Abstract:
The instant invention is a climbing device for belaying and rappelling. A tube is split into two pars that are hinged to pivot scissor-like. A loop of rope is inserted into the split tube and attached to the climber or an anchor with a carabiner. The split tube is open when the rope is slack and retains the one-piece tube belay device&#39;s characteristic advantages of smooth feed. The two parts pivot when there is tension in the rope, closing around the rope in a scissor-like movement that increases friction by pinching the rope against the carabiner, significantly reducing the brake-hand force needed to arrest and hold the weight of a climber. At least one spring applies the force that opens the spit tube when the device is not supporting a load. Alternate configurations include openings to control two ropes simultaneously; a lever to control the release of the rope when lowering a climber; and a means for attaching a second carabiner for rigging the device to belay a second with auto-braking. The instant invention is effective with climbing ropes of any diameter and can arrest rope moving through the device in either direction.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The instant invention is related to Provisional Application No. 60/774,829 entitled “Split tube belay device,” filed Feb. 16, 2006, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The instant invention is generally related to climbing aids for rock climbers. More particularly, this invention is related to devices for belaying and rappelling. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    Climbers utilize rope, slings and a variety of mechanical devices as climbing aids to assist and protect their movement over rock. The climbing aids serve as a means to anchor the climber to the rock for the purpose of either preventing or arresting a fall. 
         [0006]    One end of a rope is attached to the climber&#39;s body harness. As the climber ascends, the rope is attached by carabiners to various climbing aids that have been inserted in or on the rock for the purpose of serving as anchors. The carabiners facilitate movement of the rope past the anchor as the climber ascends. The rope typically threads through a series of anchors along the climber&#39;s route. 
         [0007]    Climbing ropes are designed to stretch under load and absorb the impact of a fall. The ropes come in different diameters and lengths. Ropes having a diameter from 8 to 9 millimeters are usually used in pairs. Ropes having a diameter of 10 to 11 millimeters are usually used singly. The choice of rope diameter and the use of single or paired ropes are dependent on personal preference or the custom at the area climbed. 
         [0008]    A belayer is a member of a climbing team whose function is to remain stationary at a secure location and regulate the flow of rope to the lead climber. As the lead climber progresses, the belayer must carefully observe the movement of the climber and feed rope out or take it in as appropriate. If the climber falls, the belayer must immediately control the rope so that the fall is arrested. 
         [0009]    When the lead climber is at a secure location, the lead climber can assume the roll of belayer by pulling up the rope as the second climber or climbers (the climber or climbers following the leader) ascend the route (called “belaying a second” or “belaying the second”). In the event that a second climber falls, the lead climber must immediately control the rope so that the fall is arrested. 
         [0010]    Belay devices serve as mechanical aids that provide the belayer a means to control the rope&#39;s movement, especially in the event of a fall. There are several types of belay devices; each type handles the rope differently. The various belay devices have fundamentally different functional characteristics that must be completely understood in order to use them safely. As with any climbing aid, training is required to achieve the skill necessary to use a belay device properly. 
         [0011]    Some belay devices also serve as an aid for rappelling. When rappelling, a climber descends a rope by letting the rope slide slowly through the device. The device is clipped to the climber&#39;s harness. When used for this purpose, the device helps the climber control the speed of descent, and provides the ability to stop completely. 
         [0012]    although belaying and rappelling are seemingly simple procedures, both require complete attention and commitment. The belayer is responsible for caching a climber&#39;s fall. When rappelling, an unaware climber can loose control of the rope and consequently descend too fast and/or drop off the end of the rope. 
         [0013]    There are occasions during the course of a climb when the lead climber will take a long time to move even a short distance. During such periods of little apparent progress, the belayer may desire to work at other tasks or otherwise be distracted. Any distraction is especially dangerous because if a climber falls when the belayer is distracted an the rope starts moving quickly, the rope will be significantly more difficult to bring under control. 
         [0014]    The instant invention is a climbing aid that can be used for both belaying and rappelling. All references in this application referring to the instant invention as a belay device are intended to also include use for rappelling. 
         [0015]    State-of-the-art belay devices include cams, plates, rings and tubes of various configurations, all designed to generate friction and/or grab the rope when activated. The amount of friction is typically controlled the angle the rope enters and leaves the device. 
         [0016]    Some devices, especially those that utilize cams, provide a static belay by grabbing the rope quickly and automatically (called “auto-locking devices”.) Auto-locking devices usually include a lever to release the rope after the device has arrested the fall and “locked”. Other devices provide a dynamic belay or “soft” stop by allowing the rope to slip a short distance before arresting a fall. However, the amount of slippage must be limited because a falling climber can be injured if allowed to hit something before stopping. 
         [0017]    In addition to controlling the rope in the event of a fall, the rope should also slide quickly and smoothly through the device and not tangle or twist when the belayer feeds rope or takes rope back according to the needs of the progressing climber. Typically, those devices that stop the rope softly also feed rope smoothly. 
         [0018]    The tube belay device is one of the more commonly utilized state-of-the-art belay devices. A tube belay device relies on friction to softly arrest movement of the rope. Typically, a bight or loop of rope is inserted into and through the tube and clipped by means of a carabiner to the belayer&#39;s harness, or independent secure anchor. One of the belayer&#39;s hands is used to pull rope through the device according to the needs of the climber. The other hand, referred to as the “brake-hand”, guides the rope into the device, pulls rope back when there is slack, the controls when the belay device is needed to arrest the rope. 
         [0019]    State-of-the-art tube belay devices are configured to handle two ropes in parallel. The width of the tube belay device is sized to accommodate two ropes side-by-side, and includes a short rib across the opening to maintain separation of the two ropes. This two-rope capability gives the option to use the device when pairs of small diameter ropes are used; and for simultaneously belaying one or two second climbers. 
         [0020]    When slack rope is loosely fed directly into a tube belay device, the rope loop slides easily around the carabiner and moves relatively smoothly through the device with little friction. However, if the belayer restrains or “brakes” the rope as it feeds into the tube belay device, the friction generated as the rope moves past the tube entrance, combined with the rope&#39;s tension, will pull the loop, and the carabiner with it, tightly against the tube opening. Surface contract between the rope, the belay device, and the carabiner, along with the angle that the rope enters and exits the tube; create the friction that enables the belayer to arrest a fall. 
         [0021]    A state-of-the-art tube belay device requires that the belayer&#39;s brake-hand maintain a strong grip on the rope to arrest and hold the weight of a fallen climber. Generally, tube belay devices stop and hold larger diameter ropes more effectively than small diameter ropes. Consequently, smaller diameter ropes must be gripped by the brake-hand relatively more tightly to hold the weight of a climber. 
         [0022]    Some state-of-the-art tube belay dives include a means for directly attaching a second carabiner to rig the device for belaying a climber ascending from below (belaying the second) with the added capability of “auto braking”. When rigged to belay the second with auto-braking, the device allows rope movement in one direction only; rope movement in the reverse direction is auto-braked thereby catching the fall of a second without intervention by the belayer (although it is prudent to maintain brake-hand backup). When state-of-the-art tube belay devices are rigged for auto-braking, it is difficult to play out slack when the second needs it, and when auto-braking is engaged it is very difficult to release a loaded rope (for example to lower a climber). 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]    The instant invention is a climbing device for belaying and rappelling. A tube is split into two parts that are hinged to pivot scissor-like. A loop of rope is inserted into the split tube and attached to the climber or an anchor with a carabiner. The split tube is open when the rope is slack and retains the one-piece tube belay deices&#39;s characteristic advantages of smooth feed. The two parts pivot when there is tension in the rope, closing around the rope in a scissor-like movement that increases friction by pinching the rope against the carabiner, significantly reducing the brake-hand force needed to arrest and hold the weight of a climber. At least one spring applies the force that opens the spit tube when the device is not supporting a load. Alternate configurations include openings to control two ropes simultaneously; a lever to control the release of the rope when lowering a climber; and a means for attaching a second carabiner for rigging the device to belay a second with auto-braking. The instant invention is effective with climbing ropes of any diameter and can arrest rope moving through the device in either direction. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0024]    A detailed description of the invention is made with reference to the accompanying FIGS. wherein like numerals designate corresponding parts in the several FIGS. 
