U.S. patent application number 13/220543 was filed with the patent office on 2013-02-28 for offset stabilizer.
This patent application is currently assigned to Hoyt Archery, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Dan'l J. Anselmo, Zak T. Kurtzhals, Randy J. Walk. Invention is credited to Dan'l J. Anselmo, Zak T. Kurtzhals, Randy J. Walk.
Application Number | 20130047972 13/220543 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47741821 |
Filed Date | 2013-02-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130047972 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Walk; Randy J. ; et
al. |
February 28, 2013 |
OFFSET STABILIZER
Abstract
An archery bow includes a riser having an offset riser portion,
a bowstring, and a stabilizer mount. The riser defines a vertical
center plane that divides the handle portion into right and left
sides when the bow is positioned upright and ready for use. The
bowstring extends between opposing ends of the handle portion. The
stabilizer mount is mounted to the offset riser portion so that the
stabilizer is offset laterally and vertically from the handgrip and
vertical center plane, respectively, of the archery bow to
compensate for archery accessories attached to the bow.
Inventors: |
Walk; Randy J.; (Erda,
UT) ; Kurtzhals; Zak T.; (Herriman, UT) ;
Anselmo; Dan'l J.; (Riverton, UT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Walk; Randy J.
Kurtzhals; Zak T.
Anselmo; Dan'l J. |
Erda
Herriman
Riverton |
UT
UT
UT |
US
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Hoyt Archery, Inc.
Salt Lake City
UT
|
Family ID: |
47741821 |
Appl. No.: |
13/220543 |
Filed: |
August 29, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
124/25.6 ;
124/89 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41B 5/1426
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
124/25.6 ;
124/89 |
International
Class: |
F41B 5/20 20060101
F41B005/20; F41B 5/10 20060101 F41B005/10 |
Claims
1. An archery bow, comprising: a riser having an offset riser
portion the riser having a vertical center plane that divides the
riser into right and left sides when the archery bow is positioned
upright and ready for use; a bowstring; a stabilizer secured to the
offset riser portion, the stabilizer being positioned on the riser
offset from the vertical center plane.
2. The archery bow of claim 1 wherein the vertical center plane is
a weighted center plane that divides the riser into equal weight
right and left sides when the archery bow is positioned
upright.
3. The archery bow of claim 1 wherein the riser includes a
handgrip, and further comprising a stabilizer mount positioned on
the offset riser portion vertically below the handgrip when the
archery bow is positioned upright.
4. The archery bow of claim 3 wherein the stabilizer mount is
connected to a side surface of the riser.
5. The archery bow of claim 1 further comprising a cable guard
secured on one side of the riser, and the stabilizer is secured to
an opposite side of the riser.
6. The archery bow of claim 1 further comprising a stabilizer mount
secured to the offset riser portion of the riser to which the
stabilizer is mounted, and at least one accessory supported by the
riser, the stabilizer being arranged and configured to at least
partially offset an imbalance in the archery bow created by the at
least one accessory.
7. An archery bow comprising: a riser having an offset riser
section; limbs extending from the riser; a bowstring extending
between the limbs; a stabilizer mounted to the offset riser section
and extending forward from the riser, the stabilizer being offset
laterally from a vertical weighted centerline of the archery bow
when the archery bow is positioned upright and ready for use.
8. The archery bow of claim 7, wherein the vertical weighted
centerline is aligned with a plane extending through the bowstring,
limbs and riser.
9. The archery bow of claim 7, wherein the riser includes left and
right side surfaces when the archery bow is positioned upright, and
the stabilizer is mounted to one of the left and right side
surfaces of the offset riser section.
10. The archery bow of claim 7, wherein the offset riser section
includes a stabilizer mounting aperture configured to mount the
stabilizer to the riser.
11. The archery bow of claim 7, further comprising a stabilizer
mount connected to the riser and configured to support the
stabilizer.
