Abstract:
A decontamination bag is positioned in the interior space of a public mailbox. The decontamination bag receives mail that is deposited in the mailbox. A postal worker; upon retrieving mail from the mailbox, closes the decontamination bag. The decontamination bag is equipped with an exit valve and an intake valve. Air from the interior of the bag may be sampled for contaminants that may be carried by letters or mailpieces through an exit valve. A decontaminating agent may be introduced to the interior of the decontamination bag through the intake valve. The contents of the decontamination bag are thereby purified within the bag. After decontamination, the contents of the decontamination bag may be purged and fresh air may be reintroduced into the bag. The decontamination bag may then be opened in order to retrieve its contents.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/337,014 filed on Nov. 8, 2001, entitled “Handling Potentially Contaminated Collection Mails” and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/291,887 filed on Nov. 8, 2002, entitled “Handling Potentially Contaminated Mail.” The contents of the above is relied upon and expressly incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [[0002]]     The invention was made by an agency of the United States government or under a contract with an agency of the United States government, the United States Postal Service (“USPS” or “Postal Service”), an independent establishment of the executive branch of the U.S. government. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0004]     The present invention relates to methods for depositing and retrieving mail into and from a mailing receptacle. More particularly, the present invention relates to equipment and procedures associated with the mailing process whereby handling mail is done in a secure method in order to guard against potential biohazards in contaminated mail.  
         [0005]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0006]     The United States Postal Service provides mail collection boxes in a multitude of public locations where members of the public may deposit mail items. Indeed this is true throughout the world; national postal authorities make public mailing receptacles open to the public. One of the chief design criteria for the public mailbox has been easy access and usability by the public.  
         [0007]     Mail is also deposited and collected in numerous other facilities beyond the traditional mailbox. Mailing locations and facilities include building mail chutes and mail receptacles found in building lobbies, delivery company lobbies, pack and send lobbies, and also post office lobbies.  
         [0008]     In addition, the postal carriers and individuals who access mail facilities and depositories typically do so in a hurried manner with little if any thought to potential hazards that may wait inside them. Thus the public mailbox makes an inviting target for those bent on anonymous and antisocial behavior.  
         [0009]     Mail receptacles have occasionally been the targets of pranks and vandalism. Recently there was a spate of more serious incidents involving contaminated mail. It is believed that mail was deposited and delivered through typical mail channels where the mailpieces had been deliberated contaminated with biological hazard material. Investigation has confirmed that some mailpieces deposited in mailboxes were contaminated with anthrax spores. Some members of the postal service, as result of their handling contaminated mail, suffered exposure to the biological materials.  
         [0010]     It is known that biological threats could be introduced in the collection mailboxes or other receptacles for items being placed in the hands of a delivery company for delivery to some other entity. Such threats could also be introduced via the mail chutes located in office building lobbies. Presently there are no preventing mechanisms for the delivery companies or the Postal Services to use to protect employees who collect and process the items for delivery and/or to protect the addressees or other recipients of the delivery items. There are no present methods available for someone handling the mail and other delivery items to identify and to protect against the threat.  
         [0011]     In response to the threat posed by these incidents, procedures have been developed to treat mail that is believed to be contaminated with biohazard or infectious materials. Decontamination methods have been developed that will render contaminated mail safe or harmless. Decontamination technologies may rely on some form of irradiation to kill the biological materials such as microbes after mail has been collected and handled by employees. Other ideas involve using a form of chamber gas treatment for collection mail volumes and other delivery items in volume. These approaches will ultimately kill the microbes. To provide the initial protection to the carrier retrieving the collection mail, ideas include the use of liners within collection mailboxes and other receptacles for delivery items as mailbags to protect the individual handling the delivery items from physically touching them. However, application of these decontamination methods typically requires that suspected mail be transported from a collection location to a decontamination site. Thus, even with present decontamination procedures, there exists a risk of exposure to harmful agents within the mail while the mail is in transport to the decontamination site. Thus, there is a need to develop equipment and methods to minimize the chance of infection or exposure to biohazard material in the mail during the period between mail collection and decontamination.  
         [0012]     The present mailbox design provides little protection against the threat posed from biohazards in contaminated mail. Accordingly, there is a need to improve the mailbox design. In addition, there is a need to develop practices and methods whereby letter carriers may perform their duties in a safe and secure manner.  
         [0013]     It would be desirable to provide a means whereby contaminated mail in a mailbox can be collected with minimal risk of human exposure to infectious material potentially found in the mail.  
         [0014]     It would also be desirable to retrofit the existing mailbox design such that mailboxes need not be replaced in their entirety. It would be advantageous to provide a means for secure handling of mail that can be applied to the mailbox design that is now in use.  
         [0015]     It would also be desirable to provide a method to improve security in postal collection that can be enacted quickly and easily.  
         [0016]     It would also be desirable to develop a collection mailbag of high quality that allows decontamination procedures to take place within the mailbag itself.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]     The present invention overcomes deficiencies in the mailbox design by providing a means to contain the contents of a mailbox in a biohazard isolating receptacle. The containment allows the contents of a mailbox to be collected and transported with minimized exposure of mailpieces with the surrounding air environment. The secure handling can further be applied to mailboxes presently designed and in use in the field. The secure handling technique is further simple in concept and design and can be quickly applied and retrofitted to present equipment.  
         [0018]     Accordingly it is an object of the present invention in one aspect to provide a biohazard-isolating bag that is positioned in the mailbox.  
         [0019]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a means whereby a biohazard-isolating bag may be securely closed. The closure isolates the contents of the bag from the environment. In this manner any potential contamination in a mailpiece is confined to the interior of the bag. Potential exposure of the contamination to the public is minimized.  
         [0020]     An additional object of the present invention is to provide a method of attaching a biohazard-isolating bag to the interior of a mailbox. The attachment method allows the present mailbox design to remain essentially unchanged so that conventional and customary methods of depositing and collecting mail are not affected.  
         [0021]     According to the invention, it is suggested to use resealable bags (liners) in receptacles for collecting or depositing items for delivery to another. These receptacles would include collection boxes and chutes in office building lobbies, delivery company lobbies, in pack and send lobbies, or in post office lobbies. When the delivery items are to be collected from the receptacle, the bag is hermetically sealed by the mechanical opening action of the receptacle. The delivery person or letter carrier removes and locks the sealed collection bag and re-installs an empty bag and the collection point.  
         [0022]     The collection bag or container is designed with a valve or valves permitting exit and entry of air or airborne particles. The valve or valves would have filters capable of trapping exiting airborne particles. The valve or valves can be used with a vacuum to remove air from within the bag while trapping airborne particles including any microbes within the filter. The valve or valves can also have an intake or intake/release feature. The purpose of the intake feature is to allow the collection bag to be inflated. The release feature is used to relax the vacuum.  
         [0023]     Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. Thus, the present invention comprises a combination of features, steps, and advantages, which enable it to overcome various deficiencies of the prior art. The various characteristics described above, as well as other features, will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, and by referring to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0024]     For a more detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the specification, and wherein:  
         [0025]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a postal mailbox with biohazard liner in place where the outer wall of the mailbox is removed to show its interior.  
         [0026]      FIG. 2   a  is a top view of the rails used to affix a liner bag to the interior of a mailbox.  
         [0027]      FIG. 2   b  is a side view of one embodiment of rails shown attached to a side wall of a mailbox.  
         [0028]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a mailbag with a drawstring for closing the mailbag.  
         [0029]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a mailbag showing a ziplock means to close the mailbag.  
         [0030]      FIG. 5  is a side view of a particular kind of bag, a decontamination bag. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0031]     Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.  
         [0032]     Referring to  FIG. 1  there is shown a schematic view of a biohazard-isolating bag positioned inside a postal mailbox. Mailbox  10  is a conventional postal mailbox. Such a mailbox is typically rectangular in vertical profile and square or rectangular in horizontal profile although other configurations are possible. Mailbox  10  includes deposit door  20 . Mailbox  10  also includes an access door, not shown, through which a postal worker accesses the contents of mailbox  10 . As a customary, mailbox  10  defines an interior space and an exterior space. When rectangular in shape, mailbox  10  includes four walls, a top, and bottom.  
         [0033]     Biohazard-isolating bag  30  (sometimes hereinafter referred to as “bag”) is positioned in the interior of mailbox  10 . Biohazard isolating bag  30  is preferably made of flexible plastic. Preferable plastic materials include polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene, polypropylene, and copolymers of polyethylene and polypropylene. The thickness of bag  30  is sufficient to provide mechanical strength and integrity required for the bag&#39;s purposes. Additionally, the bag must be of sufficient thickness in order to provide a suitable barrier to isolate the interior contents of bag  30  from the exterior environment.  
         [0034]     Biohazard-isolating bag  30  may also be used as a liner fitting inside of another, exterior bag. Thus, for example, a biohazard-isolating bag may be used in conjunction with traditional canvas or cloth mailbags. When used in such an arrangement, biohazard-isolating bag  30  is placed in the interior of another mailbag. Together bag  30  and the mailbag may be positioned inside mailbox  10 .  
         [0035]     The shape of bag  30  may assume different sizes and shapes. Generally bag  30  conforms to the interior shape of mailbox  10 . Thus bag  30  may also take on different sizes and shapes depending on the size and dimensions of the mailbox. In a preferred embodiment the bag generally may assume the shape of an open rectangular box, corresponding to the interior shape of a standard postal mailbox. Bag  30  may also be semiovoid or elliptical in shape. In another embodiment the shape of bag is generally rounded with circular walls and a round bottom. The walls of bag  30  generally define an interior space and an exterior space. One end of bag  30  defines an opening, and the other side of bag  30  is closed.  
         [0036]     In a preferred embodiment mailbox  10  and bag  30  include reciprocal attachment means by which to affix bag  30  to the interior of mailbox  10 . In one embodiment rails  40  are located on inner surfaces of mailbox  10 . Attachment rails  40  provide a means by which bag  30  may be secured to the interior of mailbox  10 . Corresponding slides are positioned on bag proximate to bag opening.  
         [0037]     As shown in  FIG. 2   a , rails  40  may be attached to interior walls of mailbox  10 . As shown in this figure, rails  40  are affixed to the front wall and two side walls of mailbox  10 . No rail  40  is attached to the rear wall of mailbox  10  as this wall also typically serves as the access door  20  to mailbox  10 . While it is preferred to provide rails  40  on three walls of mailbox  10  other arrangements are possible. For example only two walls may include such rails  40 . Further rails  40  preferably extend along a substantial length of each wall, although they need not do so. The purpose of rails  40  is to support bag  30 , and the necessary support may be achieved in rails that only extend along a partial length of the wall.  
         [0038]      FIG. 2   b  illustrates rails  40  as affixed to a mailbox wall in side view. Rail  40  comprises an upper lip  42  and lower lip  44 . The space between upper lip  42  and lower lip  44  defines a groove. Support slides, not shown, engage rails  40  by fitting within the groove between upper lip  42  and lower lip  44 . The slides are sturdy and rigid enough so as to provide a means by which to support the opening of bag  30  resting within rails  40 . The slides may be attached to bag  30 . The slides may, for example, fit within a pocket provided in bag  30  for receiving the slides. Alternatively, the slides may provide a friction fit such that bag  30  is held in place between rails  40  and corresponding slides by a pinching or friction effect. In practice the engagement between slides and rails  40  defines the opening shape of bag  30  when bag is positioned in place.  
         [0039]     Rails  40  may be affixed to mailbox  10  using several known methods. Such methods include welding, bolting, gluing, and clamping. Also rails  40  may comprise any material such as metal, plastic, wood, or composite so long as it provides the necessary strength and rigidity to support bag  30 , including when the bag is loaded with mail.  
         [0040]     The rails are positioned at an interior position of the mailbox in order for the bag to hang in a desired location. In a preferred embodiment the preferred location of the bag is such that the bag opening is proximate the mailbox opening. In this manner the volume of the bag tends to approximate the corresponding volume of the mailbox.  
         [0041]     Another preferred embodiment includes Velcro as a support means. In this embodiment, strips of Velcro are affixed to interior walls of mailbox  30  where, for example, rails  40  have been described as being positioned. Reciprocal strips of Velcro are attached to bag  30 , proximate bag opening. Bag  30  is thus positioned in the desired position in the interior of mailbox  10  by contracting or engaging strips of Velcro on bag  30  to corresponding strips of Velcro on mailbox  10 .  
         [0042]     The attachment means provides a level of contact between the bag and the interior walls of the mailbox. The contact is such that when a mailpiece is deposited in mailbox  10  through deposit door  20 , the mailpiece will tend to fall toward the interior space of bag  30 . Generally a mailpiece will not fall outside the bag by passing between the bag and the interior wall of the mailbox. In this manner a mailpiece carrying a contaminant will fall into bag  30  where it can be isolated.  
         [0043]     Other options may be used to position bag  30  in mailbox  10 . Bag  30  may be hung from hooks or clamps positioned on the interior walls of mailbox  10 . Additionally, bag  30  may be supported on a self-standing support framework that is not itself physically attached to mailbox  10 . Thus a support frame may provide an attachment means such as rails, hooks, Velcro, or other supporting method. The support frame rests in mailbox  10 , but is not affixed to the mailbox. Bag  30  is then positioned in the interior of mailbox  10  by affixing it or the attachment means provided on the support frame. The self-standing frame described in this paragraph may be an attractive method to deploy the biohazard-isolating bag  30  of this invention for one reason. A self-contained support may be installed with no need to retrofit anything to the mailbox structure itself. However, the self-standing attachment frame is for another reason less attractive than a means that is physically attached to mailbox  10 . A self-standing support frame does not provide as close a contact between bag  30  and walls of mailbox  10  as does the attachment means that is physically part of mailbox  10 .  
         [0044]     In a preferred embodiment bag  30  includes closure means. Referring to  FIG. 3  closure means may comprise a drawstring  110  and raceway  120  that encircle bag  30 . Drawstring  110  may comprise any kind of elastic and flexible material such as cotton, fabric (synthetic and natural) blends, polymers, and metals. Raceway  120  comprises a channel or passage through which drawstring  110  passes. Raceway  120  may be formed of material different from that of bag  30  such as a fabric material. Alternatively, raceway  110  may be formed of material different from that of bag  30  such as a fabric material. Raceway  120  should provide sufficient clearance so that drawstring  110  can move freely within raceway  120 . Drawstring  110  may be drawn tight so that it tightly closes the opening of bag  30 .  
         [0045]     Preferably, drawstring  110  and raceway  120  are positioned near the top of bag  30  as shown in  FIG. 1 . In such a position, drawstring  110  and raceway  120  encircle the opening of bag  30 . Placement of drawstring  10  and raceway  120  in such a position allows maximum use of the space in bag  30  receive and carry mail.  
         [0046]     In an alternate preferred embodiment, bag closure means comprises a mechanical zipper. Said zipper may be of plastic or metallic composition.  
         [0047]     In another preferred embodiment, the opening of bag  30  comprises a plasticized ziplock closure.  FIG. 4  shows biohazard-isolating bag  30  when closed by means of an interlocking engagement, or ziplock, closure. The ziplock closure is known in the art as a method by which to provide a seal between plasticized sheets. The ziplock closure comprises interlocking ridges on opposing sheet faces. Pressing the opposing faces together forces the ridges to engage in interlocking fashion. The ziplock closure may be preferred in some applications for the high quality of its seal compared to other methods of closure. The ziplock closure may provide a substantially airtight seal. In practice a bag  30  with a ziplock closure is positioned in a mailbox as described above. Bag  30  has interlocking ridges that provide a ziplock closure positioned proximate the opening of bag. When removing bag  30 , a postal employee presses opposing faces of bag  30  so as to interlock the engaging ridges. In this manner the contents of bag  30  are isolated from the external environment.  
         [0048]     The seal effected by the closure means provides a substantial level of isolation of the contents of bag  30  from the outside environment. Different closure means may provide different levels of isolation. Thus, for example, a ziplock closure may provide a nearly airtight seal between the interior of bag  30  and the exterior. A drawstring closure, by contrast, in the closed position will not necessarily provide a completely airtight seal. Nevertheless, both kinds of closures may be appropriate for use in the invention. The level of isolation provided by the biohazard isolating bag  30  need not rise to the level of isolation that is found in a medical or research environment dealing with infectious germs. Rather, the level of isolation provided by biohazard isolation bag  30  is a substantial level of isolation such that the degree of exposure of biohazard material to humans is reduced by isolating such contaminants in bag  30 .  
         [0049]     An alternative method for closing bag  30  may be used in conjunction with the slide framework. A lid may be fashioned that matches the opening defined by the slide/rail engagement. The lid is positioned over the bag opening so as to provide a barrier between the interior of bag  30  and the exterior environment. When a postal employee opens the mailbox through the access door, the lid would be positioned. An additional closure of bag  30  is obtained by tightening the drawstring around the lid. The bag is thereupon removed.  
         [0050]     The bag possesses sufficient mechanical strength to withstand the wear and tear associated with receiving mail. In a preferred embodiment a polyethylene bag is up to 50 mils thick. The bag retains its integrity when subjected to a load of mail. The bag withstands being removed and carried to a mail truck without tearing or ripping.  
         [0051]     In operation, a biohazard-isolating bag is positioned in the interior of a mailbox. The bag may be secured by affixing attachment means on the bag to the receiving means on the interior of the mailbox. During use, mailpieces that are deposited into the mailbox will fall into the interior bag. At time for pickup, a postal employee accesses the mailbox through access door. The postal employee detaches the attachment means thus freeing bag from mailbox. Bag is closed by shutting the closure means. The bag is then removed from the mailbox. If desired a fresh bag may be positioned in the mailbox.  
         [0052]     A benefit can be achieved by limiting the jostling that a mailpiece receives while the mailpiece is exposed to the open environment. Where, for example, a mailpiece is contaminated with a microbial agent, the ability of the microbe to infect a human being is increased when the contaminant becomes airborne. Conversely, the danger presented by an infectious microbe is minimized so long as that contaminant remains on a solid surface and does not become airborne. In the former case, infection can occur by breathing, ingestion, or skin contact with the microbial agent. In the latter case, where the infectious microbe remains on a surface, human contact with that surface would be the means of transmission. A jostling or shaking of a contaminated mailpiece, while it is open to the air, may provide the energy for a microbe to pass from the contaminated surface of a mailpiece to the air environment. While it may be impractical to eliminate jostling of a mailpiece altogether, the mailpiece can be isolated from the environment such that if contamination were to become airborne it would at least remain confined within the isolating enclosure.  
         [0053]     It is to be understood that the present invention may be used in conjunction with other methods to render contaminated mail safe for human contact. Other known methods, such as radiation exposure or chemical exposure may be needed to cleanse the mail from harmful microbial contamination. Thus in one aspect the present invention provides a means to safely deliver suspect mail from public mailbox to a decontamination site. One such kind of bag that may be directly employed in decontamination procedures is a decontamination bag.  
         [0054]     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , there is shown a preferred embodiment of the decontamination bag  200 . A decontamination bag  200  is different from the previously described biohazard-isolated bag in certain respects. A decontamination bag  200  provides a highly isolating closure by which to provide a complete separation of the interior of the decontamination bag  200  from the exterior of the bag.  
         [0055]     Decontamination bag  200  is designed with two or more valves. One valve is exit valve  210 . Exit valve  210  has a replaceable filter (not shown) that is capable of trapping exiting airborne particles greater than 4 microns. Exit valve  210  can be attached to a vacuum and its purpose is to allow the vacuum to remove air from within the bag while trapping airborne particles including any microbes within the filter. The second valve is intake valve  220 . Intake valve  220  is an intake/release valve. The purpose of intake valve  220  is to allow the collection bag to be inflated. An additional valve, a release valve  230  is used to relax the vacuum.  
         [0056]     An important feature of decontamination bag  200  is the quality of the seal it provides when closed. As shown in  FIG. 5  it is preferred to provide a double sealing mechanism. This advantageously provides a redundant seal so as to effectively isolate contaminated materials in the bag from its exterior. The quality of the closure is such that biologicals in the interior are significantly isolated. The degree of isolation is such that decontamination procedures of the interior will effectively eliminate the hazard.  
         [0057]     According to the invention, it is suggested to install reusable zip-lock type bags (liners) in collection boxes and at postal lobby chutes. At mail collection time the bag is hermetically sealed by the mechanical opening action of the receptacle in this instance a mailbox. The operator removes and locks the sealed collection bag and re-installs and empties the bag at the collection point.  
         [0058]     The containers may be provided with mechanical fastening mechanisms for use in sealing the containers. One such mechanism is shown in  FIG. 5  and is indicated by number  240  as comprising a common “zip-lock” type mechanism having an elongated bead which fits within and mates with an elongated groove formed in decontamination bag  200 . As is known in the art the zip-lock may comprise a number of mutually engaging ridges. This mechanism may be provided in a strip of material secured to the bag. Although mechanical seals may provide the sole sealing for the containers, films of this type are also capable of accepting a heat seal. However, in this case, since there may not be an effective air-tight seal, particularly for maintaining an isolated atmosphere, it might be necessary or desirable to provide excess material at the ends of the container.  
         [0059]     The method of producing an effective friction seal in a plastic container so as to isolate its contents has been described in earlier patents. These patents include U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,986,914; 5,199,795; 5,279,421; and 5,346,089.  
         [0060]     In order to facilitate closing of the mechanical seal or friction seal  240  sealing clamps  250  may be attached to friction seal  240 . Drawing sealing clamps  250  across friction seal  240  provides the needed pressure to engage the interlocking ridges on reciprocal mating surfaces. Pullcord  260 , attached to sealing clamps  250 , allows an operator to close decontamination bag  200  from some position remote from the bag itself. In a preferred embodiment at least one pullcord of a decontamination bag positioned inside a mailbox will extend from the interior of a mailbox to its exterior. In this manner the operator, while positioned outside the mailbox, can pull on a pullcord and close the decontamination bag. Thus, once the mailbox is opened and the bag retrieved, there is minimal risk of exposure to a contaminant.  
         [0061]     When the carrier has removed the collection mailbag (with contents) from the collection point a vacuum pump is attached to the exit valve and an air sample is withdrawn from the bag through the exit filter. The filter is removed and tested for the presence of microbes. If microbes are detected the corresponding bag is inflated (using the intake valve) with a disinfectant such as chlorine dioxide, potassium bromide or some other suitable agent. After an appropriate “kill period” the gas is oxidized and released. The contents of the bag may be removed and handled in the usual mail procedures. The bag may be treated as hazardous waste. If no microbes are detected in the air sampling then the release valve is used to relieve the vacuum, the contents of the bag are removed and the bag (and filter) are recycled into use again.  
         [0062]     This system can also be set up to permit on-the-spot testing of the contents of the bag or other container, in particular, the air form the bag, to determine whether microbes are detected. Also, if they are detected, a disinfectant or the like can be put into the bag to “kill” or neutralize the microbes. After the appropriate “kill period” the disinfectant or gas can be neutralized and released. The contents of the bag or other container may be removed and handled in the usual procedures. The bag may be treated as hazardous waste.  
         [0063]     While preferred embodiments of this invention have been shown and described, modifications thereof can be made by one skilled in the art without departing form the spirit or teaching of this invention. The embodiments described herein are exemplary only and are not limiting. Many variations and modifications of the system and apparatus are possible and are within the scope of the invention. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the process just described may easily have steps added, take away, or modified without departing from the principles of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of protection is not limited to the embodiments described herein, but is only limited by the claims which follow, the scope of which shall include all equivalents of the subject matter of the claims.