1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for soft-surface remediation (SSR). In particular, this invention relates to a handheld mechanical SSR device for dislodging, displacing, and disposing of particulates from soft-surfaces and for performing disinfection and/or freshening.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Indoor air is a very good transport mechanism for airborne particles or contaminants, such as dust and allergens. Dust is generally characterized as including, for example, soot, pet dander, skin flakes, carpet fibers, dust mite feces, hair, and lint. Allergens are generally characterized as including, for example, dust mites, pet dander, mold/mildew, pollen, and germs/bacteria. For energy efficiency reasons, modern homes are constructed to be as air-tight as possible, which has the adverse effect of creating an environment of poor indoor air quality, because it takes a significant amount of time to circulate air into and out of a room. Consequently, airborne contaminants remain circulating in the air and, over time, may land on hard and soft surfaces in the home. Hard surfaces are, for example, floors, counter tops, and the wooden, metal, or glass components of furniture. By contrast, soft surfaces are, for example, upholstery, carpets, mattresses, and drapes.
Soft surfaces are typically formed by a number of strands of thread or fiber that are woven together in a specific pattern to form a thick surface. Alternatively, the fiber may be in the form of a thin, non-woven mesh. However, most furniture upholstery is of the woven type. Airborne particles become lodged in between the weave of the fibers and onto the fibers themselves. A common structure of upholstered furniture is outer woven fabric atop a thin layer of batting material, which is atop a thick inner foam that provides firmness for, for example, supporting a person's weight. The vast majority of contaminants reside within the weave of the surface fabric or on the batting material of the upholstered item. The surface of the outer woven fabric becomes a collection area for crumbs, hair, dust, lint, and stains. In particular, hair, dust, lint, and dust mite feces become lodged between the surface fabric weave. The batting material becomes a repository for hair, dust mites, dust mite feces, and mold/mildew spores. Finally, mold/mildew spores, bacteria, and germs are commonly found on the surface of the inner foam.
Technical challenges exist with regard to SSR, which as used herein is any treatment to relieve, prevent, or cure the adverse effects of contaminants that collect thereon. There are generally four components of soft-surface remediation that may be defined as follows: (1) dislodging, which is the act of freeing dust, dirt, hair, etc., from or near the surface, (2) displacing, which is the act of moving dust, dirt, hair, etc., to a containment mechanism after it has been dislodged, (3) disposing, which is the act of capturing the contaminants via a containment mechanism, and (4) disinfecting/freshening, which is the act of applying a treatment to control dust mites, bacteria, mold, etc. or, alternatively, to remove odors or otherwise improve the scent or perceived “freshness” of the soft surface.
A vacuum cleaner is a well-known household item used for cleaning. A typical vacuum cleaner consists of a suction fan driven by a motor and a suction nozzle with a rotating brush that has a beating effect (for dislodging) on the surface to be cleaned, such as a carpet. Vacuum cleaners exist in various forms, such as a canister type or upright type of design. Both types of vacuum cleaners have considerable weight and are, therefore, cumbersome to use. Additionally, typical canister or upright vacuum cleaners are corded, which limits their easy accessibility to some areas of the home. In particular, standard vacuum cleaners are too cumbersome for use on soft surfaces, such as furniture upholstery, mattresses, and drapes. Furthermore, the mechanical dislodging mechanism of standard vacuum cleaners are destructive the fabric itself.
Alternatively, handheld portable vacuum cleaners exist in the market today, such as the DustBuster® handheld vacuum manufactured by Black & Decker (Towson, Md.). However, handheld portable vacuum cleaners do not include a dislodging mechanism; they use vacuum power only. Consequently, handheld portable vacuum cleaners are not powerful enough to clean to any sufficient depth and, thus, only the surface is cleaned. In particular, handheld portable vacuum cleaners are not effective in removing hair, as hair is difficult to remove, because of the static cling to fabrics and the entanglement into the weave of the fabric itself. What is needed is a handheld SSR device that has a dislodging mechanism for effectively performing soft-surface remediation, but in a non-destructive manner. Additionally, handheld portable vacuum cleaners have a small opening, so the user must operate the device slowly over the surface to be cleaned, in order for it to work effectively. Furthermore, what is needed is a handheld mechanical apparatus that has a large pickup area, in order to reduce the cleaning time.
A chemical, e.g., a cleaner, or another ingredient is sometimes desired for freshening, disinfection, or for assisting in the removal of contaminants from a soft surface. It is difficult to introduce chemistry to the surface to be cleaned by use of a standard vacuum cleaner or a handheld portable vacuum cleaner, as neither includes a chemical delivery system. The consumer must, therefore, resort to a separate device for applying a chemical or fluid, which means that the consumer is spending additional time performing separate cleaning, freshening, and disinfecting operations. What is needed is a more effective and efficient way to introduce a fluid or other material onto a soft surface by use of a low-powered, light-weight, handheld mechanical apparatus and, therefore, reduce the overall time for performing cleaning, freshening, and disinfecting operations.
As a preventative measure, frequent touchup cleaning is beneficial to soft surfaces for delaying more involved and destructive deep-cleaning events. Generally, upholstery does not get as dirty when frequent touchups are performed, as compared with relying on occasional deep cleaning. However, consumers tend not to do touchup cleaning, because existing soft-surface touchup cleaning approaches are not very effective. Deep cleaning is effective, but very laborious and requires powerful tools, chemistry, and energy. Furthermore, the more effective the deep-cleaning event, the more damaging it is to the soft surface. What is needed is an easy-to-use, convenient mechanism for performing touchup cleaning that encourages frequent use and, thus, minimizes the need for deep-cleaning events.
The disclosures of all of the below-referenced prior United States patents, and applications, in their entireties are hereby expressly incorporated by reference into the present application for purposes including, but not limited to, indicating the background of the present invention and illustrating the state of the art.
U.S. Patent Application No. 20040172769, “Method and apparatus for cleaning fabrics, floor coverings, and bare floor surfaces utilizing a soil transfer cleaning medium,” invented by Daniel G. Giddings (Holland, Mich.), Frederick A. Hekman (Holland, Mich.), Richard W. Wellens (Plymouth, Minn.), and Larry D. Wydra (Plymouth, Minn.), describes an apparatus and method for cleaning fabrics, floor coverings, and bare floor surfaces utilizing a soil transfer cleaning medium. A method of mechanically removing soil from a surface intended to be cleaned includes the steps of successively and repeatedly: wetting a portion of a cleaning medium with a cleaning liquid; extracting any soil and at least some of the cleaning liquid from the previously wetted portion of the cleaning medium; and wiping the surface intended to be cleaned with the portion of the cleaning medium so as to transfer soil from the surface intended to be cleaned to the cleaning medium. Portable and vehicle-based devices may be utilized to practice the method of cleaning.
U.S. Patent Application No. 20020104184, “Portable vacuum cleaning apparatus,” invented by Alma L. Rogers (Stockridge, Ga.) and Dietrich Hoecht (Loganville, Ga.), describes a portable vacuum cleaning apparatus intended to be carried either on a single shoulder or worn backpack style, wherein the vacuum cleaner has an extensible tube and nozzle arrangement that may be held substantially fully enclosed in the vacuum cleaner case, wherein the hose or wand may be collapsed when not in use to prevent entanglement, or may be incrementally extended and secured in a desired position for use. Additional advantages of the present invention include a suspension arrangement for flexibly suspending the internal components of the vacuum and for providing a moment to counteract the force and movement of the wand.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,746,166, “Apparatus for cleaning a surface,” assigned to Art Center College of Design (Pasadena, Calif.), describes an apparatus for efficiently cleaning stains and extracting cleaning fluid from surfaces such as carpets and upholstery without requiring electrical power is presented. The invention eliminates the inconvenience of retrieving, filling with cleaning fluid, and plugging a deep cleaner into an electrical outlet in order to remove a small spot from a carpet. In addition to the scrubbing and fluid extracting capabilities, embodiments of the invention include a sprayer for applying cleaning fluid to stains. The sprayer may receive fluid from an attached refillable reservoir of cleaning solution, for example. During scrubbing, the top of a pump actuator provides a resting place for the heel of a user's palm. The pump actuator may be locked down when scrubbing and unlocked for pumping to suck up fluid. A piston in a chamber provides the suction force for pulling fluid up through tubules, which may be interspersed between bristle tufts, past check valves and into a waste reservoir. A downward force on the piston provides the suction thereby assuring that the tubules are in contact with the surface during suction. The waste reservoir may be dumped via a plug in the waste reservoir.