Patent Publication Number: US-2019191889-A1

Title: Transforming bed with a movable sleeping section and an extendable support

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Design Application No. 29/630,628 filed Dec. 21, 2017, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to beds, and more particularly to folding beds. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Beds can take up a large amount of floor space within a room. Some beds are foldable so that when the bed is not in use less space is required. 
     For example, some beds include a foldable mattress support and an extending drawer that supports part of the mattress support. Some of these extending drawers include a front cover that extends high enough to provide support for part of the foldable mattress support when the foldable mattress support is horizontal. 
     Also, previously known extending drawers have been connected to another part of the bed. For example, the sides of some extending drawers are connected via telescoping rails to sides of a lower part of the bed. Other extending drawers are not connected to the lower part of the bed via telescoping rails, instead such other extending drawers are connected to the lower part of the bed via folding/pivoting extension panels. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The present application provides a cabinet bed that includes a movable spacer, attached to an extendable support (e.g., a movable drawer), for supporting a movable sleeping section and/or includes at least one laterally extending slidable guide to maintain the extendable support in alignment with the movable sleeping section. For example, the cabinet bed may include the movable spacer that is pivotably attached to the extendable support underneath the movable sleeping section when in a horizontal position. The cabinet bed may also include a pair of laterally extending slidable guides extending from each side of the extendable support and/or a second pair of laterally extending slidable glides extending toward a respective side of the extendable support to maintain the extendable support in alignment with the movable sleeping section. 
     The movable spacer may move to a support position where the movable sleeping section, when in the horizontal position, would rest on the movable spacer. The movable spacer may allow the extendable support to easily move from underneath a cabinet floor and provide support for the movable sleeping section when in an extended position. Also, the movable spacer enables the movable sleeping section to be more evenly supported than would otherwise be provided with an extendable support without the spacer. 
     For example, a portion of the extendable support that is movable from a position underneath a cabinet floor may be vertically spaced from the cabinet floor and the movable spacer may be movable to a position higher than the portion of the extendable support. In an embodiment, when the movable spacer is in the support position and the movable sleeping section is in the horizontal position, the top surface of the movable spacer would be coplanar with the bottom surface of the movable sleeping section and the top surface of the movable sleeping section would be coplanar with the top surface of the cabinet floor. 
     The laterally extending slidable guides may allow the extendable support to remain aligned with the movable sleeping section without connecting to any part of the cabinet bed that defines an extendable support receiving opening that the extendable support is disposed within when in a retracted position. The laterally extending slidable guides may enable the extendable support to be aligned during use while not connected to another part of the cabinet bed. For example, the laterally extending slidable guides may include wheels that are rotatable about an axis parallel with a corresponding side of the extendable support. 
     The cabinet bed may include a pair of supports that are each pivotably attached to a respective lateral side of the movable sleeping section. For example, the pair of supports may be pivotable about an axis that is parallel with a longitudinal axis of the movable sleeping section when the movable sleeping section is in the horizontal position. 
