U.S. patent application number 14/223622 was filed with the patent office on 2014-09-25 for repositionable wire deck assemblies for a storage rack.
This patent application is currently assigned to Silverack, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Silverack, LLC. Invention is credited to Harry R. Taylor.
Application Number | 20140284295 14/223622 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51568353 |
Filed Date | 2014-09-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140284295 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Taylor; Harry R. |
September 25, 2014 |
Repositionable Wire Deck Assemblies for a Storage Rack
Abstract
Storage systems are described comprising wire shelves and
brackets, which are configured to increase the storage capacity of
a storage rack by utilizing or converting the space between
adjacent shelves into additional storage space is provided. In one
embodiment, a storage system utilizes a full-width wire rack and a
partial-width wire rack to convert a space between a first shelf
panel and a second shelf panel on a storage rack into usable
storage space. The full-width wire rack comprises a plurality of
longitudinal rods, at least one transverse rod interconnected with
at least some of the plurality of longitudinal rods, and a
plurality of downwardly turned prongs configured to detachably
engage a plurality of keyhole-shaped openings in at least one of
the first and second vertical support members to detachably connect
the full-width wire rack to the storage rack. The partial-width
wire rack is suspended from the full-width wire rack by at least
one S-shaped bracket.
Inventors: |
Taylor; Harry R.; (Whittier,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Silverack, LLC |
Brea |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Silverack, LLC
Brea
CA
|
Family ID: |
51568353 |
Appl. No.: |
14/223622 |
Filed: |
March 24, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61804612 |
Mar 22, 2013 |
|
|
|
61804599 |
Mar 22, 2013 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/153 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 57/00 20130101;
A47B 96/06 20130101; A47B 45/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/153 |
International
Class: |
A47B 57/00 20060101
A47B057/00 |
Claims
1. A system configured to convert a space between a first shelf
panel and a second shelf panel on a storage rack into usable
storage space, the storage rack comprising a first vertical support
member and a second vertical support member, and wherein the
storage rack has a width defined by the distance between the first
vertical member and the second vertical member, the system
comprising: a full-width wire rack comprising (i) a plurality of
longitudinal rods, (ii) at least one transverse rod interconnected
with at least one of the plurality of longitudinal rod, and (iii) a
downwardly turned prong configured to detachably engage a of
keyhole-shaped opening in at least one of the first and second
vertical support members to detachably connect the full-width wire
rack to the storage rack; and a partial-width wire rack suspended
from the full-width wire rack by at least one S-shaped bracket.
2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a crossbeam boltlessly
coupled to the first vertical support member and a second vertical
support member.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the crossbeam has a generally
omega-shaped transverse cross-section.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the full-width wire rack is
repositionable along the first and second vertical supports.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the partial-width wire rack has a
first end and a second end, and wherein the first end is suspended
from the full-width wire rack by at least one S-shaped bracket, and
the second end of the partial-width wire rack is detachably
connected to at least one of the first and second vertical support
members of the storage rack.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the partial-width wire rack has
at least one downwardly turned prong configured to detachably
engage a plurality of keyhole-shaped openings in at least one of
the first and second vertical support members to detachably connect
the partial-width rack to the storage rack.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the S-shaped bracket comprises a
vertical segment, a first end, and a second end, wherein the first
end comprises a first downwardly turned hook portion and the second
end comprises an upwardly turned hook portion.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein the downwardly turned hook
portion is configured to be detachably coupled to at least one of
the longitudinal rods on the full-width wire shelf.
9. The system of claim 7, wherein the upwardly turned hook portion
is configured to be detachably coupled to the longitudinal rods of
the partial-width wire shelf
10. The system of claim 7, wherein the downwardly turned hook
portion and the upwardly turned hook portion are configured to face
oppositely.
11. The system of claim 7, wherein the downwardly turned hook
portion and the upwardly turned hook portion has a same
dimension.
