Abstract:
A hand truck pallet or dolly pallet teaches that the pallet may secure to the hand truck nose plate both top and bottom, allowing almost complete freedom of rotation without allowing the pallet to fall from the hand truck. It furthermore may be removed instantly by withdrawal. The nose plate is held between rails on either side which have projections defining small gaps into which the edges of the nose plate are slid in usage.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates generally to hand trucks, dollies and barrows, and specifically to accessories for hand trucks. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Palletization of cargo and goods for delivery is an enormous efficiency factor. Pallets, typically of wooden or plastic construction, are approximately a meter on a side and have large holes or gaps underneath allowing entry of the tines of a forklift, hydraulic pallet jack or other power equipment. The traditional pallet may be loaded with goods and then secured by wrapping plastic around the goods or by means of tie downs, twine and so on. From then on, it can be handled with equipment quickly and easily. 
         [0003]    There simply exists no commercially successful equivalent to the pallet in the world of hand deliveries. A consignment of goods to be moved through normal sized doorways or over curbs and the like cannot use the normal large size of pallet or any other powered equipment method such as a cargo container or the like. Such goods must be moved by hand. 
         [0004]    The typical device for moving goods by hand is the hand truck or dolly. The hand truck has a bill or nose plate sticking out the bottom at floor level. In use, the cargo is piled up in a single vertical pile and the nose plate is inserted underneath, between the bottom of the cargo and the floor. Once it is firmly seated, the cargo is pulled in the direction of the hand truck&#39;s vertical support while the hand truck is used as a lever to slope the goods in the same direction, toward the hand truck support. Note that the goods must be stacked and unstacked by hand at each end in any case. 
         [0005]    Various attempts to increase the efficacy of hand trucks have been proposed. None of these provide the ease of shipping of a pallet with the small size and manual maneuverability and flexibility of a hand truck. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,605,102 to Simpson on Feb. 25, 1997 teaches a hand truck platform used for transport and display of merchandise. The platform teaches slots near the sides of the platform, a honeycomb structure to add strength to the plastic material of the device and a low space underneath UNDER which a hand truck nose plate might be inserted, albeit not secured.  FIG. 7  of that device disclosure shows the intended use to which it is put: holding up a light weight display for clothing or the like. The slots are not intended for straps or other cargo securing means because it is not a cargo carrying device. Importantly, it does not teach any way to secure the nose plate of the hand truck to the platform so that the platform does not fall off the nose plate: the platform sits atop the nose plate in the same manner as it sits atop a box. Thus while the bottom of the platform has a shallow space for the nose plate, the platform does not secure to the nose plate in any way and the hand truck may alter the cargo orientation in only a single dimension of rotation. Obviously the construction of the device is only sufficient for very light weight loading and occasional usage. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,109 to McBride on May 16, 1995 teaches an actual “Hand Truck Pallet” of somewhat sturdier construction. The device appears to be of wood, has a hand hold, and offers a nonskid surface so that when the cargo is tilted on the device it is less likely to slide off. However, like the &#39;102 patent it too lacks any actual securing of the pallet to the nose plate of the hand truck, also does not teach the use of straps, teaches away from straps, and so on. Like the &#39;102 patent it merely teaches a space which accepts a hand cart nose plate UNDER it, not secured to it, allowing only rotation backward in the traditional hand truck manner.  FIG. 7  of that device&#39;s disclosure shows the method of employment. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 8,152,180 to Anspach on Apr. 10, 2012, teaches an “Extension” for a handcart. This device is intended to allow a semi-permanent extension of the nose plate to a larger surface area. Thus  FIG. 7  of that device&#39;s disclosure shows that the extension is bolted to the handcart. This rules out any use as a pallet, since the usage of a pallet requires that it be quickly secured to the carrying equipment and just as quickly removed therefrom. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No.  6 , 059 , 512  to Kielinski is similar in that it offers bolting on of a larger device for semi-permanent operation. In this case, the objective is to allow a hand truck to be converted to a tine-bearing configuration for use with full size cargo pallets intended for hydraulic jacks and forklifts. Doubtless users appreciate the opportunity to attempt to lift such loads by hand. 
