U.S. patent application number 14/709964 was filed with the patent office on 2016-11-17 for golf club head with selectively detachable face.
This patent application is currently assigned to NIKE, INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is NIKE, INC.. Invention is credited to Mario A. Lafortune, Tyrone Lynn Todd Northcutt, Raymond J. Sander, James S. Thomas.
Application Number | 20160332040 14/709964 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57275843 |
Filed Date | 2016-11-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160332040 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lafortune; Mario A. ; et
al. |
November 17, 2016 |
GOLF CLUB HEAD WITH SELECTIVELY DETACHABLE FACE
Abstract
A golf club head includes a polymeric body and a metallic cup
face that are coupled together through a plurality of mechanical
fasteners. The cup face has a ball striking portion that defines a
hitting surface and a side-wall that extends from a perimeter of
the ball striking portion. The plurality of mechanical fasteners
extend through the side-wall and operative to removably secure the
face to the body. When assembled, the body and the face define a
closed volume.
Inventors: |
Lafortune; Mario A.;
(Tigard, OR) ; Northcutt; Tyrone Lynn Todd; (Fort
Worth, TX) ; Sander; Raymond J.; (Benbrook, TX)
; Thomas; James S.; (Fort Worth, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
NIKE, INC. |
Beaverton |
OR |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
NIKE, INC.
Beaverton
OR
|
Family ID: |
57275843 |
Appl. No.: |
14/709964 |
Filed: |
May 12, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 53/0462 20200801;
A63B 2209/00 20130101; A63B 53/042 20200801; A63B 53/04 20130101;
A63B 60/42 20151001; A63B 53/0466 20130101; A63B 53/06 20130101;
A63B 60/02 20151001; A63B 2053/0491 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A63B 53/04 20060101
A63B053/04 |
Claims
1. A golf club head comprising: a body including a crown, a sole,
and a hosel, each formed from a polymeric material; and a face
formed from a metallic material, the face including: a ball
striking portion defining a hitting surface; and a side-wall
extending from a perimeter of the ball striking portion; wherein
the ball striking portion and the side-wall define a recess that is
configured to receive a portion of the body; and wherein the
hitting surface that is opposite the recess; a plurality of
mechanical fasteners extending through the side-wall and operative
to removably secure the face to the body; and wherein the body and
the face define a closed volume.
2. (canceled)
3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the body includes a
plurality of metal inserts, each insert being operative to receive
one of the plurality of mechanical fasteners.
4. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of
metal inserts are surrounded by the polymeric material.
5. The golf club head of claim 4, wherein the plurality of metal
inserts are coupled to each other only through the polymeric
material.
6. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising a metallic
weighting element embedded within the polymeric material and
positioned apart from the face by a distance of greater than about
10 mm.
7. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein the metallic weighting
element includes a band of material disposed proximate a perimeter
of the club head and between the crown and the sole.
8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the polymeric material is
a filled, molded polymer having a tensile strength of greater than
about 200 MPa.
9. The golf club head of claim 8, wherein the filled, molded
polymer includes an aliphatic polyamide filled with a chopped
carbon fiber; and wherein the metallic material includes a titanium
alloy.
10. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the plurality of
mechanical fasteners includes a first plurality of fasteners and a
second plurality of fasteners; and wherein each fastener of the
first of the plurality of fasteners extends through the crown, and
wherein each fastener of the second of the plurality of fasteners
extends through the sole.
11. A golf club head comprising: a body formed from a polymeric
material, the body including a crown, a sole, and a hosel; and a
cup face formed from a metallic material that is secured to the
body using a plurality of mechanical fasteners; wherein the body
and the cup face define a closed volume; and wherein the cup face
is removable from the body by removing each of the plurality of
mechanical fasteners.
12. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein the cup face includes:
a ball striking portion defining a hitting surface; and a side-wall
extending from a perimeter of the ball striking portion in a
direction opposite the hitting surface and overlapping a portion of
the crown and a portion of the sole; and wherein the plurality of
mechanical fasteners extend through the side-wall.
13. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein each of the crown, the
sole, and the hosel are formed from the polymeric material.
14. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein the body includes a
plurality of metal inserts, each insert being operative to receive
one of the plurality of mechanical fasteners.
15. The golf club head of claim 14, wherein each of the plurality
of metal inserts are surrounded by the polymeric material.
16. The golf club head of claim 15, wherein the plurality of metal
inserts are coupled to each other only through the polymeric
material.
17. The golf club head of claim 11, further comprising a metallic
weighting element embedded within the polymeric material and
positioned apart from the face by a distance of greater than about
10 mm.
18. The golf club head of claim 17, wherein the metallic weighting
element includes a band of material disposed proximate a perimeter
of the club head and between the crown and the sole.
19. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein the polymeric material
is a filled, molded polymer having an ultimate yield strength of
greater than about 200 MPa.
20. The golf club head of claim 19, wherein the filled, molded
polymer includes an aliphatic polyamide filled with a chopped
carbon fiber; and wherein the metallic material includes a titanium
alloy.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates generally to a golf club head
having a selectively detachable face.
BACKGROUND
[0002] A golf club may generally include a club head disposed on
the end of an elongate shaft. During play, the club head may be
swung into contact with a stationary ball located on the ground in
an effort to project the ball in an intended direction and with a
desired vertical trajectory.
[0003] Many design parameters must be considered when forming a
golf club head. For example, the design must provide enough
structural resilience to withstand repeated impact forces between
the club and the ball, as well as between the club and the ground.
The club head must conform to maximum size requirements set by
different rule setting associations, and the face of the club must
not have a coefficient of restitution above a predefined maximum
(measured according to applicable standards). Assuming that certain
predefined design constraints are satisfied, a club head design is
typically quantified by the magnitude and location of the center of
gravity, as well as the head's moment of inertia about the center
of gravity and/or the shaft.
[0004] The club's moment of inertia relates to the club's
resistance to rotation (particularly during an off-center hit), and
is often perceived as the club's measure of "forgiveness." In
typical driver designs, high moments of inertia are desired to
reduce the club's tendency to push or fade a ball. Achieving a high
moment of inertia generally involves placing mass as close to the
perimeter of the club as possible (to maximize the moment of
inertia about the center of gravity), and as close to the toe as
possible (to maximize the moment of inertia about the shaft).
[0005] While the moment of inertia affects the forgiveness of a
club head, the location of the center of gravity behind the club
face (and above the sole) generally affects the trajectory of a
shot for a given face loft angle. A center of gravity that is
positioned as far rearward (away from the face) and as low (close
to the sole) as possible typically results in a ball flight that
has a higher trajectory than a club head with a center of gravity
placed more forward and/or higher.
[0006] While a high moment of inertia is obtained by increasing the
perimeter weighting of the club head, an increase in the total
mass/swing weight of the club head (i.e., the magnitude of the
center of gravity) has a strong, negative effect on club head speed
and hitting distance. Said another way, to maximize club head speed
(and hitting distance), a lower total mass is desired; however a
lower total mass generally reduces the club head's moment of
inertia (and forgiveness).
[0007] In the tension between swing speed (mass) and forgiveness
(moment of inertia), it may be desirable to place varying amounts
of mass in specific locations throughout the club head to tailor a
club's performance to a particular golfer or ability level. In this
manner, the total club head mass may generally be categorized into
two categories: structural mass and discretionary mass.
[0008] Structural mass generally refers to the mass of the
materials that are required to provide the club head with the
structural resilience needed to withstand repeated impacts.
Structural mass is highly design-dependant, and provides a designer
with a relatively low amount of control over specific mass
distribution. On the other hand, discretionary mass is any
additional mass that may be added to the club head design for the
sole purpose of customizing the performance and/or forgiveness of
the club. In an ideal club design, the amount of structural mass
would be minimized (without sacrificing resiliency) to provide a
designer with a greater ability to customize club performance,
while maintaining a swing weight that is expected by the
consumer.
SUMMARY
[0009] A golf club head includes a body formed from a polymeric
material and a face formed from a metallic material. The body
includes a crown, a sole, and a hosel. The face is removably
attached to the body via a plurality of mechanical fasteners, and,
when attached, the body and the face define a closed volume.
