Foam dispensing gun

A foam dispensing gun of the type having a disposable nozzle for mixing and dispensing separate fluid components of a resin system in which a single, relatively large diameter cylindrical nipple projecting from the gun body supplies both components to the interior of the mixing nozzle. The nozzle is retained on the gun by a sliding breech which also pivotally supports a valve actuating trigger to be in an operative position when the breech is moved to retain a nozzle to the gun and disabled when the breech is moved to release the nozzle for reloading and by a molded-in ring which makes a fluid tight seal between the nozzle and the single gun body port. The breech includes a stop member so that the trigger actuating forces are isolated from the nozzle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to apparatus for mixing and dispensing 
multi-component fluids and, more particularly, it concerns foam dispensing 
guns adapted to be used with resin systems in which two or more fluid 
components, separately stored in pressurized vessels, are mixed and 
dispensed as settable foam. 
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,311,254 and 4,398,930 issued to Gary Harding on Jan. 19, 
1882 and Aug. 23, 1983, respectively, disclose guns for dispensing for 
urethane foam in which separate fluid components are fed individually to 
the gun, passed separately through controlled valve ports and brought into 
contact with each other only upon reaching a mixing chamber of a nozzle 
from which the mixed components are discharged as foam. Such foam 
dispensing guns were developed for use with and have been highly 
successful commercially in prepackaged foam kits which include two 
pressurized containers of foam forming chemicals or resins, a dispensing 
gun and other supplies incidental to use of the kit, such as hoses for 
attaching the gun to the containers, petroleum jelly for facilitating and 
assuring sealed connections of couplings, solvent for cleaning gun parts, 
and a plurality of nozzles adapted for easy replacement in the gun. The 
resins, commonly referred to as the "A resin" and the "B resin" are 
supplied separately in the two containers and are typically polymeric 
isocyanate and polyol amine, respectively. When the two fluid components 
or resins are mixed, the mixture quickly sets up to form a rigid foam 
product which is substantially insoluble and extremely difficult, if not 
impossible, to remove from surfaces with which it comes in contact. 
Because of these characteristics, the nozzles for the gun are designed to 
be replaceable and disposable in order to avoid the necessity for cleaning 
any part of the gun which comes into contact with mixed, as distinguished 
from separate, foam producing fluid components. 
It is important that the nozzles are retained on the gun body with relative 
rigidity, without leakage of fluid components between the gun body and the 
nozzle, and yet in a manner to facilitate nozzle removal and replacement. 
It is equally important that the overall design and construction of the 
gun body and nozzles meet manufacturing cost criteria consistent with 
disposal of the gun and all other components of the kit when the supplied 
foam components are spent. In the guns exemplified by the disclosures of 
the afore-mentioned patents, the nozzles are mounted on the gun body by 
telescoping a pair of spaced nozzle ports in the nozzle over a pair of 
similarly spaced conduit pins projecting from the top of the gun body. A 
breech component slidable on the gun body between positions of nozzle 
retention and nozzle release in a direction perpendicular to the conduit 
pins is formed with camming slots for engagement with diametric pins on 
the exterior of the nozzle. After the nozzle is placed manually on the 
conduit pins and the breech is moved forcibly from the position of nozzle 
release to the position of nozzle retention, the nozzle ports are 
telescoped forcibly along the length of the conduit pins to its loaded 
position by coaction of the camming slots on the breech and the diametric 
pins on the nozzle exterior. A valve control trigger is supported 
pivotally from the breech to be in an operative relationship with gun body 
carried valve stems and, when operated to discharge foam from a mounted 
nozzle, develops a force pulling the breech against the nozzle and the 
conduit pins. The nozzle cannot, therefore, be released from the gun body 
during foam dispensing operation of the trigger. Release of the nozzle for 
removal from the gun body is effected by retraction of the breech and an 
attendant pivoting of the trigger to an inoperative position away from the 
valve stems, such movement of the breech causing the cam slots therein to 
lift the nozzle from the conduit pins. 
In the guns described in the above-mentioned patents, the conduit pins over 
which the nozzle ports are telescoped are precision machined metal 
(typically brass) parts which are threaded into holes in the gun body 
which, in turn, is molded from a plastic such as polypropylene. A 
fluid-tight seal between each nozzle port and each pin is accomplished by 
an internal circumferential sealing rib in each nozzle port having an 
effective diameter slightly less than the outside diameter of each pin. 
