Postal sealing systems and methods

A tab for sealing an unenveloped mailpiece having a front surface, a rear surface, and at least one unbounded edge separating the front and rear surfaces. The tab includes a flexible film configured to extend from the front surface across the unbounded edge to the rear surface. The flexible film has a periphery region and a substantially continuous inner region. At least one adhesive layer is disposed about at least a portion of a bottom surface of the flexible film configured to adhere to the front and the rear surfaces of the mailpiece. At least one peripheral flaw is disposed within the periphery region and generally aligned with unbounded edge.

FIELD

This disclosure relates to postal sealing systems and methods, and, more particularly, to systems and methods for sealing and easily opening tabs for postal articles.

BACKGROUND

The United States Postal Service (USPS) publishes and maintains physical standards for articles to be sent through the mail. These standards describe the criteria used by the USPS to determine if letters, cards, and unenveloped mailpieces fit within the qualifications of “machinable”, “nonmachinable”, or “automation” classes of mail. Unenveloped mailpieces (such as, but not limited to, booklets, folded self mailers, or double postcards) are also subject to additional requirements related to the preferred method for sealing, or tabbing. Tabbing involves folding an adhesive backed film over any unbound edges to keep them secure. Failure to conform to these requirements can incur additional cost to the sender, delay delivery, or damage and jam high-speed mail processing equipment. In direct mailing and advertising applications, tabbing to ensure compliance with USPS machinable and automation requirements is crucial to reducing costs, and eliminates the need for an envelope.

One type of tab used with unenveloped mailpieces includes paper tabs. While paper tabs are easy to open, they are opaque. As a result, even the most translucent paper seals are disruptive to the appearance, content, and style of unenveloped mailpieces.

Another type of tab used with unenveloped mailpieces includes solid and perforated transparent polymer tabs. While solid and perforated transparent polymer tabs do not visually interfere with graphics and print material underneath, they suffer from several disadvantages. For example, the toughness of the solid polymer tabs prevent the seals from being easily torn or broken by the user, especially for the elderly. Because of the difficulty in breaking the solid polymer tabs, many recipients open the unenveloped mailpieces by tearing the paper around the solid polymer tab, thereby damaging the document and creating an unpleasant visual appearance.

While perforated polymer tabs allow recipients to open their mail by breaking the seal along the perforation, perforated polymer tabs proved to be problematic for the USPS, as they were prone to opening during the mailing process, jamming handling and sorting equipment. For this reason, the USPS now requires all tabbing to be done with nonperforated seals. See, USPS Quick Service Guide 20 lb. See, Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service Domestic Mail Manual section 201.3.

Accordingly, there is a need for a tab that offers transparency, adequate adhesion, and ease of opening, while maintaining the required standards of the USPS, and not significantly increasing the cost of sealing unenveloped mail. Such a seal would also need to be compatible with current automatic tabber equipment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

By way of summary, one embodiment of the present disclosure may feature an easy to open mailing tab or wafer seal that meets USPS physical standards for machinable and automation letters and cards. The tabs may include a polymer substrate made of any flexible material, including but not limited to transparent polymeric materials such as polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene, polyester, and triacetate. The polymer substrate of the tab provides the strength necessary for sealing the mailpieces or packages. The polymer substrate may be coated with an adhesive layer appropriate for adhering to paper or cardstock, including but not limited to pressure-sensitive adhesives such as acrylics, polyesters, and natural rubber. The coated films, backed with release liner, can be die-cut to shape, incorporating structural, peripheral flaws to act as areas of stress concentration, providing a geometry that will aid in the breaking or opening the tab. The stress concentrations created by the peripheral flaws increase the ease of opening, relative to solid tabs, by reducing the tear strength. These flaws can be designed to allow the tab to be suitably tough during mailing or shipping, but easily opened when a finger or object is inserted between the sealed surfaces. When rolls of these die-cut coated films are produced, they may be completely compatible with typical tabbing machinery.

A tab consistent with at least one embodiment of present disclosure provides the necessary adhesion force, strength and toughness required to sealing postal articles or packages while also complying with the USPS specification of nonperforation. A tab consistent with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure is easy to open without damaging the underlying article. A tab, consistent with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, may be substantially transparent and therefore can maintain the visual aesthetics of the article it is sealing.

Accordingly, the shortcomings of traditional solid polymer and paper tabs and wafer seals may be overcome by at least one embodiment of the tabs consistent with the present disclosure. The tabs of the present disclosure may be easily and inexpensively manufactured (e.g., using die-cutters or the like) and may be applied to mailpieces using current tabbing equipment, with little or no modification. The tabs of the present disclosure could be used to seal any mailpiece that needs to meet USPS physical standards for machinable or automation letters and cards, or any packaging where a strong, but easily opened seal is desirable. The present disclosure may also be applied to transparent seals.

With reference toFIG. 1, a tab10adhered to an unbounded edge region11of an unenveloped mailpiece13consistent with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure is generally illustrated. The tab10is folded over at least a portion of the unbounded edge region11of an unenveloped mailpiece13to keep the unbounded edge region11secure during processing of the unenveloped mailpiece13. As used herein, the term “unenveloped mailpiece” means any mailpiece which requires a tab for sealing an unbounded edge as required by the USPS.

Turning now toFIGS. 2 and 3, a top plan view and a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III ofFIG. 2of a tab10consistent with one embodiment of the present disclosure is generally illustrated. The tab10may include a polymer substrate12, at least one layer of an adhesive14, and one or more peripheral flaws16configured to allow the tab10to be easily and/or evenly broken into two pieces. Optionally, the tab10may include a release layer17configured to prevent the adhesive layer14from accidentally adhering to a surface until the tab10is ready for use. The release layer17may be generally coextensive with the adhesive layer14and may include, for example, waxed paper, silicon release sheet, or the like.

The polymer substrate12may include any polymer material having sufficient toughness to prevent accidental opening of the unenveloped mailpieces13, yet flexible enough to bend around the unbounded edges of unenveloped mailpieces13. The polymer substrate12may also include transparent or opaque polymers. For example, the polymer substrate12may include, but is not limited to, transparent polymeric materials such as polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene, polyester, and triacetate. As may be appreciated, transparent tabs may, in general, be preferable to opaque polymers since they will not alter the appearance of the unenveloped mailpieces13, however, tabs10consistent with the present disclosure are not limited to transparent polymers unless specifically claimed as such. It should also be appreciated that the polymer substrate12may include a plurality of different layers. For example, the polymer substrate12may include a one or more layers providing a high degree of strength and one or more layers that bond well with the adhesive layer(s)14. One or more of the layers may be coextensive with other layers and/or may extend across only a portion of the polymer substrate.

The polymer substrate12may also have any shape provided that the tab10is able to extend across the unbounded edge region11of the unenveloped mailpiece13. For example, the polymer substrate12may have generally circular shape, a generally oval shape, a generally rectangular shape, or the like. The thickness, length, and width of the polymer substrate12will depend on the intended application, for example, the necessary strength, flexibility, adhesion, and/or dimensions of the mailpiece13. For example, the polymer substrate12may be die-cut from 1.5 or 2 mil polypropylene or polystyrene film.

Alternatively, the polymer substrate12may also have a non-circular shape, provided that the tab10is able to extend across the unbounded edge region11of the unenveloped mailpiece13. For example, the polymer substrate12may have a generally, square or rectangular shape, a generally star shape, a generally triangular shape, or any other shape of any arbitrary or specific number of sides or configurations, so long as the tab10is able to extend across the unbounded edge region11of the unenveloped mailpiece13, as discussed herein.

The polymer substrate12may include an inner region18and a periphery region20. As used herein, the periphery region20is defined as a portion of the polymer substrate12extending from the periphery/peripheral edge22to not more than 10% of the longest cross-sectional dimension of the polymer substrate12. For example, the periphery region20may include a portion of the polymer substrate12extending from the periphery/peripheral edge22to not more than 5% of the longest cross-sectional dimension, and/or not more than 1% of the longest cross-sectional dimension. The remaining portion of the polymer substrate12is defined as the inner region18. The transition between the inner region18and the periphery region20is generally indicated by dotted line21inFIG. 2.

