U.S. patent application number 15/005528 was filed with the patent office on 2017-07-27 for coffee pod for point of sale device.
The applicant listed for this patent is Edward Francis Burress, Kurt Allen Jenkins, Darryl Ingvard Jensen, James Bernard Jensen. Invention is credited to Edward Francis Burress, Kurt Allen Jenkins, Darryl Ingvard Jensen, James Bernard Jensen.
Application Number | 20170210553 15/005528 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59358826 |
Filed Date | 2017-07-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170210553 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Burress; Edward Francis ; et
al. |
July 27, 2017 |
Coffee Pod for Point of Sale Device
Abstract
A shell less, biodegradable coffee pod for use with a point of
sale coffee pod dispensing device. The pod is compressible for
pleated or stacked storage and linearly linked to a series of
substantially similar pods by a flexible, hingeable separable tab
bridging between adjacent pods. The pods have a support structure
that is affixed to a fillable well. Each well is expandable with an
expanding means (utilizing a burst of air, a vacuum or mechanical
pusher) as the series of pods is mechanically advanced along a
tractor feed style conveyor belt that passes the pod to a ground
coffee bean filling unit, a sealing unit and a pod separating
unit.
Inventors: |
Burress; Edward Francis;
(West Linn, OR) ; Jenkins; Kurt Allen; (Sammamish,
WA) ; Jensen; Darryl Ingvard; (Petaluma, CA) ;
Jensen; James Bernard; (Sheridan, WY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Burress; Edward Francis
Jenkins; Kurt Allen
Jensen; Darryl Ingvard
Jensen; James Bernard |
West Linn
Sammamish
Petaluma
Sheridan |
OR
WA
CA
WY |
US
US
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
59358826 |
Appl. No.: |
15/005528 |
Filed: |
January 25, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02W 90/10 20150501;
B65B 7/28 20130101; B65B 43/36 20130101; B65D 85/8046 20130101;
Y02W 90/13 20150501; B65D 21/0209 20130101; G07F 13/10 20130101;
B65D 21/0204 20130101; B65B 43/44 20130101; B65B 55/24 20130101;
B65B 29/025 20170801; B65D 85/8043 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/804 20060101
B65D085/804; B65D 21/02 20060101 B65D021/02 |
Claims
1. A brewable organic material pod array for use with a point of
sale brewable material pod packaging dispenser comprising: a means
for the connected movement of an array of separable individual
pods; wherein said means is separable into at least one individual
pod.
2. The brewable organic material pod array of claim 1 wherein said
individual pods are connected to an adjacent pod by a tab.
3. The brewable organic material pod array of claim 2 wherein said
individual pods connected to said adjacent pods form a linear
array, and wherein said tab is hingeable and separable about a
means for separation disposed on said tab between said adjacent
pods.
4. The brewable organic material pod array of claim 2 wherein said
pod has a fillable well section affixed to a support section.
5. The brewable organic material pod array of claim 3 wherein said
well section is compressible for planar storage and pleated
stacking.
6. The brewable organic material pod array of claim 5 wherein said
well section is expandable.
7. The brewable organic material pod array of claim 5 wherein said
pod is top sealable by the application of a membrane atop of said
support section.
8. The brewable organic material pod array of claim 1 further
comprising at least one of a portion of brewable material disposed
within at least one of said pods.
9. The brewable organic material pod array of claim 4 wherein said
support section is comprised of an upper lid, adhesively affixed to
an upper face of said well section.
10. The brewable organic material pod array of claim 9 wherein said
support section also comprises a stiffener ring adhesively affixed
to a lower face of said well section.
11. The brewable organic material pod array of claim 10 wherein
said upper lid also comprises a cap hingeably extending from said
lid, said cap adhesively affixable to said upper lid.
12. A brewable organic material pod array for use with a point of
sale brewable material pod packaging dispenser comprising: a linear
array of at least two compressible, brewable adjacent material
pods; and a connecting member residing between said adjacent
material pods wherein said connecting member allows for the
brewable material pods to hingeably pivot with respect to said
adjacent material pods.
