Abstract:
An injection syringe for the injection of materials into domestic animals is provided. The syringe includes a tubular body having a guide member positioned within the body that is adapted to engage and properly position fluid containing straws of varying diameters with respect to the syringe. A plunger can be inserted through the body and through the guide member to expel the material from within the straw out of the body. The tubular body and the straws that can be used with the tube can be positioned within a conventional, removable hygienic sheath, that allows the syringe to be used for numerous fluid transfers.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to injection devices, and more specifically to syringes or guns used to penetrate a uterus to transfer medicines, artificially inseminate animals, or transfer embryos. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   In order to artificially impregnate domestic animals, a number of devices have been designed. The most well recognized and utilized device that has been developed is an artificial insemination syringe or gun. While the words syringe and gun are often used interchangeably in the industry and within this application, the word syringe is believed to be technically broader in scope. 
   A number of different configurations for guns or syringes of this type have been developed, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,173,227, 4,261,361, 4,846,785 and 4,865,589, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. The syringe comprises a tubular body adapted to receive a container holding the biological material to be injected into the animal. The body and container can be inserted into the animal and the material is expelled from the container by a push-rod or plunger slidably insertable into the body and the container. To enable the syringe to be used repeatedly without becoming contaminated by a particular animal, a flexible sheath can be removably positioned around the body to prevent contact of the internal fluids of the animal with the body of the gun, allowing the syringe to be reused a number of times. After each use, the sheath can be removed from around the body of the syringe and discarded, allowing a new, sterile sheath to be placed around the syringe. 
   When injecting material from this type of syringe in order to, for example, artificially inseminate a domestic animal, the material is normally contained within a plastic straw, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,478,261 and 5,190,880 which are incorporated by reference herein. The straw is generally a plastic tubular structure that is sealed at one end by a pair of plugs and sealed at the other end with ultrasound. These seals retain the material within the straw. To use the straw, the ultrasound sealed end is first severed from the remainder of the straw. The end of the straw containing the plug pair is then inserted into and engaged by the body of the syringe. The straw is held in this position by the sheath placed around the body. When properly positioned, the plunger is inserted into the body and into the straw such that the plug is contacted and urged along the length of straw by the plunger to expel the material from within the straw out the opposite end. 
   The straws come mainly in two sizes, a smaller diameter straw having a volume of approximately one quarter cubic centimeter (¼ cc), and a larger diameter straw having a volume of approximately one half cubic centimeter (½ cc). Thus, in order to effectively discharge the material from within a particular diameter straw, the gun or syringe must be compatible with the diameter of the straw in which the material is contained. Thus, due to the different sizes of the straws available, on many occasions it is necessary for an individual conducting such procedures to change the type of syringe being used in order to accommodate the size of the straw containing the biological material to be injected. This is undesirable as it is inconvenient to constantly switch between syringes when utilizing straws of different sizes. Furthermore, based on the small differences in the sizes of the different types of straws and between the configuration of the various syringes, it may often be the case that an individual inadvertently uses a syringe with a straw that is not compatible with the syringe, thereby wasting the valuable biological material contained within the straw. 
   Therefore, to overcome this deficiency, an injecting syringe was developed that was capable of accommodating straws of multiple sizes. This syringe is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,173,227 and includes a tubular body defining an internal, axial cavity separated into two halves having a different diameters by a tubular insert positioned within the body. Each half is capable of receiving and retaining a straw having a specific diameter, such that the injecting syringe can utilize the straws having each of these diameters. 
   However, to change the configuration of this syringe to accommodate a straw having one of the two compatible diameters, the syringe must be partially disassembled in order to reverse the configuration of the body, thereby switching the ejection or outlet end of the body from one end to the other. By having to disassemble and reverse the configuration of the syringe, it is often the case that leaks occur between the reassembled elements of the syringe, such that some or all of the biological material that was to be injected is lost before it can be used. Moreover, having to repeatedly turn the syringe around is a nuisance when in a hurry. 
   Therefore, it is desirable to develop an injecting syringe that is capable of accommodating straws having different diameters that does not require disassembling and/or altering the syringe to prevent the material from leaking out of the syringe. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide an injecting syringe for use in artificially inseminating animals with a biological material that can be used with straws of differing diameters. 
   It is another object of the invention to provide an injecting syringe which has a one-piece body that prevents leakage of any material from within the syringe. 
   It is a further object of the invention to provide an injecting syringe having a design similar to prior art injecting syringes to allow the syringe to be used with pre-existing syringe components, including sheaths, straw-retaining sheath inserts and straws. 
   It is still another object of the invention to provide an injecting syringe that has a simple and inexpensive construction. 
   One preferred embodiment of the present invention is an injecting gun or syringe for artificially impregnating domestic animals that enables biological material-containing straws of different diameters to be utilized with the syringe. The injecting syringe includes a tubular body that defines an axial passage extending therethrough and includes a head fixedly attached at one end. The tubular body includes a guide member disposed within the passage that serves to properly position and retain the straws inserted into the passage opposite the head. The guide member includes a stop that engages straws having a larger diameter. The stop encircles a recess that is dimensioned to receive and retain straws contacting the guide member that have a smaller diameter. The syringe also includes a push rod or plunger that is removably insertable through the head, the tubular body and the guide member into the straw to expel the biological material contained within the straw outwardly from the syringe. The body can also be releasably positioned within a protective sheath, which prevents the syringe from contacting any fluids of the animals with which the syringe is used. This allows the syringe to be used repeatedly on a large number of different animals without spreading any disease or other medical conditions between the animals. 
   Alternatively, the invention may be a gun assembly used to inject a material into an animal with a tubular body. The tubular body has a first end and a second end, an axial passage extending therethrough, and a guide member fixedly positioned within the axial passage of the body. The guide member has a stop engageable with a large diameter straw when inserted into the axial passage in the body through the second end, a recess extending into the guide member adjacent the stop and engageable with a small diameter straw when inserted into the passage in the body through the second end, and an axial throughbore intersecting the recess. 
   The stop of the syringe may be formed by an increase in the interior thickness of the guide member from the throughbore to the one end. Further, the recess may have a bore with a continuously decreasing diameter in order to prevent the straw from moving upon insertion of the plunger. The recess may also have a frustoconical surface with a gradually increasing thickness from the throughbore to the one end for preventing the straw from moving. 
   The invention further includes a method for artificially insemination providing a syringe assembly with a tubular body having a head with an axial aperture fixedly attached at one end and an open end opposite the head. The body may define an axial passage therethrough with a guide member fixed within the axial passage and spaced from the head. The guide member preferably includes a stop located opposite the head, a recess extending inwardly into the guide member from the stop, and an axial throughbore communicating with the recess. A plunger is also included with an elongate rod having a handle at one end. The rod is dimensioned to be insertable through the aperture in the head, the passage in the tubular body, and the throughbore in the guide member. The elongate straw contains an amount of a biological material and has a plug formed of a deformable material adjacent one end and an open end opposite the plug. When in use, the user engages the end of the straw adjacent the plug with the guide means within the body, inserts the rod through the aperture in the head into the passage within the body, and then presses the handle towards the head to urge the rod through the throughbore in the guide member and into contact with the plug in the straw to force the plug along the straw and urge the biological material out of the straw through the open end of the body. 
   Various other features, details and embodiments of the present invention will be made apparent from the following detailed description taken together with the drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated of carrying out the invention. 
     In the drawings: 
       FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of an injecting syringe constructed according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of an inner guide member positioned within the injecting syringe of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a small diameter straw engaged with the inner guide member of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a large diameter straw engaged with the inner guide member of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a side plan view of the head of the injecting syringe of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a partially broken away view of a sheath positioned around the syringe of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 7  is cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 8  is a partial sectional view along line  8 — 8  of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a second embodiment of the guide member shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
       FIG. 10  is a third embodiment of the syringe of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 11  is a second embodiment of a plunger used with the syringe of  FIG. 10 ; 
       FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view along line  12 — 12  of  FIG. 11 : and 
       FIG. 13  is a top plan view of the plunger of  FIG. 1  including laser-etched indicia on the plunger. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments described in detail in the following description. 
   1. Preferred Embodiments 
   With reference now to the drawing figures in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the disclosure, an injecting syringe or gun constructed according to the present invention is indicated generally at  10  in  FIG. 1 . The syringe  10  includes a barrel or tubular body  12  formed of a generally rigid material, such as a metal or a plastic, and preferably stainless steel. If bent the material is able to regain its shape without a loss in performance. The tubular body  12  defines an axial passage  14  therethrough. Furthermore, the syringe  10  can be disposable if desired. 
   Looking now at  FIGS. 1 and 5 , a first end  15  of the body  12  is attached to a head  16  formed from a material similar to that used for the body  12  and which forms a gripable portion of the syringe  10  opposite a second end  17 . The head  16  includes a tubular body section or tube  18  and a circular flange section  20  that can be fixedly attached to or integrally formed with one end of the body section  18 . The flange section or flange  20  has an exterior circumferential surface  21  that can be knurled, pebbled, pitted, or otherwise altered to allow the flange  20  to be gripped more easily. 
   Opposite the flange  20 , the tube  18  preferably includes a first or reduced diameter section  22  that is insertable into the first end  15  of the tubular body  12 . Because it is formed of a generally rigid material similar to that used for the body  12 , the reduced diameter section  22  can be secured within the tubular body  12  by any suitable means, such as by an adhesive or by laser welding the reduced diameter section  22  to the interior of the body  12 . Opposite the reduced diameter section  22 , the tube  18  preferably includes a second or enlarged diameter section  24  extending between the tube  18  and the flange  20 . The head  16  also preferably defines an axial passage  26  that extends completely through the head  16  from the flange  20  to the reduced diameter section  22  and is aligned with the passage  14  extending through the tubular body  12 . 
   In one embodiment, the tubular body  12  may be constructed of several tubes of smaller lengths with varying flexibility/rigidity. 
   The syringe  10  also preferably includes a push rod or plunger  28  including an elongate rod  30  and a circular knob or handle  32  attached to one end of the rod  30  by any suitable means, such as by an adhesive or by welding. Alternatively, the handle  32  can be integrally formed with the rod  30  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 11 ). The rod  30  has a diameter less than the diameter of the passage  26  in the head  16  and the passage  14  in the body  12 , such that the rod  30  can be slid into and pass through the head  16  and the tubular body  12 . The rod  30  and handle  32  are formed of a generally rigid material similar to the body  12 . Also, the rod  30  has an overall length slightly greater than the combined length of the head  16  and tubular body  12 , such that the rod  30  can project outwardly from the body  12  when the handle  32  of the plunger  28  is pressed against the head  16 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the plunger  28  can also be formed from a single, unitary rod  30 . The rod  30  is bent and spirally wound at one end in order to form an integrally connected loop  75  that functions as the handle  32 . The formation of the plunger  28  in this manner greatly reduces the overall cost and complexity of assembling the plunger  28 , as the plunger  28  includes only one part, negating any assembly of a separate handle  32  and rod  30 . Further, in order to enable the plunger  28  to be held within the body  12  when the syringe  10  is positioned vertically (with the handle below a guide member  34 ) to insert a straw  36 , the plunger  28  can include a bend, marker or kink  76  at a specified point along the rod  30 . The bend  76  slides along the interior wall of the body  12  and prevents the plunger  28  from inadvertently sliding entirely out of the body  12  by contacting the end of the tube  18 . However, the bend  76  is conveniently positioned far enough from the tip of the rod  30  opposite the handle  32  such that the bend  76  does not interfere with the operation of the plunger  28  as it is pushed through the body  12 . Preferably the bend  76  is spaced from the handle  32  a distance slightly longer than the length of a straw  36 , and most preferably about six (6) inches from the handle  32 . 
   In order that the bend  76  can flex sufficiently in order to allow the plunger  28  to be utilized correctly and removed from the syringe  10  when necessary, the rod  30  is formed from a somewhat resilient, but generally rigid material, such as a hard plastic or preferably a spring-tempered stainless steel. 
   To enhance the identification of different syringes  10 , as best shown in  FIG. 13 , the plunger  28  can also have identifying indicia  82  etched on the handle  32  of the plunger  28  opposite the rod  30 . The indicia  82  can be laser mark printed or etched onto the handle  32 , and can indicate the owner of the syringe  10 , the breed or type of livestock, or the manufacturer of the syringe  10  among other types of information. Alternatively or in addition, the indicia  82  can be etched onto the exterior of the tubular body  12 , if desired. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1–4 , the tubular body  12  also includes an inner guide member  34  fixedly disposed within the passage  14  and spaced from the head  16  and forming a straw chamber  13  between the guide member  34  and the second end  17  of the body  12 . The guide member  34  is formed of a rigid material, such as hard plastic or metal, with a stainless steel similar to the body  12  being preferred, and is generally cylindrical in shape, defining a passage such as a throughbore  35  therethrough. However, the guide member  34  can have a cross-section other than circular, such as square, hexagonal or octagonal, for example, so long as the guide member  34  can fixedly contact the interior of the body  12  and is secured in position by welding or otherwise securing the guide member  34  within the body  12 . Preferably, the guide member  34  has an exterior diameter slightly less than the diameter of the passage  14  through the tubular body  12  and an interior passage diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the rod  30 . The guide member  34  is positioned within the body  12  between the center of the tubular body  12  and the second end  17  of the body  12  in order to form or define the straw chamber  13  between the guide member  34  and the second end  17 . Preferably, the guide member  34  is positioned within the body  12  such that the guide member  34  is spaced from the second end  17  of the tubular body  12  a distance slightly less than the overall length of a straw  36  containing to biological material to be injected by the syringe  10 . In order to ensure the proper positioning of the guide member  34  within the body  12 , the body  12  may also include a spacing member  80 , best shown in  FIG. 10 , which abuts the guide member  34  opposite the straw chamber  13  in order to ensure that the straw chamber  13  has the desired size, i.e., approximately equal to the length of the straw  36 . As best shown in  FIG. 10 , member  80  abuts the guide member  34  opposite the straw chamber  13 . The member  80  primarily serves to reinforce tube  12 . 
   As best shown in  FIGS. 2–4 , the guide member  34  includes a guide end  38  facing to head  16  and a stop or engagement end  40  facing the second end  17 . The guide end  38  is formed of guide surface such as an outwardly tapering end section  42  of passage  35  that extends radially outwardly at an angle from the central axis of the guide member  34 , which is preferably around 30°. The tapered end section  42  serves to contact and guide a second end of the rod  30  (i.e. the end opposite the handle  32 ) into and through the passage  35  within the guide member  34 . 
   Opposite the guide end  38 , the stop end  40  also includes an outwardly tapering end section  43  that surrounds a generally circular recess  44 . The tapering end section  43  of the stop end  40  may be formed in several ways as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . In  FIG. 8 , the tapering end section  43  includes a flat end portion  43   a  extending between the exterior of the guide member  34  and the frustoconical sloping surface  43   b . Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the tapering end section  43  can omit the flat end portion  43   a  and can comprise only the frustoconical sloping surface  43   b  that continuously extends between the exterior and interior of the guide member  34 . The recess  44  extends inwardly from the stop end  40  to an annular shoulder  46  disposed within the interior of the inner guide  34  and formed around the passage  35 . The recess  44  has a diameter approximately equal to the outer diameter of a small diameter straw  36   a  such that one end of the straw  36   a  can contact the tapered end  43  and be inserted into the recess  44  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Alternatively, looking now at  FIG. 4 , if a large diameter straw  36   b  is utilized with the syringe  10 , the diameter of the stop end  40  is approximately equal to the outer diameter of the straw  36   b , such that the straw  36   b  contacts the stop end  40  without entering the circular recess  44 . Thus, with the guide member  34  positioned within the tubular body  12 , it is possible for the syringe  10  to properly position either a small diameter straw  36   a  or a large diameter straw  36   b  in the straw chamber  13 . Straw sizes typically range from ½ cc to ¼ cc. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 6 , to enable the syringe  10  to be repeatedly used for a large number of injections, the tubular body  12  of the syringe  10  is covered by a disposable tubular sheath  48 . The sheath  48  is of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,173,277, incorporated herein by reference, and is formed of a soft, flexible material, such as a flexible plastic, with a mounting end  50  disposed opposite an injection end  52 . The mounting end  50  is simply an unobstructed, open end of the tubular sheath  48  into which the tubular body  12  can be inserted. The injection end  52  includes a rounded tapering surface  54  that extends inwardly towards the center axis of the sheath  48  in order to define a restricted diameter opening  56 . The restricted opening  56  has a diameter less than that of the tubular body  12 , the straw  36  and the rod  30 , such that only the biological material contained within the straw  36  can pass through the opening  56 . 
   As best shown in  FIG. 6 , the sheath  48  also includes an insert  58  positioned within the sheath  48  and opposite the mounting end  50 . The insert  58  is preferably formed of a semi-rigid material, such as a hard plastic, and is shaped in the form of an inwardly tapering conical cylinder with a wide end  62  positioned near the mounting end  50 , and a narrow end  60  disposed opposite the wide end  62  and facing the injection or restricted end  52 . The insert  58  is configured to receive an open end of the straw  36 , of whatever size, in order to frictionally engage and secure the straw  36  within the sheath  48 . While the insert or straw engaging member  58  is also used to form a seal and thus prevent leakage, some operators prefer not to use it. 
   Looking again at  FIG. 6 , the straw  36  is of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,190,880, previously incorporated herein by reference. The straw  36  preferably contains a material for artificially impregnating an animal such as semen or a fluid containing an embryo. Alternatively, the material could be a medicine. Initially the straw  36  is closed at one end by a pair of plugs  66  and the opposite end sealed with ultrasound. The plugs  66  are preferably formed of polyvinyl alcohol powder and two cotton wads, which retain the powder in place between the wads, to retain the biological material within the straw  36 . 
   2. In Use and Operation 
   Right before use, the straw  36  is cut to form an open end  64  at the ultrasound sealed end. The straw  36  is engaged with the insert  58  by inserting the open end  64  of the straw  36  into the mounting end  50  of the sheath  48  until the open end  64  contacts the insert  58  (see  FIG. 6 ). The straw  36  is then pushed into the insert  58  until the open end  64  is frictionally engaged within the insert  58 . Alternatively, the straw  36  can be inserted into the straw chamber  13  of the tubular body  12 . 
   The mounting end  50  of the sheath  48  is positioned around the tubular body  12 . The sheath  48  is then slid upwardly along the tubular body  12  until the mounting end  50  is positioned around the head  16 . This action also allows the open end  64  of the straw  36  to frictionally engage with the insert  58 . While the sheath  48  is pushed upwardly around the tubular body  12 , the second end  17  of the tubular body  12  surrounds the straw  36  and contacts the insert  58 , urging the insert  58  and straw  36  along the sheath  48  towards the injection end  52 . 
   For the spiral embodiment shown best in  FIG. 1 , a ¼ cc straw will seat nearly automatically. With the O-ring embodiment best shown in  FIG. 7 , after the a ¼ cc straw is loaded the straw should extend approximately ½ inches from the body. Turning the straw one-quarter turn will ensure the straw is properly seated. 
   Further, the straw  36  is maintained in engagement with the insert  58  by the engagement of the straw  36  with the guide member  34  disposed within the tubular body  12 . The sheath  48  can also be used without the insert  58  to secure the straw  36  within the tubular body  12 , against the guide member  34 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
   When the insert  58  is positioned adjacent the injection end  52 , the open end  64  of the straw  36  and the narrow opening  60  in the insert  58  are aligned with the restricted opening  56  in the injection end  52 . The sheath  48  can be secured in this position about the tubular body  12  by the frictional engagement of the mounting end  50  of the sheath  48  with a helical ridge  68  disposed on the tube  18  of the head  16  (shown in  FIG. 5 ). Alternatively, as is known in the art, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the tube  18  can be formed to have a sloped side wall  70  that flares outwardly from the tubular body  12  to the flange  20 , thereby increasing the diameter of the tube  18  from the body  12  to the flange  20 . To assist the positioning of the sheath  48  around the body  12  and this configuration for the head  16 , the mounting end  50  can also be cut to form a slit (not shown) that extends generally parallel to the axis of the sheath  48  to enable the mounting end  50  to expand as the body  12  is inserted. Thus, the mounting end  50  of the sheath  48  splits along the cut in the sheath  48  to accommodate the increase in diameter of the tube  18  as the mounting end  50  is pushed along the tube  18 . When the mounting end  50  has been slid upwardly along the sloped side wall  70  of the tube  18  a sufficient distance, a fastening structure such as a mounting O-ring  72  having a central opening  74  can be placed around the sheath  48  at the injection end  52  and slid upwardly along the sheath  48  towards the mounting end  50  to frictionally engage the mounting end  50  of the sheath  48  between the O-ring  72  and the head  16 . The sloped side wall  70  of the tube  18  can also be serrated, grooved or ridged to form a gripping surface  78  that enhances the engagement of the sheath  48  between the sloped side wall  70  of the tube  18  and the O-ring  72 . Preferably, the gripping surface  78  includes a spiral ridge that engages the sheath  48  and O-ring  72 . The engagement of the sheath  48  around the tube  18  can also be enhanced by roughening the material forming the sheath  48  or otherwise deforming the end of the sheath  48  positioned around the tube  18 , such as by adding a spiral groove (not shown) complementary to the mounting end  50  of the sheath  48 . 
   Once the sheath  48  is secured around the tubular body  12 , the rod  30  of the plunger  28  can be inserted through the head  16  into the passage  14 . By pressing the handle  32  of the plunger  28  towards the head  16 , the rod  30  passes through the guide member  34  and into closed end  65  of the straw  36 . As the plunger  28  is pressed towards the head  16 , the rod  30  contacts the plug  66  within the closed end  65 , pressing the plug  66  along the length of the straw  36  and ejecting the material contained within the straw  36  outwardly from the tubular body  12  through the restricted opening  56  in the sheath  48 . After the material has been expelled from the straw  36 , the plunger  28  is withdrawn from the body  12  such that the sheath  48  and straw  36  can be removed from the tubular body  12  and discarded, allowing another straw  36  and sheath  48  to be mounted to the syringe  10  for a successive use of the syringe  10 . 
   All the disclosed embodiments are useful in conjunction with devices such as are used for the purpose of inserting medicinal material into an animal, or fluids for the purpose of artificial impregnation, or the like. As such, there are virtually innumerable uses for the present invention, all of which need not be detailed here. All the disclosed embodiments can be practiced without undue experimentation. 
   Although the best mode contemplated by the inventors of carrying out the present invention is disclosed above, practice of the present invention is not limited thereto. It will be manifest that various additions, modifications and rearrangements of the features of the present invention may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept. For example, although plastic or metal is preferred for the device and its various components, any similarly suitable any material could be used. Also, it is possible to use the inventive device without a sheath, insert, etc. 
   Moreover, the individual components need not be formed in the disclosed shapes, or assembled in the disclosed configuration, but could be provided in virtually any shape, and assembled in virtually any configuration. Further, although for instance the plunger, the chamber, and/or the sheath are described herein as physically separate modules, it will be manifest that such elements may be partially or fully integrated components of the device. Finally, it is conceivable that all the disclosed features of each disclosed embodiment can be combined with, or substituted for, the disclosed features of every other disclosed embodiment except where such features are mutually exclusive. 
   Various alternatives are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims which particularly point out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention.