Boat dolly apparatus

A boat dolly apparatus includes a first base assembly which includes a first end portion and a second end portion. A first wheel assembly is connected to the first end portion of the first base assembly, and a second wheel assembly is connected to the second end portion of the first base assembly. A second base assembly is connected to the first end portion of the first base assembly. A clamping assembly is connected to the second base assembly for connecting the second base assembly to a boat, and a post assembly is connected to the second end portion of the first base assembly. The second base assembly is connected to the first base assembly at a right angle. The first base assembly and the second base assembly are contiguous to a first plane and are in the shape of a letter T. The first base assembly includes a first adjustable member connected to the first wheel assembly and a second adjustable member connected to the second wheel assembly. The first adjustable member and the second adjustable member are mutually adjustable longitudinally between the first wheel assembly and the second wheel assembly, such that the first base assembly is capable of being adjusted to a predetermined adjusted length. The post assembly is connected to the first base assembly at a right angle. A flexible connector assembly is adapted for connecting between the post assembly and a side of a boat.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates generally to devices for transporting boats 
and, more particularly, to dollies especially adapted for transporting a 
small boat to and from a launch area. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Many people own and operate their own boats for recreation and leisure. 
When a boat is not in use, it must be stored somewhere. For a large boat, 
a berth at a dock may be employed. However, for a small boat, a berth at a 
dock is not practical and would be excessively costly. Often, a small boat 
is stored at a user's residence, and the small boat is transported to a 
body of water when the boat is to be used. 
Two common modes of transport are used for small boats. In one mode of 
transport, a trailer is pulled behind a motor vehicle, and the small boat 
is placed on the trailer. In another mode of transport, the small boat is 
carried directly on the motor vehicle. For example, the small boat may be 
placed on a roof rack. 
An advantage of using a boat trailer is that the trailer can be backed into 
the water for easy launching of the small boat. A number of disadvantages, 
however, are associated with the use of a boat trailer. For example, a 
boat trailer can be quite expensive Also, a boat trailer must be stored 
when it is not in use. In addition, when a trailer is pulled by a motor 
vehicle, the driver of the motor vehicle must have skills that the driver 
may not ordinarily have. For example, the driver of the motor vehicle must 
have skill in making turns with the trailer. The driver of the motor 
vehicle must have skill in backing up with a trailer. In fact, however, 
many drivers are not used to trailer towing and are not skilled in making 
turns with a trailer and are not skilled in backing up with a trailer. 
When a boat is carried directly by the motor vehicle, one problem occurs. 
That is, without having the small boat on some form of wheeled carriage, 
it may be difficult to launch the boat in the water. To solve this 
problem, throughout the years, a number of innovations have been developed 
relating to wheeled devices or dollies which enable a user to wheel a 
small boat to a body of water and to launch the small boat in the body of 
water. The following U.S. Pat. Nos. are representative of some of those 
innovations: 4,059,282; 4,214,774; 4,392,665; 4,550,925; and 5,000,468. 
More specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 4,059,282 discloses a boat dolly that 
attached to the bow of a boat placed in an upside orientation. Two 
disadvantages are associated with the use of this device. First, the boat 
must be turned upside down when this device is used. Second, the bow area 
of the boat is relatively narrow compared to the remainder of the boat. As 
a result, it may be difficult to balance the boat on the wheels placed at 
the bow. The difficulty in balancing the entire weight of the boat on the 
narrow bow may be likened to balancing the weight of a wheel barrow and 
its contents on the one wheel of the wheel barrow. Wheel barrows are 
highly susceptible to tipping over as would be a boat supported on a bow 
wheel. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,214,774 discloses a two-wheeled boat carrier and launcher 
that: employs a very long handle used by a user for controlling motion of 
a small boat on the carrier. Such a long handle must be assembled for use 
and disassembled when not in use for convenient storage. Moreover, the 
handle also serves as a slender longitudinal support for the small boat on 
the carriage. Such a slender longitudinal support places the boat in a 
position of being susceptible to tipping over, especially on rough terrain 
between the motor vehicle and the body of water. In this respect, it would 
be desirable if a device for transporting a small boat from a motor 
vehicle to a body of water did not employ a very long handle that serves 
as a longitudinal support for the boat. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,392,665 discloses a boat dolly that employs ropes for 
launching a boat when the boat is oriented on its bottom on the dolly. A 
plurality of ropes has a well-known tendency to form undesirable knots 
together. In this respect, it would be desirable if a boat dolly device 
were provided that does not employ a plurality of ropes that can become 
knotted to each other. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,550,925 discloses a boat dolly that is adapted to be 
secured to a center skeg which connects a right hull portion to a left 
hull portion of a multihull boat. This device is not adaptable to a single 
hull boat. 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,468 discloses a boat dolly in a laterally vertical 
orientation. The device has a pair of spaced frame member which form a 
pocket or cradle for holding the boat. In addition, the dolly has a 
stabilizing bar for engaging the topmost beam of the boat or to which an 
elastic member is attached for securing the topmost beam. One disadvantage 
associated with this device is that the pair of spaced frame members are 
quite long and take up considerable storage space when the device is not 
in use. Another disadvantage associated with the use of this device is 
that the device is not provided with clamping elements to clamp the boat 
to the device. Without clamping elements for clamping the boat to the 
dolly, the boat may bounce around on the dolly, especially when the dolly 
traverses rough terrain. 
Still other features would be desirable in a boat dolly apparatus. For 
example, it would be desirable if a boat dolly device can be readily 
attached to a small boat and be left on the boat when the boat is being 
transported by a motor vehicle. Also, it would be desirable if a boat 
dolly device facilitated storage of a small boat in an orientation wherein 
the boat is resting on one side. In this orientation, the boat takes up 
much less floor space than when a small boat is stored on its bottom, or 
upside down on its top. 
Small boats come in many sizes, and it would be desirable if a boat dolly 
device were :adjustable to fit a wide variety of sizes of small boats. 
Thus, while the foregoing body of prior art indicates it to be well known 
to use boat dolly devices, the prior art described above does not teach or 
suggest a boat dolly apparatus which has the following combination of 
desirable features: (1) does not require a boat trailer that must be 
pulled by a motor vehicle; (2) does not require a boat trailer must be 
stored when it is not in use; (3) does not require a driver of a motor 
vehicle to be skilled in making turns with a trailer and to be skilled in 
backing up with a trailer; (4) does not require a boat to be turned upside 
down when the device is used; (5) avoids the difficulty of balancing a 
boat on wheels placed at the bow of the boat; (6) does not employ a long 
handle that serves as a longitudinal support for the boat; (7) does not 
employ a plurality of ropes that can readily become knotted to each other; 
(8) is adaptable to a boat which has a single hull; (9) provides clamping 
elements to clamp the boat to the device; (10) can be readily attached to 
a small boat and can be left on the boat when the boat is being 
transported by a motor vehicle; (11) facilitates storage of a small boat 
in an orientation wherein the boat is resting on one side; and (12) is 
adjustable to fit a wide variety of sizes of small boats. The foregoing 
desired characteristics are provided by the unique boat dolly apparatus of 
the present invention as will be made apparent from the following 
description thereof. Other advantages of the present invention over the 
prior art also will be rendered evident. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
To achieve the foregoing and other advantages, the present invention, 
briefly described, provides a new and improved boat dolly apparatus which 
includes a first base assembly which includes a first end portion and a 
second end portion. A first wheel assembly is connected to the first end 
portion of the first base assembly, and a second wheel assembly is 
connected to the second end portion of the first base assembly. A second 
base assembly is connected to the first end portion of the first base 
assembly. A clamping assembly is connected to the second base assembly for 
connecting the second base assembly to a boat, and a post assembly is 
connected to the second end portion of the first base assembly. The second 
base assembly is connected to the first base assembly at a right angle. 
The first base assembly and the second base assembly are contiguous to a 
first plane. 
The first base assembly includes a first adjustable member connected to the 
first wheel assembly and a second adjustable member connected to the 
second wheel assembly. The first adjustable member and the second 
adjustable member are mutually adjustable longitudinally between the first 
wheel assembly and the second wheel assembly, such that the first base 
assembly is capable of being adjusted to a predetermined adjusted length. 
The first adjustable member is connected to the second base assembly which 
is connected to the first wheel assembly. The first adjustable member is a 
first telescopic member, and the second adjustable member is a second 
telescopic member. 
A locking assembly is placed in registration with the first adjustable 
member and the second adjustable member for locking the first adjustable 
member and the second adjustable member in a predetermined adjusted 
length. 
The clamping assembly includes a base plate member connected to the second 
base assembly. A first adjustable bracket is adjustably connected to the 
base plate member. A first bracket locking assembly is connected to the 
base plate member in registration with the first adjustable bracket for 
locking the first adjustable bracket with respect to the base plate member 
at a selected adjustment. The first adjustable bracket includes an 
adjustable connecting portion for adjustably connecting the first 
adjustable bracket to the base plate member. A first clamping portion is 
connected to the adjustable connecting portion. The adjustable connecting 
portion of the first adjustable bracket includes slots which are placed in 
registration with the first bracket locking assembly. The first clamping 
portion of the first adjustable bracket is oriented with respect to the 
adjustable connecting portion of the first adjustable bracket at a right 
angle. 
A second adjustable bracket is adjustably connected to the first clamping 
portion of the first adjustable bracket. A second bracket locking assembly 
is connected to the first clamping portion in registration with the second 
adjustable bracket for locking the second adjustable bracket with respect 
to the first clamping portion of the first adjustable bracket at a 
selected adjustment. The second adjustable bracket includes an adjustable 
connecting portion for adjustably connecting the second adjustable bracket 
to the first clamping portion of the first adjustable bracket. A second 
clamping portion is connected to the adjustable connecting portion of the 
second adjustable bracket. 
The post assembly is connected to the first base assembly at a right angle. 
The adjustable connecting portion of the second adjustable bracket 
includes slots which are placed in registration with the second bracket 
locking assembly. The second bracket locking assembly includes threaded 
bolts and complementarily threaded receiving channels in the first 
clamping portion. The threaded bolts are placed through the slots. The 
post assembly and the first base assembly are contiguous to a second 
plane. 
A flexible connector assembly is adapted for connecting between the post 
assembly and a side of a boat. The flexible connector assembly is elastic 
such as commonly used on trucks and roof racks. 
The above brief description sets forth rather broadly the more important 
features of the present invention in order that the detailed description 
thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the 
present contributions to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of 
course, additional features of the invention that will be described 
hereinafter and which will be for the subject matter of the claims 
appended hereto. 
In this respect, before explaining a preferred embodiment of the invention 
in detail, it is understood that the invention is not limited in its 
application to the details of the construction and to the arrangements of 
the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in 
the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being 
practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood, 
that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose 
of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon 
which disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for 
designing other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the 
several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, 
that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions 
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present 
invention. 
Further, the purpose of the foregoing Abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent 
and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the 
scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar 
with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a 
cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of 
the application. Accordingly, the Abstract is neither intended to define 
the invention or the application, which only is measured by the claims, 
nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any 
way. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved boat dolly apparatus which has all of the advantages of the prior 
art and none of the disadvantages. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved 
boat dolly apparatus which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and 
marketed. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved boat dolly apparatus which is of durable and reliable 
construction. 
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved boat dolly apparatus which is susceptible of a low cost of 
manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly 
is then susceptible of low prices, of sale to the consuming public, 
thereby making such boat dolly apparatus available to the buying public. 
Still yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved boat dolly apparatus which does not require a boat trailer that 
must be pulled by a motor vehicle. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved boat dolly apparatus that does not require a boat trailer which 
must be stored when it is not in use. 
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved boat dolly apparatus which does not require a driver of a motor 
vehicle to be skilled in making turns with a trailer and to be skilled in 
backing up with a trailer. 
Even another object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved boat dolly apparatus that does not require a boat to be turned 
upside down when the device is used. 
Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved boat dolly apparatus which avoids the difficulty of balancing a 
boat on wheels placed at the bow of the boat. 
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved boat dolly apparatus that does not employ a long handle that 
serves as a longitudinal support for the boat. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved boat dolly apparatus which does not employ a plurality of ropes 
that can readily become knotted to each other. 
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved boat dolly apparatus that is adaptable to a boat which has a 
single hull. 
Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved boat dolly apparatus that provides clamping elements to clamp the 
boat to the device. 
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved boat dolly apparatus which can be readily attached to a small 
boat and can be left on the boat when the boat is being transported by a 
motor vehicle. 
Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved boat dolly apparatus that facilitates storage of a small boat in 
an orientation wherein the boat is resting on one side. 
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved boat dolly apparatus which is adjustable to fit a wide variety of 
sizes of small boats. 
These together with still other objects of the invention, along with the 
various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed 
out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this 
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating 
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should 
be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there 
are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference to the drawings, a new and improved boat dolly apparatus 
embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention will be 
described. 
Turning to FIGS. 1-7, there is shown an exemplary embodiment of the boat 
dolly apparatus of the invention generally designated by reference numeral 
10. In its preferred form, boat dolly apparatus 10 includes a first base 
assembly 12 which includes a first end portion 14 and a second end portion 
16. A first wheel assembly 18 is connected to the first end portion 14 of 
the first base assembly 12, and a second wheel assembly 20 is connected to 
the second end portion 16 of the first base assembly 12. A second base 
assembly 22 is connected to the first end portion 14 of the first base 
assembly 12. A clamping assembly 28 is connected to the second base 
assembly 22 for connecting the second base assembly 22 to a boat 30, and a 
post assembly 32 is connected to the second end portion 16 of the first 
base assembly 12. The second base assembly 22 is connected to the first 
base assembly 12 at a right angle. The first base assembly 12 and the 
second base assembly 22, are contiguous to a first plane 24. A midportion 
26 of the second base assembly 22 is connected to the first base assembly 
12. 
As shown in greatest detail in FIGS. 3 and 5, the first base assembly 12 
includes a first adjustable member 38 connected to the first wheel 
assembly 18 and a second adjustable member 40 connected to the second 
wheel assembly 20. The first adjustable member 38 and the second 
adjustable member 40 are mutually adjustable longitudinally between the 
first wheel assembly 18 and the second wheel assembly 20, such that the 
first base assembly 12 is capable of being adjusted to a predetermined 
adjusted length 44. The first adjustable member 38 is connected to the 
second base assembly 22 which is connected to the first wheel assembly 18. 
The first adjustable member 38 is a first telescopic member 38, and the 
second adjustable member 40 is a second telescopic member 40. 
A locking assembly 42 is placed in registration with the first adjustable 
member 38 and the second adjustable member 40 for locking the first 
adjustable member 38 and the second adjustable member 40 in a 
predetermined adjusted length 44. 
As shown in greatest detail in FIGS. 6 and 7, a clamping assembly 28 
includes a base plate member 36 connected to the second base assembly 22. 
A first adjustable bracket 46 is adjustably connected to the base plate 
member 36. A first bracket locking assembly 48 is connected to the base 
plate member 36 in registration with the first adjustable bracket 46 for 
locking the first adjustable bracket 46 with respect to the base plate 
member 36 at a selected adjustment. The first adjustable bracket 46 
includes an adjustable connecting portion 50 for adjustably connecting the 
first adjustable bracket 46 to the base plate member 36. A first clamping 
portion 52 is connected to the adjustable connecting portion 50. The 
adjustable connecting portion 50 of the first adjustable bracket 46 
includes slots 64 which are placed in registration with the first bracket 
locking assembly 48. The first bracket locking assembly 48 includes 
threaded bolts and complementarily threaded receiving channels in the base 
plate member 36. The threaded bolts are placed through the slots 64. The 
first clamping portion 52 of the first adjustable bracket 46 is oriented 
with respect to the adjustable connecting portion 50 of the first 
adjustable bracket 46 at a right angle. 
A second adjustable bracket 54 is adjustably connected to the first 
clamping portion 52 of the first adjustable bracket 46. A second bracket 
locking assembly 60 is connected to the first clamping portion 52 in 
registration with the second adjustable bracket 54 for locking the second 
adjustable bracket 54 with respect to the first clamping portion 52 of the 
first adjustable bracket 46 at a selected adjustment. The second 
adjustable bracket 54 includes an adjustable connecting portion 56 for 
adjustably connecting the second adjustable bracket 54 to the first 
clamping portion 52 of the first adjustable bracket 46. A second clamping 
portion 58 is connected to the adjustable connecting portion 56 of the 
second adjustable bracket 54. The second clamping portion 58 of the second 
adjustable bracket 54 is oriented with respect to the adjustable 
connecting portion 56 of the second adjustable bracket 54 at a right 
angle. 
The post assembly 32 is connected to the first base assembly 12 at a right 
angle. The adjustable connecting portion 56 of the second adjustable 
bracket 54 includes slots 66 which are placed in registration with the 
second bracket locking assembly 60. The second bracket locking assembly 60 
includes threaded bolts and complementarily threaded receiving channels in 
the first clamping portion 52. The threaded bolts are placed through the 
slots 66. The post assembly 32 and the first base assembly 12 are 
contiguous to a second plane 34. 
A flexible connector assembly 68 is adapted for connecting between the post 
assembly 32 and a side of a boat 30. The flexible connector assembly 68 
includes two hooks 72, one at each end of the flexible connector assembly 
68. The post assembly 32 includes a hook 70 adapted for connecting to the 
flexible connector assembly 68. The flexible connector assembly 68 is 
elastic such as commonly used on trucks and roof racks. 
In using a boat dolly apparatus of the invention, the apparatus is attached 
to a side of a boat 30, as shown in FIG. 1. More specifically, a pair of 
clamping assemblies 28 is attached to the side rim of a small boat 30. To 
do this, the first bracket locking assembly 48 and the second bracket 
locking assembly 60 are loosened so that the first adjustable bracket 46 
can be adjusted and the second adjustable bracket 54 can be adjusted. When 
both the first adjustable bracket 46 and the second adjustable bracket 54 
are properly adjusted, they fit over a side rim of the boat 30. Then the 
first bracket locking assembly 48 and the second bracket locking assembly 
60 are tightened to clamp the first adjustable bracket 46 and the second 
adjustable bracket 54 onto the side rim of the boat 30. The slots 64 and 
66 permit the first adjustable bracket 46 and the second adjustable 
bracket 54 to be adjusted for a wide variety of thicknesses of the side 
rim of the boat 30. 
Furthermore, the locking assembly 42 of the first base assembly 12 is 
loosened, and the adjusted length 44 of the first base assembly 12 is 
adjusted by moving the first adjustable member 38 and the second 
adjustable member 40 of the first base, assembly 12. The adjustment of the 
adjusted length 44 of the first base assembly 12 is provided so that the 
clamping assemblies 28 remain clamped onto the side rim of the boat 30, 
and the post assembly 32 is in contact with a bottom portion of the boat 
30. Then, the flexible connector assembly 68 is connected between the post 
assembly 32 and an opposite side rim of the boat 30 by connecting one of 
the hooks 72 of the flexible connector assembly 68 to the opposite side 
rim of the boat 30 and the other of the hooks 72 to the hook 70 on the 
post assembly 32. 
The boat dolly apparatus 10 of the invention can be left on the boat 30 as 
the boat 30 is transported by a motor vehicle to a launching area. When 
the launching area is reached, the boat 30 with the attached boat dolly 
apparatus of the invention is taken off the motor vehicle. The boat 30 is 
positioned on the ground so that the first wheel assembly 18 and the 
second wheel assembly 20 are capable of rolling on the ground when the bow 
end of the boat is lifted and pushed or pulled. The boat 30 is positioned 
between the first wheel assembly 18 and the second wheel assembly 20 in a 
stable orientation. The boat 30 rolls along the terrain on the wheels 18 
and 20 when the bow of the boat 30 is pushed or pulled by a user. It is 
noted that the boat 30 can be rolled to a storage location and stored in 
the side orientation as it remains on the boat dolly apparatus of the 
invention. 
Once the launch site is reached, the boat 30 can be tipped over so that it 
has its bottom side down, and the boat dolly apparatus of the invention 
can be detached from the boat 30. This is done by loosening the first 
bracket locking assembly 48 and the second bracket locking assembly 60 and 
moving the first clamping portion 52 and the second clamping portion 58 
out of clamping engagement with the side rim of the boat 30. The flexible 
connector assembly 68 is also disconnected from the other side rim of the 
boat 30 and the hook 70 of the post assembly 32. 
The components of the boat dolly apparatus of the invention can be made 
from inexpensive and durable metal and plastic materials. The first base 
assembly 12, the second base assembly 22, and the post assembly 32 can be 
made from steel mechanical tubing. The first wheel assembly 18 and the 
second wheel assembly 20 can be made from PVC plastic. 
As to the manner of usage and operation of the instant invention, the same 
is apparent from the above disclosure, and accordingly, no further 
discussion relative to the manner of usage and operation need be provided. 
It is apparent from the above that the present invention accomplishes all 
of the objects set forth by providing a new and improved boat dolly 
apparatus that is low in cost, relatively simple in design and operation, 
and which may advantageously be used without requiring a boat trailer that 
must be pulled by a motor vehicle. With the invention, a boat dolly 
apparatus is provided which does not require a boat trailer that must be 
stored when it is not in use. With the invention, a boat dolly apparatus 
is provided which does not require a driver of a motor vehicle to be 
skilled in making turns with a trailer and to be skilled in backing up 
with a trailer. With the invention, a boat dolly apparatus is provided 
which does not require a boat to be turned upside down when the device is 
used. With the invention, a boat dolly apparatus is provided which avoids 
the difficulty of balancing a boat on wheels placed at the bow of the 
boat. With the invention, a boat dolly apparatus is provided which does 
not employ a long handle that serves as a longitudinal support for the 
boat. 
With the invention, a boat dolly apparatus is provided which does not 
employ a plurality of ropes that can readily become knotted to each other. 
With the invention, a boat dolly apparatus is provided which is adaptable 
to a boat which has a single hull. With the invention, a boat dolly 
apparatus is provided which provides clamping elements to clamp the boat 
to the device. With the invention, a boat dolly apparatus is provided 
which can be readily attached to a small boat and can be left on the boat 
when the boat is being transported by a motor vehicle. With the invention, 
a boat dolly apparatus is provided which facilitates storage of a small 
boat in an orientation wherein the boat is resting on one side. With the 
invention, a boat dolly apparatus is provided which is adjustable to fit a 
wide variety of sizes of small boats. 
With respect to the above description, it should be realized that the 
optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to 
include variations in size, form function and manner of operation, 
assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to those skilled 
in the art, and therefore, all relationships; equivalent to those 
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are 
intended to be encompassed only by the scope of appended claims. 
While the present invention has been shown in the drawings and fully 
described above with particularity and detail in connection with what is 
presently deemed to be the most practical and preferred embodiments of the 
invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that 
many modifications thereof may be made without departing from the 
principles and concepts set forth herein. Hence, the proper scope of the 
present invention should be determined only by the broadest interpretation 
of the appended claims so as to encompass all such modifications and 
equivalents.