U.S. patent application number 14/728325 was filed with the patent office on 2016-12-08 for seat belt buckle tongue electromagnetic coupling with optional wireless sensor and/or actuator system.
This patent application is currently assigned to TK Holdings Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is TK Holdings Inc.. Invention is credited to Len Steven CECH, Dennis RUMPS, Gilbert Allan TODD.
Application Number | 20160355157 14/728325 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57441896 |
Filed Date | 2016-12-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160355157 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CECH; Len Steven ; et
al. |
December 8, 2016 |
SEAT BELT BUCKLE TONGUE ELECTROMAGNETIC COUPLING WITH OPTIONAL
WIRELESS SENSOR AND/OR ACTUATOR SYSTEM
Abstract
A seat belt system for a vehicle having a seat belt mounted to a
vehicle seat or a portion of a vehicle structure, a tongue which
can slide is attached to the seat belt, and a buckle that receives
and locks the tongue in an attached state such that the seat belt
restrains an occupant in the vehicle seat. A primary coil is
included in the buckle and is electrically connected to at least
one primary circuit. At least one secondary coil is included in the
tongue and is electrically connected to at least one secondary
circuit. The primary coil and the at least one secondary coil are
configured to be electromagnetically coupled when the buckle and
tongue are in the attached state.
Inventors: |
CECH; Len Steven; (Brighton,
MI) ; RUMPS; Dennis; (Howell, MI) ; TODD;
Gilbert Allan; (Clawson, MI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
TK Holdings Inc. |
Auburn Hills |
MI |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
TK Holdings Inc.
Auburn Hills
MI
|
Family ID: |
57441896 |
Appl. No.: |
14/728325 |
Filed: |
June 2, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 2022/4816 20130101;
A44B 11/2565 20130101; B60R 22/48 20130101; A44B 11/2561
20130101 |
International
Class: |
B60R 22/48 20060101
B60R022/48; A44B 11/25 20060101 A44B011/25; B60R 22/26 20060101
B60R022/26 |
Claims
1. A seat belt system for a vehicle comprising: a seat belt mounted
to a vehicle seat or a portion of a vehicle structure, the seat
belt having a tongue attached, wherein the tongue can slide
relative to the seat belt; a buckle configured to receive and lock
the tongue in an attached state such that the seat belt restrains
an occupant in a vehicle seat; a primary coil included in the
buckle, wherein the primary coil is electrically connected to at
least one primary circuit; and at least one secondary coil included
in the tongue, wherein the at least one secondary coil is
electrically connected to at least one secondary circuit; wherein
the primary coil and the at least one secondary coil are configured
to be electromagnetically coupled when the buckle and tongue are in
the attached state.
2. The seat belt system of claim 1, wherein the at least one
primary circuit is configured to transmit data to or receive data
from a vehicle communications unit, and wherein the primary coil
transmits the data to or receives the data from the at least one
secondary coil.
3. The seat belt system of claim 2, wherein the at least one
secondary circuit is electrically connected to at least one sensor
and wherein the data transmitted to or received from the at least
one secondary coil is transmitted to or received from the at least
one sensor.
4. The seat belt system of claim 3, wherein the sensor is
configured to measure physiological data of the occupant.
5. The seat belt system of claim 3, wherein the sensor is
configured to measure seat belt movement through the tongue.
6. The seat belt system of claim 5, wherein the sensor is further
configured to estimate occupant size based on the measured seat
belt movement.
7. The seat belt system of claim 3, wherein the sensor is
configured to measure a change in current in the at least one
secondary coil and to detect the attached state of the buckle and
tongue based on the measured change in current.
8. The seat belt system of claim 3, wherein the sensor is included
in or on the seat belt.
9. The seat belt system of claim 3, wherein the sensor is
configured to detect seat belt placement relative to the
occupant.
10. The seat belt system of claim 1, wherein the primary circuit is
configured to receive power from a power source, and wherein the
primary coil transmits the power to the at least one secondary
coil.
11. The seat belt system of claim 10, wherein the at least one
secondary circuit is electrically connected to at least one power
storage device and wherein the power transmitted to the at least
one secondary coil is stored in the at least one power storage
device.