12. A system configured to convert a space between a first shelf
panel and a second shelf panel on a storage rack into usable
storage space, wherein the storage rack comprises: (a) first and
second vertical support members each having a plurality of key-hole
shaped openings; (b) a first wire rack having (i) a plurality of
longitudinal rods, (ii) at least one transverse rod interconnected
with at least some of the plurality of longitudinal rods, and (iii)
at least one downwardly turned prong configured to detachably
engage at least one of the plurality of keyhole-shaped openings in
the vertical support member to detachably connect the wire rack to
the storage rack; and (c) a width defined by the distance between
the first and second vertical support members, the system
comprising: a second wire rack having a plurality of interconnected
longitudinal rods and transverse rods and at least one downwardly
turned prong; and at least one S-shaped bracket having a first
S-shaped end and a second S-shaped end, sized and dimensioned to
hook at least one of the longitudinal rods and transverse rods.
13. The system of claim 13, wherein the first wire rack is a
full-width wire rack
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the second wire rack is a
partial-width wire rack.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority to a U.S. Patent
Provisional Application Nos. 61/804,612 and 61/804,599, both filed
on Mar. 22, 2013, the entire contents of which are hereby
incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to wire shelves and
brackets configured to be detachably connected to a storage
rack.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Storage racks and shelving units are commonly used to store
a variety of different articles, such as tools and equipment in a
garage (e.g., drills, brooms, shovels, extension cords, etc.), in
an organized and readily accessible manner. Typical storage racks
include left and right end support units and front and rear cross
beams extending between the end support units. Together,
corresponding front and rear crossbeams extending between the end
support units define a frame configured to support a shelf for
storing various articles. Typically, each end support unit includes
front and rear vertical support members and cross braces, both
horizontal and diagonal, interconnecting the front and rear
vertical support members.
[0004] One common type of storage rack known in the art is a
"boltless" rack, in which at least some of the members of the rack
are configured to be assembled without the use of permanent
mechanical fasteners. In some conventional boltless racks, the
members of the end support units are permanently coupled together,
such as by welding or riveting, and the crossbeams are detachably
connected to the vertical support members of the end support units.
Typically, the vertical support posts include a series of
apertures, such as wedge-shaped slots or keyhole-shaped openings,
configured to detachably receive interconnecting members, such as
rivets or lances, on opposite ends of the cross beams. Accordingly,
boltless racks are configured to permit easy assembly and
disassembly of the storage rack or shelving unit without the use of
tools, and to permit compact and economical shipment of the unit.
An example of a boltless shelving unit is shown and described in
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/360,543, entitled "Modular Rack
Assembly," the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by
reference.
[0005] The storage capacity of conventional storage racks is
limited by the number of shelves. However, adding additional full
length shelves may not accommodate taller articles stored on the
shelves (i.e., taller articles may not permit additional full
length shelves to be installed between two existing adjacent
shelves).
[0006] One attempt to address this problem is to add a rod
attachment to the wire shelves. For example, U.S. Pat. No.
5,405,026 to Lee discloses a clothes hanger rod attachment to be
used in combination with wire shelves. In Lee, the hanger rod is
connected to the wire shelves via hooks without using a bracket.
Yet, Lee's disclosure is limited to use with clothes hanger rod
which is unlikely provide enough storage space between the rod and
the wire shelves.
[0007] Another approach is to use a suspended shelving system. For
example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,798,341 to Richardson discloses a
suspended shelving system including a shelving panel supported by a
plurality of hanger members, which are secured to overhead members.
However, Richardson's suspended shelving system requires that it is
secured to an overhead structure or ceilings. Furthermore, the
crossmembers connecting the shelving system to a hanger is
rotatable, yet fixed to a distal end of the shelving member, which
renders less flexibility in locating the suspended shelving
system.
[0008] Thus, there is still a need for a storage system, which
enables a user to utilize or convert a space between two storage
shelves in a storage rack to increase the storage capacity of a
storage rack with a minimum use of tools.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention is directed to wire shelves and
brackets which are configured to increase the storage capacity of a
storage rack by utilizing or converting the space between adjacent
shelves into additional storage space, for example, by adding
shelves between the adjacent shelves. Additionally, the present
invention may utilize one or more wire shelves which do not span
the full width of the storage rack, thereby accommodating taller
articles stored on the shelves.
