U.S. patent application number 15/484675 was filed with the patent office on 2018-10-11 for quick release mechanism and bicycle using the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to Detroit Bikes LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Detroit Bikes LLC. Invention is credited to John Gershenson, Anthony Reale, Thomas Tetzloff.
Application Number | 20180290706 15/484675 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 63685211 |
Filed Date | 2018-10-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180290706 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gershenson; John ; et
al. |
October 11, 2018 |
QUICK RELEASE MECHANISM AND BICYCLE USING THE SAME
Abstract
A quick release assembly for attaching handlebars to a vehicle
is disclosed. The assembly is a cam assembly that in a first
positon engages the handlebars of a vehicle in an operational
position and when said cam assembly is in a second position
disengages the handlebars to permit easy storage of the vehicle in
a minimum of space. The quick release assembly permits a tool free
assembly of a vehicle with a handlebar, such as, for example, a
bicycle.
Inventors: |
Gershenson; John; (Chassell,
MI) ; Tetzloff; Thomas; (Hancock, MI) ; Reale;
Anthony; (Allen Park, MI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Detroit Bikes LLC |
Detroit |
MI |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Detroit Bikes LLC
Detroit
MI
|
Family ID: |
63685211 |
Appl. No.: |
15/484675 |
Filed: |
April 11, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16B 2/185 20130101;
F16B 2/14 20130101; F16B 2/04 20130101; B62K 21/22 20130101; F16B
7/042 20130101; B62K 21/16 20130101; B62K 2206/00 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B62K 21/16 20060101
B62K021/16; F16B 7/04 20060101 F16B007/04 |
Claims
1. A handlebar attachment device, comprising: a steerer tube
attachment having a first end and a second end separated by a
sidewall having an inner surface and an outer surface extending
therebetween, to define a body with an inner space; a stem tube
having a first end and a second end separated by a sidewall having
an outer surface and an inner surface extending therebetween to
define a body having an inner space; said stem tube affixed at one
end to said steerer tube attachment body at a location between said
steerer tube attachment first and second end; said stem tube
further equipped with a body aperture extending through said
sidewall of said stem tube into said inner space of said stem tube
between said first end and second end of said stem tube; a stem
attachment having a first end and a second end separated by a
sidewall having an inner diameter and an outer diameter extending
therebetween to define an inner space; said stem attachment further
equipped with an access aperture intermediate said stem attachment
first end and second end; said access aperture transverse to said
stem attachment first and second end and aligned with said stem
tube inner space; a cam assembly insertable through said stem
attachment access aperture into said stem tube inner space; said
cam assembly equipped with a torsion lever having a stem insertable
through said stem tube body aperture; said cam assembly engaged
with a steerer tube when said torsion lever is in a first position
and said cam assembly disengaged from said steerer tube when said
torsion lever is in a second position; said cam assembly including
a front cam shoe; said front cam shoe having a first face profile
engageable with a handlebar cross-section profile and a second face
profile inclined in one direction at an angle relative to said
first face profile; said first and second face profiles separated
by a sidewall extending therebetween to define a body portion; a
rear cam shoe; said rear cam shoe having a first face profile
inclined in one direction at an angle relative to the second face
profile of the first cam shoe; said angle of said first face
profile said rear cam shoe is inclined opposite to the angle of
said second face profile of said front cam shoe such that when the
second face profile of the front cam shoe is inclined at an obtuse
angle, the first face profile of the rear cam shoe is inclined at
an acute angle and when the second profile face of the front cam
shoe is inclined at an acute angle, the first face profile of the
rear cam shoe is inclined at an obtuse angle; said rear cam shoe
further having a second face profile to engage the steerer tube;
and an intermediate cam shoe interposed between said front and rear
cam shoes; said intermediate cam shoe having a top surface and a
bottom surface separated by opposed sidewalls extending
therebetween to define a body; one of said top surface or bottom
surface has a smaller length than the other of the top surface or
the bottom surface; said intermediate cam shoe further equipped
with inclined front and rear walls extending from said top surface
to said bottom surface to define a rhomboid profile for said
intermediate cam shoe; at least one of said top and bottom surface
equipped with an intermediate cam aperture accessible from said
body aperture of said stem tube to accept said torsion lever.
