U.S. patent application number 13/245862 was filed with the patent office on 2013-03-28 for service tray apparatus.
The applicant listed for this patent is Ilona M. Graham. Invention is credited to Ilona M. Graham.
Application Number | 20130076054 13/245862 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47910449 |
Filed Date | 2013-03-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130076054 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Graham; Ilona M. |
March 28, 2013 |
Service Tray Apparatus
Abstract
An apparatus comprises a service tray comprising a top surface,
a first side, a second side opposing the first side, and a housing
being disposed beneath the top surface. The top surface is
configured for transporting food and beverage items. A first drawer
is configured to be retractable into the housing through an opening
in the first side. The first drawer is further configured for
retaining a plurality of items. A second drawer is configured to be
retractable into the housing through an opening in the second side.
The second drawer is further configured for retaining a plurality
of items in which the service tray with the first drawer and the
second drawer is balanced about a midline along a width of the
service tray between the first drawer and the second drawer.
Inventors: |
Graham; Ilona M.; (Mesquite,
NV) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Graham; Ilona M. |
Mesquite |
NV |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
47910449 |
Appl. No.: |
13/245862 |
Filed: |
September 27, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
294/146 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 23/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
294/146 |
International
Class: |
A47G 23/06 20060101
A47G023/06 |
Claims
1. An apparatus comprising: a service tray comprising a top
surface, a first side, a second side opposing said first side, and
a housing being disposed beneath said top surface, said top surface
being configured for transporting food and beverage items; a first
drawer being configured to be retractable into said housing through
an opening in said first side, said first drawer being further
configured for retaining a plurality of items; and a second drawer
being configured to be retractable into said housing through an
opening in said second side, said second drawer being further
configured for retaining a plurality of items in which said service
tray with said first drawer and said second drawer is balanced
about a midline along a width of said service tray between said
first drawer and said second drawer.
2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said housing
further comprises a channel about said midline, said channel being
configured to rest on a forearm of a user.
3. The apparatus as recited in claim 3, in which a surface of said
channel comprises a padding.
4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said top surface
comprises a raised wall about a perimeter of said top surface.
5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said top surface
comprises a textured surface for gripping items placed
thereupon.
6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising: a first
spring-loaded mechanism for securing said first drawer within said
housing; and a second spring-loaded mechanism for securing said
second drawer within said housing.
7. The apparatus as recited in claim 6, in which said first
spring-loaded mechanism and said second spring-loaded mechanism
each being configured to release their respective drawer from
within said housing by a depression of said drawer.
8. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, in which said first
spring-loaded mechanism and said second spring-loaded mechanism
each being further configured to urge their respective drawer out
from within said housing upon release of said drawer.
9. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said first drawer
and said second drawer each comprise compartments for segregating
items placed therein.
10. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising: a
first lid being hingeably joined to said first drawer for covering
a portion of a top of said first drawer; and a second lid being
hingeably joined to said second drawer for covering a portion of a
top of said second drawer.
11. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, further comprising: a
first retractable axle for joining said first lid to said first
drawer; and a second retractable axle for joining said second lid
to said second drawer.
12. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, in which said first
retractable axle and said second retractable axle each being
configured to extend to hold their respective lid in an open
position upon their respective drawer being extended from said
housing.
13. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, in which said first
retractable axle and said second retractable axle each being
further configured to retrace to hold their respective lid in an
closed position upon their respective drawer being retracted into
said housing.
14. The apparatus as recited in claim, in which said service tray
further comprises a rectangular shape.
15. The apparatus as recited in claim, in which said first drawer
and said second drawer being further configured to retain
currency.