12. An archery bow stabilizer assembly, comprising: a stabilizer
mount configured for direct attachment to a side surface of an
offset portion of an archery bow riser, the stabilizer mount being
offset from a vertical center plane of the archery bow riser when
the archery bow riser is positioned upright and ready for use; a
stabilizer releasably mounted to the stabilizer mount.
13. The archery bow stabilizer assembly of claim 12, wherein the
stabilizer is configured to offset weight imbalances in the archery
bow riser.
14. The archery bow stabilizer assembly of claim 12, wherein the
stabilizer mount is configured for attachment to the archery bow
riser with a plurality of fasteners.
15. The archery bow stabilizer assembly of claim 12, wherein the
stabilizer mount includes a threaded bore sized to receive a
threaded shank of the stabilizer.
16. A method of stabilizing an archery bow, comprising: providing
an archery bow, having a riser with an offset riser portion, and a
stabilizer; mounting the stabilizer to the offset riser portion of
the riser of the archery bow so that the stabilizer is mounted
directly to the riser in a manner that is laterally offset from a
vertical weighted center plane when the archery bow is in an
upright position ready for use, the stabilizer extending in a
forward direction.
17. The method of claim 16, further comprising providing at least
one accessory and mounting the at least one accessory to the
archery bow, the stabilizer compensating for at least some
imbalances in the archery bow imposed by the at least one
accessory.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein the archery bow includes a
riser, limbs mounted to the riser, and a bowstring extending
between the limbs, and the vertical weighted center plane extends
through the riser, limbs and bowstring.
19. The method of claim 16, wherein the archery bow includes a
riser having a handgrip, and the vertical weighted center plane
extends through the handgrip.
20. The method of claim 16, wherein mounting the stabilizer
includes connecting the stabilizer to a right side surface or a
left side surface of the archery bow when the archery bow is in an
upright position ready for use.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] When an arrow is shot from an archery bow, the bow moves in
response to the forces generated upon release of the bowstring. In
addition, the bow absorbs the energy not imparted to the arrow,
which causes the bow to vibrate. Movement and vibration of the bow
have a direct impact on shooting accuracy. A bow stabilizer device
may be attached to the bow to balance the bow and dampen vibrations
in the bow to minimize unintentional bow movement when shooting.
One function of a bow stabilizer is to provide a counterweight that
helps stabilize and maintain the bow in an upright or vertically
oriented position during launching of the arrow.
[0002] One conventional type of bow stabilizer is a rod with a
circular cross-section. Rod stabilizers may use a rod alone or use
a system of movable weights along the rod length. Some rod
stabilizers include a plurality of rods arranged radially spaced
from each other. Rod stabilizers that include only a rod may act as
both a dampener and a weight, wherein the dampener absorbs and may
transfer the energy to another "weight" portion of the rod. In a
system that includes a rod and separate weights, the rod may
transfer the energy of the bow to the weights.
[0003] Stabilizers are typically constructed to extend in a forward
direction from the bow when the bow is oriented in an upright,
shooting position. Stabilizers are usually mounted on the bow at a
location on the riser and extend straight away from the riser.
Stabilizers are typically aligned with a center line or center
plane of the bow, with reference to the riser, when the bow is held
upright. The balance and weight of the bow are affected, however,
by accessories that are commonly mounted to a bow, including a
quiver full of arrows, a cable guard, dampeners, sight components,
etc. The added accessories often change the balance of the bow and
may affect performance of the bow. Some prior stabilizers are
positioned to offset the weight of the added accessories by
utilizing an extension arm from which the stabilizer extends.
[0004] A need exists, therefore, for a stabilizer that accounts and
compensates for the weight imbalance of an archery bow and the
attached accessories.
SUMMARY
[0005] One aspect of the present disclosure relates to an archery
bow that includes a riser, a bowstring, and a stabilizer mount. The
riser defines a vertical center plane that divides the handle
portion into right and left sides when the archery bow is
positioned upright and ready for use. The bowstring extends between
opposing ends of the handle portion. The riser includes an offset
section to which a stabilizer may be mounted in a position that is
offset from the vertical center plane.
