Abstract:
An improved structural and decorative member which combines a structural member used to provide support to a superstructure such as a roof, a beam etc., includes the use of any type of glass such as clear glass or decorative art or stained glass as part of the support member and has the glass back lit from within the structural member. The concept integrates lighting into outdoor structures such as patio covers, colonnades, balconies and entryways. By making the structure itself the actual lighting source, there is no need to hide the lighting. By illuminating the beauty of stained or art glass which is in the structure, the structure performs the function of the physical support as well as the aesthetic beauty as well as providing a source of lighting to illuminate the area.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to the field of providing lighting for outdoor structures which incorporate the use of the structure to provide both decorative lighting and illumination of the area adjacent the structure. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   In general, the incorporation of a lighting element into a physical body has been known. The following prior art references are relevant to the field of the present invention: 
   1. U.S. Pat. No. 541,337 issued to Sieburg on Jun. 18, 1895 for “Illuminated Column” (hereafter the “Sieburg Patent”); 
   2. U.S. Pat. No. 785,695 issued to Munns on Mar. 21, 1905 for “Column, Pedestal, Or Similar Decorative Architectural Structure” (hereafter the “Munns Patent”); 
   3. U.S. Pat. No. 1,034,211 issued to De Palma on Jul. 30, 1912 for “Illuminated Enameled Metal Barber&#39;s Pole” (hereafter the “De Palma Patent”); 
   4. U.S. Pat. No. 2,721,255 issued to Lanmon on Oct. 18, 1955 for “Railing Light” (hereafter the “Lanmon Patent”); 
   5. U.S. Pat. No. 4,507,715 issued to Wedding on Mar. 26, 1985 for “Post Light” (hereafter the “Wedding Patent”); 
   6. U.S. Pat. No. 4,674,211 issued to Pratt on Jun. 23, 1987 for “Frame Structure” (hereafter the “Pratt Patent”); 
   7. U.S. Pat. No. 6,505,950 B1 issued to Natoli on Jan. 14, 2003 for “Lighted Newel Post” (hereafter the “Natoli Patent”). 
   The Sieburg Patent which issued in 1895 discloses the concept of providing illumination through a decorative column but not a structural column. Referring to the first column beginning on Line 40, the Sieburg Patent states:
         “The capital C for the column, extends with its bottom a short distance above the upper edge of the shaft B, as is plainly shown in FIG. 2, and the said capital is supported by an arch D emanating from the entablature E, fastened to a wall or otherwise supported in any suitable manner.” Therefore, what this is showing is that the column in Sieburg is not a structural column, but is strictly and solely a decorative column and does not serve any structural purpose.”       

   The Munns Patent discloses a structural column made of translucent rock such as gypsum which has a source of illumination within the stone. A critical difference between the Munns Patent and the present invention is that the Munns column is not illuminated through a glass, but is illuminated through translucent stone so it is not illuminated through any glass or art glass. Further, Munns used the concept of hollowing out stone because he couldn&#39;t figure out how to use glass as a structural material. 
   The De Palma Patent which issued in 1912 discloses an illuminated barber&#39;s pole. 
   The 1955 Lanmon Patent discloses a light that is combined with a railing in a manner such that the light is concealed within the railing but can be used to illuminate portions of the railing. It is also designed to illuminate stairs. 
   The Wedding Patent is a post light having an upstanding elongate main body portion of decorative appearance, preferably made of concrete and having a hollow interior in which is disposed lengthwise a weather impervious tubular conduit. An annular member is attached on top of the tubular conduit and supports a light bulb socket. This patent discloses the concept of having an elongated porch light illuminated from within. 
   The Pratt Patent discloses a frame structure for support and display of stained glass artwork that includes a metal structural frame assembly and an opaque reflector panel secured to the rear of the structural metal frame assembly. Specifically, this invention relates to frame structures for mounting works of art and for displaying light transmitting works of art in sheet form such as stained glass and the like. 
   The Natoli Patent which issued on Jan. 14, 2003 is a lighted newel post. A newel post system contains a light emitting source, such as a halogen and/or fluorescent bulb. The system includes a newel post with a central bore for installing the light source and openings which permit the light to be emitted external of the newel post. A newel post is a bannister at the end of the stairs that is the first heavy column before you go up the railing. The innovation relates to a newel post system for a banister positioned adjacent a stairway comprising a light emitting source, a newel post with a base, said newel post being mounted at said base, said light emitting source located therein, and including at least one opening permitting said light emitting source to provide illumination external to said newel post along said stairway, said newel post having an upper portion having a decorative design, said newel post functioning as part of the banister and a low voltage power source providing electricity to the light emitting source. 
   While the prior art has disclosed various decorative columns which are illuminated from within, those columns do not provide structural support for a roof or any type of super structure such as a supporting beam. Other prior art has disclosed a supporting structure with illumination but does not include the use of glass as part of the structural support member. There is significant need for an improved structural member incorporating the use of glass which can be illuminated from within. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is an improved structural and decorative member which combines a structural member used to provide support to a superstructure such as a roof, a beam etc., includes the use of any type of glass such as clear glass or decorative art or stained glass as part of the support member and has the glass back lit from within the structural member. 
   The invention relates to the area of the combination of outdoor lighting, art glass design, and a structural column which is used to support a structure, by way of example, a gazebo structure or other outdoor structure or even columns in front of a structure such as a commercial building or residential building. 
   The concept integrates lighting into outdoor structures such as patio covers, colonnades, balconies and entryways. By making the structure itself the actual lighting source, there is no need to hide the lighting. By illuminating the beauty of stained or art glass which is in the structure, the structure performs the function of the physical support as well as the aesthetic beauty as well as providing a source of lighting to illuminate the area. 
   The structure can have four columns at four corners or this column can in fact be an entryway column, a balcony etc. The column can be made out of any material but preferably, the column is made out of wood or metal. There is a hollow interior within the column and the hollow portion of the exterior is surrounded by stained glass or other aesthetic art glass. The glass can be on all four sections of the generally square column. 
   The present invention combines three concepts: outdoor lighting, art glass design, and a structural column. The present invention solves the problem of integrating lighting into outdoor structures such as patio covers, colonnades and entryways. The present invention makes the structure itself the lighting source. 
   The columns of the present invention are constructed from either wood or metal. One preferred type of wood is balau, an Indonesian hardwood similar to teak in its appearance and color. When made of metal, the columns are preferably constructed from aluminum or steel with powder coated finishes. Other exotic metals such as copper or bronze are used when incorporating water features or for aesthetic appearance. When holding up heavy loads such as second stories or balconies, etc., wood or steel, or a combination of the two are the preferred materials. Less strong materials can be used to support lighter loads such as small balconies, patio canopies, or to light a second story decking. The present invention is also usable with custom gazebos. 
   It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a structural support column which has the physical strength to provide structural support and which incorporates glass as part of the support column, combined with an interior source of lighting to back light the glass to thereby provide a source of illumination for the area adjacent the support column and also provide an extremely decorative lighting artwork through the backlit illumination of the column. 
   Further novel features and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, discussion and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Referring particularly to the drawings for the purpose of illustration only and not limitation, there is illustrated: 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a column of the present invention decorative backlit structural member incorporating glass; 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of two adjacent columns of the present invention supporting a beam; and 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of two adjacent columns of the present invention supporting a portion of a gazebo. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Although specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, it should be understood that such embodiments are by way of example only and merely illustrative of but a small number of the many possible specific embodiments which can represent applications of the principles of the present invention. Various changes and modifications obvious to one skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and contemplation of the present invention as further defined in the appended claims. 
   A support column incorporating the novel features of the present invention is illustrated in detail in the exploded view of  FIG. 1  and the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 2 . The present invention column or structural member  10  includes four spaced apart elongated posts  12 ,  14 ,  16  and  18  which in the preferred embodiment form a column of generally square cross-section. Each pair of posts are interconnected adjacent their upper ends by an upper cross-piece and adjacent their lower ends by a lower cross-piece. Posts  12  and  14  are joined by upper cross-piece  22  and lower cross-piece  24 . Posts  14  and  16  are joined by upper cross-piece  26  and lower cross-piece  28 . Posts  16  and  18  are joined by upper cross-piece  30  and lower cross-piece  32 , which cross-pieces also serve as an entry door as will be discussed later. Posts  18  and  12  are joined by upper cross-piece  34  and lower cross-piece  36 . 
