U.S. patent application number 14/275543 was filed with the patent office on 2015-11-12 for method and apparatus for delivering chlorine into a body of water.
This patent application is currently assigned to VALTERRA PRODUCTS, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is VALTERRA PRODUCTS, LLC. Invention is credited to Kevin Edwards.
Application Number | 20150322683 14/275543 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54367350 |
Filed Date | 2015-11-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150322683 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Edwards; Kevin |
November 12, 2015 |
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING CHLORINE INTO A BODY OF
WATER
Abstract
A floating chlorine dispenser includes a buoyancy body and a
dispenser body having dispenser ports adapted to deliver chlorine
from, the floating chlorine dispenser. The buoyancy body includes a
buoyancy chamber that provides the floating chlorine dispenser with
a buoyancy force. The buoyancy force maintains a full indicator
line on the buoyancy body aligned with the water line when the
floating chlorine dispenser is filled with chlorine tablets.
Likewise, the buoyancy force maintains an empty indicator line on
the buoyancy body aligned with the water line when the floating
chlorine dispenser is empty. Observation of the water line relative
to the full indicator line and the empty indicator line provides a
visual indication of the amount of chlorine tablets in the floating
chlorine dispenser.
Inventors: |
Edwards; Kevin; (Woodland
Hills, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
VALTERRA PRODUCTS, LLC |
Mission Hills |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
VALTERRA PRODUCTS, LLC
Mission Hills
CA
|
Family ID: |
54367350 |
Appl. No.: |
14/275543 |
Filed: |
May 12, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
210/86 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 4/1209 20130101;
E04H 4/1281 20130101 |
International
Class: |
E04H 4/12 20060101
E04H004/12 |
Claims
1. A floating chlorine dispenser, comprising: a buoyancy body
defining a buoyancy body tablet enclosure and a buoyancy chamber
adapted to provide the floating chlorine dispenser with a buoyancy
force; a dispenser body defining a dispenser body tablet enclosure,
wherein the dispenser body is coupled with the buoyancy body such
that the dispenser body tablet enclosure communicates with the
buoyancy body tablet enclosure to form a tablet chamber, further
wherein the dispenser body includes dispenser ports adapted to
deliver chlorine from the tablet chamber; a full indicator line
disposed on the buoyancy body, wherein, when the tablet chamber is
substantially, completely filled with chlorine tablets, the
buoyancy force created by the buoyancy chamber maintains the
buoyancy body within water with the full indicator line
substantially, completely aligned with the surface of the water;
and an empty indicator line disposed on the buoyancy body, wherein,
when the tablet chamber is substantially, completely empty of
chlorine tablets, the buoyancy force created by the buoyancy
chamber maintains the buoyancy body within water with the empty
indicator line substantially, completely aligned with the surface
of the water.
2. The floating chlorine dispenser according to claim 1, the
buoyancy body, comprising an outer wall and an inner wall, wherein
the inner wall defines the buoyancy body tablet enclosure, further
wherein the outer wall and the inner wall define the buoyancy
chamber.
3. The floating chlorine dispenser according to claim 1, wherein
the dispenser body and a portion of the buoyancy body are submerged
when the floating chlorine dispenser is placed in water.
4. The floating chlorine dispenser according to claim 1, wherein
the dispenser ports deliver chlorine into the water when the
floating chlorine dispenser is placed therein.
5. The floating chlorine dispenser according to claim 1, wherein
the buoyancy body-includes an opening that communicates with the
buoyancy body enclosure to allow the insertion of chlorine tablets
into the tablet chamber.
6. The floating chlorine dispenser according to claim 1, wherein
the floating chlorine dispenser includes a lid that secures to the
opening in the buoyancy body.
7. The floating chlorine dispenser according to claim 1, further
comprising a circulation sleeve including openings, the circulation
sleeve being engaged with the dispenser body and rotatable about
the dispenser body between a fully closed position wherein the
circulation sleeve blocks the dispenser ports and a fully open
position wherein the openings of the circulation sleeve align with
the dispenser ports to allow the delivery of chlorine into the
water.
8. The floating chlorine dispenser according to claim 7, wherein
rotation of the circulation sleeve between its fully open position
and its fully closed position regulates the flow of chlorine into
the water.
