Abstract:
A pizza insert has at least one tile that rests on a rack that is advantageously spaced above a barbeque grill by a support structure that is connected to the rack and extends downwardly therefrom. The pizza insert also has a rim that extends upwardly from the rack and substantially prevents the tile from moving in horizontal directions. The rim extends away from the rack a distance less than the thickness of the tile so that the rim does not obstruct access to the pizza placed on the tile. Also disclosed are a kit for the pizza insert and the method of using the pizza insert.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The instant invention relates to accessories for enhanced cooking, and with particularly regard to accessories used in an outdoor barbeque grill  25 .  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    Cooking accessories have been devised for use with barbeque grills. One of these is U.S. Pat. No. 3,786,741 issued to Plumley et al. This device is similar to the instant invention in that it is used in conjunction with a barbeque grill. However, Plumley&#39;s device has its own lid  61  and is not intended to be covered by a lid of the barbeque grill. Furthermore, Plumley&#39;s lid acts as a means for catching drips from the perforated lower surface of the pan of Plumley. Plumley has a perforated surface on which food is placed. This surface lies directly on the rack of the barbeque grill. As such there is no space between the barbeque grill and the surface on which food rests. The exception would be when the lid of Plumley is used as an additional layer between the cooking surface and the grill. In this arrangement juices from the food are caught in the underlying lid as can be seen in FIG. 7. The deep pan and shape and perforated surface on which food is to lie as shown at  40  in FIG. 7, make clear that Plumley&#39;s device is not intended for bread type foods. Furthermore, the rim around the cooking surface of Plumley would make it difficult to place pizzas on and to remove pizzas from the pan of Plumley. Plumley also has no tile used in conjunction with her device.  
           [0005]    Another reference that has an accessory to be used with a barbeque grill  25  is U.S. Pat. No. 6,187,359 issued to Zuccarini. Zuccarini similarly has a deep pan structure. Zuccarini&#39;s device also has vents or holes in the bottom of the pan. This pan lies directly on the grill of the barbeque and is designed to allow hot gases and smoke to penetrate through the vents in the bottom of the pan. While Zuccarini&#39;s device is configured to be enclosed by the lid of the barbeque as is the instant invention, Zuccarini&#39;s device is configured to have a portion of the device removed from the barbeque grill by means of a handle in order to access the cooked food as shown in FIG. 6. Furthermore, Zuccarini does not have a tile. In fact it appears that a tile would limit Zuccarini&#39;s device from working properly.  
           [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,365,833 issued to Chen is a device that is arranged to rest on a stovetop. As such it is different from the instant invention. One similarity is that Chen&#39;s device incorporates a tile and has the specific purpose of cooking pizzas. However, Chen&#39;s device is not intended to be fully enclosed in a barbeque. Furthermore, Chen&#39;s device does not have the legs and the other structure that properly directs the heat for a topless insert like the instant invention. Instead Chen&#39;s device has its own lid, which helps to guide the hot gases directly from a flame to surround the pizza.  
           [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,640,265 issued to Romo has an insert for converting a conventional home oven into a pizza oven. As such, the invention of Romo is limited with regard to its use in a barbeque application. As can be seen in FIG. 1 a downwardly protruding lip on one edge is designed specifically for an indoor oven. Furthermore, the tiles  12  of Romo are not spaced above the rack of the oven as is the instant invention&#39;s tile spaced above the grill of a barbeque. While this feature may not be critical in using Romo&#39;s device in an indoor oven, it would be critical were the device of Romo to be used in conjunction with an outdoor barbeque. This is so because it has been found with the instant invention that spacing the insert above the grill is important to prevent burning of the bottom of the pizza.  
           [0008]    A reference to U.S. Pat. No. 3,035,568 issued to Dama et al. discloses a portable baking device. While column 2, line 44 discloses that this device can be used with an outdoor charcoal fired grill it does not appear that this device would fair well being enclosed in a modern gas grill, or even enclosed in the charcoal grills. Particularly, the thermometer  23  and other features of the device do not appear that they would stand up under the high heat that is encountered in an enclosed barbeque grills. Dama also lacks the tile, the spacing, and the legs, which were lacking in the references discussed above.  
           [0009]    It is therefore an object of the instant invention to provide a pizza insert for a barbeque grill that can be enclosed in a gas or other type of outdoor oven or barbeque grill.  
