U.S. patent application number 13/047333 was filed with the patent office on 2011-09-08 for refrigerating apparatus and method.
This patent application is currently assigned to MIELE, INC.. Invention is credited to Matthew D. Kueny, Frank Placke, Matthias Stahl, Ulrich van Pels.
Application Number | 20110214440 13/047333 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44530132 |
Filed Date | 2011-09-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110214440 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kueny; Matthew D. ; et
al. |
September 8, 2011 |
REFRIGERATING APPARATUS AND METHOD
Abstract
A refrigerating apparatus having two or more climate controlled
compartments is disclosed. The refrigerating apparatus has a
climate control device capable of controlling the climate of the
compartments. The control device is electrically connected to an
interactive display, wherein the display presents a compartment
selection element to a user and, upon selection of a compartment by
the user, the display presents a predetermined climate control
element corresponding to the selected compartment. The compartment
selection element comprises a plurality of compartment icons
corresponding to the climate controlled compartments of the
refrigerating apparatus. The climate control element may comprise,
for example, a temperature control icon or a plurality of food-type
icons. Preferably, the elements of the display are presented
sequentially as the user makes selections. It is also preferred
that the user's selections should be highlighted in some manner,
for example a color change of the selected icon within an
element.
Inventors: |
Kueny; Matthew D.; (Ewing,
NJ) ; Placke; Frank; (Gutersloh, DE) ; van
Pels; Ulrich; (Rheda-Wiedenbruck, DE) ; Stahl;
Matthias; (Oerlinghausen, DE) |
Assignee: |
MIELE, INC.
Princeton
NJ
|
Family ID: |
44530132 |
Appl. No.: |
13/047333 |
Filed: |
March 14, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12526078 |
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PCT/US08/53272 |
Feb 7, 2008 |
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13047333 |
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60888761 |
Feb 7, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
62/125 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 11/00 20130101;
F25D 29/00 20130101; F25B 49/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/125 |
International
Class: |
F25B 49/00 20060101
F25B049/00 |
Claims
1. A refrigerating apparatus comprising: (a) two or more climate
controlled compartments; and (b) a climate control device capable
of controlling the climate of the compartments electrically
connected to an interactive display, wherein the display comprises
a climate control activation element, a compartment selection
element, and a climate control element, wherein upon activation of
the climate control activation element, the display presents a
compartment selection element to a user, and wherein upon selection
of a compartment by the user, the display presents a predetermined
climate control element corresponding to the selected
compartment.
2. The refrigerating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the compartment
selection element comprises a plurality of compartment icons
corresponding to the climate controlled compartments.
3. The refrigerating apparatus of claim 2, wherein the compartment
icons are displayed in a first color and, upon selection of a
compartment by the user, the icon corresponding to the selected
compartment is displayed in a second color.
4. The refrigerating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the climate
control element comprises a temperature control icon.
5. The refrigerating apparatus of claim 4, wherein the temperature
control icon comprises a temperature adjustment sub-icon.
6. The refrigerating apparatus of claim 5, wherein, upon activation
of the temperature adjustment sub-icon, the control device adjusts
the temperature of the selected compartment.
7. The refrigerating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the climate
control element comprises a plurality of food-type icons
representing types of foods capable of being stored in the selected
compartment.
8. The refrigerating apparatus of claim 7, wherein, upon activation
of a selected food-type icon, the control device adjusts the
climate of the selected compartment to predetermined climate
conditions associated with the selected food type.
9. The refrigerating apparatus of claim 8, wherein the control
device adjusts the temperature and the humidity of the selected
compartment.
10. The refrigerating apparatus of claim 8, wherein the food-type
icons are displayed in a first color and, upon selection of a food
type, the icon corresponding to the selected food type is displayed
in a second color.
11. The refrigerating apparatus of claim 7, wherein a combination
of more than one food type may be selected by activating the
corresponding food-type icon of each desired food type.
