Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to a modular, scalable liquid management system. The disclosed system is modular in that it is assembled from a few primary components. The system is scalable because the primary components are adapted to be re-sized and combined to form a system as wide, deep, and/or long as needed. In various exemplary embodiments, the system is assembled from a plurality of base components and arm components that are tightly connected to form the liquid management system. To resist shifting or separation of system components, the liquid management system is firmly anchored to the ground at multiple locations throughout the system.

Description:
PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 61/267,259 filed Dec. 7, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates to a modular, scalable system for lining a ditch or other channel for transporting water. 
         [0004]    2. Related Art 
         [0005]    Ditches have been commonly used to transport water from one point to another for millennia. For example, earthen ditches have been used to transport irrigation water, potable water, and drainage water. Because they are relatively easy and inexpensive to construct in nearly any kid of terrain, earthen ditches are still commonly used today. As used herein, the term “ditch” signifies any channel whether dug in the earth and/or completely or partially built above earth level, and includes structures that may be referred to as, for example, drains, culverts, canals, or channels. 
         [0006]    When water is transported through an earthen ditch, significant loss of water can occur in a variety of ways, e.g., seepage, evaporation, and leaks (collectively described herein as “seepage loss”). Depending on a variety of factors, as much as 80-90% of the water entering a ditch may be lost rather than reaching its intended destination. The most significant causes of seepage, losses appear to be related to non-evaporative causes where the water is lost into the surrounding soil, which loss may be accelerated by erosion (particularly for fast moving water), excessive vegetation and/or tree root systems, and rodent burrows. It is known that lining ditches with material that resists seepage dramatically decreases seepage losses. 
         [0007]    Earthen ditches also require regular cleaning and maintenance to minimize water loss caused by problems such as, for example, ditch wall collapses, erosion, rodent activity, and accumulation of debris or sediment. Maintenance and repair of earthen ditches can be costly because it is labor intensive and can require large equipment. 
         [0008]    Where drainage water flows over the ground, there may be serious erosion problems threatening structures or damaging property. This is especially true where the water is draining down a steep embankment, such as along a road or highway interchange. 
         [0009]    Because of seepage loss or erosion damage, and the maintenance costs associated with earthen ditches, various methods of lining ditches have been proposed. The suggested lining materials include concrete, metal, and polyvinyl chlorine. However, such solutions have not fully resolved these problems or have created additional maintenance and installation problems that limit their effectiveness or implementation. 
       OUTLINE OF BASIC AND OTHER ADVANTAGEOUS FEATURES 
       [0010]    It would be desirable to provide a liquid management system or the like of a type disclosed in the present application that includes any one or more of these or other advantageous features:
       is assembled from a relatively small number of different production components to be modular;   Is capable of being easily modified to fit different size channels without requiring production of components that differ only in size or scale;   Is capable of being easily modified to fit the shape of existing channels;   Has component junctures that are tightly sealed to prevent leakage;   Is securely held in place, particularly on slopes; and   Is able to be installed in a variety of different soil types and locations.       
 
         [0017]    These and other features and advantages of various embodiments of systems and methods according to this invention are described in, or are apparent from, the following detailed: description of various exemplary embodiments of various devices, structures, and/or methods according to this invention. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0018]    An exemplary embodiment relates to a modular, scalable liquid management system, comprising a plurality of corrugated, connectable ditch liner components, comprising at least one base and at least one arm wherein the ditch liner components are adapted to be cut to change their shape or reduce their length and/or width without compromising their connectability, the ditch liner components are adapted for connection to components of the same type for increasing one or more dimensions of the liquid management system, and the ditch liner components are adapted for side-to-side coupling of components and end-to-end coupling of components; a sealant for placement between adjacent components at or about the point of connection; a plurality of fasteners for coupling ditch liner components together; and at least one anchoring system attachable to one or more ditch-liner components for securing the liquid management system in place wherein the ditch liner components are adapted to be assembled into the liquid management system by connecting a plurality of base components side-to-side and/or end-to-end to form the base of a liquid management system, connecting a plurality of arm components end-to-end and/or side-to-side to form a first wall of a liquid management system, connecting a plurality of arm components end-to-end and/or side-to-side to form a second wall of a liquid management system; and connecting the first wall to a first side of the base and connecting the second wall to a second side of the base to form a liquid management system. 
