Abstract:
A side gate assembly for use with flatbed article transport vehicles of the character having longitudinally spaced apart stake receiving pockets disposed along the sides of the bed. The side gate assembly comprises a plurality of hingedly interconnected gates that can be easily moved from a securely locked position on the truck bed into a folded positioned so as to permit the vehicle to be loaded from the side, as for example, using a conventional forklift truck. The side gate assembly also includes a novel, easy-to-use locking means for releasably locking the assembly securely in position along the side of the transport vehicle.

Description:
This is a Continuation-In-Part application of application Ser. No. 09/655,173 filed Sep. 5, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,325,438. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to transport vehicles. More particularly, the invention concerns flat bed vehicular transport trucks of the character having removable side panels or gates that permit unrestricted side loading thereof. 
     2. Discussion of the Prior Art 
     Various types of truck trailers and truck beds for carrying a wide variety of loads are commonly in use. A quite common type of truck trailer is the so-called stake bed truck that provides a flat cargo area with no roof or permanently affixed sidewalls. These types of vehicles are typically used to carry heavy loads, generally of the character that can be loaded with a crane or fork lift truck. 
     To enable easy loading of the prior art flat bed trucks and trailers, the truck bed is often equipped with longitudinally spaced-apart, insertable side panels, or gates, that can be removed during loading and then reinstalled after loading to secure the load in place on the bed of the truck. Typically, the prior art gates are constructed from at least two vertically extending stakes that are telescopically receivable within longitudinally spaced-apart pockets provided along the sides of the truck bed. The vertical stakes are usually connected together by vertically spaced-apart wooden or metal slats that are typically about 4 to 6 feet long. As a general rule, the prior art gates vary in height between 12 and 96 inches and can weight up to 100 pounds or more. 
     The lifting, removing, and reinstalling of gates along the sides of the truck body is quite cumbersome and time-consuming and if incorrectly done, can cause serious injury. Accordingly, various other types of modified side gate constructions have been suggested in the past. By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,640,544 discloses a semi-truck trailer having sidewalls formed by a plurality of hinged side-panels over which a tarpaulin can be tied. The side panels are hinged together so that each entire sidewall can be folded into the front portion of the trailer, thereby permitting use of the trailer as a flat bed. However, once the sidewalls are folded proximate with the forward end of the trailer and the load is positioned on the trailer bed, the walls cannot be repositioned along the sides of the truck bed. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,843 issued to Elliott describes a side loading trailer body having front, back, and sidewalls, a roof and a platform enclosing the interior of the trailer body. The side walls are formed by hingedly connected, side opening doors each of which, when opened, exposes the interior along the entire side of the body for loading purposes. The roof may be raised as required a predetermined distance above the walls. When the side doors have been opened and the roof raised, cargo loading and unloading can be accomplished using a conventional forklift type vehicle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and novel side gate assembly for use with flatbed article transport vehicles of the character having longitudinally spaced apart stake receiving pockets disposed along the sides of the bed. The novel side gate assembly of the invention comprises a plurality of hingedly interconnected gates that can be easily moved from a securely locked position on the truck bed into a folded position so as to permit the vehicle to be loaded from the side, as for example, using a conventional forklift truck. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a side gate assembly of the aforementioned character that can be used with conventional flatbed article transport vehicles without the requirement of substantial modification to the vehicles. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a side gate assembly as described in the preceding paragraphs, that is easy to use, requires no lifting of the side gate sections so that the side gate assemblies can be easily operated by one workman with minimum training. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a side gate assembly for use with flatbed article transport vehicles of various lengths, which includes side gate assemblies that comprise either double or triple hingedly interconnected gate subassemblies. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a side gate assembly of the character described which includes a novel, easy-to-use locking means for releasably locking the assembly securely in position along the sides of the transport vehicle. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a side gate assembly as described in the preceding paragraphs in which at least one of the side gate assemblies includes first and second slidably interconnected sections. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a side gate assembly usable with flatbed article transport vehicles that is of a simple construction, and one which can be manufactured and assembled relatively inexpensively. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a generally perspective view of one form of the hingedly connected side gates usable with stake bed vehicles. 