12. The refrigerating apparatus of claim 11, wherein, upon
activation of a selected food-type icon, the control device adjusts
the climate of the selected compartment to predetermined climate
conditions associated with the combination of selected food
types.
13. The refrigerating apparatus of claim 12, wherein the control
device adjusts the temperature and the humidity of the selected
compartment.
14. The refrigerating apparatus of claim 12, wherein the food-type
icons are displayed in a first color and, upon selection of one or
more food types by the user, the icons corresponding to the
selected food types are displayed in a second color.
15. The refrigerating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display
additionally presents a function control element.
16. The refrigerating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display
presents only the climate control activation element until the user
activates the climate control activation element.
17. The refrigerating apparatus of claim 16, wherein the climate
control activation element is displayed in a first color and, upon
activation by the user, the climate control activation element is
displayed in a second color.
18. A refrigerating apparatus comprising: (a) two or more climate
controlled compartments; and (b) a climate control device capable
of controlling the climate of the compartments electrically
connected to an interactive display, wherein the display comprises
a climate control activation element, a plurality of compartment
selection element, and a plurality of climate control elements,
wherein upon activation of the climate control activation element,
the display presents the compartment selection elements and climate
control elements.
19. The refrigerating apparatus of claim 18, wherein each of the
climate control elements are displayed in a first color and, upon
selection of a compartment by the user, the climate control element
corresponding to the selected compartment is displayed in a second
color.
20. The refrigerating apparatus of claim 18, wherein each of the
climate control elements are displayed in a first color and, upon
selection of a compartment by the user, only the climate control
element corresponding to the selected compartment is displayed.
21. The refrigerating apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of
the elements ceases to be displayed after a predetermined time-out
period.
22. The refrigerating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the
compartments are disposed within a cabinet and the interactive
display is positioned on or in the cabinet and angled away from a
vertical orientation.
23. The refrigerating apparatus of claim 22, wherein the
interactive display is angled to permit improved viewing of the
display by the user relative to viewing at a vertical
orientation.
24. The refrigerating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the
compartments are disposed within a cabinet and the compartments
comprise a lower compartment and an upper compartment having an
insulated barrier positioned between the upper and lower
compartments, the insulated barrier having a front perimeter
surface on which the interactive display is positioned.
25. The refrigerating apparatus of claim 24, wherein the
interactive display is angled away from a vertical orientation.
26. The refrigerating apparatus of claim 25, wherein the
interactive display is angled to permit improved viewing of the
display by the user relative to viewing at a vertical
orientation.
27. A refrigerating apparatus comprising: (a) two or more climate
controlled compartments; and (b) a climate control device capable
of controlling the climate of the compartments electrically
connected to an interactive display, wherein the display is in an
inactive state a climate control activation element is activated,
and wherein upon activation of the climate control activation
element, the display presents a compartment selection element, and
upon selection of one or more compartments, the display presents a
climate control element, a function control element, or a
combination of a climate control element and a function control
element corresponding to the selected compartment.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a Continuation of U.S. Ser. No.
12/526,078, which is a 35 U.S.C. .sctn.371 National Phase
application of International Application Serial No.
PCT/US2008/53272 filed Feb. 7, 2008, which claims priority under 35
U.S.C. .sctn.119 to U.S. Provisional application 60/888,761 filed
Feb. 7, 2007, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by
reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a refrigerating apparatus
such as refrigerator, a freezer, a wine cabinet, or a combination
thereof and a method of controlling cooling climate of the
apparatus and displaying control elements. The refrigerating
apparatus has an interactive, ergonomic cooling control system.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Prior art refrigerating appliances typically include one or
more refrigerating or freezer compartments for the storage of fresh
and frozen foods. Typically, the temperature settings for the fresh
food compartment and the freezer compartment were adjusted by
manipulating an electromechanical mechanism such as a dial or a
sliding switch. Usually these systems provided no apparent way to
determine the actual temperature of the compartments and the
temperature settings were often determined by user trial and
error.