     According to one aspect of the invention, an apparatus for transforming between a bed and a cabinet, comprises a rear cabinet panel, a cabinet top attached to the rear cabinet panel along a top edge of the rear cabinet panel, a first cabinet side attached to the rear cabinet panel along a first side edge of the rear cabinet panel, a second cabinet side attached to the rear cabinet panel along a second side edge, of the rear cabinet panel, opposite the first side edge, a cabinet floor, a movable sleeping section that is movable from a first position to a horizontal position where the movable sleeping section would be parallel with the cabinet floor. When the movable sleeping section is in the horizontal position the cabinet floor and the movable sleeping section would be arranged to together support a mattress. The apparatus may further include a base comprising an extendable support receiving opening, an extendable support that is movable from a retracted position within the extendable support receiving opening to an extended position at least partially outside of the extendable support receiving opening, when in the extended position the extendable support would be underneath the movable sleeping section when the movable sleeping section is in the horizontal position, and a first movable spacer that is movably attached to the extendable support, wherein the first movable spacer is movable from a first position, where a topmost surface of the first movable spacer is below an upward facing surface of the cabinet floor, to a second position where the topmost surface is higher than when in the first position. When the extendable support is in the extended position the first movable spacer may support the movable sleeping section when the movable sleeping section is in the horizontal position. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, an apparatus for transforming between a bed and a cabinet, comprises a rear cabinet panel, a cabinet top attached to the rear cabinet panel along a top edge of the rear cabinet panel, a first cabinet side attached to the rear cabinet panel along a first side edge of the rear cabinet panel, a second cabinet set attached to the rear cabinet panel along a second side edge, of the rear cabinet panel, opposite the first side edge, a cabinet floor, a movable sleeping section that is movable from a first position to a horizontal position where the movable sleeping section would be parallel with the cabinet floor. When the movable sleeping section is in the horizontal position the cabinet floor and the movable sleeping section would be arranged to together support a mattress. The apparatus may further include a base comprising an extendable support receiving opening, and an extendable support that is movable from a retracted position within the extendable support receiving opening to an extended position at least partially outside of the extendable support receiving opening. When in the extended position the extendable support would be underneath the movable sleeping section when the movable sleeping section is in the horizontal position, and the extendable support includes a first laterally extending slidable guide protruding laterally from a first side of the extendable support toward a first side of the base, and includes a second laterally extending slidable guide protruding laterally from a second side of the extendable support toward a second side of the base. 
     The foregoing and other features of the invention are hereinafter described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an oblique side view of an example of a cabinet bed in a closed position. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the cabinet bed of  FIG. 1  in the closed position. 
         FIG. 3  is an oblique side view of the cabinet bed of  FIG. 1  in an open state. 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the cabinet bed of Fig. in the closed position. 
         FIG. 5  is an oblique rear top view of a drawer of the cabinet bed of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is an oblique front view of a portion of the cabinet bed of  FIG. 1  without the drawer. 
         FIG. 7  is an oblique top view of the cabinet bed of  FIG. 1  with a cabinet top opened and in a locked state. 
         FIG. 8  is an oblique front view of the cabinet bed of  FIG. 7  with the drawer opened. 
         FIG. 9  is an oblique front view of the cabinet bed of  FIG. 7  including a movable spacer between its initial position and a support position. 
         FIG. 10  is an oblique front view of the cabinet bed of  FIG. 9  where the movable spacer is in the support position. 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of the cabinet bed of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is a bottom view of the cabinet bed of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 13  is an oblique front view of the cabinet bed of  FIG. 10  in an unlocked state and including a movable sleeping section that is between its closed position and a fully open position. 
         FIG. 14  is an oblique front view of the cabinet bed of  FIG. 13  where the movable sleeping section includes a cabinet front wall that is supported on the drawer. 
         FIG. 15  is an oblique front view of the cabinet bed of  FIG. 14  where support legs of the movable sleeping section are pivoted to an extended position. 
         FIG. 16  is an oblique front view of the cabinet bed of  FIG. 15  in a fully open position. 
         FIG. 17  is a side view of the cabinet bed of  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 18  is a bottom view of the cabinet bed of  FIG. 16 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The principles of this present application have particular application to cabinet beds, such as cabinet beds with the appearance of a large pair of doors and a lower drawer, and thus will be described below chiefly in this context. It will be appreciated that principles of this invention may be applicable to other foldable beds, such as having the appearance of a chest of drawers or a single upper door with a bottom base. 
     Referring now to the drawings and initially to  FIGS. 1-2 , an example of a cabinet bed is designated generally by reference numeral  20 . The cabinet bed  20  includes an upper cabinet  22 , a base  24 , and a movable sleeping section  26  that is movable into a horizontal position to support a mattress (not illustrated). 
     Turning to  FIG. 3 , the upper cabinet  22  includes a cabinet top  36 , cabinet sides  38  and  40 , a rear cabinet panel  42 , and a cabinet floor  44 . The upper cabinet  22  may include a central back support  46  that extends from the cabinet floor  44  to the cabinet top  36 . In an embodiment, the upper cabinet does not include the central back support. 