12. The seat belt system of claim 11, wherein the at least one
power storage device is configured to transmit the stored power to
at least one of a sensor and an actuator when the buckle and the
tongue are in an unattached state.
13. The seat belt system of claim 10, wherein the at least one
secondary circuit is electrically connected to at least one
actuator and wherein the power transmitted to the at least one
secondary coil is transmitted to the at least one actuator.
14. The seat belt system of claim 13, wherein the actuator is
configured to vibrate the tongue.
15. The seat belt system of claim 13, wherein the actuator is
configured to adjust the seat belt tension through the tongue.
16. The seat belt system of claim 13, wherein the actuator is
configured to lock relative movement of the seat belt through the
tongue.
17. The seat belt system of claim 10, wherein the power source is a
battery included in or on the buckle.
18. The seat belt system of claim 10, wherein the at least one
secondary circuit is electrically connected to at least one
lighting element and wherein the power transmitted to the at least
one secondary coil is transmitted to the at least one lighting
element.
19. A seat belt system for a vehicle seat comprising: a seat belt
having a tongue attached; a buckle configured to receive and lock
the tongue in an attached state; a primary circuit included in the
buckle; and at least one secondary circuit included in the tongue;
wherein the primary circuit and the at least one secondary circuit
are configured to be electromagnetically coupled when the buckle
and tongue are in close proximity.
20. A seat belt system for a vehicle seat comprising: a seat belt
having a tongue attached; and a buckle configured to receive and
releasably lock the tongue in an attached state, wherein a primary
coil included in the buckle and a secondary coil included in the
tongue are configured to be electromagnetically coupled when the
buckle and tongue are in the attached state such that at least one
of power and data may be transmitted between the buckle and tongue.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Conventional seat belt systems for vehicle seats include two
components, the buckle assembly and the tongue assembly. If an
occupant is not present in the vehicle seat, the buckle and the
tongue are not physically attached. After an occupant enters the
vehicle seat, the occupant inserts the tongue into the buckle,
where a mechanical actuator in the buckle locks the tongue rigidly
in an attached state, thereby restraining the occupant in the
vehicle seat. To break the mechanical attachment and return to the
unattached state, the occupant presses a button on the buckle,
which disables the attached state. Often the tongue and mechanical
actuator are formed of metal. In addition, a switch is generally
included within the buckle to detect when the buckle assembly is
properly buckled.
[0002] Electromechanical devices and sensors also may be integrated
into the seat belt in order to support additional safety functions.
Currently, belt-integrated sensors and actuators require wiring
through the entire belt assembly from the retractor or the belt
base in order to receive power from a power supply or receive and
transmit data from a control unit. Such wiring, however, adds
additional cost and complexity to the system.
SUMMARY
[0003] One disclosed embodiment relates to a seat belt system for a
vehicle. The seat belt system has a seat belt mounted to a vehicle
seat or a portion of a vehicle structure and a tongue which can
slide attached to the seat belt. The seat belt system further
includes a buckle configured to receive and lock the tongue in an
attached state such that the seat belt restrains an occupant in the
vehicle seat. The tongue and buckle have the capability to be
released or separated from the locked condition. A primary coil is
included in the buckle and is electrically connected to at least
one primary circuit. At least one secondary coil is included in the
tongue and is electrically connected to at least one secondary
circuit. The primary coil and the at least one secondary coil are
configured to be electromagnetically coupled when the buckle and
tongue are in the attached state.
[0004] Another disclosed embodiment relates to a seat belt system
for a vehicle seat having a seat belt with a tongue which can slide
attached and a buckle configured to receive and and lock the tongue
in an attached state. The tongue and buckle have the capability to
be released or separated from the locked condition. A primary
circuit is included in the buckle. At least one secondary circuit
is included in the tongue. The primary circuit and the at least one
secondary circuit are configured to be electromagnetically coupled
when the buckle and tongue are in close proximity.
[0005] Yet another disclosed embodiment relates to a seat belt
system for a vehicle seat having a seat belt with a tongue which
can slide attached and a buckle configured to receive and lock the
tongue in an attached state. The tongue and buckle have the
capability to be released or separated from the locked condition.
The buckle and the tongue are further configured to be
electromagnetically coupled when the buckle and tongue are in the
attached state such that power and/or data may be transmitted
between the buckle and tongue.