   In one embodiment, a pair of elongated posts and a pair of upper and lower cross-pieces serve as a frame to support a panel of glass. In an alternative embodiment as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the pair of elongated posts and the pair of upper and lower cross-pieces serve as an exterior frame support to support an interior frame which in turn supports a panel of glass. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , elongated posts  12  and  14  and upper cross-piece  22  and lower cross-piece  24  provide exterior frame support for glass frame  40 , which frame supports and holds a panel of glass  50 . Elongated posts  14  and  16  and upper cross-piece  26  and lower cross-piece  28  provide exterior frame support for glass frame  42 , which frame supports and holds a panel of glass  52 . Elongated posts  16  and  18  and upper cross-piece  30  and lower cross-piece provide exterior frame support for glass frame  44 , which frame supports and holds a panel of glass  54 . Elongated posts  18  and  12  and upper cross-piece  34  and lower cross-piece  36  provide exterior frame support for glass frame  46 , which frame supports and holds a panel of glass  56 . 
   The four elongated posts  12 ,  14 ,  16  and  18  and four lower cross-pieces  24 ,  28 ,  32  and  36  are connected at their lower ends to a lower base molding  60  having four sides, a first side  62 , and second side  64  perpendicular to first side  62 , a third side (not shown) parallel to first side  62  and a fourth side (not shown) parallel to second side  64 . The four elongated posts  12 ,  14 ,  16  and and the four upper cross-pieces  22 ,  26 ,  30  and  34  are connected at their upper ends to an upper crown molding  70  having four sides, a first side  72 , and a second side  74  perpendicular to first side  72 , a third side (not shown) parallel to first side  72  and a fourth side (not shown) parallel to second side  74 . 
   The four elongated posts  12 ,  14 ,  16  and  18 , the four upper and lower cross-pieces  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34  and  36 , the four frames  40 ,  42 ,  44  and  46 , the four glass panels  50 ,  52 ,  54  and  50 , the lower base molding and its four sides and the upper crown molding  70  and its four sides surround and form a hollow interior chamber  80 . To gain access to the hollow interior chamber  80  one of four sides comprising the upper and lower cross-pieces frame and glass panel are formed in the hinged door which can be rotatably opened. By way of example only, cross-pieces  31  and  34  and frame  44  and glass panel  46  are hingeably attached along one side by hinge  82  to form a door which can be rotated open to gain access to chamber  80 . 
   The entire assembly is supported on a leveling base plate  90  which by way of example, can be made of ¼ inch steel. The base plate  90  supports a pair of oppositely disposed brackets, a first bracket  92  having a pair of spaced apart openings  91  and  93  and a parallel oppositely disposed second bracket  96  having a pair of spaced apart openings  95  and  97 . The base plate also comprises four openings spaced 90 degrees apart of which two openings  99  and  105  are illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Four separate anchor bolts  100 ,  102 ,  104  and  106 , each having washers and nuts attached, are respectively placed through each of the respective openings in base plate  90 . The bolt and its washer are placed through the upper surface  87  of base plate  90  and respectively secured with a nut threaded onto the bolt and resting adjacent the lower surface  89  of base plate  90 . 
   To install a column, a deep support pier  200  which, by way of example can be a concrete pouring which is 24″ by 24″ by 18″ deep, is formed with the four anchor bolts  100 ,  102 ,  104  and  102  protruding. The ultimate height of the column can be extended by forming a pier at a greater height above grade with concrete, brick stone, etc. Nuts and washers are first fastened to the anchor bolts and the column set on top and leveled by adjusting the heights of the nuts. Once it is adjusted for height and leveled, a dry mix of mortar is packed under the base plate  90  to insure stability. The lower base molding  60  is then pulled down and over the base plate  90  and secured by securing bolts extending through the openings in the brackets  92  and  94 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , one securing bolt  108  is shown extending through first bracket  92  and one securing bolt  110  is shown extending through second bracket  96 . The base molding  60  can also additionally be secured to the base plate  90  with finish nails if the column is made of wood or in the case of metal columns, secured with screws from inside the column. Caulking the top seam of the base molding with a clear silicone after finishing is required to prevent water from seeping behind the molding. 
   The base  90  also supports a lower light fixture  120  on its upper surface  87 . The electrical lower light fixture  120  can be for either a 110 volt or low voltage light bulb  122 . The fixture  120  can support at least one bulb or any multiplicity of bulbs. A conduit  124  encloses electrical wiring which extends up through the column and ties into an identical fixture (which will be discussed) on the top inside enabling the lighting to emanate simultaneously from the top and bottom of the column. 
   The upper portion of column supports a top plate  130  having an upper surface  131  and a lower surface  133 . An electrical fixture identical to fixture  120  is supported on the lower surface of top plate  130 . A pair of brackets  134  and  136  supported on the lower surface  133  of top plate  130  enable top plate  130  to be secured to the upper crown molding  70  through bolts in a manner comparable to the way the lower base plate  90  was secured to the lower base molding  60 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the bulb  122  of lower electrical light fixture extends upwards onto a hollow chamber  80  and the bulb  132  extends downwardly into hollow chamber  80 . The wiring from the lower electrical fixture  120  extends up through the column formed by the posts, cross-pieces and glass plates and ties into the identical light fixture on the top inside enabling the lighting to simultaneously emanate from the top and bottom of the column. The wiring is then connected to a source of power. Both electrical fixtures can be 110 volt fixtures or low voltage fixtures and house at least one bulb. 
   The bulb  122  of the bottom fixture  120  is below the bottom of glass panels  50 ,  52 ,  54  and and the bulb  132  of the top fixture is above the top of the glass panels  50 ,  52 ,  54  and  56  so as to keep all fields of glass clear in the event the glass panels are made of translucent glass to thereby avoid shadowed images or visible light bulbs in the visual field of glass. It also enables the glass panels to be backlit. If the glass panels are made of crystal or stained glass, the visual effect is beautiful and stunning. 
   The top plate  130  can also be made of ¼ inch steel and serves a similar function to the base plate  90  in that it has brackets that bolt to the rails of the column and support the top lighting fixture. The top plate  130  also serves as a roof cap to keep weather out and has a decorative drip edge  133  that diverts rain from the top molding or upper crown molding  70  of the column. In addition, the top plate  130  serves as a load distribution for the joint or load bearing beams to spread the load to the four outer posts  12 ,  14 ,  16  and  18  of the column. 
   One structural beam or joint  300  is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The structural beam  300  is bolted to top plate  130  by threaded rods  140  and  142  and secured thereto by nuts and washers, illustrated at  141  for rod  140  and  143  for rod  142 . 
   The column or structural member  10  can support extremely heavy loads due to the close proximity (roughly of 14 inch square) of four closely grouped posts and are engineered for the type of material used to construct the column and the load it must carry. It can in virtually all cases support anything any other structurally engineered column can achieve. 
   The present invention incorporated as a decorative backlit structural member incorporating glass is illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . In  FIG. 3 , two columns  10  of the present invention are used to support a structural beam  300  of a patio, balcony or other structural member of any type of building, whether it be a private residence, an apartment, an office building or any other type of commercial building. The column  10  can also be an interior structural column. 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , the present invention columns  10  are used to support patio cover 
   Therefore, the novel feature of the present invention is that it combines a structural support member made out of wood or metal that incorporates glass as part of the structural member and that is backlit from within through lighting means that cannot be seen but that back light the glass to produce a beautiful visual aesthetic effect in addition to providing a source of lighting to illuminate the area adjacent the column  10 . 
   The glass designs are chosen to fit the architectural style of the surrounding architecture. The finished product is designed to appear as an internally lit stained glass sculpture that can serve a structural function of virtually any type. The structure of the stained glass light column  10  can be constructed of either a combination of wood and metal or all metal. As its combined purpose is that of a structural column and a decorative lighting source emanating through the prism of four stained glass art panels, the structural load is carried by the four perimeter posts leaving what traditionally would be filled with wood or metal panels open for the glass panels. 