[0010] In one embodiment, a storage system is configured to convert
a space between a first shelf panel and a second shelf panel on a
storage rack into usable storage space, such as by adding one or
more shelves between the first and second shelf panels. The storage
rack comprises a first vertical support member and a second
vertical support member. The storage rack has a width defined by
the distance between the first vertical member and the second
vertical member. The system comprises a full-width wire rack
comprising a plurality of longitudinal rods, at least one
transverse rod interconnected with at least some of the plurality
of longitudinal rods, and a plurality of downwardly turned prongs
configured to detachably engage a plurality of keyhole-shaped
openings in at least one of the first and second vertical support
members to detachably connect the full-width wire rack to the
storage rack. The system further comprises a partial-width wire
rack suspended from the full-width wire rack by at least one
bracket that is preferably S-shaped although other types of
brackets could be used.
[0011] In another embodiment, a storage rack comprises first and
second vertical support members each having a plurality of key-hole
shaped openings. In this embodiment, a first wire rack has a
plurality of longitudinal rods, at least one transverse rod
interconnected with at least some of the plurality of longitudinal
rods, and at least one downwardly turned prong configured to
detachably engage at least one of the plurality of keyhole-shaped
openings in the vertical support member to detachably connect the
wire rack to the storage rack. The distance between the first and
second vertical support members defines a width of the rack. The
system comprises a second wire rack having a plurality of
interconnected longitudinal rods and transverse rods and at least
one downwardly turned prong. The system further comprises at least
one bracket, preferably S-shaped, having a first hook end and a
second hook disposed at either end, sized and dimensioned to hook
at least one of the longitudinal rods and transverse rods.
[0012] Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the
inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the
following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with
the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent
like components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] Embodiments of support bracket according to the present
invention are described with reference to the following figures.
The same reference numerals are used throughout the figures to
reference like features and components. The figures are not
necessarily drawn to scale.
[0014] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an existing boltless
storage rack having wire shelves and brackets of the present
invention installed thereon;
[0015] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of full-width wire shelf
according to one embodiment of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2B is a perspective view of a partial width wire shelf
according to one embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 2C is a perspective view of a partial width wire shelf
according to one embodiment of the present invention; and
[0018] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a hook according to one
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] The following discussion provides many example embodiments
of the inventive subject matter. Although each embodiment
represents a single combination of inventive elements, the
inventive subject matter is considered to include all possible
combinations of the disclosed elements. Thus if one embodiment
comprises elements A, B, and C, and a second embodiment comprises
elements B and D, then the inventive subject matter is also
considered to include other remaining combinations of A, B, C, or
D, even if not explicitly disclosed.
[0020] The present invention relates generally to wire shelves and
brackets configured to be detachably connected to a storage rack.
The wire shelves and brackets are configured to increase the
storage capacity of an existing storage rack by utilizing or
converting the space between two adjacent shelves on the existing
storage rack into additional organized storage space. The wire
shelves are repositionable along the vertical support posts such
that the height of the wire shelves and the spacing between the
wire shelves and the existing shelf panels on the storage rack can
be selected to accommodate variously shaped and sized articles,
such as tools and other equipment commonly stored in a garage.
Additionally, the brackets are configured to suspend additional
wire shelves from the wire shelf which is coupled to the vertical
support posts of the storage rack.
[0021] Referring now to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, a
storage rack 100 is illustrated having two full-width wire shelves
101 detachably coupled to the storage rack 100. The storage rack is
also illustrated having two partial-width wire shelves 102
detachably coupled on one end to the storage rack 100 and suspended
on an opposite end from one of the full-width wire shelves 101 by a
plurality of S-shaped brackets 104, although other shaped brackets
could be used. Additionally, the storage rack 100 is illustrated
having two partial-width wire shelves 103 completely suspended from
one of the full-width wire shelves 101 by a plurality of S-shaped
brackets 104. As used herein, the term "plurality" shall mean two
or more.