     The cabinet top  36  may include a rear part  60  and a front part  62  that is pivotable relative to the rear part  60 . For example, the cabinet top  36  includes hinges  64  that hingedly connect the front part  62  to the rear part  60 . The hinge  60  may bisect the cabinet top  36 . In an embodiment, only a single hinge hingedly connects the front part to the rear part. In another embodiment, the cabinet top is a single rigid panel. 
     The cabinet sides  38  and  40  may each be orthogonal to the rear cabinet panel  42 , the cabinet floor  44 , and the cabinet top  36  when the cabinet top  36  is in a horizontal position. The cabinet sides  38  and  40  may be attached along opposite side edges of the cabinet floor  44  and attached along opposite side edges of the cabinet top  36 . For example, the cabinet sides  38  and  40  are laterally spaced from one another and attached to opposite sides of the cabinet floor  44  and attached to opposite sides of the rear part  60  of the cabinet top  36 . 
     The rear cabinet panel  42  may be attached along its top and bottom edges to the cabinet top  36  and the cabinet floor  44 , respectively, and may be attached along its side edges to the cabinet sides  38  and  40 . For example, the rear cabinet panel  42  is entirely circumscribed by, orthogonal to, and attached to the cabinet sides  38  and  40 , the cabinet floor  44 , and the rear part  60  of the cabinet top  36 . 
     The base  24  may include a bottom drawer  66  with a drawer front  68 , base side panels  70  and  72  (illustrated in  FIG. 6 ), and a base back panel  74  (illustrated in  FIG. 4 ). The bottom drawer  66  is movable from inside of to outside of a drawer receiving opening delineated by the base side panels  70  and  72 , the cabinet floor  44 , and the base back panel  74 . For example, when in the closed position shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the entire part of the bottom drawer  66  rearward of the drawer front  68  is underneath the cabinet floor  44  and the drawer front  68  abuts the front of the base side panels  70  and  72 . When the bottom drawer  66  is open, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the drawer front  68  is spaced in front of the base side panels  70  and  72  to provide support for the movable sleeping section  26  when in the horizontal position. 
     The base  24  has a smaller footprint than the upper cabinet  22 . For example, the cabinet sides  38  and  40  are offset outside of the base side panels  70  and  72  and the cabinet floor  44  extends laterally beyond the base side panels  70  and  72 . 
     The base side panels  70  and  72  may each include a joining member  80  and  82  (shown in  FIG. 6 ) and include a lateral spacer  84  and  86  (shown in  FIG. 6 ). For example, the joining members  80  and  82  and the lateral spacers  84  and  86  have rectangular prism shapes. Also, the joining members  80  and  82  attach a top of the corresponding base side panel  70  or  72  to the cabinet floor  44 , along a corresponding side edge of the cabinet floor  44  laterally inward from the corresponding cabinet side  38  or  40 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5  in addition to  FIG. 3 , the bottom drawer  66  includes the drawer front  68 , the drawer side panels  90  and  92  (shown in  FIG. 5 ), movable spacers  94  and  96 , a drawer back panel  98 , and a drawer bottom panel  100 . For example, the drawer side panels  90  and  92  are parallel to one another and orthogonal to the drawer front  68 , the drawer back panel  98 , and the drawer bottom panel  100 . In an embodiment the drawer does not include movable spacers. In another embodiment, the drawer only includes one movable spacer. In yet another embodiment, the drawer includes more than two movable spacers. 
     The movable spacers  94  and  96  are movably attached to corresponding drawer side panel  90  or  92 . For example, each movable spacer  94  and  96  is a mirror image of the other and pivotably attached by hinges  102  to the corresponding drawer side panel  90  or  92 . 
     Each movable spacer  94  and  96  is movable from a first position (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 8 —where a topmost surface of the movable spacer  94  or  96  is below an upward facing surface and a downward facing surface of the cabinet floor  44 ) to a support position (e.g., (e.g., as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 10 —where the topmost surface is higher than when in the first position). When the bottom drawer  66  is opened into an extended position, the movable spacers  94  and  96  are each in the support position, and movable sleeping section  26  is in the horizontal position, the movable spacers  94  and  96  provide support to the movable sleeping section  26 . 