         [0019]    Another exemplary embodiment relates to a method of assembling a modular, scalable liquid management system, comprising providing a plurality of corrugated, connectable ditch liner components, comprising a plurality of base components wherein the ditch liner base components have corrugations adapted for side-to-side connecting and end-to-end connecting of base components and a plurality of arm components wherein the ditch liner first arm components have corrugations adapted for side-to-side connecting and end-to-end connecting of first arm components; wherein the liquid management system is scalable by removing a portion of a ditch liner component and/or connecting two or more of the same components side-to-side; assembling the liquid management system by forming a base segment, comprising one or more base components sized to a chosen shape by cutting the base components and/or connecting the base components side to side, extending the base segment by connecting one or more additional base components end-to-end to the base segment, connecting a first arm segment to the base segment, wherein the first arm segment comprises one or more arm components sized to a chosen size by cutting the arm components and/or connecting the arm components side to side, connecting a second arm segment to the base segment, wherein the second arm segment comprises one or more arm components sized to a chosen size by cutting the arm components and/or connecting the arm components side to side, placing a sealant in or at the connecting points of connected ditch liner components, and extending the liquid management system by connecting additional base components, first arm components, and second arm components to the liquid management system; and anchoring the liquid management system in place with an anchoring system. 
         [0020]    These and other features and advantages of various embodiments of systems and methods according to this invention are described in, or are apparent from, the following detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of various devices, structures, and/or methods according to this invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    Various exemplary embodiments of the systems and methods according to the present disclosure will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a liquid management system according to the present disclosure; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a segment of liquid management system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of a ditch liner base component according to the present disclosure; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is a side cross-sectional view of the base component of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment of a ditch liner base component according to the present disclosure; 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of a ditch liner arm component according to the present disclosure; 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  is a front perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment of a ditch liner arm component according to the present disclosure; 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  is an exploded top plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a base segment being formed by cutting and/or connecting four of the base components of  FIG. 3  according to the present disclosure; 
           [0030]      FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of an arm segment being formed by cutting and connecting two of the arm components of  FIG. 6  according to the present disclosure; 
           [0031]      FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an arm segment assembled from two of the arm segments of  FIG. 9  according to the present disclosure; 
           [0032]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment of an arm segment assembled by cutting and connecting two of the arm components of  FIG. 7  according to the present disclosure; 
           [0033]      FIG. 12  is an exploded end perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a ditch liner segment assembled from the base segment of  FIG. 8 , the first arm segment of  FIG. 10 , and the second arm segment of  FIG. 11  according to the present disclosure; 
           [0034]      FIG. 13  is a partial exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of an anchor system according to the present disclosure; 
           [0035]      FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view of the anchor system of  FIG. 13  being installed in the ground; 
           [0036]      FIG. 15  is an end view of the liquid management system of  FIG. 1  being anchored by the anchor system of  FIG. 13 ; 
       
    
    
       [0037]    It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale. In certain instances, details that are not necessary to the understanding of the invention or render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0038]    The present disclosure relates to a scalable, modular system for surface transportation of liquid for any purpose. Unlike many prior systems that require partially filling or enlarging the ditch to fit the liner, the disclosed system may scaled up or down in size and length to accommodate virtually any size ditch. The system&#39;s components are compactly stored for transportation and easily installed. In various exemplary embodiments, the disclosed system comprises a plurality of corrugated sheets that overlap and are connected to one another. 
