U.S. patent application number 10/671147 was filed with the patent office on 2005-03-24 for fluid-dispenser device conducive to reduced water consumption in a washing machine.
This patent application is currently assigned to General Electric Company. Invention is credited to Najewicz, David Joseph, Patil, Mahendra Madhukar, Shaffer, Timothy Scott.
Application Number | 20050060813 10/671147 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34313897 |
Filed Date | 2005-03-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050060813 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Patil, Mahendra Madhukar ;
et al. |
March 24, 2005 |
Fluid-dispenser device conducive to reduced water consumption in a
washing machine
Abstract
A fluid-dispenser device for a washing machine having a wash
basket is provided. The basket may define radii extending in a
horizontal plane relative to a circumference in correspondence with
respect to the wash basket. The device includes at least two outlet
ports positioned to direct respective jets of fluid into the wash
basket. Each of the jets may have a distinctive exit angle relative
to a respective radius in such a horizontal plane and passing
through the respective outlet ports. In another aspect thereof,
each of the jets may have a generally parallel relationship with
respect to one another.
Inventors: |
Patil, Mahendra Madhukar;
(Bangalore, IN) ; Najewicz, David Joseph;
(Prospect, KY) ; Shaffer, Timothy Scott;
(LaGrange, KY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
General Electric Company
CRD Patent Docket Rm 4A59
Bldg. K-1
P.O. Box 8
Schenectady
NY
12301
US
|
Assignee: |
General Electric Company
|
Family ID: |
34313897 |
Appl. No.: |
10/671147 |
Filed: |
September 24, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
8/159 ; 68/12.12;
68/207; 68/23.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 33/47 20200201;
D06F 39/083 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
008/159 ;
068/012.12; 068/023.5; 068/207 |
International
Class: |
D06F 037/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A fluid-dispenser device for a washing machine having a wash
basket movable about an axis and defining radii extending in a
horizontal plane relative to a circumference in correspondence with
respect to said wash basket, the device comprising: at least two
outlet ports positioned to direct respective jets of fluid into the
wash basket, each of the jets having a distinctive exit angle
relative to a respective radius in said horizontal plane and
passing through the respective outlet ports.
2. The fluid-dispenser device of claim 1 wherein each of the outlet
ports is configured to provide a distinctive exit velocity to the
respective jets of fluid.
3. The fluid-dispenser device of claim 1 wherein each of the outlet
ports is configured to have a distinctive inclination angle
relative to said horizontal plane.
4. The fluid-dispenser device of claim 1 wherein the at least two
outlet ports are adjacent to one another.
5. The fluid-dispenser device of claim 4 comprising multiple sets
of at least two adjacent ports distributed along the circumference
in correspondence with the wash basket.
6. The fluid-dispenser of claim 5 wherein each of the multiple sets
of adjacent ports is equidistantly distributed along the
circumference in correspondence with the wash basket.
7. The fluid-dispenser device of claim 1 comprising a pressurized
annular ring.
8. The fluid-dispenser device of claim 7 wherein said pressurized
annular ring comprises a segmented annular ring.
9. The fluid dispenser device of claim 7 wherein said pressurized
annular ring comprises a single-piece ring.
10. The fluid dispenser device of claim 1 comprising a
multi-branched network.
11. The fluid-dispenser device of claim 1 comprising fluid
conducting means for passing pressurized fluid from an inlet port
to the outlet ports therein.
12. The fluid-dispenser device of claim 1 comprising fluid
conducting means for passing different fluids from a plurality of
inlet ports to the outlet ports therein.
13. The fluid-dispenser device of claim 1 wherein the at least two
ports are situated at different points along the circumference in
correspondence with the wash basket.
14. The fluid-dispenser device of claim 1 wherein the at least two
ports are situated at different points along a common radius.
15. The fluid-dispenser device of claim 1 coupled to a controller
configured to impart relative motion between the outlet ports and
the wash basket as the jets of fluid are directed into the wash
basket.
16. The fluid-dispenser device of claim 15 wherein said controller
is further configured to command a spin cycle for extracting
rinse-cycle fluid from the wash basket, said rinse-cycle fluid used
during a rinse cycle.
