Abstract:
A lid fastening device configured to fasten a lid of an object member and capable of opening and closing an opening formed in the object member includes a knob, and a rod configured to slide from an initial position when the knob is pushed. In addition, the device includes strikers each having an engagement claw capable of engaging engagement portions formed in the object member and each being configured to rotate between an initial position in which each of the engagement claws engages the engagement portions to produce a fastened condition of the lid and a released position in which the fastened condition of the lid is released due to a sliding motion of the rod. Further, the device includes return springs that are configured to bias each of the strikers rotated to the released position so as to return the same to the initial position with the rod.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims benefit of Japanese patent application Serial No. 2015-174806 filed Sep. 4, 2015 which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The present disclosure relates to locking or fastening devices. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to lid fastening (locking) devices for a lid of a vehicle storage box or compartment (e.g., a glove box, a consol box or other such compartments). 
         [0004]    A known fastening device is taught, for example, by JP 2009-269572A. The fastening device is intended to fasten (lock) a lid of a glove box to an instrument panel. The fastening device includes a pair of engagement rods attached to the lid. The engagement rods are linked via a pinion, so as to slide in synchrony with each other. Further, a biasing force is applied to the engagement rods in a direction in which the engagement rods are thrust into engagement holes formed in the instrument panel. When the engagement rods are introduced into the engagement holes, the lid may be locked or fastened to the instrument panel. Further, a manipulation knob is attached to the lid. When the manipulation knob is pushed or pressed, the engagement rods move in synchrony with each other, so as to respectively be drawn from the engagement holes. Thus, the lid may be unfastened. 
         [0005]    In this known device, the engagement rods are previously integrated with the pinion before the engagement rods are attached to the lid. However, an operation to integrate the engagement rods with the pinion needs a specialized tool or jig. This may lead to increased manufacturing costs of the fastening device. 
         [0006]    Thus, there is a need in the art for an improved fastening device for a lid of a vehicle storage compartment. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    In one aspect of the present disclosure, a lid fastening device that is configured to fasten a lid attached to an object member and capable of opening and closing an opening formed therein in a condition in which the opening is closed by the lid and to unfasten the lid may include a knob, a rod configured to slide from an initial position when the knob is pushed, strikers each of which has an engagement claw capable of engaging each of engagement portions formed in the object member and is configured to rotate between an initial position in which each of the engagement claws engages each of the engagement portions of the object member to produce a fastened condition of the lid and a released position in which the fastened condition of the lid is released due to a sliding motion of the rod, and return springs each of which is configured to bias each of the strikers rotated to the released position so as to return the same to the initial position with the rod. 
         [0008]    According to this aspect, the lid fastening device may be easily incorporated into the lid without using a specialized tool or jig. 
         [0009]    Other objects, features and advantage of the present disclosure will be readily understood after reading the following detailed description together with the accompanying drawings and the claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a center consol box having a lid into which a fastening device according to a representative embodiment is incorporated, in which a lid is closed; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the center consol box, in which the lid is opened; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the lid and lid attaching members; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged perspective view of an inner member of the lid, which is viewed from above; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged perspective view of the inner member of the lid and the lid attaching members, which is viewed from below; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of the inner member of the lid; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a plan view of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line X-X in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line XI-XI in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 12  is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line XII-XII in  FIG. 7 ; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 13  is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line XIII-XIII in  FIG. 7 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    A representative embodiment will now be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 13 . 
         [0024]    In this embodiment, a center consol box  100  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) is exemplified as a vehicle storage compartment. As will be recognized, the center consol box  100  is designed for a left-hand drive vehicle (e.g., car). Further, forward and backward, rightward and leftward, and upward and downward in the drawings respectively correspond to forward and backward, rightward and leftward, and upward and downward of the vehicle. 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the center consol box  100  may be composed of a consol body  103  (a main body), a lid  1  into which a lid fastening (locking) device (which will be hereinafter described) is incorporated, and a pair of lid attaching members  5  (see  FIG. 3 ). As shown in  FIG. 2 , the consol body  103  may have an open-topped box-shaped storage portion  105 . The lid  1  may be constructed to cover or close an opening  105   a  of the storage portion  105 . The lid  1  may be rotatably connected to the consol body  103  via the lid attaching members  5 , so as to close and open the opening  105   a  of the storage portion  105 . Further, the lid attaching members  5  may be arranged and constructed such that the lid  1  may be opened and closed to right and left about a right periphery of the opening  105   a.    
         [0026]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the lid  1  is composed of an outer member  3  and a plate-shaped inner (base) member  10 . The outer member  3  may be coupled to the inner member  10  while covering an upper surface of the inner member  10 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the lid attaching members  5  may be positioned on a lower surface of the inner member  10  in order to rotatably connect the lid  1  to the consol body  103 . Further, the lid attaching members  5  may be fixed to the console body  103  via fixing brackets  7 . 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , the lid attaching members  5  may be separately positioned on front and rear portions of the inner member  10 . Therefore, the lid attaching members  5  may respectively be referred to as a first (front) lid attaching member  5 A and a second (rear) lid attaching member  5 B. Further, the first and second lid attaching members  5 A and  5 B may have the substantially same structure as each other. Therefore, elements that are the functionally same in the first and second lid attaching members  5 A and  5 B will be identified by the same reference numerals in order to avoid repetition in a description of such elements. 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the lid attaching members  5  ( 5 A and  5 B) may respectively have hook-shaped shaft insertion portions  9  that are arcuately projected upward. Each of the shaft insertion portions  9  may have a through hole  9   a  that is formed therein so as to extend back and forth. 
         [0029]    Conversely, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the inner member  10  may have a pair of (front and rear) curved recessed portions  12  that are bulged upward. The recessed portions  12  may be formed in a right periphery of the inner member  10  at a certain interval in a front-back direction. As will be recognized, the recessed portions  12  may be arranged and constructed to loosely receive the shaft insertion portions  9  of the lid attaching members  5 . Further, the inner member  10  may have a pair of (front and rear) rotation axes  24  attached thereto. Example of the rotation axes  24  are pins. The rotation axes  24  may respectively be positioned so as to pass through the recessed portions  12  in the backward and forward direction. 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , the shaft insertion portions  9  of the lid attaching members  5  may be received in the recessed portions  12  of the inner member  10  while the rotation axes  24  attached to the inner member  10  are respectively inserted into the through holes  9   a  of the shaft insertion portions  9 . As a result, the inner member  10  may be attached to the lid attaching members  5  so as to be rotatable about the shaft insertion portions  9  of the lid attaching members  5  via the rotation axes  24 . Thus, the lid  1  may be rotatably connected to the consol body  103  via the lid attaching members  5 , so as to close and open the opening  105   a  of the storage portion  105 . 
         [0031]    As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6 to 8 , torsion springs  26  may respectively be attached to the rotation axes  24 . One end of each of the torsion springs  26  may be supported on the inner member  10  and the other end of each of the torsion springs may be supported on the shaft insertion portions  9  of the corresponding lid attaching members  5  such that the lid  1  (the inner member  10 ) may normally be biased in a direction to uncover or open the opening  105   a  of the storage portion  105 . Therefore, when the fastening device incorporated into the lid  1  is released, the lid  1  may be automatically opened due to a biasing or spring force of the torsion springs  26 , so that the opening  105   a  of the storage portion  105  may be uncovered or opened ( FIG. 2 ). Further, in order to close the lid  1 , the lid  1  may be simply pressed down against the spring force of the torsion spring  26 . 
         [0032]    Next, the fastening device incorporated into the lid  1  will be described. As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the fastening device may be essentially composed of a manipulation knob  40  (i.e., a manipulation member) attached to the inner member  10 , a rod  50  (i.e., a linkage member) disposed on the inner member  10 , a pair of (e.g., front and rear) rod support mechanisms  16  formed in the inner member  10 , a rod biasing mechanism B formed in the inner member  10 , and a pair of latching mechanisms L (i.e., a front or first latching mechanism LA and a rear or second latching mechanism LB) attached to the inner member  10 . 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the manipulation knob  40  may be slidably received in a knob receiving recess  14  formed in a front periphery of the inner member  10 . The manipulation knob  40  may be arranged and constructed to move or reciprocate back and forth (i.e., in the forward and backward direction). The rod  50  may be positioned behind the manipulation knob  40  so as to extend over the substantially entire length of the inner member  10 . The rod support mechanisms  16  may be formed in the upper surface of the inner member  10  at a certain interval in the front-back direction (i.e., the forward and backward direction) in order to slidably support the rod  50 . The rod support mechanisms  16  may allow the rod  50  to move or reciprocate back and forth. Further, the rod support mechanisms  16  may each have the substantially same structure. The rod biasing mechanism B may be formed in the upper surface of the inner member  10 . The rod biasing mechanism B may preferably be positioned between the rod support mechanisms  16 . The rod support mechanisms  16  and the rod biasing mechanism B may preferably be aligned with the manipulation knob  40  in the front-back direction. The latching mechanisms L (LA and LB) may respectively be positioned in a front left corner and a rear left corner of the inner member  10 . 
         [0034]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , the manipulation knob  40  may have a shaft portion  42  projected backward from a knob body and a pair of detent projections  44  formed in the knob body. As shown in  FIG. 9 , the shaft portion  42  may penetrate a rear wall  14   a  of the knob receiving recess  14  and project toward the rod  50  therethrough. Further, the manipulation knob  40  may have a (first) biasing member or return spring (compression spring)  32  that is attached to or journaled on the shaft portion  42 . The return spring  32  may be positioned between the knob body of the manipulation knob  40  and the rear wall  14   a  of the knob receiving recess  14 , so as to bias or press the knob body forward. Conversely, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the detent projections  44  may be arranged and constructed to respectively contact or engage detent strips  14   b  formed in the knob receiving recess  14  when the knob body of the knob  40  is pressed forward. Thus, as shown by solid line in  FIG. 10 , the knob body (the knob  40 ) pressed forward by the return spring  32  may be held in a predetermined position or initial position while the detent projections  44  contact the detent strips  14   b.    
         [0035]    The rod  50  may have a knob-contacting portion  52  ( FIG. 9 ), a first striker-contacting portion  54  ( FIG. 10 ), a second striker-contacting portion  56  ( FIG. 13 ), and a spring-contacting portion  58  ( FIG. 12 ). The rod  50  may be associated with the manipulation knob  40 , the rod support mechanisms  16 , the rod biasing mechanism B and the latching mechanisms L, which will be hereinafter described in detail. 
         [0036]    As shown in  FIG. 11 , each of the rod support mechanisms  16  may have a pair of (right and left) vertical walls  16   a  and  16   b  that are positioned opposite to each other and properly spaced. The vertical walls  16   a  and  16   b  may respectively be composed of vertical wall body portions T and engagement claws  17  formed in upper peripheries of the vertical wall body portions T. The vertical wall body portions T may be positioned laterally opposite to each other so as to form a groove therebetween. The rod  50  is received in the groove. Thus, the rod  50  may be slidably supported by each of the rod support mechanisms  16 . 
         [0037]    Further, the engagement claws  17  of the vertical walls  16   a  and  16   b  may be inwardly projected opposite to each other. The engagement claws  17  may respectively have lower stopper surfaces  17   a  and upper guide surfaces  17   b.  The stopper surfaces  17   a  may respectively be perpendicular to the vertical wall body portions T. The guide surfaces  17   b  may respectively be inclined inwardly and downwardly. The stopper surfaces  17   a  may function to contact the rod  50  received between the vertical wall body portions T and to prevent the rod  50  from coming off the groove formed between the vertical wall body portions T. Conversely, the guide surfaces  17   b  may function to guide the rod  50  when the rod  50  is introduced into the groove between the vertical wall body portions T from above. Further, the vertical wall body portions T (the vertical walls  16   a  and  16   b ) may be configured to be laterally flexed (i.e., flexed in the rightward and leftward directions). 
         [0038]    As shown in  FIG. 12 , the rod biasing mechanism B may be composed of an elongated open-topped box-shaped portion  18  and a (second) biasing member or return spring (compression spring)  34 . The box-shaped portion  18  may have a notch or slot  18 a formed in a front wall thereof. The return spring  34  may be disposed within the box-shaped portion  18 . The return spring  34  may contact the spring-contacting portion  58  of the rod  50  via the slot  18 a formed in the box-shaped portion  18 . Thus, as shown by solid line in  FIG. 12 , the rod  50  may be biased forward by the return spring  34 , so as to be held in a normal or initial position thereof. Further, the initial position of the rod  50  may correspond to the initial position of the knob  40 . In the initial position of the rod  50 , the knob-contacting portion  52  of the rod  50  may engage or contact the shaft portion  42  of the knob  40  ( FIG. 10 ). 
         [0039]    The latching mechanisms L (LA and LB) may have substantially the same structure as each other. As shown in  FIGS. 10 and 13 , the latching mechanisms L (LA and LB) may respectively be composed of strikers  60  (a first striker  60 A in LA and a second striker  60 B in LB) and (third) biasing member or return springs (compression springs)  36 . As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the strikers  60  (i.e.,  60 A and  60 B) may respectively be rotatably attached to (front and rear) striker-supporting portions  20  formed in the inner member  10 . In particular, each of the strikers  60  may have support pins  68 . The support pins  68  may be formed in a central portion of each of the strikers  60  so as to be laterally oppositely projected therefrom. Conversely, each of the striker-supporting portions  20  may be composed of a pair of (right and left) vertical support walls  20   a  and  20   b  that are positioned opposite to each other and properly spaced (see  FIG. 6 ). The support walls  20   a  and  20   b  may respectively have horizontal through holes  21  formed therein. The through holes  21  may be transversely aligned with each other. Each of the strikers  60  may be positioned between the support walls  20   a  and  20   b  while the support pins  68  are respectively introduced into the through holes  21 . Thus, the strikers  60  may respectively be attached to the striker-supporting portions  20  so as to rotate about the support pins  68  in the front-back direction. 
         [0040]    Further, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the support walls  20   a  and  20   b  of each of the striker-supporting portions  20  may respectively have vertical grooves  22  formed in their inner surfaces opposite to each other. The vertical grooves  22  may vertically extend from end surfaces of the support walls  20   a  and  20   b  so as to be continuous with the through holes  21 . As will be recognized, the vertical grooves  22  may function to guide the support pins  68  when the support pins  68  are introduced into the through holes  21  in order to attach each of the strikers  60  to each of the striker-supporting portions  20 . 
         [0041]    As shown in  FIGS. 10 and 13 , the strikers  60  attached to the striker-supporting portions  20  may respectively be introduced into communicating holes H formed in the inner member  10  such that lower portions thereof may be projected downward beyond a lower surface of the inner member  10 . The strikers  60  ( 60 A and  60 B) may respectively have hook-like engagement claws  62  that are respectively formed in lower ends of the strikers  60 . As shown in  FIGS. 10 and 13 , the engagement claws  62  of the strikers  60 A and  60 B may be arranged and constructed to respectively engage hook-like engagement portions  6  formed in the lid attaching members  5  ( 5 A and  5 B) in a (closed) condition in which the lid  1  is closed, i.e., in a (closed) condition in which the opening  105   a  of the storage portion  105  is closed or covered by the lid  1  ( FIG. 1 ). 
         [0042]    As shown in  FIGS. 10 and 13 , each of the strikers  60  may be rotatable between a latched or initial position in which each of the engagement claws  62  of the strikers  60  may engage each of the engagement portions  6  of the lid attaching members  5  and an unlatched or released position in which each of the engagement claws  62  may be disengaged from each of the engagement portions  6  of the lid attaching members  5 . Further, in the condition in which the lid  1  is closed ( FIG. 1 ), each of the strikers  60  may be positioned in the initial position, so that the engagement claws  62  of the strikers  60  may respectively engage the engagement portions  6  formed in the lid attaching members  5  ( FIGS. 10 and 13 ). As a result, the lid  1  may be locked or fastened to the consol body  103  so as to be held in a locked or fastened condition. Conversely, in the fastened condition in which the lid  1  is fastened to the consol body  103 , upon rotation of each of the strikers  60  to the released position, the engagement claws  62  of the strikers  60  may respectively be disengaged from the engagement portions  6  formed in the lid attaching members  5 . As a result, the lid  1  may be unfastened or released from the consol body  103  so as to be held in a released or unfastened condition. Further, in  FIGS. 10 and 13 , the initial position and the released position of each of the strikers  60  may respectively be shown by solid line and broken line, respectively. 
         [0043]    As shown in  FIGS. 6, 10 and 13 , the strikers  60  ( 60 A and  60 B) may respectively have spring retaining portions  64 . Each of the spring retaining portions  64  may be formed in an upper end of each of the strikers  60 . Each of the spring retaining portions  64  may be projected backward from the upper end of each of the strikers  60 . The return springs  36  may respectively be retained between the spring retaining portions  64  and the inner member  10 . In particular, the return springs  36  may respectively be retained between the spring retaining portions  64  and the inner member  10  while each of the return springs  36  engages each of retaining projections  64   a  formed in the spring retaining portions  64  and each of retaining protrusions  25  formed in the inner member  10  at both ends. Each of the return springs  36  thus retained may function to bias each of the strikers  60  to the initial position. Therefore, each of the strikers  60  may normally be held in the initial position. 
         [0044]    As shown in  FIGS. 6, 10 and 13 , the strikers  60 A and  60 B ( 60 ) may respectively have contacting portions  66 . Each of the contacting portions  66  may be formed in an upper portion of each of the strikers  60 . The contacting portions  66  of the strikers  60 A and  60 B may be arranged and constructed to respectively engage or contact the first striker-contacting portion  54  and the second striker-contacting portion  56  of the rod  50 . Therefore, in a condition in which each of the strikers  60  is held in the initial position, when the rod  50  may be pressed backward, the contacting portions  66  of the strikers  60  may respectively be pressed backward via the first and second striker-contacting portions  54  and  56  of the rod  50 , so that each of the strikers  60  may be rotated to the released position. 
         [0045]    An operation of the fastening device thus constructed will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 9 to 13 . 
         [0046]    First, in the condition in which the lid  1  is closed ( FIG. 1 ), the latching mechanisms L (LA and LB) may be activated. As a result, the lid  1  may be locked or fastened to the consol body  103 . In particular, when the lid  1  is closed, each of the strikers  60  may be held in the initial position, so that each of the engagement claws  62  of the strikers  60  may engage each of the engagement portions  6  formed in the lid attaching members  5  fixed to the consol body  103  ( FIGS. 10 and 13 ). Thus, the lid  1  may be locked or fastened via the latching mechanisms L. 
         [0047]    In order to release or unfasten the lid  1 , the manipulation knob  40  positioned in the initial position may be pressed or pushed backward against a biasing or spring force of the return spring  32 . As a result, as shown by broken line in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the knob-contacting portion  52  of the rod  50  positioned in the initial position may be pressed backward via the shaft portion  42  of the knob  40 , so that the rod  50  may slide or move backward against a biasing or spring force of the return spring  34 . Due to a sliding motion of the rod  50  (i.e., due to actuation of the linkage member), the first and second striker-contacting portions  54  and  56  of the rod  50  may move backward, so as to respectively press the contacting portions  66  of the first and second strikers  60 A and  60 B backward (broken line in  FIGS. 10 and 13 ). As a result, each of the strikers  60 A and  60 B may be rotated from the initial position (solid line in  FIGS. 10 and 13 ) to the released position (broken line in  FIGS. 10 and 13 ) against a spring force of each of the return springs  36 , so that each of the engagement claws  62  of the strikers  60  may be disengaged from each of the engagement portions  6  formed in the lid attaching members  5  (i.e., the latching mechanisms L (LA and LB) may be deactivated). Further, the strikers  60 A and  60 B may be rotated in synchrony with each other. Thus, the lid  1  may be released or unfastened. 
         [0048]    Further, upon release of the manipulation knob  40 , the knob  40  may be automatically returned to the initial position by the spring force of the return spring  32 . Simultaneously, the rod  50  may be returned to the initial position by the spring force of the return spring  34 . As a result, each of the strikers  60 A and  60 B may be returned to the initial position by the spring force of each of the return springs  36 . 
         [0049]    Next, a representative process or method for incorporating the fastening device (the manipulation knob  40 , the rod  50 , the return springs  32 ,  34  and  36 , and the strikers  60 ) into the lid  1  (the inner member  10 ) will be described. 
         [0050]    First, the return spring  32  may be attached to the shaft portion  42  of the manipulation knob  40 . The manipulation knob  40  thus constructed may then be inserted into the knob receiving recess  14  previously formed in the inner member  10 . Thereafter, the return spring  34  may be received within the box-shaped portion  18  previously formed in the inner member  10  from above. Subsequently, the rod  50  may be attached to the rod support mechanisms  16  previously formed in the inner member  10 . In particular, the rod  50  may be pushed between the vertical walls  16   a  and  16   b  of each of the rod support mechanisms  16  from above while the spring-contacting portion  58  of the rod  50  contacts the return spring  34  received within the box-shaped portion  18 . 
         [0051]    Finally, the strikers  60  may respectively be attached to the striker-supporting portions  20  previously formed in the inner member  10  while each of the return springs  36  engages each of the retaining projections  64   a  formed in the spring retaining portions  64  and each of the retaining protrusions  25  formed in the inner member  10 . In particular, each of the strikers  60  may be attached to the support walls  20   a  and  20   b  of each of the striker-supporting portions  20  while the support pins  68  are respectively introduced into the through holes  21  formed in the support walls  20   a  and  20   b.  Further, in order to introduce the support pins  68  into the through holes  21 , each of the strikers  60  may be simply pressed down while sliding the support pins  68  along the vertical grooves  22  formed in the support walls  20   a  and  20   b.    
         [0052]    According to the fastening device of the present invention, elements of the fastening device may be easily attached to the inner member  10  of the lid  1  without using a specialized tool or jig. 
         [0053]    Various changes and modifications may be made to the present disclosure without departing from the scope thereof. For example, in the embodiment, the compression spring is used as each of the return springs  32 ,  34  and  36 . However, a leaf spring may be used as each of the return springs  32 ,  34  and  36  provided that such a spring may function to bias each of the knob  40 , the rod  50  and the strikers  60  to the initial position. 
         [0054]    Further, the lid attaching members  5  may be arranged and constructed such that the lid  1  may be opened and closed to right and left about a left periphery of the opening  105   a.  In such a modified structure, the lid attaching members  5  and the inner member  10  may respectively be reverted right to left. 
         [0055]    Further, the fastening device of the present invention may be applied to various types of lids other than the lid  1  of the center consol box  100 . For example, the fastening device of the present invention may be applied to a lid of a glove box or other such lids. In addition, the fastening device of the present invention may be applied to lids of storage boxes or compartments used in various equipments other than vehicles. 
         [0056]    A representative example has been described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. This detailed description is merely intended to teach a person of skill in the art further details for practicing preferred aspects of the present disclosure and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Only the claims define the scope of the claimed invention. Therefore, combinations of features and steps disclosed in the foregoing detailed description may not be necessary to practice the invention in the broadest sense, and are instead taught merely to particularly describe detailed representative examples of the invention. Moreover, the various features taught in this specification may be combined in ways that are not specifically enumerated in order to obtain additional useful embodiments.