Patent Grant
6899349
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a snowboard binding for securing a boot to a snowboard.
2. Related Art
Conventional bindings for soft snowboard boots include strap bindings and step-in bindings. With strap bindings, one or more straps are used to secure the snowboard boot to the binding. With step-in bindings, one or more strapless engagement members releasably engage with the boot to secure the boot in the binding.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved binding for mounting a boot to a snowboard.
In one illustrative embodiment, a snowboard binding mechanism for securing a snowboard boot to a snowboard is disclosed. The mechanism includes at least one movable engagement member having an open position and at least one closed position wherein the engagement member is adapted to secure the boot to the snowboard. The at least one engagement member is biased toward the open position when in the at least one closed position.
In another illustrative embodiment, a snowboard binding mechanism for securing a snowboard boot to a snowboard is disclosed. The mechanism includes a first engagement member adapted to engage a first portion of the boot and to compensate for a thickness of any snow, ice or debris lying beneath a first sole portion of the snowboard boot. The mechanism includes a second engagement member adapted to engage with a second portion of the boot and to compensate for a thickness of any snow, ice or debris lying beneath a second sole portion of the snowboard boot independently of any compensation occasioned by the first engagement member as a result of any snow, ice or debris lying beneath the first sole portion of the snowboard boot.
In another illustrative embodiment, a snowboard binding for securing a snowboard boot to a snowboard is disclosed. The binding includes a base adapted to receive the boot. The base has a heel end and a toe end and defines a longitudinal axis extending in a heel to toe direction. A first engagement member is mounted to the base for movement, about an axis extending along the longitudinal axis of the base, between an open position and a plurality of closed positions wherein the first engagement member is adapted to engage a first portion of the boot when the engagement member is in each of the closed positions. A second engagement member is mounted to the base for movement, about an axis extending along the longitudinal axis of the base, between an open position and a plurality of closed positions wherein the first engagement member is adapted to engage a second portion of the boot when the engagement member is in each of the closed positions. A single handle is operably coupled to both the first and second engagement members. The handle is constructed and arranged to unlock the engagement members so that each one of the engagement members may move from the closed position to the open position.
In another illustrative embodiment, a snowboard binding for securing a snowboard boot to a snowboard is disclosed. The binding includes a base adapted to receive the boot. The base has a heel end and a toe end and defines a longitudinal axis extending in a heel to toe direction. A first engagement member is mounted to the base and is adapted to engage a first portion of the boot. A second engagement member is mounted to the base and is adapted to engage a second portion of the boot. The binding also includes a first locking mechanism mounted to the base for movement between a first unlocked position and a plurality of first locked positions wherein the first locking mechanism engages the first engagement member when the first locking mechanism is in each of the first locked positions and wherein the first locking member does not directly engage with the boot. A second locking mechanism is mounted to the base for movement between a second unlocked position and a plurality of second locked positions wherein the second locking mechanism engages the second engagement member when the second locking mechanism is in each of the second locked positions and wherein the second locking member does not directly engage with the boot.
In another illustrative embodiment, a snowboard binding for securing a snowboard boot to a snowboard is disclosed. The binding includes a base adapted to receive the boot and at least one engagement member movably mounted to the base between an open position and at least one closed position wherein the at least one engagement member is adapted to engage the boot. The binding also includes a handle operably coupled to the at least one engagement member. The handle is adapted to unlock the at least one engagement member so that the at least one engagement member may move from the closed position to the open position. The binding also includes a foot pedal operably coupled to the at least one engagement member. The foot pedal is adapted to unlock the at least one engagement member so that the at least one engagement member may move from the closed position to the open position.
In another illustrative embodiment, a snowboard binding for securing a snowboard boot to a snowboard is disclosed. The binding includes a base adapted to receive the boot. A first engagement member is mounted to the base for movement between a first open position and at least one first closed position wherein the first engagement member is adapted to engage a first portion of the boot. A second engagement member is mounted to the base for movement between a second open position and at least one second closed position wherein the second engagement member is adapted to engage a second portion of the boot. The second engagement member is adapted to move between the second open position and the at least one second closed position independently of the first engagement member moving between the first open position and the at least one first closed position. A single handle is operably coupled to both engagement members.
