Abstract:
Disclosed is a dispenser of an icemaker in a refrigerator for maximizing an inner space when a total size is the same, and for minimizing the total size when the inner space is the same. The dispenser of the icemaker in the refrigerator includes an ice chute being a passage through which the ice produced from the icemaker is discharged; and a container supporter provided at an outer case and disposed to be perpendicular to an outer surface of the outer case when the ice is discharged outside through the ice chute, the contain supporter allowing a container seated thereon to receive the ice discharged from the ice chute. The ice chute is closed and not exposed outside when the ice-discharging process is finished, and the container supporter is not exposed to the outer surface of the outer case.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Korean Application No. P2003-64503, filed on Sep. 17, 2003, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a dispenser of an icemaker in a refrigerator, and more particularly, to the dispenser of the ice-making apparatus with a structure for maximizing an inner space of the refrigerator. 
         [0004]    2. Discussion of the Related Art 
         [0005]    In general, a refrigerator is divided into a cooling chamber and a freezer. The cooling chamber keeps a temperature at about 3° C.-4° C. for keeping food and vegetables fresh for a long time. The freezer keeps a temperature at a sub-zero temperature for keeping and storing meat and fish frozen for a long time and for making and storing ice. 
         [0006]    The recent refrigerator is developed for performing various additional functions besides a typical function thereof. The icemaker is one of the additional functions. 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  illustrates a schematic diagram showing a conventional refrigerator.  FIG. 2  illustrates a schematic diagram showing an interior of the refrigerator including a conventional ice-making apparatus.  FIG. 3  illustrates a schematic diagram showing an icemaker of a conventional ice-making apparatus.  FIG. 4  illustrates a diagram showing a process of discharging the ice from an icemaker.  FIG. 5  illustrates an ice bank of an ice-making apparatus in the conventional refrigerator. 
         [0008]    Referring to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 5 , an icemaker  10  is fixed at an upper part of the freezer in the refrigerator. The icemaker  10  is a device for freezing water and automatically discharging ice. 
         [0009]    A structure of a conventional icemaker  10  includes an ice-making chamber  11 , a water supplier  12  provided at a side of the ice-making chamber  11  for supplying water to the ice-making chamber  11 , a controller  13  provided on outside of the ice-making chamber  11  and having a motor (not shown), and an ejector for discharging the ice produced from the ice-making chamber  11 . 
         [0010]    At a rear side of the ice-making chamber  10 , a coupler  15  is provided for coupling the icemaker  10  with the freezer of the refrigerator. 
         [0011]    The ice-making chamber  11  is formed in a semi-cylindrical form and having a projection  11   a  therein for dividing the inner space such that the ice is produced in a predetermined size. 
         [0012]    The ejector  14  includes an axis formed to cross a center of the ice-making chamber  11  and a plurality of ejector fins  14   a  formed at a side of the axis of the ejector  14 . The plurality of ejector fins  14   a  is a means of discharging the produced ice to the ice bank  20 . 
         [0013]    A sliding bar  16  is provided at a side of the plurality of ejector fins  14   a  for sliding the produced ice down. In more detail, the ice moved by the plurality of ejector fins  14   a  are placed on the sliding bar  16 , then slid down along the sliding bar  16 , and moved into an inside of an ice bank  20  formed at a lower part of the icemaker. 
         [0014]      FIG. 4  illustrates a process of discharging ice from the icemaker  10  to the ice bank  20 . A heater  17  is provided at a lower part of the ice-making chamber  11 . The ice needs to be separated from a surface of the ice-making chamber for being moved. The heater  17  heats a lower surface of the ice-making chamber  11  and increases a temperature thereof for melting a surface of the ice so as to move the ice. 
         [0015]    At a door  1  of the cooling chamber of the refrigerator, the ice bank  20  and a dispenser  30  are provided except the icemaker  10 . The ice bank  20  is an apparatus for storing the ice produced from the icemaker  10  and discharging the ice when a user wants the ice to use. 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the ice bank  20  includes an ice remover  21 , a motor  20  for rotating the ice remover, an ice crusher  23 , and an ice discharger  24 . 
