Abstract:
A wearable badge for displaying removable indicia includes a backing having an attachment fastener and defining an indicia portion. The wearable badge also includes a frame defining an opening and having a first frame edge and a second frame edge. The first frame edge is joined to the backing such that the first and second frame edges at least partially surround the indicia portion. The indicia portion is viewable through the opening and the second frame edge is moveable away from the backing to facilitate insertion and withdrawal of indicia between the backing and the frame.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/225,119, filed Jul. 13, 2009, and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/794,533, filed Jun. 4, 2010, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/616,376, filed Dec. 27, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,752,782, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/001,833, filed Dec. 2, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,194,828, the entire contents of each of these applications are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to badges and, more particularly, to badges used like a “wearable billboard” for displaying multiple and interchangeable pieces of information. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A large number of badges exist in today&#39;s marketplace for displaying identification or other indicia thereon. These typical badges include only a single display area with indicia thereon. Such indicia can include a wearer&#39;s name, an identification number, other words, names, symbols, graphics, illustrations or pictures. Badges are used in a variety of environments, such as service, retail, employment, military, educational, and meeting environments. They are most commonly attached to a wearer&#39;s clothing through a variety of means such as pins or adhesives. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In some aspects, the invention may provide a wearable badge for displaying removable indicia. The wearable badge includes a backing having an attachment fastener and defining an indicia portion. The wearable badge also includes a frame defining an opening and having a first frame edge and a second frame edge. The first frame edge is joined to the backing such that the first and second frame edges at least partially surround the indicia portion. The indicia portion is viewable through the opening and the second frame edge is moveable away from the backing to facilitate insertion and withdrawal of indicia between the backing and the frame. 
     In other aspects, the invention may provide a wearable badge for displaying removable indicia and including a backing having an attachment fastener, a frame, and a clear indicia overlay. The backing defines an indicia portion having an indicia portion perimeter. The indicia portion perimeter includes at least a first backing edge and a second backing edge that is substantially opposite the first backing edge. The first backing edge defines a plurality of apertures, and the backing includes a cutout positioned substantially opposite the first backing edge. The frame defines an opening and has a first frame edge and a second frame edge that cooperate to at least partially define a frame perimeter. The frame perimeter substantially corresponds to the indicia portion perimeter. The frame also includes a rear surface and a recess that extends around the opening and that is recessed with respect to the rear surface. The first frame edge includes a plurality of projections, and each projection is configured for insertion into a respective one of the plurality of apertures for joining the frame to the backing. The indicia portion is viewable through the opening. The cutout portion in the backing exposes the rear surface of the frame to facilitate movement of the second frame edge away from the backing plate for insertion and withdrawal of indicia between the backing and the frame. The clear indicia overlay is received by the recess and is positioned between the frame and the backing, the recess and the plurality of projections cooperate to retain the overlay between the frame and the backing. 
     In other aspects, the invention may provide an article for displaying indicia, the article including a housing, a first indicia bearing member positioned on the housing, and a second indicia bearing member positioned on the housing. 
     In other aspects, the invention may provide a badge including a housing having a first indicia portion and a second indicia portion, the first and second indicia portions being discrete from one another, a first indicia member attached to the first indicia portion of the housing, and a second indicia member attached to the second indicia portion of the housing, the second indicia different than the first indicia. 
     In yet other aspects, the invention may provide a method of identifying a wearer and advertising goods or services with a badge, the method including providing a badge including a housing having a first indicia portion and a second indicia portion, attaching a first indicia member to the first indicia portion of the housing, and attaching a second indicia member to the second indicia portion of the housing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a badge. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the badge shown in  FIG. 1 , shown with indicia removed. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded front perspective view of the badge shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded front perspective view of the badge shown in  FIG. 1 , shown with a plurality of indicia plates exploded from the badge. 
         FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of a badge. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the badge taken along line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 6 , shown with a punch before it engages the badge. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view similar to the cross-sectional view in  FIG. 7 , shown with the punch after it engages the badge. 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of the punch shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is a front view of an alternative badge. 
         FIG. 11  is a front view of a backing of the badge shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is a rear view of a frame of the badge shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 13  is a front view of a clear indicia overlay of the badge shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 14  is a section view taken along line  14 - 14  of  FIG. 10 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , an article, such as a badge  20 , is illustrated and can be worn by a person in various environments, such as, for example a restaurant, a retail store, or by an on-site cable technician, a bus driver, etc., or any other person in an environment in which it is useful for the wearer to display some indicia on his/her person. The indicia, for example, may identify an individual, or advertise, promote or market a service or product. The indicia may comprise, for example, text, pictures, colors, numbers, symbols, illustrations, etc. 
     Badge  20  includes a housing  24  having a first indicia portion  28  and a second indicia portion  32 . The badge  20  can assume a variety of different configurations and can include any number of indicia portions. For example, badge  20  can include three indicia portions. In such an example, one of the indicia portions can be for identification of a person and the other two, for advertising. In the illustrated construction, including only two indicia portions, first indicia portion  28  is used to identify the user of badge  20  and second indicia portion  32  is used for advertising, promoting or marketing purposes to advertise, promote or market a product(s) or service(s). Alternatively, the first indicia portion  28  can be used for advertising, promotional or marketing purposes and the second indicia portion  32  can be used for identification purposes. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-4 , housing  24  includes a frame  36  extending around and between the first and second indicia portions  28 ,  32  to discretely separate them and define a first receptacle  40  and a second receptacle  44 , corresponding respectively to the first and second indicia portions  28 ,  32  (see  FIG. 3 ). Badge  20  also includes a first plate  48  containing a first indicia  52  thereon and a second plate  56  containing a second indicia  60  thereon (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The first and second plates  48 ,  56  are positionable in the first and second receptacles  40 ,  44 , respectively, and are each surrounded by frame  36 . The frame  36  assists in proper insertion and alignment of the plates  48 ,  56  in the first and second receptacles  40 ,  44  because the plates preferably substantially fill the area, but not necessarily the depth, of the respective receptacles. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2-4 , the plates  48 ,  56  can be either removably or permanently attached to housing  24  within the receptacles  40 ,  44  in a variety of manners. In the illustrated construction, double-sided adhesive tape  64  is applied to the rear of the first plate  48 , which is adhesively attached to floor  41  within the first receptacle  40 . In this manner the first plate  48  is removably and adhesively attached to housing  24  and can be removed from the housing  24  to attach another plate to the housing  24  within the first receptacle  40  or for other reasons (discussed in more detail below). Alternatively, the adhesive tape  64  could include the appropriate adhesive properties to permanently attach the first plate  48  to the housing  24 , thereby preventing the first plate  48  from being removed and replaced with another plate. 
     Also in the illustrated construction, the second plate  56  is magnetically attached to the second receptacle  44 . A stepped recess  68  is defined in the floor  45  within the second receptacle  44  and includes a first step  72  and a second step  76  concentric with the first step position (see  FIGS. 3 and 4 ). First step  72  lies below floor  45  and second step  76  lies below first step  72 . Badge  20  further includes a metallic member  80  capable of magnetic attraction connected to the rear of the second plate  56  and a magnet  84  connected to the housing  24  within the second step  76  of the stepped recess  68 . To removably and magnetically attach the second plate  56  to the housing  24 , the metallic member  80  is aligned with and fits within the first step  72  of the stepped recess  68 , where the magnet  84  magnetically attracts the metallic member  80  thereto and magnetically attaches the second plate  56  to the housing  24 . In the illustrated construction, the metallic member  80  and the first step  72  of the stepped recess  68  are complimentarily shaped to assist, in combination with the frame  36 , with obtaining the proper orientation and attachment of the second plate  56  to the housing  24 . The metallic member  80  and the first step  72  of the stepped recess  68  can assume any appropriate shape, either complimentary or uncomplimentary to each other, so long as the member  80  and magnet  84  can magnetically connect and the second plate  56  lies flat against floor  45 . That is, the depths of the first and second steps and the corresponding thicknesses of member  80  and magnet  84  must be such as to permit second plate  56  to lie flush with floor  45 . Also, the magnet  84  and the metallic member  80  can be reversed with one another and connected to the other of the second plate  56  and the second step  76  of the stepped recess  68 . The magnet  84  and metallic member  80  can be of any shape or size as long as a secure magnetic attachment is made therebetween and maintained during normal use of the badge  20 . 
     The first and second plates  48 ,  56  can be connected, either permanently or removably, to the housing  24  within the appropriate receptacle  40 ,  44  in a variety of other manners, such as, for example, gluing, hooks and loop fasteners (Velcro), permanently bonding (i.e., melting), integrally forming, suitable combinations of connecting systems, etc. It should further be understood that the first and second plates  48 ,  56  can be similarly attached (i.e., both adhesively attached or both magnetically attached) or differently attached (i.e., as illustrated in the figures and described hereinbefore) to the housing  24 . 
     Referring particularly to  FIGS. 3 and 5 , badge  20  includes a pin  88  for attaching badge  20  to clothing of a worker. Pin  88  is formed by bending a wire spring. The pin  88  has a bent profile  92 - 100  in a horizontal plane and an upstanding spring bend  104  and a hook  108  in a vertical plane. Pin  88  also has a bar  112 , pointed on one end  116 , which may be inserted through any suitable fabric in order to attach badge  20  to the clothing of a person. At bend  104 , the wire spring bends back upon itself to form a spring section, which is reminiscent of a corresponding part of a safety pin. From there, the wire spring has a profile in a horizontal plane and the profile preferably begins with a somewhat straight section  92 . The straight section  92  facilitates installation of the pin  88  through a hole  120  defined through the housing  24  in the first receptacle  40 . Next, the wire spring forming the pin  88  has an arcuate stabilizing section  96  in a horizontal plane. The arcuate stabilizing section  96  of the pin  88  is similar in shape to an arcuate stabilizing section  124  of a groove  128  defined in the floor  41  of first receptacle  40  of the housing  24 . It should be understood that the arcuate stabilizing section  96  of the pin  88  and the groove  128  can have a variety of configurations, as long as the configurations are sufficient to stabilize the pin  88  relative to the housing  24 . At the end of the arcuate stabilizing section  96 , the wire spring has a straight section  100 , again to facilitate insertion of hook  108  through a second hole  132  in the housing  24 . The wire spring ends in upstanding hook  108  for receiving and capturing end  116  of bar  112 . Attaching the first plate  48  to the housing  24  within the first receptacle  40  secures the pin  88  to the housing  24 . Removal of the first plate  48  from the housing  24  allows the pin  88  to be removed from the housing  24 . 
     When the badge  20  is repeatedly attached and removed from the user&#39;s clothing, sometimes the pin  88  may form an undesirable impression on the face of first plate  48  caused by the pin&#39;s movement relative to the groove  128  in the housing  24 . To avoid this from occurring, the pin  88  may be glued or otherwise secured in place so that it will not move during use of the badge  20 . When the pin  88  is glued in the groove  128 , the pin  88  will not normally be removable. 
     While gluing is a suitable means for securing the pin in place, it is a labor-intensive step, which is costly. Referring to  FIGS. 6-9 , another means of securing involves wedging a portion of the plastic material of the housing  24  adjacent the groove  128  over the pin  88  after the pin  88  is placed in groove  128 . Wedging the material over the pin  88  secures or pinches the pin  88  in place and prevents the pin  88  from moving within the groove  128 . The wedging operation is performed with a punch  133  that includes a tip  134  appropriately shaped to force plastic material of the housing  24  over the pin  88  to secure the pin  88  in the groove  128 . The tip  134  can be a variety of shapes as long as the pin  88  is properly wedged within the groove  128 . The punch  133  moves toward the housing  24  and the tip  134  engages a portion of the housing  24  on each side of the pin  88  to force a suitable portion of the material of the housing  24  over the pin  88  to secure or pinch the pin  88  within the groove  128 . After the punch  133  travels sufficiently toward the housing  24  to secure the pin  88  within the groove  128 , the punch  133  moves away from the housing  24  in preparation for the next operation. 
     Badge  20  can be attached to the wearer&#39;s clothing in other ways. For example, badge  20  could be attached by a snap, a clip, a jump ring, hook and loop fasteners, magnetically, a military fastener using a nail and a clutch, a pendant, or the like. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , an aperture  136  is defined in the first step  72  of the stepped recess  68 . The aperture  136  allows an object (not shown), such as, for example a pen, a pencil, or any other appropriately sized tool, to insert therethrough and engage and push the metallic member  80 , together with the second plate  56  away from the magnet  84 . In this way the second plate  56  can be easily removed from the housing  24 . In the illustrated construction, the aperture  136  is defined in the first step  72  of the stepped recess  68 ; however, the aperture  136  can be located elsewhere on the housing  24  so long as a suitable object can be inserted therethrough to engage the second plate  56  and push it away from the housing  24 . A similar aperture can be provided in the first indicia portion  28  of the housing  24  to facilitate removal of plate  48  from the first indicia portion  28  of the housing  24  in those instances where the plate  48  is removably attached to the housing  24 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , badge  20  can receive a plurality of identification plates  140  and a plurality of advertising plates  144 , which are removably attached and thereby selectively interchangeable by the user. 
     For example, person A having his or her name on the identification plate  140 A can attach identification plate  140 A to the first indicia portion  28  and can attach advertising plate  144 D to the second indicia portion  32 . The following day, person A can remove advertising plate  144 D from the housing  24  and attach advertising plate  144 E to the housing  24 . Indicia D and E may be different forms of advertising for the same product or advertising for different products. In this example, badge  20  is used to identify the same person and the advertising plates  144  are interchangeable to change the advertising performed by badge  20 . 
     In another example, several people can use the badge  20  to advertise the same product. In such an example, identification plate  140 A can be attached to the housing  24  for person A and advertising plate  144 F can be attached to the housing  24 . If person B needs to use the badge  20 , person B removes identification plate  140 A from the housing  24  and attaches identification plate  140 B to the first indicia portion  28 . Advertising plate  144 F remains attached to the housing  24  and, therefore, person B is advertising the same product as person A using the same badge  20 . Any member of suitable combinations can be achieved among several people according to the desires and needs of the employers of these people. 
     In yet another example, multiple workers can use badge  20  to advertise a plurality of advertisements. This example is a combination of the two previously explained examples in that the identification plates  140  are interchanged between two workers and the advertising plates  144  are interchanged to advertise various advertisements. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , an alternative article, such as a badge  200 , is customizable and reusable and includes a first indicia portion  204  and a second indicia portion  208 . In the illustrated embodiment, the second indicia portion  208  is configured similarly to the second indicia portion  32  of the badge  20  illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5 , and includes a stepped recess  68  for holding magnet  84  (not shown in  FIG. 11 ). Indicia  212  is configured for placement in the second indicia portion  208  and has mounted to a rear surface thereof a metallic plate (not shown) that is attracted to the magnet  84  for removably securing the indicia  212  within the second indicia portion  208 , as discussed above with respect to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-5 . Second indicia portion  208  also includes an aperture  136  that allows an object to be inserted therethrough from the rear of the badge  200  to push the indicia  212  away from the second indicia portion  208  to facilitate removal and replacement of the indicia  212  for various purposes. In this regard, attaching and removing indicia  212  to/from the second indicia portion  208  involves moving the indicia in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane defined by the second indicia portion  208 . 
     The illustrated second indicia portion  208  includes a curved upper edge  216  and straight side and bottom edges  220 . It should be appreciated, however, that the second indicia portion  208  can be substantially any desired shape. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the badge  200  may include only the first indicia portion  204 , with the second indicia portion  208  being eliminated. In still other embodiments, the second indicia portion  208  of the embodiment of  FIGS. 10-14  may be configured similarly to the first indicia portion  28  of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-5 , in which case the indicia (not shown) may be attached to the second indicia portion  208  by adhesive. The various alternative configurations and arrangements and discussed above with respect to the second indicia portion  32  may also be incorporated or applied to the second indicia portion  208 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the badge  200  includes a backing  224  including an upper portion  228  that corresponds to the first indicia portion  204  and a lower portion  232  that corresponds to the second indicia portion  208 . The lower portion  232  includes the recess  68  and the aperture  136  discussed above. The upper portion  228  includes an arcuate first backing edge  236  that defines a lower boundary of the first indicia portion  204  and an arcuate second backing edge  240  that defines an upper boundary of the first indicia portion  204 . The first and second backing edges  236 ,  240  cooperate to define a first indicia portion perimeter. In the illustrated embodiment, the first indicia portion perimeter is substantially oval-shaped. In other embodiments, the first indicia portion perimeter may be differently shaped (e.g., rectangular), and may be further defined by additional straight or arcuate edges other than the first and second backing edges  236 ,  240 . In the illustrated embodiment, the upper portion  228  defines apertures  120 ,  132  and a groove  128  similar to those discussed above with respect to the badge  20  to facilitate attachment of an attachment fastener in the form of a pin  88  (see  FIG. 3 ) to the upper portion  228 . The pin  88  may be attached to the upper portion  228  by the staking process described above and illustrated in  FIGS. 7-9 , and is provided to facilitate attachment of the badge  200  to an article of clothing. 
     The lower, first backing edge  236  defines a plurality of spaced-apart apertures  244  (e.g., five apertures) extending along the sides and bottom of the upper portion  228 . The upper portion  228  defines a generally semi-circular cutout  248  that, in the illustrated embodiment, substantially bisects the upper, second backing edge  240 . The first and second backing edges  236 ,  240  are raised slightly relative to the remainder of the upper portion  228  and define a shallow recess  250  into which an indicia card  252  fits (see  FIG. 14 ). 
     With reference to  FIG. 12 , the badge  200  also includes a frame  256  that is joined to the backing  224  and that supports and maintains the indicia  252  within the first indicia portion  204 . The frame  256  is generally oval-shaped and defines an opening  260  through which the indicia  252  is viewed when the frame  256  is joined to the backing  224 . The frame  256  includes a lower, first frame edge  264  and an upper, second frame edge  268  that cooperate to define a frame perimeter that substantially corresponds to the indicia portion perimeter. It should be appreciated that in some embodiments the frame perimeter may not correspond to the indicia portion perimeter, and that like the indicia portion perimeter, the frame perimeter may have other shapes (e.g., rectangular) and may be formed by a combination of straight and/or arcuate edges. 
     The frame  256  includes a rear surface  272  that faces the backing  224  when the frame  256  is joined to the backing  224 . The frame  256  also defines a recess  276   a ,  276   b  that extends around the opening  260  and that is recessed with respect to the rear surface  272 . In the vicinity of the lower first frame edge  264 , the recess  276   a ,  276   b  includes relatively thicker portions  276   a  separated by relatively thinner portions  276   b . A single relatively thinner portion  276   b  extends along the entire length of the upper, second frame edge  268 . The frame  256  also includes a plurality of projections or pins  280  that extend from the rear surface  272 . The illustrated frame  256  includes five pins  280  that correspond to, and are configured to be received by, the five apertures  244  spaced along the first backing edge  236 . Three of the five pins  280  are generally aligned with respective ones of the three relatively thinner recess portions  276   b  positioned along the lower, first frame edge  264 . The other two pins  280  are positioned adjacent the transitions between the outer-most relatively thicker recess portions  276   a  and the single relatively thinner portion  276   b  associated with the second frame edge  268 . As a result, each relatively thicker portion  276   a  is bounded by a pair of pins  280 . 
     With reference also to  FIG. 13 , a clear indicia overlay  284 , typically formed of a suitable plastic, is configured for insertion into the recess  276   a ,  276   b  of the frame  256 . The illustrated overlay  284  is generally oval shaped and includes a castellated lower edge  288  comprising alternating projections  292  and recesses  296 . The projections  292  are sized and shaped to fit within the relatively thicker recess portions  276   a , and the recesses  296  are sized and shaped to fit within the relatively thinner recess portions  276   b . When the badge  200  is fully assembled, the indicia  252  is viewed through the overlay  284 , which provides a glossy, professional appearance. The castellated configuration of the overlay substantially interlocks with the relatively thicker and thinner recess portions  276   a ,  276   b  such that, when the badge  200  is assembled, the overlay  284  is securely held (e.g., cannot be removed during normal use) between the backing  224  and the frame  256 . 
     With reference also to  FIG. 14 , the lower, first frame edge  264  is shown joined to the backing  224  by the pins  280 . The pins  280  extend through the apertures  244  and are staked, melted, or otherwise deformed to prevent removal of the pins  280  from the apertures  244 . In some embodiments, the apertures  244  are chamfered or counter-sunk from the rear of the backing  224  such that the deformed pins do not project beyond the rear surface of the backing  224 . Along the upper, second frame edge  268 , the cutout  248  exposes both the rear surface  272  of the frame  256  and a portion of the indicia card  252 . 
     The cutout  248  allows a user to position a finger against the exposed portion of the indicia card  252  and slide the indicia card  252  out from between the backing  224  and the frame  256 . In this regard, inserting and removing the indicia card  252  involves moving the indicia card  252  in a direction that is substantially parallel to a plane defined by the first indicia portion  204 . As shown in phantom lines, the cutout  248  also allows a user to move the second frame edge  268  (e.g., by bending) forwardly and away from the backing  224 , thereby relieving some of the pressure applied to the indicia card  252  by the natural resilience of the frame  256 , and reducing the amount of force required to remove the indicia card  252  from between the frame  256  and the backing  224 . Bending the frame  256  in this manner also simplifies insertion of a replacement indicia card  252  between the frame  256  and the backing  224 . The extent of bending of the second frame edge  268  will of course depend upon the force applied by the user and the relative stiffness of the material that makes up the frame  256 . 
     As mentioned above, the overlay  284  is securely held between the backing  224  and the frame  256  by its castellated configuration and the relatively thicker and thinner recess portions  276   a ,  276   b . The attachment of the pins  280  to the backing  224  by way of the apertures  244  also contributes to securement of the overlay  284  between the backing  224  and the frame  256 . Thus, the overlay remains secured between the backing  224  and the frame  256  during removal and replacement of the indicia card  252 . Although the illustrated overlay  284  has a substantially uniform cross-section, the overlay  284  may also be configured as a dome, including a relatively thin flange-like section for engagement within the recess  276   a ,  276   b  and a domed portion that extends forwardly into the opening  260  defined by the frame  256 . 
     In some embodiments, the indicia card  252  is opaque and may be printed with whatever indicia is desired, including a corporate logo, an employee name, and the like. In other embodiments, the indicia card  252  may be at least partially transparent and may be printed to include “variable” indicia, while the recess backing  224  is printed to include “permanent” indicia that is viewed through the partially transparent indicia card  252  when the indicia card  252  is positioned between the frame  256  and the backing  224 . In this way, a company may order badges having its logo or other relatively unchanging information (e.g., “permanent” indicia) printed on the backing  224 , and can then print customized indicia cards  252  having “variable” indicia, such as employee names or information regarding time-limited sales promotions, and the like. Such a configuration may simplify the printing equipment that is used by the customer to produce custom badges, and may also allow for the use of metallic, sparkly, or other specialized finishes on the backing  224  that can be printed by the manufacturer, but which might be difficult to produce using on-site printers, such as those used by customers to print the customized indicia cards  252 . 
     Although particular constructions of the present invention have been shown and described, other alternative constructions will be apparent to those skilled in the art and are within the intended scope of the present invention.