U.S. patent application number 17/181463 was filed with the patent office on 2022-05-12 for foldable reusable drinking straw.
The applicant listed for this patent is Leapfrog Product Development LLC. Invention is credited to Derek J. Leatzow, Micaela K. McCabe, Steven N. Pinelli, Jingyan Wang.
Application Number | 20220142385 17/181463 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | |
Filed Date | 2022-05-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220142385 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
McCabe; Micaela K. ; et
al. |
May 12, 2022 |
FOLDABLE REUSABLE DRINKING STRAW
Abstract
A foldable reusable drinking straw in the shape of a tube is
provided. The tube has a tubular wall having an outer surface and
an inner surface, and a wall thickness therebetween. The inner
surface defines a bore with a generally constant inner diameter.
The tube has a first end and a second end, and a plurality of
annular grooves in the outer surface of the wall to reduce the wall
thickness of the tubular wall at each of the plurality of annular
grooves for bending the tube. The wall thickness of the tube from
the first end to the second end, except for the plurality of
annular grooves, is generally constant. The tube also has an
angular transition between the first end and the second end.
Inventors: |
McCabe; Micaela K.;
(Chicago, IL) ; Pinelli; Steven N.; (Chicago,
IL) ; Leatzow; Derek J.; (Chicago, IL) ; Wang;
Jingyan; (Harbin, CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Leapfrog Product Development LLC |
Chicago |
IL |
US |
|
|
Appl. No.: |
17/181463 |
Filed: |
February 22, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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29758023 |
Nov 11, 2020 |
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17181463 |
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International
Class: |
A47G 21/18 20060101
A47G021/18 |
Claims
1. A foldable reusable drinking straw, comprising: a silicone tube
comprising a tubular wall with an outer surface and an inner
surface, the inner surface defining a bore through the silicone
tube, the silicone tube having a first end, a second end, and an
angular transition between the first end and the second end, the
tubular wall having a plurality of annular grooves in the outer
surface of the tubular wall to reduce a wall thickness of the
tubular wall at each of the plurality of annular grooves.
2. The foldable reusable drinking straw of claim 1, wherein a first
portion of the silicone tube is generally linear from the first end
to the angular transition, and wherein a second portion of the
silicone tube is generally linear from the second end to the
angular transition.
3. The foldable reusable drinking straw of claim 2, wherein the
second portion of the silicone tube extends at between a 20.degree.
angle and a 40.degree. angle to the first portion of the silicone
tube.
4. The foldable reusable drinking straw of claim 1, wherein the
wall thickness of the silicone tube from the first end to the
second end, except for the plurality of annular grooves, is
generally constant.
5. The foldable reusable drinking straw of claim 1, wherein the
plurality of annular grooves have a flat at a valley thereof.
6. The foldable reusable drinking straw of claim 1, wherein all of
the plurality of annular grooves are provided between the first end
and the annular transition.
7. The foldable reusable drinking straw of claim 1, wherein the
plurality of annular grooves separate the silicone tube into
different sections of the silicone tube.
8. The foldable reusable drinking straw of claim 7, wherein the
different sections of the silicone tube do not all have an
identical length.
9. The foldable reusable drinking straw of claim 7, wherein
different sections of silicone tube can be folded approximately
180.degree. at the annular grooves to lay adjacent another section
of the silicone tube.
10. A foldable reusable drinking straw, comprising: a flexible tube
having a tubular wall having an outer surface and an inner surface,
the distance between the outer surface and the inner surface
defining a wall thickness of the tubular wall, the inner surface
defining a bore through the flexible tube with a generally constant
inner diameter, the flexible tube having a first end and a second
end, the tubular wall having a plurality of annular grooves in the
outer surface of the wall to reduce the wall thickness of the
tubular wall at each of the plurality of annular grooves for
bending the flexible tube, and wherein the wall thickness of the
flexible tube from the first end to the second end, except for the
plurality of annular grooves, is generally constant.
11. The foldable reusable drinking straw of claim 10, further
comprising an angular transition between the first end and the
second end of the flexible tube.