           [0025]      FIG. 1  is an oblique view of the inventive climbing device holding a rope attached to a carabiner. 
           [0026]      FIG. 2  is a front sectional view of the climbing device of  FIG. 1  closed and clamping the rope. 
           [0027]      FIG. 3  is a front sectional view of the inventive climbing device showing the device open so that rope can move loosely through it. 
           [0028]      FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 2  showing the forces acting on the device. 
           [0029]      FIG. 5  is a slide view shown in the direction  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 6  is a top sectional view shown in the direction  6 - 6  of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 3  showing an alternate configuration. 
           [0032]      FIG. 8  is a view similar to  FIG. 4  showing the alternate configuration of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0033]      FIG. 9  is a front view of the alternate configuration of  FIG. 7  showing the device during a controlled release of a load. 
           [0034]      FIG. 10  is a front view of yet another alternate configuration. 
           [0035]      FIG. 11  is a front view of still another alternate configuration. 
           [0036]      FIG. 12  is front sectional view of the configuration of  FIG. 7  showing the device feeding rope when rigged for belaying a second with auto-braking. 
           [0037]      FIG. 13  is front sectional view of the configuration of  FIG. 7  showing the loaded device rigged for belaying a second with auto-braking. 
           [0038]      FIG. 14  is a top sectional view similar to  FIG. 6  showing an alternate configuration for controlling two parallel ropes simultaneously. 
           [0039]      FIG. 15  is another top sectional view showing an alternate configuration for controlling two parallel ropes independently. 
           [0040]      FIG. 16  is a front view of another alternate configuration. 
           [0041]      FIG. 17  is a front sectional view of a prior art tube belay device showing the device when rope moves loosely through it. 
           [0042]      FIG. 18  is a front sectional view of a prior art tube belay device showing the device holding a rope attached to a carabiner. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0043]    The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for purposes of illustrating the general principles of the invention. 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , inventive climbing device  10  is attached to climbing rope  12 . Rope  12  is shown above and below climbing device  10  as  12   a  and  12   b  respectively. A short loop of rope  12   c  is inserted into climbing device  10 . Typically, the end of rope  12   a  is attached to an ascending climber (not shown). Rope  12   a  is taut in  FIGS. 1 and 2  because climbing device  10  is pictured holding a tensile load caused, for example, by the weight of a climber hanging form the end of rope  12   a . Rope  12   b  is held by the belayer&#39;s brake-hand (not shown). 
         [0045]    Carabiner  30  is shown passing inside looped spring  24  and rope loop  12   c . Carabiner  30  links climbing device  10  and rope loop  12   c  to webbing  14 . Climbers prudently employ a locking carabiner when using a climbing device for belaying. Sleeve  32  is the mechanism that locks the gate of carabiner  30  closed. Webbing  14  can be part of or attached to the belayer&#39;s body harness, or carabiner  30  can be attached by webbing, rope, or the like to any secure anchor. 
         [0046]      FIGS. 2 and 3  are cross-section side views showing rope  12  looped into climbing device  10  around carabiner  30  (only partially pictured as circular section  30  in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  7  and  8 ).  FIG. 2  shows the closed inventive device holding rope  12  under tension.  FIG. 3  shows the device open with rope  12  slack and able to move freely in either direction. 
         [0047]    Climbing device  10  has a two piece body  20   a  and  20   b  hinged together on both sides by pivot pins  22 . Pivot pins  22  have a common axis of rotation. Looped spring  24  applies the force that opens body  20   a  and  20   b  to the position pictured by  FIG. 3 . Shelf  21  (best seen in  FIG. 6 ) on body  20   a  serves as an abutment for edge  23  of body  20   b  to limit opening movement. Alternately shelf  21  can be replaced by pin  60   b  or-the-like (see  FIG. 7 ). The ends of looped spring  24  are attached to body  20   a  and  20   b  by pins  28 . Alternately, looped spring  24  can be replaced by torsion or coiled spring  60  or-the-like adjacent pivot pins  22  (see  FIG. 10 ). 