13. The brewable organic material pod array of claim 12 further
comprising: a means for separating connected adjacent pods disposed
on said connecting member; said separating means allowing the
forcible detachment of pods from said material pod array.
14. The brewable organic material pod array of claim 4 wherein said
material pods have a support section comprised of an upper lid,
adhesively affixed to an upper face of a compressible well section
for the retention of brewable material therein.
15. The brewable organic material pod array of claim 14 wherein
said well section is inflatably or mechanically expandable.
16. The brewable organic material pod array of claim 15 wherein
said support section also comprises a stiffener ring adhesively
affixed to a lower face of said well section.
17. The brewable organic material pod array of claim 16 further
comprising a cap adhesively affixable to said upper lid.
18. The brewable organic material pod array of claim 17 further
comprising an adhesive, said adhesive disposed between said
stiffener ring and said lower face as well as between said upper
lid and said upper face; and wherein said adhesive is completely
biodegradable.
19. The brewable organic material pod array of claim 17 wherein
said stiffener ring, said cap, said upper lid and said well section
are made of completely biodegradable materials.
20. A brewable organic material pod array for use with a point of
sale brewable material pod packaging dispenser comprising a linked,
continuous-feed capable linear array of expandable, compressed
coffee pods.
Description
COPYRIGHT STATEMENT
[0001] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains
material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright
owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of
the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the
Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise
reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates, in general, to
individualized packaging for coffee, tea, herbs, organics and
generally elutable or dissolvable material and more particularly to
personal brewing technology.
BACKGROUND
[0003] The American populace loves their coffee. Most people begin
their day with a cup of their favorite blend while others continue
to partake throughout the day, commonly obtaining it from a
commercial vendor such as Starbucks.RTM.. However, of lately, many
brew their own coffee using an individual brewing device such as a
Keurig.RTM. brand coffee brewer. These allow for individual sized
brewings using what have been come to be known as "k cups" or
"coffee pods".
[0004] Along with a populace that loves their coffee, come a
segment of coffee aficionados. This breed of coffee drinker seeks
specific coffee beans or coffee bean blends. The commercial coffee
vendor market has rallied to meet this segment's demand, with most
stores offering a plethora of coffee beans, however the selection
of available coffee pods lags far behind. This is understandable,
as to stock numerous blends of quantity boxed coffee pods takes up
valuable store space. Thus, the coffee aficionado that relies on
their individual brewing device has a rather limited selection.
[0005] This situation worsens when the coffee aficionado is at a
location away from his individual brewing device or only has bulk
brewing capabilities. Such an example would be rough woods camping.
With the cost of these specialty beans as high as they are, no one
wants to waste good coffee on the unappreciative or those with an
undiscerning palate.
[0006] Additionally, to date the commercially available coffee pods
are made from non biodegradable polymers. In the absence of
standards governing the reporting of all "green" product packaging,
manufactures report low weight percentages of non biodegradable
materials in their pods based on the inclusion of the coffee (often
even wet).
[0007] Henceforth, an improved system that allows the coffee
aficionado that uses an individual brewing device (or that only has
the most rudimentary brewing equipment such as a pot a fire and
water) to brew their favorite blend would fulfill a long felt need
in the coffee industry. Such a system made truly "green" would
further offer an ecological benefit. This new invention utilizes
and combines known and new technologies in a unique and novel
configuration to overcome the aforementioned problems and
accomplish this.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0008] In accordance with various embodiments, an apparatus for
allowing the individualized brewing of specialty coffee is
provided.
[0009] In one aspect, a specialty coffee pod is provided that is
made from 100% by weight biodegradable materials, therein reducing
the amount of non biodegradable material going into the
landfills.
[0010] In another aspect, an apparatus that requires the bare
minimum of equipment to brew a cup of coffee and that can be
tailored to user specific tastes is provided.
[0011] In yet another aspect, a custom fillable coffee pod that can
be used with a high speed, high volume, point of sale mechanized
coffee distributing device is provided.
[0012] Various modifications and additions can be made to the
embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the
invention. For example, while the embodiments described above refer
to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes
embodiments having different combination of features and
embodiments that do not include all of the above described
features.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] A further understanding of the nature and advantages of
particular embodiments may be realized by reference to the
remaining portions of the specification and the drawings, in which
like reference numerals are used to refer to similar components. In
some instances, a sub-label is associated with a reference numeral
to denote one of multiple similar components. When reference is
made to a reference numeral without specification to an existing
sub-label, it is intended to refer to all such multiple similar
components.
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the intended process
flow and use for an embodiment of the coffee pod;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representative illustration of an
embodiment of the coffee pod as used in a mechanized point of sale
coffee dispensing device;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a first embodiment
coffee distributing machine using an embodiment of the coffee
pod;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of a second embodiment
coffee distributing machine using an embodiment of the coffee
pod;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a single linear array of
coffee pods showing its structural evolution throughout the coffee
filling process;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the first embodiment
coffee pod;
[0020] FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of the second embodiment
coffee pod;
[0021] FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the third embodiment
coffee pod;
[0022] FIGS. 9a and 9b are front perspective views of the coffee
pod in the compressed and inflated configurations;
[0023] FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of the fourth embodiment
of the coffee pod utilizing a carrier tape for liner connection;
and
[0024] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a double linear array of
coffee pods showing its structural evolution throughout the coffee
filling process.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS
[0025] While various aspects and features of certain embodiments
have been summarized above, the following detailed description
illustrates a few exemplary embodiments in further detail to enable
one skilled in the art to practice such embodiments. The described
examples are provided for illustrative purposes and are not
intended to limit the scope of the invention.
[0026] In the following description, for the purposes of
explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to
provide a thorough understanding of the described embodiments. It
will be apparent to one skilled in the art, however, that other
embodiments of the present invention may be practiced without some
of these specific details. In other instances, certain structures
and devices are shown in block diagram form. Several embodiments
are described herein, and while various features are ascribed to
different embodiments, it should be appreciated that the features
described with respect to one embodiment may be incorporated with
other embodiments as well. By the same token, however, no single
feature or features of any described embodiment should be
considered essential to every embodiment of the invention, as other
embodiments of the invention may omit such features.
[0027] Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers herein used to
express quantities, dimensions, and so forth, should be understood
as being modified in all instances by the term "about." In this
application, the use of the singular includes the plural unless
specifically stated otherwise, and use of the terms "and" and "or"
means "and/or" unless otherwise indicated. Moreover, the use of the
term "including," as well as other forms, such as "includes" and
"included," should be considered non-exclusive. Also, terms such as
"element" or "component" encompass both elements and components
comprising one unit and elements and components that comprise more
than one unit, unless specifically stated otherwise.
[0028] As used herein, the term "coffee pod" refers to the
individualized coffee bean filled containers of the present
invention, however it is known that tea, herbs, coco, powdered
milk, and other dissolvable or elutable materials may be
substituted for the coffee beans packaged in the containers of the
present invention. Any reference to coffee herein shall be
understood to incorporate the aforementioned materials.
[0029] As used herein the terms "inflatable" and "inflatably
expanedable" refer to the characteristic of a body in a spatially
compressed configuration that may be expanded to its full spatial
configuration with the application of air, application of a vacuum
or application of a mechanical pusher there into. The body need not
be airtight to allow this expansion.
[0030] As used herein the term "means for separation" refers to a
mechanical device disposed between adjacent coffee pods that allows
for the separation of the pods by such means as tearing, increasing
in physical spacing between pods, twisting or stretching and
cutting. Perforations incorporated onto the tab joining adjacent
coffee pods would be one example thereof.
[0031] As used herein the term "compressible" refers to the ability
for an article to be reduced to a spatially compressed
configuration that represents a fraction of the space that it
occupies in its expanded or operational state.
[0032] As used herein, the term "biodegradable" means 100% natural
material capable of breaking down to a cellular level by decomposed
by bacteria or other living organisms.
[0033] The terms "means for separation" and "means for the
connected movement of an array of separable individual pods" as
used herein including the claims, is to be interpreted according to
35 USC 112, [para] 6.
[0034] The present invention relates to a novel design for a coffee
pod that may be utilized in conjunction with a high speed, high
volume point of sale, mechanized coffee distributing device.