The adhesive layer14may include any adhesive material appropriate for adhering the polymer substrate12to paper or cardstock. For example, the adhesive layer14may include, but is not limited to, pressure-sensitive adhesives such as acrylics, polyesters, and natural rubber. The adhesive layer14is may be opaque or transparent. According to one embodiment, the adhesive layer14may be generally coextensive with a bottom surface24of the polymer substrate12. Alternative (or in addition), the adhesive layer14may be formed at a plurality of discrete (e.g., separate, non-overlapping/contacting) regions of the bottom surface24of the polymer substrate12. According to one embodiment, the tab10may include a polypropylene or polystyrene polymer substrate12film backed with general purpose permanent acrylic adhesive. As it may be appreciated, the adhesive14and the release layer17may be of the same shape as the polymer substrate12, as described herein.

As discussed above, the tabs10include one or more peripheral flaws16configured to allow the tab10to be easily and/or evenly broken into two pieces. Whereas a perforation extends across an entire cross-section of a tab, the peripheral flaws16according to the present disclosure are located anywhere in the peripheral region20of the cross-section of the tab10and not across the inner region18of the polymer substrate12. As such, the inner region18of the polymer substrate12is substantially continuous and does not include any perforations, flaws, and/or defects that extend across the inner region18of the polymer substrate12. By introducing specifically sized and/or shaped flaws or weaknesses (e.g., areas of stress concentration) into the polymer substrate12, the peripheral flaws16allow the force at which the tab10tears to be designed into the structure, as well as the holding force of the adhesive tab10.

For example, the tab10may include one or more peripheral flaws16that extend from a peripheral edge22of the polymer substrate12across only the peripheral region20of the cross-section of the tab10and not across the inner region18of the polymer substrate12. Alternatively (or in addition), the tab10may include one or more peripheral flaws16located in the peripheral region20that are offset from the peripheral edge22, but remains substantially within the periphery/peripheral region20. The one or more peripheral flaws16may be located anywhere within the peripheral/periphery region20, so long as the tab10is not considered to be perforated throughout the inner region18of the tab10.

The peripheral flaw16may extend all the way through the thickness of the polymer substrate12and/or across only a portion of the thickness of the adhesive14.

In use, the tabs10are folded over the unbound edge regions11of the mailpiece13and secured to the mailpiece13by the adhesive layer14. According to one embodiment, the peripheral flaws16may be generally aligned with the unbound edge regions11when the tab10is folded over the unbounded edge region11of the unenveloped mailpieces13such that the folded tab10is torn in a directly generally parallel to the unbounded edge region11. In the illustrated embodiment, tabs10are shown on the unbounded edge region11opposite the fold of the unenveloped mailpiece13, though it should be appreciated that this is merely illustrative and that the tabs10may be placed anywhere along the unbounded edge regions11of the unenveloped mailpiece13. USPS regulations govern the size, location, and number of tabs necessary for various classifications of mail.

The size and/or shape of the areas of the peripheral flaws16can be determined for specific tabbing operations to strike a balance between maximum sealing force and ease of opening. A material's inherent resistance to fracture, known as fracture toughness, can be quantified by the variable KIC, the critical stress intensity factor. KICvalues are known for most materials, and can be found in various tables and handbooks. When KICis known, the stress at which the material, polymer, or tab will fail (σf) or tear due to flaws is equal to:
σ1=KIC/√(πa)

where a is the length of the peripheral flaw16in the edge22of the polymer substrate12. Once the stress a tab10is subjected to exceeds the calculated σf, a crack26is initiated at the peripheral flaw16and propagates through the polymer substrate12and the tab10is opened. This equation also explains why perforated tabs perform so poorly and are banned by the USPS: perforations essentially behave as very large interrupted cracks. The aforementioned equation shows that as the length of a flaw a increases, the stress or force at which the tab breaks decreases.

The number, size, shaped, and/or arrangement of the peripheral flaws16may therefore vary depending on the intended application. For example, the peripheral flaws16may have almost any geometry including, but not limited to, v-shaped notches (e.g., in which the tip of the V is facing either towards and/or away from the center point of the polymer substrate12), sawtooth patterns, starburst patterns, waves, arcs, slits, or a designed reduction in thickness of the polymer substrate12. According to one embodiment, the tab10may include a 1.5 to 2 mil polypropylene or polystyrene polymer substrate12having one or more peripheral flaws16with a length of approximately 1/64 to ⅛ of an inch, for example, 1/64 to 1/16 of an inch, 1/32 to 1/16 of an inch, and/or 1/16 to ⅛ of an inch. Peripheral flaws16having lengths in this range have been found to provide a good balance of sealing strength and ease of opening, though it should be appreciated that the length of the peripheral flaws16is not limited to this range unless specifically claimed as such.

