U.S. patent application number 16/532963 was filed with the patent office on 2020-10-15 for pedal apparatus for driver protection.
This patent application is currently assigned to Hyundai Motor Company. The applicant listed for this patent is Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation. Invention is credited to Eun Sik KIM.
Application Number | 20200326745 16/532963 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005117859 |
Filed Date | 2020-10-15 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200326745 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KIM; Eun Sik |
October 15, 2020 |
PEDAL APPARATUS FOR DRIVER PROTECTION
Abstract
A pedal apparatus for driver protection, may include a switch
bracket rotatably coupled to a pedal member by a hinge pin; and a
collision removal pin fixedly connected to the switch bracket and
detachably coupled to the pedal member, wherein the switch bracket
rotates a pedal arm forwards by contacting with the pedal arm while
rotating around the hinge pin when the collision removal pin is
detached from the pedal member.
Inventors: |
KIM; Eun Sik; (Gyunggi-Do,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Hyundai Motor Company
Kia Motors Corporation |
Seoul
Seoul |
|
KR
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
Hyundai Motor Company
Seoul
KR
Kia Motors Corporation
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
1000005117859 |
Appl. No.: |
16/532963 |
Filed: |
August 6, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60T 7/065 20130101;
G05G 1/44 20130101; B60R 21/09 20130101; G05G 1/327 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G05G 1/327 20060101
G05G001/327; B60R 21/09 20060101 B60R021/09; G05G 1/44 20060101
G05G001/44 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 15, 2019 |
KR |
10-2019-0043488 |
Claims
1. A pedal apparatus for driver protection, the pedal apparatus
comprising: a pedal member; a switch bracket rotatably coupled to
the pedal member by a hinge pin; and a collision removal pin
fixedly connected to the switch bracket and detachably coupled to
the pedal member, wherein the switch bracket is configured to
rotate a pedal arm rotatably coupled to the pedal member, forwards
by contacting with the pedal arm while rotating around the hinge
pin in a response that the collision removal pin is detached from
the pedal member, wherein the pedal member includes a fixing groove
to which the collision removal pin is detachably coupled, and
wherein the fixing groove is formed as an arc groove for detachably
coupling the collision removal pin therein.
2. The pedal apparatus for driver protection according to claim 1,
wherein the pedal arm is rotatable around a hinge bolt coupling the
pedal arm to the pedal member, wherein the hinge pin is coupled to
the pedal member at a rearward side position with respect to the
hinge bolt, and wherein the collision removal pin is detachably
coupled to the pedal member at a lower side position of the hinge
pin.
3. The pedal apparatus for driver protection according to claim 1,
further including a cowl bracket fixedly connected to the pedal
member, wherein a side of the switch bracket is configured to
contact with the cowl bracket in the response that the collision
removal pin is detached from the pedal member, wherein the switch
bracket is configured to rotate around the hinge pin in a response
that a first side of the switch bracket contacts with the cowl
bracket, and wherein a second side of the switch bracket is
configured to contact with the pedal arm to rotate the pedal arm
forwards in a response that the switch bracket rotates around the
hinge pin.
4. The pedal apparatus for driver protection according to claim 1,
wherein the pedal member includes a fixing hole to which the hinge
pin is coupled, and wherein the fixing hole is formed as a hole of
a closed curve for preventing detachment of the hinge pin from
pedal member.
5. (canceled)
6. The pedal apparatus for driver protection according to claim 1,
wherein the fixing groove of the pedal member is integrally formed
on each of two portions of the pedal member as two fixing grooves,
and the two portions are spaced at a predetermined interval from
each other, wherein a first protrusion is formed at a first end
portion of each of the two fixing grooves, wherein a second
protrusions is formed at a second end portion of each of the two
fixing groove grooves, and wherein the first protrusion and the
second protrusion are formed to enclose the collision removal pin
between the first and second protrusions for fitting and coupling
the collision removal pin between the first protrusion and the
second protrusion.
7. The pedal apparatus for driver protection according to claim 1,
wherein a diameter of the hinge pin is formed to be greater than or
equal to a diameter of the collision removal pin for preventing
deformation of the hinge pin.
8. The pedal apparatus for driver protection according to claim 3,
wherein, to prevent rearward pushback and rearward rotation of the
pedal arm upon collision, a cross-sectional thickness of the cowl
bracket is formed to be thicker than a cross-sectional thickness of
the pedal member and a cross-sectional thickness of the switch
bracket is formed to be thicker than a cross-sectional thickness of
the cowl bracket.
9. The pedal apparatus for driver protection according to claim 3,
wherein a portion of the cowl bracket contacting with the switch
bracket includes a bending forming portion for securing rigidity of
the cowl bracket.
10. The pedal apparatus for driver protection according to claim 3,
wherein the switch bracket includes: a member coupling portion to
which the hinge pin rotatably coupled to the pedal member is fixed;
a cowl contact portion configured for contacting with the cowl
bracket in the response that the collision removal pin is detached
from the pedal member, wherein the cowl contact portion is a
portion which is bent at and extended to a first side of the member
coupling portion; a switch coupling portion to which the collision
removal pin and a switch are fixedly coupled, wherein the switch
coupling portion is a portion which is bent at and extended to a
second side of the member coupling portion; and a stopper portion
for contacting with the pedal arm to rotate the pedal arm forwards
in a response that the switch bracket rotates around the hinge pin,
wherein the stopper portion is a portion which is bent and extended
from the switch coupling portion toward the pedal arm.
11. The pedal apparatus for driver protection according to claim
10, wherein a first end portion of a pedal spring is coupled to the
collision removal pin and a second end portion of the pedal spring
is coupled to the pedal arm.
12. The pedal apparatus for driver protection according to claim
11, wherein a slot hole is formed in a portion of the switch
coupling portion and the first end portion of the pedal spring is
configured to be coupled to the collision removal pin by use of the
slot hole.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application claims priority to Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2019-0043488 filed on Apr. 15, 2019, the entire
contents of which is incorporated herein for all purposes by this
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
Field of the Disclosure
[0002] The present invention relates to a pedal apparatus for
driver protection, and more particularly, to a pedal apparatus for
driver protection, which can maximally prevent a driver's leg
injury (shin strike, ankle twist, etc.) caused by a pedal apparatus
upon occurrence of collision and rear-end collision accidents.
Description of Related Art
[0003] In a general vehicle, a dash panel under a driver seat is
mounted with an accelerator pedal, a brake pedal, and a clutch
pedal that are operated by a driver's foot.
[0004] Meanwhile, when collision and rear-end collision accidents
occur and an engine compartment is collapsed by a large impact
force generated at this time, a problem arises that the driver's
leg is injured by a pedal apparatus.
[0005] To prevent this, a technology has been developed that
additionally applies a separate structure associated with the pedal
apparatus, preventing the rearward pushback (the pushback toward
the driver seat) of the pedal and preventing the rearward rotation
(the rotation toward the driver seat) of the pedal.
[0006] However, most of the related arts have a disadvantage in
that the number of parts is increased, the weight is increased, and
the cost is increased as a technology of additionally applying a
separate structure other than the parts forming the pedal
apparatus.
[0007] The information included in this Background of the Invention
section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general
background of the invention and may not be taken as an
acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information
forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the
art.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0008] Various aspects of the present invention are directed to
providing a pedal apparatus configured for driver protection for
preventing the rearward pushback of a pedal arm and preventing the
rearward rotation thereof upon occurrence of accident by use of a
cowl bracket and a switch bracket coupled to a pedal member, and an
object of the present invention is to maximally prevent the
driver's leg injury without increasing the number of parts and
increasing cost.
[0009] A pedal apparatus configured for driver protection of the
present invention for achieving the object may include a switch
bracket rotatably coupled to a pedal member by a hinge pin; and a
collision removal pin fixedly connected to the switch bracket and
detachably coupled to the pedal member, and the switch bracket
rotates a pedal arm forwards by contacting with the pedal arm while
rotating around the hinge pin when the collision removal pin is
detached from the pedal member.
[0010] The pedal arm is coupled to be rotatable in the front and
rear direction around a hinge bolt coupling the pedal arm to the
pedal member; the hinge pin is coupled to the pedal member at a
rearward side position with respect to the hinge bolt; and the
collision removal pin is detachably coupled to the pedal member at
a lower side position of the hinge pin.
[0011] The pedal apparatus configured for driver protection may
further include a cowl bracket fixedly connected to the pedal
member; one side of the switch bracket is configured to contact
with the cowl bracket in a response that the collision removal pin
is detached from the pedal member; the switch bracket rotates
around the hinge pin when one side of the switch bracket contacts
with the cowl bracket; and the other side of the switch bracket is
configured to contact with the pedal arm to rotate the pedal arm
forwards in a response that the switch bracket rotates around the
hinge pin.
[0012] A fixing hole to which the hinge pin is coupled and a fixing
groove to which the collision removal pin is detachably coupled are
formed in the pedal member; the fixing hole is formed as a hole of
a closed curve for preventing detachment of the hinge pin from
pedal member; and the fixing groove is formed as an arc groove of
an opened structure for detachably coupling the collision removal
pin therein.
[0013] First and second protrusions are formed at both end portions
of the fixing groove to enclose the collision removal pin between
the first and second protrusions for fitting and coupling the
collision removal pin therebetween.
[0014] The diameter of the hinge pin is formed to be greater than
or equal to a diameter of the collision removal pin for preventing
deformation of the hinge pin.
[0015] To prevent rearward pushback and rearward rotation of the
pedal arm upon collision, a cross-sectional thickness of the cowl
bracket is formed to be thicker than a cross-sectional thickness of
the pedal member and a cross-sectional thickness of the switch
bracket is formed to be thicker than a cross-sectional thickness of
the cowl bracket.
[0016] A portion of the cowl bracket contacting with the switch
bracket includes a bending forming portion for securing rigidity of
the cowl bracket.
[0017] The switch bracket may include a member coupling portion to
which the hinge pin rotatably coupled to the pedal member is fixed;
a cowl contact portion configured for contacting with the cowl
bracket in a response that the collision removal pin is detached
from the pedal member as a portion which is bent at and extended to
one side of the member coupling portion; a switch coupling portion
to which the collision removal pin and a switch are fixedly coupled
as a portion which is bent at and extended to the other side of the
member coupling portion; and a stopper portion for contacting with
the pedal arm to rotate the pedal arm forwards in a response that
the switch bracket rotates around the hinge pin as a portion which
is bent and extended from the switch coupling portion toward the
pedal arm.
[0018] A slot hole is formed in a portion of the switch coupling
portion to which the collision removal pin is coupled; and one end
portion of a pedal spring is inserted to be coupled to the
collision removal pin.
[0019] The pedal apparatus configured for driver protection
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention can
maximally prevent the driver's leg injury caused by the pedal arm
as the pedal arm is forcibly rotated forwards to be away from the
driver upon occurrence of the collision and rear-end collision
accidents, and particularly, a configuration of forcibly rotating
the pedal arm forwards is a configuration of using the cowl bracket
and the switch bracket, which are previously used, and can
implement the driver protection function without largely increasing
parts, reducing weight and saving cost as compared with other
existing structures.
[0020] The methods and apparatuses of the present invention have
other features and advantages which will be apparent from or are
set forth in more detail in the accompanying drawings, which are
incorporated herein, and the following Detailed Description, which
together serve to explain certain principles of the present
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective diagram of a pedal apparatus
configured for driver protection according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are a side diagram, a bottom
perspective diagram, and an exploded perspective diagram of FIG.
1.
[0023] FIG. 5 is an exploded diagram of a pedal member and a switch
bracket according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
[0024] FIG. 6 is a side diagram of the coupling state of FIG.
5.
[0025] FIG. 7 is an enlarged diagram of a portion where a cowl
bracket is disposed in FIG. 1.