9. The floating chlorine dispenser according to claim 1, wherein,
when the tablet chamber is filled to capacity with chlorine
tablets, the buoyancy force generated by the buoyancy chamber
allows the dispenser body to be submerged under the water and a
portion of the buoyancy body to be submerged such that the full
indicator line is even with the wafer line.
10. The floating chlorine dispenser according to claim 1, wherein
when the tablet chamber is empty, the buoyancy force generated by
the buoyancy chamber allows the dispenser body to be submerged
under the water and a portion of the buoyancy body to be submerged
such that the empty indicator line is even with the water line.
11. The floating chlorine dispenser according to claim 1, wherein
movement of the floating chlorine dispenser between the foil
indicator line and the empty indicator line allows an operator to
gauge the rate at which chlorine is dispensed into the water
thereby allowing the operator to anticipate when the floating
chlorine dispenser requires refilling with chlorine tablets.
12. A floating chlorine dispenser, comprising: a buoyancy body,
comprising an outer wall and an inner wall, wherein the inner wall
defines a buoyancy body tablet enclosure, further wherein the outer
wall and the inner wall define a sealed a buoyancy chamber adapted
to provide the floating chlorine dispenser with a buoyancy force; a
dispenser body defining a dispenser body tablet enclosure, wherein
the dispenser body is coupled with the buoyancy body such that the
dispenser body tablet enclosure communicates with the buoyancy body
tablet enclosure to form a tablet chamber, further wherein the
dispenser body includes dispenser ports adapted to deliver chlorine
from the tablet chamber; a full indicator line disposed on the
buoyancy body, wherein, when the tablet chamber is substantially,
completely filled with chlorine tablets, the buoyancy force created
by the buoyancy chamber maintains the buoyancy body within water
with the full indicator line substantially, completely aligned with
the surface of the water; and an empty indicator line disposed on
the buoyancy body, wherein, when the tablet chamber is
substantially, completely empty of chlorine tablets, the buoyancy
force created by the buoyancy chamber maintains the buoyancy body
within water with the empty indicator line substantially,
completely aligned with the surface of the water.
13. The floating chlorine dispenser according to claim 12, wherein
the dispenser body and a portion of the buoyancy body are submerged
when the floating chlorine dispenser is placed in water.
14. The floating chlorine dispenser according to claim 12, wherein
the dispenser ports deliver chlorine into the water when the
floating chlorine dispenser is placed therein.
15. The floating chlorine dispenser according to claim 12, wherein
the buoyancy body includes an opening that communicates with the
buoyancy body enclosure to allow the insertion of chlorine tablets
into the tablet chamber.
16. The floating chlorine dispenser according to claim 12, wherein
the floating chlorine dispenser includes a lid that secures to the
opening in the buoyancy body.
17. The floating chlorine dispenser according to claim 12, further
comprising a circulation sleeve including openings, the circulation
sleeve being engaged with the dispenser body and rotatable about
the dispenser body between a fully closed position wherein the
circulation sleeve blocks the dispenser ports and a fully open
position wherein the openings of the circulation sleeve align with
the dispenser ports to allow the delivery of chlorine into the
water.
18. The floating chlorine dispenser according to claim 17, wherein
rotation of the circulation sleeve between its fully open position
and its fully closed position regulates the flow of chlorine into
the water.
19. The floating chlorine dispenser according to claim 12, wherein,
when the tablet chamber is filled to capacity with chlorine
tablets, the buoyancy force generated by the buoyancy chamber
allows the dispenser body to be submerged under the water and a
portion of the buoyancy body to be submerged such that the full
indicator line is even with the water line.
20. The floating chlorine dispenser according to claim 12, wherein
when the tablet chamber is empty, the buoyancy force generated by
the buoyancy chamber allows the dispenser body to be submerged
under the water and a portion of the buoyancy body to be submerged
such that the empty indicator line is even with the water line.
21. The floating chlorine dispenser according to claim 12, wherein
movement of the floating chlorine dispenser between the full
indicator line and the empty indicator line allows an operator to
gauge the rate at which chlorine is dispensed into the water
thereby allowing the operator to anticipate when the floating
chlorine dispenser requires refilling with chlorine tablets.
