U.S. patent application number 11/849226 was filed with the patent office on 2009-03-05 for detachable impact protection system for portable data processing system.
This patent application is currently assigned to IDSC Holdings, LLC. Invention is credited to Robert A. Hines, Gordon F. Schmeisser.
Application Number | 20090057190 11/849226 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40405712 |
Filed Date | 2009-03-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090057190 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schmeisser; Gordon F. ; et
al. |
March 5, 2009 |
DETACHABLE IMPACT PROTECTION SYSTEM FOR PORTABLE DATA PROCESSING
SYSTEM
Abstract
A detachable protection system for protecting a data processing
system under rough operation environment. The system includes a
housing having a surface for supporting the data processing system,
a securing device, disposed on the housing, configured to
detachably secure the data processing system when the data
processing system is supported by the surface, and a handgrip
device disposed on each of two opposite sides of the housing. The
parts of the protection system are made of materials that provide
shock protection to the data processing system by means of
elasticity, shape deformation and/or shock absorbance and
deflection
Inventors: |
Schmeisser; Gordon F.;
(Santa Cruz, CA) ; Hines; Robert A.; (Santa Cruz,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MCDERMOTT WILL & EMERY LLP
18191 VON KARMAN AVE., SUITE 500
IRVINE
CA
92612-7108
US
|
Assignee: |
IDSC Holdings, LLC
Kenosha
WI
|
Family ID: |
40405712 |
Appl. No.: |
11/849226 |
Filed: |
August 31, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/592 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 2200/1633 20130101;
G06F 1/1632 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/592 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/30 20060101
B65D085/30 |
Claims
1. A detachable protection system for protecting a data processing
system, the protection system comprising: a housing having a
surface for supporting the data processing system; a securing
device, disposed on the housing, configured to detachably secure
the data processing system when the data processing system is
supported by the surface; and a handgrip device disposed on each of
two opposite sides of the housing.
2. The protection system of claim 1 further comprising four corner
guards disposed at four corners of the housing, wherein the corner
guards form a cushioning wall for four corners of the data
processing system when the data processing system is supported by
the surface.
3. The protection system of claim 1, wherein at least one end of
each handgrip device is movable relative to the housing.
4. The protection system of claim 3, wherein at least one end of
each handgrip device is pivotally or slideably mounted to the
housing via a hinge device.
5. The protection system of claim 1, wherein the housing and each
handgrip device are made of an elastic material.
6. The protection system of claim 1, wherein the housing and each
hand grip device are made of spring steel coated with rubber,
semi-flexible plastics, Nylon, Polyethylene, PVC, elastomeric
materials, TPE, neoprene, EPDM, metals, spring tempered steel,
stainless steel, heat treated aluminum, spring tempered brass,
beryllium copper or phosphor bronze.
7. The protection system of claim 1, wherein the housing and each
handgrip device absorb a lower impact force by deflection and
spring back to their original shape, and absorb a higher impact
force by deflection and deformation.
8. The protection system of claim 1, wherein the surface of the
housing forms a depth for receiving the data processing system.
9. A detachable protection system for protecting a data processing
system, the protection system comprising: housing means for
supporting the data processing system; means for detachably
securing the data processing system when the data processing system
is supported by the housing; and handgrip means, disposed on each
of two opposite sides of the housing means, for being held by a
user for operating the protection system.
10. The protection system of claim 9 further comprising corner
guarding means for forming a cushioning wall for four corners of
the data processing system when the data processing system is
supported by the protection system.
11. The protection system of claim 9, wherein at least one end of
the handgrip means is movable relative to the housing.
12. The protection system of claim 11, wherein at least one end of
each handgrip means is pivotally or slideably mounted to the
housing means via a hinge device.
13. The protection system of claim 9, wherein the housing means and
the handgrip means are made of an elastic material.
14. The protection system of claim 9, wherein the housing means and
the handgrip means are made of spring steel coated with rubber,
semi-flexible plastics, Nylon, Polyethylene, PVC, elastomeric
materials, TPE, neoprene, EPDM, metals, spring tempered steel,
stainless steel, heat treated aluminum, spring tempered brass,
beryllium copper or phosphor bronze.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application relates to a co-pending patent application
Ser. No. ______ (attorney docket No. 66396-0390), entitled
DETACHABLE INTERFACE DEVICE FOR POWERING PORTABLE DATA PROCESSING
SYSTEM USING A VEHICLE DIAGNOSTIC PORT, filed concurrently
herewith.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This disclosure relates to techniques and equipment for
protecting portable data processing systems.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Portable data processing systems, such as tablet PCs or
notebook computers, are widely utilized in measuring, testing
and/or diagnosing a wide range of vehicle conditions. Signals from
vehicles and/or other sources, like other diagnostic systems, are
input to these data processing systems for further analysis. For
instance, a vehicle compliant with OBD (on-board diagnostics)
standard would be equipped with a signal port, such as an OBD II
port, for outputting self-diagnostic information performed by an
on-board computer on the vehicle. The self-diagnostic information
may be used by a notebook computer with an appropriate vehicle
interface circuit and software to perform vehicle diagnostics.
[0004] As these computers often are used in rough environments such
as garages or vehicle maintenance centers where the computers
occasionally are dropped or collide with vehicles or other
equipment. The impacts from the drops or collisions often damage
the computer systems and render the computer systems unusable.
[0005] Accordingly, it is desirable to protect computer systems
from impacts caused by the occasional collisions or drops. It is
also beneficial to have a protection system that is detachable from
computer systems such that the size and weight of the computer
systems can be reduced when the computer do not require impact
protections.
SUMMARY
[0006] This disclosure describes embodiments of a detachable
protection system that provides impact protection to portable data
processing systems operating under rough conditions.
[0007] An exemplary protection system includes a housing having a
surface for supporting a data processing system and a securing
device, such as a latch, configured to secure the data processing
system when the data processing system is supported by the surface.
The surface of the housing may form a depth sufficient for
receiving the data processing system. In one aspect, four corner
guards are disposed at four corners of the housing. The corner
guards may assume various shapes and form a cushioning wall for
four corners of the data processing system when the data processing
system is supported by the surface. In another aspect, the housing
includes two handles or handgrips disposed on two opposite sides of
the protection system. In one embodiment, each handle or handgrip
may include an arched or contoured body. At least one end of each
handle or handgrip may be movably or pivotally mounted to the
housing, such that the handle or handgrip moves or shifts relative
to the housing when the handle or handgrip is subject to an applied
force.
[0008] The parts of the protection system are made of materials
that provide shock protection to the protection system and the
portable data processing system by means of elasticity, shape
deformation and/or shock absorbance and deflection. Examples of
materials for implementing the parts of the protection system
include spring steel coated or overmolded with rubber,
semi-flexible plastics such as Nylon, Polyethylene, PVC, etc.,
elastomeric (rubber-like) materials such as TPE, neoprene or EPDM,
etc., and metals such as spring tempered steel or stainless steel,
heat treated aluminum, spring tempered brass, beryllium copper or
phosphor bronze in various forms or shapes, such as in strip or
wire form. These materials could be in solid or foam rubber form.
The parts may have a coating applied thereto by dipping or spraying
with a flexible material such as plastisol PVC.
[0009] According to one embodiment, an exemplary protection system
includes a first connector and a second connector. The first
connector and the second connector are disposed on the housing. The
first connector is configured to detachably couple to a signal
port, such as a vehicle diagnostic port, to form signal
communications between the protection system and the signal port.
The second connector is configured to detachably couple to a
docking connector of the data processing system, to form signal
communications between the protection system and the data
processing system.
[0010] According to another embodiment, the protection system is
implemented as an interface device that supplies power to a data
processing system using an output of a vehicle diagnostic port,
such as an OBD II connector, that outputs self-diagnostic
information.
[0011] Additional objects, advantages and novel features will be
set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part
will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination
of the following and the accompanying drawings or may be learned by
production or operation of the examples. The objects and advantages
of the present teachings may be realized and attained by practice
or use of the methodologies, instrumentalities and combinations
particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The drawing figures depict one or more implementations in
accord with the present teachings, by way of example only, not by
way of limitations. In the figures, like reference numerals refer
to the same or similar elements.
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary protection
system.
[0014] FIG. 2 shows a notebook computer connected with the
protection system shown in FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 3A is the bottom view of the protection system
illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0016] FIG. 3B shows a variation of a handle design that shifts
relative to the body of the protection system when the handle is
subject to an applied force.
[0017] FIGS. 4A-4E depict details of an exemplary latch assembly
useable in the protection system shown in FIG. 1.
[0018] FIG. 5 is a schematic circuit diagram of an exemplary
protection system implemented as a power supply interface.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] In the following detailed description, numerous specific
details are set forth by way of examples in order to provide a
thorough understanding of the relevant teachings. However, it
should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present
teachings may be practiced without such details. In other
instances, well known methods, procedures, components, and
circuitry have been described at a relatively high-level, without
detail, in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring aspects of the
present teachings.
[0020] The section describes embodiments of detachable protection
systems for protecting and powering a data processing system.
[0021] FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary protection system 100 configured
to connect to a notebook computer external to a vehicle, for
performing vehicle diagnostics. FIG. 2 shows the protection system
100, external to the vehicle, with an attached notebook computer
200. The protection system 100 provides shock protection to the
notebook computer 200, and interfaces between the notebook computer
200 and a vehicle diagnostic port, such as an OBD-II (on-board
diagnostic) connector, that outputs self-diagnostic information,
and at the same time supplies power to the notebook computer 200
utilizing the output of the vehicle diagnostic port.
[0022] On-Board Diagnostics, or OBD, refers to a vehicle's
self-diagnostic and reporting capability. A vehicle compliant to
OBD standards includes an on-board diagnostic system that performs
self-diagnosis and allows a repair technician access to the state
of health information via a standardized diagnostic port. In some
cases, diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) are provided through the
standardized diagnostic port to indicate operation conditions of
various subsystems of a vehicle. The OBD-II standard is a type of
OBD standard that specifies the type of diagnostic connector, its
pinout and the available electrical signaling protocols, and the
messaging format. The OBD-II specification provides for a
standardized hardware interface: a female 16-pin (2.times.8) J1962
connector, called an OBD II connector, for outputting DTCs. Under
the OBD-II standard, pin 16 is dedicated to a battery output
(ranging from +9 volt to +16 volt) supplied by a vehicle battery,
and pin 4 is provided for chassis ground and is the negative power
connection to the vehicle. Embodiments of this disclosure utilize
the vehicle power included in the output of the vehicle diagnostic
port to power a data processing system and relay diagnostic
information output by the vehicle diagnostic port to the data
processing system for performing vehicle diagnostics. While there
are numerous variations in vehicle diagnostic port standards, it is
understood that as long as the output of the vehicle diagnostic
port includes vehicle power supplied by a vehicle battery and/or
alternator, concepts disclosed in this disclosure could be utilized
to provide power to any system that requires electricity for
operation.
[0023] As shown in FIG. 1, the protection system 100 includes a
housing having a surface 102 for supporting the notebook computer
200 and two handles 112, 114 attached to the body of the protection
system 100, to be held or gripped by the user when operating the
notebook computer 200. It is understood that the handles 112, 114
may assume various shapes, such as having straight, flat, curved,
contoured or arched outlines.
[0024] A securing device, such as a latch assembly 120, is provided
for securing the notebook computer 200 when it is supported by the
surface 102. It is understood that the securing device may be
implemented using means well known to people skilled in the art,
such as Velcro belts, securing tabs, securing bars or locks, etc.
The protection system 100 includes a system connector 130 disposed
on the surface 102 for connecting to a matching docking connector
disposed on the notebook computer 200, for forming signal
communications between the protection system 100 and the notebook
computer 200. Two securing walls disposed on the sides of the
surface 102, such as securing brackets 124, provide side support to
the notebook computer 200, and two locating pins 126 matching
openings disposed on the notebook computer 200 are provided to
assist securing the notebook computer 200. Four corner guards
140-143, protruding from four corners of the protection system 100,
provide a barrier or cushioning wall for protecting corners of the
notebook computer 200 in case the notebook computer 200 and
protection system 100 are dropped on a hard surface. It is
understood that the corner guards 140-143 may assume various shapes
and/or forms, such as flat tabs, round, triangular, rectangular
poles or posts, strips, wire forms, solid or foam, etc. or any
combination thereof.
[0025] The parts of the protection system 100 are made of materials
that provide shock protection to the notebook computer 200 by means
of elasticity, shape deformation and/or shock absorbance and
deflection. Examples of materials for implementing the parts of the
protection system 100 include spring steel coated or overmolded
with rubber, semi-flexible plastics such as Nylon, Polyethylene,
PVC, etc., elastomeric (rubber-like) materials such as TPE,
neoprene or EPDM, etc., and metals such as spring tempered steel or
stainless steel, heat treated aluminum, spring tempered brass,
beryllium copper or phosphor bronze in various forms or shapes,
such as in strip or wire form, or any combinations thereof. These
materials could be in solid or foam rubber form. The parts may have
a coating applied thereto by dipping or spraying with a flexible
material such as plastisol PVC.
[0026] In one embodiment, the parts of the protection system 100
provide a two-stage impact protection. In the first stage of
protection, an impact force is deflected by the protection system
100 by way of elastisity of the parts. If the impact force is
significant and cannot be completely deflected, the impact force is
further absorbed by the parts of the protection system 100 by
deformation of the parts, which provides the second stage of
protection. The deformation of the parts of the protection system
100 reduces the impact force being transmitted to the notebook
computer 200. For instance, if the parts are made of spring steel
coated or overmolded with rubber, the parts avoid the lower impact
forces being transmitted to the notebook computer 200 by way of
deflection provided by the elastisity of the rubber and the spring
steel. In this protection stage, the spring steel parts are not
stressed beyond their yield point and will spring back to their
original shape. When the protection system 100 is subjected to
higher impact forces, the parts will absorb the force by deflecting
and then deforming. The spring steel parts will be stressed beyond
their yield point and will be deformed. They can then be returned
to their original shape by bending them back by hand.
[0027] The use of shock absorbing and/or deflecting materials in
combination with the unique shape and construction of the handles
112, 114 and corner guards 140-143 protect both the protection
system 100 and the notebook computer 200 from impact damages if
they are dropped onto a hard surface. The elasticity and shape
deformation provided by the protection system 100 allows the shock
force to be transformed to heat or other types of energy, and
deflected from the notebook computer 200. For instance, when the
protection system 100 and notebook computer 200 are dropped, it is
the handles 112, 114, edges or sides of the protection system 100,
and/or the corner guards 140-143 that come into contact with hard
surface first, instead of the notebook computer 200. In addition,
as the parts of the protection system 100 are made of materials
that would provide shock absorbance and/or shock deflection through
shape deformation, the drop would not impact the notebook computer
200 directly. Moreover, the elasticity of the handles 113, 114
and/or the corner guards 140-143 allow the protection system 100
and the notebook computer 100 to bounce, which reduces the impact
energy being transmitted to the notebook computer 200.
[0028] FIG. 3A shows the bottom view of the protection system 100
illustrated in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 3A, the handles 112, 114
are pivotally attached to the body of the protection system 100
with hinges 161-164. When the protection system 100 is dropped and
one of the handles is subject to a shock force indicated by an
arrow F in FIG. 3A, the elasticity of the handle allows the handle
to deform, to absorb or deflect the force. In addition, the hinges
attached to the handles further encourage or promote deformation
and/or shifting movement of the handles towards the directions
indicated by the arrows D in FIG. 3A, to assist absorbance or
deflection of the shock force. In one embodiment, a handle includes
only one hinge for pivotally attaching to the body of the
protection system 100.
[0029] FIG. 3B depicts a variation of handle design that provides
relative movement between the handle and the body of the protection
system 100. For simplicity of illustration, only the handle 112'
and the bottom of the protection system 100 are shown. The handle
112' is slidebaly attached to the body of the protection system 100
via a combination of handle openings 165 and poles 161', 162'
disposed on the bottom surface of the protection system 100. When
the handle is subject to an applied force F, the handle 112' glides
relative to the poles 161', 162' in the directions shown by arrows
D, within the confinement of the openings 165. The combination of
the gliding movement and deformation of the handle 112' renders
allows the handle to absorb and/or deflect the impact force.
[0030] FIGS. 4A-4E illustrate details and the operation of the
latch assembly 120. The latch assembly 120 includes actuator pins
121, securing latches 122 and release buttons 123. The actuator
pins 121, the securing latches 122 and the release buttons 123 are
linked to, and move with, a frame 128 that can rock back and forth
relative to an axis. A detailed view of the linkage between the
frame 128, the actuator pins 121 and the securing latches 122 is
shown in FIG. 4B.
[0031] In FIG. 4A, the latch assembly 120 is operating in a
disengaging mode where the portable computer 200 is not yet
supported by the protection system 100 and engaged by the latch
assembly 120. As shown in FIG. 4A, the actuator pins 121, the
securing latches 122, the release buttons 123 and the frame 128 are
tilting upward at an angle.
[0032] FIG. 4C shows the latch assembly 120 operating in an
engaging mode for securing the notebook computer 200 on the
protection system 100. For simplicity of illustration, the portable
computer 200 is omitted from FIG. 4B. To attach the notebook
computer 200 to the protection system 100, the user glides the
notebook computer 200 along the surface 102 toward the securing
brackets 124. Once the end of the notebook computer 200 touches the
securing brackets 124, the user presses down the notebook computer
200 onto the surface 102. The docking connector and openings
disposed on the bottom surface of the notebook computer 200 connect
to the system connector 130 and the locating pins 126,
respectively. The notebook computer 200 has two openings on the
bottom surface corresponding to the two actuator pins 121, and two
openings on the side surface corresponding to the securing latches
122. When the user presses down the notebook computer 200 onto the
surface 102, the openings on the bottom surface engage with the
actuator pins 121, and the notebook computer 200 presses down the
tilted actuator pins 121 and the frame 128 toward the surface 102
of the protection system 100. Due to this downward pressing
movement, the frame 128 rotates relative to a fixed axis, causing
the securing latches 122 linking to the frame 128 to move forward
toward the side surface of the notebook computer 200 and insert
into the corresponding openings disposed on the side surface of the
notebook computer 200.
[0033] FIG. 4D depicts different perspective views and magnifying
view of partial parts of the latch assembly 120, specifically, the
frame 128, the actuator pins 121, the securing latches 122 and the
release buttons 123. As shown in FIG. 4D, the latch assembly 120
includes a tension coil spring 125 having one end attached to the
body of the protection system 100 and the other end attached to the
frame 128. The rotation of the frame 128 stretches the tension coil
spring 125, which is then locked in place by a stopper 129. The
engagements of the actuator pins 121, the locating pins 126 and the
securing latches 122 with corresponding openings on the notebook
computer 200, as well as the securing brackets 124, allow the
protection system 100 to securely attach to the notebook computer
200, as shown in FIG. 4E.
[0034] When the user wants to detach the notebook computer 200 from
the protection system 100, the user simply presses the release
buttons 123 which releases the stopper 129 to unlock the stretched
spring 125. The released spring 125 pulls down the frame 128 to
revert to its position in the disengaging mode where it tilts
upward by the pulling force provided by the spring 125. The
combination of the force from the spring 125 and the tilting
movements of the frame 128 and the actuator pins 121 push up the
notebook computer 200 from the surface 102 of the protection system
100. At the same time, the pushing-up motion by the tilting frame
128 separates the securing latches 122, the locating pins 126, and
the system connector 130 from the corresponding openings and
connector on the portable computer 200.
[0035] As discussed earlier, the protection system 100 is
configured to power the notebook computer 200 using an output of a
vehicle diagnostic port, such as an OBD II connector, that outputs
self-diagnostic information. FIG. 5 is a schematic circuit diagram
of the protection system 100 shown in FIG. 1. As depicted in FIG.
5, the protection system 100 includes a system connector 130 for
connecting to a matching docking connector 240 disposed on the
notebook computer 200 when the notebook computer 200 is docked on
the protection system 100. The docking connector 240 and the system
connector 130 form a signal path between the protection system 100
and the notebook computer 200. A vehicle input connector 412 is
provided for connecting to an OBD II connector 462 disposed on a
vehicle 460, via an OBD II data cable 466. The vehicle 460 further
includes one or more DC output connector 464, such as a cigarette
lighter connector or a 12 volt output connector that are commonly
available on many vehicle. In one embodiment, the protection system
100 includes a vehicle power input connector 415 for receiving
power from a vehicle power connector other than the OBD II
connector 462.