In another illustrative embodiment, a snowboard binding for securing a snowboard boot to a snowboard is disclosed. The binding includes a base adapted to receive the boot. A first engagement member is mounted to the base for movement between a first open position and at least one first closed position wherein the first engagement member is adapted to engage a first portion of the boot. A first locking mechanism is movable between a first unlocked position corresponding to the first open position of the first engagement member and at least one first locked position corresponding to the at least one first closed position of the first engagement member. The first locking mechanism locks the first engagement member in the at least one first closed position when in the at least one first locked position. A second engagement member is mounted to the base for movement between a second open position and at least one second closed position wherein the second engagement member is adapted to engage a second portion of the boot. The first engagement member is adapted to move between the first open position and the at least one first closed position independently of the second engagement member moving between the second open position and the at least one second closed position. A second locking mechanism is movable between a second unlocked position corresponding to the second open position of the second engagement member and at least one second locked position corresponding to the at least one second closed position of the second engagement member. The at least one locking mechanism locks the second engagement member in the at least one second closed position. An actuator is operably coupled to the first and second locking mechanisms. The actuator is adapted to move the first and second locking mechanisms to their unlocked positions without causing the first and second engagement members to move from their at least one closed positions to their open positions.
In another illustrative embodiment, a snowboard binding for securing a snowboard boot to a snowboard is disclosed. The binding includes a base adapted to receive the boot. At least one engagement member is movably mounted to the base between an open position and at least one closed position wherein the at least one engagement member is adapted to engage the boot. A non-metallic heel hoop is adjustably mounted to the base for movement in a forward and rearward direction relative to the base. The heel hoop is mounted at a location on the base such that no portion of the heel hoop extends forward of the at least one engagement member.
In another illustrative embodiment, a snowboard binding for securing a snowboard boot to a snowboard is disclosed. The binding includes a binding base adapted to receive the boot. A heel hoop is adjustably mounted to the binding base for movement in a forward and rearward direction relative to the binding base. The heel hoop includes a base portion that is adapted to at least partially underlie the sole of the boot when the boot is held within the binding.
Various embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
One illustrative embodiment of the invention is directed to a step-in snowboard binding mechanism for securing a snowboard boot to a snowboard. The binding mechanism includes at least one moveable engagement member having an open position and at least one closed position. When in the closed position, the engagement member is biased toward the open position. As a result, when a snowboard boot is not disposed in the binding mechanism, the binding mechanism automatically moves to the open position wherein it may readily receive the snowboarding boot.
Another illustrative embodiment of the invention is directed to a snowboard binding mechanism that includes first and second engagement members which engage first and second portions of the boot. Each engagement member includes an open position and a plurality of closed positions that can compensate for snow, ice or debris accumulated beneath the boot. The closed positions of the engagement members are independent, so that any variability in the thickness of snow, ice or debris may be separately compensated for.
Another illustrative embodiment of the invention is directed to a snowboard binding mechanism that includes engagement members that are adapted to rotate toward and away from the snowboard boot, and to engage with the boot. Advantageously, a single handle is operatively connected to both engagement members to facilitate ease of removal of the snowboard boot from the binding by simply requiring actuation of the single handle to cause both engagement members to disengage from the snowboard boot.
Another illustrative embodiment is directed to a snowboard binding that includes a handle operably mounted to an engagement member to unlock the engagement member. A separate foot pedal is operably coupled to the engagement member and can be employed to unlock the engagement member. Thus, once a rider has released one of his or her boots from its associated binding, the rider may then simply depress the foot pedal with the free boot to remove the other boot from the binding without having to bend down to actuate the handle.
Another illustrative embodiment is directed to a snowboard binding that includes first and second engagement members adapted to independently rotate between open and closed positions, and wherein a single handle is operably coupled to both engagement members.
Another illustrative embodiment is directed to a snowboard binding that includes first and second engagement members to engage with a boot and first and second locking mechanisms that respectively lock the first and second engagement members. An actuator is operably coupled to the locking mechanisms and is adapted to unlock the locking mechanisms without also causing the first and second engagement members to move to open positions.
Another illustrative embodiment is directed to a snowboard binding that includes at least one engagement member and a non-metallic heel hoop that is adjustably mounted to the base of the binding for movement in a forward and rearward direction relative to the base. The heel hoop is mounted at a location on the base such that no portion of the heel hoop extends forward of the engagement member.
Another embodiment is directed to a snowboard binding that includes a base and a heel hoop mounted to the base for movement in a forward and rearward direction. The heel hoop includes a base portion that is adapted to at least partially underlie the sole of the boot when the boot is held within the binding.
It should be appreciated that various combinations of the above-described embodiments of the present invention can be employed together, but several aspects of the present invention are not limited in this respect. Therefore, although the specific embodiments disclosed in the figures and described in detail below employ particular combinations of the above-discussed features of the present invention, it should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited in this respect, as the various aspects of the present invention can be employed separately, or in different combinations. Thus, the particular embodiments described in detail below are provided for illustrative purposes only.
Turning now to the figures, one illustrative embodiment of a binding 20 in accordance with the present invention is shown in
The embodiment of
In the embodiment shown, both of engagement members 26, 28 include first and second spaced-apart engagement fingers 30, 32 that are adapted to engage in at least one corresponding recess, such as first and second spaced-apart recesses, formed in the snowboard boot. The recesses may be provided in the lateral sides of the boot and may be formed in or otherwise provided by an interface, as described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/584,053, which is incorporated herein by reference. However, it should be understood that the invention is not limited in this respect, and that the binding of the present invention can be used with boots that are adapted in other ways to receive the engagement members 26, 28. Furthermore, although the use of two spaced-apart engagement fingers on one side of the boot is advantageous in that it strengthens the engagement between the binding and the boot, particularly when the boot recesses are formed in a plastic interface, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to a binding that uses an engagement member 26 with dual engagement fingers on one side of the boot. In addition, the present invention is not limited in this respect, as the engagement members need not be of the type that engages within recesses in the boot. In this respect, aspects of the present invention are directed to a locking mechanism that locks the engagement members 26, 28 in place, and can be employed with engagement members of numerous other arrangements, and is not limited to use with the engagement members 26, 28 shown in
To facilitate automatic movement of the engagement members 26, 28 from the open position to the closed position as the boot is stepped into the binding, each binding mechanism 24, 25 may include a trigger 34. In the embodiment shown in
In the embodiment shown, the binding includes a base 38 having a baseplate with the engagement members 26, 28 rotatably mounted to the base 38 for rotation between an open position, as shown in
As shown in
In the embodiment shown in
One embodiment of the invention is directed to a unique locking assembly for locking the engagement members 26, 28 in two or more closed positions. In the illustrative embodiment of
Movement between the open position, wherein the binding mechanism does not engage but is in a position to receive the boot, and the closed position, wherein the binding mechanism secures the boot, will now be described with reference to a single binding mechanism. Initially, the engagement member 26 is held in the open position due to the action of a bias spring 51 (FIG. 4). The bias spring 51 acts to bias the engagement member open over its full range of motion, so that it is always biased toward the open state, even when the lock assembly 44 secures the engagement member in one of its closed positions. The catch 48 is held in an open configuration (i.e., one where it does not secure the pin) by the interference of the catch pin 46 on an abutment surface 56 of the catch 48. As the engagement member 26 is moved downward, due to, for example, a boot stepping down on the trigger 34 to overcome the bias of the spring 51, the catch pin 46, being fixed to the engagement member 26, moves relative to the catch 48. Once the catch pin 46 moves past the abutment surface 56 (see FIG. 2), the catch 48 is drawn by the action of the biasing element (e.g., the spring 50) to rotate toward the catch pin 46. As a result, the catch 48 moves to a locked configuration wherein it engages with the catch pin 46 such that upward rotation of the engagement member 26 is prevented (see FIG. 3).
To move the engagement member 26 from the closed position to the open position, the catch 48 is rotated, for example, by actuating the handle 40, which may be coupled to the catch 48 as discussed below. Actuation of the handle overcomes the bias of the spring 50 such that the catch 48 rotates (counterclockwise in
The embodiment of the invention shown in
To provide the plurality of closed positions to compensate for snow, ice or debris, in one illustrative embodiment, the catch 48 is provided with a locking surface 60 that has a decreasing radius of curvature R (
To facilitate holding the catch pin 46, and consequently the engagement member 26, in one of the plurality of positions, in the embodiment shown, the locking surface 60 of the catch 48 is provided with a plurality of scallops 66. The scallops reduce the likelihood that the catch pin 46 will slip from engagement with the locking surface 60 due to the presence of water or ice on the locking surface 60 or the catch pin 46. In one embodiment, the scallops 66 have a geometry arranged to hold the catch pin 46 in a manner such that lifting forces acting upwardly on the catch pin 46 (i.e., as a result of lifting forces generated by the boot on the engagement member) tend to maintain the catch 48 in the closed position. In this respect, lifting forces tend to further seat the catch pin 46 within the scallop 66 in an over-center action, rather than causing the catch pin 46 to slip out of engagement with the catch. Thus, this provides an over-center locking assembly with multiple closed positions of varying tolerance for snow, ice or debris. It is to be appreciated, however, that the present invention is not limited in this respect, and that scallops need not be provided on the locking surface. In addition, although the embodiments disclosed herein are directed to binding mechanisms that compensate for snow, ice or debris, it should be appreciated that numerous aspects of the present invention are not limited in this respect, and can be used with binding mechanisms that employ a single closed position.
As previously discussed, to unlock the locking assembly 44 and thus the engagement members, the binding mechanism may include handle 40. As will be more fully described below, in the embodiment shown in
In one embodiment of the invention, the binding includes a feature that allows each binding mechanism to be cocked open so that the locking assembly unlocks without also causing the engagement members to disengage from the boot. This is advantageous because a rider may unlock the locking assembly without having to step out of the binding. Rather, the rider may step out when it is convenient, for example, after standing up from actuating the handle. In the illustrative embodiment of
In the embodiment shown in
Referring now specifically to
To facilitate disengagement of the catch 48 and the catch lock 80 as the engagement member 26 moves to the open position, the abutment surface 56 and the catch lock 80 are formed with complementary cammed surfaces 84 and 86. The cammed surfaces facilitate movement of the catch lock 80 behind the catch 48 to disengage therefrom (see FIGS. 7B-7D). When the catch lock 80 is moved out of the way and the catch pin 46 is in a position to hold the catch 48 in the open position, the binding engagement member 26 is reset to the open configuration wherein it is ready to receive the boot upon the boot stepping into the binding.
Although in the embodiment described, the abutment surface 56 and the lock 80 include cammed surfaces to facilitate movement of the catch lock 80, the present invention is not limited in this respect, as other suitable arrangements for disengaging the catch and resetting the engagement members 26, 28 may be employed.
Although the embodiment discussed above includes a cocking feature, several aspects of the present invention are not limited in this respect, as they can be employed with bindings not having a cocking feature.
Turning now to
In one embodiment of the invention, the binding mechanism is allowed to compensate for snow, ice or debris accumulation that may be thicker on one side of the boot sole than on the other by enabling independent movement of the engagement members 26, 28. In the embodiment shown in
The channel 90 in the shaft 70 serves at least one additional purpose. For example, the channel 90 allows the locking assembly 44 to be cocked open and to allow the handle 40 to be returned to its rest position after the locking assembly 44 has been cocked open. In this regard, when it is desired to move the engagement members 26, 28 to the open configuration, the handle 40 is pulled up such that the trailing edge 94 of the channel 90 will engage the tabs 92 of the catches 48 to rotate them in a direction away from the catch pin 46. In addition, because of the size of the channel 90 relative to the size of the tabs 92 on the catches 48, the handle 40 may be rotated downward to its rest position without causing the catches 48 to also move. In this regard, the leading edge 94 of the channel 90 (which was previously the trailing edge discussed above) does not engage with the tabs 92 on the catches 48.
It should be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention that employs engagement members that are independently lockable is not limited to the particular arrangement shown, as alternative arrangements for moving the catches independently of each other, as well as independently of the shaft 70, at least over certain ranges, may be employed. In addition, several aspects of the invention are not limited to employing independently movable engagement members.
In one embodiment of the invention, the binding is provided with a foot pedal 100 to enable the binding to be released by being stepped upon. The foot pedal 100 may also be keyed or otherwise attached to the shaft 70 to cause the shaft 70, and consequently the catches 48, to rotate into an unlocked position, thereby allowing the engagement members 26, 28 to rotate to the open configuration upon lifting of the boot relative to the binding. In the embodiment shown, the foot pedal 100 (
In one embodiment of the invention shown in
As discussed above, depending on the nature of the engagement member, it may be desirable to hold the engagement member in the open configuration to enable a boot to step into the binding. In one embodiment, the engagement member 26 is held open until a sufficient force is exerted on the engagement member 26 (e.g., via the trigger 34) to overcome the spring 51 that biases the engagement member to the open position. In another embodiment, as shown in
In the embodiment shown, the binding mechanism 200 includes an engagement member 202, a trigger 204, a catch pin 206, a catch 208 and a handle 210. In this embodiment, the two binding mechanisms are not coupled together, neither by a shaft nor otherwise. Unlike the embodiments described above, in this embodiment, the trigger 204 is movable relative to the engagement member 202. The engagement member 202 and trigger each is always biased toward its open position over its full range of motion. However, for the sake of clarity, the biasing elements are not shown in the figures, although the direction of the bias is shown by the arrows “A”, “B” and “C” in
Each binding mechanism 200 may include a frame 212. The frame 212 may be mounted directly to the snowboard 216. However, in the illustrative embodiment described, the frame 212 is mounted to a base 214, which, in turn, may be mounted to the snowboard using a hold-down disk (not shown) as described above. Alternatively, the frame 212 may be an integral component of the base.
The engagement member 202 is similar to the engagement member described with reference to
In the embodiment shown, the engagement member 218 is pivotally attached to the frame 212 for rotation about a pivot pin 222 between an open position (shown in
The trigger 204 is adapted to be stepped down upon by the boot 201 in order to move the binding mechanism 200 from the open configuration to a closed configuration. As shown in
In the illustrative embodiment shown, the trigger 204 is pivotally mounted to the engagement member 202 about a pivot pin 232, so that the trigger is pivotable relative to the engagement member. The trigger 204 is biased toward the open position as shown by arrow “A”. As will be more fully described hereinafter, the trigger 204 is rotatably mounted relative to the engagement member 202 over a limited range such that, after a certain degree of rotation of the trigger 204 relative to the engagement member 202, further rotation of the trigger will cause rotation of the engagement member 202 toward the closed position.
In the illustrative embodiment shown, the handle 210 may be actuated to unlock the binding mechanism 200 and thereby allow the engagement member 202 to disengage from the boot 201. Although the binding mechanisms that engage both sides of the boot may be identical, in an alternative embodiment, a handle 40 need not be employed on one of the binding mechanisms for reasons discussed below.
The binding mechanism further includes a locking assembly 255 to hold the engagement member 218 in at least one closed position. In the embodiment shown in
As with the embodiment described with reference to
As with the embodiment of
Movement between the open configuration, wherein the binding mechanism is in a position to receive the boot (see FIG. 10), and a locked configuration, wherein the binding mechanism secures the boot (see FIG. 12), will now be described.
Initially, the engagement member 202 is held in the open position due to the action of the spring or other biasing element acting in direction “B.” As the boot is stepped down upon the trigger 204 in a direction shown as arrow “D” (see FIGS. 10 and 11), the trigger 204 rotates relative to the engagement member 202 until a portion 270 of the trigger 204 engages with a portion 272 of the engagement member 202, so as to cause the trigger 204 and the engagement member 202 to move as a unit. The catch pin 206 then acts on an outer portion 274 of the catch 208, thereby causing the catch 208 to move (in a counterclockwise direction in
As best shown in
In the embodiment shown in
Thus, to open the binding mechanism 200, the handle 210 is rotated (in a counter clockwise direction in
As should be appreciated from the foregoing, in the illustrative embodiment of
False triggering cannot occur with the embodiment of
In the embodiment shown in
Another aspect of the invention is directed to a binding that includes a unique heel hoop and base interface. As in known systems, the heel hoop may support a highback. The highback may be movably mounted to the heel hoop for rotation in a heel-to-toe direction for adjusting a desired forward-lean setting, and/or can be rotated about a vertical axis into a desired lateral position. However, this aspect of the invention is not limited to use with any particular highback configuration.
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 15-18, the binding 20 includes a heel hoop 300 that is movably mounted to the base 38 in a manner further described below. The heel hoop 300 supports a highback 302 (
In one illustrative embodiment, the heel hoop 300 includes a curved back portion 320, which is contacted by a portion of the highback 302. As shown in
The snowboard binding described herein may be employed with various size boots. When used with the step-in arrangements discussed above, the boot is center-registered by engagement of the boot with the engagement members. Therefore, the boot is fixed in a longitudinal direction of the binding. Accordingly, in the embodiment shown, the position of the heel hoop is adjustable relative to the base 38 to accommodate various size boots while providing a snug fit between the highback and the boot. Thus, in one illustrative embodiment, the heel hoop 300 is movably mounted to the binding base, telescopes therewithin, and may be fixed in a desired position. As shown in
In the embodiment described herein, the side arms 322, 324 of the heel hoop each engages towers 326, 328 of the base 38. The side arms 322, 324 each includes a slot 340, 342 and the towers 326, 328 of the base each includes a corresponding hole 343, 345 (see FIG. 1). The slots and holes cooperate to receive a fastener (not shown) to secure the heel hoop 300 in the desired position. The fastener may be a nut and bolt arrangement or any other suitable fastener, such as tool-free fastener, as the present invention is not limited in this respect. A plurality of ribs 348, 349 (see
The heel hoop that supports the high back must withstand significant forces as a rider leans against the high back. In particular, a heel hoop may be used to efficiently transfer forces from the high back to the snowboard as the rider leans against the high back while compensating for torque induced stress applied to the heel hoop. In at least one conventional binding, to movably mount a heel hoop while compensating for torque induced stress, the heel hoop is attached to the base at attachment points that are both forward and rearward of the engagement members such that a long lever arm of the heel hoop extends forward of the engagement member. An example of such a heel hoop construction may be found in commonly assigned application Ser. No. 09/442,779 (assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,102,429).
In one embodiment of the present invention, the heel hoop 300 is adjustably mounted to the binding 20 in a manner such that no portion of the heel hoop 300 is attached forward of the engagement members. To provide adjustability, yet efficiently transfer forces to the board and enable the heel hoop and base interface to be able to withstand the large amount of torque induced stress imparted thereon, the heel hoop may be formed of a rigid material such as steel. Alternatively, the heel hoop 300 may be formed of a non-metallic material, such as plastic, and matingly engages with the towers 326, 328 and the binding base at a location that is behind the engagement members as shown in
In one embodiment, the heel hoop engages with the base at a plurality of locations to compensate for torque induced stress. One such location is at the interfaces 380, 382 (see
In one embodiment, a portion of the base 38 overlies a portion of the heel hoop 300, thereby providing yet another location where the heel hoop engages with the base. In the embodiment shown in
Although the embodiments shown herein include certain engaging configurations of the heel hoop and the base, the present invention is not limited in this respect as other engaging locations may be employed.
In one embodiment, the heel hoop 300 may include a base portion or cross member 330, which underlies the rider's boot and interconnects the opposing sides arms 322, 324. Thus, the cross member may be employed to enhance the structural integrity of the heel hoop 320 by joining the side arms in a relatively rigid manner. The cross member may also serve to transfer forces directly to the board. In this respect, as shown most clearly in
In one embodiment, the cross member 330 includes a forward portion 331 that slides over the base 38 within a mating recess 333. The binding may also include a heel pad 334 that may be suitably positioned on the upper surface of the cross member to eliminate any gap between the boot and the snowboard to enhance board response. In one embodiment, the heel pad 334 is mounted to the cross member 330 and may extend to the forward portion 331. The binding may also include a toe pad 336 (see FIG. 1), which may be mounted to the toe end of the base 38 to eliminate any gap between the toe area of the boot and the base. It is to be appreciated, however, that the present invention is not limited in this respect and that neither a heel pad nor a toe pad need be employed.
Although the adjustable heel hoop is described herein in conjunction with a step-in binding, the present invention is not limited in this respect, as the adjustable heel hoop may be employed with other types of bindings.
As discussed above, various combinations of the above-described embodiments can be employed together. However, these aspects of the invention are not limited in this respect. Therefore an aspect of the invention described with reference to a certain embodiment may be employed in other embodiments or in various combinations of other embodiments.
Having thus described certain embodiments of the present invention, various alterations, modification and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description is by way of example only, and not intended to be limiting. The invention is limited only as defined in the following claims and the equivalent thereof.
This application claims the benefit of and is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/650,271, filed Aug. 28, 2000 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,643,365.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| Parent | 09650271 | Aug 2000 | US |
| Child | 10442629 | US |