17. The fluid-dispenser device of claim 16 wherein said controller
is further configured to command a sequence of said rinse and spin
cycles, and, during each of said rinse cycles, is configured to
command delivery of a sufficiently lesser amount of fluid that
would otherwise be required to fill said wash basket to
appropriately wet articles positioned along a side wall of the
basket.
18. The fluid-dispenser device of claim 12 coupled to a controller
configured to command passing said different fluids during an
operational cycle of the washing machine, said different fluids
passed in one of the following two modes: simultaneously and
selectively.
19. The fluid-dispenser device of claim 1 coupled to a device
selected from the group consisting of a fluid-pressurizing device,
a pressure-regulating device, and a flow regulating device.
20. A fluid-dispenser device for a washing machine having a wash
basket rotatable about a vertical axis and defining radii extending
in a horizontal plane relative to a circumference in correspondence
with respect to said wash basket, the device comprising: at least
two ports positioned to direct respective jets of fluid into a wash
basket, each of the jets having a generally parallel relationship
with respect to one another.
21. The fluid-dispenser device of claim 20 wherein each of the
outlet ports is configured to provide a distinctive exit velocity
to the respective jets of fluid.
22. The fluid-dispenser device of claim 20 wherein each of the
outlet ports is configured to have a distinctive inclination angle
relative to said horizontal plane.
23. The fluid-dispenser device of claim 20 wherein each of the
outlet ports is configured to provide a distinctive exit angle to
the respective jets of fluid relative to a respective radius in
said horizontal plane passing through said ports.
24. The fluid-dispenser device of claim 20 the at least two outlet
ports are adjacent to one another.
25. The fluid-dispenser device of claim 24 comprising multiple sets
of adjacent ports distributed along the along the circumference in
correspondence with the wash basket.
26. The fluid-dispenser of claim 25 wherein each of the multiple
sets of adjacent ports is equidistantly distributed along the
circumference in correspondence with the wash basket.
27. The fluid-dispenser device of claim 20 comprising a pressurized
annular ring.
28. The fluid-dispenser device of claim 20 wherein said pressurized
annular ring comprises a segmented annular ring.
29. The fluid-dispenser device of claim 20 wherein the at least two
ports are situated at different points along the circumference in
correspondence with the wash basket.
30. The fluid dispenser device of claim 27 wherein said pressurized
annular ring comprises a single-piece ring.
31. The fluid dispenser device of claim 20 comprising a
multi-branched network.
32. The fluid-dispenser device of claim 20 wherein the at least two
ports are situated along a common radius.
33. The fluid-dispenser device of claim 20 coupled to a controller
configured to impart relative rotation between the outlet ports and
the wash basket as the jets of fluid are directed into the wash
basket.
34. The fluid-dispenser device of claim 33 wherein said controller
is further configured to command a spin cycle for extracting
rinse-cycle fluid from the wash basket, said rinse-cycle fluid used
during a rinse cycle.
35. The fluid-dispenser device of claim 34 wherein said controller
is further configured to command a sequence of said rinse and spin
cycles, and, during each of said rinse cycles, is configured to
command delivery of a sufficiently lesser amount of fluid that
would otherwise be required to fill said wash basket to
appropriately wet articles positioned along a side wall of the
basket.
36. A method for delivering rinsing fluid to articles in a washing
machine having a wash basket rotatable about a vertical axis, the
wash basket defining radii extending in a horizontal plane relative
to a circumference in correspondence with respect to said wash
basket, the method comprising: directing respective jets of fluid
into the wash basket from at least two outlet ports; and
configuring each of the jets to have a generally parallel
relationship with respect to one another.
37. The method of claim 36 further comprising providing a
distinctive exit velocity to the respective jets of fluid.
38. The method of claim 36 further comprising configuring each of
the outlet ports to have a distinctive inclination angle relative
to said horizontal plane.
39. The method of claim 36 further comprising configuring each of
the outlet ports to provide a distinctive exit angle to the
respective jets of fluid relative to a respective radius in said
horizontal plane passing through said ports.
40. The method of claim 36 further comprising imparting relative
motion between the outlet ports and the wash basket as the jets of
fluid are directed into the wash basket.
