Patent Grant
8464900
This invention relates to mechanisms for propelling a queue of articles along a guide track. More specifically, the invention relates to dispensing mechanisms used in machines for automatically vending articles or substances packaged in symmetrical containers such as the ones commonly used in connection with individual servings of coffee, tea, sugar, shampoo, toothpaste, as well as medicines and cosmetics.
In the coffee service industry, individual doses of coffee, tea or chocolate are often offered in small containers, packs, sachets or packets that are configured to be readily inserted in a brewing machine. Such packets sold under the brand name FLAVIA® are commercially available from the Mars Incorporated of McLean, Va. and are generally described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,258,061, Campbell et al., incorporated herein by reference.
Referring now to
Referring now to
An array of supports can be arranged in a housing and is usually placed next to the brewing machines for the convenience of employees and customers. In most cases, this type of beverage service is provided and paid for by the employer.
The system is subject to abuses, however. Unscrupulous employees may grab handfuls of containers for use at home. Unsupervised persons, such as maintenance and janitorial crews who frequent the premises during off hours may also be tempted to help themselves to undue quantities of goods.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US-2009-0057333, Simson et al., incorporated herein by reference, discloses a tamper resistant vending device having a detachable magazine containing an array of separately activatable cartridges for dispensing one of several queues of items in independent cartridges using a pneumatic driving means. Such a system is not readily adaptable to dispensing the carrier topped packets described above.
In many vending contexts, maintaining a large number of customer choices is preferred. For example, a single vending machine may seek to provide a variety of coffee selections. Depending on the vagaries of consumer habits, some varieties may run out quicker than others prompting restocking. Restocking of a dispenser located at a customer site often requires the time-consuming task of manually loading of the packets onto their supports from the front of the support. It is generally preferred that restocking frequency of a machine is kept to a minimum because of the cost associated with an operator visit.
The items can be supplied in a queue on a storage or transportation rail oriented at an acute angle with respect to the major axis of the rail so that the width of the queue is reduced to facilitate greater packing density of a number of storage or transportation rails.
There is a need to find a convenient solution to the controlled presentation and dispensing of small packaged articles.
The invention provides a simpler, less expensive, and/or more efficient way to store, transport, restock, display and/or dispense small packaged items under some form of paid or verifiable accounting to authorized or paying customers.
One of the main advantages of the invention is the ability of loading a batch of products onto the dispensing mechanism from the back rather than from the front of the vending machine. It also allows the rapid transfer of a batch of products mounted on a temporary storage and transportation rail directly into the vending machine by way of a convenient coupler.
The invention offers a device for selectively dispensing a plurality of items, wherein each of said items has a carrier uniformly shaped and dimensioned with respect to others of said items, said device comprises: at least one elongated track for carrying a queue of said items, said track comprising: an elongated channel having a frontal dispensing aperture, a back loading aperture, a cross-section commensurate with a cross-sectional dimension of said carrier; and, a ratcheting mechanism alternately allowing dispensing of a first one of said items through said frontal aperture and holding back a second one of said items next in line behind said first one; wherein said ratcheting mechanism comprises: a rack slidingly and reciprocatingly secured with respect to said track, said rack having a drive motion and a reset motion; said rack carrying a plurality of spaced apart ratchet fingers arranged to successively engage and drive forward said carriers while said rack moves in a drive stroke; and, a friction structure retaining each of said carriers from moving backward while said rack moves in a reset stroke.
In some embodiments said friction structure comprises a series of static pawls arranged along said track to successively bear against a surface of said carriers remaining on said track while said rack moves in a reset stroke.
In some embodiments the friction structure provides greater friction to backward movement of said carriers and lesser friction to forward movement of said carriers.
In some embodiments the friction structure further comprises a roughened surface oriented to contact said carriers during both of said drive and reset strokes.
In some embodiments the device further comprises: a plurality of said tracks are assembled into a magazine; a base unit comprising a cradle shaped and dimensioned to lockingly nest a portion of said magazine; and means for selectively activating a drive stroke in one of said plurality of tracks.
In some embodiments the cradle provides a fulcrum surface oriented to bear against said magazine causing angular movement of said magazine.
In some embodiments the magazine is detachable from said base unit.
In some embodiments the means for activating comprise a reciprocating motor driven bolt oriented to mechanically engage said rack and thereby cause said drive stroke.
In some embodiments the device further comprises: a motor having a rotatable shaft; a linkage between said shaft and said bolt, said linkage comprising: a substantially circular disk rotatively held within a bearing, said disk having an axis of rotation; a pin radially spaced apart from said axis; and, said bolt having an oblong slot slidingly and rotatively engaged by said pin.
In some embodiments the magazine comprises a modular arrangement of spaced apart plates and crosspieces mechanically securing said tracks within an array of cartridges, wherein an additional one of said plates adds either a row or column to said array.
In some embodiments the device further comprises: said items being mounted on a loading rail; a coupler mounted to said back loading aperture, said coupler having a first interface for releasably mating to an end of said loading rail, said coupler being shaped dimensioned and located to form a open interfacing channel between said loading rail and said elongated channel.
In some embodiments the device further comprises: said at least one track having a U-shaped cross section, parallel side walls and inwardly extending retaining flanges; wherein said carrier includes a head engaged into said track and a shank projecting from said head between said flanges; wherein said first rack is a drive rack inserted into said track and having a plurality of substantially sawtooth-shaped prominences shaped and positioned to capture and propel said head when said drive rack his held in a first transversal position and is moved axially in a first axial direction, and to course over said head when said drive rack into a second transversal position; wherein said friction structure comprises a locking rack inserted into said track parallel to said drive rack and having a plurality of edge indentations positioned to capture and immobilize said head when said locking rack is held in a first crosswise location and to free said head when translated into a second crosswise location; said locking rack being translated into said second location when said drive rack is moved axially in said first direction; and a mechanism for alternately moving said drive rack in said directions.
In some embodiments the device further comprises: a push rod having a flat side riding against said drive rack; and a first nib projecting from said side into an oblique groove in said drive rack.
In some embodiments the device further comprises said locking rack being translated into said first location when said drive rack is moved into a second direction opposite said first direction.
In some embodiments each of said indentations has a ramping edge coming into contact with said head when said drive rack is moved into said first direction.
In some embodiments the device further comprises said locking rack being returned to said first location upon when said head reach a next successive indentation.
In some embodiments the device further comprises: a support plate running against a surface of said locking rack; and a second nib projecting from said surface into an oblique groove in said support plate.
In some embodiments the device further comprises: a first resilient member shaped and placed to bias said drive rack toward said first position; and a second resilient member shaped and placed to bias said locking rack toward said first location.
In some embodiments said first resilient member is contained within a trough located in said drive rack and contacts a structure outside said drive rack.
In some embodiments the device further comprises: said mechanism comprises: a spring resiliently biasing said push rod toward one of said directions; and an actuator successively pulsing said rod against said spring.
In some embodiments said head further comprises: a first section positioned to ride along said locking rack; and a second section positioned to ride along said drive rack.
In some embodiments said first section has a polygonal periphery having at least three parallel pairs of sides.
In some embodiments the device further comprises: said items being mounted on a loading rail; a coupler mounted to said back loading aperture, said coupler having a first interface for releasably mating to an end of said loading rail, said coupler being shaped dimensioned and located to form a open interfacing channel between said loading rail and said elongated channel.
In some embodiments the device further comprises: a series of said carrier, each supporting a flat package from said shank in a first package orientation, and wherein each of said first section has a polygonal periphery having at least three parallel pairs of sides, and wherein two adjacent ones of said sides define a given sharp angle; whereby said package may be supported in one of a plurality of orientations; a rail engaging a plurality of said package supporting carriers in a first orientation; a transfer mechanism for transferring a plurality of said package supporting carriers in a second orientation to said conveyor; wherein said transfer mechanism comprises: a track portion having a first extremity shaped and dimensioned to mate with a loading end of said track; a rail portion having a first extremity shaped and dimensioned to mate with a unloading end of said rail; and said first and second portions having second extremities obliquely bonded together at said angle.
In some embodiments the invention further provides an alternate ratcheting device for stepping a queue of article carriers along a conveyor which comprises: a first track having a U-shaped cross section, parallel side walls and inwardly extending retaining flanges; at least one carrier including a head engaged into said track and a shank projecting from said head between said flanges; a drive rack inserted into said track and having a plurality of edge prominences shaped and positioned to capture and propel said head when said drive rack his held in a first transversal position and is moved axially in a first axial direction; means for retracting said drive rack into a second transversal position; a locking rack inserted into said track parallel to said drive rack and having a plurality of sawtooth-shaped indentations positioned to capture and immobilize said head when said locking rack is held in a first crosswise location and to free said head when translated into a second crosswise location; means for translating said locking rack into said second location when said drive rack is moved axially into said first direction; and a mechanism for alternately moving said drive rack in said directions.
In some embodiments the means for retracting comprise: a push rod having a flat side riding against said drive rack; and a projecting from said side into an oblique groove in said drive rack.
In some embodiments the ratcheting device further comprises means for translating said locking rack into said first location when said drive rack is moved into a second direction opposite said first direction.
In some embodiments the means for translating comprise: each of said indentations having a ramping edge coming into contact with said head when said drive rack is moved into said first direction.
In some embodiments the ratcheting device further comprises means for returning said locking rack to sais first location.
In some embodiments the means for returning comprise: a support plate running against a oversurface of said locking rack; and a nib projecting from said oversurface into an oblique groove in said support plate.
In some embodiments the means for retracting and said means for returning further comprise: a first resilient member shaped and placed to bias said drive rack toward said first position; and a second resilient member shaped and placed to bias said locking rack toward said first location.
In some embodiments the mechanism for moving the drive rack comprises: a spring resiliently biasing said push rod toward one of said directions; and an actuator successively pulsing said rod against said spring.
In some embodiments the head of the carrier further comprises: a first section positioned to ride along said driving rack; and a second section positioned to ride along said locking rack.
In some embodiments the first section has a polygonal periphery having at least three parallel pairs of sides.
In some embodiments the periphery of the first section is octagonal.
In some embodiments the ratcheting device may further comprises: a series of said carrier, each supporting a flat package from said shank in a first package orientation, and wherein each of said first section has a polygonal periphery having at least three parallel pairs of sides, and wherein two adjacent ones of said sides define a given sharp angle; whereby said package may be supported in one of a plurality of orientations; a rail engaging a plurality of said package supporting carriers in a first orientation; means for transferring a plurality of said package supporting carriers in a second orientation to said conveyor; wherein said means for transferring comprises: a first rail portion having a first extremity shaped and dimensioned to mate with a loading end of said first rail; a second rail portion having a first extremity shaped and dimensioned to mate with a unloading end of said second rail; and said first and second portions having second extremities obliquely bonded together at said angle.
The content of the original claims is incorporated herein by reference as summarizing features in one or more exemplary embodiments.
Referring now to the drawing, there is shown in
The base 35 of the machine forms a cradle 50 which is adapted to closely nest the magazine 33 in alignment with a rear plate 48 carrying a commensurate array of linkages 47 between each track and a dedicated actuating motor 49. A fulcrum structure 51 is formed onto an upper surface of the cradle in the base unit 35 to bear against the undersurface 52 of the magazine. The magazine is installed by inserting its back end at a downward angle into a recess formed in front of the rear plate 48 so that a series of projections 53 extending from the upper surface near the rear of the magazine pass underneath the upper ledge 54 of the base unit overhanging the recess. The magazine is then rocked forward on the fulcrum in order to lower the front end and raise the back end, thereby engaging the projections into corresponding holes in the upper ledge. This causes the magazine to closely align itself with the rear plate so that the motor linkages are properly engaged. When the front of the magazine snaps down the magazine is thus locked into place and the cover 44 can be closed. Once the magazine 2 is installed on the machine and the cover has been shut and locked, the magazine cannot be removed.
The base 35 can also house mechanisms that further control and protect the dispensing of the goods out of the cartridges. A dispensing pocket 42 for the goods is provided in the frontal portion of the base. The pocket is accessible by pushing a flap door 43. The front of the machine is sealed by a cover 44 whose transparent face permits viewing of the first item in each cartridge.
An electronic control unit 36 provides an interface with the user of the machine by way of an alpha-numeric readout 37, an electronic data media reader 38, an alpha-numeric keypad 39, and a cash acceptor 40.
Each tubular quadrangular cartridge 34 has a substantially rectangular cross-section which loosely contains the symmetrical items 32 to be dispensed which are lined up one-behind-the-other in a queue. Each item has a carrier projecting vertically from the item which slidingly engages the ratcheting track 30 extending longitudinally along the ceiling of the cartridge, which will be described in greater detail below.
Referring now to
Actuation of the ratcheting mechanism comprises a drive stoke, followed by a reset stoke. Although a solenoid-type actuation device can be used, the preferred actuation device uses a rotary motor. Referring now to
Referring now to
The upper surfaces 95 of the flanges form a bearing surface for bearing against the undersurface 24 of the carrier head 23. In this embodiment it is intended that the carrier slide freely longitudinally along the flanges. However, as will be described below, the friction between the flanges, or other parts of the track, and the carriers can be adjusted to inhibit backward motion of the packets during a reset motion of the drive rack.
The track also has a pair of upper shelves 97,98 extending laterally inwardly toward one another to form a support for the drive rack 100. The upper shelves are spaced apart to form a gap 101 through which extends a plurality of equidistantly spaced apart flexible ratcheting fingers 102 from the bottom of the drive rack. The fingers can be made from rigid plastic formed into thin sheets to enhance flexibility. The fingers are pitched downward toward the front to contact the tops of the heads of the carriers 4. The width of the gap is at least as large as the lateral width of the ratcheting finger. The upper surfaces of the upper shelves form a bearing surface for bearing against the undersurface of the side ledges of the drive rack. The drive rack ledges slide freely longitudinally against the upper surfaces of the upper shelves as the rack moves forward 108 during a drive stroke and backward 109 during a reset stroke. Drive rack is moved forward by the push of the prong in the motor linkage. The rack is moved backward during a reset stroke through the force of one or more coil compression springs 105 housed within the track. One end of the spring bears against an endplate of the track and the opposite end bears against an endplate on the rack.
The track 30 also has a peripheral framework 99 to fix the positions of the upper shelves 97,98 and lower flanges 90,91 and to enclose and protect the moving parts of the track. The framework provides a pair of lateral interface grooves 110,111 to secure the track to corresponding laterally projecting tongues or adjacent crosspieces 64,65 formed into the ceiling of the cartridge.
As shown in
In
Referring now to
As shown in
In
It shall be understood that the static pawls can be replaced by a friction element that is overcome by the force of the rack during a drive stroke, but that is not overcome by the force on the carriers in a reset stroke. In other words, the amount of friction can be selected to prevent the carriers from moving backwards during the reset motion of the drive rack. As the ratchet fingers of the rack are drawn backwards over the carriers, they will tend to impart a slight force in the reverse direction. However, that force is insufficient in overcoming the friction selected. Such a frictional element can be implemented using a surface roughening of the guide surfaces described above. Conversely, during a drive stroke, the force imparted on the carriers easily overcomes the friction. In addition, the friction element can be selected to act more like the pawls, having a higher coefficient of friction against reverse movement of the carriers and a lower coefficient of friction against forward motion of the carriers.
While the exemplary embodiment of the invention has been limited to a three-by-four array of cartridges, it must be understood that much larger magazine can be used with corresponding increase in motors and actuators. The cartridges can be shaped to accommodate a variety of packages not necessarily of a rectangular geometry. The spacing and dimensioning of the track mechanisms may be adjusted to accommodate differently shaped and sized carriers.
Referring now to
As shown in
The carriers are engaged into a U-shaped oblong track 130 having parallel side walls 131, 132 and flanges 133, 134 projecting inwardly from the bottom edges of the walls. Each carrier shank 220 passes between the flanges 133, 134.
As more specifically shown in
The head of each carrier is engaged in a channel 123 defined between the ridge 135 and flange 133 where the lower section 141 of the head rides along and in intermittent contact with a drive rack 143 in the shape of a plate, and the upper section 140 rides along and in intermittent contact with a friction structure in the form of a locking rack 144 also in the shape of a plate. The locking rack is substantially commensurate with and in sliding contact with the drive rack, and positioned immediately above it.
Referring now to
The locking rack 144 has a series of uniformly spaced apart indentations 146 separated by substantially trapezoidal teeth along the edge facing and contacting the upper sections 140 of the heads 138. The indentations are shaped, dimensioned and positioned to capture the upper sections of the heads while the locking rack is held in a locking second crosswise location as shown in
As shown in
As the upper sections 140 of the heads 138 reach the ends of the side edges 290 of the teeth, the locking rack 144 can snap back into a locking second crosswise location as shown in
The movements of the drive rack 143 are controlled be a push rod 148 having a flat top surface 150 riding against the flat underside 149 of the drive rack. An opposite flat bottom surface of the push rod rides upon the flat upper surface 154 of the flange 134 of the track 130. A pair of short, oblong nibs 153a, 153b project upwardly from the top surface of the push rod into a corresponding pair of oblique grooves 151a, 151b cut into the drive rack. The nibs and the grooves are slanted at an angle of about 45 degrees to the travel axis X-X′ of the rod and racks.
As shown in
As shown in
The drive rack is shifted back into its driving first transversal position in engagement with the carrier heads under the resilient movement of a pair of cantilever springs 155a, 155b acting on a pair of corresponding stubs 157a, 157b extending downward from the underside 149 of the drive rack into windows 160a, 160b cut into the push rod. The springs 155a, 155b consist of thin tongues projecting axially from a wall of each of the windows.
The push rod, drive rack and locking rack are stacked below a support plate 161. The locking rack 144 and support plate are coupled together by a mechanism of nibs 163a, 163b, slanted grooves 162a, 162b, stubs 165a, 165b and springs 167a, 167b, similar to the ones between the drive rack and the push rod. This mechanism conveniently controls the translation of the locking rack from a locking first crosswise location to an unlocking second crosswise location. It shall be understood that the drive rack and locking rack can slide independently from one another
Referring now to
As shown in
Referring now to
As shown in
The backstop structure 305 extends upwardly beyond the top surface 350 of the locking rack 344 and has a flattened circular front surface 306 oriented substantially perpendicular to the elongation axis of the trench 302 and an opposite semi-hemispherically shaped back surface 307. A similar trench 352 is formed into the undersurface 351 of the support plate 361 and oriented so that the backstop 355 of the support plate intimately and slidingly engages the trench 302 of the locking rack, and the backstop 305 of the locking rack intimately and slidingly engages the trench 352 of the support plate when the support plate and locking rack are brought together. The interface of the two mated trench and backstop structures forms a substantially cylindrical encasement for containing a coil spring 310 having ends 311 bearing against the circular inner surfaces of the respective backstops.
In this way, the spring 310 biases the locking rack 344 toward a second locking crosswise location where the coil spring is in an uncompressed state as shown in
As shown in
Referring now to
As shown in
Referring now to
Referring now to
Thus the upper surfaces 427,428 of the lower flanges form a bearing surface for the undersurface 419 of each carrier head 416. The undersurfaces 429,430 of the lower flanges form a bearing surface against which the sled braking mechanism operates, described in detail below. In this embodiment it is intended that the carriers slide freely longitudinally within the elongated channel in absence of any enhanced friction-inducing structure between the heads and the flanges, or other parts of the track, which would serve to inhibit backward motion of the packets during a reset motion of the drive rack. The presence of the self-braking sled 405 eliminates this requirement. In this way the friction of the track in the forward direction against the queue of items can be kept to a minimum.
The track 409 also has a pair of internal upper shelves 431,432 extending laterally inwardly from a medial portion of the sidewalls 421,422 toward one another to form support for the longitudinally reciprocating drive rack 410. The upper shelves are laterally spaced apart to form a gap 433 through which extends a plurality of equidistantly longitudinally spaced apart rigid ratcheting prominences 406 from the bottom surface 435 of the crenelated drive rack. The drive rack and prominences can be made from a unitary piece of rigid plastic to enhance durability. The width of the gap 433 is at least as large as the lateral width of the ratcheting prominences 406. The upper surfaces of the upper shelves form a bearing surface for bearing against the undersurface of the side ledges 438,439 of the drive rack. The drive rack ledges slide freely longitudinally against the upper surfaces of the upper shelves as the rack moves forward 408 during a drive stroke and backward 480 during a reset stroke. Lateral movement of the drive rack, carrier heads, and drive sled are restricted by the inner surface of the track side walls.
The drive rack 410 is moved longitudinally forward 408 during a drive stroke by the push on its rear, or proximal end 440 by the prong in the motor linkage as described earlier in connection with
Referring now to
During a drive stroke the crenelated drive rack 410 is caused to slide forward 408 along the track 409. The sled 405 uses a spring loaded pawl 455 which is biased upwardly against the rack by a compression spring 456 loaded in opposing hollow cylindrical trenches in the pawl body and sled body. The distal tip 457 of the pawl is sized, shaped, oriented and located to catch in the crook 458 of one of a series of spaced apart prominences 459 extending downwardly from the bottom surface 411 of the drive rack 410. Each of the prominences has a substantially sawtooth-shaped cross-section to facilitate grabbing hold of the sled pawl during the drive stroke, and sliding over the sled pawl during a reset stroke. Thus the sled is pushed forward along with the drive rack, pushing the queue of items from behind and resulting in the ejection of the front-most item in the queue.
During a reset stroke, the sled 405 is immobilized with respect to the track 409 by an automatically engaging brake mechanism 461 formed by a transversely oriented substantially cylindrical wedging post 462 having a major axis 463. The post is made from a material that can frictionally wedge against the underside 429,430 of the lower flanges 425,426 of the track. The post is mounted through a pair of aligned oval foramen 464,465 through the lateral side walls of the sled body 450 so that the major axis 463 of the post is transverse to the longitudinal axis 402 of the track. The oval foramen are oriented at an angle A with the horizontal so that the front end 466 of the foramen is upward and the rear end 467 of the foramen is downward. A leaf spring 470 biases the post toward the front, upper end of the foramen so that the post rests against the underside of the lower flanges. The leaf spring contacts the post along a central circumferential groove 471 to prevent movement of the post along its major axis 463. The leaf spring is held in place by engaging a hole 469 through the sled body. During a reset stroke, any slight rearward movement of the sled causes the post to ride further up the foramen and wedge more tightly against the undersurface 419,420 of the track. This acts to increase friction between the post and track and thus brake the rearward motion of the sled. With the sled remaining in place, the reset motion 480 of the drive rack 410 moves the angled ramp 481 of the next successive prominence 482 onto the pawl 455 causing it to retract into its passageway 459. The rack continues to slide over the stationary sled until the pawl tip 457 snaps back into the next gap 483 between adjacent prominences.
During a drive stroke on the other hand, contact between the post 462 and track 409 causes the post to move substantially rearwardly 480 in the foramen and thus downwardly away from the track, thereby de-wedging it and reducing friction, thereby allowing the sled 405 to be driven forward 408 in an un-braked manner.
A swing arm 490 is hingedly mounted at its upper end 491 to the sled body 450. A weight 492 is secured to its lower end 493 to keep the swing arm in a substantially vertical orientation. An endstop 494 prevents the lower end of the swing arm from swinging forward. Rearward swinging of the lower end causes the swing arm to contact the post 462 and push it rearward 480 in the oval slot toward an unlocking position. An arcuate notch 495 in the swing arm adjusts when that contact will occur. Simultaneously, rearward swinging of the swing arm will also cause a prong 496 projecting forwardly from the upper end 491 of the swing arm to contact a lower ledge 497 on the hinged pawl 455, and push it downwardly, thus retracting the pawl into its passageway 459 and away from the prominences 459,482 of the drive rack 410. This effectively disengages the pawl and braking mechanisms on the sled allowing it to slide freely along the track. The weighted swing arm also effectively disengages the sled from the drive rack when the track is tilted in a front up orientation. This allows the sled to slide freely off the back of the track to facilitate a cartridge refill operation. The swing arm also acts as an easily graspable handle for a service person to manually remove or change the position of the sled.
While exemplary embodiments of the invention have been described, modifications can be made and other embodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.
This is a continuation-in-part of International Patent Application No. PCT/US2010/032618, filed Apr. 27, 2010 designating the United States, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/234,606, filed Aug. 17, 2009, and a continuation-in-part of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/173,575, filed Apr. 28, 2009.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2311449 | Lilly | Feb 1943 | A |
| 2880904 | Linthicum | Apr 1959 | A |
| 4134520 | Collins et al. | Jan 1979 | A |
| 4146150 | Low et al. | Mar 1979 | A |
| 4336892 | Cox et al. | Jun 1982 | A |
| 6691891 | Maldonado | Feb 2004 | B2 |
| 6875539 | Ophardt | Apr 2005 | B2 |
| 7258061 | Campbell et al. | Aug 2007 | B2 |
| 20040000558 | Parra | Jan 2004 | A1 |
| 20060074524 | Chirnomas | Apr 2006 | A1 |
| 20090057333 | Simson et al. | Mar 2009 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 0988787 | Apr 1965 | GB |
| 2300415 | Nov 1996 | GB |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20120024885 A1 | Feb 2012 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61234606 | Aug 2009 | US | |
| 61173575 | Apr 2009 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/US2010/032618 | Apr 2010 | US |
| Child | 12913740 | US |
