U.S. patent application number 14/155852 was filed with the patent office on 2015-07-16 for trigger lock.
The applicant listed for this patent is Jack Brace. Invention is credited to Jack Brace.
Application Number | 20150198402 14/155852 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53521079 |
Filed Date | 2015-07-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150198402 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brace; Jack |
July 16, 2015 |
TRIGGER LOCK
Abstract
A system and method for locking a trigger lock onto a firearm is
presented. The trigger lock includes a front assembly, a rear
assembly and a lock mechanism. The lock mechanism locks the front
assembly and the rear assembly together on a firearm. Key pads on
the front assembly are used to enter an entered combination. Lock
logic determines if the entered combination is the same as an
original stored combination and unlocks the lock mechanism when the
entered combination is the same as the original stored combination.
A security device in the trigger lock allows it to be detected from
a location the trigger lock and firearm that it is attached to
cannot visibly be seen.
Inventors: |
Brace; Jack; (West Olive,
MI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Brace; Jack |
West Olive |
MI |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
53521079 |
Appl. No.: |
14/155852 |
Filed: |
January 15, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
42/70.06 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41A 17/54 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F41A 17/54 20060101
F41A017/54 |
Claims
1. A trigger lock for preventing unauthorized use of a firearm
comprising: a front assembly; a rear assembly; a lock mechanism
configured to lock the front assembly and the rear assembly
together on a firearm; and an energizable security device on either
one of the front and rear assembly configured to be energized and
detected by a separate remote detection device.
2. The trigger lock of claim 1 further comprising: a plurality of
key pads on the front assembly configured for entering an entered
combination; lock logic including one or more of a processor,
microprocessor, integrated circuit, or circuitry, having an
internal memory, alone or in combination with software and firmware
configured to determine if the entered combination is the same as
an original stored combination in the trigger lock and configured
to unlock the lock mechanism when the entered combination is the
same as the original stored combination.
3. The trigger lock of claim 2 wherein the plurality of key pads
are numerical key pads and the original stored combination is an
original numerical combination.
4. The trigger lock of claim 2 further comprising: a battery
housing repeatably attachable to and removable from the front
assembly; and a battery to provide power to the lock logic wherein
the battery is housed in the battery housing.
5. The trigger lock of claim 4 wherein the lock logic will not
operate and the lock mechanism will not unlock the front assembly
from the rear assembly, when the battery housing is removed from
the front assembly so that the trigger lock remains locked.
6. The trigger lock of claim 1 wherein the lock mechanism further
comprises: a rotating actuator configured to rotate to lock the
front assembly to the rear assembly.
7. The trigger lock of claim 2 further comprising: a lock button,
wherein the lock logic is configured to cause the lock mechanism to
lock the front assembly and the rear assembly together upon
detecting a depression of the lock button.
8. The trigger lock of claim 1 further comprising: one or more
guide flanges on trigger lock configured to guide how the trigger
lock is placed on the firearm.
9. The trigger lock of claim 1 wherein the lock mechanism is shaped
so that the front assembly and the rear assembly can only be locked
together in one orientation.
10. The trigger lock of claim 1 wherein the lock mechanism further
comprises: an elongated lock post and wherein the rear assembly
further comprises: a chamber for receiving the elongated post.
11. The trigger lock of claim 10 wherein the lock mechanism is
configured when the lock post is in the chamber to lock the front
assembly to the rear assembly by rotating the lock post.
12. The trigger lock of claim 10 the lock post further comprises:
post locking teeth; and wherein the chamber further comprises:
chamber locking teeth, wherein the lock mechanism locks the front
assembly to the rear assembly when the post locking teeth are
adjacent the chamber locking teeth.
13. The trigger lock of claim 2 further comprising: a program
button, wherein the lock logic is configured to program a new lock
combination into the lock logic upon detecting the program button
has been depressed.
14. The trigger lock of claim 2 wherein the lock logic is
configured to erase the original stored combination when new lock
combination is programed into a memory in the lock logic.
15. The trigger lock of claim 14 wherein the security device is a
security tag and the security tag is at least one of the group of:
an electronic article surveillance (EAS) device and a radio
frequency identification device (RFID).
