Abstract:
A storage assembly is provided that includes plural bins having registering vertical dovetail slots. Connecting rods having reverse expanding dovetail formations are used to slide into the registering vertical dovetail slots of the side-by-side bins to fix the side-by-side bins together. The same dovetail slots on the bins can be used to mount accessories such as golf bag retainers, baseball bat racks, storage bins or other components.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority from provisional application No. 61/604,995 filed Feb. 29, 2012. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention pertains to a storage system having modular components and means for easily attaching accessories. Various modular storage systems are known. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,159,730 and 7,156,249 disclose foldable container units which can be connected to each other. The foldable container units in U.S. Pat. No. 7,156,249 have a support base and panels which are interlocked using a latching mechanism to connect the panels. The foldable container in U.S. Pat. No. 7,156,249 is vertically stackable and secured in their stacked position as Illustrated in  FIG. 14 , wherein members on the top surface of the bottom container engage with members on the bottom surface of the top container. The foldable container in U.S. Pat. No. 7,159,730 discloses side panels which are connected to the base. The side panels connect to the base at hinges, wherein hinge clips on the side panels engage with the hinge pins on the base. The container units in U.S. Pat. No. 7,156,249 are also connectable horizontally via crate connection assemblies which use receiver sockets that receive connection links therein. 
         [0003]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,556,170 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,495,960 illustrate different configuration of containers which can be connected together. U.S. Pat. No. 7,556,170 discloses containers which provides horizontal access to the containers ( FIG. 3A ), as well as containers with fabric pouches, which can be disposed in connection either on top of or on the bottom of ( FIGS. 4-5 ) another type of storage container. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,790 and U.S. Patent Application Publication 2009/0166356 disclose connecting assemblies for joining modular storage units at the corner. In U.S. Patent Application Publication 2009/0166356, the connectors are used to connect a plurality of panels to form the modular storage unit, as well as to connect adjacent storage units horizontally or vertically. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,790, the connecting member has a circular walled periphery which engages with an arcuate slotted portion on each of the storage units. The connectors allow the storage units to be organized at various angles to adjacent storage units. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,780,026, 7,748,554, 7,621,421, and 6,276,550 disclose modular storage units with interlocking mechanisms on the surfaces of the storage containers. U.S. Pat. No. 7,621,421 discloses an insert for partitioning the storage units into compartments in accordance with the user&#39;s needs. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,311,202, 5,339,976, 4,227,758 and 3,146,505 disclose modular storage units which can be connected to each other using a separate connecting device. U.S. Pat. No. 7,311,202 discloses that adjacent modular units are connected to each other by being connected via screws, to a common connector. U.S. Pat. No. 5,339,976 discloses a plurality of storage units with protruding members with an opening through which a removable insertion can be disposed to join the storage units. U.S. Pat. No. 4,227,758 discloses a plurality of modular storage units which can be connected to each other by being connected to a common support frame or retaining member which provides channels that engage with the edge portions of the containers. U.S. Pat. No. 3,146,505 discloses a plurality of storage units which can be connected at the corners of the storage units via a pin or clip member suitable for joining a plurality of adjacent corners. 
         [0007]    The present inventor has recognized that it would be desirable to provide for the connection of storage units which use an insertion pin within a joined vertical groove, or use a vertical insertion pin through protruding members 
         [0008]    The present inventor has recognized that it would be desirable to provide modular storage units that may be configured as a unit suitable for the support of a golf bag, and other athletic equipment. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The invention is a modular storage system comprising various individual storage units attachable to each other along horizontal interfaces. Individual storage units can provide different storage configurations. Storage units can be configured to provide sub compartments within the storage region, or to comprise storage units accessible from a horizontal or a vertical plane. Storage units may be a region of space comprising features to form a support system for particular items such as golf bags, and other athletic equipment. 
         [0010]    The storage units have a bottom surface with a plurality of side walls. The bottom surface and the walls are joined together to form an upright, expanded configuration from a collapsed configuration, for use. Side walls and bottom surfaces are removeably connected. A support post extending from the bottom surface is used to position and connect the side walls at each corner. Various other mechanisms for effectuating the removeable connection of the sidewalls to each other and to the bottom surface can be used. 
         [0011]    The storage system can be arranged as desired by the user and secured into position by the user. To secure one modular storage unit to another, a vertical insertion pin is inserted along a registered or common vertical groove on the surface of adjacent storage units. Each storage unit has a surface groove which faces each other when storage units are placed side by side. When faced against each other, the grooves form a joint vertical groove with a cross section within which the insertion pin is keyed to fit. In addition, the storage assembly has the first storage bin including a base and a base clip fastens to the base of the first storage bin and the base clip capable of mating the first storage bin to the second storage bin at the base in a back to back orientation. 
         [0012]    The storage assembly having the base clip comprising a flat, rectangular base member having a male boss at each hand end and the base having a generally triangular shaped slot; the slot for receiving a male boss and the boss having an enlarged head and the boss sliding from a broad side of the slot toward a tapered side of the slot so that the enlarged head of the boss is trapped within the slot. 
         [0013]    In an embodiment the invention provides for a storage bin comprising a compartment defined by four walls, a first vertical slot formed in a first wall and a second vertical slot formed in a second wall the first slot having a first interior shape and the second slot having a second interior shape being uniform with the shape of the second slot, a fixing rod having a first side and a second side, a shape of the first side being symmetric to a shape of the second side, the first side of the fixing rod mounted within the first vertical slot and the second side of the fixing rod protruding beyond the first wall and capable of mating with a slot having the first interior shape in order to secure one other component to the storage bin. The storage bin having the other component comprising one of a similar storage bin; a shelf; a basket; on accessory; a hook; and a rack. 
         [0014]    The storage bin wherein the fixing rod comprises the first side having a dovetail shape running longitudinally along the length and the second side having a dovetail shape as a mirror image of the first side so that the first vertical slot having a reciprocal dovetail shape sliding receives the first side of the fixing rod and a third slot of the other component having a uniform shape to the first slot for receiving the second side of the fixing rod. 
         [0015]    Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention will be become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, and from the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the a storage assembly according to the invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of an alternate configuration of a storage assembly according to the invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of the storage assembly of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a fragmentary, enlarged, exploded, perspective view of a portion of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a fragmentary, enlarged, perspective view of  FIG. 4  shown in a partially assembled state; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a fragmentary enlarged plan view taken from  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is perspective view of an accessory mount to be used with the embodiments of  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 2  but with a module removed to see underlying parts; 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged perspective view of a golf bag retainer taken from  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 11  is an enlarged fragmentary, exploded perspective view of a portion from  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 12  is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view taken from  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 13  is an enlarged perspective view taken from  FIG. 12 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 14  is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 15  is an exploded perspective view of a typical attachment of sidewalls of bins to platforms; 
           [0031]      FIG. 16  is a fragmentary perspective view of a bin; 
           [0032]      FIG. 17  is a fragmentary exploded right side, rear perspective view of the bin shown in  FIG. 16 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 18  is a fragmentary exploded left side, rear perspective view of the bin shown in  FIG. 16 ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 19  is an enlarged, fragmentary exploded perspective view of a portion of  20  the sidewalls taken from  FIG. 16  shown in a disassembled configuration; 
           [0035]      FIG. 20  is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of the portion of the sidewalls taken from  FIG. 19  shown in an assembled configuration; 
           [0036]      FIG. 21  is a plan view of a top plate depicting an alternate embodiment of the invention; 
           [0037]      FIG. 22  is an enlarged view of area  22  of  FIG. 21 ; 
           [0038]      FIG. 23  is a side elevation view of a bin depicting an alternate embodiment; 
           [0039]      FIG. 24  is an enlarged perspective view of a base clip; 
           [0040]      FIG. 25  is an enlarged perspective view of a side wall of a bin taken from  FIG. 14 ; and 
           [0041]      FIG. 26  is a perspective view of  FIG. 25  showing a male lock mounted thereto. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0042]    While this invention is susceptible of multiple embodiments in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings, and will be described herein in detail, specific embodiments thereof with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated. 
         [0043]      FIG. 1  illustrates storage assembly  30  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. For the most part the storage assembly is composed of plastic. The depicted storage assembly  30  includes a divided vertical access bin  34 , a horizontal access bin  36 , a hopper bin  38  and a covered vertical access bin  40 . Each bin  34 ,  36 ,  38  and  40  includes a bottom solid platform  50  or bottom wall that is supported on wheels or casters  56 . The vertical sidewalls of each bin are attached to each adjacent sidewall and to the platform  50  by fasteners, snap connections plastic welding or other known method. Side supports or brackets  57  can be provided on the inside of each wall for the provision of adding shelves or assembling internal compartments. In most cases, four wheels  56 , arranged in a grid pattern, are provided for adequate rolling stability of each bin  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40 , but for narrow bins such as the vertical access bin  42 , only a pair of wheels may be provided where stability of the bin  40  is achieved by being attached to adjacent bin  38 . Although wheels are show, the invention also encompasses simple, non-rolling supports such as legs. The bins are made up of lattice-work walls but solid walls are also encompassed by the invention. 
         [0044]    The bins  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40  are attached together to form an assembly as described below. The divided access bin  34  includes four openings  34   a  and is useful for storing elongated articles such, as golf clubs, baseball bats, umbrellas and the like which can be supported vertically within the opening  34   a . In an alternate embodiment items such as garden tools, lawn tools, work tools, shovels or other sports equipment may be stored in the bins  34 ,  36 ,  38  or  40 . 
         [0045]    A-horizontal-access bin  36  provides a plurality of compartments or “cabbies”  36   a  are useful for storing items such as golf shoes, other athletic shoes, and small items which would be more difficult to retrieve if merely dropped into a deep vertical access bin. The hopper bin  38  is effective for storing large bulk items such as basketballs, footballs, skates and the like. 
         [0046]    The covered vertical access bin  40  is similar to the divided access bin  34  but having smaller openings  40   a  through a top thereof which provide entry and guidance or support for long articles such as hockey sticks. As shown in  FIG. 14 , beneath the openings  40   a  is a resilient rubber insert  40   b  having resilient gripping jaws  40   d  for holding the hockey sticks vertically upright, i.e., to prevent the hockey stick from tipping over by gripping the rectangular cross-section of the hockey stick. 
         [0047]      FIGS. 2 and 3  illustrate an alternate assembly  130  that includes a horizontal access bin  136 , open station  138  and a further horizontal access bin  144 . Short bins  150 ,  152  are assembled on opposite ends of the assembly  130 . On one end of the assembly  130  is mounted a container shelf  158  holding two removable containers  160 . The container shelf  158  is mounted above the short bin  152 . The container shelf can include an upright back wall with two dovetail bases  158   a , like the dovetail part  306  shown in  FIG. 8  (described below) or the dovetail part  179  shown in  FIG. 13  (described below) which bases  158   a  can be slid-downward into two slots  220  in the outer sidewall of the bin  144  shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0048]    On an opposite end of the storage assembly from the shelf  158  are arranged first and second fill tubes  172 ,  174  which have flared open ends  172   a ,  174   a  having open bottoms which feed attached cups  176 ,  178 , respectively. Small articles such as golf balls can be thrown into the tubes and collected in the cups and tubes as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 . As shown in  FIG. 13 , each tube and. cup combination instead by a single, flared dovetail rib  179  that slides into a dovetail slot  220  on a bin wall (described below). 
         [0049]    A plurality of retainer hooks  180  are mounted on sides of the bins  136 ,  144  and overhang the open area  138 , particularly a bottom wall  138   a . Each hook  180  includes a base portion  180   a  with a double dovetail formation that engages registered dovetail slots  220  (described below) on side by side bin walls, particularly the walls of the respective bin  136 ,  144  and side walls  138   b ,  138   c  of the open area  138  arranged adjacent to the bins  136 .  144 , respectively, as shown more clearly in  FIG. 9 . The sidewalls  138   b ,  138   c  are fastened to the bottom  138   a  by attachments  138   f  and are fixed to the bins  136 ,  144  using the base portions  180   a  of the hooks  180 . The base portions  180   a  have a double dovetail flare like the rods  228  rand fit identically into registered dovetail slots  220  of the sidewalls  138   b  and the sidewall of the bins  136 , and of the sidewall  138   c  and the sidewall of the bin  144 , respectively. Each retainer hook  6 , includes a downwardly directed, forked hook end  180   b  fits into the open end of a golf bag which can be rested on a bottom wall  138   a  to stabilize the golf bag on the bottom  138   a  prevent tipping of the golf bag. 
         [0050]      FIGS. 4-7  illustrate the mechanism for attaching adjacent bins together. 
         [0051]    Although the bin  38  is shown, it is to be understood that the same mechanisms are used to connect all the various bins together. At spaced-apart upper positions on sidewalls  38   a  of the bin  38 , are arranged vertically extending dovetail slots  220 . By dovetail it is generally meant triangular or truncated triangular or curved triangular, or the like. As explained below, a top plate  500  also includes top openings  502  ( FIGS. 16-18 ) that register with and correspond in shape to a top of the dovetail slots  220 . Dual flared dovetail fixing rods  226  having in cross-section oppositely expanding dovetail shapes, are used in which each dovetail flared half  226   h ,  226   g  is slid downward to engage one dovetail slot  220  of opposing registered dovetail slots of side by side bins, to fix the two bins together against at least horizontal separation; For clarity of description, only one side of the mating of the fixing rod and bin sidewall is shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . To fix two bins together, the bins are pressed side-by-side in close proximity and the dual dovetail fixing rods  226  are slid down into a pair of registered dovetail slots as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , with one part or flare of the dovetail fixing rod entering the slot of one bin and the opposite part or flare of the dovetail fixing rod entering the slot of the other bin. To permit removal of the dovetail fixing rods once installed, each fixing rod  226  includes an indentation  226   a  on opposite parts or flares at the top. Each dovetail slot also provides an indentation  220   a  at a top thereof. The indentations  220   a ,  226   a  are substantially in registry and allow a user&#39;s finger to partially extend down into the slot  220  to enter the indentation  226   a  to exert a vertical, upward removal force on the fixing rod  226 . Each slot  220  has a termination or bottom  220 , 1:4 that limits the downward insertion of the fixing rod  226  into the slot  220 , as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
         [0052]      FIG. 8  illustrates an enhancement to the exemplary embodiment of the invention wherein an accessory  300  in the form of a rack for a plurality of baseball bats  302  includes a base  306  having a single dovetail cross-section formation  307  and carries substantially horizontally projecting and parallel rails  310 ,  312  separated far enough to pass The narrow handle  302   a  of baseball bats but close enough to restrain the cap  302   b  of the baseball bat. The accessory  300  is installed into a slot  220  such as shown in  FIG. 4  by sliding the formation  307  down into the slot  220  on an outward facing sidewall such as the sidewall  34   d  shown in  FIG. 1 , in the same manner as the fixing rod  226  is slid down into a slot  220 . Once into the slot  220 , the associated bin supports the accessory  300  with the rails  310 ,  312  projecting substantial horizontally to hold and hang baseball bats outward of the assembly or into an open area such as the area  138  as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0053]      FIG. 11  illustrates details of the bin  38  wherein a front wall  38   c  of the bin  38  is being slid through slots  38   e  and retained from pulling through the slots vertically by heads or clamps  38   f . Bottom ends of the chords  38   d  are held in a similar fashion to a bottom rail  38   j , shown in  FIG. 1 . A top cover  38   k  snaps onto the rail  38   d  to smooth the bin appearance and cover the top of the cords. The cords provide for retainage of bulky items that might stretch the bin and allow removal of large items from the bin by forcibly separating the elastic cords. 
         [0054]      FIG. 15  illustrates one method of attaching sidewalls, for example sidewalls  38   a  of bin  38  to bottom platform  50 . The bottom platform  50  includes sockets  50   a  with friction ribs  50   b  inside the sockets, formed into, or attached to the platform. Each to sidewall  38   a  includes tube stubs  38   rn , formed into, or attached to the sidewall and corresponding in number and position to engage into the sockets  50   a  in a tight fitting manner. Preferably two spaced apart tube stubs  38   m  and two spaced apart and corresponding sockets  50   a  are provided for each sidewall  38   a . Any sidewall which includes upstanding walls at the side, front and back of each bin can be attached to its respective platform  50  in this manner. 
         [0055]    As shown in  FIGS. 16 ,  19  and  20  the sidewalls are further connected to each other using a snap hinge arrangement  400 . One of the sidewalls  38   a  includes a resilient receiving clamp  402  and the respective other sidewall  38   a  includes a right angle bracket  406  having a spindle end  410 . The spindle end snap fits into the clamp  402  as shown in  FIG. 20 . This arrangement provides a pivot connection when assembling and disassembling the bins which may be useful for storage of the disassembled bin or for transportation. Once all four upstanding walls of a bin are connected and the bin assembled, the arrangement will effectively be non-pivoting. One or more arrangements  400  can be located at the joint between connected sidewalls. 
         [0056]      FIGS. 16 ,  17  and  18  illustrate how the top plate  500  of a bin, such as the bin  38  assists in assembling and rigidifying the assembled bin. The top plate  500  includes top openings  502  that are the same shape and register with the opening  220  in the sidewalls  38   a . When the connection rods  226  are inserted to secure adjacent bins, the rods also can lock the top plates  500  of the adjacent bins. Also, as shown in  FIGS. 17 and 18 , the top plate includes mirror image identical side flanges  520 ,  522  that overlie the outer top side portions  38   n  of each of the side walls  38   a . The outer top portion includes a groove  38   q  that is discontinuous where the slots  220  intersect the groove  38   q . The inside surface of the side flanges  520 ,  522  each include a discontinuous line of ribs  526  that corresponds to the discontinuous groove  38   q . Thus, during assembly, the top plate  500  is slid from front to back wherein the line of ribs  526  on each of the side flanges slide into the groove  38   q  of opposite and parallel sidewalls  38   a . When fully engaged, the openings  502  register with the openings  220  on the top of the bin. 
         [0057]      FIG. 18  also illustrates that as typical for all the sidewalls of the storage bins, shelf supports  550  can be provided on the sidewalls  38   a . The shelf supports can be snap fit into holes or other fixtures to be adjustable, of can be molded into the sidewalls at pre-determined positions. 
         [0058]    Turning to  FIG. 21 , a top plate  600  is shown that is similar to the top plates as discussed above in previous embodiments. The top plate  600  may be used to enclose a bin as discussed previously. The top plate includes a side edge  602 . Turning to  FIG. 22 , an enlarged portion identified as  22  from  FIG. 21  is depicted. The side edge  602  of the top plate  600  includes slots  620   a,b . Each of the slots may receive a fixing rod  626 . For example, fixing rod  626  is slidingly received within slot  620   b .  FIG. 22  depicts the slot  620   a  as being vacant. However, a fixing rod  626  identically shaped to that shown residing in slot  620   b  can be inserted in slot  620   a . In an embodiment, the fixing rods are modular and may fit in any slot  620   a,b  (or other slots located on all sides of the bin as depicted). Once the rod  626  is slidingly inserted into the slot  620   b , it may be maintained there with the dovetail-shaped open side exposed along the side edge  602 , waiting for an accessory to be mounted along the open side of the fixing rod  626 . Also, an adjacent bin may be secured against sidewall  602  using the open dovetail side of the fixing rod  626 . 
         [0059]    Turning to  FIG. 23 , a bin  700  is depicted. The bin  700  is similar to the bins described above. The bin includes a base  710  and located in the base are a base slot at the left side  730  and right side. A base clip  720  is mounted in the base slot. The base slot on the left side is not visible because the base clip  720  is mated therein and covers the slot. 
         [0060]    Turning to  FIG. 24 , an enlarged view of a base clip  720  is depicted. The base clip includes a pair of knobs  725   a,b  which protrude from the planer rectangular surface of the base clip  720 . The knobs  725   a,b  are received within the slot  730  at the base  710  of a bin  700 . So for example, as shown in  FIG. 23 , the base clip  720  has the knob  725   b  received in the slot on the left side of the bin  700 . The knob  725   a  will extend beyond the side edge of the bin  700 . 
         [0061]    A second bin may be attached to the first bin  700 , by using the base clip  720 . A second bin is rolled up adjacent to the first bin  700 , so that the base clip  720  is adjacent to the base of the second bin. The knob  725   a  that is exposed will be received in a base slot of the second bin. In an embodiment, the slot is generally triangular shaped with the apex of the triangle at the lowest point along the base (as shown for base slot  730 ). The base clip  20  is mated to the slot by inserting the knob  725   a  in the upper and widest part of the slot. The base clip  720  is then slid downward so that the knob  725   a  is received at the narrowest portion of the slot closest to the apex. In an embodiment, the knob  725   a,b  includes a flange  728  that has a diameter that is larger than the body of the knob  725   a . It may be understood that when the knob  725   a  is received in the slot, the flange  728  will grasp the side edges of the slot when it is slid downward towards the apex of the triangular shaped slot. In this way the base clip  720  may securely lock a second bin to the first bin  700 . 
         [0062]    Turning to  FIG. 25 , an enlarged view of a female lock portion  805  is depicted. The female lock portion  805  is formed within a wall of a bin  40 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 14 , a bin  40  is provided. At the bottom half of the bin depicted in  FIG. 14  are female locking portions. The enlarged view in  FIG. 25  depicts the female locking portion  805  having an upper portion  807 , and a lower portion  809 . In an embodiment, the upper portion has a generally trapezoid shape in communication with the lower portion  809  that has a generally inverted triangular shape. 
         [0063]    Turning to  FIG. 26 , a male lock portion  810  is depicted mounted within the female lock portion  805 . The mate lock portion  810  includes a rib  812 . In order to attach the male lock portion  810  to the female lock portion  805 , the rib  812  is inserted in the upper portion  807  and then the male lock portion  810  is slid downwardly so that the rib  812  is received within the lower portion  809  of the female lock  805 . As the lower half  809  is narrower, it will grasp the rib  812  of the male lock  810  and secure it therein, as shown in  FIG. 26 . Once the lock portion  810  is secured to the bin  40 , other accessories as described above, may be mounted on the lock portion  810 . The accessories need only have a corresponding female lock portion  805  to engage the male lock  810 . Such a female lock portion  805  for an accessory will be a bit wider as compared to the lock portion  805  of  FIG. 25  due to the more narrow rib  812  compared to the outer face of the male lock portion  810 . 
         [0064]    Although various concepts have been described in detail, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that various modifications and alternatives to those concepts could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Therefore, a person skilled in the art applying ordinary skill, would be able to practice the invention set forth in the claims without undue experimentation. It will additionally be appreciated that the particular concepts exposed herein are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting to the scope of the invention, which is to be given the full breath of the appended claims and any equivalence thereof. 
         [0065]    From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. 
         [0066]    All references including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein, to the extent that the references are not inconsistent with the present disclosure.