     For example, the movable spacers  94  and  96  are each configured to pivot about a corresponding axis that is parallel to a length of the movable sleeping section  26  when the movable sleeping section  26  is in the horizontal position. In an embodiment, at least one movable spacer is configured to pivot about another axis, such as an axis perpendicular to the length of the movable sleeping section when the movable sleeping section is in the horizontal position 
     Still referring to  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the movable spacers  94  and  96  may each extend along the axis that each pivots about. For example, each movable spacer  94  and  96  has a rectangular prism shape, and when in the support position each movable spacer  94  and  96  has an upwardly facing major surface with a length longer than its width, which is thicker than the depth of the corresponding movable spacer  94  and  96 . 
     In an embodiment, at least one of the movable spacers has another shape. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4-6 , the base  24  may include laterally extending guides  120 ,  122 ,  124 , and  126  (all illustrated in  FIG. 4 ) that maintain the alignment of the bottom drawer  66  with the movable sleeping section  26 . For example, the bottom drawer  66  includes laterally extending guides  120  or  122  that protrude laterally outward from the corresponding drawer side panel  90  and  92  and are slidable along the corresponding base side panel  70  or  72  when the bottom drawer  66  moves forward or backward. Also, each laterally extending guide  124  and  126  extends laterally inward from the corresponding base side panel  70  or  72  and allows the corresponding drawer side panel  90  or  92  to slide along the corresponding laterally extending guide  124  or  126  when the bottom drawer  66  moves forward or backward. 
     Each laterally extending guides  124  and  126  may limit forward movement of the corresponding laterally extending guide  120  or  122  at a predetermined distance from the base back panel  74  of the base  24 . For example, the laterally extending guides  120 ,  122 ,  124 , and  126  are disposed within a single plane that is parallel with the ground. The laterally extending guides  120  and  122  are disposed at the rear of the corresponding drawer side panel  90  or  92  and the laterally extending guides  124  and  126  are disposed at the front of the corresponding base side panel  70  or  72 . When the bottom drawer  66  moves forward a predetermined distance from its closed position the laterally extending guides  120  and  122  move into contact with the laterally extending guides  124  and  126 . 
     The laterally extending guides  120 ,  122 ,  124 , and  126  enable the bottom drawer  66  to be aligned with the movable sleeping section  26  when moving rearward or forward without connecting the bottom drawer  66  to any part of the cabinet bed  20  that defines the drawer receiving opening. For example, the bottom drawer  66  is not connected to the base side panels  70  and  72 , the base back panel  74 , and the cabinet floor  44 . 
     The laterally extending guides  120 ,  122 ,  124 , and  126  may be identical to one another. For example, each laterally extending guide  120 ,  122 ,  124 , and  126  may include a wheel  128 ,  130 ,  132 , or  134  that is contacts the corresponding base side panel  70  or  72  or drawer side panel  90  or  92 . Each wheel  128 ,  130 ,  132 , and  134  may be rotatable about a respective axis (e.g., aligned with a corresponding pin  136 ,  138 ,  140 , or  142 ) parallel with one another and/or the corresponding drawer side panel  90  or  92 . 
     In an embodiment, the laterally extending guides are not identical to one another. In another embodiment, the base does not include any laterally extending guides. In yet another embodiment, the bottom drawer includes laterally outwardly extending guides and does not include laterally extending guides that protrude laterally inward from the base side panels. In another embodiment, the base side panels include laterally inwardly extending guides and does not include laterally extending guides that protrude laterally outward from the bottom drawer. 
     Referring now to only  FIG. 4 , the bottom drawer  66  includes bottom castors or wheels  170  to allow easy sliding along the floor when the bottom drawer  66  moves from the closed position to the open position. In an embodiment, the bottom drawer includes another sliding mechanism. In another embodiment, the bottom drawer does not include a sliding mechanism. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the drawer front  68  and the mattress platform  26  may include decorative features. For example, the bottom drawer  66  includes knobs or handles  172  of suitable decor, which may be chosen to match handles  174  of the movable sleeping section  26 . The movable sleeping section  26  includes a decorative front contour  176  such as an inward bevel or an outward bevel to provide the appearance that the movable sleeping section  26  is divided into two sections such as cabinet doors or drawers. In an embodiment, none of the above decorative features are included. In another embodiment, the movable sleeping section does not include the decorative front contouring. In yet another embodiment, two or more decorative front contours are provided to the movable sleeping section to provide the appearance that the movable sleeping section is divided into three or more sections. 