[0035] While certain features and aspects have been described with
respect to exemplary embodiments, one skilled in the art will
recognize that numerous modifications are possible. For example,
while various methods and processes described herein may be
described with respect to particular structural and/or functional
components for ease of description, methods provided by various
embodiments are not limited to any particular structural and/or
functional architecture. Similarly, while certain functionality is
ascribed to certain system components, unless the context dictates
otherwise, this functionality can be distributed among various
other system components in accordance with the several
embodiments.
[0036] The coffee pod is best disclosed after an brief explanation
of the point of sale device in which the pod is designed to be
stored, expanded, filled, sealed, detached from its array, and
dispensed. This is best illustrated with reference to FIGS. 1-4
explaining the concept, general operation and various embodiments
of the point of sale coffee pod device. This device allows a user
to fill a series of coffee pods with their choice of a particular
ground coffee bean or a blend thereof. These pods will be
operationally compatible with most of the popular, commercially
available, individual cup coffee brewing machines
[0037] Looking at FIG. 1 it can be seen that the process flow for
the point of sale coffee pod dispensing device involves advancing a
compressed coffee pod 2 from out of its stored configuration in
tube 3, expanding the pod, filling the expanded pod 4 with ground
coffee, and sealing the top of the filled, expanded pod 4 with an
advancing roll of adhesive lids 6. This generally progresses along
a linear path within the device. Simply stated, it utilizes linked,
continuous-feed capable array of compressible coffee pods. In this
conceptual process flow the storage of the compressed coffee pods
is done in a tube 4 while it is envisioned that the compressed pods
2 may be stored in a plethora of other configurations as would be
well known in the industry. One such configuration would be in a
repeating "Z" folded configuration while connected to adjacent
compressed pods 2. The number of compressed pods 2 between folds is
variable.
[0038] FIG. 2 shows an alternate process flow for the point of sale
coffee pod dispensing device 5 involving advancing a compressed
coffee pod 2 stored in an coiled belt configuration 8, expanding
the pod with air expander 7, filling the expanded pod 4 with
freshly ground coffee from a grinding/dosing unit 10, cleaning the
section of advancing belt from debris and coffee grinds with a
surface cleaner 12, sealing the top of the filled, expanded pod 4
with a cap, ejecting the pod 4 from the belt with an ejector 14
into a vacuum pack bag 16 for dispensing to the customer.
[0039] FIGS. 3 and 4 show the general arrangement and operation of
the preferred embodiment. The embodiment of FIG. 3 shows the
advancement of a connected linear series of compressed pods 2 along
a tractor style conveyor belt 18 that passes through a means for
well expanding which in the referred embodiment is an air inflation
unit 20, a grinding/dosing unit 10, a cap sealing unit 22, a
separation station 24 and an ejection station 26. The compressed
coffee pod 2 evolves into an expanded coffee pod 4 that is then
filled and sealed to become a dispensable coffee pod 21. The
embodiment of FIG. 4 varies only by the number of grinding/dosing
units 10 available. With the embodiment of FIG. 4 it is possible to
blend multiple coffee beans into each individual pod for an
individualized flavor.
[0040] As can be seen the preferred embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 4,
the advancement of the coffee pods from their compressed storage
state to the dispensed, filled and sealed coffee pods is best
mechanized utilizing a means for the connected movement of an array
of individually separable coffee pods 28 (a ribbon format). This
array of coffee pods is made into a single linear configuration
wherein each compressed pod 2 is connected to its two adjacent
compressed pods 2 (the one in front and the one behind) by a
connection tab 31 with a means for separation 30 disposed thereon.
(FIG. 5) (Alternate versions of this design utilize a tape format
wherein there are multiple ribbon formats of the series of coffee
pods that reside parallel to one another and are conjoined on their
sides as disclosed further herein and illustrated in FIG. 11.)
[0041] In the preferred embodiment the pods will reside on a
specific location on a conveyor belt or track 36. This positioning
may be accomplished with a revolving toothed cog or gear that
advances and locates the linear array of pods via a series of
perforations (not illustrated) formed through the upper face of the
pod, as is well known in the industry. In the preferred embodiment
there are a series of orifices formed through the track 36 in which
the well section of the pods reside, once inflated/expanded.