12. The foldable reusable drinking straw of claim 11, wherein a
first portion of the flexible tube is generally linear from the
first end to the angular transition, and wherein a second portion
of the flexible tube is generally linear from the second end to the
angular transition.
13. The foldable reusable drinking straw of claim 12, wherein the
second portion of the flexible tube extends at approximately a
35.degree. angle to the first portion of the flexible tube.
14. The foldable reusable drinking straw of claim 11, wherein all
of the plurality of annular grooves are provided between the first
end and the annular transition.
15. The foldable reusable drinking straw of claim 10, wherein the
plurality of annular grooves separate the flexible tube into
different sections of the flexible tube, and wherein the different
sections of the flexible tube do not all have an identical
length.
16. A foldable reusable drinking straw, comprising: a tube
comprising a tubular wall with an outer surface and an inner
surface, the inner surface defining a bore through the tube, the
tube having a first end, a second end, and an angular transition
between the first end and the second end, the tubular wall having a
plurality of annular grooves in the outer surface of the wall to
reduce a thickness of the tubular wall at each of the plurality of
annular grooves, wherein a first portion of the tube is generally
linear from the first end to the angular transition, and wherein a
second portion of the tube is generally linear from the second end
to the angular transition.
17. The foldable reusable drinking straw of claim 16, wherein the
second portion of the tube extends at between a 20.degree. angle
and a 40.degree. angle to the first portion of the tube.
18. The foldable reusable drinking straw of claim 16, wherein the
wall thickness of the tube from the first end to the second end,
except for the plurality of annular grooves, is generally
constant.
19. The foldable reusable drinking straw of claim 16, wherein all
of the plurality of annular grooves are provided between the first
end and the annular transition.
20. The foldable reusable drinking straw of claim 16, wherein the
plurality of annular grooves separate the tube into different
sections of the tube, wherein the different sections of the tube do
not all have an identical length, and wherein the different
sections of tube can be folded approximately 180.degree. at the
annular grooves to lay adjacent another section of the tube.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Design patent
application Ser. No. 29/758,023 filed Nov. 11, 2020, which is
expressly incorporated herein by reference and made a part
hereof.
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0003] The present subject matter relates to drinking straws, and
more particularly, to a foldable reusable drinking straw and a
container therefor.
BACKGROUND
[0004] Over 500 million disposable plastic straws are used and
thrown away each day in the United States. This results in excess
plastic in trash dumps, and unfortunately, pollution in waterways
and oceans. One solution to not using plastic straws is for people
to carry their own, reusable straws. But one problem is that
reusable straws are often made out of glass or metal, and by nature
are long and inconvenient to carry around. Glass straws are easy to
break and need a bulky case to keep them from snapping. If people
are to bring reusable straws everywhere, they will want somewhere
clean to put the reusable straw. That means keeping the reusable
straw in a case that's even bigger and bulkier than the rigid glass
and metal straws in their current form. Therefore, there exists a
need for a convenient reusable drinking straw that is easy to
carry, store, and easy to clean.
[0005] As explained above, reusable straws are known in the art,
but while such straws according to the prior art provide a number
of advantages, they nevertheless have certain limitations. The
present disclosure seeks to overcome certain of those limitations
and other drawbacks of the prior art, and to provide new features
not heretofore available. A full discussion of the features and
advantages of the present disclosure is deferred to the following
detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
SUMMARY
[0006] According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, the
disclosed subject technology relates matter relates to a foldable
reusable drinking straw and a container therefor.
[0007] The disclosed technology further relates to a foldable
reusable drinking straw, comprising: a silicone tube comprising a
tubular wall with an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner
surface defining a bore through the silicone tube, the silicone
tube having a first end, a second end, and an angular transition
between the first end and the second end, the tubular wall having a
plurality of annular grooves in the outer surface of the wall to
reduce a wall thickness of the tubular wall at each of the
plurality of annular grooves.