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,604,953, “Vacuum cleaner,” assigned to Aktiebolaget Electrolux (Stockholm, SE), describes vacuum cleaner including a unit, comprising an electric motor and an associated suction fan, and a suction nozzle (36) connected to the inlet side of the unit via a dust separating device (15), either directly or via a connectable rigid conduit (13). The vacuum cleaner comprises a handheld unit (10) which when not in use is arranged to be positioned on a stationary storage unit (11), said handheld unit (10) incorporating the said unit and the dust separating device (15) and being provided with a coupling means (12) for connecting of the rigid conduit (13). For power supply purposes, by means of an extensible flex (26), the handheld unit (10) is connected to the storage unit (11) which via an additional flex (39) is connectable to a mains outlet.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,551,122, “Corded handheld vacuum cleaner,” assigned to Electrolux Corporation (Atlanta, Ga.), describes a handheld vacuum cleaner that has a motor mounted with the rotational axis of its shaft parallel to the rotational axis of the rotating brush. The vacuum cleaner motor has an end bell, which is attached to the motor stator, and which holds a motor shaft bearing. The end bell is secured to the vacuum housing with an elastomeric mounting ring to dampen motor vibrations. The need for most motor mounting hardware is eliminated, because the housing supports the motor stator directly. The intake orifice of the vacuum is shaped to lie in two distinct planes, so that flat cleaning surfaces do not obstruct the orifice. The shape of the intake also allows one to clean immediately adjacent to a vertical wall.
World Intellectual Property Organization Application No. WO8301734, “Dust remover for removing dust, hair, or other loose particles from objects such as clothes, textiles, furniture, etc.,” describes a dust remover for removing dust, hair or other loose particles from the surface of objects such as clothes, textiles, furniture etc comprising a substantially cylindrical roller (1) which is rotatably supported on a holder, the peripheral surface of said roller being provided with an adhesive layer (6) for removing said dust particles etc by adhesion when the roller (1) is brought into rolling contact with the surface of the object to be cleaned. The dust remover comprises a divided casing, the casing parts (7, 11) being movable in relation to each other by relative rotational movement between a position in which the casing parts (7, 11) completely enclose the roller (1), and a position in which the roller (1) is partly exposed for enabling rolling contact with the object to be cleaned. The casing parts (7, 11) are arranged for relative rotational movement about an axis that is parallel to, and preferably coaxial with the rotational axis of the roller (1).
Also incorporated by reference herein is the disclosure contained in U.S. application Ser. No. 11/090,438 entitled “SOFT-SURFACE REMEDIATION DEVICE AND METHOD OF USING SAME” and assigned to S.C. Johnson & Sons, Inc.
It is therefore an aspect of the invention to provide a handheld SSR device that has a dislodging mechanism for effectively performing soft-surface remediation in a non-destructive manner.
It is another aspect of this invention to provide a low-powered, light-weight, handheld mechanical SSR device that has a large pickup area, in order to reduce the cleaning time.
It is yet another aspect of this invention to provide a more effective and efficient way to introduce a chemistry, fluid or cleaner onto a soft surface by use of a low-powered, light-weight, handheld mechanical SSR device.
It is yet another aspect of this invention to provide a low-powered, light-weight, handheld mechanical SSR device having a slapping mechanism, a dispenser, and a filter that reduces the time required for cleaning, freshening, and disinfecting soft surfaces.
It is yet another aspect of this invention to provide an easy-to-use, convenient mechanism that encourages consumers to perform touchup cleaning events more frequently.
Various consumables may aid the device of the present invention in this purpose, for example, disposable filters, scrubbing members, cleaning heads, and various other cleaning materials or fluids. For example, compositions for refreshing fabrics, stain removal and antibacterial control may also be provided.
These and other aspects of the present invention will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following description, while indicating preferred embodiments of the present invention, is given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications.
A clear conception of the advantages and features constituting the present invention, and of the construction and operation of typical mechanisms provided with the present invention, will become more readily apparent by referring to the exemplary, and therefore non-limiting, embodiments illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate the same elements in the several views, and in which:
In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention that is illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the specific terms so selected and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. For example, the word connected or terms similar thereto are often used. They are not limited to direct connection but include connection through other elements where such connection is recognized as being equivalent by those skilled in the art.
The present invention and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments described in detail in the following description.
For the purposes of this disclosure, the term “cleaning” or “cleaned” is broadly expanded to include operations associated with soft-surface remediation (SSR). The materials used for further cleaning may include cleaning chemicals, odor eliminators, stain removal, fabric protectors, fresheners, and disinfectants all of which may be in the form of liquids, gases, solids, gels, substrates and/or powders or combinations thereof.
1. System Overview
The present invention is a handheld mechanical SSR device for, and method of, dislodging, displacing, and disposing of particulates from soft surfaces, such as upholstery. The handheld mechanical SSR device of the present invention effectively performs soft-surface remediation in a non-destructive manner, is low-powered and light-weight, has as large pickup area for providing a faster cleaning operation, provides a chemical delivery mechanism for freshening, disinfection, or assisting in the removal of contaminants, and provides an easy-to-use, convenient mechanism that encourages consumers to perform touchup cleaning events more frequently. For the purposes of this disclosure the term “cleaning” or “cleaned” is broadly expanded to include operations associated with SSR.
2. Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments
In this embodiment, fan assembly 110 further preferably includes a fan motor 120, which is a standard 5 to 24 volt DC motor or 120 Volt AC motor capable of 1000 to 30000 rotations per minute (RPMs) and a fan blade 122, which is a standard lightweight fan blade formed of, for example, molded plastic. Fan motor 120 may be either a single-speed or multi-speed AC or DC motor. An example of fan motor 120 is Mabuchi Motor RS-540SH/SF-5045. Fan assembly 110 is preferably capable of developing a suction pressure of −0.15 to −0.66 pounds per square inch (PSI). However, other fans with similar characteristics are contemplated.
Filter assembly 112 further includes a filter 130 and a collection tray 132. Filter 130 is a consumable non-woven filter or electrostatic cloth positioned in close proximity to fan blade 122. Filter 130 can be a standard high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter or a high airflow filter (HAF) filter available from 3M. Collection tray 132 is positioned at the lower region of filter 130, in order to capture large or heavy particles that will not lodge within filter 130 because the suction force is limited. Additionally, when fan motor 120 is turned off and the suction stops, some particles will drop from filter 130 and into collection tray 132. Filter 130 and collection tray 132 are mechanically integrated such that both may be easily accessed by the user, in order to remove and replace filter 130 and for emptying collection tray 132. In another embodiment, the filter and the collection tray may be incorporated into the same device. This device may be disposable.
Flapper assembly 114 is preferably a mechanical, surface-slapping mechanism. The assembly 114 preferably includes a set of slappers or flappers 140, such as a flapper 140a, 140b, and 140c, as shown in
Flappers 140a, 140b, and 140c are attached at one end to a spring-loaded hinge 112, which is mechanically attached in close proximity to filter assembly 114. Spring-loaded hinge 144 provides a pivot point for flappers 140a, 140b, and 140c. Spring-loaded hinge 144 also provides an appropriate spring force.
Flapper assembly 114 further includes a set of disks 146 that are arranged along a shaft 148. Disks 146 are oriented orthogonal to flappers 140 and are mechanically coupled to flappers 140 via a set of arms 150. More specifically, a disk 146a is mechanically coupled to flapper 140a via an arm 150a, a disk 146b is mechanically coupled to flapper 140b via an arm 150b, and a disk 146c is mechanically coupled to flapper 140c via an arm 150c. A standard pulley 152 that is mounted at one end of shaft 148 is driven by a flapper motor 154 via a standard belt 156. Spring-loaded hinge 144, disks 146, shaft 148, arms 150, and pulley 152 are formed of a rigid lightweight material, such as molded plastic or aluminum.
Flapper motor 154 is preferably a standard 5 to 24 volt DC motor or a 120 volt AC motor capable of 1000 to 30000 RPMs. Flapper motor 154 may be either a single-speed or a multi-speed DC motor. An example flapper motor 154 is a Johnson Electric HC613G, however, there are a wide range of suitable motors available. When activated, flapper motor 154 imparts rotational motion to shaft 148 and, subsequently, to disks 146.
Each disk 146 has one or more notches 158, into which a curved end of its respective arm 150 is alternately engaged and disengaged as each disk 146 rotates. In one example, disk 146a and disk 146c are mounted on shaft 148 such that their notches 158 are in alignment one to another, while disk 146b is mounted on shaft 148 such that its notches 158 are 90 degrees out of phase with those of disk 146a and disk 146c. However, disk 146a, 146b, and 146c may be mounted with their notches 158 in any user-desired orientation.
If the embodiment is battery powered, the battery assembly 116 preferably further includes a plurality of batteries 160, which are standard rechargeable or non-rechargeable 1.5 to 9 volt batteries that are electrically connected in series to provide a DC voltage source of 5 to 24 volts to fan motor 120 and flapper motor 152. Alternatively, the device may be corded and operate via an AC voltage source.
With reference to
With reference to
With continuing reference to
Those skilled in the art will recognize that the implementation of flapper assembly 114 as shown and described in
Step 216 is the step of performing the cleaning operation. In this step, the user grasps handle 172 and brings inlet 174 of mechanical SSR device 100 into contact with a soft surface to be cleaned, such as upholstery, and, subsequently, moves inlet 174 of mechanical SSR device 100 over the soft surface to be cleaned by using any back-and-forth or side-to-side motion, until the entire surface has been cleaned by the action of flapper assembly 114 and fan assembly 110. More specifically, the slapping action of flapper assembly 114 dislodges the particulates, the suction action of fan assembly 110 displaces the particulates by the airflow moving through displacement chamber 176 and toward filter 130, and the filtering action of filter 130 captures the particulates. Optionally, by use of spray pump 184, the user may activate chemical delivery system 180 and, thereby, provide a freshening or disinfection operation, in combination with the removal of contaminants. Alternatively, chemical delivery system 180 is automatically activated without direct user activation. Method 200 proceeds to step 218, the step of deactivating SSR device. In this step, the user deactivates mechanical SSR device 100 by a standard on/off switch, which deactivates fan motor 120 and flapper motor 154. Method 200 proceeds to step 220.
Step 220 is the step of removing consumables from SSR device. In this step, the user opens the access mechanism for filter 130 within body 170 and removes the dirty filter 130. If necessary, the user opens the access mechanism for chemical supply 182 within handle 172 of body 170 and removes chemical supply 182. Method 200 proceeds to step 222. Step 222 is the step of preparing SSR device for next use. In this step, the user empties collection tray 132 and, optionally, wipes clean flappers 140 with a cloth. The user then closes all access mechanisms. Next is step 224, the step of storing SSR device. In this step, the user returns mechanical SSR device 100 to its storage location. Method 200 may then proceed to step 226. In this optional step, in the case in which batteries 160 are rechargeable batteries, the user plugs mechanical SSR device 100 into an associated battery recharging device. Method 200 ends. Of course, these steps need to not be preformed in the order in which they appear above. Additionally, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate some steps need not be present at all and other steps may be added.
In this embodiment, filter 310 is located at the outside of inlet 316, in order to facilitate easier access for removal and replacement. Furthermore, this configuration greatly limits any dust and hair from entering mechanical SSR device 300 and reaching fan motor 120 and flapper motor 154, which reduces the possibility of failure. However, because there is no collection tray 132 within mechanical SSR device 300, this embodiment is less suited for picking up large or heavy particles and more suited for removing fine particles and hair. More specifically, the media forming filter 310 is slightly sticky and, thus, acts like a piece of tape on a soft surface, to attract and hold the dust and hair. Flappers 140 make contact with the surface of filter 310 opposite the soft surface to be cleaned. The slapping action of flapper assembly 114 enhances the cleaning operation, in order to pick up hair that is entangled within the fibers of the soft surface to be cleaned.
The general operation of mechanical SSR device 300 is similar to that described in reference to mechanical SSR device 100 of
In summary and with reference to
In one embodiment, the catch mechanism 130 or consumable non-woven filter, electrostatic cloth or other such material is preferably positioned in close proximity to the fan 110. Such a disposal mechanism or catch 130 may be a variety of shapes, including, but not limited to, a J-ring, a donut, or a slightly convex or concave cup. The filter may be supported by a plastic or cardboard ring, frame, or housing. In another example, disposal catch mechanism 130 is a Grab-It® Cloth from S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. (Racine, Wis.) or a Swiffer® Cloth from Procter & Gamble (Cincinnati, Ohio). In yet another example, disposal catch mechanism may be located on or in the tray 132 and may be a non-woven material, a gel, or some sticky substance that will act to trap and hold particulate matter within the air.
In another embodiment, the flappers 140 themselves may be also impregnated with an active material or ingredient to provide sanitation, such as, odor removal, odor neutralization, or dust mite control, to the soft surface to be cleaned. An example active ingredient for providing sanitation and that has suitably small particles that do not saturate the fabric is triethylene glycol (TEG). An example active ingredient for providing odor neutralization is also triethylene glycol (as found in Oust® from S.C. Johnson & Son). An example active ingredient for providing odor removal is cyclodextrin (as found in Febreze® from Procter & Gamble). Alternatively, this material may be added through the delivery system.
As mentioned, the fluid or chemical material consumable 182 may include a variety of materials, e.g., cleaners, odor eliminators, fresheners, protectants, and disinfectants all of which may be in the form of liquids, gases, solids, gels and/or powders or combinations thereof. This chemistry is suitable to remediate hard and soft surfaces such as a pillow, mattress, carpet, car interior, drape, window, floor, plumbing drain, insect habitat, and/or couch.
Additionally, any active material or ingredient may be delivered to the surface being treated by the delivery system 180 which may also include a reservoir or other system that is externally or internally mounted to the unit, and which may include a trigger spray, pump spray, canister, fluid cavity, aerosol, or similar means. Alternatively, the material may be a foam cleaner (contained e.g., in a canister) which after being first set down by an outward flow is then picked up by the device. The foam may be activated by a variety of means as is known in the art, e.g., chemical reaction, surfactants, agitators, a dual bottle system, OXYCLEAN, etc.
Materials that both protect and renew also may be added to the fluid stream. These materials can rejuvenate the fibers of the soft surface and coat them to become more dirt resistant and water resistant in the future. For example, various compositions made by DuPont and 3M are known to make fabric water and/or stain resistant, such as SCOTCHGUARD™. These materials may also include compositions comprised of a dispersant and/or microcapsules containing an active material.
Because of it configuration, this device 100 may be used not only for soft surface cleaning but with minor modification to deliver material that includes an insecticide, repellant, herbicide, fungicide, antimicrobial, floor cleaner, window cleaner, drain cleaner, air freshening, etc. A long, extendable, preferably telescoping, handle allows the user to reach certain surfaces and/or provide distance between the user and the material treating the surface during application. In some instances, the motor is preferably impervious to water so that the device can be used in areas where these types of liquids are used.
In yet another embodiment, the handle may not be present. This embodiment would be configured to fit into the palm of the user's hand for ease of use in touch-up cleaning particular in areas where is there is not much space.
Other embodiments of the present invention may have protrusions projecting from the slapper or for the bottom of the housing. These protrusions or teeth may be used to grab on and lift up what is on the surface, e.g., pet hair, paper, or even some other electro-statically bound matter. Alternatively, the teeth may be part of a rake, brush, or they may not resemble teeth at all but rather just a soft, spongy piece of material. The teeth may be more rounded to be more like fingers and may be made of plastic, rubber, or some equally stiff yet somewhat flexible material so as not to damage the surface. Inner housing and motor housing are substantially cylindrical shaped and are formed of a rigid lightweight material, such as molded plastic or aluminum.
Although the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out the present invention is disclosed above, practice of the present invention is not limited thereto. It will be manifest that various additions, modifications and rearrangements of the features of the present invention may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept. In addition, the individual components need not be fabricated from the disclosed materials, but could be fabricated from virtually any suitable materials. Moreover, the individual components need not be formed in the disclosed shapes, or assembled in the disclosed configuration, but could be provided in virtually any shape, and assembled in virtually any configuration. Further, although many components are described herein as physically separate modules, it will be manifest that they may be integrated into the apparatus with which they are associated. Furthermore, all the disclosed features of each disclosed embodiment can be combined with, or substituted for, the disclosed features of every other disclosed embodiment except where such features are mutually exclusive.
It is intended that the appended claims cover all such additions, modifications and rearrangements. Expedient embodiments of the present invention are differentiated by the appended claims.