Abstract:
A locking system for a storage container provides a reliable and durable means of locking the lid in the closed position with a limited number of moving parts while providing resistance to tampering and theft.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to storage containers, and, more particularly, to a storage container with an improved locking system. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Containers such as tool boxes and storage cabinets are commonly used at construction sites and similar locations for the storage of tools and materials. Typical designs comprise a front wall, a back wall, a bottom wall and opposed end walls which are interconnected to form a hollow interior. The container interior is closed by a top wall or lid pivotal between open and closed positions on a hinge mounted to the back wall, usually with the assistance of gas springs. 
         [0003]    Due to the value of tools and materials that may be held in storage containers, one or more locking mechanisms are generally employed to prevent theft. In horizontally oriented containers, it is typical to position a padlock at one or both of the corners of the lid to prevent it from being opened except when the padlock(s) are unlocked. Preferably, structure is provided to shield the padlock(s) from exposure to tampering, such as attempts to cut the shackle or pry open the body of the padlock. 
         [0004]    One design of a locking mechanism for storage containers of the type described above is found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,772,613 and 8,096,152. Although somewhat different, the locking mechanism disclosed in each of these patents operates by causing a padlock to either block or permit lateral motion of a latch rod located in the interior of the container body relative to flanges mounted to the lid of the container. When lateral movement of the latch rod is blocked by alignment of the body of the padlock with one end of such rod, the latch rod engages the flanges carried by the lid thus preventing the lid from opening. After unlocking the padlock, the latch rod is free to move in a lateral direction without contacting the padlock body such that it disengages the lid flanges allowing the lid to be opened. Locking mechanisms of this type are relatively complex and depend on accurate alignment between a number of elements mounted to the lid and to the body of the container. Over the course of time and as a result of the often demanding conditions at job sites, the lids and bodies of storage containers may become misaligned making operation of latch rod difficult and/or preventing an end of the latch rod to engage the padlock body in order to lock the container. 
         [0005]    These issues have been addressed in the locking system disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/970,759 which is described in paragraphs [0030] to [0039] below and illustrated in  FIGS. 1-8 . The locking system of the &#39;759 patent application comprises one or more locking assemblies each including a housing which is mounted by a bracket within a cavity formed in each end wall of the container. The housing has an interior which receives a padlock such that the shackle of the padlock extends through openings formed in the housing and bracket, in a direction toward the interior of the container, and the body of the padlock faces outwardly within the cavity. The shackle is movable between an unlocked position wherein the padlock body may be moved into a pocket formed in the housing interior, and a locked position in which the padlock body is located outside of such pocket. 
         [0006]    The locking system further comprises a latch, and preferably a spring-biased hawk bill latch, which is mounted to the lid of the container in alignment with the shackle of the padlock. With the shackle in the locked position and the padlock body located outside of the pocket in the housing, the latch arms of the latch engage the shackle in the course of movement of the lid to the closed position. The latch arms open in response to initial contact with the shackle and then close around it when the lid is fully seated on the container body. An opening is provided between the latch arms in the closed position within which the shackle is captured. In order to open the lid, the padlock is unlocked allowing one end of the shackle to disengage the padlock body. The padlock body may then be moved into the pocket of the housing, in a direction toward the interior of the container body, causing the shackle to move in the same direction. In the course of such movement, that portion of the shackle which had been located between the latch arms moves through the opening between them until it clears such arms. With the latch arms no longer encircling the shackle, the lid may be opened. 
         [0007]    Although the above-described locking system effectively locks the lid of the container in a locked position, it has been found that determined attempts to defeat such system may be successful. With reference to  FIGS. 1-8 , it is possible using a screw driver or other elongated tool, and a hammer, to break apart the housing  42  or drive it inwardly into the interior of the container  10  allowing access to the latch arms of  114 ,  116  of the latch  40 . The screw driver may be inserted into the housing  42  from the area where a key is inserted into the padlock  46 , and then using a hammer the screw driver can break the housing  42  apart, since it is a cast part and relatively brittle, and/or the housing  42  can be driven inwardly toward the container interior  22 . Once the housing  42  is at least partially broken or driven inwardly, the screwdriver may be used to separate the latch arms  114 ,  116  from a position encircling the shackle  50  of the padlock  46  thus permitting opening of the lid  24 . 
         [0008]    As best seen in  FIG. 6 , with the lid  24  of the container  10  closed and the latch  40  in a locked position, the latch arms  114 ,  116  are exposed within the interior of the bracket  44 . It has been found that if the front edge of the lid  24  in the area of the locking assembly  36  is pried upwardly, a screw driver or other elongated tool may be inserted into the interior  22  of the container  10  underneath the lid  24  and manipulated to disengage the latch arms  114 ,  116  from the shackle  50  of the padlock  46 . 
         [0009]    It is apparent that no locking system for containers of the type depicted in  FIGS. 1-8  can completely prevent access to the container interior. The lid of the container could be breached using a power saw or cutting torch, for example. And while the potential ways of defeating the locking system disclosed the &#39;759 application and described above require a good deal of effort, it would be beneficial to provide a means for preventing access to the container interior in the manner described above. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    This invention is directed to a storage container with a locking system which is reliable and has a limited number of moving parts. 
         [0011]    In the presently preferred embodiment, the locking system of this invention comprises a housing which is mounted by a bracket within a cavity formed in each end wall of the container. The housing has an interior which receives a padlock such that the shackle of the padlock extends through openings formed in the housing and bracket, in a direction toward the interior of the container, and the body of the padlock faces outwardly within the cavity. The shackle is movable between an unlocked position wherein the padlock body may be moved into a pocket fanned in the housing interior, and a locked position in which the padlock body is located outside of such pocket. 
         [0012]    The locking system further comprises a latch, and preferably a spring-biased hawk bill latch, which is mounted to the lid of the container in alignment with the shackle of the padlock. With the shackle in the locked position and the padlock body located outside of the pocket in the housing, the latch arms of the latch engage the shackle in the course of movement of the lid to the closed position. The latch arms open in response to initial contact with the shackle and then close around it when the lid is fully seated on the container body. An opening is provided between the latch arms in the closed position within which the shackle is captured. In order to open the lid, the padlock is unlocked allowing one end of the shackle to disengage the padlock body. The padlock body may then be moved into the pocket of the housing, in a direction toward the interior of the container body, causing the shackle to move in the same direction. In the course of such movement, that portion of the shackle that had been located between the latch arms moves through the opening between them until it clears such aims. With the latch aims no longer encircling the shackle, the lid may be opened. 
         [0013]    Additional structure may be incorporated into the locking system of this invention to overcome the manner in which one might defeat the system taught in the &#39;759 application, as discussed above. In the presently preferred embodiment, a guard having an angled upper plate is connected to the front wall of the container and to the bracket in position to block access to at least that portion of the shackle which captures the latch arms of the latch. In the event one pries open the front edge of the lid of the container, neither a screwdriver nor any other tool may be employed to engage the latch arms of the latch when locked about the shackle of the padlock. 
         [0014]    Further, the locking system of this invention includes structure for resisting displacement or shattering of the bracket from its point of connection to the container. Specifically, a pair of spaced mounting arms are connected to the same wall of the container where the bracket is mounted, and straddle the bracket. The mounting arms are formed with bores which align with bores formed in both the bracket and housing. A fastener such as a bolt may be inserted through the aligning bores to secure the bracket and housing to one another, and to secure both of them to the mounting arms. This construction provides a more robust connection between the bracket, housing and container than in the system of the &#39;759 application wherein the bracket and housing are mounted to the container solely by two fasteners extending through holes  88 ,  90  formed in flange  86  which abuts a wall of the container. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    The structure, operation and advantages of the presently preferred embodiment of this invention will become further apparent upon consideration of the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a storage container with the locking system of this invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is an exploded, perspective view of the locking system herein depicted the padlock, housing, bracket and latch mechanism; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a view similar to  FIG. 2  except showing the shackle of the padlock having been inserted through a slot in the housing, turned 90°, and then entering a slot in the bracket; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 3  with the housing and bracket assembled and the shackle in an unlocked position; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 4  except with the shackle in a locked position; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a view of the latch mechanism captured by the shackle after closing the container lid; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a plan view of the locking system mounted to an end wall of the container depicting the shackle in the locked position and the padlock body outside of a pocket in the housing interior; 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a view similar to  FIG. 7  except with the shackle unlocked and the padlock body inside of the pocket; 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is an exploded, perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the locking system of this invention including a guard; 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 9  in which the housing is mounted to an end wall of the container and the bracket is depicted in a position prior to connection to the housing; 
           [0026]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 10  except with the bracket and housing connected to one another and the guard positioned to be assembled with the bracket; 
           [0027]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the fully assembled locking system of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 9-11 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 13  is a top perspective view of the locking assembly shown in  FIG. 12  with the shackle of the padlock illustrated in a locked position; and 
           [0029]      FIG. 14  is a view similar to  FIG. 13  except with the shackle in an unlocked position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0030]    Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , a storage container  10  is illustrated which comprises a front wall  12 , a back wall  14 , a bottom wall  16  and opposed end walls  18 ,  20  interconnected to front a hollow interior  22 . A lid  24  is mounted by a hinge (not shown) to the back wall  14  and movable between a closed position covering the hollow interior  22 , and an open position where it is held in place by support legs  26 ,  28  connected between the lid  24  and respective end walls  18 ,  20 . Each end wall  18 ,  20  may be formed with an elongated channel  30  extending between the front and back walls  12 ,  14  within which a handle  32  is mounted. Preferably, a foot plate  34  is mounted at each corner of the bottom wall  16 . For purposes of the present discussion, the terms “top,” “bottom,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to the orientation of the container  10  as shown in the Figs. 
         [0031]    The container  10  is locked in the closed position by two locking assemblies  36 , each located at a cavity  38  formed in respective ends walls  18 ,  20 , in cooperation with two hawk-bill latches  40  mounted to the lid  24 . One locking assembly  36  and one latch  40  are collectively referred to herein as a locking system, and there are two locking systems identical to one another located at each end wall  18 ,  20  of the container  10  only one of which is described below. 
         [0032]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2-8 , each locking assembly  36  of this invention comprises a housing  42 , a bracket  44  and a padlock  46  having a padlock body  48  and shackle  50 . The housing  42  comprises a top wall  52 , a bottom wall  54 , opposed side walls  56 ,  58  and a back wall  60  defining an interior  62  having a open front end  63 . See  FIG. 8 . The back wall  60  is formed with a first section  64  joined along one edge to the side wall  56 , a second section  66  joined along one edge to the side wall  58  and a middle section  68  connected between the first and second sections  64 ,  66 . As best seen in  FIGS. 2, 7 and 8 , the side wall  58  is longer than side wall  56 , as measured in a direction from the front end  63  of the housing  42  toward the back wall  60 , which, together with the second section  66  and middle section  68 , forms a pocket  70  within the housing interior  62 . Preferably, the second section  66  of the back wall  60  has a vertical slot  72  joined to a generally horizontally extending notch  74 . The first section  64  is formed with a hole  76 , and each of the side walls  56 ,  58  is formed with an opening  78 . 
         [0033]    As depicted in the Figs., the bracket  44  is generally C-shaped having a top plate  80 , a bottom plate  82  and a vertical plate  84  connected between the top and bottom plates  80 ,  82 . The top plate  80  has a flange  86  formed with spaced holes  88 ,  90 , and the bottom plate  82  mounts opposed side tabs  92 ,  94  each formed with a hole  96 . The vertical plate  84  is formed with a generally T-shaped opening  98  which includes a horizontal head section  100  and a vertical leg section  102 . A pin tab  104  is mounted to the vertical plate  84  at the top of head section  100 , and a second pin tab  106  is mounted to the vertical plate  84  at the bottom of leg section  102 . These pin tabs  104 ,  106  receive a retaining pin  108  having a hole  110  for insertion of a cotter pin  112  as described below. 
         [0034]    The hawk-bill latches  40  are commercially available and the details of same form no part of this invention. For purposes of the present discussion, each latch  40  includes latch arms  114 ,  116  which are movable between and open and closed positions, but are normally biased to the closed position by a spring. The lower end of each latch arm  114 ,  116  is formed with a notch  118 ,  120 , respectively, which collectively define an opening  122  when the latch arms  114 ,  116  are in the closed position. See  FIG. 6 . 
         [0035]    The housing  42 , bracket  44  and padlock  46  are assembled together, and to the container  10 , as follows. Initially, and with reference to the left-hand side of  FIG. 1 , the bracket  44  is connected by fasteners  124  inserted through the holes  88 ,  90  in flange  86  to the inside of the end wall  18  covering the cavity  38  therein. The shackle  50  of the padlock  46  is uncoupled from the padlock body  48  and placed in a vertical orientation as shown in  FIG. 2 . The padlock  46  is moved into the interior  62  of the housing  42  so that its shackle  50  extends into the vertical slot  72  in the back wall  60  of the housing  42 . Once the padlock  46  is inside of the housing  42  its shackle  50  may then be turned 90° within the horizontally extending notch  74  to assume the position shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0036]    The housing  42  and padlock  46 , with the now horizontally oriented shackle  50 , are moved in an inward direction toward the interior  24  of container  10  so that the bottom wall  54  of the housing  42  slides along the bottom plate  82  of bracket  44 , its top wall  52  slides along the top plate  80  of bracket  44 , and, the shackle  50  enters the head section  100  of the T-shaped opening  98  in the vertical plate  84  of bracket  44 . See  FIG. 3 . Once the second section  66  of the back wall  60  of housing  42  contacts the vertical plate  84  of bracket  44 , the shackle  50  assumes the position depicted in  FIG. 4  and the holes  96  formed in tabs  92 ,  94  of bracket  44  align with the openings  78  formed in respective side walls  56 ,  58  of the housing  42 . Fasteners  126  are insertable through the aligning holes  96  and openings  78  to secure the housing  42  and bracket  44  together. See  FIGS. 7 and 8 . Additionally, with the shackle  50  in the position shown in  FIG. 4 , the retaining pin  108  may be inserted into the pin tabs  104 ,  106  carried by the vertical plate  84  of bracket  44  and then secured in place by inserting the cotter pin  112  into the hole  110  in pin  108 . This prevents the padlock  46  from being pulled in an outward direction and disengaging the bracket  44 . 
         [0037]      FIGS. 4 and 7  depict the padlock  46  in an unlocked condition wherein the free end  128  of its shackle  50  is spaced from and aligns with the hole  76  in the first section  64  of the back wall  60  of housing  42 . The padlock  46  is locked by inserting the free end  128  through hole  76  into the padlock body  48 . See  FIG. 5 . As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , when the padlock  46  is locked its padlock body  48  is oriented substantially horizontally and located outside of the pocket  70  in the interior  62  of housing  42 . 
         [0038]    With reference to  FIG. 6 , with the padlock  46  in the locked position the lid  24  of the container  10  may be moved to the closed position carrying with it latch  40 . As the lid  24  moves downwardly, the latch arms  114 ,  116  contact the shackle  50  and are spread apart against the bias of the spring that normally urges them together. Further downward movement of the lid  24  positions the latch arms  114 ,  116  so that their respective notches  118 ,  120  each extend around the shackle  50  causing it to become encircled by the opening  122  collectively formed by such notches  118 ,  120 . In this position, the shackle  50  prevents the lid  24  from being opened. 
         [0039]    In order to unlock the container  10 , and allow lid  24  to be opened, the padlock  46  is unlocked by a key (not shown) inserted into the padlock body  48  within the cavity  38  in the end wall  18  (and end wall  20 ) of housing  42 . Unlocking the padlock  46  causes the shackle  50  to disengage the padlock body  48  allowing it to be turned about 90° to the orientation shown in  FIG. 8 . When in this position, the padlock body  48  may be pushed in an inward direction, toward the container interior  24 , and into the pocket  70  in the housing  42 . The shackle  50  moves in the same direction with the padlock body  48  as it is pushed inwardly so that the portion of the shackle  50  which had been encircled by the latch arms  114 ,  116  passes through the opening  122  between them. Once the shackle  50  clears the latch arms  114 ,  116 , as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the lid  24  may be opened. The shackle  50  and padlock body  48  may remain in the position shown in  FIG. 8  with the lid  24  opened or closed in order to permit use of the container  10  without having to unlock it. In order to lock the container  10 , one may push the shackle  50  in an outward direction, away from the container interior  24 , by reaching inside of the container  10  and grasping the shackle  50 . After the padlock body  48  is outside of pocket  70 , it may be rotated back to the position shown in  FIG. 7  and the free end  128  of shackle  50  may be inserted through the hole  76  in back wall  60  of housing  42  into the padlock body  48 . See  FIGS. 5 and 7 . The padlock  46  is then ready to receive the latch  40  as discussed above. 
         [0040]    Referring now to  FIGS. 9-14  an alternative embodiment of a locking system  140  according to this invention is illustrated. The locking system  140  includes the same padlock  46  and housing  42  described above in connection with a discussion of Figs,  1 - 8 , except housing  42  is modified to include a flange  43 . The locking system  140  cooperates with a latch  40  as depicted in  FIGS. 1-8 , and described below. Elements of locking system  140  which are common to those shown in  FIGS. 1-8  and described above are given the same reference numbers in  FIGS. 9-11 . 
         [0041]    The bracket  142  employed in locking system  140  is somewhat different from bracket  44  in  FIGS. 1-8 . Bracket  142  comprises a top plate  144 , a bottom plate  146  and a vertical plate  148  connected between the top and bottom plates  144 ,  146 . The top plate  144  has a top flange  150  formed with spaced holes  152 ,  154 , and the bottom plate  146  mounts opposed bottom flanges  156  each formed with a hole  160 . Only one of the bottom flanges  156  is shown in the Figs. for ease of illustration. The vertical plate  148  is formed with a generally horizontally extending slot  162  which is intersected by two vertically oriented locking slots  164  and  166  which are spaced from one another along the slot  162 . 
         [0042]    The locking system  140  further comprises a guide  168  which comprises a first end wall  170 , a second end wall  172  and a side wall  174  connected between the first and second end walls  170 ,  172 . As best seen in  FIG. 9 , the second end wall  172  has an upper tab  176  and a lower tab  178  which are spaced from one another to form recess  180  between them. An upper end of the recess  180  defines a notch  181  in between the upper tab  176  and the second end wall  172 , and a second notch  183  is formed between the lower tab  178  and second end wall  172 . Additionally, the second end wall  172  is formed with an angled cover plate  182  extending outwardly therefrom. The front wall  170  is formed with a bore  175 . As best seen in  FIGS. 11, 13 and 14 , the side wall  174  is formed with an opening  177  to receive shackle  50 , as described below. 
         [0043]    One feature of the locking system  140  shown in  FIGS. 9-14  is the provision of more robust structure to secure the housing  42  and bracket  142  to the end wall  18  of container  10 , Referring again to  FIG. 9 , a pair of spaced mounting arms  184  and  186  each formed with an opening  188  are fixed to the end wall  18  on either side of a cut-out  190  formed therein. The cut-out  190  may be covered by a face plate  192  when the locking system  140  is mounted to end wall  18 . Preferably, the face plate  192  has a side plate  194  formed with a hole  196  which aligns with a hole  198  formed in end wall  18  when the face plate  192  is positioned over cut-out  190 . The face plate  192  may be secured to the end wall  18  by a rivet  200  inserted through the aligning holes  196 ,  198  and connected to end wall  18 . 
         [0044]    In order to assemble the locking system  140 , the housing  42  is initially placed against the end wall  18  over the cut-out  190  so that the mounting arm  186  contacts the side wall  58  of the housing  42 . See  FIG. 10 . Although not shown in the Figs., the mounting arm  184  contacts side wall  56  of housing  42 . In this position, the opening  78  in each of the side walls  56 ,  58  aligns with the opening  188  in respective mounting arms  184 ,  186 . As shown in  FIG. 11 , the bracket  142  may then be slid into engagement with housing  42  such that the top plate  144  of bracket  142  contacts the top wall  52  of housing  42 , and the bottom plate  146  of bracket  142  slides underneath the bottom wall  54  of housing  42  and rests atop a shelf  19  affixed to the end wall  18 . With the bracket  142  in an assembled position, its bottom flanges  156 ,  158  straddle respective first and second mounting arms  184 ,  186 . The hole  160  in each bottom flange  156 ,  158  aligns with an opening  188  in respective first and second mounting arms  184 ,  186  and an opening  78  in respective side walls  56 ,  58  of housing  42 . A fastener such as a bolt  202  may be inserted through the aligning openings  160 ,  188  and  78 , with a nut  204  tightened down along each protruding end, to secure the bracket  142  and housing  42  to the end wall  18  of the container  10 . Additionally, bolts  202  may be inserted through holes  206  in the end wall  18  and into the bores  152 ,  154  of top flange  150 , each receiving a nut  204  at a protruding end, to further secure the bracket  142  and housing  42  to the container  10 . 
         [0045]    With reference to  FIG. 11 , the guide  168  is illustrated in the process of being assembled to the bracket  142 . For ease of illustration, the shackle  50  of padlock  46  is not shown, but shackle  50  would be positioned in its unlocked or extended position within the slot  162  prior to assembly of the guide  168 . Initially, the guide  168  is located alongside the bracket  142  and then rotated such that its second end wall  172  contacts the side edge of the top plate  144  of bracket  142  and the first end wall  170  engages the front wall  12  of container  10 . In the course of movement to this position, the upper edge of the vertical plate  148  of bracket  142  is captured within the notch  181  of guide  168  and its lower tab  178  extends through the locking slot  184  in bracket  142  so that the part of the vertical plate  148  at the base of locking slot  184  is captured within the second notch  183  of guide  168 . As viewed  FIG. 12 , when the guide  168  and bracket  142  are connected to one another, both of the upper and lower tabs  176 ,  178  rest against the outside of vertical plate  148  and the angled cover plate  182  blocks access to the interior of the bracket  142  and housing  42  from either the front wall  12  or end wall  18  of container  10 . The guide  168  is secured in this position by inserting a bolt  202  through a bore  208  formed in the front wall  12  of container  10  and through the bore  175  in the first end wall  170  of guide  168 . A nut  204  is tightened down along the protruding end of bolt  202 . 
         [0046]    Referring now to  FIGS. 13 and 14 , the shackle  50  of padlock  46  is movable between a locked and unlocked position in the same manner as described above in connection with a discussion of  FIGS. 3, 4, 7 and 8 . In the locked position illustrated in 
         [0047]      FIG. 13 , the latch arms  114 ,  116  of latch  40  may encircle a portion of the shackle  50  to lock the lid  24  of container  10  in a closed position in the same manner shown in  FIG. 6  and described above. As noted above, the guide  168  is connected to the bracket  142  with the shackle  50  in the extended, unlocked position such that the free end of the shackle  50  is spaced from the side wall  174  of guide  168 . See  FIG. 14 . In the course of moving the shackle  50  to a locked position, in order to receive the latch arms  114 ,  116 , the shackle  50  passes through the opening  177  in the side wall  174  of guide  168  and then into the padlock body  48 . The upper and lower tabs  176 ,  178 , together with the side wall  174 , collectively prevent the padlock  46  from being disengaged from the locking assembly  140 . When the shackle  50  is moved to the unlocked position shown in  FIG. 14 , so that it is removed from opening  177  and spaced from the side wall  174  of guide  168 , the latch arms  114 ,  116  are no longer captured by the shackle  50  thus allowing the lid  24  to be opened. 
         [0048]    While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.