[0026] FIG. 8 is a side diagram for explaining an operating state
of the pedal apparatus in an accident.
[0027] It may be understood that the appended drawings are not
necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified
representation of various features illustrative of the basic
principles of the present invention. The specific design features
of the present invention as included herein, including, for
example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes
will be determined in part by the particularly intended application
and use environment.
[0028] In the figures, reference numbers refer to the same or
equivalent portions of the present invention throughout the several
figures of the drawing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0029] Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments
of the present invention(s), examples of which are illustrated in
the accompanying drawings and described below. While the present
invention(s) will be described in conjunction with exemplary
embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that
the present description is not intended to limit the present
invention(s) to those exemplary embodiments. On the other hand, the
present invention(s) is/are intended to cover not only the
exemplary embodiments of the present invention, but also various
alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments,
which may be included within the spirit and scope of the present
invention as defined by the appended claims.
[0030] Hereinafter, a pedal apparatus configured for driver
protection according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention will be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0031] As illustrated in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 5,
FIG. 6, FIG. 7, and FIG. 8, a pedal apparatus configured for driver
protection according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention includes a pedal member 10 fixed at a dash panel 1 under
a driver seat; a pedal arm 30 coupled to the pedal member 10 to be
rotatable in the front and rear direction around hinge bolt 21 and
a nut 22; a cowl bracket 40 fixedly connected to the upper side of
the pedal member 10 by welding and connected to a cowl panel; a
hinge pin 50 rotatably coupled to the pedal member 10; a switch
bracket 60 fixedly connected to the hinge pin 50 by welding and
rotatably coupled to the pedal member 10 by the hinge pin 50; and a
collision removal pin 70 fixedly connected to the switch bracket 60
by welding and detachably coupled to the pedal member 10.
[0032] The front side of the pedal member 10 is coupled with the
dash panel 1, the left and right side surfaces extending from the
forward to the rearward are formed in parallel, and the pedal
member 10 is formed in an opened structure in the rearward and the
vertical direction thereof.
[0033] A bolt hole 11 is formed to penetrate the left and right
side surfaces of the pedal member 10, and the hinge bolt 21
sequentially penetrates the bolt hole 11 and a hinge pipe 31 of the
pedal arm 30 and then, is coupled with the nut 22, such that the
pedal arm 30 becomes a structure which is coupled to the pedal
member 10 to be rotatable in the front and rear direction around
the hinge bolt 21.
[0034] The hinge pipe 31 is coupled to the upper end portion of the
pedal arm 30 and a pad 32 operated by the driver's foot is coupled
to the lower end portion thereof.
[0035] A fixing hole 12 to which the hinge pin 50 is coupled and a
fixing groove 13 to which the collision removal pin 70 is coupled
at the positions of the rearward and the upper side thereof with
respect to the bolt hole 11 are formed on the left and right side
surfaces of the pedal member 10.
[0036] The fixing hole 12 is formed as a hole of a closed curve so
that the hinge pin 50 is prevented from being removed from the
pedal member 10 upon collision, and conversely, the fixing groove
13 is formed in an arc groove structure of an opened structure so
that the collision removal pin 70 is smoothly removed upon
collision.
[0037] A protrusion 14 is formed at both end portions of the fixing
groove 13 to enclose the collision removal pin 70 for fitting and
coupling the collision removal pin 70 therebetween.
[0038] The protrusion 14 encloses and fixes the collision removal
pin 70 inserted into the fixing groove 13, and when the collision
removal pin 70 is removed from the fixing groove 13 upon collision,
the collision removal pin 70 is removed while crushing the
protrusion 14.
[0039] The pedal arm 30 is coupled to be rotatable in the front and
rear direction around the hinge bolt 21 coupled to the pedal member
10, for driver protection structure upon collision, the hinge pin
50 is coupled to the pedal member 10 at the rearward side position
with respect to the hinge bolt 21, and the collision removal pin 70
is detachably coupled to the pedal member 10 at the lower side
position of the hinge pin 50.
