Abstract:
Herein disclosed a plug, including: a first conductor; a first insulator; a second conductor; a second insulator; a third conductor; a third insulator; a fourth conductor; a fourth insulator; and a fifth conductor.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   The present invention contains subject matter related to Japanese Patent Application JP 2006-243904 filed in the Japan Patent Office on Sep. 8, 2006, the entire contents of which being incorporated herein by reference. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to a plug, and more particularly to a plug which has a five-pole configuration. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   A plug to be connected to a jack of various electronic equipments such as, for example, an acoustic equipment is provided at an end portion of, for example, an earphone, a headphone, or various connection cables. 
   Generally, such a plug as described above such as, for example, a plug provided on an earphone, a headphone or the like, has a three-pole configuration for a speaker L (left), a speaker R (right) and the ground as disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 9-204966 (hereinafter referred to as Patent Document 1). 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   However, in a sound inputting apparatus such as an earphone or a headphone connected to an acoustic equipment or the like, one plug may be connected to two sounding inputting apparatus such that different sound signals are transmitted individually from the single plug to the two sound inputting apparatus. In this instance, two poles for a speaker are required for each of the two sound inputting apparatus. Therefore, a plug of a three-pole configuration cannot be applied as the plug because of shortage of the number of poles. 
   Also in a headset or the like wherein different sound signals are outputted to left and right speakers and sound signals inputted to different microphones are inputted to an acoustic equipment, a plug of a three-pole configuration lacks in the number of poles. 
   On the other hand, upon formation of a plug of a configuration which has a number of poles increased from three poles, it is necessary to achieve facilitation in fabrication. 
   Therefore, it is demanded to provide a plug which solves such problems as described above and can be formed readily in a five-pole configuration. 
   According to the present invention, the connection positions of a plurality of insulators and a plurality of conductors are contrived specifically. 
   More particularly, according to the present invention, there is provided a plug including a first conductor formed as a bar and having an electrode portion and a fitting portion, a first insulator outwardly fitted with the fitting portion of the first conductor, a second conductor outwardly fitted with the first insulator and having an electrode portion and a fitting portion, the second conductor being isolated from the first conductor by the first insulator, a second insulator outwardly fitted with the fitting portion of the second conductor, a third conductor outwardly fitted with the second insulator and having an electrode portion and a fitting portion, the third conductor being isolated from the second conductor by the second insulator, a third insulator outwardly fitted with the fitting portion of the third conductor, a fourth conductor outwardly fitted with the third insulation portion and having an electrode portion, the fourth conductor being isolated from the third conductor by the third insulator, a fourth insulator attached at least to a portion of the outer face of the fourth conductor, and a fifth conductor attached to the fourth insulator. 
   In the plug, the second, third and fourth conductors are outwardly fitted around the first conductor, and the fifth conductor is provided on the outer side of and coupled to the conductors. 
   The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like parts or elements denoted by like reference symbols. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an enlarged perspective view showing a plug to which the present invention is applied; 
       FIG. 2  is an enlarged side elevational view of the plug; 
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged side elevational view of the plug as viewed from a direction different from that in  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged sectional view of the plug; 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged sectional view of the plug taken a direction different from that in  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged perspective view showing a fourth insulator and a fifth conductor of the plug; 
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged perspective view of a jack; 
       FIG. 8  is a sectional view taken along line XIII-XIII of  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a sectional view taken along line IX-IX of  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 10  is an enlarged sectional view of the plug in a state wherein it is connected to the jack; 
       FIG. 11  is an enlarged sectional view showing the plug in the state wherein it is connected to the jack as viewed from a direction different from that in  FIG. 10 ; 
       FIG. 12  is an enlarged side elevational view showing a plug having a three-pole configuration; 
       FIG. 13  is an enlarged sectional view showing a the plug of a three-pole configuration in a state wherein it is connected to the jack; and 
       FIG. 14  is an enlarged sectional view showing the plug of a three-pole configuration wherein it is connected to the jack as viewed from a direction different from that in  FIG. 13 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   A plug described below is applied, for example, to a sound inputting and outputting apparatus not shown such as an earphone or a headphone or the like called headset wherein a speaker is built in each of a pair of auricle mounting portions of the sound inputting and outputting apparatus and an arm is projected from one of the auricle mounting portions and has a microphone built in an end portion thereof. 