2. (canceled)
3. The handlebar attachment device of claim 1, wherein said top
surface of said intermediate cam shoe is of smaller length than
said bottom surface of said intermediate cam shoe.
4. The handlebar attachment device of claim 1, wherein said top
surface is equipped with the intermediate cam aperture to accept
said torsion lever stem.
5. The handlebar attachment device of claim 1, wherein said torsion
lever includes a locator peg to ensure the torsion lever is in a
closed position.
6. The handlebar attachment device of claim 1, further including a
washer intermediate said cam assembly and said torsion lever
stem.
7. A cam assembly, comprising: a front cam shoe; said front cam
shoe having a first face profile that engages with a handlebar
cross-section profile and a second face profile inclined in one
direction at an angle relative to said first face profile; said
first and second face profiles separated by a sidewall extending
therebetween to define a body portion; a rear cam shoe; said rear
cam shoe having a first face profile inclined in one direction at
an angle relative to the second face profile of the first cam shoe;
said angle of said first face profile of said rear cam shoe is
inclined opposite to the angle of said second face profile of said
front cam shoe such that when the second face profile of the front
cam shoe is inclined at an obtuse angle, the first face profile of
the rear cam shoe is inclined at an acute angle and when the second
profile face of the front cam shoe is inclined at an acute angle,
the first face profile of the rear cam is inclined at an obtuse
angle; said rear cam shoe further having a second face profile to
engage a steerer tube; and an intermediate cam shoe interposed
between said front and rear cam shoes; said intermediate cam shoe
having a top surface and a bottom surface separated by opposed
sidewalls extending therebetween to define a body; one of said top
surface or bottom surface has a smaller length than the other of
the top surface or the bottom surface; said intermediate cam shoe
further equipped with inclined front and rear walls extending from
said top surface to said bottom surface to define a rhomboid
profile; at least one of said top and bottom surface equipped with
an intermediate cam shoe aperture to accept a cam assembly
actuator.
8. The cam assembly of claim 7, wherein said cam assembly actuator
is a torsion lever with a stem insertable in said intermediate cam
shoe aperture to move the intermediate cam within a stem tube so
that an intermediate cam shoe first face profile engages said front
cam shoe second face profile and an intermediate cam shoe second
face profile engages said rear cam shoe second face profile.
9. The cam assembly of claim 8, wherein said torsion lever includes
a locator peg to ensure the torsion lever is in a closed
position.
10. The cam assembly of claim 8, further including a washer
interposed between said torsion lever stem and said intermediate
cam shoe aperture.
11. A vehicle with a handlebar attachment device, comprising: a
steerer tube attachment having a first end and a second end
separated by a sidewall having an inner surface and an outer
surface extending therebetween, to define a body with an inner
space; a stem tube having a first end and a second end separated by
a sidewall having an outer surface and an inner surface extending
therebetween to define a body having an inner space; said stem tube
affixed at one end to a body of a steerer tube at a location
between said steerer tube first and second end; said stem tube
further equipped with a body aperture extending through said stem
tube sidewall into said inner space of said stem tube between said
stem first end and said second end of said stem tube; a stem
attachment having a first end and a second end separated by a
sidewall having an inner diameter and an outer diameter extending
therebetween to define an inner space; said stem attachment further
equipped with an access aperture intermediate said stem attachment
first end and second end; said access aperture transverse to said
stem attachment first and second end and aligned with said stem
tube inner space; a cam assembly insertable through said stem
attachment access aperture into said stem tube inner space; said
cam assembly equipped with a torsion lever having a stem insertable
through said stem tube body aperture; said cam assembly engaged
with the steerer tube when said torsion lever is in a first
position to prevent rotation of the steerer tube attachment
relative to the steerer tube, and said cam assembly disengaged from
said steerer tube when said torsion lever is in a second position
to permit rotation of the steerer tube attachment relative to the
steerer tube.
12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein said vehicle is a bicycle.
13. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein said vehicle is motorized.
14. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein said vehicle is a motor cycle,
motorbike, scooter moped, lawnmower or gulf cart.
