Abstract:
An enclosure having a housing defining an access opening. The housing defines an external portion and an interior portion and includes a first door pivotally connected to the housing via a first hinge. The first door is pivotally moveable between a closed position and an open position about a first pivot axis defined by the first hinge. The housing further includes a shield connected to the housing via a second hinge. The shield is pivotally moveable between a closed position and an open position about a second pivot axis defined by the second hinge.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
         [0001]    In the telecommunication industry, it is common practice to locate electrical and electronic hardware devices and equipment outdoors. Generally, the hardware and equipment is located in an enclosure to protect it from ambient weather and other environmental conditions. These enclosures may be formed of several materials such as metal, polymer, plastic, ceramic, glass, crystal, and/or combinations thereof. Also, the enclosures may be formed of any shape.  
           [0002]    Because these enclosures are generally installed outdoors, electrical and/or electronic hardware devices enclosed therein must be protected against interfering electromagnetic radiation and other environmental influences, such as sun, rain, snow, hail, windblown matter, and any types of inclement weather conditions.  
           [0003]    When it is necessary to perform service on the electrical and/or electronic devices contained in the outdoor enclosures, technicians must provide the service at the site where the enclosure is located. When service is required during inclement weather conditions, there exists a chance that any electrical equipment and/or electronic hardware devices or other equipment located inside the enclosure will be affected by the inclement weather. This is true whether it is driving rain, wind, blown sand, dust, dirt, and sun. Also, the technician needs protection while servicing the equipment in such inclement weather conditions. Therefore, when the technicians are servicing the electrical and/or electronic hardware devices and other equipment contained in the outdoor enclosure during equipment upgrades, testing, maintenance, service outage problems, and other service requirements, the technician and the electrical and/or electronic hardware devices and other equipment must be protected to prevent them from exposure to inclement weather conditions and degrading over time. Telecommunication systems failures due to degraded electrical and/or electronic hardware devices and other equipment cause unnecessary labor costs associated with the replacement of the electrical and/or electronic hardware devices and other equipment. This includes the labor costs associated with sending a technician in the field to perform the repairs, the cost of having customers or users out of service, and any other costs associated with making unnecessary trouble shooting calls.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0004]    In one general respect, an embodiment of the present invention is directed to an apparatus that includes an enclosure. The enclosure includes a housing defining an access opening, wherein the housing defines an external portion and an interior portion; a first door pivotally connected to the housing via a first hinge, wherein the first door is pivotally moveable between a closed position and an open position about a first pivot axis defined by the first hinge; and a shield connected to the housing via a second hinge, wherein the shield is pivotally moveable between a closed position and an open position about a second pivot axis defined by the second hinge.  
           [0005]    According to another embodiment, the present invention is directed to an apparatus that includes a shield. The shield includes a substantially rectangular body having a top surface and first and second lateral portions; at least a first latch button attached to at least one of the lateral portions, wherein the latch button is adapted to releaseably engage a first hook; and at least a first hinge arm having a first and second end, wherein the first end is attached to the bottom surface and the second end is attachable to a housing.  
           [0006]    In yet another embodiment, the present invention is directed to an enclosure. The enclosure includes housing means defining an access opening and defining an external portion and an interior portion; accessing means pivotally connected to the means for housing via a first hinge, wherein the accessing means is pivotally moveable between a closed position and an open position about a first pivot axis defined by the first hinge; means for shielding connected to the means for housing via a second hinge, wherein the means for shielding is pivotally moveable between a closed position and an open position about a second pivot axis defined by the second hinge. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    Embodiments of the present invention are described herein in conjunction with the following figures, wherein:  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is a front view of an enclosure in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 is a top view of an enclosure in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 is a side view of an enclosure in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 is a top view of a shield in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 5 is a side view of a shield in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 6 is a side view of a fastener in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 6A is a top view of a fastener in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 7 illustrates an enclosure in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 8 is a side view of an enclosure in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention showing a shield and a wing deployed in an open position; and  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 9 is a top view of an enclosure in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention showing wings deployed in the open position. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION  
       [0018]    Referring now to the several drawings in which identical elements are numbered identically throughout, a description of this invention now will be provided, in which exemplary embodiments are shown in the several figures. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those having ordinary skill in the art. Furthermore, all statements herein reciting embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Moreover, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future for performing the same function, regardless of structure. Thus, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the schematic drawings presented herein and the like, represent conceptual views of illustrative structures which may embody the various aspects of this invention.  
         [0019]    In the claims appended hereto any element expressed as a means for performing a specified function is to encompass any way of performing that function including, for example, a combination of elements that perform that function. Furthermore the invention as defined by such means-plus-function claims resides in the fact that the functionalities provided by the various recited means are combined and brought together in the manner that the claims called for. Therefore, any means that can provide such functionalities may be considered equivalents to the means shown herein.  
         [0020]    In one embodiment, the present invention provides an enclosure or any other structure for enclosing or protecting electrical and/or electronic hardware devices and/or telecommunications equipment contained therein from environmental conditions including inclement weather such as rain, snow, wind, sleet, and ice, and other environmental conditions such as sun and wind blown sand, dust, and dirt. The enclosure may provide protection from these environmental conditions when a technician is servicing the electrical and/or electronic hardware devices and/or telecommunications equipment located inside the enclosure. One embodiment of the present invention includes means for protecting any electrical and/or electronic hardware devices and/or telecommunications equipment located inside the enclosure from any of the environmental conditions and forces including those described above. Such means for protecting may be contained or stored in an interior portion of the enclosure and may be adapted to be removed from the interior portion of the enclosure and removeably attached or fixed to a portion of the enclosure in such a manner as to provide a shield against any adverse environmental conditions and elements including those described above.  
         [0021]    In one embodiment of the present invention, such means for protecting may include a substantially flat weather shield pivotally attached to the enclosure. The shield may be hinged and may be stowed inside the enclosure when not in use. In use, a technician may deploy the shield by rotating the shield about the pivot axis formed by the hinges out of the enclosure in an outwardly and upwardly direction. Once deployed in an open condition, a latch, or other similar hardware attached to the enclosure, may secure the shield to prevent the shield from dislodging or collapsing during use. Once deployed, the technician may conduct a service call while protecting himself (or herself) and the electrical and/or electronic hardware devices and/or telecommunications equipment contained therein from environmental conditions.  
         [0022]    The shield in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention may be fabricated from a variety of materials such as metals, alloys, plastics, or ceramics suitable for withstanding various outdoor environmental conditions including but not limited to a wide range of temperatures, sunlight, humidity, moisture, rain, sleet, snow, ice, airborne or windblown sand, dust and dirt, and other environmental conditions, forces or elements.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a front view, top view, and side view, respectively, of an enclosure in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The term “enclosure” as used throughout this description and claims may comprise any type of terminals, closures, housings, cabinets, and other devices and structures for locating electronic devices therein. The term “electronic devices” as used throughout this description and claims may comprise any type of electrical hardware devices, electronic hardware devices, electrical components, electronic components, circuit boards, telecommunications equipment, and/or any other equipment. As used throughout the description, “environmental conditions” include but are not limited to a wide range of ambient temperatures, sunlight, humidity, moisture, rain, sleet, snow, ice, and airborne or windblown sand, dust and dirt prevalent in outdoor environments.  
         [0024]    Although the specific embodiments of the several example enclosures described this description have a substantially rectangular polygonal shape, the scope of the present invention is intended to encompass any enclosures having any shape or form for performing the function of containing, housing, and/or protecting the electronic devices located inside the enclosure regardless of its shape or size.  
         [0025]    In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention the enclosure may include a conventional telecommunications cabinet adapted with a shield. The Universal Series Cross-Cabinet manufactured by Marconi Communications is one example of a telecommunications cabinet that can be adapted and/or fitted with a shield in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Nevertheless, a variety of enclosures comprising cabinets fitted with shields may be used to implement various embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0026]    With reference now to FIG. 1, one embodiment of the present invention includes an enclosure  100  which may be secured to a concrete pad  102 . As illustrated therein, the enclosure  100  may include a housing  90  having a substantially rectangular or square polygonal shape. Those skilled in the art will appreciate, however, that the enclosure  100  may take on a variety of shapes and forms without departing from the scope of the present invention.  
         [0027]    In one embodiment, the enclosure  100  may be formed from a variety of suitable materials such as metals, alloys, plastics, and ceramics capable of withstanding various outdoor environmental conditions. In one embodiment, the enclosure  100  may be formed from any suitable engineering material such as metal, alloy, plastic, or ceramic used in the fabrication of machinery, machinery components, structural shapes, tools, instruments, and other items. Their hardness, strength, machinability, dimensional stability, nonflammability, and resistance to corrosion, acids, solvents, and heat may characterize the properties of such suitable engineering materials. Examples of such suitable engineering materials include but are not limited to: metals and alloys such as aluminum, beryllium, brass, bronze, cast iron, copper, lead, magnesium, steel, tantalum, zinc, zirconium, and various other trademarked alloys; ceramics such as glass and porcelain; and plastics such as ABS resin, acetal resin, acrylic resin, fluorocarbon polymer, nylon, phenolformaldehyde resin, polybutilene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyethylene, polyphenylene oxide, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, reinforced plastics (FRP), and ureaformaldehyde resin. The enclosure  100  also may be formed from any of the engineering materials recited above, and/or any combinations thereof, and may include suitable coatings capable of withstanding a variety of outdoor environmental conditions including those described above. In one embodiment of the present invention, for example, the enclosure may be formed of G90 galvanized steel having a durable finish coating, such as a polyurethane powder coating.  
         [0028]    In one embodiment of the present invention, the enclosure  100  may include a housing  90  having at least one access door  104  at a front portion  101  of the enclosure  100 , a top portion  118 , and a pair of sidewalls  103 . The housing  90  may include a second access door  106  or a plurality of access doors at the front portion  101 . The access doors  104 ,  106  may be pivotally attached to the housing  90  with one or more hinges such that the access doors  104 ,  106  may be pivotally movable from an open position (as shown in FIG. 1) to a closed position (shown in phantom in FIG. 1) about pivot axes  105  and  107  associated with each access door  104  and  106 , respectively, for example. In one embodiment of the present invention the access doors  104 ,  106  may pivot about axes  105 ,  107 , respectively, such that they may be rotated, revolved, swiveled, or spun to an open position in the direction shown by arrows  109  and  111 , respectively. Conversely, the access doors  104  and  106  may pivot about axes  105  and  107 , respectively, such that they may be rotated, revolved, swiveled, or spun to the closed position in the direction shown by arrows  113 ,  115 , respectively. The doors  104 ,  106  may be in an overlapping arrangement when they are in a closed position.  
         [0029]    In one embodiment of the present invention, the enclosure  100  also may include a shield  108  pivotally attached to the top portion  118  of the housing  90  with one or more hinges such as, for example, a first pair of hinges  110 ,  112 , for example. The shield may include a substantially rectangular body having a top surface  122  and first and second lateral portions  126 . The first pair of hinges  110 ,  112  may be attached to each other with a first rigid strap or hinged arm  125 . One hinge  110  is attached to the shield  108  and the other hinge  112  is attached to the housing  90 . The enclosure  100  also may include a second pair of hinges  114 ,  116  attached to each with a second rigid strap or hinged arm  127 , wherein one hinge  114  is attached to the shield  108  and the other hinge  116  is attached to the housing  90 . The hinges  112  and  116  define a first pivot axis  117  about which the shield  108  may be rotated, revolved, swiveled, or spun to an open operating position outside the enclosure  100  and to a closed storage position inside the housing  90 . The hinges  110  and  114  define a second pivot axis  119  about which the shield  108  may be rotated, revolved, swiveled, or spun to an open and closed position.  
         [0030]    When not being used the shield  108  may be stored inside an interior portion  92  of the housing  90 . In one example, when the access doors  104 ,  106  are closed, the shield  108  may be stored inside the housing  90  behind the access doors  104 ,  106 . The shield  108  may be pivotally movable about the first and second pair of hinges  110 ,  112 ,  114 ,  116  from a storage position inside the interior portion  92  of the housing  90  to an open position wherein the shield  108  is pulled out and swung in an outwardly and upwardly direction and latched at latch point  120 . The hinges  110  and  114  may be attached to the shield  108  by welding, bolts, screws, rivets, clamps, magnets, epoxy, glue, cement, adhesives, and other means of attachment. Similarly, the hinges  112 ,  116  may be attached to the housing  90  by welding, bolts, screws, rivets, clamps, magnets, epoxy, glue, cement, adhesives, and other means of attachment.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 2 is a top view of the enclosure  100  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention with the shield  108  shown deployed in a fixed open and latched position at the latch point  120 . As illustrated therein, the access doors  104 ,  106  are shown in the open position. The shield  108  also is shown in the open position and is fixed to the top portion  118  of the enclosure  100  at the latch point  120  by a fastener attached to the housing  90 . The fastener may comprise, for example, a hook, clasp, clip, catch, hook and eye, stud, and the like. In one embodiment of the present invention the fastener may be a latch for securing the shield  108  to the housing  90 . For example, a hook  130  (see FIGS. 6 and 6A) fixedly attached to the housing  90  that mates with a latch button  124 ,  128  (see FIGS. 4 and 5) fixedly attached to the shield  108  may form a latch for securing the shield  108  to the housing  90 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other types of hardware and fasteners may be used to fix the shield  108  to the open position without departing from the scope of the invention.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 3 is a side view of the enclosure  100  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated therein, the shield  108  is shown deployed in the open and latched position. As discussed above with reference to FIG. 2, the shield  108  may be latched to the top portion  118  of the housing  90  at the latch point  120  comprised of hook  130  and latch buttons  124  and  128 , for example. The shield  108  may be deployed to the open position by first opening the access doors  104 ,  106  and pivoting the shield about both pivot axes  117 ,  119  formed by the hinges  110 ,  112 ,  114 ,  116  in the general direction indicated by arrow  121 . Once the shield  108  is deployed in the open position, it may be secured at the latch point  120  by various hardware or fasteners. Once the shield  108  is deployed in the open position and fixed to the top portion of the housing  90 , the shield  108  may function to protect both the technician and the electronic devices located inside the housing  90  against adverse environmental conditions when the electronic devices are being serviced. The shield  108  may be returned to the storage position inside the housing  90  by pivoting the shield  108  to the closed position by pivoting it about both pivot axes  117 ,  119  in the general direction indicated by arrow  123 . The access doors  104 ,  106  then may be closed.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 3A is a detailed view of the hinge  112  located on either side of the enclosure  100 , for example, for pivotally moving the shield  108  in the open and closed positions according to one embodiment of the present invention. The first end  129  of the hinged arm  125  attaches to the hinge  112  and pivotally moves about that point at the front portion  101  of the enclosure. The second end  131  of the hinged arm  125  pivotally attaches to the shield  108  (not shown) wherein the shield pivotally moves about that point. The hinged arm  127  may be attached to the housing  90  and the shield  108  in a similar manner.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 4 is a top view of the shield  108  showing the top surface  122  and the latch buttons  124 ,  128  extending from the lateral portions  126  thereof according to one embodiment of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the shield  108  may include at least one latch button  124  or a plurality of latch buttons  124  for fixing the shield  108  in the open position. The latch button  124  may be formed as an integral part of the shield  108  or may be fixedly attached thereto by welding, bolts, screws, rivets, clamps, magnets, epoxy, glue, cement, adhesives, and other means of attachment.