Patent Publication Number: US-2019184883-A1

Title: Leg Rest Device

Description:
NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to any reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the United States Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to leg rest device and more particularly to a leg rest device with adjustable height arrangement. 
     Description of Related Arts 
     The most harassment of long trips is that people should sit on a seat for a long time to wait to arrive in their destination. In order to save energy or kill time, most people choose to sleep, read books or watch videos during sitting on their seats. But such prolong sitting always causes back pains, poor blood circulation, swellings, which make people feel very uncomfortable and generally couldn&#39;t fall asleep nor focus on books and videos. For the parents with young children, it is almost a terrible dream to bring their young children on a long trip, especially when the children are too young to have their own seats. Because the long trip on a plane, on a train or in a car often make the young children feel dull and uncomfortable, which may result with terrible crying that causes great annoying to the parents and other passengers. 
     Even though the child has his or her own seat, the size of the seat is designed for an adult to sit but not a child to lay down to sleep. So that to those parents who try their best to comfort their young children to make them fall asleep to get a relatively peaceful trip. The seats on the plane, the train or the car may only fit a baby to sleep thereon, but for an elder young child, the seats are too small for them to lie down to sleep. The best would be enabling the child to uncomfortably curl up on a chair which shall not help the young children falling asleep. Except that, even if the seat in a car is big enough for a young child sleep thereon, the gap between the front row seats and the back row seats is a hazard to the parents that, if the sleeping young child turns over on the seat or the driver makes an urgent brake or turn, the sleeping young child will easily fall down from the seat into the gap and cause injury to the child. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The invention is advantageous in that it provides a leg rest device which is able to construct selectively to form a space-structure body when it is filled with filling materials, wherein the leg rest device filled with filling materials is adapted for being placed and filled the gap between the front row seats and the back row seats in a vehicle to provide a support for a user&#39;s legs or create a resting platform providing a relatively flat resting surface with the back row seat for young children. 
     Another advantage of the invention is to provide a leg rest device which overall height is adjustable according to different needs. 
     Another advantage of the invention is to provide a leg rest device, wherein the air inflated therein is able to be drained out when the leg rest device is not used, and thus the leg rest device is capable of being folded up for storing and being carried around conveniently. 
     Another advantage of the invention is to provide a leg rest device, wherein the leg rest device comprises two or more leg rest bodies which can be detachably connected to form an integral leg rest body to provide an elevated supporting top surface and a higher height for the user to meet his or her requirement according to the resting environment of the user, wherein, in one embodiment, both the leg rest bodies are made inflatable so that the overall height of the integral leg rest body is adjustable by controlling the amount of air inflated into the two leg rest bodies respectively. 
     Additional advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows, and may be realized by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particular point out in the appended claims. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the leg rest device of the present invention comprises at least a leg rest body which has a top wall, a bottom wall, a surrounding side wall extended between the top wall and the bottom wall to form a receiving cavity therein for receiving filling materials, an opening for a filling material passing therethrough into the receiving cavity, and a stopper selectively controlling the filling material filling in and out of the receiving cavity. When the receiving cavity is filled with the filling material, the leg rest device shall form a space-structure body as a supporting platform for the user. When the filling material is drained out of the receiving cavity, the leg rest device is adapted for being folded up for storing and carrying. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, leg rest device of the present invention comprises a base leg rest body and an auxiliary leg rest body adapted to be connected with the base rest body to form an integral leg rest body to form an integral leg rest body to provide an elevated supporting top surface and a higher height for the user to meet his or her requirement according to the resting environment of the user. 
     In one embodiment, the base leg rest body has a base receiving cavity therein for receiving a filling material and the auxiliary leg rest body has an auxiliary receiving cavity therein for receiving the filling material therein. 
     In one embodiment, the connection between the base leg rest body and the auxiliary leg rest body is detachable so that the user may select to use one of the base leg rest body and the auxiliary leg rest body or both the connected base leg rest body and auxiliary leg rest body to adjust the overall height of the leg rest device of the present invention. In addition, the amount of the filling material to be filled in said base receiving cavity and the auxiliary receiving cavity may further adjust and control the overall height of the leg rest device. In other words, when a user need a higher support, the base leg rest body and the auxiliary leg rest body are filled with the filling material to form two space-structure bodies respectively which are able to be stacked together to form the integral leg rest body to provide the high support, and that when the user needs a low support, the base leg rest body and the auxiliary leg rest body can be selectively filled with less filling material to form the integral leg rest body which is a combined space-structure body to provide corresponding support for the user. 