15. (canceled)
16. A method to store a vehicle, comprising: actuating a quick
release system from a closed position to an open position to
release compressive forces against a steerer tube; said steerer
tube supporting a handlebar attachment assembly with a handlebar
oriented in a first position relative to a fork assembly; said
quick release system further including a steerer tube attachment
having a first end and a second end separated by a sidewall having
an inner surface and an outer surface extending therebetween, to
defining a body with an inner space; a stem tube having a first end
and a second end separated by a sidewall having an outer surface
and an inner surface extending therebetween to define a body having
an inner space; said stem tube affixed at one end to said steerer
tube attachment body at a location between said steerer tube
attachment first and second end; said stem tube further equipped
with a body aperture extending through said sidewall of said stem
tube into said inner space of said stem tube between said first end
and said second end of said stem tube; a stem attachment having a
first end and a second end separated by a sidewall having an inner
diameter and an outer diameter extending therebetween to define an
inner space; said stem attachment further equipped with an access
aperture intermediate said stem attachment first end and second
end; said access aperture transverse to said stem attachment first
and second end and aligned with said stem tube inner space; a cam
assembly insertable through said stem attachment access aperture
into said stem tube inner space; said cam assembly equipped with a
torsion lever having a stem insertable through said stem tube body
aperture; said cam assembly engaged with a steerer tube when said
torsion lever is in a first position and said cam assembly
disengaged from said steerer tube when said torsion lever is in a
second position; and moving said handlebar attachment assembly to a
second position so that said handlebar is aligned with a wheel in
said fork assembly.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein said quick release system cam
assembly further includes: a front cam shoe; said front cam shoe
having a first face profile engageable with a handlebar
cross-section profile and a second face profile inclined in one
direction at angle relative to said first face profile; said first
and second face profiles separated by a sidewall extending
therebetween to define a body portion; a rear cam shoe; said rear
cam shoe having a first face profile inclined in one direction at
an angle relative to the second face profile of the first cam shoe;
said angle incline for said first face profile of said rear cam
shoe opposite to the angle incline of said second face profile of
said front cam shoe such that when the second face profile of the
front cam shoe is inclined at an obtuse angle, the first face
profile of the rear cam shoe is inclined at an acute angle and when
the second profile face of the front cam shoe is inclined at an
acute angle, the first face profile of the rear cam shoe is
inclined at an obtuse angle; said rear cam shoe further having a
second face profile to engage the steerer tube; and an intermediate
cam shoe interposed between said front and rear cam shoes; said
intermediate cam shoe having a top surface and a bottom surface
separated by opposed sidewalls extending therebetween to define a
body; one of said top surface or bottom surface has a smaller
length than the other of the top surface or the bottom surface;
said intermediate cam shoe further equipped with inclined front and
rear walls extending from said top surface to said bottom surface
to define a rhomboid profile for said intermediate cam shoe; at
least one of said top and bottom surface equipped with an aperture
accessible from said body aperture of said stem tube to accept said
torsion lever.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein said intermediate cam shoe top
surface is of smaller length than said bottom surface of said
intermediate cam shoe.
19. (canceled)
20. The method of 17, wherein said torsion lever includes a locator
peg to ensure the torsion lever is in a locked position.
21. The method of 17, further including a washer intermediate said
cam assembly and said stem of said torsion lever.
22. The method of claim 17, wherein said torsion lever is moved
from the first position to engage said cam shoes with each other in
said cam assembly to the second position to disengage said cam
shoes in said cam assembly; said method further including moving
handlebars from an operational position relative to a vehicle wheel
to a storage position relative to said vehicle wheels.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] Bicycles are becoming an important a part of new urban
planning such that some cities are planning to be complete free of
internal combustion engines or even motorized vehicle of any kind.
Bicycles are a viable option for such a "green" urban plan.
However, bicycles had been difficult to assemble for the consumer
because there was a need to assemble the bicycles using various
tools. Many times, the consumer requires the assistance of a
bicycle technician adding to the cost of the bicycle. Moreover,
even when the bicycle is assembled by the consumer, there is no
assurance that the handlebars and stem are in the proper positon.
Shipping and storage are also concerns. When the bicycle is shipped
to the consumer, it is usually in a disassembled state, requiring
several hours to assemble it from the parts in the shipping
container. Bicycles are shipped this way because, once assembled,
the bicycles have a large side to side profile because the
handlebars are oriented transverse to the wheels of the
bicycle.
