Patent Publication Number: US-2013241164-A1

Title: Carrier device and method for carrying article

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority of the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-057932, filed on Mar. 14, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD 
     The embodiments discussed herein are related to a carrier device and a method for carrying an article. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In general, a carrier device for a cart on casters is known as an example of an article carrier device. A conventional carrier device includes a handle unit, a support rod, and a coupling unit for towing. The coupling unit for towing is inserted into a square hole provided on the cart on casters, thereby being coupled to the cart on casters. Here, an article to be carried (a load) is put on the cart on casters. 
     In the carrier device for a cart on casters as described above, it is possible to carry an article by towing the cart on casters by holding the handle unit. 
     However, if a large article, for example, a large box such as a server, is tried to be moved by using the carrier device for a cart on casters, it is difficult to put the article on the cart on casters. The article is not carried if the article is not put on the cart on casters. 
     When a large box such as a server is carried, an oil-hydraulic lifter may be used. However, the oil-hydraulic lifter is normally large itself, taking up a lot of room for handling, and therefore fine adjustment of an installation position (steering) in a narrow space is difficult. 
     When a large box is moved, casters included in the box itself can be used without using a special carrier device. However, it is rare for the box to include a handle usable at the time of moving. Without a handle, an operator has to move and steer the box by attaching his or her hands on outer wall surfaces of the box. Steering is difficult at the time of moving with hands attached on the outer wall surfaces. Also, at the time of steering, decorative laminate boards forming the outer walls of the box may be dented. Moreover, when the box is moved only by man power, one or more operators are normally needed. 
     Here, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2005-324642 is an example of related art. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an aspect of the embodiment, a carrier device includes a main body, a handle provided to the main body, an engaging unit provided to the main body and configured to be engaged with a foot provided at a lower end of an article to be carried, and a caster provided to the main body. 
     The object and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the claims. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a carrier device of a first embodiment; 
         FIG. 2A  is a side view of the carrier device of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 2B  is a rear view of the carrier device of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an engaging unit included in the carrier device of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram for describing the state in which an angle adjusting plate is inserted into the engaging unit; 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged descriptive diagram of the periphery of the engaging unit provided to a main body unit via an arm member provided at a lower end of the main body unit; 
         FIG. 6A  to  FIG. 6C  are diagrams for describing the use state of the carrier device of the first embodiment on a time-series basis; 
         FIG. 7A  is a diagram for describing the state in which the engaging unit is about to be inserted into a lower position of a foot; 
         FIG. 7B  is a diagram for describing the state in which the engaging unit has been inserted into the lower position of the foot; 
         FIG. 8  is a sectional view depicting the state in which the engaging unit has been inserted into the lower position of the foot; 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view depicting the state in which a grounding unit of the foot abuts on an angle adjusting plate placed on the engaging unit; 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram describing a fulcrum, a point of effort, and a point of load when the carrier device of the first embodiment is used; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of an engaging unit of a second embodiment; 
         FIG. 12A  to  FIG. 12C  are diagrams for describing the use state of the carrier device of the second embodiment on a time-series basis; 