[0008] The disclosed technology further relates to a foldable
reusable drinking straw, comprising: a flexible tube having a
tubular wall having an outer surface and an inner surface, the
distance between the outer surface and the inner surface defining a
wall thickness of the tubular wall, the inner surface defining a
bore through the flexible tube with a generally constant inner
diameter, the flexible tube having a first end and a second end,
the tubular wall having a plurality of annular grooves in the outer
surface of the tubular wall to reduce the wall thickness of the
tubular wall at each of the plurality of annular grooves for
bending the flexible tube, and wherein the wall thickness of the
flexible tube from the first end to the second end, except for the
plurality of annular grooves, is generally constant.
[0009] The disclosed technology further relates to a foldable
reusable drinking straw, comprising: a tube comprising a tubular
wall with an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface
defining a bore through the tube, the tube having a first end, a
second end, and an angular transition between the first end and the
second end, the tubular wall having a plurality of annular grooves
in the outer surface of the wall to reduce a thickness of the
tubular wall at each of the plurality of annular grooves, wherein a
first portion of the tube is generally linear from the first end to
the angular transition, and wherein a second portion of the tube is
generally linear from the second end to the angular transition.
[0010] The disclosed technology further relates to a foldable
reusable drinking straw, wherein a first portion of the silicone
tube is generally linear from the first end to the angular
transition, and wherein a second portion of the silicone tube is
generally linear from the second end to the angular transition.
[0011] The disclosed technology further relates to a foldable
reusable drinking straw, wherein the second portion of the silicone
tube extends at between a 20.degree. angle and a 40.degree. angle
to the first portion of the silicone tube.
[0012] The disclosed technology further relates to a foldable
reusable drinking straw, wherein the wall thickness of the silicone
tube from the first end to the second end, except for the plurality
of annular grooves, is generally constant.
[0013] The disclosed technology further relates to a foldable
reusable drinking straw, wherein the plurality of annular grooves
have a flat at a valley thereof.
[0014] The disclosed technology further relates to a foldable
reusable drinking straw, wherein all of the plurality of annular
grooves are provided between the first end and the annular
transition.
[0015] The disclosed technology further relates to a foldable
reusable drinking straw, wherein the plurality of annular grooves
separate the silicone tube into different sections of the silicone
tube.
[0016] The disclosed technology further relates to a foldable
reusable drinking straw, wherein the different sections of the
silicone tube do not all have an identical length.
[0017] The disclosed technology further relates to a foldable
reusable drinking straw, wherein different sections of silicone
tube can be folded approximately 180.degree. at the annular grooves
to lay adjacent another section of the silicone tube.
[0018] The disclosed technology further relates to a foldable
reusable drinking straw, further comprising an angular transition
between the first end and the second end of the flexible tube.
[0019] The disclosed technology further relates to a foldable
reusable drinking straw, wherein the second portion of the flexible
tube extends at approximately a 35.degree. angle to the first
portion of the flexible tube.
[0020] The disclosed technology further relates to a foldable
reusable drinking straw, wherein the plurality of annular grooves
separate the flexible tube into different sections of the flexible
tube, and wherein the different sections of the flexible tube do
not all have an identical length.
[0021] The disclosed technology further relates to a foldable
reusable drinking straw, wherein the plurality of annular grooves
separate the tube into different sections of the tube, wherein the
different sections of the tube do not all have an identical length,
and wherein the different sections of tube can be folded
approximately 180.degree. at the annular grooves to lay adjacent
another section of the tube.
[0022] It is understood that other embodiments and configurations
of the subject technology will become readily apparent to those
skilled in the art from the following detailed description, wherein
various configurations of the subject technology are shown and
described by way of illustration. As will be realized, the subject
technology is capable of other and different configurations and its
several details are capable of modification in various other
respects, all without departing from the scope of the subject
technology. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are
to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as
restrictive.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] To understand the present disclosure, it will now be
described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which embodiments of the disclosures are illustrated
and, together with the descriptions below are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, and serve to explain the
principles of the disclosure. In the drawings:
[0024] FIG. 1 is a front top perspective view of a foldable
reusable drinking straw according to the present disclosure.
[0025] FIG. 2 is a right side elevation view of the foldable
reusable drinking straw of FIG. 1.
[0026] FIG. 3A is cross-sectional elevation view about line 3-3 in
FIG. 1.
[0027] FIG. 3B is an enlarged view of a portion of the foldable
reusable drinking in FIG. 3A.
[0028] FIG. 4 is a right side elevation view of the foldable
reusable drinking straw of FIG. 1 following a first folding
step.
[0029] FIG. 5 is side elevation view of the foldable reusable
drinking straw in the fully folded position for insertion into a
container therefor.
[0030] FIG. 6 is a front top perspective view of another foldable
reusable drinking straw of the present disclosure.
[0031] FIG. 7 is a right side elevation view of the foldable
reusable drinking straw of FIG. 6.
[0032] FIG. 8 is a right side elevation view of the foldable
reusable drinking straw of FIG. 6.
[0033] FIG. 9 is a front elevation view of the foldable reusable
drinking straw of FIG. 6.
[0034] FIG. 10 is a rear elevation view of the foldable reusable
drinking straw of FIG. 6.
[0035] FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the foldable reusable drinking
straw of FIG. 6.
[0036] FIG. 12 is a bottom plan view of the foldable reusable
drinking straw of FIG. 6.
[0037] In one or more implementations, not all of the depicted
components in each figure may be required, and one or more
implementations may include additional components not shown in a
figure. Variations in the arrangement and type of the components
may be made without departing from the scope of the subject
disclosure. Additional components, different components, or fewer
components may be utilized within the scope of the subject
disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0038] While this disclosure is susceptible of embodiments in many
different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be
described in detail preferred embodiments with the understanding
that the present disclosure is to be considered as an
exemplification of the principles of the disclosure and is not
intended to limit the broad aspect of the disclosure to the
embodiments illustrated. It should be noted that the features
illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and
features of one embodiment may be employed with other embodiments
as one of ordinary skill in the relevant art would recognize, even
if not explicitly stated herein. Further, descriptions of
well-known components and processing techniques may be omitted so
as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments of the present
disclosure. The examples used herein are intended merely to
facilitate an understanding of ways in which the present disclosure
may be practiced and to further enable those of ordinary skill in
the art to practice the embodiments of the present disclosure.
Accordingly, the examples and embodiments herein should not be
construed as limiting the scope of the present disclosure, which is
defined solely by the appended claims and applicable law.
[0039] Generally, this disclosure describes a foldable reusable
drinking straw and a container for retaining the foldable reusable
drinking straw in the folded state. Referring now to the figures,
and initially to FIGS. 1-3B, there is shown a foldable reusable
drinking straw 100. In one embodiment, the foldable reusable
drinking straw 100 is flexible. In another embodiment, the foldable
reusable drinking straw 100 is made of silicone.
[0040] In one embodiment, the drinking straw 100 comprises a tube
102 having a tubular wall structure 104 with an outer surface 106
and an inner surface 108. The inner surface 108 defines a bore 110
having an inner diameter. The tube 102 has a first end 112 and a
second end 114. The bore 110 extends from the first end 112 of the
tube 102 to the second end 114 of the tube 102. In a preferred
embodiment, the inner diameter is generally constant from the first
end 112 to the second end 114 of the tube 102.
[0041] Additionally, in one embodiment, the tube 102 has an angular
transition 116 between the first end 112 and the second end 114 of
the tube 102. In a preferred embodiment, the angular transition 116
provides for the second end 114 of the straw 100 to extend at an
angle from the first end 112 for ease of use by the user. The
angular transition 116 separates the tube 102 into a first portion
118 and a second portion 120. The first portion 118 of the tube 102
extends from the first end 112 of the tube 102 to the angular
transition 116, and the second portion 120 of the tube 102 extends
from the second end 114 of the tube 102 to the angular transition
116. Additionally, in a preferred embodiment, both the first
portion 118 of the tube 102 and the second portion 120 of the tube
102 are generally linear. The angular transition 116, however, is
generally not linear, but rather has a curved or angular portion,
which may be referred to as an elbow in various embodiments.