16. The trigger lock of claim 1 wherein the front assembly further
comprises: a non-rigid front contact pad to make contact with the
firearm to prevent damage to the firearm.
17. The trigger lock of claim 1 wherein the trigger lock lacks a
physical key.
18. A method of locking and unlocking a firearm comprising: locking
a locking device onto the firearm to prevent unauthorized use of
the firearm; entering a combination through a keypad located on the
locking device to unlock the locking device; and removing the
locking device from the firearm.
19. The method of locking and unlocking a firearm comprising:
detecting the presence of the locking device remote with a
detection device located at a location where it is not possible to
visibly see the locking device.
20. The method of locking and unlocking a firearm comprising:
installing battery in the locking device, where the locking device
cannot be unlocked without the battery in the locking device.
21. The trigger lock of claim 1 wherein the energizable security
device is nonremovably attached within the rear assembly.
22. The trigger lock of claim 1, in combination with a firearm and
a remote detector, the combination comprising: an indicator to
alert a remote operator, prior to the remote operator visually
locating the firearm, the indicator alerting the remote operator of
one of the following: presence of the firearm, type of the firearm,
and owner of the firearm.
23. The trigger lock of claim 1 wherein the security device does
not communicate with the lock mechanism and cannot affect operation
of the lock mechanism.
24. The trigger lock of claim 1, further comprising: a beveled wall
sloped between a front surface and a top end on the front assembly;
and a display located in the beveled wall configured to display
information relating to the trigger lock thereon.
25. The trigger lock of claim 24, further comprising a plurality of
key pads entirely below the display operatively coupled with the
lock mechanism.
26. The trigger lock of claim 16, further comprising a plurality of
depressible protrusions extending outward from the non-rigid front
contact pad to ensure the trigger lock is properly position around
a trigger on the firearm.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of Invention
[0002] The current invention relates generally to apparatus,
systems and methods for protecting possessions. More particularly,
the apparatus, systems and methods relate to locking up guns for
safety. Specifically, the apparatus, systems and methods provide
for locking a trigger of a gun using a key-less lock.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] Society is experiencing an increase in criminal activity
against individuals. This has spurred many individuals to keep
firearms in their homes for personal protection. While a firearm,
by itself, is not dangerous, when loaded there is a potential for
accidental discharge. However, an unloaded weapon proves to be of
little help when facing an attacker or intruder. Therefore, keeping
home firearms loaded is the trend, despite the potential for
accidents.
[0005] The increasing trend of keeping loaded firearms at home has
resulted in an observed increase in the number of accidental weapon
firings. Children playing with a weapon or adults who are unaware
of the loaded condition of the firearms frequently cause these
accidents. Thus, there is a need for devices that enhance the
safety of loaded firearms and help reduce the frequency of
accidental discharges. Moreover, current trends in legal liability
are indicating an increased burden upon those who supply firearms
to provide safer weapons.
[0006] One device which helps solve these and other problems,
relates specifically to firearms with a trigger and/or trigger
guard. Typically, the trigger and trigger guard of the firearm are
mounted beneath the barrel and firing mechanism. Almost all
firearms are currently provided with some form of safety mechanism
which, when activated, is designed to prevent accidental or
unwanted discharge of the firearm as it is carried or handled.
These safety mechanisms may comprise a safety notch in the hammer
that is engaged by the sear (or some equivalent element) of the
trigger when the hammer is in its safe position (out of contact
with the firing pin), or it may comprise a separate member that can
be placed between the hammer and the frame to prevent the hammer
from striking the firing pin. Also, there are a variety of separate
attachable safety mechanisms such as locking mechanisms that
frequently cover the trigger area to prevent access to the trigger
by a finger. While the above devices address some of the problems
of firearm safety, what is needed is an improved firearm safety
device.
SUMMARY
[0007] The preferred embodiment of the invention includes a trigger
lock that can be locked onto a firearm to prevent its unauthorized
use. The trigger lock includes a front assembly, a rear assembly
and a lock mechanism. The lock mechanism locks the front assembly
and the rear assembly together on the firearm. Key pads on the
front assembly are used to enter an entered combination. Lock logic
determines if the entered combination is the same as an original
stored combination and unlocks the lock mechanism when the entered
combination is the same as the original stored combination.
[0008] Another configuration of the preferred embodiment is a
method of locking and unlocking a firearm. A locking device is
locked onto the firearm to prevent unauthorized use of the firearm.
The locking device may be similar to the trigger lock described
below. A combination is entered through a keypad located on the
locking device to unlock the locking device. The keypad can be
similar to the key pads described below. The locking device is then
removed from the firearm.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] One or more preferred embodiments that illustrate the best
mode(s) are set forth in the drawings and in the following
description. The appended claims particularly and distinctly point
out and set forth the invention.
[0010] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of the specification, illustrate various example
methods, and other example embodiments of various aspects of the
invention. It will be appreciated that the illustrated element
boundaries (e.g., boxes, groups of boxes, or other shapes) in the
figures represent one example of the boundaries. One of ordinary
skill in the art will appreciate that in some examples one element
may be designed as multiple elements or that multiple elements may
be designed as one element. In some examples, an element shown as
an internal component of another element may be implemented as an
external component and vice versa. Furthermore, elements may not be
drawn to scale.
[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates an example side view a preferred
embodiment of a trigger lock locked onto a handgun.
[0012] FIG. 2 illustrates an example front view a preferred
embodiment of the trigger lock locked onto a handgun.
[0013] FIG. 3 illustrates an example perspective view the preferred
embodiment of a trigger lock.
[0014] FIG. 4 illustrates an example exploded perspective view the
preferred embodiment of a trigger lock.
[0015] FIG. 5 illustrates an example perspective view of the back
side preferred embodiment of a front lock assembly.
[0016] FIG. 6 illustrates an example view of the preferred
embodiment of a trigger lock on a firearm in a vehicle and being
detected by a scanning device.
[0017] FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of a method for.
[0018] Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the
drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates the preferred embodiment of a trigger
lock 1 used to lock the trigger of a firearm so that it cannot be
fired. The components and the structure of the trigger lock 1 are
first described before the use and functionality of the trigger
lock 1 is later described. The trigger lock 1 includes two
components: a front lock assembly 3 and a rear receptacle assembly
5. As describe further below the front lock assembly 3 generally
contains the mechanism with moving parts that lock and unlock the
front assembly 3 with the back receptacle assembly 5. As best
illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, the front lock assembly 3 and the rear
lock receptacle assembly 5 are brought together from opposite sides
of a trigger 47 of a gun 46 and then locked together around the
trigger 47 and the trigger guard 45 of the gun 46 so that the
trigger cannot be operated.
[0020] The trigger lock 1 has a security device 70 (FIG. 4) that
allows it to be detected by law enforcement or other personnel. The
security device 70 can be, for example, an Electronic Article
Surveillance (EAS) tag of the kind used to prevent shop-lifting.
Including an EAS type of tag within the trigger lock 1 would allow
law enforcement a way of determining a firearm is present. For
example, during a traffic stop a law enforcement officer can
generate a signal with handheld device 102 (FIG. 6) that energizes
the EAS tag and then detects its presence and can indicate that
presence to the officer. Alternatively a radio frequency
identification device (RFID) can be included in the trigger lock.
That same police officer can now use an RFID reading device to
wirelessly read information from the RFID such as the type of
firearm, who owns that firearm, etc. again before visually locating
the firearm. Again the security device 70 can be any device as
understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to allow
authorized personnel to detect the presence of the trigger lock 1
an a gun it is likely attached to ensure their safety as well as
the safety of others.
[0021] The rear receptacle assembly 5, in the preferred embodiment,
is formed with nonmoving parts. The front lock assembly 3 is formed
with a front housing 7 and a front contact pad 9 and the rear
receptacle assembly 5 is formed with a rear housing 11 and a rear
contact pad 13. The front housing 7 and rear housing 11 can be
formed with any rigid material such as metal or hard plastic that
is hard to break and/or cut when the trigger lock 1 is attached to
a firearm. The front contact pad 9 and the a rear contact pad 13
are preferably formed out of a stiff rubber or other material so
that when the trigger lock 1 is attached to a firearm, these pads
9, 13 are what primarily makes contract with the firearm so that
the firearm is not scratched or damaged by the trigger lock 1.