         FIG. 13  is a sectional view depicting the state in which an engaging unit has been inserted into a lower position of a foot; 
         FIG. 14  is a sectional view depicting the state in which the engaging unit is engaged with a grounding unit of the foot; 
         FIG. 15A  is a diagram for describing a carrier device of a third embodiment; and 
         FIG. 15B  is a diagram for describing the carrier device of the third embodiment at the time of towing. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure are described with reference to the attached drawings. Note that the dimensions, ratio, and others of each component in the drawings may not perfectly match the actual ones. 
     First Embodiment 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a carrier device  1  of a first embodiment.  FIG. 2A  is a side view of the carrier device  1  of the first embodiment.  FIG. 2B  is a rear view of the carrier device  1  of the first embodiment.  FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an engaging unit  10  included in the carrier device  1  of the first embodiment.  FIG. 4  is a perspective view for describing the state in which an angle adjusting plate  12  is inserted into the engaging unit  10 .  FIG. 5  is an enlarged descriptive diagram of the periphery of the engaging unit  10  provided to a main body unit  2  via an arm member  5  provided at a lower end of the main body unit  2 .  FIG. 6A  to  FIG. 6C  are diagrams for describing the use state of the carrier device  1  of the first embodiment on a time-series basis. 
     Prior to description of the carrier device  1  of the first embodiment, an article to be carried by the carrier device  1  is first described. The carrier device  1  of the first embodiment is to carry an article, and the article to be carried includes feet  52 . With reference to  FIG. 6A  to  FIG. 6C , the article to be carried in the first embodiment is a box  50 . The box  50  is an exterior member of a server device, having accommodated therein an electronic device that configures a server. Casters  51  are each provided at a lower end of the box  50 . The casters  51  are provided at four corners of the box  50 . Also, the box  50  includes the feet  52  each at the lower end. The feet  52  are provided at the four corners of the box  50 . Each foot  52  includes a shaft member  52   a  and a disk-shaped grounding unit  52   b . The shaft member  52   a  includes a screw unit, which is screwed into a screw unit provided inside the box  50 . A projection amount of the shaft member  52   a  from the box  50  can be changed by adjusting a screwed state of the screw units. When the box  50  is installed at a predetermined location, the projection amount of the shaft member  52   a  from the box  50  can be increased so that the foot  52  projects to a degree equal to or lower than a lower end of the caster  51 . With this, the grounding unit  52   b  of the foot  52  is grounded on a floor surface, thereby causing the box  50  to be installed at the predetermined location. On the other hand, when the box  50  is carried, the projection amount of the shaft member  52   a  from the box  50  is decreased to cause the foot  52  to be away from the floor surface. The carrier device  1  carries the box  50  in this state. 
     Next, a schematic structure of the carrier device  1  is described with reference to the drawings. Note that a height direction, a width direction, a front and rear direction, and a left and right direction of the carrier device  1  in the following description are assumed to be those depicted in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2A , and  FIG. 2B . 
     The carrier device  1  includes the main body unit  2  provided with a handle unit  3 . The main body unit  2  is formed by combining a plurality of rod-shaped members. The handle unit  3  is provided at the highest position of the main body unit  2 . The carrier device  1  includes engaging units  10  that each engage with the foot  52  provided at the lower end of the box  50  as an article to be carried. Specifically, each engaging unit  10  is provided to the main body unit  2  via the arm member  5  provided to a lateral member  4  provided at the lowest side (the lower end) of the main body unit  2 . 