     In one embodiment, both the leg rest bodies are made inflatable and the filing material is air, so that the overall height of the integral leg rest body is adjustable by controlling the amount of air inflated into the two leg rest bodies respectively 
     Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings. 
     These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a leg rest device according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the leg rest device according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional perspective view of the leg rest device according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view with an enlarged diagram illustrating a stopper of the leg rest device, in opened state, according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating the stopper of the leg rest device, in closed state, according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic view of a leg rest device according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the leg rest device according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the leg rest device according to an alternative mode of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the leg rest device according to another alternative mode of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional perspective view of the leg rest device according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic view of a leg rest device according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a sectional perspective view of the leg rest device according to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a schematic view of the leg rest device, in a first semi-inflated state, according to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a schematic view of the leg rest device, in a second semi-inflated state, according to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following description is disclosed to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the present invention. Preferred embodiments are provided in the following description only as examples and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The general principles defined in the following description would be applied to other embodiments, alternatives, modifications, equivalents, and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 5 , a leg rest device according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the leg rest device comprises at least a leg rest body  1  which has a top wall  10 , a bottom wall  30  and a surrounding side wall  20  extended between the top wall  10  and the bottom wall to define at least a receiving cavity  100  formed therein for receiving at least a filling material. It is worth to mention that the filling material can be air, water, particles, and so on. 
     According to the first preferred embodiment, the leg rest device is adapted for being air inflated by the user with mouth or an air pump. In other words, when the user wants to use the leg rest device, she or he can inflate it with the mouth anytime without the aid of other instruments which make the usage of the leg rest device more convenient. 
     Preferably, the top wall  10 , the bottom wall  30  and the surrounding side wall  20  are integrally made to form the leg rest body  1 . In other words, the top wall  10 , the bottom wall  30 , and the surrounding side wall  20  can also be separately made and connected with each other edge to edge together to form the integral leg rest body  1  and define the receiving cavity  100  therein. 
     The leg rest device further has an opening  200  for the filling material passing therethrough and a stopper  40  for controlling the opening of the opening  200  for the filling material to fill into or out of the receiving cavity  100  and the closing of the opening  200  for preventing and sealing the filling material from coming out of the receiving cavity  100 . According to the first preferred embodiment, the stopper  40  further comprises a controlling valve  42  provided at the opening  200  in such a manner that when the controlling valve  42  is pressed down by an external force to open, the controlling valve  42  allows the filling material selectively flowing into and out of the receiving cavity  100 , and that when the controlling valve  42  is released to close, the controlling valve  42  is sealed to stop the filling material from flowing into or leaking from the receiving cavity  100  of the leg rest device. In order to enhance a tightness of the stopper  40 , the stopper  40  further comprises a cover  41  which is detachably covered on the controlling valve  42  and a connecting arm  411 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the connecting arm  411  is connected between one end of the cover  41  and the controlling valve  42  so that when the cover  41  is opened, it remains connected to the controlling valve  42  through the connecting arm  411 . It is worth to mention that, the stopper  40  is able to be embodied as other types of valves to control the inlet and outlet of the filling material, and the present invention should not be limited by this preferred embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 , the leg rest device is embodied as a rectangular shape with a size preferably for being fittingly placed and filled the gap between the front row seats and the back row seats in a vehicle to provide a support for a user&#39;s legs or create a resting platform providing a relatively flat resting surface with the back row seat for young children. The leg rest device can be made in any other shape and size for use at home or office for being able to be steadily placed on the ground for the user to rest his or her legs thereon when sitting on a chair or sofa. It is worth mentioning that the filling material is preferred to be fluid material such as air or water so as to better conform and tightly fit into the gap between the front row seats and back row seats in the vehicle. 
     In addition, the leg rest device is able to be embodied as other shapes such as cylindrical shape, square shape, and etc. 
     According to the first preferred embodiment, the stopper  40  is made to allow the user to inflate the leg rest device by blowing air with mouth or an air pump, wherein when the user want to use the leg rest device, he or she can remove the cover  41  to blow air into the receiving cavity  100  through the controlling valve  42  by applying an air pressure on the controlling valve  42  to open the controlling valve  42 , wherein when a predetermined amount of air has been inflated into the receiving cavity  100  to support the leg rest device to form the integral leg rest body  1  in desired shape with desired pressure, the inflation is finished. Then, the user can stop to blow the pressurized air in, wherein without the air pressure exerting on the controlling valve  42 , the controlling valve  42  will close the opening  200  automatically so as to prevent the air in the receiving cavity  100  from flowing out. Finally, the user can cover the cover  41  of the stopper  40  on the controlling valve  42  to further enhance the tightness of the leg rest device. When the user wants to store the leg rest device, he or she is able to remove the cover  41  and press the controlling valve  42  down to open the opening  200  for the air deflating from the receiving cavity  100  and, after the air inflated in the receiving cavity  100  is drained out, the user can fold up the leg rest device for storing and carrying. 