Referring still toFIG. 2, a tab10is generally illustrated having opposing peripheral flaw16a,16b. The opposing peripheral flaws16a,16ballows for the opening of the tab10from either side28,29of the tab10. Turning now toFIG. 4, the tab10bmay include a single flaw16. The single peripheral flaw16may have a length of approximately 1/32″ to 1/16″. Such an embodiment would only be able to be easily opened from the location of the single peripheral flaw16; opening at any other location along the circumference of the tab would be much more difficult. The tab10may optionally include one or more indicia32which indicate the direction that the tab10should be torn and/or the location of the peripheral flaw16. The indicia32may include, for example, an arrow or the like. The indicia32may be visible only in the region of the fold of the tab10bsuch that the indicia32does not obscure the appearance, content, and style of the unenveloped mailpiece13.

With reference toFIG. 5, yet another embodiment of a tab10cconsistent with the present disclosure is generally illustrated. The tab10cincludes a plurality of peripheral flaws16a-16nextending from one or more opposed sides/portions28,29of the tab10c(e.g., when the tab10cis folded as general illustrated inFIG. 1). The plurality of peripheral flaws16a-16ndoes not require as accurate a placement of the tab10cas it is folded over an unbound edge region11of the unenveloped mailpiece13, thereby making the tab10cmore compatible in automated tabbing machinery compared to the a single peripheral flaw or pair of peripheral flaws. The plurality of peripheral flaws16a-16nmay be matched (e.g., location, and spacing of the plurality of peripheral flaws16a-16nmay extend generally in a one-to-one correlation cross lines of the polymer substrate12) or unmatched. According to one embodiment, the tab10cmay include up to ten peripheral flaws16a16non one or more of the sides28,29.

Referring now toFIGS. 6a, 6band 6c, a further embodiment of a tab10dconsistent with the present disclosure is generally illustrated. The tab10dmay include a plurality of peripheral flaws16a-16n(only three of peripheral flaws are labeled for clarity) arranged around substantially the entire perimeter22of the polymer substrate12. This embodiment allows for ease of opening the tab10dwithout a need for careful alignment of the tab10don the unbound edge region11of the unenveloped mailing13.

Referring toFIGS. 7 and 8, another embodiment of a tab10eis generally illustrated having opposing peripheral sawtooth flaws16c,16d. The opposing peripheral sawtooth flaws16c,16dallows for the opening of the tab10efrom either side30,31of the tab10e. The peripheral sawtooth flaws16c,16dmay have a depth beginning from the peripheral edge22of the tab10eand extending into the peripheral region20(not shown) of approximately 1/32″ to 1/16″. Such an embodiment would only be able to be easily opened from the location of the peripheral sawtooth flaws16c,16d; opening at any other location along the circumference of the tab10ewould be much more difficult. It may also be appreciated that the tab10emay include a plurality of peripheral sawtooth flaws16c,16d,16narranged around substantially the entire perimeter22of the polymer substrate12. This embodiment also allows for ease of opening the tab10ewithout a need for careful alignment of the tab10eon the unbound edge region11of the unenveloped mailing13.

Referring now toFIGS. 9-13, yet another embodiment of a tab10fconsistent with the present disclosure is generally illustrated. For example, the tab10fmay include a peripheral sawtooth flaw16that extends from a peripheral edge22of the polymer substrate12across only the peripheral region20(not shown) of the cross-section of the tab10fand not across the inner region18(not shown) of the polymer substrate12. The peripheral sawtooth flaw16may be in the shape of any saw pattern known to one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the peripheral sawtooth flaw16may be in a zig zag pattern, etc. The tab10fmay optionally include one or more indicia32which indicate the direction that the tab10fshould be torn and/or the location of the peripheral sawtooth flaw16. The indicia32may include, for example, an arrow or the like. The indicia32may be visible only in the region of the fold of the tab10fsuch that the indicia32does not obscure the appearance, content, and style of the unenveloped mailpiece13.

