U.S. patent application number 16/545347 was filed with the patent office on 2019-12-12 for portable, collapsible chair with storage container.
This patent application is currently assigned to GCI Outdoor, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Daniel R. Grace. Invention is credited to Daniel R. Grace.
Application Number | 20190374033 16/545347 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 68765380 |
Filed Date | 2019-12-12 |
View All Diagrams
United States Patent
Application |
20190374033 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Grace; Daniel R. |
December 12, 2019 |
PORTABLE, COLLAPSIBLE CHAIR WITH STORAGE CONTAINER
Abstract
A collapsible and portable chair includes a storage container
provided on the backrest of the chair. Such a storage container can
be used to secure and protect items contained therein. The
container is formed on the back-side of the chair's back-rest by a
web of fabric sewn to the backrest panel, enclosed on the bottom
and both sides, but open on the top edge to provide easy access to
the interior of the container. The open top end of the container
can be closed using a cinching means, while still providing easy
access to the interior of the container either when the chair is in
its set-up or collapsed condition. The chair can also include a
shade that can be set-up to provide a seated user with shade, or
collapsed about the back-side of the chair without interfering with
use of the container.
Inventors: |
Grace; Daniel R.; (Old
Saybrook, CT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Grace; Daniel R. |
Old Saybrook |
CT |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
GCI Outdoor, Inc.
Higganum
CT
|
Family ID: |
68765380 |
Appl. No.: |
16/545347 |
Filed: |
August 20, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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15802957 |
Nov 3, 2017 |
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16545347 |
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62765273 |
Aug 20, 2018 |
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62417038 |
Nov 3, 2016 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45F 3/14 20130101; A47C
4/44 20130101; A45F 4/02 20130101; A47C 7/66 20130101; A45C 13/1046
20130101; A45F 2003/003 20130101; A47C 7/622 20180801; A45F
2004/026 20130101; A47C 4/28 20130101; A45F 3/04 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47C 4/28 20060101
A47C004/28; A47C 7/62 20060101 A47C007/62; A45F 3/14 20060101
A45F003/14; A47C 7/66 20060101 A47C007/66 |
Claims
1. A collapsible and portable chair comprising: a chair frame
comprising a plurality of interconnected longitudinal frame members
pivotally movable with respect to one another between a set-up
condition and a collapsed condition; a seat panel and a back rest
panel connected between frame members of the chair frame for
respectively defining a seat support and a back support when the
chair frame is in the set-up condition; and a container mounted on
a backside of the back rest panel, said container having an open
top end and a cinching means for dosing and opening the open top
end.
2. The collapsible and portable chair according to claim 1, wherein
the cinching means comprises a rope fed through two or more
openings in the top end of the container, whereby manipulation of
the rope can cause the open top end of the container to open or
close.
3. The collapsible and portable chair according to claim 1, further
comprising at least one strap for carrying the chair in its
collapsed condition.
4. The collapsible and portable chair according to claim 3, wherein
the at least one strap comprises two straps.
5. The collapsible and portable chair according to claim 1, further
comprising a collapsible sun shade mounted on the back support of
the chair, said sun shade having an opened and closed condition and
further being pivotable between a set-up and collapsed position,
wherein, when the sun shade is in its collapsed position, it does
not interfere with access to and use of the container.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 USC .sctn.
119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/765,273, filed Aug.
20, 2018, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by
reference in its entirety. This application is a
Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
15/802,957, filed Nov. 3, 2017, which claims priority to U.S.