         [0010]    It would be preferable to provide a device which functions as a hand truck/nose plate pallet. 
         [0011]    It would further be a preferable objective to provide a device which can be secured to cargo and delivered therewith, then returned or passed forward at a later time, when the cargo has been dealt with. 
         [0012]    It would yet further be preferable to provide a device which secures to a hand cart nose plate securely and in more than a single dimension of translation and rotation, thus preventing accidents and load slipping, and yet not being bolted thereto, so that the hand cart can be removed instantly. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    The present invention teaches that a hand truck pallet may be constructed with rails underneath which grab the nose plate of the hand truck both top and bottom, so that the hand cart is temporarily secured to the cargo pallet merely by being inserted into the rails. This allows rotation in three dimensions (three axes) for the user. In fact, the only direction which the hand cart is not secured to the hand truck pallet is when it is pulled backward away from the pallet after the freight has been placed or delivered. 
         [0014]    The present invention further teaches the use of z-bar cross-section members for the rails, and that the members may be adjusted in relative location so that the device may accept nose plates of various widths. In addition, the device of the invention teaches that the rails may have small gaps between their projections and the bottom surface of the body of the pallet, with the width of the distance between the rails being less than the width of the nose plate, so that the nose plate is held both top and bottom when inserted, but the width of the distance including the gaps&#39; width allows the nose plate to be disposed therebetween. 
         [0015]    The present invention further teaches that tie-down locations may be provided in the form of strap securing points such as notches, D-rings or the like. 
         [0016]    The present invention yet further teaches that the body of the device may be constructed of a single sheet of durable material such as aluminum alloy or extremely tough polymers, and that the edges of the device may be bent downward on the front and both sides to create underneath the space for the rails and for rigidity and strength, while the back of the device may be bent upward for the same reasons and the help stabilize cargo on the pallet. 
         [0017]    These, and other, embodiments of the invention will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following description, while indicating various embodiments of the invention and numerous specific details thereof, is given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many substitutions, modifications, additions and/or rearrangements may be made within the scope of the invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such substitutions, modifications, additions and/or rearrangements. 
       SUMMARY IN REFERENCE TO THE CLAIMS 
       [0018]    It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention, in addition to those discussed elsewhere, to provide a hand truck pallet for use with a hand truck having a nose plate, the nose plate having a width, a top and a bottom, the hand truck pallet further for use with cargo and a floor, the hand truck pallet comprising: 
         [0019]    a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, two side edges, a front edge and a rear edge; 
         [0020]    the two side edges having sides disposed descending therefrom and running front to rear; 
         [0021]    the rear edge having a load rail disposed rising therefrom and running from side to side; 
         [0022]    the front edge having a front disposed descending therefrom and running from side to side; 
         [0023]    the two sides and the front cooperating with the bottom surface and such floor to define an interior undercarriage space; 
         [0024]    the interior undercarriage space having therein two physical engagement mechanisms, each physical engagement mechanism having a projection thereon, the projections facing one another, each projection having a gap separating the projection from the bottom surface, each projection capable of sliding underneath such nose plate when such nose plate is slid into such interior undercarriage space, whereby the bottom surface and engages the top of such nose plate, and further whereby the projections engage the bottom of such nose plate, thereby securing such hand truck pallet to such hand truck in two dimensions of translation but leaving such hand truck pallet nose plate free to slide rearward and disengage therefrom. 
         [0025]    It is therefore a further aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention to provide a hand truck pallet wherein the two physical engagement mechanisms further comprise: 
         [0026]    two rails, themselves further comprising one z-bar each, the z-bars having a “Z” shaped cross-section, the z-bars being fastened to the bottom surface, in parallel with one another, and running in a direction parallel to the sides, the z-bars fastened to the bottom surface with the projections facing one another whereby the gaps are created by the projections, 
         [0027]    the distance between the projections being less than the width of such nose plate, while the distance between the projections, plus the width of the two facing gaps, is greater than the width of such nose plate. 
         [0028]    It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention to provide a hand truck pallet further comprising: 
         [0029]    a strap; 
         [0030]    at least one strap securing device disposed on each side. 
         [0031]    It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention to provide a hand truck pallet wherein the strap securing device further comprises: a notch in each side. 
         [0032]    It is therefore yet another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention to provide a hand truck pallet wherein the strap securing device further comprises: a D-ring on each side. 
         [0033]    It is therefore yet another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention to provide a hand truck pallet wherein the sides and the front serve as load bearing supports and support the bottom surface at a distance no less than ¾ inch above such floor. 
         [0034]    It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention to provide a hand truck pallet wherein the distance between the projections and the distance between the projections, plus the width of the facing gaps, comprises a pair of distances, and each pair of distances is one member selected from the group consisting of: 
         [0035]    a. less than 12 inches and more than 12 inches, thus accommodating a standard nose plate width of 12 inches; 
         [0036]    b. less than 14 inches and more than 14 inches, thus accommodating a standard nose plate width of 14 inches; 
         [0037]    c. less than 16 inches and more than 16 inches, thus accommodating a standard nose plate width of 16 inches; 
         [0038]    d. less than 18 inches and more than 18 inches, thus accommodating a standard nose plate width of 18 inches; 
         [0039]    e. less than 20 inches and more than 20 inches, thus accommodating a standard nose plate width of 20 inches. 
         [0040]    It is therefore yet another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention to provide a hand truck pallet further comprising: at least two adjustment devices, each z-bar being fastened to the bottom surface via at least one of the adjustment devices, each adjustment device operative to allow each z-bar to be moved from a first distance between the projections to a second distance between the projections and fastened securely at the second distance, whereby such nose plate width secured by the hand truck pallet may be adjusted. 
         [0041]    It is therefore yet another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention to provide a hand truck pallet further comprising: a generally rectangular planform. 
         [0042]    It is therefore yet another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention to provide a hand truck pallet wherein the generally rectangular planform has a width of at least 22 inches and a depth of at least 16 inches and a height of at least ¾ inch. 
         [0043]    It is therefore yet another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention to provide a hand truck pallet wherein the body has apertures passing therethrough. 
         [0044]    It is therefore yet another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention to provide a hand truck pallet wherein the body is comprised of 3/16 inch thick aluminum alloy plate, and further wherein the sides, the front and the load rail are composed of body material turned at a 90 degree angle to the top and bottom surfaces of the body. 
       INDEX TO THE REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       [0000]    
       
         Hand truck/dolly  100   
         Nose plate  101   
         Nose plate width  102   
         Hand truck pallet  200   
         Side wall  201   
         Top surface  202   
         Front wall  203   
         Back wall/load rail  204   
         Notch  206   
         Notch  208   
         Speed hole  210   
         Strap  212   
         Locking mechanism width  214   
         Interior space/under carriage  216   
         Z-bar  218   
         Fastener  220   
         Gap  222   
         Projection  224   
         Adjustment device/slot/rail  226   
         Alternative embodiment body  300   
         D-rings  302   
         D-ring  400   
         D-ring strap  402   
         Bolt  404   
         Grommet  406   
         Polymer interior lock nut  408   
       
     
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0071]    The following drawings form part of the present specification and are included to further demonstrate certain aspects of the present invention. The invention may be better understood by reference to one or more of these drawings in combination with the detailed description of specific embodiments presented herein. 
           [0072]      FIG. 1  is an orthogonal elevated frontal view of the device of the invention, showing details of the top view of a first embodiment of the hand truck pallet thereof. 
           [0073]      FIG. 2  is an orthogonal elevated frontal view of the device of the invention, showing the first embodiment hand truck pallet in a position in which it is about to be lifted by a hand truck. 
           [0074]      FIG. 3  is an orthogonal elevated frontal view of the device of the invention fully loaded and on a dolly and with an optional strap securing the cargo to the hand truck pallet. 
           [0075]      FIG. 4  is an orthogonal elevated frontal view of the device of the invention fully loaded, after a dolly has been removed, showing the cargo resting on the hand truck pallet, for example while being stored. 
           [0076]      FIG. 5  is a left side view of the hand truck pallet of the invention, in an embodiment having notches for straps. 
           [0077]      FIG. 6  is a rear view of a second embodiment of the invention having adjustable Z-bars, showing the undercarriage space within/underneath the hand truck pallet of the invention. 