         [0017]    The ice remover  21  formed in a spiral form removes the ice supplied from the icemaker  10  to the ice crusher  23  when the motor  22  rotates. 
         [0018]    The ice passed through the crusher  23  is discharged to the dispenser  30  through the ice discharger  24 . The dispenser  30  includes a discharging passage  31  and a container supporter  35  provided at a lower part of the discharging passage. 
         [0019]    The discharging passage  31  includes an inlet provided on an inner wall of the door  1 , an outlet provided on an outer wall of the door  1 , and a pipe for communicating the inlet with the outlet. In this case, the inlet of the discharging passage is provided at a higher place than the outlet. 
         [0020]    The container supporter  35  is provided at a lower part of the discharging passage. In more detail, a vertical plane provided on the outer wall of the door at a lower part of the outlet of the discharging passage  31  includes a groove formed in a quadrilateral form. 
         [0021]    A process of discharging the ice from the ice-making apparatus structured as aforementioned will be described as follows. 
         [0022]    First, the icemaker being supplied with water through a water supply pipe produces the ice, and removes the ice to the ice bank provided at a lower part of the icemaker by using the ejector. 
         [0023]    The ice bank storing the ice discharges the ice outside through the ice-discharging passage when the user wants to use the ice. The ice discharged outside is entered into a container and provided to the user, the container securely provided on the container supporter including the groove formed on the outer wall of the door. 
         [0024]    However, the dispenser of the icemaker has following problems. First, the container supporter of the dispenser includes the groove with a predetermined depth on the outer wall of the door of the refrigerator. Accordingly, the door needs to be thicker than a predetermined thickness. The thick door takes up much of an inner space of the refrigerator. Therefore, a total size of the refrigerator is increased when the inner space of the refrigerator is made to be larger than a predetermined size. 
         [0025]    Second, an outlet side of the discharging passage of the dispenser is exposed outside and dirt is collected thereon resulting in a problem of polluting the ice discharged outside by the dirt. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0026]    Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a dispenser of an icemaker in a refrigerator that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art. 
         [0027]    An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus having a function of discharging ice with a dispenser of an icemaker for maximizing an inner space of the apparatus. 
         [0028]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus having a function of discharging ice with a dispenser of an icemaker for minimizing a total size of the dispenser. 
         [0029]    A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus having a function of discharging ice with a dispenser of an icemaker for completely isolating an inside of an outer case from an outside thereof. 
         [0030]    Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings. 
         [0031]    To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a dispenser of an icemaker of the present invention includes an ice chute provided as a passage through which the ice produced from the icemaker provided inside of an outer case is discharged, and a container supporter provided at the outer case and disposed to be perpendicular to an outer surface of the outer case when the ice is discharged outside through the ice chute, the container supporter allowing a container seated thereon to receive the ice discharged from the ice chute. 
         [0032]    The ice chute is closed and not exposed outside when the ice is not discharged. The ice chute includes a first chute having an inlet provided on an inner wall of a front surface of the outer case and a passage extended downward in a wall direction of the outer case, and a sliding member having a second chute diagonally extended, the sliding member moving forward to be perpendicular to the front surface of the outer case for communicating the second chute with the first chute when the ice is discharged, and being inserted into the outer case when the ice is not discharged. 
         [0033]    The sliding member further includes a rack provided at a bottom surface thereof; and a pinion provided at a bottom of the rack and mated with the rack. 
         [0034]    The dispenser of the icemaker further includes a cover having a first end coupled with a lower end of a front surface of the sliding member, and a second end extended upward and fixed on the front surface of the outer case. 
         [0035]    Meanwhile, the ice chute includes an ice-discharging pipe having an inlet provided on an inner surface of the outer case and an outlet provided on an outer surface of the outer case, and a cover provided at the outer case for opening and closing the outlet of the ice-discharging pipe. 
         [0036]    In this case, the cover is rotatably provided around a top end being coupled with the front surface of the outer case. The cover also includes a subsidiary pipe provided on a portion being in contact with the outlet portion of the ice-discharging pipe to be inserted into an inside of a passage on the outlet side of the ice discharging pipe. 
         [0037]    The subsidiary pipe comprises an ice-passing hole at a lower part thereof for discharging the ice when the cover is rotated upward. 
         [0038]    The container supporter is rotated downward to be perpendicular to the front surface of the outer case when the ice is discharged. The container supporter rotates upward and covers the cover. 
         [0039]    The dispenser of the icemaker further includes a link member for coupling the container supporter with the cover. 
         [0040]    The container supporter is inserted into a wall of the outer case when the ice is not discharged through the ice chute. 
         [0041]    The container supporter includes a rack provided at a bottom surface thereof, and a pinion provided under the rack and mated with the rack. 
         [0042]    Contrary to the structure mentioned above, the container supporter may be provided under the ice chute and have an end being rotatably coupled with the front surface of the outer case. 
         [0043]    The container supporter is rotated downward to be perpendicular to the front surface of the outer case when the ice is discharged. The container supporter closes the ice chute when the ice is not discharged. 
         [0044]    The container supporter includes a rotating axis horizontally provided at an end of the outer wall of the outer case, a driven gear provided at the rotating axis, and a driving gear mated with the driven gear. 
         [0045]    Owing to the dispenser of the icemaker with aforementioned structure, an inner space of the ice-discharging apparatus such as a refrigerator is maximized or a total size of the apparatus is minimized. 
         [0046]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0047]    The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings; 
           [0048]      FIG. 1  illustrates a schematic diagram showing a conventional refrigerator. 
           [0049]      FIG. 2  illustrates a schematic diagram showing an interior of the refrigerator including a conventional ice-making apparatus. 
           [0050]      FIG. 3  illustrates a schematic diagram showing an icemaker of a conventional ice-making apparatus. 
           [0051]      FIG. 4  illustrates a diagram showing a process of discharging ice from an icemaker. 
           [0052]      FIG. 5  illustrates an ice bank of an ice-making apparatus in the conventional refrigerator. 
           [0053]      FIG. 6  illustrates a diagram showing a refrigerator with a dispenser of an ice-making apparatus in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0054]      FIG. 7  illustrates a magnified view of a dispenser of an ice-making apparatus in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0055]      FIG. 8  illustrates a diagram showing a dispenser of an ice-making apparatus in a state of discharging ice accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0056]      FIG. 9  illustrates a diagram showing a dispenser of an ice-making apparatus in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0057]      FIG. 10  illustrates a diagram showing a dispenser of an ice-making apparatus in a state of discharging ice accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0058]      FIG. 11  illustrates a diagram showing a dispenser of an ice-making apparatus in a state of discharging ice accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0059]      FIG. 12  illustrates a diagram showing a dispenser of an ice-making apparatus in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0060]      FIG. 13  illustrates a diagram showing a dispenser of an ice-making apparatus in a state of discharging ice accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0061]      FIGS. 14A and 14B  illustrate a diagram showing a coupling material in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0062]    Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
         [0063]    In general, an icemaker is an apparatus for freezing supplied water in a predetermined size and discharging outside for supplying ice to a user when the user wants to use the ice. The icemaker provides crushed ice or uncrushed ice to the user in accordance with a choice of the user. 
         [0064]    In general, a refrigerator is provided with the icemaker, however, may be provided with a drinking apparatus such as a purifier. 
         [0065]    Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the dispenser discharging and supplying the ice to the user outside will be described referring to  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 15  in accordance with the icemaker with such function mentioned above. 