22. A method of delivering chlorine into water, comprising:
providing a floating chlorine dispenser adapted to deliver chlorine
into water, the floating chlorine dispenser including a full
indicator line and an empty indicator line, wherein, when the
floating chlorine dispenser is filled to capacity with chlorine
tablets, a buoyancy force of the floating chlorine dispenser
maintains the floating chlorine dispenser within the wafer such
that the full indicator line aligns with the water line, further
wherein, when the floating chlorine dispenser is empty, the
buoyancy force of the floating chlorine dispenser maintains the
floating chlorine dispenser within the water such that the empty
indicator line aligns with the water line; filling the floating
chlorine dispenser to capacity with chlorine tablets; placing the
floating chlorine dispenser into water; monitoring the floating
chlorine dispenser in the water to determine the relationship
between the empty indicator line and the water line; retrieving the
floating chlorine dispenser from the water when the empty indicator
line aligns with the water line; refilling the floating chlorine
dispenser to capacity with chlorine tablets; and replacing the
floating chlorine dispenser into water.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to a chlorine
dispenser, and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation to
a chlorine dispenser that allows a user to easily identify when the
chlorine dispenser requires refilling.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] The chemical chlorine is most often used to keep bodies of
water such as swimming pools, hot tubs, and the like free of
pathogens that can be hazardous to humans. When chlorine is added
to a body of water, a reaction occurs between the chlorine and any
harmful pathogens present. Specifically, the chlorine penetrates
the cell wall of a harmful pathogen and oxidizes the pathogen
thereby rendering it harmless. Chlorine added to a body of water
eventually breaks down due to its reaction with other elements and
sunlight. Accordingly, proper amounts of chlorine must be regularly
added to a body of water in order to be effective and ensure a safe
environment. In particular, if too much chlorine is added, the
excess chlorine can cause irritation to a user's skin and possible
lung irritation due to chlorine gas accumulating on the surface of
the body of water. Conversely, if insufficient chlorine is added,
then harmful pathogens can accumulate thereby endangering a user's
health.
[0005] Chlorine is typically added to bodies of water such as
swimming pools, hot tubs, and the like either manually or through
some type of floating chlorine dispenser. A floating chlorine
dispenser houses chlorine tablets and dispenses chlorine into a
body of water through openings in the dispenser. The transition of
the floating chlorine dispenser from a bill amount of chlorine
tablets to empty takes from several clays to a few weeks depending
on water temperature and the size of the dispenser's openings.
Using a floating chlorine dispenser to dispense chlorine into a
body of water alleviates the time consuming process of manually
adding chlorine. However, floating chlorine dispensers do not
provide a visual indication of when the floating chlorine dispenser
requires refilling with chlorine tablets, creating a likelihood
that refilling is overlooked and a situation where a body of water
contains insufficient chlorine.
[0006] Accordingly, a floating chlorine dispenser that provides a
visual indication of when it requires refilling wife chlorine
tablets would prevent situations where a body of water such as a
swimming pool, hot tub, or the like lacks sufficient chlorine.
[0007] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In accordance with the present invention, a floating
chlorine dispenser delivers chlorine into a body of water such as a
swimming pool, hot tub, or the like. The floating chlorine
dispenser includes a buoyancy body, a dispenser body, and a
circulation sleeve.
[0009] The buoyancy body includes an outer wall, an inner wall, a
full indicator line, and an empty indicator line. The inner wall of
the buoyancy body defines a buoyancy body tablet enclosure while
the outer wall and the inner wall define a sealed buoyancy chamber
that provides the floating chlorine dispenser with a buoyancy
force. The buoyancy body further includes an opening that
communicates with the buoyancy body enclosure to allow the
insertion of chlorine tablets into the floating chlorine dispenser.
A lid secures with the opening in the buoyancy body to seal the
floating chlorine dispenser.
[0010] The dispenser body defines a dispenser body tablet
enclosure. The dispenser body is coupled with the buoyancy body
such that the dispenser body tablet enclosure communicates with the
buoyancy body tablet enclosure to form a tablet chamber. The
dispenser body includes dispenser ports that deliver chlorine from
the tablet chamber.