[0022] With continued reference to FIG. 1, the storage rack 100
includes left and right end support units 105, 106, respectively,
interconnected by front and rear crossbeams 107, 108, respectively.
Each end support unit 105, 106 includes front and rear vertical
support posts 109, 110, respectively, and horizontal braces 111
extending between the front and rear vertical support posts 109,
110 (i.e., front ends 112 of the horizontal braces 111 are
connected to the front vertical support posts 109 and rear ends 113
of the horizontal braces 111 are connected to the rear vertical
support posts 110). In the illustrated embodiment, each end support
unit 105, 106 includes five horizontal braces 111, although it will
be appreciated that the end support units 105, 106 may have any
other suitable number of horizontal support braces 111, such as
between two and ten or more, depending upon the desired storage
capacity of the storage rack 100 and the shape and size of the
various articles the storage rack 100 is configured to support. In
another embodiment, the end support units 105, 106 may also include
diagonal braces extending between the front and rear vertical
support posts 109, 110, respectively. In the illustrated
embodiment, the horizontal braces 111 are boltlessly and detachably
connected to the vertical support posts 109, 110, although it will
be appreciated that the horizontal braces 111 may be connected to
the vertical support posts 109, 110 by any other suitable means,
such as mechanical fastening or welding.
[0023] With continued reference to FIG. 1, a width can be defined
by a distance between two front vertical support posts 109. It is
also contemplated that a width can be defined by a distance between
the front vertical post 109 and the rear vertical support 110. The
full-width wire shelf 101 has a first width that is substantially
similar to the width as defined. The partial-width wire shelves
102, 103 have a second width that is shorter than the first width
of the full-width wire shelf 101.
[0024] With continued reference to FIG. 1, each of the vertical
support posts 109, 110 is a beam having two generally orthogonal
legs 114, 115 (i.e., each of the vertical support posts 109, 110
includes a front leg 114 and a side leg 115 extending rearward from
the front leg 114). Together, the legs 114, 115 define a beam
having an L-shaped transverse cross-section. It will be
appreciated, however, that the vertical support posts 114, 115 may
have any other suitable shape, such as a U-shaped or Z-shaped
transverse cross-section. Additionally, in the illustrated
embodiment, each of the legs 114, 115 of the vertical support posts
109, 110 includes a plurality of keyhole-shaped openings 116
arranged in a column. Each of the keyhole-shaped openings 116
includes a relatively larger upper circular opening 117 and a
relatively smaller elongated opening 118 extending downward from a
lower end of the larger opening 117. As described in detail below,
contemplated wire shelves 101, 102 can be boltlessly and detachably
connected to the keyhole openings 116 in the vertical support posts
114, 115.
[0025] With continued reference to FIG. 1, opposite ends 119, 120
of the front and rear crossbeams 107, 108 are boltlessly coupled to
the front and rear vertical support posts 109, 110, respectively.
Together, the crossbeams 107, 108 and the horizontal braces 111
define a ledge or a frame configured to support at least one shelf
panel 121 or other planar support member. It will be appreciated
that the storage rack 100 may include any suitable number of
crossbeams 107, 108, such as between two and ten or more.
Additionally, the crossbeams 107, 108 may be positioned at any
suitable elevation along the vertical support posts 109, 110,
depending upon the locations of the keyhole-shaped openings 116 in
the vertical support posts 109, 110, the desired storage capacity
of the storage rack 100, and/or the shape and size of the various
articles the storage rack 100 is configured to support. In the
illustrated embodiment, the number and elevation of the front and
rear crossbeams 107, 108 corresponds to the number and elevation of
the horizontal braces 111, although it will be appreciated that the
number and elevation of the front and rear crossbeams 107, 108 may
differ from the horizontal braces 111. The crossbeams 107, 108 and
the horizontal braces 111 may have any suitable shape, such as a
generally omega-shaped, C-shaped, or Z-shaped transverse
cross-section.