16. An apparatus comprising: means for transporting food and
beverage items and for housing items; first segregating means for
segregating items placed therein, said first segregating means
being configured to be retractable into said transporting and
housing means; first securing means for securing said first
segregating means within said transporting and housing means and
for releasing and urging said first segregating means from within
said transporting and housing means; first covering means for
covering a portion of a top of said first segregating means; first
retractable means for holding said first covering means in an open
position upon said first segregating means being extended from said
transporting and housing means and to hold said first covering
means in an closed position upon said first segregating means being
retracted into said transporting and housing means; second
segregating means for segregating items placed therein, said second
segregating means being configured to be retractable into said
transporting and housing means; second securing means for securing
said second segregating means within said transporting and housing
means and for releasing and urging said second segregating means
from within said transporting and housing means; second covering
means for covering a portion of a top of said second segregating
means; and second retractable means for holding said second
covering means in an open position upon said second segregating
means being extended from said transporting and housing means and
to hold said second covering means in an closed position upon said
second segregating means being retracted into said transporting and
housing means.
17. The apparatus as recited in claim 16, further comprising means
for resting the apparatus on a forearm of a user in which the
apparatus is balanced.
18. An apparatus comprising: a service tray comprising a top
surface, a first side, a second side opposing said first side, and
a housing being disposed beneath said top surface, said top surface
comprising a raised wall about a perimeter of said top surface and
a textured surface for gripping items placed thereupon, said top
surface being configured for transporting food and beverage items;
a first drawer being configured to be retractable into said housing
through an opening in said first side, said first drawer comprising
compartments for segregating items placed therein; a first
spring-loaded mechanism for securing said first drawer within said
housing, said first spring-loaded mechanism being configured to
release said first drawer from within said housing by a depression
of said first drawer and urge the first drawer out from within said
housing upon release of said first drawer; a first lid being
hingeably joined to said first drawer for covering a portion of a
top of said first drawer; a first retractable axle for joining said
first lid to said first drawer, said first retractable axle being
configured to extend to hold said first lid in an open position
upon said first drawer being extended from said housing and to hold
said first lid in an closed position upon said first drawer being
retracted into said housing; a second drawer being configured to be
retractable into said housing through an opening in said second
side, said second drawer comprising compartments for segregating
items placed therein; a second spring-loaded mechanism for securing
said second drawer within said housing, said second spring-loaded
mechanism being configured to release said second drawer from
within said housing by a depression of said second drawer and urge
the second drawer out from within said housing upon release of said
second drawer; a second lid being hingeably joined to said second
drawer for covering a portion of a top of said second drawer; a
second retractable axle for joining said second lid to said second
drawer, said second retractable axle being configured to extend to
hold said second lid in an open position upon said second drawer
being extended from said housing and to hold said second lid in an
closed position upon said second drawer being retracted into said
housing; and a channel disposed about a midline along a width of
said service tray between said first drawer and said second drawer,
said channel comprising a padding and being configured to rest on a
forearm of a user in which the apparatus is balanced.
19. The apparatus as recited in claim 18, in which said service
tray further comprises a rectangular shape.
20. The apparatus as recited in claim 18, in which said first
drawer and said second drawer being further configured to retain
currency.
Description
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0001] Not applicable.
REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER LISTING
APPENDIX
[0002] Not applicable.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
[0003] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains
material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright
owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of
the patent document or patent disclosure as it appears in the
Patent and Trademark Office, patent file or records, but otherwise
reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0004] One or more embodiments of the invention generally relate to
food service equipment. More particularly, the invention relates to
a serving tray with internal drawers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The following background information may present examples of
specific aspects of the prior art (e.g., without limitation,
approaches, facts, or common wisdom) that, while expected to be
helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of
the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present
invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or
implied therein or inferred thereupon. Servers in establishments
such as, but not limited to, bars, restaurants, and casinos often
carry many products at once on the same serving tray. In addition
to this, servers often must collect money and make change for
products sold. In general the collection of money must be done
properly and correctly to optimize profitability for an
establishment.