[0011] The circulation sleeve couples with the dispenser body and
includes openings that operate with the dispenser ports of the
dispenser body to regulate delivery of chorine into a body of
water. The circulation sleeve rotates about the dispenser body
between a fully closed position and a fully open position. In the
fully closed position, the circulation sleeve blocks the dispenser
ports of the dispenser body preventing the delivery of chlorine
into the water. Conversely, in the fully open position, the
openings of the circulation sleeve align with, the dispenser ports
of the dispenser body to allow the delivery of chlorine into the
water. Furthermore, the rotation of the circulation sleeve between
its fully open position and its fully closed position regulates the
flow of chlorine into the water.
[0012] The specific gravity of chlorine tablets is greater than
that of water. Accordingly, when the tablet chamber of the floating
chlorine dispenser is filled to capacity with chlorine tablets, the
dispenser body is submerged under the water while the buoyancy
force generated by the buoyancy chamber allows a portion of the
buoyancy body to be submerged such that the full indicator line is
aligned with the water line. Likewise, when the tablet chamber of
the floating chlorine dispenser is empty, the dispenser body
remains submerged while the buoyancy force generated by the
buoyancy chamber allows a portion of the buoyancy body to be
submerged such that the empty indicator line aligns with the water
line. Movement of the floating chlorine dispenser between the full
indicator line and the empty indicator line allows an operator to
gauge the rate at which chlorine is dispensed into the water
thereby allowing the operator to anticipate when the floating
chlorine dispenser requires refilling with chlorine tablets.
[0013] In a method of delivering chlorine into water, the floating
chlorine dispenser is filled to capacity with chlorine tablets and
placed into water. The floating chlorine dispenser in the water is
monitored to determine the relationship between the empty indicator
line and the water line. When the empty indicator line aligns with
the water line, the floating chlorine dispenser is retrieved from
the water and refilled to capacity with chlorine tablets. The
floating chlorine dispenser is then replaced into the water.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a top view in perspective illustrating a floating
chlorine dispenser.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a bottom view in perspective illustrating the
floating chlorine dispenser.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a side view in perspective illustrating the
floating chlorine dispenser.
[0017] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view illustrating the
floating chlorine dispenser.
[0018] FIG. 5 is a top view with a lid removed illustrating a
chamber of the chlorine dispenser.
[0019] FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the chlorine dispenser.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0020] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention
are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the
disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which
may be embodied in various forms. Figures are not necessarily to
scale, and some features may be exaggerated to show details of
particular components or steps.
[0021] FIGS. 1-6 illustrate a floating chlorine dispenser 10. The
floating chlorine dispenser 10 includes a lid 100 and a body 11
comprised of a buoyancy body 12, a dispenser body 13, and a
circulation sleeve 52.
[0022] The buoyancy body 12 includes an outer wall 20, an inner
wall 21, and an opening 25. The outer wall includes an eyelet 30, a
full indicator line 31, and an empty indicator line 32. The eyelet
30 provides an attachment point for the floating chlorine dispenser
10. This attachment point allows an operator to secure a line to
the floating chlorine dispenser 10 thereby allowing the operator to
easily control and remove the floating chlorine dispenser 10 from a
body of water such as a swimming pool, hot tub, or the like. The
full indicator line 31 and the empty indicator line 32 enable an
operator to quickly identify whether the floating chlorine
dispenser 10 requires refilling. The operation of the full
indicator line 31 and the empty indicator line 32 will be explained
in greater detail herein.
[0023] The outer wall 20 and the inner wall 21 of the buoyancy body
12 form a buoyancy chamber 22, which in the preferred embodiment is
a sealed air-filled chamber that permits the floating chlorine
dispenser 10 to float on the surface of a body of water such as a
swimming pool, hot tub, or the like. The inner wall 21 of the
buoyancy body 12 also forms a buoyancy body tablet enclosure 40.
The buoyancy body tablet enclosure 40 allows chlorine tablets to be
stored within the buoyancy body 12. The opening 25 of the buoyancy
body 12 permits access to the buoyancy body tablet enclosure 40 and
includes threads that allow the securing of the lid 100 to the
buoyancy body 12.
