Patent Application
20220307784
The present disclosure relates to a firearm magazine, and more particularly, a firearm magazine for storing and dispensing cartridges. The housing of the magazine comprises a transparent or translucent outermore shell molded over the entire outer face of the housing, enable to cover all of the cartridge indicators, including slots and/or holes.
Generally, firearms, such as pistol, are used with a magazine to feed cartridges to the weapon. The magazine generally comprises a housing to contain and guide the cartridges, wherein the housing comprises a plurality of bullet indicators, such as slots or through holes formed on the housing to allow the user to recognize how many bullets remaining within the housing. However, the dust, the dirt, or the pollutant may easily pass through the bullet indicators, such that the cartridges are easy to be jammed inside the housing.
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the housing of the magazine may be made of transparent or translucent material, such as transparent or translucent polymer without having any bullet indicators, including slots or through holes, forming on the housing, so as to facilitate the user observing how many bullets remaining. However, the transparent or translucent polymer material may also allow the enemy to observe the bullets remaining in the housing; moreover, the light reflection generated over the transparent or translucent polymer material may expose the user's shooting location. In such way, it may be dangerous for using the transparent or translucent housing in the battlefield.
In addition, one of the problems associated with the prior art is that polymeric materials exhibit creep at room temperature or human-survivable weather temperatures, where the magazine will usually be stored. Creep in polymeric firearm magazines is particularly exacerbated at the guiding lips of the magazines, because the guiding lips are under constant stress from the follower, spring assembly, and cartridges pressing against the guiding lips. The guiding lips experience a constant stress while the cartridges are loading and/or unloading therethrough. This constant stress causes the gap between the feed lips in a polymeric magazine to widen over time, resulting in a magazine that does not properly constrain the cartridges and/or feed reliably.
Therefore, there may exist a desire to develop a magazine for firearm having not also a strong, rigid, durable, high-safety operation structure, but also provide the user to recognize the amount of the cartridges remaining within the magazine.
In a general implementation, the magazine for storing and dispensing cartridges, comprising: an elongated housing defining a cartridge chamber, the housing having a distal end comprising a tapered interior space and a pair of guiding lip, a proximal end formed at an opposite side of the distal end, side walls comprising a first side wall, a third side wall, a second side wall integrally extended between the first and third side wall, and a fourth side wall integrally extended between the first and the third side wall, each of the side walls extending between the distal end and the proximal end; an outermore shell seamlessly molded over an outer face of the housing; wherein the housing comprises a plurality of witness holes formed on the first side wall; wherein the witness holes are covered by the outermore shell.
In another aspect combinable with the general implementation, each of the pair of the guiding lip is inclinedly extending towards each other, wherein one of the guiding lips is extended from a first connection end of the second side wall and the other one of the guiding lips is extended from a second connection end of the fourth side wall, wherein each of the pair of the guiding lips is inwardly extended to form the tapered interior space and an opening natural formed between the two guiding lips.
In another aspect combinable with the general implementation, the housing further comprises at least one elongated slot formed on the second side wall integrally extending from a first side wall and formed on the fourth side wall located at an opposite side of the second side wall.
In another aspect combinable with the general implementation, the outer face comprising a first outer face formed on the first side wall, a second outer face formed on the second side wall, a third outer face formed on the third side wall, a fourth outer face formed on the fourth side wall, and outer faces of the pair of guiding lips, wherein the outermore shell and the housing are molded with each other and integrated into one piece.
In another aspect combinable with the general implementation, the opening comprises a top elongated opening formed between top ends of the guiding lips and a U-shaped guiding opening downwardly extending from the top elongated opening and along the cartridge chamber.
In another aspect combinable with the general implementation, the U-shaped guiding opening comprises a width smaller than a width of the top elongated opening, wherein the width of the U-shaped guiding opening is smaller than one over two of the width of the top elongated opening.
In another aspect combinable with the general implementation, the at least one elongated slot comprises a first elongated slot formed on the second side wall and a second elongated slot formed on the fourth side wall, wherein the first elongated slot defines a peripheral shape projected on the fourth side wall and overlapped with a peripheral shape defined by the second slot, wherein the first slot and the second slot have the identical shape and the same area.
In another aspect combinable with the general implementation, the outermore shell is made of a transparent polymer.
In another aspect combinable with the general implementation, the outermore shell is made of the transparent polycarbonate polymer.
In another aspect combinable with the general implementation, the melting point of the housing is higher than the melting point of the outermore shell.
In another aspect combinable with the general implementation, the outermore shell comprises a thickness extending from the outer face of the housing to an outer face of the outermore shell, and the housing comprises a thickness extending form an inner face of the housing to the outer face of the housing, wherein the thickness of the outermore shell is equal to the thickness of the housing.
In another aspect combinable with the general implementation, the outermore shell comprises a thickness extending from the outer face of the housing to an outer face of the outermore shell, and the housing comprises a thickness extending form an inner face of the housing to the outer face of the housing, wherein the thickness of the outermore shell is larger than the thickness of the housing.
In another aspect combinable with the general implementation, the housing and the outermore shell are not detachable.
In another aspect combinable with the general implementation, the housing and the outermore shell are molded with each other to form a single piece without the uses of secondary assembly operations.
In another aspect combinable with the general implementation, the witness holes and all of the elongated slots, including the first elongated slot and the second elongated slot, are entirely covered by the outermore shell.
In another aspect combinable with the general implementation, the second side wall consists of the first slot and the fourth side wall consists of the second slot.
Among the many possible implementations of the magazine for weapon, alternatively, the outer face of the housing may comprise a first outer face formed on first side wall, a second outer face formed on the second side wall, a fourth outer face formed on the fourth side wall, and outer faces of the pair of the guiding lips, wherein the outermore shell and the housing are molded with each other and integrated into one piece.
In the above alternative, the third side wall is exposed to outside without covering by the outermore shell.
In the above alternative, the third side wall is a flat and solid wall, the third side wall having no witness holes and elongated slots.
While this specification contains many specific implementation details, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any inventions or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular implementations of particular inventions. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate implementations can also be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single implementation can also be implemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be described above and below 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.
A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. For example, example operations, methods, or processes described herein may include more steps or fewer steps than those described. Further, the steps in such example operations, methods, or processes may be performed in different successions than that described or illustrated in the figures. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.
The details of one or more implementations of the subject matter described in this disclosure are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims.
It should be noted that the drawing figures may be in simplified form and might not be to precise scale. In reference to the disclosure herein, for purposes of convenience and clarity only, directional terms such as top, bottom, left, right, up, down, over, above, below, beneath, rear, front, distal, and proximal are used with respect to the accompanying drawings. Such directional terms should not be construed to limit the scope of the embodiment in any manner.
The different aspects of the various embodiments can now be better understood by turning to the following detailed description of the embodiments, which are presented as illustrated examples of the embodiments defined in the claims. It is expressly understood that the embodiments as defined by the claims may be broader than the illustrated embodiments described below.
As used herein, the term “molded” refers to a molding technology to seamlessly combine multiple materials into a single part or product. The molding technology includes an insert molding and/or an overmolding. The molding technology eliminates the uses of secondary assembly operations such as snap fits, gluing, screws or fasteners to include a metal liner overlaid with a thin, rigid, plastic-base component.
As used herein, the term a width “W” of the top elongated opening 1121 is the width measured from a top end of a first guiding lip 1181, 1181A of two guiding lips 118, 118A to a top end of a second guiding lip of the two guiding lips 118, 118A. A width “w” of a U-shaped guiding opening 1122 is measured from an inner left side of the U-shaped guiding opening 1122 to an inner right side of the U-shaped guiding opening 1122.
The magazine 100 for storing and dispensing cartridges comprises an elongated housing 110 defining a cartridge chamber 111 for storing the cartridges, wherein the elongated housing 110 comprises a distal end having an opening 112, a proximal end formed on an opposite of the distal end, and the cartridge chamber extending from the distal end to the proximal end.
As shown further in
Referring now to the detail of
It is further contemplated that the width “w” of the U-shaped guiding opening 1122 preferably can have a smallest dimension of less than one over two of the width “W” of the top elongated opening 1121. Since the cartridges may be locked by the first guiding lip 1181 and the second guiding lip 1182, the cartridges may be not fallen down through the U-shaped guiding opening 1122. The width “w” of the U-shaped guiding opening 1122 may be preferably less than one over two of the width “W” of the top elongated opening 1122 to not only prevent the cartridge passing therethrough, but also provide enough space for the supplemental loading/unloading tool being inserted therein. In addition, the overall structure of the housing 100 may not be affected by the U-shaped guiding opening 1122 for maintaining the firm and solid housing structure.
Referring now to the detail of
In one embodiment, the housing 110 and the outermore shell 120 may be molded to combine with each other without the uses of secondary assembly operations such as snap fits, gluing, screws or fasteners. In other words, the housing 110 and the outermore shell 120 are not detachable. The outermore shell 120 may be covered on an entire area of the outer face, wherein the outermore shell 120 may be covered on the entire area of the first outer face of the first side wall 114, the entire area of the second outer face of the second side wall 115, the entire area of the third outer face of the third side wall 116, and the entire area of the fourth outer face of the fourth side wall 117, and the entire areas of each of the outer faces of the first guiding lip 1181 and the second guiding lip 1182.
In another embodiment, the outer face may consist of the first outer face formed on first side wall 114, the second outer face formed on the second side wall 115, a fourth outer face formed on the fourth side wall 117, and outer faces of the first guiding lip 1181 and the second guiding lip 1182, wherein the outermore shell 120 and the housing 110 are seamlessly molded with each other to be integrated into one piece. The outermore shell 120 and the housing 110 are molded with each other by the overmolding or insert molding technology. In other words, the housing 110 and the outermore shell 120 may be molded to combine with each other without the uses of secondary assembly operations such as snap fits, gluing, screws or fasteners. Furthermore, the housing and the outermore shell are not detachable. In this way, the outermore shell 120 may be covered on an entire area of the outer face, wherein the outermore shell 120 may be covered on the entire area of the first outer face of the first side wall 114, the entire area of the second outer face of the second side wall 115, the entire area of the fourth outer face of the fourth side wall 117, and the entire areas of each of the outer faces of the first guiding lip 1181 and the second guiding lip 1182.
According to the above embodiment, the outermore shell 120 may be made of a transparent polymer, such as transparent polycarbonate polymer. It is important to appreciate that although the present embodiment is particularly well suit for use with transparent polycarbonate polymer, the outermore shell 120 can be made of suitable materials to withstand temperature extreme, friction, and the chemical environment, and such materials include natural and synthetic transparent polymers. In another example, the outermore shell 120 can be made of suitable materials, such as materials include natural and synthetically translucent polymers.
In one embodiment, the housing 110 is made of metal material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, titanium, aluminum, aluminum alloys and combination thereof. The melting point of the housing is higher than the melting point of the outermore shell. In this way, the housing 110 may not be deformed, damaged, or broken by the hot thermoplastic or thermosetting polymer during the overmolding or insert molding technology.
It should be understood that the above-described materials are exemplary and any other transparent or translucent polymer with rigid and durable characteristic can be adopted in various embodiments of this disclosure of the outermore shell. In another embodiment, the above-described materials are exemplary and any other metal having the melting point higher than the melting point of the outermore shell 120 can be adopted in various embodiment of this disclosure of the housing 110.
As shown further in
Alternatively, the outer face may consist of the first outer face formed on first side wall 114, the second outer face formed on the second side wall 115, a fourth outer face formed on the fourth side wall 117, and outer faces of the first guiding lip 1181 and the second guiding lip 1182, wherein the outermore shell 120 and the housing 110 are molded with each other to be integrated into one piece, and the outermore shell 120 may be covered on an entire or partial area of the outer face, wherein the outermore shell may be covered on the entire or partial area of the first outer face of the first side wall 114, the entire or partial area of the second outer face of the second side wall 115, and the entire or partial area of the fourth outer face of the fourth side wall 117, and the entire or partial areas of the first guiding lip 1181 and the second guiding lip 1182. In other words, the third outer face of the third side wall 116 of the housing 110 may be exposed outside without molding or covering with the outermore shell 120, wherein the third side wall 116 may be a flat and solid wall, having no witness holes 1141.
In another mode of the second embodiment, the housing 110A may comprise only one elongated slot, the first elongated slot 1151 or the second elongated slot 1171, wherein the one elongated slot, the first elongated slot 1151 or the second elongated slot 1171, may be selectively arranged on the first side wall 114A, the second side wall 115A, or the fourth side wall 117A.
Referring now to the detail of
In an alternative mode of the second embodiment, the outer face may consist of the first outer face formed on first side wall 114A, the second outer face formed on the second side wall 115A, a fourth outer face formed on the fourth side wall 117A, and outer faces of the pair of guiding lips 118A. In this alternative mode, the outermore shell 120A may be covered on an entire or partial area of the outer face, wherein the outermore shell 120A may be covered on the entire or partial area of the first outer face of the first side wall 114A, the entire or partial area of the second outer face of the second side wall 115A, and the entire or partial area of the fourth outer face of the fourth side wall 117A, and the entire or partial areas of each of the outer faces of the first guiding lip 1181 and the second guiding lip 1182. In other words, the third outer face of the third side wall 116A of the housing 110A may be exposed outside without molding with the outermore shell 120A, wherein the third side wall 116A is a flat and solid wall having no witness holes and elongated slots.
In a third embodiment of the disclosure, the housing 120, 120A comprises the plurality of witness holes 1141 formed on the first side wall 114, 114A, and at least one elongated slot formed on the second side wall 115, 115A integrally extending from the first side wall 114, 114A and formed on the fourth side wall 117, 117A located at an opposite side of the second side wall 115, 115A, wherein the fourth side wall 117, 117A may be integrally extended between the first side wall 114, 114A and the third side wall 116, 116A. In this embodiment, at least one elongated slots comprises the first elongated slot 1151 formed on the second side wall 115, 115A and the second elongated slot 1171 formed on the fourth side wall 117, 117A, wherein the first elongated slot 1151 defines a peripheral shape projected on the fourth side wall 117, 117A and the peripheral shape of the first elongated slot 1151 may be overlapped with a peripheral shape defined by the second elongated slot 1171, wherein the first elongated slot 1151 and the second elongated slot 1171 have the same shape and total area. The first elongated slot 1151 and the second elongated slot 1171 may be symmetrically arranged with respect to a vertical plane across the housing 110, 110A. The length “1” of the first elongated slot 1151 may be longer than one over two of the length “L” of the second side wall 115, 115A of the housing 110, 110A, and the length “1” of the second elongated slot 1171 may be longer than one over two of the length “L” of the fourth side wall 117, 117A of the housing 110, 110A. The width of the first elongated slot 1151 may be smaller than one over four of the width of the second side wall 115, 115A of the housing 110, 110A, and the width of the second elongated slot 1171 may be smaller than over one four of the width of the fourth side wall 117, 117A of the housing 110, 110A.
In another mode of the third embodiment, the housing 110, 110A may consist of only one elongated slot, the first elongated slot 1151 or the second elongated slot 1171, wherein the one elongated slot may be arranged on the second side wall 115, 115A, or the fourth side wall 117, 117A.
According to the above third embodiment, the outermore shell 120, 120A may be seamlessly molded over the outer face of the housing 110, 110A without any gap formed therebetween, wherein the outermore shell 120, 120A and the housing 110, 110A may be integrated into a single part. In this way, all of the at least one elongated slot, the first elongated slot 1151 and/or the second elongated slot 1171, and all of the witness holes 1141 may be entirely covered by the outermore shell 120, 120A. In this third embodiment, the outermore shell 120, 120A may be covered on an entire or partial area of the outer face of the housing 110, 110A, wherein the outermore shell 120, 120A may be covered on the entire or partial area of the first outer face of the first side wall 114, 114A, the entire or partial area of the second outer face of the second side wall 115, 115A, the entire or partial area of the third outer face of the third side wall 116, 116A, and the entire or partial area of the fourth outer face of the fourth side wall 117, 117A, and the entire or partial areas of each of the outer faces of the first guiding lip 1181, 1181A and the second guiding lip 1182, 1182A.
In an alternative mode of the third embodiment, the outer face may consist of the first outer face formed on the first side wall 114, 114A, the second outer face formed on the second side wall 115, 115A, a fourth outer face formed on the fourth side wall 117, 117A, and outer faces of the first guiding lip 1181, 1181A and the second guiding lip 1182, 1182A. In this alternative mode, the outermore shell 120, 120A may be covered on an entire or partial area of the outer face of the housing 110, 110A, wherein the outermore shell 120, 120A may be covered on the entire or partial area of the first outer face of the first side wall 114, 114A, the entire or partial area of the second outer face of the second side wall 115, 115A, and the entire or partial area of the fourth outer face of the fourth side wall 117, 117A, and the entire or partial areas of each of the outer faces of the first guiding lip 1181, 1181A and the second guiding lip 1182, 1182A. In other words, the third outer face of the third side wall 116, 116A of the housing 110, 110A may be exposed outside without molding with the outermore shell 120, 120A, wherein the third side wall 116, 116A may be a flat and solid wall having no witness holes and elongated slots.
Indeed, according to the above the first embodiment, the second embodiment, the third embodiment, and all of the alternative modes thereof, all of the witness holes 1141 and the elongated slots, including the first elongated slot 1151 and the second elongated slot 1171, may be completely and entirely covered by the outermore shell 120, 120A, and in such a way, the outermore shell 120, 120A could prevent the dirt, the dust, or the pollutant entering into the cartridge chamber 111, 111A, and further prevent the possibility of the cartridge jam.
According to the above the first embodiment, the second embodiment, the third embodiment, and all of the alternative modes thereof, the outermore shell 120, 120A comprises a thickness extending from the outer face of the housing 110, 110A to an outer face of the outermore shell 120, 120A, and the housing 110, 110A comprises a thickness extending form an inner face of the housing 110, 110A to the outer face of the housing 110, 110A. In first example, the thickness of the outermore shell 120, 120A may be equal to the thickness of the housing 110, 110A. In second example, the thickness of the outermore shell 120, 120A maybe larger than the thickness of the housing 110, 110A.
According to the above first and second examples, the thickness of the outermore shell 120, 120A should be larger enough in order to form a strong and rigid shell for withstanding the outside impact stress during the shooting operations. The housing 110, 110A preferably may be made of metal materials, and the outermore shell 120, 120A may be made of transparent or translucent polymer. Therefore, while the thickness of the outermore shell 120, 120A is not thick enough, for example while the thickness of the outermore shell 120, 120A is thinner than the thickness of the housing 110, 110A, the outermore shell 120, 120A may be broken or cracked easily during the shooting operations.
According to the above the first embodiment, the third embodiment, and all of the alternative modes thereof, each of the witness holes 1141 may have a diameter “d” preferably smaller than one over four of a width of the first side wall “D”, or smaller than one over five of the width “D” of the first side wall. While the diameter “d” of each of the witness holes is larger than one over four of the width “D” of the first side wall, the enemy may see through the witness holes 1141 and recognize how many cartridges remaining within the cartridge chamber 111, 111A of the housing 110, 110A; therefore, in such situation, the user may be under a dangerous scenario. The housing 110, 110A with each of the witness holes 1141 having the diameter “d” longer than one over four of the width “D” of the first side wall 114, 114A may cause the structure of housing 110, 110A being not rigid enough to withstand the outside impact stress during the shooting operations; therefore, the housing 110, 110A may be easily deformed or broken down into several pieces during the shooting operations. While the diameter “d” of each of the witness holes 1141 is smaller than one over four of the width “D” of the first side wall, it may be a hassle for the user to recognize how many cartridges remaining inside the cartridge chamber 111, 111A.