     The lateral member  4  includes a guide groove  4   a  extending along an axial direction (a width direction) of this lateral member  4 . In this guide groove  4   a , two arm members  5  are attached. The guide groove  4   a  corresponds to a position adjusting unit of the arm members  5 , and the arm members  5  are slidably inserted in the guide groove  4   a  and are fixed to the lateral member  4  by using fixing metal fittings  6  and fixing screws  7 . The arm members  5  can be slid with respect to the guide groove  4   a  and is position-adjustable, and therefore a space between these two arm members  5  can be adjusted. The space between these two arm members  5  is adjusted correspondingly to a space between the feet  52  provided to the box  50  to be carried. At an end on a side of each arm member  5  opposite to a side attached to the guide groove  4   a , a mount plate  9  where the engaging unit  10 , which will be described in detail further below, is attached is mounted. The mount plate  9  is provided with bolts  9   a.    
     The carrier device  1  includes two engaging units  10 . These two engaging units  10  are each mounted on the mount plate  9  attached at an end of the arm member  5 . With reference to  FIG. 3 , the engaging unit  10  includes a front side plate  10   a . The front side plate  10   a  is provided with two screw grooves  10   a   1  extending in a height direction. These screw grooves  10   a   1  correspond to a height adjusting unit for the engaging unit  10  with respect to the main body unit  2 , and the bolts  9   a  included in the mount plate  9  are inserted into the screw grooves  10   a   1 . By adjusting a relative position of the bolts  9   a  with respect to the screw grooves  10   a   1  and tightening nuts  9   b , the height of the engaging unit  10  can be adjusted. The engaging unit  10  includes a rear side plate  10   b  at a position facing the front side plate  10   a . The engaging unit  10  also includes a right side plate  10   c  and a left side plate  10   d . The engaging unit  10  further includes a bottom plate  10   e  in an area surrounded by these front side plate  10   a , rear side plate  10   b , right side plate  10   c , and left side plate  10   d . The front side plate  10   a , the rear side plate  10   b , the right side plate  10   c , and the left side plate  10   d  correspond to an abutting unit where the grounding unit  52   b  abuts. Also, the bottom plate  10   e  corresponds to a bottom where the feet  52  are mounted at the time of towing. The bottom is not restricted to the bottom plate, and can be any as long as the feet  52  are mountable. The engaging unit  10  includes guide plates  11  extending from the front side plate  10   a  on an upper side of the right side plate  10   c  and the left side plate  10   d . The guide plates  11  can be used as a mark for the operator when inserting each engaging unit  10  into a lower side of the foot  52 , which will be described in detail further below. 
     With reference to  FIG. 4 , a wedge-shaped angle adjusting plate  12  including an inclined surface  12   a  is accommodated in the engaging unit  10 . The angle adjusting plate  12  is an example of an angle adjusting member. The angle adjusting plate  12  is used in consideration with the fact that the main body unit  2  is tilted when the box  50  is towed by the carrier device  1  and the bottom plate  10   e  of each engaging unit  10  is tilted from a horizontal state accordingly. The bottom of the grounding unit  52   b  of the foot  52  is normally in a horizontal state. The angle adjusting plate  12  can improve stability of the grounding unit  52   b  mounted on the engaging unit  10 . A plurality of angle adjusting plates  12  can be used. Also, a plurality of angle adjusting plates  12  with the inclined surfaces having same and different angles can be prepared and used in combination as appropriate according to the use state of the carrier device  1  and the state of each foot  52 . Also, the angle adjusting member can have any shape as long as it has a portion approximately horizontal at the time of towing, the portion where the foot  52  can be mounted and supported. 
     The carrier device  1  includes two casters  8  provided to the main body unit  2 . Specifically, the carrier device  1  includes the casters  8  each attached to a lower side of the arm member  5 . The casters  8  of the first embodiment are wheel-shaped casters, but may be ball-shaped casters. The casters  8  can freely change the traveling direction of the carrier device  1 . The arm member  5  includes a guide groove  5   a  extending in a front and rear direction. The caster  8  is attached to the guide groove  5   a  via a fixing plate  8   a  provided on an upper part, and is fixed to the arm member  5  by using the fixing metal fittings  6  and the fixing screws  7 . The carrier device  1  can include an additional caster to be attached to the lateral member  4 . 