   Further, the plug described below may be applied to an electronic equipment wherein the plug is connected to two sound inputting apparatus individually having a pair of speakers and a sound signal is transmitted individually to the two sound input apparatus. The plug described below can be applied arbitrarily to various electronic equipments which require five poles. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , a plug  5  is provided at an end of portion a connection cable  4  of a sound inputting and outputting apparatus not shown such as, for example, an earphone or a headphone. The plug  5  includes a first conductor  11 , a first insulator  12 , a second conductor  13 , a second insulator  14 , a third conductor  15 , a third insulator  16 , a fourth conductor  17 , a fourth insulator  18  and a fifth conductor  19 . The first, second, third, fourth and fifth conductors  11 ,  13 ,  15 ,  17  and  19  are made of a metal material having high electrical conductivity. Meanwhile, the first, second, third and fourth insulators  12 ,  14 ,  16  and  18  are made of a material which does not have electrical conductivity such as a resin material or the like. 
   The first, second, third, fourth and fifth conductors  11 ,  13 ,  15 ,  17  and  19  are used, for example, as a first speaker terminal, a second speaker terminal, a first microphone terminal, a grounding terminal and a second microphone terminal which are not shown, respectively. 
   It is to be noted that, while the first, second, third, fourth and fifth conductors  11 ,  13 ,  15 ,  17  and  19  are described as being used, for example, as a first speaker terminal, a second speaker terminal, a first microphone terminal, a grounding terminal and a second microphone terminal which are not shown, respectively, it may be determined arbitrarily as what terminals the first, second, third, fourth and fifth conductors  11 ,  13 ,  15 ,  17  and  19  should individually be used. 
   The first conductor  11  is formed as a substantially bar and has an electrode portion  11   a  of a large diameter and a fitting portion  11   b  of a small diameter. The first conductor  11  has a flange portion  11   c  provided between thereon the electrode portion  11   a  and the fitting portion  11   b  in such a manner as to be swollen outwardly. The first conductor  11  further has a cable connection portion  11   d  provided at an end portion of the fitting portion  11   b  thereof remote from the flange portion  11   c.    
   The first conductor  11  further has an inclination face  11   e  formed on the outer periphery of the electrode portion  11   a  thereof such that it is inclined so as to displace to the center side of the bar toward the fitting portion  11   b . The length of the fitting portion  11   b  in the axial direction is greater than that of the electrode portion  11   a . The diameter of the cable connection portion  11   d  is smaller than that of the electrode portion  11   a  but greater than that of the fitting portion  11   b.    
   The first insulator  12  is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape and has a large diameter portion  12   a  provided at an end portion thereof in the axial direction and having an outer diameter greater than that of the other portion which is therefore formed as a small diameter portion  12   b . The large diameter portion  12   a  is formed with a thickness greater than that of the small diameter portion  12   b . A swollen portion  12   c  is formed at an end portion of the small diameter portion  12   b  remote from the large diameter portion  12   a  such that it is swollen a little outwardly in a radial direction of the bar. Further, a shallow fitting concave portion  12   d  is formed on the outer face side of the first insulator  12  between the large diameter portion  12   a  and the swollen portion  12   c.    
   The first insulator  12  is outwardly fitted with the fitting portion  11   b  of the first conductor  11 . In the state wherein the first insulator  12  is outwardly fitted with the first conductor  11 , the outer circumferential face of the large diameter portion  12   a  coincides with that of the flange portion  11   c . The cable connection portion  11   d  is outwardly fitted with the swollen portion  12   c . The electrode portion  11   a , flange portion  11   c  and cable connection portion  11   d  of the first conductor  11  are exposed to the outside. 