           [0078]      FIG. 7  is a planform bottom view of the second embodiment of the invention, showing details of the adjustable Z-bars of the invention, including fasteners, rails, etc. 
           [0079]      FIG. 8  is a view of an alternative strap securing point of the invention, a multiple D-ring arrangement. 
           [0080]      FIG. 9  is a right side view of the hand truck pallet of the invention, in an embodiment having notches for straps. 
           [0081]      FIG. 10  is a front view of the hand truck pallet of the invention. 
           [0082]      FIG. 11  is a top view of the hand truck pallet of the invention. 
           [0083]      FIG. 12  is a view of an alternative strapped-D-ring for receiving a strap, an embodiment with a single D-ring. This is one presently preferred embodiment of the invention. 
           [0084]      FIG. 13  is a close up orthogonal exploded view of the strapped-D-ring part, showing how the D-ring itself is mounted upon a strap (this strap being different from the strap which is used to secure cargo.) 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0085]    GLOSSARY: the following glossary is presented for convenience and to ease prosecution. 
         [0086]    A hand truck is a well-known type of device, also commonly referred to as a dolly, which has a generally vertical body of sturdy metal construction with a pair of wheels on the bottom and a large flat plate, referred to herein as a nose plate (or called a tongue but nose plate is considered correct), projecting forward from the body of the hand truck. Hand cart nose plates come in certain standard widths and depths, such as 16 inches by 10 inches. While the diagrams show a very simplified construction for a hand truck, real hand trucks are usually made of strong aluminum alloy beams with real pneumatic tires (tires like a very small vehicle tire) rather than the solid wheels depicted. 
         [0087]    A top surface and bottom surface for the invention is simply the face of a body and does not refer to any special preparation or coating. 
         [0088]    The load rail as used herein is a flange of the body material of the invention, which flange is turned upward at a 90 degree angle to the body (and the horizontal) so that it provides strength and rigidity to the body and also prevents the cargo from sliding off the rear edge when the hand truck is tilted. 
         [0089]    The sides and front are flanges of body material of the invention, which are turned downward at a 90 degree angle to the body, which provide strength and rigidity to the body and furthermore act as supports for the body, so that in use the bottom surface of the body is raised approximately ¾ inch off the floor. 
         [0090]    The interior/undercarriage space of the invention is the space defined by the sides, front, the bottom surface and the floor on which the device rests. This will generally be a rectanguloid prism of shallow height (¾ inch or so) and the approximate shape and size of the body. It is important to note that significant working structures of the invention are disposed within the space, in particular the physical engagement/locking mechanism which secures the pallet to both the top and also the bottom of the nose plate of the hand truck so that the loaded pallet may be easily moved and tilted without fear of overbalancing and falling off of the nose plate. 
         [0091]    The physical engagement/locking mechanism of the device is a device which secures the pallet to the nose plate in three dimensions of rotation and two dimensions of translation, leaving the nose plate only free in a single dimension: the nose plate may be pulled straight rearward and removed from the pallet. In presently preferred embodiments, the mechanism is a set of projections with small gaps separating them from the bottom surface, the gaps facing each other from a distance approximately equal to the width of the nose plate. By this means the top of the nose plate is restrained by the bottom surface of the body and the bottom of the nose plate is restrained by the projections. In even more detailed sub-embodiments, the use of z-bars to form rails is preferred for the locking mechanism. A z-bar is a beam structure having in cross section a first flat body portion with an angled bend at one side, then an intermediate portion disposed at an angle (such as a right angle) to the first flat body portion, then a second angle leading to a third portion which is also flat but offset from the first flat portion. When the first portion is secured to the bottom surface, the third portion becomes a projection with a gap between itself and the bottom surface. This “Z” shaped cross section described is excellent for making rails. 
         [0092]    A D-ring is any ring which has passing through one part of it a peg or cylindrical body on which it may rotate. 
         [0093]    An adjustment device as used herein may refer to anything which allows the z-bars to be fastened at a plurality of different locations. For example, the adjustment device may be a slot passing through the body and the fastener may be a bolt passing through the slot and the z-bar. The adjustment device may itself be another rail on which the fastener (such as a clamping device or the like) may sit. Numerous alternatives and equivalents are possible. 
