Abstract:
A sliding auxiliary device includes an assembly of a rotating wheel, a gate linked to the rotating wheel, and a toggle mechanism. The toggle mechanism includes a first arm pivoted to the rotating wheel, a second arm pivoted to the first arm, and an elastic member disposed between the first arm and the second arm. The rotating wheel substantially drives the first arm and the second arm of the toggle mechanism to relatively move to store energy in the elastic member, and the elastic member releases the stored energy to generate an acting force to assist the rotation of the rotating wheel after the first arm of the toggle mechanism crosses over a reference axial line, to obtain an improved operation smoothness better than the conventional skills.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a sliding auxiliary device for an electronic device, and in particular relates to a sliding auxiliary device assembled with a movable or sliding body, capable of assisting the movable body in increasing the stableness and reducing shakiness when the fitting process is performed. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    For a conventional sliding cover system equipped in electronic devices such as mobile phones, notebook computers, personal digital assistants, digital cameras, e-books, etc., the sliding cover system can be reciprocally moved or slid by an external force, and a sliding cover portion of the sliding cover system is simply moved for the purpose of opening or closing. 
         [0005]    As to the operation and movement of these kinds of sliding cover modules or sets, it is usually required cooperative components such as a movable rack, a linking plate, several elastic members, and wires or particular guide rails designed for linking and traction to assist with their opening or closing process. For the movable body of the electronic device with a heavy weight or a large movement distance, it is not expected that the motion stability of the sliding cover set or mechanism is influenced by the possible shakiness or swing when the movable body of the electronic device is operated by an user (e.g., applying with a single side-pushing force). 
         [0006]    Accordingly, some following topics of these kinds of sliding cover modules with respect to the actual operation movement shall be considered or overcome. 
         [0007]    1. To possibly reduce the shakiness or swing of the sliding cover set, the sliding cover set shall be first equipped with an auxiliary device to assist in enhancing the stableness of sliding cover. 
         [0008]    2. The structure of the auxiliary device shall be provided with a reliable design of mechanism to assist in enhancing the motion stability and strength of the described components of the movable rack, the linking plate, the elastic members and the wires designed for linking and traction, so that the motion stability and smoothness of the sliding cover set can be relatively increased. Particularly, the auxiliary device shall be able to incorporate with a movable body of an electronic product with heavy weight and large movement distance. 
         [0009]    Typically speaking, these reference data described above are related to the applications and design of structure of the sliding cover module or the related components thereof. However, these reference data are failed to physically teach or disclose that how to improve the conventional skills on decreasing the shakiness or swing of the sliding cover set and increasing the motion stability when the sliding cover module is operated. 
         [0010]    Thus, it is essential to redesign a sliding cover and the related components, use patterns and applications thereof to be unique from that of the conventional skills. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    Accordingly, the main purpose of the invention is to provide a sliding auxiliary device to solve the difficulties and improve operation smoothness of the conventional skills. The sliding auxiliary device comprises an assembly of a rotating wheel, a gate linked to the rotating wheel, and a toggle mechanism. The toggle mechanism, assembled to the rotating wheel to define a reference axial line, comprises a first arm pivoted to the rotating wheel, a second arm pivoted to the first arm, and an elastic member disposed between the first arm and the second arm. The rotating wheel substantially drives the first arm and the second arm of the toggle mechanism to relatively move to store energy in the elastic member, and the elastic member releases the stored energy to generate an acting force to assist the rotation of the rotating wheel after the first arm of the toggle mechanism crosses over the reference axial line, to obtain an improved operation smoothness better than the conventional skills. The first arm of the toggle mechanism is defined with a first end eccentrically pivoted to the rotating wheel and a second end, and the second arm of the toggle mechanism is defined with a first end and a second end connected to the second end of the first arm to attach the elastic member therewith. Further, the first end of the second arm of the toggle mechanism is fixed or pivoted to a carrier or an auxiliary plate. Thus, when the first end of the first arm carried by the rotation of the rotating wheel is move, the second end of the first arm and the second end of the second arm force the elastic member to store energy therein, and the elastic member releases the stored energy to generate an acting force to assist with the rotation of the rotating wheel after the first arm crosses over the reference axial line. 
