Abstract:
Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a flexible boot for at least partially encompassing an electronic device. In one embodiment, the boot includes a rear panel and a sidewall extending from the real panel. The sidewall includes an inner surface, an outer surface, and a plurality of compressible hollow regions positioned between the inner surface and the outer surface. The rear panel and the inner surface of the sidewall at least partially define a cavity configured to receive the device. Other embodiments of the present disclosure provide a case for housing an electronic device. In one embodiment, the case includes an elastomeric boot and a rigid posterior portion defining an opening therethrough through which a portion of the boot extends. The boot includes a sidewall and is configured to receive the device such that the sidewall at least partially surrounds a plurality of lateral sides of the device.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of, and claims priority to and the benefit of, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/494,170, filed on Jun. 12, 2012, which is a continuation-in-part of, and claims priority to and the benefit of, U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/418,314, filed on Apr. 13, 2012, which issued as U.S. Design Pat. No. D683,338 on May 28, 2013, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Generally, this application relates to cases for portable electronic devices. A case may be used to protect a portable electronic device (or, more simply, a “device”). 
         [0003]    A case may be designed to attempt to protect a device from collisions or impacts. A case may be designed to attempt to protect a device from contaminants or contamination. Such contaminants or contamination may include liquids, particulates, heat, cold, moisture, humidity, dirt, dust, and/or any other externally generated influence that may compromise the functionality of the device. A case may also be designed to protect interactive parts of the device (for example, touch screen) from scratching. 
         [0004]    It may be desirable to have a case that provides improved protection from collisions/impacts, contamination, and/or scratching. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    A case for holding a portable electronic device includes an anterior portion, a posterior portion, a boot, a transparent covering portion, and a plurality of fasteners. The anterior portion may have a front surface, a back surface, and a screen window. The posterior portion may have a front surface and a back surface. The boot may be flexible and may fit around the portable electronic device. The boot may have a sidewall, a flange extending inwardly from the sidewall, and a rear panel. The sidewall may be between the anterior portion and the posterior portion. The transparent covering portion may have an outer edge, a front surface, and a back surface. The outer edge may be between the boot and the back surface of the anterior portion. The plurality of fasteners may fasten the anterior portion and the posterior portion. 
         [0006]    The case may include an audio port cover including an aperture, an arm extending from the aperture, and a plug on a bottom surface of the arm. The audio port cover may be secured to the case by a connection through the aperture. The arm may rotate about the aperture of the audio port cover and along a primary plane of the boot. The plug may engage in an audio port aperture in the sidewall of the boot. 
         [0007]    The case may include an audio port hollow region within the sidewall of the boot. The audio port hollow region may be located to allow access to an audio port of the portable electronic device. The case may also include an audio port aperture through the sidewall of the boot. The audio port aperture may be located to allow access into the audio port hollow region and to the audio port of the portable electronic device. The case may also include an acoustic piping aperture through the sidewall of the boot. The acoustic piping aperture may be located to allow sound to enter the audio port hollow region even when the audio port aperture is plugged. The case may have a bumper within the sidewall of the boot. The bumper may have hollow regions separated by partitions. The partitions may comprise a truss. 
         [0008]    The case may include vibration switch actuator, which may have a post and a cup. The cup may be located on a lateral surface of the post. The post may slidably extend through vibration switch actuator apertures in the sidewall of the boot. The cup may be arranged to interface with a vibration switch on the portable electronic device and switch the vibration switch ON and OFF as the post slides in and out. The vibration switch actuator may include an ON detent and an OFF detent. The boot may include a stop nub located to engage with the ON detent and the OFF detent. The stop nub may be arranged to alternately snap into the ON detent or the OFF detent. This may stop a movement the vibration switch actuator and provide a physical pulse to indicate a change in position of the vibration switch actuator. 
         [0009]    The boot may include wiper seals proximate the vibration switch actuator apertures in the boot. The wiper seals may be located to form seals with the vibration switch actuator. The posterior portion may include a rear window. The boot may also include a rear window and a rear window seal surrounding the rear window. The rear window seal of the boot may compress against the back side of the device. 
         [0010]    The sidewall of the boot may include at least one actuator (for example, volume up actuator, a volume down actuator, or a power actuator) arranged to receive an actuation force on an outer area of the sidewall and to translate the actuation force towards a switch on the portable electronic device. The anterior portion may include a lip configured to compress an outer region of the transparent covering portion against the portable electronic device. 
         [0011]    The case may include a communications interface door assembly including a communications interface door plug, wherein the communications interface door plug is configured to engage in a communications interface aperture in the boot sidewall of the boot. The communications interface door assembly may include a flexible hinged portion attached to the posterior portion and including a plug mating portion that receives the communications interface door plug. The communications interface door plug may be rigid. 
         [0012]    A boot for use in a case for a portable electronic device may include a rear panel and a sidewall extending from the rear pane. The side wall may include fastener apertures configured to receive a corresponding plurality of fasteners, an audio port hollow region located to allow access to an audio port of the portable electronic device, an audio port aperture located to allow access to the audio port hollow region, an acoustic piping aperture located to allow sound to enter the audio port hollow region even when the audio port aperture is plugged, a microphone aperture located to allow sound to pass through the sidewall to reach a microphone of the portable electronic device, a speaker aperture located to allow sound emanating from a speaker of the portable electronic device to pass through the sidewall, a communications interface aperture located to allow access to a communications port of the portable electronic device, and at least one actuator. 
         [0013]    The boot may also include an anterior portion groove configured to receive a ridge of an anterior portion, and a posterior portion groove configured to receive a ridge of a posterior portion. 
         [0014]    The sidewall may include hollow regions separated by partitions. The partitions may comprise a truss. The sidewall may also include an audio port cover recess configured to accept a portion of an audio port cover. The sidewall further may also include vibration switch actuator apertures located to receive a vibration switch actuator. The sidewall may also include a stop nub located to engage with an ON detent and an OFF detent of the vibration switch actuator. The sidewall may also include a plurality of wiper seals proximate the plurality of vibration switch actuator apertures, wherein the plurality of wiper seals are configured to form a seal with the vibration switch actuator. 
         [0015]    The rear panel may also include a rear window and a rear window seal on the front surface of the rear panel around the rear window. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0016]      FIGS. 1A-1G  illustrate different views of a portable electronic device case, according to techniques of the present application. 
           [0017]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate an anterior portion of a portable electronic device case, according to techniques of the present application. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  illustrates an audio port cover of a portable electronic device case, according to techniques of the present application. 
           [0019]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate a vibration switch actuator and a portion of a boot of a portable electronic device case, according to techniques of the present application. 
           [0020]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate different views of a boot portion of a portable electronic device case, according to techniques of the present application. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  illustrates a posterior portion of a portable electronic device case, according to techniques of the present application. 
           [0022]      FIGS. 7A-7C  illustrate a communications interface door assembly of a portable electronic device case, according to techniques of the present application. 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  illustrates a plurality of different example embodiments of the bumper of the sidewall of the boot including hollow regions having different shapes. 
       
    
    
       [0024]    The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of certain techniques of the present application, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purposes of illustration, certain techniques are shown in the drawings. It should be understood, however, that the claims are not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in the attached drawings. Furthermore, the appearance shown in the drawings is one of many ornamental appearances that can be employed to achieve the stated functions of the system. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    For purposes of continuity, this application generally refers to a case  100 . However, specific attributes of the case  100  may stand alone or may be part of a case having different attributes from case  100  or a case having only some of the attributes of case  100 . 
         [0026]      FIGS. 1A-1G  illustrate different views of a portable electronic device case  100  (or, more simply, “case”), according to techniques of the present application.  FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of the front of the case  100 .  FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of the rear of the case  100 .  FIG. 1C  is an elevation view of the front of the case  100 .  FIG. 1D  is an elevation view of the rear of the case  100 .  FIG. 1E  is an exploded cross-sectional view of the case  100 .  FIG. 1F  is a cross-sectional view of the case  100 .  FIG. 1G  is an exploded perspective view of the case  100 . 
         [0027]    The case  100  may include an anterior portion  110 , a receiver lens  120 , a transparent covering portion  130 , an audio port cover  140 , a vibration switch actuator  150 , a boot  160 , a posterior portion  170 , and a communications interface door assembly  180 . The case  100  may be designed to accommodate a portable electronic device  10  (or, more simply, “device”), such as a smart phone. While not limiting, the figures generally show a case  100  that accommodates the iPhone® 4 or 4S. 
         [0028]    Generally, the case  100  may protect the device  10  from contamination. The device  10  may fit into the boot  160 . The transparent covering portion  130  may be aligned over the screen of the device  10 . The anterior and posterior portions  110 ,  170 , may sandwich the boot  160  and the transparent covering portion  130 . Thus, the boot  160  and the transparent covering portion  130  may be between the anterior portion  110  and posterior portion  170 . By “between,” it should be understood that the boot  160  and the transparent covering portion  130  need not be completely between or directly abutting the anterior portion  110  and/or posterior portion  170 . The boot  160  and transparent covering portion  130  may be between the anterior portion  110  and the posterior portion if only a portion of the boot  160  and transparent covering portion  130  is between the anterior portion  110  and/or the posterior portion  170 . The boot  160  and transparent covering portion  130  may be between the anterior portion  110  and/or the posterior portion  170  if the boot  160  and transparent covering portion  130  are between only a portion of the anterior portion  110  and/or the posterior portion  170 . Fasteners  101  (for example, bolts or socket head bolts) may be used to compress the device  10  and different parts of the case  100  together to enclose the device  10 . 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIGS. 1E and 1F , the device  10  may fit in the boot  160 . The anterior portion  110  and the posterior portion  170  may fit on or mate with the boot  160 . The transparent covering portion  130  may lie over the device  10 . The anterior portion  110  may include a lip  118  that compresses the transparent covering portion  130  onto the screen of the device  10  as the fasteners  101  are tightened. 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIG. 1G , the receiver lens  120  may include a lens  122  (for example, acrylic or polycarbonate) and an adhesive  121 . The transparent covering portion  130  may include a lens  131  (for example, Gorilla Glass®) and an adhesive  132 . The case  100  may include various coverings  104  which may substantially protect the device  10  from contaminants. One or more of the coverings  104  may be substantially acoustically transparent or transmissive. Such coverings  104  may include a material such as Gore GAW324. 
         [0031]    The boot  160  is illustrated in greater detail in  FIGS. 1E ,  1 F,  5 A and  5 B. The boot  160  may include a rear panel  161 , a sidewall  162 , a flange  163 , and grooves  164 . The rear panel  161  may fit against the back of the device  10 . The rear panel  161  may include a rear window  161   b  and a rear window seal  161   a . The rear window  161   b  may allow access (for example, access for light, sound, or touch) to a camera or light source on the device  10 . The rear window seal  161   a  may form a seal (to protect against contaminants) with the device  10  in response to the rear window seal  161   a  being compressed against the device  10 . 
         [0032]    The sidewall  162  may wrap around the lateral sides of the device  10 . There may be a flange  163  that extends from a top region of the sidewall  162 . The rear panel  161 , sidewall  162 , and flange  163  may form a cavity. Outer regions of the device  10  may fit into the cavity, thereby securing the boot  160  to the device  10 . The boot  160  may include a material such as an elastomer. For example, the boot  160  may include silicone. The boot  160  may be relatively flexible or may have a hardness of approximately  65  as measured by a durometer on a Shore A scale. The boot  160  may be formed as one unitary piece. The boot  160  itself may be used as a case, for example, without the anterior portion  110 , transparent covering portion  130 , and/or posterior portion  170 . 
         [0033]    The sidewall  162  may or may not be solid. The sidewall  162  may include hollow regions. Also, the inner and outer contours of the sidewall  162  may include nooks, crannies, or other uneven contours. At least some of these areas may be considered to be part of the sidewall  162 . For example, as can be seen in  FIG. 5A , a hollow area on the inside of the sidewall  162  can be seen proximate the vibration switch actuator apertures  162   g . This hollow region and the parts above and below this hollow region may be considered part of or included in the sidewall  162 . 
         [0034]    The sidewall  162  may include one or more actuators  162   a.  Each actuator  162   a  may be pressed or released by a user to cause corresponding switches or buttons on the device  10  to be pressed or released. For example, the actuators  162   a  may interface with volume control or power control buttons or switches on the device  10 . Each actuator  162   a  may receive an actuation force from a user. The actuator  162   a  may then translate the actuation force towards a switch or a button on the device  10 . 
         [0035]    The sidewall  162  may include an audio port aperture  162   j,  which opens into a hollow region  162   b  to allow access to an audio port (for example, a headset jack socket) in the device  10 . The device  10  may have a microphone proximate to the audio port. This microphone may be used in conjunction with noise cancellation processes to improve audio quality (for example, call quality) from the device. The audio port aperture  162   j  may allow access to this microphone as well. If the audio port aperture  162   j  is sealed (for example, with the plug  142  of the audio port cover  140 ), the microphone may not effectively receive ambient noise. Consequently, the device  10  may not be able to perform effective noise cancellation. 
         [0036]    To address this issue, the boot  160  may include one or more acoustic piping apertures  162   i  into the hollow region  162   b —for example, one acoustic piping aperture  162   i  on the front side of the boot  160  and one acoustic piping aperture  162   i  on the back side of the boot  160 . The acoustic piping aperture  162   i  may allow sound to pass into the hollow region  162   b  and to the microphone proximate the audio port, even when the audio port aperture  162   j  is sealed. Corresponding acoustic piping apertures  116 ,  175  may be provided in the anterior portion  110  and posterior portion  170  respectively. Thus, the apertures  116 ,  175 , and  162   i  may allow noise cancellation to continue working even when the audio port aperture  162   j  has been sealed, for example, with the plug  142  of the audio port cover  140 . 
         [0037]    To protect against contamination entering through the acoustic piping aperture(s)  162   i,  microphone hole coverings  104  may be used in conjunction with the acoustic piping apertures  162   i.  These coverings  104  may be substantially acoustically transparent or transmissive. Such coverings  104  may include a material such as Gore GAW324. On the back side, a hole covering  104  may fit between the boot  160  and the posterior portion  170  (for example, in a recessed area around a corresponding acoustic piping aperture in the posterior portion  170 ). On the front side, a hole covering  104  may fit between the boot  160  and anterior portion  110  (for example, in a recessed area around a corresponding acoustic piping aperture in the anterior portion  110 ). 
         [0038]    The sidewall  162  may include a speaker aperture  162   c  and a microphone aperture  162   d.  These apertures  162   c ,  162   d  may allow sound to pass to and from a microphone or speaker on the bottom of the device  10 . The speaker aperture  162   c  and microphone aperture  162   d  may accommodate coverings  104 . These apertures may also accommodate inserts that carry the coverings. The coverings  104  may be secured in the boot  160  by inserting them into the apertures  162   c ,  162   d  from the inside of the boot  160  and then inserting the carriers into the apertures  162   c ,  162   d  from the inside. The apertures  162   c ,  162   d  may include ledges in the boot  160  that prevent the coverings  104  and carriers from being inserted too far into the boot  160  (or coming out the other side). 
         [0039]    The sidewall  162  may include a communications interface aperture  162   e  that allows access to a communications port on the device  10  (for example, a 30-pin communications port). The sidewall  162  may also include a plurality of fastener apertures  162   f  that accommodate the fasteners  101  or accommodate the risers on the anterior portion  110 . Note, risers could also be on the posterior portion  170  or could be separate portions altogether. The sidewall  162  may include a plurality of vibration switch actuator apertures  162   g  (one on the front and one on the back) and an audio port cover recess  162   h.    
         [0040]    The sidewall  162  may also include a bumper  166 . The bumper  166  may extend along any part of the sidewall  162 . As shown, the bumper  166  extends along portions of the left, right, and top portions of the sidewall  162  of the boot  160 . The bumper  166  may include air pockets or hollow regions  166   b  within the sidewall  162  of the boot  160 . The bumper  166  may make the case  100  more shock resistant to impacts (for example, lateral-side impacts). The appearance of the bumper  166  shown in the drawings is one of many ornamental appearances of a bumper  166  that may be employed to achieve improved shock resistance. 
         [0041]    As shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the bumper  166  may have a trussed design with partitions  166   a  (for example, trussed or zigzagging partitions) separating the hollow regions  166   b.  As shown in  FIG. 8 , the bumper  166  may have other designs, such as air pockets  166   b  that are circular areas, diagonal line areas, rectangular areas, diamond areas, and straight line areas. The shape of the hollow regions  166   b  may determine the shape of the partitions  166   a.  These are just a few illustrative examples. Various other shapes (either regular or irregular) or combinations of shapes may be used. 
         [0042]    The anterior portion  110  is illustrated in  FIGS. 1E ,  1 F,  2 A and  2 B. The anterior portion  110  may include a receiver window  111  and fastener apertures  112 . The receiver window  111  may provide access (for example, access for light, sound, or touch) to an earpiece speaker and/or camera of the device  10 . The fastener apertures  112  may receive fasteners  101  (for example, bolts). A fastener aperture  112  may include a riser portion and a cup portion. An elongated portion of a fastener  101  may extend through the riser portion, while a head of the fastener may rest in the cup portion. 
         [0043]    The anterior portion  110  may also include a screen window  113  and an actuator  114 . The screen window  113  may provide access (for example, access for light, sound, or touch) to a screen of the device  10  or to the transparent covering portion  130 . A user may interact with the screen of the device  10  through the screen window  113 . The actuator  114  may be pressed or released by a user to cause a corresponding switch or button on the device  10  to be pressed or released. The actuator  114  may receive an actuation force from a user. The actuator  114  may then translate the actuation force towards a switch (for example, a home button) on the portable electronic device  10 . 
         [0044]    The anterior portion  110  may include a vibration switch actuator aperture  115  and an acoustic piping aperture  116 . The vibration switch actuator aperture  115  may receive a post  151  of a vibration switch actuator  150 . The acoustic piping aperture  116  may operate in conjunction with a corresponding acoustic piping aperture  162   i  of the boot  160 . The operations and configurations of these apertures will be discussed in greater detail below. 
         [0045]    The anterior portion  110  may include a bezel  117 , a lip  118 , and a ridge  119 . The bezel  117  may have a beveled profile and may slope downwards from the top elevation of the anterior portion  110  towards the boot  160 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 1E and 1F , the lip  118  may extend downwards from the top elevation of the anterior portion  110 . The lip  118  may be configured to extend past the flange  163  of the boot  160 . The bottom surface of the lip  118  may compress an outer region of the transparent covering portion  130  against the device  10 . The ridge  119  may be configured to mate with a corresponding groove  164  in the boot  160 . The ridge  119  may include one or more ribs which also mate with the corresponding groove  164 . 
         [0046]    The audio port cover  140  is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The audio port cover  140  may include an audio port cover  140  aperture  143  and an arm  141 . A portion of the audio port cover around the aperture  143  may fit within the audio port cover recess  162   h  in the boot  160 . The audio port cover aperture  143  may secure to another portion of the case  100 , such that the arm  141  may rotate about the audio port cover aperture  143  and along a primary plane of the boot  160 . A fastener  101  or a riser encompassing a fastener may extend through the audio port cover aperture  143 . 
         [0047]    The audio port cover  140  may also include a handle  144  and a plug  142 . The handle  144  may facilitate the operation of opening and closing the audio port cover  140 . When at one extent of the rotation of the audio port cover arm  141 , the plug  142  may engage in the audio port aperture  162   j  of the boot  160  so that the audio port of the device  10  may be protected from contaminants. 
         [0048]    The vibration switch actuator  150  is illustrated in in  FIG. 4A . The vibration switch actuator  150  may include a post  151 , a vibration switch cup  152 , and vibration switch detents  153 . The vibration switch cup  152  may be located on or within a lateral side of the post  151 . The vibration switch cup  152  may be configured to receive a vibration switch on the device  10 . The detents  153  may be located on or within the post  151 . The detents  153  may include an ON detent and an OFF detent. 
         [0049]    The vibration switch actuator  150  is illustrated in conjunction with the boot  160  in  FIG. 4B . The boot  160  may accommodate the vibration switch actuator  150  through the vibration switch actuator apertures  162   g . The vibration switch actuator  150  may slidably move transversely across the sidewall  162  as the post  151  slides through the vibration switch actuator apertures  162   g.  The boot  160  may include wiper seals  168  near or as part of the vibration switch actuator apertures  162   g.  The wiper seals  168  protect against contaminants by forming a seal and wiping contaminants off of the post  151  as the post  151  moves across the wiper seals  168 . 
         [0050]    The boot  160  may include a stop nub  167  that engages the detents  153 . The stop nub  167  may alternately snap into the ON detent  153  or the OFF detent  153  as the vibration switch actuator  150  moves transversely across the sidewall  162 . The stop nub  167  may assist in stopping movement of the vibration switch actuator  150 . The vibration switch cup  152  may also assist in stopping movement when it abuts the boot  160 . When the stop nub  167  snaps into a detent  153 , it may cause a physical pulse. Such a pulse may provide tactile feedback to a user to indicate a change in position of the vibration switch actuator  150  and the corresponding vibration switch on the device  10 . 
         [0051]    The posterior portion  170  is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . The posterior portion  170  may include a rear aperture  171  and fastener receptacles  172 . The rear aperture  171  may provide access (for example, access for light, sound, or touch) to a camera or light source on the back of the device  10 . The fastener receptacles  172  may be threaded, and may receive the fasteners  101 . The fastener receptacles may also receive inserts (shown, for example, as  103  in  FIG. 1G ), which, in turn, receive the fasteners  101 . While the case  100  is illustrated with fastener heads accessible from the front of the case  100 , it would also be possible to reverse the fasteners  101  and corresponding portions on the anterior portion  110  and the posterior portion  170 , such that the fastener heads are accessible from the back of the case  100 . 
         [0052]    The posterior portion  170  may also include a ridge  178 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 1E and 1F , the ridge  178  may be configured to mate with a corresponding groove  165  in the boot  160 . The ridge  178  may include one or more ribs which also mate with the corresponding groove in the boot  160 . 
         [0053]    The posterior portion  170  may also include a communication door assembly connecting portion  173 , a vibration switch actuator aperture  174 , and an acoustic piping aperture  175 . The communication door assembly connecting portion  173  may connect with the communication door assembly  180 . The vibration switch actuator aperture  174  may correspond to a similar aperture  162   g  in the boot  160 , and may accommodate the post  151  of the vibration switch actuator  150 . The acoustic piping aperture  175  may correspond to a similar aperture  162   i  in the boot  160 . 
         [0054]    The posterior portion  170  may also include a bezel  176  and a window  177  to accommodate a rear panel  161  of the boot  160 . The bezel  176  may have a beveled profile and may slope upwards from the bottom elevation of the anterior portion  110  towards the boot  160 . The window  177  may allow the rear panel  161  of the boot  160  to be directly accessible to a user. 
         [0055]    The communications interface door assembly  180  is illustrated in  FIGS. 7A-7C . The communications interface door assembly  180  may include a hinged portion  181  and a plug  182 . The hinged portion  181  may include a connecting portion  184 , a door  185 , and a plug receiving portion  183  configured to receive the plug  182 . The hinged portion  181  may be flexible and may include a material such as silicone. The hinged portion may include a living hinge between the connecting portion  184  and the door  185 . The connecting portion  184  may connect with the corresponding connecting portion  173  on the posterior portion  170 . 
         [0056]    The door  185  may include the plug receiving portion  183  which is configured to receive the plug  182 . The plug  182  may be rigid. The plug  182  may include a material such as anodized aluminum. The plug  182  may include a door mating portion  187  that mates with the plug receiving portion  183  on the door  185 . The plug  182  may also include a port cover portion  186  that fits through the communication port aperture  162   e  of the boot  120  and covers the communications port on the device  10 . 
         [0057]    It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the novel and non-obvious techniques disclosed in this application. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the novel techniques without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the novel techniques not be limited to the particular techniques disclosed, but that they will include all techniques falling within the scope of the appended claims.