     FIGS. 2A and 2B, when considered together, comprise a side elevational view of the hingedly connected side gates as they appear when mounted on a vehicle such as a stake bed truck. 
     FIGS. 3A and 3B, when considered together, comprise a view taken along lines  3 — 3  of FIGS. 2A and 2B. 
     FIG. 4 is a greatly enlarged view of the area designated as  4  in FIG.  2 B. 
     FIG. 5 is a view taken along lines  5 — 5  of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the gate latching mechanism in a released position. 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  7 — 7  of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  8 — 8  of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  9 — 9  of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 10 is a greatly enlarged view of the area designated as  10  in FIG.  2 B. 
     FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  11 — 11  of FIG. 10 
     FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  12 — 12  of FIG.  10 . 
     FIG. 13 is a fragmentary, top view of one side of the apparatus of FIG. 1 showing the hinged gates moved into an open position. 
     FIG. 14 is a top view of an alternate form of the apparatus of the invention having four sets of two hingedly interconnected gates rather than four sets of three hingedly interconnected gates. 
     FIGS. 15A and 15B when considered together comprise a generally perspective view of an alternate form of gate construction of the invention. 
     FIGS. 16A and 16B when considered together comprise a side elevational view of two sets of hingedly interconnected gates of the alternate construction shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B. 
     FIGS. 17A and 17B when considered together comprise a cross-sectional view taken along lines  17 — 17  of FIGS. 16A and 16B. 
     FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  18 — 18  of FIG.  16 A. 
     FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  19 — 19  of FIG.  16 A. 
     FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  20 — 20  of FIG.  16 A. 
     FIG. 21 is a greatly enlarged view of the area designated in FIG. 16A by the numeral  21 . 
     FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  22 — 22  of FIG.  21 . 
     FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  23 — 23  of FIG.  21 . 
     FIG. 24 is a fragmentary side elevational view of an alternate form of the gate construction shown in FIGS. 15A through 23 illustrating the use of a gate locking mechanism for locking together two sets of hingedly interconnected gates of the alternate construction shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B. 
     FIG. 25 is a top plan, generally diagrammatic view illustrating the manner of folding of the side gates on one side of the truck bed. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1,  2 A,  2 B, and  10 , one form of the side gate assembly of the present invention is there illustrated. The side gate assembly is specifically designed for use with flatbed trucks of the character shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B that have a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart, stake-receiving pockets “P” located along the sides and the rear of the bed of the truck. In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 1, the side gate assembly comprises two side gate assemblies, one for each side of the truck bed. These two side gate assemblies are of substantially identical construction and are designed for use with stake bed trucks of conventional construction. A rear gate assembly, the character of which will later be described can be used at the rear of the truck bed. 
     As best seen in FIG. 1, each side gate assembly  12  of the invention comprises first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth hingedly interconnected gates identified in FIG. 1 by the numerals  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 , and  24  respectively. Each of the side gates includes longitudinally spaced-apart end posts that are interconnected by a plurality of vertically spaced-apart tubular members  30 . For example, first side gate  14  includes spaced apart end posts  26  and  28  that are interconnected by longitudinally extending, vertically spaced-apart members  30 . As indicated in FIGS. 10,  11 , and  12 , each of the end posts of each of the side gates is also of a tubular construction, having a hollow interior space  32 . 
     Hingedly interconnected to first side gate  14  is the previously identified second side gate  16  which includes longitudinally spaced apart end posts  34  and  36  that are also interconnected by generally horizontally extending, vertically spaced-apart members  30 . As illustrated in FIG. 13, fifth side gate  22  is hingedly connected to a vertically extending truck bed post  33  located at the rear of the truck bed and is adapted for swinging movement between a first position shown in FIG. 1 to a second position shown in FIG.  13 . Similarly, side gate  14  is hingedly interconnected to fifth side gate  22  for swinging movement between a first location shown in FIG. 1 and a second location shown in FIG.  13 . The gates are interconnected to each other and to the truck bed end posts  33  by a conventional double leaf type hinge  38  that is of the conventional construction best seen in FIGS. 3A,  3 B and  13 . As indicated in FIG. 13, gates  22  and  24  are hingedly connected to the forward and rearward corners of the truck bed. More particularly, side gate  24  is hingedly connected to a front panel of the truck bed  40 , while, as previously mentioned, fifth side gate  22  is hingedly connected to truck bed end post  33 . Forming an important aspect of the present invention is locking means that are carried by one of the end posts of each of the side gates for locking the side gate in position relative to the truck bed. As best seen by referring to FIGS. 10 and 12, this important locking means is of the same construction for each side gate and comprises a stake-like locking member  44  having a first end  44   a  that is telescopically receivable within a selected stake bed receiving pocket “P” and a second opposite end  44   b  that is telescopically movable within interior space  32  of an end post of the side gate such as end post  26 . Members  44  are appropriately sized so as to be closely received within the pockets found in conventional stake bed trucks. Further, the locking members are strategically spaced apart so that the side gates can be used with conventional stake bed trucks without having to modify the location and spacing of the pockets. Also forming a part of the locking means of the invention is lifting means for moving the locking member  44  from the downward position shown in FIG. 10 to an upraised position wherein the lower portion  44   a  of locking member  44  clears pocket “P” and resides solely within interior space  32  of post  26 . This lifting means here comprises a lifting handle  48  that is connected to locking member  44  as by welding in the manner indicated in FIGS. 10 and 12. As shown in the drawings, lifting handle  48  extends outwardly from locking member  44  so that it can be easily gripped by a workman to raise the locking member from the lowered locking position shown in FIG. 10 to an upraised position, which will permit swinging movement of the gate relative to the bed of the truck. As indicated in FIGS. 1,  2 A and  2 B, each of the side gates of each of the side gate assemblies is provided with locking means of the character described in the preceding paragraph so that each of the side gates  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22  and  24  can be hingedly folded in the manner indicated in FIG.  13 . Each of these locking means is of identical construction and operation to that illustrated and described in connection with locking gate  16 . 
     Turning next to FIGS. 4 through 7, the connector means of the invention for interconnecting second gate  16  with fourth gate  20  is there illustrated. The connector means, which forms and important aspect of the invention, here comprises a pair of vertically spaced latching mechanisms  52  that are of an identical construction. Each of the latching mechanisms comprises a longitudinally extending lifting member  54  having first and second ends  54   a  and  54   b  respectively. Ends  54   a  of the lifting members of the two latching mechanisms are interconnected by a generally vertically extending, generally cylindrically shaped lifting bar  56  (FIG.  4 ). As shown in FIG. 4, the opposite ends  54   b  of each of the lifting members are interconnected as by welding with a vertically extending tubular member  58 . Tubular member  58  is configured to receive a shaft  60  that is connected to and spans a pair of upstanding plates  62  that are connected as by welding to end post  34  and to a selected one of the longitudinally extending members  30 . With this construction, a lifting force exerted on handle  56  will cause members  54  to pivot about the axis of shaft  60  (see FIG.  6 ). 
     Connected to each of the members  54 , for pivotal movement with respect thereto, is a generally U-shaped latching member  66 . More particularly, as best seen in FIG. 4, each latching member  66  comprises first and second sides  66   a  and  66   b  respectively and a bight portion  66   c  that interconnects the two sides. The inboard ends  67  of side members  66   a  and  66   b  are connected, as by welding, to a shaft  68 . In turn, shaft  68  is rotatably received within a tubular member  70  that is welded to member  54  intermediate its ends (FIGS.  4  and  5 ). 
     Latching members  66  are latchably interconnected with a hook-like clasp member  74  that is affixed to a vertically extending end post such as end post  20   a  of fourth gate  20 . As best seen by referring to FIG. 5, when the latching mechanism is in its latched position shown in FIG. 5, bight portion  66   c  of latching member  66  is closely received within the channel portion  74   a  of clasp  74 . 
     Affixed proximate end  54   b  of lifting member  54  is an angle bracket  76  that is engaged by the securement means of the invention for securing the latching mechanism in its first or latched position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. This securement means here comprises a housing  78  that is affixed to a selected one of the members  30  of second gate  16 . Slidably movable within housing  78  is locking finger  80  having an outboard extremity  80   a  that is adapted to lockably engage angle bracket  76  when the second and fourth gates are in the closed position shown in FIG. 1 (see also FIG.  5 ). Connected to the second end  80   b  of finger  80  is a finger pull element  82  that can be pulled rearwardly of housing  78  in the manner indicated by the phantom lines in FIG. 6 to move latching member  80  inwardly of the housing so that extremity  80   a  clears bracket  76 . In the present form of the invention, biasing means are disposed internally of housing  80  to continuously urge extremity  80   a  of finger  80  into locking engagement with angle bracket  76 . The biasing means is here provided in the form of a coil spring  84  that is housed within housing  78  (FIG.  7 ). 
     In operating the connector means of the invention, latching member  80  is moved from the first latching position shown in FIG. 5 to the second latching position shown in FIG. 6 by pulling on pull  82  to release locking member  80  from angle member  76 . An outward force exerted on lifting handle  56  in the direction indicated by the arrow  85  of FIG. 6 will then cause members  54  to pivot into the outward position shown by the solid lines in FIG.  6 . As the lifting members so pivot, latching member  66  will also pivot about the axis of shaft  68  permitting bight portion  66   c  to move outwardly of channel  74   a  of clasp  74  in the manner illustrated in FIG.  6 . Once the latching member has cleared clasp  74 , it can be moved in the direction of the arrow  87  of FIG. 6 into the position shown by the phantom lines in FIG.  6 . In this position, it is apparent that second gate  16  is free to move relative to fourth gate  20  and can be swung outwardly relative to gate  20 . Upon operation of the locking means associated with gates  14 ,  16 , and  22 , it is apparent that the assemblage made of these gates can be moved into the folded configuration shown in FIG.  13 . Similarly, upon operation of the locking means associated with gates  18 ,  20 , and  24 , the assemblage made of these gates can also be folded into the configuration shown in FIG.  13 . With the gates in this folded configuration the truck bed is easily accessible for side loading. When the loading is complete, the gate assemblages can be return to their starting position and secured in place by the locking and connector means of the invention. It is to understood that when higher side gates are used, two or more connector mechanisms could be used. 
     Turning to FIG. 14, an alternate form of the apparatus of the invention is there illustrated. This form of the apparatus is similar in most respects to that previously described herein. However, in this embodiment, which is adapted to be used with trucks having a shorter bed, the side gate assemblies each comprise only four side gates designated in FIG. 14 as  88 ,  90 ,  92  and  94  respectively. Side gates  88  and  90  are interconnected by a hinge  38 . The assemblage thus form is hingedly interconnected by a hinge  38  with truck bed end post  96 . In a similar manner, side gates  92  and  94  are hingedly interconnected by a hinge  38  and the assemblage thus formed is hingedly connected by a hinge  38  to a front panel  98  of the truck bed. Each of the side gates is provided with locking means of the character previously described and gates  88  and  92  can be interconnected by the a connector means of the character previously described. The operation of the locking means and the connector means of this latest embodiment of the invention is identical to that previously described and will note be further discussed herein. 
     Turning once again to FIG. 1, it is to be noted that in the embodiment of the invention there shown, the end of the truck bed can also be closed by a pair of gates  100  and  102  that are hingedly interconnected with truck bed end posts  33  by conventional hinges such as hinges  38 . Connector means are provided to lock gates  100  and  102  in the closed position shown in FIG.  1 . The connector means, which is generally designated in FIG. 1 by the numeral  104  is identical in construction and operation to the connector means described in connection with side gate assemblies  12 . 
     Referring next to FIGS. 15A through 25 of the drawings, an alternate form of the side gate assembly of the present invention is there illustrated and generally designated by the numeral  100 . As before, this side gate assembly is specifically designed for use with flatbed trucks of the character shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B that have a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart, stake-receiving pockets “P” located along the sides and the rear of the bed of the truck. In the alternate form of the invention shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, the side gate assembly comprises two side gate assemblies, one for each side of the truck bed. These two side gate assemblies are of substantially identical construction and are designed for use with stake bed trucks of conventional construction. A rear gate assembly, of the general character earlier described can be used at the rear of the truck bed. 
     As best seen in FIGS. 15A and 15B, each side gate assembly  101  of the invention comprises a first, or end gate  102  and a second, or middle gate  104 . These first and second gates are hingedly connected together and the first gate  102  of each gate assembly is hingedly connected to an end post “EP” provided on the bed of the truck. Uniquely, second or middle gate  104  comprises first and second slidably interconnected sections  106  and  108  respectively. More particularly, first section  106  comprises a plurality of longitudinally extending first tubular members  110  and second section  108  comprises a plurality of longitudinally extending, generally tubular shaped second members  112  that are telescopically receivable within first tubular members  110  (see FIG.  19 ). 
     Also forming a part of each gate assembly  101  is stop means for stopping the travel of the second gate  104  as it is moved into its extended position shown by the solid lines in FIG.  15 A. This stop means here comprises a vertically extending stop member  114  which forms a part of the superstructure  117 , which, in turn, forms a part of first section  106 . The stop means also includes a longitudinally extending generally cylindrically shaped member  116  which forms a part of second section  108 . Stop member  114  is provided with an aperture, or opening  114   a  that telescopically receives cylindrically shaped member  116  (FIG.  18 ). With this construction, as second section  108  is moved toward first section  106  in the direction of the arrows  115  in FIGS. 16A and 16B, member  116  will move from the position shown in the solid lines in FIGS. 16A and 16B to the position shown by the phantom lines in these figure drawings. When second section  108  is moved in the opposite direction, or to the right as viewed in FIG. 16A, cylindrically shaped member  116  will move to the right until the end portion  116   a  provided thereon moves into engagement with stop member  114  in the manner shown by the solid lines in FIG.  16 A. 
     Each of the side gates  102  and  104  includes longitudinally spaced-apart, vertically extending end posts. More particularly, side gate  102  includes end posts  120  and  122  that are interconnected by a plurality of vertically spaced-apart tubular members  124 . Similarly, side gate  104  includes longitudinally spaced end posts  126  and  128  that are interconnected by the previously identified tubular members  110  and  112 . As indicated in FIGS. 17A and 17B, each of the end posts of each of the side gates is also of a tubular construction, having a hollow interior space  32 . The gates are interconnected to each other and to the truck bed end posts “EP” by conventional double leaf type hinges  38  that are of the conventional construction best seen in FIGS. 3A,  3 B and  13 . Forming an important aspect of the present invention is locking means that are carried by one of the end posts of each of the side gates for locking the side gate in position relative to the truck bed. This important locking means is of the same general construction as described in connection with the earlier discussed embodiment of the invention and like numbers are used in FIGS. 15A through 25 to describe like components. As best seen in FIGS. 21,  22  and  23 , the locking means of the side gates comprises a stake-like locking member  44  having a first end  44   a  that is telescopically receivable within a selected stake bed receiving pocket “P” and a second opposite end  44   b  that is telescopically movable within interior space  32  of an end post of the side gate such as end posts  128 . As before, members  44  are appropriately sized so as to be closely received within the pockets found in conventional stake bed trucks. Further, the locking members are strategically spaced apart so that the side gates can be used with conventional stake bed trucks without having to modify the location and spacing of the pockets. 
     Also forming a part of the locking means of this latest form of the invention is lifting means for moving the locking member  44  from the downward position shown in FIG. 21 to an upraised position wherein the lower portion  44   a  of locking member  44  clears pocket “P” and resides solely within interior space  32  of the end post. Once again, this lifting means comprises a lifting handle  48  that is connected to locking member  44  as by welding in the manner indicated in FIG.  21 . As shown in the drawings, lifting handle  48  extends outwardly from locking member  44  so that it can be easily gripped by a workman to raise the locking member from the lowered locking position to an upraised position, so as to permit swinging movement of the gate relative to the bed of the truck in the manner shown in FIG.  25 . 
     It is to be understood that each of the side gate assemblies is provided with locking means of the character described in the preceding paragraph so that each of the side gates  102  and  104  can be hingedly folded in the manner indicated by the arrows in FIG.  25 . Each of these locking means is of identical construction and operation to that illustrated and described in connection with the earlier described embodiments of the invention. 
     In operating the apparatus of this latest form of the invention, the locking member  44  of one of the second gates  104  on one side of the truck is moved from the first downward or locking position shown in FIG. 21 to the second or upward position shown by the phantom lines in FIG. 21 by lifting member  48 . This done, second section  108  is urged to the left his viewed in FIG. 16A so as to cause generally cylindrically shaped members  112  to telescope into tubular members of the first section as indicated by the phantom lines in FIG.  16 A. If desired, gate  104  can be pivoted outwardly relative to gate  102  so as to provide access to at least portion of the truck bed. Alternatively, locking member  44  of first gate  102  can be lifted to a position wherein end  44   a  clears pocket “P” thereby enabling the assemblage made up of gates  102  and  104  to pivot outwardly relative to the end post EP to which gate  102  is connected (see FIG.  25 ). 
     With the gates in the folded configuration the truck bed is easily accessible for side loading. When the loading is complete, the gate assemblages can be returned to their starting position and secured in place by the locking means of the invention. 
     Turning next to FIG.  24  and alternate form of the apparatus of the invention is there shown. This alternate form of the invention is substantially identical in basic construction to that previously described, but includes connector means for releasably interconnecting together the side assemblies provided on each is side of the flatbed truck. The connector means is of the same general character as that described in connection with FIGS. 1 through 14 and like numerals are used in FIG. 24 to identify like components. As before, this connector means here comprises a pair of vertically spaced latching mechanisms  52  that are of an identical construction. Each of the latching mechanisms comprises a longitudinally extending lifting member  54  having first and second ends  54   a  and  54   b  respectively. Ends  54   a  of the lifting members of the two latching mechanisms are interconnected by a generally vertically extending, generally cylindrically shaped lifting bar  56 . As was the case with the earlier described embodiment of the invention, a lifting force exerted on handle  56  will cause members  54  to pivot about the axis of a shaft  60  (see FIG.  6 ). 
     Connected to each of the members  54 , for pivotal movement with respect thereto, is a generally U-shaped latching member  66 . Latching members  66  are latchably interconnected with a hook-like clasp member  74  that is affixed to a vertically extending end post such as end post  128  of gate  108 . As shown the FIG. 24, when the latching mechanism is in its latched position, bight portion  66   c  of latching member  66  is closely received within the channel portion  74   a  of clasp  74 . 
     The operation of the connector means of this latest form of the invention is the same as previously described. More particularly, during operation an outward force exerted on lifting handle  56  will then cause members  54  to pivot into the outward position shown by the solid lines in FIG.  6 . As the lifting members so pivot, latching member  66  will also pivot about the axis of shaft  68  permitting bight portion  66   c  to move outwardly of channel  74   a  of clasp  74  in the manner illustrated in FIG.  6 . Once the latching member has cleared clasp  74 , it can be moved in the direction of the arrow  87  of FIG. 6 into the position shown by the phantom lines in FIG.  6 . In this position, it is apparent that the side gate assemblies  101  are free to move relative to each other in the manner illustrated in FIG.  25 . 
     Having now described the invention in detail in accordance with the requirements of the patent statutes, those skilled in this art will have no difficulty in making changes and modifications in the individual parts or their relative assembly in order to meet specific requirements or conditions. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, as set forth in the following claims.