The present application relates to footwear, and more particularly to a sole assembly for an article of footwear.
A conventional article of footwear includes an upper and a sole assembly. The general function of the upper is to receive the wearer's foot and secure it to the sole assembly. Uppers are available in a wide variety of shapes and styles for forming a broad range of categories of footwear, such as casual shoes, dress shoes, athletic shoes, work boots, dress boots, outdoor boots, casual sandals, dress sandals and performance sandals. The sole assembly is affixed to the undersurface of the upper and its general function is to provide traction and a layer of protection for the wearer's foot. The sole assembly can be designed not only to protect the foot from contact with the ground, but also to provide improved comfort and support for the foot.
The tread of the sole assembly (or ground contacting surface) may vary from application to application or based on the category of footwear. In many cases, the tread includes one or more ground contacting features, such as lugs, that provide traction for the wearer's foot. The ground contacting features may project from a base surface of the sole assembly so that some but not all portions of the tread contact the ground. Otherwise, if the entire surface of the base surface contacts the ground, slippage may occur particularly on wet surfaces. The ground contacting features may include a ground contacting surface and a sidewall surface joined with the base surface and the ground contacting surface, thereby providing a sipe to facilitate traction. The spacing of the ground contacting features and sipes may depend on the application—in the case of hiking applications where rocky terrain may be encountered as opposed to walking shoes for flat pavement, the spacing between the ground contacting features or sipe size may be greater to enable greater stability and traction with respect to the rock terrain.
Conventional design and manufacture of the sole assembly is a laborious process in which a designer hand draws the ground contacting features until satisfied or the sole assembly complies with the use case or category of the sole assembly as discussed herein—e.g., hiking, walking, or running. The look and feel of the outsole is also a factor the designer accounts for in designing the sole assembly. This process of hand drawing the sole assembly can take many hours and involve many revisions.
The present disclosure is directed to an article of footwear and a method of designing an article of footwear for manufacture. The article of footwear may include a plurality of shapes formed from a common shape family, with at least one of the plurality of shapes being based on distorting or morphing of key shapes within the common shape family.
In one embodiment, the method is provided for designing an article of footwear including an upper and a sole assembly secured to the upper. The method includes providing a sole model representative of the sole assembly of the article of footwear, where the sole model defines a ground contacting surface of the sole assembly. The method may involve defining, for the sole model, a morphing zone with a first shape based on a common shape family, wherein the common shape family includes at least two key shapes that share a common set of vertices of a grid. The at least two key shapes are shaped differently such that a position of a first common vertex for one key shape is different from the position of the first common vertex for another key shape. The method may also include arranging the first shape based on the common shape family in the morphing zone, and determining a position for each vertex of the common set of vertices for the first shape by interpolating between corresponding vertices of the at least two key shapes of the common shape family. In this way, the first shape may be a distorted version of the at least two key shapes.
In another embodiment, an article of footwear is provided. The article of footwear may include an upper configured to receive a foot, and a sole assembly secured to the upper. The sole assembly may include an outsole configured to provide traction with respect to a ground surface, and may be positioned between the foot and the ground surface.
The outsole may include a lug zone that provides traction for at least a part of the outsole, where the lug zone includes a plurality of lugs that project from a base surface of the outsole to provide a ground contacting surface. The plurality of lugs in the lug zone being formed from a lug family defined by a common set of vertices.
The lug family may be defined by at least two key lugs that share the common set of vertices, where the common set of vertices includes a first common vertex, and where a shape of each of the at least two key lugs is different such that a position of the first common vertex for one key lug is different from the position of the first common vertex for another key lug.
The plurality of lugs projecting from the base surface of the outsole may include a deformed lug that is a deformed version of the at least two key lugs, where deformation of the at least two key lugs is defined by interpolation of positions between corresponding vertices in the common set of vertices for the at least two key lugs.
In yet another embodiment, a system for producing an article of footwear is provided with a sole design interface, a layout module, a morphing module, and a manufacturing system. The sole design interface may generate a sole model for the article of footwear, and may include the layout module and the morphing module.
The layout module may be configured to facilitate, based on user input, defining a shape path for a plurality of shapes from a common shape family. The shape path may include a start and an end, and may be defined prior to or after placement of the plurality of shapes. The common shape family may define a common vertex set for each shape based on the common shape family.