         [0066]    Referring to  FIG. 6  to  FIG. 7 , a first embodiment of the dispenser of the icemaker in accordance with the present invention includes an ice chute  300  provided at a door and forming a front surface of an outer case of the refrigerator, and a container supporter  400  provided at a lower part of the ice chute  300 . 
         [0067]    The ice chute  300  is a passage through which the ice produced from the icemaker is discharged. It is desirable that the passage is closed for preventing the ice from being exposed outside when the ice is not discharged. 
         [0068]    In other words, the ice chute  300  includes an inlet through which the ice is inserted from a side of the icemaker, and an outlet through which the ice is discharged. 
         [0069]    When the ice is not discharged, it is desirable that the outlet is closed for preventing dirt from being collected thereon. 
         [0070]    Ice chute  300  includes a first chute  310  having an inlet  311  provided on an inner wall of the door and a passage extended bottomward in a direction of an outer wall of the door, and a sliding member  320  with a second chute  321  communicating with the first chute  310  when the ice is discharged and having an outlet  321   a  exposed outside. 
         [0071]    In more detail, the sliding member  320  moves toward the front of the door and projects to be perpendicular to the front surface of the door. In this instance, the second chute  321  is communicated with the first chute  310 . 
         [0072]    When the ice is not discharged from the ice chute, the sliding member  320  is inserted into a groove formed on the outer surface of the door  1 . In this case, it is desirable that the sliding member  320  is not projected toward outside of the door surface and the sliding member includes a guide rail for a smooth movement. The sliding member  320  also includes a handle on a front surface thereof for being manually inserted or ejected. 
         [0073]    The dispenser also includes a spring or an oil pressure means (not illustrated) provided between a rear surface of the sliding member  320  and the groove for pressing a rear surface of the container supporter. The dispenser includes a binding for biding the sliding member. When the binding is released, the sliding member is ejected to a front of the door. If a front surface of the sliding member is pressed, the sliding member is inserted into the groove and locked by the biding. 
         [0074]    Contrary to the above statement, the sliding member  320  can be automatically inserted and ejected. For this, the sliding member includes a rack  322  provided at a lower surface thereof, and a pinion  323  provided at a lower part of the rack  322 . A motor (not illustrated) driven by a controller rotates the pinion  323 . 
         [0075]    In other words, when the user wants to use the ice and presses an ejection button provided at the controller (not illustrated), the motor rotates the pinion  323  and the rack  322  to, and projects the sliding member  320  by moving the sliding member  320  toward the front. The first chute  310  and the second chute  321  are communicated to discharge the ice. When the process for discharging the ice is finished, the motor is inversely rotated to insert the sliding member  320  into the groove so as to close the ice chute  300 . 
         [0076]    The dispenser of icemaker with a structure mentioned above, further includes a cover  325  having a first end coupled with a front lower end of the sliding member and a second end fixed on the front surface of the door  1 . The cover  325  covers an external appearance of the ice chute  300  as well as prevents dirt from being collected on a top surface of the sliding member. 
         [0077]    Is it desirable that a pipe for supplying drinking water is provided between the cover  325  and the door  1  so as to supply water in the container provided at the container supporter  400  when the user wants water or water with the ice. 
         [0078]    At the container supporter  400 , a container for receiving the discharged ice is provided at a lower part of the ice chute. The container supporter  400  is provided at the door  1  forming the front surface of the outer case, projected vertically above the front surface of the door  1  when the ice is discharged to outside through the ice chute  300 . 
         [0079]    Contrary to this, when the ice is not discharged, the container supporter is inserted into the groove  401  formed on the door. In this case, it is desirable that the container supporter is not projected to outside of the door and having a guide rail provided at the groove for smoothly moving. 
         [0080]    In this case, the container supporter  400  includes a handle (not illustrated) on the front surface thereof so as to be inserted and ejected manually. 