Provisional Application No. 62/417,038, filed Nov. 3, 2016, the
disclosures of which are also hereby incorporated by reference in
their entireties.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to portable chairs,
and more particularly relates to lightweight chairs of portable,
collapsible type including one or more storage container
thereon.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Folding and collapsible furniture, generally, is well known
and has been used a long time. Popularity of the mini van, the
sport utility vehicle and the recreational vehicle has resulted in
increased demand for improved collapsible furniture and
particularly collapsible portable furniture of the outdoor type
which may be readily stowed in a vehicle and conveniently manually
transported to a picnic area or the site of a spectator event, such
as, for example, an outdoor concert, a sporting event, a golf
tournament, or an air show, where the general rule is to bring your
own seating accommodations. Accordingly, the general intent of
folding furniture is ease of storage and portability, i.e., the
furniture can be set-up for use and then folded down for transport
and/or storage in a space of smaller volume than what the furniture
occupies in its set-up condition. It also has been noted that it
would be desirable to have the furniture fold down to fit within a
space of minimum possible perimeter and/or volume, i.e., for
purposes of shipping the furniture at a minimal rate when the
shipping rate is based in part on the volume and perimeter of the
package to be shipped.
[0004] Lightweight, portable seats and chairs of a type with which
the present invention is concerned are enjoying increasing
popularity for use in viewing sports activities, concerts and a
wide variety of other outdoor activities such as camping, boating,
hunting, fishing and the like, normally lacking adequate
preexisting seating accommodations. As so used, it is desirable to
have a container provided as part of the chair: firstly, to provide
a means to store extra items--such as, a wallet or purse, a phone
or tablet, car keys, extra or excess clothing, snacks, sunscreen or
the like; and secondly, as a way to reduce the number of objects
the user needs to carry in her hands.
[0005] Folding chairs with storage containers are generally known
in the art. However, it is desirable to be able to dose the
container to secure and protect the items contained therein,
thereby providing extra security from theft (e.g., at the beach or
a park where the user may occasionally stray away from the chair).
Prior art means have used variations of a flap that folds over the
open top of the container. Such a flap is traditionally secured to
the container using multiple connection spots and means, such as,
zippers, hook-and-loop fastening means, buckle and clasp
arrangements, buttons, snaps, and the like. However, each of these
prior art means has drawbacks, mostly in connection with the ease
and speed with which the user can gain access to the interior of
the container and then be able to reclose and secure the
container.
[0006] It is also desirable to have means to easily transport a
folded chair, such as by using straps, so that the chair can be
carried while keeping the user's hands free for carrying other
objects. Preferably, such straps would be backpack straps so that
the folded chair can be carried on the user's back, like a
backpack, freeing up the user's hands to carry other objects.
Optimally, the folded condition of the chair and the location of
the straps when the chair is folded, do not interfere with the
container. In some prior art designs, the container is not easily
usable when the chair is folded. Additionally, such chairs may not
have convenient straps for transporting the chair, and as a result,
it is easy to lose items from within the container when the chair
is folded and/or carried.
[0007] In view of the foregoing, there is a need for a lightweight,
portable chair that can be easily collapsed into a small bundle for
transport and storage, and as easily set-up for use as a seat.
There is also a need for such a chair that include a storage
container with means for closing the container to secure items
stored therein that is easy to close and access.
[0008] Accordingly, it is the general aim of the present invention
to provide an improved, lightweight, portable, and collapsible
chair that includes a closeable storage container that overcomes
the problems and drawbacks associated with prior art folding chair
with storage containers, and therefore significantly improves the
utility of such chairs in the set-up condition and the folded
condition for use and transport.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a
collapsible and portable chair includes a storage container formed
in or mounted on the back-side of the backrest of the chair. Such a
storage container can be used to secure and protect the items
contained therein, thereby providing extra security from theft
(e.g., at the beach or a park where the user may occasionally stray
away from the chair). The storage container can be used to store a
variety of items a user may bring with them, such as, a wallet or
purse, a phone or tablet, car keys, extra or excess clothing,
snacks, sunscreen or the like.
[0010] In a first aspect of the present invention, the container is
formed on the back-side of the chair's back-rest by a web of fabric
sewn to the backrest panel, enclosed on the bottom and both sides,
but open on the top edge to provide easy access to the interior of
the container. In an alternate embodiment, the container can be
fully formed and thereafter attached to the backrest. In still
another embodiment, the fully formed container could be removably
attached to the backrest of the chair so that the user may use the
container as attached to the chair, or separate from the chair, as
desired and convenient.
