U.S. patent application number 10/696193 was filed with the patent office on 2005-05-05 for height-adjustment mechanism for an armrest.
This patent application is currently assigned to LEGGETT & PLATT, LTD.. Invention is credited to Helmond, Gerard, Hobb, David Lloyd, Matern, Gerard J., Patton, Arthur A., Vo, Cuong Quoc, Watkins, David.
Application Number | 20050093358 10/696193 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41456893 |
Filed Date | 2005-05-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050093358 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Matern, Gerard J. ; et
al. |
May 5, 2005 |
HEIGHT-ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM FOR AN ARMREST
Abstract
A height-adjustment mechanism may include an integral one-piece
leverage body; an integral one-piece sleeve; and a locking member.
In an embodiment, the integral one-piece leverage body has a
handle, a pair of pivot pins projecting from opposed sides, a
tongue projecting rearwardly, and a resilient biasing member
projecting forwardly. These parts may be made of low cost materials
suitable for integrally forming their features in an
injection-moulding operation. Various features built in to these
parts may provide a user with a sense of quality.
Inventors: |
Matern, Gerard J.;
(Waterloo, CA) ; Hobb, David Lloyd; (Waterloo,
CA) ; Helmond, Gerard; (Waterloo, CA) ;
Patton, Arthur A.; (Waterloo, CA) ; Vo, Cuong
Quoc; (Waterloo, CA) ; Watkins, David;
(Waterloo, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SHOOK, HARDY & BACON LLP
2555 GRAND BLVD
KANSAS CITY,
MO
64108
US
|
Assignee: |
LEGGETT & PLATT, LTD.
|
Family ID: |
41456893 |
Appl. No.: |
10/696193 |
Filed: |
October 29, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/411.36 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 1/03 20130101; A47C
1/0305 20180801 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/411.36 |
International
Class: |
A47C 007/54 |
Claims
1. A height-adjustment mechanism for an armrest, comprising: an
integral one-piece leverage body having a handle, a pair of pivot
pins projecting from opposed sides, a tongue projecting rearwardly,
and a resilient biasing member projecting forwardly; an integral,
one-piece sleeve having pivot seats receiving said pivot pins of
said leverage body, wherein a first wall of said sleeve has a pair
of ribs extending therefrom, said pivot seats being formed at a top
of said ribs.
2. The height-adjustment mechanism of claim 1 wherein said leverage
body is elongate, said handle being located at an upper portion of
said body, said tongue being located at a lower portion of said
body, and said pair of pivot pins being located intermediately
between said handle and said tongue.
3. The height-adjustment mechanism of claim 2 wherein said biasing
member is a depending finger.
4. A height-adjustment mechanism for an armrest, comprising: an
integral one-piece leverage body having a handle, a pair of pivot
pins projecting from opposed sides, a tongue projecting rearwardly,
and a resilient biasing member projecting forwardly; wherein said
leverage body is elongate, said handle being located at an upper
portion of said body, said tongue being located at a lower portion
of said body, and said pair of pivot pins being located
intermediately between said handle and said tongue; wherein said
biasing member is a depending finger; and wherein said depending
finger is located between said pair of pivot pins and said
tongue.
5. The height-adjustment mechanism of claim 3, wherein said
depending finger projects below said tongue.
6. The height-adjustment mechanism of claim 2, wherein said
leverage body is made of a material suitable for integrally forming
said handle, said pivot pins, said tongue and said resilient
biasing member in an injection-moulding operation.
7. The height-adjustment mechanism recited in claim 6, wherein said
material is a plastic.
8. (canceled)
9. The height adjustment mechanism of claim 22, wherein a first
wall of said sleeve has a pair of ribs extending therefrom, said
pivot seats being formed at a top of said ribs.
10. The height-adjustment mechanism of claim 1, further comprising
a support and wherein a plurality of ribs extending from inner
walls of said sleeve form a channel slidably receiving said
support.
11. The height-adjustment mechanism of claim 10, wherein said
support includes a plurality of spaced slots and receives said
tongue of said leverage body in one of said slots, said leverage
body being operable by an operator to disengage said tongue from
said one of said slots for height-adjustment of said mechanism.
