U.S. patent application number 12/926745 was filed with the patent office on 2012-02-16 for piezoelectric sealing cap and assembly including the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Seung Gyo Jeong, Boum Seock Kim, Eun Tae Park.
Application Number | 20120037588 12/926745 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45564039 |
Filed Date | 2012-02-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120037588 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim; Boum Seock ; et
al. |
February 16, 2012 |
Piezoelectric sealing cap and assembly including the same
Abstract
Disclosed herein is a piezoelectric sealing cap, including: a
piezoelectric element generating displacement by a driving voltage;
and a sealing part formed to surround the piezoelectric element and
sealing a bottle neck when the piezoelectric element is inserted
into the bottle neck.
Inventors: |
Kim; Boum Seock; (Suwon,
KR) ; Jeong; Seung Gyo; (Hwaseong, KR) ; Park;
Eun Tae; (Yongin, KR) |
Assignee: |
Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co.,
Ltd.
Suwon
KR
|
Family ID: |
45564039 |
Appl. No.: |
12/926745 |
Filed: |
December 7, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/43 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2539/001 20130101;
B65D 39/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/43 |
International
Class: |
B65D 1/02 20060101
B65D001/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 13, 2010 |
KR |
10-2010-0078490 |
Claims
1. A piezoelectric sealing cap, comprising: a piezoelectric element
generating displacement by a driving voltage; and a sealing part
formed to surround the piezoelectric element and sealing a bottle
neck when the piezoelectric element is inserted into the bottle
neck.
2. The piezoelectric sealing cap of claim 1, wherein the sealing
part is formed to cover the outer side of the piezoelectric element
and is elastically deformed according to the displacement of the
piezoelectric element.
3. The piezoelectric sealing cap of claim 1, wherein the sealing
part is made of rubber so as to have elasticity.
4. The piezoelectric sealing cap of claim 1, wherein the
piezoelectric element includes electrode layers formed on an upper
surface and a lower surface thereof and when a driving voltage is
applied to the electrode layers, the displacement of the
piezoelectric element is generated due to attractive or repulsive
force between the internal charges of the piezoelectric element and
the driving voltage.
5. The piezoelectric sealing cap of claim 4, wherein a driving
terminal of the electrode layer at one side is projected to the
electrode layer at the other side in order to apply a driving
voltage to the electrode layer.
6. The piezoelectric sealing cap of claim 5, wherein the driving
terminal of the electrode layer at one side is formed by
penetrating through the sealing part.
7. A piezoelectric sealing cap assembly, comprising: a
piezoelectric element generating displacement by a driving voltage;
a sealing part formed to surround the piezoelectric element and
sealing a bottle neck when the piezoelectric element is inserted
into the bottle neck; and a power supply unit applying the driving
voltage to the piezoelectric element so that the width of the
piezoelectric element is smaller than the width of the bottle neck
due to attractive force between the internal charges of the
piezoelectric element and the driving voltage.
8. The piezoelectric sealing cap assembly of claim 7, wherein the
sealing part is formed to cover the outer side of the piezoelectric
element and is elastically deformed according to the displacement
of the piezoelectric element.
9. The piezoelectric sealing cap assembly of claim 7, wherein the
sealing part is made of rubber so as to have elasticity.
10. The piezoelectric sealing cap assembly of claim 7, wherein when
the driving voltage to the piezoelectric device is blocked,
attractive force between the internal charges of the piezoelectric
element and the driving voltage is lost to increase the widths of
the piezoelectric element and the sealing part.
11. The piezoelectric sealing cap assembly of claim 7, wherein the
piezoelectric element includes electrode layers formed on an upper
surface and a lower surface thereof, and a driving voltage is
applied to the electrode layers.
12. The piezoelectric sealing cap assembly of claim 11, wherein a
driving terminal of the electrode layer at one side is projected to
the electrode layer at the other side in order to apply a driving
voltage to the electrode layer.