[0010] In one configuration, the face is a cup face that includes a
ball striking portion and a side-wall extending from a perimeter of
the ball striking portion. The ball striking portion and the
side-wall define a recess that is configured to receive a portion
of the body that may include a portion of the crown and a portion
of the sole. The ball striking portion defines a strike face that
is opposite the recess.
[0011] The above features and advantages and other features and
advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the
following detailed description of the best modes for carrying out
the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a golf club having a
detachable face.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a schematic exploded view of the golf club head of
FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross sectional view of the golf club
head of FIG. 1, taken along line 3-3.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross sectional view of the golf club
head of FIG. 1, taken along line 3-3 and in an opposite direction
from FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals
are used to identify like or identical components in the various
views, FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a
wood-type golf club head 10 (i.e., "club head 10") that generally
includes a face portion 12 (i.e., the "face 12") and a body portion
14 (i.e., the "body 14"). As generally illustrated in FIG. 2, the
club head 10 may be mounted on the end of an elongate shaft 16,
which may be gripped and swung by a user to impart a generally
arcuate motion to the club head 10.
[0017] The face 12 of the club head 10 may generally include a
ball-striking portion 18 having a hitting surface 20 that is
intended to contact a golf ball during a normal swing. The hitting
surface 20 may be a planar surface, or may have a slight
convex/arcuate curvature (i.e. bulge and/or roll) that extends out
from the club head 10. Additionally, as is commonly understood, the
hitting surface 20 may be disposed at an angle to a vertical plane
when the club is held in a neutral hitting position. This angle may
be generally referred to as the loft angle or slope of the club.
Wood-type club heads (including hybrid woods), such as illustrated
in FIGS. 1-4, may most commonly have a loft angle of from about 8.5
degrees to about 24 degrees, though other loft angles are possible
and have been commercially sold.
[0018] The body 14 of the club head 10 may generally be configured
to support the face 12 and to provide a connection means between
the face 12 and the elongate shaft 16. Referring again to FIG. 1,
the body 14 may generally include a lower portion 22 (i.e., a "sole
22") and an upper portion 24 (i.e., a "crown 24"). For the purpose
of this description, the crown 24 may meet the sole 22 where the
surface has a vertical tangent when the club head 10 is held in a
neutral hitting position (i.e., a position where the shaft 16 is
maintained entirely in a vertical plane and at a prescribed lie
angle relative to a horizontal ground plane). In practice, a
portion of the sole 22 near this transition point may also be
referred to as the skirt 26. Finally, the club head 10 includes a
hosel 28 that is configured to receive a shaft adapter and/or
otherwise couple with the elongate shaft 16.
Detachable Cup Face
[0019] In one embodiment, the face 12 may have a cup-face style
construction/design that includes a side-wall portion 38 extending
from the perimeter of the ball-striking portion 18 toward the rear
of the club head 10. The side-wall portion 38 and the ball-striking
portion 18 may form a concave recess opposite the hitting surface
20 (i.e., having a cup-like appearance). Such a face construction
enables the attachment point between the face 12 and the body 14 to
be positioned behind the hitting surface 20. This is in contrast to
other plate-like face constructions that require attachment at or
around the perimeter of the hitting surface 20, itself. By
positioning the attachment apart from the hitting surface, it is
less likely that any attachment means (e.g., a weld, screw, or the
like) would influence the flexural properties of the hitting
surface 20. Conversely, in plate-like face constructions, weld
beads and/or thermal tempering may directly affect the stiffness of
the perimeter of the hitting surface 20.
[0020] Additionally, the face 12 may be formed from a material that
may suitably withstand a direct impact with a golf ball. While such
a material may preferably be metallic, such as a titanium alloy, in
other embodiments, it may include one or more polymer layers,
carbon-fiber layups, or the like. In still other embodiments, the
face 12 may be entirely formed from a polyermic material that is
designed to withstand large impact loads.
[0021] FIG. 3 generally illustrates a schematic cross-sectional
view 40 taken along section 3-3 shown in FIG. 1. As shown, the face
12 and the body 14 may cooperate to surround and/or define an
internal volume/cavity 44. Additionally, the cup face 12 may be
dimensioned to allow a portion of the body 14 to be received and
selectively secured within the concave recess formed by the cup
face 12. In one configuration, the face 12 may be secured to the
body 14 via one or more mechanical fasteners 46 that extend through
the sidewall 38 and into the body 14. The mechanical fasteners 46
may include one or more screws, cams, or other such devices that
may restrain the face 12 from being removed from the body 14 while
in place, though may provide a non-destructive means of separating
the face 12 and the body 14 when removed.
[0022] Enabling removal of the face 12 may provide certain benefits
that are not found in conventional fixed face designs. For example,
interchangeable faces may be used to selectively vary at least one
geometric face parameter such as, for example, the face angle, the
loft angle, the bulge radius, or the roll radius. Likewise,
interchangeable faces may also be used to selectively vary at least
one dynamic response parameter such as, for example, the club head
center of gravity, the total mass of the club head, or the
coefficient of restitution of the face. Finally, interchangeable
faces may also be used to alleviate durability concerns that may
result from certain thin face designs.
[0023] With regard to altering at least one geometric face
parameter of the club head 10, different users may benefit from
differing face geometries according to their swing characteristics.
For example, a user that has a tendency to slice their drive, may
benefit from a face angle that has a draw bias. Likewise, a user
with a slow swing speed may benefit from a greater loft angle than
a user with a fast swing speed. Finally, a user that has a tendency
to impact the ball away from the center of the face may benefit
from a clubface that has an increased bulge radius or roll
radius.
[0024] While the geometric face parameters may relate to the
specific geometry of the club face 12, the dynamic response
parameters may affect the behavior of the club head 10 throughout
the swing and impact. Different faces may be specifically designed
to alter the location of the center of gravity of the club head 10
or alter various moments of inertia of the club head. This may be
accomplished by changing the distribution of weight between the
heel and toe, between the crown and sole and/or around the
perimeter of the hitting surface 20. For example, placing
additional mass toward the outer perimeter of the club head 10
and/or toward the toe may increase the club head's moment of
inertia (resistance to twisting). Likewise, placing additional
weight toward the sole may lower the club head's center of gravity,
which generally increases launch angle and spin. Additionally, by
enabling removal of the face 12, weights may be selectively placed
within the body, such as by affixing to a predetermined weight
port.
[0025] Finally, from a durability perspective, a removable face may
allow thinner hitting surfaces to be used without as much concern
for the long term durability of the club head 10. The durability of
a face 10 is typically measured by successively impacting the face
with a predetermined number of golf balls traveling at a high rate
of speed. The test is often performed at various locations across
the club head 10, and the club head must not show any signs of
structural damage following a test. In fixed face designs, the club
face is often overdesigned and/or made significantly thicker to
pass such a durability test at professional tour-level swing
speeds. By providing a means to replace a damaged face, the
durability standards may be reduced to permit thinner face designs.
Alternatively, faces may be provided to more closely correlate with
the end user's actual swing speed rather than always overdesigning
the face to satisfy tour-level conditions.
Polymeric Body
[0026] To reduce structural mass beyond what is economically viable
with metal alloys, the body 14 of the club head 10 may be formed
from a polymeric material, which is less dense than traditional
metal body designs. To promote design flexibility, the polymeric
material may be molded into shape using any of the number of
molding techniques, such as, injection molding, compression
molding, blow molding, or the like. While weight savings and design
flexibility are important, the polymeric material must also be
strong enough to withstand the stress that is experienced when the
club head 10 impacts a ball. To accomplish this, it is preferable
to use a material that has a tensile strength of greater than about
200 MPa (according to ASTM D638), or more preferably greater than
about 250 MPa. Additionally, for ease of molding, if the polymeric
material is filled, then it desirably has a resin content of
greater than about 50%, or even greater than about 55% by weight.
One such material may include, for example, a thermoplastic
aliphatic or semi-aromatic polyamide that is filled with chopped
fiber, such as chopped carbon fiber or chopped glass fiber. Other
materials may include polyimides, polyamide-imides,
polyetheretherketones (PEEK), polycarbonates, engineering
polyurethanes, and/or other similar materials. In one
configuration, the polymeric body 14 may be devoid of any metallic
support structure or frame that directly couples with the face
12.