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 5 is a side view of the shield  108  showing the lateral portion  126  and the latch button  124  according to one embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment of the present invention, the shield  108  may include a first latch button  124  on a first side of the shield  108  and a second latch button  128  on a second side of the shield  108 . Two latch buttons  124 ,  128  may be inserted and engaged with the hook  130  at latch points  120  to removeably attach and hold the shield  108  in the open position once it is deployed. Generally, the latch points  120  may be located on the top portion  118  of the housing  90  or on the sidewall  103  portions thereof without departing from the scope of the invention.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIGS. 6 and 6A illustrate a side view and a top view, respectively, of one embodiment of a hook  130  that may be used to cooperate with and engage the latch buttons  124 ,  128  for removeably attaching the shield  108  to the housing  90  once the shield  108  is deployed in the open position. The hook  130  may include a base portion  132  having flared portions for attaching it to the top portion  118  of the housing  90 . The hook  130  also may include a hook portion  134  for retainingly engaging the latch button  124  and an opening  136  in the form of a notch for receiving the latch button  124  therein. The hook  130  may be formed integrally with the enclosure  100  or may be attached thereto by welding, bolts, screws, rivets, clamps, magnets, epoxy, glue, cement, adhesives, and other means of attachment.  
         [0037]    Accordingly, once the shield  108  is placed in an open position by pivoting the shield  108  in an upward direction indicated by arrow  121 , the shield  108  is engaged in the hook  130  by the latch button  124  and thereby forms the latch point  120 . The latch point  120  maintains the shield  108  in the open position while the technician services the electronic devices located inside the housing  90 . In one embodiment of the present invention, the latch buttons  124 ,  128  may slidingly engage with the hook  130  through an opening  136  in the form of a notch. The hook portion  134  thus retains the shield  108  in the open position and prevents it from closing. To place the shield  108  in its storage position in the interior portion  92  of the housing  90 , the latch buttons  124 ,  128  of the shield  108  are slidingly disengaged out from the opening  136  and the shield  108  is pivotally moved in a downward direction as indicated by arrow  123  about the pivot axes  117 ,  119 . The access doors  104  and  106  are then closed in the direction shown by arrows  113 ,  115  about the pivot axes  105 ,  107 , respectively, over top of the shield  108  and the enclosure  100  may be locked for its normal operating condition.  
         [0038]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the hinges may be fastened to the shield  108 , the hook  130 , and the housing  90  with a variety of means of attachment including but not limited to welding, adhesively securing with epoxy, glue, cement, adhesives, and other means of attachment. The hinges also may be fastened to the shield  108 , the hook  130 , and the housing  90  with a variety of hardware and fasteners such as screws, nuts, bolts, rivets, clamps, and magnets, and other means of attachment.  
         [0039]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the shield  108  may be formed from any suitable engineering material such as metal, alloy, plastic, or ceramic used in the fabrication of machinery, machinery components, structural shapes, tools, instruments, and other items. Their hardness, strength, machinability, dimensional stability, nonflammability, and resistance to corrosion, acids, solvents, and heat may characterize the properties of such suitable engineering materials. Examples of such suitable engineering materials include but are not limited to: metals and alloys such as aluminum, beryllium, brass, bronze, cast iron, copper, lead, magnesium, steel, tantalum, zinc, zirconium, and various other trademarked alloys; ceramics such as glass and porcelain; and plastics such as ABS resin, acetal resin, acrylic resin, fluorocarbon polymer, nylon, phenolformaldehyde resin, polybutilene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyethylene, polyphenylene oxide, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, reinforced plastics (FRP), and ureaformaldehyde resin. The shield also may be formed from any of the engineering materials recited above, and/or any combinations thereof, with appropriate coatings adequate to withstand outdoor environmental conditions. In one embodiment of the present invention, for example, the shield may be formed of G 90  galvanized steel having a durable finish coating, such as a polyurethane powder coating. In other embodiments of the present invention, the shield may be formed from light-weight materials and also may be formed from non-electrically-conductive materials.  
         [0040]    Although the shield  108  is generally depicted throughout the various views as having a rectangular shape, the present invention is not intended to be limited to shields  108  having a rectangular shape. For example, the shield  108  may be formed from a variety of shapes suitable for performing the intended function of shielding the technician and/or the electronic devices from environmental conditions as described above.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of the enclosure  300  in accordance with the present invention including a shield  108  comprising at least a first side wing  150  pivotally attached thereto by a first hinge  152 . The enclosure  300  also may include a housing  90  having a shield  108  that includes a second side wing  154  pivotally attached thereto by a second hinge  156 . The wings  150 ,  154  also may include first and second wing catches  158 ,  160 , respectively, for retainingly securing the wings  150 ,  154  to the access doors  106 ,  104 , respectively, when the wings  150 ,  154  are deployed in the open position. The first and second wing catches  158 ,  160  may be attached to the first and second doors  104 ,  106 , respectively, of the housing  90  using a variety of means of attachment including but not limited to welding, adhesively securing with epoxy, glue, cement, adhesives, and other means of attachment. The wings  150 ,  154  also may be attached to the doors  106 ,  104 , respectively, with a variety of hardware and fasteners such as screws, nuts, bolts, rivets, clamps, and magnets, and other means of attachment.  
         [0042]    The first and second wings  150 ,  154  may be fully retracted inside the housing  90  when not in use. The enclosure  300  also may include one or more rest stops with catches  162  secured to the side portions  164  of the housing  290 . The rest stops  162  operate to prevent the shield  108  and the first and second wings  150 ,  152  from swinging all the way inside the housing  90  when placed in the storage position in the interior portion  92  of the enclosure  90 .  
         [0043]    In one embodiment of the present invention, the shield  108  may be attached to the housing  90  with a first hinged arm  125  and in another embodiment, the shield may be attached to the housing  90  with a second hinged arm  127  or a plurality of hinged arms. As described previously, the hinged arm  125  may include a first hinges  112  at one end to pivotally attach the hinged arm  125  to the housing  90 . The first hinged arm  125  also may include a second hinge  110  to pivotally attach the hinged arm  125  to the shield  108 . Likewise, the second hinged arm  127  also may include the first and second hinges  116  and  114  to pivotally attach the second hinged arm  127  to the housing  90  and the shield  108 , respectively.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 8 is a side view of the enclosure  300  showing the shield  108  and the wing  150  deployed in the open position and the access door  106  in the open position according to one embodiment of the present invention. The wing  150  is attached to the first wing catch  158 . As described previously, on one end the shield  108  is pivotally attached to the hinge arm  125  with hinge  110  and on the other end the hinge arm  125  is pivotally attached to the housing  90  with hinge  112 . The wing  150  is shown latched to the wing catch  158  to keep from moving. The shield  108  is shown removeably attached to the latch point  120  by means of the hook  130  and latch button  124 .  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 9 is a top view of the enclosure  300  with the shield  108  and the wings  150 ,  154  deployed in the open position according to one embodiment of the present invention. The hooks  130  and the latch buttons  124 ,  128  may be used to removeably latch the shield  108  to the top portion  118  of the housing  90 . The access doors  104 ,  106  are in the open position and the wings  150 ,  154  are removeably attached to the access doors  106 ,  104 , respectively, to support the wings  150 ,  154  and keep them from moving while deployed in the open position.  
         [0046]    Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that many modifications and variations of the present invention may be implemented without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, although the various components of the invention may be modified and varied, the foregoing description and the following claims are intended to cover all such modifications and variations. Furthermore, the materials and processes disclosed are illustrative, but are not exhaustive. Other materials and processes also may be used to make devices embodying the present invention.