         [0012]    According to the sliding auxiliary device of the invention, the gate is a type of a plate, producing a linear displacement relative to the rotating wheel in rotation. That is to say, when the gate actuated by an external force produces the linear displacement to relatively rotate the rotating wheel, the elastic member becomes to store energy therein or release energy therefrom. 
         [0013]    According to the sliding auxiliary device of the invention, the rotating wheel, the gate linked to the rotating wheel, and the toggle mechanism of the sliding auxiliary device can be applied to a sliding cover module (or a sliding cover set). The sliding cover module comprises a substrate provided with a sliding rail, a belt wheel disposed on the substrate, a follower wheel arranged on the substrate to respectively engage to the belt wheel and the rotating wheel and driven by the belt wheel, a sliding rack movably attached to the sliding rail of the substrate, and a wire wound between the belt wheel and the sliding rack. When the sliding rack driven by the sliding cover set is reciprocally moved, the sliding racks drives the wire to rotate the belt wheels, so that the two follower wheels driven by the belt wheels drive the rotating wheels to rotate, respectively. When the rotating wheels are rotated, the rotating wheels drive the toggle mechanisms to store energy in or release the stored energy from the elastic member. That is, the rotating wheels, the gate and the toggle mechanisms provide an acting force to assist in moving the sliding cover module. Further, the design of structure of the rotating wheel, the gate and the toggle mechanism is therefore more compact and stable. 
         [0014]    A detailed description is given in the following embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    The present invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of an assembly of a rotating wheel, a toggle mechanism and a gate according to an embodiment of the present invention, representing that these components can be arranged on a carrier illustrated by imaginary line; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is an exploded schematic view of the structure of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a plan schematic view of  FIG. 1 , representing that the toggle mechanism is in an initial position; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of a motion of the rotating wheel, the toggle mechanism and the gate according to the present invention, wherein the toggle mechanism illustrated by imaginary line is crossed over a reference axial line; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view of an assembly of rotating wheels, toggle mechanisms, a gate and a sliding cover module according to an embodiment of the present invention, representing that the sliding cover module illustrated by imaginary line is in an open position; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view of an assembly of rotating wheels, toggle mechanisms, a gate and a sliding cover module according to a modification embodiment of the present invention, representing that the sliding cover module illustrated by imaginary line is in an open position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    The following description is of the best-contemplated mode of carrying out the invention. This description is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention and shall not be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the invention is best determined by reference to the appended claims. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a sliding auxiliary device of the invention comprises an assembly of a rotating wheel and a toggle mechanism, represented by reference numbers  10  and  20 , respectively. In the adopted embodiments, the rotating wheel  10  is the type of gear. The rotating wheel  10  can be fixed on a substrate  30  illustrated by imaginary line, to be a type of free rotation. 
         [0024]    In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the toggle mechanism  20  comprises a first arm  21  pivotally assembled to the rotating wheel  10 , a second arm  22  pivoted to the first arm  21 , and an elastic member  23  disposed between the first and second arm  21  and  22 . Specifically, in the toggle mechanism  20 , the first arm  21  is defined with a first end  21   a  eccentrically pivoted to the rotating wheel  10  and a second end  21   b , and the second arm  22  is defined with a first end  22   a  and a second end  22   b  connected to the second end  21   b  of the first arm  21  to attach the elastic member  23  therewith. The first end  22   a  of the second arm  22  of the toggle mechanism  20 , functionally served as a positioning end, is rotatably and movably pivoted to or fixed at a carrier (e.g., a substrate  30  or an auxiliary plate), so that the first end  22   a  of the second arm  22  of the toggle mechanism  20  is at least rotatable and/or movable with respect to a fulcrum, i.e., a fixed or a pivoting site, formed on the carrier. 
         [0025]    In a preferred embodiment, the sliding auxiliary device is defined with a reference axial line X as the toggle mechanism  20  is assembled to the rotating wheel  10 . The reference axial line X corresponds to a connection line formed between a center of the rotating wheel  10  and the positioning end  22   a  of the second arm  22  or an extension line merging the connection line. Generally, the reference axial line X is arranged on the radial direction or position of the rotating wheel  10 . 