[0006] More recently, electronic controls have offered various
control schemes the user including, for example, digitally
displaying the temperature of a compartment. However, electronic
controls can be confusing and, to a large extent, the setting of
temperature of a particular compartment remains a trial and error
operation. Also, while some refrigerating appliance have climate
zones with fixed humidity for certain types of food, there is lack
of appliances that permit the adjustment of the humidity. It should
be readily apparent that adding adjustment of humidity to
adjustment of temperature across multiple compartments increases
the complexity and likelihood for potential user confusion in
controlling a refrigerating appliance. Therefore, there is a need
for a climate control system in refrigerating appliances that
provides the user with an interface that is easy to use and easy to
understand while at the same time capable of handling complex
temperature and humidity adjustments for multiple compartments.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention provides a refrigerating apparatus,
such as a refrigerator, freezer, or wine cabinet having two or more
climate-controlled compartments. The refrigerating apparatus has a
climate control device capable of controlling the climate of the
compartments. The control device is electrically connected to an
interactive display, wherein the display presents a compartment
selection element to a user and, upon selection of a compartment by
the user, the display presents a predetermined climate control
element corresponding to the selected compartment.
[0008] In a preferred embodiment, the interactive display has a
climate control activation element. The compartment selection
element is not presented until the user activates the climate
control activation element. The compartment selection element
comprises a plurality of compartment icons corresponding to the
climate controlled compartments of the refrigerating appliance. The
climate control element may comprise, for example, a temperature
control icon or a plurality of food-type icons, representing types
of foods capable of being stored in the selected compartment.
[0009] The interactive display is preferably a touch-control device
such as an LCD touch screen. Preferably, the elements of the
display are presented sequentially as the user makes selections.
For example, first, upon selection of the climate control
activation element, the compartment selection element is displayed;
second, upon selection of a compartment, the appropriate climate
control element is displayed. It is also preferred that the user's
selections be highlighted in some manner such as, for example, a
color change of the selected icon within an element.
[0010] Upon selection of the desired parameters for a selected
compartment, the control device will adjust the cooling climate of
the compartment to correspond to the temperature adjustment or the
humidity and temperature requirements of the food types intended to
be stored in the compartment.
[0011] These and other features of the invention will be more fully
understood from the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiments which should be read in light of the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in
schematic form in the drawings and are described in greater detail
below. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
form a part of the specification, illustrate the embodiments of the
present invention and, together with the description, serve to
explain the principles of the invention.
[0013] In the drawings:
[0014] FIGS. 1A and 1B are perspective views of exemplary
embodiments of the refrigerating apparatus;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the interior compartments of
the refrigerating apparatus shown in FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the interactive control
panel positioned on an insulation barrier;
[0017] FIG. 3B is a side view of the interactive control panel;
[0018] FIGS. 4A through 4E are perspective views of various
refrigerating apparatuses that may be employed with the present
invention;
[0019] FIGS. 5 through 10B are a variety of displays of an
interface display in accordance with preferred embodiments of an
interactive control panel;
[0020] FIG. 11 is an exemplary interface display for an interactive
control panel for use on a wine cabinet;
[0021] FIG. 12 is an exemplary interface display for an interactive
control panel for use on a freezer;
[0022] FIG. 13 is an exemplary interface display for an interactive
control panel for use on a refrigerator.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] The present invention provides a refrigerating apparatus,
such as a refrigerator, freezer, combination refrigerator and
freezer, wine cabinet, or other similar refrigerating apparatus,
comprising two or more climate-controlled compartments and a
climate control device capable of controlling the climate of the
compartments. The climate control device is electrically connected
to an interactive display, wherein the display presents a
compartment selection element to a user and, upon selection of a
compartment by the user, the display presents a predetermined
climate control element corresponding to the selected
compartment.
[0024] In a preferred embodiment, the interactive display has a
climate control activation element, and the compartment selection
element is not presented until the user activates the climate
control activation element. The compartment selection element
comprises a plurality of compartment icons corresponding to the
climate controlled compartments of the refrigerating appliance. The
climate control element may comprise, for example, a temperature
control icon or a plurality of food-type icons, representing types
of foods capable of being stored in the selected compartment.
Preferably, the elements of the display are presented sequentially
as the user makes selections. For example, first, upon selection of
the climate control activation element, the compartment selection
element is displayed; second, upon selection of a compartment, the
appropriate climate control element is displayed. In an alternative
embodiment, all elements are displayed to the user upon activation
of the climate control activation element.
[0025] The interactive display is preferably a touch-control device
such as an LCD touch screen. It is also preferred that the user's
selections be highlighted in some manner such as, for example, a
color change of the selected icon within an element. Upon selection
of the desired parameters for a selected compartment, the control
device will adjust the cooling climate of the compartment to
correspond to the temperature adjustment or the humidity and
temperature requirements of the food types intended to be stored in
the compartment.
[0026] With reference to the drawings in general and FIGS. 1
through 13 in particular, the apparatus of the present invention is
disclosed. In describing preferred embodiments of the invention
illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be used for
the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be
limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be
understood that each specific term includes all technical
equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a
similar purpose.
[0027] FIG. 1 shows perspective views of typical refrigerating
apparatuses 10 according to various embodiments of the present
invention. Refrigerating apparatus 10 has one or more doors 12 that
open to one or more upper refrigerating compartments and door 13
that opens to a lower freezer drawer compartment. FIG. 1A depicts a
refrigerating apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment
of the present invention having one upper refrigerating compartment
door 12 and one lower freezer drawer compartment door 13. FIG. 1B
depicts an alternative embodiment of the invention having two upper
refrigerating compartment doors 12 and one lower freezer drawer
compartment door 13. One of skill in the art will appreciate that
any of various door arrangements may be employed consistent with
the present invention. For example, the instant invention may also
be employed with a refrigerating apparatus in which the freezer
portion is above the refrigerator portion.
[0028] FIG. 2 shows the interior compartments of refrigerating
apparatus 10 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.
Refrigerating apparatus 10 has a cabinet 20 having freezer
compartment 22 and refrigerator compartments 24, 26, 28 separated
by an insulated barrier (not shown). A control panel 32 is
preferably positioned on the front edge of the insulated barrier
and has an interface display 30 on which the display elements are
presented. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, in a preferred embodiment,
control panel 32 is positioned on the front perimeter surface 36 of
insulated barrier 34. Interface display 30 is preferably angled
from vertical orientation 31 such that the display surface is
positioned at an angle .alpha. to permit an optimal view of the
display. While the interface display 30 may be located in a variety
of positions on or in cabinet 20, such as along the top of
compartment 28, it is preferred that interface display 30 be
positioned toward the center of cabinet 20 so that it is easy for
the user to reach. Thus, interface display 30 is preferably
ergonomically positioned and oriented to optimize the viewing of
the display and facilitate the operation of selection of inputs
through the display.
[0029] Interface display 30 is preferably a touch-control device
such as an LCD touch screen or a display surface using LEDs or
light guides. As is described in greater detail below, various
elements of the display such as climate control activation,
compartment selection and climate control selections are displayed
on the interface display. A user makes a selection by touching the
appropriate icon on the displayed element. While touch controls are
preferred, the interactive climate control system of the present
invention may also be implemented by other activation technologies
such as pressure sensitive buttons or a combination of buttons and
screens.
[0030] The interface display is electrically connected to a climate
control device that controls the temperature and humidity of the
compartments. The control device may comprise a data processing
system that provides for digital inputs from the interface display
and other sources such as internal temperature sensors, external
temperature sensors, evaporator temperature sensors, and the like.
The control device will also provide outputs to the various
component devices of the refrigerating appliance which regulate the
climate of a compartment as is known in the art.
