Abstract:
A bottom fillable espresso cartridge base and apparatus and method for filling and plugging the bottom of the espresso cartridge base. The espresso cartridge base includes an open bottom and a press in bottom plug. The top of the espresso cartridge may be sealed by a foil lid or the like, or be open and an adhesive attachable lid may be included for attachment by a user. A first method utilizes a hand held multi-function tool including a cartridge holder with a holder lid to capture the espresso cartridge, and a bottom tamper and plug seating arm. A second method utilizes a stationary base residing on a flat surface, a cartridge holder to retain cartridges on the base, and individual tools to fill and tamp brewing material in the cartridge, and to attach the bottom plug to the cartridge.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is a Continuation In Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/187,444 filed Jun. 20, 2016, which application is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to brewed beverages and in particular to espresso cartridges. 
         [0003]    Espresso beverages are made by forcing high pressure water through tightly packed, finely ground coffee. The ground coffee is contained in a holder commonly called a “portafilter” or into an espresso cartridge. High-pressure water is forced through the ground coffee and beverage is extracted in small, concentrated amounts. Many espresso drinkers prefer the simplicity of using the espresso cartridges, but are limited in the selection of ground coffee to varieties available in the pre-packaged espresso cartridges, and the cost of a single cartridge. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention addresses the above and other needs by a bottom fillable espresso cartridge base and apparatus and method for filling and plugging the bottom of the espresso cartridge base. The espresso cartridge base includes an open bottom and a press in bottom plug. The top of the espresso cartridge may be sealed by a foil lid or the like, or be open and an adhesive attachable lid may be included for attachment by a user. A first method utilizes a hand held multi-function tool including a cartridge holder with a holder lid to capture the espresso cartridge, and a bottom tamper and plug seating arm. A second method utilizes a stationary base residing on a flat surface, a cartridge holder to retain cartridges on the base, and individual tools to fill and tamp brewing material in the cartridge, and to attach the bottom plug to the cartridge. 
         [0005]    In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a fillable espresso cartridge. The espresso cartridge includes a cartridge base having frustoconical shaped walls, an open bottom, and a sealed top or an open top and sealing material, and a bottom plug attachable to the bottom of the cartridge base. The base is shaped like known espresso cartridges having a frustoconical shape with the top diameter larger than the bottom diameter. After filling through the bottom, the plug is pressed into the bottom of the cartridge base to complete the espresso cartridge. The plug may include preformed ports for releasing brewed espresso, or weakened areas may be provided in the plug which seal the espresso cartridge after construction and rupture during use. 
         [0006]    In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a hand held tool and method for constructing an espresso cartridge. The tool includes a frame including a cartridge holder configured to hold the espresso cartridge base with the open smaller cartridge base bottom aligned with an open mouth, and a tamper/seater pivotally attached to the frame and including a tamper insertable into the mouth when the tamper/seater is pivoted. The method includes inserting a frustoconical shaped cartridge base into a cartridge holder, an open cartridge base bottom first into the cartridge holder, the cartridge base bottom diameter smaller than a cartridge base top opposite to the cartridge base bottom, closing a lid to retain the cartridge base in the cartridge holder, scooping a portion of untamped brewing material through a holder mouth and the smaller cartridge base bottom of the cartridge, leveling the untamped brewing material in the holder mouth and cartridge base, pressing a tamping plunger through the holder mouth and into the cartridge holder, tamping the untamped brewing material completely into the cartridge base, withdrawing the tamper piston from the holder mouth, placing a bottom plug into the holder mouth and against the smaller cartridge base bottom of the cartridge base, seating the bottom plug in the smaller base bottom of the cartridge, and removing the finished cartridge from the cartridge holder. 
