A collapsible terrarium to be used for maintaining a controlled environment around potted plants and similar objects includes a flexible fluid-impermeable enclosure which has a bottom portion and a top portion, and a support structure which supports the top portion on and upwardly of the bottom portion to bound a compartment therewith. The support structure is collapsible and with it also the enclosure. The enclosure has an access opening through which potted plants can be introduced into and withdrawn from the compartment bounded by the enclosure. The opening is fluid-tightly closeable and, when closed, no fluid interchange takes place between the compartment and the exterior of the enclosure. An aperture, preferably with a one-way valve in it, is provided in the top portion of the enclosure and flowable media, such as herbicides, insecticides or similar agents can be introduced therethrough into the compartment to act on the plants accommodated therein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to terrariums in general, and more 
particularly to such terrariums which can be used for accommodating potted 
plants, boxes with seedlings and similar objects therein. 
It is well known that, under certain circumstances, it is desired or 
necessary to keep plants, and sometimes even potted plants, in a 
controlled environment. Thus, for instance, some plants require for their 
proper growth and even survival to be surrounded by air which has either a 
very high or a very low moisture content. Thus, such plants, when grown 
outside of their natural habitat, are usually kept in controlled-climate 
structures, such as hot houses, especially when the natural climate at the 
location where the particular plant is being grown is, as a rule, less 
humid and/or less warm than what is required by the respective plant. Of 
course, a hot house is a rather expensive installation in terms of 
construction costs as well as operating expenses so that the erection and 
maintenance of such a structure is economically sound only on a commercial 
basis. 
On the other hand, there is also known the currently spreading practice of 
keeping plants in terrariums of different sizes and shapes. While these 
terrariums protect, at least to some extent, the plants accommodated 
therein from adverse environmental influences, they are usually very 
bulky, difficult to handle, and assume--even at times when they are not 
being used for growing plants therein--a considerable amount of space, 
which may be at a premium. Also, such conventional terrariums do not offer 
protection from all adverse effects of the environment, particularly of 
the ambient air. 
It has also been established that, when plants, even those which do not 
have to be surrounded by highly humid air, are left unattended and 
especially without watering, for an extended period of time, the moisture 
content of the soil surrounding the roots of the plants will become 
depleted due to the evaporation of water from the leaves into the ambient 
atmosphere. Thus, for instance, when the owner of the plant leaves for a 
vacation or a business trip, he or she has to make provisions for someone 
else to periodically water the plants. This may become very cumbersome and 
inconvenient both for the owner and for the person entrusted with the care 
for the plants since, on the one hand, it entails the need to give the 
caretaker access to the premises where the plant is being kept and, on the 
other hand, the person doing a favor to the owner may be unduly burdened 
by making periodic visits to the premises. To alleviate these problems, 
there have already been developed automatic watering devices; however, it 
has been established that these devices, which may be quite expensive, are 
not yet fully reliable and leave much to be desired in other respects too. 
Another problem encountered in the past was that, under certain 
circumstances, the plants may become diseased or be attacked by injurious 
insects, larvae, fungi or the like. Under these circumstances, it is 
usually necessary to treat the affected plants with chemicals which, in 
many instances, may be harmful to the person treating the plants. Such 
chemicals may then linger in the ambient air, in some instances, even for 
days, thus increasing the danger of harmful effects on the people 
breathing the air surrounding the plant. Heretofore, it was impossible or 
very difficult to avoid the above-mentioned problems. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to avoid the 
disadvantages of the above-discussed prior art. 
More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a 
modified terrarium which is not possessed of the disadvantages of the 
prior-art terrariums. 
A further object of the present invention is to so construct the terrarium 
as to be able to control the environment of potted plants and similar 
objects, especially its moisture contents and/or concentration of 
chemicals therein. 
Still another object of the present invention is to so design the 
arrangement here under consideration as to be collapsible for storage 
purposes. 
A concomitant object of the present invention is to develop an arrangement 
of the above-mentioned type which is simple in construction, inexpensive 
to manufacture, easy to use, and reliable nevertheless. 