With reference toFIGS. 14-16, a further embodiment of a tab10gconsistent with the present disclosure is generally illustrated. The tab10gincludes a plurality of peripheral flaws16a-16nextending from one or more opposed sides/portions28,29of the tab10g(e.g., when the tab10gis folded as generally illustrated inFIG. 1). For example, the tab10gmay include a quantity of 5, 10, 20 or a range of 5-7, 6-8 or 8-10 peripheral flaws16a-16non at least one side/portion28,29. The plurality of peripheral flaws16a-16ndoes not require as accurate a placement of the tab10gas it is folded over an unbound edge region11of the unenveloped mailpiece13, thereby making the tab10gmore compatible in automated tabbing machinery compared to the a single peripheral flaw or pair of peripheral flaws. The plurality of peripheral flaws16a-16nmay be matched (e.g., location, and spacing of the plurality of peripheral flaws16a-16nmay extend generally in a one-to-one correlation cross lines of the polymer substrate12) or unmatched.

Turning now toFIGS. 17-21, an additional embodiment of a tab10hconsistent with the present disclosure is generally illustrated. The tab10hmay include a plurality of flaws16a-16non at least one side/portion28,29of the tab10h. Each one of the plurality of peripheral flaws16a-16nmay have a length of approximately 1/32″ to 1/16″. Such an embodiment would only be able to be easily opened from the general location of the plurality of peripheral flaws16a-16n; opening at any other location along the circumference of the tab would be much more difficult. The tab10hmay optionally include one or more indicia32which indicate the direction that the tab10hshould be torn and/or the location of the plurality of peripheral flaws16a-16n. The indicia32may include, for example, an arrow or the like. The indicia32may be visible only in the region of the fold of the tab10hsuch that the indicia32does not obscure the appearance, content, and style of the unenveloped mailpiece13.

With reference toFIGS. 22-24, yet another embodiment of a tab10iconsistent with the present disclosure is generally illustrated. The tab10iincludes at least one peripheral flaw16a,16bextending from one or more opposed sides/portions28,29of the tab10i(e.g., when the tab10iis folded as general illustrated inFIG. 1). The tab10imay include a single flaw16aextending from one or more opposed sides/portions28,29of the tab10i. The single peripheral flaw16a,16bmay have a length of approximately 1/32″ to 1/16″. Such an embodiment would only be able to be easily opened from the location of the single peripheral flaw16a,16b; opening at any other location along the circumference of the tab would be much more difficult.

Turning now toFIGS. 25-29, yet a further embodiment of a tab10jconsistent with the present disclosure is generally illustrated. The tab10jmay include a single flaw16. The single peripheral flaw16may have a length of approximately 1/32″ to 1/16″. Such an embodiment would only be able to be easily opened from the location of the single peripheral flaw16; opening at any other location along the circumference of the tab would be much more difficult. The tab10jmay optionally include one or more indicia32which indicate the direction that the tab10should be torn and/or the location of the peripheral flaw16. The indicia32may include, for example, an arrow or the like. The indicia32may be visible only in the region of the fold of the tab10jsuch that the indicia32does not obscure the appearance, content, and style of the unenveloped mailpiece13.

With reference toFIGS. 30-32, another embodiment of a tab10kconsistent with the present disclosure is generally illustrated. The tab10kmay include at least one peripheral flaw16on at least one side/portion28,29of the tab10k, wherein the peripheral flaw16is offset from the peripheral edge22, but still substantially within the peripheral region20(as discussed above and illustrated inFIG. 2) of the tab10k. The at least one peripheral flaw16may have a length of approximately 1/32″ to 1/16″. Such an embodiment would only be able to be easily opened from the general location of the at least one peripheral flaw16or other peripheral flaws; opening at any other location along the circumference of the tab would be much more difficult.

Turning now toFIGS. 33-37, yet another embodiment of a tab10lconsistent with the present disclosure is generally illustrated. The tab10lmay include a single flaw16that is offset from the peripheral edge22, but still substantially within the peripheral region20of the tab10l. The single peripheral flaw16may have a length of approximately 1/32″ to 1/16″. Such an embodiment would only be able to be easily opened from the location of the single peripheral flaw16; opening at any other location along the circumference of the tab would be much more difficult. The tab10lmay optionally include one or more indicia32which indicate the direction that the tab10should be torn and/or the location of the peripheral flaw16. The indicia32may include, for example, an arrow or the like. The indicia32may be visible only in the region of the fold of the tab10lsuch that the indicia32does not obscure the appearance, content, and style of the unenveloped mailpiece13.

With reference toFIGS. 38-40, an additional embodiment of a tab10mconsistent with the present disclosure is generally illustrated. The tab10mincludes a plurality of peripheral flaws16a-16nextending from one or more opposed sides/portions28,29of the tab10m(e.g., when the tab10mis folded as generally illustrated inFIG. 1), wherein the plurality of peripheral flaws16a-16nare offset from the peripheral edge22, but still substantially within the peripheral region20(as discussed above and illustrated inFIG. 2) of the tab10m. The plurality of peripheral flaws16a-16ndoes not require as accurate a placement of the tab10mas it is folded over an unbound edge region11of the unenveloped mailpiece13, thereby making the tab10mmore compatible in automated tabbing machinery compared to the a single peripheral flaw or pair of peripheral flaws. The plurality of peripheral flaws16a-16nmay be matched (e.g., location, and spacing of the plurality of peripheral flaws16a-16nmay extend generally in a one-to-one correlation cross lines of the polymer substrate12) or unmatched.

Turning now toFIGS. 41-45, yet another embodiment of a tab10nconsistent with the present disclosure is generally illustrated. The tab10nmay include a plurality of flaws16a-16non at least one side/portion28,29of the tab10n, wherein the plurality of peripheral flaws16a-16nare offset from the peripheral edge22, but still substantially within the peripheral region20(as discussed above and illustrated inFIG. 2) of the tab10m.

Each one of the plurality of peripheral flaws16a-16nmay have a length of approximately 1/32″ to 1/16″. Such an embodiment would only be able to be easily opened from the general location of the plurality of peripheral flaws16a-16n; opening at any other location along the circumference of the tab would be much more difficult. The tab10nmay optionally include one or more indicia32which indicate the direction that the tab10nshould be torn and/or the location of the plurality of peripheral flaws16a-16n. The indicia32may include, for example, an arrow or the like. The indicia32may be visible only in the region of the fold of the tab10hsuch that the indicia32does not obscure the appearance, content, and style of the unenveloped mailpiece13.

According to one aspect, the present disclosure features a tab for sealing unbound edges of a mailpiece. The tab includes a flexible film having a periphery region and a substantially continuous inner region, at least one adhesive layer disposed about at least a portion of a bottom surface of the flexible film, and at least one peripheral flaw disposed within the periphery region.

According to another aspect, the present disclosure features a tab for sealing unbound edges of a mailpiece. The tab includes a flexible film, at least one adhesive layer disposed about at least a portion of a bottom surface of the flexible film, and at least one peripheral flaw disposed within a periphery region of the flexible film. The flexible film also includes a substantially continuous inner region that is not perforated.

According to yet another aspect, the present disclosure features a system including an unenveloped mailpiece and a tab. The unenveloped mailpiece includes a front surface, a rear surface, and at least one unbounded edge separating the front and rear surfaces. The tab includes a flexible film, at least one adhesive layer, and at least one peripheral flaw. The flexible film is configured to extend from the front surface across the unbounded edge to the rear surface and includes a periphery region and a substantially continuous inner region. The at least one adhesive layer is disposed about at least a portion of a bottom surface of the flexible film configured to adhere to the front and the rear surfaces. The at least one peripheral flaw is disposed within the periphery region and generally aligned with unbounded edge.

While the principles of the present disclosure have been described herein, it is to be understood by those skilled in the art that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation as to the scope of the invention. The features and aspects described with reference to particular embodiments disclosed herein are susceptible to combination and/or application with various other embodiments described herein. Such combinations and/or applications of such described features and aspects to such other embodiments are contemplated herein. Other embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the present invention in addition to the exemplary embodiments shown and described herein. Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present invention, which is not to be limited except by the following claims.

All references, patents and patent applications and publications that are cited or referred to in this application are incorporated in their entirety herein by reference.

Additional disclosure in the format of claims is set forth below: