U.S. patent application number 15/349206 was filed with the patent office on 2017-03-30 for automatic treadmill walking belt tensioning and alignment system.
The applicant listed for this patent is Tami Peavy, Thomas K. Reiner. Invention is credited to Tami Peavy, Thomas K. Reiner.
Application Number | 20170087417 15/349206 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58408745 |
Filed Date | 2017-03-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170087417 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Peavy; Tami ; et
al. |
March 30, 2017 |
AUTOMATIC TREADMILL WALKING BELT TENSIONING AND ALIGNMENT
SYSTEM
Abstract
An automatic treadmill walking belt tensioning and alignment
system can automatically maintain one or both of a treadmill
walking belt's alignment and tension. The system can include force
sensors that sense the tension of a treadmill walking belt about a
treadmill roller by sensing a force applied to adjustment actuators
positioned on opposite sides of the treadmill roller. The position
of the roller can be adjusted to adjusted to ensure proper tension
and alignment of the treadmill walking belt. Position sensors may
be deployed on opposite sides of the walking belt to detect when
the walking belt is off-center, signaling the adjustment actuators
to operate to return the walking belt to its centered position.
Inventors: |
Peavy; Tami; (Burbank,
CA) ; Reiner; Thomas K.; (Sherman Oaks, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Peavy; Tami
Reiner; Thomas K. |
Burbank
Sherman Oaks |
CA
CA |
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
58408745 |
Appl. No.: |
15/349206 |
Filed: |
November 11, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62232938 |
Sep 25, 2015 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 21/158 20130101;
A63B 2220/51 20130101; A63B 21/0085 20130101; A63B 2220/56
20130101; A63B 2220/13 20130101; A63B 2220/805 20130101; A63B
22/0235 20130101; A63B 2220/806 20130101; A63B 71/0622 20130101;
A63B 22/0292 20151001; A63B 24/0087 20130101; A63B 2225/30
20130101 |
International
Class: |
A63B 24/00 20060101
A63B024/00; A63B 71/06 20060101 A63B071/06; A63B 21/00 20060101
A63B021/00; A63B 23/04 20060101 A63B023/04; A63B 21/008 20060101
A63B021/008; A63B 22/02 20060101 A63B022/02 |
Claims
1. An automatic treadmill walking belt adjustment system
comprising: adjustment actuators operable to automatically adjust a
force applied by a treadmill walking belt onto a treadmill roller
by adjusting a position of the treadmill roller.
2. The automatic treadmill walking belt adjustment system of claim
1, further comprising: a force sensor sensing a tension in the
treadmill walking belt by measuring the force applied by the
adjustment actuators to the treadmill roller; and a controller
operable to control the force applied by the adjustment actuators,
thereby maintaining proper tension in the treadmill walking
belt.
3. The automatic treadmill walking belt adjustment system of claim
2, wherein the force sensor is integral with the adjustment
actuator.
4. The automatic treadmill walking belt adjustment system of claim
2, wherein the adjustment actuators are air adjustment actuators
and the force sensor is an air pressure switch.
5. The automatic treadmill walking belt adjustment system of claim
4, further comprising an accumulator maintaining a predetermined
fluid pressure therein, the accumulator operably connected to the
adjustment actuators to deliver fluid to the adjustment actuators
when an increase in the force is required to maintain tension or
maintain alignment of the treadmill belt.
6. The automatic treadmill walking belt adjustment system of claim
5, further comprising a three-way solenoid operable to deliver
fluid from the accumulator to the adjustment actuators or to remove
fluid from the adjustment actuators.
7. The automatic treadmill walking belt adjustment system of claim
1, further comprising a position sensor operable to detect a
side-to-side position of the treadmill walking belt, wherein the
adjustment actuators position the treadmill roller to maintain a
central side-to-side positioning of the treadmill walking belt.
8. The automatic treadmill walking belt adjustment system of claim
7, wherein the position sensors are optical sensors.
9. The automatic treadmill walking belt adjustment system of claim
7, wherein the position sensors are mechanical sensors.
10. The automatic treadmill walking belt adjustment system of claim
1, wherein the adjustment actuators are electronic.
11. The automatic treadmill walking belt adjustment system of claim
1, wherein one of the adjustment actuators are each disposed on
opposite sides of the treadmill roller.
12. The automatic treadmill walking belt adjustment system of claim
11, wherein the treadmill roller is a drive roller.
13. The automatic treadmill walking belt adjustment system of claim
11, wherein the treadmill roller is a tension roller.
