Abstract:
The present disclosure is also directed towards systems and methods for grinding a spice or grain material wherein a mill is comprised of a turn knob, a mill body, and a grind assembly and the turn knob is rotatably and slideably coupled to the mill body and sliding the turn knob relative to the mill body adjusts a grind setting of the mill and rotating the turn knob relative to the mill body grinds or mills the spice or grain material.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    This disclosure generally relates to grinding mechanisms, and more particularly to grinders or mills with adjustable grinding mechanisms for grinding materials, such as spices and grains. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Traditional spice and grain mills are common household and kitchen tools. They typically comprise a hollow cylindrical body with a grinding rasp and rasp ring at one end and a grind knob at the other. A grinder shaft typically runs along the central axis of the body and connects the rasp and knob together such that a user may hold the body and turn the knob, causing the rasp to rotate relative to the rasp ring and grind the material contained within the body. Most mills also provide a means for adjusting the grind coarseness between fine and coarse settings. 
         [0005]    The means for adjusting the grind is usually an additional knob threaded onto an extreme end of the grinder shaft, either at the top, above the grind knob, or at the bottom, below the grinding rasp. In either case, to adjust the grind setting, a user must adjust their hold on the grinder, reposition their hands to grab the grind adjustment knob, and then tighten or loosen the knob to adjust the grind. Once they have adjusted the grind they must reposition their hands again before they resume grinding. If the grind needs additional adjustment, then the user must interrupt the grinding process again, reposition their hands, and make further adjustments with the grind adjustment knob. This traditional method for adjusting the grind coarseness is awkward and time consuming. 
         [0006]    It is desirable to have a mill that allows for a simple, easy, and straightforward grind adjustment. Further, it is desirable to have a mill with a grind adjustment mechanism that does not require the user to reposition their hands to change the grind setting. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0007]    The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for grinding spices and grains. One system is directed towards a mill that includes a push-pull grind adjustment mechanism. 
         [0008]    The present disclosure is also directed towards systems and devices for grinding a spice or grain material. One system includes a mill with a body and a grinder ring coupled to the body and having a ring grinding surface. The mill can include a grind control assembly coupled to a grind shaft and including an input member and a turn knob having an axis of rotation and being rotatably coupled to the body about the axis of rotation and slideably coupled to the grind control assembly via the input member for translation along a longitudinal axis. The mill can also include a rasp having a rasp grinding surface and being coupled at an end of the grind shaft. The rasp may be operatively positionable between at least a first and a second position. In the first position the rasp grinding surface is spaced a first distance from the ring grinding surface; and in the second position, the rasp grinding surface is spaced a second distance from the ring grinding surface. Rotation of the turn knob relative to the body causes rotation of the rasp relative to the grinder ring; and axial translation of the turn knob causes axial translation of the rasp relative to the grinder ring between at least the first and the second position. 
         [0009]    The present disclosure is also directed towards systems and devices for controlling the grind of a mill including a case, an input member slidably coupled to the case, a shaft, and a shaft coupler coupling the input member to the shaft such that substantially linear translation of the input member parallel to the shaft induces substantially linear translation of the shaft to adjust a grind coarseness of a mill. 
         [0010]    The present disclosure is also directed towards a method for grinding a spice or grain material where a mill comprised of a turn knob, a mill body, and a grind assembly is provided and the turn knob is rotatably and slideably coupled to the mill body. Sliding the turn knob relative to the mill body adjusts a grind setting of the mill while rotating the turn knob relative to the mill body grinds or mills the spice or grain material. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a side, top isometric view of a mill for grinding material such as spices and grain; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the external structure of the mill of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is side, top isometric view of the internal assembly of the mill of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the internal assembly of the mill of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the mill of  FIG. 1  in a coarse grind configuration; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the mill of  FIG. 1  in a fine grind configuration; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the mill of  FIG. 1  in an intermediate grind configuration; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the mill of  FIG. 1  cap assembly in an open position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    In the following description, certain specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the invention. However, one skilled in the art will understand that the invention may be practiced without these details. In other instances, well-known structures associated with mills and grinding mechanisms have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring descriptions of the embodiment of the invention. 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  shows a grinder or mill  100  for grinding a material such as spices or grains. The mill  100  includes an exterior body  120  and a turn knob  110  coupled to each other. The body  120  and turn knob  110  may be rotatably coupled to each other and rotate about an axis of rotation relative to each other when grinding material. The turn knob  110  may also be coupled to the exterior body  120  such that it may translate along a longitudinal axis of the mill  100  to adjust the coarseness of the ground material; see, for example, longitudinal axis ‘X’ in  FIGS. 5 ,  6 , and  7 . In some embodiments, the axis of rotation and the longitudinal axis are coincident with each other. In some embodiments, the longitudinal axis and axis of rotation are not coincident with each other. 
         [0021]      FIG. 2  shows an exploded view of the main exterior parts of the mill  100 , including the cap assembly  140 , the turn knob  110 , an accent ring  130 , and the exterior body  120 . The cap assembly  140  may include a cap clad  141 , a cap  142 , and a cap gasket  143 . The illustrated cap clad  141  provides an indicator  146 . In some embodiments the cap clad  141  may include the word “salt” or “pepper” to indicate the contents of the mill or a “+” as shown in  FIG. 2  to indicate that the cap assembly  140  can open to allow a user to refill the contents of the mill. In some embodiments the cap clad  141  is not used. In such embodiments, the cap  142  may include an indicator. 
         [0022]    The cap  142  along with cap gasket  143  work together to operatively close and provide access to the interior of the turn knob  110  and ultimately, through channels  435 , access to chamber  520  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 8 ) for filling and refilling of the mill  100 . The cap gasket  143  is coupled at a periphery of the cap  142  such that when the cap is in the closed position (see, e.g.,  FIG. 1 ) they work together to seal chamber  520  closed and help prevent the contents of the chamber  520  from falling out of the mill  100 . 
         [0023]    The illustrated cap  142  pivotally mounts to the turn knob  110  via a cap hinge  145 , which interfaces with a cap hinge hole  112 . In order to prevent over rotation of the cap  142 , the turn knob can include a cap stopper  111 . When in a closed or substantially horizontal position (see, e.g.,  FIG. 1 ) the cap  142  may at least partially rest on the upper surface of the cap stopper  111 . When in an open or vertical position (see, e.g.,  FIG. 8 ) at least a portion of the cap  142  may contact a side surface of the cap stopper  111 . Thus, the illustrated cap stopper  111  substantially inhibits the cap  142  from over rotating more than 90 degrees between open and closed positions. In some embodiments, the cap stopper  111  may inhibit rotation in different positions and to a different rotational range. In some embodiments, cap assembly  140  may include threads and screw into a similarly threaded turn knob. In still other embodiments, a person of ordinary skill in the art, based upon the description herein, may envision other ways of securing cap assembly  140  and turn knob  110 . 
         [0024]    The turn knob  110  may provide a comfortable surface for people to grip when operating the mill  100 . Typically, a user would grasp the turn knob  110  with their dominant hand and the exterior body  120  with their non-dominant hand. Rotation of the turn knob  110  relative to the exterior body  120  causes the mill  100  to grind the spices or grains contained within the chamber  520 . Linear or substantially linear translation of the turn knob  110  along the longitudinal axis changes the coarseness of the grind. The mill  100  may grind spices or grains at one or more grind settings. A coarse grind setting reduces the spices or grains to relatively large pieces; a fine grind setting reduces the spices or grains to relatively small pieces; and an intermediate grind setting reduces the spices or grains to intermediately sized pieces. 
         [0025]    The turn knob  110  may also include an input member aperture  113 . The input member aperture  113  accepts and couples the input member  413  of the cam driver  410  (see, e.g.,  FIGS. 3 and 4 ) to the turn knob  110 . Through this connection of the input member aperture  113  and input member  413 , the turn knob&#39;s  110  rotational and translational movements transfer from the turn knob  110  to the cam driver  410  and then to the grind shaft  220 . 
         [0026]    The accent ring  130  may have an internal diameter larger than the external diameter of the lower portion of the turn knob  110 . This allows the accent ring to slide over the lower portion of the turn knob  110 , thus covering the input member aperture  113  and input member  413  and providing a cleaner exterior appearance. 