[0006] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description are exemplary
and explanatory only, and are not restrictive of the invention as
claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent from the following description, appended
claims, and the accompanying exemplary embodiments shown in the
drawings, which are briefly described below.
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an occupant restraint
system, according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a tongue and a buckle of the
occupant restraint system of FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the tongue and the buckle of
FIG. 2 in an uncoupled state, according to an exemplary
embodiment.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the tongue and buckle of FIG. 2
in a coupled state, according to an exemplary embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] References herein to the positions of elements (e.g., "top,"
"bottom," "above," "below," etc.) are merely used to describe the
orientation of various elements in the FIGURES. It should be noted
that the orientation of various elements may differ according to
other exemplary embodiments, and that such variations are intended
to be encompassed by the present disclosure.
[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates a portion of a vehicle interior 10,
including a vehicle occupant restraint system, such as a seat belt
system 20 for use in a passenger vehicle. The seat belt system 20
generally includes a belt 22 (e.g. a webbing, a strap, etc.), a
tongue 24, and a mateable buckle 26. Upon attaching the tongue 24
to the buckle 26, the belt 22 is latched across the occupant to
secure the occupant to the vehicle seat 12. Sensors and various
electromechanical devices may be integrated into the seat belt
system 20 to enhance safety functions of the system. For example, a
sensor 78 may be integrated with the belt 22 to collect data
regarding the physiological state of the occupant or general use of
the system by the occupant. In addition, actuators may be
incorporated into the seat belt system 20 that provide tensioning
adjustment to the belt 22 in certain events, such as, for example,
pre-crash, crash, or other threat conditions. The use of such
sensors and electromechanical devices in connection with the seat
belt system 20 is described in more detail below.
[0014] The belt 22 is configured to extend and retract across the
occupant when seated. The belt 22 may be formed of a woven nylon
material, which is threaded through the tongue 24 via an opening 33
in a striker portion 42. The tongue 24 slides with respect to the
belt 22 when in an unbuckled position, allowing the seat belt 22 to
be utilized for a wide range of occupant sizes and seating
positions. The belt 22 is connected to a belt retractor 28 that is
configured to guide the belt 22 between winding and unwinding. The
retractor 28 may include a mechanism configured to pretension the
belt 22 in the winding direction. The mechanism may include a
plurality of springs, for example. The buckle 26 may be fixed with
respect to the vehicle, such as the vehicle floor, vehicle seat, or
any other appropriate vehicle structure. For example, the buckle 26
may be anchored to the vehicle frame so that the seat belt 22 is
secured or locked in place when it is attached to the buckle 26.
When the tongue 24 and the buckle 26 are secured, the belt 22
extends from a floor anchor 32, crosses the waist of the occupant,
and passes through the tongue housing 34 to form a lap portion 36
of the occupant restraint system 20. The belt 22 crosses diagonally
across the torso of the occupant to a shoulder anchor 30 (e.g., a
ring assembly, a D-ring, etc.) to form a shoulder portion 38 of the
occupant restraint system 20, and then leads into the retractor
housing 28 where it terminates in a spool which rotates relative to
the fixed housing.
[0015] As shown in FIG. 2, the buckle 26 includes a latch 40 to
prevent unwanted disengagement of the tongue. The latch 40 may be
formed, for example, from a metal or metal alloy. The latch 40 is
configured to secure the striker portion 42 of the tongue 24. The
striker portion 42 also may be formed from a metal or metal alloy.
In addition, the striker portion 42 may be partially covered by a
tongue housing 34, which may be formed, for example, as a hollow
plastic member that partially frames the striker portion 42. The
latch 40 is further configured to selectively release the striker
portion 42 of the tongue 24, either manually or automatically, such
as with the depression of a user interface, which is shown in FIG.
2 as a button 44. The button 44 may be provided on the distal end
of the buckle 26 and defines an opening 45 into which the striker
portion 42 is inserted to engage the latch 40. The buckle 26 may
further include an internal switch 46 included within a housing 48
of the buckle 26 that is configured to detect when the striker
portion 42 and the latch 40 are engaged or disengaged. The switch
46 may, for example, be an electromechanical switch. The switch 46
may communicate to the vehicle whether the latch 40 of the buckle
26 and the striker portion 42 of the tongue 24 are in an "attached"
or "unattached" state via electrical wiring contained in the buckle
26.
