U.S. patent application number 11/237476 was filed with the patent office on 2006-03-30 for variations of basketball sport games and league memberships.
Invention is credited to Kenneth III Murchison.
Application Number | 20060068945 11/237476 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46322774 |
Filed Date | 2006-03-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060068945 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Murchison; Kenneth III |
March 30, 2006 |
Variations of basketball sport games and league memberships
Abstract
A game court for play of a variation of basketball includes a
substantially level and smooth surface, having rectangular shape
and length and width of smaller dimensions than any standard
conventional basketball court, and rings vertically raised from the
surface and disposed adjacent each end of the surface, each of the
rings having slightly larger diameter than any standard
conventional basketball. The court is integrated with access
measures to limit access to the court and participation by
particular persons in games at any instant. A fence or walls (of a
building, shed structure or the like) can cordon off a plurality of
the game courts in a particular relative location, and persons
allowed to access the courts, or any one of them, can be restricted
to those authorized, such as those who are members of a league or
membership club. Because of the reduced size of the present game
court from that of the standard conventional basketball court, less
than ten players are authorized to participate in the game then
being played on a particular court.
Inventors: |
Murchison; Kenneth III;
(Dallas, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
H. DALE LANGLEY, JR.;THE LAW FIRM OF H. DALE LANGLEY, JR. PC
610 WEST LYNN
AUSTIN
TX
78703
US
|
Family ID: |
46322774 |
Appl. No.: |
11/237476 |
Filed: |
September 28, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10179614 |
Jun 24, 2002 |
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11237476 |
Sep 28, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
473/415 ;
473/447; 473/472; 473/479 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 67/002 20130101;
A63B 63/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/415 ;
473/447; 473/472; 473/479 |
International
Class: |
A63B 67/00 20060101
A63B067/00; A63B 69/00 20060101 A63B069/00; A63B 63/08 20060101
A63B063/08 |
Claims
1. A system for game play, comprising: a substantially level and
smooth surface, having rectangular shape and length of less than
about 84 feet and width of less than or equal to about 49 feet,
wherein the length and width are of smaller dimension than any
standard conventional basketball court; a first ring vertically
raised from the surface and disposed adjacent a lengthwise end of
the surface; a second ring vertically raised from the surface and
disposed adjacent another lengthwise end of the surface; access
restrictor outside of the surface and set-off from the periphery of
the surface to limit access to the surface to authorized
participants in game play on the surface; wherein each of the rings
having slightly larger diameter than any standard conventional
basketball.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the width dimension compares to
the length dimension in a ratio of about 47:50.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the surface accommodates two
teams of 3 persons each for basketball games in accordance with
conventional dribbling, shooting, foul and penalty rules, at each
lengthwise half of the surface.
4. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a logical discerner
connected to the access restrictor for controlling the access
restrictor to limit access to the surface solely to authorized
participants.
5. A basketball game surface, comprising: a generally rectangular
floor having a center and opposing ends; two goal baskets, each of
the goal baskets suspended at an opposing end of the generally
rectangular floor; two generally rectangular free throw lanes, each
of the lanes extending from an opposing end of the generally
rectangular floor toward the center thereof, each of the lanes
terminating at a free throw line; two generally semicircular areas,
each area extending circumscribing a free throw line and contacting
ends of the free throw; the floor having dimensions on the order of
about 50 feet long and about 47 feet wide; wherein the semicircular
areas lie in close proximity to one another.
6. The game surface of claim 5, wherein the semicircular areas
contact but do not overlap.
7. The game surface of claim 5, wherein each opposing lengthwise
half of the surface is adapted for play by teams of less than five
players.
8. The game surface of claim 7, wherein each of the goal baskets
are substantially the same diameter of less than any conventional
standard basketball for organized play of basketball.
9. The game surface of claim 7, further comprising: an authorizer
connected to the surface, for permitting access to the surface by
only certain persons to participate as players during play by
teams.
10. The game surface of claim 9, further comprising, further
comprising: an organizer operably connected with and integrated for
control of the authorizer, for logically determining which persons
to permit access to the surface as players during play by
teams.
