U.S. patent application number 14/805713 was filed with the patent office on 2017-01-26 for toilet installation system and method of installing toilet.
The applicant listed for this patent is Timothy J. Wood. Invention is credited to Timothy J. Wood.
Application Number | 20170022695 14/805713 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57835942 |
Filed Date | 2017-01-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170022695 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wood; Timothy J. |
January 26, 2017 |
TOILET INSTALLATION SYSTEM AND METHOD OF INSTALLING TOILET
Abstract
An aspect of the invention provides for a toilet installation
system. The toilet installation system may comprise: a first set of
supports configured to position a first toilet bolt hole of a
toilet over a first flange bolt hole of a toilet flange; and a
second set of supports configured to position an opposing second
toilet bolt hole of the toilet over the second flange bolt hole of
the toilet flange.
Inventors: |
Wood; Timothy J.;
(Wynantskill, NY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Wood; Timothy J. |
Wynantskill |
NY |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
57835942 |
Appl. No.: |
14/805713 |
Filed: |
July 22, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E03D 11/16 20130101 |
International
Class: |
E03D 11/16 20060101
E03D011/16 |
Claims
1. A method for installing a toilet, the method comprising:
positioning a toilet installation system around a toilet flange
configured to receive the toilet, the toilet installation system
including a first set of supports adjacent to a first flange bolt
hole on a first side of the toilet flange and a second set of
supports adjacent to a second flange bolt hole on a second side of
the toilet flange; placing a toilet on a toilet installation system
such that a first toilet bolt hole of the toilet is positioned over
the first flange bolt hole via the first set of supports and a
second toilet bolt hole of the toilet is positioned over the second
flange bolt hole via the second set of supports; and sequentially
removing a support from the first set of supports and the second
set of supports and lowering the toilet until the first toilet bolt
hole is aligned with the first flange bolt hole and the second
toilet bolt hole is aligned with the second flange bolt hole.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sequentially removing the
support includes: removing a first support from the first set of
supports to reveal a second support thereunder; and wherein the
lowering the toilet includes lowering the toilet such that the
first toilet bolt hole is positioned over the first flange bolt
hole via the second support.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the sequentially removing the
support further includes: removing a third support from the second
set of supports to reveal a fourth support thereunder after the
lowering of the toilet; and wherein the lowering the toilet further
includes lowering the toilet such that the second toilet bolt hole
is positioned over the second flange bolt hole via the fourth
support.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the sequentially removing the
support further includes: removing the second support from under
the toilet; and wherein the lowering the toilet further includes
lowering the toilet such that the first toilet bolt hole is aligned
with the first flange bolt hole.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the sequentially removing the
support further includes: removing the fourth support from under
the toilet; and wherein the lowering the toilet further includes
lowering the toilet such that the second toilet bolt hole is
aligned with the second flange bolt hole.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the toilet installation system
further includes a front support, and wherein the positioning the
toilet installation system includes: positioning a front support
adjacent to the toilet flange at a position that is equidistant
from the first toilet bolt hole and the second toilet bolt
hole.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the sequentially removing the
support includes removing a first support from the first set of
supports to reveal a second support thereunder and wherein the
lowering the toilet includes lowering the toilet such that the
first toilet bolt hole is positioned over the first flange bolt
hole via the second support, and the method further comprising:
removing the front support after the removing the first support
from the first set of supports; placing the first support at the
position for the front support; and lowering the toilet onto the
first support at the position for the front support.
8. The method of claim 7, further comprising removing the first
support from the position for the front support.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to the
positioning the toilet installation system, placing a first bolt
through the first flange bolt hole; and placing a second bolt
through the second flange bolt hole.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the placing the toilet on the
installation system includes: placing a first bolt sleeve in the
first toilet bolt hole such that the first bolt sleeve is
positioned to accommodate the first bolt; placing a second bolt
sleeve in the second toilet bolt hole such that the second bolt
sleeve is positioned to accommodate the second bolt.