[0006] The vertical center plane may be a weighted center plane
that divides the riser into equal weight right and left sides when
the archery bow is positioned upright. The riser may include a
handgrip, and the offset riser section may be provided vertically
below handgrip and laterally offset the vertical center plane of
the riser. A stabilizer mount may be connected to a side surface of
the handle portion. The riser may be coupled to first and second
limbs. The limbs may be mounted to opposing free ends of the riser.
The archery bow may include a stabilizer secured to the stabilizer
mount, mounted in turn to the offset riser portion, and at least
one accessory supported by the riser portion, wherein the
stabilizer is mounted and configured to at least partially offset
an imbalance in the archery bow created by the at least one
accessory.
[0007] Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to an
archery bow that includes a riser, limbs extending from the riser,
at least one cable member extending between the limbs, and a
stabilizer extending from the riser. The stabilizer is mounted to
an offset riser section which is offset laterally from a vertical
weighted centerline of the archery bow when the archery bow is
positioned upright and ready for use.
[0008] The weighted centerline may be aligned with a plane
extending through the bowstring, limbs and riser. The riser may
include left and right side surfaces when the archery bow is
positioned upright, and the stabilizer is mounted to one of the
left and right side surfaces of the offset riser portion. The
stabilizer extends away from the at least one cable. The archery
bow may also include a stabilizer mount connected to the offset
riser portion, which is configured to support the stabilizer.
[0009] A further aspect of the present disclosure relates to an
archery bow stabilizer assembly that includes a stabilizer mount
and a stabilizer. The stabilizer mount is configured for attachment
to a side surface of an offset section of an archery bow riser. The
offset section is offset from a vertical center plane of the
archery bow when the archery bow is positioned upright and ready
for use. The stabilizer is releasably mounted to the stabilizer
mount at the offset riser section.
[0010] The stabilizer may be configured to offset weight imbalances
in the archery bow. The stabilizer mount may be configured for
attachment to the archery bow riser with a plurality of fasteners.
The stabilizer mount may include a threaded bore sized to receive a
threaded shank of the stabilizer.
[0011] Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method
of stabilizing an archery bow. The method includes providing an
archery bow having a riser with an offset riser section and a
stabilizer, and mounting the stabilizer to the offset riser section
of the archery bow such that the stabilizer is laterally offset
from a vertical weighted center plane when the archery bow is in an
upright position ready for use with the stabilizer extending in a
forward direction. The stabilizer stabilizes the archery bow during
use.
[0012] The method may also include providing at least one accessory
and mounting the at least one accessory to the archery bow, wherein
the stabilizer compensates for at least some imbalances in the
archery bow imposed by the at least one accessory. The archery bow
may include a riser, limbs mounted to the riser, and a bowstring
extending between the limbs, and the center plane extends through
the riser, limbs and bowstring. The archery bow may include a riser
having a handgrip, and the center plane extends through the
handgrip. Mounting the stabilizer may include connecting the
stabilizer to a right side surface or a left side surface of the
archery bow when the archery bow is in an upright position ready
for use.
[0013] The foregoing and other features, utilities, and advantages
of the subject matter described herein will be apparent from the
following more particular description of certain embodiments as
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an archery bow having an
offset stabilizer in accordance with the present disclosure.
[0015] FIG. 2 shows a partial exploded perspective view of the
archery bow of FIG. 1.
[0016] FIG. 3 shows a front view of the archery bow of FIG. 1.
[0017] FIG. 4 shows a rear view of the archery bow of FIG. 1.
[0018] FIG. 5 shows another perspective view of the archery bow of
FIG. 1.
[0019] FIG. 6 shows another front view of the archery bow of FIG.