14. An automatic treadmill walking belt adjustment system
comprising: adjustment actuators operable apply a force to
treadmill roller about which a treadmill walking belt revolves; a
force sensor sensing a tension in the treadmill walking belt by
measuring the force applied by the adjustment actuators; a
controller operable to control the force applied by the adjustment
actuators, thereby maintaining proper tension in the treadmill
walking belt and maintaining proper side-to-side alignment of the
treadmill walking belt.
15. The automatic treadmill walking belt adjustment system of claim
14, further comprising a position sensor operable to detect a
side-to-side position of the treadmill belt.
16. The automatic treadmill walking belt adjustment system of claim
15, wherein the position sensors are optical sensors.
17. The automatic treadmill walking belt adjustment system of claim
15, wherein the position sensors are mechanical sensors.
18. The automatic treadmill walking belt adjustment system of claim
15, wherein the electronic adjustment actuator and the force sensor
are integral.
19. An automatic treadmill walking belt adjustment system
comprising: electronic adjustment actuators operable apply a force
to opposite sides of a treadmill roller about which a treadmill
walking belt revolves; a force sensor sensing a tension in the
treadmill walking belt by measuring the force applied by the
adjustment actuators; and a position sensor operable to detect a
side-to-side position of the treadmill walking belt.
20. The automatic treadmill walking belt adjustment system of claim
19, wherein the electronic adjustment actuator and the force sensor
are integral.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S.
provisional patent application No. 62/232,938, filed Sep. 25, 2015,
the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] One or more embodiments of the invention relates generally
to exercise devices. More particularly, embodiments of the present
invention relate to a treadmill walking belt tensioning and
alignment system that can automatically maintain proper belt
tensioning and alignment for treadmill belts.
[0004] 2. Description of Prior Art and Related Information
[0005] The following background information may present examples of
specific aspects of the prior art (e.g., without limitation,
approaches, facts, or common wisdom) that, while expected to be
helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of
the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present
invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or
implied therein or inferred thereupon.
[0006] Treadmills frequently require adjustment of the tensioning
of the treadmill walking belts and alignment of the walking belt.
Treadmill walking belts can get out of alignment due to normal wear
and tear, improper maintenance and uneven gait pattern of the user.
Neglecting to maintain proper tensioning and alignment of the
treadmill walking belts frequently necessitates maintenance or
replacement of the treadmill walking belts.
[0007] Currently, adjustment of the tension and alignment of
treadmill walking belts is performed manually. A user typically has
to find an adjustment mechanism, turn the mechanism with a hand
tool, and check the resulting tension and alignment. This process
is typically repeated until the proper tension and alignment is
achieved. For home treadmill systems, this required maintenance is
often overlooked, typically resulting in the premature failure of
the treadmill and/or treadmill walking belt.
[0008] In view of the foregoing, there is a need for a method and
apparatus for automatically maintaining proper treadmill walking
belt alignment and tension.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Embodiments of the present invention provide an automatic
treadmill walking belt adjustment system comprising adjustment
actuators operable apply a force to a treadmill roller about which
a treadmill walking belt revolves; a force sensor sensing a tension
in the treadmill walking belt by measuring the force applied by the
adjustment actuators; and a controller operable to control the
force applied by the adjustment actuators, thereby maintaining
proper tension in the treadmill walking belt.
[0010] Embodiments of the present invention further provide an
automatic treadmill walking belt adjustment system comprising
adjustment actuators operable apply a force to treadmill roller
about which a treadmill walking belt revolves; a force sensor
sensing a tension in the treadmill walking belt by measuring the
force applied by the adjustment actuators; a position sensor
operable to detect a side-to-side position of the treadmill walking
belt; and a controller operable to control the force applied by the
adjustment actuators, thereby maintaining proper tension in the
treadmill walking belt and maintaining proper side-to-side
alignment of the treadmill walking belt.
[0011] Embodiments of the present invention also provide an
automatic treadmill walking belt adjustment system comprising
electronic adjustment actuators operable apply a force to opposite
sides of a treadmill roller about which a treadmill walking belt
revolves; a force sensor sensing a tension in the treadmill walking
belt by measuring the force applied by the adjustment actuators;
and a position sensor operable to detect a side-to-side position of
the treadmill walking belt.
[0012] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with reference to
the following drawings, description and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] Some embodiments of the present invention are illustrated as
an example and are not limited by the figures of the accompanying
drawings, in which like references may indicate similar
elements.
