U.S. patent application number 11/803341 was filed with the patent office on 2007-11-22 for package.
This patent application is currently assigned to HAVER & BOECKER OHG Maschinenfabrik. Invention is credited to Andreas Ewerszumrode.
Application Number | 20070267414 11/803341 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38711084 |
Filed Date | 2007-11-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070267414 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ewerszumrode; Andreas |
November 22, 2007 |
Package
Abstract
A package for feed material comprising a package body consisting
of sheet plastic and a de-aerating means having a de-aerating area,
where an inner sheet layer and an outer sheet layer are provided to
form a de-aeration channel to connect an inner de-aeration opening
in connection with the interior of the package body with at least
one outer de-aeration opening in connection with the environment of
the package body. The de-aeration channel comprises two separate
chambers interconnected through an overflow opening wherein the
inner de-aeration opening is provided at the first chamber and the
outer de-aeration opening, at the second chamber so as to increase
water tightness.
Inventors: |
Ewerszumrode; Andreas; (Bad
Driburg, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HENRY M FEIEREISEN, LLC
350 FIFTH AVENUE
SUITE 4714
NEW YORK
NY
10118
US
|
Assignee: |
HAVER & BOECKER OHG
Maschinenfabrik
Oelde
DE
|
Family ID: |
38711084 |
Appl. No.: |
11/803341 |
Filed: |
May 14, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/366.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 33/01 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/366.1 |
International
Class: |
B65D 51/16 20060101
B65D051/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 13, 2006 |
DE |
10 2006 022 815.4 |
Claims
1. A package for a filling material, comprising: a package body
made of a plastic sheet and having an interior; a venting device
having a de-aerating area bounded by an inner sheet layer and an
outer sheet layer and defining a de-aeration channel in
communication with the interior of the package body by an inner
de-aeration opening and in communication with the surroundings of
the package body by an outer de-aeration opening, wherein the
de-aeration channel has at least two separate chambers and an
overflow opening for interconnecting the two chambers, with the
inner de-aeration opening provided on one of the two chambers, and
the outer de-aeration opening provided on the other one of the two
chambers, for enhancing a water tightness.
2. The package of claim 1, wherein the two chambers are disposed in
side-by-side relationship and separated from one another along a
major length dimension thereof by a separating seam.
3. The package of claim 1, wherein the de-aeration device includes
a separation layer in at least one region selected from the group
consisting of overflow opening and outer de-aeration opening.
4. The package of claim 1, wherein the de-aeration device includes
a plurality of said inner de-aeration opening on one end of the one
chamber.
5. The package of claim 1, wherein the inner de-aeration opening is
constructed as a perforation or slit.
6. The package of claim 1, wherein the outer de-aeration opening is
disposed on one end of the other chamber.
7. The package of claim 1, wherein the overflow opening is disposed
at a central region of the package body.
8. The package of claim 1, wherein the package body has a flat
topside, said inner and outer de-aeration openings being disposed
at a vertical distance to the flat topside, when the package body
is filled.
9. The package of claim 8, wherein the inner and outer sheet layers
have ends interconnected by a seam, said vertical distance of the
inner and outer de-aeration openings being greater than a vertical
distance of the inner and outer de-aeration openings to the end
seam of the package body.
10. The package of claim 1, wherein the de-aeration channel has a
length which is greater than a length of the package body.
11. The package of claim 1, wherein the de-aeration channel has at
least three chambers which are connected in the form of a
meander.
12. The package of claim 1, wherein the inner and outer de-aeration
openings are disposed in side-by-side relationship.
13. The package of claim 2, wherein the separating seam between the
chambers is a welding seam.
14. The package of claim 1, wherein the package body has opposite
length sides, said outer de-aeration opening being disposed in
proximity of one of the length sides, and another said de-aeration
opening being disposed in proximity of the other one of the length
sides.
15. The package of claim 1, further comprising a sealing lip on the
outer de-aeration opening.
16. The package of claim 1, wherein the de-aeration channels has
depressions and/or elevations to ensure a de-aeration function.
17. The package of claim 1, wherein the inner and outer de-aeration
openings are disposed in proximity of ends of the package body, and
the overflow opening is disposed in a central region of the package
body.