41. The method of claim 36 wherein each jet of fluid is configured
to directly impinge on articles that may be positioned along a
sidewall of the wash basket.
44. The method of claim 41 further comprising a spin cycle for
extracting rinse-cycle fluid from the wash basket, said rinse-cycle
fluid used during a rinse cycle.
45. The method of claim 44 further comprising a sequence of said
rinse and spin cycles, and, during each of said rinse cycles,
delivering a lesser amount of fluid that would otherwise be
required to fill said wash basket to sufficiently wet the articles
positioned along the side wall of the basket.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention generally relates to washing machines, and,
more particularly, to a fluid-dispenser device for washing
machines.
[0002] A typical washing machine may have a water dispensing spout
which generally dispenses water at a fixed location with respect to
a bundle of articles, e.g., clothes, that may be widely scattered
over the interior of a wash basket during washing and rinsing
operations. This may result in just a small-localized fraction of
the overall clothes volume getting appropriately soaked under
running water while most of the dispensed water initially reaches
the bottom of a tub, part of which first fills an annular space
between the basket and the tub, causing a delayed and gradual
soaking of the clothes from bottom to top with the rising water
level.
[0003] The rising water level and any buoyancy resulting from
entrapped air cause the clothes to move upwards and float, which
results in a relatively slow soaking rate and just the partial
submerging of the clothes in the rising water, thus requiring
relatively higher quantities of water to ensure appropriate wetting
of the clothes. The additional water may also necessitate extra
mechanical efforts during rotation of an agitator in the wash
basket and/or rotation of the wash basket.
[0004] At the end of a centrifugal spin-extraction process in a
typical vertical axis washer, the clothes typically get densely
stacked around the vertical sidewall of the basket. Smaller and
medium clothes loads may form a lower stacked bundle around the
basket sidewall, and this bundle makes poor or no contact with the
water column emerging from the spout, thus requiring relatively
large quantities of water during a rinsing operation.
[0005] During a washing operation, the user may desire to add
various cleansing and/or conditioning agents directly into the
basket, which may result in a localized dispensation of such agents
relative to the scattered clothes, thus requiring burdensome
efforts to evenly apply the washing agent across the entire volume
of clothes. This localized dispensation may also cause overexposure
of the localized small portion of clothes to a concentrated washing
agent, which could have an adverse impact on the fabric
materials.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Generally, aspects of the present invention fulfill the
foregoing needs by providing a fluid-dispenser device for a washing
machine having a wash basket movable about an axis and defining
radii extending in a horizontal plane relative to a circumference
in correspondence with respect to the wash basket. The device
includes at least two outlet ports positioned to direct respective
jets of fluid into the wash basket. Each of the jets may have a
distinctive exit angle relative to a respective radius in said
horizontal plane and passing through the respective outlet ports.
In another aspect thereof, each of the jets may have a generally
parallel relationship with respect to one another.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective cutaway view of an exemplary washing
machine.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an exemplary control
system for the washing machine shown in FIG. 1.
[0009] FIG. 3 illustrates a top view schematic for visualizing
details in connection with a fluid-dispenser device for a washing
machine.
[0010] FIG. 4 illustrates a top view schematic of an exemplary
fluid-dispenser device in the form of a pressurized annular
ring.
[0011] FIG. 5 shows an exemplary construction of an individual
segment, as may be used for constructing a segmented annular ring
for dispensing fluid.
[0012] FIG. 6 illustrates an isometric partially cut-away view of a
wash basket in combination with a fluid-dispenser device configured
as an annular ring.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view partially broken away of an
exemplary washing machine 50 in which aspects of the present
invention may be practiced. It is recognized, however, that the
various benefits of the present invention may be demonstrated in
other types of washing machines. The description of washing machine
50 below is therefore offered just for illustrative purposes, and
in no way should be construed to limit application of the present
invention in any aspect.
[0014] Washing machine 50 includes a cabinet 52 and a cover 54. A
backsplash 56 extends from cover 54, and a variety of appliance
control input selectors 60 may be mounted onto backsplash 56. Input
selectors 60 comprise a user interface for operator selection of
operational machine cycles and modes of operation. A lid 62 is
mounted to cover 54 and may be movable between an open position
facilitating access to a wash tub 64 located within cabinet 52, and
a closed position forming a covered enclosure over wash tub 64.
