U.S. patent application number 16/493843 was filed with the patent office on 2020-03-12 for beverage container.
This patent application is currently assigned to Bombastic Beverage Concepts, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Bombastic Beverage Concepts, LLC. Invention is credited to Christopher F. Carson, Brian M. Davis, Thomas R. Davis.
Application Number | 20200079560 16/493843 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 63523340 |
Filed Date | 2020-03-12 |
![](/patent/app/20200079560/US20200079560A1-20200312-D00000.png)
![](/patent/app/20200079560/US20200079560A1-20200312-D00001.png)
![](/patent/app/20200079560/US20200079560A1-20200312-D00002.png)
![](/patent/app/20200079560/US20200079560A1-20200312-D00003.png)
![](/patent/app/20200079560/US20200079560A1-20200312-D00004.png)
![](/patent/app/20200079560/US20200079560A1-20200312-D00005.png)
![](/patent/app/20200079560/US20200079560A1-20200312-D00006.png)
![](/patent/app/20200079560/US20200079560A1-20200312-D00007.png)
![](/patent/app/20200079560/US20200079560A1-20200312-D00008.png)
United States Patent
Application |
20200079560 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Davis; Brian M. ; et
al. |
March 12, 2020 |
BEVERAGE CONTAINER
Abstract
The present dosure relates to beverage container (10) that
includes a lower vessel (12) having a lower vessel neck (16), an
upper vessel (22) that is attached to the lower vessel neck (16)
and is sized and shaped to hold a liquid therein, a removable cap
(40) that is attached to the upper vessel (22), a vessel seal (42)
that serves as a liquid- tight barrier between the interior of the
upper vessel (22) and the interior of the lower vessel (12), and a
tether (44) attached to the vessel seal (42) at one end and the
removable cap (40) at the other end. When the removable cap (40) is
twisted or removed, it pulls on the tether (44), which pulls and
releases the vessel seal (42), thereby allowing liquid from inside
the upper vessel (22) to enter the interior of the lower vessel
(12).
Inventors: |
Davis; Brian M.; (Allentown,
PA) ; Carson; Christopher F.; (Allentown, PA)
; Davis; Thomas R.; (Allentown, PA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Bombastic Beverage Concepts, LLC |
Allentown |
PA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Bombastic Beverage Concepts,
LLC
Allentown
PA
|
Family ID: |
63523340 |
Appl. No.: |
16/493843 |
Filed: |
March 13, 2018 |
PCT Filed: |
March 13, 2018 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US2018/022215 |
371 Date: |
September 13, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62470532 |
Mar 13, 2017 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 51/2878 20130101;
B65D 41/04 20130101; B65D 85/72 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 51/28 20060101
B65D051/28; B65D 41/04 20060101 B65D041/04; B65D 85/72 20060101
B65D085/72 |
Claims
1. A container comprising: a vessel including a lower end, an upper
end distal to the lower end, and a vessel wall extending from the
upper end to the lower end, the upper end, lower end, and vessel
wall defining an internal volume of the vessel; a cap secured to
the upper end of the vessel; a seal removably-secured to the vessel
wall, the seal being sized and positioned to span the internal
volume when secured to the vessel wall and to separate the internal
volume into an upper portion and a lower portion, the seal
including a tether that is secured to the cap; wherein the cap, the
seal, and the tether are adapted to allow the seal to remain
secured to the vessel wall when the cap is in a closed position at
the upper end of the vessel and to cause the seal to at least
partially separate from the vessel wall when the cap is moved to an
active position.
2. The container of claim 1, further comprising: a first ingredient
located in the upper portion of the internal volume; and a second
ingredient located in the lower portion of the internal volume, the
second ingredient being of a different composition than that of the
first ingredient.
3. The container of claim 1, wherein the cap is in a different
rotational position relative to the vessel in the closed position
and the active position.
4. The container of claim 1, wherein the upper end of the vessel is
covered by the cap with the cap is in the closed position and open
when the cap is in the active position.