11. A game for human physical participation, comprising: a
plurality of generally rectangular surfaces in close proximity,
each having opposing ends, and each of the plurality having
dimensions of ratio of length to width on the order of 50:47 and
length of less than about 84 feet; a suspended goal basket at the
respective ones of the opposing ends; and a restrictor operably
connected to the plurality for limiting access to any of the
plurality to only certain persons authorized to participate in the
game.
12. The game of claim 11, wherein the certain persons authorized to
participate consist of an even number of persons that is less than
ten persons, forming two teams with equal numbers of the persons to
each team.
13. The of claim 11, further comprising: an organizer operably
connected to the restrictor, for logically determining which, among
multiple ones of the persons authorized to participate, are at any
instant to be playing on any particular one of the plurality.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a continuation-in-part application of U.S.
application Ser. No. 10/179,614 filed on Jun. 24, 2002, of the same
inventors.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates generally to new and varied systems
and methods for sport games and league memberships therefor, and,
more particularly, to a variation of basketball sport games, courts
and facilities for play of the game, and league memberships for
participants, and systems and methods therefor.
[0003] Basketball has become one of the major world sports on both
the professional and amateur level. In spite of its continued
growth, the game of basketball has remained essentially unchanged
over the years, excepting some minor changes in rules and court
lines and markings. Professional, collegiate and many amateur
courts are 94 feet in length by 50 feet in width (e.g., length is
longer than width) with similar placement of backboards, baskets,
free throw lines and lanes at lengthwise ends of the courts, and
center circles at mid-point of the length and width of the court.
Many American high schools play on courts 84 feet in length and
fifty feet in width (e.g., again, length is longer than width) with
markings similar to the NCAA court but adapted for the smaller
court length and width. Court standards for international amateur
play are frequently 49 feet 2 inches width by 91 feet 10 inches in
length (e.g., length greater than width). Although there are slight
variations in court dimensions and markings, the standard of
competition is for two teams of five players each and generally
standardized rules of time periods, and dual backboards, baskets
and markings at respective sides of the court along the court
length.
[0004] For example, the NCAA and the NBA courts are almost
identical, in that they are greater in length than width and have
goals and free throw lanes and lines at respective ends of the
length, but with certain minimal differences of minor court
markings relating to rule variations and with the most significant
being the different three point lines, 19 feet 9 inch radius for
NCAA and 23 feet 9 inch radius for NBA. The court and method for
playing the game was designed for the standard of ten players on
the court, five per team, engaged in competition, and the court and
method are as they are in order to accommodate this number of
players at a time. Professional and amateur, including collegiate
and Olympic, have the same fundamental characteristics and method
of play, including courts of greater in length than width and have
goals and free throw lanes and lines at respective ends of the
length.
[0005] Half-court basketball has been relatively popular, wherein
half a court length is employed for the game and one of the
basketball goals on the end of play is employed. In such play, each
halve (along the length) of the court can be separately used for
games, therefore, two games of 5 player teams can play on each
court halve at the same time each using a single goal on the
applicable half. The court employed in half-court basketball has
been the same standard or regulation court above (wherein the
length exceeds the width and goals are located at respective ends
of the length), and an entire length for the play area is achieved
by each team trading-off and using the same half and goal when the
ball handling switches between teams.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Embodiments of the invention variously provide variation of
conventional American basketball that demands virtually all of the
athletic skills of conventional basketball, but which is faster
paced, played in less space than that of the conventional
basketball court, and played with fewer players than conventional
games (e.g., only three players per side). In the embodiments, each
team attempts to place a basketball successfully through a
ringed-basket, slightly larger than the basketball, at an opposing
end of court, as the other team seeks to prevent it. Moreover,
embodiments provide for multiple courts at a cordoned location for
simultaneous play in a single facility or housing with access to
courts limited to authorized participants, and include systems and
methods for authorizing participants and teams and groups of