         [0048]    Although not limited to the suggested materials, body  20   a  and  20   b  are best fabricated from a lightweight, high strength rigid material, for example 7075-T6 aluminum. Spring  24  is a leaf spring fabricated from strip spring steel. Alternately springs  24  and  60  can be fabricated from spring wire or any springy material of adequate strength. Pens  22  and  28  are standard dowel pins of appropriate diameter and length. Alternately pins  22  and  28  can be rivets or threaded fasteners, or the like. 
         [0049]    Rope  12  is inserted as a loop into inventive climbing device  10  as shown by  FIG. 3 . Inserting a loop of rope allows the device to be mounted anywhere along the rope&#39;s length. After the loop has been threaded into climbing device  10 , carabiner  30  is clipped inside both loop  12   c  and looped spring  24 . By clipping carabiner  30  inside looped spring  24 , spring  24  also serves to limit the distance that carabiner  30  can move away from body  20   a  and body  20   b.    
         [0050]    Spring  24  holds body  20   a  and  20   b  open when there is not tension in rope  12 . As long as rope  12  is guided into climbing device  10  without restriction (as shown by  FIG. 3 ), rope loop  12   c  will loosely curve around carabiner  30  and rope  12  will move smoothly through climbing device  10  without hindrance. 
         [0051]    In the event of a fall, the belayer must immediately respond be grasping and pulling rope  12   b  to the side with the brake-hand. When rope  12   b  is constrained and pulled to the side, friction is generated where the rope is forced against corner  25  of body  20 . The friction generated at corner  25  is enhanced by notch  27  ( FIG. 5 ). Alternately, notch  27  can be eliminated. 
         [0052]    Constraining and frictional forces impede rope movement into climbing device  10 . The resultant tension will pull loop  12   c , and carabiner  30  with it, tightly against body  20 . Surface contact between rope  12 , body  20 , and carabiner  30  create additional friction. As the tension in rope  12  increase, the rope will be increasingly forced against corners  25  of both body  20   a  and body  20   b , causing climbing device  10  to close by pivoting around pins  22 . Pivoting around pins  22  will decrease the size of the opening adjacent carabiner  30  thereby pinching and forcing rope  12  against carabiner  30 . Pinching rope  12  against carabiner  30  greatly increases the friction forces arresting movement of rope  12 . 
         [0053]    Pins  26  facilitate pinching rope  12  against carabiner  30  by deforming the rope&#39;s sheath at  12   d  and  12   e . Pins  26  can be dowel pins, key stock having square cross-section (see  FIGS. 7 and 8 ), rivets, threaded fasteners, or the like, of appropriate length. Because pins  26  are typically made of steel harder than the lightweight material of body  20 , pins  26  also serve to reduce or prevent wear of body  20 . 
         [0054]    Alternately, the inventive climbing device an be configured without pins  26  by forming or machining appropriate protrusions on the interior walls of body  20 ; or by having no protrusions at all and relying on the smooth interior walls of body  20  to provide friction with the rope when the opening adjacent carabiner  30  is decreased in size. 
         [0055]      FIG. 4  shows the external forces at play when climbing device  10  is holding the weight of a climber. Fc is the tension in rope  12   a  due to the weight of the climber. Fa is the force being transmitted by the carabiner to the anchor. Fb is the pulling force of the brake-hand. Without friction, Fc will equal Fb, and there will be little or no Fa. As friction increases, more and more force will be transferred from Fb to Fa. Ideally, Fb will be as low as practical so as to not unduly stress or tire the belayer&#39;s brake-hand, consequently the increased friction generated by the inventive climbing device&#39;s ability to pinch the climbing rope against the carabiner is very advantageous. Furthermore, the greater the weight being held, the greater the pinching force. Also, the symmetrical opening of body  20  enables climbing device  10  to be used to arrest the movement of a rope moving in either direction through the device. 
         [0056]    After the inventive climbing device has arrested rope  12  as the result of a fall, the belayer sometimes needs to lower the climber to a safe location. Gradually releasing the grasp of the brake-hand and/or changing the rope&#39;s entrance angle to more inline with the longitudinal axis of body  20  will accomplish this. Similarly, an inadvertent arrest can be easily released by simply slacking rope  12   b.    
         [0057]      FIGS. 7 to 12  show alternate configurations that include lever  40  to help control the gradual release of an arrested rope, for example, when lowering the weight of a climber, and also includes opening  50  on body  20   b  for directly attaching another carabiner so that the device can be rigged to belay a second with auto-braking ( FIGS. 11 and 12 ). 
         [0058]      FIGS. 7 and 8  are cross-section side views of the alternate configuration showing rope  12  looped into the climbing device around carabiner  30 .  FIG. 8  shows the inventive device closed and holding rope  12   a , which is loaded in tension.  FIG. 7  shows the climbing device open with rope  12  slack and able to move freely in either direction. 
         [0059]    As best seen in  FIG. 9 , lever  40  is an extension of body  20   b . Knob  42  is located at the end of lever  40  to facilitate grasping and moving lever  40  by hand. Alternately knob  42  can be eliminated. 
         [0060]    Using the belayer&#39;s free hand (the hand not holding rope  12   b ) to pull lever  40  in the direction of the outline arrow causes a rotational force around pivot  22  that counters the closing rotational force caused by rope  12  pushing against corners  25 . When the opening rotational force caused by pulling lever  40  exceeded the closing rotational force, body  20  will start to open, separating pinch pins  26 . As pins  26  separate, the frictional forces holding rope  12  decrease, which allows rope  12  to start slipping through the device. By modulating the lever force to achieve a balance with the brake-hand force, it is possible to precisely control the movement of rope  12  through the device. 
         [0061]      FIG. 10  shows an alternate configuration in which looped spring  24  is replaced by coil spring  60 , attached to body  20   a  and body  20   b  by pins  62  and  64  respectively. Coil spring  60  is advantageously located adjacent pivot  22 .  FIG. 10  shows coil spring  60  mounted on the outside of body  20 , but spring  60  can also be mounted inside or between the sidewalls of body  20   a  and body  20   b . Although only one coil spring  60  is shown, two coil springs can be mounted, one on each side of body  20 . Furthermore, when coil spring  60  is incorporated, spring  24  is superfluous and can be replaced by loop  27 . Loop  27  can be any flexible material, for example, stranded steel cable, cord or-the-like. The function of loop  27  is to limit the distance that carabiner  30  can move away from body  20 . 
         [0062]    Lever  40  facilitates the controlled release of rope  12 . Lever  40  is shown as a solid extension of body  20   b  in  FIG. 9 . However, the lever does not need to be integral with body  20 , instead the lever can be adjoined to body  20 . For example, referring to  FIG. 11 , lever  40  is pivotally attached to body  20  by pivot pins  22 . Alternately, lever  41  can be pivotally attached at locations other than pins  22 . Rotational force from lever  41  is applied to body  20   a  when protrusion  43  abuts pin  64 . Alternately, solid stops or abutments can be provided to transmit the rotational force from lever  41  to body  20   a  or body  20   b . The configuration of  FIG. 11  has the advantage of being able to fold lever  41  out of the way (for example, to the location of the dashed outline in  FIG. 11 ) when not needed to control the release of rope. Similarly, lever  40  and lever  41  can be hinged anywhere along their lengths to facilitate folding out of the way. 
         [0063]    As described supra, when “belaying the second” the lead climber is securely located and assumes the role of belayer. The lead climber must pull up and control the rope as one or more “second climbers” ascend from below. It is possible to belay the second when the device is rigged as pictured in  FIGS. 3 and 7 . However, a popular and convenient way to belay the second is to rig the device for auto-braking by using two carabiners as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 . 
         [0064]      FIGS. 12 and 13  show loop  12   c  inserted into the inventive device and attached by carabiner  30   a  to anchor rope  14 . Opening  40  body  20   b  provides the means to also attach second carabiner  30   b  to anchor rope  14 . Anchor rope  14  is attached to an independently secure anchor. Rigging the inventive device with carabiners  30   a  and  30   b  as pictured in  FIGS. 12 and 13  allows rope movement in one direction only; rope movement in the reverse direction in “auto-braked”. Auto-braking conveniently stops the fall of a second without direct intervention by the belayer. 
         [0065]      FIG. 12  shows how the device will orient itself when rope  12   b  is pulled downward (depicted by the outline arrows), for example when pulling up slack in rope  12   a .  FIG. 13  shows the position of the inventive device when auto-braking is engaged. 
         [0066]    As seen in  FIG. 13 , when rope  12   a  is pulled downward, carabiner  30   b  limits the rotational movement of body  20   b  so that opening  50  remains approximately level with rope loop  12   c . When the movement of body  12   b  is limited by carabiner  30   b , continued movement of rope  12   a  will push against corner  25  of body  20   a , causing against carabiner  30   a.    
         [0067]    The location of opening  50  on body  12   b  as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13  provide effective positioning of body  12   a  and body  12   b  when feeding slack rope and braking. Alternately, opening  50  can be at other locations on body  12   b , for example to the side as shown in  FIG. 16 . 
         [0068]    When auto-braking is engaged, pulling or pushing lever  40  upward toward the position of the lever in  FIG. 12  will provide a controlled release of the rope and subsequent lowering of the climber. The ability to use lever  40  to release rope  12  from auto-braking is a significant advantage over the prior art. 
         [0069]    When two seconds climb simultaneously, each must be attached to a rope that is pulled up and controlled during ascent.  FIGS. 14 and 15  are top sectional views, similar to that of  FIG. 6 , showing the inventive device configured for handling two ropes (and two seconds) in parallel sot that a belayer can conveniently and safely control the two ropes at the same time. Furthermore, when a single climber uses small diameter ropes in pairs, the alternate configurations of  FIGS. 14 and 15  will advantageously enable the belayer to control both ropes simultaneously. 
         [0070]    The configuration depicted by  FIG. 14  shows body  20   a  and body  20   b  sized to accommodate the placement of two ropes in parallel ( FIG. 14  shows cross-sections of rope  12   a  and  12   b ; and second rope  12   aa  and  12   bb ). Rib  20   c  divides the rope opening, which serves to keep the two ropes separated. Alternatively rib  20   c  can be eliminated. The configuration of  FIG. 14  controls both ropes simultaneously, for example, if one second falls and the corresponding rope brakes, the rope of the other second will be braked also. 
         [0071]    Referring again to  FIG. 14 , provision can be made to loosely or pivotally mount pinch pins  26  so they will tilt relative to body  20   a  and body  20   b  to accommodate differences in the diameter of the parallel ropes (for example, note that rope  12   a  has a smaller diameter than second rope  12   aa  in  FIG. 14 ). If the diameter of one of the parallel ropes is greater than the other, pinch pins  26  will adjust by tilting (dashed outlines in  FIG. 14 ) so that both ropes are pinched equally. 
         [0072]    The configuration depicted by  FIG. 15  show two inventive devices side by side sharing a central wall and pivot  22   c . By sharing a central wall and pivot, the resultant assembly is more compact and lighter than two separate devices side by side. The configuration of  FIG. 14  controls each rope independently, that is, if one rope is braked the other rope will remain free to move. 
         [0073]      FIGS. 17 and 18  picture the prior art.  FIG. 17  shows prior art belay device  90  with rope  12  slack and able to move freely. When inventive climbing device  10  is relaxed and open as pictured by  FIGS. 3 and 7 , movement of slack rope through the device is similar to that of the prior art device pictured in  FIG. 17 . 
         [0074]      FIG. 18  shows prior art belay device  90  holding rope  12  under tension. As seen in  FIG. 18 , to arrest and hold a rope the prior art relies solely on the friction of rope contact with corners  95  and carabiner  30  ( the rope is not pinched as shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  8 , and  13 ). 
         [0075]    It is understood that those skilled in the art may conceive of other modifications and/or changes to the invention described above. For example, variations on the number and shape of the body parts; the number and locations of the pivot pins or hinges; the type and location of springs; the shape and size of the control lever, and the ability to handle multiple ropes are contemplated. Any such modifications or changes that fall within the purview of the description are intended to be included therein as well. This description is intended to be illustrative and is not intended to be limitative. The scope of the invention is limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.