[0011] In embodiments of the present invention, the open top end of
the container can be closed using a cinching means. For example, a
single rope anchored on each side of the container can be provided
and fed through openings or grommets in the container fabric in an
alternating threaded fashion, whereby the center of the rope can be
pulled in a center portion of the container to tighten and gather
the fabric material around the open top end to close the opening.
Alternatively, two ropes can be used - more particularly, a left
rope and a right rope, each anchored on a respective side of the
container and fed through openings or grommets in the container
fabric to meet in a middle portion of the container, whereby,
again, pulling on the ropes will gather and cinch the opening of
the container closed. To open the container, the rope can be
relaxed and the fabric along the opening of the container can be
pulled open so as to gain access to the interior of the container
and objects contained therein.
[0012] A sleeve can be provided for essentially locking the
container closed. That is, the sleeve is included on the slack of
the rope or ropes at the middle of the container. When the rope is
pulled to dose the opening, the length of rope in the middle
relative to the fabric of the container increases. The sleeve can
be slid toward the container fabric and positioned to hold the rope
(and the slack thereof) in place relative to the container fabric
so that the rope cannot relax and permit the container to open,
especially when the are items in the container and/or the folded
chair is being carried. To open the container, the sleeve can be
pulled away from the fabric so that the fabric can be relaxed
relative to the pull rope(s). Accordingly, the present invention
provides a container that is easy to close, yet equally easy to
gain access to the interior of the container without needing to
fidget with tedious fasteners as known in the art and multiple such
fasteners.
[0013] In another aspect of the present invention, the chair
includes straps for easy transport. For example, the straps can be
wrapped around the side of the folded chair away from the container
and worn over the user's shoulders like a backpack. As so worn, the
chair lies on the user's back and the container projects outwardly
away from the user, much like standard backpack designs.
Embodiments of this type of chair are described and shown in
Applicant's co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/975,339,
filed May 9, 2018, and entitled "Collapsible and Portable Chair,"
the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its
entirety. Therefore, a chair and container in accordance with the
present invention provides a way to reduce the number of objects
the user needs to carry in her hands, or at least free up the
user's hands to carry objects other than a chair and a bag.
Moreover, when the chair is folded and being worn like a backpack,
the container is still functional for storage of items in the
container. Such straps also preferably do not interfere with the
set-up condition of the chair, or with the collapsing of the chair,
or affect use of the chair when so set up.
[0014] In another aspect of the present invention, the chair can
include a shade that can be secured at side hubs to the chair frame
on the back rest or on the rear legs of the chair frame, and
generally comprises two arcing members each having at least one
hinge to aid in the collapsing of the shade, as shown and described
in Applicant's co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.
15/802,957, incorporated herein by reference. A flexible shade
membrane or fabric materials extends between the arcing members.
When the shade is in a set-up condition, the membrane is generally
taut. The shade can be collapsed, and when so collapsed, the
membrane is folded between the arcing members and ultimately folded
within or adjacent to the chair frame members as the chair is
collapsed. In preferred embodiments, the position of the shade over
the head of a seated user sitting in the set-up chair can be
adjusted via movement at the side hubs, and still more preferably,
locked into certain positions once adjusted, as desired. When the
shade is collapsed and folded against the chair back, it can be
positioned around the storage container so as not to interfere with
use of the container.
[0015] These and other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will become apparent in light of the detailed
description of embodiments thereof, as illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 shows a rear perspective view of a portable and
collapsible chair in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention shown in a set-up condition.
[0017] FIG. 2 shows a front perspective view of the chair of FIG. 1
in a folded condition.
[0018] FIG. 3 shows a rear planar view of the chair of FIG. 1 in a
folded condition being carried by a user, the chair having a
storage container in an opened condition.
[0019] FIG. 4 shows a front perspective view of the chair of FIG. 1
emphasizing the backrest support.