1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] The present disclosure is directed to archery bows
generally, and more specifically relates to stabilizer features for
use with archery bows. Bow stabilizers are commonly used to help
stabilize the archery bow during use. Bow stabilizers are typically
mounted to a handle portion (e.g., a riser) of the archery bow and
extend in a forward direction away from the bowstring. Bow
stabilizers may help offset forces or actions that occur when
launching an arrow from the archery bow. For example, the
stabilizer may be used to offset tilting, twisting, or torsion
forces when shooting an arrow from the archery bow.
[0021] An example stabilizer in accordance with the present
disclosure is mounted to the riser at an offset riser section that
is offset from a symmetry plane or a weighted center plane of the
archery bow. A symmetry plane typically extends through the
bowstring and centrally through a handgrip of the handle portion
and divides the archery bow into left and right sides. A weighted
center plane is a vertical plane extending through the bowstring
and riser to divide the archery bow into left and right sides of
equal weight. Typically, an archery bow without accessories mounted
thereto has the symmetric center plane aligned with the weighted
center plane so that the archery bow remains in an upright position
ready for use when the operator holds the handgrip of the handle
portion. In other arrangements, the archery bow with some key
accessories such as the bow sight mounted thereto has the symmetric
center plane aligned with the weighted center plane, and the
addition of further accessories creates imbalances in the archery
bow.
[0022] Mounting accessories to the archery bow may create
imbalances that tend to create torsion forces and tilt or torque
the archery bow when an arrow is launched. The offset riser portion
allows the stabilizer to be positioned on the archery bow at an
offset location to offset or counterbalance at least some of the
forces imposed by the mounted accessories that would otherwise
create imbalances in the archery bow. The offset riser portion
eliminates the need to have an extension arm, which may extend
downwardly and laterally relative to the handgrip of the bow, to
which a stabilizer is mounted. In one example, the offset
stabilizer is mounted to a side surface of the offset riser section
of the archery bow. The offset stabilizer may be offset laterally
from at least one of a weighted center plane and a symmetric center
plane of the archery bow.
[0023] Archery bow stabilizers disclosed herein may include a
stabilizer mount that is connected directly to the riser of the
archery bow, and a stabilizer that is removably mounted to the
stabilizer mount. The stabilizer mount may be configured to
position the stabilizer at various offset positions relative to at
least one of the symmetric center plane and weighted center plane
of the archery bow. Typically, the stabilizer is mounted at a
location vertically below a handgrip of the riser of the archery
bow when the archery bow is in an upright position ready for
use.
[0024] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, an example archery bow 10 is
shown and described. The archery bow 10 includes a riser 12, first
and second limbs 14, 16 mounted to the riser 12, first and second
cams 18, 20 supported on the first and second limbs 14, 16,
respectively, a pair of cables 22, 24 extending between the first
and second cams 18, 20, and a bowstring 26 also extending between
the first and second cams 18, 20. The archery bow 10 is typically
operated by a user grasping the riser 12 about a handgrip 44 with
one hand (e.g., the left hand) and pulling or drawing the bowstring
26 in a rearward direction away from the riser 12 with an opposite
hand (i.e., the right hand).
[0025] The archery bow 10 may include a number of accessories
mounted thereto. For example, the archery bow 10 may include a
stabilizer assembly 28, a plurality of dampeners 30, a cable guard
32, a bowstring silencer 34, and a quiver 36. At least some of the
accessories (e.g., the dampeners 30 and bowstring silencer 34) may
be aligned with the symmetric center plane (see FIGS. 3 and 4).
Others of the accessories (e.g., the cable guard 32 and quiver 36)
may be offset from the symmetric center plane (see FIG. 4). The
offset position of the cable guard 32 and quiver 36 from a
symmetric vertical center plane P.sub.1 and vertically above a
horizontal symmetric center plane P.sub.4 (see FIG. 6) may create a
static imbalance in the archery bow 10, such as a rotational force
about a rotation axis A.
[0026] The rotation axis A (i.e., the axis about which the bow
rotates during a shot as a result of bow torque) may extend through
the riser 12 along the hand grip 44 (e.g., when the hand grip 44
abuts against a top of the user's hand). The position of rotation
axis A in the figures is approximate and may vary depending on a
number of factors such as various features of the riser 12, the
configuration of the hand grip 44, how the shooter grips the bow,
etc.
[0027] The stabilizer assembly 28 may include an offset or
staggered riser section 27 to allow a stabilizer to be mounted in
an offset manner without an extension arm or other structure. The
offset riser portion 27 allows the stabilizer to be mounted
laterally offset in an opposite direction relative to the other
offset accessories (e.g., the cable guard 32 and quiver 36). The
offset riser portion 27 may include a stabilizer mounting aperture
29. The stabilizer assembly 28 may be offset a distance H (see FIG.
3) in a vertical direction from the rotation axis A. The stabilizer
assembly 28 may be offset a distance W (see FIG. 3) in a lateral
direction from the symmetric plane P.sub.1 (see FIGS. 5-6). The
offset position of the offset riser section 27 and corresponding
stabilizer assembly 28 may help counterbalance some of the
destabilizing forces imposed by the offset positioning of other of
the accessories.
[0028] The offset riser section 27 may include any portion of the
riser where the stabilizer is directly connected at a location that
is offset from at least one of the weighted and geometric
centerlines of the riser 12.
[0029] Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the riser 12 includes
first and second limb connection members 40, 42, a handgrip 44,
left and right side surfaces 46, 48, a front surface 50, and a
stabilizer recess 52. The first and second limbs 14, 16 may be
mounted to the riser 12 at the first and second limb connection
members 40, 42, respectively. The handgrip 44 may help define a
location of symmetry for the archery bow 10. For example, the
symmetric center plane P.sub.1 may pass centrally through the
handgrip 44. Further, the rotation axis A may extend through the
handgrip 44 (see FIG. 3).
[0030] The stabilizer recess 52 may extend at least partially onto
at least one of the left, right, and/or front surfaces 46, 48, 50
(see FIG. 2). The stabilizer assembly 28 may be connected along the
left side surface 46 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) and directly to the offset
riser section 27. Other arrangements are possible for mounting the
stabilizer assembly 28 including, for example, mounting within
portions of the stabilizer recess 52 that extend along the right
side surface 48 and the front surface 50.
[0031] The stabilizer assembly 28 may include a stabilizer mount
60, a plurality of fasteners 62 used to secure the stabilizer mount
60 to the offset riser section 27 of the riser 12, and a stabilizer
64 that is removably mounted to the stabilizer mount 60. The
stabilizer mount 60 may include a threaded bore 66 sized to receive
a threaded shaft 70 of the stabilizer 64 to provide the releasable
attachment therebetween (see FIG. 2). The stabilizer mount 60 may
also include a plurality of fastener bores 68 sized to receive the
fastener 62 for securing the stabilizer mount 60 to the riser 12 at
different vertical and lateral positions relative to the symmetric
and horizontal center planes P.sub.1, P.sub.4.
[0032] In some arrangements, the stabilizer mount 60 and stabilizer
64 may be integrally formed as a single piece. In other
arrangements, the stabilizer assembly 28 may include a stabilizer
mount 60 or a stabilizer 64 with multiple pieces. The stabilizer 64
may have any shape, size, weight, or configuration. In some
examples, the stabilizer 64 provides dampening functions in
addition to stabilizing functions. The stabilizer mount 60 may be
integrally formed into the riser 12, such as a threaded bore formed
into the riser 12.
[0033] Positions of the stabilizer assembly 28 may be accessible
from a front or a rear facing surface of the offset riser section
27 of the riser 12. For example, the stabilizer assembly 28 may
include a first stabilizer mount with a first threaded bore facing
in a rearward direction toward the bowstring 26, and a second
threaded bore facing in a forward direction wherein each threaded
bore is configured to releasably mount a stabilizer.
[0034] The archery bow 10 may have a plurality of different
weighted center planes for different arrangements that are
inclusive or exclusive of accessories such as the stabilizer
assembly 28. A vertical symmetric center plane P.sub.1 extends
through the bowstring 26 and rotation axis A when no accessories
are included on the archery bow 10. As noted above, the vertical
weighted center plane may be aligned with the symmetric center
plane P.sub.1 prior to adding accessories. The vertical weighted
center plane may shift laterally after mounting certain accessories
to the archery bow 10. A second vertical center plane P.sub.2 is
shown in FIG. 6 representing a shift in the vertical weighted
center plane away from the symmetric center plane P.sub.1. Adding
the stabilizer assembly 28 secured to the offset riser section 27
as shown in FIGS. 1-6 may create a third vertical weighted center
plane P.sub.3 that is closer to the original symmetric center plane
P.sub.1 (see FIG. 6). In some arrangements, the stabilizer assembly
28 may be sized and configured to shift the vertical weighted
center line to a position between the plane P.sub.1 and the
stabilizer assembly 28.
[0035] The addition of accessories at various heights H and widths
W from the rotation axis A and symmetric center plane P.sub.1
influences the amount of unbalancing force imposed by the
additional accessories. The stabilizer assembly 28 may be
positioned at different locations along the offset riser section 27
of the riser 12 at certain heights H and widths W besides that
location shown in the figures to optimize the counterbalancing
effect available by using an offset stabilizer assembly. Further,
the offset riser section 27 may be made of any suitable
configuration and provided at any suitable location.
[0036] An example method of stabilizing an archery bow in
accordance with the present disclosure may include providing an
archery bow with a riser including an offset section for attaching
a stabilizer thereto, wherein the stabilizer is used to stabilize
the archery bow during use. The method may include mounting the
stabilizer to the archery bow at an offset section of the riser
relative to a vertical center plane of the archery bow. The center
plane may be a vertical weighted center plane when the archery bow
is in an upright position during use. Alternatively, the center
plane may be a symmetrical center plane relative to the majority of
the riser. The stabilizer may be mounted to an offset riser section
which is laterally offset from the vertical center plane. The
stabilizer may be mounted to a side surface of the offset riser
portion, such as, for example, a left or right side surface of a
riser. The stabilizer may compensate for imbalances in the archery
bow imposed by various factors, including one or more accessories
mounted to the archery bow, bow torque caused by the archer,
etc.
[0037] The present disclosure relates to a number of methods
involving the example stabilizer mounts and other stabilizer
related features discussed herein with reference to the attached
figures. One such method is directed to stabilizing an archery bow
using a stabilizer. The stabilizer is mounted to the archery bow on
a laterally offset section of the riser relative to a vertical
weighted center plane of the archery bow. The vertical weighted
center plane is a plane that extends through the archery bow front
to rear when the archery bow is in an upright position ready for
use. The vertical weighted center plane divides the archery bow
into right and left halves of equal weight. The vertical weighted
center plane may be determined before or after mounting at least
one accessory to the archery bow. The vertical weighted center
plane may be aligned with a vertical symmetric center plane that
extends front to back through the archery bow and symmetrically
divides the bow into right and left halves. The stabilizer being
mounted to an offset portion of the riser eliminates the need to
mount the stabilizer at an angle relative to the plane of the riser
and/or to use an extra arm in mounting the stabilizer.
[0038] Another example method relates to mounting a stabilizer to
an archery bow. The archery bow includes a riser, limbs, and a
bowstring. The archery bow has a vertical symmetric center plane
that divides the archery bow into symmetric left and right halves
when the archery bow is in an upright position ready for use. The
method includes mounting a stabilizer to an offset portion of the
riser relative to the vertical symmetric center plane. Mounting the
stabilizer may include connecting a stabilizer mount to the offset
section of the riser, and releasably connecting the stabilizer to
the stabilizer mount. The stabilizer mount may include a threaded
bore sized to threadably receive a threaded shaft of the
stabilizer. Mounting the stabilizer may include extending the
stabilizer in a forward direction away from the handle portion.
[0039] The terms recited in the claims should be given their
ordinary and customary meaning as determined by reference to
relevant entries (e.g., definition of "plane" as a carpenter's tool
would not be relevant to the use of the term "plane" when used to
refer to an airplane, etc.) in dictionaries (e.g., widely used
general reference dictionaries and/or relevant technical
dictionaries), commonly understood meanings by those in the art,
etc., with the understanding that the broadest meaning imparted by
any one or combination of these sources should be given to the
claim terms (e.g., two or more relevant dictionary entries should
be combined to provide the broadest meaning of the combination of
entries, etc.) subject only to the following exceptions: (a) if a
term is used herein in a manner more expansive than its ordinary
and customary meaning, the term should be given its ordinary and
customary meaning plus the additional expansive meaning, or (b) if
a term has been explicitly defined to have a different meaning by
reciting the term followed by the phrase "as used herein shall
mean" or similar language (e.g., "herein this term means," "as
defined herein," "for the purposes of this disclosure [the term]
shall mean," etc.). References to specific examples, use of "i.e.,"
use of the word "invention," etc., are not meant to invoke
exception (b) or otherwise restrict the scope of the recited claim
terms. Other than situations where exception (b) applies, nothing
contained herein should be considered a disclaimer or disavowal of
claim scope. Accordingly, the subject matter recited in the claims
is not coextensive with and should not be interpreted to be
coextensive with any particular embodiment, feature, or combination
of features shown herein. This is true even if only a single
embodiment of the particular feature or combination of features is
illustrated and described herein. Thus, the appended claims should
be read to be given their broadest interpretation in view of the
prior art and the ordinary meaning of the claim terms.
[0040] As used herein, spatial or directional terms, such as
"left," "right," "front," "back," and the like, relate to the
subject matter as it is shown in the drawing FIGS. However, it is
to be understood that the subject matter described herein may
assume various alternative orientations and, accordingly, such
terms are not to be considered as limiting. Furthermore, as used
herein (i.e., in the claims and the specification), articles such
as "the," "a," and "an" may connote the singular or plural. Also,
as used herein, the word "or" when used without a preceding
"either" (or other similar language indicating that "or" is
unequivocally meant to be exclusive--e.g., only one of x or y,
etc.) shall be interpreted to be inclusive (e.g., "x or y" means
one or both x or y). Likewise, as used herein, the term "and/or"
shall also be interpreted to be inclusive (e.g., "x and/or y" means
one or both x or y). In situations where "and/or" or "or" are used
as a conjunction for a group of three or more items, the group
should be interpreted to include one item alone, all of the items
together, or any combination or number of the items. Moreover,
terms used in the specification and claims such as have, having,
include, and including should be construed to be synonymous with
the terms comprise and comprising.
[0041] Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers or expressions, such
as those expressing dimensions, physical characteristics, etc. used
in the specification (other than the claims) are understood as
modified in all instances by the term "approximately." At the very
least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the
doctrine of equivalents to the claims, each numerical parameter
recited in the specification or claims which is modified by the
term "approximately" should at least be construed in light of the
number of recited significant digits and by applying ordinary
rounding techniques. Moreover, all ranges disclosed herein are to
be understood to encompass and provide support for claims that
recite any and all subranges or any and all individual values
subsumed therein. For example, a stated range of 1 to 10 should be
considered to include and provide support for claims that recite
any and all subranges or individual values that are between and/or
inclusive of the minimum value of 1 and the maximum value of 10;
that is, all subranges beginning with a minimum value of 1 or more
and ending with a maximum value of 10 or less (e.g., 5.5 to 10,
2.34 to 3.56, and so forth) or any values from 1 to 10 (e.g., 3,
5.8, 9.9994, and so forth).
* * * * *