11. The method of claim 10, after the sequentially removing the
support and the lowering the toilet, further comprising: removing
the first bolt sleeve from the first bolt; installing a first nut
to secure the first bolt; removing the second bolt sleeve from the
second bolt; and installing a second nut to secure the second
bolt.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of supports and
the second set of supports each include a support that has a height
greater than its width, and wherein the sequentially removing the
support includes sequentially turning the first set of supports on
its side and lowering the toilet onto the side of the first set of
supports, and turning the second set of supports on its side and
lowering the toilet onto the side of the second set of
supports.
13. A toilet installation system comprising: a first set of
supports configured to position a first toilet bolt hole of a
toilet over a first flange bolt hole of a toilet flange; and a
second set of supports configured to position an opposing second
toilet bolt hole of the toilet over a second flange bolt hole of
the toilet flange.
14. The toilet installation system of claim 13, further comprising:
a front support configured to positioned a front edge of the
toilet.
15. The toilet installation system of claim 14, wherein the front
support includes a box configured to contain the first and second
set of supports in an inoperative state.
16. The toilet installation system of claim 13, wherein the first
set of supports includes at least a first support and a second
support; and wherein the second set of supports includes at least a
third support and a fourth support.
17. The toilet installation system of claim 13, further comprising:
a first bolt sleeve configured to extend through the first toilet
bolt hole and configured to accommodate a first bolt; and a second
bolt sleeve configured to extend through the second toilet bolt
hole and configured to accommodate a second bolt.
18. The toilet installation system of claim 13, wherein the first
set of supports and the second set of supports each include a
support having a height greater than a width.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This disclosure relates generally to a toilet installation
system and more specifically to a toilet installation system for
lowering a toilet onto a toilet flange and a method of using the
same.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The installation of a toilet requires the use of a toilet
flange to connect a base of the toilet to a drain and a sub-floor.
The toilet flange is generally installed by attaching the flange to
the sub-floor, and then connecting the base of the toilet to the
flange. Connecting the toilet to the flange requires aligning bolt
holes on the base of the toilet with bolt holes on the flange
thereunder such that bolts extend through both the bolt holes on
the base of the toilet and bolt holes on the flange thereby
connecting the toilet and the flange.
[0003] However, aligning the toilet bolt holes with the flange bolt
holes is quite difficult. Traditionally, the installer of the
toilet carries and lowers the toilet over the flange by hand. The
bulky and heavy nature of the toilet typically prevents the
installer from being able to see the toilet bolt holes and flange
bolt holes in order to align them. Therefore, the installer may
reposition a toilet several times before accurately aligning the
toilet bolt holes with the flange bolt holes. During the
repositioning, the flange is at risk of breaking and the wax ring
that seals the bottom of the toilet to the toilet flange may be
exposed to repeated seating and unseating that can damage the
seal.
SUMMARY
[0004] A first aspect of the invention provides for a method for
installing a toilet. The method may comprise: positioning a toilet
installation system around a toilet flange configured to receive
the toilet; the toilet installation system including a first set of
supports adjacent to a first flange bolt hole on a first side of
the toilet flange and a second set of supports adjacent to a second
flange bolt hole on a second side of the toilet flange; placing a
toilet on the toilet installation system such that a first toilet
bolt hole of the toilet is positioned over the first flange bolt
hole via the first set of supports and a second toilet bolt hole of
the toilet is positioned over the second flange bolt hole via the
second set of supports; and sequentially removing a support from
the first set of supports and the second set of supports and
lowering the toilet until the first toilet bolt hole is aligned
with the first flange bolt hole and the second toilet bolt hole is
aligned with the second flange bolt hole.
[0005] A second aspect of the invention provides for a toilet
installation system. The toilet installation system may comprise: a
first set of supports configured to position a first toilet bolt
hole of a toilet over a first flange bolt hole of a toilet flange;
and a second set of supports configured to position an opposing
second toilet bolt hole of the toilet over the second flange bolt
hole of the toilet flange.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] These and other features of this invention will be more
readily understood from the following detailed description of the
various aspects of the invention taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings that depict various embodiments, in
which:
[0007] FIG. 1 shows a top-down view of an embodiment of the toilet
installation system.
[0008] FIG. 2 shows a perspective side view of an embodiment of the
toilet installation system.
[0009] FIGS. 3-6 show a side view of an embodiment of the toilet
installation system undergoing a method of installing a toilet.
[0010] FIG. 7 shows a perspective side view of another embodiment
of the toilet installation system.
[0011] FIGS. 8-11 show a side view of the embodiment of the toilet
installation system shown in FIG. 7 undergoing a method of
installing a toilet.
[0012] It is noted that the drawings of the invention are not to
scale. The drawings are intended to depict only typical aspects of
the invention, and therefore should not be considered as limiting
the scope of the invention. In the drawings, like numbering
represents like elements between the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] In the following description, reference is made to the
accompanying drawings that form a part thereof, and in which is
shown by way of illustration specific exemplary embodiments in
which the present teachings may be practiced. These embodiments are
described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art
to practice the present teachings, and it is to be understood that
other embodiments may be used and that changes may be made without
departing from the scope of the present teachings. The following
description is, therefore, merely illustrative.
[0014] Disclosed herein are various embodiments of a toilet
installation system and a method for installing a toilet. The
current disclosure is directed to a toilet installation system
which lowers a toilet onto a toilet flange and aligns bolt holes on
the toilet with bolt holes on the flange. As one of ordinary skill
in the art will appreciate, any standard toilet flange and toilet
is easily adapted to the toilet installation system disclosed
herein. Therefore, the specifics of the flange, sealing ring (wax)
and drain connection are omitted for brevity.
[0015] FIG. 1 shows a top-down view of an embodiment of the toilet
installation system. FIG. 2 shows a perspective side view of an
embodiment of the toilet installation system. Referring to FIGS.
1-2 together, a toilet installation system 100 is shown positioned
around a toilet flange 102, the latter of which is shown in phantom
below the toilet. Toilet flange 102 may be any type of toilet
flange as known in the art. Toilet flange 102 may include an
opening 104 for connecting toilet flange 102 to a drain (not
shown). Additionally, as known in the art, toilet flange 102 may
include any number of bolt holes. For example, toilet flange may
include a first flange bolt hole 106 and a second flange bolt hole
108. As understood in the art and as will be described herein, each
bolt hole 106, 108 supports an upstanding bolt that mates with bolt
holes in a base of the toilet.
[0016] Toilet installation system 100 may include a first set of
supports 112 and a second set of supports 122. First and second set
of supports 112, 122 may be configured to support a toilet 130, or
more specifically, a base 132 of a toilet 130 over a toilet flange
102. That is, first and second sets of supports 112, 122 may
support base 132 of toilet 130 such that a first toilet bolt hole
136 is positioned over first flange bolt hole 106 and a second
toilet bolt hole 138 is positioned over second flange bolt hole
108. More particularly, sets of supports 112, 122 support toilet
130 above toilet flange 102 in way that positions toilet bolt holes
136, 138 directly above flange bolt holes 106, 108 such that, when
toilet 130 is lowered during installation, toilet bolt holes 136,
138 align with flange bolt holes 106, 108. As shown, first set of
supports 112 may include a first support 114 and a second support
116, and second set of supports 122 may include a third support 124
and a fourth support 126. However, it is to be understood that each
set of supports 112, 122 may comprise any number of supports
without departing from aspects of the invention. Supports 114, 116,
124, 126 may include, for example but not limited to, blocks,
wedges, shims, or any other structure or apparatus which can
accommodate a weight of a toilet to be positioned thereon for
installation. Supports 114, 116, 124, 126 may be made of, for
example but not limited to, thermoplastic, metal, or wood.
[0017] As shown in FIG. 2, toilet installation system 100 may also
include a first bolt sleeve 146 and a second bolt sleeve 148. Bolt
sleeves 146, 148 may be configured to extend through respective
toilet bolt holes 136, 138 and accommodate a respective bolt 156,
158 in toilet flange 102. That is, first bolt sleeve 146 may be
configured to extend through first toilet bolt hole 136 and second
bolt sleeve 148 may be configured to extend through second toilet
bolt hole 138. In one embodiment, bolt sleeves 146, 148 may include
hollow portions 152, 154 which may receive bolts 156, 158. Bolts
156, 158 extend upward away from an opening 104, through first and
second toilet flange bolt holes 106, 108 and toward base 132 of
toilet 130. As will be described herein, bolt sleeves 146, 148
ensure that toilet bolt holes 136, 138 are positioned directly over
and will be aligned with flange bolt holes 106, 108. Additionally,
bolt sleeves 146,148 ensure that toilet bolt holes 136, 138 will
receive bolts 156, 158. In this way, bolt sleeves 146, 148 act as
an extender for bolts 156, 158. In another embodiment, bolt sleeves
146, 148 may simply attach or connect with bolts 156, 158 instead
of having hollow portions 152, 154 for receiving bolts 156, 158,
e.g., via a threaded connection, friction fit, etc. In any event,
bolt sleeves 146, 148 may have a length which constructively
extends a length of bolts 156, 158 through toilet bolt holes 136,
138.
[0018] Referring back to FIG. 1, in some embodiments, toilet
installation system 100 may also include an optional front support
162 for accommodating a front edge 134 of base 132 of toilet 130.
In this embodiment, front support 162 may have a height that is
substantially equal to a height of first and second set of supports
112, 122. In some embodiments, front support 162 may include a box
configured to contain first and second set of supports 112, 114 and
bolt sleeves 146, 148 when toilet installation system is in an
inoperative state. That is, front support 162 may have the dual
purpose of serving as a container or package for sets of supports
112, 122 and bolt sleeves 146, 148 as well as serving as a support
for front edge 134 of base 132 of toilet 130.
[0019] Referring now to FIG. 7, another embodiment of the toilet
installation system is shown in which like numbering represents
like elements of which the explanation has not been included for
brevity. In this embodiment, toilet installation system 200 is
substantially similar to the previous embodiments. However, first
set of supports 212 may include a first single support 214 and
second set of supports 222 may include a second single support 224.
First and second single supports 214, 224 may each have a height H
that is greater than a width W. As will be described herein, during
a method for installing toilet 230 according to this embodiment of
the invention, first and second single supports 214, 224 may each
be turned on a side such that when toilet 230 is lowered, toilet
230 is lowered onto another side 216, 226 of each single support
214, 224.
[0020] Referring now to FIGS. 1-6 together, a method for installing
a toilet 130 will now be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the method
may include positioning a toilet installation system 100 around a
toilet flange 102 configured to receive a toilet 130. Toilet flange
102 may include a first flange bolt hole 106 on a first side of
toilet flange 102 and a second flange bolt hole 108 on a second
side of toilet flange 102. A first bolt 156 may be placed through
first flange bolt hole 106 and a second bolt 158 may be placed
through second flange bolt hole 108. Bolts 156, 158 may be placed
such that they extend upward away from an opening 104 of toilet
flange 102, through first and second toilet flange bolt holes 106,
108 and toward base 132 of toilet 130. As previously described,
toilet installation system 100 may include a first set of supports
112 and a second set of supports 114. Toilet installation system
100 may be positioned such that first set of supports 112 is
adjacent to first flange bolt hole 106 on a first side of toilet
flange 102 and second set of supports 114 is adjacent to second
flange bolt hole 108 on a second side of toilet flange 102.
[0021] Once toilet installation system 100 is positioned, the
method may also include placing a toilet 130, or more specifically,
a base 132 of a toilet 130, on toilet installation system 100.
Toilet 130 may be placed on toilet installation system 100 such
that a first toilet bolt hole 136 is positioned over first flange
bolt hole 106 via first set of supports 112. Additionally, toilet
130 may be placed on toilet installation system 100 such that a
second toilet bolt hole 138 is positioned over second flange bolt
hole 108 via second set of supports 114. Further, the method may
include placing a first bolt sleeve 146 through first toilet bolt
hole 136 and a second bolt sleeve 148 through second toilet bolt
hole 138. First bolt sleeve 146 may be placed such that first bolt
sleeve 146 is positioned to accommodate first bolt 156 via hollow
portion 152. Second bolt sleeve 148 may be placed such that second
bolt sleeve 148 is positioned to accommodate second bolt 158 via
hollow portion 154. Bolt sleeves may be positioned such that first
bolt sleeve 146 substantially surrounds at least a portion of first
bolt 156 and second bolt sleeve 148 substantially surrounds at
least a portion of second bolt 158. Bolt sleeves 146, 148 ensure
that toilet bolt holes 136, 138 are positioned directly over and
will be aligned with flange bolt holes 106, 108. Additionally, bolt
sleeves 146,148 ensure that toilet bolt holes 136, 138 will receive
bolts 156, 158. As previously described, bolt sleeves 146, 148 may
act as an extender for bolts 156, 158. Therefore, bolt sleeves 146,
148 may simply attach or connect with bolts 156, 158 instead of
having hollow portions 152, 154 for accommodating bolts 156, 158.
Bolt sleeves 146, 148 may have at least a length which extends from
bolts 156, 158 and through toilet bolt holes 136, 138.
[0022] After base of toilet 130 is positioned on toilet
installation system 100, the method may also include sequentially
removing a support from first set of supports 112 and second set of
supports 114 and lowering toilet 130 until first toilet bolt hole
136 is aligned with first flange bolt hole 106 and second toilet
bolt hole 138 is aligned with second flange bolt hole 108. As shown
in FIG. 3, this step may include removing a first support 114 from
first set of supports 114 to reveal a second support 116 thereunder
and lowering toilet 130 such that first toilet bolt hole 136 is
positioned over first flange bolt hole 106 via second support 116.
Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 4, the method may include removing a
third support 124 from second set of supports 122 to reveal a
fourth support 126 thereunder and lowering toilet 130 such that
second bolt hole 138 is positioned over second flange bolt hole
108. As shown in FIG. 5, the method may also include removing
second support 116 from under toilet 130 and lowering toilet 130
such that first toilet bolt hole 136 is aligned with first flange
bolt hole 106. As shown in FIG. 6, the method may also include
removing fourth support 126 from under toilet 130 and lowering
toilet 130 such that second toilet bolt hole 138 is aligned with
second flange bolt hole 108. With each sequential step that toilet
130 is lowered, toilet flange bolt holes 136, 138 move in a
direction closer to flange bolt holes 106, 108 until bolts 156, 158
within bolt sleeves 146, 148 extend through toilet bolt holes 136,
138.
[0023] Still referring to FIG. 6, once toilet 130 is completely
lowered onto toilet flange 102 and toilet bolt holes 136, 138 are
aligned with flange bolt holes 106, 108, the method may include
removing bolt sleeves 146, 148 from bolts 156, 158 and installing
nuts 176, 178 which may also include respective washers (not
shown). That is, first bolt sleeve 146 may be removed from first
bolt 156 leaving first bolt 156 extending through first toilet bolt
hole 136 and second bolt sleeve 148 may be removed from second bolt
158 leaving second bolt 158 extending through second toilet bolt
hole 138. A first nut 176 may be installed to secure first bolt 156
and a second nut 178 may be installed to secure second bolt
158.
[0024] As previously discussed with reference to FIG. 1, toilet
installation system 100 may optionally include a front support 162
to accommodate and suspend a front edge 134 of base 132 of toilet
130. A method for installing a toilet 130 will now be described
with reference to this embodiment. The method may include
positioning toilet installation system 100 around a toilet flange
102 configured to receive toilet 130 as previously described.
However, the method according to this embodiment may further
include positioning front support 162 at position P, which is
preferably equidistant from first and second toilet bolt holes 136,
138.
[0025] The method according to this embodiment may also include
placing toilet 130 on toilet installation system 100 as previously
described. However, the method according to this embodiment may
further include placing toilet 130 on toilet installation system
100 such that front edge 134 of base 132 of toilet 130 is
positioned on front support 162 at position P.
[0026] Additionally, the method according to this embodiment may
also include sequentially removing supports and lowering toilet 130
as previously described. However, after removal of first support
114 from first set of supports 112, the method according to this
embodiment includes removing front support 162 from under toilet
130 and placing first support 114 at position P as shown in phantom
in FIG. 4. Further, toilet 130 may be lowered as previously
described; however, lowering toilet 130 may also include lowering
toilet onto first support 114 at position P. As previously
described with reference to FIG. 4, the method may also include
removing third support 122 from second set of supports 122 to
reveal fourth support and lowering toilet 130 onto fourth support
126. As described with reference to FIG. 5, second support 116 may
be removed from under toilet 130. However, before toilet 130 is
lowered such that first toilet bolt hole 136 is aligned with first
flange bolt hole 106, first support 114 may also be removed from
position P. Subsequently, toilet 130 may be lowered such that first
toilet bolt hole 136 is aligned with first flange bolt hole 106. As
described with reference to FIG. 6, the method may also include
removing fourth support 126 from under toilet 130 and lowering
toilet 130 such that second toilet bolt hole 138 is aligned with
second flange bolt hole 108.
[0027] As shown in FIG. 7, in another embodiment, toilet
installation system 200 may include a first set of supports 212 and
a second set of supports 222. In this embodiment, each set of
supports 212, 222 may include a single support 214, 224 having a
height H greater than its width W. A method for installing a toilet
according to this embodiment may include positioning toilet
installation system 200 around a toilet flange 202 having an
opening 204 configured to receive toilet 230 and placing toilet
230, or more particularly, base of toilet 232, on toilet
installation system 200 as previously described. That is, toilet
230 may be placed on toilet installation system 200 such that a
first toilet bolt hole 236 is positioned over a first flange bolt
hole 206 via first set of supports 212 and second toilet bolt hole
238 is positioned over a second flange bolt hole 208 via second set
of supports 222. Further, the method may include placing a first
bolt sleeve 246 through first toilet bolt hole 236 and a second
bolt sleeve 248 through second toilet bolt hole 238. First bolt
sleeve 246 may be placed such that first bolt sleeve 246 is
positioned to accommodate first bolt 256 via hollow portion 252.
Second bolt sleeve 248 may be placed such that second bolt sleeve
248 is positioned to accommodate second bolt 258 via hollow portion
254.
[0028] Additionally, the method according to this embodiment may
also include sequentially removing supports and lowering toilet 230
as previously described. However, in this embodiment, instead of
removing first support 114 from first set of supports 112 as
described with reference to FIG. 3, first single support 214 can be
turned on one side and toilet 230 may be lowered onto side 216 of
single support 214 (FIG. 8) instead of onto second support 116. As
shown in FIG. 9, instead of removing third support 124 from second
set of supports 122 as described with reference to FIG. 4, second
single support 222 can be turned on one side 226 and toilet 230 may
be lowered onto side 226 of single support 222 instead of onto
fourth support 126. As shown in FIG. 10, first single support 216
can be removed from under toilet 230. Additionally, as shown in
FIG. 11, second single support 224 may be removed and toilet 230
may be lowered onto flange 202 (not shown in FIG. 11). Once toilet
230 is completely lowered onto toilet flange 202 and toilet bolt
holes 236, 238 are aligned with flange bolt holes 206, 208, the
method may include removing bolt sleeves 246, 248 from bolts 256,
258. Additionally, the method may include installing nuts 276, 278
and respective washers (not shown) as previously described.
[0029] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of
the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an" and
"the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood
that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this
specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers,
steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude
the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers,
steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
Furthermore, illustrations with respect to one or more
implementations, alterations and/or modifications can be made to
the illustrated examples without departing from the spirit and
scope of the appended claims. In addition, while a particular
feature may have been disclosed with respect to only one of several
implementations, such feature may be combined with one or more
other features of the other implementations as may be desired and
advantageous for any given or particular function.
[0030] This written description uses examples to disclose the
invention, including the best mode, and to enable any person
skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and
using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated
methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the
claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled
in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope
of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ
from the literal language of the claims, or if they include
equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from
the literal language of the claims.
* * * * *