[0015] Tub 64 includes a bottom wall 66 and a sidewall 68, and a
basket 70 may be rotatably mounted within wash tub 64. A
conventional agitator, impeller, or oscillatory basket mechanism
may be disposed in basket 70 to agitate the articles and liquid in
basket 70. The agitator and/or wash basket may be positioned to
rotate or otherwise have motion, e.g., oscillatory or wobbling
motion, about an axis, such as a vertical axis or an axis with some
degree of tilt.
[0016] As seen in FIG. 2, operation of machine 50 may be controlled
by a controller 138 that is operatively coupled to the user
interface input mounted on washing machine backsplash 56 (FIG. 1)
for user manipulation to select washing machine cycles and
operational modes. In response to user manipulation of the user
interface input, controller 138 may operate various components of
machine 50 to execute any selected machine cycles and operational
modes.
[0017] In an illustrative embodiment, clothes are loaded into
basket 70, and a washing operation may be initiated through
operator manipulation of control input selectors 60 (FIG. 1). Tub
64 may be filled with water and mixed with detergent and optionally
with other cleansing and/or conditioning agents, e.g., bleach, to
form a wash fluid, and the fluid and clothes therein are agitated
by the agitator for cleansing the clothes in basket 70. After a
period of agitation, tub 64 may be drained with a suitable pump
assembly 72 (FIG. 1), and basket 70 may be spun to extract wash
fluid from the clothes. Clothes may then be rinsed with fresh water
and basket 70 may be spun again to remove water from the clothes.
Depending on the particular wash cycle selected, multiple wash and
spin portions of the wash cycle may be executed.
[0018] FIG. 2 shows a schematic block diagram of an exemplary
washing machine control system 150 for use with washing machine 50.
Control system 150 includes controller 138 that may, for example,
comprise a microcomputer 140 coupled to a user interface input 141.
An operator may enter instructions or select desired washing
machine cycles and features via user interface input 141, such as
through input selectors 60 (FIG. 1). A display or indicator 144 may
be coupled to microcomputer 140 to display appropriate messages
and/or indications, such as elapsed time, and other data that may
be of interest to washing machine users. A memory 142 may also be
coupled to microcomputer 140 to store instructions, calibration
constants, and other information as may be appropriate to
satisfactorily complete any selected cycle. Memory 142 may, for
example, comprise a random access memory (RAM). In alternative
embodiments, other forms of memory could be used in conjunction
with RAM memory, including but not limited to electronically
erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM).
[0019] Analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters (not
shown) may be coupled to controller 138 to appropriately condition
controller signals and provide executable instructions to generate
controller outputs to various washing machine components. For
example, controller 138 may be operatively coupled to a machine
drive system 148 (e.g., a motor and clutch system), a brake system
151 associated with basket 70, water valves 152 and a machine drain
system 154 (e.g., a drain pump assembly and/or drain valves) each
according to techniques well-understood by those skilled in the
art.
[0020] In one exemplary embodiment, water valves 152 may be in flow
communication with a fluid dispenser device 200 (shown in phantom
in FIG. 2) embodying aspects of the present invention, as described
below in greater detail. For example, water may be mixed with
detergent or other suitable agents (e.g., softeners, whiteners,
etc.) to form a fluid for cleansing and/or conditioning of the
articles in wash basket 70 (FIG. 1), or fresh water may be used
subsequent to a wash cycle to rinse the cleansing liquid from the
garments.
[0021] In response to manipulation of user interface input 141
controller 138 may monitor various operational parameters of
washing machine 50 with one or more sensors or transducers 156, and
controller 138 may execute operator selected functions and
features.
[0022] Aspects of the present invention relate to an improved
filling, washing and rinsing system configured to effect efficient
submerging and substantially uniform soaking of a clothes load with
reduced quantity of water during washing and rinsing cycles of the
washer. The operation of an exemplary system may comprise creating
and targeting a well-spread array of multiple water jets towards a
widely distributed load of articles, e.g., clothes, inside the
basket of the washing machine.