[0002] There is a need for a way to ship and store bicycles such
that the bicycle may be assembled without tools by the consumer and
further that it may be stored by orienting the handle bars in the
same direction as the wheels of the bicycle without the need for
tools. This facilitates being able to stow the bicycle in a narrow
hall way or office space. In addition, bicycles equipped with a
quick release device may be shipped in more compact containers to
consumers who are able to easily assemble the bicycle out of the
box without the need for tools.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] FIG. 1A is a side view of a vehicle including one embodiment
of the quick release system.
[0004] FIG. 1B is a side view of a vehicle including one embodiment
of the quick release system showing a storage position.
[0005] FIG. 1C is a side view of a vehicle with the handlebars in a
shipping position.
[0006] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a handlebar assembly
including one embodiment of the quick release system.
[0007] FIG. 2B is a front view of the handlebar assembly of FIG.
2A.
[0008] FIG. 2C is a side view of the handlebar assembly of FIG.
2A.
[0009] FIG. 3A is a front perspective view of a steerer tube
showing one embodiment of the quick release system.
[0010] FIG. 3B is a rear perspective view of a steerer tube of FIG.
3A showing one embodiment of the quick release system.
[0011] FIG. 3C is a side perspective view of the steerer tube of
FIG. 3A showing one embodiment of the quick release system.
[0012] FIG. 4A is a front view of a steerer tube with one
embodiment of the quick release system installed.
[0013] FIG. 4B is a side view of a steerer tube of FIG. 4A with one
embodiment of the quick release system installed.
[0014] FIG. 4C is a perspective view of the steerer tube of FIG. 4A
with one embodiment of the quick release system installed.
[0015] FIG. 5A is a partial view of a steerer tube showing the
fastener to a fork assembly.
[0016] FIG. 5B is a cutaway view of the steerer tube of FIG. 5A
taken along line A-A showing the quick release system in a first
position.
[0017] FIG. 6A is a partial view of a steerer tube showing the
fastener to a fork assembly with the quick release system in a
second position.
[0018] FIG. 6B is a cutaway view of the steerer tube of FIG. 6A
taken along line B-B showing the quick release system in a second
position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] Turning now to the drawings wherein like numbers refer to
like structures, and particularly to FIGS. 1A through 1C, there is
shown a vehicle 10, which is depicted as a bicycle. While a bicycle
will be described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the
art understand that any vehicle that may use a quick release system
as will hereinafter be described is included. For example, the
vehicle could be a motorcycle, a moped, a scooter, a riding
lawnmower, a golf cart or any other vehicle.
[0020] Bicycle 10 has a front portion 12 that includes a fork
assembly 14 and steerer tube 16. The steerer is included as part of
the fork and the stem and headset 13 attach to it. As seen in FIGS.
3A and 3B, the steerer tube 16 (into which the headset fits to
permit the handlebar to turn the wheels right and left) includes a
stem 18 attached at one end to the steerer tube and terminating in
an opposite end with a stem attachment portion 23. The stem
attachment portion is used to secure the handlebar 20 to the
bicycle steerer tube and with the headset, allow the handlebars to
rotate relative to the frame. As is customary, that handlebar has
bar ends 22 and 24, respectively, and an intermediate section 26
disposed between the bar ends. The intermediate portion has a
handlebar attachment portion 28 that may be of greater diameter
than the bar ends, and interacts with the stem attachment portion
in a manner to be hereinafter described.
[0021] The fork assembly has a fork end which permits a wheel 32 to
be attached to the fork assembly at the axle 34 as is well known to
those in the art. The bicycle has a frame 36 and at its rear end
has rear fork 38 whereby wheel 33 is secured thereto by the axle as
is well understood in the art. The bicycle has a pedal mechanism 40
that includes a cog 42 and pedals 44 attached by the spindle 82 to
the crank 84 to drive the chain 46. The frame may have a hanger 46
for attachment of a derailleur 50 to permit the gears to be
changed. The bicycle includes a seat or saddle 54 affixed to a seat
post 56 adjustably carried in the frame. The bicycle has brakes 58
and 60, activated by transmitting motion of the brake lever 62
through cables 66, 68, respectively to apply braking force to the
bicycle. The derailleur has a gear shifter and gear shifting cable
to transmit the selected gear from the lever position to the
derailleur. Optionally, the bicycles may be equipped with front
shock assembly 74, carried by the front fork, and rear shock
assembly 78, for riding comfort. When the bicycle is to be stored
or packaged for shipment, the stem attachment portion 23 is
loosened and no longer tightly engages the handlebar attachment
portion 28. In this condition, the handlebars may be moved toward
the rear of the bicycle through the unsecured stem attachment
portion 23 thereby making the bicycle more compact front to rear.