5. The container of claim 1, wherein the vessel comprises an upper
vessel located proximate to the upper end and a lower vessel
located proximate to the lower end, the upper vessel including an
upper vessel wall formed from a portion of the vessel wall that
defines the upper portion of the internal volume, the lower vessel
including a lower vessel wall formed from a portion of the vessel
wall that defines the lower portion of the internal volume, and the
upper vessel being removably coupled to the lower vessel.
6. The container of claim 5, wherein the seal is located within the
upper vessel.
7. The container of claim 6, wherein the upper vessel includes a
sealing lip extending inwardly from the upper vessel wall, and the
seal is configured to adhere to the sealing lip.
8. The container of claim 1, wherein the tether has a first end and
a second end distal from the first end, the first end being
attached to the seal and the second end being attached to the
cap.
9. The container of claim 8, wherein the cap includes a cap slot,
and the second end of the tether is threaded through the cap
slot.
10. The container of claim 9, wherein the tether is secured to the
cap via a friction fit.
11. The container of claim 10, wherein the friction fit is provided
by a two-piece clamp system that fits within a clamp recess
proximate to the cap slot.
12. The container of claim 10, wherein the friction fit is provided
by a wedge that fits within a wedge recess proximate to the cap
slot.
13. A beverage container comprising: a lower vessel including: a
base having a closed end, an open end opposite the closed end, and
an outer wall extending from the closed end to the open end, the
base defining an internal volume, and a neck extending from the
open end of the base to an annular ridge that defines a lower
vessel opening through which liquid may enter the base; an upper
vessel including a lower end, an upper end opposite the lower end,
an interior surface extending from the lower end to the upper end,
and a sealing lip extending radially inwardly from the interior
surface to a lip edge, the interior surface and the sealing lip
defining an internal volume of the upper vessel between the upper
end and the sealing lip, and the upper vessel being sized and
shaped to receive the lower vessel neck; a vessel seal attached to
the sealing lip of the upper vessel, the vessel seal being sized
and shaped to form a liquid-tight barrier that prevents liquid from
traveling from the interior of the upper vessel to the lower
vessel; and a tether having a first end and a second end, the first
end of the tether being connected to the vessel seal and the second
end of the tether being connected to the upper end of the upper
vessel, the tether being sized and shaped to pull the vessel seal
away from the sealing lip when upward force is applied to the
tether; wherein pulling the vessel seal away from the sealing lip
allows liquid from the interior volume of the upper vessel to
travel inside the lower vessel.
14. The container of claim 13, further comprising a cap attached to
the upper end of the upper vessel, the cap including a means for
attaching the second end of the tether to the cap.
15. The container of claim 14, wherein the upper vessel includes a
vertical axis and the cap is adapted to pull the vessel seal away
from the sealing lip via the tether when the cap is rotated about
the vertical axis of the upper vessel.
16. A method of combining two substances housed in separate vessels
of a container, the method comprising: providing a container having
an internal volume that is separated into an upper portion and a
lower portion by a barrier, a first substance located in the upper
portion and a second substance located in the lower portion;
removing the barrier by manipulating a cap that is attached to the
container and is tethered to the barrier, thereby allowing the
first substance to come on contact with the second substance.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the barrier includes an
attached tether that extends from the barrier through the upper
portion of the container to the cap, and wherein the step of
removing the barrier includes pulling the tether away from the
lower portion of the container.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of removing the
barrier includes rotating the cap relative to the upper portion of
the container without separating the cap from the container.
19. The method of claim 16, wherein the barrier is a liquid-tight
seal that is releasably attached to the upper portion of the
container.
20. The method of claim 16, wherein the first substance has a
different composition than that of the second substance.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The disclosed embodiments relate to containers and mixers,
and more particularly, to containers having two compartments
separated by a removable barrier for holding separate two
substances, and a mechanism for removing the barrier to allow one
substance to be introduced to the other.
BACKGROUND
[0002] A "bomb" type alcoholic beverage is a beverage where a small
cup or glass holding a small volume of liquor or liqueur (often
called a "shot") is dropped into a larger cup or glass holding a
higher volume of liquid, such as a beer or soft drink, and the
mixture of the two liquids is then consumed before the two liquids
have become completely blended. Such beverages have become popular
night-life and recreation drinks in the United States, particularly
amongst young adults.
[0003] The amount of glassware typically used for bomb beverages is
substantial. Most such drinks are created using a pint glass to
hold the high-volume liquid and a shot glass to hold the low volume
liquid, and such glasses are heavy and fragile and not suitable for
use outside of a home or a commercial establishment. Further,
receptacles with wide mouths, such as cups and glasses, can allow
for splashing to occur when the small receptacle is dropped into
the high-volume liquid, which causes spillage.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0004] In view of the foregoing background, a two-compartment
container is provided. The container includes a vessel including a
lower end, an upper end, and a vessel wall extending from the upper
end to the lower end. The upper end, lower end, and vessel wall
define an internal volume of the vessel.
[0005] The container also includes a cap secured to the upper end
of the vessel, a seal removably-secured to the vessel wall, and a
tether that is secured to the cap at one end and to the seal at an
opposite end. The seal is sized and positioned to span the internal
volume of the vessel when secured to the vessel wall and to
separate the internal volume into an upper portion and a lower
portion. The cap, seal, and tether are adapted to allow the seal to
remain secured to the vessel wall when the cap is in a closed
position at the upper end of the vessel and to cause the seal to at
least partially separate from the vessel wall when the cap is moved
to an active position.
[0006] In one embodiment, the container is a beverage container
including a lower vessel having a lower vessel base and a lower
vessel neck, the lower vessel base being sized and shaped to hold a
liquid and the lower vessel neck having an annular ridge that
defines a lower vessel opening through which liquid may enter the
lower vessel base. The beverage container also includes an upper
vessel having a lower end, an upper end, an exterior surface
extending from the lower end to the upper end, an interior surface
extending from the lower end to the upper end opposite the exterior
surface, and a sealing lip located proximate to the lower end that
extends radially inwardly from the interior surface to a lip edge.
The interior surface and the sealing lip define an interior of the
upper vessel between the upper end and the sealing lip, and the
lower end of the upper vessel is sized and shaped to receive the
lower vessel neck such that the annular ridge of the lower vessel
neck abuts the sealing lip.
[0007] In one embodiment, the beverage container further includes a
removable cap attached to the upper end of the upper vessel, a
vessel seal attached to the sealing lip of the upper vessel, and a
tether having a first end and a second end, the first end of the
tether being connected to the vessel seal and the second end of the
tether being connected to the removable cap. The vessel seal is
sized and shaped to form a liquid-tight barrier that prevents
liquid from traveling from the interior of the upper vessel to the
lower vessel, and the tether is sized and shaped to pull the vessel
seal away from the sealing lip when the removable cap is rotated
about or removed from the upper end of the upper vessel. In this
regard, pulling the vessel seal away from the sealing lip allows
liquid from the interior of the upper vessel to travel inside the
lower vessel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] For a more complete understanding of the present invention,
reference is made to the following detailed description of an
embodiment considered in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a beverage container
constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is the view of FIG. 1 with a cross-section of the
beverage container showing the beverage container's interior;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a top perspective of an embodiment of a cap to be
used with the beverage container shown in FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a side elevational exploded view of the cap shown
in FIG. 3;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the cap shown in FIG.
3;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a top perspective of another embodiment of a cap
to be used with the beverage container shown in FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view of the cap shown in FIG.
6; and
[0016] FIG. 8 is a side elevational exploded view of the cap shown
in FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] The following disclosure is presented to provide an
illustration of the general principles of the present invention and
is not meant to limit, in any way, the inventive concepts contained
herein. Moreover, the particular features described in this section
can be used in combination with the other described features in
each of the multitude of possible permutations and combinations
contained herein.
