Abstract:
A knife is provided that includes a replaceable blade element. The knife employs a blade carrier that is fixedly interconnected to or foldable with respect to a handle. The blade carrier selectively receives the replaceable blade element that is locked into the blade carrier by way of a hook and movable pin combination. The replaceable blade element is designed to be inserted within the blade carrier quickly, easily, and safely.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/721,000, “Folding Knife with Replaceable Blade,” filed Oct. 31, 2012, and Chinese Patent CN201210418907.0, entitled Cutting Tool with Replaceable Blade,” filed Oct. 26, 2012, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
         [0002]    This application is also related to U.S. Pat. No. D592,033, which discloses a locking version of the knife described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0229404 and European Patent No. EP1570959, the entirety of each of these references being incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to knives. More specifically, one embodiment of the present invention is a folding knife that has a replaceable blade element. Another embodiment is a non-folding knife with a replaceable blade element. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Knives are usually comprised of a handle with a blade that is interconnected thereto. Some knives employ blades that are rotatably interconnected, and selectively lockable, to the handle. When the knife is not in use, it is sheathed or, in the case of folding knives, the blade is folded into the handle. When in use, the rotatable blade is extended from the handle and locked in place. Such locking mechanisms are known and engage a portion of the blade to hold it in place until the user disengages the lock mechanism, which allows the blade to be folded into an opening in the handle to conceal all or a portion of the blade. 
         [0005]    Regardless of knife type, it is desirable to provide a cutting edge that is very sharp, similar to the sharpness provided by a razor blade. However, razor blade sharpness comes at a price. More specifically, razor blades often possess very thin edges that are brittle and wear, i.e., lose their edge, relatively quickly. Blade performance can be repaired by sharpening, but doing so will reduce blade size and durability. In addition, thin razor blades lack lateral strength and are thus flimsy and can fracture easily when put to hard use to cut forcibly or when cutting at an angle that applies lateral side-force to the blade. Thus, some knives employ a razor-sharp replaceable blade element that fits within a blade carrier, which may be foldable within a handle. Once the replaceable blade element becomes dull, or after repeated sharpening, it is removed from the blade carrier and discarded. Another razor blade is then inserted into the carrier. 
         [0006]    Some knives of this type employ a complicated blade interconnection mechanism. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,689,889 and 6,574,868 to Overholt disclose razor blades for interconnecting to a blade carrier of folding knife. These knives receive the replacement blade member in a complicated fashion wherein the replaceable blade element must be first introduced into the blade carrier at and angle and then rotated into place. Finally, the replaceable blade element is locked within the blade carrier. As one of skill in the art will appreciate, replacing a blade in this fashion is difficult and, because the replaceable blade members are extremely sharp, manipulating the blade into place can cause injury. To lock and secure the blade, Overholt discloses the use of a separate threaded fastener that attaches to the blade carrier. To replace the blade, the fastener must first be loosened and completely detached from the blade carrier before the sharpened razor blade portion can be removed. This is time consuming and dangerous because the user must remove the fastener by hand from the blade carrier, which is located in close proximity to the sharp cutting edge of the razor blade. Further, loosening or removing the fastener requires the use of both hands, which makes it not possible to safely hold the knife or secure the knife by the handle while removing the fastener. Further, the fastener is commonly made up of two or more small parts that must be detached from the blade carrier to replace the blade. The fastener parts can easily be dropped and lost, especially when used in the outdoors. If one or more small parts of the fastener are lost when changing the blade, the new blade cannot be attached to the blade carrier and the knife is no longer functional. 
         [0007]    The following disclosure describes a knife with the replaceable blade that is selectively inserted into blade carrier in a way that facilitates easy interconnection, reduces the chance of injury, and eliminates the need for separate parts that must be detached from the knife to remove and insert a new blade. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    It is one aspect of embodiments of the present invention to provide a folding knife with a replaceable blade. More specifically, one embodiment of the present invention includes a handle having a first portion and a second portion spaced from the first portion. The space between the first handle portion and the second handle portion receives the replaceable blade when the knife is not in use. A blade carrier is rotatably interconnected to the handle and operates as in a traditional folding knife: 1) in a first position of use wherein at least a portion of the blade carrier is positioned within the housing; and 2) in a second position of use wherein the blade carrier is locked in an open position and extended from the housing. The blade carrier selectively receives a replaceable blade element. 
         [0009]    It is another aspect of embodiments of the present invention to provide a non-folding knife with the replaceable blade portion. More specifically, one embodiment of the present invention includes a handle with a fixed blade carrier. 
         [0010]    The blade carrier of embodiments of the present invention have a first carrier portion and a second carrier portion, which is spaced from the first carrier portion, which receives the replaceable blade. The first carrier also includes a channel that selectively receives a pin. The second blade carrier includes a flexible member with a pin that selectively engages an aperture in the replaceable blade member to secure it to the blade carrier. 
         [0011]    To replace the blade, a release button, which is spring-biased relative to the handle, is depressed which deflects portion of the second blade carrier. Deflection of the blade carrier removes the pin from the aperture, which allows the blade to be removed. The blade is inserted in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle, i.e., in a direction parallel to the length of the handle. Thus complicated blade rotation is not necessary to secure the blade to the blade carrier. 
         [0012]    It is another aspect of embodiments of the present invention to provide a knife that includes a replaceable blade that is safe and easy to remove. More specifically, as mentioned above, replaceable blades of the prior art are in many respects difficult to engage into the blade carrier and require a complicated interconnection sequence requiring the use of both hands to remove the locking/retaining portion of the blade from the blade carrier. The contemplated replaceable blade portion is inserted longitudinally relative to the handle. Also, the blade is designed to extend from the carrier so that is easy to grasp with the thumb and forefinger of one hand while the other hand securely grasps the handle portion and depresses the lock release button with one finger. This makes it much easier, faster, and safer to attach and remove the replaceable blade. 
         [0013]    It is another aspect of embodiments of the present invention to provide a knife that eliminates the need for small separate parts (other than the replacement blades) that must be detached from the knife to change the blade. The prior art teaches a blade fastener that requires small parts that must be detached and can easily be lost when replacing the blade. With embodiments of the present invention, there are no separate parts required to fasten and detach the replaceable blade from the knife. 
         [0014]    It is another aspect of embodiments of the invention to provide a knife, comprising: a blade carrier having a first portion that is spaced from a second portion, the blade carrier being connected to a handle; a first blade liner portion associated with the first blade carrier; a second blade liner portion associated with the second portion of the blade carrier; a replaceable blade positioned between the first blade carrier and the second portion of the blade carrier; a replaceable blade release button associated with a deflectable portion of the first blade liner portion; and a pin interconnected to the second portion of the blade carrier that is deflected to release the replaceable blade when the release button is depressed. 
         [0015]    It is yet another aspect of embodiments of the present invention to provide a cutting tool having a blade carrier that is connected to a handle and selectively lockable relative thereto, a blade liner associated with the carrier, and a replaceable blade selectively interconnected to the blade carrier, the improvement comprising: a release button associated with a deflectable portion of the blade liner portion; a pin interconnected to the blade carrier and adapted to be received within an aperture of the replaceable blade that is deflected by the release button to release the replaceable blade; and wherein the replaceable blade includes a hook on an upper edge thereof that selectively engages a member integrated within the blade carrier, and wherein the replaceable blade is positioned within the blade carrier along a longitudinal axis of the blade carrier. 
         [0016]    It is still yet another aspect of embodiments of the present invention to provide a method of replacing a replaceable blade into a knife comprising a blade carrier having a first portion that is spaced from a second portion, the blade carrier being connected to a handle; a first blade liner portion associated with the first blade carrier; a second blade liner portion associated with the second portion of the blade carrier; a replaceable blade positioned between the first blade carrier and the second portion of the blade carrier; a replaceable blade release button associated with a biasing member of the first blade liner portion; and a pin interconnected to the second portion of the blade carrier, comprising: depressing the release button; engaging an end of the release button onto the second portion of the blade carrier; deflecting a portion of the second portion of the blade carrier; removing the pin away from an aperture of the replaceable blade; and moving the replaceable blade from the blade carrier. 
         [0017]    The Summary of the Invention is neither intended nor should it be construed as being representative of the full extent and scope of the present invention. Moreover, references made herein to “the present invention” or aspects thereof should be understood to mean certain embodiments of the present invention and should not necessarily be construed as limiting all embodiments to a particular description. The present invention is set forth in various levels of detail in the Summary of the Invention as well as in the attached drawings and the Detailed Description of the Invention and no limitation as to the scope of the present invention is intended by either the inclusion or non-inclusion of elements, components, etc. in this Summary of the Invention. Additional aspects of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the Detail Description, particularly when taken together with the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the general description of the invention given above and the detailed description of the drawings given below, serve to explain the principles of these inventions. 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of a folding knife with a replaceable blade of one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a front elevation view of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a front elevation view of  FIG. 1  wherein the replaceable blade has been removed; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of  FIG. 1 , wherein the blade is partially inserted in the carrier portion of the knife but not locked in a position of use; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a partial cross-section of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a detailed front perspective view wherein a first handle portion has been removed for clarity; 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  is another detailed front perspective view wherein a first handle portion has been removed for clarity; 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  is yet another detailed from perspective view wherein a first handle portion has been removed for clarity; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention wherein the removable blade element is used in conjunction with a fixed blade; 
           [0029]      FIG. 11  is a front elevation view of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 12  is a top plan view of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 13  is a front elevation view of  FIG. 10  showing the removable blade element partially inserted in the carrier portion of the knife but not locked in a position of use; 
           [0032]      FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 15  is a detailed view of  FIG. 14 ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 16  is a detailed view of  FIG. 14 , showing an alternate embodiment; 
           [0035]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view showing a fixed blade version of the knife without the handle; 
           [0036]      FIG. 18  is a detailed view of  FIG. 17 ; 
           [0037]      FIG. 19  is a perspective view is a rear perspective view of a fixed blade version if the knife wherein half the handle is omitted for clarity; and 
           [0038]      FIG. 20  is a perspective view of the fixed blade version of the knife. 
       
    
    
       [0039]    To assist in the understanding of one embodiment of the present invention the following list of components and associated numbering found in the drawings is provided herein: 
       # Component 
       [0000]    
       
           2  Knife 
           6  Handle 
           10  Blade 
           14  Blade carrier 
           15  Member 
           16  Blade carrier lock release 
           17  Guide surface 
           18  Replaceable blade 
           22  Blade carrier lock 
           26  Upper portion 
           30  Replaceable blade lock release button 
           34  Front blade portion 
           38  Front edge 
           46  Replaceable blade lock protrusion 
           50  Hook 
           54  Blade carrier liner 
           58  Lock release button pin end 
           62  Channel 
           66  Biasing member 
           68  Recess 
           70  Tab 
           72  Recess 
           74  Aperture 
           78  Sloped surface 
           82  Blade end 
           102  Knife 
           106  Handle 
           110  Blade 
           114  Blade carrier 
           115  Member 
           118  Replaceable blade 
           130  Replaceable blade lock release button 
           134  Front blade portion 
           138  Front edge 
           146  Replaceable blade lock protrusion 
           150  Hook 
           154  Blade carrier support 
           158  Lock release button pin end 
           162  Opening 
           166  Biasing member 
           168  Recess 
           169  Spring plate 
           170  Tab 
           172  Recess 
           174  Aperture 
           178  Sloped surface 
           182  Blade end 
           184  Sloped surface 
       
     
         [0088]    It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale. In certain instances, details that are not necessary for an understanding of the invention or that render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0089]      FIGS. 1-9  show a knife  2  of one embodiment of the present invention that includes a handle  6  that is operably interconnected to a blade  10 . The blade  10  is comprised of a blade carrier  14  that selectively receives a replaceable blade  18 . The blade carrier  14  is locked in place by a common locking mechanism  22  (see,  FIGS. 8 and 9 ). In one embodiment of the present invention a lock  22  selectively engages an upper portion  26  of the blade carrier  14  wherein a release button  16  is used to move the lock  22  and a lateral direction which unseats the lock  22  from the blade carrier  14 . 
         [0090]      FIGS. 2 and 3  show the replaceable blade  18  captured by the blade carrier  14  and removed therefrom, respectively. A front blade portion  34  of the replaceable blade  18  extends from a front edge  38  of the blade carrier  14 , which facilitates grasping of the replaceable blade  18 . That is, the replaceable blade  18  also extends from the front edge  38  of the blade carrier  14 , which provides ample room for the user to grasp the replaceable blade  18  with their thumb and forefinger. In addition, the majority of the length of the replaceable blade  18  is supported by the carrier  14 , which provides enhanced stiffness and support. More specifically, the blade carrier in some instances will support the replaceable blade  18  such that it can be sharpened. To release the replaceable blade  18 , which will be discussed in further detail below, the user engages a replaceable blade lock release button  30 . The replaceable blade  18  is secured to the carrier  14  on one end by a lock pin  46  and on the other end by a member  15  positioned between the first blade carrier  14 ′ and the second blade carrier  14 ″ that receives a hook  50  on the replaceable blade  18 . The member  15  also includes a guide surface  17  that facilitates interconnection of the replaceable blade  18  and the carrier  14 . 
         [0091]      FIG. 3  shows that in one embodiment of the present invention the first blade carrier portion  14 ′ and the second blade carrier portion  14 ″ have different widths and/or lengths. More specifically, the first blade carrier portion  14 ′ may have a width/length that is less than the width/length of the second blade carrier portion  14 ″. In operation, the replaceable blade  18  is abutted against a portion of the second blade carrier portion  14 ″ that extends beyond the width or length of the first blade carrier portion  14 ′. The offset surface between the blade carrier portion forms a ledge that acts as a guide that facilitates interconnection of the replaceable blade  18  into the carrier  14 . Without this offset surface, the replaceable blade  18  must be aligned and inserted directly into the small gap between the first blade carrier  14 ′ and the second blade carrier  14 ″, thus requiring greater skill and dexterity to facilitate the interconnection of the replaceable blade  18  into the carrier  14 . In addition, to facilitate interconnection, an end of the replaceable blade  82  is abutted against the guide surface  17  and slid rewardly until the hook  50  is engaged onto a corresponding portion of the member  15 . In this fashion, a user must only grasp the front blade portion  34  of the replaceable blade  18  and safety is enhanced. 
         [0092]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the present invention. The handle is composed of a first handle portion  6 ′ and a second handle portion  6 ″ that are spaced to provide a gap for receipt of a first blade carrier portion  14 ′ and the second blade carrier portion  14 ″. A first blade carrier liner  54 ′ is associated with the first handle portion  6 ′ and a second blade carrier liner  54 ″ is associated with the second handle portion  6 ″. The first blade carrier liner  54 ′ and the second blade carrier liner  54 ″ are associated with corresponding blade carrier portions and provide support thereto. The blade lock release button  30  is associated with the first blade carrier liner  54 ′ and has an end  58  that selectively engages a flexible portion of the second blade carrier  14 ″. The first blade carrier  14 ′ also has an arcuate channel  62  ( FIG. 8 ) that receives a portion of the blade lock release button  30 . 
         [0093]      FIG. 7  shows the first blade carrier liner  54 ′ in greater detail. The first blade carrier liner  54 ′ has a biasing member  66 , i.e., an outwardly extending portion thereof that biases the blade release button  30  in a locked position. Depression of the blade release button  30  flexes the biasing member  66  inwardly which forces a portion of the second carrier  14 ″ into a recess  68  ( FIG. 6 ) of the second blade carrier liner  54 ″ which removes the lock pin  46  from the replaceable blade  18 . One of skill in the art will appreciate that the biasing member may be a deflectable portion of the carrier liner  54 ′, a leaf spring, a coil spring associated with the blade lock release button  30 , or any other spring device known in the art. 
         [0094]    More specifically, the blade lock release button  30 , when depressed, selectively engages a flexible tab  70  of the second blade carrier. The tab also includes the lock pin  46 . Depression of the release button  30  deflects the tab  70  and moves the lock pin  46  in a lateral direction which moves the lock pin  46  out of an aperture  74  of the blade  18 . The flexible tab  70  may further include a recess  72 , indent, or scalloped portion that facilitates deflection. When the obstruction created by the lock pin  46  is removed, the blade  18  can be removed from the blade carriers  14 . The lock pin  46  may have a sloped surface  78  that when contacted by an inserting blade deflects the tab  70  so that the blade can be fully inserted. More specifically, sliding the blade  18  in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the knife  2  will engage the rear surface  82  of the blade  18  against the sloped surface  78  of the pin, which will deflect the tab  70 . The blade end  82  may employ a corresponding sloped surface (see,  FIG. 15 , reference no.  184 ) that interacts with the sloped surface  78  of the pin, which facilitates insertion of the replaceable blade. Once the end portion  82  of the blade  18  is positioned past the lock pin  46 , the aperture  74  will eventually be positioned over the lock pin  46  and the pin will recoil to secure the blade. 
         [0095]      FIGS. 10-20  show a knife  102  of one embodiment of the present invention that includes a handle  106  that is fixedly interconnected to a blade  110 . The blade  110  is comprised of a blade carrier  114  that selectively receives a replaceable blade  118 . 
         [0096]      FIGS. 11-13  show the replaceable blade  118  captured by the blade carrier  114  and removed therefrom, respectively. A front blade portion  134  of the replaceable blade  118  extends from a front edge  138  of the blade carrier  14 , which facilitates grasping of the replaceable blade  118 . That is, the replaceable blade  118  also extends from the front edge  138  of the blade carrier  114 , which provides ample room for the user to grasp the replaceable blade  118  with their thumb and forefinger. In addition, the majority of the length of the replaceable blade  118  is supported by the blade carrier  114 , which provides enhanced support. To release the replaceable blade  118 , which will be discussed in further detail below, the user engages a replaceable blade lock release button  130 . As described above with respect to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the replaceable blade  118  is secured to the carrier  114  on one end by a lock pin  146  ( FIG. 15 ) and on the other end by a member  115  positioned between the first blade carrier  114 ′ and the second blade carrier  114 ″ that receives a hook  150  on the replaceable blade  118 . The member  115  also includes a guide surface similar to that described above that facilitates interconnection of the replaceable blade  118  and the carrier  114 . 
         [0097]    Similar to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , this embodiment of the present invention may also have a first blade carrier portion  114 ′ and the second blade carrier portion  114 ″ have different widths and/or lengths. More specifically, the first blade carrier portion  114 ′ may have a width/length that is less than the width/length of the second blade carrier portion  114 ″. In operation, the replaceable blade  118  is abutted against a portion of the second blade carrier portion  114 ″ that extends beyond the width and/or length of the first blade carrier portion  114 ′. The offset surface between the blade carrier portion forms a ledge that acts as a guide that facilitates interconnection of the replaceable blade  118  into the carrier  114 . Without this offset surface, the replaceable blade  118  must be aligned and inserted directly into the small gap between the first blade carrier  114 ′ and the second blade carrier  114 ″, thus requiring greater skill and dexterity to facilitate the interconnection of the replaceable blade  118  into the carrier  114 . In addition, to facilitate interconnection, an end of the replaceable blade  182  ( FIG. 15 ) is abutted against the guide surface (not show, but similar to the guide surface  17  described above) and slid rewardly until the hook  150  is engaged onto a corresponding portion of the member  115  ( FIG. 12 ). In this fashion, a user must only grasp the front blade portion  134  of the replaceable blade  18  and safety is enhanced. 
         [0098]      FIGS. 14 and 15  are cross-sectional views of a fixed blade embodiment of the present invention. The handle  106  is composed of a first handle portion  106 ′ and a second handle portion  106 ″. A first blade carrier support  154 ′ is associated with the first handle portion  106 ′ and a second blade carrier support  154 ″ is associated with the second handle portion  106 ″. The blade lock release button  130  is associated with the first blade carrier support  154 ′ and has an end  158  that selectively engages a flexible portion of the second blade carrier  114 ″. 
         [0099]      FIG. 15  shows the first blade carrier support  154 ′ in greater detail. The first blade carrier support  154 ′ has a biasing member  166 , i.e., an outwardly extending portion thereof that biases the blade release button  130 , which is secured thereto. Depression of the blade release button  130  flexes the biasing member  166  inwardly which forces a portion of the second carrier  114 ″ into a recess  168  which removes the lock pin  146  from the blade  118 . One of skill in the art will appreciate that the biasing member may be a deflectable portion of the carrier support  54 ′, a leaf spring, a coil spring associated with the blade lock release button  30 , or any other spring device known in the art. 
         [0100]      FIG. 16  shows the first blade carrier  114 ′ in greater detail. In this embodiment the first blade carrier  114 ′ and the second blade carrier  114 ″ extend towards the midpoint of the handle  106 . Further, the biasing member  166  is integral with the first blade carrier  114 ′. In addition, liners described above are not needed. Depression of the blade release button  130  flexes the biasing member  166  inwardly which forces a portion of the second carrier  114 ″ into a recess  168  which removes the lock pin  146  from the blade  118 . One of skill in the art will appreciate that the biasing member may be a leaf spring, a coil spring associated with the blade lock release button  30 , or any other spring device known in the art. 
         [0101]    More specifically, the blade lock release button  130 , when depressed, selectively engages a flexible tab  170  of the second blade carrier  114 ″. The tab  170  also includes the lock pin  146 . The flexible tab  170  may further include a recess  172 , indent, or scalloped portion that facilitates deflection. Depression of the release button  130  deflects the tab  170  and moves the lock pin  146  in a lateral direction which moves the lock pin  146  out of an aperture  174  of the blade  118 . When the obstruction created by the lock pin  146  is removed, the blade  118  can be removed from the blade carriers  114 . The lock pin  146  may have a sloped surface  178  that when contacted by an inserting blade deflects the tab  170  so that the blade can be fully inserted. The blade end  182  may employ a corresponding sloped surface  184  that interacts with the sloped surface  178  of the pin, which facilitates insertion of the replaceable blade. More specifically, sliding the blade  118  in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the knife  102  will engage the rear surface of the blade  118  against the sloped surface  78  of the pin, which will deflect the tab  170 . Once the end portion  182  of the blade  118  is positioned past the lock pin  146 , the aperture  174  will eventually be positioned over the lock pin  146  and the pin will recoil to secure the blade. 
         [0102]    The blade of embodiments of the present invention is made out of high carbon or high carbon stainless steel and is approximately 2.5-4.0 inches (about 63.5-102 mm) long. The blade carriers are made of stainless steel and are spaced about 0.02-0.15 inches (about 0.55-3.8 mm) from each other. The blade carrier supports are made out of stainless steel or plastic however, one of skill in the art will appreciate that the replaceable blade, blade carriers, and blade supports may be made of any suitable material. 
         [0103]    While various embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it is apparent that modifications and alterations of those embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be expressly understood that such modifications and alterations are within the scope and spirit of the present invention, as set forth in the following claims. Further, the invention(s) described herein is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. In addition, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.