   The second conductor  13  is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape and has an electrode portion  13   a  of a large diameter and a fitting portion  13   b  of a small diameter. A substantially annular connection portion  13   c  is formed on the first conductor  13  such that it connects the electrode portion  13   a  and the fitting portion  13   b  to each other. Further, a cable connection portion  13   d  is provided at an end of the fitting portion  13   b  remote from the connection portion  13   c.    
   The second conductor  13  is outwardly fitted with the first insulator  12 . In the state wherein the second conductor  13  is outwardly fitted with the first insulator  12 , the electrode portion  13   a  is connected to or fitted with a portion of the large diameter portion  12   a  other than one end portion and the fitting portion  13   b  and the connection portion  13   c  are connected to or fitted with the fitting concave portion  12   d  Further, the outer circumferential face of the fitting portion  13   b  coincides with that of the swollen portion  12   c . Accordingly, part of the large diameter portion  12  and the swollen portion  12   c  of the second insulator  12  are exposed to the outside. 
   The second insulator  14  is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape and has a large diameter portion  14   a  provided at an end portion thereof in the axial direction and having a diameter greater than that of the other portion, which is provided as a small diameter portion  14   b . The large diameter portion  14   a  is formed with a thickness greater than that of the small diameter portion  14   b . A swollen portion  14   c  is provided at an end portion of the small diameter portion  14   b  remote from the large diameter portion  14   a  and is swollen outwardly a little. Further, a shallow fitting concave portion  14   d  is formed on the outer face side of the second insulator  14  between the large diameter portion  14   a  and the swollen portion  14   c.    
   The second insulator  14  is outwardly fitted with the fitting portion  13   b  of the second conductor  13 . In the state wherein the second insulator  14  is fitted with the second conductor  13 , the outer circumferential face of the large diameter portion  14   a  coincides with that of the electrode portion  13   a  in a radial direction. The electrode portion  13   a  and the cable connection portion  13   d  of the second conductor  13  are exposed to the outside. 
   The third conductor  15  is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape and has a large diameter electrode portion  15   a  and a small diameter fitting portion  15   b . A substantially annular connection portion  15   c  is provided on the first conductor  15  and connects the electrode portion  15   a  and the fitting portion  15   b  to each other. Further, a cable connection portion  15   d  is provided at an end portion of the fitting portion  15   b  remote from the connection portion  15   c.    
   The third conductor  15  is outwardly fitted with the second insulator  14 . In the state wherein the third conductor  15  is outwardly fitted with the second insulator  14 , the third conductor  15  is connected to or fitted with the fitting concave portion  14   d  and the outer circumferential face of the electrode portion  15   a  coincides with that of the large diameter portion  14   a  in a radial direction. Further, the outer circumferential face of the fitting portion  15   b  coincides with that of the swollen portion  14   c  in a radial direction. Accordingly, the large diameter portion  14   a  and the swollen portion  14   c  of the second insulator  14  are exposed to the outside. 
   The third insulator  16  is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and a large diameter portion  16   a  having a large outer diameter is provided at one end portion of the third insulator  16  in the axial direction. A portion of the third insulator  16  contiguous to the large diameter portion  16   a  in the axial direction is formed as a small diameter portion  16   b , and the other end portion of the third insulator  16  in the axis direction is formed as a swollen portion  16   c  having an outer diameter greater than that of the small diameter portion  16   b . The large diameter portion  16   a  and the swollen portion  16   c  are formed with a thickness greater than that of the small diameter portion  16   b . A shallow fitting concave portion  16   d  is formed on the outer face side of the third insulator  16  between the large diameter portion  16   a  and the swollen portion  16   c.    
   The third insulator  16  is outwardly fitted with the fitting portion  15   b  of the third conductor  15 . In the state wherein the third insulator  16  is outwardly fitted with the third conductor  15 , the outer circumferential faces of the large diameter portion  16   a  and the swollen portion  16   c  coincide with the outer periphery of the electrode portion  15   a  in a radial direction. In the third conductor  15 , the electrode  15   a  and the cable connection portion  15   d  are exposed. 
   The fourth conductor  17  is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape and has an electrode portion  17   a  and an annular projection  17   b  provided in an outwardly projecting manner on the outer circumferential face at a central portion of the electrode portion  17   a  in the axial direction. A cable connection portion  17   c  is provided at a portion of the electrode portion  17   a.    
   The fourth conductor  17  is outwardly fitted with the fitting concave portion  16   d  of the third insulator  16 . In the state wherein the fourth conductor  17  is outwardly fitted with the third insulator  16 , the outer circumferential face of the electrode portion  17   a  coincides with those of the large diameter portion  16  and the swollen portion  16   c  in a radial direction. Accordingly, the large diameter portion  16   a  and the swollen portion  16   c  of the third insulator  16  are exposed to the outside. 
   A conductor attachment portion  20  and an extension  21  are formed integrally on the outer periphery of the fourth insulator  18  as seen in  FIGS. 3 and 5 . 
   The conductor attachment portion  20  is formed long in one direction and has a main body portion  20   a  and a pair of projections  20   b  projecting in a lateral direction away from each other from an end portion of the main body portion  20   a  in a longitudinal direction. A conductor attachment groove  20   c  is formed on the main body portion  20   a  and extends in the longitudinal direction, and a fitting groove  20   d  is formed on the face of the conductor attachment portion  20  opposite to the face on which the conductor attachment groove  20   c  is formed and extends in the widthwise direction. The extension  21  is projected from an end face of the conductor attachment portion  20  in the longitudinal direction toward a direction perpendicular to the projection direction of the projections  20   b.    
   The fourth insulator  18  is attached at the conductor attachment portion  20  thereof to part of the outer periphery of a portion of the third insulator  16  which extends from the large diameter portion  16   a  to the swollen portion  16   c . Further, the fourth insulator  18  is attached at the extension  21  thereof to part of the outer periphery of a portion of the third conductor  15  which extends from the cable connection portion  15   d  to the swollen portion  12   c  of the first insulator  12 . In the state wherein the fourth insulator  18  is attached in this manner, the fitting groove  20   d  is fitted with the projection  17   b  of the fourth conductor  17  and the conductor attachment portion  20  is positioned on the outer circumference side with respect to the extension  21 . 
   The fifth conductor  19  is formed as a plate extending in one direction and has blocking projections  19   a  provided at an intermediate portion thereof in the longitudinal direction and projected away from each other. One side of the fifth conductor  19  with reference to the blocking projections  19   a  serves as an insertion portion  19   b  while the other side serves as a cable connection portion  19   c . A connection projection  19   d  projected in a thicknesswise direction, for example, in a radial direction of the bar of the third insulator  16 , is provided at an end of the insertion portion  19   b  remote from the cable connection portion  19   c.    
   The fifth conductor  19  is attached to the fourth insulator  18  by inserting the insertion portion  19   b  in the conductor attachment groove  20   c  as seen in  FIG. 2 . In the state wherein the fifth conductor  19  is attached to the fourth insulator  18 , the blocking projections  19   a  thereof contact with one end face of the main body portion  20   a  and the cable connection portion  19   c  is positioned in a spaced relationship away from the extension  21  to the outer periphery side as seen in  FIG. 3 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , in the plug  5  having the configuration described above, five connection lines  4   a ,  4   b ,  4   c ,  4   d  and  4   e  of the connection cable  4  are connected at one end portion thereof to the cable connection portions  11   d ,  13   d ,  15   d ,  17   c  and  19   c  of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth conductors  11 ,  13 ,  15 ,  17  and  19 , respectively, by means of, for example, soldering. The connection lines  4   a ,  4   b ,  4   c ,  4   d  and  4   e  are connected at the other end thereof, for example, to the first speaker, second speaker, first microphone, grounding terminal not shown and second microphone, respectively. 
   In the state wherein the connection lines  4   a ,  4   b ,  4   c ,  4   d  and  4   e  are connected to the respective portions of the plug  5 , a portion of the fourth conductor  17  which extends from the projection  17   b  to the cable connection portion  11   d  of the first conductor  11  is covered with a cover  10  to close up and the cable connection portions  11   d ,  13   d ,  15   d ,  17   c  and  19   c  as seen in  FIG. 1 . 
   The plug  5  is connected to the jack  23  provided on the external equipment not shown, which may be, for example, a music reproduction equipment. 
   Referring to  FIG. 7 , the jack  23  includes a housing  24  on which several components are provided. A plug insertion hole  24   a  is formed on the housing  24  such that it is open in one direction. Five terminal pieces  25  are projected from an end portion of the jack  23  remote from the opening of the plug insertion hole  24   a . The terminal pieces  25  are connected to a control circuit not shown which is provided on the external equipment. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the first, second, third, fourth and fifth connection terminals  26 ,  27 ,  28 ,  29  and  30  are disposed in the inside of the jack  23 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 8 , the first connection terminal  26  has a base portion  26   a  disposed along the inner face of the jack  23 , and a base end portion  26   b  folded back from the base portion  26   a  and extending in a direction away from the plug insertion hole  24   a . The first connection terminal  26  further has a leaf spring portion  26   c  contiguous to the base end portion  26   b  and bent in a direction away from the base portion  26   a  with respect to the base end portion  26   b . An end portion of the leaf spring portion  26   c  is formed as a connection portion  26   d.    
   Referring to  FIG. 9 , the second connection terminal  27  has a base end portion  27   a  disposed in parallel to the inner face of the jack  23 , and a leaf spring portion  27   b  contiguous to the base end portion  27   a  and bent in a direction away from the inner face of the jack  23  with respect to the base end portion  27   a . The second connection terminal  27  further has a connection portion  27   c  provided an end portion of the leaf spring portion  27   b  thereof. The connection portion  27   c  is positioned on the plug insertion hole  24   a  side with respect to the connection portion  26   d  of the first connection terminal  26 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 8 , the third connection terminal  28  has a base end portion  28   a  disposed along the inner face of the jack  23  and a leaf spring portion  28   b  contiguous to the base end portion  28   a  and curved in a direction away from the inner face of the jack  23  with respect to the base end portion  28   a . A connection portion  28   c  is provided at an end portion of the leaf spring portion  28   b . The connection portion  28   c  is positioned on the plug insertion hole  24   a  side with respect to the connection portion  27   c  of the second connection terminal  27 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the fourth connection terminal  29  has a base end portion  29   a  disposed along the inner face of the jack  23 , and a leaf spring portion  29   b  contiguous to the base end portion  29   a  and bent in a direction away from the inner face of the jack  23  with respect to the base end portion  29   a . A connection portion  29   c  is provided at an end portion of the leaf spring portion  29   b . The connection portion  29   c  is positioned adjacent the plug insertion hole  24   a  with respect to the connection portion  28   c  of the third connection terminal  28  and just on the inner side of the opening of the plug insertion hole  24   a.    
   Referring to  FIG. 9 , the fifth connection terminal  30  has a base end portion  30   a  disposed along the inner side of the jack  23 , and a leaf spring portion  30   b  contiguous to the base end portion  30   a  and bent in a direction away from the inner face of the jack  23  with respect to the base end portion  30   a . A connection portion  30   c  is provided at an end portion of the leaf spring portion  30   b . The connection portion  30   c  is positioned just on the inner side of the opening of the plug insertion hole  24   a.    
   A stopper wall  31  is provided inside the jack  23 . The stopper wall  31  is positioned remotely from the inner face of the jack  23  with respect to the leaf spring portion  30   b  of the fifth connection terminal  30 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , a retaining insulating member  32  is provided inside the jack  23 . The retaining insulating member  32  is provided at an end portion of the plug insertion hole  24   a  remote from the opening. 
   The first, second, third, fourth and fifth connection terminals  26 ,  27 ,  28 ,  29  and  30  are retained with a portion thereof embedded in the retaining insulating member  32  and are individually connected to the terminal pieces  25 . Accordingly, the first, second, third, fourth and fifth connection terminals  26 ,  27 ,  28 ,  29  and  30  are connected to the control circuit provided in the external apparatus through the respective terminal pieces  25 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , when the plug  5  is inserted in the plug insertion hole  24   a , the electrode portion  11   a  of the first conductor  11 , electrode portion  13   a  of the second conductor  13 , electrode portion  15   a  of the third conductor  15 , electrode portion  17   a  of the fourth conductor  17  and connection projection  19   d  of the fifth conductor  19  are connected to the connection portion  26   d  of the first connection terminal  26  for the first speaker, connection portion  27   c  of the second connection terminal  27  for the second speaker, connection portion  28   c  of the third connection terminal  28  for the first microphone, connection portion  29   c  of the fourth connection terminal  29  for grounding, and connection portion  30   c  of the fifth connection terminal  30  for the second microphone, respectively. 
   At this time, the plug  5  is inserted to a position at which the projection  17   b  of the fourth conductor  17  contacts with the outer side opening edge of the plug insertion hole  24   a  of the jack  23  and one end face of the insertion portion  19   b  of the fifth conductor  19  contacts with the stopper wall  31 . Thus, the plug  5  is positioned with respect to the jack  23  in the insertion direction. 
   The connection portions  26   d ,  27   c ,  28   c ,  29   c  and  30   c  are resiliently deformed against the spring force with respect to the base end portions  26   b ,  27   a ,  28   a ,  29   a  and base end portion  30   a , respectively, and are connected in a state wherein they are pressed against the electrode portion  11   a , electrode portion  13   a , electrode portion  15   a , electrode portion  17   a  and connection projection  19   d.    
   To the jack  23 , for example, also a plug of a three-pole configuration can be connected. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 12 to 14 , there is shown a plug  50  of the three-pole type. The plug  50  of the three-pole type shown includes a first conductor  51 , a first insulator  52  outwardly fitted on the first conductor  51 , a second conductor  53  outwardly fitted on the first insulator  52 , a second insulator  54  outwardly fitted on the second conductor  53  and a third conductor  55  outwardly fitted on the second insulator  54 . In a state wherein the plug  50  is connected to the jack  23 , the first conductor  51  is connected to the first connection terminal  26  for the first speaker and the second conductor  53  is connected to the second connection terminal  27  for the second speaker while the third conductor  55  is connected to the fourth connection terminal  29  for grounding. The plug  50  is not connected to the fifth connection terminal  30  for the second microphone. 
   While the plug  50  is configured such that the third conductor  55  thereof contacts also with the third connection terminal  28  for the first microphone, the control circuit of the external apparatus is configured such that no signal is communicated between the third conductor  55  and the third connection terminal  28 . It is to be noted that, for example, the arrangement position of the third connection terminal  28  of the jack  23  may be changed so that, when the plug  50  is connected to the jack  23 , the third conductor  55  is not connected to the third connection terminal  28 . 
   As described above, the plug  5  of a five-pole configuration can be formed readily because the five poles thereof are formed by attaching a portion of one pole to an outer circumferential face of the four-pole configuration portion formed as a substantially bar. 
   Further, since the fifth conductor  19  is formed as a plate and attached at one face thereof in the thicknesswise direction to the fourth insulator  18 , the overall outer diameter of the plug  5  can be reduced. Consequently, miniaturization of the plug  5  can be anticipated. 
   Further, since the connection projection  19   d  which functions as an electrode portion is provided on the fifth conductor  19 , a good connection property of the plug  5  to the fifth connection terminal  30  of the jack  23  can be assured. 
   In addition, in the plug  5 , the fourth insulator  18  and the fifth conductor  19  are attached to the four-pole configuration portion formed as a substantially bar. Therefore, the fourth insulator  18  and the fifth conductor  19  are shaped such that they are projected sidewardly from the portion in the form of the substantially bar. Consequently, for example, erroneous insertion of the plug  5  into a jack for exclusive use for a plug of a three-pole configuration wherein the plug insertion hole is formed in a circular shape can be prevented. 
   While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.