     Next, the use state of the carrier device  1  as described above is described with reference to  FIGS. 6A to 10 . 
     When the box  50  is carried, the space between the arm members  5  is first adjusted according to the space between the feet  52  included in the box  50 . The space between the arm members  5  can be adjusted by sliding the arm members  5  each with respect to the guide groove  4   a . The arm members  5  are assumed to be positioned symmetrically with respect to a center line of the main body unit  2 . Also, the feet  52  are raised so as to be away from the floor surface. Then, as depicted in  FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 7A , the carrier device  1  is set at a position on a front side of the box  50 . Here, the carrier device  1  is placed so that the main body unit  2  is along a vertical direction, that is, the engaging unit  10  is approximately in parallel with a lower end edge of the box  50 . Then, as depicted in  FIG. 6B  and  FIG. 7C , the carrier device  1  is moved toward the box  50 , and each engaging unit  10  is inserted into a lower side of the foot  52 . When the engaging unit  10  is inserted into the lower side of the foot  52 , the operator can move the carrier device  1  by taking the guide plates  11  as a guide. Then, the height of the engaging unit  10  may be adjusted, as occasion culls. The height is adjusted so that, as depicted in  FIG. 8 , part of the grounding unit  52   b  is in contact with the angle adjusting plate  12 . The height of the engaging unit  10  may be adjusted in advance. In this case, the handle unit  3  is slightly tilted toward a box  50  side in order to avoid interference between the rear side plate  10   b  and the grounding unit  52   b , thereby moving the carrier device  1  toward the box  50  side while tilting the engaging units  10 . 
     In the case where the engaging unit  10  is placed on the lower side of the grounding unit  52   b  as depicted in  FIG. 8 , when the operator pulls the handle unit  3  to his or her side as depicted in  FIG. 6C , the carrier device  1  becomes tilted with the caster  8  as a fulcrum. Accordingly, as depicted in  FIG. 9 , a lower surface of the grounding unit  52   b  becomes in intimate contact with the inclined surface  12   a  of the angle adjusting plate  12 . Also, the foot  52  is mounted on the engaging unit  10 . From this state, when the operator moves the carrier device  1 , the rear side plate  10   b  and the grounding unit  52   b  are engaged with each other, and therefore the box  50  becomes in a towed state (proceeds forward). To move the box  50  to right, the operator operates the handle unit  3  to move the carrier device  1  to right in the traveling direction. With this, the grounding unit  52   b  is pressed by the left side plate  10   d , thereby moving the box  50  to right. To move the box  50  to left, the operator operates the handle unit  3  to move the carrier device  1  to left in the traveling direction. With this, the grounding unit  52   b  is pressed by the right side plate  10   c , thereby moving the box  50  to left. In this manner, the operator can easily steer the box  50  by operating the carrier device  1  by holding the handle unit  3 . Note that by using the carrier device  1 , the box  50  can be caused to proceed backward. When the box  50  proceeds backward, the relation between the grounding unit  52   b  and the engaging unit  10  is as depicted in  FIG. 8 , that is, the grounding unit  52   b  is pushed by the front side plate  10   a . With this, the box  50  can be caused to proceed backward. 
     Here, an example of a fulcrum, a point of effort, and a point of load and a dynamic relation when the box  50  is carried by using the carrier device  1  is described with reference to  FIG. 10 . Note that calculations below are approximate and are not strictly performed. 
     First, the dimensions of each component and the weight of the box  50  to be carried by the carrier device  1  are assumed as follows. 
     A vertical distance a from the fulcrum (the grounding point of the caster  8 ) to the point of effort (the handle unit  3 ): a=1425 mm 
     A horizontal distance b from the fulcrum (the grounding point of the caster  8 ) to the point of effort (the handle unit  3 ): b=120 mm 
     A horizontal distance d from the fulcrum (the grounding point of the caster  8 ) to the point of load (the engaging unit  10 ): d=90 mm 
     Box weight: 600 kg 
     Under the assumption as described above, a distance c from the fulcrum to the point of effort is 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     
                       
                         
                           c 
                           2 
                         
                         = 
                           
                          
                         
                           
                             a 
                             2 
                           
                           + 
                           
                             b 
                             2 
                           
                         
                       
                     
                   
                   
                     
                       
                         = 
                           
                          
                         
                           
                             1425 
                             2 
                           
                           + 
                           
                             120 
                             2 
                           
                         
                       
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                     
                 
               
             
             
               
                 
                   c 
                   = 
                   
                     1430 
                      
                     
                       
                         ( 
                         mm 
                         ) 
                       
                       . 
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                     
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     When the box weight is 600 kg, the weight loaded on a box front side where the carrier device  1  is mounted can be 300 kg. 
     From these conditions described above, a traction A is approximately calculated as: 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     A 
                     × 
                     1430 
                   
                   = 
                   
                     300 
                     × 
                     90 
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                     
                 
               
             
             
               
                 
                   
                     
                       
                         A 
                         = 
                           
                          
                         
                           
                             ( 
                             
                               300 
                               × 
                               90 
                             
                             ) 
                           
                           / 
                           1430 
                         
                       
                     
                   
                   
                     
                       
                         = 
                           
                          
                         
                           18.8 
                            
                           
                               
                           
                            
                           
                             kg 
                             . 
                           
                         
                       
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                     
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     That is, by towing with a force of approximately 18.8 kg, a front end side of the box  50  can be lifted. That is, the weight of the box  50  can be shared in a distributed manner. Furthermore, by towing with a force exceeding 18.8 kg, the box  50  can be easily moved, and steering the box  50  can be facilitated. 
     The carrier device  1  as described above can be used without the box  50  being mounted on a cart or the like. Also, by using the carrier device  1 , the operator can carry the box  50  without using an oil-hydraulic lifter. In the case where the box  50  is lifted by using an oil-hydraulic lifter, if the oil-hydraulic lifer is placed at an erroneous location with respect to the box  50 , a local load is added to the box  50  to deform the box  50 . With the use of the carrier device  1  of the first embodiment, the possibility of deforming the box  50  can be reduced. When the box  50  is placed on a cart or the like, the box  50  is once lifted. However, the box  50  may not be able to be lifted when a restriction in a height direction is present in the location where the box  50  is to be placed. With the use of the carrier device  1 , the box  50  can be moved and placed even if a restriction in a height direction is present in the location where the box  50  is to be placed. The carrier device  1  has a weight lighter than the oil-hydraulic lifter, and is easy to handle. 
     Also, when the box  50  is moved by man power, two or more persons are needed. However, with the use of the carrier device  1 , the box  50  can be carried only by one person. When the box  50  is placed at a narrow location, if two or more persons are engaged in a carrying operation, some persons are difficult to position. This problem can be solved by using the carrier device  1 . Furthermore, since the box  50  can be moved without attaching hands on the outer wall surfaces of the box  50 , decorative laminate boards forming the outer walls of the box  50  are not dented. Still further, since the operator can carry the box  50  with the carrier device  1  being pulled mainly forward, the possibility that the operator himself or herself topples can be reduced. That is, when the box  50  is carried with hands attached on the outer wall surfaces of the box  50 , the operator positioned on a traveling direction side dangerously moves backward. With the use of the carrier device  1 , the operator can move and steer as facing forward. 
     Note in the carrier device  1  that the arm members  5  and the casters  8  can be removed from the main body unit  2 . By being disassembled, the carrier device  1  can be easily accommodated and stored for space saving. For example, the main body unit  2  may be accommodated inside doors of the box  50 . The main body unit  2  accommodated in the doors can reinforce the box  50 . 
     Second Embodiment 
     Next, a second embodiment is described. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the following points. That is, in the second embodiment, engaging units  20  are provided in place of the engaging units  10  of the first embodiment. Other components in the second embodiment are similar to the components of the first embodiment, and therefore these common components are provided with the same reference characters and are not described in detail herein. 
     The engaging unit  20  is mounted on the arm member  5  in place of the engaging unit  10  of the first embodiment. With reference to  FIG. 11 , the engaging unit  20  includes a front side plate  20   a . The front side plate  20   a  is provided with two screw grooves  20   a   1  extending in a height direction. As with the engaging unit  10  of the first embodiment, the bolts  9   a  included in the mount plate  9  are inserted into the screw grooves  20   a   1 . By adjusting a relative position of the bolts  9   a  with respect to the screw grooves  20   a   1  and tightening nuts  9   b , the height of the engaging unit  20  can be adjusted. The engaging unit  20  includes a top plate  20   b . This top plate  20   b  is connected to a rear side plate  20   c  facing the front side plate  20   a . Furthermore, the rear side plate  20   c  is connected to a bottom plate  20   d . The top plate  20   b  is provided with a groove  20   b   1  avoiding an interference with the shaft member  52   a  included in the foot  52 . The groove  20   b   1  continues to the rear side plate  20   c  and the bottom plate  20   d . The engaging unit  20  includes a right side plate  20   e  and a left side plate  20   f . The front side plate  20   a , the rear side plate  20   c , the right side plate  20   e , and the left side plate  20   f  correspond to an abutting unit where the grounding unit  52   b  abuts. That is, the abutting unit includes the rear side plate  20   c  connecting the top plate  20   b  and the bottom plate  20   d . Also, the bottom plate  20   d  corresponds to a bottom where the foot  52  is mounted at the time of towing. The bottom is not restricted to the bottom plate, but can be any as long as the bottom allows the foot  52  to be mounted. Note that when the box  50  is moved in a left and right direction, steering can be performed with the shaft member  52   a  of the foot  52  being in contact with the groove  20   b   1 . For this reason, the structure can be such that the right side plate  20   e  and the left side plate  20   f  are omitted. 
     Next, the use state of the second embodiment is described with reference to  FIGS. 12A to 14 . 
     When the box  50  is carried, the space between the arm members  5  is first adjusted according to the space between the feet  52  included in the box  50 . Here, the feet  52  are raised and away from the floor surface. This is the same as the first embodiment. Then, as depicted in  FIG. 12A , the carrier device  1  is positioned on a front side of the box  50 . Here, the main body unit  2  is tilted forward from a vertical direction so that the engaging unit  20  is slightly raised. Then, as depicted in  FIG. 12B , with the tilt of the main body unit  2  being kept, the carrier device  1  is moved toward the box  50 , and the shaft member  52   a  of the foot  52  is positioned inside the groove  20   b   1 . With this, as depicted in  FIG. 13 , the engaging unit  20  becomes in the state as covering from above the grounding unit  52   b . Then, as depicted in  FIG. 12C , the carrier device  1  is once raised straight so that the main body unit  2  is vertical. With this, the grounding unit  52   b  is positioned above the bottom plate  20   d . Then, when the carrier device  1  is slightly pulled forward, as depicted in  FIG. 14 , the grounding unit  52   b  is mounted on the bottom plate  20   d . By towing the carrier device  1  in this state, the box  50  can be moved. 
     To move the box  50  to right, the operator operates the handle unit  3  to move the carrier device  1  to right in the traveling direction. With this, the grounding unit  52   b  is pressed by the left side plate  20   f  and the shaft member  52   a  is in contact with the groove  20   b   1 , thereby moving the box  50  to right. To move the box  50  to left, the operator operates the handle unit  3  to move the carrier device  1  to left in the traveling direction. With this, the grounding unit  52   b  is pressed by the right side plate  20   e  and the shaft member  52   a  is in contact with the groove  20   b   1 , thereby moving the box  50  to left. In this manner, the operator can easily steer the box  50  by operating the carrier device  1  by holding the handle unit  3 . 
     As in the second embodiment, moving and steering the box  50  can be performed also by using the engaging units  20 . 
     Third Embodiment 
     Next, a third embodiment is described with reference to  FIG. 15A  and  FIG. 15B . The third embodiment is an example in which reinforcing members  31  and  32  and an auxiliary caster  33  is provided. The reinforcing member  31  is placed between the arm member  5  and the main body unit  2 . In this case, the main body unit  2  can include a fixing unit for the reinforcing member  31  to support the movement of the arm member  5  in a left and right direction. The reinforcing member  32  is placed between the arm member  5  and the mount plate  9 . With the provision of the reinforcing members  31  and  32 , the strength of the carrier device  1  is improved. 
     The auxiliary caster  33  is mounted on a lower side of the lateral member  4 . With the provision of the auxiliary caster  33 , the carrying device  1  is less prone to topple. Also, with the auxiliary caster  33  being grounded at the time of towing, more stable towing can be performed. If a caster in a ball shape is adopted as the auxiliary caster  33 , a contact with the floor surface is a point contact to reduce friction, thereby improving operability. 
     The preferred embodiments have been described in detail thus far. However, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the specified embodiments and various alteration and modification may occur within a scope of the present disclosure described in the claims. 
     All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions, nor does the organization of such examples in the specification relate to a showing of the superiority and inferiority of the invention. Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it should be understood that the various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.