[0006] By way of educational background, an aspect of the prior art
generally useful to be aware of is that servers often carry
currency on the surface of a serving tray or in an empty glass on
the serving tray. Alternatively, cash boxes may be placed on the
surface of the service tray to hold currency. Attachable cash
drawers for serving trays are also available to servers for holding
currency.
[0007] In view of the foregoing, it is clear that these traditional
techniques are not perfect and leave room for more optimal
approaches.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and
not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying
drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar
elements and in which:
[0009] FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C illustrate an exemplary beverage service
tray, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 1A is a top perspective view. FIG. 1B is a partially
transparent side view, and FIG. 1C is a top perspective view of a
drawer in an open position; and
[0010] FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C illustrate an exemplary service tray, in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2A is
a top perspective view with drawers in an open position. FIG. 2B is
a side perspective view of the tray with a drawer in an open
position and beverages on a serving surface, and FIG. 2C is a
bottom perspective view of the tray with a drawer in an open
position.
[0011] Unless otherwise indicated illustrations in the figures are
not necessarily drawn to scale.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0012] The present invention is best understood by reference to the
detailed figures and description set forth herein.
[0013] Embodiments of the invention are discussed below with
reference to the Figures. However, those skilled in the art will
readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with
respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes as the
invention extends beyond these limited embodiments. For example, it
should be appreciated that those skilled in the art will, in light
of the teachings of the present invention, recognize a multiplicity
of alternate and suitable approaches, depending upon the needs of
the particular application, to implement the functionality of any
given detail described herein, beyond the particular implementation
choices in the following embodiments described and shown. That is,
there are numerous modifications and variations of the invention
that are too numerous to be listed but that all fit within the
scope of the invention. Also, singular words should be read as
plural and vice versa and masculine as feminine and vice versa,
where appropriate, and alternative embodiments do not necessarily
imply that the two are mutually exclusive.
[0014] It is to be further understood that the present invention is
not limited to the particular methodology, compounds, materials,
manufacturing techniques, uses, and applications, described herein,
as these may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology
used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular
embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the
present invention. It must be noted that as used herein and in the
appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include
the plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
Thus, for example, a reference to "an element" is a reference to
one or more elements and includes equivalents thereof known to
those skilled in the art. Similarly, for another example, a
reference to "a step" or "a means" is a reference to one or more
steps or means and may include sub-steps and subservient means. All
conjunctions used are to be understood in the most inclusive sense
possible. Thus, the word "or" should be understood as having the
definition of a logical "or" rather than that of a logical
"exclusive or" unless the context clearly necessitates otherwise.
Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to
functional equivalents of such structures. Language that may be
construed to express approximation should be so understood unless
the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0015] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms
used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of
ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs.
Preferred methods, techniques, devices, and materials are
described, although any methods, techniques, devices, or materials
similar or equivalent to those described herein may be used in the
practice or testing of the present invention. Structures described
herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents
of such structures. The present invention will now be described in
detail with reference to embodiments thereof as illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
[0016] From reading the present disclosure, other variations and
modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. Such
variations and modifications may involve equivalent and other
features which are already known in the art, and which may be used
instead of or in addition to features already described herein.
[0017] Although Claims have been formulated in this application to
particular combinations of features, it should be understood that
the scope of the disclosure of the present invention also includes
any novel feature or any novel combination of features disclosed
herein either explicitly or implicitly or any generalization
thereof, whether or not it relates to the same invention as
presently claimed in any Claim and whether or not it mitigates any
or all of the same technical problems as does the present
invention.
[0018] Features which are described in the context of separate
embodiments may also be provided in combination in a single
embodiment. Conversely, various features which are, for brevity,
described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be
provided separately or in any suitable subcombination. The
Applicants hereby give notice that new Claims may be formulated to
such features and/or combinations of such features during the
prosecution of the present application or of any further
application derived therefrom.
[0019] References to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," "example
embodiment," "various embodiments," etc., may indicate that the
embodiment(s) of the invention so described may include a
particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every
embodiment necessarily includes the particular feature, structure,
or characteristic. Further, repeated use of the phrase "in one
embodiment," or "in an exemplary embodiment," do not necessarily
refer to the same embodiment, although they may.
[0020] As is well known to those skilled in the art many careful
considerations and compromises typically must be made when
designing for the optimal manufacture of a commercial
implementation any system, and in particular, the embodiments of
the present invention. A commercial implementation in accordance
with the spirit and teachings of the present invention may
configured according to the needs of the particular application,
whereby any aspect(s), feature(s), function(s), result(s),
component(s), approach(es), or step(s) of the teachings related to
any described embodiment of the present invention may be suitably
omitted, included, adapted, mixed and matched, or improved and/or
optimized by those skilled in the art, using their average skills
and known techniques, to achieve the desired implementation that
addresses the needs of the particular application.
[0021] It is to be understood that any exact
measurements/dimensions or particular construction materials
indicated herein are solely provided as examples of suitable
configurations and are not intended to be limiting in any way.
Depending on the needs of the particular application, those skilled
in the art will readily recognize, in light of the following
teachings, a multiplicity of suitable alternative implementation
details.
[0022] A practical embodiment of the present invention provides a
beverage service tray with two (2) retractable currency drawers in
a housing. Carrying and exchanging cash for food and beverages can
be difficult for servers due to the limited lighting typically
provided in these environments and the limited space on top of
serving trays. Bills and coins stacked upon a tray often become
disorganized, are not properly stored to generally ensure accurate
transaction amounts, and can easily fall from or be stolen from
trays and wind up completely lost. Beverages can also spill upon
money collected on top of serving trays, and bars and restaurants
wind up having to hold this money until it is cleaned and dried,
thus limiting cash flow and requiring more cash on hand to operate
efficiently. Some currently available trays feature cash boxes for
currency exchange; however, these boxes limit the storage space on
top of the trays, thus reducing the number of products that may be
carried on the trays. Also, currency is often stored in bulk in
these boxes and cannot be properly organized to aid in correct and
balanced transactions. Furthermore, these cash boxes can offset the
balance of the trays, making spillage of beverages a risk, which is
also a typical problem with currently available attachable cash
drawers since these drawers are mounted to one side of the
trays.
[0023] FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C illustrate an exemplary beverage service
tray 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention. FIG. 1A is a top perspective view. FIG. 1B is a
partially transparent side view, and FIG. 1C is a top perspective
view of a drawer 103 in an open position. In the present
embodiment, beverage service tray 100 comprises two retractable
drawers 103 located at opposite ends within a housing 105 of
service tray 100. Referring to FIGS. 1B and 1C, drawers 103
comprise currency compartments 107 and elevating lids 109. Housing
105 is made of a durable polypropylene material in a fourteen-inch
by twenty-inch (14''.times.20'') rectangular shape and is
one-and-one-half-inch (11/2'') in height. Drawers 103 are also made
of a polypropylene material. In some alternate embodiments, the
housing and the drawers of the tray can be made of various
different applicable materials, including but not limited to
fiberglass, polycarbonate, stainless steel, aluminum, etc.
Furthermore, in some alternate embodiments, trays can be produced
in different sizes and shapes. In the present embodiment, the
top-surface perimeter of housing 105 features a raised wall 111
that is one-half-inch (1/2'') in height. In some alternate
embodiments, the wall surrounding the top of the tray can be of
various different heights, and this wall may or may not be
reinforced with a durable material such as, but not limited to,
various plastics like high-density polyethylene (HDPE),
acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and rigid polyvinyl chloride
(PVC), and various rubber materials. Other alternate embodiments
may be implemented without a wall. In the present embodiment, a
serving surface 113 is textured to enhance contact grip of any
contents upon surface 113. In some alternate embodiments, the
serving surface can include, without limitation, a frictional
material such as but not limited to cork, rubber, or soft neoprene
with the purpose of securing the placement of contents upon the
tray. Some alternate embodiments may also include, without
limitation, cylindrical recesses or recesses in different shapes
upon the serving surface for the improved containment of cups,
glasses and bottles with lesser risk of spillage.
