Abstract:
A shotgun shell or low velocity grenade dispenser and reloader system that can quickly and efficiently dispense a shell without requiring the focus of the operator. The dispenser can be attached to the operator&#39;s belt, leg, forearm, or a weapon. Alternatively the dispenser may be left unattached. The dispenser delivers a shell in an orientation that allows rapid loading of a weapon with minimal shell manipulation.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/622,169, filed Apr. 10, 2012; U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/652,487, filed May 29, 2012; U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/724,524, filed Nov. 9, 2012; and U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/730,223, filed Nov. 27, 2012, each of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Shotgun shell carriers and dispensers provide the operator of a shotgun several rounds, usually located in a local container, to reload the gun. Some shell dispensers are positioned on the gun; others are carried on a belt worn by the operator. Many current shell dispensers require the operator to visually locate a shell by looking away from the target and towards the dispenser. Then, the operator removes his/her non-trigger hand from the shotgun, and using visual cueing, reaches for and grasps the shell with his/her fingers to effect its&#39; removal from the dispenser. Then, the shell is manually oriented (rotated, flipped), usually with visual cueing, within the hand to align it with the open breach of the shotgun. A shell is then placed into the breach; this step can usually be done, with practice, without visual cues. At this point, both hands are returned to the shotgun, the target visually re-captured, aim re-established and finally, the trigger squeezed. The process is repeated until the target is sufficiently damaged and, in combat situations, until the danger is averted. 
     This reloading process takes time as well as a modicum of visual and manual dexterity. Thus, it requires good visibility to find the shells within the carrier/dispenser and also to orient them. Reloading further requires finger motion to manipulate the shell. The reloading task can be frustrated by obstacles, such as loose or bulky clothing, heavy gloves, low temperature leading to poor manual dexterity, anxiety, poor vision, darkness, heavy rain, fog, glasses, visor, helmet, night-vision goggles, heavy perspiration, rapid breathing, and the like. None of this is conducive to rapid and accurate shooting, especially when necessary to quell target danger. 
     Shotguns, at times of extreme operator duress, must perform efficiently, frequently in very non-ideal situations, like darkness, heavy rain, smoke, bright lighting, frequent close explosions of noise, and the like, in order to protect the operator. For example, the operator may be wearing bulky clothing (such as advanced armor) that could impede access to the shotgun shell in its carrier or a helmet, visor, sunglasses, and/or ear-protection, which could insulate him/her from tactile sensory feedback. 
     One common feature of prior art shell carrier and dispenser designs is the requirement to obligate one free hand for pulling a shell from its carrier, manipulating the shell, and loading the shell into the gun. These dispensers require operator visual cues and attention to find and retrieve the shell. This is very difficult to perform in the dark, while wearing body armor, visor and/or a helmet. These dispensers require fidelity, attention, and hand-to-eye coordination to manipulate the shell. In high-stress situations, such as a police SWAT mission, wartime, or terrorism incidents, attention, coordination, dexterity, and sensory feedback may be sorely lacking. 
     Retrieving a shell from the above described shell carriers/dispensers requires seconds and will almost certainly present a distraction to the gun operator. In one style of the shotgun shell carrier, where the carrier is attached to the gun, retrieving a shell requires the gun position to be changed to access the shells. This requires the operator to re-target and re-aim the shotgun, a process that takes valuable time in critical moments under threat. 
     It is a common space-saving requirement of current dispensers that the shells be loaded alternating base (brass) up and base down. This requires the gun operator to identify the orientation and manipulate the shell to facilitate loading the gun. A quick single shell load into the ejection port requires the shell be in a certain orientation in the shell carrier/dispenser. After a quick shell load through the ejection port, loading the rest of shells through the magazine loading port into the gun magazine follows. Loading rounds into the magazine requires a different shell orientation than loading a shell through the ejection port in the operator hand, which also means a different shell orientation in the shell carrier is required, unless the operator would turn the shell in his/her hand to get the proper orientation. All this requires time, coordination, attention, all of which may be scarce in an imminent threat situation. 
     For law enforcement and military activities, reloading a shotgun quickly, with little or no gun positional re-orientation, target re-acquisition and little time or effort spent retrieving and handling shells is critical, especially under stressful conditions. Thus there is a need for a shell dispenser that does not require the gun operator to look away from the target during reloading. The present novel technology addresses this need. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a shell dispenser assembly according to one embodiment of the disclosed invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a detailed side view of an ejector mechanism used in the embodiment show in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a is a perspective view of a shell dispenser assembly according to another embodiment of the disclosed invention mounted to a utility belt worn by a user. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a shell dispenser assembly according to another embodiment of the disclosed invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a shell dispenser assembly according to still another embodiment of the disclosed invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a shell dispenser according to yet another embodiment of the disclosed invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a shell dispenser according to still another embodiment disclosed invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a detailed drawing of a shell ejection mechanism according to one embodiment of the disclosed invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a partial cut away perspective view of another embodiment of the disclosed invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the disclosed invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the disclosed invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the novel technology, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the novel technology is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the novel technology as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the novel technology relates. 
     One embodiment of the present novel technology, as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , is a shotgun shell dispensing assembly  5  that holds a plurality of shells  25  and allows delivery of shells  25 , one at a time, to the fingers and hand of the operator without the need to manually pull shells out of a carrier or container. A shell  25  is ejected into the operator&#39;s hand once the trigger bar  15  of the shell dispenser assembly  5  is pushed down with the forearm of the operator. No further effort is needed to move a single shell  25  into the operator&#39;s hand. The shell  25  is delivered to the operator&#39;s hand in the proper orientation required to quickly load into the shotgun, whether the operator is performing a quick ejection shell load, or a conventional multi shell load through the magazine loading port. No further effort is needed from the operator to reorient or position the shell in the hand to load it into the shotgun. This assembly  5  can be sized to fit several different shells  25 , including, but not limited to, shotgun shells  25  with ten-gauge, twelve-gauge, twenty-gauge or 410-bore shotgun shells, as well as low velocity grenade sizes such as thirty-seven-mm and forty-mm diameter shells along with any other sizes the grenades may come in. 
     The novel shotgun shell dispenser assembly  5  of this invention can be made of plastic, metal, or any convenient material that can be formed, machined, molded or stamped into the shape of the shell dispenser components. The assembly  5  is rigid enough to perform the shell dispenser function: carry the shells  25  and support loading and shell  25  ejection functions. The assembly  5  is light enough to be portable and wearable by the operator. The assembly  5  is small enough to attach to the utility belt, the forearm of the operator, or even attach directly to the arm of the gun operator. The assembly  5  operates without any external power, other than a compressed spring and limb motion of the operator. The shell ejection mechanism  90  can be used for several sizes of shotgun shells  25  as well as shells of low velocity grenades. In addition to easy delivery of shells to the operator, the shell dispenser can be loaded with fresh shells while attached to the utility belt on the waist or while separate from utility belt. The dispenser can be easily removed and a fresh loaded dispenser mounted. 
     The shotgun shell loading assembly  5  is comprised of three main components: the shell enclosure  10 , the shell ejection mechanism  90 , and the shell dispenser gate  45 . 
     The shell enclosure  10  is typically rectangular-shaped five-sided enclosure. The shell ejection mechanism  90  is comprised of two side bars  20  that support the rest of the mechanism  90  components, a trigger bar  15  enclosed in a soft rubber cover  30 , one or more springs  55  that keep the ejection mechanism  90  in a biased position (normally closed) that will maintain shells  25  inside the shell housing  35 , a shell blocking rod or pin  65  which stops the advancement of shells  25  when in the closed position, one or more pivot points  70  on either side of the dispenser  5  that allow the ejection mechanism  90  to rock, and the dispenser gate  45 , which keeps the round  25  from exiting out of the dispenser  5  while the ejection mechanism  90  is closed. Additionally, the assembly  5  includes a safety-locking pin  40  that may be pressed to lock the ejection mechanism  90  when the assembly  5  is not in use. 
     In one example, the walls of the enclosure  10  are made out of a solid material that is rigid enough to carry the weight of the shells  25  and bear the pressure of the shell ejector mechanism  90 . It will also support the dispenser gate  45  and the pressure of the shells  25  being pushed by the spring  85  behind the follower  80 . The size of the enclosure  10  can be sized to ensure compatibility with shells  25  of various shotgun gauges, including, but not limited to ten, twelve, twenty-gauge, and 410 gauge shotgun shells, as well as shells of low velocity grenades, including but not limited to shells with a diameter of thirty-seven mm, forty mm, or any other sizes low velocity grenades may come in. 
     The shell dispenser gate  45  is made up of a gate holder  61  and the unidirectional moving gate  60  that sits below the gate holder  61 . The gate holder  61  is connected to the side bars by pins  50  on each side that insert through the gate holder  61  and connect the unidirectional moving gate  60  to the gate holder  61 . Wrapped around the pins  50  are springs  55 . These springs  55  keep the unidirectional moving gate  60  in the default-closed position to maintain shells  25  inside the enclosure  10 . The lower part of the dispenser gate  45  is the unidirectional moving gate  60  that rotates in only inwards, toward the shell enclosure  10  to allow shells  25  to be loaded and maintained in the shell enclosure  10 . 
     The shell spring  85  and follower maintain pressure on the shells  25  inside the enclosure  10 . This force allows shells  25  to advance each time the trigger bar  15  is depressed, hence, ejecting a shell  25  out of the enclosure  10 . Gravity causes the ejected shell  25  to drop and/or roll into the operator&#39;s hand. For further convenience, the assembly  5  may include belt clips  75  so the operator may directly attach the assembly  5  to his/her belt. 
     The first step in operating the assembly  5  is loading shells  25  into the enclosure  10  by inserting the shells  25  through the unidirectional moving gate  60  into the enclosure  10 . The operator will hold a shell  25  in the preferred orientation (i.e., with the brass oriented in the desired direction) and push it onto and past the lower part of the gate, the unidirectional moving gate  60 . The unidirectional moving gate  60  will deflect, moving inwards, and allow a shell  25  to be loaded into the enclosure  10 . The loaded shell  25  will push the shell follower and spring (not shown) backwards into the body of the enclosure  10 . This action can be repeated until there is no free space inside the enclosure  10 . This action may be performed with the assembly  5  worn on the belt of the waist or held separately. 
     Shell  25  ejection is performed after the assembly  5  has been loaded and can continue until the last shell  25  is ejected. In one embodiment, one shell  25  is ejected each time the trigger bar is activated. In other embodiments, a greater number of shells may be ejected for each activation of the trigger bar. The shell blocking rod  65  prevents ejection of multiple shells at the same time. Each time the trigger bar  15  of the ejection mechanism  90  is depressed, the ejection mechanism  90  will allow one round  95  only to leave the enclosure while keeping the rest of the shells  25  inside the enclosure until the next shell in needed. The assembly is designed to keep shells  25  from jamming the mechanism  90 . Also, the open design, allows for visual inspection of shells as well as cleaning while still inside the enclosure  10 , keeping dirt from clogging the enclosure. During shell  25  ejection, the operator arm should be extended straight down and the forearm should be close to the trigger bar, the hand should be positioned directly below the dispenser in order to receive the dispensed shell. 
     In order to operate the dispenser, the operator typically extends his/her arm downwards; then contact is made between the forearm of the extended arm and the trigger bar on the dispenser, this action releases one shell  25  and drops it into the hand of the arm that just made contact with the trigger bar, the exchange between forearm and trigger bar is a gross motor skill, finger dexterity is not required, visual cues are not necessary either. Depression of the lever and shell ejection generally occurs when the operator pushes against the trigger bar with affirmative arm motion. The hands remain free, saving time and effort to place a shell in the hand and load the gun. 
     Generally, this assembly  5  allows shell ejection, capture, and gun loading to be possible in extreme cold, extreme noise, heavy rain, with eyes-closed or blinded by fog, snow, dark, or flashes of bright light, with thick gloves, bulky body armor, loose torn clothing, intense distraction or other adverse personal or environmental conditions. 
     The following examples are merely representative of the work that contributes to the teaching of the present novel article and is not to be restricted by the following examples. 
     Example 1 
     The dispenser assembly  105  illustrated in  FIG. 4 , is a variant of the above described assembly with an alternate ejection mechanism  190 . Instead of utilizing the ejection mechanism  90  described above, this assembly utilizes a shell carrier  140  ( FIG. 13 ) that rotates around a fixed axis when the operator pushes down the dispenser lever  145  that is operationally connected and maneuvers the shell carrier  140 . The shell carrier  140  rotation moves one single shell  125  out of the shell enclosure  110 , while at the same time blocking the rest of the shells  125  inside the enclosure  110 . Once the operator stops applying pressure against the dispenser lever  145 , the shell carrier  140  returns to the closed position due to tension in two springs  155  located at the sides of the shell carrier  140 . 
     Example 2 
     The dispenser assembly  205  illustrated in  FIG. 5 , is another variant of the novel technology. In this particular example, dispenser assembly  205  will be holding and dispensing 37 or 40 mm low velocity grenades  225 . The assembly  205  is also equipped with an alternate ejection mechanism  290 . The assembly  205  utilizes an ejection mechanism  290  that can be operated by pushing against an activation plate  215 . The activation plate  215  is connected to the rest of the assembly  205  and upon depressing activation plate  215  the dispenser gate  245  will open, thereby releasing a grenade shell  225  being held in the dispensing position. Springs bias dispenser gate  245  in a closed position, blocking the shells  225  and keeping them from exiting the shell enclosure  210 . Once the gate  245  is opened, a shell  225  will exit the enclosure  210  and drop into the open hand of the operator. When the exiting shell  225  is ejected, the shell  225  next in queue behind the exiting shell  225  is blocked by a shell blocking rod that is operationally connected to the activation plate  215 . The shell blocking rod depresses with the activation plate  215 , thus positioning the shell blocking rod in front and blocking the shell  225  next in queue. Once pressure is removed from the activation plate  215  the shell blocking rod retracts and allows the next shell  225  to drop down in the dispensing position  235 . 
     Loading shells into the dispenser is done similar to the first two assemblies, by pushing the shells  225  into the enclosure  210  through the same opening the shell  225  is ejected from. Every time a shell  225  is pushed into the enclosure  210  it will collapse the gate  245  as it enters the enclosure. The loaded shell  225  will also push the shell follower and spring (not shown) into the body of the enclosure  210 . This action can be repeated until there is no free space inside the enclosure  210 . 
     A small basket  295  may be added below the dispenser gate  245 . If the operator does not catch an exiting shell, the basket will safely catch the shell so that there is no risk of a shell falling and hitting a solid object and accidently detonating. 
     Example 3 
     The dispenser assembly illustrated in  FIG. 6  is yet another variant of the novel technology. In this example assembly is configured for holding and dispensing grenade shells  325 . This particular assembly is equipped with an alternate ejection mechanism  390 . The third example utilizes a dispenser mechanism that can be operated against an activation plate  315 , which is operationally connected to the rest of the release mechanism  390  and upon depressing will push down on a pivot screw  370 , which manually pushes the gate holding bar  320  up. Since a unidirectional gate  345  is connected to the gate holding bar  320 , the gate  345  temporarily lifts and opens with the depression of the activation plate  315  allowing a shell  325  to free fall into the hand of the operator. Similar to the previous example, absent of pressure on the activation plate  315 , the gate  345  is normally in a closed position to keep shells from exiting. Springs  355  located behind the pivots  370  bias gate  345  in the closed position. The shell next in queue behind the exiting shell is blocked by the shell blocking plate  365  that is connected to the activation plate  315  and descends with a push on the activation plate  315  to block the next shell  325  while the shell in the dispensing position  335  is ejected form the enclosure  310 . Once pressure is removed from the activation plate  315  the shell blocking plate  365  retracts and allows the next shell  325  to drop down into the dispensing position  335 . 
     Loading shells  325  into the dispenser is done similar to the previous examples by pushing the shell  325  into the enclosure  310  through the opening past the unidirectional gate  345 . Each time a shell is pushed into the enclosure  310  it will collapse the unidirectional gate  345  as it enters the dispenser cavity and will also push the shell  325  ahead of it upwards. Shells  325  may continue to be loaded into the enclosure  310  until there is no longer space left to accommodate more shells  325 . 
     In Example 3 a mounting bracket  375  may be added to the back of the assembly, this bracket  375  will be used to attach the assembly to gun turret (for example) in a military vehicle. 
     Example 4 
     The dispenser assembly  405  illustrated in  FIGS. 7-8  is another variant of the novel technology with another alternate ejection mechanism. Here, the alternate shell ejection mechanism  490 , comprising an ejection plate  420  operationally connected to a lever  430 . On top of the lever  430  is a knob  415  or handle designed and configured to be operated by hand. The knob  415  is operationally connected to the lever  430  by a screw  480  that extends from the knob  415  through the lever  430 , although other securing means are possible. The lever  430  is then connected to the shell ejection plate  420  by a screw  475 , although other securing means are also possible. The shell ejection plate  420  supports an ejection pin  464 . Ejection pin  464  motion is guided by an ejection alignment pin  465 , which is secured in the enclosure  410 . The shell ejection mechanism is kept in a biased position by a spring  455  that allows the ejection mechanism  490  to temporarily maintain the shells  425  inside the enclosure  410 . A position maintaining spring  455  positioned below the knob  410  rests on top of the enclosure box  410 . It is secured in place by a cap screw  460  into the top surface of the enclosure  410 . The shell ejection plate  420  can rock on an axis  470  that is created by two socket cap-screws  450  that bolt into the shell ejector plate  420  through two bearing posts  445  that sit atop the front end of the enclosure  410 . 
     The dispenser gate  505  is connected to the ejection plate  420  by dispensing gate screws  510  that attach through the dispenser gate  505  into the front tip of the ejection plate  420 . Attached to the bottom of the dispenser plate is a unidirectional gate  515 . The unidirectional gate  515  is attached to the dispenser gate by unidirectional gate screws  520 . Similar to previous examples, the unidirectional gate  515  is operationally attached to the ejection mechanism  490  to stop the ejection of shells  425 . The gate&#39;s  515  ability to move in an inward direction allows shells  425  to be loaded into the enclosure  410 . Loading shells into the dispenser is done similar to the previous examples by pushing the shell  425  into the enclosure  410  through the opening past the unidirectional gate  515 . Every time a shell is pushed into the enclosure  410  it will collapse the unidirectional gate  515  as it enters the enclosure  410  and the shell will also push the shell  425  ahead of it upward. Shells  425  may continue to be loaded into the enclosure  410  until there is no longer space left to accommodate more shells  425 . 
     After the shells are manually loaded into the enclosure  410 , the assembly  405  may be secured on the forearm of the operator using a strap  485  that wraps around the arm of the operator. The assembly may also include rubber pads  495  for comfort. Alternatively, the assembly can be attached anywhere on the body where comfortable and accessible such as the hip, leg, or chest. 
     To dispense a shell  425 , the operator presses down on the knob  415 , which triggers the ejection mechanism  490 . Placing pressure on the knob  415  pushes down on the shell ejection plate  420 . The shell ejection plate  420  rocks on the plate rocking axis  470  and lifts the entire shell ejection mechanism  490 , including the shell dispenser gate  515 , allowing the shell  425  that was blocked by the dispenser gate  515  to be ejected. At the same time, placing pressure on the knob  415  presses the ejection pin  464  deeper into the enclosure to block the next shell from exiting while the dispenser gate is open. 
     Example 5 
     A still further embodiment of an ammunition storage and dispensing device  600  according to the novel technology is disclosed in  FIGS. 9-11 . In this particular example, the ammunition storage and dispensing device  600  comprises a generally rectangular housing  602  sized and configured to hold a particular type of ammunition and having a front wall  610  and an oppositely disposed rear wall (not shown), a first side wall  605  and an oppositely disposed second side wall  606 , a top wall  615 , and an open bottom  616 . In this particular example, the top, first side, second side, front, and rear walls are all shown as solid. In other examples, these walls may be partially open such as by a plurality of holes, openings, slots, and the like as disclosed in other examples previously discussed herein. 
     Dispensing device  600  further includes a follower device  640  disposed within housing  610 . Disposed between housing top wall  615  and follower device  640  is a spring  645 . Spring  645  is sized and configured to apply sufficient force to follower  640  so as to urge the follower away from the top wall and move ammunition  614  disposed within housing  610  away from top wall  615  and towards opening  616 . Although spring  645  is shown as a helical coil spring in this particular example, other varieties of spring such as leaf spring may also be used. 
     Dispensing device  600  further comprises a dispenser gate  625  positioned across open end  616 . Dispenser gate  625  is movable between an open position which allows ammunition to be removed from housing  610  through opening  616 , and a closed position which prevents the removal of ammunition. In  FIGS. 9-11 , dispenser gate  625  is shown in the closed position so as to block the exit of the round of ammunition  612  nearest opening  616 . In this particular example, ammunition  612 ,  613 , and  614  is shown as low velocity grenades. This is for illustrative purposes only and in other examples shotgun shells may also be stored and dispensed in a similar device. Also for purposes of this example the ammunition is shown as being disposed within housing  610  in a staggered arrangement. As previously discussed in other examples, the ammunition may be disposed in a linear or stacked arrangement. 
     An ejector plate  620  is operationally connected to dispenser gate  625  by a pin  630  and is configured to selectively move dispenser gate  625  between the open and closed positions as desired by the user. Ejector plate  620  is shown as a generally rectangular plate, but on other configurations the plate may be larger or smaller or have a different shape as desired. In still other examples, the plate may be replaced by a lever or handle which is operably connected to the dispenser gate such as in the previous examples. 
     One or more springs (not shown) are disposed in dispensing device  600  so as to bias dispenser gate  625  into the closed position. These springs act to keep the dispensing gate closed unless the ejector plate or lever is activated by the user. These biasing springs may be operably connected to the dispenser gate directly, to the ejector plate, or a combination of both the dispenser gate and the ejector plate as desired. One of ordinary skill in the art will see that such biasing spring(s) could be placed in a variety of locations on the device  600  so long as the spring(s) biased the dispenser gate  625  into the closed position either directly or indirectly. For example, a biasing spring which acted to bias the ejector plate into the closed position would also (indirectly) bias the dispenser plate into the closed position through the ejector plate. 
     Dispenser  600  further includes a blocking pin  618  operationally connected to the ejector plate  620 . In other examples, the blocking pin may be operationally connected to the dispenser gate. In this particular example, when the ejector plate  620  is moved by the user into the open position, the blocking pin  618  moves into housing  602  so as to obstruct the movement of the second round of ammunition  613  nearest the opening  616 , thereby preventing the ejection of more than one round of ammunition when the ejector plate is activated. The exact size, shape, and configuration of the blocking pin  618  can vary so long as it is capable of preventing ammunition from moving towards the opening  616 . In other embodiments, the blocking pin is operably connected to the dispenser gate so as to prevent the ejection of more than one round of ammunition when the dispenser gate is in the open position. 
     This particular embodiment of the disclosed technology further includes a safety lock device operably connected to the ejector plate  620 . In this particular example, the safety lock is a pin  635  which is movable between a locked and an unlocked position. When the safety lock pin  635  is in the locked position, the ejector plate is prevented from actuation and locked in the closed position, thereby preventing accidental dispensing of ammunition. When the safety lock pin  635  is moved to the unlocked position the ejector plate is allowed to actuate between the open and closed position and thereby move the dispenser gate between the open and closed position so as to dispense ammunition. In other embodiments, a safety lock device is operably connected to the dispenser gate. In still other embodiments, a safety lock device is not a pin but rather a screw, bolt, level, latch, slide, or other device capable of securing the ejector plate and/or dispenser gate in the closed position. 
     It will be appreciated that several of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also, that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims. 
     While the claimed technology has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character. It is understood that the embodiments have been shown and described in the foregoing specification in satisfaction of the best mode and enablement requirements. It is understood that one of ordinary skill in the art could readily make a nigh-infinite number of insubstantial changes and modifications to the above-described embodiments and that it would be impractical to attempt to describe all such embodiment variations in the present specification. Accordingly, it is understood that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the claimed technology are desired to be protected.