[0020] FIG. 5 shows a front planar view of the backrest support of
FIG. 4.
[0021] FIG. 6 shows a rear planar view of the backrest support of
FIG. 4 with a container in an opened condition.
[0022] FIG. 7 shows a right-side planar view of the backrest
support of FIG. 4 with a container in an opened condition. The
left-side view of the backrest support and container is a mirror
image.
[0023] FIG. 8 shows a bottom planar view of the backrest support of
FIG. 4 with a container in an opened condition.
[0024] FIG. 9 shows a top planar view of the backrest support of
FIG. 4 with a container in an opened condition.
[0025] FIG. 10 shows a rear planar view of the backrest support of
FIG. 4 with a container in a closed condition.
[0026] FIG. 11 shows a right-side planar view of the backrest
support of FIG. 4 with a container in a closed condition. The
left-side view of the backrest support and container is a mirror
image.
[0027] FIG. 12 shows a bottom planar view of the backrest support
of FIG. 4 with a container in a closed condition.
[0028] FIG. 13 shows a top planar view of the backrest support of
FIG. 4 with a container in a closed condition.
[0029] FIG. 14 shows a right-side planar of a portable and
collapsible chair in accordance with another embodiment of the
present invention shown in a set-up condition with a storage
container and a transverse folding shade in an unfolded condition
and open position fixed to the back of the chair.
[0030] FIG. 15 shows a rear, right perspective view of the chair of
FIG. 14 with the shade in a closed position. The fabric shade
material has been removed for illustration purposes.
[0031] FIG. 16 shows a right-side planar view of the chair of FIG.
14 with the shade in the closed position. The fabric shade material
has been removed for illustration purposes.
[0032] FIG. 17 shows a rear planar view of the chair of FIG. 14
with the shade in the closed position. The fabric shade material
has been removed for illustration purposes.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0033] Referring to FIGS. 1-2, a collapsible chair 10 in accordance
with the present invention includes left and right pluralities of
side frame members that support fabric panels. The side frame
members are directly pivotally connected with each other, and also
are connected by cross members. The cross members are rigidly and
generally orthogonally connected to the side frame members. In
intended operation of the chair 10, the side frame members and
cross members collectively pivot relative to one another to move
the chair between a set-up condition and a collapsed condition.
[0034] More particularly, the side frame members are arranged
symmetrically in a left plurality 12 and a right plurality 14. Each
plurality 12 or 14 of side frame members includes a front leg 16, a
rear leg 18, a seat support 20, an armrest 22, and a back support
24. The front legs 16 are cross-connected by a lower leg brace 26
and an upper leg brace 28. The rear legs 18 are cross-connected by
a rear brace 30. The back supports 24 are cross-connected by a top
brace 32.
[0035] Each front leg 16 is pivotally connected to its respective
seat support 20 by a front joint 42, and is pivotally connected to
its respective rear leg 18 by a wrist joint 44. Each seat support
20 is pivotally connected to its respective back support 24 by a
seat joint 46. Each seat joint 46 also connects its respective seat
support 20 and back support 24 to a crank 48, which is connected by
a crank joint 50 to the respective rear leg 18. Finally, each
armrest 22 is pivotally connected to its respective back support 24
by an elbow joint 52, and is adjustably attached to its respective
front leg 16 (at or near the wrist joint 44) by a ratchet mechanism
60.
[0036] Each member of the chair has a diameter or thickness, and
conventionally all members of such chairs have been of a uniform
diameter or thickness. Also, conventionally, the members of such
chairs have been arranged in a stacked configuration in which they
fold down against each other. Thus, for an arrangement of four side
frame members, the known chairs when fully folded occupy the
thickness of four side frame members.
[0037] With reference to the set-up configuration of the chair 10,
as shown in FIG. 1, the left and right pluralities 12, 14 of the
side frame members are spaced apart by the cross members 26, 28, 30
and 32 to tension a flexible seat panel 62 and a flexible back
panel 64 that are attached between the side frame members. A
flexible carrying strap 66 may be attached to the chair 10--for
example, at the top brace 32 and at one of the rear legs 18 in
accordance with Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 10,357,098, incorporated
herein by reference.