18. The package of claim 1, wherein the package body and the inner
and outer sheet layers define a single-piece construction.
19. The package of claim 1, wherein the de-aeration device includes
an intermediate layer between the inner and outer sheet layers.
20. The package of claim 1, wherein the two chambers overlap one
another, at least in part.
21. The package of claim 19, wherein the package body, the inner
and outer sheet layers, and the intermediate layer define a
single-piece construction.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the priority of German Patent
Application, Serial No. 10 2006 022 815.4, filed May 13, 2006,
pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d), the content of which is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety as if fully set
forth herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a package for feed
material, in particular a bag and preferably a gusseted bag,
consisting of sheet plastic to protect the feed material from
moisture and comprising a de-aerating means for excess air to
escape from the package.
[0003] Nothing in the following discussion of the state of the art
is to be construed as an admission of prior art.
[0004] After filling bulk material into bags, the air trapped in
the bag will escape over time such that in the absence of a
de-aerating means, air bubbles may form at the top surface of the
package. Such air bubbles are an impediment to the stacking
capability and the bags can also relatively easily split or tear
open at these places under pressure load. It is therefore
reasonable to de-aerate plastic bags.
[0005] German document DE 10 2004 026 538 A1 discloses a plastic
bag for filling with bulk material having a multi-layer overlapping
region provided in the top surface of the bag, comprising a
de-aeration channel between first de-aeration openings in the inner
plastic layer and second de-aeration openings in the outer plastic
layer. The first de-aeration openings positioned in the center of
the bag surface in the inner plastic layer are staggered in respect
of the height relative to the second de-aeration openings in the
outer plastic layer. Although the vertical staggering of the
de-aeration openings toward the inside and toward the outside of
the bag serves to prevent moisture from entering for some time, the
distance between the outer and the inner de-aeration openings is
less than half the bag length, the effect of sealing is limited in
time.
[0006] It would therefore be desirable and advantageous to provide
an improved package to obviate prior art shortcomings and to allow
de-aerating the bag while also increasing protection from entering
moisture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, a package
for feed material according to the invention is in particular
configured as a bag, comprising at least one package body of a
sheet made of plastic and at least one de-aerating means with at
least one de-aerating area where an inner sheet layer and an outer
sheet layer are provided. The inner sheet layer and outer sheet
layer form a de-aeration channel to connect at least one inner
de-aeration opening that is in connection with the interior of the
package body with at least one outer de-aeration opening that is in
connection with the environment of the package body. The
de-aeration channel comprises at least two separate chambers being
in connection with one another through at least one overflow
opening wherein the inner de-aeration opening is provided at the
first chamber and the outer de-aeration opening, at the second
chamber so as to increase water tightness.
[0008] The package according to the invention comprises gussets in
particular when empty, being provided with welding corners in
particular in the region of the gussets. In this way a rectangular
shape and good stacking capability of the filled package is
ensured.
[0009] The invention has numerous advantages. One significant
advantage is that moisture must cover a considerably longer
distance before entering into the package interior since the
de-aeration channel comprises a first chamber and a second chamber.
Any moisture entering must thus firstly travel the length of the
second chamber, travel from the second chamber through the overflow
opening to enter the first chamber and then travel the length of
the first chamber before the entering moisture reaches the package
interior. In this way, the protection achieved from moisture is
higher than had been the case in the prior art.
[0010] According to another feature of the invention, the first and
second chambers may be positioned adjacent to and separated from
one another via a separating seam. The separating seam may extend
over a substantial portion of the length of the adjacent chambers
where only the region of the overflow opening remains open.
Adjacent chambers are easy to manufacture, in particular with the
package and the de-aerating device comprising two overlapping sheet
layers and the package and the chambers of the de-aerating means
being manufactured with welded seams or bonded seams or the
like.
[0011] According to another feature of the invention, a release
agent or a separating layer or the like may be provided in the
region of the overflow opening or openings and/or in the region of
the outer de-aeration opening. The material of the separating layer
or release agent can be selected so as to prevent the two sheet
layers from welding or bonding together in the region of the
separating layer. This is very advantageous since a simple
manufacturing method allows to provide air passage openings at
positions in the package intended therefor.