In pursuance of these objects and others which will become apparent 
hereafter, one feature of the present invention resides in an arrangement 
for maintaining a controlled environment around potted plants and similar 
objects which, briefly stated, comprises a flexible enclosure of a 
material that is substantially impermeable to water and water vapor, the 
enclosure having an access opening and including a bottom portion and a 
top portion; means for so supporting the top portion on and upwardly of 
the bottom portion that these portions together bound a compartment 
accessible through the access opening for accommodating the respective 
object or objects therein; and means for closing the access opening to 
mutually separate and substantially avoid fluid interchange between the 
compartment and the exterior of the enclosure. By providing the closing 
means, it is possible to achieve a situation where, for instance, the 
moisture content of the air contained in the compartment is much higher 
than that encountered around the enclosure. In fact, the moisture content 
of the air inside the enclosure may reach the saturation level at a given 
temperature so that no further moisture will evaporate from the plants and 
thus the water contained in the pot for use by the plant will be preserved 
for an extended period of time and thus be available when the plant needs 
more water. On the other hand, when the temperature drops, at least a part 
of the moisture content of the air contained in the enclosure will 
precipitate on the plant itself, or on the soil contained in the pot so 
that the supply of water in the pot will be at least partially 
replenished. Thus, plants accommodated in this controlled-environment 
enclosure will be capable of prospering without watering for much longer 
periods of time than if left at the same location but surrounded by the 
ambient air. Thus, the above-discussed inconveniences attending obtaining 
a caretaker for the plants for an extended period of absence are avoided. 
A particularly advantageous construction of the arrangement of the present 
invention is obtained when the material of the enclosure is 
light-pervious. Under these circumstances, the plants will not be deprived 
of natural or artificial light which is needed for the photosynthesis in 
which the plant engages. It is particularly advantageous when the material 
of the enclosure is transparent, especially a transparent synthetic 
plastic material, inasmuch as this allows for a visual observation of the 
plants even without opening the access opening. This is particularly 
advantageous when the arrangement is used for accommodating, for instance, 
tropical plants which need to be maintained in a highly humid air at all 
times. Under these circumstances, the arrangement of the present invention 
can be used as a permanent home for the plant, while the transparency of 
the enclosure will render it possible to fully display the plant and 
utilize the decorative value thereof. 
According to a currently preferred aspect of the present invention, the 
material of the enclosure is heat-sealable and the top and bottom portions 
of the enclosure include respective border zones which are heat-sealed to 
one another. The arrangement which is constructed in this manner is very 
simple and, hence, inexpensive. In the alternative, the enclosure may be 
bag-shaped, having an open end which constitutes the access opening. Under 
these circumstances, it is advantageous for the closing means to include a 
clamping element which embraces the enclosure at the open end and which 
presses the same into a sealing contact in the clamping position thereof. 
This alternative embodiment of the present invention is even less costly 
than the above-mentioned one. 
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, the enclosure 
further includes marginal zones which are located adjacent one another, at 
least when the top portion is supported on the supporting means, and 
bounding the access opening. Then, the closing means advantageously 
includes a plurality of interlocking connecting elements extending along 
the marginal portions and engaging one another in respective closed 
positions thereof. It is further advantageous in this respect when the 
connecting elements are of the slide-fastener type, and when the closing 
means further includes a slide mounted on the adjacent marginal zones for 
movement along the same for engaging the connecting elements with and 
disengaging the same from one another. This type of closing means is very 
simple and inexpensive, while being also capable of properly exercising 
the sealing function expected of the same. 
It is also contemplated by the present invention for the adjacent marginal 
portions to extend along a straight line. Under these circumstances, the 
adjacent marginal portions bounding the access opening can be spread apart 
by relying on the inherent flexibility of the material of the enclosure 
when it is desired to introduce a plant into or remove the same from the 
compartment bounded by the closure. However, it has been found 
advantageous to so situate the marginal zones that the course thereof will 
deviate from a single straight line. So, for instance, the marginal zones 
can extend along a curved course so that the section of the enclosure 
which has the convex marginal portion thereon can be flipped over, thus 
enlarging the access opening without the need for stretching the material 
of the enclosure. However, it has been found to be especially advantageous 
when the marginal zones are so arranged on the top portion of the 
enclosure as to give the access opening the configuration of a 
substantially L-shaped slot. When this construction is resorted to, all of 
the advantages of, but none of the structural or functional difficulties 
encountered in connection with, the curved course of the slot constituting 
the access opening are obtained. 
A particularly advantageous embodiment of the present invention is obtained 
when the support means includes a collapsible support structure. A 
particular advantage of this construction is that the arrangement can be 
collapsed for storage purposes, and will assume only a minimum amount of 
storage space when in its collapsed position. Preferably, the support 
structure includes a mounting member and a plurality of support members 
mounted on the mounting member for displacement between support and 
collapsed positions thereof and contacting the top portion of the 
enclosure in the support positions thereof. A particularly advantageous 
embodiment of this concept is obtained when the mounting member is 
elongated and has a foot portion which rests on the bottom portion of the 
enclosure at least when the support members assume the support positions 
thereof. Instead of, or in addition to, this expedient, each of the 
support members may also have an elongated configuration and may include a 
base portion which contacts the bottom portion of the enclosure at least 
in the support position thereof. Thus, the support structure is supported 
on the bottom portion of the enclosure in one or both of the 
above-mentioned manners, thus keeping the top portion of the enclosure in 
its desired position with respect to the bottom portion. 
A particularly advantageous embodiment is obtained when there is provided 
means for displacing the support members between the positions thereof, 
and when the displacing means includes an actuating member movable toward 
and away from the mounting member, a plurality of bracing elements each 
articulated to the actuating member and to one of the support members, and 
means for holding the actuating member at least in that position thereof 
in which the bracing elements hold the support members in the support 
positions thereof. The mounting member may be elongated and the actuating 
member mounted thereon for longitudinal sliding, thus being guided in the 
course of its movement. In the alternative, the mounting member, which is 
affixed to the top portion of the enclosure at least under these 
circumstances, may have a passage therethrough which communicates the 
compartment with the exterior of the enclosure. Then, the displacing means 
includes an elongated displacing element attached to the actuating member 
and passing through the passage of the mounting member from the 
compartment to the exterior of the enclosure. Especially when, in 
accordance with the invention, the displacing element is flexible, it is 
provided with a gripping part which has a diameter exceeding that of the 
passage to avoid accidental full retraction of the displacing element into 
the compartment. It is also contemplated by the invention to equip the 
actuating member with an elongated extension which is introducible into 
and receivable in the passage for guiding the actuating member therein 
during its approach of the mounting member. Then, a sealing element may be 
mounted on the elongated extension of the actuating member, this sealing 
element being operative for sealingly closing the passage of the mounting 
member when the extension is fully received in the passage. 
It is also advantageous when the mounting member, whether elongated or not, 
has a plurality of peripherally arranged openings therein, and when each 
of the support members has an end portion which is received in one of the 
openings in the support position thereof. In both of these instances, it 
is useful when the support members are resiliently flexible, so that they 
can bend in conformity with the desired shape of the enclosure. 
The arrangement discussed so far is very useful for keeping the plant or 
plants in a closed-system environment, that is, without interchange with 
the environment of the arrangement as far as gases, vapors, liquids or 
solids are concerned. Thus, for instance, water vapor will not be 
permitted to leave the compartment or undesired amounts of water will not 
be able to reach the plant if the arrangement of the present invention is 
used for keeping the plant in a controlled environment in the open, that 
is, outside the premises, with the possibility of moisture precipitation. 
Also, this enclosure may be used to avoid undesirable pollination of the 
blooms of the plant. However, as explained above, there may be instances 
in which it is desired to treat the plant with chemicals, such as 
insecticides, herbicides or similar agents. When this is desired, it would 
be possible to at least partially open the access opening and introduce 
the agents through the access opening. However, according to a further 
facet of the present invention, it is proposed to provide means for 
defining an aperture in the enclosure for introducing the above-mentioned 
agents or other flowable media into the compartment. When this expedient 
is resorted to, it is further advantageous to accommodate a one-way valve 
in the aperture and to admit the flowable media through this valve into 
the compartment. A particular advantage of this expedient is that, when 
not being used for introducing the flowable media therethrough, the 
one-way valve prevents any communication between the compartment and the 
exterior of the enclosure, thus satisfying the above-discussed 
closed-system concept. 
The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, 
combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be 
exemplified in the arrangement hereinafter described and of which the 
scope of application will be indicated in the appended claims.

DETAILED DISCUSSION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring now to the drawing in detail, and first to FIG. 1 thereof, it may 
be seen therein that the arrangement of the present invention, which is 
also being referred to as a terrarium, includes an enclosure 1 and a 
support structure 2 which supports the enclosure 1 in its illustrated 
extended position in which, as also illustrated in FIG. 1, potted plants, 
boxed seedlings, or similar objects are accommodated in a compartment 
bounded by the enclosure 1. While the support structure 2 could be located 
at the exterior of the enclosure 1, the latter being affixed thereto in 
any conventional manner, it is currently preferred for the support 
structure 2 to be located in the compartment and to support the enclosure 
1 from within. 
As also illustrated in FIG. 1, the enclosure has an opening, particularly a 
slot-shaped opening which, in the illustrated condition, is closed by a 
closure 10 of the slide-fastener type. The construction of the closure 10 
itself is conventional and thus need not be illustrated or described in 
any detail. However, it is to be mentioned that the closure 10 can also 
have a construction different from the one illustrated, for instance, it 
could include interengaging ridges and grooves extending longitudinally of 
the slot, snap-button connectors distributed along the slot or the like. 
As also seen, the closure 10 may extend in conformity with the 
configuration of the slot along a course which is not located in a single 
plane. So, for instance, the closure 10 and with it also the slot, could 
be curved not only in conformity with the curvature of the enclosure, but 
also transversely thereof or, as illustrated, the closure 10 could have 
two or more sections 10a, 10b enclosing an angle with each other and 
merging with one another. As illustrated, the sections 10a and 10b of the 
closure 10, generally speaking, assume such positions with respect to one 
another as to form a letter L in space. 
The support structure 2 is preferably collapsible, for instance, in a 
manner resembling that of an umbrella frame. The arrangement of FIG. 1 of 
the present invention is shown in FIG. 2 in its collapsed position. 
Referring now to FIG. 3, it may be seen that it illustrates the support 
structure 2 of FIG. 1 in more detail. As illustrated therein, the support 
structure 2 includes an elongated mounting member 3 which is provided with 
or mounted on a foot 4. The mounting member 3 has an end portion 5 on 
which there is pivotally mounted a plurality of support members 6 each 
having a base portion 7. An actuating element 8 is mounted on the mounting 
member 3 for sliding longitudinally of the same, and a plurality of 
bracing elements 9 is articulated to the actuating element 8 and each to 
one of the support members 6. An arresting member 11, which is mounted on 
the mounting member 3 in a conventional manner and retractable against a 
force of a spring into the interior thereof, forms an obstruction in the 
trajectory of movement of the actuating element 8 along the mounting 
member 3 and hence arrests the support structure 2 in its illustrated 
extended position. A similar arresting member 11' can also be provided at 
the lower end of the mounting member 3, being operative for arresting the 
support structure 2 in its collapsed position corresponding to FIG. 2. Of 
course, the actuating element 8 could be equipped with the arresting 
member 11 instead, and this arresting member 11 would then cooperate with 
depressions or slots in the mounting member 3. 
Returning now to FIG. 1, it may be seen therein that the enclosure 1 is so 
supported on the support structure 2 as to be substantially taut. The 
enclosure 1 is advantageously made of a flexible material such as a 
synthetic plastic material, for instance polyethylene, which, because of 
its elasticity, will assume such a spatial configuration as predetermined 
by the number, shape and distribution of the support members 6. 
Advantageously, the support members 6 are resiliently yieldable, at least 
to some extent, so that they will exert a pressure from the inside on the 
enclosure 1, thus maintaining the latter in a taut condition. This is true 
whether or not the support members 6 extend all the way to the bottom of 
the enclosure 1. 
FIG. 4 illustrates the enclosure 1 by itself, but in its condition 
corresponding to that assumed when the enclosure 1 is supported by the 
support structure 2, as seen from the side and from below. As seen in this 
Figure, the enclosure 1 includes a top portion 1a and a bottom portion or 
floor 1b which are sealingly connected to one another at a heat-sealed 
juncture 1c. It will be appreciated that the top portion 1a and bottom or 
floor portion 1b form the one-piece enclosure 1 and that said bottom or 
floor portion is flexible in nature so that it may readily assume a folded 
or similar configuration as shown in FIG. 2. It may also be seen that the 
top portion 1a, as well as the bottom portion 1b, are transparent; 
however, the bottom portion 1b could be light-impervious and the top 
portion 1a could be translucent rather than transparent. It is also 
possible and contemplated that even the top portion 1a could be 
light-impervious, for instance, if it were intended to use the arrangement 
for growing mushrooms in the compartment bounded by the enclosure 1 or to 
keep any other objects in darkness for whatsoever reason. A particular 
advantage obtained when at least the top portion 1a is transparent is that 
the plants or objects kept in the enclosure 1 are visible through the 
enclosure 1 and thus being displayed. 
A modified arrangement according to the present invention is illustrated in 
FIG. 5, wherein the enclosure, designated at 1', is a bag of clear 
synthetic plastic material, such as polyethylene. In this arrangement the 
enclosure 1' has an open end 1d through which the plants or similar 
objects and a modified support structure 2' can be introduced into the 
interior of the enclosure 1'. A closing element 10' such as a string, a 
protected wire or the like is also provided and, when tied around the 
enclosure 1' at the open end 1d, it will press the respective adjacent 
surfaces of the open end 1d of the enclosure 1' against one another to 
thereby interrupt communication between the interior and the exterior of 
the enclosure 1'. 
The support structure 2' is illustrated by itself in FIG. 6. As seen 
therein, the support structure 2' has a mounting member 5' advantageously 
of a thermoplastic or thermosetting synthetic plastic material, from which 
there extend support members 6' which may be either curved, as 
illustrated, or resilient to the extent necessary for assuming the 
position illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. 
The support members 6' can either be of one piece with the mounting member 
5', or separate therefrom. In the latter instance, the mounting member 5' 
may have peripherally distributed openings 5a', and respective end 
portions 6a' of the support member 6' could be received therein and held 
by friction, as illustrated in FIG. 7. On the other hand, as illustrated 
in FIG. 8, the recesses 5a' could have undercut configurations, and the 
support members 6' could have projections 6a" engaging in the recesses 
5a", for instance with snap-action. In this manner, the support members 6' 
are prevented from accidentally disassociating themselves from the 
mounting member 5'. 
FIG. 9 illustrates the enclosure 1 in its extended position, and also shows 
that the enclosure 1 can be provided with an aperture accommodating a 
one-way valve 12. Of course, the valve 12 could be omitted from the 
aperture in the event that the latter is small enough so as not to permit 
any substantial amounts of air to flow therethrough. The one-way valve 12 
serves the purpose of introducing flowable media, such as insecticide or 
herbicide sprays or the like, into the internal compartment of the 
enclosure 1. These chemicals can be contained in a container, such as a 
spray can 13 and can be sprayed directly into and through the valve 12. 
However, it is advantageous when the spray can 13 is equipped with an 
injector 14 which can then be passed through the valve 12 and into the 
interior of the enclosure 1. 
The valve 12 can be of any conventional construction, such as that used in 
footballs. An exemplary embodiment of a one-way valve 12 which could be 
used in this arrangement is illustrated in FIG. 10. As seen therein, the 
valve 12 includes a housing consisting of two parts 15a and 15b which are 
press-fittingly mounted on one another and which confine the enclosure 1 
between themselves in a sealing fashion. Each of the housing parts 15a and 
15b is provided with a respective orifice 16a and 16b through which the 
interior of the housing 15, 15b communicates with the interior and the 
exterior of the enclosure 1, respectively. 
The housing parts 15a and 15b also clamp between themselves a plurality of 
resilient lips 17 which sealingly contact each other centrally of the 
housing 15a, 15b in the illustratated closed position of the valve 12. 
Should, however, pressure at the right side of the lips 17 exceed that of 
at the left side, such as when pressurized flowable media are introduced 
into the housing 15a, 15b through the orifice 16a, the lips 17 will part 
and permit the particular medium to reach the orifice 16b and pass 
therethrough into the internal compartment bounded by the enclosure 1. Of 
course, when the spray can 13 is equipped with the injector 14, the latter 
will spread the lips 17 apart during its insertion into and passage 
through the orifices 16a and 16b of the valve 12. In both instances, there 
is obtained the advantage that the chemicals and similar substances are 
safely introduced into the compartment of the enclosure 1, that is, 
without escaping to the exterior of the enclosure 1. Once inside, the 
chemicals may linger in the air contained in the compartment for hours or 
even days without endangering the environment of the arrangement, provided 
that the enclosure 10 remains closed. 