[0024] In the present embodiment, tray 100 comprises two drawers
103; however, some alternate embodiments may be implemented with
more or fewer drawers. Referring to FIG. 1B, in the present
embodiment, retractable drawers 103 are accessible by push release,
in which the depression of drawers 103 releases the hold of an
interior spring-loaded mechanism 115, which enables drawer 103 to
slide horizontally away from housing 105. In some alternate
embodiments the drawers may be secured by and move using various
different means, including but not limited to push-button release,
a securing latch, manual withdrawal, etc. In some alternate
embodiments, the drawer may also feature a lock device for the
security of its contents. Referring to FIGS. 1B and 1C, currency
compartments 107 are walled compartments for the containment of
paper currency and coin currency. It is contemplated that various
different numbers of compartments for the containment of paper
currency carrying different denominations may be used, as well as
various different numbers of compartments for the containment of
coinage. Currency compartments 107 may also be used to hold items
other than currency such as, but not limited to, credit card
receipts, tooth picks, straws, matchbooks, pens, pencils, etc. In
the present embodiment, currency compartments 107 are permanently
attached to drawer 103; however, in some alternate embodiments the
compartments may be part of a currency tray that can be removed
from the drawer or may be individually removable. Other alternate
embodiments may be implemented without such interior compartments
within the retractable drawers for the separation of currency.
Referring to FIG. 1C, in the present embodiment, elevating lids 109
are attached to drawers 103 by two-pieced retractable axles 117,
each made of stainless steel or another type of metal. Lids 109
cover approximately two-thirds (2/3) of the horizontal planes of
drawers 103 when levelly applied. Those skilled in the art, in
light of the teachings of the present invention, will readily
recognize that some alternate embodiments may comprise various
different means for attaching the lids to the drawers such as, but
not limited to, hinges or sliding the lids onto the drawers. Other
alternate embodiments may be implemented without lids covering the
drawers.
[0025] In typical use of the present embodiment, beverages and
serving items can be stored upon serving surface 113 of tray 100
with no spatial interference from other objects or devices such as,
but not limited to, currency or cash boxes. Drawers 103 allow for
the collection of tips and payment while keeping money off of
serving surface 113 and out of site of patrons. Drawers 103 keep
currency safe and secure and leave more space on tray 100 for
drinks and food. When an exchange of currency is needed, a user may
depress one of drawers 103 releasing securing spring-loaded
mechanism 115 to enable drawer 103 to slide out to provide access
to currency within currency compartments 107. Upon extraction of
retractable drawer 103, retractable axles 117 holding lid 109
extend upward to expose the contents of drawer 103 to the user yet
block the visibility of the currency to patrons. When access to the
currency within retractable drawer 103 is no longer needed, the
user may push drawer 103 back within housing 105 of tray 100. By
pushing drawer 103 into a closed position, retractable axles 115 of
lid 109 are pulled closed to allow for complete insertion of drawer
103 within housing 105. The spring is mounted on a shaft, and the
shaft is connected to the axles of the lid, they are connected in a
fashion that resembles a ball joint. When the lid is opening the
shaft pushes upon the axle causing it to rotate one way and the lid
to open. When the drawer is closed the shaft pulls on the axle
causing it to rotate in the opposite direction which causes the lid
to close.
[0026] Service tray 100 can safely secure currency exchanged in
beverage service. Service tray 100 can also generally prevent
accidental beverage spillage upon currency and generally prevent
interruption of the flow of currency interchanged in its using
environment. Elevating lid 109 of drawer 103 shields visibility of
the currency carried by beverage servers, which can reduce a
primary impetus of theft upon its users. By containing collected
currency in retractable drawers 103, service tray 100 helps to
generally prevent accidental loss of currency and provides proper
organization of currency to help maintain accuracy in currency
transactions.
[0027] Unlike attachable cash drawers currently used upon some
beverage service trays, service tray 100 maintains the currency
carried by beverage servers in a separate, secure and maintained
compartment without affecting the balance of the contents and
typically avoids spillage. By avoiding such spillage, service tray
100 also generally prevents the accidental spillage of collected
fluids within the tray on customers and on servers. By not having a
cash drawer maintained on the serving surface area, the serving
capacity of service tray 100 is not affected or reduced, enabling
beverage servers to carry more drinks at one time. This can improve
the speed and efficiency of beverage service to allow an
establishment to achieve desired service with fewer laborers and
improve the overall quality of service within the establishment.
Improved service can help beverage servers improve their volume and
percentage of gratuities and can improve the consumer perception of
the establishment.
[0028] FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C illustrate an exemplary service tray
200, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2A is a top perspective view with drawers 203 in an open
position. FIG. 2B is a side perspective view of tray 200 with a
drawer 203 in an open position and beverages 205 on a serving
surface 207, and FIG. 2C is a bottom perspective view of tray 200
with drawer 203 in an open position. In the present embodiment,
service tray 200 comprises a channel 209 upon the bottom plane
centrally located between retractable drawers 203 running the width
of tray 200. The interior surface area of channel 209 is lined with
a lightweight padding; however, channels in some alternate
embodiments may not include padding. Furthermore, the channels in
some alternate embodiments may be shaped differently; for example,
without limitation, in some alternate embodiments the channel may
be semicircular or have rounded edges.
[0029] In typical use of the present embodiment, tray 200 can be
rested on the forearm of a user at channel 209. Channel 209 helps
to provide balance and stability to tray 200 by cradling the arm of
the user. Carrying tray 200 in this way, enables the user to use
more muscles to support tray 200, which means the user can carry a
heavier load longer and more comfortably. Channel 209 also provides
a way for the user to rest tray 200 on their leg should they have
their foot propped up on a chair or bench.
[0030] Those skilled in the art, in light of the teachings of the
present invention, will readily recognize that some alternate
embodiments may comprise additional or different features such as,
but not limited to, lighting, clips for holding paper items,
built-in calculators, notepads, attached writing utensils, etc. In
some alternate embodiments, the drawers can be retractable and
accessible from any side of the housing of the tray. In other
alternate embodiments, the drawer is non-retractable and accessible
from a lid found in the top-surface of the tray. These embodiments
may comprise one drawer and lid or multiple drawers and lids.
Furthermore, some alternate embodiments may be used to carry items
other than beverages including, without limitation, food, dishes,
tobacco products, reading materials, souvenirs, etc.
[0031] All the features disclosed in this specification, including
any accompanying abstract and drawings, may be replaced by
alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar
purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly
stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a
generic series of equivalent or similar features.
[0032] Having fully described at least one embodiment of the
present invention, other equivalent or alternative methods of
providing a serving tray with means for containing currency
according to the present invention will be apparent to those
skilled in the art. The invention has been described above by way
of illustration, and the specific embodiments disclosed are not
intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed.
For example, the particular implementation of the drawers may vary
depending upon the particular type of opening and closing mechanism
used. The drawers described in the foregoing were directed to
spring-loaded implementations; however, similar techniques are to
provide drawers that open and close using various different means
such as, but not limited to, drawers with handles or knobs that
slide manually or drawers with rollers that roll along tracks.
Non-spring-loaded implementations of the present invention are
contemplated as within the scope of the present invention. The
invention is thus to cover all modifications, equivalents, and
alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the following
claims.
[0033] Claim elements and steps herein may have been numbered
and/or lettered solely as an aid in readability and understanding.
Any such numbering and lettering in itself is not intended to and
should not be taken to indicate the ordering of elements and/or
steps in the claims.
* * * * *