         [0007]    In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a counter top tool and method for constructing an espresso cartridge. The tool includes a tool base configured to reside on a generally horizontal surface, a cartridge seat having locking features on the tool base, a cartridge lock configured to engage the locking features to retain a cartridge base on the cartridge seat and including a mouth aligned with the open cartridge base bottom of the cartridge base, a scoop configured to measure a single serving of brewing material, a funnel insertable into the mouth of the mouth of the cartridge lock to facilitate pouring the single serving of brewing material into the mouth and cartridge base, a tamper for tamping the single serving of brewing material in the cartridge base, and a seating tool for seating the bottom plug in the open cartridge base bottom of the cartridge base. The method includes the steps of placing a frustoconical shaped brewing cartridge base onto a cartridge seat of a tool base, a closed cartridge base top against the cartridge seat, the cartridge base top having a larger diameter than an open cartridge base bottom opposite the cartridge base top, attaching a cartridge lock to the tool base to retain the cartridge base against the tool base, scooping a portion of brewing material, leveling the brewing material in the scoop, pouring the brewing material through a mouth of the cartridge lock and the open bottom end of the cartridge base, into the cartridge base, tamping the untamped brewing material into the cartridge base, placing a bottom plug into the cartridge holder against the small end of the cartridge, seating the bottom plug into the cartridge base, and removing the finished cartridge from the tool. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0008]    The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  shows a bottom isometric view of a cartridge according to the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2A  shows a top isometric view of the cartridge according to the present invention with the cartridge base top open. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2B  shows a top isometric view of the cartridge according to the present invention with the cartridge base top closed. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3A  shows a side view of the cartridge according to the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3B  shows a top view of the cartridge according to the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3C  shows a bottom view of the cartridge according to the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  shows a cross-sectional view of the cartridge according to the present invention taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3A . 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  shows a top isometric view of a cartridge base according to the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  shows a bottom isometric view of the cartridge base according to the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7A  shows a side view of the cartridge base according to the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7B  shows a top view of the cartridge base according to the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7C  shows a bottom view of the cartridge base according to the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  shows a cross-sectional view of the cartridge base according to the present invention taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7A . 
           [0022]      FIG. 9A  shows a side view of a bottom plug according to the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 9B  shows a top view of the bottom plug according to the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 9C  shows a bottom view of the bottom plug according to the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  shows a cross-sectional view of the bottom plug according to the present invention taken along line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 9A . 
           [0026]      FIG. 11  shows a detailed top isometric view of the bottom plug according to the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 12  shows a detailed cross-sectional view of the bottom plug according to the present invention taken along line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 9A . 
           [0028]      FIG. 13  shows a detailed bottom isometric view of the bottom plug according to the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 14A  shows a first isometric view of a hand held tool according to the present invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 14B  shows a second isometric view of the hand held tool according to the present invention. 
           [0031]      FIG. 14C  shows a third isometric view of the hand held tool according to the present invention. 
           [0032]      FIG. 14D  shows a fourth isometric view of the hand held tool according to the present invention. 
           [0033]      FIG. 15  shows an isometric view of a frame of the hand held tool according to the present invention. 
           [0034]      FIG. 16A  shows a side view of the frame of the hand held tool according to the present invention. 
           [0035]      FIG. 16B  shows a top view of the frame of the hand held tool according to the present invention. 
           [0036]      FIG. 16C  shows a bottom view of the frame of the hand held tool according to the present invention. 
           [0037]      FIG. 16D  shows a rear view of the frame of the hand held tool according to the present invention. 
           [0038]      FIG. 16E  shows a front view of the frame of the hand held tool according to the present invention. 
           [0039]      FIG. 17A  shows a first isometric view of a tamper/seater of the hand held tool according to the present invention. 
           [0040]      FIG. 17B  shows a second isometric view of a tamper/seater of the hand held tool according to the present invention. 
           [0041]      FIG. 18A  shows a side view of a tamper/seater of the hand held tool according to the present invention. 
           [0042]      FIG. 18B  shows a rear view of a tamper/seater of the hand held tool according to the present invention. 
           [0043]      FIG. 19A  shows a first isometric view of a counter top tool according to the present invention. 
           [0044]      FIG. 19B  shows a second isometric view of the counter top tool according to the present invention. 
           [0045]      FIG. 20A  shows a tool base of the counter top tool according to the present invention. 
           [0046]      FIG. 20B  shows a second view of the tool base of the counter top tool according to the present invention 
           [0047]      FIG. 20C  shows a tool base of the counter top tool according to the present invention with a cartridge lock according to the present invention attached to the tool base. 
           [0048]      FIG. 21A  shows a side view of a funnel according to the present invention. 
           [0049]      FIG. 21B  shows an isometric view of the funnel according to the present invention. 
           [0050]      FIG. 21C  shows a top view of the funnel according to the present invention. 
           [0051]      FIG. 21D  shows a bottom view of the funnel according to the present invention. 
           [0052]      FIG. 22  shows an isometric view of the cartridge lock according to the present invention. 
           [0053]      FIG. 23A  shows a side view of the cartridge lock according to the present invention. 
           [0054]      FIG. 23B  shows a side view of the cartridge lock according to the present invention rotated 90 degrees. 
           [0055]      FIG. 23C  shows a top view of the cartridge lock according to the present invention. 
           [0056]      FIG. 23D  shows a bottom view of the cartridge lock according to the present invention. 
           [0057]      FIG. 24  shows a cross-sectional view of the cartridge lock according to the present invention taken along line  24 - 24  of  FIG. 23C . 
           [0058]      FIG. 25A  shows a scoop and tamper tool according to the present invention with a leveling fork according to the present invention retracted. 
           [0059]      FIG. 25B  shows the scoop and tamper tool according to the present invention with the leveling fork according to the present invention extended. 
           [0060]      FIG. 26  shows an isometric view of the leveling fork according to the present invention. 
           [0061]      FIG. 27A  shows a side view of the scoop and tamper tool according to the present invention with the leveling fork according to the present invention retracted. 
           [0062]      FIG. 27B  shows a top view of the scoop and tamper tool according to the present invention with the leveling fork according to the present invention retracted. 
           [0063]      FIG. 28A  shows a side view of the scoop and tamper tool according to the present invention with the leveling fork according to the present invention extended. 
           [0064]      FIG. 28B  shows a top view of the scoop and tamper tool according to the present invention with the leveling fork according to the present invention extended. 
           [0065]      FIG. 29  shows an isometric view of a seating tool according to the present invention. 
           [0066]      FIG. 30A  shows a side view of the seating tool according to the present invention. 
           [0067]      FIG. 30B  shows a bottom view of the seating tool according to the present invention. 
           [0068]      FIG. 31  shows a side view of a second hand held tool according to the present invention in an open state. 
           [0069]      FIG. 32  shows a side view of the second hand held tool according to the present invention in a closing state. 
           [0070]      FIG. 33  shows a method according to the present invention for using the hand held tool. 
           [0071]      FIG. 34  shows a method according to the present invention for using the table top tool. 
       
    
    
       [0072]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0073]    The following description is of the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing one or more preferred embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims. 
         [0074]    Where the terms “about” or “generally” are associated with an element of the invention, it is intended to describe a feature&#39;s appearance to the human eye or human perception, and not a precise measurement. 
         [0075]      FIG. 1  shows a bottom isometric view of a cartridge  10  according to the present invention,  FIG. 2A  shows a top isometric view of the cartridge  10  with the cartridge base top  12   a  (see  FIG. 8 ) open,  FIG. 2B  shows a top isometric view of the cartridge  10  with the cartridge base top  12   a  closed,  FIG. 3A  shows a side view of the cartridge  10 ,  FIG. 3B  shows a top view of the cartridge  10 ,  FIG. 3C  shows a bottom view of the cartridge  10 , and  FIG. 4  shows a cross-sectional view of the cartridge  10  taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3A , containing brewing material  11 . The cartridge  10  may be provided with the cartridge base top  12   a  open, or with foil material  16 , or the like sealing the cartridge base top  12   a . When the cartridge is provided with the cartridge base top  12   a  open, the foil material  16  may be attached to the cartridge base  12  before filling the cartridge base with brewing material. A bottom plug  14  is inserted into the cartridge base  12  after filling the cartridge base  12  through an open cartridge base bottom  12   b  (see  FIG. 8 ) 
         [0076]      FIG. 5  shows a top isometric view of the cartridge base  12 ,  FIG. 6  shows a bottom isometric view of the cartridge base  12 ,  FIG. 7A  shows a side view of the cartridge base  12 ,  FIG. 7B  shows a top view of the cartridge base  12 ,  FIG. 7C  shows a bottom view of the cartridge base  12 , and  FIG. 8  shows a cross-sectional view of the cartridge base  12  taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7A . The cartridge base  12  includes the base top  12   a,  the open base bottom  12   b , and frustoconical shaped walls  12   c.  The base bottom  12   b  has a smaller diameter than the base top  12   a.  An interior annular ridge  18  in the base bottom  12   b  engages an exterior annular recess  22  (see  FIG. 9A ) in the bottom plug  14  to retain the bottom plug  14  in the base bottom  12   b.    
         [0077]      FIG. 9A  shows a side view of a bottom plug  14 ,  FIG. 9B  shows a top view of the bottom plug  14 ,  FIG. 9C  shows a bottom view of the bottom plug  14 , and  FIG. 10  shows a cross-sectional view of the bottom plug  14  taken along line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 9A . Further,  FIG. 11  shows a detailed top isometric view of the bottom plug,  FIG. 12  shows a detailed cross-sectional view of the bottom plug taken along line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 9A , and  FIG. 13  shows a detailed bottom isometric view of the bottom plug according to the present invention. The bottom plug  14  defines the exterior annular recess  22  created by a lip  23  above the exterior annular recess  22 . The lip  23  includes gaps  24  allowing the lip  24  to slightly distort when the bottom plug  14  is pressed into the open base bottom  12   b.  The bottom plug  14  further includes ports or weakened areas  20 . When espresso is brewed, the brewed beverage escapes from the cartridge  10  through the ports or weakened areas  20 . The weakened area  20  help seal the cartridge  10  before use. The bottom plug  14  further may include a guide hole  26 . The guide hole  26  engages a guide hole pin  52  (see  FIG. 17A ) to hold the bottom plug during assembly of the cartridge  10 . 
         [0078]      FIGS. 14A-14D  show isometric views of a hand held tool  30 . The tool  30  includes a frame  32 , a handle  38  attached to the frame  32  for grasping by a user, a cartridge holder  40 , a cartridge hole lid  36 , and a tamper/seater  34 . The cartridge base  12  is held in the cartridge holder  40  to fill, tamp, and plug the cartridge  12  to construct an espresso cartridge  10 . 
         [0079]      FIG. 15  shows an isometric view of the frame  32  of the hand held tool  30 ,  FIG. 16A  shows a side view of the frame  32  of the hand held tool  30 ,  FIG. 16B  shows a top view of frame  32  of the hand held tool  30 ,  FIG. 16C  shows a bottom view of frame  32  of the hand held tool  30 ,  FIG. 16D  shows a rear view of the frame of frame  32  of the hand held tool  30 , and  FIG. 16E  shows a front view of the frame of frame  32  of the hand held tool  30 . The frame  32  includes the cartridge holder  40 , an arm  42  expending from the cartridge holder  40  to the handle  38 , and pivot hands  44 . The cartridge holder  40  has an open scoop mouth  46  and an open cartridge mouth  48 , which may be closed by the lid  36  after placing the cartridge base  12  in the cartridge holder  40 . The cartridge holder  40  may have a cylindrical or a frustoconical exterior, but preferably has a frustoconical interior matching the walls  12   c  of the cartridge base  12 . 
         [0080]      FIG. 17A  shows a first isometric view of the tamper/seater  34  of the hand held tool  30 ,  FIG. 17B  shows a second isometric view of the tamper/seater  34  of the hand held tool  30 ,  FIG. 18A  shows a side view of the tamper/seater  34  of the hand held tool  30 , and  FIG. 18B  shows a rear view of the tamper/seater  34  of the hand held tool  30 . The tamper/seater  34  provide two steps of making the espresso cartridge  10 . A pivot  60  cooperates with the pivot hands  44  of the frame  32  allowing the tamper/seater  34  to pivot towards and away from the cartridge holder  40 . A tamping plunger  50  is pushed into the cartridge holder  40  to tamp brewing material in the cartridge base  12 . After tamping, the tamping plunger  50  is used to press the bottom plug  14  into the cartridge base  12 . The tamping plunger  50  may include the guide hole pin  52  to attach the bottom plug  14  to the tamping plunger  50  to hold the bottom plug  14  aligned with the cartridge base bottom  12   b  while pressing the bottom plug  14  into the cartridge base bottom  12   b.  The tamper/seater  34  may include wings  58  facilitating one handed operation of the tool  30 . A tamper arm  56  connects the pivot  60  to the tamper plunger  50 . 
         [0081]      FIG. 19A  shows a first isometric view of a counter top tool  70  and  FIG. 19B  shows a second isometric view of the counter top tool  70 . The counter top tool includes a tool base  72 , a cartridge lock  80  which retains the cartridge base  12  on the tool base  72 , a funnel  78  for filling the cartridge base  12 , a scoop and tamper  74  for measuring and pouring brewing material, and a seating tool  76  for seating the bottom plug after filling the cartridge base  12  with the brewing material. 
         [0082]      FIG. 20A  shows the tool base  72  of the counter top tool  70 ,  FIG. 20B  shows a second view of the tool base  72  of the counter top tool  70 , and  FIG. 20C  shows a tool base  72  of the counter top tool  70 . The tool base  72  includes a cartridge seat  82  a slightly larger than the cartridge top  12   a  to position the cartridge  12  on the tool base  72 . Locking recesses  88  are formed around the cartridge seat  82  to attach a cartridge lock  80  (see  FIGS. 22-24 ) to the tool base  72  to hold the cartridge base  12  on the tool base  71 . A recess  84  is formed on the tool base  72  to position or store the seating tool  76  when not in use and a recess  86  is formed to position or store the scoop and tamper  74  when not in use. 
         [0083]      FIG. 21A  shows a side view of the funnel  76 ,  FIG. 21B  shows an isometric view of the funnel  76 ,  FIG. 21C  shows a top view of the funnel  76 , and  FIG. 21D  shows a bottom view of the funnel  76 . The funnel  76  fits into an access mouth  94  (see  FIG. 24 ) of the cartridge lock  80 . The funnel  76  may include a step  90  to align the funnel with the open base bottom  12   b,  or may be tapered to align the funnel with the open base bottom  12   b.    
         [0084]      FIG. 22  shows an isometric view of the cartridge lock  80 ,  FIG. 23A  shows a side view of the cartridge lock  80 ,  FIG. 23B  shows a side view of the cartridge lock  80 ,  FIG. 23C  shows a top view of the cartridge lock  80 ,  FIG. 23D  shows a bottom view of the cartridge lock  80 , and  FIG. 24  shows a cross-sectional view of the cartridge lock  80 , taken along line  24 - 24  of  FIG. 23C . The cartridge lock  80  includes locking ring segments  92  which engage the locking recesses  88  of the tool base  72  to retain the cartridge lock  80  and the cartridge base  12  on the tool base  72 . The cartridge lock  80  includes a frustoconical shaped interior  95  positioning the cartridge base in the cartridge lock  80  for filling, tamping, and seating the bottom plug  14 . 
         [0085]      FIG. 25A  shows the scoop and tamper tool  74  with a leveling fork  97  retracted,  FIG. 25B  shows the scoop and tamper tool  74  with the leveling fork  97  extended,  FIG. 26  shows an isometric view of the leveling fork  97 . The leveling fork  97  slides in a slot  75  in the scoop and tamper tool  74 . After scooping a portion of brewing material  11  (see  FIG. 4 ), the leveling fork  97  may be guided forward to push excess brewing material off the scoop and tamper tool  74  to obtain a consistent amount of brewing material  11 . 
         [0086]      FIG. 27A  shows a side view of the scoop and tamper tool  74  with the leveling fork  97  retracted,  FIG. 27B  shows a top view of the scoop and tamper tool  74  with the leveling fork  97  retracted,  FIG. 28A  shows a side view of the scoop and tamper tool  74  with the leveling fork  97  extended, and  FIG. 28B  shows a top view of the scoop and tamper tool  74  with the leveling fork  97  extended. 
         [0087]      FIG. 29  shows an isometric view of the seating tool  76 ,  FIG. 30A  shows a side view of the seating tool  76 , and  FIG. 30B  shows a bottom view of the seating tool  76 . The seating tool  76  includes a cylindrical portion  51  extending from a grasping portion  100 . The grasping portion  100  facilitated applying a force required to seat the bottom plug  14  in the open cartridge bottom  12   b.  A guide hole pin  52  to attach the bottom plug  14  to the seating tool  76  to hold the bottom plug  14  aligned with the cartridge base bottom  12   b  while pressing the bottom plug  14  into the cartridge base bottom  12   b.    
         [0088]      FIG. 31  shows a side view of a second hand held tool  102  in an open state and  FIG. 32  shows a side view of the second hand held tool  102  in a closing state. The tool  102  includes a pivot  104  and handles  106   a  and  106   b . The cartridge holder  40  is fixed to one handle  106   b,  and the tamper plunger  50  is attached to the handle  106   a.  The cartridge base  12  may be filled using the scoop and tamper  74  as described for the tool  70  above, and the handle  106   a  may be pivoted to first tamp the brewing material using the tamper plunger  50 , and then to seat the bottom plug  14  using the tamper plunger  50 , as described for the tool  30  above. The tool  102  advantageously provides leverage during tamping and seating, easing the use of the tool. 
         [0089]      FIG. 33  shows a method according to the present invention for using the hand held tool. The method includes inserting a frustoconical shaped cartridge base into a cartridge holder, an open cartridge base bottom first into the cartridge holder, the cartridge base bottom diameter smaller than a cartridge base top opposite to the cartridge base bottom at step  200 , closing a lid to retain the cartridge base in the cartridge holder at step  202 , scooping a portion of untamped brewing material through a holder mouth and the smaller cartridge base bottom of the cartridge at step  204 , leveling the untamped brewing material in the holder mouth and cartridge base at step  206 , pressing a tamping plunger through the holder mouth and into the cartridge holder at step  208 , tamping the untamped brewing material completely into the cartridge base at step  210 , withdrawing the tamper piston from the holder mouth at step  212 , placing a bottom plug into the holder mouth and against the smaller cartridge base bottom of the cartridge base at step  214 , seating the bottom plug in the smaller base bottom of the cartridge at step  216 , and removing the finished cartridge from the cartridge holder at step  218 . 
         [0090]      FIG. 34  shows a method according to the present invention for using the table top tool. The method includes the steps of placing a frustoconical shaped brewing cartridge base onto a cartridge seat of a tool base, a closed cartridge base top against the cartridge seat, the cartridge base top having a larger diameter than an open cartridge base bottom opposite the cartridge base top at step  302 , attaching a cartridge lock to the tool base to retain the cartridge base against the tool base at step  302 , scooping a portion of brewing material at step  304 , leveling the brewing material in the scoop at step  306 , pouring the brewing material through a mouth of the cartridge lock and the open bottom end of the cartridge base, into the cartridge base at step  308 , tamping the untamped brewing material into the cartridge base at step  310 , placing a bottom plug into the cartridge holder against the small end of the cartridge at step  312 , seating the bottom plug into the cartridge base at step  314 , and removing the finished cartridge from the tool at step  316 . 
         [0091]    While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.