FIG. 11 illustrates the arrangement having the same enclosure 1 as 
illustrated in FIG. 1, but a modified support structure 2". As may be seen 
particularly well in FIG. 12, the support structure 2" includes a modified 
mounting member 3" to which the support members 6 are pivotally connected, 
and a modified actuating element 8" which has the bracing elements 9 
connected thereto. Details of the support structure 2" are shown in FIG. 
13. The actuating element 8" includes an actuating portion 18 that is 
provided with slots 19 for receiving the end portions of the bracing 
elements 9. A wire or a similar element 20 passes through the end portions 
of the bracing elements 9 and is bent around the lower end of the 
actuating portion 18, preferably received in a circumferential groove 
thereof. The grooves 19 receive the end portions of the bracing elements 9 
in the collapsed position of the support structure 2". The actuating 
element 8" further has a guiding portion 21, which is delimited at its 
lower end by an abutment collar 22. 
The mounting member 3" has a passage 23 therein, and a flexible element 24, 
such as a string, passes therethrough to the exterior of the enclosure 1 
in the manner illustrated in particular in FIG. 11. The string 24 is 
connected to the actuating element 8" and is capable of pulling the same 
upwardly until the guiding portion 21 is received and guided in the 
passage 23 toward the abutment of the collar 22 with the mounting member 
3". The string 24 has a gripping element, here having a spherical 
configuration, at its free end, the diameter of the element 25 exceeding 
that of the passage 23 for preventing the string 24 from being 
accidentally fully withdrawn into the interior of the enclosure 1. 
It will be appreciated that, when the support structure is to be moved from 
the collapsed position illustrated in FIG. 12 into its extended position 
shown in FIG. 11, the string 24 or the gripping portion 25 thereof are to 
be pulled outwardly relative to the enclosure 1, as a result of which the 
actuating element 8" will be displaced toward the mounting member 3". 
During the final stages of the approach, the guiding portion 21 will enter 
the passage 23 and be guided therein until further movement is prevented 
by the abutment of the collar 22 with the mounting member 3". The 
structure 2" is kept in its extended position until it is desired to 
collapse the arrangement for storage or transportation purposes. At this 
time, the guiding portion 21 is pushed from the exterior of the enclosure 
1 (compare FIG. 11) to the interior thereof until the bracing elements 9 
pass their dead-center positions. At this time, outward pressure on the 
enclosure 1 will be sufficient for fully withdrawing the actuating element 
8" and collapsing the support elements 6 and bracing elements 9. 
FIG. 13 also shows that a bushing or a similar sealing element 26 may be 
mounted on the extension 21 at the collar 22. The sealing element 26 may 
either be a flat ring or, as illustrated, it may have a stepped 
configuration. Then, the passage 23 may be enlarged, as indicated at 27, 
to receive the smaller diameter portion of the sealing element 26. In this 
manner, fluids are prevented from entering or leaving the interior of the 
enclosure 1 through the passage 23. 
It may be seen from the above explanation that the enclosure of the present 
invention is suited for many uses. However, an important feature of the 
arrangement of the present invention is that it keeps the plants or 
similar objects in a controlled environment by separating the compartment 
in which the objects are accommodated from the ambient air, be it to keep 
the humidity of air inside the compartment high, or to confine vaporous or 
gaseous chemicals or other substances inside, or to protect the blooms of 
the plants from undesired pollution, or for any other similar purposes. 
The arrangement of the present invention is presently contemplated for 
preferred use on the premises, that is, in residences, business locations, 
offices, or the like. Nevertheless, it is also contemplated to use the 
arrangement in backyards, gardens, on patios or the like. However, when 
used in this manner, care should be taken that the arrangement not be 
exposed to intense sunrays since the same and/or the attendant greenhouse 
effect of the arrangement could damage or destroy either the plants or the 
arrangement itself. 
As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and 
many changes might be made in the embodiments set forth above, it is to be 
understood that all matter herein described or shown in the accompanying 
drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting 
sense. Thus, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that, 
although preferred and alternative embodiments have been shown and 
described, the invention is not limited thereto or thereby. Rather, the 
scope of protection afforded will be determined exclusively with reference 
to the following claims.