Abstract:
A method of installing a drain fixture, the method comprising first installing a sub-floor plumbing system comprising a plumbing trap, a removable drain pipe, and a sleeve. Next, the method comprises connecting the plumbing trap and the removable drain pipe and sliding the sleeve over the removable drain pipe. Next, the method comprises building a flooring surface proximate to the plumbing trap, the removable drain pipe, and the sleeve. Then, the method comprises removing the removable drain pipe at least partly from the sleeve, cutting the removable drain pipe to the desired length, and re-inserting the removable drain pipe through the sleeve and into the plumbing trap.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Most homes use basic systems for plumbing and drain systems. A main water line usually comes into a home through its foundation. From this location, the water line may run to a water heater, which generates hot water. 
         [0002]    A plumbing drain trap is a shaped pipe located below or within a plumbing fixture such as a toilet, a sink, or a shower drain. A trap can be a U-, S-, or J-shaped trap, although U- and J-shaped traps are the most common traps used today. The various shapes are each named for the bends in the traps, which are used to prevent sewer gases from entering buildings through drain pipes. The bends in the traps are shaped to retain a small amount of water after use of the fixture. The water in the trap creates a seal that prevents sewer gases from passing from the drain pipe back into the building. 
         [0003]    However, known plumbing traps have certain disadvantages. Many installations require shallow traps in order to fit against a concrete floor, whether that concrete floor is on a first floor or a basement floor, or for a second story installation. In the United States, basement floors are typically concrete floors so a shallow trap must be used for basement drain fixtures. The height of a trap seal is measured from the bottom of a trap arm at an outlet to the top of the trap dip, also know as the crown weir. A standard trap height may be 50 mm, for example, but a shallow trap may only have a trap height of 15 mm, for example. When a shallow trap is used, however, the amount of water in the trap is decreased compared to the amount in a regular trap, and regular evaporation of water in the trap may cause the water seal to be broken more quickly, thereby allowing sewer odors and gases to enter into the building. 
         [0004]    In addition, in some other regions, such as Latin America, floor drains are typically placed next to a toilet in addition to in a shower. While traps connected to a shower drain or a toilet are easy to refill on a regular basis by running the shower or flushing the toilet, in order to maintain a proper seal for a floor drain pipe with a known plumbing trap, water must be poured into the drain on a regular basis. Otherwise, the water within the trap may evaporate and the water seal may be broken if air can pass through the bend in the trap, thereby allowing sewer odors and gasses to enter into the building. 
         [0005]    Further, installing floor drains can be difficult because more than one professional is typically involved in the installation process. In a standard installation, a plumber will install the sub-floor plumbing components and then leave a drain pipe extending above an estimated floor height that will extend to a desired fixture. Then, a flooring specialist will finish the flooring above the sub-floor plumbing. Concrete is often poured around the drain pipe and then a finish flooring surface is installed above the concrete. Once the concrete is poured, however, it is difficult, if not impossible, to remove the drain pipe to cut it to the proper height. In order to cut the drain pipe below the flooring surface after the concrete is poured, the flooring specialist must chisel the cement around the drain pipe so that there is sufficient clearance for tools to cut the drain pipe below the flooring surface. But if the drain pipe is cut before the concrete is poured, it is difficult to determine the desired length of the drain pipe necessary to make the floor drain sit flush on the finished flooring surface. 
         [0006]    Thus, an improved method for installing a floor drain to the correct height above a flooring slab and a plumbing trap is desired. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0007]    In an exemplary embodiment, an improved method of installing a drain fixture is disclosed. The method comprises installing a sub-floor plumbing system. Installing the sub-floor plumbing system comprises connecting a first end of a plumbing trap to a main drain outlet and connecting a first end of a removable drain pipe to a second end of the plumbing trap. The method next comprises sliding a sleeve over the removable drain pipe. Next, the method comprises building a flooring surface above and around the plumbing trap, the removable drain pipe, and the sleeve. Once the floor is built, the method comprises partly or fully removing the removable drain pipe from the sleeve, cutting the removable drain pipe to the desired length and re-inserting the removable drain pipe through the sleeve and into the plumbing trap. 
         [0008]    In an exemplary embodiment, an improved plumbing installation kit is disclosed. The kit comprises a plumbing trap, at least one removable drain pipe, at least one sleeve, an optional adapter, an optional washer, an optional cap, and an optional drain pre-form. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    Reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  depicts an elevational view of a first prior art floor drain installation; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  depicts an elevational view of a second prior art floor drain installation; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  depicts an perspective view of an improved drain installation, in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  depicts a cutaway view of the improved drain installation of  FIG. 3 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  depicts a depicts a magnified cutaway view of the improved drain installation of  FIG. 4 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  depicts a cutaway view of an improved drain installation, in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  depicts a cutaway view of the improved drain installation of  FIG. 3 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8A  depicts a perspective view of a first pre-form of the improved drain installation of  FIG. 3 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0018]      FIG. 8B  depicts a perspective view of a second pre-form of the improved drain installation of  FIG. 3 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  depicts an perspective view of an improved drain installation, in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    Various aspects of a drainage fitting and related methods for installing a drainage fitting according to the present disclosure are described. It is to be understood, however, that the following explanation is merely exemplary in describing the devices and methods of the present disclosure. Accordingly, any number of reasonable and foreseeable modifications, changes and substitutions are contemplated without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  depicts an elevational view of a first prior art floor drain installation  100 . The first prior art drain installation  100  may comprise a drain pipe  102  extending upwardly from a plumbing trap  104  to a fixture, such as a floor drain  108 . The installation  100  may further comprises a drain outlet  106  connected to the main sewer line (not shown). Before the installation  100  is completed, the drain pipe  102  extends above a flooring slab and must be cut to the appropriate length to allow the fixture to sit flush with a finished flooring surface  112 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 2  depicts an elevational view of a second prior art floor drain installation  200 . The second prior art drain installation  200  may comprise a first drain pipe  202  extending upwardly from a connection  206  and a plumbing trap  204  to a fixture, such as a floor drain  208 . The connection  206  may also connect to a second drain pipe  210 , which may be connected to a second fixture, such as a sink  218 . A connection  212  may be connected to the plumbing trap  204  at a second end. A third drain pipe  214  may extend from the connection  212 , which may be connected to an elbow  218  and a third fixture, such as a toilet  216 . A drain outlet (not shown) may also extend from the second connection  212  and may be connected to the main sewer line. In an embodiment, the first and second connections  206 ,  218  may be T- or Y-shaped connections. Before the installation  200  is completed, the drain pipes  202  and  214  extend above a flooring slab and must be cut to appropriate lengths to allow the fixtures to sit flush with or on a finished flooring surface. 
         [0023]    As depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , after installation, the fixtures  108 ,  208 , and  216  preferably sit flush with or on a finished flooring surface  112  installed above a concrete slab  110 . In order to make such a prior art installation  100 ,  200 , however, a plumber will install the sub-floor plumbing components and then leave the drain pipes  102 ,  202  extending above an estimated floor height that will extend to a desired fixture. Then, a flooring specialist will finish the flooring above the sub-floor plumbing. Concrete  110  is often poured around the drain pipe and then the finished flooring surface  112  is installed above the concrete  110 . Once the concrete  110  is poured, however, it is difficult, if not impossible, to remove the drain pipes  102 ,  202  in order to cut them to the proper height. In order to cut the drain pipes  102 ,  202  below the flooring surface after the concrete  110  is poured, the flooring specialist must chisel the concrete  110  around the drain pipes  102 ,  202  so that there is sufficient clearance for tools to cut the drain pipes  102 ,  202  below the finished flooring surface  112 , which can be a difficult process. But if the drain pipes  102 ,  202  are cut before the concrete  110  is poured, it is difficult to determine the desired length of the drain pipes  102 ,  202 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 3  depicts a perspective view of an improved drain installation  300 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 4  depicts a cutaway view of the improved drain installation  300  of  FIG. 3 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 5  depicts a magnified cutaway view of the improved drain installation  300  of  FIG. 4 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIGS. 3-5 , the improved drain installation  300  may include a plumbing trap  312 . In an embodiment, the plumbing trap  312  may be an integral U-shaped trap, although in other embodiments, it may be an S- or J-shaped trap. In an embodiment, an adapter  302  may be removably or permanently connected to a first end of the plumbing trap  312  at a first end of the adapter  302 . In other embodiments, the adapter  302  may be internally, or integrally, formed and may be configured to be received within the first end of the plumbing trap  312  at a first end of the adapter  302 . In other embodiments, an adapter may not be required. A drain outlet (not shown) may be removably or permanently connected to a second end of the plumbing trap  312  and the drain outlet may be connected to the main sewer line (also not shown). The drain outlet, the plumbing trap  312 , and/or the adapter  302  may be permanently connected to each other with a plumbing cement or adhesive or may be removably connected to each other through a friction-fit type of engagement seal. 
         [0026]    The improved drain installation  300  may further comprise a removable drain pipe  306 , which may be connected to a first end of the plumbing trap  312  at a first end of the removable drain pipe  306 . 
         [0027]    The improved drain installation  300  may further comprise a sleeve  304  received around the removable drain pipe  306  and may extend to approximately an end of the removable drain pipe  306 . Both the removable drain pipe  306  and the sleeve  304  may extend above a slab level of a flooring surface, requiring the removable drain pipe  306  to be cut to size before a fixture  308  may be attached to the end of the removable drain pipe  306 . In an embodiment, the fixture  308  may be a floor drain or a shower drain. In an embodiment, the sleeve  304  may be a disposable sleeve or a reusable sleeve. 
         [0028]    In some embodiments, an adapter  302  may be received between the plumbing trap  312  and the removable drain pipe  306 . In such embodiments, the plumbing trap  312  may be received within a first end of the adapter  302  and the removable drain pipe  306  may be received within a second end of the adapter  302 . A washer  314  may be received between the removable drain pipe  306  and the adapter  302  at the second end of the adapter  302  and may provide a seal between the removable drain pipe  306  and the adapter  302  such that gases and liquids cannot escape between the two. The first end of the removable drain pipe  306  may further comprise an angled end  322 . 
         [0029]    The adapter  302  may be shaped with a first diameter at its first end and a second, larger diameter at its second end connected by an angled transition  324  between the two. The first diameter at the first end may be sized and shaped to fit within the first end of the plumbing trap  312 . The second diameter at the second end may be sized and shaped to receive the removable drain pipe  306 . When inserted into the adapter  302 , the angled first end  322  of the removable drain pipe  306  may interact with, but not pass beyond, the angled transition  324  of the adapter  302 . The second end of the adapter  302  may further comprise an enclosed circumferential shoulder  316  operable to receive the washer  314  within the shoulder. The shoulder  316  may be sized and shaped to mate with the washer  314  and may include a circumferential lower lip  318  operable to engage with an inner circumferential shoulder  320  of the washer  314 . 
         [0030]    In  FIGS. 3-5 , the fixture  308  depicted is a floor drain. When installing a floor drain, unlike when installing a toilet or a sink, the removable drain pipe  306  is cut below the flooring surface so that the floor drain can sit flush with the flooring surface, allowing the water to drain. With a floor drain, an optional pre-form  310  may be used and received around the sleeve  304  and the removable drain pipe  306 . The optional pre-form  310  may be shaped to correspond to the shape of the desired floor drain fixture  308 . 
         [0031]    During installation, both a plumber and a flooring specialist may be needed to properly install the improved drain installation  300 . The plumber may first connect the plumbing trap  312  to the main drain outlet (not shown) that is connected to the sewer main (also not shown) below the flooring slab level. Next, the plumber may insert the washer  314  into the shoulder  316  of the adapter  302 , or the washer  314  may be pre-installed into the shoulder  316 , and connect the adapter  302  to the first end of the plumbing trap  312 . The adapter  302  is operable to be inserted into the first end of the plumbing trap  312  at the first end of the adapter  302 . Next, the plumber may connect the removable drain pipe  306  to the second end of the adapter  302 . In an embodiment, the shoulder  316  may be received in the adapter  302  or in the integrally-formed P-shaped trap. The removable drain pipe  306  is operable to be inserted into the second end of the adapter  302 , creating a seal between the removable drain pipe  306  and the adapter  302  at the washer  314 . If an adapter is not desired, the plumber may connect the removable drain pipe  306  to the first end of the plumbing trap  312 . The shoulder  316  and the washer  314  may be integrally formed at the first end of the plumbing trap  312 . Once the removable drain pipe  306  has been connected to either the plumbing trap  312  or the adapter  302 , the plumber may slide the sleeve  304  over the removable drain pipe  306 . The sleeve  304  may be slid downwardly and proximate to the plumbing trap  312  or the adapter  302 . If the fixture  308  being installed is a floor drain, the plumber may then slide the pre-form  310  over both the sleeve  304  and the removable drain pipe  306 . The pre-form  310  may be slid downwardly so that an upper edge of the pre-form  310  is approximately level with the eventual height of the flooring slab level. Once the sub-floor plumbing is complete, the plumber may transition the project to the flooring specialist. 
         [0032]    Next the flooring specialist may build the floor above the sub-floor and around the sleeve  304  and the removable drain pipe  306 . The flooring specialist may start with a concrete or wood sub-floor (not shown) and then build a finished flooring surface (also not shown) above the sub-floor. The finished flooring surface may be made from tile, wood, finished concrete, or the like and may be various thicknesses based on the chosen finished flooring surface. The sub-floor and the finished flooring surface may extend entirely around the sleeve  304 . Once the flooring is complete, the flooring specialist may finish the installation of the plumbing fixture  308  or may transition the project back to the plumber to finish installation of the plumbing fixture  308 . 
         [0033]    In the improved installation process, the flooring specialist or the plumber does not need to alter the finished flooring surface in any way in order to cut the removable drain pipe  306  to the desired height. Unlike the prior art methods, which required the flooring specialist or the plumber to chisel the flooring surface or to guestimate the desired height of the drain pipe, the current installation process allows the flooring specialist or the plumber to precisely cut the removable drain pipe  306  to the desired height without needing to chisel the sub-floor. 
         [0034]    In order to finish installation of the plumbing fixture  308  in the improved installation process, either the flooring specialist or the plumber can mark the desired height of the removable drain pipe  306  or measure the distance from the end of the removable drain pipe  306  to the finished flooring surface. Next, either the flooring specialist or the plumber can remove the removable drain pipe  306  from the plumbing trap  312  or the adapter  302 , while leaving the sleeve  304  in place relative to the sub-floor and the finished flooring surface. The sleeve  304  acts as an insulator between the removable drain pipe  306  and the sub-floor and the finished flooring surface and eliminates the traditional adhesive interaction that would be present between concrete and a traditional drain pipe. The sleeve  304  can be made from cardboard, wax paper, plastic, or any other insulating material. 
         [0035]    Once the removable drain pipe  306  is removed partly or entirely from the sleeve  304  and the removable drain pipe  306  is cut to the proper length, while the sleeve  304  maintains and secures the aperture to allow the removable drain pipe  306  to be re-inserted through the sleeve  304 . 
         [0036]    After cutting the removable drain pipe  306  to the proper length, either the flooring specialist or the plumber may re-insert the removable drain pipe  306  through the sleeve  304  and into either the plumbing trap  312  or the adapter  302 . 
         [0037]    If an adapter is desired, the removable drain pipe  306  may be inserted into the sleeve  304  until the angled end  322  of removable drain pipe  306  interacts with the angled transition  324  of the adapter  302 . Once re-inserted, the washer  314  again creates a seal between the adapter  302  and the removable drain pipe  306 . During both removal and re-insertion of the removable drain pipe  306 , the washer  314  may move within the shoulder  316  of the adapter  302 , but if present, the circumferential lip  318  and circumferential shoulder  320  arrangement prevent the washer  314  from being removed from the shoulder  316 . 
         [0038]    Before the removable drain pipe  306  is re-inserted into the plumbing trap  312  and a proper seal is created, the flooring specialist may remove the sleeve  304  from between the sub-floor and finished flooring surface. If the fixture being installed is a floor drain, the pre-form  310  may also be removed, leaving an opening the same size and shape as the desired floor drain. 
         [0039]    Once the removable drain pipe  306  has been cut to the desired length, and re-inserted into the trap  312 , the flooring specialist can install the desired plumbing fixture  308 . The plumbing fixture  308  may create a seal between the end of the removable drain pipe  306  and the finished flooring surface, or the plumber may create a seal (or additional seal) with caulk or another similar sealing material. 
         [0040]      FIG. 6  depicts a cutaway view of an improved drain installation  400 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. Like the drain installation depicted in  FIGS. 3-5 , the improved drain installation  400  may include a plumbing trap  412 . In an embodiment, the plumbing trap  412  may be an integral U-shaped trap, although in other embodiments, it may be an S- or J-shaped trap. A T-shaped adapter  402  may be connected to a first end of the plumbing trap  412  and may be configured to be received within the first end of the plumbing trap  412  at a first end of the T-shaped adapter  402 . The T-shaped adapter  402  allows two plumbing fixtures to be installed in close proximity to each other, such as a floor drain and a sink in a bathroom, and connect to a single plumbing trap  412 . An outlet pipe (not shown) may be connected to a second end of the plumbing trap  412  and the outlet pipe may be connected to the main sewer line (also not shown). 
         [0041]    The improved drain installation  400  may further comprise a removable drain pipe  406   a  connected to a second end of the T-shaped adapter  402 . The removable drain pipe  406   a  may be configured to be received within a shoulder formed in the second end of the T-shaped adapter  402 . Washers  414   a  may be received between the removable drain pipe  406   a  and the T-shaped adapter  402  at the second end of the T-shaped adapter  402  and may provide a seal between the removable drain pipe  406   a  and the T-shaped adapter  402  such that gases and liquids cannot escape between the two. 
         [0042]    The improved drain installation  400  may further comprise a secondary inlet pipe  406  connected to a third end of the T-shaped adapter  402 . The secondary inlet pipe  406  may be configured to be received within a shoulder formed in the third end of the T-shaped adapter  402 . Washer  414   b  may be received between the secondary inlet pipe  406   b  and the T-shaped adapter  402  at the third end of the T-shaped adapter  402  and may provide a seal between the secondary inlet pipe  406  and the T-shaped adapter  402  such that gases and liquids cannot escape between the two. 
         [0043]    The improved drain installation  400  may further comprise one or more sleeves (not shown) received around the removable drain pipe  406   a  and may extend from proximate to the second and third ends of the T-shaped adapter  402  to approximately ends of the removable drain pipe  406   a . The removable drain pipe  406   a  and the sleeve may extend above a slab level of a flooring surface, requiring the removable drain pipe  406   a  to be cut to size before fixtures may be attached to the end of the removable drain pipe  406   a . In an embodiment, the fixtures may be floor drains, shower drains, or a combination thereof. The method of installing the improved drain installation  400  is similar to that described above in relation to the installation of the improved drain installation  300 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 7  depicts a cutaway view of the improved drain installation  300  of  FIG. 3 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the removable drain pipe  306  may be encircled by the sleeve  304 , but may further comprise an end cap  702 . The end cap  702  may be placed on the open second end of the removable drain pipe  306  and may cap the removable drain pipe  306  so that gases and liquids do not escape into the room. 
         [0045]      FIG. 8A  depicts a perspective view of a first pre-form  310   a  of the improved drain installation of  FIG. 3 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 8B  depicts a perspective view of a second pre-form  310   b  of the improved drain installation of  FIG. 3 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. The pre-forms  310   a ,  310   b  may be sized and shaped to fit a desired floor drain and may be round, square, tapered, etc. The pre-forms  310   a ,  310   b  may advantageously prevent concrete from falling within the drain pipe and into the plumbing trap during installation. 
         [0046]      FIG. 9  depicts an perspective view of an improved drain installation  900 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. In an embodiment, a first end of a drain pipe  902  may be connected to a first end of a plumbing trap  904  and a drain pre-form  906  may be received around a second end of the drain pipe  902 . The first end of the drain pipe  902  may be cemented into the plumbing trap  904 , while the drain pre-form  906  may be received around the second end of the drain pipe  902  and is operable to slide up and down the length of the drain pipe  902 . In addition, the drain pre-form  906  is operable to be removed from the second end of the drain pipe  902 . 
         [0047]    In an embodiment, the drain pipe  902  may be cut to a desired length so that a floor drain  908  sits below a finished flooring level, and may be cut on-site or may be pre-cut to raise the drain pre-form  906  to a desired height above the plumbing trap  904 . A plumber may slide the drain pre-form  906  downwardly around the drain pipe  902  to an approximate height of a finished flooring surface. The drain pre-form  906  may be sized and shaped to fit a desired floor drain and may be round, square, tapered, etc. The pre-form  906  may advantageously prevent concrete from falling within the drain pipe and into the plumbing trap during installation. 
         [0048]    In operation, after the plumber installs the sub-floor plumbing—i.e., the drain pipe  902 , the plumbing trap  904 , and the drain pre-form  906 —and the concrete slab has been poured around the sub-floor plumbing, a flooring specialist may install the finished flooring surface above the concrete slab and finish the installation of the drain. After the finished flooring surface has been laid to a desired height, which is preferably slightly above an upper surface of the drain pre-form  906 , the flooring specialist may remove the drain pre-form  906  from the second end of the drain pipe  902  and cut the drain pipe  902  to a desired length. In order to cut the drain pipe  902  to a desired length after the finished flooring surface is installed, a specialty tool, such as a PVC wire saw, may be needed to cut the drain pipe  902  without damaging the finished flooring surface or the drain pipe  902 . After cutting the drain pipe  902  to the desired length, the flooring specialist may cement the floor drain  908  into the second end of the drain pipe  902  so that an upper surface of the floor drain  908  may be flush, or slightly below, a surface of the finished flooring surface. 
         [0049]    As disclosed herein, the plumbing traps and removable drain pipes may be constructed from PVC, ABS, cast iron, brass, copper, or any other material suitable for plumbing pipes. Similarly, the adapter and T-shaped adapter may be constructed from PVC, ABS, cast iron, brass, copper, or any other material suitable for plumbing pipe adapters. The washers may be constructed from plastic, foam, or any other material suitable to provide a seal between the removable drain pipes and the adapters. As discussed previously, the sleeve may be constructed from cardboard, wax paper, plastic, or any other non-adhesive material suitable to permit the removable drain pipe not to adhere to the sub-floor concrete and to allow movement of the removable drain pipes relative to the flooring. The cap may be constructed from PVC, ABS, cast iron, brass, copper, or any other material suitable for capping a plumbing pipe. Each of the components described herein may be sized and shaped to meet the plumbing needs of each individual plumbing fixture installation. 
         [0050]    It should be appreciated that the breadth and scope of the invention(s) is not limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents. Moreover, the above advantages and features are provided in described embodiments, but shall not limit the application of the claims to processes and structures accomplishing any or all of the above advantages. 
         [0051]    Additionally, the section headings herein are provided for consistency with the suggestions under 37 CFR 1.77 or otherwise to provide organizational cues. These headings shall not limit or characterize the invention(s) set out in any claims that may issue from this disclosure. Specifically and by way of example, although the headings refer to a “Technical Field,” the claims should not be limited by the language chosen under this heading to describe the so-called technical field. Further, a description of a technology in the “Background” is not to be construed as an admission that technology is prior art to any invention(s) in this disclosure. Neither is the “Brief Summary” to be considered as a characterization of the invention(s) set forth in the claims found herein. Furthermore, any reference in this disclosure to “invention” in the singular should not be used to argue that there is only a single point of novelty claimed in this disclosure. Multiple inventions may be set forth according to the limitations of the multiple claims associated with this disclosure, and the claims accordingly define the invention(s), and their equivalents, that are protected thereby. In all instances, the scope of the claims shall be considered on their own merits in light of the specification, but should not be constrained by the headings set forth herein.