[0031] FIGS. 4A through 4E depict various refrigerating apparatuses
that may be used in conjunction with the various embodiments of the
instant invention. FIG. 4A depicts an embodiment of the present
invention in which the refrigerating apparatus 10 is a stand-alone
refrigerator having multiple climate-controlled refrigerator
compartments 24, 26, 28. In this embodiment, refrigerator
compartments 24 and 26 are separated from refrigerator compartment
28 by insulated barrier 34, on which control panel 32 is
positioned. It is to be appreciated that in varying embodiments
control panel 32 need not be mounted on insulated barrier 34.
Control panel 32 may also be located at any desirable position in
refrigerating apparatus 10. FIG. 4B depicts an embodiment of the
present invention in which the refrigerating apparatus 10 is a
stand-alone freezer having an upper freezer compartment 21 and
lower freezer compartments 23, 25. FIGS. 4C and 4D depict further
embodiments of a refrigerating apparatus 10 according to the
instant invention. FIG. 4E depicts an embodiment of the present
invention in which the refrigerating apparatus 10 is a wine cabinet
having climate-controlled compartments 27, 29. In a preferred
embodiment, upper climate-controlled compartment 27 is separated
from lower climate-controlled compartment 29 by an insulated
barrier (not shown), thereby permitting variations in temperature
or humidity between upper compartment 27 and lower compartment 29.
Control panel 32 is preferably positioned on the insulated barrier.
One of skill in the art will appreciate that these embodiments are
only exemplary and may be combined or modified without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention.
[0032] FIGS. 5 through 10B show an exemplary interface display 30
for a four-compartment refrigerator-freezer combination such as
that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. It will be appreciated by one skilled
in the art that a variety of compartment configurations are
possible. By way of further example, FIG. 11 shows an exemplary
interface display 70 for a three-compartment wine cabinet, FIG. 12
shows an exemplary interface display 72 for a freezer, and FIG. 13
shows an exemplary interface display 74 for a three-compartment
refrigerator.
[0033] Referring now to FIGS. 5 through 10B, interface display 30
has a climate control activation element 42. The display elements
may be any suitable icon or icons, graphical depictions,
pictograms, text, or the like. The selection of icons may vary with
language and culture of the region where the refrigerating
appliance is intended to be used. In this preferred embodiment, the
climate control activation element is a graphical depiction of a
thermometer.
[0034] In a preferred embodiment, interface display 30 comprises
compartment selection element 41. In this embodiment, compartment
selection element 41 comprises four pictogram icons 44, 45, 46, 47
representing compartments 28, 24, 26, 22, respectively. In
alternative embodiments, the refrigerating device may have two or
more compartments with compartment icons of compartment selection
element 41 corresponding to each compartment of the device.
Preferably, interface display 30 additionally has two climate
control elements 43, 48. Climate control element 43 is a
temperature control icon having a numeric temperature display
sub-icon 52 and temperature adjustment sub-icons 51, 53. Activation
of the temperature adjustment sub-icons causes the device to adjust
the temperature of the selected compartment. Climate control
element 48 is a presentation of a plurality of food-type icons 61,
62, 63, 64, 65, and 66. In this embodiment, each icon is textual:
FRUIT, MEAT, DELI, DAIRY, FISH, and VEG, representing the specific
food types of fruit, meat, deli products, dairy products, fish, and
vegetables, respectively. In varying embodiments, climate control
element 48 may comprise any variety of preset food type icons.
Activation of a selected food-type icon causes the system to adjust
the climate of the selected compartment to predetermined climate
conditions associated with the selected food type. In a preferred
embodiment, at least one compartment permits activation of more
than one food-type icon, and the device is capable of adjusting the
climate of the selected compartment to predetermined climate
conditions associated with the combination of selected food types.
In preferred embodiments, the predetermined climate conditions are
temperature, humidity, or both temperature and humidity. Interface
display 30 may also have icons for functionalities other than
climate control of specific compartments. For example, icon 55
(SUPER) activates a supercooling function when selected in
conjunction with climate control change. Icons 56, 57, and 58 (ICE,
ALARM, and FILTER, respectively) may actuate an ice-making
function, an alarm function, and a filter function,
respectively.