According to the above the second embodiment, the third embodiment, and all of the alternative modes thereof, the length “1” of the first elongated slot 1151 may be longer than one over two of the length “L” of the second side wall 115, 115A of the housing 110, 110A, and the length “1” of the second elongated slot 1171 may be longer than one over two of the length “L” of the fourth side wall 117, 117A of the housing 110, 110A. The width of the first elongated slot may be shorter than one over four of a width “D1” of the second side wall 115, 115A of the housing 110, 110A, and the width of the second elongated slot may be shorter than one over four of a width “D1” of the fourth side wall 117, 117A of the housing 110, 110A. The second side wall 115, 115A and the fourth side wall 117, 117A are two identical walls. While the width of the first elongated slot 1151 is longer than one over four of the width “D1” of second side wall 115, 115A and the width of the second elongated slot 1171 is longer than one over four of the width “D1” of the fourth side wall 117, 117A, the enemy may see through the first and/or the second elongated slots 1151, 1171 and recognize how many cartridges remaining inside the cartridge chamber 111, 111A of the housing 110, 110A. In addition, the housing 110, 110A with the first and second elongated slot 1151, 1171 having the widths longer than one over four of the width “D1” of the second side wall 115, 115A and the fourth side wall 117, 117A of the housing 110, 110A may cause the structure of housing 110, 110A being not rigid enough to withstand the outside impact stress during the shooting operations; therefore, the housing 110, 110A may be easily deformed or broken down into several pieces.
According to the above the second embodiment, the third embodiment, and all of the alternative modes thereof, the second side wall 115, 115A consists of the first elongated slot 1151 and the fourth side wall 117, 117A consists of the second elongated slot 1171, wherein no witness holes 1141 is formed on the second side wall 115, 115A and the fourth side wall 117, 117A of the housing 110, 110A.
According to all of the embodiments described herein, the plurality of witness holes may be formed on at least one of the side walls or formed on all of the side walls, and the at least one elongated slot may be formed on at least one of the side walls or formed on all of the side walls. In this case, the side walls comprises a first side wall, a third side wall, a second side wall integrally extended between the first and third side wall, and a fourth side wall integrally extended between the first and the third side wall, wherein each of the side walls is extending between the distal end and the proximal end.
Many alterations and modifications may be made by those having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosed embodiments. Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiments have been set forth only for the purposes of example and that it should not be taken as limiting the embodiments as defined by the following claims. For example, notwithstanding the fact that the elements of a claim are set forth below in a certain combination, it must be expressly understood that the embodiment includes other combinations of fewer, more or different elements, which are disclosed herein even when not initially claimed in such combinations.
Thus, specific embodiments and applications of the magazine have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the disclosed concepts herein. The disclosed embodiments, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. Insubstantial changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalent within the scope of the claims. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements. The claims are thus to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, what can be obviously substituted and also what essentially incorporates the essential idea of the embodiments. In addition, where the specification and claims refer to at least one of something selected from the group consisting of A, B, C . . . and N, the text should be interpreted as requiring at least one element from the group which includes N, not A plus N, or B plus N, etc.
The words used in this specification to describe the various embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this specification structure, material or acts beyond the scope of the commonly defined meanings. Thus, if an element can be understood in the context of this specification as including more than one meaning, then its use in a claim must be understood as being generic to all possible meanings supported by the specification and by the word itself.
The definitions of the words or elements of the following claims therefore include not only the combination of elements which are literally set forth, but all equivalent structure, material or acts for performing substantially the same function in substantially the same way to obtain substantially the same result. In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the elements in the claims below or that a single element may be substituted for two or more elements in a claim. Although elements may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, it is to be expressly understood that one or more elements from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination and that the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.
