Patent Publication Number: US-10327598-B2

Title: Shower door assembly

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/966,657, filed Dec. 11, 2015, which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/091,182, filed Dec. 12, 2014. The entire disclosures of the foregoing applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Shower door assemblies typically include a header coupled between fixed portions of a shower enclosure or a portion of a building structure (e.g., a wall, a ceiling, a joist, a door frame, etc.). The header may include an internal track for receiving a door assembly. The door assembly may include a door panel and one or more rollers, such as bearing wheels or the like, for rolling engagement with the internal track of the header. Typically, the door assembly is installed in the header with the roller(s) in rolling engagement with the internal track. The door is configured to move relative to the header along the track between an open position and a closed position to allow a user to enter and exit the shower enclosure. However, with traditional shower door assemblies, when a shower door is moved between an open and a closed position, the door may sometimes move or jump in a vertical direction from the track (e.g., due to an obstruction or an object in the path of the door), thereby causing the door to derail from the track. 
     Some shower door assemblies include features integrated within the header for preventing the shower door from jumping and derailing from the track. However, these integrated features make it difficult to install the shower door onto the header track because the features are typically fixed at a position directly above the track and door. Furthermore, the clearance or gap between these features and the track is typically large to allow for installation of the door onto the track, which can permit an undesirable amount of vertical movement (e.g., jumping) of the door when the door is moved along the track. 
     It would be advantageous to provide an improved shower door assembly that includes features intended to prevent derailing of a shower door from its track. These and other advantageous features will be apparent to those reviewing the present disclosure. 
     SUMMARY 
     One embodiment relates to a shower door assembly including a header, a door, and an elongated member. The header includes a track and a channel disposed above the track. The door is in moving engagement with the track. The elongated member is received within and slidably coupled to the channel and is configured to be moved within the channel between a first position to allow for removal of the door from the track, and a second position to substantially impede upright movement of the door when the door is moved along the track between an open and a closed position. 
     Another embodiment relates to a shower assembly including a header and an elongated member. The header includes a track and a channel disposed above the track. The elongated member is received within and slidably coupled to the channel and is configured to be moved within the channel between a first position to allow for installation or removal of a door to or from the track, and a second position to substantially impede upright movement of the door while in moving engagement with the track. 
     Yet another embodiment relates to an elongated member for a shower door assembly including a side wall, a bottom wall, and a protrusion. The bottom wall extends perpendicularly from a lower portion of the side wall. The protrusion extends outwardly between the sidewall and the bottom wall, and is configured to be received within and slidably coupled to a channel of a header. The elongated member is configured to be slid within the channel between a first position to allow for installation or removal of a door onto or from the header and a second position to substantially impede upright movement of the door when the door is moved between an open and a closed position along the header. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a shower door assembly, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIGS. 2A-2B  are cross-sectional views taken along line  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1  showing an elongated member at two different positions, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 2C  is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1  showing a door panel at an instance when it is contacting an object while moving along a header, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 3A  is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line  3 A- 3 A in  FIG. 2B , according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 3B  is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line  3 B- 3 B in  FIG. 2C , according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of a header, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of an elongated member, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of an elongated member, according to another exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of an elongated member, according to another exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring generally to the FIGURES, disclosed herein are shower door assemblies including an elongated member that is configured to move between two positions within a shower door header. In a first position (e.g., an installation position), a shower door can be moved in an upward direction to allow engagement or disengagement of the shower door rollers (e.g., wheels, etc.) from the track of the header, such as during installation or removal of the door onto/from the track. In a second position (e.g., a use position), the elongated member reduces (e.g., impedes, obstructs, prevents, etc.) upward and/or front-to-back movement of the door when the door is moved between an open and a closed position, because at least one of the shower door wheels is constrained by the elongated member. 
     For example, before a shower door is installed onto the header, a user can slide the elongated member within the header to the first position located toward an end of the header, thereby creating an installation area sufficient to facilitate installation of the door onto the header track. With the elongated member at the first position, the door can be easily installed onto the track, because the elongated member is clear of the roller(s) and other parts of the door. Once the door is installed onto the track, a user or installer can slide the elongated member within the header to the second position located between the two ends of the header. The second position within the header is such that regardless of the position of the door along the track, the roller(s) of the door nearest the center of the opening are constrained by the elongated member. That is, when the door is moved between an open and a closed position, the elongated member can act to impede upward and/or front-to-back movement of the door so as to prevent the door from derailing from the header track. In this manner, the elongated member provides flexibility for installing/removing shower doors while ensuring seamless operation of the door when the door is moved between an open and a closed position. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a shower door assembly  100  is shown according to an exemplary embodiment. The shower door assembly  100  includes a header  110  coupled to a fixed structure  200  (e.g., a wall, a ceiling, a joist, a door frame, etc.). According to an exemplary embodiment, the fixed structure  200  may be a bathing enclosure or a shower enclosure. According to other exemplary embodiments, the fixed structure  200  is a portion of a building structure or other similar type of fixed structure. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the header  110  is coupled to a wall  201  of the fixed structure  200  at a first end  110   a . The header  110  is coupled to a second wall  202  (shown in phantom) opposite the wall  201  at a second end of the header  110 . As shown, the walls  201  and  202  are each coupled to a floor  203 . According to other exemplary embodiments (not shown), the walls  201  and  202  are each coupled to portions of a bath tub, a platform, or another similar type of fixed structure. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the assembly  100  includes one or more door panels  130  in moving engagement (e.g., rolling engagement, sliding engagement, etc.) with the header  110  by, for example, one or more rollers  150  (e.g., wheels, etc.). According to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the assembly  100  includes two door panels  130  arranged back-to-back within the header  110  (e.g., outer and inner shower door panels). The door panels  130  are positioned such that there is a gap or space between them to allow for relative translational movement within the header  110 . According to an exemplary embodiment, each door panel  130  includes two rollers  150 , although a different number of rollers  150  may be used according to other exemplary embodiments. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the rollers  150  are shown as bearing wheels. However, according to other exemplary embodiments, the rollers  150  may be another type of wheel, a slider, or any other suitable element to permit movement of the door  130  relative to the header  110 . 
     The assembly  100  further includes one or more elongated members  160  received within and slidably coupled to the header  110 . The elongated members  160  are each shown at a first position (e.g., an installation position) within the header  110  in which they are positioned away from the door panels  130  toward the ends of the header  110  proximate the walls  201  and  202 , respectively. In the first position shown, the elongated members  160  are clear of the rollers  150  such that an area sufficient to allow installation or removal of the door panels  130  from the header  110  is created. The elongated member  160  is configured to move within the header  110  between the first position shown and a second position (shown in  FIG. 2B ), where the elongated member  160  can act to substantially impede upward and/or front-to-back movement of the rollers  150 . 
     For example,  FIG. 2A  is a partial section view taken along line  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1 , with the elongated member  160  at the first position denoted by  160 A within the header  110 . As shown in  FIG. 2A , the header  110  has a centerline located a distance D 1  from the first end  110   a . The rollers  150  are located on the door panel  130  a distance D 2  relative to each other. The elongated member  160  has a length L 1  that is less than the distance D 1  of the header  110  such that when the elongated member  160  is at the first position  160 A, the door panel  130  can be installed onto the header  110  without interference from the elongated member  160 . When the elongated member  160  is at the second position  160 B (shown in  FIG. 2B  and discussed below), the roller(s)  150  nearest the center of the opening are constrained by the elongated member  160  regardless of the position of the door panel  130  along the header  110 . That is, the length L 1  of the elongated member  160  is short enough to allow the rollers  150  to move in an upward direction to engage/disengage the header  110  for installation/removal of the door panel  130  when the elongated member is at the first position, but is long enough to constrain the roller(s)  150  located nearest the center when the elongated member  160  is at the second position within the header  110 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2B , the elongated member  160  is shown at the second position denoted by  160 B within the header  110 . The elongated member  160  can be selectively moved (e.g., slid, etc.) within the header  110  between the first position  160 A and the second position  160 B (denoted by the arrow shown in  FIG. 2A ), for example, by a user or an installer applying a force to the elongated member  160 . As shown in  FIG. 2B , the elongated member  160  is disposed above the rollers  150  such that the rollers  150  located nearest the center of the header  110  are constrained by the elongated member  160 . As explained above, the length L 1  of the elongated member  160  is such that when the elongated member is at the second position  160 B, regardless of the position of the door panel  130  along the header  110  between walls  201  and  202 , the roller(s)  150  located nearest the center of the opening are constrained by the elongated member  160 . 
     For example, referring to  FIG. 2C , if the door panel  130  is being moved in a direction from right to left (denoted by an arrow on door panel  130 ) and the door contacts an object  170  (e.g., a shampoo bottle, etc.) near the bottom of the door panel  130 , the door panel will rotate in a counter-clockwise direction (denoted by an arrow on door panel  130 ), thereby causing the roller  150  located farthest from the direction of travel and nearest the center of the header  110  to move in an upward direction, as shown in  FIG. 2C . However, in this situation, with the elongated member  160  located at the second position  160 B, the roller  150  located farthest from the direction of travel will contact the elongated member  160 , thereby impeding upward movement of the roller  150 , because the roller  150  located farthest from the direction of travel is constrained by the elongated member  160 . In this way, when the door panel  130  is moved (e.g., slid, rolled, translated, etc.) relative to the header  110 , the elongated member  160  can substantially impede/reduce upward movement of the door  130 , so as to completely prevent the door  130  from derailing from the header  110 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3A , which is a cross-sectional view taken along line  3 A- 3 A in  FIG. 2B , the shower door assembly  100  is shown with the elongated member  160  located at the second position  160 B. The door panel  130  is in rolling engagement with a track defined by an engagement surface  113   b  of the header  110  via the roller  150 . The door panel  130  includes a bracket  135  and a fastener shown as a pin  133  for rotatably coupling the roller  150  to the door panel  130 . The elongated member  160  includes a bottom surface  161   b  disposed above the roller  150 . The elongated member  160  also includes a leg  163  extending downward from the bottom surface  161   b . When the elongated member  160  is at the second position  160 B, there is a gap (e.g., space, clearance, etc.) H between the bottom surface  161   b  and an upper portion of the roller  150 . The gap H is such that there is a clearance between the roller  150  and the elongated member  160  to permit relative movement of the roller  150  along the header  110  without any interference, but is small enough to prevent the roller  150  from moving in an upward direction or jumping off of the header  110 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3B , which is a cross-sectional view taken along line  3 B- 3 B in  FIG. 2C , the shower door assembly  100  is shown at an instance when the door panel  130  is moving in a direction from right-to-left relative to the header  110 , as explained above with respect to  FIG. 2C . In this embodiment, the roller  150  shown in  FIG. 3B  is located farthest from the direction of travel of the door panel  130 . The elongated member  160  is at the second position  160 B within the header  110 . As a result of the door panel  130  contacting an object  170  (e.g., a shampoo bottle, etc.) at a location near the bottom of the door, as explained above with respect to  FIG. 2C , the door panel  130  rotates and the roller  150  moves in a generally upward direction (represented by arrows shown in  FIG. 3B ). However, because the roller  150  located farthest from the direction of travel is substantially constrained by the elongated member  160 , the roller  150  moves a distance upward that is less than or equal to the gap H from the engagement surface  113   b  of the header  110 . An upper portion of the roller  150  contacts the bottom surface  161   b  of the elongated member  160 , thereby preventing/impeding the door panel  130  from further moving in an upward direction and from completely falling off (i.e., derailing) from the header  110 . 
     Similarly, if the door panel  130  is pushed/pulled in a frontward or a backward direction (e.g., if a user pushes against the door panel  130  in a direction toward the inside of the shower enclosure), the elongated member  160  can act to substantially impede the front-to-back movement of the door, because the roller(s)  150  located nearest the center of the header  110  are substantially constrained by the elongated member  160  in this direction. That is to say, the leg  163  of the elongated member  160  substantially constrains the rollers  150  in the front-to-back direction along the header  110 . In this way, the elongated member  160  substantially impedes/reduces the upward and/or front-to-back movement of the door panel  130  and helps to keep the door panel  130  in rolling (or sliding) engagement with the header  110 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , the header  110  is shown according to an exemplary embodiment. The header  110  has a generally rectangular cross-sectional shape. According to other exemplary embodiments, the header  110  can have a different cross-sectional shape, such as a circle, an octagon, or a similar shape. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the header  110  includes a top wall  111  and side walls  112 . The top wall  111  includes an outer surface  111   a  and an inner surface  111   b . Each of the side walls  112  includes an outer surface  112   a  and an inner surface  112   b . The header  110  further includes bottom walls  113  extending from a lower portion of each of the side walls  112 . Each of the bottom walls  113  includes an outer surface  113   a , an engagement surface  113   b , and an end surface  113   c . The engagement surface  113   b  has a generally concave shape defining a track configured to receive a roller  150  of the door panel  130  thereon. According to other exemplary embodiments (not shown), the engagement surface  113   b  is generally flat. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 4 , the inner surfaces  112   b  each include a first protrusion  114   a  extending outwardly from an upper portion thereof. The inner surface  111   b  includes second protrusions  114   b  extending downward near each end of the top wall  111 , adjacent the first protrusions  114   a , respectively. The first protrusions  114   a  and the second protrusions  114   b  each have a profile that collectively defines a channel  114  configured to receive and retain the elongated member  160  within the header  110 . The channels  114  are each disposed within an inner corner of the header  110  near the top wall  111  between the first and second protrusions  114   a  and  114   b.    
     According to various exemplary embodiments, the header  110  is a conventional bypass header configured to be used in shower or bathing enclosures. The header  110  can be made (e.g., extruded, molded, etc.) from a rigid or a semi-rigid material or combinations of materials, such as aluminum, steel, plastic, or other material or combinations of materials suitable for the particular application of the header  110 . According to an exemplary embodiment, the header  110  includes a mounting plate (not shown) located at each end of the header  110 . The mounting plates are each configured to couple the header  110  to a fixed portion of the bathing enclosure or to a fixed portion of a building structure. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , the elongated member  160  is shown according to an exemplary embodiment. The elongated member  160  includes a side wall  162  and a bottom wall  161 . A leg  163  extends downward from the bottom wall  161  and is located near the side wall  162 . The leg  163  and the side wall  162  have a shared outer surface  162   b . The leg  163  also includes an inner surface  163   a . The side wall  162  includes a top surface  162   a . The top surface  162   a  is configured to contact the inner surface  111   b  of the top wall  111  when the elongated member  160  is slidably coupled within the channel  114 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the bottom wall  161  includes a side surface  161   a  and a bottom surface  161   b . The side wall  161   a  is configured to contact the inner surface  112   b  of the side wall  112  when the elongated member  160  is slidably coupled within the channel  114 . The bottom wall  161  is configured to substantially reduce/impede upward movement of the roller  150  when the door panel  130  is moving along the header  110 , such as, for example, if the door panel  130  contacts an obstruction or an object. Similarly, the leg  163  is configured to substantially reduce/impede front-to-back movement of the roller  150  when the door panel  130  is moving along the header  110 , such as, for example, if the door panel  130  is pushed/pulled by a user in a frontward or a backward direction, perpendicular to the direction of travel along the header  110 . 
     Still referring to  FIG. 5 , the elongated member  160  includes a protrusion  164  extending outwardly between the side wall  162  and the bottom wall  161 . The protrusion  164  is defined by an arcuate surface  164   a . A first portion of the arcuate surface  164   a  is connected to and extends from the bottom wall  161  by a first transition surface  165 . A second portion of the arcuate surface  164   a  is connected to and extends from the side wall  162  by a second transition surface  166 . The arcuate surface  164   a , the first transition surface  165 , and the second transition surface  166  collectively define a surface profile that is complementary to (i.e., substantially the same as) the surface profile defined by the first protrusion  114   a  and the second protrusion  114   b  of the header  110 . In this way, the elongated member  160  can be slidably coupled within the header  110  by sliding the protrusion  164  within the channel  114  defined by the first and second protrusions  114   a  and  114   b . According to other exemplary embodiments (not shown), the elongated member  160  can include different geometry for slidably coupling the elongated member  160  to the header  110 , such as, for example, slots, protrusions, or the like. 
     According to various exemplary embodiments, the elongated member  160  can have a variety of shapes, sizes, and configurations that differ from the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-3B and 5 . For example, referring to  FIG. 6 , an elongated member  260  is shown according to another exemplary embodiment. In this embodiment, like reference numerals represent similar components, but are increased by an order of two (e.g., bottom wall  161  in  FIG. 5  is analogous to bottom wall  261  in  FIG. 6 ). In this exemplary embodiment, the elongated member  260  includes a bottom wall  261  having an arcuately shaped (e.g., concave shaped, etc.) bottom surface  261   b . The bottom surface  261   b  has a concave surface profile that is complementary to, or is the same as, the profile of an upper portion of the roller  150 . In this way, the bottom surface  261   b  can receive/contact the upper portion of the roller  150  when the door panel  130  contacts an object/obstruction while moving along the header  110 . That is, the bottom surface  261   b  can help maintain a vertical and a front-to-back position of the roller  150  relative to the track defined by the engagement surface  213   b  by having a shape that is complementary to the shape of an upper portion of the roller  150 . This configuration is particularly advantageous in that the position of the door panel  130  is maintained relative to the header  110  while it is in moving engagement with the header  110 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , an elongated member  360  is shown according to another exemplary embodiment. In this embodiment, like reference numerals represent similar components, but are increased by an order of three (e.g., bottom wall  161  in  FIG. 5  is analogous to bottom wall  361  in  FIG. 7 ). In this exemplary embodiment, a single adjustable elongated member  360  can be used within the header  110  to substantially impede/reduce upward and/or front-to-back movement of a pair of doors  130 , without the need for additional elongated members. That is to say, the elongated member  360  replaces the pair of elongated members  160  shown in  FIGS. 1, 3A-3B, and 5-6 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the elongated member  360  is similar to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , but includes a second portion that is the mirror image of the elongated member  160  shown in  FIG. 5 . The top surface  362   a  extends across a width of the elongated member  360  to connect both portions of the elongated member  360 . Likewise, the elongated member  360  includes a bottom surface  361   b  which extends across a width of the elongated member  360 . The elongated member  360  is configured to be slidably coupled within the corresponding channels  114  of the header  110 . 
     According to the various exemplary embodiments described above in  FIGS. 5-7 , the elongated member  160  can be made (e.g., extruded, molded, etc.) from a plastic material, such as nylon, ABS, or other similar plastic material or combinations of materials. According to other exemplary embodiments, the elongated member  160  is made from another type of rigid or semi-rigid material, such as a composite material, a metal, or any other rigid or semi-rigid material suitable for the particular application of the elongated member  160  within the header  110 . According to an exemplary embodiment, the elongated member  160  is a single-piece extrusion. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2A-2B , an exemplary installation and removal sequence of the door panel  130  to/from the header  110  will now be described according to an exemplary embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 2A , before the header  110  is installed to the fixed structure  200 , two elongated members  160  are each slidably coupled from the ends of the header  110  within the respective channels  114 . The assembly of the elongated members  160  within the header  110  is performed at the manufacturing site before the header  110  is shipped to an installer/user. Once the installer fixes/couples the header  110  to the fixed structure  200 , the installer can move (e.g., slide, translate, etc.) each of the elongated members  160  to the first position  160 A located near an end of the header  110 , such as, for example, to the end  110   a  shown in  FIG. 2A . By moving the elongated members  160  to the first position  160 A, the user or installer creates an installation area suitable for installing the doors  130  onto the header  110 . The installation area is clear of the elongated members  160  such that the rollers  150  can easily engage the track defined by the engagement surface  113   b  of the header  110  (see  FIG. 4 ). 
     With each of the elongated members  160  at the first position  160 A, the installer can install each of the door panels  130  onto the header  110  by engaging the respective rollers  150  with the track defined by the engagement surface  113   b . The space between the engagement surface  113   b  and the first and second protrusions  114   a  and  114   b  is large enough to allow a user to easily install the door panel  130  to the track of the header  110 . Next, the user or installer can selectively move (e.g., slide, translate, etc.) each of the elongated members  160  within the respective channels  114  to the second position  160 B shown in  FIG. 2B . In the second position  160 B, each of the elongated members  160  is disposed above the roller(s)  150  of the door panels  130  such that the roller(s)  150  located nearest the center of the opening are constrained by the elongated members  160 . Accordingly, when the door panels  130  are moved between an open and a closed position, the elongated members  160  can act to impede undesired upward and/or front-to-back movement of the door panel  130  relative to the header  110 . This facilitates smoother and more consistent operation of the door when a user or installer moves the door between an open and a closed position. 
     If the user or the installer choses to remove one or more of the door panels  130  from the header  110 , such as during maintenance or repair, the user or installer can selectively move the associated elongated member  160  from the second position  160 B (shown in  FIG. 2B ) to the first position  160 A (shown in  FIG. 2A ). By moving the elongated member back to the first position  160 A, the user or the installer creates an area suitable to facilitate the removal of the door panel  130  from the header  110 . That is, the rollers  150  can move in an upward direction to disengage from the track of the header  110 . In this way, the elongated member  160  provides for improvements relating to the removal of doors from shower door assemblies. 
     As utilized herein, the terms “approximately,” “about,” “substantially”, and similar terms are intended to have a broad meaning in harmony with the common and accepted usage by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the subject matter of this disclosure pertains. It should be understood by those of skill in the art who review this disclosure that these terms are intended to allow a description of certain features described and claimed without restricting the scope of these features to the precise numerical ranges provided. Accordingly, these terms should be interpreted as indicating that insubstantial or inconsequential modifications or alterations of the subject matter described and claimed are considered to be within the scope of the application as recited in the appended claims. 
     It should be noted that the term “exemplary” as used herein to describe various embodiments is intended to indicate that such embodiments are possible examples, representations, and/or illustrations of possible embodiments (and such term is not intended to connote that such embodiments are necessarily extraordinary or superlative examples). 
     The terms “coupled,” “connected,” and the like as used herein mean the joining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary (e.g., permanent) or moveable (e.g., removable or releasable). Such joining may be achieved with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being attached to one another. 
     References herein to the positions of elements (e.g., “top,” “bottom,” “above,” “below,” etc.) are merely used to describe the orientation of various elements in the FIGURES. It should be noted that the orientation of various elements may differ according to other exemplary embodiments, and that such variations are intended to be encompassed by the present disclosure. 
     It is important to note that the construction and arrangement as illustrated for the various exemplary embodiments are illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter described herein. For example, elements illustrated as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements, the position of elements may be reversed or otherwise varied, and the nature or number of discrete elements or positions may be altered or varied. The order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may also be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the various exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the present application.