[0040] An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is
preferably a structure that the hinge pin 50 is prevented from
being deformed upon collision for driver protection upon collision,
and for the present purpose, is preferably a structure that the
hinge pin 50 is formed to have a diameter greater than or equal to
a diameter of the collision removal pin 70 to have sufficient
rigidity and strength.
[0041] Furthermore, an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention is a structure that can prevent the rearward pushback and
the rearward rotation of the pedal arm 30 upon collision, for
driver protection upon collision, and for the present purpose, the
cross-sectional thickness of the cowl bracket 40 is preferably
formed to be thicker than that of the pedal member 10, and, the
cross-sectional thickness of the switch bracket 60 is preferably
formed to be thicker than that of the cowl bracket 40.
[0042] An exemplary embodiment of the present invention has more
excellent strength and rigidity as the cross-sectional thickness
thereof is formed to be thicker.
[0043] Therefore, as the collision or rear-end collision accident
occurs, one side of the switch bracket 60 can contact with the cowl
bracket 40 when the collision removal pin 70 is detached from the
pedal member 10, the switch bracket 60 can rotate around the hinge
pin 50 when one side of the switch bracket 60 contacts with the
cowl bracket 40, and the other side of the switch bracket 60 can
contact with the pedal arm 30 to rotate the pedal arm 30 forwards
when the switch bracket 60 rotates around the hinge pin 50,
preventing the rearward pushback of the pedal arm 30 and preventing
the rearward rotation thereof through the operation of the switch
bracket 60 to maximally prevent the driver's leg injury caused by
the pedal arm 30.
[0044] As such, a portion of the cowl bracket 40 that contacts with
the switch bracket 60 may be formed as a bending forming portion 41
of a protrusion structure for securing rigidity, maximally
preventing deformation when contacting with the switch bracket
60.
[0045] A connecting portion 15 for connecting the left and right
side surfaces of the pedal member 10 is formed at the upper side of
the pedal member 10, and a bottom portion 42 of the cowl bracket 40
is accommodated in the connecting portion 15 to be fixedly coupled
by welding.
[0046] The connecting portion 15 of the pedal member 10 is formed
to be narrower in the width in the front and rear direction than
the bottom portion 42 of the cowl bracket 40, and only the forward
edge portion of the connecting portion 15 is coupled with the
bottom portion 42 of the cowl bracket 40 by welding so that the
welded portion is configured as the rotation center of the cowl
bracket 40 upon collision.
[0047] The switch bracket 60 according to an exemplary embodiment
of the present invention includes a member coupling portion 61 to
which the hinge pin 50 rotatably coupled to the pedal member 10 is
coupled, a cowl contact portion 62 for contacting with the cowl
bracket 40 when the collision removal pin 70 is detached from the
pedal member 10 as a portion which is bent at and extended to one
side of the member coupling portion 61, a switch coupling portion
63 to which the collision removal pin 70 and a switch 80 are
fixedly coupled as a portion which is bent at and extended to the
other side of the member coupling portion 61, and a stopper portion
64 for contacting with the pedal arm 30 to rotate the pedal arm 30
forwards when the switch bracket 60 rotates around the hinge pin 50
as a portion which is bent and extended from the switch coupling
portion 63 toward the pedal arm 30.
[0048] The cowl contact portion 62 contacts with the bending
forming portion 41 of the cowl bracket 40 when the collision
removal pin 70 is detached from the pedal member 10 upon
collision.
[0049] The switch 80 generates an operating signal of the pedal arm
30, and the pedal bracket 33 is fixedly connected to the pedal arm
30, such that when the driver does not operate the pedal arm 30,
the pedal bracket 33 contacts with the switch 80 and at the present
time, the signal is not generated, and when the driver operates the
pedal arm 30, the pedal bracket 33 is released from the switch 80
and at the present time, the operating signal of the pedal is
generated.
[0050] An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a
configuration that further includes a pedal spring 90 for returning
the pedal arm 30 at the time of operating the pedal arm 30, and
both end portions of the pedal spring 90 are fixed to the pedal
bracket 33 and the collision removal pin 70.