Because the angular transition 116 has an angular portion, the
second portion 120 of the tube 102 extends at an angle with respect
to the first portion 118 of the tube 102. In one embodiment, the
second portion 120 of the tube 102 extends at an angle of between
20.degree. and 40.degree. to the first portion 118 of the tube 102.
In an alternate embodiment, the second portion 120 of the tube 102
extends at approximately a 35.degree. angle to the first portion
118 of the tube 102.
[0042] Referring to FIG. 3A, the distance between the inner surface
108 and the outer surface 106 of the tubular wall structure 104 is
defined as the wall thickness of the tubular wall 104. Preferably,
the wall thickness of the tubular wall structure 104 of the straw
100 is generally constant. In alternate embodiments, however, as
shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the straw 100 has a plurality of annular
grooves 130 in the outer surface 106 of the tubular wall structure
104 to reduce the wall thickness of the tubular wall 104 at each of
the plurality of annular grooves 130. In such embodiments, except
for the annular grooves 103, which have a reduced wall thickness,
the wall thickness of the remainder of the tubular wall structure
104 is generally constant. In one embodiment, the annular grooves
130 have a flat 132 at a valley of the groove 130, and a radius 134
between the flat 132 and the outer surface 106 of the tubular wall
structure 104. The annular grooves 130 provide bend areas to bend
the straw 100 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 for storage in a container
140. In one embodiment, all of the plurality of annular grooves 130
are provided between the first end 112 of the tube 102 and the
annular transition 116 of the straw 100. In one embodiment, as
shown in FIG. 3A, the straw 100 has three annular grooves 130 to
divide the straw 100 into four different sections as shown in FIGS.
4 and 5. As shown in FIG. 5, not all of the different sections of
the straw 100 have an identical length. In a preferred embodiment,
also as shown in FIG. 5, the different sections of the straw 100
can be folded approximately 180.degree. at the annular grooves 130
so that they sections can lay adjacent other sections of the straw
102 when folded for storage in the container 140.
[0043] The embodiment(s) detailed hereinabove may be combined in
full or in part, with any alternative embodiment(s) described.
[0044] A reference to an element in the singular is not intended to
mean "one and only one" unless specifically stated, but rather "one
or more." The term "some" refers to one or more. Underlined and/or
italicized headings and subheadings are used for convenience only,
do not limit the subject technology, and are not referred to in
connection with the interpretation of the description of the
subject technology. Relational terms such as first and second and
the like may be used to distinguish one entity or action from
another without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such
relationship or order between such entities or actions. All
structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the
various configurations described throughout this disclosure that
are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in
the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and intended
to be encompassed by the subject technology. Moreover, nothing
disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public
regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the
above description.
[0045] Numerous modifications to the present disclosure will be
apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing
description. Preferred embodiments of this disclosure are described
herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying
out the disclosure. It should be understood that the illustrated
embodiments are exemplary only, and should not be taken as limiting
the scope of the disclosure.
[0046] Several alternative embodiments and examples have been
described and illustrated herein. A person of ordinary skill in the
art would appreciate the features of the individual embodiments,
and the possible combinations and variations of the components. A
person of ordinary skill in the art would further appreciate that
any of the embodiments could be provided in any combination with
the other embodiments disclosed herein. Additionally, the terms
"first," "second," "third," and "fourth" as used herein are
intended for illustrative purposes only and do not limit the
embodiments in any way. Further, the term "plurality" as used
herein indicates any number greater than one, either disjunctively
or conjunctively, as necessary, up to an infinite number.
Additionally, the term "having" as used herein in both the
disclosure and claims, is utilized in an open-ended manner.
