Abstract:
A charging cradle for an electronic game device incorporating a rechargeable battery includes a housing having a first surface and a second surface with a peripheral edge wall therebetween, the housing forming a substantially closed interior chamber. The first surface is adapted to engage the electronic game device. A least one port is provided in the peripheral edge wall adapted to receive a charging wire connector, the port electrically connected to a pair of charging contacts supported within the substantially closed interior chamber and movable from a normal retracted position where tips of the charging contacts are inside the housing to an in-use extended position where said tips project from the housing. An actuator button is accessible from the first surface and is operatively connected to the pair of charging contacts, such that in use, upon engaging the electronic game device with the first surface, the button is depressed, causing the pair of charging contacts to move to said extended position to engage corresponding charging contacts on a peripheral edge of the electronic game device.

Description:
[0001]    This invention relates to a battery charger for an electronic device, and specifically, to a cradle adapted to hold and support a portable, hand-held electronic video game device during the charging process. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Battery chargers for hand held electronic devices, such as cell phones, portable digital assistants, digital cameras and the like typically include an AC adapter with a wire and wall outlet plug extending from one side of the adapter, and a wire with a coaxial or other connector that can be plugged directly into the device extending from the other side of the adapter. Other chargers may include a charger stand on which the device is placed that establishes an electrical connection with the device, with a wire and wall outlet plug extending from the charger stand. In chargers of the latter type, contacts on the device itself and/or the charger stand, are typically exposed and subject to damage. In addition, for hand-held electronic video game devices, the use of a charger stand typically precludes game operation during the charging process. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The battery charging device, or cradle, described herein protects the electrical contacts on the cradle when the cradle is not in use, and automatically engages the electronic game device charging contacts upon loading of the game device onto the cradle. The cradle also provides spring-based locators that aid in locating and holding the game device relative to the cradle. In addition, the cradle is configured to allow user access to game control buttons and to a game card slot on the peripheral edge of the game device so that the game device can be operated while being charged. 
         [0004]    Thus, in one exemplary but nonlimiting aspect, there is provided a charging cradle for an electronic game device incorporating a rechargeable battery comprising a housing having a first surface and a second surface with a peripheral edge wall therebetween, the housing forming a substantially closed interior chamber, the first surface adapted to engage the electronic game device; at least one port in the peripheral edge wall adapted to receive a charging wire connector, the port electrically connected to a pair of charging contacts supported within the substantially closed interior chamber and movable from a normal retracted position where tips of the charging contacts are inside the housing to an in-use extended position where the tips project from the housing; and an actuator button on the first surface operatively connected to the pair of charging contacts, such that in use, upon engaging the electronic game device with the first surface, the button is depressed, causing the pair of charging contacts to move to the extended position to engage corresponding charging ports on a peripheral edge of the electronic game device. 
         [0005]    In another exemplary but nonlimiting aspect, there is provided a charging cradle for a portable, hand-held electronic game device having a base and a pivotably mounted cover, the base including a peripheral edge with a game card slot and a pair of charging ports located in a rearward portion of the peripheral edge, and game control buttons located at least at two rearward corners of the peripheral edge, the charging cradle comprising a cradle housing having an upper surface and a lower surface with a peripheral edge wall therebetween thereby forming an interior chamber, the upper surface adapted to support the electronic game device, the peripheral edge wall configured to limit movement of the electronic game device in at least forward and rearward directions relative to the cradle housing when the electronic game device is supported on the upper surface, while permitting user access to the game control buttons and the game card slot. 
         [0006]    In still another exemplary aspect, there is provided a charging cradle for an electronic game device comprising a hollow housing including a surface for supporting the electronic game device; a pair of cradle contacts supported in the hollow housing and adapted to engage a pair of corresponding game device charging contacts in the electronic game device, the pair of cradle contacts enclosed within the hollow housing when the electronic game device is not supported on the surface; and means for extending the pair of cradle contacts out of the housing and into engagement with the pair of game device charging contacts when the electronic game device is loaded onto the support surface. 
         [0007]    In still another aspect there is provided a combination electronic game device and charging cradle comprising an electronic game device having a base defined in part by a peripheral edge and a cover pivotally secured to the base for movement between closed and open positions, the peripheral edge provided in a rearward portion with a pair of charging ports, an AC adaptor connector, a game card slot and at least two additional recesses; the peripheral edge further provided with at least two game control buttons in opposite rearward corners of the peripheral edge; a charging cradle including a cradle housing having an upper surface and a lower surface with a peripheral edge wall therebetween thereby forming an interior chamber, the upper surface adapted to support the electronic game device, the peripheral edge wall configured to limit movement of the electronic game device in at least forward and rearward directions relative to said cradle housing when the electronic game device is supported on the upper surface, while permitting user access to the game control buttons and the game card slot. 
         [0008]    The exemplary but nonlimiting embodiment will now be described in detail in connection with the drawings identified below. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a top, right, front perspective view of a battery charger or cradle for a hand-held electronic game device in accordance with a first exemplary but nonlimiting embodiment; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a lower, left, rear perspective view of the battery charger device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the battery charger shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a front elevation of the battery charger shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a rear elevation of the battery charger shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is an exploded and inverted assembly view of the housing components of the battery charger shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an internal frame assembly removed from the assembly view of  FIG. 6  and inverted relative to its orientation in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged detail of an interior portion of the battery charger or cradle housing shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is an assembly view of the battery charger housing components from a different perspective, and with the electronic game device installed; 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged and reoriented detail taken from  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is an enlarged and reoriented detail taken from  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is similar to  FIG. 11  but reoriented, and showing the battery charger contacts in an extended position; 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  is a partial perspective illustrating an electronic game device supported on the battery charger but prior to full engagement; 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  is a rear elevation of an electronic game device used with the battery charger shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0023]      FIGS. 15A and 15B  show schematically and sequentially the manner in which electrical connection is established between the battery charger and the electronic game device upon loading the game device onto the battery charger; 
           [0024]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of a game device locator arm used to locate and hold the electronic game device upon onto the battery charger; and 
           [0025]      FIGS. 17A-C  show schematically and sequentially the manner in which the locator shown in  FIG. 16  is engaged between the battery charger and the electronic game device upon loading the game device onto the battery charger; 
           [0026]      FIG. 18  is a front perspective view of an electronic game device loaded onto the battery charger; 
           [0027]      FIG. 19  is a side perspective view of an electronic game device in the open position, loaded onto the battery charger; 
           [0028]      FIG. 20  is a partial rear perspective view of the electronic game device loaded onto the battery charger. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0029]    With reference initially to  FIGS. 1-6 , an electronic game device battery charger, or cradle  10  includes a substantially hollow, two-piece cradle housing  12 , which when assembled and oriented substantially horizontally, has an upper surface  14  and a lower surface  16  separated by a peripheral edge wall  18  that, in the exemplary embodiment, is formed integrally with the upper surface  14 . The lower surface  16  comprises a flat plate  20  (see  FIG. 6 ) attached by screws or other means as described further herein. The combined upper surface  14  and peripheral wall  18  may be considered a first or upper component of the cradle housing  12 , while the plate  20  may be considered a second or lower component of the cradle housing  12 . In the description of the charging cradle, reference is made with respect to “upper” and “lower” surfaces, presuming a horizontal orientation of the cradle. It will be understood, however, that the cradle itself could also be configured to rest vertically or at an acute angle relative to horizontal. In addition, references to “front” or “forward” and “back” or “rearward” are made consistent with an understanding of an electronic game device that has a “front” or “forward” edge that faces the user, and a “back” or “rearward edge” that faces away from the user. 
         [0030]    The peripheral edge wall  18  and upper surface  14  are formed such that the upper surface  14  is slanted upwardly relative to horizontal, and relative to the lower surface  16  from the front of the cradle  10  indicated by the letter “F” toward the rear of the cradle indicated by the letter “R”. Thus, the upper surface  14  is not parallel to the lower surface  16  but extends at an acute angle relative thereto as can be appreciated from  FIG. 1 . 
         [0031]    The upper surface  14  serves as a support for an electronic game device (not shown in  FIGS. 1-6 , but see game device G in  FIGS. 13 ,  14 , and  18 - 21 ), noting that the length and width dimensions of the upper surface  14  approximate the length and width dimensions of the electronic game device. Accordingly, for a game device having a length of, for example, about 5.2 inches and a width of about 2.8 inches, the upper surface  14  will have similar length and width dimensions, but the width dimension of the upper surface (from front to back) is the more critical of the two, as explained further herein. The peripheral edge wall  18  is substantially flush with the lower surface  16  of the housing (see  FIG. 2 ), so that the cradle  10  remains stable on any substantially flat horizontal surface. 
         [0032]    The peripheral edge wall  18  is also substantially flush with the upper surface  14  except at the front and rear of the cradle. Specifically, at the front of the cradle, a portion  22  of the peripheral edge wall  18  extends above the upper surface  14 . This upstanding edge portion  22  extends across the front F of the cradle  10  and through the forward corners  24 ,  26 , terminating at vertical shoulders or steps  28 ,  30 . A curved cut-out  32  in the center of the upstanding edge  22  facilitates removal of the game device from the cradle. 
         [0033]    At the rear R of the cradle  10 , the peripheral edge wall  18  is expanded rearwardly and vertically to form a “sub-housing”  34 . The sub-housing  34  is located substantially centrally of the length of the cradle, such that the peripheral edge wall  18  remains flush with the upper surface  14  through the rearward corners  36 ,  38 , providing a user benefit as described further herein. Thus, the sub-housing  34  extends rearwardly beyond the rear peripheral wall edge portions  40 ,  42  (see  FIGS. 2 and 3 ) a distance defined by sub-housing side wall portions  44 ,  46  and extends laterally a distance defined by sub-housing rear wall portion  48 . To accommodate the sub-housing  34 , the plate  20  is formed with an extended portion  50  ( FIGS. 2 and 6 ). In the exemplary embodiment, screws  52  ( FIG. 6 ) may be inserted through holes  53  in the plate  20  and threaded into plural internal housing posts  54  to secure the flat plate  20  (or second housing component) to the upper surface/peripheral wall  14 / 18  (or first housing component). 
         [0034]    It will be appreciated that the cradle housing  12  provides a substantially closed interior chamber  56  that includes an expanded space  56 A provided by the sub-housing  34  (see, for example,  FIGS. 6 and 8 ). 
         [0035]    The expanded space  56 A in sub-housing  34 , along with a part of the chamber  56  provide ample room for the internal cradle contacts and a port adapted to receive an AC adapter or charging wire connector  58 . Specifically, the rear wall portion  48  of the sub-housing  34  is provided with an aperture  60  for accessing an otherwise conventional AC adaptor or proprietary connector port  62  (see  FIGS. 2 and 5 ). 
         [0036]    With reference now especially to  FIGS. 6-10 , the port  62  is mounted on an internal connector board  64 . To locate and hold the board  64  in place, a pair of posts  66 ,  68  are employed on either side of one of the threaded posts  54  on the underside of upper surface  14 . The posts  66 ,  68  are received in apertures  70 ,  72  in the board  64  while the middle, threaded post  54  projects through another aperture  80  in the board  64 . To provide further support for the board  64 , an internal substantially square support wall  82 , which substantially matches the footprint of the board  64 , is formed on the underside of the upper surface  14 , so as to be engaged by the marginal edges of the board. This arrangement provides a rigid support for the board  64  and the port  62 , effectively preventing any movement of the board and the port relative to the cradle housing  12 . A pair of leads  84 ,  86  connected to the port  62  extend rearwardly from the board  64  and connect to a pair of cradle charging contacts as described further below (see  FIG. 7 ). 