The morphing module may be configured to determine a surface contour of at least one shape of the plurality of shapes disposed on the shape path, and may be configured to determine the surface contour based on interpolation of the common vertex set for at least two key shapes from the common shape family. This way, the shape may be a distorted version of the at least two key shapes.
The manufacturing system in one embodiment may be configured to generate a sole assembly based on the sole model with the plurality of shapes disposed on the shape path.
Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of operation or to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention may be implemented in various other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in alternative ways not expressly disclosed herein. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items and equivalents thereof. Further, enumeration may be used in the description of various embodiments. Unless otherwise expressly stated, the use of enumeration should not be construed as limiting the invention to any specific order or number of components. Nor should the use of enumeration be construed as excluding from the scope of the invention any additional steps or components that might be combined with or into the enumerated steps or components.
An article of footwear and a method of designing an article of footwear for manufacture are provided. The article of footwear may include a plurality of shapes (e.g., sole assembly shapes) formed from a common shape family, with at least one of the plurality of shapes being based on distorting or morphing key shapes within the common shape family. The plurality of shapes may be arranged within a morphing zone, optionally according to a shape path within the morphing zone. The shapes, in one embodiment, may be lugs or traction features of a sole assembly. As an example, the lugs or traction features may be formed on an outsole of the sole assembly. In another embodiment, the shapes may define zones or chunks of the sole assembly.
The common shape family may include two or more key shapes having a common set of vertices from which a new shape can be interpolated. For instance, the position of a first vertex for one key shape may be different from the position of this first vertex for another key shape. A new position for the first vertex may be determined based on interpolation of the positions of the first vertex for the two key shapes. This is one example of interpolation; several other examples are described herein.
I. Overview
An article of footwear according to one embodiment is shown in
The outsole 22, as described herein, may form a tread constructed to contact the ground for traction purposes during use. The outsole 22 in the illustrated embodiment may include a base surface 102 from which one or more features or shapes project to provide a traction surface for the outsole 22. The illustrated embodiment includes a plurality of lugs, several of which are designated 100, that project from the base surface 102 and include a ground contacting surface. Each of the plurality of lugs includes a sidewall that extends from the base surface 102 to the ground contacting surface. The base surface 102 may include features or shapes that do not project to provide a primary traction surface but rather provide other aesthetic or functional aspects, such as grooves for controlling flex of the outsole during use or sipes to direct water, or both. The term “primary traction surface” refers to the ground contacting surface or surfaces of the outsole assembly 22 constructed to provide traction on even ground. The term “secondary traction surface” refers to a surface or surfaces of the outsole assembly 22 that substantially intersect a plane closer to the upper surface than a plane defined by the primary traction surface. The secondary traction surface may provide traction with respect to uneven ground and/or upon deflection of the outsole in response to the primary traction surface contacting the ground. The base surface 102 in one embodiment may include one or more features, such as the base features designated 110 in the illustrated embodiment of
In the illustrated embodiment of
The shape of each lug 100 in the illustrated embodiments of
In the illustrated embodiments of
In one embodiment, the midsole 24 may include a plurality of shapes or features disposed internal (e.g., substantially not visible to the wearer) to the midsole 24 or external along one or more sides of the article of footwear 10, such as the heel area, toe area, medial side, or lateral side. The term “medial” refers to the inward side of the article of footwear or the side facing the other shoe. The term “lateral” refers to the outward side or the side of the shoe opposite the medial side. The shapes or features of the midsole may provide aesthetic and/or functional contours on the exterior surface of the midsole. As an example, the shapes or features of the midsole may include trim or other structural detail that may be aesthetic as well as provide controlled compression of the midsole 24 during use. The structural detail may include grooves that enable controlled compression of the exterior surface of the midsole 24 so that creasing of the exterior surface can be controlled to occur at or near a particular location.
II. Key Shapes and Common Shape Families
As described herein, shapes or features incorporated into the sole assembly 20 may be based on a common shape family defined by one or more key shapes. The illustrated embodiment of
As discussed herein, a blend shape or new shape (not previously defined) may be generated as a morph or blend between two or more key shapes in the common shape family 300. In one embodiment, the blend shape may be based on modifications of a single shape associated with the common shape family 300—with modifications or blending defined by two or more key shapes of the common shape family 300. The single shape can be modified according one or more family parameters, such as height, size, target shapes or positions (including for example the peak or depth of a divot in the shape). As described herein, the blend shape can be manually placed in an area of a sole assembly 20, or the single shape of the common shape family 300 may be placed in an area of the sole assembly 20 and then modified to arrive at the blend shape at the location of placement.