[0047] As used herein, the phrase "at least one of" preceding a
series of items, with the terms "and" or "or" to separate any of
the items, modifies the list as a whole, rather than each member of
the list (i.e., each item). The phrase "at least one of" does not
require selection of at least one item; rather, the phrase allows a
meaning that includes at least one of any one of the items, and/or
at least one of any combination of the items, and/or at least one
of each of the items. By way of example, the phrases "at least one
of A, B, and C" or "at least one of A, B, or C" each refer to only
A, only B, or only C; any combination of A, B, and C; and/or at
least one of each of A, B, and C.
[0048] To the extent that the term "include," "have," or the like
is used in the description or the claims, such term is intended to
be inclusive in a manner similar to the term "comprise" as
"comprise" is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a
claim. Phrases such as an aspect, the aspect, another aspect, some
aspects, one or more aspects, an implementation, the
implementation, another implementation, some implementations, one
or more implementations, an embodiment, the embodiment, another
embodiment, some embodiments, one or more embodiments, a
configuration, the configuration, another configuration, some
configurations, one or more configurations, the subject technology,
the disclosure, the present disclosure, other variations thereof
and alike are for convenience and do not imply that a disclosure
relating to such phrase(s) is essential to the subject technology
or that such disclosure applies to all configurations of the
subject technology. A disclosure relating to such phrase(s) may
apply to all configurations, or one or more configurations. A
disclosure relating to such phrase(s) may provide one or more
examples. A phrase such as an aspect or some aspects may refer to
one or more aspects and vice versa, and this applies similarly to
other foregoing phrases.
[0049] A reference to an element in the singular is not intended to
mean "one and only one" unless specifically stated, but rather "one
or more." The term "some" refers to one or more. Underlined and/or
italicized headings and subheadings are used for convenience only,
do not limit the subject technology, and are not referred to in
connection with the interpretation of the description of the
subject technology. Relational terms such as first and second and
the like may be used to distinguish one entity or action from
another without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such
relationship or order between such entities or actions. All
structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the
various configurations described throughout this disclosure that
are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in
the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and intended
to be encompassed by the subject technology. Moreover, nothing
disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public
regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the
above description. No claim element is to be construed under the
provisions of 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 112, sixth paragraph, unless the
element is expressly recited using the phrase "means for" or, in
the case of a method claim, the element is recited using the phrase
"step for."
[0050] While this specification contains many specifics, these
should not be construed as limitations on the scope of what may be
claimed, but rather as descriptions of particular implementations
of the subject matter. Certain features that are described in this
specification in the context of separate embodiments can also be
implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely,
various features that are described in the context of a single
embodiment can also be implemented in multiple embodiments
separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, although
features may be described above as acting in certain combinations
and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a
claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the
combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a
subcombination or variation of a subcombination.
[0051] The title, background, brief description of the drawings,
abstract, and drawings are hereby incorporated into the disclosure
and are provided as illustrative examples of the disclosure, not as
restrictive descriptions. It is submitted with the understanding
that they will not be used to limit the scope or meaning of the
claims. In addition, in the detailed description, it can be seen
that the description provides illustrative examples and the various
features are grouped together in various implementations for the
purpose of streamlining the disclosure. The method of disclosure is
not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed
subject matter requires more features than are expressly recited in
each claim. Rather, as the claims reflect, inventive subject matter
lies in less than all features of a single disclosed configuration
or operation. The claims are hereby incorporated into the detailed
description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately
claimed subject matter.
[0052] It will be understood that the present disclosure may be
embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit
or central characteristics thereof. The present examples and
embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as
illustrative and not restrictive, and the Claims are not to be
limited to the details given herein. Accordingly, while the
specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous
modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the
spirit of the disclosure and the scope of protection is only
limited by the scope of the accompanying Claims.
[0053] Further, the claims are not intended to be limited to the
aspects described herein, but are to be accorded the full scope
consistent with the language claims and to encompass all legal
equivalents. Notwithstanding, none of the claims are intended to
embrace subject matter that fails to satisfy the requirements of
the applicable patent law, nor should they be interpreted in such a
way.
* * * * *