[0042] In the preferred embodiment, this means for separation is a
series of perforations formed through the approximate center of the
connection tab 31 joining the coffee pods. (FIG. 6) Looking at the
manner of separation of the expanded, filled coffee pods 4 in the
preferred embodiment, it can be seen that as the pods 4 reach the
curved end of the track 36 the leading pod 38 drops from the planar
path the linear array 28 has been traversing and follows the oval
path of the track 18. In doing so, two effects are put into motion.
First, the tab hinges about its approximate midpoint which is where
the means for separation 30 resides. Second, the distance between
the tops of the adjacent filled coffee pods increases. Each of
these effects put stress on the means for separation 30 causing the
perforations to tear and the adjacent pods to separate.
[0043] There is a plethora of other embodiments which the means for
separation 30 could take. It could be a line of flexible mastic
joining two short tabs that abut each other, it could be a
releasable, flexible, adhesive strip spanning and affixed to two
short tabs extending from each coffee pod top, it could be a
frangible strip residing between two short tabs extending from the
coffee pod top, or the like. In an other embodiment of the means to
separate, the filter media used to form the fillable well could be
made from a roll of filter media extended beyond the well to
conjoin adjacent coffee pods 4, possibly forming the wells on
adjacent coffee pods. The coffee pods would then lack a tab but
rather, would be conjoined in a linear fashion by the length of
filter media that formed all of the wells. There could be notches
or perforation lines on any of the aforementioned means to allow
separation in the way described that occurs at the curved end of
the track 36, The primary criteria for selection would be the
resilience to minor twisting or expansive forces below a critical
level without allowing the release of adjacent pods.
[0044] In the first, simplest, embodiment of FIG. 6 the filter pod
4 is but a support structure affixed to a well section 50. The well
section 50 is a concave formed filter element, generally having
filaments approximately 20 micrometres wide, which allow particles
to pass through which are less than approximately 10 to 15
micrometres in diameter. This will allow capture of the oily
organic components called diterpenes present in unfiltered coffee.
It will be made of a natural, 100% biodegradable fibre. The well
section 50 will have an upper flange 52 that has its top face
adhesively affixed to the periphery of a bottom face of the upper
lid 56 by a 100% biodegradable adhesive 54. (Generally this will be
of a cellulose food grade sealable gum.) The well will generally be
constructed of material flexible enough to avoid any bottom
piercing actions of certain single serve coffee brewing
equipment.
[0045] In this embodiment the support structure is only the upper
lid 56 and adhesive 54. The well section may be stretched or pleat
folded with or without the use of a concave mold to form its
concave configuration. The upper lid 56 is generally circular and
has a pair of connection tabs 31 extending therefrom its exterior
periphery. The upper lid 56 is made in a connected linear series
with upper lids used for the adjacent coffee pods 4. The connection
tabs 31 are disposed 180 radial degrees apart on the upper lid 56.
The means for separating 30 is seen as a linear series of
perforations extending axially across the tabs 31 at the midpoint
between adjacent upper lids 56. The cap 62 is separate from the
rest of the coffee pod 4 and is adhesively affixed to the periphery
of the upper face of the upper lid 56 by a 100% biodegradable
adhesive 54.
[0046] It is to be noted that the upper lid 56 has an orifice 64
therein to accommodate both the means for well expanding (air
inflater) and the doser so as to allow the expansion of the pod 4
and the insertion of ground coffee beans. The upper lid 56 will be
made of a 100% biodegradable material such as a natural paper or
cellulose fiber. The upper lid 56 will act as a stiffener and be of
thick enough material and will have enough material existing about
its planar surface to ensure that the coffee pod 4 does not
collapse when being pierced by a single serving coffee brewing
machine. The cap 62 will also be made of a 100% biodegradable
material.
[0047] The second embodiment coffee pod of FIG. 7 retains the same
structural elements as the first embodiment but to the support
structure is added an additional stiffener ring 68 that has its
upper face adhesively affixed by the biodegradable adhesive 54 to
the bottom face of the well section 50. The stiffener ring 68 is
also made of a 100% biodegradable material, preferably from the
same natural paper or cellulose fiber the upper lid 56 is made
from.
[0048] The third embodiment of FIG. 8 retains many of the same
structural elements as the first embodiment except it incorporates
the cap 62 and its adhesive layer 54 onto an upper lid assembly 70
in a hingeable fashion. This type of coffee pod is used with an
embodiment of coffee pod dispensing device that folds the upper lid
assembly 70 onto itself about its hinge point 72. Although not
illustrated, the upper lid assembly 70 may be utilized with the
first embodiment coffee pod as well by the elimination of the
stiffener ring 68 and its adhesive layer 54.
[0049] FIG. 10 shows yet another coffee pod embodiment that has an
additional deep stiffener ring 74 that may be used with or without
the stiffener ring 68. The deep stiffener ring 74 is not planar but
rather has a short cylindrical extension 76 the extends
perpendicularly from the flange section 78. This adds rigidity to
the entire support structure thus allowing for the use of thinner
elements. The deep stiffener ring 74 may be made from 100%
biodegradable material or where extreme strength is needed, it may
be fabricated from a polymer. The embodiment with the deep
stiffener ring has drawbacks in that these pods do not stack as
well as those pods without it.
[0050] FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of a double linear array of
coffee pods (tape format) 80 showing its structural evolution
throughout the coffee filling process. This is similar to the
single linear array of FIG. 5 but instead of being in a ribbon
format, (single linear array) it has at least another adjacent
single linear array arranged in parallel so as to form a tape
format (two or more parallel and conjoined linear arrays). This
would allow for better stacking. The pods would thus be joined on
three or four sides, depending on the width of the tape format
which is based on the number of conjoined single linear arrays in
the tape.
[0051] It is to be noted that similar to the ribbon format, in the
tape format each compressed pod 2 is seperably connected to its
three or four adjacent compressed pods 2 (the one in front, the one
behind, and the one on the left or right side, or the two on both
the left and right sides) by a connection tab 31 with a means for
separation 30 disposed thereon. Alternate embodiments of the means
for separation, as discussed above, may be utilized and more than
one embodiment of means for separation may be used on the conjoined
pods in a single tape format 80.
[0052] The expansion of the compressed coffee pod 2 (FIG. 9a) into
the expanded coffee pod 4 (FIG. 9b) is accomplished by an air
expander that provides a burst of past the upper lid orifice 64 and
into the well section 50 to inflateably expand the well section
into its concave configuration. In an alternate embodiment, a
mechanical rod may pass beyond the upper lid orifice 64 and into
the well section 50 to mechanically expand the well section 50.
[0053] As can be seen from the above disclosure, a linear series of
successively linked compressible, shell less coffee pods having a
means for separating coffee pods located on the hingeable
connection tabs, allows for the rapid commercial filling of
individual coffee pods. Elimination of the conventional water-tight
polymer pods results in a coffee pod that may be used with or
without a single serving coffee machine. It is ideal for making a
single hot cup of coffee from a cup of boiling water or a single
cold cup of tea.
[0054] The packaging of the conventional polymer hard shell coffee
pods adds an upcharge to the price of the coffee by approximately
30%. Not only does the present invention drastically minimize this,
it allows the user to select their own, fresh blend of coffee (or
their desired brewable organ material) in an amount of coffee pods
that they need. The biodegradable feature of the entire coffee pod
just adds to the environmental friendliness of the device.
[0055] The system components described according to a particular
structural architecture and/or with respect to one embodiment may
be organized in alternative structural architectures. Hence, while
various embodiments are described with--or without--certain
features for ease of description and to illustrate exemplary
aspects of those embodiments, the various components and/or
features described herein with respect to a particular embodiment
can be substituted, added, and/or subtracted from among other
described embodiments, unless the context dictates otherwise.
Consequently, although several exemplary embodiments are described
above, it will be appreciated that the invention is intended to
cover all modifications and equivalents within the scope of the
following claims.
* * * * *