[0022] In the preferred embodiment, the front lock assembly 3 is
somewhat an elongated oval shape when viewed from its front surface
15. It has a front 16, a back 18, a top end 17, a bottom end 19, a
left end 21 and a right end 23. The top end 17 and bottom end 19
are spaced closer together than the left end 21 and the right end
23. A generally flat beveled wall 25 is sloped at an angle between
the front surface 15 and the top end 17 as illustrated. A display
27 that may be a liquid crystal display (LCD) or another type of
display is located in the beveled wall 25. Numeric keypads 29A-E
are located in a wall forming the front surface 15. In the
preferred embodiment, each key 29A-E can be used to selected one of
two numerical digits but in other embodiment keys can be provided
that select a single numerical digit or more than two numerical
digits.
[0023] The front lock assembly 3 also includes a battery housing 31
that is shaped to hold a battery 33. In the preferred embodiment,
the battery 33 is a circular watch type of battery but in other
embodiments it can be another type of battery or can include more
than one battery. Ideally, the battery housing 31 is easy to
install and remove from the front housing in the two directions of
arrow A (FIG. 4). As discussed further below, this provides a
second layer of security because the trigger lock 1 cannot be
opened without power provided by the battery 33.
[0024] As best seen in FIG. 5 the front contact pad 9 can be formed
with two flanges 43A-B that extend outward from a back side 18 of
the front lock assembly 3. These flanges 43A-B are preferably
shaped so that a trigger guard 45 of a gun 46 is located between
the two flanges 43A-B when the trigger lock 1 is locked onto the
gun 46. This can also assure that that the trigger lock 1 is
properly positioned on the gun 46 when it is locked in place. One
or more protrusions 49 can also extent outward from the front
contact pad 9. These protrusions 49 can be at least partially
depressible and can be biased outward from the front lock assembly
3 with springs or other biasing devices. These protrusions 49 can
further ensure that the trigger lock 1 is properly positioned
around the trigger 47 of a gun 46 and/or make it more difficult to
remove the trigger lock 1 from a gun 46 when it is locked onto the
gun 46.
[0025] In the preferred embodiment, a lock mechanism 35 is located
on the front lock assembly 3 for locking the front lock portion to
the receptacle assembly 5. In the preferred embodiment, a key
feature of the lock mechanism 35 is a lock post 37 extending
outward from the back side 18 of the front lock assembly 3. The
lock post 37 is a round cylinder with a portion of its side removed
to create an opening 38. An elongated lock actuator 39 is located
in the lock post 37. The lock actuator 39 is generally cylindrical
in shape. A series of teeth/beveled edges 40 are formed in part of
the lock actuator 39. These teeth/beveled edges 40 are
complementary to teeth/beveled edges formed in the rear receptacle
assembly discussed below and the interaction of these two sets of
teeth/beveled edges are what locks the front lock assembly 3 to the
rear receptacle assembly 5.
[0026] The front lock assembly 3 houses a lock logic 41 that
implements some of the functionally locking and unlocking the front
lock assembly 3 to the rear receptacle assembly 5. The actions of
the lock logic 41 will be described in detail below when discussing
the functionality of the trigger lock 1. "Logic", as used herein,
includes but is not limited to hardware, firmware, software and/or
combinations of each to perform a function(s) or an action(s),
and/or to cause a function or action from another logic, method,
and/or system. For example, based on a desired application or
needs, logic may include a processor such as a software controlled
microprocessor, discrete logic, an application specific integrated
circuit (ASIC), a programmed logic device, a memory device
containing instructions, or the like. Logic may include one or more
gates, combinations of gates, or other circuit components. Logic
may also be fully embodied as software. Where multiple logics are
described, it may be possible to incorporate the multiple logics
into one physical logic. Similarly, where a single logic is
described, it may be possible to distribute that single logic
between multiple physical logics.
[0027] As best seen in FIG. 4, the rear receptacle assembly 5
includes a protruding receptacle structure 55. The receptacle
structure 55 is generally cylindrical in shape but may have a
rounded end 57. The receptacle structure 55 forms an elongated
chamber 59 for receiving the lock post 37 of the front lock
structure 3. A lock bar 61 is located inside the elongated chamber
59. A series of teeth/beveled edges 63 are locked on the lock bar
61 and are complementary to the teeth/beveled edges 40 on the lock
post 37.
[0028] As best seen in FIG. 4, the rear receptacle assembly 5
includes two flanges/tabs 51A-B extending upward from the rear
contact pad 13. Similar to the flanges 43A-B on the front contact
pad 9 of the front lock assembly, these flanges 51A-B are
preferably shaped so that a trigger guard 45 of a gun 46 is located
between the two flanges 51A-B when the trigger lock 1 is locked
onto the gun 46. An array of protrusions 53 that can be cone shaped
can also extent outward from the rear contact pad 11 so that this
pad can securely grip the trigger guard 45 and trigger 47 of the
gun 46 when the trigger lock 1 is locked onto the gun 46.
[0029] Having described the components and the structure of the
trigger lock 1, it use and operation will now be described.
Initially, the trigger lock 1 is in an unlocked state with the
front lock assembly 3 removed from the rear receptacle assembly 5.
To lock the trigger lock 1 on a firearm, the rear receptacle
assembly 5 is placed on one side of a trigger 47 and a trigger
guard 45 of a firearm 46 as best seen in FIGS. 1-2. Preferably,
flanges 43A-B on the back side 51 of the rear receptacle assembly 5
are placed on each side of the trigger guard 45 so that they aid as
a guild ensuring the proper placement of the rear receptacle
assembly 5. Next, the front receptacle assembly 3 is aligned with
the rear lock assembly 5 so that the lock post 37 of the front lock
assembly 3 can be inserted into the receptacle structure 55 of the
rear receptacle assembly 5. Notice that due to the geometry of the
lock post 37 and the receptacle structure 55, there is only correct
orientation that allows the rear receptacle 5 to be connected to
the front lock assembly 3. Of course, the front lock assembly 3 can
also be first placed on the gun 46 and then the rear receptacle
assembly 5 can be aligned with it and attached to the front lock
assembly 3. Alternatively, the front lock assembly 3 and the rear
receptacle assembly 5 can be placed on the gun 46 at more or less
the same time. The flanges 43A-B of the front lock assembly 3 can
aid in placing the front lock assembly 3 onto the trigger guard
45.
[0030] In the preferred embodiment when the trigger lock 1 is in
the unlocked position, the lock actuator 39 will have been rotated
by the lock mechanism 35 under control of the lock logic 41 so that
the teeth/beveled edges 40 are rotated behind the lock post 37 away
from the opening 38 and are not visible. This allows the lock post
37 to be slid into the receptacle structure 55 of the rear
receptacle structure 5. When the front lock assembly 3 and the rear
receptacle assembly 5 are properly positioned, the lock logic 41
can lock them together by rotating the teeth/beveled edges 40
behind the lock post 37 into the opening 38 so that they align with
the teeth/beveled edges 63 of the receptacle structure 55. The
interlocking of both of these sets of teeth/beveled edges locks the
trigger lock 1 together so that it cannot easily be removed. In one
configuration, the lock logic 41 can rotate the lock actuator 39
and its teeth/beveled edges 40 using an electric motor driven with
power from battery 33. In another configuration, the lock logic 41
can unlock tumblers in the locking mechanism 35 to allow a user to
rotate a "thumb wheel" that allows for the manual rotation of the
lock actuator 39 and its teeth/beveled edges 40 to lock (or unlock)
the lock mechanism.
[0031] A user desiring to lock the preferred embodiment of the
trigger lock 1 onto a firearm can indicate this to the lock logic
41 in one of a variety of ways. For example, a user can press a
"lock" button 65 and the lock logic 41 will detected that the lock
button 65 has been pressed and then rotate the lock post 37 to its
locked position. In another configuration, a user could depress one
(or more) of the numeric key pads 29A-E for a long enough period of
time. For example, if one of the key pads 29A-E is depressed more
than five seconds, a timer in the lock logic 41 can detect this and
rotate the lock post 37 to its locked position.
[0032] The lock mechanism 35 has been describe in detail regarding
its lock post and locking teeth/beveled edges 40 and how these
components interact with the teeth/beveled edges 63 of the lock bar
61 of the rear receptacle assembly 5. However, the trigger lock 1
with key pads 29A-E can also be locked in other ways as understood
by those of ordinary skill in the art. Many different mechanical,
non-mechanical and/or magnetic locking mechanisms could be used in
place of the example lock mechanism 35 describe and illustrated
herein.
[0033] In the preferred embodiment, the trigger lock 1 is
manufactured with a secure combination stored in an internal memory
of the lock logic 41. For example, this can be a five-digit value
or it can be shorter or longer than five digits. When the trigger
lock 1 is locked to a firearm this combination can be entered
through the numeric key pads 29A-E. Pressing a key pad 29A-E once
would select an odd number associated with a corresponding key pad
29A-E and pressing a key pad 29A-E twice back-to-back would select
an even number associated with that corresponding key pad 29A-E. As
the combination is being entered, the lock logic 41 can cause what
is being entered to display on the display 27 so that a user
entering the number can be sure they are entering what they intend.
If the lock logic 41 determines that a correct combination of
numbers was entered it can automatically unlock the trigger lock 1
immediately at that time. Alternatively, in other configurations,
the lock logic 41 would not unlock the trigger lock 1 until an
"unlock button" is depressed indicating the combination is complete
and the trigger lock 1 should be unlocked. Of course, the preferred
embodiment has been discussed with reference to numeric numbers but
alphabetic or other symbols can be used to create a combination in
other configurations of the preferred embodiment.
[0034] In another configuration of the preferred embodiment, the
trigger lock 1 includes a "PROG" (program) button 66. This button
can be used to perform a variety of actions as understood by those
of ordinary skill in this art. For example, a user can press the
program button 66 to indicate to the lock logic 41 that a new
combination of numbers is to be entered. When the lock logic 41
detects that the program button 66 has been pressed it can begin to
display numbers selected on the key pads 29A-E on the display 27 as
well as storing them in a memory location in the lock logic 41.
When the program button 66 is pressed a second time this indicates
that the new combination has been completely entered and that now
this combination can be used to unlock the trigger guard 1. In some
embodiments, when the program button is pressed a second time, the
lock logic 41 can remove the new combination from the display 27 as
well as a prior combination from the memory so that now only the
new combination can be used to unlock the trigger lock 1.
Preferably the memory for storing combination(s) is non-volatile so
that combination(s) used to open the trigger lock 1 are not lost
when the battery 33 is removed.
[0035] The trigger lock 1 can have other useful features and
components. For example, when the battery 31 is removed the trigger
lock 1 the trigger lock 1 will stay in the locked state so that it
cannot be removed from a firearm without destruction. This provides
another layer of security because to unlock the trigger lock 1 one
needs (1) the correct battery and (2) the correct numerical
combination.
[0036] Example methods may be better appreciated with reference to
flow diagrams. While for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the
illustrated methodologies are shown and described as a series of
blocks, it is to be appreciated that the methodologies are not
limited by the order of the blocks, as some blocks can occur in
different orders and/or concurrently with other blocks from that
shown and described. Moreover, less than all the illustrated blocks
may be required to implement an example methodology. Blocks may be
combined or separated into multiple components. Furthermore,
additional and/or alternative methodologies can employ additional,
not illustrated blocks.
[0037] FIG. 9 illustrates a method 900 of locking and unlocking a
firearm. A locking device is locked onto the firearm, at 902, to
prevent unauthorized use of the firearm. The locking device may be
similar to the trigger lock described above. A combination is
entered through a keypad located on the locking device to unlock
the locking device, at 904. The keypad can be similar to the key
pads described above. The locking device is removed from the
firearm, at 906.
[0038] In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used
for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary
limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of
the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes
and are intended to be broadly construed. Therefore, the invention
is not limited to the specific details, the representative
embodiments, and illustrative examples shown and described. Thus,
this application is intended to embrace alterations, modifications,
and variations that fall within the scope of the appended
claims.
[0039] Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention
is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details
shown or described. References to "the preferred embodiment", "an
embodiment", "one example", "an example", and so on, indicate that
the embodiment(s) or example(s) so described may include a
particular feature, structure, characteristic, property, element,
or limitation, but that not every embodiment or example necessarily
includes that particular feature, structure, characteristic,
property, element or limitation. Furthermore, repeated use of the
phrase "in the preferred embodiment" does not necessarily refer to
the same embodiment, though it may.
* * * * *