[0014] FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a treadmill operable
with the automatic treadmill walking belt tension and alignment
system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of an automatic
treadmill walking belt tension system according to an exemplary
pneumatic or hydraulic embodiment of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 3A is a schematic representation of an automatic
treadmill walking belt alignment system usable with the automatic
treadmill walking belt tension system of FIG. 2;
[0017] FIG. 3B is a schematic representation of an automatic
treadmill walking belt alignment and tension system usable with the
automatic treadmill walking belt tension system of FIG. 2,
illustrating automatic adjustment of the drive roller;
[0018] FIG. 3C is a schematic representation of an automatic
treadmill walking belt alignment and tension system, illustrating
automatic adjustment of the tension roller along with optional
manual adjustment;
[0019] FIG. 3D is a schematic representation of an automatic
treadmill walking belt alignment system usable with the automatic
treadmill walking belt tension system of FIG. 2, illustrating a
concave longitudinal drive (or tension, or both) roller design
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating sensing and
operation of the valves of the automatic treadmill walking belt
tension and alignment system according to an exemplary pneumatic or
hydraulic embodiment of the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 5 is an exemplary schematic wiring diagram for a
treadmill operable with an electric automatic treadmill walking
belt tension and alignment system; and
[0022] FIG. 6 is an exemplary schematic diagram illustrating
treadmill controls.
[0023] Unless otherwise indicated illustrations in the figures are
not necessarily drawn to scale.
[0024] The invention and its various embodiments can now be better
understood by turning to the following detailed description wherein
illustrated embodiments are described. It is to be expressly
understood that the illustrated embodiments are set forth as
examples and not by way of limitations on the invention as
ultimately defined in the claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS AND BEST MODE OF
INVENTION
[0025] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of
the invention. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and
all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As
used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are intended
to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, 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, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do
not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other
features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups
thereof.
[0026] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and
scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly
understood by one having ordinary skill in the art to which this
invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such
as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be
interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their
meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present
disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly
formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
[0027] In describing the invention, it will be understood that a
number of techniques and steps are disclosed. Each of these has
individual benefit and each can also be used in conjunction with
one or more, or in some cases all, of the other disclosed
techniques. Accordingly, for the sake of clarity, this description
will refrain from repeating every possible combination of the
individual steps in an unnecessary fashion. Nevertheless, the
specification and claims should be read with the understanding that
such combinations are entirely within the scope of the invention
and the claims.
[0028] In the following description, for purposes of explanation,
numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a
thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be
evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the present
invention may be practiced without these specific details.
[0029] The present disclosure is to be considered as an
exemplification of the invention, and is not intended to limit the
invention to the specific embodiments illustrated by the figures or
description below.
[0030] Devices or system modules that are in at least general
communication with each other need not be in continuous
communication with each other, unless expressly specified
otherwise. In addition, devices or system modules that are in at
least general communication with each other may communicate
directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries.
[0031] A description of an embodiment with several components in
communication with each other does not imply that all such
components are required. On the contrary, a variety of optional
components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible
embodiments of the present invention.
[0032] As is well known to those skilled in the art, many careful
considerations and compromises typically must be made when
designing for the optimal configuration of a commercial
implementation of any system, and in particular, the embodiments of
the present invention. A commercial implementation in accordance
with the spirit and teachings of the present invention may be
configured according to the needs of the particular application,
whereby any aspect(s), feature(s), function(s), result(s),
component(s), approach(es), or step(s) of the teachings related to
any described embodiment of the present invention may be suitably
omitted, included, adapted, mixed and matched, or improved and/or
optimized by those skilled in the art, using their average skills
and known techniques, to achieve the desired implementation that
addresses the needs of the particular application.
[0033] Broadly, embodiments of the present invention provide an
automatic treadmill walking belt tensioning and alignment system
that can automatically maintain one or both of a treadmill walking
belt alignment and tension. The system can include pressure
switches, operable by air or hydraulics, or the system could be an
electronic system. In either embodiment, the system senses the
force applied to a treadmill roller, such as the drive roller or
the tension roller, due to the tension of a treadmill walking belt,
via a separate force sensor or via adjustment actuators positioned
at ends of the roller. In the pneumatic embodiment, a
three-position solenoid valve can allow air from an accumulator to
flow into the adjustment actuators, or allow air to flow out of the
adjustment actuators, as needed, to maintain proper tension on the
walking belt of the treadmill. In the electric version, a
predetermined force in the force sensors is maintained by adjusting
the adjustment actuators against the roller. Position sensors may
be deployed on opposite sides of the treadmill walking belt to
detect when the walking belt is off-center, signaling the
adjustment actuators to operate to return the walking belt to its
centered position.