     As show in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , when the leg rest device is filled with the filling material to form the integral leg rest body, it is a space-structure body to provide a support for the user&#39;s leg, feet and can be placed in front of a seat or inserted into the gap between the front row seats and back row seats for leg resting or to create a flat platform with the adjacent seat surface, when the height of the leg rest body is about the height of the seat for the young child to lie down and sleep thereon while it also prevent the young children from falling down from the seat into the gap between the front row seats and the back row seats at the same time since such gap is filled with the leg rest device. 
     When the filling material is discharged from the receiving cavity  100  of the leg rest device as shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , it is able to be folded up that takes a small space to be stored and is convenient and portable for the user to carry in a trip. It is worth to mention that the leg rest device is preferably made by foldable and airtight material, such as plastic, which are airtight and washable so that the leg rest device is able to be washed to keep clean from time to time. In addition, a soft material such as cloth, EVA, short nap, and etc. is preferred to be attached or coated on an exterior surface of the leg rest device to enhance the comfort of the leg rest device 
     As shown in  FIG. 6  to  FIG. 10 , a leg rest device according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the height of the leg rest device is embodied as adjustable according to different needs. The leg rest device according to the second preferred embodiment further comprises an auxiliary leg rest body  20 A beside the leg rest body  10 A and a detachable securing means  30 A adapted for detachably connecting the leg rest body with the auxiliary leg rest body  20 A. Accordingly, when the user needs a higher support, the leg rest body  10 A is able to be detachably connected with the auxiliary leg rest body  20 A through the detachably securing means  30 A to elevate the supporting height. Also, when the user needs a lower support, the user may simply use either the leg rest body  10 A or the auxiliary leg rest body  20 A independently after detaching the leg rest body  10 A from the auxiliary leg rest body  20 A, as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 10 , the leg rest body  10 A has a structure similar to the leg rest body  10  in the above first preferred embodiment that comprises a first top wall  11 A, a first bottom wall  12 A, and a first surrounding side wall  13 A extended from the first top wall  11 A to the first bottom wall  12 A to form a first receiving cavity  14 A therein for receiving filling material such as air, water, and other fluid material therein to form a first space-structure body having a first predetermined height, to provide a support for the user. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the auxiliary leg rest body  20 A has a structure similar to the leg rest body  10 A with a second predetermined height higher than the first predetermined height, which comprises a second top wall  21 A, a second bottom wall  22 A, and a second surrounding side wall  23 A extended from the second top wall  21 A to the second bottom wall  22 A to form a second receiving cavity  24 A therein for receiving filling material such as air, water, and other fluid materials therein to form a second space-structure body to provide a support for the user. 
     Each of the leg rest body  10 A and the auxiliary leg rest body  20 A also has an opening  200  for the filling material passing therethrough and a stopper  40 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , for controlling the opening of the opening  200  for the filling material to fill into or out of the first and second receiving cavities  14 A,  24 A and the closing of the opening  200  for preventing and sealing the filling material from coming out of the receiving cavities  14 A,  24 A. As shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 10 , similar to the first preferred embodiment, according to the second preferred embodiment, the stopper  40  also comprises a controlling valve  42  provided at the opening  200  in such a manner that when the controlling valve  42  is pressed down by an external force to open, the controlling valve  42  allows the filling material selectively flowing into and out of the receiving cavity  14 A,  24 A, and that when the controlling valve  42  is released to close, the controlling valve  42  is sealed to stop the filling material from flowing into or leaking from the receiving cavity  14 A,  24 A of the leg rest body  10 A or the auxiliary leg rest body  20 A. In order to enhance a tightness of the stopper  40 , the stopper  40  also comprises a cover  41  which is detachably covered on the controlling valve  42  and a connecting arm  411 , wherein the connecting arm  411  is connected between one end of the cover  41  and the controlling valve  42  so that when the cover  41  is opened, it remains connected to the controlling valve  42  through the connecting arm  411 . 
     According to the second preferred embodiment, the leg rest device is adapted for being inflated by the user with mouth or an air pump too. That is to say that, when the user wants to use the leg rest device, she or he may also instantly inflate it with the mouth without the aid of other instruments which make the usage of the leg rest device more convenient. Preferably, each of the leg rest body  10 A and the auxiliary leg rest body  20 A has a rectangular shape adapted for the leg rest body  10 A and the auxiliary leg rest body  20 A steadily standing on the ground individually or after connecting the leg rest body  10 A on top of the auxiliary leg rest body  20 A through the securing means  30 A, so as to be fittingly inserted in the gap between the front row seats and the back row seats. In addition, for that the leg rest device is able to be filled by the fluid material such as air, the leg rest device is able to further adjust its overall height by controlling the total amount of air inflated into the leg rest body  10 A and/or the auxiliary leg rest body  20 A so as to match the height of the adjacent seat to form a flat platform with the seat surface of adjacent seat. Also, the leg rest device is preferred to inflate air until it has a size slight bigger then the gap between the front row seats and the back row seats, so that the leg rest device can be slightly compressed and deformed to fit and secure in the gap between the front row seats and the back row seats to ensure the leg rest device be tightly inserted into such gap to avoid any unwanted movement after it is placed in position. Likewise, both the leg rest body  10 A and the auxiliary leg rest body  20 A of the leg rest device are able to be embodied as other shapes such as cylindrical shape, square shape and so on. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the securing means  30 A comprises at least a pair of first and second attaching elements  31 A,  32 A, such as a pair of hook and loop fasteners (Velcro), adapted for being detachably connected with each other. According to the second preferred embodiment, two first attaching elements  31 A are spacedly provided on the first bottom wall  12 A of the leg rest body  10 A and two second attaching elements  32 A are correspondingly provided on the second top wall  21 A of the auxiliary leg rest body  20 A with respect to the two first attaching elements  31 A so that when the leg rest body  10 A is disposed on top of the auxiliary leg rest body  20 A, the two first attaching elements  31 A, such as hook fasteners, are securely and detachably connected to the two second attaching elements  32 A, such as loop fasteners so as to connect the leg rest body  10 A with the auxiliary leg rest body  20 A to form the leg rest device. It is worth mentioning that the two first attaching elements  31 A are preferably and spacedly provided near two opposite edges of the first bottom wall  12 A of the leg rest body  10 A, as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     It is worth to mention that, the first bottom wall  12 A the leg rest body  10 A is preferred to have the same size as the second top wall  21 A of the auxiliary leg rest body  20 A, so that when the edges of the first bottom wall  12 A of the leg rest body  10 A are aligned with the edges of the second top wall  21 A of the auxiliary leg rest body  20 A, the two first attaching elements  31 A will be respectively attached on the corresponding second attaching elements  32 A. 
     Alternatively, if the first bottom wall  12 A of the leg rest body  10 A has size smaller than the second top wall  21 A the auxiliary leg rest body  20 A, a pointing line can be provided on the second top wall  21 A of the second top wall  21 A, so that when the edges of the first bottom wall  12 A of the leg rest body  10 A are aligned with the edges of the second top wall  21 A of the auxiliary leg rest body  20 A, the two first attaching elements  31 A will also be respectively attached on the corresponding second attaching elements  32 A. 
     Alternatively, if the first bottom wall  12 A of the leg rest body  10 A has a size bigger than the second top wall  21 A of the auxiliary leg rest body  20 A, a pointing line can also provide on the first bottom wall  12 A of the leg rest body  10 A, so that when the edges of the second top wall  21 A of the auxiliary leg rest body  20 A are aligned with the edges of the first bottom wall  12 A of the leg rest body  10 A, the two first attaching elements  31 A will be respectively attached on the corresponding second attaching elements  32 A too. Preferably, each of the first attaching elements  31 A and the second attaching elements  32 A has an elongated structure, wherein the first and second attaching elements  31 A,  32 A are respectively provided near the corresponding edges of the first bottom wall  12 A of the leg rest body  10 A and the corresponding edges of the second top wall  21 A of the auxiliary leg rest body  20 A. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , an alternative mode of the above second preferred embodiment is illustrated, wherein the securing means  30 ′ merely comprises one enlarged first attaching element  31 A′, such as a hook fastener, and one enlarged second attaching element  32 A′, such as a loop fastener, both of which are respectively provided on a central portion of the first bottom wall  12 A′ of the leg rest body  10 A′ and a central portion of the second top wall  21 A′ of the auxiliary leg rest body  20 A′, so that the first attaching element  31 A′ is aligned for connecting with the second attaching element  32 A′ when the leg rest body  10 A is placed on top of the auxiliary rest body  20 A. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , another alternative mode of the above second preferred embodiment is illustrated, wherein the securing means  30 ″ comprises only one first attaching element  31 A″, such as a hook fastener, and one second attaching element  32 A″, such as a loop fastener, adapted for detachably connecting with the first attaching element  31 A″, wherein both of the first attaching element  31 A″ and the second attaching element  32 A″ are in rectangular ring shape, each extending along the edges the first bottom wall  12 A″ of the leg rest body  10 A″ and the second top wall  21 A″ of the auxiliary leg rest body  20 A″ respectively and correspondingly, so that the first attaching element  31 A″ is adapted to be connected with the second attaching element  32 A″ when the leg rest body  10 A is placed on top of the auxiliary leg rest body  20 A. 
     It is appreciated that, the securing means  30 ,  30 ′,  30 ″ may also be embodied to comprise a pair of zipper members, button members or magnetic members, which are able to be connected with each other to connect the first bottom wall  12  of the leg rest body  10 A with the second top wall  21 A of the auxiliary leg rest body  20 A so as to form the leg rest device in layer manner. 
     It is worth to mention that, the leg rest body  10 A and the auxiliary leg rest body  20 A are able to be made in different sizes with different heights and sold separately or in combination, wherein the user may one or more leg rest bodies  10 A and auxiliary leg rest bodies  20 A so that the user may made combination of the leg rest device according to the need and environment requirement. 
     It is appreciated that each of the leg rest body  10 A and auxiliary leg rest body  20 A may also comprise a securing means  30 ,  30 ′,  30 ″ which comprises a first attaching element  31 A,  31 A′,  31 A″ on the first or second bottom wall  12 A,  22 A thereof and a second attaching element  32 A,  32 A′,  32 A″ on the first or second top wall  11 A,  21 A thereof. Therefore, each of the leg rest body  10 A and the auxiliary leg rest body  20 A can be connected with two or more leg rest bodies  10 A or auxiliary leg rest bodies  20 A so as to obtain the desired height of the leg rest device according to the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 11  to  FIG. 14 , a leg rest device according to a third preferred embodiment is illustrated, wherein the first bottom wall  12 A and the second top wall  21 A as described in the above second preferred embodiment are combined to form simply one isolation wall  21 B in this third preferred embodiment. According to the third preferred embodiment, the leg rest device comprises a leg rest body  10 B and an auxiliary leg rest body  20 B, wherein the auxiliary leg rest body  20 B comprises an isolation wall  21 B, a second bottom wall  22 B, and a second surrounding side wall  23 B extended between the isolation wall  21 B and the second bottom wall  22 B to define a second receiving cavity  24 B therein for receiving filling material. The base leg rest body  10 B comprises a first top wall  11 B and a first surrounding side wall  12 B extended between the isolation wall  21 B and the first top wall  11 B to define a first receiving cavity  13  therein for receiving filling material. 
     It is worth to mention that, the base leg rest body  10 A is able to have a same size as the auxiliary leg rest body  20 A or a smaller size than the auxiliary leg rest body  20 A, or a bigger size than the auxiliary leg rest body  20 A. It should not limit by this third preferred embodiment that the base leg rest body  10 B has a size smaller than the auxiliary leg rest body  20 B. 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , the isolation wall  21 B is provided between the leg rest body  10 B and the auxiliary leg rest body  20 B to separate the first receiving cavity  13 B from the second receiving cavity  24 B, wherein when the user need a higher support, the user can inflate both the leg rest body  10 B and the auxiliary leg rest body  20 B, and when the user need a relatively lower support later, the user can deflate the base leg rest body  10 B while remaining the auxiliary leg rest body  20 B be inflated to provide a lower support for the user, or alternatively deflate the auxiliary leg rest body  10 B while the base leg rest body  10 B remaining be inflated to provide the lowest support for the user. Of course, the user may selectively inflate one of the leg rest body  10 B or the auxiliary leg rest body  20 A to use. 
     According to the third preferred embodiment, each of the leg rest body  10 B and the auxiliary leg rest body  20 B of the leg rest device has an opening  200  for the filling material passing therethrough and a stopper  40 , constructed as in the above first and second embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 4 , for controlling the filling material to flow into or out of the first receiving cavity  13 B of the leg rest body  10 B and the second receiving cavity  24 B of the auxiliary leg rest body  20 B respectively. 
     One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting. 
     It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. The embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.