Abstract:
Provided herein are urinals which are of a splash-free design to the user. A urinal according to the invention comprises a splash wall and a special collection pocket design which reduces splashing and enables a minimum amount of water to be necessary for completely flushing the units, typically less than two ounces of water.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This invention relates generally to the convenient disposal of human waste. More particularly, it relates to devices useful for disposing of liquid human waste, including especially, the urine of male subjects. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Devices designed to collect and dispose of liquid human wastes such as urine have existed for quite some time. Typically, such devices comprise a large volume into which the subject directs their urine stream, which volume is large enough to conveniently accommodate persons of different heights and weights, ranging from small children to full-grown adults. It is fairly well known to members of the public who have ever visited a public restroom, that one relieves themselves into the urinal, and subsequently flushes the urinal by actuating a valve. In alternate embodiments, the valves are automatically actuated, such as by an electric eye sensor, and in other embodiments a manifold continuously admits rinsewater into a urinal trough. In a general sense, urinals have two main drawbacks. First, their design most commonly enables spattering of the urine stream of the user, which frequently causes droplets of urine to contact the urinating subject&#39;s shoes, hands, clothing, and other apparel. For cases where the clothing or apparel is of light color, this spattering can be embarrassing, since when wetted, light-colored clothing tends to darken. Even small amounts of spattered urine can darken clothing, around the genital area. If a urinal were available which effectively prevented spattering, such a device would undoubtedly be welcomed by industry, provided it can be manufactured at a competitive cost. 
         [0003]    Another drawback of conventional urinals and toilets is that they consume relatively large amounts of water. Given that the average male urinates on the order of about five times per day, a flush volume of 3.2 gallons for standard toilets consumes about 15 gallons of fresh water per male per day. Even a typical urinal uses approximately 1.0 gallons per flush. Thus, given the fact that water resources are becoming ever more scarce as populations increase, it would be highly desirable to have at hand a urinal which could flush, that requires less than 8 ounces of water per flush. If incorporated into homes, hotels, and industry, the potential water savings from such a device to municipal and private water supplies would be enormous. 
         [0004]    The present invention provides urinals which are able to be flushed with as low of a volume of flush water as two ounces. In addition, the urinals of this invention are of such a design that they are splash-free to the user. In addition, the urinals of the invention are of such a construction so as to render them easy to maintain and clean, of high durability, and inherently vandalism resistant. By their simplistic, yet functional design, they are of sufficiently low cost to manufacture and install (even in retrofit situations) that they may easily replace conventional urinals and open new markets for home use, since their water savings easily pays for a unit according to the invention itself. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In one embodiment, the present invention provides a urinal device useful for collecting and directing urine to a sewer. The urinal has an overall height dimension and comprises a body portion having an upper edge portion, a lower edge portion, a right side portion, a left side portion, an outer surface, and an inner surface. There is also a substantially-planar top portion attached to the upper edge of the body portion, and a substantially-planar bottom portion attached to the lower edge of the body portion. The body portion and the top and bottom portions collectively comprising a sub-assembly having a volume resident within its interior, and the body portion further comprises a slot disposed through its outer surface. In one embodiment, the slot has its longest length dimension disposed to be parallel to the overall height of said urinal. There is a splash wall having a longest length dimension, a lower end, an upper end, a right edge, a left edge, and an inner surface. The splash wall is attached to the inner surface of the body portion at the right edge and left edge portions of the splash wall, and the length dimension of the splash wall is preferably greater than the height dimension of the slot. There is further a floor portion attached to the inner surface of the body portion and the lower end of the splash wall, so as to define a pocket at the lower end of the splash wall, The floor portion comprises a discharge hole disposed through its surface, and there is a trap having an inlet and an outlet, with the inlet of the trap being attached to the discharge hole. In one embodiment, there are a plurality of braces, each having a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein each of the braces are effectively mechanically attached to the right edge and left edge portions of the body. There is also a means for delivering rinse water to be impingent upon the inner surface of the splash wall at a point within about 75 millimeters from the upper end of the splash wall, either above or below the upper end of the splash wall. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    In the Annexed drawings, 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  shows a front perspective view of a urinal according to one form of the invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  shows a front view of a urinal according to one form of the invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  shows a rear perspective view of a urinal according to one form of the invention as seen from a bottom portion orientation; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  shows a rear perspective view of a urinal according to one form of the invention as seen from a top portion orientation; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5A  shows a perspective view of a splash wall element according to one embodiment of the invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5B  shows a cross-sectional view of a splash wall element according to one embodiment of the invention; 
           [0013]      FIGS. 5C-5F  show cross-sectional views of splash wall elements according to alternative embodiments of the invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  shows a rear perspective view of a sub-assembly useful in constructing a urinal according to one embodiment of the invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of a urinal according to one embodiment of the invention as seen from a top portion orientation; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  shows a side cutaway view of a urinal according to one embodiment of the invention attached to a wall; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  shows a side cutaway view of a urinal according to an alternate embodiment of the invention attached to a wall; 
           [0018]      FIG. 10A  shows an optional deflector plate useful in the construction of a urinal according to one embodiment of the invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 10B  shows a deflector plate useful in the construction of a urinal according to another embodiment of the invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  shows a cross-sectional view of a splash wall according to one alternate embodiment of the invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 12  shows a cross-sectional view of a splash wall according to another alternate embodiment of the invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 13  shows a cross-sectional view of a splash wall according to another alternate embodiment of the invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 14  shows a cross sectional view as viewed from the top of the urinal shown in  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    Referring to the drawings, and initially to  FIG. 1  there is shown a front perspective view of a urinal  10  according to one form of the invention. A urinal according to this embodiment comprises a body portion  1  which is contoured to have a substantially u-shaped outer surface, as viewed from above, and comprises an upper edge  116  and a lower edge  118 . The body portion  1  comprises a substantially u-shaped piece of stock, such as stainless steel, porcelain-enameled steel, cement, etc. There is a substantially rectangular slot  7  centrally located and disposed through the body portion, wherein said slot has an upper edge  112  and a lower edge  114 . The slot  7  has a height h, which may be any dimension in the range of between about 100 and 800 millimeters, and is preferably between about 200 and 500 millimeters, with a height h of 400 millimeters being most preferred. The slot  7  has a width Ws, which may be any dimension in the range of between about 25 and 200 millimeters, and is preferably between about 50 and 150 millimeters, with a width Ws of about 65 millimeters being most preferred. The slot  7  enables access to a splash wall  9 , itself having features and function as later described herein. There is also a top portion  3 , which may be comprised of the aforesaid materials, which is shaped in this embodiment in the substantial form of a trapezoid, having rounded corners that enable the perimeter of the top portion  3  to coincide with the upper edge  116  of the main body portion  1 , to which said top portion  3  is affixed by conventional means, including welding, rivets, screws and other fasteners, adhesives and the like. There is also a bottom portion  5 , having substantially identical features to the top portion  3 , which are more clearly visible in  FIG. 4 . Each of the top portion  3  and bottom portion  5  include a flat edge along their perimeter, which renders the urinal  10  as a whole to be mountable to a flat surface, including without limitation, a flat surface such as a wall surface. In one preferred embodiment, the body portion  1 , top portion  3 , and bottom portion  5  are of singular construction, for example being comprised of concrete or any curable resin (including epoxies, polyolefins, thermoplastic resins, thermoset resins) that is made by a conventional molding process. Also depicted in  FIG. 1  is the overall height OH of a urinal according to the invention. 
         [0025]      FIG. 2  shows a front view of a urinal  10  according to one form of the invention, showing the respective locations of the body portion  1 , slot  7 , and splash wall  9 . A lo sectional view of one embodiment is shown in  FIG. 14 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 3  shows a rear perspective view of a urinal according to one form of the invention as seen from a bottom portion orientation. In this  FIG. 3  are shown the respective locations and connection of the various elements of the device of this embodiment, including the body portion  1 , top portion  3 , and bottom portion  5 . There are also braces  11 ,  13  each having holes  17 ,  15  , which may alternatively be slotted holes, which are useful in affixing a urinal  10  according to the invention to a flat surface, as mentioned, using conventional fastening means (not shown). The braces  11 ,  13  each comprise a first end portion and a second end portion, which are affixed to opposite ends of the body portion  1 , as shown. The location and contour of the splash wall  9  is shown, and in one embodiment comprises a substantially u-shaped piece of stock, such as stainless steel, porcelain-enameled steel, cement, etc. The splash wall  9  has an upper end portion  122 , a lower end portion  120 , a right edge portion RE, and a left edge portion LE. At the lower end portion  120  of the splash wall  9  there is a floor portion  25 , whose perimeter is shaped to have a curved portion and a flat portion. The curved perimeter portion of the floor portion  25  is shaped sufficiently to render the floor portion  25  to be suitable for attachment to the lower end portion  120  of the splash wall  9 , along a seam that is shown having a shape of an arc, forming a water-tight seal between the curved portion of the perimeter of the floor portion and the lower edge  120  of the splash wall  9 . The floor portion  25  also includes a flat portion, which enables the floor portion to be attached to the inside surface  124  of the body portion  1 , forming a water-tight seal. The floor portion  25  is thus attached to both the body portion  1 , at the flat portion of its perimeter, and the splash wall  9  at the curved portion of its perimeter. The flat portion of the perimeter of the floor portion  25  is attached to the body portion at a point which is beneath the lower edge  114  of the opening of the slot  7  as shown in  FIG. 1 , thus creating a pocket  124  ( FIG. 7 ) beneath the lower edge  114  of the slot  7  ( FIG. 1 ), which pocket is defined by a portion of the inner surface  224  of the body  1 , a portion of the splash wall  9 , and the floor portion  25 . By gravity, a urine stream aimed into the slot  7  is caused to reside in the pocket  124 , until it is flushed away by a flush operation. 
         [0027]    The floor portion  25  is preferably comprised of a substantially half-moon shaped piece of stock, such as stainless steel, porcelain-enameled steel, cement, etc. The floor portion  25 , body portion  1 , top portion  3 , splash wall  9  and bottom portion  5  may all be collectively of a singular construction, made of materials aforesaid, and produced by a conventional molding process. In an alternate embodiment, the braces  11  and  13  are also part of such a singular construction of the urinal  10 . 
         [0028]    The floor portion  25  further comprises an discharge hole  45  ( FIG. 7 ) disposed through it, to enable urine and rinse water to exit the urinal  10  upon a flushing operation. Attached to the discharge hole  45 , and shown in  FIG. 3  is a trap  19 , itself having an effluent hole  21  which acts as the outlet of the trap  19 , to which conventional drain plumbing is attached prior to use of the urinal  10 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 4  shows a rear perspective view of a urinal according to one form of the invention as seen from a more top portion orientation to show the upper end  122  of the splash wall  9  in one finished form of a urinal according to the invention. In this  FIG. 4  are also shown the respective locations and connection of the various elements of the device of this embodiment, including the body portion  1 , top portion  3 , and bottom portion  5 . There are also braces  11 ,  13  each having holes  17 ,  15  which are useful in enabling a urinal  10  according to the invention to be affixed to a flat surface, as mentioned, using conventional fastening means (not shown). At the upper end  122  of the splash wall  9  is an opening  23 , through which a discharge end  126  ( FIG. 8 ) of a rinse water supply conduit may be admitted or directed, which enables rinse water to traverse the inner surface of the splash wall  9 , by gravity, and finally reside or rinse away urine contained in the pocket  124  ( FIG. 7 ). Also shown in  FIG. 4  are the respective locations of the trap  19 , and its effluent hole  21 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 5A  shows a perspective view of a splash wall  9  according to one embodiment of the invention, which in its simplest form comprises a piece of stainless steel sheet stock having a longest length dimension L s , and a thickness of any value within the range of between about 0.1 mm to about 25 mm. However, the thickness may be greater depending upon the materials of construction, as in the cases when cement or resins are used in a molding process.  FIG. 5A  shows the right edge RE and left edge LE.  FIG. 5A  also shows grooves  49 , which may be cast or machined into the inner surface of the splash wall  9 , on its inner surface  229 , for the purpose of eliminating or controlling the tendency of a urine stream to creep to the right or left during use, as later described in more detail. The grooves  49  may be have any shape, but are preferably linear and parallel to one another. In another embodiment, the grooves are machined in a swirling pattern, as shown. The grooves  49  may traverse the entire length of the interior surface of the splash wall  9 , or may traverse only a portion of it. They may be horizontally-disposed, vertically-disposed, or diagonally-disposed, or any combination of these orientations. Since the grooves operate in conjunction with the areas adjacent to them which are of different relief, it is therefore functionally equivalent to substitute protrusions or lines of higher relief on the inner surface of the splash wall, to achieve the same effect. Thus, the grooves  49 , within the scope of this specification, can also comprise lines or areas of higher relief than the inner surface of the splash wall  9  having the geometries and being disposed similarly to the embodiments when the grooves  49  are lower in relief than the inner surface of the splash wall  9 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 5B  shows a cross-sectional view of a splash wall  9  element according to the embodiment of  FIG. 5A . However, the present invention shall not be construed as being limited with regards to this configuration of splash wall  9 .  FIGS. 5C-5F ,  11 ,  12 ,  13  show cross-sectional views of splash wall elements according to alternative embodiments of the invention, which are readily made by bending steel, when it is used as a material of construction, or by a molding process when resins or cement are employed. 
         [0032]    For clarity,  FIG. 6  shows a rear perspective view of a sub-assembly useful in constructing a urinal according to one embodiment of the invention, which sub-assembly comprises the body portion  1  having its slot  7 , and further including the top portion  3  and bottom portion  5 . These elements collectively define a volume V, resident within the confines of these elements. Without limiting the generality of possible means for assembly of a urinal according to the invention, one means for production of a urinal according to the invention is to provide the sub-assembly of  FIG. 6 , and then attach the splash wall  9  of  FIG. 5A  as shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , and next attaching a floor portion  25  to the lower end  120  of the splash wall  9  as also shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 . The braces  11 ,  13  may next be attached, which provide increased structural integrity, as well as mounting capability. The trap is attached to the discharge hole  45  in the floor portion  25 , and connected to a drain line. A rinse water means is provided to be dispensed at the upper end  122  of the splash wall, and the urinal is attached to a wall and ready for use. 
         [0033]      FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of a urinal according to one embodiment of the invention as seen from a top portion orientation, such as by a user approaching the urinal. In this  FIG. 7  there is shown the respective locations of the body portion  1 , slot  7 , pocket  124 , floor portion  25 , top portion  3 , and discharge hole  45 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 8  shows a side cutaway view of a urinal  10  according to one embodiment of the invention  10  attached to a wall W. In this  FIG. 8  are shown the respective locations of the various elements of the invention, including the body portion  1 , top portion  3 , bottom portion  5 , slot  7 , splash wall  9 , floor portion  25 , discharge hole  45 , and trap  19 . The opening  23  is shown, and in this embodiment further includes an optional roof  28 , similar to the floor portion  25 , which may or may not seal the space defined by the splash wall  9  and body portion  1  at the upper edge  112  of the slot from the surroundings. When a roof  28  is employed, it preferably comprises a hole disposed through it which enables the discharge end  126  of a flush feed conduit  37  to pass through it. Although the flush feed conduit  37  is shown in  FIG. 8  as being a straight pipe, those skilled in the art immediately recognize that any conventional means for delivering rinse water in this regard are useful as an element of a urinal according to the present invention. This includes, without limitation, “flush rings”, which are well-known circular conduit manifolds of the shape of a donut or the like, having a plurality of holes disposed through its walls from which water may exit. In any event, the rinse water conduit  37  is oriented to enable water that is discharged from it to impinge on the surface of the splash wall  9 , to wash the splash wall  9  of any urine. In an alternate embodiment, the discharge end  126  of the flush feed conduit  37  is disposed at a point that is above the upper end portion of said splash wall  9 . 
         [0035]    In one preferred embodiment, there is disposed at the upper end  120  of the splash wall a deflector plate  29 , to which the rinse water emanating from the discharge end  126  of the flush feed conduit  37  is directed to impinge upon. The deflector plate  29  causes rinse water striking it to be deflected in all directions, to ensure more widespread and complete coverage in rinsing of the rinse water on the inner surface  229  of the splash wall  9 . 
         [0036]    Flushing is accomplished, in this embodiment, by depressing a button  31  which moves rod  33  to actuate the opening of a valve  35  via a cam lever  36 . This enables rinse water from supply S to pass through feed line  39  in the direction of the arrows indicated, to flush feed conduit  37 , and ultimately onto the splash wall  9 . Rinse water and urine then enter the pocket  124 , pass through the discharge hole  45 , trap  19 , and finally exit the urinal  10  via the effluent line  41  in the direction shown for the discharge D. Various valves are known to be suitable for use in flushing urinals to those of ordinary skill in the plumbing arts. What is described above is but one possible means for delivering rinse water to a urinal according to the invention, to be impingent upon the inner surface of the splash wall  9  near its upper end portion, to flush residual urine from the inner surface of the splash wall  9 . It is preferable that the rinse water be discharged from the flush feed conduit  37  at its discharge end  126  at a point which is within about  75  millimeters from the upper end  122  of the splash wall, either above of beneath the upper end  122 . Other valves suitable for use include without limitation foot valves, lever valves, standard lavatory faucet valves, gate valves, ballcock valves, etc., with the only proviso being that the valve must be actuable by the user or an electric eye sensor, motion detector, etc. to deliver a constant or pre-metered amount of flush water. When a deflector plate  29  is employed, the stream of rinse water is preferably directed to a point that is at or near the approximate center of the deflector plate  29 . 
         [0037]    The pocket  124  has contours which are defined by the floor portion  25 , the splash wall  9 , and the inner surface  224  of the body  1 . As shown, the floor portion  25  is disposed at a location that is below that of the lower edge  114  of the slot  7 . In  FIG. 8 , the distance between the lower edge  114  of the slot  7  and the uppermost part of the floor portion  25  is shown as the dimension T. The distance T is a measurement of the height of the pocket  124  and this height is preferably in the range of between about 75 and 250 millimeters, as measured from the highest point of the floor portion  25  to the lower edge  114  of the slot  7 , is more preferably between about 100 and 150 millimeters, and is most preferably about 150 millimeters.  FIG. 8  also shows an optional lip  27  disposed at the lower edge  114  of the slot  7 , for the purpose of catching extraneous drops of urine of a user. According to one embodiment of the invention, the bottom of the pocket  124  does not coincide substantially with the bottom of the urinal as a whole, i.e., the bottom portion  5  of the body  1 , but rather is elevated therefrom. 
         [0038]      FIG. 9  shows a side cutaway view of a urinal according to an alternate embodiment of the invention attached to a wall, and in this  FIG. 9  all the elements and their respective locations are identical to that shown in  FIG. 8 , with the exception that the floor portion  25  in this embodiment is conically-shaped, as opposed to being flat as was shown earlier. In addition, an alternate contour for the cross sectional contour of the optional lip  27  is shown. 
         [0039]    As mentioned, the invention includes the use of an optional deflector plate  29  disposed in the vicinity of the upper edge  120  of the splash wall  9 , to disperse rinse water to enable the rinse to more completely rinse the splash wall  9 . In  FIG. 10A  there is shown an overhead view of an optional deflector plate  29  useful in the construction of a urinal according to one embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment of the deflector plate  29 , the deflector plate is contoured to substantially coincide with the contour of the splash wall, as viewed in cross section, and includes a plurality of voids  43  disposed around a portion of the perimeter of the deflector plate  29 . An alternate embodiment is shown in  FIG. 10B , wherein the deflector plate  29  comprises a smooth contour around its entire perimeter. 
         [0040]      FIG. 11  shows a cross-sectional view of a splash wall  9  according to one alternate embodiment of the invention, as viewed from above. In this  FIG. 11 , a urine stream entering the urinal and striking the splash wall  9  as shown by the arrows i, will be deflected in a manner which tends to result in the urine flow moving sideways in directions X 1  and X 2  by kinetic and laminar flow properties related to surface tension. Left to itself, upon sufficient force and depending upon the dimensions of the splash wall  9 , it is often possible for the urine to traverse and exit the splash wall from the sides, and even wrap around the edges of the splash wall  9  so that liquid exists at points Q 1  and Q 2 , where it is certainly not wanted. To preclude the possibility of such an occurrence, the present invention provides discontinuities  47  at the terminal edge portions of the splash wall  9 . These discontinuities, along with the grooves  49  previously described, function as a means for containing urine admitted to the urinal  10  within the confines of the space defined by the splash wall  9 , inner surface  224  of the body  1 , floor portion  25 , and roof  28  when present. Essentially, there needs to be a sufficient disruption or obstruction to the sideways or lateral flow of urine, to preclude its possession of enough kinetic energy to overcome the confining walls internal to the urinal itself.  FIG. 11  shows embodiments of means for containing urine within the urinal of the invention, and  FIGS. 12 ,  13  depict alternate embodiments of such means for containing urine within the urinal. These figures also show the optional lip  27 , which is instrumental in catching droplets of urine which sometimes occur at the end of the urination of an incontinent person, which lip directs such droplets into the pocket  124  ( FIG. 7 ). 
         [0041]      FIG. 14  shows a cross sectional cutaway view as viewed from the top of the urinal shown in  FIG. 2 . By its design, a urinal according to the invention inherently includes a means for containing the urine  47 , by virtue of the way in which the splash wall  9  intersects with the inner surface  224  of the body  1 . Thus, as shown in  FIG. 14 , a complete urinal according to a preferred embodiment of the invention has a substantially flat front portion F, right side wall portion S 2 , left side wall portion S 1 , a right edge portion E R  and a left edge portion E L , wherein the right end and left end portions terminate at points to enable the device as a whole to be mountable to a planar surface M at its rear, such that said slot  7  is substantially parallel to a wall to which a urinal according to this embodiment is affixed. 
         [0042]    During use, a male subject approaches the urinal and may cause a portion of the penis, including its discharge end, to exist within the slot  7  at a location between the inner surface  224  of the body  1 , and the inner surface of the splash wall  229 , such as at point Z. Emission of a urine stream from a penis so disposed in a direction of the arrow I causes the urine to strike the inner surface  229  of the splash wall  9 . The distance from the location at which the discharge end of a penis is disposed and the inner surface  229  of the splash wall is such that the urine stream from most males possesses enough kinetic force that it is not breaking into droplets, as occurs in other urinals from whose splash wall the user is necessarily by design distanced sufficiently that their urine stream is caused to break up, which results in destructive wave interference within the stream and at the point it strikes conventional splash walls, resulting in large amounts of splashing and sometimes backspray to the user, which can stain light clothing in the genital area and be potentially embarrassing in office settings and the like. Use of the present invention avoids and eliminates these difficulties by its design, and results in essentially no spattering or spraying the user with their own urine stream. In a preferred embodiment the distance from the front surface F of the body portion  1  to the rear R of the splash wall  9  is any dimension in the range of between about 35 and 200 millimeters, and is more preferably between about 60 and 120 millimeters, with a distance of about 88 millimeters being most preferred. Additionally, the trap  19  is dimensioned so that it passes a steel ball of 0.750″ I diameter, and the trap contains a liquid volume of just 30 milliliters, at equilibrium, when installed in a level position. This volume of the trap  19 , combined with the design features of a urinal of the present invention, results in a urinal that can be completely flushed, using as little as 30 milliliters of water, although a 60 milliliter flush is more preferable. The features of being able to be flushed with such a minimal volume of flush water, combined with the splash-free design, provide urinals according to the invention which are capable of functions that no other devices in the prior art are capable, while embodying a design which is aesthetically pleasing, of relatively low cost to produce, easy to maintain and clean, of high durability, and inherently vandalism resistant. 
         [0043]    Consideration must be given to the fact that although this invention has been described and disclosed in relation to certain preferred embodiments, obvious equivalent modifications and alterations thereof will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in this art upon reading and understanding this specification and the claims appended hereto. This includes subject matter defined by any combination of any one of the various claims appended hereto with any one or more of the remaining claims, including the incorporation of the features and/or limitations of any dependent claim, singly or in combination with features and/or limitations of any one or more of the other dependent claims, with features and/or limitations of any one or more of the independent claims, with the remaining dependent claims in their original text being read and applied to any independent claims so modified. This also includes combination of the features and/or limitations of one or more of the independent claims with features and/or limitations of another independent claims to arrive at a modified independent claim, with the remaining dependent claims in their original text being read and applied to any independent claim so modified. Accordingly, the presently disclosed invention is intended to cover all such modifications and alterations, and is limited only by the scope of the claims which follow.