         [0026]    In the adopted embodiment, the first end  21   a  of the first arm  21  of the toggle mechanism  20  is provided with a first hole through which a first fastener  40  passes to pivot to the rotating wheel  10 , and the first end  22   a  of the second arm  22  of the toggle mechanism  20  is provided with a second hole through which a second fastener  40  passes to pivot to the carrier  30 . The second end  22   b  of the second arm  22  of the toggle mechanism  20  is provided with a round-head profile which is to be hooked by the second end  21   b  of the first arm  21  of the toggle mechanism  20  provided with a hook profile. 
         [0027]    In this embodiment, the elastic member  23  is a type of torsion spring as presented in figures. The elastic member  23  comprises a pivotal end  23   a  attached to the second end  22   b  of the second arm  22  and a fixation end  23   b  attached to a position in the vicinity of the second end  21   b  of the first arm  21 . In practice, the rotating wheel  10  drives the first arm  21  and the second arm  22  of the toggle mechanism  20  to relatively move, i.e., the second end  21   b  of the first arm  21  and the second end  22   b  of the second arm  22  of the toggle mechanism  20  force the elastic member  23  to store energy therein when the first arm  21  is moved by the rotation of the rotating wheel  10 , and the elastic member  23  releases the stored energy to generate an acting force to assist with the rotation of the rotating wheel  10  after the first arm  21  crosses over the reference axial line X. The detailed description will be described hereinafter. 
         [0028]    In one preferred embodiment, the rotating wheel  10  is interacted with a gate  50 . Specifically, the gate  50  is a type of a plate (or a rack) having an edge portion provided with an insection  51  being a type of engaging to the rotating wheel  10 , so that the gate  50  producing a linear displacement relative to the rotating wheel  10  in rotation. That is to say, when the gate  50  actuated by an external force produces the linear displacement to relatively rotate the rotating wheel  10 , the elastic member  23  becomes to store energy therein or release the stored energy therefrom. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , in one preferred embodiment, the torsion spring can be replaced by a tension spring or a compression spring, illustrated by imaginary line, disposed between the first and second arms  21  and  22 . 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the conditions of the rotating wheel  10 , the toggle mechanism  20  and the gate  50  are illustrated. In  FIG. 3 , the position of the rotating wheel  10 , the toggle mechanism  20  and the gate  50  is defined as an initial position or a first position. In  FIG. 4 , when the rotating wheel  10  driven by an external force is rotated (an arrow representing on the rotating wheel  10 ) in a counterclockwise direction, the gate  50  driven by the rotating wheel  10  is moved toward the top of this figure, and the first end  21   a  of the first arm  21  carried by the rotating wheel  10  is actually moved along a circumference path of the rotating wheel  10 , to rotate and force the elastic member  23  to store energy therein, subjected to the rotation of both the second end  21   b  of the first arm  21  and the second end  22   b  of the second arm  22 . When the first end  21   a  of the first arm  21  is moved to the reference axial line X, as illustrated by imaginary line in  FIG. 4 , the first and second arms  21  and  22  of the toggle mechanism  20  are stretched or almost reached to a distance having a maximum size or a farthest distance, i.e., the position that the elastic member  23  could be stored with largest energy. 
         [0031]    In  FIG. 4 , after the first end  21   a  of the first arm  21  crosses over the reference axial line X with relation to the rotation of the rotating wheel  10 , the first and second arms  21  and  22  of the toggle mechanism  20  is enforced to move toward a position defined as a second position illustrated by real line, functioned by the toggle mechanism  20  itself, and the elastic member  23  releases the stored energy to generate the acting force to assist with the rotation of the rotating wheel  10  through the first arm  21 . 
         [0032]    In  FIG. 4 , when the rotating wheel  10  is reversed in a clockwise direction to carry the first end  21   a  of the first arm  21  to move along the described circumference path of the rotating wheel  10 , it is understood that the second end  21   b  of the first arm  21  and the second end  22   b  of the second arm  22  rotate and force the elastic member  23  to store energy therein; meanwhile, the gate  50  driven by the rotating wheel  10  is moved toward the bottom of this figure. After the first end  21   a  of the first arm  21  reversely crosses over the reference axial line X with relation to the rotation of the rotating wheel  10 , the first and second arms  21  and  22  of the toggle mechanism  20  is enforced to move toward the first position of  FIG. 3 , functioned by the toggle mechanism  20  itself, and the elastic member  23  releases the stored energy to generate the acting force to assist with the rotation of the rotating wheel  10 . 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , an assembly of the rotating wheel  10 , the toggle mechanism  20 , the gate  50  and a sliding cover module (or sliding cover set  60 ) is represented. The sliding auxiliary device is disposed on the sliding cover module  60 . In this embodiment, the two symmetrical rotating wheels  10  and  10 ′ and the two symmetrical toggle mechanisms  20  and  20 ′ are preferably adopted. The toggle mechanism  20 ′ similarly comprises a first arm  21 ′, a second arm  22 ′, and an elastic member  23 ′ disposed between the first and second arms  21 ′ and  22 ′. Specifically, in the toggle mechanism  20 ′, the second arm  22 ′ has a first end  22   a ′ eccentrically pivoted to the rotating wheel  10 ′ and a second end  22   b ′, the first arm  21 ′ has a first end  21   a ′ functionally served as a positioning end or point and a second end  21   b ′ connected to the second end  22   b ′ of the second arm  22 ′ to attach the elastic member  23 ′ therewith. A connection line formed between the positioning end (or the pivotal position of the first end  21   a ′ of the first arm  21 ′) and a center of the rotating wheel  10 ′ is also defined as a reference axial line X. 
         [0034]    In detail, the sliding cover module  60  comprises a substrate  61  provided with two sliding rails  61   a , an auxiliary plate  62  attached to the substrate  61 , two belt wheels  63  disposed on the substrate  61  and each of which provided with a toothed portion  63   a , two follower wheels  64  arranged on the substrate  61  and each of which respectively engaged to the toothed portion  63   a  of the belt wheel  63  and the rotating wheel  10  or the rotating wheel  10 ′ and driven by the belt wheel  63 , two sliding racks or movable racks  65  movably attached to the sliding rails  61   a  of the substrate  61 , and a wire  66  wound between the belt wheels  63  and the sliding racks  65 . The substrate  61  is selected from the type of plates being integrally formed, capable of being arranged on a fixed body of an electronic device (not shown in FIGs.). The auxiliary plate  62  is provided with a grooved rail  62   a  and an opening  62   b  formed on the grooved rail  62   a . The sliding racks  65  are arranged on a movable body of an electronic device (e.g., a sliding cover, but not shown in FIGs.). The sliding cover module  60  further comprises two tension pulleys  67  disposed on the auxiliary plate  62  to adjust the tension of the wire  66  wound between the belt wheels  63  and the sliding racks  65 . 
         [0035]    In  FIG. 5 , the gate  50 , movably fitted in the grooved rail  62   a  of the auxiliary plate  62 , has an edge portion provided with an insection  51  which is exposed outwardly from the opening  62   b  formed on the grooved rail  62   a  and to be a type of engaging to the rotating wheels  10  and  10 ′. In the preferred embodiment, the gate  50  can be pivoted on the movable body of the electronic device or the related components of the sliding cover module  60  (e.g., a flat cable or others). Further, the first end  22   a  of the second arm  22  of the toggle mechanism  20  and the first end  21   a ′ of the first arm  21 ′ of the toggle mechanism  20 ′ are respectively pivoted on the auxiliary plate  62 , functionally served as the positioning ends or points. 
         [0036]    In  FIG. 5 , the position of the sliding cover module  60 , together with the rotating wheels  10  and  10 ′, the toggle mechanisms  20  and  20 ′ and the gate  50 , illustrated by real line, is an initial position defined as a first position or (sliding cover) closed position, and the position of the sliding cover module  60  illustrated by imaginary line is a final position defined as a second position or (sliding cover) open position. 