participants.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The present invention is illustrated by way of example and
not limitation in the accompanying figures, in which like
references indicate similar elements, and in which:
[0008] FIG. 1 illustrates a court of relative scale with respect to
human sport participants, according to embodiments of the
present;
[0009] FIG. 2 illustrates a covered-housing system containing
multiple courts of FIG. 1, according to embodiments of the present
invention;
[0010] FIG. 3 illustrates the court of FIG. 1, including dual
elements for sport play and competition, according to embodiments
of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 4 illustrates a method of playing a sport using the
court of FIG. 1, together with the dual elements of FIG. 3,
according to embodiments of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 5 illustrates a method of scoring a sport using the
court of FIG. 1, together with the dual elements of FIG. 3,
according to embodiments of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 6 illustrates a method of ascertaining proper
authorization for play of the method of FIG. 5, using the court of
FIG. 1, together with the dual elements of FIG. 3, according to
embodiments of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 7 illustrates a court of relative scale with respect to
human sport participants, according to embodiments of the present
invention; and
[0015] FIG. 8 illustrates a layout of two of the court of FIG. 1,
within the confines and bounds of a traditional basketball court,
according to embodiments of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] Referring to FIG. 1, a court 100 is rectangular in shape, as
marked by parallel length markings 102a,b and parallel width
markings 104a,b. The court 100 is a substantially level ground or
surface. The court 100 can include any of a variety of hard,
resilient surface materials, including, for example, concrete,
compacted soil, clay, asphalt pavement, Laykold, or other material.
Throughout the surface of the court 100, the surface is
consistently smooth and symmetrical, at least within the markings
102a,b and markings 104a,b.
[0017] Centrally adjacent the markings 104a,b and extending between
the markings 104a,b and the markings 102a,b are oppositely disposed
key portions 106a,b. The key portions 106a,b have rectangular shape
and fit within each opposing half of the court 100.
[0018] At an end of each key portion 106a,b extending inward to the
court 100 and centrally disposed to the court 100, the ends of each
key portion 106a,b include respective semicircular portions 108a,b
as outlined by markings each semi-encircling the key portions
106a,b. The court 100 is, for example, fifty feet in length and
forty-seven feet in width.
[0019] The court 100, in any event, has generally rectangular shape
(e.g., approaching square shape) and length of less than about 84
feet and width of less than or equal to about 49 feet, wherein the
length and width are of smaller dimension than any standard
conventional basketball court. The center circle and mid-court
expanse typical of conventional basketball courts is not included
in the court 100. The court 100, being shorter than conventional
basketball courts, includes the semicircular portions 108a,b having
a radius on the order of 6 foot, whereby marking of the
semicircular portions 108a,b intersect the inwardly extending
corners of each key portion 106a,b and terminate at the respective
width markings 104a,b.
[0020] Referring to FIG. 2, the court 100, and preferably multiple
ones of the court 100, are located in a court arena 200. In the
court arena 200, the court 100, or multiple ones thereof, can be
situated inside a covered housing 202, although the covered housing
202 is not absolutely required and the court 100, or multiple ones
thereof, can additionally or in lieu of the covered housing 202 be
located within a secured area 204. In any event the covered housing
202, or other secured area 204, secures the court 100 (or courts,
as applicable) from entry by persons not properly authorized for
entry, as hereinafter further discussed.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 3, the court 100, and each court if
multiple courts are located within a single covered housing 202 or
secured area 204, has located at adjacent ends outside the width
markings 104a,b of the court 100, dual raised baskets 302a,b. Each
of the raised baskets 302a,b includes an upright pole 304a,b, a
backboard 306a,b affixed to the respective upright pole 304a,b at a
desired location above the surface of the court 100, and a
ring-basket 308a,b affixed centrally to the respective backboard
306a,b. Each ring-basket 308a,b affixed with the respective
backboard 306a,b may, but need not necessarily, be variable in
location along the respective upright pole 304a,b. For example, the
ring-basket 308a,b affixed with backboard 306a,b can be located
along the upright pole 304a,b so as to be situated at a height of
10 feet above the court 100. Alternately, the height above the
court 100 can be variable from 10 feet can be securedly fixed at
other than 10 feet. Moreover, the backboard 306a,b can alternately
be suspended or otherwise disposed at desired height and location,
with or by means or structures other than the uprights pole
304a,b.
[0022] The ring-basket 308a,b is slightly larger than a
conventional basketball, if a conventional basketball is to be
passed therethrough. The backboard 306a,b is of sufficient size and
shape to permit a conventional basketball to be selectively
directed to and deflected by the backboard 306a,b from within a
location above the surface of the court 100. Alternate sizing and
shapes for the ring-basket 308a,b and the backboard 306a,b,
together with the upright pole 304a,b, are possible depending upon
the application or as otherwise desired for use of the court 100 as
hereafter discussed.
[0023] Referring to FIG. 4, the court 100 (or multiple ones
thereof) contained within the covered housing 202 or other secured
area 204 is useable only by an authorized participant duly
authorized and participating according to the method 400.
Hereafter, the terms "authorized participant", "participant",
"individual", and the like are described and used primarily with
respect to discussion of a single person or individual; however,
the terms are intended to and should be construed in broader manner
to include multiple individuals or persons, teams, groups, pools of
teams or individuals, and any other combination or multiple of
individuals or groups. The terms are merely chosen here for
purposes of simplification of discussion, but the terms are not
limited solely to single persons and should not be so
construed.
[0024] In the method 400, a human individual seeks access into the
covered housing 202 or other secured area 204 in a step 402. The
step 402 includes ascertaining whether or not the human individual
is an authorized participant (as further detailed later herein with
respect to FIG. 6). If it is ascertained in the step 402 that the
human individual is an authorized participant, the human
individual, together with other human individuals also having been
determined to be authorized participants, is including in a step
404 of selecting teams.
[0025] In the step 404 of selecting teams, all authorized
participants are pooled and selections are made in a step 406 from
among the pool, of at least three immediate participants. Although
at least three immediate participants are selected in the step 406,
more than the three immediate participants can be selected. Based
on the step 406 of selecting, at least two teams comprising the at
least three immediate participants are obtained.
[0026] As previously mentioned, authorization of participants can
alternately or additionally take place or proceed with teams,
groups, or other multiples. References herein to single individuals
or persons as participants are merely intended for simplification
of discussion here. In every event, the terms "participant",
"authorized participant", as well as "individual" or "human
individual", as used herein, have the broadest possible meanings
and construction in the context, and such terms include single
persons, multiple persons, teams, groups, or other pools or
multiples or combinations.
[0027] In a step 408, two teams from the at least two teams
obtained in the step 406 participate in tossing a coin. One of the
two teams elects either "heads" or "tails" for the coin, the coin
is tossed, and the resulting display of the coin [as either "heads"
or "tails"showing, upon the coin thereafter becoming and remaining
stationery] dictates whether the electing team or the other of the
two teams can choose to next attempt to make a goal.
[0028] Thereafter, in a step 410, one of the teams commences
attempting to make a score (also referred to as "goal") by passing
a basketball through the ring-basket 308a or b, at an opposite end
of the court 100. The basketball is passable and dribbleable
between and among participants of the attempting team, in
conventional manner of basketball play. Participants on the team
attempting to make the goal can move or locate throughout the
surface of the court 100, however, participants can only be located
within the key portion 106a,b of the court 100 for not in excess of
3 consecutive seconds at a time. Conventional rules of basketball
play apply, in which any violation by participants of remaining
within the key portion 106a,b for in excess of 3 consecutive
seconds at a time results in conversion of the basketball to the
non-violating team (e.g., in the method 400, the occurrence of such
a violation is treated as an "out of bounds" step 416, hereafter
described).
[0029] As the participants of the team attempt to make the goal in
the step 410, the participants of the other team attempt to prevent
the passing of the basketball through the respective ring-basket
308a,b. The participants can attempt to convert or recover the ball
from the attempting team and, if successful, then the participants
so converting or recovering proceed next to the step 410 of
attempting to pass the basketball through the ring-basket 308a,b
oppositely disposed thereto adjacent the end of the court 100.
[0030] In each instance of the step 410 performed by a team, there
are three possible occurrences, each with the result that the
basketball is converted or recovered by the other team which then
proceeds again with the step 410 but using the oppositely disposed
ring-basket 308a,b. The three possible occurrences are as
follows:
[0031] Foul:
[0032] Conventional basketball games are played according to
certain rules for violations referred to as "fouls", as known to
those skilled in the art. In a step 412 of the method 400, one or
more of these fouls occurs according to those rules. For example, a
team participant attempting to prohibit the basketball from being
passed through the ring-basket 308a,b by the other team's
participants bodily encounters one of the other team's
participants. If the fouling in the step 412 is a first occurrence
for the respective teams, then the team then performing the step
410 recommences to again perform the step 410. If, however, the
fouling in the step 412 is a second occurrence, then a step 420 is
performed by the non-violating team in which the fouled participant
attempts to pass the basketball through the ring-basket 308a or b,
as applicable, from the inwardmost extension of the key portion
106a or b. In the step 420, the violating team is prohibited from
attempting to prohibit the step 420. If the basketball is passed
through the ring-basket 308a or b in the step 420, then the
violating team next converts or recovers the basketball and
proceeds to the step 410 as if having passed through a step 414 of
scoring. If, however, the basketball is not passed through the
ring-basket 308a or b in the step 420, then a step 422 of
rebounding is performed by both teams. In the step 422, both teams
attempt to convert or recover the basketball and proceed to the
step 410.
[0033] Score:
[0034] Another possible occurrence in the step 410 is that the
attempting team is successful in passing the basketball through the
appropriate opposing ring-basket 308a or b. If the basketball is so
passed therethrough by a participant located outside the respective
semicircular markings 108a or b, then 2 points are awarded the team
of the participant. If the participant is located withing the
markings 108a or b, however, then 1 point is awarded the team of
the participant. In either event, the method 400 proceeds to the
step of 410 after the step 414.
[0035] Out of Bounds:
[0036] Another possible occurrence in the step 410 is that either
team knocks the basketball from within the court 100 in a step 416.
The basketball is thereafter converted or recovered by the team
that did not cause the out of bounds in the step 416, and the
method 400 proceeds to the step 410.
[0037] The method 400 continues until a step 418 of winning. In the
step 418, one of the two teams accumulates at least 25 points with
a 2 point lead over the points accumulated by the other team.
Thereafter, the method 400 (i.e., the game) is stopped and has been
completed.
[0038] Referring to FIG. 5, a method 500 of scoring is performed
for both teams in conjunction with the method 400 of FIG. 4. In the
method 500, "pt" is initially valued 0 and "score" is also
initially valued 0 for each team. A step 502 of adding the score is
performed in which "pt" and "score" are summed to obtain a new
"score" for each team. Thereafter, in a step 504, a team passes the
basketball through the respective opposing ring-basket 308a or b.
The particular team then receives a goal or score in the step 506
of receiving. In the step 506, a determination is made among three
possible outcomes, as follows: (a) if the goal was made in regular
play by a participant within the key portion 106a or b of the court
100, the "pt" is valued as 1; (b) if the goal was made in regular
play by a participant within the key portion 106a or b of the court
100, the "pt" is valued as 2; or (c) if the goal is made by virtue
of a foul shot, the "pt" is valued as 1.
[0039] After the step 506, the basketball is converted or recovered
in a step 514, corresponding to the step 410 after the steps 412,
414, or 416 in the method 400 of FIG. 4, by or to the non-scoring
team. Next, the method 500 returns to the step 502 for adding and
determination of a new score for the scoring team. The method 500
continues for the non-scoring team either through the next step 504
or a step 516 of losing the basketball by conversion or recovery by
the other team. If the step 516 occurs, then the method 500
thereafter returns to the step 504, albeit for the team that did
not lose the basketball in the step 516.
[0040] If at any time after the step 514 any team has obtained a
score of at least 25 with a 2 point lead over the score then
obtained by the other team, the method 500 proceeds to the step
518. The step 518 corresponds to the step 418 of the method 400 of
FIG. 4. The team obtaining the score of at least 25 with the 2
point lead is the winner.
[0041] Referring to FIG. 6, a method 600 of checking authorization
of participants for entry to the court 100 of FIG. 1 is commenced
with a step 602. In the step 602, a participant submits or inputs
an application for authority. In a step 604, the application is
reviewed and determination is made either to allow or to reject. If
the determination is "rejected", then the method 600 returns to the
step 602. If the determination is otherwise "allowed", then the
method 600 proceeds to a step 606 of granting authorization.
[0042] Once the step 606 is completed, a step 608 of next
participating is performed. In the step 608 of next participating,
the participant having received appropriate authorization is
permitted entry to the court 100, such as for participating on a
team in a basketball game. In a step 610, authorization is
discerned for the entrant to the court 100. If in the step 610 it
is determined that the entrant does not have authorization, then
the method 600 returns to the step 602. Otherwise, the method 600
is completed and the authorized participant can be included as a
performer of the method 400, for example.
[0043] Of course, the method 600 of authorizing participants can
include various requirements in the step 602 of applying for
authorization. Particularly, a request for adequate monies for
authorization, either on a per entry basis, monthly fee basis,
initiation fee basis, or other arrangement, can be included in the
step 602 and the reviewing step 604. The method 600 is believed
particularly desirable and applicable in use for a membership-based
admission and use application, such as a health or sports club
including the court 100 or multiple ones thereof.
[0044] Referring to FIG. 7, certain embodiments of the court have
particular dimensions. These dimensions are listed in the Figure as
47 feet wide and 50 feet long. Each opposing lengthwise end of the
court includes a suspended goal basket. Each lengthwise half
includes markings for rectangular free throw lanes. Each of the
rectangular free throw lanes extends from an opposing lengthwise
end of the court toward the center of the court. A respective free
throw line terminates each free throw lane at the extent thereof
toward the center of the court. Respective semicircular areas are
marked to extend from the free throw line at each respective
lengthwise end, and each have a diameter overlying and sufficient
to touch respective widthwise extents of the respective free throw
line. The semicircular areas lie closely proximate on the surface,
such that the areas touch at the center of the court or,
alternately, are otherwise within less than a length dimension of
the free throw lanes towards the center of the court. Although
certain specific dimensions are stated, it is to be understood that
alternative, modified, varied, and other dimensions and
arrangements are possible in keeping with the scope of the
invention.
[0045] Referring to FIG. 8, a typical-sized basketball court 800 is
marked for layout of two separate ones of the court 100 (shown in
FIG. 1) as the courts 802, 804. In the embodiment, the basketball
court 800 includes the court 802 on a half of the court 800, and
the other of the court 804 on the other half of the court 800. It
is noteworthy that each court 802, 804 is laid perpendicular to the
length of the court 800. Dimensions of each court 802, 804 are as
appropriate and desired for this layout.
[0046] Numerous alternatives are possible in the embodiments. For
example, the conventionally recognized rules of American basketball
(e.g. NBA or NCAA) can be used in the methods and systems. These
rules can be altered, as appropriate, for example according to the
aforementioned allowances for reduced-sized court and variation and
implementation of scoring. Although each team preferably is
comprised of three player participants on the court at any given
time during regulation play, more or less players or possible, for
example, standard NBA, NCAA, American high school, and
International basketball rules require five players per team during
regulation competition and similar a rules can apply in the systems
and methods. Furthermore, the size of the shortened court can be
varied or adapted, such as the court can be half the size of any
regulation five-on-five court, for example, the court can be
smaller than any NBA & NCAA, American high school,
International court standard, or other conventional court.
[0047] In the foregoing specification, the invention has been
described with reference to specific embodiments. However, one of
ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications
and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the
present invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly,
the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative
rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are
intended to be included within the scope of the present
invention.
[0048] Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have
been described above with regard to specific embodiments. However,
the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems and any element(s)
that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or
become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical,
required, or essential feature or element of any or all the claims.
As used herein, the terms "comprises, "comprising," or any other
variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion,
such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a
list of elements does not include only those elements but may
include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such
process, method, article, or apparatus.
* * * * *