For purposes of disclosure, the blend process for the single shape of the common shape family 300 will be described in conjunction with a plurality of controls or sliders that facilitate modification. It should be understood that a different process may be utilized. The plurality of controls may allow a designer to affect one or more parameters of the single shape in relation to two or more key shapes in the common shape family 300. The plurality of controls may be considered influencers respectively associated with a numeric value of an associated parameter.
The one or more parameters may include an independent property that is independent of the common shape family 300, including for example height, width, or size, or a combination thereof. Additionally, or alternatively, the one or more parameters may include a dependent property that is dependent on aspects of two or more key shapes in the common shape family 300, such that the numeric value may represent a balance between properties or positions of two or more key shapes. For instance, the numeric value may be representative of a similarity index between two or more key shapes, such as whether the blend shape is 60% similar (similarity index) to one key shape but 15% and 25% (similarity indices) respectively similar to two other key shapes. The position calculation for vertices may be based on linear interpolation with respect to the two or more key shapes, weighted by the similarity index. As another example, influencers for a numeric value can be a function of modifiers related to the common shape family 300. Example modifiers that can be defined by the designer include divot, curves, twists, sharpness, rotation, size, and sheer (e.g., offset, slope, or wrap).
Interpolation, conducted by a morphing engine or module, with respect to a vertex may be based on values for each of the plurality of controls and the respective effect of each control on the vertex position. This way, starting with the similarity index example, the additional controls that affect the area of influence associated with the vertex (e.g., sharpness) may affect the interpolation calculation for the position of the vertex.
It is worth noting that a control need not affect the entirety of a shape. Areas of influence may be defined with respect to a control. For instance, a modifier may be applied to one or more areas of a shape so that only a portion of the shape is modified according to the control.
Any number of morphing or blending techniques may be utilized, including conventional morphing techniques utilized in animation technology. However, the morphing capabilities may be targeted toward generating blend shapes distributed in space or physically manifested as opposed to being utilized to generate changes over time.
It should be understood that, as the number of influencers or controls that are adjusted increases, the amount of variance in a blend shape from one or more key shapes may increase as well. This may increase the dimension of variance allowed with respect to the new shape based on the common shape family 300. The illustrated embodiment of
For instance, the blend shape 1210 is identified as having similarity indices indicative of greater similarity to the first and second key shapes 1201, 1202, and therefore is shaped more similar to these key shapes. In a likewise manner, the blend shape 1230 is identified as having similarity indices indicative of greater similarity to the second and third key shapes 1202, 1203, and therefore appears more similar to these key shapes over the first key shape 1201. The blend shapes 1220, 1222, 1224 illustrate the progression of variance as the position of the blend shape varies in similarity with respect to the key shapes of the shape family 1200.
In the illustrated embodiment of
For purposes of discussion in connection with this example, the second key shape 304 may be considered a new shape that is generated as a distortion or mix between the first key shape 302 and the third key shape 306. The first and third key shapes 306 may share a common vertex set, potentially with some vertices sharing the same position while others have different positions. As depicted in the illustrated embodiment, portions of the ground contacting surfaces 320 for the first and third key shapes 302, 306 include corresponding vertices that have the same positions, whereas several vertices of the third key shape 306 that define part of the ground contacting surface 320 have different positions in the first key shape 302 and define part of the sidewall 320 of the first key shape 302. The second key shape 304 or new shape for purposes of this example includes vertex positions that are an interpolation between corresponding vertex positions of the first and third key shapes 302, 306.
Interpolation or distortion between corresponding vertices may be calculated or determined in a variety of ways. In one embodiment, the position of each vertex may be defined by X, Y, Z coordinates. Coordinates for corresponding vertices may be interpolated to yield new coordinates for the corresponding vertex in a new shape. In one embodiment, the interpolation of the two coordinates may be linear interpolation of the midpoint between each axis of the coordinates. For instance, if one vertex is positioned at (2, 2, 2) and the other corresponding vertex is positioned at (4, 6, 8), linear, midpoint interpolation of these coordinates may yield a new coordinate of (3, 4, 5). Other interpolation techniques may be utilized such as polynomial interpolation, spline interpolation, or linear interpolation according to criteria other than midpoint calculation. It should also be understood that the interpolation technique for one axis of the coordinates may not be the same as the interpolation technique for another axis of the coordinates.