13. The sealing piezoelectric cap assembly of claim 12, wherein the
driving terminal of the electrode layer at one side is formed by
penetrating through the sealing part.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the priority of Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2010-0078490 filed on Aug. 13, 2010, in the
Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a piezoelectric sealing cap
and an assembly including the same, and more particularly, to a
piezoelectric sealing cap completely sealing highly volatile
materials, harmful materials, or the like in a reagent bottle, and
an assembly including the same.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] When a fluid such as an experimental reagent for research, a
beverage or the like is stored, it should be blocked from being
discharged to the outside. In particular, in the case of highly
volatile materials or harmful materials, function of blocking the
outflow thereof to the outside is one of the most important factors
in the storage thereof.
[0006] In other words, in the case of chemical materials such as an
experimental reagent, the sealing function of the content is
considered to be the most important factor in the storage thereof
and therefore a cap plays a very important role in a reagent
bottle.
[0007] In the related art, a cap of a reagent bottle is formed to
have an internal space for receiving an opening, so the reagent
bottle may receive the opening, wherein an outer circumferential
surface of the opening is fastened to an inner circumferential
surface of the cap by a screw connection method.
[0008] In addition to the method as described above, when premium
content such as wine is stored, the content is prevented from being
discharged to the outside using the elasticity of a cork
stopper.
[0009] However, the cap according to the related art using the
screw connection has disadvantages in that it is difficult to
completely connect the screw connection parts and it is also
difficult to manufacture a female screw thread and a male screw
thread according to precise numerical values.
[0010] In addition, in the case of the screw connection, it is
weakly sealed when rotation force is weak. When rotation force is
strong in order to strongly seal the screw, a large torque is
required when releasing the sealing.
[0011] In addition, in the case of the cap using the cork, it
requires a separate cap opener since it uses the elasticity of the
cork. Further, it is very difficult to reseal the cap after the cap
has been opened.
[0012] Therefore, in the case that highly volatile materials or
harmful materials are stored, there is an urgent demand for
research into a cap, the sealing of which can be simply released,
while completely maintaining the overall sealing thereof, that is,
a sealing cap of a reagent bottle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] An aspect of the present invention provides a piezoelectric
sealing cap that improves the sealing ability of a reagent bottle
in which highly volatile materials or the like are stored to
prevent a danger due to the outflow of the content therefrom and
simply releases the sealing thereof, and an assembly including the
same.
[0014] A piezoelectric sealing cap according to a preferred
embodiment of the present invention includes: a piezoelectric
element generating displacement by a driving voltage; and a sealing
part formed to surround the piezoelectric element and sealing a
bottle neck when the piezoelectric element is inserted into the
bottle neck.
[0015] The sealing part may be formed to cover the outer side of
the piezoelectric element and to be elastically deformed according
to the displacement of the piezoelectric element.
[0016] The sealing part may be made of rubber so as to have
elasticity.
[0017] The piezoelectric element may include electrode layers
formed on an upper surface and a lower surface thereof and when a
driving voltage is applied to the electrode layers, the
displacement of the piezoelectric element may be generated due to
attractive or repulsive force between the internal charges of the
piezoelectric element and the driving voltage.
[0018] A driving terminal of the electrode layer at one side may be
projected to the electrode layer at the other side in order to
apply a driving voltage to the electrode layer.
[0019] The driving terminal of the electrode layer at one side may
be formed by penetrating through the sealing part.
[0020] A piezoelectric sealing cap assembly according to another
preferred embodiment of the present invention includes: a
piezoelectric element generating displacement by a driving voltage;
a sealing part formed to surround the piezoelectric element and
sealing a bottle neck when the piezoelectric element is inserted
into the bottle neck; and a power supply unit applying the driving
voltage to the piezoelectric element so that the width of the
piezoelectric element is smaller than the width of the bottle neck
due to attractive force between the internal charges of the
piezoelectric element and the driving voltage.
[0021] The sealing part may be formed to cover the outer side of
the piezoelectric element and be elastically deformed according to
the displacement of the piezoelectric element.