[0034] Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 3C, a treadmill 10 can
include one or more treadmill walking belts 12 (also referred to as
walking belts 12) that run in a loop between rollers 14 on each end
thereof. Typically, one of the rollers 14 is a drive roller and one
of the rollers is a tension roller. Ends 16 of the roller 14 may be
supported in various manners that permit movement of the roller 14
by one or both adjustment actuators 18 in a direction shown by
arrow 20.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 1, the treadmill 10 can further include a
display system 5 that can include a display 7, such as a tablet
computer, or the like, positioned at the front of the treadmill 10.
The display system 5 can further include a camera 9. The display
system may be useful for watching a user's feet for gait, for brain
interaction assessments before and after an exercise, and for
providing safety sensors for foot and body positioning, for
example. The display system 5 may also interact with the user in
other manners, such as providing information or entertainment to
the user during an exercise.
[0036] Referring back to FIGS. 3A through 3C, an adjustment
actuator 18 will be present on both ends 16 of the roller 14, as
shown. However, in some embodiments, only one adjustment actuator
18 may be used, with the opposite end fixed, albeit, in this
embodiment, only alignment may be achieved without a tension
adjustment.
[0037] Typically, the adjustment actuators 18 will be present on
both ends 16 of one of the roller 14. However, in some embodiments,
adjustment actuators 18 will be present on both forward and
rearward rollers (drive and tension rollers, at both ends of the
loop of the walking belt 12). In some embodiments, one of the
rollers is a drive roller, as shown in FIG. 3B, driven by a drive
motor 11. The opposite roller may be a tension roller 14B, where
manual adjustment screws 18A may be used to adjust the tension
roller 14B. Of course, an additional set of adjustment actuators 18
may be used to adjust the tension roller 14B. Alternatively, as
shown in FIG. 3C, the drive roller 14 may be fixed while the
tension roller 14B may be adjusted by either or both of adjustment
actuators 18 and/or manual adjustment screws 18A. Thus, for a
typical single-belt treadmill 10, there may be as few as one
adjustment actuator 18 to as many as four adjustment actuators 18,
typically two adjustment actuators 18 are used.
[0038] Still referring to FIGS. 3A through 3C, position sensors 22
may be disposed on opposite sides of the walking belt 12, at any
location along its length. While one position sensor 22 is shown on
each side of the walking belt 12 in FIG. 3A, multiple positions
sensors 22 may be disposed on each side of the walking belt 12, or
only one position sensor 22 may be present only on one side of the
walking belt 12. The position sensor 22 may be of various
configurations. In some embodiments, a mechanical sensor may detect
contact with the walking belt 12. In other embodiments, an optical
sensor 22A may be used to detect position of the walking belt 12.
Such optical sensors may detect the actual position of the walking
belt 12, or may be used detect a line painted on the inside surface
of the treadmill walking belt 12, where, when the line is visible,
the walking belt 12 is off-center, for example. Regardless of the
type of sensor, the position sensor 22 may be any such sensor that
can detect side-to-side movement of the walking belt 12 (movement
shown by arrow 24).
[0039] Referring specifically to FIG. 2, in a pneumatic embodiment,
a motor 30 may be used to drive an air compressor 32 that can
receive ambient air via an air filter 34, for example. Air may be
delivered from the air compressor 32 to an accumulator 36 through a
check valve 38. Once a predetermined air pressure is reached, an
air pressure switch 40 may turn off the motor 30.
[0040] Air from the accumulator 36 may be delivered via another
check valve 42 to a three-position solenoid air valve 44. An air
pressure switch 46 can sense the treadmill walking belt tension by
sensing the air pressure in the adjustment actuators 18. The
three-position solenoid air valve 44 allows the air from the
accumulator 36 to flow into the adjustment actuators 18, thereby
increasing the force produced by the adjustment actuators 18, thus
increasing the tension of the treadmill walking belt 12.
Conversely, when the treadmill walking belt tension is excessive,
air pressure switches 46 activate the three-position solenoid air
valve 44 to discharge air from the adjustment actuators 18.
[0041] Referring back to FIG. 3A, when one of the position sensors
22 detects that the treadmill walking belt 12 has run away from its
normal centerline position, then proper adjustment of the
adjustment actuators 18 may be performed to move the walking belt
12 back to its proper position. For example, the position sensor 22
on the left side activates the left-side three-position solenoid
air valve 44 to increase the air pressure in the adjustment
actuator 18 on the left side, forcing the treadmill walking belt 12
back to its centerline position. The same action takes place when
the treadmill walking belt 12 runs right of the centerline
position.