         [0037]    When an user moves the sliding cover or the sliding cover module  60  from the closed position toward the open position to drive the sliding racks  65 , the sliding racks  65  drives the wire  66  to rotate the belt wheels  63 , so that the two follower wheels  64  driven by the belt wheels  63  drive the rotating wheels  10  and  10 ′ to rotate, respectively. In  FIG. 5 , the belt wheels  63 , the follower wheels  64  and the rotating wheels  10  and  10 ′ are individually marked with an arrow thereon representing rotation direction thereof. When the rotating wheels  10  and  10 ′ are rotated, the rotating wheels  10  and  10 ′ drives the toggle mechanisms  20  and  20 ′ and the gate  50  to form the same movement conditions depicted in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . After the first arm  21  of the toggle mechanism  20  and the second arm  22 ′ of the toggle mechanism  20 ′ cross over the reference axial lines X respectively, the acting forces which are generated by the toggle mechanisms  20  and  20 ′ and released from the elastic members  23  and  23 ′ assist the wire  66  in moving the sliding cover and help to move the sliding cover toward the open position, thereby offering the user with more labor-saving method to control the sliding cover compared to conventional skills. 
         [0038]    In  FIG. 5 , when the user reverse the sliding cover module  60  from the second position (or open position) illustrated by imaginary line toward the first position (or closed position) illustrated by real line to move the sliding racks  65 , the sliding racks  65  drives the wire  66  to rotate the belt wheels  63 , so that the two follower wheels  64  driven by the belt wheels  63  drive the rotating wheels  10  and  10 ′ to rotate, respectively. When the rotating wheels  10  and  10 ′ are rotated, the rotating wheels  10  and  10 ′ drives the toggle mechanisms  20  and  20 ′ and the gate  50  to form the same movement conditions depicted in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . After the first arm  21  of the toggle mechanism  20  and the second arm  22 ′ of the toggle mechanism  20 ′ cross over the reference axial lines X respectively, the acting forces which are generated by the toggle mechanisms  20  and  20 ′ and released from the elastic members  23  and  23 ′ assist the wire  66  in moving the sliding cover and help to move the sliding cover toward the closed position, thereby offering the user with more labor-saving method to control the sliding cover compared to conventional skills. 
         [0039]    That is, with the design of structure of the rotating wheels  10  and  10 ′ and the toggle mechanisms  20  and  20 ′, an acting force is provided to assist in moving the sliding cover module  60 , thereby offering the user with labor-saving method to open or close the sliding cover or the sliding cover module  60 . 
         [0040]    Note that the closed position (illustrated by real line) and the open position (illustrated by imaginary line) defined in  FIG. 5  can be exchanged and embodied, for example, a modification embodiment of  FIG. 6 . In  FIG. 6 , the position of the sliding cover module  60 , together with the rotating wheels  10  and  10 ′, the toggle mechanisms  20  and  20 ′ and the gate  50 , illustrated by real line, is an initial position defined as a first position or (sliding cover) closed position, and the position of the sliding cover module  60  illustrated by imaginary line is a final position defined as a second position or (sliding cover) open position, wherein the gate  50  is located on the top of this figure. 
         [0041]    When an user moves the sliding cover or the sliding cover module  60  from the closed position toward the open position to drive the sliding racks  65 , the sliding racks  65  drives the wire  66  to rotate the belt wheels  63 , so that the two follower wheels  64  driven by the belt wheels  63  drive the rotating wheels  10  and  10 ′ to rotate, respectively. In  FIG. 6 , the belt wheels  63 , the follower wheels  64  and the rotating wheels  10  and  10 ′ are individually marked with an arrow thereon representing rotation direction thereof, and each of these components has an opposite rotation direction with respect to  FIG. 5 . When the rotating wheels  10  and  10 ′ are rotated, the rotating wheels  10  and  10 ′ drives the toggle mechanisms  20  and  20 ′ and the gate  50  to move, so that the gate  50  is moved from the top to the bottom in this figure. After the first arm  21  of the toggle mechanism  20  and the second arm  22 ′ of the toggle mechanism  20 ′ cross over the reference axial lines X respectively, the acting forces which are generated by the toggle mechanisms  20  and  20 ′ and released from the elastic members  23  and  23 ′ assist the wire  66  in moving the sliding cover and help to move the sliding cover toward the open position. 