         [0094]      FIG. 1  is an orthogonal elevated frontal view of the device of the invention, showing details of the top view of a first embodiment of the hand truck pallet thereof. Hand truck pallet  200  has a body of generally rectangular shape by preference, although other shapes are possible in alternative embodiments. Side wall  201  and the matching side wall (not seen) cooperate with the front wall  203  to support the device. Since it is a box structure and not a solid structure this leaves an undercarriage area or interior space. 
         [0095]    Top surface  202  is the load bearing surface of the invention, on which cargo will be placed. Note that speed holes  210  serve to save weight and cost. 
         [0096]    Back wall/load rail  204 , along with the side walls  201  and front wall  203 , act to provide rigidity and strength. In the case of load rail  204 , it further serves to check the slide of cargo on the pallet when the pallet is tilted, however, normally the hand truck&#39;s vertical body will act in this fashion in any case. 
         [0097]    The sides, load rail and front all may be made by bending flanges of the body downward or upward as appropriate, in preferred embodiments at a  90  degree angle. 
         [0098]    Notch  206  and notch  208  are securing points for straps, as will be discussed further in reference to  FIGS. 3 through 5 . 
         [0099]    The body of the device may preferably be of a very strong material, since the device, like traditional pallets, will be battered in daily use and yet be expected to carry substantial weights. Thus it will have a body made of aluminum (or theoretically other metals but aluminum is the actual standard) in the best mode now contemplated for carrying out the invention, if the body is polymer only extremely durable polymers may be used. 
         [0100]      FIG. 2  is an orthogonal elevated frontal view of the device of the invention, showing the first embodiment hand truck pallet in a position in which it is about to be lifted by a hand truck. 
         [0101]    Hand truck/dolly  100  is seen, with nose plate  101  only partially visible due to hand truck pallet  200 . Nose plate width  102  may be seen indicated by the arrow. 
         [0102]    As noted previously the dolly shown is not typical: most hand trucks are of considerably sturdier construction, with pneumatic rather than solid wheels, heavy aluminum box beam construction, padded handles, adjustable lengths and so on. 
         [0103]      FIG. 3  is an orthogonal elevated frontal view of the device of the invention fully loaded and on a dolly and with an optional strap securing the cargo to the hand truck pallet. The cargo may be quite tall and unstable, rendering the use of strap  212  desirable. Strap  212  may fit within notch  206  and a corresponding notch on the other side.  FIG. 5  is a left side view of the hand truck pallet of the invention, in an embodiment having notches for straps. 
         [0104]      FIG. 4  is an orthogonal elevated frontal view of the device of the invention fully loaded, after a dolly has been removed, showing the cargo resting on the hand truck pallet, for example while being stored. 
         [0105]    The hand truck has been withdrawn and the hand truck pallet remains in place, fully loaded, awaiting further handling when or as convenient or needed. In this case, it is assumed that the users will not remove the straps when leaving the pallet, but in other situations the user may remove the strap and take it with them: thus the strap may be part of the hand truck pallet or it may be equipment used otherwise by the owner. 
         [0106]    Note that the pallet of the invention may thus travel much like traditional pallets travel, being considered part of a consignment of goods. In operation, the pallet might be more or less “ownerless”, however, due to the costs of manufacturing it seems more likely that the pallet may bear owner identification indicia on its body and the owner may use the pallet with regular customers only, with the customers expected to retain the pallet until it can be returned to the owner. Thus on a first delivery day, a pallet of good might be dropped off, then on a second delivery day when a second pallet of good is delivered, the first pallet might be returned. 
         [0107]      FIG. 6  is a rear view of a second embodiment of the invention having adjustable Z-bars, showing the undercarriage space within/underneath the hand truck pallet of the invention. 
         [0108]    Locking mechanism width  214  is shown by arrow. This width is important to the use of the invention, since the distance separating the two facing parts of the locking mechanism (rails made of z-bars in this embodiment) should be less than the width of the nose plate of the hand truck with which the hand truck pallet will be used, while the same distance, plus the width of the small gaps  222 , should be greater than the width of the hand truck nose plate. By this means the hand truck nose plate may fit into the rails  218  by means of sliding and yet be unable to fall out the bottom. 
         [0109]    Interior space/under carriage  216  may also be seen from the rear view, since the load rail  204  is bent upward, unlike the front  203  and sides  201  which bend downward and hide the space while supporting the device clear of the floor. 
         [0110]    Z-bar  218  may be seen to have a “Z” shaped cross section, with fastener  220  acting to hold it to the bottom surface of the body. 
         [0111]    Projections  224  face one another and define the gaps  222  into which the nose plate of the hand truck will slide in use. 
         [0112]      FIG. 7  is a planform bottom view of the second embodiment of the invention, showing details of the adjustable Z-bars of the invention, including fasteners, rails, etc. Adjustment device/slot/rail  226  may be seen as may fasteners  220 . In the embodiment pictured these may be bolts which pass through a slot  226 , but similar devices such as clamps with bolt heads holding rails may equivalently be used. 
         [0113]      FIG. 8  is a view of an alternative strap securing point of the invention, a D-ring on the side. The D-ring  302  of the invention may provide in embodiments  300  an alternative strap tie-down point instead of notches. This may be more convenient in certain situations, for example, when the notches are harder to find or to use. In addition, the D-rings  302  of the alternative embodiment body  300  may rotate on their pegs, so that straps may be used in a wider range of angles relative to the body of the pallet. In yet further embodiments, the body may have both D-rings and notches. 
         [0114]      FIG. 9  is a right side view of the hand truck pallet of the invention, in an embodiment having notches for straps. The sides may in embodiments be identical to one another or in other embodiments may differ in order to accommodate specialized freight. 
         [0115]      FIG. 10  is a front view of the hand truck pallet of the invention. Load rail  204  may be seen, as well as the front side of the under part of the device. 
         [0116]      FIG. 11  is a top view of the hand truck pallet of the invention. Speed holes  210  may be seen. Note that the number of speed holes and their size and shape and arrangement may all vary within the scope of the invention. 
         [0117]      FIG. 12  is a view of an alternative strapped-D-ring for receiving a strap, an embodiment with a single D-ring. This is one presently preferred embodiment of the invention. Strap  402  may be seen on the side of the body (a matching strap arrangement is present on the far side, not in view). It may be seen that the strap, being flexible, may hang down when not in use (as shown) but in use may swivel, bend, turn, etc, allowing a wide range of safe ways to secure the cargo strap to the D-ring. 
         [0118]      FIG. 13  is a close up orthogonal exploded view of the strapped-D-ring part, showing how the D-ring itself is mounted upon a strap (this strap being different from the strap which is used to secure cargo.) D-ring  400  is (in this preferred embodiment and best mode now contemplated) not mounted directly onto the side of the body of the pallet, instead, it is mounted on D-ring strap  402 , which is secured to the body by bolt  404  passing through grommet  406  to lock nut  408 . Lock nut  408  has a polymer interior through which bolt  404  passes, the polymer interior serves to lock these into place. The NYLOC™ brand of nut is typical of these nuts. 
         [0119]    Throughout this application, various publications, patents, and/or patent applications are referenced in order to more fully describe the state of the art to which this invention pertains. The disclosures of these publications, patents, and/or patent applications are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties, and for the subject matter for which they are specifically referenced in the same or a prior sentence, to the same extent as if each independent publication, patent, and/or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. 
         [0120]    Methods and components are described herein. However, methods and components similar or equivalent to those described herein can be also used to obtain variations of the present invention. The materials, articles, components, methods, and examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting. 
         [0121]    Although only a few embodiments have been disclosed in detail above, other embodiments are possible and the inventors intend these to be encompassed within this specification. The specification describes specific examples to accomplish a more general goal that may be accomplished in another way. This disclosure is intended to be exemplary, and the claims are intended to cover any modification or alternative which might be predictable to a person having ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0122]    Having illustrated and described the principles of the invention in exemplary embodiments, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the described examples are illustrative embodiments and can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from such principles. Techniques from any of the examples can be incorporated into one or more of any of the other examples. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.