[0012] The material used for the separating layer or the release
agent may contain e.g. silicone or polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon;
PTFE) or consist of another suitable material. In place of a
separating layer, the separating seam may be applied in specific
spots so as to leave the de-aeration openings and the overflow
opening open.
[0013] A release agent allows to omit the indexing of an additional
material for bonding the surfaces such that a continuous joining
seam of the additional material may be employed. The release agent
prevents the sheet layers from bonding with one another in the
coated spots to thus generate the desired de-aeration and overflow
openings. Furthermore, the additional material joined with the
non-coated sheet forms a sealing lip in the region of the opening
to considerably impede any entering of moisture.
[0014] According to another feature of the invention, a plurality
of inner de-aeration openings may be provided which are in
particular configured as de-aeration slits. The inner de-aeration
openings are particularly preferably provided at one end of the
first chamber which end is preferably provided near the front faces
of the package.
[0015] This configuration with inner de-aeration openings in the
vicinity of the end faces offers considerable advantages, in
particular over the cited prior art, since in the case of a
pressure exerted on a lying bag from above, de-aeration of the feed
material is supported. The air trapped in the package interior and
escaping from the feed material collects in particular in the
corners and at the package front faces when pressure is applied
from above. Inner de-aeration openings in the vicinity of the end
faces thus allow good draining and conveying of the air present in
the bag.
[0016] According to another feature of the invention, at least one
outer de-aeration opening may be provided at one end of the second
chamber and the outer de-aeration opening is in particular
positioned in the vicinity of one end face of the package. Two or
more outer de-aeration openings may be provided wherein one of
which will be positioned in the vicinity of one end face of the
package. Positioning the outer de-aeration opening or openings in
the vicinity of the front or end faces of the package is also very
advantageous since this allows trapped air to readily escape even
from stacked packages, such that packages stacked e.g. on a pallet
can de-aerate properly.
[0017] The overflow opening may be positioned between the first
chamber and the second chamber in a central region of the package
body. This means that the overflow opening is positioned e.g. about
at the height of the flat package top face in the center of the top
face.
[0018] According to another feature of the invention, with the
package body filled the inner de-aeration openings and/or the outer
de-aeration openings may be provided at a height distance from the
flat package top face wherein it is particularly preferred that the
height distance of the inner and/or outer de-aeration openings from
the flat package top face is larger than the height distance from
the end seam which is provided at half height of the package body.
The height is measured here perpendicular to the longitudinal
direction of the package and perpendicular to the end seams of the
package.
[0019] The height distance of the inner de-aeration openings and/or
the outer de-aeration openings from the flat package top face may
be between 25 and 95% and in particular between 50 and 75% of the
half-height of the package body in the filled state.
[0020] With both the inner and the outer de-aeration openings
spaced from the flat package body top face and the overflow opening
provided between the first and the second chamber of the
de-aeration channel in the center of the flat top face, particular
advantages will result since water or moisture entering must in any
case overcome the height difference between the inner or the outer
de-aeration opening and the overflow opening. In the bags known
from DE 10 2004 026 538 A1, entering moisture must overcome the
height difference only when the bag is positioned with the provided
side up. When the bag is turned over such that the previously
bottom side is now facing up, any water entering through the outer
de-aeration opening will be conveyed through the de-aeration
channel and due to gravity to the inner de-aeration opening which
is in connection with the feed material. This means that the prior
art bag offers increased moisture protection only in one specific
position while in the other position, protection is significantly
lower.
[0021] In contrast thereto, a package according to the presently
disclosed specific embodiment requires any moisture entering to
always overcome a height difference, independently from the storage
position of the bags since the height difference is positive
between the outer de-aeration opening and the overflow opening or
between the overflow opening and the inner de-aeration opening.
[0022] According to another feature of the invention, the outer and
the inner de-aeration openings may be positioned adjacent relative
to one another.
[0023] Preferred configurations of the invention provide for the
length of the de-aeration channel to be greater than the length of
the package body. This is possible through the two chambers of the
de-aeration channel whose total length may exceed that of the
package, which is not possible with the bag known from the prior
art. A longer de-aeration channel allows better protection from
entering moisture.
[0024] According to another feature of the invention, both the
inner and the outer de-aeration openings may be spaced apart from
the flat top surface of the package body and provided in the
vicinity of one end, while the overflow opening is provided between
the first and the second chamber of the de-aeration channel in the
vicinity of the other end and spaced apart from the flat top
surface of the package body. This also results in particular
advantages since water or moisture entering must in any case
overcome the sum of the height differences or twice the height
difference between the inner or outer de-aeration opening and the
top surface of the package body.
[0025] According to another feature of the invention, the
de-aeration channel may include three or more chambers
interconnected in a meander pattern. This configuration allows for
a particularly long de-aeration channel.
[0026] All of the embodiments of the invention provide for the
separating seam between the chambers to be preferably welded or
bonded.
[0027] The outer de-aeration opening in particular may be provided
with a sealing lip to improve protection against water entering.
The sealing lip may be manufactured for example by inserting an
extrusion seam or a bonding seam or the like between the sheet
layers during manufacturing of the package. The extrusion seam
forms a stable connection of the two sheet layers up to the area of
the de-aeration opening where a separating layer or a release agent
is provided to prevent that the extrusion seam or bonding seam
adheres to any one of the two sheet layers. The extrusion seam
forms a sealing lip at the de-aeration opening to protect the
opening from entering moisture.
[0028] All of the embodiments of the invention preferably provide
depressions and/or elevations to ensure that the de-aeration
channel fulfills its de-aeration function. The depressions and/or
elevations are preferably embossed and may be provided in the
entire de-aeration channel or only in specific portions thereof.
Webs or other spacers may be provided to keep the sheet layers
spaced apart.
[0029] Preferred specific embodiments of the invention provide for
the package to comprise gussets and corner joints at the package
corners to ensure a generally rectangular shape of the filled
package.
[0030] According to another feature of the invention, at least one
outer de-aeration opening may be provided at an end seam of the
package.
[0031] All of the embodiments allow to provide at the de-aeration
openings or at specific points in the de-aeration channel a fleece
or a hygroscopic substance which when moisture enters, take up such
moisture e.g. by swelling, or which cause the de-aeration channel
to bond together.
[0032] The term de-aeration channel in the sense of this
application is understood to mean a structure enclosed by walls
which may serve to convey air.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0033] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
be more readily apparent upon reading the following description of
currently preferred exemplified embodiments of the invention with
reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:
[0034] FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a package according to the
present invention;
[0035] FIG. 2 is a general, simplistic sectional longitudinal view
of the package in FIG. 1;
[0036] FIG. 3 is a simplistic sectional side view of the package in
FIG. 1;
[0037] FIG. 4 is a simplistic top view of another package according
to the invention;
[0038] FIG. 5 is a third embodiment of a package according to the
invention;
[0039] FIG. 6 is a general, simplistic sectional side view of a
fourth embodiment of the package according to the invention;
and
[0040] FIG. 7 is a cutaway, simplistic side view of the principle
of a fifth embodiment of the package according to the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0041] The depicted embodiments are to be understood as
illustrative of the invention and not as limiting in any way. It
should also be understood that the figures are not necessarily to
scale and that the embodiments are sometimes illustrated by graphic
symbols, phantom lines, diagrammatic representations and
fragmentary views. In certain instances, details which are not
necessary for an understanding of the present invention or which
render other details difficult to perceive may have been
omitted.
[0042] FIGS. 1 through 3 illustrate a first embodiment of a package
1 according to the invention configured as a bag, comprising a
package body 2 provided with gussets 3 made of a plastic sheet
4.
[0043] The package 1 serves to take feed material, in particular
bulk material. In filling bulk material, air will as a rule enter
the package along with the product to be bagged. Furthermore, an
air bubble tends to form in the top region as the bag is closed. To
allow the air present in the package to escape from the closed
package 1, a de-aeration means 12 is provided on the flat surface
of the package 1. In the de-aeration area 13, an inner sheet layer
14 that is adjacent to the product present in the interior volume
of the package 1 overlaps with an outer sheet layer 15 that is
adjacent to the environment.
[0044] Between the two sheet layers 14 and 15 there is positioned a
de-aeration channel 16 connecting a plurality of inner de-aeration
openings 17 with one or two outer de-aeration openings 18, thus
providing a flow channel for the escaping air.
[0045] The de-aeration channel 16 comprises a first chamber 19 and
a second chamber 20 which in the embodiment of FIG. 1 are
interconnected through an overflow opening 21 in a central region
of the package surface. The air present in the package and entering
the first chamber 19 of the de-aeration channel 16 through the
inner de-aeration openings 17 is conveyed along the first chamber
19 of the de-aeration channel 16 up to the overflow opening 21
where it moves into the second chamber 20 of the de-aeration
channel 16 where it is conveyed up to the outer de-aeration
openings 18 positioned in the region of the outer edge of the
second chamber 20, where it is transmitted to the exterior.
[0046] The two chambers 19 and 20 of the de-aeration channel 16
separated by a connecting seam 22, create a longer de-aeration
channel than would be possible with only one de-aeration channel
with only one chamber. In this way, security against moisture or
water entering from outside is improved.
[0047] The inner de-aeration openings 17 are configured as short
slits whose length in the present embodiment is not more than 5 mm.
The overflow opening 21 is approximately 100 mm in length given a
length of the bag of e.g. 40-80 cm.
[0048] The regions of the overflow opening 21 and the outer
de-aeration openings 18 may each be provided with a separating
layer 23 in the form of a release agent which in manufacturing the
package 1 prevents the inner sheet layer 14 and the outer sheet
layer 15 from welding or bonding together near the openings to
ensure good function of the de-aeration channel 16.
[0049] The de-aeration region 13 may be provided with depressions
and/or elevations 24 in the first chamber 19 and the second chamber
20, which are e.g. embossed to thus ensure that air is conveyed
through the de-aeration channel 16. Other than shown in the
illustration in FIG. 1 the depressions and/or elevations 24 serving
as spacers are distributed over the entire surface of the
de-aeration channel 16.
[0050] To enhance the sealing effect against water entering through
the outer de-aeration openings, there may be provided in the region
of the de-aeration opening 18 a bead between the inner sheet layer
14 and the outer sheet layer 15 to further improve the sealing
effect against water entering.
[0051] The package 1 achieves reasonable de-aeration in storage or
even with pressure applied although the de-aeration channel 16 is
designed clearly longer than de-aeration channels known in the
prior art. This effect is caused among other things in that the
inner de-aeration openings 17 and also the outer de-aeration
openings 18 are positioned in a region adjacent to the end seams 5
and 10 of the package 1.
[0052] When pressure is applied to the filled bag lying flat, the
air present in the package is pushed towards the ends and the
corners of the package where it can be released through the inner
de-aeration openings 17 into the de-aeration channel 16. The
elevations and/or depressions 24 ensure that air is conveyed
through the entire de-aeration channel 16 up to the outer
de-aeration openings 18 for the present air to escape.
[0053] The inner de-aeration openings 17 and the outer de-aeration
openings 18 are furthermore in particular not positioned on the top
package surface but in the vicinity of the end seams where the
local surface is inclined horizontally or towards the top package
surface. This creates a height difference 27 between the overflow
opening and the layer of the outer de-aeration openings 18 or the
inner de-aeration openings 17 which considerably improves the
sealing effect against moisture entering from outside.
[0054] This is because in the position illustrated in FIG. 2,
moisture entering from outside through the de-aeration opening 18
must firstly overcome the height difference up to the overflow
opening 21 before it can penetrate further into the bag.
[0055] When the package happens to lie topside down, although any
moisture entering can run downwardly due to the downward
inclination between the outer de-aeration opening 18 and the
overflow opening 21, for entering into the bag interior it must
still overcome the height difference 27 between the overflow
opening 21 now on the bottom and the de-aeration openings 17
positioned further above.
[0056] In this way, considerable safety from becoming moist is
achieved in both of the two possible positions. This is positive in
particular because in practice, one cannot assume e.g. that cement
bags will always be stored with the same side facing up.
[0057] The arrows 25 show the path of air escaping from the inner
de-aeration opening 17 through the chamber 19 and the overflow
opening 21, and through the chamber 20 and the outer de-aeration
openings 18 to the outside.