12. The height-adjustment mechanism of claim 11, wherein said
biasing member projects forwardly to engage an inner wall of said
sleeve and biases said tongue rearwardly, towards said slots on
said support.
13. The height-adjustment mechanism of claim 11, wherein a vertical
groove joins all of said slots on said support.
14. The height-adjustment mechanism of claim 13, wherein said
tongue of said leverage body includes a base and a tip, and said
tip of said tongue is adapted to continuously engage said vertical
groove when said base of said tongue is disengaged from said slots
during height-adjustment of said mechanism by an operator.
15. The height-adjustment mechanism of claim 14, wherein said tip
of said tongue includes a ramped surface on its lower portion to
assist, during assembly, in fitting said tip of said tongue over
said support and into said vertical groove.
16. The height-adjustment mechanism of claim 11, further including
a protuberance provided on said support, said protuberance being
suitably positioned to catch an inwardly extending part of said
sleeve, such that said leverage body is prevented from completely
disengaging from said support.
17. The height-adjustment mechanism of claim 10, wherein said
sleeve is made of a material suitable for forming said pivot seats
and said ribs in an injection-moulding operation.
18. The height-adjustment mechanism of claim 16, wherein said
material is a plastic.
19. The height-adjustment mechanism of claim 10, further including
an anti-rattling finger formed on one side of said channel, said
anti-rattling finger biasing said support against another side of
said channel in order to reduce rattle.
20. The height-adjustment mechanism of claim 10, further including
a track on one side of said channel, and an insert with an
anti-rattling finger retained in said track, said anti-rattling
finger extending to bias said support against another side of said
channel in order to reduce rattle.
21. The height-adjustment mechanism of claim 20, further comprising
a locking member locking said pivot pins of said leverage body in
said pivot seats and containing said insert in said track.
22. A height-adjustment mechanism for an armrest, comprising: an
integral one-piece leverage body having a handle, a pair of pivot
pins projecting from opposed sides, a tongue projecting rearwardly,
and a resilient biasing member projecting forwardly; a support; an
integral, one-piece sleeve having pivot seats receiving said pivot
pins of said leverage body and a plurality of ribs extending from
inner walls of said sleeve form a channel slidably receiving said
support; and a locking member locking said pivot pins of said
leverage body in said pivot seats.
23. The height-adjustment mechanism of claim 22, further comprising
mounting holes provided on said locking member, and corresponding
mounting posts integrally formed on said sleeve for mounting said
locking member thereon.
24. The height-adjustment mechanism of claim 23, wherein a tip of
said mounting posts extend above said mounting holes of said
locking member, and the tip of said mounting posts are deformed to
secure said locking member thereon.
25. The height-adjustment mechanism of claim 23, wherein said
locking member is suitably sized and shaped such that the top of
said locking member is substantially flush with the top of said
sleeve, said locking member being secured in position on said
mounting posts by an armrest pad mounted on the top of said
sleeve.
26. The height-adjustment mechanism of claim 22, wherein said
locking member is suitably sized and shaped such that said locking
member engages at least one of said ribs in said sleeve, such that
said locking member is secured laterally.
27. The height-adjustment mechanism of claim 22, wherein said
locking member is formed of a material suitable for forming said
locking member in an injection-moulding operation.
28. The height-adjustment mechanism of claim 27, wherein the
material is a plastic.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to adjustable
chairs, and more particularly to a height-adjustment mechanism for
an armrest.
[0002] Various designs for height-adjustable armrests are known.
Some known designs require numerous parts and relatively expensive
materials, making such designs less cost competitive. Other known
designs include relatively few parts, making them generally less
expensive, but such designs may not appear to be of a high
quality.
[0003] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,318,347 issued to Tseng ("Tseng
'347") discloses a design for a height-adjustable armrest unit
comprising an L-shaped support bar, a vertical sleeve, and a
leverage body. In Tseng '347, a tongue provided at a lower end of
the leverage body is adapted to engage a positioning hole located
on the support bar. The leverage body may be pivoted to disengage
the tongue from the positioning hole to allow the sleeve (and the
leverage body) to be vertically adjusted relative to the support
bar. While Tseng '347 may reduce product cost with fewer parts, the
design may not provide a user with a sense that the armrest
adjustment mechanism is of a high quality.