         [0039]    In various exemplary embodiments, the disclosed ditch liner system is assembled from two basic components: base components and arm components (i.e., side components). In some embodiments, there may be different arm components for opposite sides of a ditch (e.g., left arm components and right arm components). As will be described in greater detail below, the pieces are corrugated and adapted to overlap and connect with one another. According to various exemplary embodiments, the corrugations may comprise a relatively larger rib and relatively smaller rib that are adapted to be joined by overlapping the large rib over the small rib for a watertight seal between components. 
         [0040]      FIG. 1  shows an exemplary embodiment of a portion of a liquid management system  100 . A liquid management system  100  according to the present disclosure may include a single channel or multiple channels.  FIG. 2  shows a segment of an exemplary liquid management system  100 . In various exemplary embodiments, a liquid management system  100  comprises a plurality of components including bases  111  and arms  121  and/or  131 . As will be shown in more detail below, liquid management system  100  may be varied in size by varying the number and arrangement of base components  111  and arm components  121  and/or  131  used to assemble the liquid management system  100 . 
         [0041]      FIGS. 3 and 4  show a first exemplary embodiment of a base  111 . In various exemplary embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the base component  111  is generally rectangular in shape. The corrugation ribs  112  and  113  are generally perpendicular to the side edges  114  of the base component  111  and are generally perpendicular to the upper base component end edge  115  and lower base component end edge  116 . In various exemplary embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the ends of the corrugation ribs  112  and  113  are closed. In such an embodiment, an end may be “opened” by removing a portion of the base  111  (e.g., by cutting it). In various exemplary embodiments, the base  111  includes reduced large ribs  117  and reduced small ribs  118 . Ribs  117  and  118  are smaller than ribs  112  and  113 , respectively, and are sized to fit under and attach to ribs  112  and  113  or to ribs on other components. 
         [0042]    According to various exemplary embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 4 , base component  111  has an alternating pattern of relatively large ribs  112  and relatively small ribs  113 . In some exemplary embodiments, base component  111  includes optional footsteps  119  that facilitate workers walking on the liquid management system  100  (e.g., during installation or maintenance) without damaging the system and/or causing leaks. According, to various exemplary embodiments, the base component  111 , as well as other component, is designed to be cut to reduce its width and/or shape. 
         [0043]      FIG. 5  shows a second embodiment of a base  211 . The discussion of base  111  above is applicable, except for the following. In various exemplary embodiments, the corrugations ribs  212  and  213  of base component  211  comprises small tips  218  to facilitate side-to-side connection of components. Base  211  also comprises foot path  219  to protect the base component  211  when walked on. 
         [0044]      FIG. 6  shows a first exemplary embodiment of an arm component  121 .  FIG. 7  shows a second exemplary embodiment of an arm component  131 . In various exemplary embodiments, the first arm component  121  and second arm component  131  are virtual mirror images, at least with respect the size and alignment of large ribs  122  and  132  and small ribs  123  and  133 . Arm components  121  and  131  each further comprise a foot  124  and  134  respectively that is inclined outwardly at an obtuse angle to the plane of the main body of the arm component  121  or  131  for connecting to a base component  111 . The angle of the foot to the plain of the main body of the arm component may vary depending on the intended application and desired dimension. For example, the angle in the embodiments of  FIGS. 6 and 7  is about 135°, but the angle may be as low as about 90°. In other embodiments, the selected angle may be fall between these two examples (e.g., 115°) or may be higher than 135°. Arm components  121  and  131  also each comprise a knuckle  125  and  135  respectively that is adapted for placement along the edge of a ditch. Arm components  121  and  131  may, be formed by different tools or may be molded in the same tool and configured for use by trimming one or the other end of the arm. 
         [0045]    According to various exemplary embodiments, arm component  121  and  131  includes a recessed section  128  and  138  with large recessed ribs  126  and  136  and small recessed ribs  127  and  137 . Large recessed ribs  126  and  137  and small recessed ribs  127  and  137  are slightly different in size from the ribs  122  and  123  on or near the foot  124  and knuckle  125 . The recessed ribs  126  and  127  are sized to fit with ribs  122  and  123  to facilitate connecting multiple arm components  121  or  131 . In various exemplary embodiments, large recessed ribs  126  and  136  are slightly smaller than large ribs  122  and  132 , and small recessed ribs  127  and  137  are slightly smaller than small ribs  123  and  133 . In various other exemplary embodiments, the relative sizes are reversed. 
         [0046]    In various exemplary embodiments, as will be shown below, any number of bases  111  and/or arms  121  and  131  may be combined to achieve a desired set of dimensions for a liquid management system  100 . There are two types of connections between components: end-to-end connections and side-to-side connections. The tens “end” is used in reference to the ditch liner components  111 ,  121 , and  131  to refer to the edges of the component that are perpendicular to the direction of the flow of liquid in the system. 
         [0047]      FIG. 8  is an exploded view of a bottom segment  110  assembled from tour base components  111  and four sealants  102 . In various exemplary embodiments, the base components  111  are adapted to be cut (see, e.g.,  FIG. 1 ) to alter their size and/or shape to fit a channel (e.g., canal, ditch, etc.). In various exemplary embodiments, two or more base components  111  may be connected side-to-side to increase the width of the liquid management system  100 . One side edge  114   a  of a base component  111   a  is placed overlapping side edge  114   b  of base component  111   b  with a sealant  102   ab  (e.g., a gasket or an adhesive) placed between. Fasteners  103 , such as, for example, screws, are used to securely and tightly connect the base components  111   a  and Mb compress sealant  102   ab  therebetween for a watertight seal. Base component Hie and base component  111   d  are connected using sealant  102   cd  in the same manner. For side-side-connections between components of the same type (e.g., connecting two base components, as shown here), either component may be placed on top of the other. 
         [0048]    Referring still to  FIG. 8 , sealants  102   ae  and  102   bd , which may be a single sealant, are placed on small end ribs  116   a  and Hob of base components  111   a  and  111   b . The large end ribs  115   c  and  115   d  of the connected base components Me and hid are placed over small end ribs  115   c  and  115   d  and securely connected with fasteners (not shown) as described above. It should be noted that the base components  111  need not be assembled in any specific order and that fasteners may be applied at various stages during the process or only after all the base components  111  and sealants  102  are in position. In various exemplary embodiments, as described in more detail below, additional steps may need to be taken before and/or during the connection process to anchor the system in place. For example, cable locks  143  tethered to an anchor may engage the components at the corners where two or more base or arm components overlap) and anchor them in place. 
         [0049]    In various exemplary embodiments, two components  111 ,  121 , and/or  131  are connected side-to-side by placing two components side-to-side with one component  111 ,  121 , and/or  131  overlapping the other and placing a sealant  102  between. Fasteners (e.g., screws, adhesives, etc.) are used to connect the components. The fasteners bind the components together compressing the sealant therebetween to create a watertight or leak resistant seal, in various exemplary embodiments, the fasteners may pass through the sealant  102  or be located to either or both sides of the sealant  102 . 
         [0050]      FIGS. 9 and 10  show an arm segment  120  formed from four arm components  121 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , two arm components  121   a  and  121   b  being connected side-to-side to create an arm segment that is longer than a single arm. Arm component  121   a  is adapted for connecting by removal of at least foot  124  (shown in  FIG. 6 ). Arm component  1215  is adapted for connection by removal of at least knuckle  125   h . The cut edges  128   a  and  128   b  of arm components  121   a  and  121   b  are overlapped with sealant  102  placed between and securely connected with fasteners. Although either arm component  121   a  or  121   b  may be placed over the other, it is generally preferred that the upper arm component  121   a  be placed over the lower arm component  121   b  to help reduce the likelihood of leakage through the seam between them. 
         [0051]    Referring now to  FIG. 10 , two arm segments  120   a  and  120   b  are connected by placing large end rib  126   b  over small end rib  125   a  with sealant  102  therebetween. As described above, fasteners (not shown) are used to securely connect arm segments  120   a  and  120   b.    
         [0052]      FIG. 11  shows a second arm segment  130  formed by connecting four arm components  131 . Arm segment  130  is a mirror image of arm segment  120 , just as arm component  131  is a mirror image of arm component  121 . As will be shown below, this is helpful in attaching the arm segments  120  and  130  to the base segment  110 . According to other various exemplary embodiments, arm segments  120  and  130  may be identical. 
         [0053]      FIG. 12  shows an exemplary embodiment of a ditch liner segment  101  assembled by connecting the side segments  120  and  130  to base segment  110 . The foot portions  124  and  134  of the lower arm components  121  and  131  in side segments  120  and  130  are placed over the side edges (not visible in  FIG. 12 ) of base segment  110  with a sealant (not shown in  FIG. 12 ) between. The foot portions  124  and  134  are connected to the base  110  with fasteners (not shown) as discussed previously. In various exemplary embodiments, the large ribs  122  and  132  and small ribs  123  and  133  of the side segments  120  and  130  are somewhat larger than the large ribs  112  and small ribs  113  of the base segment  110 . This helps provide a better fit and tighter seal between side segments  120  and  130  and base segments  110 . 
         [0054]    Any sealant that will resist liquid leakage may be used. In some exemplary embodiments, the sealant is a compressible gasket. The gasket&#39;s shape may vary and will depend in large part upon the shape of the space where it will be placed. For example, a thin rectangular gasket is preferably used between overlapping end ribs in end-to-end connections of the exemplary embodiment because both the top surface of the small rib and the bottom surface of the large rib are both flat. In other exemplary embodiments the gasket may be larger or smaller and have a different shape (e.g., a cylinder or tube). A gasket may also have an adhesive on all or a portion of its surface. In various other exemplary embodiments, the sealant is an adhesive, such as, for example, 3M 740 adhesive, or other adhesives that are liquid insoluble and will resist leakage. In various exemplary embodiments, a bead of adhesive is laid down on a component that is to be overlapped for connecting. An adhesive sealant is especially preferred for side-to-side connections where the irregular shape (going up and down over ribs) makes it impractical or difficult to effectively install a gasket. In addition, in some exemplary embodiments, a bead of caulk may be applied along the side edge of the uppermost of the two components. 
         [0055]    In some exemplary embodiments, such as the base shown in  FIG. 5 , the ribs  212  and  213  along one edge of a component may be adapted to fit under the other component by using small toes  218  that are reduced in size compared to the ribs. 
         [0056]    An exemplary anchor system is shown in  FIG. 13 . Ground anchor  141  is attached to a cable  142 . The anchor system also includes a cable lock  143 . The cable  142  and cable lock  143  are adapted to interact by inserting the cable  142  through the cable lock  143  and the cable lock  143  functions by allowing the cable  142  to pass through the cable lock  143  in only one direction. 
         [0057]    As shown in  FIG. 14 , in various exemplary embodiments, the anchor  141  is inserted into the ground using drive bar with the cable (not visible in  FIG. 14 ) extending out of the ground. In some applications, such as when installing the system in a cement lined ditch, it may be necessary to open a hole for the anchor prior to installing a section of the liquid management system  100 . As illustrated in  FIG. 15 , the cable  142  is passed through an opening in the liquid management system  100 . The cable  142  is then inserted through a washer  144  and the cable lock  143 , which is adapted to tit onto the cable  142  and move in one direction relative to the cable  142 . The cable  142  is pulled through the cable lock  143  until the cable lock is secured against the liquid management system  100  (e.g., until the cable  142  is taut and the cable lock  143  cannot be advanced thither). In addition, the anchor  141  is designed such that pulling on the cable  142  also causes the anchor  141  to rotate in the ground such that it will not pull out of the ground through the hole through which it was installed. 
         [0058]    In various exemplary embodiments, the cable lock  142  and/or washer  144  are designed and/or sized so that they are larger than the opening  106  in the liquid management system  100  and will tightly fit against the surface of the liquid management system  100  entirely covering the opening in the liquid management system  100 . In various exemplary embodiments, a sealant (e.g., an adhesive) may be placed between the cable lock and the ditch liner component and/or caulk may be applied around the circumference of the interface between the cable lock  142  and/or washer  144  and the liquid management system  100  to provide a watertight seal. In various exemplary embodiments, the liquid management system  100  may be anchored at any location in the system. In some exemplary embodiments, the anchor system  140  is attached to the liquid management system at locations where two or more components overlap to provide the greatest stability to all liquid management system components. 
         [0059]    Although the system is shown using an exemplary anchor system, any anchor system may be used to secure the liquid management system in place. The selection of a particular anchor system will depend in large part on the type(s) and characteristics of soil on which the liquid management system is installed. Where the liquid management system is installed over an existing lining system (e.g., a concrete ditch or canal), an anchor that is designed to anchor to the existing bed or lining may be chosen. 
         [0060]    In various exemplary embodiments, the disclosed system is modular because it assembled from at most primary components that can be manufactured with as few as two mold tools. In various exemplary embodiments, the disclosed system is scalable because it is adaptable for assembly in preexisting channels of virtually any size or dimensions. Prior systems had at most a few available sizes and preexisting channels had to be funned to fit the available systems. Also, larger systems would require multiple parallel channels when the largest available system was not large enough to handle peak flows. 
         [0061]    In various exemplary embodiments, components of different sizes can be manufactured from the same tool by trimming pieces to any desired size. In various exemplary embodiments, the system components are preferably formed from recyclable materials such that material removed from the components during manufacturing or installation can be used to manufacture additional components. In various exemplary embodiments, high density polyethylene (HDPE) material can be readily thermoformed to desired shapes determined by molds using well-known methods to produce durable, long-lasting components. In various other exemplary embodiments, any material that will not deteriorate under operating conditions (e.g., that will not be absorbed into or corroded by the fluid in the system) may be used, such as other polymeric materials. 
         [0062]    Although the liquid management system is described herein for use with water, the disclosed liquid management system may be used with any flowing or flowable (e.g., fine granular materials) material including, but not limited to water, hydrocarbons (e.g., oil or gasoline), slurries, suspensions, or mixtures (e.g., contaminated water). The disclosed system may be used to transport liquids for various purposes including, but not limited to, transportation of drinking or irrigation water, storm water control, waste water discharge, industrial safety systems (e.g., for collecting spilled liquids in the case of a spill, such as at a processing plant), collection of liquids for treatment or processing contaminated water). 
         [0063]    As utilized herein, the terms “approximately,” “about,” “substantially,” and similar terms are intended to have a broad meaning in harmony with the common and accepted usage by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the subject matter of this disclosure pertains. It should be understood by those of skill in the art who review this disclosure that these terms are intended to allow a description of certain features described and claimed without restricting the scope of these features to the precise numerical ranges provided. Accordingly, these terms should be interpreted as indicating that insubstantial or inconsequential modifications or alterations of the subject matter described and claimed are considered to be within the scope of the invention as recited in the appended claims. 
         [0064]    It should be noted that references to relative positions (e.g., “top” and “bottom”) in this description are merely used to identify various elements as are oriented in the figures. It should be recognized that the orientation of particular components may vary greatly depending on the application in which they are used. 
         [0065]    For the purpose of this disclosure, the term “connected” means the joining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or moveable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being attached to one another. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in nature. 
         [0066]    It should be appreciated that the construction and arrangement of the liquid management system, as shown in the various exemplary embodiments, is illustrative only. While the liquid management system, according to this invention, has been described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments outlined above, various alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and/or substantial equivalents, whether known or that are or may be presently unforeseen, may become apparent. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the liquid management system, according to this invention, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the description provided above is intended to embrace all known or later-developed alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and/or substantial equivalents.