U.S. patent number 3,673,820 [Application Number 05/021,409] was granted by the patent office on 1972-07-04 for warp knit panty-type garments.
This patent grant is currently assigned to International Stretch Products, Inc.. Invention is credited to Louis Sarmiento.
United States Patent |
3,673,820 |
Sarmiento |
July 4, 1972 |
WARP KNIT PANTY-TYPE GARMENTS
Abstract
The invention is directed to a combination fabric of warp knit
construction (as distinguished from circular knit, woven, etc.)
which is comprised of a body portion having two-way effective
elasticity, and integrally knitted, spaced selvedge portions having
one-way effective elasticity. The fabric is constructed in a
continuous web form, with the elastic selvedges forming the
opposite edges of the web. The selvedges are constructed
principally of yarns having substantially heavier denier than the
yarns principally constituting the body portion. The elastic
selvedge portions are constructed to have lateral running yarns
imparting the characteristic of substantial non-extensibility to
the selvedge portion in the course-wise direction of the fabric.
The lateral running yarns of the selvedge are, in addition, of
substantially heavier denier than the warp-wise running yarns of
the selvedge, to impart substantial wall rigidity to the selvedge
portions, in the course-wise direction, while providing a high
degree of flexibility in the warp-wise direction. The body portion
of the fabric may be constructed entirely or partly of elastic
yarns, or may derive its effective elastic characteristics solely
from the knitted construction of the fabric. The fabric of the
invention is especially adapted for use in the manufacture of one-
or two-piece garments, such as panties or panty girdles.
Inventors: |
Sarmiento; Louis (Hasbrouck
Heights, NJ) |
Assignee: |
International Stretch Products,
Inc. (New York, NY)
|
Family
ID: |
21804061 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/021,409 |
Filed: |
March 20, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
66/177; 450/104;
66/193 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41B
9/04 (20130101); A41B 17/00 (20130101); D04B
21/207 (20130101); D10B 2501/021 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A41B
9/00 (20060101); A41B 17/00 (20060101); A41B
9/04 (20060101); D04B 21/00 (20060101); A41b
009/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;66/190,192,193,195,175,176,177,172,173 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
649,678 |
|
Oct 1964 |
|
BE |
|
1,354,288 |
|
Jan 1964 |
|
FR |
|
Primary Examiner: Feldbaum; Ronald
Claims
I claim:
1. A warp knit combination garment fabric, comprising
a. a unidirectionally elastic selvedge portion extending along each
edge of the fabric web,
b. said unidirectionally elastic selvedge comprising a plurality of
knitted warp columns interconnected by lateral running yarns,
c. said knitted warp columns incorporating elastic yarns, laid-in
in a single needle space, to impart warp-wise elasticity to the
selvedges,
d. said lateral running yarns being laid-in across a plurality of
needle spaces and being comprised of heavy, effectively non-elastic
yarns whereby to impart non-extensibility to the selvedge portions
in the widthwise direction and to impart substantial wall stability
to the selvedge portions as compared to the body portions of the
fabric, and
e. a fabric body portion integrally interconnected to said selvedge
portions,
f. said body portion being constructed to have effective elasticity
in the warp-wise and course-wise directions,
g. the principal structural yarns of said elastic selvedge portions
being non-elastic and being of substantially heavier denier than
the principal structural yarns of said body portion,
h. one of said elastic selvedges constituting a garment waistband
portion,
i. the elastic yarns of said one selvedge being constructed into
the fabric while extended to about 220 percent to about 280 percent
of their relaxed length,
j. the other of said elastic selvedges constituting a garment leg
band portion,
k. the elastic yarns of said other selvedge being constructed into
the fabric while extended to about 200 percent to about 280 percent
of their relaxed length.
2. A one-piece panty or the like constructed with the fabric of
claim 1, characterized by
a. the garment being constructed of a single section of such
fabric, cut and sewn together in a course-wise direction whereby
the separate selvedges respectively form waistband and leg band
elastics, and
b. said leg band elastics being sewn together in a crotch area of
the garment to form separate leg-encircling elastics.
3. The warp knit fabric of claim 1, further characterized by
a. the supporting structure of the fabric body portion being of a
wholly independent stitch construction from the supporting
structure of the elastic selvedges.
4. The warp knit fabric of claim 1, further characterized by
a. the warp-wise extending structural yarns of the elastic selvedge
portions being at least 50 percent heavier than the structural
yarns of which the body portion is principally constituted.
5. The warp knit combination fabric of claim 1, further
characterized by
a. said elastic yarns comprise rubber-like elastic elements of
about 50 gage.
6. The warp knit combination fabric of claim 1, further
characterized by
a. the lateral running yarns of said selvedge portions being of
substantially heavier denier than the yarns of the warp columns of
said selvedge, and
b. the principal structural yarns of said body portion being of
substantially lighter denier than the yarns of said warp
columns.
7. The warp knit combination fabric of claim 1, adapted especially
for the manufacture of one-piece panties or the like and in which
the body portion of the fabric is substantially free of elastic
yarns, further characterized by
a. said fabric being constructed with the elastic yarns of the
selvedge portions in a sufficiently extended condition that the
warp-wise relaxation of said selvedge portions, upon warp-wise
relaxation of the fabric after construction, is substantially
greater than the warp-wise relaxation of said body portion,
b. said fabric being laterally distended subsequent to its
construction to a degree sufficient to reduce the length of said
body portion substantially to the relaxed length of said selvedge
portions, and
c. at least the body portion of said fabric being at least
temporarily stabilized in its laterally distended condition to
enable cutting of the fabric across its width and sewing of the
fabric into a one-piece garment while said fabric body portion
remains in its laterally distended condition.
8. The warp knit combination fabric of claim 1, further
characterized by
a. an integrally knitted section of fishnet-like structure
extending in a warp-wise direction and interconnecting one of said
selvedges to the body portion of said fabric to accommodate a
limited degree relative movement between said selvedge and said
body portions.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
The application is closely related to the co-pending applications
of Louis Sarmiento, Ser. No. 10,770, filed Feb. 12, 1970 and
entitled "Panty-Type Garment and Process of Making Such Garment"
[P-1414], and Ser. No. 36,552, filed May 12, 1970, entitled
"Panty-Type Garment Construction Utilizing Combination Fabrics"
[P1424]. The related co-pending applications, to which reference
advantageously may be made for a fuller appreciation of the present
invention, discloses panty-type garments having elastic waist band
and leg band portions and, if desired, an elastic body portion,
constructed principally of a generally rectangular section of warp
knitted fabric. The length of material is oriented so that the side
edges of the material, as knitted, form top and bottom portions of
the garment, and cut edges of the material (knitted as a
substantially continuous web) are brought together and sewed to
form a tube. A second seam made at the lower edge of the tube,
joins front and back sections of the tube to form a crotch and
separate leg-encircling bands. Where desired, a separate crotch
piece, also formed of combination fabric, may be utilized. By
reason of this new manufacturing technique, enormous savings may be
realized in the manufacture of panty-type garments, as compared to
more conventional manufacturing techniques.
The present invention is directed more specifically to the
construction of a special fabric ideally suited for the manufacture
of garments in accordance with the above-mentioned related
Sarmiento applications Ser. No. 10,770, and Serial No. 36,552. This
application is also closely related to the subject matter of my
copending applications Ser. No. 86,582, filed Nov. 3, 1970, Ser.
No. 92,700, filed Nov. 25, 1970, and Ser. No. 94,837, filed Dec. 3,
1970.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the construction of panty-type garments by conventional
techniques, it is customary to separately construct and cut
sections of fabric to constitute body portions of the garment.
Sections of elastic webbing are cut to appropriate length and sewed
to the top and bottom edges of body fabric sections, during
assembly of the garment. The finished garment includes an elastic
waist band portion and separate, elastic leg band portions, in a
conventional manner. As will be appreciated, there are substantial
and complicated handling and sewing operations involved in the
cutting to proper size and the joining together of the elastic
webbing and the body portions of the garment. Pursuant to the
inventions of the co-pending Sarmiento applications Ser. No.
10,770, and Ser. No. 36,552, the cutting and handling operations
required to produce a garment are greatly reduced and simplified by
making the garment substantially of a single piece of fabric of
special construction. The construction of that fabric constitutes
the subject of the present invention.
In accordance with the invention, a new and improved garment fabric
is provided, which is of warp knit construction, in continuous or
substantially continuous web form, and which is adapted to be cut
into generally rectangular sections, from which a one- or two-piece
panty-type garment may be constructed. The warp knit fabric, which
is most advantageously constructed on a Raschel-type knitting
machine, is provided with selvedge portions in the form of
relatively narrow elastic webbing, and a central web portion of
substantially greater width. The overall width of the knitted web,
from edge extremity to edge extremity is determined so as to
correspond to the overall height dimension of a garment constructed
with the fabric.
As one of the specific aspects of the invention, the elastic
webbing selvedge portions are constructed to have only one-way
effective elasticity, that being in the longitudinal or warp-wise
direction as the fabric is knitted. In the width or course-wise
direction, the elastic webbing is provided with lateral running
yarns which substantially prevent any width-wise extension and, in
addition, impart to the webbing a rather substantial degree of wall
rigidity. The central section of the knitted web, which may be
referred to for convenience as the body section, is constructed to
have effective two-way elasticity. In the case of the elastic
webbing selvedges, the desired one-way elasticity is imparted at
least in part through the use of elastic yarns (e.g., rubber). In
the case of the fabric of the body section, two-way effective
elasticity may be provided solely by reason of the knitted
construction, or it may be provided through the use of elastic
yarns (e.g., Spandex), or (more typically) by a combination of
knitted structure and elastic yarns.
In the construction of the new fabric of the invention, it is
critical that certain relationships be observed in the relative
weights of the yarns of which the several dissimilar fabric
portions are principally constituted. Thus, the weight (denier) of
the yarns principally constituting the elastic webbing must be at
least about 50 percent greater than the weight of the yarns
principally constituting the body portion of the fabric. Moreover,
the lateral running yarns of the elastic webbing is of
substantially greater weight than the supporting warp yarns of the
webbing.
In the case of combination fabric, constructed in accordance with
the invention, in which the body portion of the fabric is
constructed entirely or in part of elastic yarns, the knitting
operation is so carried out that, upon release of longitudinal
tension from the knitted fabric, there will be a substantially
uniform lengthwise contraction of the fabric across its entire
width. Accordingly, in the manufacture of one- or two-piece
panty-type garments from such fabric, the knitted fabric may be
severed into generally rectangular fabric sections and sewed in the
manner described in the before-mentioned Sarmiento applications. In
the case of combination fabric in which the two-way effective
elasticity of the body section is derived from its knitted
construction rather than from elastic yarns, there is inherently
some gathering and bulging of the fabric body section when
longitudinal tension is released from the fabric after knitting.
Thus, in accordance with the invention, such fabrics are,
subsequent to knitting and prior to cutting and sewing, laterally
distended to an extent sufficient to reduce the length of the body
portion to correspond to that of the contracted elastic webbing
sections. The fabric is, while in its thus distended condition,
starched or otherwise impregnated with a temporary stabilizing
agent. This enables the fabric to be severed from the web in
rectangular sections, for the manufacture of garments, and also
enables the fabric to hold its laterally distended configuration
while the garment manufacturing operations are carried out. The
temporary stabilization is removed in any suitable manner prior to
the sale of the garment. Typically, the routine mechanical handling
of the garment during the various stages of processing, packaging,
etc., is sufficient for this purpose.
For a better understanding of the invention, reference should be
made to the following detailed description and to the accompanying
drawing.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a section of combination fabric
constructed in accordance with the invention and incorporating
elastic yarns in the body section of the fabric.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of a section of combination fabric
constructed in accordance with the invention, in which the body
section of the fabric is constructed with non-elastic yarns.
FIGS. 3 and 4 are enlarged photographic representations of upper
and lower margins of the fabric of FIG. 1.
FIGS. 5 and 6 are enlarged photographic representations of upper
and lower margins of the fabric of FIG. 2.
FIG. 7 is a highly simplified diagrammatic illustration of a fabric
constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention.
FIG. 8 is a plan view of the fabric of FIG. 2 illustrated as
laterally distended to impart a rectangular geometry to the severed
and longitudinally relaxed fabric section.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a panty-type garment
constructed utilizing the fabric of FIG. 1 or FIG. 2.
Referring now to the drawing, and initially to FIG. 1 thereof, the
reference numeral 10 designates generally a cut-off section of
combination fabric according to the invention. The fabric section
10 includes a body portion 11 forming the center of the web, and
narrow selvedge portions 12, 13. The fabric section 10 is,
according to the invention, constructed by warp knitting, as
distinguished from circular knitting, weaving, etc., and is most
desirably constructed on Raschel machines. The warp direction of
the knitted structure is left-right in FIG. 1, and the course
direction is vertical. It will be understood, of course, that the
fabric is knitted in substantially continuous lengths in the
warp-wise direction, being gathered in suitably sized rolls as it
comes off the machines.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the fabric of FIG.
1 is constructed so that the selvedge portions 12, 13 are provided
with one-way effective elasticity, that being in the warp-wise
direction. In the course-wise direction, the selvedge portions are
constructed to be substantially non-extensible and also to have a
substantial degree of wall stability or wall rigidity. Typically,
warp-wise elasticity is imparted to the selvedge portions 12, 13 by
means of rubber or other suitable elastic yarns incorporated into
the knitted structure and extending generally warp-wise in the
fabric. The thus-constructed selvedge portions comprise, in effect,
narrow bands of elastic webbing. Typically, although not
necessarily, one of the selvedge portions 12 is of somewhat greater
width than the other section 13. The wider section suitably
constitutes an elastic waist band, and the narrower section
suitably forms elastic leg bands, in a one-piece panty-type garment
manufactured with the fabric.
In the fabric of the invention, the center or body section 11 is
constructed to have two-way effective elasticity. That is, the body
portion is provided with elastic characteristics in both the
warp-wise and the course-wise directions. Such two-way elasticity
may be imparted by reason of the knitted structure or by reason of
incorporated elastic yarns, or by a combination of both. In the
fabric of FIG. 1, the body section incorporates elastic yarns and
derives at least some of its elastic characteristics therefrom. In
the fabric 10a of FIG. 2, the body section 11a contains no elastic
yarns, and thus derives its effective elasticity from the nature of
its knitted structure. The selvedge portions 12a and 13a of the
FIG. 2 fabric correspond in their construction principles to the
selvedges 12, 13 of the FIG. 1 fabric.
With reference to FIG. 7, there is shown an extremely simplified
diagrammatic representation of fabric structures representative of
those of FIGS. 1 and 2. The portions encompassed by the brackets E1
and E2 are representative of elastic selvedge portions, it being
understood, of course, that a commercially acceptable fabric would
have a much larger number of warps than are shown in the
diagrammatic illustration and also that the knitted structure of a
typical commercial fabric may be of much greater complexity than is
indicated by the diagram while incorporating the relevant inventive
principles.
In the upper elastic webbing section E1, for example, there are
shown three sets of supporting warp yarns 14, the knitted structure
of which is designated for Raschel machine manufacture as
0-2/2-0/0-2/2-0 (repeating). There is also shown a structure of
lateral running yarns 15, the knitted structure of which is
indicated by the Raschel machine designation 0-0/6-6/0-0/6-6
(repeating). Incorporated in the structure of supporting warp yarns
14 and lateral running yarns 15 are elastic warp yarns 16, and the
Raschel knitter's designation for these is 0(repeating). The lower
elastic webbing E2 may be of construction similar to the section
E1, but it is typically narrower. In the illustration, the webbing
E2 has supporting warp yarns 17, lateral running yarns 18, and
incorporates elastic yarns 19. In the case of both of the elastic
webbing sections E1 and E2, the lateral running yarns 15, 18 are
shown to extend across the full width of the webbing or selvedge
section, but that not be the case and typically may not be the case
where the selvedge portions are comprised of a substantially larger
number of warp rows than is indicated in FIG. 7. The structure of
lateral running yarns may typically comprise an overlapping series
of lateral loops, each extending over, for example, two or three
warp rows.
In the diagrammatic representation of FIG. 7, the body section B of
the fabric is indicated to be a simple tricot construction in which
principal warp yarns 20 may have a Raschel knitter's designation of
2-0/2-4/2-0/2-4 (repeating). The body yarns may be constructed of
suitable elastic yarns, such as Spandex yarns, or may incorporate
additional yarns (not specifically indicated in FIG. 7) to impart
elasticity. This is especially desirable where it is intended to
utilize the fabric in the construction of panty girdles, for
example. Where the fabric is intended for use in the manufacture of
panties, it is more desirable, usually, to construct the fabric
body from non-elastic yarns and to rely on the structure of the
knitting to impart the necessary degree of two-way elasticity to
the fabric. A tricot construction, using conventional acetate or
nylon yarns is highly suitable for the latter type of fabric, as
are certain types of lace constructions. For panty girdle fabrics,
tricot or lace structures are also suitable, but in that case
elastic yarns will be incorporated. Conventional "powerknit"
constructions are also suitable for panty girdle fabrics. In all
cases, however, the body section of the fabric will be provided
with two-way effective elasticity, while the elastic selvedges are
provided with only warp-wise effective elasticity.
In accordance with one feature of the invention, the elastic
portions of the fabric are constructed of yarns of significantly
greater weight than the yarns of the body portion. This
relationship must prevail whether or not the body portion of the
fabric incorporates elastic yarns. In the new fabric, the yarns of
which the elastic selvedges are principally constructed are at
least about 50 percent heavier than the yarns of which the body
portion is principally constructed. Thus, in a typical fabric
according to the invention and as reflected in FIG. 7, the
supporting warp yarns 14, 17 of the elastic selvedges E1, E2 may be
of about 100 denier nylon, while the lateral running yarns 15, 18
may be of about 200 denier nylon. The elastic yarns 16, 19 may be
of about 50 gage rubber. For the body section, the yarns (20)
advantageously are of about 50 denier, if of acetate, and of about
50-70 denier, if of nylon. The relationship between the warp and
lateral yarns of the elastic webbing is also of significance, in
that the substantially heavier lateral yarns 15, 18 impart a highly
desired degree of wall stability to the selvedge, so it does not
tend to roll or curl when extended lengthwise in use.
In the fabric of the invention, the elastic selvedges are
constructed to provide for a significant degree of warp-wise
extension. Thus, for the selvedge intended to function as a waist
band in a finished garment an extensibility of at least about 120
percent, and more desirably around 160 percent, is provided for.
For the selvedge intended to function as a leg band, a minimum
extensibility of at least 100 percent, and more desirably around
120 percent, is provided. In a fabric according to the invention,
the leg and waist bands can and typically will have different
degrees of extensibility while being of equal length in the relaxed
state. This high extensibility is especially desirable in the
construction of one- or two-piece panty-type garments according to
the co-pending Sarmiento applications. Such garments are
particularly well adapted for low cast, high volume production, and
the provision of high extensibility in the fabric selvedges enables
further economies to be realized in that fewer garment sizes are
required to cover a full range of body sizes.
As a further specific feature of the invention, fabrics
incorporating elastic yarns in the body portion (i.e., panty girdle
fabrics) are so constructed in the knitting operation that, when
knitting tensions are released and the fabric is permitted to
contract lengthwise, all portions of the fabric will contract
uniformly, across the full width of the web. (The knitting
operation usually proceeds with the elastic yarns 16, 19- -FIG. 7-
-tensioned to a condition of near-maximum desired extension.) Thus,
the relaxed and fully contracted panty girdle fabric will lay flat
and have a generally straight-across course structure. This enables
fabric web sections 10, as shown in FIG. 1 to be readily cut off of
a large fabric roll in a generally rectangular configuration, and
subsequently to be easily formed into a panty girdle in accordance
with the teachings of the co-pending Sarmiento applications.
In the case of panty fabrics, constructed without the use of
elastic fabrics in the body section, lengthwise contraction of the
elastic selvedges, upon release of the tensions of knitting, cannot
be accompanied by a corresponding contraction of the body portion
of the fabric, which has a significantly lesser effective
elasticity. This will cause the fabric to gather along the edges
and pucker, in the manner reflected in FIG. 2. As will be
understood, such gathering and puckering would render somewhat
difficult the task of cutting uniform garment sections from a
fabric roll, and also somewhat complicate the sewing operations, as
compared to corresponding operations carried out with the fabric of
FIG. 1. Accordingly, as a further specific feature of the
invention, a fabric in which no elastic yarns are incorporated in
the body section, as reflected in FIG. 2, is re-shaped and given a
temporary stabilizing treatment prior to cutting and sewing, so
that, at the time such operations are carried out, the fabric lays
flat and has a generally straight-across course structure.
In accordance with the foregoing aspect of the invention, the panty
fabric is, prior to cutting and sewing, laterally distended, as
reflected in FIG. 8, so that the selvedges 12a and 13a are
separated from the positions indicated in broken lines to the
positions indicated in solid lines. The body section 11a, having an
interdependency of length and width dimensions because of the
two-way effective elasticity constructed into it, will decrease in
length as it is distended in width until, at some point, the
forcibly contracted body length will equal the naturally contracted
selvedge length. At this stage the fabric will be in its desired
working geometry, and the fabric is temporarily stabilized in such
geometrical condition by the application or impregnation of starch
or suitable resins. The temporary stabilization is sufficient to
enable the fabric to be cut into generally rectangular working
sections and to enable the sewing of such sections into garments.
Ideally, however, the stabilization is rendered ineffective in due
course simply by reason of the further routine handling to which
the completed garment will be subjected before final marketing.
The fabric structures of the invention can be converted into
garments of the type disclosed and claimed in the co-pending
Sarmiento applications with ease and economy. Desirably working
with a generally rectangular flat fabric section, the upper length
dimension of which corresponds to a desired waist size, and the
height dimension of which corresponds to a desired garment height,
the fabric section is first sewed into a tube, along a generally
vertical seam 21, as shown in FIG. 9. In a one-piece garment, a
crotch is formed by making an inverted U-shaped seam 22 along the
lower edge of the tube, connecting the front and back panels
thereof. The crotch seam 22 serves to divide the lower selvedge 13
into two separate elastic leg bands, while the upper selvedge
functions as an elastic waist band. In a two-piece garment, a
special crotch piece of combination fabric is inserted, as
described in the Sarmiento application Ser. No. 36,552 [P-1429]. In
either case, the entire operation may be quickly and economically
accomplished, as will be readily understood.
The fabric of the invention may be constructed in a wide variety of
specific forms, so long as the relevant relationships, heretofore
mentioned, are observed. Typical examples of commercially produced
fabric according to the invention are reflected in the photographic
enlargements of FIGS. 3-6 of the drawing. Many other variations
within the teachings of the invention, will suggest themselves to
the competent designer. By way of example, it may be advantageous
to incorporate a narrow net-like section between the principal body
section and the elastic selvedge intended to form leg band elastics
in the finished garment. Such a section would accommodate an
increased degree of relative movement between the body fabric and
the leg bands.
The principles of the invention enable the high volume production
of a warp knitted fabric which integrally incorporates all of the
components of a panty-type garment, including an elastic waist band
and elastic leg bands, and also including a body fabric which may
or may not incorporate an elastic component as desired. The various
essential components are so related to each other in the integrated
structure as to enable the desired function to be derived without
compromise from each of the component elements. More importantly,
perhaps, the structural relationship of the components is such as
to enable a flat fabric, having a generally straight-across course
structure, to be achieved, either directly in the knitting, as in
the case of the panty girdle fabrics, or upon subsequent re-shaping
and temporary stabilization, as in the case of the panty
fabrics.
The integrated combination of the present invention is utilized
synergistically and with extraordinary advantage in the
construction of garments described and claimed in the co-pending
Sarmiento applications Ser. No. 10,770, and Ser. No. 36,552
[P-1414, P1424].
One important advantage of the new fabric resides in the fact that,
by knitting the elastic waist and leg bands in an integral
relationship, the subsequent processing and handling of the
integrated components is identical. This becomes especially
significant in the dyeing, because all parts of a garment,
constructed of the new fabric, are identically dyed. Under
conventional practices all of the several individual components of
a garment typically are separately handled and dyed, and accurate
color matching is virtually impossible in a realistic production
operation.
It should be understood, of course, that the specific forms of the
invention herein illustrated and described are intended to be
illustrative only, as certain changes may be made therein without
departing from the clear teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly,
reference should be made to the following appended claims in
determining the full scope of the invention.
* * * * *