         [0042]    In  FIG. 6 , when the user reverses the sliding cover module  60  from the second position (or open position) illustrated by imaginary line toward the first position (or closed position) illustrated by real line, the sliding racks  65  is moved to drive the wire  66  to rotate the belt wheels  63 , so that the two follower wheels  64  driven by the belt wheels  63  drive the rotating wheels  10  and  10 ′ to rotate, respectively. When the rotating wheels  10  and  10 ′ are rotated, the rotating wheels  10  and  10 ′ drives the toggle mechanisms  20  and  20 ′ and the gate  50  to reverse. After the first arm  21  of the toggle mechanism  20  and the second arm  22 ′ of the toggle mechanism  20 ′ cross over the reference axial lines X respectively, the acting forces which are generated by the toggle mechanisms  20  and  20 ′ and released from the elastic members  23  and  23 ′ assist the wire  66  in moving the sliding cover and help to move the sliding cover toward the closed position, thereby offering the user with more labor-saving method to control the sliding cover compared to conventional skills. 
         [0043]    Typically speaking, with the co-operative movement of the sliding cover module  60 , the sliding auxiliary device of the invention provided the following considerations and advantages compared to conventional skills. 
         [0044]    By cooperating the rotating wheels  10  and  10 ′, the first and second arm  21  and  22  of the toggle mechanisms  20 , the first and second arm  21 ′ and  22 ′ of the toggle mechanisms  20 ′, the elastic members  23  and  23 ′, and the structural configuration of the gate  50  with the substrate  61  and the grooved rail  62   a  of the auxiliary plate  62  to provide a reliable design of structure, the motion stability and strength of the sliding cover module  60  can be auxiliarily increased, and the smooth movement of the sliding cover module  60  can be enhanced. 
         [0045]    Further, with the installation of the rotating wheels  10  and  10 ′, the first and second arm  21  and  22  of the toggle mechanisms  20 , the first and second arm  21 ′ and  22 ′ of the toggle mechanisms  20 ′, the elastic members  23  and  23 ′, and the structural configuration of the gate  50 , for example, exact meshing transmission among the belt wheel  63 , the follower wheel  64  and the rotating wheels  10  and  10 ′, and the gate  50 , shakiness or swing can be minimized when the sliding cover module  60  is operated by the user, especially of applying with a single side-pushing force, compared to the conventional skills. That is, the rotating wheels  10  and  10 ′, the gate  50  and the toggle mechanisms  20  and  20 ′ provide an acting force to assist in moving the sliding cover module  60  and a more compact and stable fitting structure therebetween. 
         [0046]    More specifically, due to the sliding auxiliary device providing an acting force to assist in moving the sliding cover module  60 , the sliding auxiliary device is particularly suitable for a movable body (or a sliding cover) of an electronic device with heavy weight and large size and movement distance. 
         [0047]    The ranges of motion or working angle between the first and second positions of the toggle mechanisms  20  and  20 ′ (e.g., of the first and second arm  21  and  22  and of the first and second arm  21 ′ and  22 ′) are related to the lengths of the first and second arm  21  and  22  and the lengths of the first and second arm  21 ′ and  22 ′. That is, if the lengths of the first and second arm  21  and  22  of the toggle mechanism  20  and the lengths of the first and second arm  21 ′ and  22 ′ of the toggle mechanism  20 ′ are changed (i.e., increased or decreased), the ranges of motion or working angle between the first and second arm  21  and  22  of the toggle mechanism  20  and between the first and second arm  21 ′ and  22 ′ of the toggle mechanism  20 ′ are relatively changed. 
         [0048]    To sum up, the invention provides an effective sliding auxiliary device with a particular space configuration much different from that in the conventional skills, and therefore the advantages and improvements of the invention certainly surpass the conventional skills. 
         [0049]    While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.