In one embodiment, a new shape (possibly to become key shape) may be generated by user-based distortion of a key shape. Examples of user-based distortions include bending, inflating, or undulating a portion of the key shape to yield the new shape. With the new shape and the key shape sharing a common set of vertices (e.g., the same vertex count), the morphing engine as described herein may interpolate the new shape and the key shape to yield another new shape that is a mix between the new shape and the key shape.
As depicted in the illustrated embodiment of
In the illustrated embodiments of
The illustrated embodiment of
The shape family 500 in the illustrated embodiment relates generally to a curved feature that can morph between a basic curved element to a zig zag element. Such a feature or a plurality of such features may be incorporated into a lateral sidewall or a medial sidewall, or both, of the sole assembly 20. The boundary of a shape zone may affect the size and shape of the feature or features from the shape family 500 that are incorporated into the shape zone. In the case of a single shape for a shape zone, the boundary may define the bounds for which a distorted version of one or more key shapes 502, 504, 506, 508 is determined from the shape family 500.
Turning to of
The shape family 600 in the illustrated embodiment relates primarily to a family of shapes for the heel section 632, but it should be understood that the present disclosure is not so limited and may relate to other parts of the sole assembly 620, such as a shape 633 for the instep section 634 or a shape 635 for the toe section 636, or both. The shape family 600 in the illustrated embodiment is shown with a single key shape 610—although more key shapes may be included in the shape family 600. As discussed herein, the one or more key shapes in the shape family 600 may share a common vertex set, which may enable interpolation between corresponding vertices of different shapes within the same family or according to one or more influencers.
The key shape 610 in the illustrated embodiment of
III. Sole Assembly Engine
A sole assembly engine in accordance with one embodiment for designing and modeling a sole assembly for manufacture is shown in
The sole assembly engine 710 may include one or more of the following: a processor 712, memory 716, and an input/output interface 714. The input/output interface 714 may include one or more input communication interfaces, including, for example, wired communication and wireless communication capabilities. Likewise, the input/output interface 714 may include one or more output communication interfaces, including at least one wired interface and at least one wireless interface, or any combination thereof. The processor 712 and memory 716 may be configured to facilitate layout and design of the sole assembly in accordance with one embodiment.
For instance, the processor 712 and memory 716 may be programmed to receive, via the input/output interface 714, user-based commands for arrangement of one or more shapes or features with respect to a sole assembly model. For instance, the user may utilize the input/output interface to identify a shape path or shape location for one or more shapes in accordance with one embodiment. The user-based commands may also identify zone or boundaries within which the one or more shapes are arranged.
In the illustrated embodiment, the sole assembly engine 710 is configured to communicate with a shape library 730 to obtain information related to a shape or its shape family. The shape library 730 may include data or information stored in memory for one or more shape families 732, each of which may include one or more key shapes 734. The shape library 730 may be a database stored in the memory 716. Additionally or alternatively, all or part of the shape library 730 may be accessible via communication with another processor, such as via a network-based server. In one embodiment, one or more key shapes 734 from the shape library 730 may be distorted with user-based input to form a new shape within the shape family 732. This new shape may be stored in the memory 716 as a key shape for the shape family 732, in the shape library 730 or separately as a temporary key shape of the shape family 732.
The one or more shape families 732 stored in the shape library 730 may correspond to one or more common shape families with a common vertex set, as discussed herein with respect to one embodiment. And, each key shape 734 in a shape family 732 may correspond to a key shape based on the common vertex set. The key shape may form the basis for a distorted version of the shape within the same shape family 732, such as a distorted lug of a sole assembly that is an interpolation between two shapes 734 of the shape family 732.
In the illustrated embodiment, the sole assembly engine 710 includes a layout module 750 and a morphing module 740. The layout module 750 may facilitate placement of one or more shapes forming part of the sole assembly 20, such as the one or more lugs 100. As discussed herein, the one or more shapes may be manually positioned and/or automatically generated and positioned for a shape path based on one or more manually positioned shapes and one or more key shapes in the same shape family as the manually positioned shapes.
To provide an example, layout of the sole assembly 800 in the illustrated embodiment of
In the illustrated embodiment, the designer may define one or more shape paths in each of the shape zones, including for example the shape paths 840, 842 depicted within the shape zone 830. A first lug 850 may be selected from the shape library 730 and manually positioned on the shape path 840. A second lug 852 may be selected from the same family as the first lug 850 and placed on the shape path 840 in a spaced apart relationship. The first lug 850 and/or the second lug 852 may be morphed or modified with the morphing module 740 to respectively form new shapes, possibly different from each other.
Based on the parameters of the first lug 850 and the second lug 852, including their shapes, the layout module 730 may generate a progression of shapes 860, 862 along the shape path 840. The progression of lugs 860, 862 may be based on a morphing gradient between the first lug 850 and the second lug 852. The morphing gradient may be determined based on the sizes and shapes of the first and second lugs 850, 852, as well as the distance between the first and second lugs 850, 852. This morphing gradient and the automatic placement of the lugs 860, 862 may be determined by the morphing module 740.
The shapes and shape paths utilized within the shape zone 830 may be from different shape families and are not limited to lug-type shapes. For instance, within the shape zone 830, the designer may define a shape path 842 adjacent to the shape path 840 for a type of shape different from the first and second lugs 850, 852. The designer may place a first shape feature 870 and a second shape feature 872 in a space apart relationship on the shape path 842. The morphing module 740 may determine a morphing gradient and in conjunction with the layout module 750 automatically place a progression of shape features 882, 884 between the first and second shape features 870, 872.
For purposes of disclosure, shape paths 840, 842 are described in connection with the illustrated embodiment of
To provide another example with respect to the sole assembly engine 710, including the layout module 750, layout of the sole assembly 900 in the illustrated embodiment of
In the illustrated embodiment, the forefoot zone 930 includes an outer lug shape path 940 that traverses the periphery of the forefoot zone 930. In one embodiment, a first lug 942 and a second lug 944 may be positioned on the lug shape path 940 in a spaced apart configuration. The first and second lugs 942, 944 may be selected from a shape family 732 of the shape family 730. The layout module 750, based on input from the designer, may position the first and second lugs 942, 944 within the forefoot zone 930. Based on further user input, layout module 750 in conjunction with the morphing module 750 may adjust one or more parameters of the first and second lugs 942, 944 in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein. For instance, the morphing module 740 may determine positions of the vertices of the first lug 942 based on adjustment to one or more controls or influencers for one or more areas of influence with respect to the first lug 942. This way, the first lug 942 may be modified according to the one or more controls and based on aspects of the underlying shape family associated with the first lug 942. For instance, the morphing module 740 may accept an input from the designer relating to curvature of the first lug 942 at the perimeter of the forefoot zone 930 to contour the first lug 942. Similar input and modification may be conducted by the morphing module 740 based on input from the designer.
Optionally, the layout module 750 and the morphing module 740 may determine a progression of shapes (e.g., lugs) along the shape path 940 between the first and second lug 942, 944. The progression may be based on the shapes of the first and second lug 942 (e.g., determining a shape gradient between the first and second lugs 942, 944), the shape path 940, and shape path boundaries 950, 952. The layout module 750 may determine a position of each shape in the progression based at least on the distance between the first and second lugs 942, 944, the size of each of the first and second lugs 942, 944, and a spacing factor determined by the designer. The layout module 750 in conjunction with the morphing module 740 may determine a physical shape of each of the lugs in the progression based on the determined positions, the shape boundaries 950, 952, and shape parameters of the first and second lugs 942, 944.
In one embodiment, each of the shapes disposed on the shape path 940 and between the first and second lugs 942, 944 may be positioned manually from the shape library 730. The shapes positioned on the shape path may be from the same or different shape families. Further, it should be understood that the first and second lugs 942, 944 may be from different shape families—although they are depicted from the same family in the illustrated embodiment. The layout module 750, based on user input, may enable placement of shapes from the shape library on the shape path 940 (which may not be defined prior to placement of the shapes). The morphing module 740 may enable the designer, based on user input, to control and morph each of the shapes positioned by the layout module 950 to form a new shape or a blend shape in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.
