facing
palm surfaces 30R, 30L and bridge surfaces 44R, 44L of the feet
42R, 42L. It is likewise essential that other parts and interstices
of the figures be made to close dimensional tolerances; for
example, the length of each foot 42R, 42L between heel surfaces
48R, 48L and toe surfaces 50R, 50L; the space or gap 52 between
heel surfaces 48R, 48L; the thickness of a foot 42R, 42L between
bridge surfaces 44R, 44L and sole surfaces 46R, 46L; and, the width
of head 16 between side surfaces 19R, 19L.
[0047] Due to the close attention to the dimensions as required by
this invention, the head 16 and either of feet 42R, 42L will have a
close sliding fit between the spaced surfaces of pockets 51R, 51L
as viewed in FIGS. 9 and 10; and, the feet 42R, 42L of the two
figures K and M when placed sole to sole, as viewed in FIG. 10,
will have the same close sliding fit between the heels 48R, 48L of
a third figure L. The principal function of such close interfigure
fits is to assure that the force of friction acting between bearing
surfaces will resist unintended disassembly of interfitted figures
due solely to gravity or to a child's handling of an assembled
group of figures during play. However, the interfigure friction
should not be so great that assembled figures cannot be pulled
apart by a child old enough to play at interfitting and
disassembling the figures of this invention.
[0048] Another important functional aspect of this invention is
made possible by a close sliding fit between assembled figures. The
joined figures H, I and J are shown lying flat; however, these
three figures can be assembled in numerous angular attitudes. For
example, figures H could be rotated upwardly from the plane of the
drawing sheet while its hand 26L and foot 42L continue to grasp
frictionally the foot 42R of figure I. Likewise, figures K and M
can be pivoted with respect to figure L in the same direction or in
opposite directions while a foot 42L and 42R of each of figures K
and L is clasped together in space 52 between the facing heels 48R,
48L of figure L and the toe surfaces 50R and 50L of figure L press
against the palm surfaces 30R and 30L of figures K and M,
respectively. FIG. 10 shows that, the thickness of individual feet
42R, 42L equals half the width of the interheel gap 52; and, FIG.
11 shows that the thickness of a foot equals half the front-to-back
thickness of a figure. These relationships of figure parts and part
receiving interstices not only provide alternative ways of
connecting two figures in foot-to-foot abutting relation, but also
permit the connected figures and a connecting figure to be
oriented, as desired, in alignment with one another, see FIG. 10,
or perpendicular to one another, see FIG. 11.
[0049] FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate a four-figure, three dimensional
assemblage in which the pockets 51R and 51L of horizontal figure R
receive, respectively, the heads 16 of figure S and figure T. The
pockets 51R and 51L of horizontal figure U receive, respectively, a
foot, unseen, of figure S and a foot, unseen, of figure T. FIG. 13
shows that the center of this assemblage is open and that the
assemblage generally resembles a flat sided tubular beam.
Obviously, several additional figures could be connected with
figures R, S, T and U to enlarge it in all directions and to create
interesting shapes.
[0050] The combination of the close dimensional tolerances
throughout the structural make up of the figure, the frictionally
gripping contact between surfaces of individual figures, and the
availability of multiple interstices between the human-like parts
of each figure provide several advantages; namely:
[0051] 1. The frictional gripping aspect of the invention permits
interfitting parts of figures to be slipped together; permits
selectable interfigure angular orientations; and, creates a high
degree of resistance to separation of figures once joined.
[0052] 2. A first figure may be frictionally connected directly to
a second figure or may be so connected by means of a third figure
connected to the first and second figures.
[0053] 3. First and second figures may be frictionally connected by
a third figure in either spaced or abutting relation.
[0054] 4. Two like interstices between the palms of the hands and
the bridges of the feet of a first figure open to opposite sides of
that figure; and, such interstices can frictionally retain therein,
as desired, either the head or one foot of a second figure or one
foot of said second figure and one foot of a third figure.
[0055] 5. The heels of the feet of a first figure define
therebetween an interstices which can frictionally receive and
retain one foot each of second and third figures in variable
angular relation with the first figure and with one another.
[0056] 6. The feet of first and second figures can be held in sole
to sole relation between the heels of third and fourth figures
which are respectively retained in the foot to hand interstices of
the first and second figure.
[0057] An important advantage provided by the block figures
disclosed in this invention over those disclosed in the aforecited
prior patents is that myriad assemblages of figures can have most,
if not all, of their constituent figures frictionally gripped and
held together by two or more other constituent figures. Such
multiple linkages of figures provides these practical benefits:
[0058] 1. Within an assemblage, figure-to-figure coherence is
enhanced whereby the complete assemblage exhibits unexpected
structural strength and solidarity.
[0059] 2. An assemblage retains its external shape and internal
arrangement after strenuous manipulation by a child during
play.
[0060] 3. Assemblages of large numbers of figures used to fabricate
sizable and structurally complex animals and mechanical toys, for
example, can be made by either serially interfitting individual
figures or by connecting prefabricated multifigure panels, columns,
beams and the like. Such opportunities for thoughtful building of
complex structures challenges the creative abilities of older
children and adults as well.
[0061] The drawings make it clear that, as illustrated, the head 16
of a figure can not fit into the crotch area 40 of another figure.
However, FIGS. 14 and 15 disclose two modified figure heads 16a and
16b, which can be inserted into the crotch area 40 of any figure.
To this end, head 16a is reshaped by providing chamfers 54R, 54L
which connect the head top 16c to head sides 19R and 19L; and, the
slope of the chamfers corresponds to the slope of the inner
surfaces of the thighs 34R, 34L. A second modification of head 16
is situated upon an elongated neck defined by sides 58R, 58L and is
rectangular in elevation. The modified head 16b resides between the
inwardly facing surfaces of legs 36R, 36L; and, the neck surfaces
58R, 58L engage the heel surfaces 48R, 48L. Vertical displacement
of head 16b is prevented by the interfering engagement between the
top 16d of head 16b and thighs 34R, 34L. The ability to interfit
the heads of modified figures W and Y with figure A, for example,
furnishes a figure builder with additional combinations and
orientations beyond those previously discussed herein.
[0062] To achieve the resistance to separation of assembled figures
contemplated by this invention, relatively tight tolerances on
figure dimensions are required, however, well-made molds, standard
molding practices, and correctly chosen molding materials can
provide acceptable as-molded figures.
[0063] The foregoing description of the invention shown in the
drawings is illustrative and explanatory only; therefore, various
changes in the size, shape and materials of the described figures
as well as changes in the manner of their use as toys may be made
without departing from the spirit of the invention. It will also be
appreciated that there exists virtually unlimited combinations in
which the toy figure blocks according to the present invention may
be oriented, stacked, interfitted or otherwise employed to build
desired structures. Accordingly, I do not intend to be limited to
the details shown and described herein, but intent instead to cover
all changes and modifications within the ambit of the the appended
claims.
* * * * *