           [0010]    It is a primary object of the instant invention to provide this insert such that an upper surface or a cooking surface of the insert is spaced above the grill of an outdoor barbeque.  
           [0011]    It is further an object of the instant invention to provide a cooking surface of a tile, which may be ceramic or stone. A related object of the invention is to provide even heat on the cooking surface. Another feature of this invention is to provide a balanced heat that is not conducted directly from the grill to the food but is distributed in the tile.  
           [0012]    Another object of the invention is to provide a configuration that inhibits hot gases as they rise from a grill and yet permits the hot gases to escape around the sides of the insert.  
           [0013]    It is another object of the invention to provide an insert that has an open top to permit an outdoor barbeque to perform the function of the baking that occurs from above as well as below.  
           [0014]    It is a further object of the instant invention to provide a tile stay with at least one opening therein to permit hot gases to contact a lower surface of the tile. The tile stay may be in the form of a flat metal having a plurality of apertures to help distribute heat along a bottom surface of the tile, or it may be in the form of peripheral angle brackets.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0015]    The instant invention fulfils the objects set forth above in that it comprises at least one tile that rests on a rack that is spaced above a barbeque grill by a support structure that is connected to the rack and extends downwardly there from. The pizza insert of the instant invention also has a rim that extends upwardly from the rack and substantially prevents the tile from moving in horizontal directions. However the rim extends away from the rack a distance less than the thickness of the tile so that the rim does not obstruct access to the pizza placed on the tile. In one embodiment of the invention a gap is left along one edge of the tile to permit food remnants to be scraped off of the cooking surface. This is achieved by a standoff bracket between the rim and the tile on one edge of the tile.  
           [0016]    It is contemplated that the support structure may be in the form of a single panel having a plurality of arched cutouts forming legs between respective arched cutouts. In this embodiment an upper edge of the panel forms the rim around the perimeter of the pizza insert. An intermediate portion of the panel forms a part of the tile stay and supports an angled bracket to provide the remainder of the tile stay. Alternatively, the panel supports an apertured flat metal plate that acts as the tile stay together with a portion of the panel that surrounds the tile. In this embodiment the apertured flat metal plate helps to distribute the heat as it rises from the barbeque and contacts the pizza insert.  
           [0017]    Another feature of the invention is that a thermometer may be selectively attached to the pizza insert in a position that provides for easy viewing by a user.  
           [0018]    Another aspect of the invention is that there is provided a woodchip tray in conjunction with pizza insert. The woodchip tray may be placed in the barbeque together with the insert. The woodchip tray contains woodchips that are burned to provide a smoke flavor to the pizza.  
           [0019]    Another feature of the invention is that a backsplash is provided in addition to or as an extension of the rim along an edge. This edge is intended to be the back edge, and thus the backsplash prevents the pizza from sliding off the back of the insert. This backsplash may extend solely along the back or may extend forward along the sides of the insert.  
           [0020]    The instant invention may be embodied as a kit comprising a ventilated tile stay. In this embodiment, the ventilated tile stay includes the horizontal surface for supporting the tile, the rim for inhibiting horizontal movement of the tile, and the support structure that spaces the horizontal surface and tile above the barbeque. The kit further comprises a tile for receipt on the tile stay, a woodchips smoking tray, a thermometer, and a means for removably connecting the thermometer to the tile stay. All other features of the kit are equivalent to those described for the apparatus of the invention elsewhere in the disclosure. However, the kit may additionally include traditional pizza tools, including tools that are known by the name of pizza peals. It should be noted that the instant invention is configured to permit use of traditional pizza peals for placing a pizza on, and removing the pizza from, the tile.  
           [0021]    The method of using the pizza insert of the instant invention has its own uniqueness that is related to its unique structural features. This method of using comprises the steps of: placing the pizza insert on a grill; spacing the tile stay and the tile above the grill by positioning the legs or support structure on the grill; heating the insert at a predetermined setting for a first predetermined length of time; placing the pizza in the insert; closing the lid of the barbeque; leaving the pizza in the insert and in the closed barbeque for a second predetermined cook time; and removing the pizza when it has reached a properly cooked state.  
           [0022]    By the unique feature of the arched cutouts the instant method includes locating these arches optimally in order to properly inhibit rising hot gas from the barbeque and to properly transfer heat to the tile  16  and permit escaping hot gases through the arches.  
           [0023]    Another contributing factor to both the method of using and the product itself is the particular material of the tile. In the preferred embodiment, the tile is a non-glazed high-fired ceramic tile. However, any of a number of other materials may be used including low-fired ceramics, natural stone, synthetic stone, concrete, cement, or a glazed ceramic. While some of these materials in their best known form would not be suitable for the high temperatures and high temperature variations experienced by the instant invention, some special cases exist in the above listed categories. Some materials in the above listed categories have been adapted for use in these extreme environments. Furthermore, it is contemplated that others will be developed, which will lie within the scope and spirit of the tile of the instant invention.  
           [0024]    Another aspect of the method is permitted by the relationship of the thickness of the tile with respect to the rim. That is, the height of the tile with respect to the rim permits the use of traditional pizza peals. Peals can be used to place a pizza on the upper surface of the tile and remove a pizza from tile without obstruction by the rim and without scraping the pizza or the peal on the rim.  
           [0025]    In an embodiment that provides a gap along one edge of the tile, the method includes scraping remnants of food material off of the cooking surface of the tile and into the gap so that they fall into the barbeque and are burned away. Finally and optionally, the method includes placing a tray of woodchips to be burned within the barbeque in order to provide a smoke flavor to the pizza. This insert may be positioned to one side of or below the insert at the user&#39;s discretion.  
           [0026]    While the apparatus and method has or will be described for the sake of grammatical fluidity with functional explanations, it is to be expressly understood that the claims, unless expressly formulated under 35 USC 112, are not to be construed as necessarily limited in any way by the construction of “means” or “steps” limitations, but are to be accorded the full scope of the meaning and equivalents of the definition provided by the claims under the judicial doctrine of equivalents, and in the case where the claims are expressly formulated under 35 USC 112 are to be accorded full statutory equivalents under 35 USC 112. The invention can be better visualized by turning now to the following drawings wherein like elements are referenced by like numerals. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0027]    [0027]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the insert being placed on a barbeque grill by a user;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the insert of the instant invention in an open barbeque with a woodchip tray;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 1B is a side view of the insert of FIG. 1;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 1C is a diagrammatic perspective view of the insert of FIG. 1 depicting the placement of the tile on the tile stay;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a closed barbeque used in conjunction with the instant invention;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an open barbeque with the insert on the grill and in use;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the invention;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the embodiment of the embodiment of FIG. 4 with the tile removed;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the angled standoff bracket of FIG. 4A;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 4C is an end view of the standoff bracket attached to the support structure of the instant invention;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 4D is an aspect of one embodiment of the tile stay and is an end view of an angled bracket;  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the pizza insert from below showing how hot gases engage a lower surface of the pizza insert;  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 5A is a front view of the insert depicting a path of the hot gasses shown in FIG. 5; and  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 6 is a perspective diagrammatic view depicting the elements that comprise a kit of the instant invention. 
     
    
       [0041]    The invention and its various embodiments can now be better understood by turning to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments which are presented as illustrated examples of the invention defined in the claims. It is expressly understood that the invention as defined by the claims may be broader than the illustrated embodiments described below.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0042]    [0042]FIG. 1 shows the pizza  64  insert  10  of the instant invention. The pizza  64  insert  10  includes a tile stay  12  which is made up in part by rim  14 . The tile stay  12  supports tile  16  on support structure  18 . The support structure  18  includes legs  20  separate by arches  21 . The arches  21  are in the form of cutouts. Legs  20  are separated by adjacent arches  21 .  
         [0043]    The rim  14  surrounds the tile  16  on four sides. A backsplash  22  extends upwardly from or as a continuation of rim  14  and extends along at least a backside of the pizza  64  insert  10 . A thermometer  23  overlaps and extends upwardly beyond the backsplash  22 .  
         [0044]    As can be seen in FIG. 1, the pizza  64  insert  10  of the instant invention is normally placed on grill  25  of a barbeque  27  by a user  28 . FIG. 1 shows the pizza  64  insert  10  either being placed on the grill  25  or being removed from grill  25 .  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 1A shows the pizza  64  insert  10  in combination with the woodchip tray  30 , which holds woodchips  32 . In use the woodchips  32  are burned to provide smoke flavor to the pizza  64 . As indicated by arrow  34  the woodchip tray  30  and woodchips  32  may be located to one side of the pizza  64  insert  10  or may be located below pizza  64  insert  10 . FIG. 1A shows the pizza  64  insert  10  and woodchips  32  immediately prior to cook time or immediately following cook time.  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 1B is a side view of the pizza  64  insert  10 . As shown by dashed line  35 , an upper surface  35  of the tile stay  12  is provided interiorly of the pizza  64  insert  10 . While rim  14  provides a portion of the tile stay  12  and inhibits horizontal movement, the upper surface  35  provides an additional portion of tile stay  12  that supports tile  16  against vertical movement. As can be seen in FIG. 1B, the upper surface  35  supports tile  16  at a specific level above the grill  25 . As such, support structure  18  and legs  20  of the support structure  18  provide an x-dimension  36  between the grill  25  and the upper surface  35 . A y-dimension  38  is provided between the upper surface  35  of the tile stay  12  and the cooking surface  37  of the tile  16 . The x-dimension  36  plus the y-dimension  38  equals a z-dimension  41 . The z-dimension  41  is the total distance from the grill  25  to the cooking surface  37  of tile  16 .  
         [0047]    The upper surface  35  of the tile stay  12  provides a plane A  43 . The cooking surface  37  of the tile  16  provides a plane B  45 . It has been found that for optimal results the support structure  18  should extend no more than three inches away from the upper surface  35  of the tile stay  12 . The tile  16  should be no more than one inch in thickness. Thus, by adding the maximum x-dimension from the grill  25  to plane A  43  and the maximum y-dimension from the upper surface  35  to the cooking surface  37  of the tile  16 , we obtain a total of not more than four inches from the grill  25  to the cooking surface  37  of tile  16 . However, preferably the upper surface  35  of the tile stay  12  is approximately two and one-half inches away from the grill  25  and the tile  16  has a thickness of approximately one-half inch. Therefore the total preferred distance of the cooking surface  37  from the grill  25  is approximately three inches.  
         [0048]    As can further be seen in FIG. 1B the rim  14  extends above plane A  43  by a w-dimension  47 . This dimension is less than the thickness of the tile  37 . The thermometer  23  may be attached by any conventional fastening means, which is shown in this case as fastening means  49  in the form of a nut and bolt.  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 1C shows that the tile stay  12  may comprise a rack  50  in the form of angle bracket  52  or flat apertured metal  54 . The non-cutaway portion of flat apertured metal  54  shows apertures  55 . Apertures  55  may be provided in the form of well known perforated sheet metal. It is to be understood that in both embodiments of the rack  50  at least one opening  57  is provided. In the embodiment of the rack  50  comprising angle brackets  52 , the opening  57  is provided between angle brackets  52  around the inner periphery of the pizza  64  insert  10 . In the embodiment comprising flat apertured metal  54 , apertures  55  provide a plurality of openings  57 .  
         [0050]    In either case the rack  50  is attached to the support structure  18  of the pizza  64  insert  10  by a conventional method and means. Each embodiment of the rack  50  provides a portion of tile stay  12  to support tile  16  at a specific height above the grill  25 . FIG. 2 depicts a barbeque  27  with a lid  61  covering the grill  25 . Handle  63  is used to open and close the barbeque  27 . FIG. 2 further represents the barbeque before inserting pizza  64  insert  10  or during heating or cooking with the insert inside the barbeque  27 . FIG. 3 depicts either placement of pizza  64  on the insert  10  or removal of the pizza  64  from the pizza  64  insert  10 . Placement or removal of the pizza  64  may easily be performed using a traditional pizza  64  peal  65 .  
         [0051]    As shown in FIG. 4, peal  65  may be used to scrape food remnants  66  from the cooking surface  37  of the tile  16 . In this regard, FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment. In this embodiment the pizza  64  insert  10  is provided with a gap  67  along one edge of the tile  16 . As can be seen by arrows  70  and  72 , the food remnants  66  are scraped off the edge of tile  16  and into the gap  67  by the peal  65 . By way of explanation, the food remnants  66  include but are not limited to cornmeal, which is customarily used to prevent sticking and to provide the proper amount of browning of the dough of the pizza  64 . As can be seen in FIG. 4A the gap  67  is provided by a standoff angle bracket  74  on an interior back wall of the insert  10 .  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 4B shows the standoff angle bracket  74  in greater detail. Standoff angle bracket  74  has a horizontal portion  76  and a stop  78  provided by a vertical portion  83  extending upwardly from the horizontal portion  76 . A standoff portion  81  extends between the stop  78  and the rim  14  of the pizza  64  insert  10 . The standoff angle bracket  74  is supported on the rim  14  of the pizza  64  insert  10  by a vertical portion  83  of the standoff angle bracket  74 , which is attached to the rim  14  of the pizza  64  insert  10  by conventional means.  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 4C depicts the gap  67  that is provided by the standoff angle bracket  74 . A u-dimension  85  is provided between the tile  16  and the rim  14  by the stop  78  of angle bracket  52 . U-dimension  85  may be of any reasonable width. However, in the preferred embodiment the u-dimension is approximately one-half inch.  
         [0054]    As can be seen in FIG. 4D, little or no gap  67  is provided between the tile and the rim  14  on the remaining edges of the pizza  64  insert  10 . As illustrated in FIG. 4D a v-dimension  87  is provided between the tile  16  and rim  14 . The v-dimension  87  may be of any practical width. However, in the preferred embodiment the v-dimension is approximately one-sixteenth of an inch.  
         [0055]    While v-dimension  87  is shown in conjunction with the embodiment having angle brackets  52  it is to be understood that v-dimension  87  is applicable to both the embodiment having angle brackets  52  and to the embodiment having flat apertured metal  54 . Furthermore, it is to be understood that while the backsplash may be of any reasonable height in the preferred embodiment the backsplash has a t-dimension  90  of approximately one inch. As shown in FIG. 4 c , the backsplash  22  may be an extension of rim  14 .  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 5 is a perspective view from the below pizza  64  insert  10 . Elements  92  indicate the movement of hot gases  92  as they rise from the grill  25  and contact a lower surface  93  of the tile  16 . FIG. 5 also illustrated that in all embodiments there is at least one opening  57  provided through which the hot gases  92  may contact the lower surface  93  of the tile  16 .  
         [0057]    [0057]FIG. 5A is a front view depicting how the hot gases  92  pass out of the sides through arches  21  and circulate over the top of the insert  10 .  
         [0058]    [0058]FIG. 6 is a perspective diagrammatic view illustrating a kit  94  of the pizza  64  insert  10  of the instant invention. The kit  94  is intended to comprise all of the major elements of at least one of the embodiments described above. That is, the kit  94  includes a ventilated tile stay  95 . The ventilated tile stay  95  has been described with regard to the embodiments above, but it is here defined as including support structure  18  with its integral legs  20  and a tile stay  12  comprising rim  14  and upper surface  35  of angle brackets  52  or upper surface  35  of flat apertured metal  54 . The kit further includes tile  16 , peals  65 , thermometer  23 , fastening means  49 , and woodchip box  30 . The woodchip box  30  preferably includes a lid  61  for containing the woodchips in the box  30 . The kit may further include a backsplash either integral with, or as a separate piece to be selectively attached to, the ventilated tile stay  95 .  
         [0059]    The instant invention can be advantageously formed of a single panel that comprises the support structure  18 . The panel may include arched cutouts defined between downwardly extending legs  20 . As such the legs  20  are positioned at corners and the arched cutout extend along sides of the pizza insert  10 . When formed in this manner, the rim  14  is an extension of or is an integral portion of the single panel. The upper surface  35  of the tile stay  12  of the instant invention, when formed in this way, is attached to an interior portion of the single panel so that it extends around an inner periphery of the single panel and acts to hold the tile vertically at a set distance above the grill  25  of the barbeque.  
         [0060]    Expressed in a different way, the tile stay  12  has an upper surface  35  at a specific height defining a plane A  43 . The single panel extends above and below plane A  43  to provide legs  20  extending downwardly from plane A  43  and rim  14  extending above plane A  43 . In this way the single panel locates the tile  16  at a specific level above the grill  25 .  
         [0061]    In use, the pizza insert  10  of the instant invention is placed on grill  25  of a barbeque  27  by user  28 . The method of using the pizza insert  10  of the instant invention includes spacing the cooking surface  37  at a specific height above the grill  25 . This is achieved by supporting the pizza insert  10  on its legs  20  on the grill  25 . After placement of the pizza insert  10  on the grill  25  the step of heating the insert at a predetermined setting will prepare the pizza insert  10  for placement of the pizza  64  thereon. When the pizza insert  10  has reached a proper temperature the user  28  places a pizza  64  on the insert and closes the lid  61  of the barbeque. The pizza  64  is left on the insert and in the barbeque for a second predetermined length of time for cooking. Then the pizza  64  is removed once it has reached its properly cooked state.  
         [0062]    The pizza insert  10  in combination with the outdoor barbeque in its closed position simulates a brick oven and provides quality baked pizza  64  similar to those baked in brick ovens.  
         [0063]    It should be noted that certain structural characteristics of the instant invention make the method possible. For example, the arched cutouts in the support structure  18  of the pizza insert  10  are optimally configured to properly inhibit rising hot gases  92 . As such the hot gases  92  contact a lower surface  93  of the tile  16 . A portion of the hot gases  92  are permitted to escape at the highest point of the arches  21 . In this way, the arches  21  permit providing a proper balance between the temperature of the tile and the temperature of the interior of the barbeque  27  as part of the method.  
         [0064]    Another feature of the instant invention is that since the rim  14  does not reach the same height as the cooking surface  37  of the tile  16 , a pizza  64  may be placed on the tile  16  or removed from the tile  16  with traditional pizza  64  tools or peals  65 . In this way there is no obstruction to the pizza  64  or the peal as the pizza  64  is placed on or removed from the tile  16 . This is a major improvement over any and all of the prior art devices, which are unable to function in this way to receive a pizza  64  or to have a pizza  64  removed using traditional pizza  64  peals  65 .  
         [0065]    A feature of the alternative embodiment of the invention is that in use a user  28  may scrape food remnants  66  off of the cooking surface  37  of tile  16  and into a gap  67 . The usual implementation of this step occurs between the cooking of one pizza  64  and the cooking of another pizza  64 . This feature makes convenient the removal of food remnants  66  including cornmeal, which is used during placement of the pizza  64  on the pizza insert  10 . If cornmeal is left during several cookings, it eventually burns and effects the quality of the pizza  64 .  
         [0066]    Another selective step of the instant invention is that of placing a tray of woodchips in the barbeque with the pizza insert  10 . The woodchips in the woodchip tray are burned during cooking of the pizza  64  to add a smoke flavor to the pizza  64 .  
         [0067]    Last but not least it should be noted that the structure of the instant invention permits a step of the method, which is of great importance. This step is the step of enabling hot gases  92  to contact a lower surface  93  of the tile  16  through at least one opening  57  during the steps of heating, closing, and leaving the pizza  64  to cook. This opening  57  is provided by either the space between angle brackets  52  or the plurality of apertures  55  in the flat apertured metal  54  of the embodiments described above.  
         [0068]    Many alterations and modifications may be made by those having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiment has been set forth only for the purposes of example and that it should not be taken as limiting the invention as defined by the following claims. For example, notwithstanding the fact that the elements of a claim are set forth below in a certain combination, it must be expressly understood that the invention includes other combinations of fewer, more or different elements, which are disclosed in above even when not initially claimed in such combinations.  
         [0069]    The words used in this specification to describe the invention and its various embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this specification structure, material or acts beyond the scope of the commonly defined meanings. Thus if an element can be understood in the context of this specification as including more than one meaning, then its use in a claim must be understood as being generic to all possible meanings supported by the specification and by the word itself.  
         [0070]    The definitions of the words or elements of the following claims are, therefore, defined in this specification to include not only the combination of elements which are literally set forth, but all equivalent structure, material or acts for performing substantially the same function in substantially the same way to obtain substantially the same result. In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the elements in the claims below or that a single element may be substituted for two or more elements in a claim. Although elements may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, it is to be expressly understood that one or more elements from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination and that the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.  
         [0071]    Insubstantial changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalently within the scope of the claims. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements.  
         [0072]    The claims are thus to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptionally equivalent, what can be obviously substituted and also what essentially incorporates the essential idea of the invention.