[0016] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the buckle 26 may communicate
with the vehicle via signals passing through electrical wires
(represented as double arrows) coupling the buckle 26 to an
electrical system 50. Electromechanical devices may then be
integrated into the buckle 26, including, but not limited to,
lighting elements, vibrating actuators, and electromechanical
motors, all of which may facilitate ingress and egress movement of
the buckle or general use of the occupant restraint system 20. The
electrical system 50 further may include a power source 52,
configured to provide electrical power, and a control circuit 54
(e.g., a controller, a processor circuit, etc.), configured to
provide control signals.
[0017] The power source 52 may provide electrical power to the
components of the buckle 26 and, as described in more detail below,
other components of the seat belt system 20. The power source 52
may be connected (e.g., wired) to a vehicle power supply system.
The power source 52 may be integrated into the vehicle power supply
system or may be independent of the vehicle power supply system.
For example, the power source 52 may be a dedicated battery or
other electrical storage device that provides power only to the
buckle 26.
[0018] The control circuit 54 may contain circuitry, hardware,
and/or software for facilitating or performing a variety of
functions. The control circuit 54 may handle inputs, process
inputs, run programs, handle instructions, route information,
control memory, control a processor, process data, generate
outputs, communicate with other devices or hardware, or otherwise
perform general or specific computing tasks. The control circuit 54
may, for example, be an electronic control unit for a vehicle. The
control circuit 54 also may include a processor 56. The processor
56 may be implemented as any suitable electronic processing
component, such as, for example, a general-purpose processor, an
application-specific integrated circuit ("ASIC"), one or more
field-programmable gate arrays ("FPGAs"), a
digital-signal-processor ("DSP"), or a group of processing
components. The control circuit 54 may include a further connection
to another vehicle communication system such as, for example, a CAN
bus.
[0019] The control circuit 54 may include memory 58, which may be
one or more devices (e.g. RAM, ROM, flash memory, hard disk
storage, etc.) for storing data and/or computer code for
facilitating the various processes performed by the control circuit
54. The memory 58 may be, or include, non-transient volatile memory
or non-volatile memory. The memory 58 also may include any type of
information structure for supporting the various activities and
information structures performed by the system, such as database
components, object code components, and script components. The
memory 58 is in direct communication with the processor 56 and
provide computer code or instructions to processor for executing
the processes described herein.
[0020] The seat belt system 20 includes an electromagnetic primary
coil 60 that is provided in the buckle 26 and at least one
electromagnetic secondary coil 62 that is provided in the tongue
24, both of which are represented schematically in FIGS. 3 and 4.
In an attached state (e.g., when the striker portion 42 of the
tongue 24 engages the latch 40 of the buckle 26), the primary coil
60 and the secondary coil 62 are inductively coupled. The
mechanical interconnection of the striker portion 42 and the latch
40 fix the relative positions of the primary coil 60 and the
secondary coil 62. The striker portion 42 may be positioned
relative to the primary coil 60 and the secondary coil 62 to serve
as a metal core linking the primary coil 60 and secondary coil 62
to improve power and/or communication coupling. For example, the
primary coil 60 may be provided about the periphery of or within
the housing 48 of the buckle, and the secondary coil 62 may be
provided about the periphery of or within the tongue housing 34.
The striker portion 42 may extend into the tongue housing 34 such
that, when the tongue 24 is coupled to the buckle 26, one end of
the striker portion 42 is surrounded by the primary coil 60 while
the opposite end of the striker portion 42 is surrounded by the
secondary coil 62, as shown in FIG. 4.
[0021] Once an electromagnetic coupling is established between the
primary coil 60 and the secondary coil 62, power and data may be
transferred. Data may be exchanged between the primary coil 60 and
the secondary coil 62 through various methods including, but not
limited to, low-power Bluetooth, WiFi, near field communication
("NFC"), or simple controlled modulation of the primary and/or
secondary coil circuits. Through the inductive coupling between the
primary coil 60 and the secondary coil 62, power and/or data may
pass between the buckle 26 and the tongue 24 without direct
physical contact of the power and/or data conducting members
connected to the tongue 24 and the buckle 26.
[0022] To facilitate power and data transfer, the buckle 26 may
include a power supply circuit 64 and/or a communications circuit
66. The power supply circuit 64 and the communications circuit 66
may be included within the housing 48 of the buckle 26 such that
they do not interfere with the coupling of the striker portion 42
and the latch 40. The power supply circuit 64 is connected to the
power source 52 and to the primary coil 60. The power supply
circuit 64 may be a simple connection that directly couples the
primary coil 60 to the power source 52 or may include components to
alter (e.g., rectify, invert, step-up, step-down, condition, etc.)
the electrical power between the power source 52 and the primary
coil 60. The communications circuit 66 is connected to the control
circuit 54 and to the primary coil 60. The communications circuit
66 may be a simple connection that directly couples the primary
coil 60 to the control circuit 54 or may include components such as
additional processors to alter data passing between the primary
coil 60 and the control circuit 54.
[0023] The tongue 24 may include a power storage device 70, a power
conversion system 72, an electrical sensing system 74, and/or an
actuation circuit 76. One or more of the power storage device 70,
the power conversion system 72, the electrical sensing system 74,
or the actuation circuit 76 may be included within the tongue
housing 34 or within a separate housing coupled to the tongue
24.
[0024] The power storage device 70 is connected to the secondary
coil 62. The power storage device 70 is charged with electrical
power from the power source 52 through the inductive coupling
between the primary coil 60 and the secondary coil 62. The power
storage device 70 may be any device suitable for storing electrical
energy. For example, the power storage device 70 may a rechargeable
electrochemical cell or battery (e.g., a suitable battery could
include Ni--Cd, NiMH, Li-ion, Li polymer, etc.), a capacitor,
supercapacitor, or any other device or combination of devices
capable of storing electrical energy.
[0025] The power conversion system 72 is connected to the secondary
coil 62. The power conversion system 72 may include components to
alter (e.g., rectify, invert, step-up, step-down, condition, etc.)
the electrical power between the secondary coil 62 and the power
storage device 70, the electrical sensing system 74, the actuation
circuit 76, the sensor 78, and other devices (e.g., sensors,
actuators, lights, etc.) included in the tongue 24 or in other
components connected to the tongue 24 (e.g., belt 22, shoulder
anchor 30, retractor 28, etc.).
[0026] The power storage device 70 and/or the power conversion
system 72 provide electrical power to components included on the
tongue 14 or the belt 22 without direct contact being needed
between conductive members coupled to the tongue 24 and the buckle
26. Further, by providing power storage in the tongue 24 with the
power storage device 70, the power conversion system 72, the
electrical sensing system 74, the actuation circuit 76, the sensor
78 and other devices (e.g., sensors, actuators, lights, etc.)
included in the tongue 24 or in the belt 22 coupled to the tongue
24 may receive power even when the tongue 24 is disengaged from the
buckle 26.
[0027] The electrical sensing system 74 may communicate with one or
more sensors 78 included on the tongue 24 or on the belt 22 coupled
to the tongue 24 to monitor the use of the occupant restraint
system 20 and/or collect data concerning the occupant using the
occupant restraint system 20. The sensor 78 communicates collected
data to the control circuit 54 via the inductive coupling between
the primary coil 60 and the secondary coil 62. While the sensor 78
is shown schematically in FIGS. 3 and 4 as a single sensor included
on the belt 22 coupled to the tongue 24, the sensor 78
alternatively may be included on the tongue 24 (e.g., on the
striker portion 42 or the tongue housing 34). The sensor 78 also
may include multiple sensors included in various locations on the
tongue 24, the belt 22 or any other component associated with the
seat belt system 20 (e.g., the refractor 28).
[0028] The sensor 78 may be utilized to estimate the stature of the
occupant based on the occupant's use of the seat belt system 20.
For example, the sensor 78 may be one or more accelerometers
included within the tongue housing 34. The accelerometer may track
the movement of the tongue 24 by the occupant's hand, during
ingress, from a stowed position to engaging the buckle 26 to
estimate the occupant's stature. Alternatively, the sensor 78 may
be an encoder (e.g., an optical encoder) that is configured to
monitor belt payout through the tongue housing 34 to estimate
occupant stature (e.g., through absolute and/or relative encoded
information on the belt 22). Alternatively, the sensor may be
composed of a gear system (which steps down the turn ratio of the
refractor) attached to a rotational potentiometer.
[0029] The sensor 78 also may be utilized to collect other
biological data from the occupant. For example, the sensor 78 may
be included on a portion of the belt 22 that is positioned over the
chest of the occupant and may be configured to collect a variety of
data, including, but not limited to, occupant physiological data,
such as movement, heart rate, respiration rate, or detect or
measure biochemical analytes through respiration, perspiration or
other physiological processes.
[0030] In addition, the sensor 78 may be utilized to monitor the
tongue 24 and the buckle 26 or the proper use of the seat belt
system 20. For example, the sensor 78 may be configured to detect
the electromagnetic coupling levels when the tongue 24 is properly
locked into the buckle 26. The sensor 78 may therefore replace the
switch 46 as a means for detecting the state of the buckle
assembly. The sensor 78 also may be utilized to detect misuse of
the seat belt system 20, such as by detecting belt placement behind
or under the occupant. The sensor 78 additionally may be utilized
to detect due care situations, such as the presence or positioning
of a car seat or whether the buckle 26 and the tongue 24 are in a
non-occupant attached state.
[0031] The actuation circuit 76 is configured to actuate a portion
of the seat belt system 20 based on control signals from the
control circuit 54 that are transmitted to the actuation circuit
through the inductive coupling between the primary coil 60 and the
secondary coil 62.
[0032] The actuation circuit 76 may be coupled to an actuator,
indicator, or other device included on the tongue 24 and configured
to act upon the tongue 24. For example, the actuation circuit 76
may be configured to activate a motor to vibrate the tongue 24 as a
warning device, or may be configured to activate a light or sound
device to provide a warning or indicator to the occupant (e.g., if
the tongue 24 is not properly coupled to the buckle 26).
Alternatively, the actuation circuit 76 may be coupled to an
actuator, indictor, or other device that is configured to act upon
another body. For example, the actuation circuit 76 may be
configured to activate an actuator in the tongue housing 34 to lock
the belt 22 in the tongue housing 34 to provide enhanced restraint
during pre-crash, crash, or other threat conditions. Such an
actuator may be utilized in combination with other active belt
functions, such as a motorized seat belt function.
[0033] The actuation circuit 76 may be coupled to an actuator,
indicator, or other device in another portion of the seat belt
system 20. For example, the actuation circuit 76 may be configured
to activate an actuator in the shoulder anchor 30 to adjust tension
(e.g., looser or tighter) to achieve a target belt tension. The
actuation circuit 76 may activate any other electromechanical
reversible and/or non-reversible features embedded in the seat belt
or other components of the occupant restraint system 20, such as in
response to pre-crash, crash, or other threat conditions detected
by other sensors and communicated to the actuation circuit from the
control circuit 54 through the inductive coupling between the
primary coil 60 and the secondary coils 62.
[0034] The electromagnetic coupling of the seat belt system 20
allows for wireless sensors and/or actuators to be integrated into
the tongue housing or in other components of the seat belt system
20 without the requirement of extensive wiring through the entire
belt assembly. The system allows for use of existing power and
communications wiring in the buckle assembly to provide additional
features and functions and may also replace the switch as a means
to detect proper attachment of the buckle and tongue, thereby
reducing parts while adding functionality.
[0035] The construction and arrangement of the elements of the
electromagnetic coupling system as shown in the exemplary
embodiments are illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments
of the present disclosure have been described in detail, those
skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily
appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations
in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the
various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use
of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially
departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject
matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed
may be constructed of multiple parts or elements. Some like
components have been described in the present disclosure using the
same reference numerals in different figures. This should not be
construed as an implication that these components are identical in
all embodiments; various modifications may be made in various
different embodiments. It should be noted that the elements and/or
assemblies of the enclosure may be constructed from any of a wide
variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or
durability, in any of a wide variety of colors, textures, and
combinations.
* * * * *