     Also, each base side panel  70  and  72  (illustrated in  FIG. 4 ) includes adjustable feet  180  (also identified in  FIG. 6 ) that are configured to raise and lower corresponding portions of the corresponding base side panel  70  or  72 . In an embodiment, the feet may be fixed. In another embodiment, the base side panels may not include feet. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 3 , the movable sleeping section  26  includes a front cabinet panel  200  and an inside front panel  202 . The front cabinet panel  200  is pivotable relative to the cabinet floor  44  from a closed position to an open position. For example, the front cabinet panel  200  is hingedly attached to the cabinet floor  44  and can move from a vertical closed position (exemplified in  FIG. 1 ) to a horizontal open position (exemplified in  FIG. 3 ) where front cabinet panel  200  is parallel with the cabinet floor  44 . 
     The inside front panel  202  is movable relative to the front cabinet panel  200  from an inverted position (exemplified in  FIG. 14 )—parallel with the front cabinet panel  200 —to an upright position (exemplified in  FIG. 3 )—parallel with the front cabinet panel  200 . For example, the inside front panel  202  is hingedly attached to the front cabinet panel  200  at an end opposite the cabinet floor  44 . When the front cabinet panel  200  is in the horizontal open position, the inside front panel  202  is movable to an upright horizontal position where the inside front panel  202 , the front cabinet panel  200 , and the cabinet floor  44  are arranged parallel to one another and have coplanar upward facing surfaces to together support the mattress (not illustrated). 
     The upper cabinet  22  may include locking mechanisms  210  (also illustrated in  FIG. 7 ), such as easy to operate latches and/or bolts such that the cabinet sides  38  and/or  40  can be securely fastened to the inside front panel  202  and/or the front cabinet panel  200 . Securing the inside front panel  202  or the front cabinet panel  200  to at least one of the cabinet sides  38  and/or  40  may prevent the front cabinet panel  200  and the inside front panel  202  from falling open. In an embodiment, a locking mechanism is disposed outside the upper cabinet instead of or in addition to a locking mechanism disposed inside the upper cabinet. 
     In another embodiment, the inside front panel includes a handle to assist in folding the movable sleeping section into its closed position. The handle on inside front panel could be positioned to face downward when the movable sleeping section is in its horizontal position to receive the mattress, for example positioned such that the handle would not touch the bottom drawer or another component. 
     In yet another embodiment, the inside front panel is movably connected to the cabinet front panel in a different manner and/or the cabinet front panel is movably connected to the cabinet floor in a different manner. In yet another embodiment, the movable sleeping section does not include an inside panel. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 3 , the movable sleeping section  26  may include support legs  220  and  222  that are each pivotably attached to one side of the inside front panel  202 . When the front cabinet panel  200  is in the horizontal open position and the inside front panel  202  is in the upright horizontal position, the support legs  220  and  222  are pivotable about a corresponding axis that is parallel to the length of the movable sleeping section  26 . For example, the support legs  220  and  22  are pivotable from a retracted position (exemplified in  FIG. 14 ) to a pivoted position (exemplified in  FIG. 3 ) where a lowermost surface of each of the support legs  220  and  22  is below the cabinet floor  44  and lower than when in the retracted position. 
     Fasteners  230  such as screws, glue or rivets can be used to hold various pieces together, including hinges and panels as appropriate. 
     Also, additional features can be added to the cabinet bed  20  to improve ease of use and/or reduce wear on the parts. For example, the topmost surface of the movable spacers  94  and  96  and/or the topmost surfaces of the bottom drawer  66  may be formed partially or entirely of felt or another soft surface, as exemplified in  FIG. 5 , to reduce sound and to reduce wear on the movable sleeping section  26 . 
