Patent Publication Number: US-2023159074-A1

Title: Stocking cart and method of transporting items using the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/736,604, filed May 4, 2022, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/654,703 filed Oct. 16, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,325,626, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/746,275, filed Oct. 16, 2018. The entire disclosures of the applications referenced above are incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates generally to stocking carts and more specifically to linkable stocking carts. 
     2. Introduction 
     Wheeled stocking carts are often used for transporting or carrying items (e.g., packages) between two locations. For example, carts may be used to transport items from a delivery truck or other transport vehicle or conveyor system to a storage facility such as a warehouse or fulfillment center for storing the items on shelves, or vice versa, to transport the items from the storage facility to a delivery point or conveyor system. 
     Present wheeled stocking carts are single wheeled stocking carts that are limited in size due to the limited space in aisles so as to allow the cart to be rolled freely in the aisles between shelves in the storage facility. The term “single” is used herein to mean that the wheeled stocking cart has a single lower platform or base structure. Because the single wheeled stocking cart has a predefined size, the wheeled stocking cart is only capable of carrying a limited number of items (e.g., packages).  FIG.  1    depicts schematically a conventional system and process for stocking items (e.g., packages) onto shelves in a storage facility. In a current stocking process, illustrated in  FIG.  1   , a stocker  10  unloads items  12  from a package delivery system  14  (e.g., from a lift or conveyor system) and loads the items  12  to wheeled single cart  16  and travels to a designated aisle  18 A,  18 B,  18 C or  18 D by pushing the wheeled single cart  16 . The stocker  10  then picks up and stocks the items  12  on shelves  20  until the cart  16  is emptied from all the items. The stocker  10  repeats this operation numerous times. Therefore, the present stocking process is tedious and has limited productivity because 1) the stocker  10  is required to unload the items from the package delivery system  14  and load the items to the wheeled cart  16  before moving to a designated aisle  18 A,  18 B,  18 C or  18 D; and 2) the wheeled single cart  16  has limited carrying capacity requiring the stocker  10  to repeat the transfer between the delivery system  14  to the cart  16  and moving to the aisles  18 A,  18 B,  18 C,  18 D for unloading into the shelves  20  numerous times. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a novel wheeled cart system and process for transporting items to shelves to increase throughput and enhance productivity. 
     SUMMARY 
     An aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a stocking cart, including a base structure having an opening configured to receive forks of a forklift; a plurality of wheels connected to the base structure; a lower platform mounted to the base structure, the lower platform being configured to support a weight of items; a back panel mounted to the base structure and extending opposite from the plurality of wheels, the back panel having a frame, the back panel forming a first lateral side of the cart; first and second lateral panels mounted to the base structure, the lateral panels forming a second lateral side and a third lateral side of the cart, the first and second lateral panels and the back panel defining an interior space of the cart; and at least one strap provided on a fourth side of the cart, the fourth side being open to provide access to the interior space of the cart to load items to or unload items from the cart, the at least one strap being configured to hold one or more items inside the cart. The stocking cart further includes a linking mechanism configured and arranged to connect the cart to another cart such that the fourth side of the cart faces a fourth side of the other cart. The linking mechanism comprises at least one latch that is mounted to a first frame of the first lateral panel or to a second frame of the second lateral panel or both, the at least one latch being configured to slide up and down on the first frame of the first panel or the second frame of the second panel. 
     Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide s method of transporting items using linked stocking carts. The method includes receiving pre-loaded and linked first and second stocking carts at a desired location in a storage facility, the first and second stocking carts being linked together using a linking mechanism provided on the first stocking cart, the first stocking cart or both; unlinking the first stoking cart and the second stocking cart from each other to separate the first and second stocking carts; rolling the first and second stocking carts separately to designated aisles between shelves in the storage facility; and unloading the first and second stocking carts and loading the items on the shelves. 
     A further aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a transport system having a plurality of linked stocking carts. The system includes a first stocking cart and a second stocking cart linked to the first stocking cart. The first stocking cart and the second stocking cart include a base structure having an opening configured to receive forks of a forklift; a plurality of wheels connected to the base structure; a lower platform mounted to the base structure, the lower platform being configured to support a weight of items; a back panel mounted to the base structure, the back panel having a frame, the back panel forming a first lateral side of the first stocking cart or the second stocking cart; first and second lateral panels mounted to the base structure, the lateral panels forming a second lateral side and a third lateral side of the first stocking cart or the second stocking cart, the first and second lateral panels and the back panel defining an interior space of the first stocking cart or the second stocking cart; at least one strap provided on a fourth side of the first stocking cart or the second stocking cart, the fourth side being open to provide access to an interior space of the first stocking cart or the second stocking cart to load items to or unload items from the first stocking cart or the second stocking cart, the at least one strap being configured to hold one or more items inside the first stocking cart or the second stocking cart; and a linking mechanism configured and arranged to connect the first stocking cart to the second stocking cart such that the fourth side of the first stocking cart faces the fourth side of the second stocking cart. 
     Additional features and benefits of the disclosure will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or can be learned by practice of the herein disclosed principles. The features and benefits of the disclosure can be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other features of the disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or can be learned by the practice of the principles set forth herein. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    depicts schematically a conventional system and process for stocking items (e.g., packages) onto shelves in a storage facility; 
         FIG.  2    depicts schematically a system and process for stocking items onto shelves in a storage facility, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective view of a wheeled stocking cart, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  4    depicts an underside of a base structure of the stocking cart, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  5    is a top view of the stocking cart a showing a lower platform of the stocking cart, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  6    depicts a front view of the stocking cart showing a back panel of the stocking cart, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  7 A  depicts a lateral view of the stocking cart showing a lateral panel of the stocking cart, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  7 B  further shows one sub-panel (grid-panel) when removed from the lateral panel shown in  FIG.  7 A , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  8    is a perspective view of the stocking cart showing a brake mechanism and wheels (casters), according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  9    is a lower view of the stocking cart showing a rotation locking mechanism for locking and unlocking a rotation of wheels of the stocking cart, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  10    is lateral view showing two stocking carts connected or linked together using a linking mechanism, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  11    shows a perspective view of the linking mechanism, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  12    depicts a latch of the linking mechanism not mounted to the side panel of the stocking cart showing mating linking members of the latch, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  13    is a perspective view of two stocking carts that are linked on one side using the linking mechanism, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  14 A  depicts a perspective view of the cart showing the lateral panel having a shelf in a closed configuration, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  14 B  depicts a perspective view of the cart showing the lateral panel having the shelf in an open configuration, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  15 A  depicts a perspective view of the shelf in the closed configuration, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG.  15 B  depicts a perspective view of the shelf in the open configuration, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG.  2    depicts schematically a system and process for stocking items onto shelves in a storage facility, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, the wheeled stocking cart includes a plurality of wheeled stocking carts  16 A and  16 B (for example, two carts) that are linked together so as to form a unitary carrying cart structure  17 . As shown in  FIG.  2   , two wheeled carts  16 A and  16 B are attached together so as to effectively double the carrying capacity of the cart. Contrary to the conventional system and process depicted in  FIG.  1   , instead of using a separate delivery system  14 , the items  12  are preloaded onto the wheeled linked carts  16 A and  16 B prior to arriving at a transfer point TP. In an embodiment, the linked carts  16 A and  16 B together are configured to carry a full palette or rack of items/products. For example, the linked wheeled carts  16 A,  16 B containing the items  12  can be transported, lifted using a forklift, or simply rolled to the transfer point TP. At the point of transfer TP, for example when the preloaded linked wheeled carts  16 A,  16 B forming a unitary cart structure  17  reach a desired level in the storage facility, a stocker  10 A can unlink the carts  16 A and  16 B to separate the carts  16 A and  16 B to allow the carts  16 A and  16 B to be individually rolled to designated aisles  18 A,  18 B,  18 C, and/or  18 D in the storage facility. By unlinking the carts  16 A and  16 B, each cart  16 A,  16 B can made to fit for rolling in aisle  18 A,  18 B,  18 C,  18 D as the space in the aisles between the shelves is limited. The aisles  18 A,  18 B,  18 C and  18 D have predefined width and can only allow stocking carts of predetermined size. Each cart  16 A,  16 B is configured and sized so as to fit within aisle  18 A,  18 B,  18 C and  18 D. Each cart  16 A and  16 B can be rolled by the same stocker  10 A or may be handed to another stocker  10 B,  10 C,  10 D for moving the cart  16 A,  16 B to the intended aisle  18 A,  18 B,  18 C,  18 D. 
     As a result, in the present stocking process, as shown in  FIG.  2   , a stocker  10 A does not perform any unloading of items  12  from a package delivery system  16  (e.g., from a lift or conveyor system) at the delivery or transfer point TP. Furthermore, the stocker  10 A also does not load the items  12  to wheeled carts  16 A and  16 B at the transfer point TP because the wheeled carts  16 A and  16 B are preloaded with items  12  at another location prior to arriving at the transfer point TP. As a result, the present stocking process is more efficient as 1) the stocker  10 A does not unload the items  12  from the package delivery system  14  and then load the items  12  to the wheeled carts  16 A,  16 B; and 2) the linked carts  16 A and  16 B are pre-loaded with items  12  which eliminates a need to repeat loading of the wheeled cart (e.g., cart  16 A) with items from the package delivery system  14  at the transfer point TP. Hence this process eliminates inefficient steps in the conventional process and system and renders the overall system and process more efficient, while providing the same functionality. Another parameter for increased efficiency in the present process and system is the fact that the carts are unlinked and split into two carts  16 A,  16 B by the first stocker  10 A allowing two stockers  10 B and  10 C to separately move the carts  16 A,  16 B to appropriate aisles. This, in fact, divides the processing task into two thus increasing throughput (e.g., doubling throughput). An analogy can be made to a multicore processor in a computer wherein each core can handle a process or thread thus enable parallel processing of multiple threads for an increased throughput and efficiency. 
     In the following paragraphs, a wheeled cart (stocking cart) that is configured to be linked to another wheeled cart will be described in detail.  FIG.  3    is a perspective view of a wheeled stocking cart  30 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The cart  30  comprises a base structure  32 . In an embodiment, the base structure  32  can be made of metal (e.g., aluminum, steel, etc.).  FIG.  4    depicts an underside of the base structure  32 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The base structure  32  can be made of an assembly of rods  32 A linked using fasteners or soldered together. A plurality of wheels  34  are connected to the base structure  32 . For example, as shown in  FIGS.  3  and  4   , four wheels  34  are mounted to the base structure  32 . Although four wheels  34  are illustrated herein, as it can be appreciated, five, six, or more or less wheels can also be provided if desired. 
     The cart  30  also includes a lower platform  36 .  FIG.  5    is a top view of the cart  30  showing the lower platform  36 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The lower platform  36  is mounted to the base structure  32 . The lower platform  36  is configured to support the weight of items (not shown in this Figure). The lower platform  36  can be made of any sturdy material such as, but not limited to, metal, plastic, wood or a composite material, or any combination thereof. The base structure  32  has a rectangular opening  37  (shown in  FIG.  3   ) configured to receive the forks of a forklift. 
     The cart  30  also has a back panel  38  mounted to the base structure  32 .  FIG.  6    depicts a front view of the cart  30  showing the back panel  38 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In an embodiment, the back panel  38  can be made, for example, from metal (e.g. aluminum, steel, etc.). In an embodiment, the back panel  38  can have a rectangular frame  38 A and a mesh screen  38 B attached to the rectangular frame  38 A. In an embodiment, the rectangular frame  38 A can be made from metal (e.g., aluminum) and the mesh screen  38 B can be made from metal (e.g., aluminum), plastic or other composite material. 
     The cart  30  also has two lateral panels  39 A and  39 B that are mounted to the base structure  32 .  FIG.  7 A  depicts a lateral view of the cart  30  showing the lateral panel  39 A, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The two lateral panels  39 A and  39 B can also be connected to the back panel  38  if desired to provide additional support. Fasteners can be used to attach the lateral panels  39 A and  39 B to the base structure  32  and to the back panel  38 . The two lateral panels  39 A and  39 B have a rectangular frame  40  made of metal (e.g., aluminum). The lateral panel  39 A or the lateral panel  39 B, or both may be provided with sub-panels (e.g., grid-panels)  42  that are removably mounted to the rectangular frame  40 .  FIG.  7 B  further shows one sub-panel (grid-panel)  42  when removed from the lateral panel  39 A or  39 B, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The removable sub-panels (grid-panels)  42  can be removed to provide additional access to the inside of the cart  30  to load or unload items. 
       FIG.  14 A  depicts a perspective view of the cart  30  showing the lateral panel  39 A having a shelf  100  in a closed configuration, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. The shelf  100  is mounted to the lateral panel  39 A or lateral panel  39 B. For example, as shown in  FIG.  14 A , the shelf  100  can be mounted to the rectangular frame  40  of the lateral panel  39 A instead of one of the sub-panels (grid-panels)  42 . For example, a grid-panel  42  can be provided at a lower half of the lateral panel  39  whereas the shelf  100  can be provided at an upper half of the lateral panel  39 . The shelf  100  includes a platform  102 . The platform  102  can be made from a metal such as aluminum or other material such as wood, plastic or other composite material. The shelf  100  is pivotally mounted to rectangular frame  40  of the lateral panel  39 A. The shelf  100  is shown in  FIG.  14 A  in a closed configuration vertically arranged against the rectangular frame  40  of the lateral panel  39 A. 
       FIG.  14 B  depicts a perspective view of the cart  30  showing the lateral panel  39 A having the shelf  100  in an open configuration, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in  FIG.  14 B , the shelf  100  can pivot out of the vertical arrangement (shown in  FIG.  14 A ) to a horizontal arrangement wherein the platform  102  of the shelf  100  extends horizontally and substantially perpendicularly to a plane defined by the rectangular frame  40 . In an embodiment, the shelf  100  can be supported by two arms  104  that are attached to the lateral panels  39 A. The shelf  100  can be used as a workspace to a user to place an object such as a package. 
       FIG.  15 A  depicts a perspective view of the shelf  100  in the closed configuration, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG.  15 B  depicts a perspective view of the shelf  100  in the open configuration, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in  FIG.  15 A , the platform  102  of the shelf  100  is mounted to frame  108  of the shelf  100 . The shelf  100  also includes a frame  106  that is configured to be mounted to the lateral panel  39 A or  39 B. The frame  108  of the shelf  100  is pivotally mounted to the frame  106  of the shelf  100  such that the platform  102  that is mounted to the frame  108  is configured to close or open an opening  110  defined by the frame  106 . A lock  109  may be provided to hold the platform  102  and the frame  108  in the vertical closed configuration when the shelf is not in use. The two arms  104  that are coupled to the frame  106 , which is mounted to the lateral panel  39 A and/or panel  39 B, can be used to support the platform  102  in the open relatively horizontal configuration when in use. In the open horizontal configuration, an object such as a package(s) or a tool(s) can be placed on the platform  102  of the shelf  100 . Therefore, the shelf  100  provided on the cart  30  can provide additional workspace for holding a package or other object of a user, for example. 
     As shown in  FIG.  3   , the cart  30  has four sides. A long side is closed by the back panel  38 . Two short sides are closed by the two lateral panels  39 A and  39 B. The fourth side  43  of the cart  30  is kept open. This open fourth side  43  can be used to access the interior space of the cart  30  to load items on the platform  36  of the cart  30 . One or more straps  44  are provided on the fourth side  43  to hold the package inside the cart  30  and to prevent the items from falling out of the cart  30 . The one or more straps  44  can be attached to each vertical member of frame  40  of lateral panels  39 A and  39 B. The one or more straps  44  may include two strap portions that can be fastened to each other using any type of clip or fastener. Although a pair of straps is shown used in  FIG.  3   , as it is understood, one, two, three or more straps can be used as desired. For example,  FIG.  6    depicts three straps being used for holding items inside the cart  30 . Although straps are described herein being used to hold items inside the cart  30 , other types of holding devices can also be used. For example, plates made of metal or plastic can be coupled to the lateral panels  39 A or  39 B or both via hinges and used to operate in a similar fashion as “gates” to partially close the open-side  43 . 
     The cart  30  further includes a brake mechanism  46 .  FIG.  8    is a perspective view of the cart showing the brake mechanism and wheels (casters), according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. A caster is a wheel mounted to a rotating mount so that the wheel is allowed to rotate (360 degrees). The brake mechanism  46  is also shown in  FIGS.  4  and  5   . The brake mechanism  46  is provided to at least two wheels on one of the short sides (i.e., side of lateral panel  39 A or  39 B) to brake both wheels  34  substantially simultaneously (i.e., both wheels are stopped at the same time). The wheels  34  can also be configured to rotate around a vertical axis (axis perpendicular to the platform  36 ) to enable a user to direct the cart  30  more easily. The cart  30  includes a rotation locking mechanism  48  that is configured to lock or unlock a rotation of wheels (casters)  34  around a vertical axis (i.e., axis substantially perpendicular to the platform). 
       FIG.  9    is a lower view of the cart showing the rotation locking mechanism  48  for locking and unlocking a rotation of the wheels  34 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. For example, the cart  30  may have all wheels  34  unlocked so that the wheels  34  are allowed to rotate around the vertical axis. The wheels  34  can be aligned and when a lever  48 A of the rotation locking mechanism  48  is switched up, the wheels  34  lock into place. The lever  48 A is also shown in  FIGS.  4  and  5   . When the wheels are aligned and locked, the cart  30  can only be moved in a straight line. However, when the lever  48 A of the rotation locking mechanism  48  is stepped on by a user&#39;s foot and switched down, the wheels  34  are allowed again to rotate 360 deg. around the vertical axis. In this way, a user can make turn with the cart  30  and thus can more easily guide the cart  30  to a desired location. 
     The cart  30  is configured to be connected or to be linked to another cart  31 .  FIG.  10    is lateral view showing two carts  30  and  31  connected or linked together using a linking mechanism  50 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG.  11    shows a perspective view of the linking mechanism  50 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The linking mechanism  50  comprises a latch  52  that is mounted to the frame  40  of the side panel  39 A and/or side panel  39 B. In an embodiment the latch  52  is provided with a handle  52 A so as to facilitate manipulation of the latch  52 . The latch  52  is configured to slide up and down on the frame  40 . The latch  52  is biased by a resilient member (e.g., a spring)  54 . An end of the spring  54  abuts a fixed member  55  that is fixedly attached to the frame  40 . An opposite end of the spring  54  abuts the latch  52  so as to bias the latch  52  in a vertical direction (e.g., downward direction). 
       FIG.  11    shows the resilient member  54  in a compressed state when a force is applied to the latch  52  in an upward direction. The latch  52  is also provided with mating linking members  56 . 
       FIG.  12    depicts the latch  52  not mounted to the side panel  39 A,  39 B and shows the mating linking members  56  of the latch  52 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in  FIG.  12   , the mating linking members  56  are part of the latch  52  and can be in the form of cylinders provided with holes or openings  56 A. Although the mating linking members  56  are shown having a cylindrical configuration, the mating linking members  56  can also have a rectangular shape, a polygonal shape or any holed shape. In this embodiment, the mating linking members  56  are female. The mating linking members  56  are configured to mate with opposite mating linking members  57  provided on a counterpart frame of a lateral panel of the other cart  31 . In this embodiment, the mating linking members  57  are male. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  12   , the female linking members  56  can be brought into mating with the male linking members  57 . For example, a user may lift the latch  52  upwardly against the biasing force of the resilient member  54 . When the female linking members  56  are above the male linking members  57 , the user may release the latch  52  and the biasing force of the resilient member  54  will push the female linking members  56  against the male linking members  57 . In this way, the user links one side of cart  30  to one side of cart  31  (as illustrated in  FIG.  13   ). The user can repeat this operation to mate male and female linking members located on an opposite side of the carts  30  and  31  to link the other side of the cart  30  to the other side of cart  31 . Although linking members  56  and  57  are described herein as being, respectively, female and male linking members, as it can be appreciated the linking members  56  and  57  can also be male and female, respectively. In the latter case, the linking members  56  that are provided on the latch  52  can be male linking members (for example, rods or cylinders). Although two linking members  56  are shown herein being provided on the latch  52 , as it can be appreciated one, two, three or more linking members can be used as desired. In addition, more or less latches may be provided on the carts. 
       FIG.  13    is a perspective view of two carts  30  and  31  that are linked on one side SA using the linking mechanism  50 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In an embodiment, additional shelves  60 ,  61  can be provide inside the carts  30  and/or  31  to partition the space inside the cart  30  and/or cart  31  to provide additional loading space. Although, each cart  30  and  31  is shown in  FIG.  13    being partitioned with shelves  60  and  61 , respectively, any number of shelves can be provided to cart  30  and/or provided to cart  31 . 
     In an embodiment, after loading the two carts  30  and  31  with items, the two carts  30  and  31  are then linked to each other to form together a “single” wheeled cart with  8  wheels. The two carts  30  and  31  linked or connected together at side SA using linking mechanism  50  and then are connected together at side SB using another linking mechanism  50 . The linking mechanism  50  is configured and arranged to connect the cart  30  to cart  31  such that the fourth side (the open side having the straps) of cart  30  faces a fourth side (open side having also straps) of cart  31 . The two carts  30  and  31  which are thus linked together can be rolled to a desired location or lifted to higher grounds using, for example, a forklift. In an embodiment, when using a forklift to lift the linked two carts  30  and  31 , the fork in the forklift can be inserted through both rectangular openings  37  of the two carts  30  and  31 . Openings  37  are provided on the long side (i.e., on the back panel  38  side and facing open fourth side  43 ) of the carts  30  and  31 . When the carts  30  and  31  are linked together, the rectangular openings  37  of carts  30  and  31  become aligned and the fork of the forklift can, for example, traverse the length of both short sides of the carts  30  and  31 . This provides for a greater stability when lifting the two carts  30  and  31 . 
     The various embodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. Various modifications and changes may be made to the principles described herein without following the example embodiments and applications illustrated and described herein, and without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. 
     Although the embodiments of disclosure have been described in detail for the purpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be the most practical, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that the present disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it is to be understood that the present disclosure contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of any embodiment can be combined with one or more features of any other embodiment.