         [0037]    A substantially flat, rectilinear frame  88  (also best seen in  FIG. 7 ) is fixed to the underside of the upper surface  14  adjacent the board  64 . The frame  88  includes front and rear walls  90 ,  92  and first and second end walls  94 ,  96 . An upstanding actuator button  98  is integrally formed with end wall  94 , and an additional or third wall  100  extends between the front and rear walls  90 ,  92 . End wall  96  and third wall  100  support opposed, horizontal pivot pins  102 ,  104  which also serve as supports for springs  106 ,  108  as explained in further detail below. An upstanding frame tab  110  on an offset portion of the rear wall  92  supports a second pair of horizontal pins  112 ,  114  located above and offset from the pivot pins  102 ,  104  but extending substantially parallel thereto. The first spring  106  is wound about the pivot pin  102 , extending rearwardly and under the wall  92 , then extending vertically and wound around the pin  112 . A remote or distal end of the spring  106  is bent into a wedge or arrow-shaped portion  116  (see, for example,  FIGS. 12 ,  15 A and  15 B), and terminates at a transverse free edge  118 . Similarly, the second spring  108  is wound about the pivot pin  104  and pin  114 , with the distal end of the spring  108  bent into a wedge or arrow-shaped portion  120 , terminating at a transverse free edge  122 . Leads  84 ,  86  are joined to the springs  106 ,  108  at the pivot pins  102 ,  104 , respectively. The wedge or arrow-shaped portions  116 ,  120  of the springs  106 , 108  serve as the cradle charging contacts, and they are moveable as the frame  88  pivots in response to depression of the button  98  as described further herein. 
         [0038]    With particular reference now to  FIGS. 8-10 , it may be seen that when the frame  88  is mounted in the interior of the cradle housing  12 , pivot pins  102 ,  104  are seated in fixed bearings  124 ,  126 , respectively, on the underside of upper surface  14 . Note also a third pivot pin  128 , axially aligned with pivot pins  102 ,  104  and extending from the frame end wall  94  (extending away from the button  98 ) is seated in a third fixed bearing  130  ( FIG. 10 ). On assembly, the charging contacts  116  and  120  are located in the upper portion of the sub-housing  34 , aligned with contact slots Si and S 2  provided in a forward wall portion  132  of the sub-housing  34 , and the button  98  projects through an opening  134  formed in the top surface  14  (see, e.g.,  FIGS. 1 ,  4 ,  11 ,  12 ,  13 ). 
         [0039]    Also located within the sub-housing  34  are plural (three in the exemplary embodiment) game device locators which aid in the proper alignment of the game device G on the charging cradle  10 . The three game locators  136 ,  138  and  140  are located along the forward wall portion  132  at one end of the sub-housing  34  and another forward wall portion  142  at an opposite end of the sub-housing. The three locators  136 ,  138  and  140  can be seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  4  and  6 , while locators  138 ,  140  are also seen in  FIGS. 11 ,  12  and  13 . The locators are substantially identical (or substantial mirror images), and, therefore, only one will be described in detail. As best seen in  FIG. 16 , the game locator  138 , which is supported in the sub-housing  34  in a generally upright, vertical orientation, is a one-piece component formed to include a horizontally oriented, double-pivot block  144  having a pair of transversely-oriented coaxial pins  146  (one shown in  FIG. 16 ) on either side of a center boss  148 . The block  144  is offset laterally from a locating arm  150  extending above the block  144  and having an angled tip  152 . A post  154  extends in an opposite direction from the block  144  and provides a receptor for a coil spring  156 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 6  illustrates generally the assembly of the component parts, and shows the orientation and position of the game locators  136 ,  138  and  140  and associated coil springs  158 ,  156  and  160 , respectively, noting that the cradle  10  in  FIG. 6  is inverted relative to its normal in-use orientation. In  FIG. 8 , it can be seen that the edge  162  of the surface  14  does not extend to the peripheral edge wall  18  in the area of the sub-housing  34 , thus leaving space for insertion of the game locators (as oriented in  FIG. 6 ) in a direction indicated by arrow  164  ( FIG. 8 ), such that, for example, the locating arm  150  of locator  138  will be aligned with a corresponding locator slot  139  in the forward wall portion  132 , and with the double-pivot block  144  supported by the double-bearing  166  ( FIG. 8 ). Similar support arrangements are provided for each of the remaining two game locators  136  and  140 . A double bearing for locator  136  is partially shown at  168  in  FIG. 10 , while the double bearing  170  for locator  140  is visible in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0041]    After locating the board  64  and frame  88  on the underside  104  of surface  14 , and with leads  84 ,  86  held in guide tab pairs  172 ,  174 , the plate  20  is secured to the first housing component  14 / 18  by means of the screws  52  inserted through the holes  53  in plate  20  and threaded into the various internal, threaded posts  54 . 
         [0042]    With specific reference to  FIG. 9 , when the plate  20  is assembled to the upper component of the housing  12 , the coil springs  158 ,  156  and  160  will be supported in substantially identical cylindrical spring receptors  176  ( FIG. 9 ) on the underside of the plate  20 , noting that the posts  154  locate the springs but do not otherwise support the locators. The locators  136 ,  138  and  140  are held in their respective bearings  168 ,  166  and  170  by mating standards  178 ,  180  and  182  on the underside of the plate  20 , and the pivot pins  102 ,  104  and  128  of the frame  88  are held in their respective bearings by mating standards  184 ,  186  and  188  also projecting from the underside of the plate  20  (see  FIG. 9 ). Thus, upon assembly, all internal components are fixed in place within the cradle housing  12 , understanding, however, that the charging contacts  116 ,  120  and the game device locators  136 ,  138  and  140  are able to pivot in response to loading and unloading the game device G relative to the cradle  10 . 
         [0043]    When the cradle  10  is empty, the tips  152  of locators  136 ,  138  and  140  project from their respective locator slots  137 ,  139  and  141  in the front wall portions  132  and  142  of the sub-housing  34  as shown in FIGS.  1  and  11 - 13 . At the same time, the cradle charging contacts  116  and  120  are located so as to be substantially flush with (or slightly behind) contact slots S 1  and S 2  (see  FIG. 11  and  FIG. 13 ) so that when not in use, the charging contacts are protected from damage due to, for example, unintended impacts. 
         [0044]    With the aid of schematic drawings shown in  FIGS. 15A and 15B , the manner of operation of the actuator button  98  may be more easily understood.  FIG. 15A  shows the button  98  in its normal state, projecting above the upper surface  14  of the cradle, and with the cradle charging contact  116  retracted so as to be substantially flush with the wall portion  132  of the sub-housing  34 . The manner in which the spring  106  is wound about the pin  112  and pivot pin  102  cause the frame  88  and button  98  to be biased in a clockwise direction to the normal, non-use state shown in  FIG. 15A . When the button  98  is depressed upon loading the game device G onto the cradle upper surface  14  as shown in  FIG. 15B , the frame  88  and button  98  rotate in a counterclockwise direction (relative to the orientation in  FIG. 15A ), causing the cradle charging contact  116  to project outwardly from the slot S 1  and into the game device charging port  190  on the rear peripheral edge  192  of the game device G (see  FIGS. 13 and 14 ) where it engages a stationary, flat game device charging contact  191  (see  FIG. 14 ). After charging is completed, as the game device G is removed from the cradle  10 , the frame  88  will rotate in the opposite direction, withdrawing the cradle charging contact  116  from the game device charging port  190  and returning to the normal state shown in  FIG. 15A . In this regard, note that when the cradle charging contact  116  is extended, the spring  106  is distorted (see the encircled area  107  in  FIG. 15B ), thus creating a bias that assists in returning the contact  116  to the retracted position. While the above description focuses on the cradle charging contact  116 , it will be understood that the second cradle charging contact  120  moves simultaneously and in exactly the same manner as the cradle charging contact  116 , moving into the out of engagement with the second charging contact  195  (see  FIG. 14 ) in the port  194 . It will be appreciated that the specific cradle contact configuration and the manner of interconnection with the frame  88  and the actuator button  98 , which results in the automatic engagement of cradle contacts with game device contacts, may vary to include equivalent structures known to those of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0045]    Now considering just the locator  138 , and with reference to the partially schematic representation in  FIG. 17A , the pivot and spring mounting of the game locator  138  causes the locating arm  150  to be biased in a clockwise direction, so that upon assembly, the tip  152  of the locating arm projects outwardly from its respective locator slot  139  in the wall portion  132 . Thus,  FIG. 17A  shows the game locator  138  in its normal position, before a game device G is loaded onto the cradle  10 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 17B  shows how the game locator  138  is pivoted counterclockwise as the game device G is loaded onto the cradle, and  FIG. 17C  shows the game device locator  138  biased again in a clockwise direction with the tip  152  of the locator arm  150  engaged within a recess  196  (shown in phantom) provided in the game device G. The remaining two game device locators  136  and  140  operate in an identical manner, cooperating with two other recesses  198 ,  200  ( FIG. 14 ) provided in the game device G as described further below. 
         [0047]    With reference again to, for example,  FIGS. 1-5 ,  11 ,  13 ,  14  and  18 - 21 , it is another feature of the exemplary but nonlimiting embodiment that an upper center portion of the sub-housing  34  comprises an openable panel  202  including a rearward wall  204  and an top wall  206  that extends in a forward direction. The panel  202  is pivotally mounted to the sub-housing rear wall portion  148  by means of pins  208  (shown in phantom in  FIG. 5 ). From the closed position shown in  FIGS. 1-5  and  14 , the panel  202  may be pivoted to an open position, partially shown in  FIGS. 11-13  and  20  to thereby expose a portion of the rear peripheral edge  192  of the game device G. 
         [0048]      FIGS. 13 ,  14  and  18 - 20  provide additional details with respect to the interaction between the cradle  10  and an actual game device G. In the nonlimiting example described herein, the game device G includes a base  210  surrounded by the peripheral edge  212  that merges with the rear peripheral edge  192 ; and a cover  214  pivotally mounted to the base. When the cover  204  is open as shown in  FIG. 19 , dual screens  216 ,  218  and game control buttons  220 ,  222  and  224  are visible. The rearward portion of the peripheral edge  192  (best seen in  FIGS. 13 ,  14  and  20 ) is provided with the pair of game device charging ports  190 ,  194 , recesses  198 ,  196  and  200  and a game card slot  230 . In the exemplary embodiment, the recess  196  is an AC adaptor port. Thus, when the game device G is loaded onto the cradle upper surface  14 , cradle charging contacts  116 ,  120  engage within game device charging ports  190 ,  194 ; locators  136  and  140  engage within recesses  198 ,  200  and locator  138  engages the AC adaptor port or recess  196 . The locator  138  may be configured so have a larger tip portion to more effectively engage the AC adaptor port  196 . In this regard, the locator  138  may also serve as a stop, taking up any slack between the game device G and the forward edge  22  of the peripheral edge wall  18 , thus preventing any shifting in a front-to-back (or vice versa) direction The remaining locators  136  and  140  within the smaller recesses  198 ,  200  locate the game device G and also limit side-to-side movement of the game device. Thus, the forward curved corner portions  24 ,  26  of the upstanding edge  22  combined with the locators  136 ,  138  and  140  provide effective means for locating and holding the game device G on the cradle housing in each of two mutually perpendicular directions (front-to-back, and side-to-side). Locating and holding the game G in this manner is important so that effective but not excessive pressure is maintained between the game device charging contacts  191 ,  195  and the cradle charging contacts  116 ,  120 . 
         [0049]      FIG. 19  illustrates that the game device G may be loaded onto the cradle  10 , and the game cover  204  pivoted to an open position. Note that because of the lowered height of the peripheral wall  18  between the shoulders  28 ,  30  and the sub-housing side walls  44 ,  46 , the game corner buttons  226 ,  228 , etc. are left exposed. As a result, the user has the ability to fully operate the game device G while the game device is being charged. Opening the panel  202  also exposes the game card slot  230  and thus allows the user to exchange game cards while the game device is being charged. Note also that when the game device G is loaded onto the cradle  10 , the sub-housing  34  blocks access to the game device AC adaptor port  196  so that only the AC adaptor port  62  on the cradle is available to the user. 
         [0050]    It will be appreciated that the shape of the locator arms, the shape of the cradle spring contacts, and the type of connectors utilized, may vary as desired. 
         [0051]    Accordingly, while the exemplary embodiment has been described and illustrated in detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and nonlimiting example only, the spirit and scope of the present invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.