         [0027]    The accent ring  130  may also have an external diameter that is smaller than an internal diameter of an upper portion of the exterior body  120 . This allows the accent ring  130  to translate or slide into and out of the exterior body  120  with the turn knob  110 . 
         [0028]    The exterior surface of the exterior body  120  provides a second comfortable surface for people to grip when operating the mill  100 . Typically, in operation, a user would grab the exterior body  120  with their non-dominant hand and hold it steady while rotating or translating the turn knob  110  to grind spices or grains with the mill  100 . The interior of the exterior body  120  also forms a portion of the chamber  520  for storing grains or spices and the lower portion of the exterior body  120  receives and holds a base capture  495 , which in turn holds a grind ring frame  485  and a grind ring  490 ; see  FIG. 5 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 3  shows the interior assembly of the mill  100 . The push-pull grinder assembly  200  is comprised of a control assembly  210  coupled though the grind shaft  220  to a grind assembly  230 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 4  shows an exploded view of the interior assembly of the mill  100  including the control assembly  210  and grind assembly  230 . 
         [0031]    The control assembly  210  is comprised of a case that may be further comprised of two or more case halves  430  that house the cam driver  410 , two cams  450 , and a shaft pin  425 . The control assembly may be coupled to the body by latches  436  that engage with a shoulder  125  (see,  FIG. 8 ). The cam driver  410  is the main interface between the turn knob  110  and the internal operation of the mill  100 . As discussed earlier, the input member aperture  113  of the turn knob  110  interfaces with the input member  413  of the cam driver  410 . When the turn knob  110  rotates, the sidewalls of the aperture  113  contact the sidewalls of the input member  410 , which causes the cam driver  410  to rotate with the turn knob  110 . The shaft coupler  411  couples the cam driver  410  to the grind shaft  220  such that when the cam driver  410  rotates it also causes the grind shaft  220  to rotate. In some embodiments the shaft coupler  411  may be a shaft hole in which at least a portion of the shaft is inserted. A bushing  481  couples a rasp  480  to the grind shaft  220  such that the rasp  480  rotates with the grind shaft  220 . Thus, when the turn knob  110  rotates, so does the rasp  480 . 
         [0032]    The cam driver  410  also controls the grind settings. The longitudinal translation of the turn knob  110  causes the upper and lower surfaces of the input member aperture  113  to contact the upper and lower surfaces of the input member  413 . Thus, the translation force on the turn knob  110  acts on the cam driver  410 , causing the cam driver  410  to translate longitudinally with the turn knob  110 . 
         [0033]    The cam driver  410  includes a cam pin slot  412  that accepts a cam pin  451  of a cam  450 , the cam pin riding in the cam pin slot. The cam  450  includes a central hole  455  that rotatably couples the cam  450  to one of the case halves  430 . When the cam driver  410  translates longitudinally, it imparts a tangential force on the cam pin  451 , which causes the cam  450  to rotate about an axle  433  in each of the cam halves  430 . 
         [0034]    When the cam  450  rotates, the shaft pin  425  translates longitudinally up and down along the longitudinal axis, ‘X.’ The shaft pin hole  421  couples the shaft pin  425  to the grind shaft  220 , thus the translation of the shaft pin also causes the translation of the grind shaft  220 . As described in more detail below, the arrangement of the shaft pin  425 , which rides in the shaft pin slot  454 , and the radial variation along the length of the shaft pin slot within the cam  450  facilitates this longitudinal translation as the cam  450  rotates. In addition, the arrangement of the shaft pin slot  454  within the cam  450  may also facilitate a reduction in the grind shaft&#39;s  220  translation as compared to the translation of the turn knob  110 . Thus, a relatively large longitudinal translation of the turn knob  110  may result in a relatively small longitudinal translation of the grind shaft  220  (and thus a small change to the grind size). 