[0023] In addition, controller 138 may be configured to
simultaneously command rotation of the basket at a moderate speed
during a liquid filling cycle causing the array of water jets to
sweep and directly impinge on the clothes surface several times
during the entire filling cycle, thus further enhancing the
coverage of the clothes surface exposed to the array of water
jet.
[0024] In one exemplary embodiment, the washer uses the fluid
dispenser device 200 for creating an array of water jets that
follow desired trajectories under a wide range of varying inlet
pressures, thus ensuring that a sufficient quantity of wash or
rinse fluid dispensed in the washing and rinsing cycles directly
reaches the clothes, without being obstructed by a stationary or
moving part of the washer. By way of example, the clothes may be
either widely distributed inside the basket, as in a washing cycle,
or densely stacked around the basket vertical wall in a rinsing
cycle.
[0025] It will be appreciated that various factors, such as inlet
water pressure, cross-section area and angular orientation of
individual jet and the number of jets may be appropriately selected
for a given application to determine the target location of the
water jets over the clothes surface relative to a stationary
basket. In one exemplary embodiment, the trajectories and target
locations of the water jets may be made to lie on generally
non-overlapping paths (e.g., parallel paths) while the basket may
be rotated to broaden the coverage of the array of water jets.
[0026] Furthermore, a moderate swinging motion of the basket, as
may be induced, e.g., by the revolving mass of the clothes and
water inside the basket or any other swinging means, would cause a
random displacement of the target locations of the water jets
relative to the clothes surface, thus further improving the
sweeping coverage of the clothes surface impinged by the array of
water jets. The well-spread array of water jets, the
non-overlapping paths of the target locations of each jets as
described above, plus the effect of any rotary and/or swinging
motion of the basket ensure substantially faster and uniform
soaking of an entire volume clothes with less quantity of water and
facilitate carrying out multiple rinse operations with lower
quantities of water and with no appreciable increases in the time
for performing such multiple operations.
[0027] Fluid dispenser device 200 facilitates multiple rinse
operations with smaller quantities of water to cause effective
removal of any residual washing agents from the washed clothes load
to achieve the desired rinse performance. The actual number of
multiple rinse cycle and operational parameters for each of these
rinse cycles, such as the speed of rotation and rotation time of
the basket during filling and extraction cycles, the quantity and
temperature of water dispensed during each fill operation, may be
either user selected or may be automatically selected by controller
138. The selection may be based on the estimated or measured load
sizes respectively.
[0028] As a filling/soaking process performed by fluid dispenser
device 200 progresses from top-to-bottom through the clothes
volume, the clothes would become heavier with the absorbed water
and would tend to move and settle towards the bottom of the basket,
thus resulting in faster soaking and better submerging of the
clothes during the washing and/or rinse cycles with relatively less
quantity of water and mechanical efforts. For example, during each
individual rinsing cycle, as the water is dispensed from fluid
dispenser device 200 while the basket is spinning at a moderate
speed, a meniscus of water is formed raising the water around the
basket side wall thus aiding the soaking action of densely stacked
clothes around the basket wall with a relatively low quantity of
water. A flexible inlet hose connection to fluid dispenser device
200 would allow unimpeded movements of the dispenser device and
reduce any stretching forces acting on the hose connection during
random displacement of the tub with respect to the other fixed end
of the inlet hose.
[0029] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic for visualizing some of the
inventive aspects in connection with fluid-dispenser device 200 for
a washing machine that, as described in the context of FIG. 1, may
have a wash basket movable about an axis 202, e.g., a vertical axis
or an axis having some degree of tilting. The wash basket may
define radii, such as radii 204 and 206 extending in a horizontal
plane relative to a circumference 208 in correspondence with
respect to the wash basket. It is noted that circumference 208 need
not physically align with the circumference of the wash basket. In
one exemplary embodiment, fluid-dispenser device 200 may comprise
at least two outlet ports, such as outlet ports 210 and 212
positioned to direct respective jets of fluid into the wash basket.
Each of the jets may have a distinctive exit angle, such as exit
angles a and p relative to a respective radius in the horizontal
plane that passes through the respective outlet ports, such as
radii 204 and 206. By way of example, as shown in FIG. 3, outlet
ports 210 and 212 may be situated at different points along the
circumference in correspondence with the wash basket.