[0004] Consequently, what is needed is a height-adjustment
mechanism for an armrest which can be manufactured at a low cost,
yet is long-lasting and capable of giving a user a sense of high
quality.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention provides a height-adjustment mechanism
for an armrest. In an embodiment, the height-adjustment mechanism
includes an integral one-piece leverage body; an integral one-piece
sleeve; and a locking member. These parts may be made of low cost
materials suitable for integrally forming their features in an
injection-moulding operation. Various features built into these
parts may provide a user with a sense of quality.
[0006] In an embodiment, the integral one-piece leverage body has a
handle, a pair of pivot pins projecting from opposed sides, a
tongue projecting rearwardly, and a resilient biasing member
projecting forwardly.
[0007] The leverage body may be elongate, with the handle located
at an upper portion of said body, the tongue located at a lower
portion of the body, and the pair of pivot pins located
intermediately between the handle and the tongue.
[0008] The leverage body may be made of a material suitable for
integrally forming the handle, the pivot pins, the tongue and the
resilient biasing member in an injection-moulding operation.
[0009] The height-adjustment mechanism may further comprise an
integral, one-piece sleeve having pivot seats receiving the pivot
pins of the leverage body.
[0010] The sleeve may be made of a material suitable for forming
the pivot seats and the ribs in an injection-moulding
operation.
[0011] The height-adjustment mechanism may further comprise a
support, and a plurality of ribs extending from inner walls of the
sleeve to form a channel slidably receiving the support.
[0012] The height-adjustment mechanism may further comprise a
locking member locking the pivot pins of the leverage body in the
pivot seats.
[0013] The locking member may be formed of a material suitable for
forming the locking member in an injection-moulding operation.
[0014] Anti-rattling fingers may be provided to prevent rattling
between the various parts of the height-adjustment mechanism.
[0015] These and other aspects of the invention will become
apparent through the illustrative figures and accompanying
description provided below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] In the figures which illustrate example embodiments of this
invention:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a view of an illustrative chair that may embody
the invention.
[0018] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a
height-adjustment mechanism for an armrest in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention.
[0019] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional side view of the
height-adjustment mechanism of FIG. 2 showing the leverage body in
a first position.
[0020] FIG. 4 is the cross sectional side view of FIG. 3 showing
the leverage body in a second position.
[0021] FIG. 5A is a cross sectional side view of a portion of the
height-adjustment mechanism of FIG. 2.
[0022] FIG. 5B is a cross sectional view of another embodiment of
this invention.
[0023] FIG. 6 is a cross sectional front view of a portion of the
height-adjustment mechanism of FIG. 2 showing a feature detail of
yet another embodiment of the invention.
[0024] FIGS. 7A-7E are views of a feature detail of yet another
embodiment of the invention.
[0025] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
leverage body of FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] Referring to FIG. 1, shown is an illustrative chair 11 that
may embody the present invention. The chair 11 has a chair seat 13
mounted on a chair seat frame 10 and supported by a chair seat
support 21. A backrest 15 is supported on a backrest support 17,
and the backrest support 17 is mounted on the chair seat frame 10.
The chair 11 may further include a pair of armrests, each armrest
including a height-adjustment mechanism 20 supported on an armrest
support 30.
[0027] FIG. 2 shows an exploded perspective view of a
height-adjustment mechanism 20 in accordance with an exemplary
embodiment of the invention. As shown, the height-adjustment
mechanism 20 may include a sleeve 40, a leverage body 60, and a
locking member 70. The sleeve 40, with leverage body 60, are
adapted to mount to, and engage, the armrest support 30, as
explained below.
[0028] In the exemplary embodiment, the support 30 is an L-shaped
bar having a first arm 30a and a second arm 30b. In use, the first
arm 30a is generally horizontally oriented and may include a
plurality of mounting holes 32 for mounting the support 30 to the
chair seat frame 10 (using mounting screws, not shown). The
generally vertically oriented second arm 30b of the support 30 may
include a plurality of vertically spaced slots 34. In an
embodiment, a vertical groove 36 may join all of the slots 34. As
will be explained further below, a protruding tongue 64 formed on a
lower portion of the leverage body 60 is adapted to selectively
engage one of the slots 34, and the vertical position of the slot
34 engaged by the tongue 64 will determine the vertical position of
the height-adjustment mechanism 20.
[0029] In order to support the height-adjustment mechanism 20, and
the weight placed on the height-adjustment mechanism 20 by an
occupant of the chair 11, the support 30 should be made of a
sufficiently strong and rigid material. For example, in the
exemplary embodiment, an elongate plate made of steel, or another
suitable metal, may be used. Other materials such as reinforced
plastics and carbon composites may also be used.
[0030] Still referring to FIG. 2, the sleeve 40 may be formed as an
integral, single-piece, injection-moulded structure. For example,
the sleeve 40 may be formed of a plastic material that may be
injection-moulded in the desired shape. As shown, the sleeve 40 is
adapted to be vertically oriented in use and has an upper end 42
and a lower end 43. The lower end 43 of the sleeve 40 has an
opening 44 suitably sized to receive the generally vertically
oriented second arm 30b of the armrest support 30. The upper end 42
of the sleeve 40 is suitably shaped to receive an armrest pad 50
(FIG. 3). Mounting holes 41a and 41b are provided at the upper end
42 of the sleeve 40 to mount the armrest pad 50 (using mounting
screws, not shown).
[0031] Still referring to FIG. 2, the sleeve 40 is shown in a
partial cutout view with an arrangement of structural reinforcing
ribs located on each inside wall of the sleeve 40. A first pair of
reinforcing ribs 48a, 48b is located on a first inside wall 48 of
the sleeve 40. A second pair of reinforcing ribs 52a, 52b is
provided on an opposite inside wall 52 of the sleeve 40. Additional
reinforcing ribs 54a and 56a are provided on inner side walls 54
and 56, respectively, which extend between the first and second
walls 48 and 52.
[0032] Together, the edges of the reinforcing ribs 48a, 48b, 52a,
52b, 54a and 56a form a "channel" 45. As shown, the channel 45 is
aligned with opening 44 to slidably receive the vertically oriented
second arm 30b of the support 30.
[0033] Still referring to FIG. 2, a notch 58 is provided at the top
of the first wall 48 of the sleeve 40. As shown, the notch 58 is
substantially centered between the reinforcing ribs 48a and 48b and
suitably sized to allow a portion of the leverage body 60, namely
the handle 68, to extend outside the sleeve 40. A pair of pivot
seats 53a and 53b are provided at the top of the reinforcing ribs
48a and 48b to position the handle of the leverage body 60 through
the notch 58. The leverage body 60 is then free to pivot about the
pivot seats 53a, 53b when the handle 68 is moved by an
operator.
[0034] In the exemplary embodiment, a pair of mounting posts 59a
and 59b is integrally formed on the sleeve 40 and are located
adjacent the pivot seats 53a, 53b. These mounting posts 59a, 59b
may be used to lock the leverage body 60 in position, using a
locking member 70, as described further below.
[0035] Still referring to FIG. 2, the leverage body 60 is formed as
an integral, single-piece, injection-moulded body. For example, the
leverage body 60 may be made of a plastic material
injection-moulded into the desired shape. In the exemplary
embodiment, the leverage body has a generally elongate body with a
pair of pivot pins 62a, 62b located intermediately along its
length. The tongue 64, as mentioned earlier, protrudes from a lower
portion of the elongate leverage body 60. Also, a biasing member 66
is integrally formed with the leverage body 60 and extends
outwardly in a direction opposite the tongue 64. As mentioned, a
handle 68 is provided at an upper end of the leverage body 60. The
handle 68 allows an operator to pivot the leverage body 60 about
the pivot pins 62a, 62b. In operation, the biasing member 66
provides a biasing force, acting against the force applied by the
operator to the handle 68 of the leverage body 60.
[0036] With the integral, one-piece, injection-moulded leverage
body 60, advantageously, the most wearable parts--the protruding
tongue 64, the pivot pins 62a, 62b, and the biasing member 66--are
all provided on one smaller part which, at the end of its life, may
be readily replaced at relatively little cost.
[0037] Still referring to FIG. 2, the locking member 70 is
preferably formed as an integral, single-piece, injection-moulded
body. For example, the locking member 70 may be made of a plastic
material that may be injection-moulded into the desired shape. In
the exemplary embodiment, the locking member 70 has a frame 72
having first and second arms 72a, 72b. At the end of each arm 72a,
72b, first and second pivot caps 73a, 73b are formed to engage the
top of pivot pins 62a, 62b, when these pivot pins 62a, 62b are
seated in the pivot seats 59a, 59b. The locking member 70 may
further include first and second laterally extending wings 76a, 76b
provided with mounting holes 78a and 78b, respectively. As shown in
FIG. 3, these mounting holes 78a and 78b may be received by
mounting posts 59a and 59b formed on the sleeve 40 to mount the
locking member 70 to the sleeve 40. If the leverage body 60 is
placed such that pivot pins 62c, 62b are received by pivot seats
53a, 53b, and the locking member 70 is mounted, locking member 70
locks the pivot pins 62a and 62b in place, while still allowing the
leverage body 60 to pivot.
[0038] In an embodiment, the locking member 70 may be suitably
sized and shaped such that, once mounted, the top of its frame 72
is substantially flush with the top 42 of the sleeve 40. Thus, when
an armrest pad 50 is secured to the top of the sleeve 40 (for
example by mounting screws mounted through mounting holes 41a and
41b), the locking member 70 may be held securely in position on the
mounting posts 59a and 59b. The laterally extending wings 76a, 76b
of the locking member 70 may be suitably sized and shaped such that
these laterally extending wings 76a, 76b engage one or more of the
reinforcing ribs within the sleeve 40. This may further reinforce
the locking member 70 laterally, such that the leverage body 60 is
held securely in position.
[0039] In another embodiment, once the locking member 70 has been
mounted in position on the mounting posts 59a, 59b, the tip of the
mounting posts may be deformed, for example by the application of
heat, such that the locking member 70 is locked on the mounting
posts 59a, 59b. This is advantageous where the height-adjustment
mechanism 20 may be shipped as a unit prior to its incorporation in
a chair. In other circumstances, as the locking member 70 may be
kept securely in position by mounting the armrest pad 50, and by
lateral reinforcement of the reinforcing ribs, the mounting posts
59a, 59b may be left as is such that the leverage body 60 may be
readily replaced, if necessary.
[0040] The height adjustment operation of the height-adjustment
mechanism 20 will now be explained.
[0041] Referring to FIG. 3, the sleeve 40 is shown mounted on the
vertically oriented second arm 30b of the armrest support 30. The
leverage body 60 is shown with its pivot pins 62a and 62b seated
within the pivot seats 53a and 53b and secured thereat by the
locking member 70.
[0042] As shown in FIG. 3, the handle 68 of the leverage body 60
extends through the notch 58 in the first wall 48 of sleeve 40.
Within the sleeve 40, the biasing arm 66 of leverage body 60
engages the first wall 48 and biases the leverage body 60 away from
the first wall 48. When the leverage body 60 is not actuated by an
operator, the biasing force provided by the biasing arm 66 causes
the tongue 64 protruding from the lower arm of the leverage body 60
to continuously engage one of the slots 34 in the support 30. As
noted earlier, the vertical position of the slot 34 engaged by the
tongue 64 determines the vertical height of the height-adjustment
mechanism 20.
[0043] As shown in FIG. 4, in order to adjust the height of the
height-adjustment mechanism 20, the handle 68 of leverage body 60
may be lifted or pulled back by an operator in direction A. This
action by the operator will cause the leverage body 60 to pivot
about pivot pins 62a and 62b, against the biasing force of the
resiliently flexible biasing arm 66. The biasing arm 66 is
resiliently deformed when the handle 68 is lifted by the operator
such that the biasing arm 66 will act to reengage the tongue 64
with one of the slots 34 when the handle 68 is released.
[0044] In one embodiment, the tongue 64 includes a base 64a, and a
tip 64b. As shown, when the leverage body 60 is pivoted about pivot
pins 62a and 62b, the base 64a of the tongue 64 disengages from the
slots 34, as shown at B. However, the tip 64b of the tongue 64
remains engaged in the vertical groove 36 (FIG. 2). As the vertical
groove 36 runs the length of the slots 34, the leverage body 60 and
the sleeve 40 may be adjusted vertically, as indicated at C,
relative to the support 30. The tongue 64 continuously guides the
leverage body 60 within the vertical groove 36, thereby allowing
the base 64a of tongue 64 to more readily engage any one of the
slots 34 when the operator finally releases the handle 68.
[0045] In an embodiment, the vertical adjustment of the
height-adjustment mechanism 20 by the operator may be limited at an
upper and lower limit by the tip 64b of the tongue 64 engaging the
top and bottom of the slot 36.
[0046] Referring to FIG. 5A, in an embodiment, an offset 38 may be
formed in the support 30 at the top of the vertical groove 36 to
accommodate and guide the tip 64b of the tongue 64 of the leverage
body 60 when the height-adjustment mechanism 20 is first slidably
received on the support 30. When this offset 38 is provided, a
separate feature may be provided to limit vertical adjustment of
the height-adjustment mechanism 20. For example, a protuberance 39
(seen from the back in FIG. 2) may be formed and suitably located
on the vertically oriented second arm 30b of the support 30. The
protuberance 39 may be ramped in a downward direction such that an
inwardly extending part 45 of sleeve 40 will deform and pass over
the protuberance 39 on the way down, when the sleeve 40 is first
installed, but the inwardly extending part 45 of sleeve 40 will
catch on the protuberance 39 on the way up. Thus, the protuberance
39 may prevent the height-adjustment mechanism 20 from being
inadvertently lifted clear off the support 30 by the operator.
[0047] Referring to FIG. 5B, as shown in this alternative
embodiment, the offset 38 of FIG. 5A may be absent. In this case,
in order to assist in fitting the tip 64b of the tongue 64 over the
top of the support 30 and into the vertical groove 36 (FIG. 2)
during assembly, a ramped surface 64c may be provided on the lower
portion of the tip 64b. As the tip 64b otherwise remains the same,
the tip 64b having the ramped surface 64c may continue to engage
the vertical groove 36, as described above.
[0048] Referring to FIG. 6, in a further embodiment, a flexibly
resilient anti-rattling finger 46 may be formed on one of the inner
side walls 54, 56 of the sleeve 40 to flexibly bias the support 30
against the opposite one of the inner side walls 54, 56 of the
sleeve 40. In operation, the anti-rattling finger 46 acts to reduce
or prevent rattling between the sleeve and the support 30,
providing the operator of the height-adjustment mechanism 20 with a
more smooth and solid feel.
[0049] Referring to FIGS. 7A-7E, in a further embodiment, rather
than moulding a resilient finger 46 in sleeve 40, the sleeve 40 may
be moulded to include a track 82 along a length of a reinforcing
rib 54b'. As shown in FIG. 7d, the track 82 may have retaining
walls 83 to retain an insert 84 having a plurality of projecting
anti-rattling fingers 86. The anti-rattling fingers 86 extend to
abut an edge of the support 30. The anti-rattling fingers 86 are
resiliently flexible and may be suitably shaped and sized so they
will push the support 30 against the opposite side of the channel
45 (FIG. 2) of sleeve 40 to remove any tolerances between the
sleeve 40 and the support 30. In this regard, the insert 84 may be
made integrally formed of a resilient plastic material.
Advantageously, the anti-rattling fingers 86 may provide a smooth
gliding action when the height-adjustment mechanism 20 is adjusted.
In order to keep the insert 84 from sliding out of the track 82, a
suitable cap may be provided on top of the track 82. For example,
as shown in FIG. 7e, an extension 79 may provided on the locking
member 70 in order to contain the insert 84 within the track
82.
[0050] In yet another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, an
alternative leverage body 60' has a biasing member 66' extending
from a bottom end, rather than extending from an intermediate
region (as shown at 60 in FIG. 2). It will be apparent that this
alternative leverage body 60' is interchangeable with the leverage
body 60 of FIG. 2. It will also be apparent that a biasing member
may be integrally formed on the leverage body 60 at various other
locations, and that such a biasing member may be embodied in
various other configurations.
[0051] While an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been
shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the
art that various modifications and alterations may be made.
Therefore, the invention is defined in the following claims.
* * * * *