[0026] With continued reference to FIG. 1, two full-width wire
shelves 101 and four partial width wire shelves 102, 103 are
detachably coupled to the boltless storage rack 100. It will be
appreciated, however, that any other suitable number of full-width
and partial-width wire shelves 101, 102, 103 may be provided,
depending upon the desired additional storage capacity of the
storage rack 100 and the shape and size of the articles the user
desires to store and arrange on the wire shelves 101, 102, 103 and
the shelf panels 121.
[0027] With reference now to FIG. 2A, each of the full-width wire
shelves 101 includes a plurality of interconnected longitudinal
rods 125 and transverse rods 126. Together, the longitudinal and
transverse rods 125, 126, respectively, define a mesh wire shelf
101 configured to support various articles, such as tools and other
equipment commonly stored in a garage. Additionally, opposite ends
of the outermost longitudinal rods 125 include downwardly turned
prongs 127 (i.e., each of the four corners of the full-width wire
shelf 101 includes a downwardly turned prong 127). The downwardly
turned prongs 127 are configured to detachably engage the
keyhole-shaped openings 116 in the side legs 115 of the vertical
support posts 114, 115 to detachably couple the full-width wire
shelf 101 to the storage rack 100, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The
full-width shelves 101 are configured to extend completely between
the vertical support posts 114, 115 of the storage rack 100 such
that all four corners of the full-width wire shelf 101 are
supported by the vertical support posts 114, 115.
[0028] With reference now to FIG. 2B, the partial-width wire shelf
102 includes a plurality of interconnected longitudinal rods 128
and transverse rods 129. Together, the longitudinal and transverse
rods 128, 129, respectively, define a mesh wire shelf 102
configured to support various articles, such as tools and other
equipment commonly stored in a garage. Unlike the full-width wire
shelf 101 described above, only one end 130 of the partial-width
wire shelf 102 is configured to be supported by the vertical
support posts 109, 110 of the storage rack 100. The other end 131
of the partial-width wire shelf 102 is configured to be suspended
from the full-width wire shelf 101 by at least one S-shaped bracket
104. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, each of the
partial-width wire shelves 102 is suspended from the full-width
wire shelf 101 by two S-shaped brackets 104, although it will be
appreciated that the partial-width wire shelves 102 may be
suspended by any other suitable number of S-shaped brackets 104,
such as between one and four or more.
[0029] With continued reference to FIG. 2B, end 130 of each of the
outermost longitudinal rods 128 includes a downwardly turned prong
140. The downwardly turned prongs 127 are configured to detachably
engage the keyhole-shaped openings 116 in the side legs 115 of the
vertical support posts 114, 115 to detachably couple the one end
130 of the partial-width wire shelf 101 to the storage rack 100, as
illustrated in FIG. 1. In the illustrated embodiment, the opposite
end 131 of each of the outermost longitudinal rods 128 is not
provided with a downwardly turned prong 140 because end 131 of the
partial-width wire shelf 102 is suspended from the full-width wire
shelf 101 by at least one S-shaped bracket 104, as illustrated in
FIG. 1. Although in the illustrated embodiments, the S-shaped
brackets 104 suspending the partial-width wire shelves 102 are
detachably coupled to the full-width wire shelf 101, in an
alternate embodiment, the S-shaped brackets 104 may be detachably
coupled to one of the crossbeams 107, 108 of the storage rack
100.