[0018] All terms defined herein should be afforded their broadest
possible interpretation, including any implied meanings as dictated
by a reading of the specification as well as any words that a
person having skill in the art and/or a dictionary, treatise, or
similar authority would assign particular meaning. Further, it
should be noted that, as recited in the specification and in the
claims appended hereto, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the"
include the plural referents unless otherwise stated. Additionally,
the terms "comprises" and "comprising" when used herein specify
that certain features are present in that embodiment, but should
not be interpreted to preclude the presence or addition of
additional features, components, operations, and/or groups
thereof.
[0019] The following disclosure is intended to be read in
connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be
considered part of the entire written description of the invention.
The drawing figures are not necessarily to scale and certain
features of the invention may be shown exaggerated in scale or in
somewhat schematic form in the interest of clarity and conciseness.
In this description, relative terms such as "horizontal,"
"vertical," "up," "down," "top," "bottom," as well as derivatives
thereof (e.g., "horizontally," "downwardly," "upwardly," etc.)
should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described
or as shown in the drawing figure under discussion. These relative
terms are for convenience of description and normally are not
intended to require a particular orientation. Terms including
"inwardly" versus "outwardly," "longitudinal" versus "lateral" and
the like are to be interpreted relative to one another or relative
to an axis of elongation, or an axis or center of rotation, as
appropriate. Terms concerning attachments, coupling and the like,
such as "connected" and "interconnected," refer to a relationship
wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either
directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as
both moveable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless
expressly described otherwise, and includes terms such as
"directly" coupled, secured, etc. The term "operatively coupled" is
such an attachment, coupling, or connection that allows the
pertinent structures to operate as intended by virtue of that
relationship.
[0020] Turning now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a beverage container 10
constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention is provided. The beverage container 10 includes a lower
vessel 12 having a lower vessel base 14 and a lower vessel neck 16
formed in the upper portion of the lower vessel base 14. The lower
vessel neck 16 includes an annular ridge 18 that defines a lower
vessel opening 20 in the lower vessel 12 to allow liquid to enter
the lower vessel 12 and sit in the lower vessel base 14. In one
embodiment, the lower vessel 12 has the shape of a bottle.
[0021] Attached to the lower vessel neck 16 is a hollow cylindrical
upper vessel 22 having a lower end 24, an upper end 26, an exterior
wall surface 28, and an interior wall surface 30, with the lower
end 24 including an annular sealing lip 32 extending radially
inwardly from the interior wall surface 30 to a lip edge 34. The
sealing lip 32 has a lower lip surface 36 and an upper lip surface
38, the lower lip surface 36 facing in the direction of the lower
end 24 and the upper lip surface 38 facing in the direction of the
upper end 26. The lower end 24 of the upper vessel 22 is sized and
shaped to removably fasten to the lower vessel neck 16 such that
when the upper vessel 22 is fastened to the lower vessel 12, the
annular ridge 18 of the lower vessel neck 16 abuts the lower lip
surface 36 of the sealing lip 32, creating a liquid tight seal
between the annular ridge 18 of the lower vessel 12 and the sealing
lip 32 of the upper vessel 22. The upper end 26 of the upper vessel
22 is sized and shaped to interlock with a removable cap 40, whose
function will be discussed further below.
[0022] The upper vessel 22 further includes a removable vessel seal
42 that extends radially from the center axis of the upper vessel
22 to the interior wall surface 30 of the upper vessel 22. The
vessel seal 42 is attached to the upper lip surface 38 of the
sealing lip 32 by an adhesive to create a liquid tight seal between
the vessel seal 42 and the sealing lip 32. The vessel seal 42
creates a liquid-tight barrier of separation between the upper
vessel 22 and the lower vessel 12 such that liquid occupying the
inside of the upper vessel 22 is not able to transfer to the inside
of the lower vessel 12 when the upper vessel 22 is fastened to the
lower vessel 12. The vessel seal can have a variety of shapes known
in the art, including half-moon shapes or a lollipop shapes, and
the attachment of the seal 42 to the sealing lip 32 can be
accomplished by a variety of processes known in the art, including
conduction sealing, induction sealing, and ultrasonic sealing. All
such shapes and mechanisms are considered within the scope of the
present invention.