[0022] The sealing part may be made of rubber so as to have
elasticity.
[0023] When the driving voltage to the piezoelectric element is
blocked, attractive force between the internal charges of the
piezoelectric element and the driving voltage may be lost to
increase the widths of the piezoelectric element and the sealing
part.
[0024] The piezoelectric element may include electrode layers
formed on an upper surface and a lower surface thereof, and a
driving voltage may be applied to the electrode layers.
[0025] A driving terminal of the electrode layer at one side may be
projected to the electrode layer at the other side in order to
apply a driving voltage to the electrode layer.
[0026] The driving terminal of the electrode layer at one side may
be formed by penetrating through the sealing part.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] The above and other aspects, features and other advantages
of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the
following detailed description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0028] FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a
piezoelectric sealing cap assembly including a piezoelectric
sealing cap according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention;
[0029] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing
a piezoelectric sealing cap assembly including a piezoelectric
sealing cap according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention;
[0030] FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing a
structure in which a bottle neck is sealed by a piezoelectric
sealing cap according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention;
[0031] FIGS. 4A through 4C are cross-sectional views schematically
showing a polling of a piezoelectric sealing cap according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0032] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing
relationship between a piezoelectric element of a piezoelectric
sealing cap according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention and a driving voltage thereof;
[0033] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing
relationship between a piezoelectric element of a piezoelectric
sealing cap according to another exemplary embodiment of the
present invention and a driving voltage thereof; and
[0034] FIG. 7 is a perspective view schematically showing
relationship between a piezoelectric element of a piezoelectric
sealing cap according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention and a driving voltage thereof.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0035] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention
will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings. However, it should be noted that the spirit of the
present invention is not limited to the embodiments set forth
herein and those skilled in the art and understanding the present
invention can easily accomplish retrogressive inventions or other
embodiments included in the spirit of the present invention by the
addition, modification, and removal of components within the same
spirit, but those are construed as being included in the spirit of
the present invention.
[0036] Further, throughout the drawings, the same or similar
reference numerals will be used to designate the same components or
like components having the same functions in the scope of the
similar idea.
[0037] FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a
piezoelectric sealing cap assembly including a piezoelectric
sealing cap according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
[0038] Referring to FIG. 1, a piezoelectric sealing cap assembly
300 including a piezoelectric sealing cap 100 according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a
piezoelectric sealing cap 100 and a reagent bottle 200.
[0039] Detailed exemplary embodiments of the piezoelectric sealing
cap 100 will be described hereinafter. The piezoelectric sealing
cap assembly 300 according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention may have all of the detailed characteristics of
each embodiment of the piezoelectric sealing cap 100.
[0040] The reagent bottle 200, which is a bottle in which chemicals
are stored, may be a bottle in which highly volatile materials or
harmful materials are put and stored.
[0041] However, it is to be noted beforehand that the reagent
bottle 200 is not limited to a bottle in which chemicals are stored
but may be replaced by a container in which a general fluid such as
a beverage, water, or the like, drunk in daily life, is stored.
[0042] The reagent bottle 200 may include an opening 220 into which
fluid to be stored is introduced, and the opening 220 may include a
bottle neck 210.
[0043] The piezoelectric sealing cap 100 may be inserted into the
bottle neck 210, the piezoelectric sealing cap 100 for sealing the
content of the reagent bottle 200.
[0044] Herein, the shape of the piezoelectric sealing cap 100 may
correspond to the shape of the inner circumferential surface of the
bottle neck 210, wherein the inner circumferential surface of the
bottle neck 210 may have a circular shape or a polygonal shape.
[0045] In addition, the bottle neck 210 may be a hole having a
predetermined width but is not always limited thereto and may have
a width that gradually increases or decreases in a direction
towards a lower end of the reagent bottle 200.
[0046] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing
a piezoelectric sealing cap assembly including a piezoelectric
sealing cap according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing a
structure in which a bottle neck is sealed by a piezoelectric
sealing cap according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
[0047] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, when a driving voltage is
applied to the piezoelectric sealing cap 100 according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention by a power supply
unit 250, the diameter of the piezoelectric sealing cap 100 may be
reduced to a smaller diameter than the diameter of the opening 220
of the reagent bottle 200.
[0048] In this configuration, the principle of displacement
generation of the piezoelectric sealing cap 100 will be described
later with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7, and the relationship between
the piezoelectric sealing cap 100 and the opening 220 of the
reagent bottle 200 will be described hereinafter.
[0049] When a driving voltage is applied to the piezoelectric
sealing cap 100 by the power supply unit 250, the diameter of the
piezoelectric sealing cap 100 is reduced to be smaller than the
diameter of the inner circumferential surface of the bottle neck
210 of the reagent bottle 200.
[0050] Therefore, the piezoelectric sealing cap 100 may be easily
inserted into the bottle neck 210.
[0051] Even after being inserted, the piezoelectric sealing cap 100
may be moved up and down in the bottle neck 210 and after being
moved to a desired position to be fixed, it may block the driving
voltage from the power supply unit 250.
[0052] At this time, a separate switch (not shown) may be provided
so as to block the driving voltage from the power supply unit 250
and the driving voltage may be freely applied or blocked by the
switch.
[0053] When a driving voltage from the power supply unit 250 is
blocked, the diameter of the piezoelectric sealing cap 100 is
increased and subsequently, closely attached to the inner
circumferential surface of the bottle neck 210 of the reagent
bottle 200.
[0054] Therefore, the content of the reagent bottle 200 may be
sealed by the piezoelectric sealing cap 100 and the described
process may be reversely performed when the sealing thereof is
released.
[0055] In other words, when the driving voltage blocked by the
piezoelectric sealing cap 100 is applied again, the diameter of the
piezoelectric sealing cap 100 is reduced, thereby being easily
pulled out from the bottle neck 210.
[0056] FIGS. 4A through 4C are cross-sectional views schematically
showing a polling of a piezoelectric sealing cap according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 5 through
7 are cross-sectional views and a perspective view schematically
showing relationship between a piezoelectric element of a
piezoelectric sealing cap according to an exemplary embodiment of
the present invention and a driving voltage thereof.
[0057] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the piezoelectric sealing cap
100 according to the present invention may include a piezoelectric
element 150 and a sealing part 130.
[0058] The piezoelectric element 150 may include an upper electrode
120a, a lower electrode 120b, and a piezoelectric body 110, wherein
the upper electrode 120a and the lower electrode 120b may provide a
driving voltage to the piezoelectric body 110 to generate
displacement of the piezoelectric element 150.
[0059] The piezoelectric body 110 may be formed as piezoelectric
fluid having viscosity is solidified between the upper electrode
120a and the lower electrode 120b, and the piezoelectric body 110
is a material capable of converting electrical energy into
mechanical energy or mechanical energy into electrical energy.
[0060] In other words, the piezoelectric body 110 may be made of a
material in which polarization is induced in the material when
mechanical pressure is applied from the outside or mechanical
deformation is generated due to external electric field.
[0061] The piezoelectric body 110 may include a lead zirconate
titanate (Pb(Zr, Ti)03: PZT) ceramic and have a perovskite crystal
structure.
[0062] In addition, the piezoelectric body 110 may require a
polling process so as to have the characteristics as described
above.
[0063] Referring to FIGS. 4A through 4C, when DC field 260 is
generated by applying voltage to the upper and lower electrodes
(not shown) positioned on the upper and lower portions of the
piezoelectric body 110, adjacent directions of a dipole gradually
correspond to each other due to the DC field 260.
[0064] In other words, a process of applying the DC field 260 to
the piezoelectric body 110 and then removing it again is called
`polling`. The polling will be described hereinafter.
[0065] FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view showing an internal
structure of the piezoelectric body 110 in an initial state,
wherein polarization of the piezoelectric body 110 in an initial
state has a random arrangement.
[0066] In the piezoelectric body 110 in an initial state, which is
a polycrystal, the inside of each crystalline grain is generally
divided into several polarizations having different polarization
directions, the entirety of the polarizations in this state are
offset so as not to be represented to the outside.
[0067] In the piezoelectric body 110 in an initial state,
polarization is not entirely formed. As a result, when mechanical
pressure is applied from the outside, polarization may not be
induced in the material or mechanical deformation may not be
generated due to an external electric field.
[0068] Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4B, polarization may be induced
by applying the DC field 260 to the upper and lower electrodes (not
shown) of the piezoelectric body 110 in an initial state.
[0069] In other words, when the DC field 260 is applied to the
piezoelectric body 110 in an initial state, the polarization
direction in the crystal is polarized according to the DC field
direction and at the same time, the length of the crystalline grain
is lengthened in the electric field direction 115.
[0070] Thereafter, the applied DC field 260 is removed. The
internal structure of the piezoelectric body 110 from which the DC
field 260 is removed is shown in FIG. 4C.
[0071] It can be appreciated from FIG. 4C that the length of the
crystalline grain is changed to be lengthened in the polarization
shaft as compared to that in an initial state shown in FIG. 4A.
[0072] In other words, even though the DC field 260 is applied to
the piezoelectric body 110 in an initial state and then is removed,
the crystalline grains are not returned to their original states
and the majority of the crystalline grains maintain a polarized
state.
[0073] This is the reason that the remnant strain 115 and remnant
polarization are generated in the piezoelectric body 110 due to the
polling.
[0074] In this case, the remnant strain 115 implies that a state of
the crystalline grain is changed due to the polling and the remnant
polarization implies that polarization is formed in the applied
field direction.
[0075] Therefore, negative (-) charges and positive (+) charges are
captured on the upper portion and the lower portion of the
piezoelectric body 110 as a whole.
[0076] The piezoelectric body 110, subjected to the polling as
described above, becomes more dense and has electrical
characteristics, thereby making it possible to perform the function
of the piezoelectric sealing cap 100.
[0077] The piezoelectric sealing cap 100 may include a
piezoelectric element 150 configured of the upper and lower
electrodes 120a and 120b as described above and a sealing part
130.
[0078] Herein, the upper and the lower electrodes 120a and 120b are
electrode layers 120 positioned on the upper portion and the lower
portion of the piezoelectric body 110. The upper and lower
electrodes 120a and 120b may be evenly positioned over the upper
portion and the lower portion of the piezoelectric body 110 so that
the driving voltage of the power supply unit 250 is evenly applied
to the piezoelectric body 110.
[0079] The electrode layer 120 may be made of at least any one of
platinum (Pt), gold (Au), silver (Ag), nickel (Ni), titanium (Ti),
copper (Cu), and the like. The electrode layer 120 may be formed on
the upper surface and the lower surface of the piezoelectric body
110 by inkjet printing, E-beam evaporation, chemical vapor
deposition (CVD), sputtering, screen printing, plating, or the
like.
[0080] Referring to FIG. 5, the piezoelectric sealing cap 100
according to the present invention is formed with polarizations
through the polling as described above, and negative (-) charges
and positive (+) charges may be separately formed on the upper
portion and the lower portion thereof as a whole.
[0081] At this time, a positive (+) terminal of the power supply
unit 250 is connected to the upper electrode 120a in which negative
(-) charges are dense, and a negative (-) terminal of the power
supply unit 250 is connected to the lower electrode 120b in which
positive (+) charges are dense.
[0082] When the power supply unit 250 is electrically connected to
the electrode layer 120, the piezoelectric element 150 is expanded
due to attractive force between the internal charges of the
piezoelectric element 150 and the applied voltage from the power
supply unit 250.
[0083] In other words, the width of the piezoelectric sealing cap
100 becomes smaller than the inner circumferential surface of the
bottle neck 210 of the reagent bottle 200, thereby being easily
inserted into the bottle neck 210 (see FIG. 2).
[0084] However, a driving terminal of the lower electrode 120b of
the electrode layer 120 may be projected to the upper electrode
120a, in consideration of the characteristics of the piezoelectric
sealing cap 100, and may be projected upward by penetrating through
the sealing part 130 described below.
[0085] When the piezoelectric sealing cap 100 is inserted into the
bottle neck 210 and then the driving voltage from the power supply
unit 250 is blocked, the width of the piezoelectric element 150 is
gradually increased, thereby finally making it possible to
completely seal the bottle neck 210 (see FIG. 3).
[0086] In other words, when the driving voltage to the
piezoelectric element 150 is blocked, attractive force between the
internal charge of the piezoelectric element 150 and the driving
voltage is lost and thus the width of the piezoelectric element 150
is increased, thereby sealing the bottle neck 210.
[0087] Therefore, it is possible to prevent highly volatile
materials or harmful materials in the reagent bottle 200 from being
discharged and easily insert the piezoelectric sealing cap 100 into
the bottle neck 210 of the reagent bottle 200.
[0088] In addition, when the piezoelectric sealing cap 100 is to be
detached from the bottle neck 210, it may be performed by reversely
conducting the processes. In other words, it may be performed only
by applying the driving voltage from the power supply unit 250 to
the electrode layer 120 of the piezoelectric element 150.
[0089] In this configuration, the piezoelectric sealing cap 100 may
include the sealing part 130. The sealing part 130 is formed to
surround the piezoelectric element 150, thereby making it possible
to seal the bottle neck 210 when the piezoelectric element 150 is
inserted into the bottle neck 210.
[0090] Herein, the sealing part 130 may be formed to cover the
outer side of the piezoelectric element 150 and be elastically
deformed according to the displacement of the piezoelectric element
150.
[0091] In addition, the sealing part 130 may be made of rubber in
order to have elasticity. As described above, the driving terminal
may penetrate through the sealing part 130 so that the driving
terminal of the electrode layer 120 at one side of the
piezoelectric element 150 is projected upward.
[0092] When the piezoelectric sealing cap 100 is inserted into the
bottle neck 210, the sealing part 130 can completely seal the
bottle neck 210 and surround the upper surface of the piezoelectric
sealing cap 100 to be opened as shown in FIG. 6.
[0093] The above embodiment describes a case in which negative (-)
charges and positive (+) charges are separately formed on the upper
portion and the lower portion of the piezoelectric element 150 by
polling; however, the inverse case is also obvious.
[0094] In other words, as the positive (+) terminal and the
negative (-) terminal of the power supply unit 250 are inversely
connected, the internal charges of the piezoelectric element 150
and the driving voltage of the power supply unit 250 generate
repulsive force, such that the piezoelectric sealing cap 100 may be
expanded.
[0095] However, in this case, when the bottle neck 210 is sealed,
the power supply unit 250 is connected and when the content of the
reagent bottle 200 is stored, the power supply unit 250 should be
always connected. Therefore, it may be preferable that the bottle
neck 210 is sealed by attractive force.
[0096] As described above, when highly volatile materials or
harmful materials are stored in the reagent bottle 200 using
electrical characteristics of the piezoelectric body 110, the
piezoelectric sealing cap 100 according to the present invention
can improve sealing force of the reagent bottle 200 to prevent
damage due to the leakage of the content and be simply released
after being sealed.
[0097] As set forth above, according to the piezoelectric sealing
cap and an assembly including the same according to exemplary
embodiments of the invention, highly volatile materials, harmful
materials, or the like, can be completely sealed, thereby making it
possible to secure stability.
[0098] In addition, the size of the piezoelectric sealing cap is
changed by a driving voltage, thereby making it possible to easily
seal the cap or release it after being sealed.
[0099] While the present invention has been shown and described in
connection with the exemplary embodiments, it will be apparent to
those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be
made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention
as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *