Patent Publication Number: US-2022227617-A1

Title: Liquid dispenser

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0008892, filed in Korea on Jan. 21, 2021, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     Disclosed herein is a liquid dispenser, such as a water purifier, and specifically, a water purifier that ensures ease of a connection and disconnection of a water discharger. 
     2. Background 
     Water purifiers are a type of liquid dispensing devices that filter water and remove impurities included in the water, and used by households and businesses and the like. A water purifier used by most households connects to a water tap and removes suspended solids or harmful substances and the like contained in tap water with a filter, and based on a user&#39;s manipulation, purifies and discharges a desired amount of water. The water purifier discharges cool water and hot water as well as purified water, and is provided with a control valve respectively for discharging cool water, hot water and purified water. 
     A water discharger of the water purifier can separate from a main body of the water purifier or be integrated with the main body of the water purifier. However, costs and time spent connecting a tube of a connection pipe of the water discharger to a tube of the main body and disconnecting the tube of the connection pipe of the water discharger from the tube of the main body increase. 
     As a related art, a water purifier and a control method thereof are disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No.10-2020-0013021 (published on Feb. 5, 2020). 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a water purifier in one embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view showing the water purifier in one embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view showing a water discharger separated from a water discharger connector in one embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing the water discharger coupled to the water discharger connector in one embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view showing the water discharger coupled to the water discharger connector in one embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing a water discharge pipe connected to a connector part in one embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  is a partially cut perspective view showing the water discharge pipe connected to the connector part in one embodiment; and 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing the water discharger and the water discharger connector in one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the disclosure, detailed descriptions of known technologies in relation to the disclosure are omitted if they are deemed to make the gist of the disclosure unnecessarily vague. Below, preferred embodiments according to the disclosure are specifically described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, identical reference numerals can denote identical or similar components. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a water purifier (or liquid dispenser)  1  in one embodiment, and  FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view showing the water purifier  1  in one embodiment. As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the water purifier  1  in one embodiment may include at least one of a base tray (or base)  10 , a filter  20 , a direct water supply module  30 , a cool water module (or cooler)  40 , a hot water module (or heater)  50 , a first controller  60 , a second controller  70 , a third controller  80 , a water discharger (or liquid discharger)  100 , and a water discharger connector (or liquid discharger connector)  200 . The water purifier  1  in one embodiment provides a path connecting structure in which a water discharge pipe (or liquid discharge pipe)  230  automatically connects to a connector part (or coupling)  150  when the water discharger  100  connects to the water discharger connector  200  (see  FIG. 3 ). 
     The base tray  10  forms a lower portion of the water purifier  1 , and electronic components may be disposed at an upper side of the base tray  10 . The filter  20  configured to purify water, the cool water module  40  configured to cool purified water, and the hot water module  50  configured to heat purified water are disposed at the upper side of the base tray  10 . 
     The direct water supply module is disposed between the filter  20  and the cool water module  40 , and controls a direction of movement of water. The hot water module  50  configured to heat water is disposed near the direct water supply module. The direct water supply module  30  connects to the cool water module  40 , the hot water module  50 , the water discharger connector  200  and the like through an inner tube  90 . 
     Additionally, the first controller  60 , the second controller  70  and the third controller  80  are disposed at the upper side of the base tray  10  to control valves and the like installed inside the cool water module  40 , the hot water module  50  and the direct water supply module  30 , thereby controlling operation of the water purifier  1 . The number of the controllers may increase or decrease. For example, the first controller  60 , the second controller  70 , and the third controller  80  may be combined into a single component or printed circuit board. 
     The water discharger connector  200  provided with a water discharge valve (or liquid discharge valve)  220  is disposed at an upper side of the filter  20 . The water discharger  100  is rotatably supported by an upper side of the water discharger connector  200 . Through the water discharger  100 , various liquids such as cool water, purified water, hot water and the like are discharged. The water purifier  1  without an outer case is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The outer case is a component that is wide known. Accordingly, detailed description in relation to this is omitted. 
     In the water purifier  1 , configured as described above, according to the disclosure, paths of the water discharger  100  and the water discharger connector  200  automatically connect only by mounting the water discharger  100  onto the water discharger connector  200 , thereby prevent leakage of the connected portion, ensuring ease of assembly, maintenance and repairs. 
     Further, in the water purifier  1  in which the water discharger  100  is rotatable, water discharge paths automatically connect when the rotating water discharger  100  is coupled to the water discharger connector  200 . Since the water discharge valve  220  is directly coupled to the water discharge pipe  230  without a connecting component, the water purifier  1  can have a compact size, and the number of components can decrease, resulting in a reduction in the costs incurred for raw materials. 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view showing a water discharger  100  separated from a water discharger connector  200  in one embodiment,  FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing the water discharger  100  coupled to the water discharger connector  200  in one embodiment, and  FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view showing the water discharger  100  coupled to the water discharger connector  200  in one embodiment. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 to 5 , the water discharger  100  in one embodiment may include a water discharger body part (or liquid discharger body)  110 , a rotation guide rail part  120 , a fixed bracket part  130 , a water discharger tube part (or liquid discharger tube)  140  and a connector part (or coupling)  150 . 
     As the water discharger  100  is mounted onto the water discharger connector  200 , the water discharge pipe (or liquid discharge pipe)  230  connects to the connector part  150 . As the water discharger  100  rotatably disposed at the water discharger connector  200  moves to upper and lower sides of the water discharger connector  200 , to be mounted onto the water discharger connector  200 , the water discharge pipe  230  is inserted into a lower side of the connector part  150  such that the water discharge pipe  230  automatically connects to the connector part  150 . 
     The water discharger  100  may be implemented in various different forms within the technical scope in which the water discharger  100  is coupled to the upper side of the water discharger connector  200  and provided with the connector part  150  connected to the water discharge pipe  230  based on fitted-coupling. Additionally, the water discharger  100  may be rotatably disposed at the water discharger connector  200 . 
     The water discharger body part  110  may be implemented in various different forms within the technical scope in which the water discharger body part  110  is disposed at the upper side of the water discharger connector  200 . The water discharger body part  110  in one embodiment may include a first body  112  extended vertically and having a hollow part (or cavity)  114  therein, and a second body  116  extended from the first body  112  and disposed at the upper side of the water discharger connector  200 . 
     While the second body  116  extends along a circumferential shape, the rotation guide rail part (or rotation guide rail)  120  connects to a lower side of the second body  116 . The water discharger tube part  140  is installed inside the first body  112  and the second body  116 . 
     The rotation guide rail part  120  may be implemented in various different forms within the technical scope in which the rotation guide rail part  120  is disposed a lower side of the water discharger  100  facing the water discharger connector  200  and mounted onto a fixed guide rail part (or fixed guide rail)  240 . The rotation guide rail part  120  connected to a lower side of the water discharger body part  110  may be mounted onto the fixed guide rail part  240  disposed at the water discharger connector  200  and rotate along a circumferential direction. To this end, the rotation guide rail part  120  may extend at the lower side of the water discharger body part  110  along the circumferential direction and be mounted onto a guide groove  246  with which the fixed guide rail part  240  is provided. The rotation guide rail part  120  extends along a ring shape and protrudes downward to sit inside the fixed guide rail part  240 . 
     The fixed bracket part (or fixed bracket)  130  may be implemented in various different forms within the technical scope in which the fixed bracket part  130  extends to an inside of the rotation guide rail part  120  and limits movement of the connector part  150 . The connector part  150  connects to the water discharger tube part  140 , and its movement is limited by the fixed bracket part  130 . The fixed bracket part  130  in one embodiment includes an extension bracket  132 , a first bracket  134 , and a second bracket  138  (see  FIG. 6 ). 
     The extension bracket  132  extends from the rotation guide rail part  120  to the connector part  150 . The connector part  150  is disposed at a rotation center of the water discharger  100 , and the extension bracket  132  extended from the water discharger body part  110  or the rotation guide rail part  120  forms a bracket extended toward the connector part  150 . 
     The first bracket  134  connects to the extension bracket  132  and is disposed along a circumference of the connector part  150 . Additionally, both ends of the first bracket  134  are spaced to form a mounting inlet  136  (see  FIG. 6 ). The first bracket  134  extends along the circumference of the connector part  150  and connects to the extension bracket  132 . Since both of the ends of the first bracket  134  are spaced to form the mounting inlet  136 , the connector part  150  may move in and out of the first bracket  134  through the mounting inlet  136 . 
     The second bracket  138  may be implemented in various different forms within the technical scope in which the second bracket  138  extends from the first bracket  134 , and is inserted into a mounting groove  154  provided outside the connector part  150  and limits movement of the connector part  150 . The second bracket  138  is disposed between the first bracket  134  and the connector part  150 , extends vertically, and contacts a lateral surface of the connector part  150 . A plurality of second brackets  138  is provided along the circumference the connector part  150 . Since the second bracket  138  is inserted onto the mounting groove  154  provided outside the connector part  150 , the second bracket  138  may limit movement of the connector part  150 . 
     The connector part  150 , connected to the water discharger tube part  140  and connected to or disconnected from the water discharge pipe  230  by moving vertically, is installed in a state of being fixed to the rotation center of the water discharger  100 . The first bracket  134  and the second bracket  138  may be injection-molded, have elasticity and bend to some degree. Accordingly, the connector part  150  is disposed inside the second bracket  138  through the mounting inlet  136 , and its movement is limited by a press of the second bracket  138 . 
     The water discharger connector  200  is provided with the water discharge valve (or liquid discharge valve)  220 , and the water discharge pipe  230 , connected to the water discharge valve  220  and extended upward, is inserted into the lower side of the connector part  150 . Since the water discharge pipe  230  and the connector part  150  are disposed at the rotation center of the water discharger  100 , the rotation center of the water discharger  100  is the same as positions of the water discharge pipe  230  or the connector part  150 . 
     One side of the water discharger tube part  140  may connect to the connector part  150 , and the other side of the water discharger tube part  140  may extend out of the water discharger body part  110  through the inside of the water discharger body part  110  or be disposed inside the water discharger body part  110 . The water discharger tube part  140  in one embodiment may include a first tube  142  disposed inside the first body  112 , a second tube  144  disposed inside the second body  116 , and a connection tube  146  connecting the second tube  144  and the connector part  150 . 
     The first tube  142  and the second tube  144  may be integrated and guide discharge of water. Additionally, the connection tube  146  is a tube bent in a “¬” shape, and connects an end of the second tube  144  and the connector part  150  and guides movement of water. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing a water discharge pipe  230  connected to a connector part  150  in one embodiment,  FIG. 7  is a partially cut perspective view showing the water discharge pipe  230  connected to the connector part  150  in one embodiment, and  FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing the water discharger  100  and the water discharger connector  200  in one embodiment. As illustrated in  FIGS. 6 to 8 , the connector part  150  may be implemented in various different forms within the technical scope in which the connector part  150  connects the water discharger tube part  140  and the water discharge pipe  230 . The connector part  150  is disposed at an upper side of the water discharge pipe  230 , and connected to the water discharge pipe  230  based on fitted-coupling. 
     The connector part  150  connected to the water discharge pipe  230  has no additional wedge structure for limiting a vertical movement of the water discharge pipe  230 , therein. Accordingly, the water discharge pipe  230  and the connector part  150  may be coupled or separated only by assembling and disassembling the water discharger  100 . The connector part  150  in one embodiment may include a connector body  152 , a first connection groove (or first connection opening)  155 , a second connection groove (or second connection opening)  156 , and a sealing member (or seal)  157 . 
     The connector body  152  is disposed at the rotation center of the water discharger  100  and extends vertically. The connector body  152  has an approximate cylinder shape, and a path through which purified water moves is formed vertically inside the connector body  152 . 
     The first connection groove  155  forms a groove for inserting the water discharge pipe  230 , at a lower side of the connector body  152 . Accordingly, the water discharge pipe  230  is inserted into the lower side of the connector body  152  through the first connection groove  155 . 
     The second connection groove  156  forms a groove into which the water discharger tube part  140  forming a water discharge path is inserted, at an upper side of the connector body  152 . Since the first connection groove  155  and the second connection groove  156  communicate vertically, a liquid such as purified water, moving upward through the water discharge pipe  230 , is delivered to the water discharger tube part  140  through the connector part  150 . 
     The sealing member  157  is disposed near the water discharger tube part  140  inserted into the connector part  150  and near the water discharge pipe  230 . The installation of the sealing member  157  leads to prevention of leakage of water out of the water discharger tube part  140  and the water discharge pipe  230 . 
     The water discharger connector  200  may be implemented in various different forms within the technical scope in which the water discharger connector  200  is provided with the water discharge valve  220  configured to control discharge of purified water, and the water discharge pipe  230  connected to the water discharge valve  220 . The water discharger connector  200  in one embodiment may include a water discharger connector body (or liquid discharger connector body)  210 , a water discharge valve (or liquid discharge valve)  220 , a water discharge pipe (or liquid discharge part)  230 , a fixed guide rail part (or fixed guide rail)  240 . 
     The water discharger connector body  210  supports the water discharge valve  220 , and is disposed at the upper side of the filter  20  in a state in which movement of the water discharger connector body  210  is limited. The water discharger connector body  210  is disposed at the lower side of the second body  116  and limits movement of the water discharge valve  220 . 
     The water discharge valve  220  is a valve that controls discharge of purified water. A connector such as a hook or a screw may be used to fix the water discharge valve  220  to the water discharger connector body  210 , and a gap may be formed between the water discharge valve  220  and the water discharger connector body  210  to prevent leakage caused by errors in the coupling portion of the rotating water discharger  100 . 
     The water discharge pipe  230  is disposed at the rotation center of the water discharger  100  and extends perpendicularly. A rigid pipe is used as the water discharge pipe  230  rather than a soft pipe. As the water discharger  100  is mounted onto the upper side of the water discharger connector  200  while moving from the upper side of the water discharger connector  200  to the lower side thereof, the water discharge pipe  230  and the connector part  150  connect. 
     The fixed guide rail part  240  connects to an upper side of the water discharger connector body  210  and forms the guide groove  246  along the circumferential direction. Accordingly, the fixed guide rail part  240  may be implemented in various different forms within the technical scope in which the fixed guide rail part supports the rotation guide rail part  120  of the water discharger  100  rotatably. The fixed guide rail part  240  in one embodiment includes a base rail  242  and a side member  244  (or side wall). 
     The base rail  242  is disposed at a lower side to face the water discharger  100 , and extends along the circumferential direction, to form a lower surface of the guide groove  246 . The base rail  242  forms a flat surface along the circumferential direction, and the rotation guide rail part  120  is mounted onto the base rail  242  while contacting the base rail  242 . 
     Since the side member  244  forms a wall that protrudes upward from both sides of the base rail  242  and prevents the rotation guide rail part  120  mounted onto the guide groove  246  from escaping. A longitudinal cross section of the fixed guide rail part  240  has a “⊏” or U-shape that is open upward, and the guide groove  246  is formed by the base rail  242  and the side member  244 . 
     As the water discharger  100  is mounted onto the upper side of the water discharger connector  200  while moving from the upper side of the water discharger connector  200  to the lower side thereof, the water discharge pipe  230  and the connector part  150  connect. The rotation guide rail part  120  of the water discharger  100  is mounted onto the fixed guide rail part  240  of the water discharger connector  200 . As the water discharger  100  moves downward, the water discharge pipe  230  is inserted into the first connection groove  155  of the connector part  150 . 
     Only by connection the water discharger  100  to the water discharger connector  200 , the water discharge pipe  230  and the water discharger tube part  140  are connected by the connector part  150 , thereby reducing the risk of leakage in the coupling portion and ensuring ease of assembly and management. Additionally, the water discharge valve  220  directly connects to the water discharge pipe without a connecting component, thereby making a product compact and reducing costs incurred for raw materials. 
     Further, when the water discharger  100  moves to the upper side of the water discharger connector  200  and separates from the water discharger connector  200 , the water discharge pipe  230  automatically separates from the connector part  150 . Accordingly, additional work for separating the paths is not required. Furthermore, since the connector part  150  and the water discharge pipe  230  have a rigid body, the paths automatically separate only by separating the water discharger  100  from the water discharger connector  200 . 
     An aspect of the present disclosure provides a water purifier that ensures ease of a connection and disconnection of a water discharger. Also, as aspect of the present disclosure provides a water purifier that ensures simplicity in the installation structure of the water discharger, reducing manufacturing costs incurred for the product and making the product compact. 
     Aspects according to the present disclosure are not limited to the above ones, and other aspects and advantages that are not mentioned above can be clearly understood from the foregoing description and can be more clearly understood from the embodiments set forth herein. Additionally, the aspects in the present disclosure can be realized via means and combinations thereof that are described in the appended claims. 
     To achieve the above aspects, a water purifier according to the disclosure allows of a connection between a water discharge pipe and a connector part as a water discharger is mounted onto a water discharger connector. Specifically, as the water discharger rotatably disposed at the water discharger connector moves perpendicularly and is mounted onto the water discharger connector, the water discharge pipe is inserted into a lower side of the connector part, and the water discharge pipe and the connector part connect. 
     A liquid dispenser, such as a water purifier, in on embodiment may include a water discharger connector provided with a water discharge valve configured to control discharge of purified water and a water discharge pipe connected to the water discharge valve, and a water discharger coupled to an upper side of the water discharger connector and provided with a connector part that connects to the water discharge pipe based on fitted-coupling, and as the water discharger is mounted onto the upper side of the water discharger connector while moving from the upper side of the water discharger connector to a lower side thereof, the water discharge pipe and the connector part may connect. 
     The water discharger connector may include a water discharger connector body which supports the water discharge valve and movement of which is limited, and a fixed guide rail part connected to the upper side of the water discharger connector body and forming a guide groove along a circumferential direction. The fixed guide rail part may include a base rail disposed at a lower side to face the water discharger, extending along the circumferential direction and forming a lower surface of the guide groove, and a side member protruding upward from both sides of the base rail. 
     The water discharger may be rotatably disposed at the water discharger connector. The water discharge pipe may be disposed at a rotation center of the water discharger and extend perpendicularly. Additionally, the water discharger may include a water discharger body part disposed at the upper side of the water discharger connector, and a water discharger tube part one side of which connects to the connector part and the other side of which extends out of the water discharger body part through an inside of the water discharger body part. 
     Further, the water discharger may further include a rotation guide rail part connected to a lower side of the water discharger body part facing the water discharger connector and mounted onto a fixed guide rail part with which the water discharger connector is provided. The rotation guide rail part may extend from the lower side of the water discharger body part along the circumferential direction and sit in a guide groove with which the fixed guide rail part is provided. 
     The water discharger may further include a fixed bracket part extending to an inside of the rotation guide rail part and limiting movement of the connector part. The fixed bracket part may include an extension bracket extending from the rotation guide rail part to the connector part, a first bracket which is connected to the extension bracket and installed along a circumference of the connector part and both ends of which are spaced to form a mounting inlet, and a second bracket extending from the first bracket, inserted into a mounting groove disposed outside the connector part and limiting movement of the connector part. 
     The connector part may include a connector body disposed at a rotation center of the water discharger and extending vertically, a first connection groove forming a groove for inserting the water discharge pipe at a lower side of the connector body, and a second connection groove into which a water discharger tube part is inserted, and the water discharger tube part forms a water discharge path at an upper side of the connector body. The first connection groove and the second connection groove may communicate. 
     A water purifier in one embodiment may include a water discharger connector provided with a water discharge valve configured to control discharge of purified water and a water discharge pipe connected to the water discharge valve, and a water discharger coupled to an upper side of the water discharger connector and provided with a connector part that connects to the water discharge pipe based on fitted-coupling. The water discharger connector may include a water discharger connector body which supports the water discharge valve and movement of which is limited, and a fixed guide rail part connected to the upper side of the water discharger connector body and forming a guide groove along a circumferential direction. 
     The water discharger may include a rotation guide rail part disposed at a lower side of the water discharger facing the water discharger connector and mounted onto the fixed guide rail part. The fixed guide rail part may include a base rail disposed at a lower side to face the water discharger, extending along the circumferential direction and forming a lower surface of the guide groove, and a side member protruding upward from both sides of the base rail. 
     The water discharge pipe may be disposed at a rotation center of the water discharger and extend perpendicularly. As the water discharger is mounted onto the upper side of the water discharger connector while moving from the upper side of the water discharger connector to a lower side thereof, the water discharge pipe and the connector part may connect. 
     Additionally, the water discharger may further include a fixed bracket part extending to an inside of the rotation guide rail part and limiting movement of the connector part. The fixed bracket part may include an extension bracket extending from the rotation guide rail part to the connector part, a first bracket which is connected to the extension bracket and installed along a circumference of the connector part and both ends of which are spaced to form a mounting inlet, and a second bracket extending from the first bracket, inserted into a mounting groove disposed outside the connector part and limiting movement of the connector part. 
     In a water purifier according to the present disclosure, a connector part and a water discharge pipe connect only by moving a water discharger vertically, thereby reducing the costs and time spent maintaining and repairing the water discharger. In the water purifier according to the present disclosure, the number of components required for connecting the water discharge pipe and the connector part decreases, thereby reducing manufacturing costs incurred for the product and making the product compact. 
     The embodiments are described above with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof. However, embodiments are not limited to the embodiments and drawings set forth herein, and numerous other modifications and embodiments can be drawn by one skilled in the art without departing from the technical spirit of the disclosure. Further, the effects and predictable effects based on the configurations in the disclosure are to be included within the range of the disclosure though not explicitly described in the description of the embodiments. 
     It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being “on” another element or layer, the element or layer can be directly on another element or layer or intervening elements or layers. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” another element or layer, there are no intervening elements or layers present. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. 
     It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third, etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the present invention. 
     Spatially relative terms, such as “lower”, “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe the relationship of one element or feature to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation, in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “lower” relative to other elements or features would then be oriented “upper” relative to the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “lower” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated  90  degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
     Embodiments are described herein with reference to cross-section illustrations that are schematic illustrations of idealized embodiments (and intermediate structures). As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, embodiments should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes of regions illustrated herein but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing. 
     Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. 
     Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,” etc., means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. The appearances of such phrases in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with any embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the purview of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other ones of the embodiments. 
     Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.