Abstract:
A system and method for lifting heavy bags is presented. A heavy bag lifting apparatus includes a handle, a first grabber device, a second grabber device and a plurality of cross-member devices. Each of the first and second grabber devices has a plurality of pin structures. The first grabber device is pivotally connected to the second grabber device. The cross-member devices pivotally connect the first grabber device and second grabber device together. The plurality of cross-member devices are also pivotally connected to the handle. The first grabber device, the second grabber device and plurality of cross-member device are arranged so that pin structures on the first grabber device and the pin structures on the second grabber device are pushed together in proportion to an amount of weight being lifted by the heavy bag lifter apparatus.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This patent application claims priority from Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/777,006, filed Mar. 12, 2013; the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The current invention relates generally to apparatus, systems and methods for lifting objects. More particularly, the apparatus, systems and methods relate to manually lifting heavy objects. Specifically, the apparatus, systems and methods provide for a way of more easily lifting flexible bags filled with material making them heavy. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     For eons, man has been lifting heavy objects. Often a person will bend over at the waist and reach down to lift a heavy object. This causes the lower back muscles to perform much of the lifting. Unfortunately, the lower back muscles are relatively small and often do not have the power to easily lift objects of 25 or more pounds. Secondly, bending at the waist creates a pivot point on discs of the spine in the lower back. Using small back muscles and creating a pivot at the spine often lead to lower back injuries such as a slipped disc in the spine and pulled back muscles. Lifting heavy objects with the knees using larger leg muscles also has its limitations. Squatting at the knees creates pivots between bones at the knees and with repeated lifting can wear out cartilage and bone surfaces in the knees. What is needed is a better way of lifting heavy objects. 
     SUMMARY 
     One embodiment of the invention may include a heavy bag lifting apparatus. The heavy bag lifting apparatus includes a handle, a first grabber device, a second grabber device and a plurality of cross-member devices. Each of the first and second grabber devices have a plurality of pin structures. The first grabber device is pivotally connected to the second grabber device. The cross-member devices pivotally connect the first grabber device and second grabber device together. The cross-member devices are also pivotally connected to the handle. The first grabber device, the second grabber device and cross-member devices are arranged so that the pin structures on the first grabber device and the pin structures on the second grabber device are pushed together in proportion to an amount of weight being lifted by the heavy bag lifter apparatus. For example, the cross-member devices, grabber devices and handle are sized and connected together to create an “accordion” type of movement between these components so that the more the heavy bag pulls downward between the two grabber devices, the more they are forced together to more strongly grip the heavy bag. This is discussed further in the detailed description of this application. 
     Another configuration of the invention may include a method of using a heavy lifter device. The method begins by overcoming small forces created by springs that bias the first and second grabber devices of the heavy lifter device together by pulling apart the first and second grabber devices. The grabber devices then are aligned over a top edge of a bag that someone desires to lift. Next, the grabber devices are released allowing teeth in the devices to be pulled together by the springs. This allows the teeth (or pin structures or saw-shaped teeth) to push into the bag so that the heavy lifter device will be more securely attached to the bag. In the preferred embodiment, the teeth of each grabber device push into a C-shaped channel of the adjacent grabber device. The heavy bag is then easily lifted, by almost any person, with the grabber device. When the bag is lifted, the weight of the bag creates downward force that causes the axis wherein the cross-members are pivotally connected to the two grabber devices to move toward each other resulting in the grabber devices being pushed toward one another. Once the bag is lifted, the method allows for it to be moved to a desired location using the easy to grip handle of the heavy bag lifter. When it is at its desired location, the bag is lowered along with the heavy bag lifter. When the bag&#39;s weight is fully supported on the ground, the forces pushing the grabber devices together are released and the grabber devices can be opened by simply overcoming the forces of the springs and the heavy bag lifter can be removed from the bag. 
     Another configuration of the invention may include a heavy bag lifter that includes first and second grabber devices, a handle and a scissor device. The first and second grabber devices can be placed on opposite side of a bag to be lifted. The scissor device opens the first grabber device and the second grabber device by pulling the first grabber device and the second grabber device apart. The scissor device closes the first grabber device and the second grabber device by pushing the first grabber device and the second grabber together. The scissor device is pivotally connected to the handle and is pivotally connected to the first grabber device and the second grabber device. In some configurations, the heavy bag lifter includes a spring to bias the scissor device to a closed position with the first grabber device and the second grabber device pushed together. In other configurations, the heavy bag lifter has a spring device formed with flat pieces of metal pivotally connected together. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       One or more preferred embodiments that illustrate the best mode(s) are set forth in the drawings and in the following description. The appended claims particularly and distinctly point out and set forth the invention. 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate various example methods, and other example embodiments of various aspects of the invention. It will be appreciated that the illustrated element boundaries (e.g., boxes, groups of boxes, or other shapes) in the figures represent one example of the boundaries. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that in some examples one element may be designed as multiple elements or that multiple elements may be designed as one element. In some examples, an element shown as an internal component of another element may be implemented as an external component and vice versa. Furthermore, elements may not be drawn to scale. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a person using a preferred embodiment of a heavy bag lifter apparatus (heavy bag lifter) to lift a bag. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the heavy bag lifter. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a front perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a grabber device of the heavy bag lifter. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a top perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the grabber device of the heavy bag lifter. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a top view of the preferred embodiment of the grabber device of the heavy bag lifter. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a front view of the preferred embodiment of the grabber device of the heavy bag lifter. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a side view of the preferred embodiment of the grabber device of the heavy bag lifter. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a detailed view taken from  FIG. 7  of pin structures of the grabber device. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a detailed perspective view taken from  FIG. 3  of a connector device of the grabber device. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a detailed side view taken from  FIG. 6  of a connector device of the grabber device. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a perspective view of a cross-member device of the heavy bag lifter. 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a side view of the cross-member device of the heavy bag lifter. 
         FIG. 13  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the cross-member device as taken on cross-section  13 - 13  in  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 14  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a connection device in a second grabber device connected to an end of a cross-member. 
         FIG. 15  illustrates a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a handle of the heavy bag lifter. 
         FIG. 16  illustrates a front view of the preferred embodiment of the handle of the heavy bag lifter. 
         FIG. 17  illustrates a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a spring of the heavy bag lifter. 
         FIG. 18  illustrates a side view of the preferred embodiment of the heavy bag lifter moving to an open position. 
         FIG. 19  illustrates a side view of the preferred embodiment of the heavy bag lifter moving to a closed position. 
         FIG. 20  illustrates a detailed cross-sectional view taken from  FIG. 19  of pin structures of the grabber devices. 
         FIG. 21  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the connector devices taken from the bottom of the grabber devices. 
         FIG. 22  illustrates a detailed cross-sectional view of another configuration of the pin structures of the grabber devices. 
         FIG. 23  illustrates an embodiment of a method for moving heaving bags using the preferred embodiment of the heavy bag lifter. 
     
    
    
     Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate the preferred embodiment of a heavy bag lifter apparatus  1  (heavy bag lifter). The main components of the heavy bag lifter  1  include a first grabber  3 , a second grabber  5 , a handle  7 , four cross-members  9 , and two springs  11 .  FIG. 1  illustrates a person  2  using a hand  4  with fingers  6  to lift a bag  10  filled with heavy material using the heavy bag lifter  1 . As discussed later, the heavy bag lifter  1  clamps onto top bag flanges  10  of the bag  8  when the bag is lifted and carried. In the preferred embodiment, the springs  11  are formed out of metal and the other components are formed with ridged Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) plastic but they could be formed out of metal, another plastic, another material or a combination of one or more different materials. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the first and second grabber devices  3 ,  5  are symmetrical so only the first grabber device  3  will be described because the description for the second grabber device  5  is the same. Each grabber device  3 ,  5  has a first arm  13  and a second arm  15 . Each arm  13 ,  15  is elongated in shape with an outward end  16  projecting outward from its grabber device. The first grabber device  3  includes a first arm  13  and a second arm  15  extending outward from a main body portion  17 . The first and second arms  13 ,  15  both are flat shaped arms that are about 0.08 inches thick about 0.5 inches wide and stick outward from a top side  19  of the first grabber device  3  about 1.07 inches. Cross-members  9  and first and second arms  13  and  15  combine to form a scissors assembly to move grabbers  3  and  5  toward and away from each other. As best seen in  FIG. 6 , the first and second arms  13 ,  15  both extend outward from a back side  21  making a 125 degree angle with a back side of the first grabber  3 . Of course, when dimensions and sizes of components of the heavy bag lifter  1  are given they only apply to the preferred embodiment. Other dimensions and differently sized components could be used in any number of other different configurations of the preferred embodiment. 
     As best seen in  FIG. 3 , the first arm  13  has two connector posts  23  extending outward from its right surface  13 A and the second arm  15  has one connector devices  23  extending outward from its right surface  15 A. As best seen in  FIG. 9 , each connector device  23  is formed with two generally symmetrical connector halves  25 . Each connector half  25  includes an extender portion  27  extending from the first arm  13  and a locking portion  29 . The extender portion  27  forms a planar inside wall  31  with the locking portion  23 . Each of the connector halves  25  of a connector device  23  are positioned so that each of their inside walls  31  are back-to-back and planar to each other but separated by a distance of about 0.06 inches. This separation forms a gap  33  between the connector halves  25 . A curved surface  35  is formed on the extender portion  27  opposite its inside wall  31 . Generally spherical surfaces  37  are formed on outward pointing ends of the locking portion  29 . A locking surface  39  is formed where the locking portion  29  extends beyond the extender portion  27 . 
     The two connector devices  23  on the first arm  13  are separated with about 0.30 inches between their extender portions  27 . The connector device  23  of the second arm  15  has one connector device  23  near its outer end  16  and in the preferred embodiment they are axially aligned with the connector device  23  at the outer end of the first arm  13 . The second arm  15  also includes a hole  41  in the shape of a circle that is axially aligned with the connector device  23  on the first arm  13  that is near the top surface of the first grabber device  3 . This hole  41  has a diameter of about 0.30 inches and can have sides that are tapered from a circle of about 0.35 inches centered on the hole downward into to the 0.30 inch hole  41 . 
     The first grabber device  3  is generally rectangular in shape with a first end  43  and a second end  45  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ). In addition to its top side  19  and back side  21 , it has a front side  47 , a bottom side  49 , a left side  51  and a right side  53 . In the preferred embodiment, the first grabber device is about 1.53 inches tall, 10 inches long and about 0.72 inches wide with somewhat rounded corners. The top side  19 , back side  21 , bottom side  49 , left side  51  and right side  53  form walls that are formed out of a continuous sheet of material about 0.08 inches thick. The front side is formed out of a central front wall portion  55  that extends horizontally across the front side  47  with gaps of about 0.36 inches between it and the top side  19  and the bottom side  49 . In the preferred embodiment, a label or other wording or graphics such as “Heavy Handler” can be formed into the central front wall portion  55 . A central top wall portion  57  is located between an upper edge of the central front wall portion  55  and the back side  21  and a central bottom wall portion  59  is located between an upper edge of the central front wall portion  55  and the back side  21  that is parallel to the central top wall portion  57 . 
     Upper interior vertical walls  61  are placed between the central top wall portion  57  and the upper side  21 , and lower interior vertical walls  63  are placed between the central bottom wall portion  59  and the bottom side  49 . The upper interior vertical walls  61  are aligned with the lower interior vertical walls  63  below them. Upper interior vertical walls  61  and lower internal vertical walls  63  (which are spaced apart from one another by about 2.02 inches) form chambers  64 . Upper interior vertical walls  61  and lower internal vertical walls  63  (which are spaced apart from one another by about 1.45 inches) form chambers  67  and are spaced apart from each other by about 1.45 inches. Lower interior vertical walls  63  are similarly positioned with respect to each other. Similarly, upper interior vertical walls  61  and lower internal vertical walls  63  spaced apart from the left side  51  and the right side  53  of the first grabber  3  form chambers  69 . 
     A C-shaped channel  71  ( FIG. 4 ) is formed in the back side  21  between the first end  43  and the second end  45  of the first grabber  3 . The C-shaped channel  71  has a radius of about 0.11 inch and extends about 0.14 into the back side  21  from an outermost surface of the back side  21 . 
     Multiple pin structures  75  (best seen in  FIG. 8 ) are located in and protrude from the C-shaped channel  71 . Each pin structure  75  includes a pin rod  77 , a pointed end  79  and a supporting wall  81 . The cylindrically-shaped pin rods  75  extend outward from the deepest portion of the C-shaped channel  71  and support on their outward ends the pointed ends  79  that are generally cone shaped. Each pin structure  75  has a somewhat triangle-shaped support wall  81  formed between a bottom portion of the pin rod  77  and the C-shaped channel  71 . In other embodiments, the pin structures  75  can be saw-tooth in shape or other shapes useful to grab the bag  8  when they are in use as described below. An outer edge  83  of the support wall  81  makes an angle of about 141 degrees with respect to the outer edge of the pin rod. The pin rod  77  is cylindrically-shaped and is about 0.09 inches long and extends a few tenths of an inch out of the channel  71  past the outer surface  73  of the back side so that the pointed end is completely out of the channel. The pointed end  79  is about 0.14 in length beyond the 0.09 inch length of the pin rod  77 . The pin structures  75  are evenly distributed in the C-shaped channel with about 0.67 inches between them. 
     Somewhat L-shaped tabs  14  are formed about 1.55 inches from the left end  43  and the right end  45  of the first grabber device  3 . These tabs  14  are shaped so that when the heavy bag lifter  1  is assembled, springs  11  can be stretched between two opposite pairs of the tabs  14  as best seen in  FIG. 2 . The spring  11  is about 0.25 inch in diameter with about 0.25 inch in diameter loops  87  on each end that attach to the tabs  14 . The wire of the spring is about 0.035 of an inch in thickness. 
     As illustrated best in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , the handle  7  includes a central wall  89 . A perimeter wall  90  extends completely around the central wall  89  with equal portions of the perimeter wall  90  extending over both sides of the central wall  89 . The perimeter wall  90  includes a top wall  91 , left wall  93 , right wall  95  and a bottom wall  97 . The top wall  91 , left wall  93  and right walls  95  are all generally flat in shape except that they form rounded corners where they intersect. The bottom wall  97  is wave-shaped and is formed with alternating convex portions  99  and concave portions  101 . These portions are shaped so that average adult fingers could comfortably fit within the four concave portions  101  when griping the assembled heavy bag lifter  1 . 
     A handle connector device  103  is mounted on each of the left wall  93  and the right wall  95 . The handle connecter devices  103  are each formed with two connector halves  105 . The handle connect device  103  has some dimensions a little larger than the connector device  23  as discussed above, they are otherwise of the dimensions very similar to the connecter device  23 . Therefore the detailed discussion of the connector devices  23  discussed above applies to the handle connector devices  105  so they are not discussed in any further detail. Excluding the handle connector devices  103 , the handle  7  has an overall length of about 6 inches and a width (depth) of about 0.78 inches and a height of about 1.24 inches. 
     The cross-members  9  ( FIGS. 11-13 ) are flat pieces of material of about 0.08 inches thickness having a right side  9 A and left side  9 B. They are elongated with rounded first ends  107  and second ends  109 . A round first opening  111  is located near the first end with a radius R1 of about 0.22 inches and a round second opening  113  is located near the second end  109  with a radius R2 of about 0.30 inches. The second opening  113  can be formed with beveled edges  115  on each side  9 A,  9 B. The beveled edges  115  extend from a radius R3 of about 0.35 inches to about 0.03 inches to a radius R2 of about 0.30 inches as illustrated. The first opening  111  can have similar beveled edges  117  appropriate for its radius R1 on both sides  9 A,  9 B of the cross-member. 
       FIG. 22  illustrates a second configuration of the preferred embodiment where metallic pins  121  are inserted into holes  130  formed in the first grabber device  3  and the second grabber device  5  in places where the pin structures  75  of the preferred embodiment would have been formed as part of the first grabber devices  3 ,  5  themselves. The pins  121  are formed with conical-shaped pin ends  123  adapted to grab the tabs ends  10  of the bag  8  and cylindrically-shaped bases  125  that are inserted into the holes  130  of the first grabber device  3  and the second grabber device  5 . 
     Of course, as mentioned earlier, other components of the heavy bag lifter  1  or other portions of other components could be formed out of other material or partly formed out of other materials in other configurations of the preferred embodiment. 
     Having described the components of the heavy bag lifter  1 , its assembly will now be described and its use will be described with reference to a method. The heavy bag lifter  1  can be assembled by snap-fitting the various components together. For example, the first and second grabbers  3 ,  5  can be aligned so that their back sides  21  are opposite each other (best viewed in  FIG. 2 ), however, they would be offset from one another. Next, the lower connector devices  23  closest to the top side  19  of each grabber device  3 ,  5  are pushed toward the hole  41  on the adjacent second arm of each grabber device  3 ,  5 . As each connector device  23  is passed through the respective hole  41  the outer end of each locking portion  29  ( FIG. 9 ) are pushed toward each other at least partially closing the gap  29 . Once the locking portions  29  of the connector devices  23  has each passed all the way through the respective opposite hole  41  of adjacent second arm  15 , its locking portions  29  will be free to move back into their original outward positions recreating the original gap  33 . Now in this original position, the locking surface  39  of the locking portions  29  of the connector devices  23  extend over the sides around each hole  41  of each respective second arm of the first and second grabbers  3 ,  5 . When connected together an axis of rotation X2 is created between the first and second connection devices  3 ,  5  as best seen in  FIGS. 18 and 19 . 
     Next, one end of a cross-member  9  may be attached to a connector device  23  at each end  16  of the first and second arms  13 ,  15  of each of the first and second grabbers  3 ,  5 . As discussed above, these connector devices  23  are slid through the first openings  111  at the first ends  107  of each cross-member  9  and are locked into place similar to how the lower connector devices  23  are slide through holes  41  of the second arms  15  and are locked into place as described above.  FIG. 14  illustrates how the locking surface  39  of its respective connector device  23  is extended over the left side  9 B of a cross-member  9  to prevent that connector device  23  from being withdrawn from that first opening  111 . When connected together an axis of rotation X3 and X4 are created at the outer ends  16  of the first and second arms  13 ,  15  and the first ends  107  of respective cross-members  9  connected to them as best seen in  FIGS. 18 and 19 . 
     Next, pairs of the second openings  113  at the second ends  109  on each of the first and second arms  13 ,  15  are axially aligned with each other. The pairs of cross-members  9  with aligned second openings  113  are aligned respectively with a handle connector device  103  at each end of the handle  7 . Each respective pair of cross-members  9  are then pressed onto the handle connector devices  103  until each pair of cross-members  9  is snap-fitted to the handle connector device  103 . Each connector half  105  of each handle connector device  103  is pressed together and then locked to the cross-members  9  similar to how the connector devices  23  were locked to the first and second arms  13 ,  15  of the first and second grabber devices  3 ,  5  as discussed above. When connected together an axis of rotation X1 is created between the second ends  109  of the cross-members and corresponding ends of the handle as best seen in  FIGS. 18 and 19 . Finally, springs  11  may be fitted between pairs of tabs  14  located on each of the first and second grabber devices  3 ,  5  as best seen in  FIG. 2 . 
     The use of the heavy bag lifter  1  will now be described with reference to an example method illustrated in  FIG. 23 . Example methods may be better appreciated with reference to flow diagrams. While for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the illustrated methodologies are shown and described as a series of blocks, it is to be appreciated that the methodologies are not limited by the order of the blocks, as some blocks can occur in different orders and/or concurrently with other blocks from that shown and described. Moreover, less than all the illustrated blocks may be required to implement an example methodology. Blocks may be combined or separated into multiple components. Furthermore, additional and/or alternative methodologies can employ additional, not illustrated blocks. 
       FIG. 23  illustrates a method  500  of using the heavy lifter device  1  discussed above. The method  500  begins, at  502 , by overcoming small forces created by the springs  11  and pulling apart the first and second grabber devices  3 ,  5  of the heavy bag lifter  1 . For example and as illustrated in  FIG. 18 , the grabber devices  3 ,  5  can be pulled apart in the directions of arrows B. In some configurations, when the grabber devices  3 ,  5  and the cross-members  9  are sized properly the springs  11  can act to hold the grabber devices in an open position once they are opened far enough for the springs  11  actually act to hold the gabber devices  3 ,  5  in an open position. In particular, if the centers of the springs  11  are moved above axis X2 (best seen in  FIG. 18 ), then they act to hold gabber devices  3 ,  5  in an open position. The grabber devices  3 ,  5  are aligned over the top edge  10  of a bag  8 , at  504 , that someone desires to lift. For example, the grabber devices  3 ,  5  then can be lowered in the direction of arrow A ( FIG. 18 ) so that the grabber devices  3 ,  5  are on opposite sides of the upper edge  10  of the bag  8 . 
     The grabber devices  3 ,  5  are released (or moved toward each other), at  506 , allowing teeth in the devices to be pulled (or pushed) together in the direction of arrows D. This allows the teeth (or pin structures  75  or saw-teeth) to push into the bag so that the heavy lifter device  1  will be more securely attached to the bag  8 . In the preferred embodiment, the teeth of one grabber device push into a C-shaped channel of an adjacent grabber device as best seen in  FIGS. 19 and 20 . Notice also in  FIG. 21  that the pin structures  75  of the first grabber device are offset from the pin structures  75  of the other adjacent second grabber device  5 . 
     The heavy bag lifter  1  is lifted with its handle  7 , at  508 , in the direction of arrow C. When the bag  8  is lifted, the weight of the bag  8  creates downward force that causes axis X3 and X4 to move toward each other resulting in the grabber devices  3 ,  5  being pushed toward one another. Due to the geometry of the components of the heavy bag lifter  1  and the location of the connection points of their various axis X1, X2, X3 and X4 the more downward force that is generated (e.g., the heavier the bag  8 ) the more strongly the two grabber devices  3 ,  5  are pushed toward each other. For example, the cross-member devices  9 , first and second grabber devices  3 ,  5  and the handle  7  are sized and connected together to create an “accordion” type of movement between these components so that the more the heavy bag  8  pulls downward between the two grabber devices  3 ,  5  the more they are forced together to more strongly grip the heavy bag  8 . The “accordion” type of movement that presses the first and second grabber devices  3 ,  5  together is primarily formed by the cross-members  9  and the first and second arms  13 ,  15  of the grabber devices  3 ,  5 . In the preferred embodiment, when assembled the cross-members  9  and the first and second arms  13 ,  15  form a parallelogram with pivots at its four corners X1, X2, X3, X4. 
     Once the bag  8  is lifted, the method  500  allows, at  510 , for it to be moved to a desired location using the easy to grip handle  7  of the heavy bag lifter  1 . When it is at its desired location, the bag  8  is lowered along with the heavy bag lifter  1 . When the bag&#39;s weight is fully supported on the ground, the forces pushing the grabber devices  3 ,  5  together are released and the grabber devices can be opened by simply overcoming the forces of the springs  11  and the heavy bag lifter  1  can be removed from the bag  8 . 
     In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. Therefore, the invention is not limited to the specific details, the represented embodiments, and illustrative examples shown and described. Thus, this application is intended to embrace alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the scope of the appended claims. 
     Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described. References to “the preferred embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “one example”, “an example”, and so on, indicate that the embodiment(s) or example(s) so described may include a particular feature, structure, characteristic, property, element, or limitation, but that not every embodiment or example necessarily includes that particular feature, structure, characteristic, property, element or limitation. Furthermore, repeated use of the phrase “in the preferred embodiment” does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, though it may.