[0051] To couple the pedal spring 90 to the collision removal pin
70 more easily and to also prevent the removal of the pedal spring
90 coupled to the collision removal pin 70, a slot hole 65
straightly extending is formed in the switch coupling portion 63
that forms the switch bracket 60, and becomes a structure that one
end portion of the pedal spring 90 formed in an annular shape is
inserted through the slot hole 65 and then coupled to the collision
removal pin 70.
[0052] Hereinafter, an operation of an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention will be described.
[0053] FIG. 2 illustrates a normal state where no collision and
rear-end collision accidents occur, and when the driver depresses
the pedal, the pedal arm 30 rotates in the front and rear direction
around the hinge bolt 21.
[0054] In the normal state as in FIG. 2, a state where the
collision removal pin 70 has been fitted into and fixed to the
fixing groove 13 of the pedal member 10 is kept, and therefore, the
switch bracket 60 keeps the restraint state that does not rotate
around the hinge pin 50 by the collision removal pin 70.
[0055] FIG. 8 illustrates a state when the collision and rear-end
collision accidents have occurred.
[0056] That is, when the dash panel 1 is pushed rearwards (internal
side) by the load F1 generated in the collision and rear-end
collision accidents, the pedal member 10 rotates clockwise like the
illustrated arrow R1 around a welded coupling point W1 with the
cowl bracket 40.
[0057] When the pedal member 10 rotates, at the present time, the
collision removal pin 70 is removed from the fixing groove 13 of
the pedal member 10, and the cowl contact portion 62 of the switch
bracket 60 contacts with the bending forming portion 41 of the cowl
bracket 40 and simultaneously, the switch bracket 60 rotates
counterclockwise like the illustrated arrow R2 around the hinge pin
50, the stopper portion 64 of the switch bracket 60 contacts with
the pedal arm 30 (the arrow M1) to suppress the rearward pushback
and the rearward rotation of the pedal arm 30, and the pedal arm 30
forcibly rotates forwards around the hinge bolt 21 by the
continuous counterclockwise rotation of the switch bracket 60 (the
arrow R3).
[0058] Therefore, in the pedal apparatus according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention, it is possible for the pedal
arm 30 to forcibly rotate forwards to be away from the driver upon
occurrence of the collision and rear-end collision accidents,
maximally preventing the driver's leg injury caused by the pedal
arm 30.
[0059] That is, it is possible to prevent the injuries that the
driver's shin portion is struck or the driver's ankle is bent and
broken backwards by the pedal as the pedal arm 30 is forcibly
rotated forwards upon occurrence of accident, maximally preventing
the driver's leg injury caused by the pedal arm 30.
[0060] Furthermore, an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention is a configuration that a configuration of forcibly
rotating forwards the pedal arm 30 upon occurrence of accident may
be implemented by the cowl bracket 40, the switch bracket 60 having
a changed shape, and the hinge pin 50 and the collision removal pin
70 coupled to the switch bracket 60, which are previously used, and
can implement the driver protection function without largely
increasing the parts.
[0061] For convenience in explanation and accurate definition in
the appended claims, the terms "upper", "lower", "inner", "outer",
"up", "down", "upwards", "downwards", "front", "rear", "back",
"inside", "outside", "inwardly", "outwardly", "internal",
"external", "inner", "outer", "forwards", and "backwards" are used
to describe features of the exemplary embodiments with reference to
the positions of such features as displayed in the figures. It will
be further understood that the term "connect" or its derivatives
refer both to direct and indirect connection.
[0062] The foregoing descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments
of the present invention have been presented for purposes of
illustration and description. They are not intended to be
exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms
disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are
possible in light of the above teachings. The exemplary embodiments
were chosen and described to explain certain principles of the
present invention and their practical application, to enable others
skilled in the art to make and utilize various exemplary
embodiments of the present invention, as well as various
alternatives and modifications thereof. It is intended that the
scope of the present invention be defined by the Claims appended
hereto and their equivalents.
* * * * *