[0036] In one embodiment, the protection system 100 provides an AC
connector 414 for receiving power from an external AC source 451,
such as a regular AC power outlet or an alternator output of the
vehicle. The power supplied by the external AC source 451 may be
converted to DC power by an adapter external to the protection
system 100 or a power converter circuit internal to the protection
system 100. The protection system 100 may include a battery back
413 to provide DC power to the protection system 100 and/or to the
notebook computer 200.
[0037] A power converter 411 is provided to process power inputs
from the AC connector 414, the battery 413, the vehicle input
connector 412 and/or the vehicle power input connector 415, and
generate a power output signal, such as an output voltage 403,
suitable for powering the notebook computer 200. For instance, the
DC voltage from pin 16 of the OBD II connector 462 has a range
between +9 volt and +16 volt. The power converter 411 is a DC-to-DC
converter that converts the DC voltage from the OBD II connector
462 to a +16 volt DC output which is suitable for powering the
notebook computer 200. In another embodiment, the power converter
411 includes an AC-to-DC converter that converts an AC power signal
to a DC signal that is appropriate for use by the notebook computer
200. The output voltage 403 is routed to the system connector 130
for relaying to the notebook computer 200 via the connection of the
system connector 130 and the docking connector 240 on the notebook
computer 200. The system connector 130 and the docking connector
240 on the notebook computer specifically define a power supply pin
or port, such that the output voltage 403 is properly routed to
appropriate circuit in the notebook computer 200 for powering the
notebook computer 200 and/or charging a battery disposed in the
notebook computer 200. Power converters suitable for implementing
the power conversion herein may be obtained from Lind Electronics
of Minneapolis, Minn.
[0038] The protection system 100 includes a protection circuit to
prevent situations where the notebook computer 200 is drawing
excessive current from the vehicle, which might damage parts and/or
circuits of the vehicle. The protection circuit includes a current
sensor that continuously monitors a current drawn by the notebook
computer 200 from the OBD II connector 462 or a current being
supplied to the notebook computer 200. A microcontroller may be
provided to determine whether the detected current exceeds a safety
threshold. If such safety threshold is exceeded, the
microcontroller issues a control signal to terminate supplying
power from the OBD II connector 462 to the notebook computer 200.
For instance, a switch may be provided to decouple the output
voltage 403 from the system connector 130, such that the output
voltage 403 ceases to power the notebook computer 200. Once the
detected current drops below the safety threshold, the
microcontroller issues another control signal to reengage the
output voltage 403 with the system connector 130. This protection
circuit may be implemented as part of the power converter 411 or as
a separate circuit disposed on a circuit board disposed in the
housing of the protection system 100. It is understood that other
variations of circuit design other than those described herein may
be used to implement the protection circuit.
[0039] Generally, the communications protocols supported by OBD are
not compatible to various standards adopted the notebook computer
200. The protection system 100 includes a vehicle interface module
(VIM) 401 for converting diagnostic signals output by the OBD II
connector 462 to a protocol supported by the notebook computer 200,
such as the USB standard, and enabling communications between the
notebook computer 200 and electronic control units (ECUs) on the
vehicle 460, such that diagnostic information, like DTCs, can be
recognized and/or processed by the notebook computer 200, and
commands issued by the notebook computer 200 can be recognized by
the ECUs on the vehicle. In one embodiment, the vehicle interface
module is external to the protection system 100 and is powered by a
DC output from the protection system 100. The power may be provided
by the battery 413 or by the OBD II connector 462.
[0040] While the foregoing has described what are considered to be
the best mode and/or other examples, it is understood that various
modifications may be made therein and that the subject matter
disclosed herein may be implemented in various forms and examples,
and that the teachings may be applied in numerous applications,
only some of which have been described herein. It is intended by
the following claims to claim any and all applications,
modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the
present teachings.
* * * * *