The nozzles, and thus the sealing rib in each port, are molded of a 
relatively strong plastic, such as ABS, so that the sealing ribs of the 
nozzle ports are stressed firmly and stained into sealing engagement with 
the machined brass conduit pins on the gun body as the nozzle is forced to 
its mounted position on the gun body. 
Because the conduit pins function to hold the nozzle against movement in 
reaction to manually forced sliding movement of the breech during nozzle 
loading and unloading operations and also react to trigger actuating 
forces, the structural requirements of the conduit pins to withstand the 
forces to which they are subjected has resulted in small diameter fluid 
passageways throughout the length of both conduit pins. Early in the 
commercial development of the guns of the described design, it was 
recognized that the required relatively small diameter fluid passageways 
of the conduit pins and the substantial length of those passageways 
resulted in blockage particularly of the conduit pin through which the "A 
resin" component or isocyanate was passed. Such blockage was due to the 
tendency for the isocyanate component to set up or crystalize on contact 
with air. This problem was solved by adding a solvent flushing port to the 
"A resin" side of the gun body in accordance with the disclosure of U.S. 
Pat. No. 4,516,694 issued to Clifford J. Finn on May 14, 1985. 
In addition to the conduit pin blockage problem, problems have been 
encountered more recently with leakage between the conduit pins and the 
sealing ribs in the plastic nozzle ports. Such leakage is believed to be 
the result of difficulty in maintaining adequately close dimensional 
tolerances in machining the exterior cylindrical surfaces of the conduit 
pins, in the molding of the nozzle port sealing ribs, or in both of these 
manufacturing procedures. Also the relative incompressibility of the brass 
pins is believed to have caused fracture points in the plastic ribs in 
some instances to cause the unwanted leakage. In addition, the manner of 
mounting the nozzles and the resulting resolution of trigger actuating 
forces at the nozzle port/conduit pin seals is believed to have 
contributed to the leakage problem. 
While the foam dispensing gun designs represented by the mentioned U.S. 
patents have proven to be highly effective and commercially successful in 
a very competitive market, there is need for improvement particularly in 
the fluid coupling of nozzle/gun passageways and in the arrangement for 
mounting and removing nozzles from the gun body. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with the present invention, the problems associated with 
prior gun designs of the type described are substantially alleviated by 
the provision of a relatively large diameter, single conduit formation 
projecting from the gun body to be received in and seal with the inside of 
a single inlet port formed in the replaceable nozzles. In this way, the 
engaging parts of both the gun body and the nozzles are formed exclusively 
of molded plastic materials. Accordingly, the foam dispensing gun of the 
present invention is less costly, easier to use, and able to use a highly 
effective, leak proof, nozzle-to-gun fluid coupling which does not 
restrict fluid component flow from gun mounted control valves to the 
replaceable mixing and dispensing nozzle. 
In a preferred embodiment, the gun body is molded in one piece with the 
handle from polypropylene or other plastic material having the physical 
characteristics of polypropylene to include a single upstanding 
cylindrical nipple port opening directly through a pair of component ports 
to the outlets of two valves for controlling flow of the two foam 
generating resin components. The replaceable nozzles are each molded from 
a relatively hard plastic, such as ABS, to define a single inlet port 
sleeve having an inside diameter slightly larger than the outside diameter 
of the gun body nipple port. The inside of the nozzle inlet port sleeve is 
formed with an internal circumferential rib of an effective diameter 
smaller that the outside diameter of the body port nipple so that when the 
nozzle inlet port sleeve is telescoped over and forcibly pressed onto the 
body port nipple, a combination of the respective plastic materials from 
which the nozzles and gun body are molded together with this relative 
dimensioning results in the body port nipple being compressed by the 
nozzle inlet port sealing rib to assure a tight, leak proof seal. While 
the valves, breech and trigger organization of prior designs are generally 
retained, the breech is modified to provide a passive retention of a 
nozzle mounted on the gun body without resolution of trigger operating 
forces in the nozzle. Nozzle removal is facilitated by the provision of 
pull tabs on the nozzle exterior to enable nozzle separation from the gun 
body by a direct manually exerted pulling force. 