The bicycle can then be stored in a smaller space or may be shipped
in a smaller container.
[0022] Having described a vehicle, such as a bicycle that may
include a quick release system, FIGS. 2A through 2C depict
handlebar 20 and steerer tube 16 with stem 18 and quick release 86.
The stem attachment portion has an access 87, shown as an aperture,
to accommodate assembly in the factory as well as to assist in the
correct rotation of the handlebars in the stem in the quick release
apparatus as will be hereinafter described. The handle bar has bar
ends 22, 24, respectively separated by an intermediate section 26
that may be of larger diameter than the bar ends, and fits into the
stem attachment portion.
[0023] Turning now to FIGS. 3A through 6B, the quick release
mechanism 86 will be described. Steerer tube 18 has a first end and
a second end separated by a sidewall with an inner diameter and an
outer diameter extending substantially unbroken therebetween to
define an inner space. The steerer tube is open at the first end
and the second end. As is well known in the art, the headset is
inserted into the steerer tube and a star nut 154 is insertable
into the first end of the steerer tube. A fastener, shown as a
threaded bold is inserted through the star nut to engage the
headset and secure it to the fork assembly so as to hold the
headset in the steerer tube to the fork in the front assembly of
the bicycle.
[0024] A stem portion 18 is shown as a tube having a first end 158
and a second end 160 separated by a sidewall 162 with an inner
diameter 164 and an outer diameter 166 extending substantially
unbroken therebetween to define an inner space 168. The first and
second ends are open. The second end of the stem is affixed at a
location 170 between the first and second ends of the steerer tube.
The stem has an aperture 90 through at least one side of the stem
sidewall. The stem carries the stem attachment portion 23 at its
second end 160. While the stem attachment portion is shown as a
tube transverse to the stem having an access aperture 88, those
skilled in the art recognize that the stem attachment portion could
be configured to be a "C" configuration that might require a plate
or other device to complete the circumference of the stem
attachment portion to engage the handlebar.
[0025] A cam assembly 91 has a first cam shoe 92 with a first
profile face 94 complimentary to the profile of the handlebar
intermediate portion 26 and a second face 96 having an angled
profile 98 separated by a sidewall 99 extending substantially
unbroken therebetween to define a body 100. In the drawing, the
body has a circumferential sidewall indicating cam shoe 92 is
circumferential. As for all the parts in the cam assembly, it is
only important that the cam assembly fits within the access and the
inner space of the stem. Indeed, depending upon the configuration
of the stem attachment portion, the access need not be an aperture.
For example, if the stem attachment holder was a C clamp
configuration, no access aperture is needed because the C clamp
configuration gives adequate access to the stem without the need
for a defined aperture.
[0026] Intermediate cam shoe 102 has a top surface 104 and a bottom
surface 107 separated by two opposed sidewalls 108 and 110,
respectively. One of the top or bottom surface is of a smaller
length than the other, and as shown, for purposes of example only,
the top surface is shown as being of smaller length than the bottom
surface. The intermediate cam shoe as shown has inclined front wall
112 and rear wall 114 extending substantially unbroken from the
bottom wall to the top wall to define a body 116 such that the
intermediate cam has a rhomboid profile 117 when viewed on the
side. While it is shown that both the front and rear walls are
inclined, it is contemplated that only one of the walls is inclined
as well.
[0027] The rear cam shoe 118 has an angled inclined front face 120.
If the intermediate cam shoe has a rhomboid profile, the rear cam
shoe front face incline is at an angle opposite to the incline of
the inclined face profile of the first cam member. This means that
if the first cam member first inclined profile is at an acute
angle, the incline of the rear cam shoe first profile is at an
obtuse angle. The rear cam shoe has a second profile 121 with a
steerer tube engagement profile 122 to engage the outer
circumferential surface 124 of the steerer tube. A sidewall 125
extends substantially unbroken between the first profile and the
second profile to define a body 128 which may be circumferential.
In this embodiment, the top surface has an actuating aperture 129
to accept a stem 134 of a quick release lever 130. The stem has a
head portion 136 and a threaded portion 138 for insertion into the
actuating aperture in the intermediate cam shoe. The head portion
has an aperture 139 extending transversely therethrough. The lever
includes a quick release lever portion 130 having a work surface
132 terminating in an attachment portion 133. The attachment
portion has apertures 131, 135 to permit attachment to the stem by
inserting a pin or other suitable attachment through the apertures
in the quick release lever portion and through the apertures in the
head portion of the stem. It could just as easily be configured as
a film hinge. The quick release lever portion may be equipped with
a locator peg 150 to ensure the quick lever is in the correct
positon. The stem may be passed through a washer 142 before it is
inserted into the top surface aperture of the intermediate cam
shoe.
[0028] In operation, the stem goes onto the steerer (after the
headset has gone through the steerer), and then the cam assembly is
inserted into the access aperture in the stem attachment portion
such that the rear cam shoe is inserted first into the access
aperture into the inner space of the stem and into engagement with
the outer diameter of the steerer tube. The intermediate member is
inserted through the access aperture and into the stem inner space.
The inclined face of the rear member is in cooperative engagement
with the inclined rear face of the intermediate member. The stem is
inserted through the stem aperture and a washer positioned on the
top face of the intermediate cam shoe and threaded into the
aperture in the top surface of the intermediate cam. The front cam
shoe is also inserted into the inner space of the stem, so that the
inclined second face is in cooperate engagement with the inclined
face of the intermediate member. When the cam assembly is thus
placed into position, the lever is in a first position, such as,
for example the position in 6A and 6B. In this position, the
intermediate cam portion is in a first portion such that the
interaction between the first and second inclined surfaces of the
intermediate cam shoe does not exert an outward force on the rear
and front inclined profiles of the front and rear cam shoes. In
this position, there is no compressive engagement of the steerer
tube outer surface by the rear cam shoe and no compressive
engagement by the front profile of the front cam shoe on the
intermediate handlebar portion. When the lever is moved into the
second position as seen in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the intermediate cam is
moved within the stem inner space and into compressive engagement
with the inclined second and first profiles of the front and rear
cam shoes, thereby causing the rear cam to exert a compressive
force on the steerer tube outer surface and causing the front cam
shoe to expert a compressive force against the intermediate portion
of the handlebars, thereby securing the handlebar in place. When
the locater peg 150 is in mating engagement with the recess 151 in
the star nut, the torsion lever is in the proper position to secure
the handlebars in place.
[0029] The cam shoe assembly as described makes bicycle assembly
easy and tool-less for a consumer. It is common for a bicycle to be
shipped in a box to the consumer such that the wheels are attached
to the frame at the front and rear forks, but that the handlebars
are disassembled and placed sideways in the shipping box. Using the
quick release system as described, the consumer may place the cam
assembly into the stem as previously described, position the
handlebars into the stem attachment portion such that the
intermediate portion of the handlebar is in the stem attachment
portion, move the lever from its first position (as seen in FIGS.
6A and 6B) to its second position (as seen in FIGS. 5A and 5B), and
completely assemble the bicycle without the need for tools. When it
is desired to store the bike, the consumer may move the lever from
its position as seen in FIGS. 5A and 5B to a position like that
seen in FIGS. 6A and 6B, release the compressive forces against the
steer tube and the handlebar, move the steerer tube relative to the
fork assembly so the handlebar orientation is aligned with the
bicycle wheels, and thereby store the bicycle in a relatively small
space.
[0030] The above description is intended to be illustrative, not
restrictive. The scope of the invention should be determined with
reference to the appended claims along with the full scope of
equivalents. It is anticipated and intended that future
developments will occur in the art, and that the disclosed devices,
kits and methods will be incorporated into such future embodiments.
Thus, the invention is capable of modification and variation and is
limited only by the following claims.
* * * * *