[0042] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3D, to help maintain
alignment, the roller 14 may be replaced by a concave roller 14B,
where a center portion 14-1 has a smaller diameter than an end
portion 14-2 of the roller 14B. Such a design helps maintain the
walking belt 12 in alignment. The roller design of FIG. 3B may be
used with or without the position sensors 22.
[0043] In some embodiments, the treadmill walking belt tension may
be maintained by inserting spring(s) of appropriate tension between
the roller 14 and the frame of the treadmill 10. Thus, the
elongation of the treadmill walking belt 12 with time and use will
not affect the treadmill walking belt tension because the springs
can very closely maintain the desired tension.
[0044] Referring now to FIG. 4, a logic diagram 60 shows the
various logic performed by a pneumatic system according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention to control the motor
30, the valves 44, and the like. The logic may be performed by a
processor 62 that is programmed to perform the logic shown in the
logic diagram 60. The logic diagram 60 shows how the various
inputs, such as those from the adjustment actuators 18, air
pressure switch 40, air pressure switches 46, and position sensors
22, control the outputs of the three-position air solenoid valves
44.
[0045] FIGS. 5 and 6 show electrical schematics that may be used in
the treadmill 10 of the present invention in an electric version,
where the air compressor motor, accumulator, and like pneumatic
components are not required. In this embodiment, the adjustment
actuators 18 may be electronic components that can sense a force
that the roller 14, 14A applies to the adjustment actuators 18 due
to tension in the walking belt 12 and actuate linearly to adjust
the force appropriately to maintain proper tension and alignment of
the walking belt 12. The electronic configuration may be utilized
in the systems shown in FIGS. 3A through 3C, for example.
[0046] It should be noted that some treadmills are designed to
operate in both the forward and reverse directions to provide the
appropriate exercise to a user. Embodiments of the present
invention are operable on such treadmills, regardless of operation
direction, to maintain proper walking belt tension and
alignment.
[0047] While the above discussion uses an air compressor, air-based
adjustment actuators and air pressure switches, the air system can
be replaced with other systems, including an all-electric system or
a hydraulic system, for example. Thus, with the hydraulic system,
the air compressor may be replaced with a hydraulic fluid pump and
the accumulator may be replaced with a hydraulic fluid reservoir,
for example. With an electric system, the pressure switches can be
replaced with a force sensor and the adjustment actuators may be
electronic linear actuators, for example.
[0048] While a treadmill 10 having a single walking belt 12 is
shown in FIG. 1, the system of the present invention may be used
for various devices having walking belts. For example,
treadmill-stepper exercise systems use two separate walking belts,
one for each of the user's legs, for allowing a stepping action
while the walking belt moves to create a treadmill action.
Embodiments of the present invention may be used in such
treadmill-steppers in a similar fashion, where two separate systems
may be employed to monitor the tension and alignment of each of the
two treadmill walking belts.
[0049] The system described above may be retrofitted into existing
treadmills or may be integrated into the treadmill during its
manufacture.
[0050] All the features disclosed in this specification, including
any accompanying abstract and drawings, may be replaced by
alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar
purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly
stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a
generic series of equivalent or similar features.
[0051] Claim elements and steps herein may have been numbered
and/or lettered solely as an aid in readability and understanding.
Any such numbering and lettering in itself is not intended to and
should not be taken to indicate the ordering of elements and/or
steps in the claims.
[0052] Many alterations and modifications may be made by those
having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention. Therefore, it must be understood that
the illustrated embodiments have been set forth only for the
purposes of examples and that they should not be taken as limiting
the invention as defined by the following claims. For example,
notwithstanding the fact that the elements of a claim are set forth
below in a certain combination, it must be expressly understood
that the invention includes other combinations of fewer, more or
different ones of the disclosed elements.
[0053] The words used in this specification to describe the
invention and its various embodiments are to be understood not only
in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by
special definition in this specification the generic structure,
material or acts of which they represent a single species.
[0054] The definitions of the words or elements of the following
claims are, therefore, defined in this specification to not only
include the combination of elements which are literally set forth.
In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent
substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the
elements in the claims below or that a single element may be
substituted for two or more elements in a claim. Although elements
may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even
initially claimed as such, it is to be expressly understood that
one or more elements from a claimed combination can in some cases
be excised from the combination and that the claimed combination
may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a
subcombination.
[0055] Insubstantial changes from the claimed subject matter as
viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or
later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalently
within the scope of the claims. Therefore, obvious substitutions
now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are
defined to be within the scope of the defined elements.
[0056] The claims are thus to be understood to include what is
specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually
equivalent, what can be obviously substituted and also what
incorporates the essential idea of the invention.
* * * * *