A principal object of the present invention is therefore, the provision of 
an improved foam dispensing gun of the type adapted for use with 
disposable nozzles, which is highly effective in operation, and which is 
capable of low-cost manufacture using a minimal number of easily formed 
and assembled components. 
Other objects, features, advantages and further scope of applicability of 
the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description 
to follow, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which 
like parts are designated by like reference characters.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
In FIG. 1 of the drawings, an embodiment of the foam dispensing gun of the 
present invention is shown to include a gun body 10 and a handle 12 to 
which the gun body 10 is securely fixed preferably as an integral or 
one-part molded component. Other suitable means (not shown), such as 
interlocking dove-tail formations, bonding, threaded fasteners or the like 
may also be used to secure the body 10 to the handle 12. The gun body 10 
supports a slidable breech 14 and a disposable mixing nozzle 16. The 
breech 14 supports a depending trigger 18 having a yoke 20 at its upper 
end for pivotal attachment to the sliding breech 14 by a pair of studs 22 
Although the structure of each of the components as well as the manner in 
which they cooperate during operation of the gun will be described in more 
detail below, it will be noted here that the gun body 10, the handle 12, 
the sliding breech 14 and the trigger 18 are unitary components formed of 
suitable synthetic resinous or plastic material shaped by injection 
molding techniques. While the specific material of the breech 14 and of 
the trigger 18 is not important to the present invention, it is preferred 
that the gun body 10 and nozzle 16 be molded from polypropylene and ABS, 
respectively or from plastic materials having the relative physical 
characteristics as polypropylene and ABS for reasons to be explained more 
fully hereinafter. The gun body 10, as shown in FIGS. 1-4, is shaped 
externally to provide a front surface 24 and a rear surface 26 (FIGS. 1 
and 2). A lower or base portion 28 (FIG. 4) is necked down to join with 
the top of the handle 12. Extending longitudinally through the body 10 are 
a pair of bores 30 and counter bores 32 (FIG. 2). The bores open at the 
rear surface 26 while the counter bores open at the front surface 24 and 
define with the bores 30 annular ledges 34. Received within each of the 
counter bores 32 is a valve assembly 36 including a generally cylindrical 
valve body 38 and a valve needle 40. The valve body 38 defines a 
rearwardly diverging tapered seat 42 against which the valve needle 40 
seats to prevent passage of fluid in a direction from a barbed nipple 
portion 44 of the valve body through the seat 42 to radial valve discharge 
ports 46. The ports 46 open to a circular recess or discharge manifold 48 
defined in part by the counter bore 32 and located between a pair of 
O-ring seals 50 acting between the valve body 38 and the counter bore 32. 
The valve needle 40 for each assembly 36 includes a stem 52 supported for 
axial movement in the valve body by an annular bushing 54. A valve seating 
spring 56 acts in compression between a press nut 58 at the outer end of 
the stem 52 and the bushing 54. Thus, in the absence of any external 
force, the valve needle 40 will be biased against the seat 42 to a closed 
condition by the spring 56. 
The barbed nipple portion 44 of each of the valve bodies 38 extends within 
one of two hoses 60 and 62 which connect the gun body 10 in fluid 
communication with separate sources of foam producing fluid components 
(not shown). The outside diameter of the hoses 60 and 62 is selected to 
fit slidably within the bores 30. The external diameter of the barbed 
nipple 44 is selected to fit within each of the hoses 60 and 62 in a 
manner such that insertion of the valve body rearwardly of the gun body 
will result in the ends of the hoses 60 and 62 being seized between the 
barbed nipple 44 of the valve body 38 and the bores 30. Also, the hoses 
are placed under a radial compression force by such insertion of the 
barbed nipples 44 that the resulting friction between the hoses and the 
bores 30 is adequate to secure the assemblies of the valves and hoses 
against displacement relative to the gun body. 
From the foregoing, it will be seen that the hoses 60 and 62 together with 
the two valve assemblies 36 establish separate and controlled fluid 
passageways for each of two resin components supplied to the gun body 10 
for discharge as a foam product. As shown most clearly in FIGS. 2 and 4 of 
the drawings, when the valve needles 40 of the two valve assemblies 36 are 
displaced from their respective valve seats 42 to an open position, fluid 
components will flow from the hoses 60 and 62 around the valve needles 40, 
through the radial ports 46 in the valve bodies to the manifolds 48 of the 
respective valve assemblies 36. 