[0030] In an alternative embodiment, the outlet ports, such as
ports 220 and 222 may be situated at different points along a
common radius 224. As shown in FIG. 3, outlet ports 220 and 222 may
be situated in a common plane, or could be in different planes, as
would be the case if ports 220 and 222 were to be stacked
positioned one beneath the other along corresponding radii. It will
be appreciated that each of these embodiments allows configuring
the jets to have a generally parallel relationship with respect to
one another.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 4, fluid-dispenser device 200 may comprise
a pressurized annular ring 230 made up of multiple sets 232 of at
least two adjacent ports distributed along the circumference in
correspondence with the wash basket. In one exemplary embodiment,
each jet in a set may be configured to have a distinct exit
velocity. This effect may be substantially governed by the size of
the cross section area at the exit of the outlet ports. Further,
each jet or outlet port in a set may have a distinct inclination
angle with respect to the horizontal plane, such as downwardly
(positive), zero or upwardly (negative) inclination. These
configurations may be provided individually or in any combination
with the distinctive exit angle configuration described in the
context of FIG. 3
[0032] As shown in FIG. 4, each of the multiple sets of adjacent
ports may be equidistantly distributed along the circumference in
correspondence with the wash basket. Pressurized annular ring 230
may be a segmented annular ring, a branched network, such as made
up of a network of spaced-apart discrete components or may be
constructed as a single-piece ring. FIG. 5 shows an exemplary
construction of an individual segment 234. Annular ring 230
includes fluid conducting means 236 for passing pressurized fluid
from an inlet port 238 to the outlet ports therein. It will be
appreciated that multiple inlet ports may be provided in fluid
dispenser 200 to feed different fluids simultaneously or
selectively during any given operating cycle. Controller 138 may be
configured to control the selective passing of any such different
fluids. By way of example, the fluid dispensed at desired times
through fluid dispenser 200 while performing an operational cycle,
e.g., wash or rinse cycle, may comprise fresh water alone or in
combination with other fluids or may comprise re-circulated water
alone or in combination with other fluids.
[0033] In one exemplary embodiment dispenser 200 may comprise a
fluid pressurizing device 239, e.g., a suitable pump, as may be
integrated within the dispenser or externally to obtain a desired
effect to fluid passing through the dispenser. In addition, a
pressure regulating device 242, e.g., a suitable pressure regulator
or accumulator, may be integrated within the dispenser or
externally to maintain a desired level of pressure to fluid passing
through the dispenser. A flow regulating effect or device 244, such
as one or more variable area valves, may be integrated within the
dispenser or externally to achieve a desired amount of flow to the
fluid passing through the dispenser. It will be appreciated that
the foregoing devices may be optionally coupled individually or in
any desired combination, depending on the fluid dispensing
requirements of any given application.
[0034] FIG. 6 illustrates an isometric partially cut-away view of
wash basket 70 in combination with a fluid-dispenser device
configured as annular ring 230. Exemplary target locations 240
impinged by the water jets from the fluid dispenser device may be
appreciated in FIG. 6. In operation, fluid dispenser device 200
allows delivering a lesser amount of fluid than would otherwise be
required to fill the wash basket to sufficiently wet any that may
be articles positioned along the sidewall of the basket. It will be
appreciated that a fluid dispenser device embodying aspects of the
invention is not only conducive to achieving significant water
savings during a laundering process but also allows improved
distribution of other cleansing or conditioning agents that may be
mixed with the water.
[0035] An experimental comparison of dilution of a substance (e.g.,
NaCl) that may be analogized to the presence of detergent in
clothing was performed in single and multi-stage sequential rinsing
with different volumes of water. This study suggested that
relatively a higher number of rinsing sub-cycles with smaller
volumes of water would perform superior rinsing than a single
rinsing cycle (or fewer sub-cycles) with relatively more volume of
water. This study further suggested that an approximately equal
volume of water in each sub-cycle would perform at least
analogously if not better rinsing compared to progressively
increasing (or reducing) the respective volumes of water, assuming
the same number of sub-cycles.
[0036] While the invention has been described in terms of various
specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that
the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit
and scope of the claims.
* * * * *