Patent Application
20190161962
The present disclosure generally relates to blocking, and more specifically, to wood blocking for metal studs and methods of manufacture and use thereof.
Generally speaking, blocking is a term for the use of short pieces (blocks) of dimensional lumber in framed construction. Uses may include filling, spacing, joining, or reinforcing members. Blocking may typically be made from short off-cuts or defective, warped pieces of lumber. Blocking is also sometimes used by people in construction with the sense of a shim or spacer. Names for similar materials in other forms of English include dwang, nog, noggin, and nogging. Some blocking is used structurally like cross bracing between joists in a subfloor to prevent buckling and stiffen the floor. This use is also called block bridging, solid bridging, and solid strutting. Fire-blocking is a firestop. Blocks may be spacers between studs such as where an interior wall attaches an exterior wall and for framing corners such as a three-stud corner with blocking. Blocking may also be used for panel edge supports such as sheets of drywall or plywood also called back blocking.
Although the disclosure is not limited thereto, the blocking described herein, may be particularly useful for backing, also referred to as grounds. This type of blocking refers to pieces of wood or other material that run between wall studs in order to provide support and attachment sites for mounted hardware or trim such as cabinets, shelving, handrails, vanity tops without a cabinet underneath, bathroom towel bars, moldings, the like, etc. Properly installed blocking is easier to find for attaching wall hardware than studs alone. Once drywall, or any other material, covers the wall it can be difficult to find 2×4 studs for attachment, and the position of nails and screws must be adjusted to stud location. Thus, if blocking is installed at a uniform and predetermined height, attachment sites can be found without using a stud finder, and the blocking can be utilized anywhere along a wall at that height. This is particularly useful for installing upper cabinets in kitchens or bathrooms as they tend to be heavy and finding appropriate studs for installation can be difficult.
Currently, the practice of installing wood blocking for backing in metal studs, like in commercial construction, is a time-consuming process that requires the installers to make their own blocking. This is obviously very labor intensive and requires not only skilled labor, but also special tools, including power equipment, thereby requiring electricity to be run to the installation location. As such, there is clearly a need to provide wood blocking, and a method of manufacturing and installing thereof, that is quicker and easier to install.
In addition, because blocking may typically be created from scrap wood, or short off-cuts or defective, warped pieces of lumber, the quality and reliability of the backing may be inconsistent and/or weak. This may be especially problematic for providing backing for high weight applications, like handicap railing, and/or for providing backing for applications requiring specific rating, like fire rated materials. As such, there is clearly a need for a better quality and more reliable wood blocking material.
The instant disclosure of a wood blocking blank for creating wood blocking for metal studs and methods of manufacture and use thereof may be designed to address at least certain aspects of the problems discussed above.
Briefly described, in a possibly preferred embodiment, the present disclosure overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and meets the recognized need for such an apparatus or method by providing of a wood blocking blank for creating wood blocking for placement between metal studs. The wood blocking blank includes a panel of blocking material, like plywood, composites, or the like. The panel of blocking material may have an original length and a standard width. The standard width is sized to a nominal stud width configured to fit between the metal studs. A groove is cut down the entire original length of the panel of blocking material approximate a first side of the panel of blocking material. The groove is configured for orienting the first side of the panel of blocking material in a soft side of a first metal stud and a second side of the panel of blocking material against the hard side of an adjacent metal stud. The groove is sized to receive the lip of the soft side of the metal stud.
In select embodiments, the groove cut in the wood blocking blank may be a through dado running the entire original length of the panel of blocking material. The through dado may run across grain, or with the grain, from a top edge to a bottom edge. As an example, and clearly not limited thereto, the through dado may be approximately 0.3 inches deep by 0.75 inches wide along the entire original length of the panel of blocking material. In select embodiments, the center of the groove may be cut a distance from the first side of the panel that is approximately a width of the stud flange (like 1.25″, 1.375″, 1.625″, 2.0″, 2.5″, 3.0″, etc.). However, the width of the groove may be cut wide enough to receive the lip from multiple size widths of stud flanges.
One feature of the wood blocking blank disclosed herein may be that it can include a continuous stamp along the entire original length of the panel of blocking material. The continuous stamp may include repeated information of the blocking material that is configured to be visible on each piece of blocking created from the panel of blocking material. In select embodiments, the repeated information of the continuous stamp along the entire length of the blocking material may include, but is not limited to, a manufacturer, a rating of blocking material, and a location. The continuous stamp may be configured so that each piece of blocking created from the panel of blocking material may include at least the manufacturer, a rating of blocking material, and a location. In select embodiments, the continuous stamp may be positioned approximate the groove in the panel of blocking material in a horizontal orientation. Whereby, the continuous stamp may be configured to be visible when installed between the metal studs for inspection.
Another feature of the wood blocking blank disclosed herein may be that the length of the panel of blocking material may be configured to be cut to a desired height of blocking or left at the original length. In select embodiments, but not limited thereto, the length of the panel of blocking material may be configured to be cut in ninths, eighths, sevenths, sixths, fifths, fourths, thirds, halves, combinations thereof, or left at the original length. As examples, and clearly not limited thereto, when the original length is 48 inches, the cut lengths may be: approximately 5 and ⅛ inches when cut in ninths; approximately 5 and ⅞ inches when cut in eighths; approximately 6 and ¾ inches when cut in sevenths; approximately 7 and ⅞ inches when cut in sixths; approximately 9 and ½ inches when cut in fifths; approximately 11 and ¾ inches when cut in fourths; approximately 15 and ¾ inches when cut in thirds; approximately 23 and ⅞ inches when cut in halves; and approximately 48 inches when left at original length. As such, when the original length is 48 inches and the standard width is 15.75 inches, which is sized to the nominal stud width between the metal studs of 16 inches, the example blockings created may be, but are not limited to: a number five blocking of approximately 5 and ⅛ inches by 15.75 inches when cut in ninths; a number six blocking of approximately 5 and ⅞ inches by 15.75 inches when cut in eighths; a number seven blocking of approximately 6 and ¾ inches by 15.75 inches when cut in sevenths; a number eight blocking of approximately 7 and ⅞ inches by 15.75 inches when cut in sixths; a number ten blocking of approximately 9 and ½ inches by 15.75 inches when cut in fifths; a number twelve blocking of approximately 11 and ¾ inches by 15.75 inches when cut in fourths; a number sixteen blocking of approximately 15 and ¾ inches by 15.75 inches when cut in thirds; a number twenty-four blocking of approximately 23 and ⅞ inches by 15.75 inches when cut in halves; and a number forty-eight blocking of approximately 48 inches by 15.75 inches when left at original length. Other examples include, but are not limited thereto, when the original length is 48 inches and the standard width is 11.75 inches, 13.25 inches, 15.75 inches, 19.05 inches, or 23.75 inches being sized to the nominal stud width between the metal studs of 12 inches, 13.5 inches, 16 inches, 19.2 inches or 24 inches, respectively, the blockings created may be: approximately 5 and ⅛ inches by 11.75 inches, 13.25 inches, 15.75 inches, 19.05 inches, or 23.75 inches, when cut in ninths; approximately 5 and ⅞ inches by 11.75 inches, 13.25 inches, 15.75 inches, 19.05 inches, or 23.75 inches, when cut in eighths; approximately 6 and ¾ inches by 11.75 inches, 13.25 inches, 15.75 inches, 19.05 inches, or 23.75 inches, when cut in sevenths; approximately 7 and ⅞ inches by 11.75 inches, 13.25 inches, 15.75 inches, 19.05 inches, or 23.75 inches, when cut in sixths; approximately 9 and ½ inches by 11.75 inches, 13.25 inches, 15.75 inches, 19.05 inches, or 23.75 inches, when cut in fifths; approximately 11 and ¾ inches by 11.75 inches, 13.25 inches, 15.75 inches, 19.05 inches, or 23.75 inches, when cut in fourths; approximately 15 and ¾ inches by 11.75 inches, 13.25 inches, 15.75 inches, 19.05 inches, or 23.75 inches, when cut in thirds; approximately 23 and ⅞ inches by 11.75 inches, 13.25 inches, 15.75 inches, 19.05 inches, or 23.75 inches, when cut in halves; and approximately 48 inches by 11.75 inches, 13.25 inches, 15.75 inches, 19.05 inches, or 23.75 inches, when left at original length.
Another feature of the wood blocking blank disclosed herein may be that the blank and/or blocking created therefrom may be combined to create longer lengths. As an example, and clearly not limited thereto, a 48 inch blank and a 24 inch blocking may be combined for a total length of 72 inches, like for a toilet partition. As another example, an 8 inch blocking may be combined with a 5 inch blocking for a total length of 13 inches. A z-clip may be included between panel to panel connections for easier assembly.
In another aspect, the instant disclosure embraces a pallet of wood blocking. The pallet of wood blocking may generally include a first row of wood blocking bundles, a second row of wood blocking bundles, and a base pallet. The first row of wood blocking bundles on the pallet may have a first row width and a first row length. The second row of wood blocking bundles on the pallet may have a second row width and a second row length. As such, the base pallet may have a pallet width of approximately the first row width plus the second row width. The base pallet may also have a pallet length of approximately the first row length and/or the second row length. Whereby, the base pallet may be configured for supporting the first and second rows of wood blocking bundles side by side.
One feature of the pallet of wood blocking described herein may be that the pallet width may be small enough to allow the pallet of wood blocking to be pulled through a door. As an example, when the first row of wood blocking may have a first row width of approximately 15.75 inches and the second row of wood blocking may have a second row width of approximately 15.75 inches, the pallet width may be approximately 32 inches or less. As such, the pallet width of approximately 32 inches or less may be small enough to allow the pallet of wood blocking to be pulled through a standard 3/0 door (approximately 34.5 inches).
In select embodiments of the pallet of wood blocking disclosed herein, the first row of wood blocking may have the first row length being equal to an original length of a panel of blocking material and the first row width of a standard width of the panel of blocking material, and the second row of wood blocking may have the second row length being equal to the original length of the panel of blocking material and the second row width of the standard width of the panel of blocking material. Wherein, the base pallet may have a pallet width of twice the standard width of the panel of blocking material, and a pallet length of said original length of the panel of blocking material. Whereby, the base pallet may be configured for supporting the first and second rows of wood blocking bundles side by side.
In select embodiments of the pallet of wood blocking disclosed herein, the first row of wood blocking and the second row of wood blocking may include, but are not limited to: a single blank of the original length of the panel of blocking material; two bundles of the original length of the panel of blocking material cut in halves; three bundles of the original length of the panel of blocking material cut in thirds; four bundles of the original length of the panel of blocking material cut in fourths; five bundles of the original length of the panel of blocking material cut in fifths; six bundles of the original length of the panel of blocking material cut in sixths; seven bundles of the original length of the panel of blocking material cut in sevenths; eight bundles of the original length of the panel of blocking material cut in eighths; nine bundles of the original length of the panel of blocking material cut in ninths; or combinations thereof that equal the original length of the panel of blocking material. In select embodiments, the various bundles may include color coding for distinguishing or recognizing the size difference of each bundle. A weight of each bundle may be equal to a nominal weight of the panel of blocking material. As a result, a total weight of the first row of wood blocking and a total weight of the second row of wood blocking may be approximately equal to a row of the panel of blocking material. In addition, an area or square footage of each bundle may be equal to a nominal area or square footage of the panel of blocking material. As a result, a total volume or cubic footage of the first row of wood blocking and a total volume or cubic footage of the second row of wood blocking may be approximately equal to a row of the panel of blocking material.
In another aspect of the instant disclosure, a method of installing wood blocking between metal studs is disclosed herein. The method of installing wood blocking may generally include the step of creating the wood blocking blank for creating wood blocking for placement between metal studs, in any of the embodiments shown and/or described herein. As a result, the method may include the steps of cutting a groove down the entire original length of the panel of blocking material approximate a first side of the panel of blocking material. The groove may be configured for orienting the first side of the panel of blocking material in a soft side of a first metal stud and a second side of the panel of blocking material against the hard side of an adjacent metal stud, where the groove may be sized to receive the lip of the soft side of the metal stud. In addition, the method of installing wood blocking between metal studs may include the step of cutting the length of the panel of blocking material to a desired height of wood blocking or leaving the length of the panel of blocking material at the original length for the height of the wood blocking.
In select embodiments of the method of installing wood blocking, the step of cutting a groove down the entire original length of the panel of blocking material may include cutting a through dado running the entire original length of the panel of blocking material across grain from a top edge to a bottom edge, wherein the through dado may be, but is not limited to, approximately 0.3 inches deep by 0.75 inches wide along the entire original length of the panel of blocking material. In select embodiments, the groove may be cut approximately 1.5 inches at its center from the first side of the panel of blocking material.
In select embodiments of the method of installing wood blocking, the method may further include the step of applying a continuous stamp along the entire original length of the panel of blocking material. The continuous stamp may be applied including repeated information of the blocking material that is configured to be visible on each piece of blocking created from the panel of blocking material. The repeated information of the continuous stamp along the entire length of the blocking material may include, but is not limited to, a manufacturer, a rating of blocking material, and a location, wherein each piece of blocking created from the panel of blocking material includes at least the manufacturer, the rating of blocking material, and the location. The continuous stamp may be positioned approximate the groove in the panel of blocking material in a horizontal orientation, whereby the continuous stamp may be configured to be visible when installed between the metal studs.
In select embodiments of the method of installing wood blocking disclosed herein, the step of cutting the length of the panel of blocking material to a desired height of wood blocking or leaving the length of the panel of blocking material at the original length for the height of the wood blocking may include cutting the original length in ninths, eighths, sevenths, sixths, fifths, fourths, thirds, halves, combinations thereof, or left at the original length.
In select embodiments of the method of installing wood blocking disclosed herein, the method may further include the step of bundling the wood blocking into bundles of the wood blocking.
In select embodiments of the method of installing wood blocking disclosed herein, the method may further include the step of creating a pallet of the wood blocking from the bundles for transportation;
In select embodiments of the method of installing wood blocking disclosed herein, the method may further include the step of putting the wood blocking, the bundles, the pallet of wood blocking, or combinations thereof into a commercial estimate for calculating labor and material.
In select embodiments of the method of installing wood blocking disclosed herein, the method may further include the step of mounting the wood blocking between metal studs This step of mounting the wood blocking between metal studs may include, but is not limited to, the steps of: orienting the groove on the first side of the blocking in a soft side of a first metal stud, where a lip of the soft side of the metal stud is positioned in the groove; orienting a second side of the blocking against the hard side of an adjacent metal stud; and securing the wood blocking between the metal studs. In select embodiments, the step of securing the wood blocking between the metal studs may include: clamping the first side of the wood blocking to the soft side of the first metal stud; clamping the second side of the wood blocking to the hard side of the adjacent metal stud; attaching the first side of the wood blocking to the soft side of the first metal stud with fasteners; and attaching the second side of the wood blocking to the hard side of the adjacent metal stud with fasteners and a z-clip.
The foregoing illustrative summary, as well as other exemplary objectives and/or advantages of the disclosure, and the manner in which the same are accomplished, may become more apparent to one skilled in the art from the prior Summary, and the following Brief Description of the Drawings, Detailed Description, and Claims when read in light of the accompanying Detailed Drawings.
The present apparatuses, systems and methods will be better understood by reading the Detailed Description with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in which like reference numerals denote similar structure and refer to like elements throughout, and in which:
It is to be noted that the drawings presented are intended solely for the purpose of illustration and that they are, therefore, neither desired nor intended to limit the disclosure to any or all of the exact details of construction shown, except insofar as they may be deemed essential to the claimed disclosure.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Groove 26 may be included in panel 16 of blocking material 18. Groove 26 may be cut down the entire original length 20 of the panel 16 of blocking material 18 approximate first side 28 of the panel 16 of blocking material 18. Groove 26 may be cut into wood blocking blank 10 to make sure that each wood blocking 12 cut or made from wood blocking blank 10 includes groove 26 so that each wood blocking 12 can be oriented and mounted between metal studs 14. By cutting groove 26 into blank 10, prior to making each wood blocking 12, not only are a lot of time and resources saved (1 cut versus multiple cuts), but also the groove can be more consistent from one wood blocking 12 to the next. The groove 26 may be configured for orienting the first side 28 of the panel 16 of blocking material 18, or blocking 12 created therefrom, in soft side 30 of a first metal stud 32 and a second side 34 of the panel 16 of blocking material 18, or blocking 12 created therefrom, against the hard side 36 of an adjacent metal stud 35 (see
Continuous stamp 46 may be included as one feature of the wood blocking blank 10 disclosed herein. Continuous stamp 46 may be applied or printed on wood blocking blank 10 to make sure that each wood blocking 12 cut or made from wood blocking blank 10 includes the origination information of each wood blocking 12 made therefrom, like the desired information of what, where, how, ingredients, rating etc. wood blocking 12 was made. Continuous stamp 46 may be included at any position on panel 16 of blocking material 18. Continuous stamp 46 may be positioned along the entire original length 20 of the panel 16 of blocking material 18. The continuous stamp 46 may include repeated information 48 of the blocking material 18 that is configured to be visible on each piece of blocking 12 created from the panel 16 of blocking material 18. In select embodiments, the repeated information 48 of the continuous stamp 46 along the entire original length 20 of the blocking material 18 may include, but is not limited to, manufacturer 50, rating of blocking material 52 (i.e. treated, fire retardant, etc.), and location 54 (i.e. where the blocking material 18 was manufactured). The continuous stamp 46 may be configured so that each piece of blocking 12 created from the panel 16 of blocking material 18 may include at least manufacturer 50, rating of blocking material 52, and location 54. In select embodiments, the continuous stamp 46 may be positioned approximate the groove 26 of the panel 16 of blocking material 18 in horizontal orientation 56. Whereby, the continuous stamp 46 may be configured to be visible when installed between the metal studs 14 for inspection. By placing the continuous stamp 46 approximate the groove 26, the blocking 12 may be cut at the second side 34 for various widths of metal studs 14, where the continuous stamp 46 may still be visible even when the blocking 12 is cut.
The wood blocking blank 10 disclosed herein may be that the original length 20 of the panel 16 of blocking material 18 may be configured to be cut to a desired height 58 of blocking 12 or left at the original length 20. In select embodiments, the original length 20 of the panel 16 of blocking material 18 may be configured to be cut in ninths 60, eighths 62, sevenths 64, sixths 66, fifths 68, fourths 70, thirds 72, halves 74, combinations thereof, or left at the original length 20. See
Another feature of the wood blocking blank 10 disclosed herein may be that the blank 10 and/or blocking 12 created therefrom may be combined to create longer lengths. As an example, and clearly not limited thereto, a 48 inch blank 10 and a 24 inch blocking 12 may be combined for a total length of 72 inches, like for a toilet partition. As another example, an 8 inch blocking 12 may be combined with a 5 inch blocking 12 for a total length of 13 inches. Z-clips 93 may be included between panel to panel connections for easier assembly.
Referring to
Referring now to
One feature of the pallet 100 of wood blocking 12 described herein may be that the pallet width 118 may be small enough to allow the pallet 100 of wood blocking 12 to be pulled through a door. This may allow for easy transportation and/or storage of pallet 100 and wood blocking 12 from various locations and jobsites. As an example, when the first row 102 of wood blocking 12 may have first row width 106 of approximately 15.75 inches and the second row 110 of wood blocking may have second row width 112 of approximately 15.75 inches, the pallet width 118 may be approximately 32 inches or less. As such, the pallet width 118 of approximately 32 inches or less may be small enough to allow the pallet 100 of wood blocking 12 to be pulled through a standard 3/0 door (approximately 34.5 inches). In select embodiments of the pallet 100 of wood blocking 12 disclosed herein, the first row 102 of wood blocking bundles 104 may have the first row length 108 being equal to original length 20 of panel 16 of blocking material 18 and first row width 106 of standard width 22 of the panel 16 of blocking material 18, and the second row 110 of wood blocking bundles 104 may have the second row length 114 being equal to the original length 20 of the panel 16 of blocking material 18 and the second row width 112 of the standard width 22 of the panel 16 of blocking material 18. Wherein, the base pallet 116 may have pallet width 118 of twice the standard width 22 of the panel 16 of blocking material 18, and pallet length 120 of the original length 20 of the panel 16 of blocking material 18. Whereby, the base pallet 116 may be configured for supporting the first and second rows 102, 110 of wood blocking bundles 104 side by side.
In select embodiments of the pallet 100 of wood blocking 12 disclosed herein, the first row 102 of wood blocking bundles 104 and the second row 110 of wood blocking bundles 104 may include, but are not limited to: a single blank 10 of the original length 20 of the panel 16 of blocking material 18 (as shown in
Referring now specifically to the embodiment of pallet 100 shown in
Referring now specifically to the embodiment of pallet 100 shown in
A weight of each bundle 104 may be equal to a nominal weight of the panel of blocking material. As a result, a total weight of the first row 102 of wood blocking 12 and a total weight of the second row 110 of wood blocking 12 may be approximately equal to a row of the panel 16 of blocking material 18. In addition, an area or square footage of each bundle 104 may be equal to a nominal area or square footage of the panel 16 of blocking material 18. As a result, a total volume or cubic footage of the first row 102 of wood blocking 12 and a total volume or cubic footage of the second row 110 of wood blocking may be approximately equal to a row of the panel 16 of blocking material 18. As such, each pallet 100, row 102 and 110, purchased or required may be easily used for a commercial estimate for calculating labor and material.
Referring now to
Step 204 of cutting groove 26 down the entire original length 20 of the panel 16 of blocking material 18 may include step 208 of cutting through dado 40 running the entire original length 20 of the panel 16 of blocking material 18 across grain from top edge 42 to bottom edge 44. The through dado cut in step 208 may be, but is not limited to, approximately 0.3 inches deep by 0.75 inches wide along the entire original length 20 of the panel 16 of blocking material 18. In select embodiments, the center of the groove 26 may be cut a distance from the first side 28 of the panel 16 of blocking material 18 that is approximately a width of the stud flange. As examples, the center of the groove 26 may be cut approximately 1.25″, 1.375″, 1.625″, 2.0″, 2.5″, 3.0″, etc. from the first side 28 of the panel 16, to fit stud flanges with widths of 1.25″, 1.375″, 1.625″, 2.0″, 2.5″, 3.0″, etc. However, the width of the groove may be cut wide enough to receive the lip from multiple size widths of stud flanges. As such, as a first example, when the center of the groove 26 may be cut approximately 1.375″ from the first side 28 of the panel 16, the groove may be wide enough to fit stud flanges with widths of 1.25″, 1.375″, and 1.625″. As another example, when the center of the groove 26 may be cut approximately 2.5″ from the first side 28 of the panel 16, the groove may be wide enough to fit stud flanges with widths of 2.0″, 2.5″, and 3.0″.
Step 210 of applying continuous stamp 46 along the entire original length 20 of the panel 16 of blocking material 18 may be included in method 200 of installing wood blocking 12 between metal studs 14. The continuous stamp 46 applied in step 210 may be applied with repeated information 48 of the blocking material 18 that is configured to be visible on each piece of blocking 12 created from the panel 16 of blocking material 18. The repeated information 48 of the continuous stamp 46 applied along the entire original length 20 of the blocking material 18 may include, but is not limited to, manufacturer 50, rating of blocking material 52, and location 54, wherein each piece of blocking 12 created from the panel 16 of blocking material 18 may include at least the manufacturer 50, the rating of blocking material 52, and the location 54. The continuous stamp 46 applied in step 210 may be positioned approximate the second side 34 of the panel 16 of blocking material 18 in horizontal orientation 56, whereby the continuous stamp 46 may be configured to be visible when installed between the metal studs 14.
Step 206 of cutting the length 20 of the panel 16 of blocking material 18 to desired height 58 of wood blocking 12 or leaving the length 20 of the panel 16 of blocking material 18 at the original length 20 for the height 58 of the wood blocking 12 may include step 212 of cutting the original length 20 in ninths 60, eighths 62, sevenths 64, sixths 66, fifths 68, fourths 70, thirds 72, halves 74, combinations thereof, or left at the original length 20. See
Step 214 of bundling the wood blocking 12 into bundles 104 of the wood blocking 12 may be included in method 200 of installing wood blocking 12 between metal studs 14. See
Step 216 of creating pallet 100 of the wood blocking 12 from the bundles 104 for transportation may be included in select embodiments of method 200 of installing wood blocking 12 between metal studs 14. See
Referring now to
Referring now to
In the specification and/or figures, typical embodiments of the disclosure have been disclosed. The present disclosure is not limited to such exemplary embodiments. The use of the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The figures are schematic representations and so are not necessarily drawn to scale. Unless otherwise noted, specific terms have been used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation.
The foregoing description and drawings comprise illustrative embodiments. Having thus described exemplary embodiments, it should be noted by those skilled in the art that the within disclosures are exemplary only, and that various other alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within the scope of the present disclosure. Merely listing or numbering the steps of a method in a certain order does not constitute any limitation on the order of the steps of that method. Many modifications and other embodiments will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this disclosure pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Although specific terms may be employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments illustrated herein, but is limited only by the following claims.