[0023] The vessel seal 42 is connected to the removable cap 40 by a
tether 44. The tether 44 is configured to remove the vessel seal 42
from the sealing lip 32 when pulled by the cap 40, thereby allowing
any liquid contents inside the upper vessel 22 to travel through
the lower vessel opening 20 and into the lower vessel 12. In one
embodiment, the tether 44 is a flat, flexible piece of material
with a lower end 46 that extends across a segment of the vessel
seal 42 from one point on the circumference of the vessel seal 42
to another point on the circumference of the vessel seal 42, and an
upper end 48 that extends across a smaller, parallel segment of the
removable cap 40.
[0024] The beverage container 10 has a closed position and an
active position. In this application, the "closed position" of the
beverage container 10 refers to a state where the vessel seal 42 is
secured to the interior wall surface 30 of the upper vessel 22,
thereby creating a barrier between the interior volumes of the
upper vessel 22 and the lower vessel 12 that prevents a substance
in one vessel from entering the other. By contrast, the "active
position" of the beverage container 10 refers to a state where the
barrier provided by the vessel seal 42 is removed, thereby allowing
substances contained in the upper vessel 22 and the lower vessel 12
to travel from one to the other. In one embodiment, transitioning
the beverage container 10 from a closed position to an active
position involves removing the removable cap 40 from the upper end
26 of the upper vessel 22, thereby creating tension in the tether
44 and causing the tether to pull the vessel seal 42 away from the
sealing lip 32. Other embodiments of transitioning the beverage
container 10 from a closed position to an active position without
separating the cap 40 from the upper vessel 22, as explained
below.
[0025] In one embodiment, the beverage container 10 is moved from a
closed position to an active position by rotating or twisting the
removable cap 40 about the upper end 26 of the upper vessel 22.
Doing so causes the tether 44 to twist about itself, increasing the
tension in the tether 44 and causing the lower end 46 of the tether
44 to pull the outer edges of the vessel seal 42 inward. This
results in the tether 44 pulling the vessel seal 42 away from the
sealing lip 32, thereby removing the barrier between the lower and
upper vessels 12, 22 and releasing the contents of the upper vessel
22 into the lower vessel 12. The cap 40 may remain attached to the
upper end 26 of the upper vessel 22 during this time.
[0026] The tether 44 can be attached to the removable cap 40 in
several different ways. FIGS. 3-5 show one embodiment of a
removable cap 140 having a two-piece clamp system for attaching the
tether 44 to the removable cap 140. To attach the tether 44 to the
removable cap 140, the upper end 48 of the tether 44 is threaded
through a cap slot 150 and set between two clamp faces 152a, 152b,
which interface and create a friction fit around the upper end 48
of the tether 44. The interfacing clamp faces 152a, 152b are then
fit into a clamp recess 154 formed in the upper surface of the
removable cap 140 proximate to the cap slot 150. The clamp recess
154 is sized and shaped to create a friction fit between the
interfacing clamp faces 152a, 152b and the removable cap 140,
thereby preventing the tether 44 from sliding out from between the
interfacing clamp faces 152a, 152b when the interfacing clamp faces
152a, 152b are inserted into the clamp recess 154. In one
embodiment, the clamp recess 154 also includes one or more detents
(not shown) that urge the interfacing clamp faces 152a, 152b into
the clamp recess 154, creating a snap-lock engagement between the
clamp faces 152a, 152b and the clamp recess 154.
[0027] FIGS. 6-8 show another embodiment of a removable cap 240. In
this embodiment, the upper end 48 of the tether 44 is threaded
through a cap slot 250 and laid against a wall of a wedge recess
255. A wedge lock 253 is then inserted in the wedge recess 255 and
against the upper end of the tether 44, clamping the tether 44
between the wedge lock 253 and a wall of the wedge recess 255. The
wedge lock 253 and wedge recess 255 are sized and shaped to create
a friction fit between the wedge lock 253 and the wedge recess 255,
thereby preventing the tether 44 from sliding out from between the
wedge lock 253 and the wedge recess 255. In one embodiment, the
wedge recess 255 includes one or more detents (not shown) that urge
the wedge lock 253 into the wedge recess 255, creating a snap-lock
engagement between the wedge lock 253 and the wedge recess 255.
[0028] Other embodiments of attaching the tether 44 to the cap 40
include looping the tether 44 around a securing member (such as the
wedge lock 253 shown in FIG. 8) and securing the free end to the
vessel seal 42, as well as punching the tether 44 through the cap
40 to create a friction fit between the upper end 48 of the tether
44 and the punched portion of the cap 40. All such attachment
embodiments are considered within the scope of the present
invention.
[0029] Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2, when the beverage container
10 is ready to be used, the lower vessel base 14 of the lower
vessel 12 is filled with a receiving liquid (i.e., a liquid to
receive the contents of the upper vessel 22), the upper vessel 22
is filled with a mixing liquid (i.e., a liquid to be mixed with the
contents of the lower vessel 12) in the space between the cap 40
and the vessel seal 42, the upper vessel 22 is attached to the
lower vessel neck 16 of the lower vessel 12 as discussed above, and
the tether 44 of the vessel seal 42 is attached to the cap 40. To
use the beverage container 10, the user either lifts the cap 40 off
or rotates the cap 40 about the upper end 26 of the upper vessel
22, which causes the tether 44 to lift the vessel seal 42 away from
the sealing lip 32, breaking the liquid tight seal therebetween.
Once the seal is broken, the mixing liquid is released from the
upper vessel 22 and falls into the lower vessel base 14, and the
mixing liquid is then mixed with the receiving liquid inside the
lower vessel base. The user may then use the mixed contents in a
manner he or she sees fit (e.g., consuming the mixed contents).
[0030] In one embodiment, the lower end 24 of the upper vessel 22
has upper vessel threads 60 that engage with the lower vessel neck
16 of the lower vessel 12 via lower vessel threads 62 to create a
liquid tight seal between the lower vessel 12 and the upper vessel
22. The upper vessel and lower vessel threads 60, 62 allow the
upper vessel 22 to be released from the lower vessel 12 once the
upper vessel has been used. This enables the user to reuse the
lower vessel 12 with a new upper vessel 22 if desired. Other
embodiments may include other attachment means as a substitute for
the upper vessel and lower vessel threads 60, 62, including, but
not limited to, interlocking detent lips, a tongue-in-groove
system, and an exterior clamp system. In an alternative embodiment,
the upper vessel 22 and the lower vessel 12 can be unitary, thereby
creating a single-use beverage container.
[0031] It should be noted that while the foregoing embodiments are
described as being used to mix two liquids, the beverage container
10 can also be used for mixing other combinations of substances
where the two substances are kept separated until a time of use.
Such combinations include, but are not limited to, any combination
of a solvent and a solute where the solute, such as a solid powder,
is contained in the upper vessel 22 while the solvent is kept in
the lower vessel 12; and any combination of substances that create
a chemical reaction when mixed, where experiencing the chemical
reaction itself is desired or where the mixed substances are to be
applied to something while the reaction is ongoing (e.g., the
making and application of an adhesive). Such different types of
combinations may have uses in a variety of applications including,
but not limited to, personal care products, pharmaceuticals,
adhesive preparations, dietary supplements, and horticulture. All
such combinations of substances and uses should be considered as
being within the scope of the present invention.
[0032] All examples and conditional language recited herein are
intended for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in
understanding the principles of the present invention and the
concepts contributed by the inventor in furthering the art. As
such, they are to be construed as being without limitation to such
specifically recited examples and conditions. Moreover, all
statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of
the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended
to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof.
Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both
currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the
future, i.e., any elements developed that perform the same
function, regardless of structure.
[0033] It is to be understood that the embodiments described herein
are merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art may make
many variations and modifications without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention. All such variations and modifications
are intended to be included within the scope of the invention, as
defined by the following claims.
* * * * *