       FIGS. 7-16  illustrate the cabinet bed  20  transitioning from its closed state shown in  FIG. 1  to its fully-open state shown in  FIGS. 16-18  where the mattress can be placed on the movable sleeping section  26  for a person to sleep on. Initially referring to  FIG. 7 , the cabinet top  36  of the upper cabinet  22  may be opened by pivoting the front part  62  of the cabinet top  36  upward. When the front part  62  is lifted up, the locking mechanisms  210  may be disconnected by the user to allow the movable sleeping section  26  to move to its horizontal position. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , one or more hydraulic or pneumatic pistons  240  may be configured to hold the front part  62  in the upward position and/or to soften opening and closing of the front part  62 . In an embodiment, the pistons are not included, and the front part is configured to rotate 180° from its closed position to overlap the rear part of the cabinet top. 
     Referring still to  FIG. 8 , before or after the front part  62  is lifted up, the bottom drawer  66  may be pulled forward from underneath the cabinet floor  44  to form a support for the front cabinet panel  200 . As shown in  FIGS. 9-12 , the movable spacers  94  and  96  may be rotated about their respective hinges so that the corresponding major surfaces are horizontal and facing upward to receive the front cabinet panel  200 . When the bottom drawer  66  is opened, the user may pull out any desired items from the bottom drawer  66 , such as pillows or bedding (not illustrated). 
     In an embodiment, pulling the bottom drawer forward, from its closed position underneath the cabinet floor, includes unfolding hingedly connected extension panels that are hingedly connected to the bottom drawer and another part of the base. In an alternative embodiment, pulling the bottom drawer forward includes extending telescopic rails that are connected to the bottom drawer and another part of the base, for example as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,574,758 issued on Aug. 18, 2009 to Arason. 
       FIGS. 13 and 14  illustrate the front cabinet panel  200  rotating from its vertical closed position to its horizontal open position when the locking mechanisms  210  are in an unlocked state. When in the horizontal open position, the front cabinet panel  200  is supported by the drawer front  68  and the major surface of the movable spacers  94  and  96 . 
     When the front cabinet panel  200  is in the horizontal open position, the front part  62  of cabinet top  36  can be moved back to its horizontal position to reduce the visibility obstructed by the height of the profile of the upper cabinet  22 . 
       FIG. 15  illustrates the rotation of the support legs  220  and  222  relative to the inside front panel  202  from the retracted horizontal position to the pivoted position. 
       FIGS. 16-18  illustrate the cabinet bed  20  in the fully-open state where the inside front panel  202  has been unfolded so that the mattress or other cushioning material suitable for sleeping on can be placed on the front cabinet panel  200 , the inside cabinet panel  202 , and the cabinet floor  44  for a user to lay on. When unfolding the inside front panel  202  to lower the support legs  220  and  222  toward the ground, a handle (not shown) secured to the inside front panel  202  can be gripped to assist in pivoting the inside front panel  202  toward the ground. 
     The mattress may be stored inside the upper cabinet  22  above the cabinet floor  44  when the upper cabinet  22  is closed, and when the upper cabinet  22  is opened the mattress can be pulled out of the upper cabinet  22  and unfolded onto the front cabinet panel  200  and the inside front panel  202 . When the mattress is laying flat, the bed can be made by putting bedding stored in the bottom drawer  66  on the mattress and placing pillows stored in the bottom drawer  66  on the mattress. In an embodiment, the mattress is made of three sections which can be hingedly attached to one another in a chain by fabric so that the mattress easily folds up and unfolds in sections similar in size to the upward facing surfaces of the cabinet floor  44 , the front cabinet panel  200 , and the inside cabinet panel  200 . 
     Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to a certain embodiment or embodiments, it is obvious that equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. In particular regard to the various functions performed by the above described elements (components, assemblies, devices, compositions, etc.), the terms (including a reference to a “means”) used to describe such elements are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any element which performs the specified function of the described element (i.e., that is functionally equivalent), even though not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which performs the function in the herein illustrated exemplary embodiment or embodiments of the invention. In addition, while a particular feature of the invention may have been described above with respect to only one or more of several illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other embodiments, as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application.