[0024] The dispenser body 13 defines a dispenser body tablet
enclosure 51 and is comprised of a wall 50 connected with a bottom
surface 58. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the wall 50 of
the dispenser body 13 is formed integrally with the outer wall 20
and the inner wall 21 of the buoyancy body 12 such that the
buoyancy body tablet enclosure 40 and the dispenser body tablet
enclosure 51 are connected and form a tablet chamber 60. The wall
50 includes dispenser ports 54 that allow chlorine contained within
the dispenser body tablet enclosure 51 to exit the floating
chlorine dispenser 10 and flow into a body of water such as a
swimming pool, hot tub, or the like. In addition, the dispenser
body 13 includes slots 71-73 that allow the attachment of the
circulation sleeve 52 to the dispenser body 13.
[0025] The circulation sleeve 52 includes openings 55 and operates
as a valve that regulates the flow of chlorine from the floating
chlorine dispenser 10 into the body of water such as a swimming
pool, hot tub, or the like. The circulation sleeve 52 includes tabs
that engage the slots 71-73 of the dispenser body allowing the
circulation sleeve 52 to secure to the dispenser body 13 and rotate
between a fully open and a fully closed position. In the fully open
position, the openings 55 of the circulation sleeve 52 align with
the dispenser ports 54 of the dispenser body 13 thereby allowing
the dispenser ports 54 to be fully exposed to the body of water.
When the dispenser ports 54 are fully exposed to the body of water,
the maximum amount of chlorine will dispense into the water. In
addition, when the dispenser ports 54 are fully exposed to the
water, the chlorine will dispense more quickly thereby requiring
that the floating chlorine dispenser 10 be refilled with chlorine
tablets more often.
[0026] As the circulation sleeve 52 moves from the fully open
position to the fully closed position, the circulation sleeve 52
begins to close the dispenser ports 54 of the dispenser body 13
thereby lessening exposure of the dispensing ports 54 with the
water. As the dispenser ports 54 close, less chlorine will dispense
into the water. In addition, as the dispenser ports 54 close,
chlorine wall dispense more slowly thereby requiring that the
floating chlorine dispenser 10 be refilled with chlorine tablets
less often.
[0027] In the fully closed position, the circulation sleeve 52
substantially and completely closes the dispenser ports 54 of the
dispenser body 13 thereby preventing the dispenser ports 54 from
exposure to the water. In a situation where a body of water
includes sufficient chlorine, the dispenser ports 54 are fully
closed, and chlorine tablets within the tablet chamber 60 do not
deliver chlorine into a body of water.
[0028] The lid 100 secures to the opening 25 of the buoyancy body
12. The lid 100 includes threads that engage the threads of the
opening 25, thus allowing the lid to be secured or removed from the
buoyancy body 12. Specifically, rotation of the lid 100 in a
counter-clock wise direction removes the lid 100 from the opening
25 of the buoyancy body 12 and allows access to the tablet chamber
60. Likewise, engaging the threads of the lid 100 with the threads
of the opening 25 and then rotating the lid 100 in a clockwise
direction secures the lid 100 to the opening 25 of the buoyancy
body 12.
[0029] The buoyancy chamber 22, the full indicator line 31, the
empty indicator line 32, and the tablet chamber 60 work in
conjunction to provide visual indication to the operator of when
the floating chlorine dispenser 10 requires refilling with chlorine
tablets. In particular, the specific gravity of chlorine tablets is
greater than that of water, and the buoyancy chamber 22 is sized so
that the buoyancy force generated by the buoyancy chamber 22
counteracts the weight of the floating chlorine dispenser 10 and
the chlorine tablets within the tablet chamber 60 such that the
floating chlorine dispenser floats in a body of water such as a
swimming pool, hot tub, or the like. Furthermore, the buoyancy
chamber 22 is sized so that, when the tablet chamber 60 is filled
to capacity with chlorine tablets, the buoyancy force generated by
the buoyancy chamber 22 allows the dispenser body 13 to be
submerged under the water and a portion of the buoyancy body 12 to
be submerged such that the full indicator line 31 is even with the
water line of the body of wafer. As chlorine is dispensed into the
body of water, the buoyancy force of the buoyancy chamber 22 raises
the floating chlorine dispenser 10 thereby raising the full
indicator line 31 in relation to the water line. After the chlorine
tablets are fully dispensed into the body of water and the tablet
chamber 60 is empty, the floating chlorine dispenser 10 will rise
until the empty indicator line 32 is even with the water line of
the body of water.
[0030] It should be noted that the floating chlorine dispenser 10
not only allows easy visual identification of when the floating
chlorine dispenser 10 is empty and needs refilling, it also allows
an operator to anticipate when the floating chlorine dispenser 10
needs refilling. In particular, after repeated use of the floating
chlorine dispenser 10, the operator will be able to gauge the rate
at which chlorine is dispensed into a body of water thereby
allowing the operator to anticipate when the floating chlorine
dispenser 10 requires refilling with chlorine tablets. Allowing the
operator to anticipate when the floating chlorine dispenser 10
requires refilling with chlorine tablets ensures that the proper
amount of chlorine is present in a body of water such as a swimming
pool, hot tub, or the like.
[0031] The floating chlorine dispenser 10 operates in the following
manner to dispense chlorine into a body of water such as a swimming
pool, hot tub, or the like. An operator rotates the lid 100
counter-clockwise to remove the lid from the opening 25 of the
buoyancy body 12. After removal of the lid 100, the operator adds
chlorine tablets into the tablet chamber 60. The chlorine tablets
contact the bottom surface 58 and begin filling the dispenser body
tablet enclosure 51. The chlorine tablets then fill the buoyancy
body tablet enclosure 40 until the tablet chamber 60 is filled. The
operator then places the lid 100 within the opening 25 of the
buoyancy body 12 such that the threads of the lid 100 engage the
threads of the opening 25. The operator then rotates the lid 100
counter-clockwise to couple the lid 100 with the buoyancy body 12
and to secure the chlorine tablets within the tablet chamber 60.
The operator then adjusts the circulation sleeve 52 between the
fully open position and the fully closed position such that the
desired rate at which chlorine will be dispensed into a body of
water is achieved.
[0032] Once the tablet chamber 60 is filled and the circulation
sleeve 52 is set to the desired position, the operator places the
floating chlorine dispenser 10 in a body of water such as a
swimming pool, hot tub, or the like. After placement in the body of
water, the buoyancy chamber 22 of the floating chlorine dispenser
10 causes the floating chlorine dispenser 10 to float on the
surface of the water such that the dispenser body 13 and a portion
of the buoyancy body 12 is under the surface of the water. As a
result, the dispenser openings 54 are exposed to the water and
allow the chlorine to pass from the floating chlorine dispenser 10
into the water. In addition, if the tablet chamber 60 was filled to
capacity, the buoyancy force generated by the buoyancy chamber 22
allows the dispenser body 13 to be submerged under the water and a
portion of the buoyancy body 12 to be submerged such that the full
indicator line 31 is even with the water line of the body of
wafer.
[0033] As chlorine is released into the body of water and chlorine
is removed from the tablet chamber 60, the weight of the floating
chlorine dispenser 10 decreases. As a result, the buoyancy force
generated by the buoyancy chamber 22 raises the buoyancy body 12 of
the floating chlorine dispenser 10 higher in the body of water.
When chlorine tablets contained within the tablet chamber are fully
dispensed, the buoyancy body 12 of the floating chlorine dispenser
10 will rise such that the empty indicator line 32 will be level
with the surface of the body of water. The operator observing that
the empty indicator line 32 is level with the surface of the body
of water uses a line attached to the eyelet 30 to remove the
floating chlorine dispenser 10 from the water. The operator then
refills the tablet chamber 60 with chlorine tablets and returns the
floating chlorine dispenser 10 to the body of water.
[0034] Although the present, invention has been described in terms
of the foregoing embodiment, such description has been for
exemplary purposes only and, as will be apparent to those of
ordinary skill in the art, many alternatives, equivalents, and
variations of varying degrees will fall, within the scope of the
present invention. That scope, accordingly, is not to be limited in
any respect by the foregoing description; rather, it is defined
only by the claims that follow.
* * * * *