Patent Publication Number: US-2017354898-A1

Title: Mess-free sand play device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/349,969 entitled “MESS-FREE SAND PLAY DEVICE,” filed Jun. 14, 2016, having Attorney Docket Number HALC.246839, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     SUMMARY 
     Aspects of the disclosure are defined by the claims below, not this summary. A high-level overview of various features are provided here for that reason, to provide an overview of the disclosure, and to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description section below. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     This disclosure describes, among other things, devices and methods for sand play. In particular, one aspect of the disclosure is directed to a mess-free sand play device including an apparatus for containing a predefined amount of loose, granular sand in a completely sealed container. The apparatus for enclosing loose, granular sand comprises a tray having a planar base and an upstanding wall rising from a perimeter of the planar base and a cover coupled to the tray to seal the loose, granular sand within a cavity formed by the coupled tray and cover. The cover may be constructed with a clear window so that the loose, granular sand and the tray are visible through the clear window. Alternatively, the entire cover and/or tray may be clear or transparent so that all internal features of the mess-free sand play device are made visible from above, and/or other angles of the mess-free sand play device. 
     In a further aspect herein, in addition to the loose, granular sand, a moveable device or internal stylus is located within the cavity enclosed by the tray and the cover. The moveable device or internal stylus is configured to form temporary patterns in the loose, granular sand when dragged through the loose, granular sand by an external stylus located outside of the cavity. In some aspects, the moveable device or internal stylus comprises a foam tip and a magnet, wherein the foam tip and the magnet may be secured within a housing. The housing securing the foam tip and the magnet may include a feature for securing the foam tip in relation to the magnet, such as a rod fitted through the foam tip to secure the foam tip to the housing and a magnet housing cavity configured to enclose one or more magnets within the magnet housing cavity. The housing may be constructed in multiple parts that can be fitted together and/or welded together once the foam tip and the one or more magnets are secured into place, or the housing may be manufactured in a single piece over the one or more magnets with a mechanism to secure the foam tip. In some aspects, the moveable device or internal stylus includes a marking end, such as the foam tip that generates markings in the loose sand, and a directing end, such as the magnetic end of the internal stylus that is manipulated by an external source to provide translation of the internal stylus inside the cavity and with respect to the tray. 
     Further, the magnets of the moveable device or internal stylus may additionally be enveloped by a soft, non-conducting material such as an inherently anti-static fabric or a material treated with an anti-static coating. Alternatively, the one or more magnets may be covered by, for example, with a looped textile material such as the one used in a hook-and-loop fastening system. The moveable device or internal stylus may be configured to stand in a generally upright position, with the foam tip pointing downward and in contact with the loose, granular sand, and with the one or more magnets opposite the foam tip, pointing upward and near the cover and/or the clear window. As such, the internal stylus may have a minimum height that corresponds to the height of the cavity, thus orienting the internal stylus with the marking end adjacent the tray and the magnetic end adjacent the cover. 
     The loose, granular sand may be any moveable and/or deformable material enclosed within the cavity and responsive to force applied by the moveable device or internal stylus, such as a loose material having properties of that from fine to coarse sand. Additionally, the color of the loose, granular sand may be natural, white, black, blue, purple, pink, or any other color available. In accordance with aspects herein, the sand may, for example, be coarse white sand that reflects at least a portion of light to which the sand is exposed. In some aspects, the granular sand may be any particulate and/or granular medium that is moveable by the internal stylus, and in response to movement by the marking end (i.e., foam tip) of the internal stylus, may be shifted around on the surface of the tray. In some aspects, the “markings” on the tray are generated based on a revealed portion of the tray surface, such as a blue tray surface that is covered by white sand, once the white sand is pushed away along a travel path of the internal stylus, and the revealed blue tray portions become a visible, “hand-drawn” design. 
     In accordance with aspects herein, a lighting component such as a color light fixture may be provided within the mess-free sand play device. The lighting component may be strategically placed above the loose, granular sand to reflect light onto the loose, granular sand and an interior surface of the tray. As such, a user&#39;s markings within the cavity and into at least a portion of the loose, granular sand using the internal stylus may provide a different light pattern than the surrounding sand, thereby illuminating the remaining sand around the sand drawing. The lighting component may be configured to cycle through at least one light color at a time. The lighting component may be configured to cycle through a particular number of light colors, such as, for example, three visible light colors, six visible light colors, nine visible light colors, twelve visible light colors, fifteen visible light colors, eighteen visible light colors, twenty-four visible light colors, thirty-six visible light colors, forty eight visible light colors, one hundred visible light colors, etc. The visible light colors of the lighting component may be configured to cycle automatically through a number of color light patterns at a predefined time interval, or may be configured to cycle manually via a switch provided on an exterior surface of the mess-free sand play device. An advantage of having loose, granular white sand in the mess-free sand play device is that when colored light is shone on the loose, granular white sand, the white sand is able to reflect the true color of the colored light, making at least a portion of the white sand appear to be the color of the light shone onto it. 
     In accordance to further aspects herein, the lighting component of the mess-free sand play device may be battery operated and/or electricity operated via an electric plug. At least one battery may be securely stowed away within the cavity for safety. The at least one battery required may be disposable or rechargeable. In the event that the at least one battery is rechargeable, the at least one battery may be made inaccessible or accessible with safety precautions. Further, the at least one battery may be allowed to charge within the mess-free sand play device when the mess-free sand play device is plugged into an electrical outlet. 
     The quantity of loose, granular sand contained within the mess-free sand play device may be dependent on the dimensions of the mess-free sand play device. For example, enough loose, granular sand to cover an interior surface of the tray at a particular depth when the loose, granular sand is evenly spread out, without weighing down the mess-free sand play device, may be provided. For example, if determined that 0.5 grams of loose, granular sand per square centimeter (area) of the interior surface of the tray be provided to achieve good coverage, in the event that the total area of the interior, planar surface of the tray is measured to be 25 cm×15 cm=375 cm 2 , this would require approximately 187.5 grams of loose, granular sand. Additionally, it can be appreciated that the amount of loose, granular sand needed may also be affected by the loose, granular sand coarseness, and as such, the amount of loose, granular sand may be determined based on the properties of the sand and/or the dimensions of the mess-free sand play device. Another factor that may affect an amount of loose, granular sand needed may include, for example, a weight limit for the mess-free sand play device. For example, depending on a target age group, the dimensions of the mess-free sand play device and the weight limitations of the mess-free sand play device may be changed. 
     Moving on to features that are external to the mess-free sand play device, the mess-free sand play device may comprise a magnetic stylus/external stylus configured to engage with the moveable device or internal stylus that resides within the mess-free sand play device. As described above, the moveable device or internal stylus within the mess-free sand play device comprises a magnetic top. The external magnetic stylus comprises a magnetic tip configured to interact with the internal stylus for manipulating a location of the internal stylus within the cavity. The markings imprinted in the sand by the internal stylus may therefore be directed by the movement of the external magnetic stylus manipulating the internal stylus. Based on fluid motion of the internal stylus within the cavity, multidirectional translation of the internal stylus may be facilitated by the external magnetic stylus, thereby “dragging” the internal stylus to one of a number of locations within the mess free sand play device. 
     The magnetic tip of the external magnetic stylus may be inaccessible to a user, such as by being secured internally to the external magnetic stylus by one or more mechanisms, for safety and aesthetics. Additionally, the external magnetic stylus may be made in any desired shape, such as, for example, an elongated cylinder like a pen, a sphere like a rounded ball, or a pear-shape having a tapering end, with the magnet being located at the tapering end. The pear-shape may be, for example, an ergonomic shape configured to comfortably fit within the hand and fingers of an operator or user. In particular, depending on the age of the target user, the size of the target user, and the target user&#39;s motor ability, the stylus may be made smaller or bigger. For example, the pear-shaped stylus may be configured to comfortably fit within the hand of an eighteen month or older toddler, a twenty-four month or older toddler, a toddler between the ages two and five, etc. 
     The mess-free sand play device may further comprise a magnetic storage base for storage of the magnetic external stylus when the magnetic external stylus is not in use. In aspects, the magnets used in the moveable device or internal stylus, the magnetic external stylus, and the magnetic storage base are permanent magnets with distinct North and South poles. These magnets may be made as disks, sheets, or any shape configured to be safely retained within their intended locations. The magnets may be made of any type of magnetizable material such as metal. Further, where one feature of the sand play device may include a magnet component, the corresponding feature that interacts with such feature may include a metallic component to which the magnetic component is attracted. The magnets in accordance with aspects herein may be strong enough to attract each other through one or more layers of material, wherein the layers of material may comprise, for example, fabric, plastic, polycarbonate, tempered glass, etc. The magnets may be further strong enough to pull each other even when an air gap is present between them. For example, an amount of space between the internal stylus and the external stylus may be impacted by a material thickness, fabric thickness, base thickness, window thickness, air-gap thickness, and the like, without interrupting the drawing capabilities inside the sand of the sand play device. 
     As such, the mess-free sand play device, in accordance with aspects herein, allows for creative sand play and sand doodling by providing a completely enclosed amount of loose, granular sand and a moveable device or internal stylus within the enclosure of a mess-free sand play device, wherein the moveable device or internal stylus is able to be manipulated via an external magnetic stylus, and wherein the magnetic stylus is configured to pull the moveable device or internal stylus at will, within the confinements of the cavity of the mess-free sand play device. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a top, perspective view of a mess-free sand play device in accordance with aspects herein; 
         FIG. 2A  is a top, perspective view of the mess-free sand play device of  FIG. 1 , with the tether removed from view, in a rest/store position in accordance with aspects herein; 
         FIG. 2B  is a top, perspective view of the mess-free sand play device of  FIG. 1 , with the tether removed from view, in an active/use position in accordance with aspects herein; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view along the plane passing through the line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 2B  in accordance with aspects herein; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of various components of an exemplary stylus in accordance with aspects herein; 
         FIG. 5A  is an exploded view of various components of an exemplary moveable device or internal stylus in accordance with aspects herein; 
         FIG. 5B  is a side, perspective view of an alternative covering for the magnet in the moveable device or internal stylus in accordance with aspects herein; 
         FIG. 6  is a side, perspective view of the stylus and the moveable device or internal stylus showing their interaction, in accordance with aspects herein; and 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view along the plane passing through the line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 6  in accordance with aspects herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The subject matter of select embodiments of the invention is described with specificity herein to meet statutory requirements. But the description itself is not intended to necessarily limit the scope of claims. Rather, the claimed subject matter might be embodied in other ways to include different components, steps, or combinations thereof similar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction with other present or future technologies. Terms should not be interpreted as implying any particular order among or between various steps herein disclosed unless and except when the order of individual steps is explicitly described. 
     Devices and methods are described herein for mess-free sand play. In particular, one aspect of the disclosure is directed to a device including a tray coupled to a cover enclosing a predetermined amount of non-magnetic loose, granular sand and at least a moveable device or internal stylus. The moveable device or internal stylus comprises a closed cell foam tip and a magnetic top. The moveable device or internal stylus is movable through the sand via an external stylus comprising a magnetic tip. The magnetic top of the moveable device or internal stylus and the magnetic tip of the external stylus are configured to attract each other so that the moveable device or internal stylus is able to be dragged through the loose, granular sand within the confines of the mess-free sand play device. As the moveable device or internal stylus is moved around through the sand, the moveable device or internal stylus is configured to leave a track in the sand, behind its travel path. 
     In a further aspect, the mess-free sand play device further comprises at least one lighting component configured to expose the enclosed sand to an amount of light, such as a color lighting component configured to shine a colored light onto the loose, granular sand so that the loose, granular sand appears illuminated and/or colored, such as having the appearance of the color of light shone onto it. In some aspects, the lighting component dispenses light into the cavity in a particular direction, such as at an angle towards the surface of the enclosed sand. The lighting component may be battery operated and/or electricity operated, and may further be configured to include multiple visible colors. In accordance with aspects herein, a switch may be provided to manually and/or automatically cycle through the multiple visible colors of the lighting component. By illuminating the sand surrounding a path that is cleared of sand by the internal stylus, the areas of displaced sand and revealed tray are emphasized markings surrounded by the lit sand within an enclosed drawing environment, in aspects of the invention. 
     With reference now to the figures, a mess-free sand play device is described in accordance with aspects herein. Various aspects are described with respect to the figures in which like elements are depicted with like reference numerals. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-7 , an exemplary mess-free sand play device  100  is shown. In  FIG. 1 , the exemplary mess-free sand play device  100  includes a tray  12  coupled to a cover  14  with a clear window  16 , forming a cavity  94 . The tray  12  comprises an upstanding wall rising from a perimeter of tray  12 , the upstanding wall comprising a wall interior  18  and a wall exterior  44 . There is also optionally provided at least one lighting component  20  located within the cavity  94  near a top end of the upstanding wall, above the loose, granular sand level, to reflect light onto the loose, granular sand  46 . The at least one lighting component  20  may be, for example, an LED lighting component comprising one or more visible colors. The at least one lighting component  20  may, for example, comprise three visible colors, six visible colors, ten visible colors, twelve visible colors, twenty-four visible colors, or any number of visible colors desired. When more than one lighting component  20  is provided, each lighting component  20  may operate simultaneously with the other, shining the same color at the same time, or simultaneously with the other, shining different visible colors at the same time to form new visible colors by virtue of the mixing of the reflection of the shone light visible colors. The visible colors of the light may be automatically changed and/or may be manually changed by actuating a switch  40 , also provided on an exterior surface of the mess-free sand play device  100 . 
     The mess-free sand play device  100  may further comprise a moveable device or internal stylus  28 . The moveable device or internal stylus  28  may comprise a foam tip  30  and a magnet encased within magnet housing  32 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the moveable device or internal stylus  28 , the loose, granular sand  46 , and the lighting component  20  may all be enclosed within tray  12  and cover  14 . Further, although not shown, the moveable device or internal stylus  28  may further include a magnet  52  (shown in  FIGS. 5A-5B  and  FIG. 7 ) within a dock  24  and internal to the cover  14 . Furthermore, the mess-free sand play device  100  may comprise an external stylus  26  with a magnetic tip  42 . The external stylus  26  may be optionally tethered to the mess-free sand play device  100  via tether  22 , which is attached to the mess-free sand play device  100  at a first tether outlet  36 , and which is attached to the external stylus  26  at a second tether outlet  34 . When not in use, the dock  24  is configured to receive the external stylus  26 , and if magnetized, the dock  24  is configured to securely hold the external stylus  26  in place and guide a user to the storage location by magnetically pulling the external stylus  26  into the dock  24  when the external stylus  26  is in the vicinity of the dock  24 . Additionally, the mess-free sand play device  100  may be designed to comprise a carrying handle  38 , which may be ergonomically shaped to be easily carried by, for example, a small toddler. 
     Moving on to  FIG. 2A , a perspective view of the mess-free sand play device  100  of  FIG. 1 , with the tether  22  removed from view, includes a mess-free sand play device  100  in a rest/store position in accordance with aspects herein. As it can be observed from  FIG. 2A , the external stylus  26  is configured to fit within the dock  24 . Further, it can be observed that the moveable device or internal stylus  28  is configured to remain in a generally upright position within the cavity  94 , with the foam tip  30  pointing downward toward the tray  12  and the magnet within magnet housing  32  pointing upward toward the clear window  16 . As described above, the magnet inside the magnet housing  32  may be covered by a soft material such as a woven or non-woven fabric to provide a buffer between the magnet and the interior surface of clear window  16  and thereby prevent scratching of the interior surface of clear window  16  as the moveable device or internal stylus  28  is moved around. 
       FIG. 2B  shows a perspective view of the mess-free sand play device  100  of  FIG. 2A , in an active/use position in accordance with aspects herein. As it can be observed in  FIG. 2B , the external stylus  26  magnetically engages with moveable device or internal stylus  28  and is configured to pull moveable device or internal stylus  28  through the loose, granular sand  46  within the confines of the cavity  94 . As the moveable device or internal stylus  28  is moved through the loose, granular sand  46 , the foam tip  30  forms a path  10  in the spread out loose, granular sand  46 . In accordance with aspects herein, the path  10  comprises a path of exposed tray void of sand. When light is shone onto the path  10 , the path of exposed tray void of sand appears darker in appearance than parts of the path covered by the loose, granular sand  46 . The path  10  may be easily removed from the sand by gently shaking the mess-free sand play device  100  to redistribute the loose, granular sand  46 . Once shaken, the mess-free sand play device  100  is reset and again ready for forming new paths  10  in the loose, granular sand  46 . In accordance with aspects herein, the loose, granular sand  46  comprises a non-magnetic material. 
     Moving on to  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view along the plane passing through the line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 2B  in accordance with aspects herein. As it can be clearly observed from  FIG. 3 , foam tip  30  of moveable device or internal stylus  28  may not be perfectly perpendicular to the planar surface of tray  12 , but rather, it is slightly angled, deviating between about 1 and 10 degrees from perpendicular. This slightly angled configuration for the foam tip  30  may allow the moveable device or internal stylus  28  to easily glide through the loose, granular sand  46  and be less prone to getting stuck or caught within the cavity  94 , thereby making the process of doodling in the loose, granular sand  46  a smooth process. Further, the angled configuration of the foam tip  30  allows for the loose, granular sand  46  to fall back into the path  10  at an inward angle, as the foam tip  30  is pulled through the loose, granular sand  46 , thereby creating the impression of outlines for the path  10 . 
     As it can be further observed from  FIG. 3 , the lighting component  20  may be located near the top of the mess-free sand play device  100 , such as near the cover  14 . This configuration allows, in some aspects, for the lighting component  20  to be above the level of the loose, granular sand  46  to reflect light onto the loose, granular sand  46 . As described above, the at least one lighting component  20  may be battery and/or electricity operated. For example, lighting component  20  may be powered by battery  80 . In  FIG. 3 , for example, three lighting components  20  are depicted. The lighting component  20  is located along an internal perimeter of the mess-free sand play device  100  in order to prevent obstruction of the clear window  16 . The lighting component  20  may be evenly distributed on one or more sides, or all sides, of the mess-free sand play device  100  to allow for a uniform distribution of light on the surface of the loose, granular sand  46 . As further submitted above, the lighting component  20  may be an LED lighting component  20  configured to change visible colors manually on demand via a switch  40 , or automatically cycle through the different visible colors when the lighting component  20  is turned on. In a different aspect, the clear window  16 , itself, may comprise a lighting component  20  configured to change into different visible colors manually or automatically. It should be understood that the lighting component  20  may be made available to enhance the play experience with the mess-free sand play device  100 ; however, it is not necessary for its operation. 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded view of various components of an exemplary external stylus  26  in accordance with aspects herein. The external stylus  26  may take any suitable shape for a comfortable fit for an intended user&#39;s hands.  FIG. 4 , for example, shows external stylus  26  having a pear-shaped handle  70 . The handle  70  is configured to securely enclose different components such as a magnet  58  inside the handle  70 . For example, the external stylus  26  may comprise at least a tip housing  62 , a magnet  58 , a woven or non-woven fabric covering  60 , and a retaining collar  64 . In accordance with aspects herein, the pear-shaped handle  70  may be formed as a single piece or, in the alternative, in two or more pieces. This may also be true for the tip housing  62  and the retaining collar  64 . When formed in two or more pieces, once the pieces are fitted together, the different respective pieces for the individual components may be glued together and/or heated or ultrasonically welded together. As an additional added safety feature, the pear-shaped handle  70  may further comprise one or more screw anchors  56  to further hold one or more pieces of the pear-shaped handle  70  together. The pear-shaped handle  70 , the tip housing  62 , the magnet  58 , the fabric covering  60 , and the retaining collar  64  may be configured to tightly fit together as, for example, puzzle pieces, as further shown in  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 5A  is an exploded view of various components of an exemplary moveable device or internal stylus  28 , in accordance with aspects herein. As described above, moveable device or internal stylus  28  comprises a foam tip  30 . The foam tip  30  may be secured to a magnet housing  32 , the magnet housing  32  comprising at least a magnet  52  secured within a case  54 , woven or non-woven fabric or textile covering  48 , and a retaining collar  50 . As can be observed from  FIG. 5A , the foam tip  30  may comprise an opening  98  configured to fit a rod  96  of case  54 , thereby immobilizing the foam tip  30 . The case  54  may further comprise a cavity  72  configured to fit one or more magnets  52  and an unexposed portion of the foam tip  30 . As such, the internal stylus  28  may generally include a foam tip  30  opposite a magnet  52  within a housing device that maintains the internal stylus  28  in a generally upright position within the cavity  94 . 
     In accordance with aspects herein, the case  54  may be manufactured from a hard plastic, wood, or metal material, and the retaining collar  50  may be manufactured from a rubber, plastic, wood, or metal material. For example, these parts may be manufactured from a polycarbonate plastic material, or other material configured to secure a foam feature, a magnetic feature, and the like. The foam tip  30  may be manufactured from a closed cell foam material, or any other material configured to disperse sand along a path within the cavity  94 . Further, the magnet  52  may be a permanent magnet. As shown, the magnet  52  may be disc shaped; alternatively, the magnet  52  may be square shaped, triangle shaped, or shaped in any suitable form to fit within cavity  72  of case  54 , depending on the shape of case  54 . The foam tip  30  of the moveable device or internal stylus  28 , in accordance with aspects herein, may comprise a closed cell foam structure having a height that is less than or equal to a height  96  of the cavity  94  of the exemplary mess-free sand play device  100 , wherein the height  96  of the cavity  94  is measured from an interior surface  97  of the tray  12  to an interior surface  98  of the cover  14 . 
       FIG. 5B  shows an alternative material for textile covering  48  for moveable device or internal stylus  28 . For example, the textile covering  48  for moveable device or internal stylus  28  may comprise an uneven surface, such as shown, with a plurality of loops  90 , like the loops  90  shown on  FIG. 5B . The uneven surface of the textile covering  48  may be desirable to prevent sand granules from becoming trapped between the interior surface of clear window  16  and the top surface  92  of textile covering  48 . This is because if sand granules were to become trapped between top surface  92  and the interior surface of clear window  16 , the trapped sand granules may potentially scratch the interior surface of clear window  16  when the moveable device or internal stylus  28  is moved across the clear window  16 , thereby causing the mess-free sand play device to become unsightly, and causing the view through clear window  16  to be inhibited. With the plurality of loops  90 , the moveable device or internal stylus  28  is allowed to remain compressed against the clear window  16 , while any trapped sand granules are allowed to fall through the loops  90  and back to tray  12  as the moveable device or internal stylus  28  is pulled through the loose, granular sand  46 . 
       FIG. 6  is a side, perspective view of the external stylus  26  and the moveable device or internal stylus  28  showing their interaction, in accordance with aspects herein. As seen from  FIG. 6 , when the magnetic tip  42  of the external stylus  26  and the top surface  92  of the moveable device or internal stylus  28  are aligned with each other, the magnet of the magnetic tip  42  is configured to be attracted to the top surface  92  of moveable device or internal stylus  28  via the magnet located within magnet housing  32 . This attraction allows for the manipulation of moveable device or internal stylus  28  via the external stylus  26  when they are provided as part of the mess-free sand play device  100 . Additionally, as discussed above, all components of external stylus  26  may be glued together, ultrasonically and/or heat bonded, and for added safety, one or more screws  68  may be provided at one or more screw anchors  56  to ensure that the external stylus  26  does not open and fall apart, even in the event that the glued on part, or heat or ultrasonically welded parts, fail. The one or more screw anchors  56  may be recessed from the surface of the external stylus  26  so that the screws  68  are hidden from view and not readily exposed. 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view along the plane passing through the line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 6  in accordance with aspects herein. In  FIG. 7 , it can be readily observed how the different components of external stylus  26  and the different components of moveable device or internal stylus  28  are securely fitted together. 
     Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as well as components not shown, are possible without departing from the scope of the claims below. Aspects of the technology have been described with the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative examples will become apparent to readers of this disclosure after and because of reading it. Alternative means of implementing the aforementioned can be completed without departing from the scope of the claims below. Certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims.