Abstract:
The present invention relates to a personal use assistive breathing device wherein a can adaptor or bottle mounting member is secured to a bottle canister containing a pressurized gas. A mouth piece member retains an action knob positioned for actuating a stem valve on the bottle canister upon a rotation. During use the action knob is spaced away from the mouthpiece and air passages entrain ambient atmospheric air with the escaping pressurized gas. The action knob may be retained in the in-use position without continual pressure allowing hands-free use. During storage, the action knob is spaced in contact with the mouthpiece prohibiting unintended gas release and enabling ready handling without risk of gas-loss.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to an assistive breathing apparatus for sports or exercise use. More specifically, the present invention relates to a breathing apparatus that is employs a unique and secure motion for releasing stored gas and supplying both the stored gas and entrained ambient atmosphere to a user while enabling later secure storage without risk of unintended release. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    The related art involves a wide number of personal use air canisters or oxygen canisters that often include some form of mouth-mask or lip canister. Personal-use oxygen canisters are commonly used, for example to augment or assist blood-oxygen content during extreme sports activity or during a user&#39;s presence at a high-altitude/low oxygen partial-pressure condition, where recover of blood-oxygen content is a slow process. 
         [0005]    The use of oxygen canisters has been long known from high-altitude mountaineering and often these canisters are strapped to a users back like a back-pact, with a flexible hose and separate mask used to provide oxygen to a user&#39;s lip region. Such uses have fallen-out of favor unless mandatory due to the detrimental weight and awkward positioning required. It is also known, for example to employ a small-sized oxygen canister with a mouthpiece projecting at a right-angle to the canister axis and a twist-opening valve. With these constructions, a plurality of fixing or positioning straps are employed to elastically fix the mouthpiece to the user&#39;s lip region, with the long-axis of the bottle projecting along the user&#39;s chest. These constructions are disfavored due to their interference with close body positioning (for example during rock climbing), and the uncomfortable pressure applied to the user&#39;s lips and mouth. 
         [0006]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a conventional personal assistive apparatus  100  includes a bottle member  102  joined to a universal mouthpiece member  103  having a single gas opening  105  positioned centrally. A cover cap member  101  is fittable over both bottle ember  102  and universal mouthpiece member  103  and outer surface portion  107  of bottle  102 . 
         [0007]    In a pre-use condition, a male valve stem member  104  projects upwardly from a valve stem assembly region on bottle  102  and is partially received within a nesting flange  106  projecting centrally from within mouthpiece member  103 . An enclosed passage (not shown) projects from nesting flange member  106  to single gas opening  105  to transfer use-gas directly to a user during a use. Valve stem member  104  is actionable, and will release use-gas, only along an axial motion along the length of valve stem member  104 . As a consequence, in a pre-use position mouthpiece member  103  rests over valve stem member  104  without contacting outer surface portion  107  of bottle  102  and is solely suspended upon valve stem member  104 . As a consequence, an outer and bottom-most lip portion  108  of universal mouthpiece member  103  fails to contact bottle member  102  and is pivotal relative thereto. In this pre-use storage position, cap member  101 , having a larger inner diameter than an outer diameter of universal mouthpiece member  103  may cover member  103  and a bottom portion of cap member  101  may snap-engage a detent ring  109  to retain cover member  103  within the bounded volume defined therein. 
         [0008]    As an unfortunate result of this universal design, it is common during shipping a pre-use for universal mouthpiece member  103  to become disengaged with valve stem  104  and to rattle within snap-engaged cap member  101 , thereby requiring re-attachment and often hand-steadying by a user prior to a use. In an in-use position, a user positions universal mouthpiece member  103  about valve stem  104  and uses a first hand to grip a barrel of bottle  102  and a second hand to steady universal mouthpiece member  103  to position the same about a lip region. To initiate a use, a user presses bottle  102  against their lip region steadying respectively with their hands. As pressure is applied, nesting flange  106  presses downwardly on valve stem  104  and actuates release of use-gas. In a full-use position, bottom-most lip portion  108  will contact outer surface portion  107  and prevent over-compression of the valve. Also in full-use position, a sealing flange on universal mouthpiece member  103  fully seals about the user&#39;s lip region to prevent unintended escape of use gas. Upon a release of the pressure, valve stem  104  pushes mouthpiece member  103  away from surface portion  107 . As a consequence, mouthpiece member  103  is now only centrally-supported and may pivot and tilt relative to bottle  102 , and may easily become disengaged and fall away without two-handed use. While this central-support of mouthpiece  103  enables its use on a number of canisters or bottles  103 , hence its universal capacity, this very construction raises substantive detriments. 
         [0009]    In sum, as is obvious from this conventional construction, there are substantive including risk of damage to valve stem member  104  through pivot and miss-position of mouthpiece member  103 . A related detriment is the unintended separation and potential loss of mouthpiece member  103  fully from assembly  100  upon removal of cover cap  101 . An additional detriment is the requirement for both (a) dual-handed use to operate securely, (b) the requirement for continual hand pressure along the bottle axis to actuate the valve assembly, and the inability to use personal assistive apparatus  100  in a hands-free condition, for example while resting. As a consequence, the detriments of assembly  100  prohibit its use during high-energy sports such as climbing, mountaineering, and extreme skiing. 
         [0010]    Such related art liners are also shown, at www.betterthanair.com and www.oxia.com. Alternative attachment mechanisms include a threaded container attachment, for example in U.S. Pat. No. 3,186,407 to Morrison. 
         [0011]    What has also recently been appreciated by those of skill in the art is the prohibitive focus on supplying a user&#39;s lung gas volume solely from the attendant canister. Where a mouthpiece is sealed to a user&#39;s lip region, a normal inhalation may have a volume of 2.5 liters requiring the same delivery from the limited-use canister. The supply of such large volumes of gas to satisfy a user&#39;s lung volume requires the use of large canisters or heavy canisters to withstand increased internal pressure. Thus, while the sports-need is to augment blood-oxygen content may require only the supply of pure oxygen, the parallel need to satisfy lung volume often requires the use of pressurized breathing air. Now, that sports medicine recognizes the dangers of oxygen-poisoning (where the blood is over-oxygenated causing damage), it is critical to avoid the risks existent with pure oxygen. In sum, a conundrum exists in the industry between the need to supply oxygen and to supply sufficient lung volume to users that is yet unsatisfied in the industry. No response to this need has been satisfactory to date. 
         [0012]    As a consequence of the above it is now clear that the related art has failed to appreciate the need for a personal use assistive breathing apparatus having a small size for transport, a securely attached construction to prohibit separation of damage prior to or during storage, and with an optional capacity for hands-free use to allow improved user resting and recovery under extreme conditions, all while avoiding the dangers and risks associated with the related art. 
         [0013]    Accordingly, there is a need for an improved personal-use assistive breathing apparatus that overcomes at least one of the detriments noted above. 
       OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    An object of the present invention is to provide a personal use assistive breathing apparatus that overcomes on of the detriments known above 
         [0015]    Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a personal use assistive breathing apparatus that employs ambient atmosphere as a beneficial mixing aid to augment released gas volume to satisfy a lung volume need. 
         [0016]    Another aspect of the present invention involves the use of a secure triggering or actuation mechanism that enables operation with a single hand and thereafter positioning a mouthpiece in a convenient position, even proximate a user&#39;s lip region with a resultant decrease in user lip-region-pressure. 
         [0017]    The present invention relates to a personal use assistive breathing device wherein a can adaptor or bottle mounting member is secured to a bottle canister containing a pressurized gas. A mouth piece member retains an action knob positioned for actuating a stem valve on the bottle canister upon a rotation. During use the action knob is spaced away from the mouthpiece and air passages enable an entrainment ambient atmospheric air with the escaping pressurized gas. The action knob may be retained in the in-use position without continual pressure allowing hands-free use. During storage, the action knob is spaced in contact with the mouthpiece prohibiting unintended gas release and enabling ready handling without risk of gas-loss. 
         [0018]    According to an embodiment of the present invention there is provided an assistive breathing apparatus for personal use by a user, comprising: a bottle mounting member, means for securely mounting the bottle mounting member about a valve assembly of an external bottle having a bottle axis and containing a use-gas, a mouthpiece member mounted on the bottle mounting member, an action knob pivotally mounted between the bottle mounting member and the mouthpiece member, means for entraining an external atmosphere within a release volume of the use-gas during the use, and means for actuating the valve assembly upon a rotation of the action knob by the user about the bottle axis. 
         [0019]    According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided an assistive breathing apparatus for personal use by a user, wherein: the means for securely mounting further comprising: at least one of a means for snap-mounting the bottle mounting member on the bottle and an adhesive joining means for adhering the mounting member on the bottle without actuating the valve assembly. 
         [0020]    According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided an assistive breathing apparatus for personal use by a user, wherein: the breathing apparatus includes the means for snap-mounting, and the means for snap-mounting further comprises: at least a first snap link member for snap engaging a rim of the bottle. 
         [0021]    According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided an assistive breathing apparatus for personal use by a user, wherein: the breathing apparatus includes the means for snap-mounting, and the means for snap-mounting further comprises: at least the adhesive joining means for adhering. 
         [0022]    According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided an assistive breathing apparatus for personal use by a user, wherein: the breathing apparatus includes the means for snap-mounting, and the means for snap-mounting includes both the at least a first snap link member for snap engaging a rim of the bottle and the adhesive joining means for mounting. 
         [0023]    According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided an assistive breathing apparatus for personal use by a user, wherein: the means for actuating the valve assembly includes dual rotation means for enabling a rotation of the action knob in either direction about the bottle axis from a non-actuation position to respective dual use positions, thereby improving a user convenience of the apparatus. 
         [0024]    According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided an assistive breathing apparatus for personal use by a user, further comprising: means for retaining the valve assembly of the bottle in an in-use hands-free actuation position following the rotation, thereby allowing the apparatus to have an improved user convenience. 
         [0025]    According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided an assistive breathing apparatus for personal use by a user, wherein: the means for actuating the valve further comprises: means for bounding and stabilizing a valve stem of the valve assembly during an actuation, whereby the means for bounding and stabilizing minimize a misalignment of the valve stem and damage to the valve assembly. 
         [0026]    According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided an assistive breathing apparatus for personal use by a user, further comprising: a plurality of air passages in the mouth piece member, a first portion of the air passages transmitting the use-gas to the user during a personal use, and a second portion of the air passages transmitting the entrained atmosphere to the user from the means for entraining, whereby during the use the user inhales both the use-gas and the entrained atmosphere. 
         [0027]    According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided an assistive breathing apparatus for personal use by a user, further comprising: means for guiding the use-gas from the valve assembly to the first portion of the air passages during a use, whereby the means for guiding aids a transportation of the use-gas to the user. 
         [0028]    According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided an assistive breathing apparatus for personal use by a user, further comprising: means for sealing the means for entraining the external atmosphere following the use, whereby the means for sealing positions the action knob in close proximity to the mouthpiece member. 
         [0029]    According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided an assistive breathing apparatus for personal use by a user, further comprising: a plurality of gripping aids proximate a periphery of the action knob, whereby the gripping aids improve a user-grip of the action knob during the use. 
         [0030]    According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided an assistive breathing apparatus for personal use by a user, further comprising: means for sealing the means for entraining the external atmosphere following the use, the means for sealing further comprising: a convex curved sealing surface on the mouthpiece member, and a concaved sealing surface on the action knob, whereby the mouthpiece member nests within the action knob and the action knob moves relative to the sealing surface during the rotation and use. 
         [0031]    According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for assembling an assistive breathing apparatus, comprising the steps of: providing a bottle having a bottle axis and containing a use-gas, providing a bottle mounting member, securing the bottle mounting member about a valve assembly of the bottle, positioning an action knob about a portion of the bottle mounting member, securing a mouthpiece member on the bottle mounting member, thereby enabling a relative rotation of the action knob relative to both the bottle mounting member and the mouthpiece member. 
         [0032]    According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for assembling an assistive breathing apparatus, wherein: the step of securing a mouthpiece member includes a step of: providing a means for actuating a valve assembly of the bottle upon a rotation of the action knob by the user about the bottle to release the use-gas. 
         [0033]    According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an assistive breathing apparatus, wherein: the step of securing the bottle mounting member includes a step of snap-engaging the bottle mounting member with a rim of the bottle, whereby a positive snap-fit secures the bottle mounting member to the bottle. 
         [0034]    The above, and other objects, aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description read in conduction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate the same elements. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0035]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a conventional personal use air supply canister assembly. 
           [0036]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the conventional canister assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0037]      FIG. 3  is a perspective assembled view of a personal use assembly according to the present invention. 
           [0038]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the operative aspects of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0039]      FIG. 5  is bottom side exploded perspective view of selected elements in the present invention. 
           [0040]      FIG. 6  is a side view of a mounting adaptor member according to the present invention. 
           [0041]      FIG. 7  is a top view of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0042]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view along line  8 - 8  in  FIG. 7 . 
           [0043]      FIG. 9  is a top view of an action knob according to the present invention. 
           [0044]      FIG. 10  is a sectional view along line  10 - 10  in  FIG. 9 . 
           [0045]      FIG. 11  is a side view of a mouth piece according to the present invention. 
           [0046]      FIG. 12  is a bottom view of the mouth piece in  FIG. 11 . 
           [0047]      FIG. 13  is a partially cut-away assembled view of the present invention in a closed condition. 
           [0048]      FIG. 14  is partially cut-away assembled view of  FIG. 13  noting valve positioning. 
           [0049]      FIG. 15  is a partially cut-away assembled view of the present invention in an open or use condition. 
           [0050]      FIG. 16  is a partially cut-away assembled view of  FIG. 15  noting valve actuation for use. 
           [0051]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the present invention in use. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0052]    Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments of the invention that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, same or similar reference numerals are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts or steps. The drawings are in simplified form and are not to precise scale or shape. For purposes of convenience and clarity only, directional terms, such as top, bottom, up, down, over, above, and below may be used with respect to the drawings. These and similar directional terms should not be construed to limit the scope of the invention in any manner. Furthermore, the words “connect,” “couple,” and similar terms with their inflectional morphemes do not necessarily denote direct and immediate connections, but also include connections through mediate elements or devices. 
         [0053]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3-4 , a personal assistive breathing apparatus  500  includes an assembly fixably joined to a top portion of a gas container  502 . The assembly includes a bottle mounting member or can adaptor  503  fixed on a valve boss  508  on a top of gas canister  502 , a mouth piece member  501 , and a retained action knob member  506  operating there between. As shown, gas canister includes a valve stem member  504 A on a valve support or stem support member  504 . 
         [0054]    Bottle mounting member  503  includes an outer skirt portion  513  for receiving and positioning gas container  502  during an assembly, and is formed in a series of stepped regions, as shown. A plurality of outer base holes  505  are positioned about a mid-region of bottle mounting member  503  for enabling an alternative (non-principal) source of ambient air to a user during a use from a gap between outer skirt member  513  and bottle member, as will be discussed. An inner sleeve member  511  projects upwardly away from outer skirt portion or member  513  and openings  505  and includes therein a top groove  512  formed about a portion of an inner periphery thereof for sealing with mouthpiece member  501 , as will be discussed. It should be noted that sleeve member  511  forms a semi-complete arc having a gap about the central axis. 
         [0055]    Mouthpiece member  501  includes an outer lip sealing rim  525  and a plurality of outer air flow openings  522  about an outer ring for allowing the flow of ambient air A and a plurality of inner oxygen openings  523  about an inner ring for allowing the flow of oxygen O from bottle  502 . As will be appreciated, the bowl defined by rim  525  when positioned on a user&#39;s lips aids the mixing of ambient air A and supplied oxygen O proximate a user&#39;s mouth. 
         [0056]    Action knob  506  includes a plurality of outer periphery undulations  516  for improving a grip during rotation relative to bottle  502 , as will be discussed. Also noted is the formation of a receiving bowl curve  526  formed proximate top portions of respective undulations  516  to match a bottom curve of mouthpiece member  501 , as will be shown. An inner central opening  515  provides for the flow of oxygen O from valve stem member  504 A through sleeve member  511  to inner openings  523 . 
         [0057]    Referring now to  FIGS. 5-8  assembly members are positioned for review. Mouth piece member  501  includes a gluing or fixing assist member  521  projecting downwardly parallel to a bottle central axis for engaging a respective gap formed in sleeve member  511 , described above. As noted best in  FIG. 8 , top groove  512  in sleeve  511  engages a ring edge projecting from a bottom of mouthpiece  501  concurrent with glue ember  521  so as to provide an increased surface area for glue adhesion, when mouth piece  501  is glued into top groove  512  of sleeve  511  during assembly. It is noted that assist member  521  is positioned between outer air passage openings  522  and an inner partial ring including projecting keys  518  as will be discussed. As will be shown, this inner partial ring bounds the oxygen flow and guides such flow to inner openings  523 . It is noted here, that ambient air flow A passes between knob member  506  and the bottom arcuate curve of rim  525  on mouthpiece member  501 . 
         [0058]    As seen best in  FIG. 5 , an inner web supports respective undulations  516  during formation, and joins an inner bounded receiving opening  519  for receiving sleeve  511  during assembly. A keyed web portion or joining web  520  projects from the perimeter of bounded receiving opening  519  to support a valve central opening  515  for receiving valve stem member  504 A. A bottom view of bottle mounting member  503  notes the positioning of outer skirt member  513  relative to sleeve  511  bounding an inner base passage  509 . An inner skirt member  514  project in a step-wise fashion and forms openings  505  for optional ambient air transmission. Opposing sets of stabilizing members  524  project inwardly into inner base passage  509  of sleeve portion  511  and serve to guidably receive and slidably guide central member  517 , as will be shown. 
         [0059]    In an optional means for joining bottle mounting member  503  to a top of bottle or canister  502 , a plurality of double-sided sticky adhesive  507  may be positioned inwardly of air passage openings  505  for adhering to the bounded contact region defined between bottle boss member  508  and valve stem support  504 . 
         [0060]    As is noted in  FIG. 7 , inward stabilizing members  524  project inwardly for guiding central stem  517  of action knob  506 . Stabilizing members  524  also join proximate their respective top portions in inner base passage  509  forming angular semi-triangular pointed projections for receiving portions of action knob as will be shown. Stabilizing members  524  also bound respective inner regions between them so as to guide valve stem member  504 A without causing undue contact. As should be realized now, joining web  520  action knob  506  is assembled by sliding it on top of sleeve  511  in so that web  520  rests between respective stabilizing members  524  on either side of inner base passage  509 , thereby allowing the present assembly to be assembled in either of two positions, both equally effective to down-stream operation, thereby speeding assembly time. 
         [0061]    Referring now to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , action knob member  506  is shown with bounded central opening  515  receiving three off-set and inwardly projecting actuation urging studs  510 ,  510 ,  510 , as shown. During assembly action studs  515 , (a tip end of one is shown at K in  FIG. 10 ), contact the top of valve stem member  504 A, and upon actuation pivot with action knob  506  and move downwardly to release oxygen. Also shown are two respective receiving regions on sloped edges or receiving keyways formed in  517  proximate parallel sides of web  520 . As will be later shown, receiving regions receive respectively keys  518  from mouthpiece  501 , and the upwardly sloped key formed from joined stabilizing members  424 ,  424 . 
         [0062]    Referring now to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , mouthpiece member  501  includes two opposing keys  518  as shown that fit within respective keyways  517  in action knob  506 .  FIG. 12  notes particularly the relationship between outer openings  522 , inner openings  523 , and glue member  521  there between completing the gap noted in sleeve  511  during assembly to provide a secure engagement to resist lift under rotational movement. 
         [0063]    Referring now to  FIGS. 13 and 14 , apparatus or assembly  500  is shown in an at-reset, or non-actuated condition with the top of urging studs  510  (the end shown at letter K in section) resting upon the top surface of stem member  504 A. Inner skirt  514  is shown with a snap engagement lip at its bottom edge for snap-engaging boss  508  of canister or bottle  102  and effecting a secure attachment thereto. Inner skirt  514  and it&#39;s snap engagement lip are spaced from urging studs  510  so that upon a user first assembly step (fixing bottle mounting member or can adaptor  503  onto can  502 , there are no pressures or stresses on stem member  504 A which is securely and slidably guided between respective sides of stabilizing members  524  (See  FIG. 14 ) so that its movement along the can axis is not deflected. As seen, keys  518  are centrally located within top open keyway or sloped joint formed by slopes  517  on web  520  on the top or mouthpiece-side, so that respective keys formed by joined stabilizing members  524  are not in contact with web  520 . 
         [0064]    As shown are optional adhesive tape members  507  for fixing (optionally) can adaptor  506  to can  2 . As should be noted the outer rim  525  of mouthpiece  501  slopes downwardly to meet with the sealing upward curve of the top of undulations  516 . Also noted is the alignment of inner openings  523  with inner base passage  509  for the transmission of oxygen along the central opening  515 . Similarly shown is the engagement (fixed) of glue member  512 , fixed by adhesive, sonic welding or other conventional means, to stem member  511 , thereby pivotably engaging action knob  506  there between. 
         [0065]    Turning now specifically to  FIGS. 15 and 16  two rotation directions R, R′ are noted about a central pivot axis which is the same as the axis of assembly  100 . During rotation in either direction, slopes  517  slid along sloped sides of keys  518  toward initial engagement with corresponding sloped sides of joined stabilizing members  524 . As a consequence of the constructions, with action knob  503  pivotably joined between the fixed-in-position mouth piece  501  and can adaptor  503 , during rotation in either direction R, R′, action knob  503  moves axially toward can  502  placing pressure on upwardly urged stem  504 A via urging studs  510  that travel rotationally and downwardly to release oxygen. As can be seen from the corresponding views of either rotational direction, movement in either direction places downward pressure on valve stem  504 A to release oxygen flow while simultaneously spacing to top of undulations  516  from the outer curve of mouthpiece  501  thereby allowing atmospheric air flows A to enter along mouthpiece, into outer holes  522  to mix with oxygen and supply sufficient lung volume to satisfy a user while minimizing the risk of oxygen poisoning through over blood saturation. It should be noted that upon an alternative construction minimizing web thickness  520  so that respective tips of keys  518  are positioned such that the upward elastic urging of stem member  504 A is resisted by the rotational resistance of action knob  506 , that the present assembly  500  includes a mechanism for hands free use so that oxygen and air flow will continue without the continuous user-manipulation of action knob  506 . As can also be seen in reviewing the contrasts between respective non-use views  FIGS. 13-14 , and in-use views  FIGS. 15-16 , the present invention enables a mechanism for entraining atmospheric air in a delivered oxygen stream while allowing a responsive hands free use. 
         [0066]    Referring now to  FIG. 17 , a user  1000  is positioning assembly  500  for rapid one-handed use. As can be seen, a single hand action to rotate in either direction R/R′ thereby improving a user-security during high risk or high activity sports such as climbing. For the reasons noted above, a hands-free use mechanism is provided that enables the turn of knob  506  and later use without continual pressure, thereby allowing a user rest in a prone position with mouthpiece  501  in close proximity to their lips thus minimizing damage and pain from pressure against chapped lips or where a user is injured. 
         [0067]    In the claims, means- or step-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described or suggested herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures. Thus, for example, although a nail, a screw, and a bolt may not be structural equivalents in that a nail relies on friction between a wooden part and a cylindrical surface, a screw&#39;s helical surface positively engages the wooden part, and a bolt&#39;s head and nut compress opposite sides of a wooden part, in the environment of fastening wooden parts, a nail, a screw, and a bolt may be readily understood by those skilled in the art as equivalent structures. 
         [0068]    Having described at least one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various changes, modifications, and adaptations may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.