[0027] In one configuration, the polymeric body 14 may be
integrally formed as a single, continuous piece. An integral design
may have strength benefits by reducing seams, weld lines, or other
parting lines, however it may also increase the complexity of the
molding process. In other configurations, the body 14 may be formed
from multiple components that are fused together through, for
example, ultrasonic welding, laser welding, or the use of
adhesives. For example, in one embodiment, the sole 22, crown 24,
and hosel 28 may each be formed through a separate molding process
and then subsequently fused together.
[0028] As noted above, and shown in the figures, the hosel 28 may
be formed from a polymeric material, similar to the crown 24 and
the sole 22. Referring to FIG. 1, the hosel 28 generally defines a
recess 60 that is configured to receive a golf club shaft 16 and/or
a shaft adapter 62. In one configuration, the hosel 28 includes a
plurality of splines 64 disposed on an inward-facing surface that
surrounds the recess 60. The splines 64 are intended to inhibit any
relative rotation between the shaft 16 and the golf club head 10
once the shaft 16 or shaft adapter 62 is inserted within the recess
60.
[0029] In one configuration, the hosel 28 may be formed through
similar molding techniques as the remainder of the body, and using
similar polymeric materials. When formed in this manner, the hosel
28 may avoid any need for metallic inserts to be secured within the
recess 60. More specifically, by having flexural characteristics
that more closely match those of the shaft adapter 62 and or
certain composite shafts, boundary layer incompatibilities may be
minimized, which reduces wear at the interface and increases
durability.
[0030] In general, the body 14 of the present design accomplishes
four objectives: supporting the face 12; structurally coupling the
face 12 with the shaft via the hosel 28; moving the center of
gravity of the club head 10 rearward of the face 12 and/or hitting
surface 20; and, increasing the moment of inertia of the club head
10 to allow the club head 10 to strike through the ball and
minimize any twisting. A polymer body construction may accomplish
the first two objectives at a lower required structural weight than
conventional metal body construction. In doing so, the polymer body
construction may provide a greater amount of discretionary weight
that can be strategically placed about the club head (to better
accomplish the last two objectives).
[0031] In one configuration, to secure the face 12 to the body 14,
each of the plurality of mechanical fasteners 46 may be either
directly received by the polymer, or may be received by an inlaid
object, such as a metal insert. The mechanical fasteners 46 may be
directly received, for example, by providing a threaded recess
directly in the polymer. If inserts are used, then each insert may
have, for example, a threaded internal section that receives one
fastener. In one configuration, each insert may be separately
placed in the body such that the polymeric material surrounds each
insert separately and/or such that the inserts are coupled to each
other only via the polymer.
[0032] For weighting purposes, the polymer body 14 may include one
or more discretionary weights, such as captured metallic inserts,
that may be used to alter the magnitude and/or position of the club
head center of mass and/or one or more moments of inertia of the
club head 10. These discretionary weights are located apart from
the face 12 and coupled to the face 12 via the polymeric material.
In one configuration, the discretionary weights are separated from
the face 12 by a minimum distance that is, for example, greater
than about 10 mm. In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the
discretionary weight may include a metallic band 70 that is
disposed about a portion of the perimeter of the club head 10
(e.g., where the sole 22 meets the crown 24). Such a weight may
increase the moment of inertia about a vertical axis, and may move
the center of mass rearward of the face. In one embodiment, this
band 70 may have a varying thickness to enable more precise control
over the location of the center of gravity and the various moments
of inertia. In other embodiments, the discretionary weight may
include a doped portion of the polymeric body 14, a weighted
medallion that is adhered to the inside or outside of the body 14,
or a screw-in or twist-lock removable weight.
[0033] In still other configurations, the metallic inserts may
include one or more metal objects, such as plates or discs that are
overmolded by the polymer within the sole 22, crown 24,
intersitital space, or other portions of the body 14. Due to the
cost effective nature of polymer molding, a manufacturer may use
these techniques to produce a plurality of club head bodies that
each have a different mass and/or mass distribution. In still other
configurations, the metallic inserts may have a threaded portion
that can receive a screw-in style weight.
Club Customization
[0034] Using the present design, a club head may be assembled in a
manner that is specific to the characteristics of a user's swing.
More specifically, constructing a club head may include the steps
of: selecting a face 12 from a plurality of faces, each of the
plurality of faces having one or more different parameters selected
from the loft angle, the face angle, the bulge radius, the roll
radius, the mass, the audible impact frequency, and the coefficient
of restitution across the club face; selecting a body 14 from a
plurality of bodies, each of the plurality of bodies having a
different weight parameter selected from a total mass and a mass
distribution.
[0035] In one configuration, for example, the plurality of faces
may include at least three different faces, each having a different
coefficient of restitution intended for a user with a different
swing speed (e.g., slow, average, fast). In another configuration,
the plurality of faces may include at least nine different faces,
with each face having one of three different coefficient of
restitutions and one of three different face orientation profiles
(e.g., low, medium, and high loft, or draw, neutral, fade biased
face angle).
[0036] In a similar manner, in one configuration, the plurality of
bodies may include at least three bodies, each having a different
total mass intended for users of differing swing speeds (e.g.,
light, average, and heavy bodies, intended for users of slow,
average, and fast swing speeds, respectively). In another
configuration, the plurality of bodies may include at least nine
different bodies, with each body having one of three different
total masses and one of three different weight biasing profiles
(e.g, toe, center, and heal-biased weighting; or face, mid, and
rear-biased weighting).
[0037] In another embodiment, a shaft adapter such as described in
U.S. Patent Application No 2013/0324291 to Arluna et al, which is
incorporated by reference in its entirety, may be used to vary the
loft angle and face angle, while the plurality of faces may be used
to vary the coefficient of restitution, and the plurality of bodies
may be used to vary the total club head mass and/or one or more
dynamic parameters such as a dynamic loft or a ball-spin
tendency.
[0038] In addition to providing different weight profiles, the
cosmetic appearance may also be more substantially varied through
the polymer body construction. In general, polymer molding
techniques can provide a more complex and detailed design than
metal fabrication techniques are capable of Additionally, for a
similar design, polymer molding is generally less expensive than
metal fabrication. As such, the plurality of bodies may also
include varying cosmetic designs that range from conservative
(i.e., a generally uniform shell) to aggressive (i.e., including
many recesses, accent ribs, or colored panels).
[0039] By permitting a mix and match style of club head creation,
retailers may be able to offer a more customized golf club that is
tailored specifically to a user's preferences or swing. This
interchangeable component structure also can eliminate the need to
inventory every possible combination of components.
[0040] While various embodiments have been described, the
description is intended to be exemplary, rather than limiting and
it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many
more embodiments and implementations are possible. Accordingly, the
invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached
claims and their equivalents. Also, various modifications and
changes may be made within the scope of the attached claims.
[0041] "A," "an," "the," "at least one," and "one or more" are used
interchangeably to indicate that at least one of the item is
present; a plurality of such items may be present unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise. All numerical values of
parameters (e.g., of quantities or conditions) in this
specification, including the appended claims, are to be understood
as being modified in all instances by the term "about" whether or
not "about" actually appears before the numerical value. "About"
indicates that the stated numerical value allows some slight
imprecision (with some approach to exactness in the value; about or
reasonably close to the value; nearly). If the imprecision provided
by "about" is not otherwise understood in the art with this
ordinary meaning, then "about" as used herein indicates at least
variations that may arise from ordinary methods of measuring and
using such parameters. In addition, disclosure of ranges includes
disclosure of all values and further divided ranges within the
entire range. Each value within a range and the endpoints of a
range are hereby all disclosed as separate embodiment. The terms
"comprises," "comprising," "including," and "having," are inclusive
and therefore specify the presence of stated items, but do not
preclude the presence of other items. As used in this
specification, the term "or" includes any and all combinations of
one or more of the listed items. When the terms first, second,
third, etc. are used to differentiate various items from each
other, these designations are merely for convenience and do not
limit the items.
* * * * *