[0038] Referring further to FIG. 2, the chair 10 is shown in a
flattened configuration common to collapsible chairs. In the
flattened configuration of the chair 10, the side frame members 16,
18, 20, 22, 24 of the left plurality 12 are bundled closely
together while the side frame members of the right plurality 14
also are bundled closely together. The side frame members of the
seat support and of the back support are nested laterally between
the other side frame members (e.g., legs and armrests). In such a
substantially coplanar or nested configuration, the folded chair
occupies not more than about two side frame members thicknesses due
to at least some of the side frame members being laterally nested
(not folded against each other). In this regard, the carrying strap
66 can be used with a folding chair that collapses to this
flattened configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 3.
[0039] FIG. 3 shows a flattened folding chair 10 being carried over
a carrier's shoulder. This is a shoulder bag mode of carrying the
chair 10, with the carrying strap 66 going over and under the same
shoulder. The carrying strap 66, by its attachment to the top brace
32 and to the rear leg 18 across the chair 10, helps to maintain
the chair in its flattened configuration. The carrying strap 66
extends across the chair 10 at an offset from the chair's center of
gravity, such that when the chair is carried over the carrier's
shoulder the weight of the chair exerts a swinging force on the
carrying strap 66. By "swinging force" is meant a force that tends
to displace the chair 10 sideways from the center of the carrier's
back so as to bring the center of gravity in line under the
carrier's shoulder. Accordingly, the upper end of the carrying
strap 66 is made sufficiently broad to resist the swinging force,
i.e. to keep the chair 10 in its place across the carrier's back.
For example, the upper end may be made about four to six inches
broad so as to distribute the swinging force across the carrier's
shoulder.
[0040] Moreover, the carrying strap 66 may be duplicated with the
duplicate strap being attached at the side of the top brace and at
the other rear leg 18. Accordingly, when the chair 10 is in its
flattened condition, both of the duplicate carrying straps may be
used to carry the chair over both shoulders like a backpack.
[0041] In accordance with preferred embodiments of the present
invention, the chair 10 includes a storage container 80 on the
backside of the back rest panel 64, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4-13.
The container 80 can be formed in or mounted on the back rest panel
64, and projects out from the back of the chair 10 for use when the
chair 10 is in a set-up condition, as generally shown in FIG. 1, or
in a collapsed condition and being carried by a user like a
backpack, as generally illustrated in FIG. 3.
[0042] In a preferred embodiment, the container 80 is a cinch-style
container that can be easily dosed to secure and protect the items
contained therein, thereby providing extra security from theft
(e.g., at the beach or a park where the user may occasionally stray
away from the chair 10). The storage container 80 can be used to
hold and store a variety of items, such as, a wallet or purse, a
phone or tablet, car keys, extra clothing, snacks, sunscreen, and
the like.
[0043] Referring to FIG. 1, the container 80 is preferably formed
on the backside of the chair's back rest by a web of fabric sewn to
the backrest panel 64. The container 80 is enclosed on the bottom
and both sides, but open on the top edge 82 to provide easy access
to the interior of the container 80. In an alternate embodiment,
the container 80 can be fully formed and thereafter attached to the
backrest panel 64. In still another embodiment, the fully formed
container 80 could be removably attached to the backrest of the
chair 10 so that the user may use the container 80 as attached to
the chair 10, or separate from the chair 10, as desired and
convenient.