[0058] For achieving an optically attractive shape of the filled
package and better stacking capability, the package corners 8 are
welded off by way of corner joints 7. The welded off corners 8 may
be provided with openings 9 which in conjunction with the corners 8
and the end seam 5 or 10 may form a carrier element 11 for the user
to comfortably carry the package 1. The packages according to the
other embodiments are also provided with welding corners to achieve
good stacking capability wherein the welding seams have been
omitted in the Figures for the sake of clarity.
[0059] The simplistic and only general illustration of the bag 1
according to the invention shown in FIG. 2 in a sectional
longitudinal view shows the end seams 5 and 10 at the two ends 6 of
the package 1. The outer de-aeration openings 18 having a height
distance 27 of the overflow opening 21 on the top surface of the
package 1 open near the ends 6 to still further increase moisture
tightness. FIG. 2 does not show the inner de-aeration openings 17
also provided at the height of the outer de-aeration openings 18 to
guarantee a height difference 27 independent of the bag
position.
[0060] FIG. 3 shows a schematic sectional side view where the
parallel chambers 19 and 20 of the de-aeration channel between the
outer sheet layer 15 and the inner sheet layer 14 can be seen.
[0061] FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of a package 1 according to
the invention in a simplistic top view. Unlike the embodiment in
FIG. 1, the embodiment of FIG. 4 provides the inner de-aeration
openings 17 and the outer de-aeration opening 18 only at one end 6
of the package 1. This allows that a particularly long de-aeration
channel 16 is formed of the chambers 19 and 20 which may extend
over nearly double the bag length. Where inner de-aeration openings
17 are provided at one end of the package only, these are
preferably positioned in the vicinity of the head seam since after
filling an air bubble will form there which can then readily drain
off.
[0062] The embodiment of a package 1 according to the invention
illustrated in FIG. 5 is provided with three chambers 19, 20 and 26
which combined form the de-aeration channel 16. Therein the third
chamber 26 is positioned between the first chamber 19 and the
second chamber 20, thus extending the de-aeration channel 16
overall. The longer the overlapping area L of the intermediate
seams and the narrower the width A of the intermediate chamber 26,
the better the sealing effect against entering moisture. In this
embodiment the inner de-aeration openings 17 and the outer
de-aeration openings 18 are also provided in end regions of the
package 1 so as to ensure reasonable de-aeration even for stacked
packages.
[0063] In this embodiment the separating seams 22a and 22b are not
interrupted for forming overflow openings 21 but the separating
seams terminate before the ends of their chambers so as to form
overflow openings 21 at the ends of the chambers.
[0064] Unlike the illustration in FIG. 5, both package ends may be
provided with outer de-aeration openings 18 and/or inner
de-aeration openings 17.
[0065] FIG. 6 illustrates a fourth embodiment of a package
according to the invention in a general and simplistic sectional
side view. In this embodiment the package body 2, the outer sheet
layer 15 and the inner sheet layer 14 are formed integrally. The
first and second chambers 19, 20 are positioned adjacent to one
another. The chambers extend one above the other at least in part
and, depending on the configuration they may be not at all
adjacent. A separate interlayer 28 between the outer sheet layer 15
and the inner sheet layer 14 separates the two chambers 19 and 20
from one another. The individual chambers are subdivided by means
of seams 29 at the sheet.
[0066] In the fifth embodiment of a package according to the
invention illustrated in FIG. 7 at least part of the first and
second chambers are also positioned one above the other. The
interlayer 28 is also formed integrally of the sheet such that the
package body 2, the outer sheet layer 15 and the inner sheet layer
14 and the interlayer 28 consist of one piece of sheet. In
manufacturing, the individual sheet layers 14, 15, and 28 are
created by folding over and stacking the sheet and using suitable
intermediate or bonded seams 29. The intermediate or bonded seams
29 separate and seal the chambers 19 and 20 from the side faces,
except in those points where a separating layer 23 is provided (see
FIG. 1).
[0067] While the invention has been illustrated and described in
connection with currently preferred embodiments shown and described
in detail, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown
since various modifications and structural changes may be made
without departing in any way from the spirit of the present
invention. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to
best explain the principles of the invention and practical
application to thereby enable a person skilled in the art to best
utilize the invention and various embodiments with various
modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
[0068] What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by
Letters patent is set forth in the appended claims and includes
equivalents of the elements recited therein:
* * * * *