[0030] With reference now to FIG. 2C, the partial-width wire shelf
103 includes a plurality of interconnected longitudinal rods 132
and transverse rods 133. Together, the longitudinal and transverse
rods 132, 133, respectively, define a mesh wire shelf 103
configured to support various articles, such as tools and other
equipment commonly stored in a garage. Unlike the full-width wire
shelf 101 and the partial-width wire shelf 102 described above,
both ends 134, 135 of the partial-width wire shelf 103 are
configured to be suspended from the full-width wire shelf 101 by at
least one S-shaped bracket 104. In the illustrated embodiment of
FIG. 1, each partial-width wire shelf 103 is suspended from the
full-width wire shelf 101 by four S-shaped brackets 104 (i.e., each
corner of the partial-width wire shelf 103 is suspended from the
full-width wire shelf 101 by one S-shaped bracket 104). It will be
appreciated, however, that the partial-width wire shelves 103 may
be suspended by another other suitable number of S-shaped brackets
104, such as between two and eight or more. Additionally, although
in the illustrated embodiments, the S-shaped brackets 104
suspending the partial-width wire shelves 103 are detachably
coupled to the full-width wire shelf 101, in an alternate
embodiment, the S-shaped brackets 104 may be detachably coupled to
the crossbeams 107, 108 of the storage rack 100.
[0031] With reference now to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3,
the S-shaped brackets 104 each include a vertical segment 136, a
downwardly turned hook portion 137 on an upper end of the vertical
segment 136 and an upwardly turned hook portion 138 on a lower end
of the vertical segment 136. The downwardly turned hook portion 137
of the S-shaped brackets 104 is configured to be detachably coupled
to either the longitudinal rods 125 on the full-width wire shelf
101 or the crossbeams 107, 108. The upwardly turned hook portion
138 of the S-shaped brackets 104 is configured to be detachably
coupled to the longitudinal rods 128, 132 of the partial-width wire
shelves 102, 103. It will be appreciated that the length of the
vertical segment 136 of the S-shaped bracket 104 may be selected to
achieve the desired spacing between the full-width wire shelf 101
and the partial-width wire shelves 102, 103 suspended from the
full-width wire shelf 101.
[0032] While this invention has been described in detail with
particular references to exemplary embodiments thereof, the
exemplary embodiments described herein are not intended to be
exhaustive or to limit the scope of the invention to the exact
forms disclosed. Persons skilled in the art and technology to which
this invention pertains will appreciate that alterations and
changes in the described structures and methods of assembly and
operation can be practiced without meaningfully departing from the
principles, spirit, and scope of this invention, as set forth in
the following claims. Although relative terms such as "outer,"
"inner," "upper," "lower," "below," "above," "vertical,
"horizontal" and similar terms have been used herein to describe a
spatial relationship of one element to another, it is understood
that these terms are intended to encompass different orientations
of the various elements and components of the device in addition to
the orientation depicted in the figures.
[0033] As used herein, and unless the context dictates otherwise,
the term "coupled to" is intended to include both direct coupling
(in which two elements that are coupled to each other contact each
other) and indirect coupling (in which at least one additional
element is located between the two elements). Therefore, the terms
"coupled to" and "coupled with" are used synonymously.
[0034] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims
that follow, the meaning of "a," "an," and "the" includes plural
reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as
used in the description herein, the meaning of "in" includes "in"
and "on" unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0035] The recitation of ranges of values herein is merely intended
to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each
separate value falling within the range. Unless otherwise indicated
herein, each individual value is incorporated into the
specification as if it were individually recited herein. All
methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order
unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted
by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language
(e.g. "such as") provided with respect to certain embodiments
herein is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and
does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention otherwise
claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as
indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the
invention.
[0036] Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the
invention disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations.
Each group member can be referred to and claimed individually or in
any combination with other members of the group or other elements
found herein. One or more members of a group can be included in, or
deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and/or
patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the
specification is herein deemed to contain the group as modified
thus fulfilling the written description of all Markush groups used
in the appended claims
[0037] It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that many
more modifications besides those already described are possible
without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive
subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the
spirit of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the
specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in
the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In
particular, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" should be
interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a
non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements,
components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with
other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly
referenced. Where the specification claims refers to at least one
of something selected from the group consisting of A, B, C . . .
and N, the text should be interpreted as requiring only one element
from the group, not A plus N, or B plus N, etc.
* * * * *