[0044] In embodiments of the present invention, the open top end 82
of the container 80 can be closed using a cinching means, generally
designated as reference numeral 84. For example, a single rope 86
anchored on each side of the container 80 can be provided and fed
through openings or grommets 88 in the container fabric in an
alternating threaded fashion, whereby the center of the rope 86 can
be pulled in a center portion of the container 80 to tighten and
gather the fabric material around the open top end 82 to close the
opening. Alternatively, two ropes can be used--more particularly, a
left rope and a right rope, each anchored on a respective side of
the container 80 and fed through openings or grommets 88 in the
container fabric to meet in a middle portion of the container 80,
whereby, again, pulling on the ropes will gather and cinch the
opening of the container 80 closed. To open the container 80, the
rope 86 can be relaxed and the fabric along the opening of the
container 80 can be pulled open so as to gain access to the
interior of the container 80 and objects contained therein.
[0045] A sleeve can be provided for essentially locking the
container 80 closed. That is, the sleeve is included on the slack
of the rope or ropes 86 at the middle of the container 80. When the
rope 86 is pulled to close the opening, the length of rope in the
middle relative to the fabric of the container 80 increases. The
sleeve can be slid toward the container fabric, as illustrated in
FIG. 10, and positioned to hold the rope 86 (and the slack thereof)
in place relative to the container fabric so that the rope 86
cannot relax and permit the container 80 to open, especially when
the are items in the container 80 and/or the folded chair 10 is
being carried. To open the container 80, the sleeve can be pulled
away from the fabric so that the fabric can be relaxed relative to
the pull rope(s), providing easier access to the interior of the
container 80, as generally illustrated in FIG. 6. Accordingly, the
present invention provides a container 80 that is easy to close,
yet equally easy to gain access to the interior of the container 80
without needing to fidget with tedious fasteners as known in the
art and multiple such fasteners.
[0046] The container 80 in accordance with the present invention
may also be used on a chair style 300 having a folding shade 200
attached to the back rest of the chair frame, such as described and
shown in Applicant's co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.
15/802,957, filed Nov. 3, 2017, and entitled "Transverse Folding
Shade," the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein
in its entirety.
[0047] Referring to FIGS. 14-17, embodiments of the present
disclosure may include an embodiment of a folding shade 200 in
accordance with the present invention having a frame 100 comprising
arced rib members that support a flexible shade fabric 202. The
ends of the rib members can be connected to the chair frame by hubs
102, and moreover, pivoted about said hubs 102 to a desired set-up
position, as illustrated in FIG. 14. In this chair configuration,
the shade 200 may also be collapsed by rotation at the hubs 102,
such that the shade 200 is "backpacked" and the shape of the
collapsed folding frame 100 in a "rest" position on the back side
of the back support of the chair 300 where the folding frame 100
goes around the backpack container 80 without interfering with use
of such container 80, as shown in FIGS. 15-17, such as when the
chair is carried like a backpack. In FIGS. 15-17, the shade fabric
202 has been removed for illustration purposes. However, in use,
the shade fabric 202 is flexible and may be sewn to provide the
necessary elasticity to allow for this type of collapsible
configuration. Accordingly, when the transverse folding shade 200
is in such a collapsed condition, i.e. "backpacked," and the chair
300 that the transverse folding shade 200 is mounted to is in a
collapsed condition, the chair 300 and transverse folding shade 200
may be worn by a user in a backpack fashion. This may be
advantageous for transporting the chair 300 and transverse folding
shade 200, and the position of the collapsed shade 200 does not
interfere with use of the container 80.
[0048] The present invention permits use of a folding shade 200
that may close and/or fold without being removed from the folding
furniture that it is permanently or removably attached to. This
feature advantageously allows the folding shade to travel and/or be
stored with folding furniture when the folding furniture is also
closed and/or folded instead of being required to be separately
removed for such travel or storage applications. Further, the since
the folding shade is configured to close and/or fold while attached
to folding furniture, the folding shade may not add any extra width
to the folding furniture footprint when in the folded the
position.
[0049] The foregoing description of embodiments of the present
invention has been presented for the purpose of illustration and
description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the
invention to the form disclosed. Obvious modifications and
variations are possible in light of the above disclosure. The
embodiments described were chosen to best illustrate the principles
of the invention and practical applications thereof to enable one
of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various
embodiments and with various modifications as suited to the
particular use contemplated.
* * * * *