   Defined in detail, the present invention is a decorative structural column, comprising: (a) a first elongated post, a second elongated post, a third elongated post, a fourth elongated post, the four posts being spaced apart and parallel to each other to form a generally square structure, the first and second post being in the same plane, the second and third posts being in the same plane, the third and fourth posts being in the same plane and the fourth and first posts being in the same plane; (b) a first upper cross-piece adjacent a top section of and interconnecting the first and second posts and a parallel spaced apart first lower cross-piece adjacent a bottom section of and interconnecting the first and second posts, a second upper cross-piece adjacent a top section of and interconnecting the second and third posts and a parallel spaced apart second lower cross-piece adjacent a bottom section of interconnecting the second and third posts, a third upper cross-piece adjacent a top section of and interconnecting the third and fourth posts and a parallel spaced apart third lower cross-piece adjacent a bottom section of and interconnecting the third and fourth posts, and a fourth upper cross-piece adjacent a top section of and interconnecting the fourth and first posts and a parallel spaced apart fourth lower cross-piece adjacent a bottom section of and interconnecting the fourth and first posts; (c) a first frame supported by the first and second posts of the first upper and lower cross-pieces, a first glass panel supported in the first frame, a second frame supported by the second and third posts and the second upper and lower cross-pieces, a second glass panel supported in the second framed, a third frame supported by the third and fourth posts and the third upper and lower cross-pieces, a third glass panel supported in the third framed, and a fourth frame supported by the fourth and first posts and the fourth upper and lower cross-pieces, a fourth glass panel supported in the fourth frame; (d) a lower base molding attached to the bottom ends of the four posts and the four lower cross-pieces and an upper crown molding attached to the top ends of the four posts and the four upper cross-pieces, the four posts, four upper cross-pieces, four lower cross-pieces, four frames and their respective glass panels, the lower base molding and the upper crown molding forming a column with a hollow interior; (e) a lower base plate having an upper surface on which is supported a pair of oppositely disposed connecting brackets by which the lower base plate is connected to the lower base molding, the lower base plate supporting a lower electrical fixture with at least one bulb extending upwardly therefrom, the lower base plate having a multiplicity of openings to enable a respective one of a multiplicity of connecting bolts to respectively extend through a respective opening and be mounted in a support pier; (f) a top plate having a lower surface on which is supported a pair of oppositely disposed connecting brackets by which the top plate is connected to the upper crown molding, the top plate supporting an upper electrical fixture with at least one bulb extending downwardly therefrom, the upper base plate having a multiplicity of openings by which connecting means attach the top plate to the beam of a structure; (g) wiring means extending through the column and interconnecting the lower electrical fixture and the upper electrical fixture and connected to a source of power; 
   (h) the at least one bulb of the lower electrical fixture extending below the level of the glass panels and the at least one bulb of the upper electrical extending above the level of the glass panels, so that the bulbs are not visible through the glass panels; and (i) the posts and cross-pieces and bases form a column which acts as a structural member to support a structure while the at least one bulb of the lower and upper electrical fixtures provide backlighting through the column whereby the glass panels are illuminated to create aesthetic beauty and illumination in the area surrounding the column. 
   Defined broadly, the present invention is a decorative structural column, comprising: (a) four elongated spaced apart posts which are spaced apart from and parallel to each other to form the support posts of a column; (b) interconnecting upper and lower cross-piece members with a respective pair of upper and lower cross-piece members being parallel to and spaced apart from each other and interconnecting a respective pair of elongated posts so that an opening  15  formed between the interior of each of two respective posts and between the upper and lower cross-piece joined to that pair of posts; (c) a glass panel supported in each opening formed by a pair of posts and its respective joining upper and lower cross-pieces; (d) a lower base molding attached to the bottom of each of the four posts and the four lower cross-pieces and an upper crown molding attached to the top ends of the four posts and the four upper cross-pieces, the four posts, four upper cross-pieces, four lower cross-pieces, four glass panels, the lower base molding and the upper crown molding forming a column with a hollow interior; (e) a lower base plate having means to attach the lower base plate to the lower base molding, the lower base plate supporting a lower electrical fixture with at least one bulb extending upwardly therefrom, the lower base plate having means to anchor the lower base plate to a foundation; (f) a top plate having means to attach the top plate to the upper crown molding, the top base plate supporting an upper electrical fixture with at least one bulb extending downwardly therefrom, the top plate having means to attach the top plate to the beam of a structure; (g) wiring means extending through the column and interconnecting the lower electrical fixture and the upper electrical fixture and connected to a source of power; (h) the at least one bulb of the lower electrical fixture extending below the level of the glass panels and the at least one bulb of the upper electrical fixture extending above the level of the glass panel, so that the bulbs are not visible through the glass panels; and (i) the posts, cross-pieces and base form a column which acts as a structural member to support a structure which the at least one bulb of the lower and upper electrical fixture provides backlighting through the column whereby the glass panels are illuminated to create aesthetic beauty and illumination in the area surrounding the column. 
   Defined more broadly, the present invention is a decorative structural column, comprising: (a) a multiplicity of spaced apart posts which are spaced apart from and parallel to each other to form the posts of a column; (b) at least one of a pair of adjacent posts having interconnecting means to interconnect the posts adjacent their upper ends and adjacent their lower ends so that an opening is formed between the interior of the two posts and between the interconnecting means, the remaining sets of posts being at least interconnected to form a column having a hollow interior; (c) at least one glass panel which is supported in the opening between two posts and their interconnecting means; (d) a lower base plate having means to attach the lower base plate adjacent the lower end of the column, the lower base plate supporting a lower electrical fixture with at least one bulb extending upwardly therefrom, the lower base plate having means to anchor the lower base plate to a foundation; (e) a top plate having means to attach the top plate adjacent the upper end of the column, the top plate supporting an upper electrical fixture with at least one bulb extending downwardly therefrom, the top plate having means to attach the top plate to the beam of a structure; (f) wiring members extending through the column and interconnecting the lower electrical fixture and the upper electrical fixture and connected to a source of power; (g) the at least one bulb of the lower electrical fixture extending below the level of the glass panel and the at least one bulb of the upper electrical fixture extending above the level of the glass panel, so that the bulb is not visible through the glass panel; and (h) the posts and the interconnecting means form a column which acts as a structural member to support a structure while the at least one bulb of the lower and upper electrical fixtures provide backlighting through the column wherein the glass panel is illuminated to create aesthetic beauty and illumination in the area surrounding the column. 
   Defined even more broadly, the present invention is a decorative structural column, comprising: (a) a multiplicity of spaced apart posts which are spaced apart from and parallel to each other to form the posts of a column; (b) at least one of a pair of adjacent posts having interconnecting means to interconnect the post with an opening formed between the interior of the posts and within the interconnecting means, the remaining sets of posts being at least interconnected to form a column having a hollow interior; (c) at least one glass panel which is supported in the opening between two posts and their interconnecting means; (d) a lower base plate having means to attach the lower base plate adjacent the lower end of the column, the lower base plate having means to anchor the lower base plate to a foundation; (e) a top plate having means to attach the top plate adjacent the upper end of the column, the top plate having means to attach the top plate to the beam of a structure; (f) at least one electrical fixture supported on either the lower base plate or the top plate, with the at least one electrical fixture having a source of light which extends into the hollow interior of the column by a distance so that the source of light is not visible through the glass panel, and wiring means to connect the electrical fixture to a source of power; and (g) the posts and interconnecting means form a column which acts as a structural member to support a structure while the light source from the at least one electrical fixture provides backlighting through the column wherein the glass panel is illuminated to create aesthetic beauty and illuminate the area surrounding the column. 
   Of course the present invention is not intended to be restricted to any particular form or arrangement, or any specific embodiment, or any specific use, disclosed herein, since the same may be modified in various particulars or relations without departing from the spirit or scope of the claimed invention hereinabove shown and described of which the apparatus or method shown is intended only for illustration and disclosure of an operative embodiment and not to show all of the various forms or modifications in which this invention might be embodied or operated.