[0035] In the operation of a preferred embodiment, the elements of
the interface display are presented sequentially as user selections
are made. FIG. 6A illustrates the display of only the activation
element 42. When the user selects activation by touching activation
element 42, compartment selection element 41 is displayed as shown
in FIG. 6B. Also, preferably, activation element 42 changes color
to indicate that its has already been selected. FIG. 7A illustrates
the display icon 44 of compartment selection element 41 is
selected. In this case, temperature control icon 43 is displayed
and the compartment icon 44 is changed in color to indicate
selection. Also in this case, the food-type icons 48 are not
displayed, because compartment 28 corresponding to icon 44 is not
designed to permit a variance of humidity. Upon actuation of
sub-icon 51, the temperature setting is reduced to the temperature
displayed in the temperature display sub-icon 52 as shown for
example in FIG. 7B. FIG. 7C illustrates the selection of the
supercooling function in conjunction with the temperature change
selection. The SUPER icon 55 preferably changes color upon
actuation.
[0036] Any suitable colors may be used to indicate selection
choices. For example, prior to selection (or if an icon is not
selected), the icon may be displayed in white and, upon selection,
the icon may be displayed in yellow. While the preferred embodiment
illustrates the combination of sequential display and color changes
to indicate the selection sequence and selection choices,
respectively, it will be readily appreciated that other
highlighting methodologies may also employed such as a first color
change for selection sequence and a second color change for
selection choices. Other graphical indicators may also be used for
selection sequence and selection choices.
[0037] With reference to FIGS. 8A and 8B, the plurality of
food-type icons is displayed when either of icons 45 or 46,
corresponding to compartments 24 and 26, are actuated. In this
embodiment, these compartments are designed to effect temperature
and humidity changes depending on the type of food to stored in the
compartment. FIG. 8A illustrates that compartment 24 was selected
and icon 45 has changed color. Similarly, FIG. 8B illustrates that
compartment 26 has been selected and icon 46 has changed color.
[0038] FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C illustrate a preferred embodiment of
interface display 30 when food-type icons 62 (MEAT), 65 (FISH), and
66 (VEG) have been sequentially selected for compartment 26. In the
case where multiple food types have been selected, the control
device will alter the temperature and humidity to predetermined
levels to take into consideration the optimal temperature and
humidity levels for the selected combination. Thus, there is no
need for the user to experiment through trial and error to
determine the optimum temperature and humidity values for one food
type or any combination of food types. The interface provides an
intuitive and user-friendly means to make complex climate control
decisions for individual compartments of the refrigerating
appliance.
[0039] FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate a preferred embodiment of
interface display 30 when icon 47, corresponding to freezer
compartment 22, is activated. In this case, temperature control
icon 43 is displayed and compartment icon 47 is preferably changed
in color to indicate selection. Also in this case, the food-type
icons 48 are not displayed, because freezer compartment 22
corresponding to icon 47 is not designed to permit a variance of
humidity. In FIG. 10B, SUPER icon 55 is activated and, in a
preferred embodiment, changes color.
[0040] FIG. 11 shows an exemplary interface display 70 for a
three-compartment wine cabinet, FIG. 12 shows an exemplary
interface display 72 for a freezer, and FIG. 13 shows an exemplary
interface display 74 for a three-compartment refrigerator. One of
skill in the art will appreciate that the number of compartments
may be varied depending on the type of refrigerating apparatus.
Accordingly, interface display 30 may be modified such that
compartment selection element 41, temperature control icon 43, and
food-type icons 48 appropriately correspond to the climate control
compartments of the particular refrigerating apparatus.
[0041] The invention is not limited to the specific embodiments
disclosed above. Modifications and variations of the methods and
devices described herein will be obvious to those skilled in the
art from the foregoing detailed description. Such modifications and
variations are intended to come within the scope of the following
claims.
* * * * *