Prior urethane foam dispensing gun designs were based on the assumption 
that the separate fluid passageways for each of the two components of the 
urethane foam system were required to extend beyond the control valves and 
into the replaceable nozzle where they became mixed and dispensed as foam. 
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 
4A, however, the valve manifolds 38 open directly through semicircular 
ports 64 to a single relatively large diameter gun body discharge port 66 
defined by a cylindrical nipple 68 upstanding from the top of the gun body 
10, the upper portion of which is of reduced outside diameter to establish 
an upwardly facing annular stop ledge 69. The semicircular ports 64 in 
FIG. 4A are separated by a relatively short angular or tapered wall 
portion 70 at the base of the port 66 adequate to prevent direct passage 
of a fluid component supplied by one of the two hoses 60 and 62 into the 
valve manifold of the other fluid component in the event of a combined 
pressure differential in the supply hoses 60 and 62 and an adequate 
resistance to flow upwardly through the single port 66. Also it will be 
noted that the gun body nipple 68 is molded as an integral extension of 
the gun body 10 and is, therefore, of the same material as the gun body 
10. 
In FIG. 4B, an alternative and preferred embodiment of the invention is 
shown in which parts identical to parts shown in FIG. 4A are designated by 
the same reference characters whereas parts corresponding to parts in FIG. 
4A, but modified, are designated by the same reference numerals and a "b" 
suffix. Thus in FIG. 4B, the ports 64 of the embodiment of FIG. 4A are 
extended as passageways 64b of semicircular cross section for a 
substantial portion of the interior length of the cylindrical nipple 68b 
by extending the wall 70 upwardly as a thin diametric wall or baffle 70b. 
As in the embodiment of FIG. 4A, the ports 64b join in a single passageway 
66b but which extends for only a short distance between the top of the 
baffle 70b and the top of the nipple 68b. 
A principal advantage of the embodiment of FIG. 4B is that while the 
relatively large effective cross-sectional area of each of the separate 
ports 64 is essentially retained in the elongated ports 64b, the problems 
associated with cross-over of one resin component into the control valve 
of the other are greatly reduced. Also, the quantity of flushing solvent 
needed to cleanse the passageway extending from the solvent port 71, in a 
manner to be described below, is reduced substantially. 
Also and as shown generally in FIGS. 1 and 3 but more completely in FIG. 4 
of the drawings, the side of the gun body 10 on which the supply hose 60 
is located is provided with a solvent flushing port 71 (FIG. 4) normally 
closed by a threaded screw cap 72 (FIGS. 1 and 3). The port 71 opens at 
its inner end to the manifold 38 of the valve assembly 36 controlling flow 
from the hose 60. As fully disclosed in the previously cited U.S. Pat. No. 
4,516,694, the organization of the solvent flushing port 71 as shown in 
the drawing presumes that the hose 60 will supply the "A resin" or 
isocyanate component to the port 66. While the organization of the solvent 
port 71 is essentially the same as that disclosed in the aforementioned 
patent, the provision of the single gun body discharge port 66 and the 
manner in which it communicates with the manifolds 38 of both valve 
assemblies as shown in FIG. 4A, enables introduction of solvent port 
downwardly through the port 66 to flush the manifolds 38 of both valve 
assemblies 36 for discharge of the solvent out through the port 71. 
Alternatively, as in the embodiment of FIG. 4B, the solvent may be 
introduced through the port 71 for cleansing the "A resin" valve assembly 
36, the length of the elongated port 64b on the side of the port 71 and 
the common discharge port 66. 
The breech 14, as indicated, is a one piece plastic molding shaped to 
establish a pair of laterally spaced vertical wall portions 73 and 74 
joined by transverse top and rear wall formations 75 and 76, respectively. 
These latter transverse walls extend from the rear of the breech 14 only 
partially along its length thus permitting the substantial forward 
portions of the walls 73 and 74 to project in opened spaced relationship. 
At the bottom of each of the side walls 73 and 74 are channel-shaped ways 
78 and 80, respectively, adapted to receive one of a pair of complementing 
inverted L-shaped rails 82 formed in the top surface of the gun body 10 as 
shown in FIG. 4. To facilitate assembly of the breech 14 with the body 10, 
the rails 82 continue through the rear surface 26 of the gun body 10. 
After the ways 78 and 80 of the breech 14 are slid forwardly over the 
rails 82, the trigger pivoting studs 22 are inserted into the holes 66. A 
bottom wall formation 86 extends transversely across the rear of the 
breech between the channel-shaped ways 78 and 80 and provides a rear stop 
for limiting forward sliding movement of the breech 14 relative to the gun 
body 10 significantly beyond the position illustrated in FIG. 1 of the 
drawings. A nozzle retention rib 88, depending from the top center of the 
breech 14, is located above the body port nipple 37 in this position. 
Rearward movement of the breech is restricted by the stop lug surface 90 
of the trigger 18 which engages the front surface 24 of the gun body 10. 
The nozzle 16, as shown most clearly in FIGS. 2 and 4-6 of the drawings, is 
similar to the nozzles disclosed in the above-mentioned Harding patents to 
the extent that it includes a generally cylindrical outer shell 92 closed 
at its rear end by a flat conical wall 94 and opening forwardly to a 
concentric axial discharge opening 96. An internal spiral mixer 98 extends 
throughout the major diameter portion of the shell 92 also in a manner 
known in the prior art. In accordance with the present invention, however, 
the nozzle shell 92 includes a single nozzle inlet port sleeve 100 
projecting radially from the shell 92 near the rear wall 94 thereof. While 
beth the inner and outer surfaces of the sleeve 100 are essentially smooth 
and cylindrical, the inner sleeve surface is formed with an inwardly 
directed, circumferential sealing rib 102 near the inner end of the 
sleeve. 
As shown most clearly in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6 of the drawings, a pair of 
gripping appendages or finger tabs 104 are provided on the exterior of the 
shell 92 on the side thereof diametrically opposite from the inlet port 
sleeve 100. The finger tabs are located lengthwise of the shell 92 to be 
forward from the rear wall 94 but only slightly forward of the sleeve 100. 
As will be understood from the illustration in FIGS. 5 and 6, the tabs 104 
are positioned and shaped to facilitate gripping with two fingers in a 
manner to enable a manual pulling force to be applied to the nozzle in a 
radial direction opposite from the radial direction the sleeve 100 
projects from the shell 92. 
To assemble or load the nozzle 16 into an operative position, the breech 14 
is slid rearwardly to a nozzle release position as shown in FIG. 3 of the 
drawings. In this position of the breech, the nozzle 16 may be placed so 
that the nozzle inlet port sleeve 100 fits over the gun body port nipple 
68 as depicted generally in FIG. 7. The final mounting position of the 
nozzle 16 on the gun body 10 is achieved by manually pressing the rear top 
of the nozzle to force the sealing rib 102 in the sleeve over the outer 
cylindrical surface of the body port nipple 68 until the bottom edge of 
the sleeve 100 engages the stop ledge 69 on the body nipple 68. The 
relatively hard material from which the nozzle 16 is formed will result in 
a fluid tight sealing of the rib about the outer surface of the relatively 
softer material of the body port nipple 68. A forward movement of the 
breech from the position shown in FIG. 3 will result in the positioning of 
the nozzle retention member 88 over top of the nozzle 16 in a location 
above the nozzle inlet port sleeve 100 and the gun body port nipple 68. 
Upon continued forward movement of the breech 14 from the position shown 
in FIG. 3 to a nozzle retention position as shown in FIG. 1, the bottom 
wall formation 86 will contact the rear surface 26 of the gun body 10 
without any portion of the breech 14 bearing against the mounted nozzle 
16. To remove a nozzle 16 from the gun, the breech 14 is moved rearwardly 
to the position shown in FIG. 3 and the tabs 104 on the nozzle 16 are 
grasped and pulled upwardly to disengage the nozzle inlet port sleeve 100 
from the gun body port nipple 68. 
With reference again to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, it will be noted 
that the trigger 18 carries suitable valve stem engaging means such as a 
pair of set screws 106 in a position to engage the ends of the valve stems 
52 when the breech 14 is positioned to retain a nozzle 16 or in the 
position illustrated in FIG. 1. In this condition, it will be appreciated 
that one grasping the handle 12 and squeezing the trigger 18 will cause 
the valve stems to move the needles 40 from the valve seats 42. Fluid 
components under pressure and supplied through the hoses 60 and 62 will 
pass simultaneously through the respective valve outlet ports 64 through 
the gun port 66 and into the nozzle 16 where the fluid components are 
fully mixed and discharged as foam through the discharge orifice 96 on the 
front end of nozzle 16. Also, it will be appreciated that by varying the 
extent to which the trigger 18 is moved toward the handle 12, the rate of 
foam discharge from the nozzle orifice 96 may be regulated. 
The foam dispensing gun of the present invention, as thus described and 
illustrated, both preserves the desirable characteristics of commercially 
proven guns in the prior art as exemplified by the cited Harding and Finn 
patents and moreover incorporates several additional and unexpected 
advantages resulting principally from the use of a single, relatively 
large diameter discharge port nipple 68 on the gun body. In the context of 
preserving known desirable characteristics, the organization of the breech 
14 and the pivotal mount of the trigger 18 therefrom to assure that the 
nozzle 16 cannot be removed from the gun during discharge of foam through 
the nozzle 16 is the same as the prior designs. Moreover, the protective 
shroud represented by the side and top walls of the breech functions to 
divert discharge of materials away from the operator in the event of 
accidental discharge of component materials from the gun body with no 
nozzle in place. The gun of the present invention also retains the 
metering capability of the valve assemblies 36 and the facility offered 
for valve adjustment by virtue of the set screws 106 to vary the discharge 
rate of the respective valve assemblies. 
The provision of the discharge ports 64,64b on the gun body with relatively 
large cross-sectional areas is significant from the standpoint of 
reducing, if not eliminating, any restriction to fluid flow on the 
downstream sides of the valve seats 42. This feature is important not only 
to relatively low viscosity urethane foam components but provides for the 
first time in a low priced foam dispensing gun, a capability for handling 
relatively heavy viscosity phenolic foams which are especially desirable 
for their very low flammability. In addition, the provision of a single 
discharge port nipple on the gun body enables a highly effective and 
leak-proof seal between the gun body and the nozzle. Moreover, the passive 
nature of the breech retention of the nozzle, that is, the provision of a 
stop preventing removal of the nozzle without in any way placing 
undesirable forces on the nozzle-to-gun nipple connection contributes 
significantly to the permanence of the leak proof seal while a nozzle is 
mounted on the gun body. 
It has been found by experimentation that the residual mixture of fluid 
components remaining in the gun body port 66 after the removal of a nozzle 
does not result in an immediate blockage of the port 66. Apparently, 
because the two components are not thoroughly mixed in the port, they do 
not react with each other to form foam in the gun mounted nozzle port 66. 
Instead, they remain in the nozzle as a gelatinous fluid for as long as a 
day or more and, as such, are discharged under the pressure of the fluid 
components in the hoses 62 when a new nozzle is placed on the gun nipple 
68 and the gun operated. 
Where a nozzle is removed and the gun having the nipple design shown in 
FIG. 4A is left unattended for longer periods of time such as a week or 
so, the resins remaining in the relatively long single port 66 can 
solidify as an annulus and thus reduce the effective diameter of the gun 
body port 66. This situation, of course, can be avoided very easily by 
using the solvent purge port 71 and flushing particularly the "A resin" or 
isocyanate from the port 66. In addition, and if the gun is to be left for 
periods of time longer than one week, the provision of the relatively 
large single port 66 enables all gun component surfaces which have been 
contacted by both resins to be flushed thoroughly by introducing the 
solvent into the port 66 and allowing it to flow out through the solvent 
flushing port 71. Similar results can be achieved by blocking the outlet 
of the body port 66 to insure passage of solvent introduced into the port 
71 throughout the manifolds of both valve assemblies 36. After this type 
of flushing, all parts can be left relatively clean for an indefinite 
period of time before subsequent use by placing another nozzle on the gun 
body 10. 
Thus, it will be appreciated that as a result of the present invention, a 
highly effective foam dispensing gun is provided. It is contemplated and 
believed to be apparent to those skilled in the art from the preceding 
description that modification and/or changes may be made in the disclosed 
embodiment without departure from the present invention. Accordingly, it 
is expressly intended that the foregoing description is illustrative of a 
preferred embodiment only, not limiting, and that the true spirit and 
scope of the present invention be determined by reference to the appended 
claims.