         [0035]    The cam  450  also includes a tension slot  453  and a detent pin  452 . The illustrated tension slot  453  is a semi-circular slot that may be concentric to the radially outer surface of the cam  450 ; and the detent pin  452  may be located radially outward of a midpoint of the tension slot  453  and project from a radially outer surface of the cam  450 . The arrangement of the tension slot  453  with the radially outer surface of the cam  450  may be such that the detent pin  452  and the radially outward surface of the cam  450  near the tension slot  453  may deform when a radially inward force acts on the detent pin  452 . In this way, the web of material between the tension slot  453  and the radially outward surface of the cam  450  acts as a leaf spring and pushes the detent pin  452  into complementary detents  434  in the case half. In some embodiments a coil spring contained within a cam may act on a ball detent. 
         [0036]    The arrangement of detent pin  452  and detents  434  allows the mill  100  to have two, three, four, or more finite grind settings and also assists in resisting changes in the grind setting that may be unintentional. For example, if the grains or spices being ground are particularly hard, a user might inadvertently push the turn knob  110  in towards the exterior body  120  while trying to rotate the turn knob  110 . By applying force against the detent pin  452  and detents  434 , the tension slots  453  resist rotation of the cam  450 , which in turn resists longitudinal translation of the turn knob  110  and helps prevent inadvertent changes in the grind setting. In some embodiments, rather than using a single detent pin, multiple detent pins may be used to provide additional resistance to changing grind settings. In still other embodiments the outer radial surface of a cam may act directly on the detents  434  such that friction, including static friction, helps maintain the grind setting. 
         [0037]    Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the grind assembly  230  is comprised of a grind ring assembly  431  and a rasp assembly  432 . The grind ring assembly  431  is comprised of the grind ring frame  485 , the grind ring  490 , and the base capture  495 , while the rasp assembly is comprised of a rasp washer  470 , a rasp spring  475 , the rasp  480 , the rasp bushing  481 , a rasp screw  482 , and a rasp cap  483 . 
         [0038]    The grind ring frame  485 , grind ring  490 , and base capture  495  use a series of alignment keys and key slots, along with a flange and a retention mechanism, to hold themselves in place and prevent their rotation relative to the exterior body  120  of the mill  100 . The grind ring frame  485  sits in the interior of the exterior body  120  and uses keyways  487  that interface with keys (not shown) on the lower interior surface of the exterior body  120  to prevent the grind ring frame  485  from rotating. In addition, an upper portion  488  of the circumference of the grind ring frame  485  may rest on the flange  123  of the exterior body  120  (see  FIG. 5 ). This arrangement may prevent the grind ring frame  485  from moving in a longitudinal direction by the upper portion  488  of the circumference of the grind ring frame  485 , which may rest on the shoulder  123  of the exterior body  120  (see  FIG. 5 ). 
         [0039]    The grind ring frame  485  may also include a two-sided key  486 . The two-sided key  486  may include a first side  499  configured to interface with keyway  497  of the base capture  495  and a second side  494  configured to interface with the keyway  491  of the grind ring  490 . The base capture  495  may also include keyways  498  that interface with keys (not shown) on the lower interior surface of the exterior body  120  to prevent the base capture from rotating. In addition, the base capture  495  may include retention tabs  496  that interface with recess  122  (see  FIG. 5 ) to couple the base capture  495  to the exterior body  120  and prevent the base capture  495  from moving in a longitudinal direction. Thus, the lower portion of the exterior body  120  retains the grind ring frame  485 , grind ring  490 , and base capture  495  and prevents them from moving laterally or rotating with respect to the exterior body  120 . 
         [0040]    The rasp assembly  432  is retained at the end of the grind shaft  220  between the grind ring frame  485  and the rasp screw  482  and rasp cap  483 . The washer  470 , spring  475 , rasp  480 , and rasp bushing  481  slide over the grind shaft  220 . The rasp screw  482  couples the rasp bushing  481  to the grind shaft  220 . The bushing, in turn, couples the rasp  480  to the grind shaft  220 . The rasp  480  and washer  470  capture the spring  475  on the grind shaft  220 . The grind ring frame  485  captures the washer  470  and prevents it from moving longitudinally up the grind shaft  220 . The cross-sectional shape of the shaft hole  479  compliments that of the grind shaft  220  such that rotation of the grind shaft  220  causes the rasp  480  to rotate. 
         [0041]    Finally, a retention tab  484  and recess  489  couple the rasp cap  483  and rasp bushing  481  together in an arrangement similar to that of the base capture  495  and exterior body  120  coupling. 
         [0042]      FIGS. 5 ,  6 , and  7  show three different grind settings and the relative arrangements of the various mill components at the three settings.  FIG. 5  shows a cross section of the mill  100  of  FIG. 1  along section line A-A in a coarse grind configuration. 
         [0043]    In the coarse grind configuration the turn knob  110  is displaced longitudinally a distance A relative to the exterior body  120  of the mill  100 . Although, for illustrative purposes, in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 5 ,  6 , and  7 , the distance A is measured between a shoulder  114  of the turn knob  110  and a shoulder  124  of the exterior body  120 , no particular measurement locations are necessary. 
         [0044]    The displacement or position of the turn knob  110  causes the longitudinal displacement of the cam driver  410 , which in turn causes the rotational displacement of the cam  450  into the position shown in  FIG. 5 . In this position, cam pin  451  is in an upper position and the cam  450  is in its counterclockwise-most position, as viewed from the perspective shown in  FIG. 5 . When the cam  450  is in a counterclockwise-most position, the detent pin  452  is also in a counterclockwise-most detent  434  (not shown in  FIG. 5 ). In some embodiments the cam and its associated pin may be in alternate locations in the course grind setting. For example, in an embodiment where the rotation of a cam is flipped, the course grind position may put a cam and its associated detent pin a in a clockwise-most position. 
         [0045]    In the coarse grind configuration, the shaft pin  425  is at a radially outermost position of the cam pin slot  454 . In the radially outermost position of the cam pin slot  454 , the shaft pin  425  displaces the grind shaft  220  downward along the longitudinal axis X of the mill  100 . The force imparted by the cam  450  through the cam pin slot  454  and the shaft pin  425  and then to the grind shaft  220  causes the grind shaft  220  to translate longitudinally in a downward direction. The translation of the grind shaft  220  in cooperation with the force imparted by the spring  475  onto the rasp  480  also causes the translation of the rasp  480 . The rasp  480  is displaced away from the grind ring  490  such that a grinding surface  581  of the rasp  480  is displaced a distance B from a grinding surface  591  of the grind ring  490 . Because of the relatively large distance B between the grinding surfaces  581  and  591 , the grains or spices are ground or milled into relatively large pieces. 
         [0046]    In the fine grind configuration shown in  FIG. 6 , the turn knob  110  is displaced longitudinally a distance E relative to the exterior body  120  of the mill  100 . Although, for illustrative purposes, in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , the distance E is measured between a shoulder  114  of the turn knob  110  and a shoulder  124  of the exterior body  120 , no particular measurement locations are necessary. In some embodiments, when the mill is in the fine grind position, the shoulder  114  may contact shoulder  124  and therefore may have no longitudinal displacement relative to the exterior body  120 . In some embodiments, this distance E in the fine grind position is zero or about zero. 
         [0047]    In the fine grind position, the displacement or position of the turn knob  110  causes the longitudinal displacement or position of the cam driver  410 , which in turn causes the rotational displacement of the cam  450  into the position shown in  FIG. 6 . In this position, cam pin  451  is in a lower position and the cam  450  is in its clockwise-most position, as viewed from the perspective shown in  FIG. 6 . When the cam  450  is in a clockwise-most position, the detent pin  452  is also in a clockwise-most detent  434 . In some embodiments the cam and its associated pin may be in alternate locations in the fine grind position. For example, in an embodiment where the rotation of a cam is flipped, the fine grind position may put a cam and its associated detent pin a in a counterclockwise-most position. 
         [0048]    In the fine grind configuration, the shaft pin  425  is at a radially innermost position of the cam pin slot  454 . In the radially innermost position of the cam pin slot  454  (obscured by the cam driver  410 ), the shaft pin  425  displaces the grind shaft  220  upward along the longitudinal axis X of the mill  100 . In some embodiments, the displacement of the grind shaft  220  in the fine grind position may be zero or about zero. The position of the cam  450 , the cam pin slot  454  and the shaft pin  425 , causes the grind shaft  220  to translate longitudinally to an upward most position, as shown in  FIG. 6 . The translation of the grind shaft  220  along with the force imparted by the spring  475  onto the rasp  480  also causes the translation of the rasp  480 . In the fine grind position, the rasp  480  is displaced away from the grind ring  490  such that a grinding surface  581  of the rasp  480  is displaced a distance F from a grinding surface  591  of the grind ring  490 . Because of the relatively small distance F between the grinding surfaces  581  and  591 , the grains or spices are ground or milled into relatively small pieces. 
         [0049]    In the intermediate grind configuration shown in  FIG. 7 , the turn knob  110  is displaced longitudinally a distance C relative to the exterior body  120  of the mill  100 . Although, for illustrative purposes, in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , the distance D is measured between a shoulder  114  of the turn knob  110  and a shoulder  124  of the exterior body  120 , no particular measurement locations are necessary. 
         [0050]    The displacement or position of the turn knob  110  causes the longitudinal displacement or position of the cam driver  410 , which in turn causes the rotational displacement of the cam  450  into the position shown in  FIG. 6 . In this position, cam pin  451  is in an intermediate position and the cam  450  is also in an intermediate position. When the cam  450  is in an intermediate position, the detent pin  452  is in an intermediate detent  434 , for example, a detent halfway between the fine grind detent position and the coarse grind detent position. 
         [0051]    In the intermediate grind configuration, the shaft pin  425  is at a position in the cam pin slot  454  that is between the radially innermost and outermost positions. In a radially intermediate position of the cam pin slot  454 , the shaft pin  425  positions the grind shaft  220  along the longitudinal axis X of the mill  100 . The positions of the cam  450 , the cam pin slot  454  and the shaft pin  425  cause the grind shaft  220  to translate longitudinally to an intermediate position, as shown in  FIG. 6 . The translation of the grind shaft  220  along with the force imparted by the spring  475  onto the rasp  480  also causes the translation of the rasp  480 . In an intermediate grind position, the rasp  480  is displaced away from the grind ring  490  such that a grinding surface  581  of the rasp  480  is displaced a distance D from a grinding surface  591  of the grind ring  490 . Because of the intermediate distance D between the grinding surfaces  581  and  591 , the grains or spices are ground or milled into medium sized pieces. 
         [0052]    The embodiments shown in  FIGS. 5 ,  6 , and  7 , depict a mill with a fine grind setting wherein the turn knob  110  is minimally displaced, and a coarse grind setting wherein the turn knob  110  has maximum displacement. A person of ordinary skill in the art would understand that in some embodiments the grind settings and displacements may be reversed. Also, in the preceding descriptions certain arrangements of the cam driver  410 , cam  450 , detent pin  452 , and other structures are described, but in some embodiments, one or more of these positions may be altered, and structures may be combined, removed, or replaced and the same or similar functionality may remain. For example, by pushing and pulling a portion of a mill relative to another portion of the mill, a distance between a surface of a rasp ring and a surface of a rasp may be changed, thus changing the grind coarseness setting of a mill. 
         [0053]      FIG. 8  shows a cross-sectional view of a mill  100  with a cap assembly  140  in an open position. The cap assembly  140  rotates about cap hinge  145  in direction K from a closed position, as shown, for example, in  FIG. 1 , to an open position, as shown, for example, in  FIG. 8 . Opening the cap assembly  140  allows access to the interior of the mill  100  for filling or refilling the mill  100  with grains or spices. For example, when refilling the mill  100  a user may pour spices through the opening  810  in the turn knob. The spices may then flow through channels  435  in case halves  430  and into chamber  520 , which holds the spices until they are ground. 
         [0054]    The various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. All of the U.S. patents, U.S. patent application publications, U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patent applications and non-patent publications referred to in this specification and/or listed in the Application Data Sheet are incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety. Aspects of the embodiments can be modified, if necessary to employ concepts of the various patents, applications and publications to provide yet further embodiments. 
         [0055]    These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of the above-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, the claims are not limited by the disclosure.