U.S. patent application number 10/789179 was filed with the patent office on 2005-09-01 for safety system and method of use for high workers.
Invention is credited to Bos, Con.
Application Number | 20050189171 10/789179 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34887211 |
Filed Date | 2005-09-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050189171 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bos, Con |
September 1, 2005 |
Safety system and method of use for high workers
Abstract
A pair of flat plates are joined by a hinge and fastened at the
peak of a roof so that an eye bolt attached to one of the plates is
positioned outward of the roof. A safety cable is engaged with the
eye bolt and may be fastened to a worker harness. A second pair of
flat plates, also having eye bolts are fastened on either side of
the hinged pair and spaced apart. A walker cable is fastened
between the second pair of flat plates. The safety cable may be
fastened to the walking cable instead of the worker harness, and in
this case, a personnel cable may be slidingly engaged with the
walking cable and to the worker harness so as to provide safety to
a worker while permitting the worker to move about while working on
a scaffold.
Inventors: |
Bos, Con; (Edmonton,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GENE SCOTT; PATENT LAW & VENTURE GROUP
3140 RED HILL AVENUE
SUITE 150
COSTA MESA
CA
92626-3440
US
|
Family ID: |
34887211 |
Appl. No.: |
10/789179 |
Filed: |
February 26, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
182/36 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04G 21/3276 20130101;
E04G 5/001 20130101; E04G 21/3295 20130101; E04G 21/3261
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
182/036 |
International
Class: |
E04G 001/36 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A safety apparatus comprising: a pair of flat plates joined by a
hinge, the flat plates each providing a plurality of mounting
holes, and at least one of the pair of the flat plates providing an
eye bolt rigidly engaged therewith and to one side thereof; and a
safety cable engaged at one end thereof with the eye bolt; the
other end of the safety cable providing a hook for fastening the
safety cable.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a pair of flat
plates, each of the flat plates providing an eye bolt rigidly
engaged to one side thereof, and a plurality of mounting holes; a
walker cable engaged at ends thereof with the eye bolts; the safety
cable engaged with one of the walker cable and a worker harness; a
personnel cable providing sliding engagement at one end thereof
with the walker cable and joined at the other end to a worker
harness.
3. A safety method comprising: joining a pair of flat plates by a
hinge, the flat plates each providing a plurality of mounting
holes, and at least one of the pair of the flat plates providing an
eye bolt rigidly engaged therewith and to one side thereof,
fastening the flat plates over a peak of a roof and attaching a
safety cable with the eye bolt; fastening a further pair of flat
plates to the roof in spaced apart positions on opposing sides of
the pair of hinged flat plates, engaging a walker cable at ends
thereof with further eye bolts in the spaced apart further flat
plates; fastening the safety cable to one of the walker cable and a
worker harness; providing sliding engagement of a personnel cable
at one end thereof with the walker cable and fixing the other end
to the worker harness.
Description
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
[0001] Applicant(s) hereby incorporate herein by reference, any and
all U.S. patents referred to in this application.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates generally to safety equipment and the
use thereof and more particularly to a safety equipment for workers
on scaffolds or otherwise situated in high and precarious
locations.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] The following art defines the present state of this field:
Glynn et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,249,713 describes an attachment
member for roof peaks to which a safety line can be clipped. A
strip of metal is bent to define a central portion with two
juxtaposed panels, and outwardly extending legs adapted to be
secured to roof joists. The central portion has an aperture for the
hook portion of the clip, the hook being flattened. The aperture is
elongated, and is narrower than the width of the flattened hook
portion, whereby the hook portion, when engaged with the aperture,
is restricted in terms of rotation.
[0006] Courchesne et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,957,185 describes a novel
deployable and stackable accordion shutter system including an
overhead header presenting a track and a laterally disposed
abutment surface. The system includes a plurality of trolley
supported shutter member, which are rotatable about a vertical axis
adjacent one-edge portion thereof. The system further includes a
sill having a guide slot, which is disposed beneath the track in
alignment therewith. The sill also has an abutment surface disposed
in alignment with the abutment surface of the header. The shutter
members carry abutment-contacting elements disposed for coming into
contact with the abutment surfaces to rigidify the structure when
the shutter system is deployed. Additional abutment surfaces are
provided adjacent the edge of the shutter which is supported by the
trolley for further strength. The shutter members are specially
configured to facilitate close stacking of the system. In addition,
a specially configured washer is provided again for the purpose of
facilitating close stacking of the system when it is not
deployed.
[0007] Crocker et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,036,949 describes a
motion-stopping safety system for persons, workers, and in one
embodiment for roof workers. A gripping anchor for gripping a
structural member that is useful in such systems. In one embodiment
a gripping anchor has a C-shaped body member with facing members
secured thereto and a line connection device, e.g. an opening or a
clevis, shackle, or metal loop, connected to the body member. In
one embodiment a motion-stopping safety system uses two or more
such anchors between which extend a rope, line, cable, etc., and to
which a person's safety tether is movably or immovably
attached.
[0008] Glynn, U.S. Pat. No. 554,576 describes a lifeline safety
system for a pitched roof employing a frame for mounting a lifeline
system above the peak of the roof. Shoulders extend from the frame
and engage opposing sides of the roof. An anchor comprising a
generally J-shaped bolt secures the bracket assembly to the roof.
The bolt has a hook, which engages the underside of the rafter. A
nut has a pair of arms for torquing the nut to the bolt.
[0009] Lebow, U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,907 describes an improved
intermediate support for ensuring the safety of a worker while
moving relative to a fixed structure at elevated locations, with
the worker being secured by a lanyard to a safety or fall restraint
cable. The intermediate support is secured to the fixed structure,
and includes a supporting plate having a notch along the periphery
thereof for receiving the safety cable, and a pair of opposing
hooks members positioned on opposite sides of the supporting plate.
The hook members prevent the safety cable from inadvertently or
intentionally moving out of the notch. The method of the present
invention ensures that an end of the lanyard secured to the safety
cable may be quickly and easily moved sequentially past one hook
member, then the supporting plate, and then the other hook member
to allow the worker to efficiently and safely move past the
intermediate support.
[0010] Rhodes, U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,426 describes first and second
elongated members are slidable along each other to form a beam of
variable length to span the top surface of a structure on which a
worker is positioned. Clamping surfaces extend from the ends of the
beam to engage the sides of the structure. A lever pivotally
mounted on the first elongated member is connected through a link
to the second elongated member to shorten the beam and urge the
clamping surfaces against the structure. A worker's safety line may
be attached to the device such that the lever is locked relative to
the first elongated member to secure the device to the structure
whenever the safety line is attached.
[0011] Babcock, U.S. Pat. No. 5,282,597 describes a safety line
anchor device holds a safety line for workmen and is generally
intended for use in roof construction. The device is especially
useful for use on wood truss roofs of any pitch. The first
embodiment of the invention is constructed and arranged for use on
one side of a wood truss, 24" centered roof of any pitch. This
safety line anchor device comprises a main bar from which fastening
straps extend, and at least one anchoring means for holding a
safety line. The device is adapted to receive a fastening means, by
which it is fixed to a roof. This embodiment can be designed for
one or multiple anchor points. A second embodiment of the invention
is adapted for use on the peak of a roof and comprises two
pivotally joined anchors which straddle the roof peak, each anchor
having an anchoring means for holding a safety line attached
thereto. A third embodiment is adapted for use on the end peaks of
a roof and comprises a pair of supports, each further comprising a
central bar from which fastening straps extend, the supports being
pivotally joined by a main support to which a safety line anchoring
means is attached, from which a safety line may extend down the
sides of a house. All embodiments are capable of withstanding a
load of at least 5,000 pounds per person. A special hook latch
allows only one safety line end to be attached to each anchor
point. In addition, a protective shield is used to protect the
safety line and the roof from abrasion.
[0012] Woodyard, U.S. Pat. No. 5,287,944 describes one or more roof
mounted anchors are preferably permanently installed: during the
initial construction of a building; during the renovation of a
building; during the inspection time and/or maintenance time of a
building; during installation and cleaning of roofs and gutters;
during installation of antennas and cables, etc. Each roof mounted
anchor has: a base member formed to fit a roof and having spaced
holes to receive screw or screw like fasteners used in securing
this anchor to the roof structure of a building; an integral
upright anchoring eyelet structure secured to the base member in
the center portion thereof and having an eyelet to receive portions
of a cable, or hook; preferably a gusset integrally extending
between the base member and the integral upright anchoring eyelet
structure; and preferably the gusset has an integral cable
receiving hole structure centrally located to receive and to anchor
a portion of a cable. Then, when at least two roof mounted anchors
are mounted on a ridge of a roof, and the base members of both are
formed to match the ridge of a roof, and a cable, of a length to
allow a limited sag, is positioned along the ridge of the roof and
anchored at the respective ends thereof to the respective roof
mounted anchors, the main anchoring components are installed.
[0013] Vandelinde, U.S. Pat. No. 5,297,651 describes a load
transfer device and system having double safety cables permitting
users to move freely and safely along elevated surfaces comprising
a plurality of elongated T-shaped support brackets each having a
body portion for anchoring to a support surface and a head portion
for receiving a pair of equispaced cables. A load transfer device
for slidable travel on the pair of cables and past the support
brackets comprises a rectangular plate for receiving a lanyard,
said plate having a pair of elongated hook-shaped jaws hingedly
secured to each edge of the rectangular plate for receiving a
safety cable therein, each said elongated hook-shaped jaw hinged to
a side edge of the rectangular plate whereby the said jaw is
substantially planar with the plate during no-load conditions and
whereby the load transfer device can freely pass a support bracket
during no-load conditions.
[0014] Bredijk, U.S. Pat. No. 5,320,194 describes a scaffold that
is arranged for temporary mounting to a canted roof to include an
anchor bracket arranged for positioning to the roof peak, wherein a
base platform pivotally mounts a support platform to orient the
support platform in a horizontal alignment relative to the
associated roof surface employing arcuate first and second legs
mounted to a rear edge of the platform adjustably directed through
sleeve members in fixed securement to the support platform.
[0015] Bell, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,361,866 describes a connector
assembly for releasable securement to a portion of scaffolding on
which a worker wearing a safety restraint member, e.g., safety belt
and associated lanyard, will be disposed. The portion of the
scaffolding comprises a cylindrical section having a pair of
collars disposed on it. Each of the collars defines a channel
between it and the cylindrical section. The connector assembly
comprises an insert, a first connector pivotally secured by a bolt
to the insert, a strap formed of a flexible web of material and
having a loop at one end secured to the first connector, and D-ring
secured to a loop at the other end of the strap. The insert has a
pair of projections, each of which is arranged to be located within
a respective one of the channels between the collars and the
cylindrical section of the scaffolding to releasably secure the
insert in place with respect to the scaffolding. The D-ring serves
as a convenient connector for securing the lanyard thereto. A
reinforcing pad formed of a wear resistant material is secured to
the strap.
[0016] Eisenmenger, U.S. Pat. No. 5,601,154 describes a portable
roof scaffold system comprising a combination
transport/hook/standoff device, a fixed-direction ladder platform,
a fixed-direction roof-ladder standoff, a multi-direction ladder
platform, a multi-direction roof-ladder standoff, and one or more
ladders. The combined use of these devices create an easily
handled, easily set-up, scaffold which is supported above the roof
surface, or the skeletal framework of a roof. The ladder platforms
may be positioned at a predetermined angle with respect to the
ladder to form a level working platform on any roof slope, and may
be slid along the ladder to raise or lower the working level on the
roof even while remaining parallel to the angles of hips and
valleys in the roof frame. Self-locking features of the ladder
platforms make them easy and safe to relocate as work
progresses.
[0017] Gray, U.S. Pat. No. 5,727,646 describes a retractable device
and method for restraining a fall from a roof or other structure.
The device has a first extended position to allow the attachment of
a lifeline and a second retracted position, which conceals the
apparatus below the exterior surface of a roof or other
structure.
[0018] Ostrobrod, U.S. Pat. No. 5,730,407 describes a roof
anchoring system for securing a safety winch assembly to a roof
frame including such a safety line winch assembly that has a
housing with a drum and a drum shaft mounted therein. A safety
line, which is adapted to be wrapped around the drum, has one end
secured to the drum and an opposite end adapted to be connected to
a workman. A centrifugal brake is also mounted within the housing
for preventing rapid rotation of the drum and therefore rapid
unwinding of the safety line. The roof anchor includes a plate
member that has a plurality of holes formed therethrough. Screws
are inserted through the holes and into the roof to secure the roof
anchor to the roof frame. A base frame assembly supports the winch
assembly thereon and has a plurality of wheels rotatably mounted to
and extending downwardly from the base frame member. The base frame
assembly is mounted for rotation about the roof anchor.
[0019] Pantano, U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,452 describes an anchor for
securing a safety line to a roof having a pair of sloping portions
defining an angle therebetween. The anchor is in the form of a two
person permanent roof anchor for use by the residential
construction industry as an anchor point from which construction or
contractor personnel may attach an approved life line to which an
approved personal fall arrest safety device may be attached. The
anchor comprises an anchor bracket having a pair of leg portions
disposed at an angle in relation to the angle between the sloping
portions of a roof so that the leg portions lie along the roof
portions, and fasteners for attaching the leg portions to the roof
portions. The anchor further comprises at least one coupling member
and a component for hingedly connecting the coupling member to the
anchor bracket on one of the leg portions, the coupling member
having a formation thereon for connection to one end of a safety
line; the other end of which is connected to safety equipment in
the form of an approved personal fall arrest safety device for use
by a person working on a roof. A pair of coupling members can be
provided, each hingedly connected in a unidirectional manner to a
corresponding one of the anchor bracket leg portions, the coupling
members in turn being adapted for connection via two approved
safety lines to a pair of approved fall arrest safety devices.
[0020] Nelson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,862,880 describes a roof
scaffolding system of the type for use on a pitched roof that may
be moved both longitudinally and laterally. The roof scaffolding
system includes: a peak anchor having a carrying assembly connected
atop thereof, the peak anchor being adapted for connecting to a
pitched roof; a side rail assembly having a base member, a top
member and a load support member adapted to support an elongated
scaffold member, the load support member interconnecting the base
member and the top member; and an elongated flexible member
operationally connecting the side rail assembly and the peak anchor
in a manner such that the side rail assembly may be moved
longitudinally and laterally upon a roof. The roof scaffolding
system may include a cross rail member connected between to side
rail assemblies to serve as a safety rail for a user. The roof
scaffolding system may further include a net connectable between
the side rail assemblies to prevent objects from falling from the
work area.
[0021] Ostrobrod, U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,522 describes a cable grab
safety device which releasably attaches a workman's safety belt or
harness lanyard to a vertically extending safety steel cable or the
like. The device includes a primary frame assembly constructed of
an elongated U-shaped bracket having a pair of spaced apart
parallel side plates, which is adapted to fit around the cable. A
secondary frame assembly also comprised of a pair of side plates is
adapted to fit within the U-shaped bracket after the cable is
inserted. The secondary frame assembly carries a brake mechanism in
the form of a pulley mounted in an elongated slot so as to be
movable toward or away from the cable and a lever adapted to be
attached to a worker's lanyard for moving the pulley so as to
engage the cable in the event of a fall. An elongated bent pin
connected between the primary and secondary frame assemblies allows
for limited pivotal and axial movement between them to thereby
allow the cable to be inserted into the U-shaped bracket. A
separate locking pin passes through aligned openings in the primary
and secondary frame members to secure them together.
[0022] Ador, U.S. Pat. No. 6,227,329 describes a base plate adapted
to be secured to a support structure. A transverse plate is secured
to the base plate and extends outward from the base plate. A slot
is formed in the transverse plate to receive a ring. A notch is
formed in a sidewall of the slot to seat the ring within the slot.
The ring is adapted to anchor an end of a safety line regardless of
the orientation of the base plate relative to the desired
orientation of the safety line 40.
[0023] Carter, U.S. Pat. No. 6,520,290 describes a personal fall
protection system for securing a worker to an elevated and exposed
structure defining a work area. The fall protection system includes
a safety belt supported on the worker's body with a body harness.
The safety belt includes two belt couplings movable in a channel
around the belt, each adapted to be attached to a lanyard. Two
spaced apart rails are mounted adjacent opposite side limits of the
structure. A movable anchor for securing the end of a lanyard is
mounted to each rail. A lanyard ties off the worker at each belt
coupling to an anchor. The fall protection system thereby secures
the worker to both sides of the structure while allowing the worker
to rotate relative to the lanyards within the work area and move
freely forward and backwards throughout the work area between the
rails.
[0024] Our prior art search with abstracts described above teaches:
a roof attachment member for safety lines, a roof scaffold, a
motion stopping safety system for workers, a roof lifeline safety
system and anchor assembly therefor, a fall restraint cable support
method, a safety device and system, a safety line anchoring device,
a roof mounted anchor used singley or with another and with other
equipment in a fall restraint and/or fall arrest system, a safety
load transfer device and system, an adjustable roofing scaffold
apparatus, a connector assembly for use on scaffolding to prevent a
worker from falling, portable suspended roof scaffold system, a
retractable fall restraint device, a roof anchoring system with a
safety line, a roof anchor for safety equipment, a roof scaffolding
system, a cable grab, a safetyline anchorage method and apparatus,
a fall protection method and apparatus, but does not teach the
anchor plates and attachments thereto of the present invention and
does not teach the use thereof. The present invention fulfills the
need for a simple safety attachment apparatus with maximum
flexibility for worker movement and maximum security at the same
time, is adaptable to peaked or flat roofs, and provides further
related advantages as described in the following summary.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0025] The present invention teaches certain benefits in
construction and use which give rise to the objectives described
below.
[0026] For workers positioned on scaffolds and other high
locations, a safety cable is necessary to provide security in case
of falling or support collapse. This invention provides a low cost
and quickly installed system that is useful on both flat and peaked
roofs in several embodiments. For the peaked roof, a pair of flat
plates are joined by a hinge and fastened over the peak of a roof
so that an eye bolt attached to one of the plates is positioned
outward of the roof. A safety cable is engaged with the eye bolt
with its free end fastened directly to a worker harness or to a
walker cable. When a walker cable is used, as for the situation
when worker mobility is required, a second pair of flat plates,
also having eye bolts, are fastened on either side of the hinged
pair and spaced apart, preferably to the ends of the roof. The
walker cable is fastened between the second pair of flat plates
attached to the eye bolts. A personnel cable is then fastened from
the walker cable to the worker harness and this walker cable is
then able to move with a worker along a horizontal work path,
providing mobility in painting, shingling, placing siding and
similar construction jobs. The personnel cable is slidingly engaged
with the walking cable to allow the worker to move about in working
on a scaffold.
[0027] A primary objective of the present invention is to provide
an apparatus and method of use of such apparatus that yields
advantages not taught by the prior art.
[0028] Another objective is to provide such an invention capable of
being quickly and easily installed on, and thereafter removed from
a building.
[0029] A further objective is to provide such an invention capable
of being mounted over a peaked roof or a flat roof with improved
security.
[0030] A still further objective is to provide such an invention
capable of allowing a worker the freedom of lateral movement while
maintaining security.
[0031] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by
way of example, the principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention.
In such drawings:
[0033] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the
invention;
[0034] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a further embodiment
thereof;
[0035] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a still further embodiment
thereof;
[0036] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a pair of hinged flat plates
thereof;
[0037] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a single flat plate thereof;
and
[0038] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a safety hook used
therewith.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0039] The above described drawing figures illustrate the invention
in at least one of its preferred embodiments, which is further
defined in detail in the following description. Those having
ordinary skill in the art may be able to make alterations and
modifications in the present invention without departing from its
spirit and scope. Therefore, it must be understood that the
illustrated embodiments have been set forth only for the purposes
of example and that they should not be taken as limiting the
invention as defined in the following.
[0040] The present invention is a safety apparatus for securing a
worker 5 positioned at a high location and who is subject to a
fall, and comprises, in one embodiment, a pair of flat metal plates
10, 10' preferably about one foot square in size, and of
substantial rigidity, and joined by one or more hinges 20 so that
the flat plates 10, 10' may be mutually rotated to form an angle
between them. Please refer to FIG. 4. The flat plates 10, 10' each
provide a plurality of mounting holes 12, and at least one of the
pair of the flat plates 10 provides an eye bolt 14 rigidly engaged
therewith and positioned to one side thereof. Preferably a rigid
metal strap 15 is welded, or otherwise joined with the plate 10
such that the strap 15 extends beyond one edge of the plate 10, as
shown, wherein the eye bolt 14 is mounted in that portion of the
strap 15 that extends so that the eye bolt 14 can be positioned to
one side of a roof 8 while the plates 10, 10' are fully engaged
with the roofs surface as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A safety cable 30
is engaged at one of its ends 32 with the eye bolt 14 while the
other end 34 of the safety cable 30 provides a safety hook 36 (FIG.
6) for fastening the safety cable 30 as further described
below.
[0041] In a further embodiment, a further pair of flat plates 10,
which are not joined to each other by a hinge, each is fashioned in
accordance with the construction of FIG. 5, so that each is fitted
with eye bolt 14, as described above, i.e., rigidly engaged to one
side, and each also has the plurality of mounting holes 12. A
walker cable 40, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, is engaged at its ends
42, 44 with the eye bolts 14 of the two single flat plates 10, and
a personnel cable 60 is engaged between the walker cable 40 and the
harness 50, as shown in FIGS. 1-3. As shown in FIG. 2, when no
walker cable 40 is used, the worker is connected directly by
personnel cable 60 to eye bolt 14.
[0042] The present apparatus, as described above is applied in use
by a method comprising certain steps. First, the pair of flat
plates 10, 10' which are joined by the hinge 20 are fastened over a
peak of a roof 8, as shown in FIG. 1, and the personnel cable 60 is
fastened to its eye bolt 14 and, in one embodiment, my be then
joined to the worker harness 50. In a further embodiment, a further
pair of individual flat plates 10 are fastened to the roof 8 in
spaced apart positions on opposing sides of the roofs peak and
engage a walker cable 40 at ends thereof with further eye bolts 14
of the spaced apart further flat plates 10. The safety cable 30, in
this embodiment, is joined to the walker cable 40 to further secure
it. Then, the personnel cable 60 is slidingly joined to the walker
cable 40 and to the worker harness 50, thus providing sliding
engagement of the personnel cable 60 at one end thereof on the
walker cable 40 thereby allowing the worker 5 to have considerable
latitude of movement.
[0043] The enablements described in detail above are considered
novel over the prior art of record and are considered critical to
the operation of the instant invention and to the achievement of
the above described objectives. The words used in this
specification to describe the invention and its various embodiments
are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly
defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this
specification: structure, material or acts beyond the scope of the
commonly defined meanings. Thus if an element can be understood in
the context of this specification as including more than one
meaning, then its use must be understood as being generic to all
possible meanings supported by the specification and by the word or
words describing the element.
[0044] The definitions of the words or elements of this described
invention and its various embodiments are, therefore, defined in
this specification to include not only the combination of elements
which are literally set forth, but all equivalent structure,
material or acts for performing substantially the same function in
substantially the same way to obtain substantially the same result.
In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent
substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the
elements in the invention and its various embodiments or that a
single element may be substituted for two or more elements in a
claim.
[0045] Changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a
person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised,
are expressly contemplated as being equivalents within the scope of
the invention and its various embodiments. Therefore, obvious
substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the
art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements. The
invention and its various embodiments are thus to be understood to
include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what
is conceptually equivalent, what can be obviously substituted, and
also what essentially incorporates the essential idea of the
invention.
[0046] While the invention has been described with reference to at
least one preferred embodiment, it is to be clearly understood by
those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited thereto.
Rather, the scope of the invention is to be interpreted only in
conjunction with the appended claims and it is made clear, here,
that the inventor(s) believe that the claimed subject matter is the
invention.
* * * * *