         [0081]    The dispenser also includes a spring or an oil pressure means (not illustrated) provided between a rear surface of the sliding member  320  and the groove for pressing the rear surface of the container supporter, and a binding for biding the sliding member. When the binding is released, the sliding member is ejected on the front of the door. If a front surface of the sliding member is pressed, the sliding member is inserted into the groove and locked by the biding. 
         [0082]    Contrary to this, the container supporter can be automatically inserted or ejected. For this, the container supporter, as the sliding member, includes the rack provided at the lower surface thereof, and the pinion provided at the lower part of the rack, the pinion rotatably provided 
         [0083]    For this, the sliding member includes a rack  322  provided on a lower surface thereof, and a pinion provided at a lower part of the rack and mated with the rack so as to rotate together by a motor (not illustrated) driven by a controller. 
         [0084]    In other words, when the user wants the ice and presses the ejection button, the motor rotates the pinion and the rack, and the container supporter is moved to the front and projected on the front of the door. When the ice discharging process is finished, the motor is inversely rotated to insert the sliding member  320  into the groove. In the dispenser of the icemaker with the structure mentioned above, it is desirable that the container supporter  410  is ejected earlier than the sliding member  320 . 
         [0085]    In other words, it is desirable that the ice is discharged after the container supporter is ejected, the container is provided on top of the container supporter, and the sliding member is ejected. 
         [0086]    A second embodiment of the dispenser of the icemaker in accordance with the present invention will be described in reference to  FIG. 9  to  FIG. 10 . 
         [0087]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , the dispenser of the icemaker includes an ice-discharging pipe, the pipe having an inlet  351  formed on an inner surface of the door  1  of the refrigerator and an outlet  352  formed on an outer surface of the door, a cover  360  provided on the outer surface of the door for opening and closing the outlet  352 , and a container supporter  450  having the container securely provided thereon for receiving the ice discharged outside through the ice-discharging pipe. 
         [0088]    The inlet  351  is provided at an upper part of the outlet  352  for discharging the ice inserted from the icemaker by gravity. The cover  360  having a top end coupled with the door  1  of the refrigerator is rotatably provided around the top end  361 . 
         [0089]    The cover  360  also includes a subsidiary pipe  362  provided on the inner surface of the cover in contact with the outlet of the ice-discharging pipe so as to insert the ice into the inside of passage on a side of the outlet  352  of the ice-discharging pipe. 
         [0090]    The subsidiary pipe  362  includes an ice-passing hole  363  provided at a lower part thereof in order to discharge the ice when the top cover is rotated upward. 
         [0091]    In other words, when the cover  360  is rotated, the ice-passing hole  363  of the subsidiary pipe  362  is exposed to the outside of the ice-discharging pipe  350  and the ice is discharged. In this instance, an end  364  of the subsidiary pipe is not exposed to the outside of the ice-discharging pipe. 
         [0092]    Although the user can manually opens and closes the cover  360 , the outlet of the ice-discharging pipe is automatically opened and closed in accordance with the second embodiment. 
         [0093]    Meanwhile, the container supporter  450  is provided at the lower part of the cover and has an end rotatably coupled with the front surface of the refrigerator. 
         [0094]    When the ice is discharged, the container supporter  450  is rotated downward around the lower end  451  to be projected vertically on the front surface of the door  1 . 
         [0095]    When the ice is not discharged, the container supporter is rotated upward around the lower end  451  to be in contact with the front surface of the door. 
         [0096]    Although not illustrated, in the present embodiment, the container supporter and the cover are formed in a semicircular form for an external appearance. 
         [0097]    It is desirable that grooves formed in same forms as the cover and the container supporter are provided on the outer wall of the door such that the container supporter and the cover are not projected on the front surface of the door when the ice is not discharged. In the mean time, when the ice is not discharged, it is not the cover but the container supporter directly opening and closing the ice chute. 
         [0098]    The container supporter  450  automatically rotates and includes a rotating axis provided horizontally at an end coupled with the outer wall of the outer case, a driven gear provided at the rotating axis, and a driving gear coupled with the driven gear. The structure will be described again in describing a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0099]    The motor operated by the controller (not illustrated) rotates the driving gear. The rotating method is applicable to a rotation of the cover  360 . 
         [0100]    Contrary to the above statement, a portion  1   a  located at an inside of the cover on the outer wall of the door and the cover  360  are formed as a single body, and the top portion of the subsidiary pipe  362  includes the portion  1   a  on the outer wall of the door, the portion  1   a  integrated with the cover  360 . 
         [0101]    The dispenser of the icemaker with the structure mentioned above is a third embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 11 . In accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention, the other components except the structure of the third embodiment is the same as the second embodiment and it will be omitted. 
         [0102]    Meanwhile, the container supporter  460  covers the cover  360  as illustrated in  FIG. 12  to  FIG. 14 . The structure mentioned above is a fourth embodiment. In accordance with the present invention, all other compositions except the components explained below are the same as the second and the third embodiments. 
         [0103]    In accordance with the present invention, as illustrated in  FIG. 14 , the dispenser of the icemaker includes a link member  500  coupling the container supporter  460  and the cover  360 . 
         [0104]    The link member  500  has a first end coupled with the lower side of the cover  360  and a second end coupled with a side of the container supporter  460 . For this, the link member includes a top coupler  501  rotatably coupled with the lower side of the cover, and a bottom coupler  502  having a first end rotatably coupled with a second end of the top coupler and a second end rotatably coupled with the lower side of the container supporter. 
         [0105]    Contrary to the above statement, the link member  500  may include a soft string  503 . The link member  500  becomes parallel to the cover for supporting weight of the container supporter having the container when the container supporter is rotated downward to be perpendicular to the outer wall of the outer case for discharging the ice. 
         [0106]    The container supporter  460  is automatically rotated. For this, the container supporter  460  includes a rotating axis  461  provided horizontally at an end coupled with the outer wall of the outer case, a driven gear  462  provided at the rotating axis, and a driving gear  463  mated with the driven gear for driving the driven gear. 
         [0107]    The dispenser of the icemaker with the structure mentioned above is operated as follows. First, when the user wants the ice and presses the ejection button of the controller, the container supporters ( 400 ,  450 ,  460 ) are provided to be perpendicular to the front surface of the door of the refrigerator. 
         [0108]    For this, the container supporter  400  in the first embodiment of the present invention is withdrawn to the front surface of the door by the rotation of the pinion and the container supporters  450  and  460  in the second and fourth embodiments are rotated downward by the driving gear to be perpendicular to the front surface of the door. 
         [0109]    Next, when the ice chute  300  and  350  are opened, the ice is discharged outside and received into the container provided on top of the container supporter. Then, the user takes the ice to put in a beverage or in food. The opening process of the ice chute is described above and a detailed description will be omitted. 
         [0110]    When the ice is discharged as much as the user needs, the container supporter is inserted into the inside of the groove provided at the door or is rotated upward by the driving gear, and adhered to the front surface of the door to be horizontal thereto in accordance with the present embodiment. Then, the container supporter or the cover closes the outlet of the ice chute. 
         [0111]    Effects of the present invention with above mentioned structure is summarized as follows. First, a space taken by the container supporter or the ice chute is minimized and an inner space of the refrigerator or an apparatus with an ice-discharging function is maximized in accordance with the present invention. 
         [0112]    Second, the space taken by the container supporter of the ice chute is minimized and the total size of the refrigerator or the apparatus with an ice-discharging function is minimized in accordance with the present invention. 
         [0113]    Third, the outlet of the ice chute provided on the ice discharging passage is completely closed when the ice is not discharged in order to prevent the dirt from being collected on the passage in accordance with the present invention. 
         [0114]    Fourth, the external appearance is improved because the ice chute and the container supporter are not projected outside or caved-in in accordance with the present invention. 
         [0115]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.