As depicted in the illustrated embodiment, the sole assembly 900 may include more than one shape paths for shapes. The shape paths may be defined before positioning the shapes or after positioning of the shapes in accordance with the designer's vision. For instance, the shape path 960 may be defined by placement with the layout module 750 of the shapes 962, 964. Optionally, the shape path 960 may be positioned by the designer with the layout module 750, and then the shapes 962, 964 may be positioned in accordance with the shape path 960.
Further examples of shape paths are depicted in the illustrated embodiment of
The illustrated embodiment of
Returning to the illustrated embodiment of
With a model of the sole assembly, the sole assembly engine 710 may encode and transfer information relating to the sole assembly model to a sole and/or footwear manufacturing system, described as a manufacturing system and designated 790 in the illustrated embodiment. The manufacturing system 790 may be configured to process the model information to generate a physical embodiment of the sole assembly model generated by the sole assembly engine 710.
A variety of manufacturing techniques may be utilized by the manufacturing system 790 for generation of the sole from the model. In one embodiment, the manufacturing system 790 may include an additive manufacturing system configured to produce the sole assembly from the model on demand. In this way, a consumer may purchase the footwear 10 from a point of sale, and the manufacturing system 790 may generate the sole assembly from the model in accordance with parameters of the same.
The consumer may provide user preference information at the point of sale related to the sole assembly construction. This user preference information may be provided as criteria to the morphing engine 740 to modify one or more shapes of the sole assembly. As an example, the user preference data may relate to a desired increase in lug height, such as a user preference for hiking over walking. This information may be provided to the morphing engine to adjust a lug height of one or more shapes in accordance with each shape's respective shape family. A model of the modified sole assembly may be provided to the manufacturing system 790 for on demand, customized manufacture of footwear 10 in accordance with the user preference information.
The user preference information may be obtained directly or indirectly, or a combination thereof, from the user. For instance, as noted in the preceding paragraph, the consumer may directly provide her preference for a particular type of use or lug height. Additionally, or alternatively, the consumer may indirectly provide user preference information via a survey (or questionnaire) and/or sensor information obtained with respect to the consumer. Sensor information may relate to any characteristic of the consumer, such as a gait of the consumer or a pressure map of the consumer's foot.
Examples of additive manufacturing systems that may be incorporated into the manufacturing system 790 are described in U.S. Provisional Appl. No. 62/538,341, entitled ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR HAVING A 3-D PRINTED FABRIC, filed Jul. 28, 2017, to VanWagnen et al., U.S. Provisional Appl. No. 62/511,626, entitled ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR, filed May 26, 2017, to Loveder et al., and U.S. Nonprovisional application Ser. No. 15/491,373, entitled FOOTWEAR POINT OF SALE AND MANUFACTURING SYSTEM, filed Apr. 19, 2017, to Loveder et al.—the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Directional terms, such as “vertical,” “horizontal,” “top,” “bottom,” “upper,” “lower,” “inner,” “inwardly,” “outer” and “outwardly,” are used to assist in describing the invention based on the orientation of the embodiments shown in the illustrations. The use of directional terms should not be interpreted to limit the invention to any specific orientation(s).
The above description is that of current embodiments of the invention. Various alterations and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention as defined in the appended claims, which are to be interpreted in accordance with the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents. This disclosure is presented for illustrative purposes and should not be interpreted as an exhaustive description of all embodiments of the invention or to limit the scope of the claims to the specific elements illustrated or described in connection with these embodiments. For example, and without limitation, any individual element(s) of the described invention may be replaced by alternative elements that provide substantially similar functionality or otherwise provide adequate operation. This includes, for example, presently known alternative elements, such as those that might be currently known to one skilled in the art, and alternative elements that may be developed in the future, such as those that one skilled in the art might, upon development, recognize as an alternative. Further, the disclosed embodiments include a plurality of features that are described in concert and that might cooperatively provide a collection of benefits. The present invention is not limited to only those embodiments that include all of these features or that provide all of the stated benefits, except to the extent otherwise expressly set forth in the issued claims. Any reference to claim elements in the singular, for example, using the articles “a,” “an,” “the” or “said,” is not to be construed as limiting the element to the singular. Any reference to claim elements as “at least one of X, Y and Z” is meant to include any one of X, Y or Z individually, and any combination of X, Y and Z, for example, X, Y, Z; X, Y; X, Z; and Y, Z.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62561885 | Sep 2017 | US |