Patent Publication Number: US-2019186869-A1

Title: Firearm Front Sight

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure is generally related to firearms and, more particularly, to a firearm front sight. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Unless otherwise indicated herein, approaches described in this section are not prior art to the claims listed below and are not admitted as prior art by inclusion in this section. 
     Firearms, including handguns and long guns, are generally equipped with a front sight and a rear sight to aid a user of a firearm in aiming a target to achieve accurate shot placement. For instance, the user can focus his/her eyes on the front sight and then verify the alignment between the front and rear sights. For defensive handgun shooting, an important skill is to focus on the front sight to engage a target. In some cases, a sight insert of a different color may be used on the front sight to make it easier for the user to quickly focus on the front sight. That is, sight inserts tend to benefit the user in situations requiring fast, accurate front sight acquisition, as well as in low-light conditions. 
     In present days the use of a fiber optic rod as the sight insert is gaining popularity. The fiber optic rod is often sealed in place with heat. However, sealing the fiber optic rod as sight insert with heat tends to permanently fuse the fiber optic rod with the housing of the front sight. 
     SUMMARY 
     The following summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be limiting in any way. That is, the following summary is provided to introduce concepts, highlights, benefits and advantages of the novel and non-obvious techniques described herein. Select implementations are further described below in the detailed description. Thus, the following summary is not intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended for use in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     In one aspect, an apparatus implementable on a firearm may include a front sight that is detachably mountable on a component of the firearm. The front sight may include an optic insert and a housing comprising a void configured to accommodate the optic insert therein. The optic insert may be receivable into and removable from the void by at least partially traversing through an imaginary plane defined by and parallel to a first primary side of the housing. Additionally, when the front sight is mounted on the component of the firearm with the optic insert received in the void, the first primary side of the housing may physically contact the component such that the optic insert is interlockingly received in the housing. 
     In another aspect, an apparatus implementable on a firearm may include a front sight that is detachably mountable on a component of the firearm. The front sight may include a housing comprising a void configured to accommodate an optic insert therein. The housing may be shaped such that the optic insert is receivable into and removable from the void by at least partially traversing through an imaginary plane defined by and parallel to a first primary side of the housing. Moreover, when the front sight is mounted on the component of the firearm with the optic insert received in the void, the first primary side of the housing may physically contact the component such that the optic insert is interlockingly received in the housing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of the present disclosure. The drawings illustrate implementations of the disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. It is appreciable that the drawings are not necessarily in scale as some components may be shown to be out of proportion than the size in actual implementation in order to clearly illustrate the concept of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B  are each a diagram of a cross-sectional side view of an apparatus in accordance with different implementations of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2A - FIG. 2H  are diagrams of various views of an apparatus in accordance with a first implementation of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3A - FIG. 3D  are diagrams of various views of a component of the apparatus in accordance with the first implementation of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram of various views of another component of the apparatus in accordance with the first implementation of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5A  and  FIG. 5B  are diagrams showing assembly and disassembly of components of the apparatus in accordance with the first implementation of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B  are diagrams of various views of an apparatus in accordance with a second implementation of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7A - FIG. 7D  are diagrams of various views of a component of the apparatus in accordance with the second implementation of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram of various views of another component of the apparatus in accordance with the second implementation of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 9A  and  FIG. 9B  are diagrams showing assembly and disassembly of components of the apparatus in accordance with the second implementation of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED IMPLEMENTATIONS 
     Detailed embodiments and implementations of the claimed subject matters are disclosed herein. However, it shall be understood that the disclosed embodiments and implementations are merely illustrative of the claimed subject matters which may be embodied in various forms. The present disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the exemplary embodiments and implementations set forth herein. Rather, these exemplary embodiments and implementations are provided so that description of the present disclosure is thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art. In the description below, details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the presented embodiments and implementations. 
     Overview 
     Various implementations in accordance with the present disclosure provide a front sight for firearms, whether handgun, rifle or carbine, that is modular and non-permanent. Specifically, a front sight according to the present disclosure offers sight modularity and a novel attachment method. 
     Construction of components the various implementations in accordance with the present disclosure may utilize metal, such as aluminum, steel, stamped steel or a metal alloy, for example and without limitation. In some cases, one metallic material may be substituted with another metallic material or polymers of sufficient mechanical strengths to withstand normal usage with a firearm. In any event, it is desirable that the material(s) utilized for various implementations in accordance with the present disclosure have sufficient mechanical strengths and rigidity to withstand recoil associated with shooting of the firearm without changing the zeroing of the sighting tool. Moreover, it is desirable that the total weight of the package be not excessive so that normal handling and function of the host firearm platform is not interfered or otherwise negatively impacted. 
     Illustrative Implementations 
       FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B  illustrate cross-sectional side views of an apparatus  100  and an apparatus  200 , respectively, in accordance with the present disclosure. Referring to  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B , each of apparatus  100  and apparatus  200  respectively has a first primary side, a second primary side, a third primary side, and a fourth primary side. When mounted on a firearm (e.g., a handgun), the fourth primary side of each of apparatus  100  and apparatus  200  may face toward the front of the firearm, and hence may be considered the front side of apparatus  100  and  200 . Additionally, when mounted on the firearm, the third primary side of each of apparatus  100  and apparatus  200  may face toward the back of the firearm, and hence may be considered the back side of apparatus  100  and  200 . Similarly, when mounted on the firearm, the first primary side of each of apparatus  100  and apparatus  200  may face downward with respect to the firearm, and hence may be considered the bottom side of apparatus  100  and  200 . Likewise, when mounted on the firearm, the second primary side of each of apparatus  100  and apparatus  200  may face upward with respect to the firearm, and hence may be considered the top side of apparatus  100  and  200 . 
     Thus, in the description of apparatus  100  and apparatus  200  herein, the third primary side (e.g., back side) is between and adjacent to the first primary side (e.g., bottom side) and the second primary side (e.g., top side), and the fourth primary side (e.g., front side) is between and adjacent to the first primary side (e.g., bottom side) and the second primary side (e.g., top side). Furthermore, the third primary side (e.g., back side) and the fourth primary side (e.g., front side) are opposite to each other. 
     Each of apparatus  100  and apparatus  200  may be suitable for a respective type of mounting onto a firearm. For instance, in the context of handguns, apparatus  100  may be configured, designed or otherwise adapted for mounting onto a Glock™ pistol from Glock of Smyrna, Ga., U.S.A. Moreover, in the context of handguns, apparatus  200  may be a dovetail front sight that is configured, designed or otherwise adapted for mounting onto an M1911 pistol or other suitable handguns. 
       FIG. 2A - FIG. 2H  illustrate various views of apparatus  100  implementable on a firearm in accordance with the present disclosure.  FIG. 3A - FIG. 3D  illustrate various views of a housing  110  of apparatus  100  in accordance with the present disclosure.  FIG. 4  illustrates various views of an optic insert  120  of apparatus  100  in accordance with the present disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2A - FIG. 4 , apparatus  100  may include a front sight that is detachably mountable on a component of the firearm. For instance, apparatus  100  may be detachably mounted on a slide of a semi-automatic pistol. Apparatus  100  may include housing  110  and optic insert  120 . Housing  110  may include a void  113  that is configured to accommodate optic insert  120  therein. As shown in at least  FIG. 2A - FIG. 3D , housing  110  may include a first plate  112  and a second plate  114  that are adjacent to each other such that a space between the first plate  112  and the second plate  114  defines the void  113 . 
     As shown in at least  FIG. 3A - FIG. 3D , a portion of a first inner wall of the first plate  112  of housing  110  facing the second plate  114  may include a first recess  116  near a side of the first plate  112  that defines a portion of the first primary side (e.g., bottom side) of housing  110 . Similarly, a portion of a second inner wall of the second plate  114  of housing  110  facing the first plate  112  may include a second recess  118  near a side of the second plate  114  that defines a portion of the first primary side (e.g., bottom side) of housing  110 . 
     As shown in at least  FIG. 4 , optic insert  120  may include a first ledge  122  on and protruding from a first side of optic insert  120 . Additionally, optic insert  120  may also include a second ledge  124  on and protruding from a second side of optic insert  120  opposite the first side of optic insert  120 . From the perspective of a user of the firearm on which apparatus  100  is mounted, when mounted on the firearm, first ledge  122  may be on the left side of optic insert  120 , and second ledge  124  may be on the right side of optic insert  120 . Accordingly, when optic insert  120  is interlockingly received in housing  110 , first ledge  122  of optic insert  120  may be received in first recess  116  of first plate  112  of housing  110 . Similarly, when optic insert  120  is interlockingly received in housing  110 , second ledge  124  of optic insert  120  may be received in second recess  118  of second plate  114  of housing  110 . 
     As shown in at least  FIG. 2A - FIG. 3D , housing  110  may also include a collar  115  on and protruding from the first primary side (e.g., bottom side) of housing  110 . Thus, when apparatus  100  is mounted on a firearm, collar  115  may be configured to be received in a recess on the component of the firearm (e.g., received in an opening of the slide of the semi-automatic pistol). In some implementations, collar  115  may include a blind hole  135  that is threaded and configured to receive a screw  130  (e.g., a hex-head cap screw) as apparatus  100  is mounted on the component of the firearm. For instance, when apparatus  100  is mounted on the slide of a Glock pistol, collar  115  may be received in an opening of the slide of the Glock pistol and housing  110  may be secured onto the slide with a hex-head cap screw. 
     In some implementations, housing  110  may be made of metal, metal alloy, polymer, or ceramics. In some implementations, optic insert  120  may include fiber optics or tritium. 
       FIG. 5A  and  FIG. 5B  illustrate assembly and disassembly of housing  110  and optic insert  120  of apparatus  100  in accordance with the present disclosure. Referring to  FIG. 5A  and  FIG. 5B , optic insert  120  may be receivable into and removable from void  113  by at least partially traversing through an imaginary plane  140  defined by and parallel to the first primary side (e.g., bottom side) of housing  110 . That is, for assembly of housing  110  and optic insert  120 , it is necessary to insert optic insert  120  into void  130  in a way such that at least a portion of optic insert  120  traverses through imaginary plane  140 , so that first ledge  122  and second ledge  124  of optic insert  120  can be seated or otherwise received in first recess  116  and second recess  118  of housing  110 , respectively. For disassembly, it is necessary to remove optic insert  120  from void  130  in a way such that at least a portion of optic insert  120  traverses through imaging plane  140 . 
     When apparatus  100 , as a front sight, is mounted on the component of the firearm (e.g., slide of a semi-automatic pistol) with optic insert  120  received in void  113 , the first primary side of housing  110  may physically contact the component (e.g., slide of the semi-automatic pistol) such that optic insert  120  is interlockingly received in housing  110 . Indeed, referring to  FIG. 5B , first plate  112  of housing  110  may include a lip portion  1165  adjacent first recess  116 , and second plate  114  of housing  110  may include a lip portion  1185  adjacent second recess  118 . When apparatus  110 , as a front sight, is installed on a firearm with optic insert  120  received in void  113  of housing  110 , lip portions  1165  and  1185  prevent optic insert  120  from sliding out of housing  110  rearward through the third primary side of housing  110 . Moreover, first recess  116  and second recess  118  prevent optic insert  120  from sliding out of housing  110  upward through the second primary side of housing  110 . Furthermore, first recess  116  and second recess  118  prevent optic insert  120  from sliding out of housing  110  forward through the fourth primary side of housing  110 . This is because first ledge  122  and second ledge  124  of optic insert  120  are interlockingly received in first recess  116  and second recess  118  of housing  110 , respectively. 
     In some implementations, when optic insert  120  is interlockingly received in housing  110 , at least a portion of optic insert  120  may be visible on the second primary side (e.g., top side) of housing  110 , which is opposite the first primary side (e.g., bottom side) of housing  110 . Additionally or alternatively, when optic insert  120  is interlockingly received in housing  110 , at least a portion of optic insert  120  may be visible on each of the third primary side (e.g., back side) and the fourth primary side (e.g., front side) of housing  110 . 
       FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B  illustrate various views of apparatus  200  in accordance with the present disclosure.  FIG. 7A - FIG. 7D  illustrate various views of a housing  210  of apparatus  200  in accordance with the present disclosure.  FIG. 8  illustrates various views of an optic insert  220  of apparatus  200  in accordance with the present disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6A - FIG. 8 , apparatus  200  may include a front sight that is detachably mountable on a component of the firearm. For instance, apparatus  200  may be detachably mounted on a slide of a semi-automatic pistol. Apparatus  200  may include housing  210  and optic insert  220 . Housing  210  may include a void  213  that is configured to accommodate optic insert  220  therein. As shown in at least  FIG. 6A - FIG. 7D , housing  210  may include a first plate  212  and a second plate  214  that are adjacent to each other such that a space between the first plate  212  and the second plate  214  defines the void  213 . 
     As shown in at least  FIG. 7A - FIG. 7D , a portion of a first inner wall of the first plate  212  of housing  210  facing the second plate  214  may include a first recess  216  near a side of the first plate  212  that defines a portion of the first primary side (e.g., bottom side) of housing  210 . Similarly, a portion of a second inner wall of the second plate  214  of housing  210  facing the first plate  212  may include a second recess  218  near a side of the second plate  214  that defines a portion of the first primary side (e.g., bottom side) of housing  210 . 
     As shown in at least  FIG. 8 , optic insert  220  may include a first ledge  222  on and protruding from a first side of optic insert  220 . Additionally, optic insert  220  may also include a second ledge  224  on and protruding from a second side of optic insert  220  opposite the first side of optic insert  220 . From the perspective of a user of the firearm on which apparatus  200  is mounted, when mounted on the firearm, first ledge  222  may be on the left side of optic insert  220 , and second ledge  224  may be on the right side of optic insert  220 . Accordingly, when optic insert  220  is interlockingly received in housing  210 , first ledge  222  of optic insert  220  may be received in first recess  216  of first plate  212  of housing  210 . Similarly, when optic insert  220  is interlockingly received in housing  210 , second ledge  224  of optic insert  220  may be received in second recess  218  of second plate  214  of housing  210 . 
     As shown in at least  FIG. 6A - FIG. 7D , housing  210  may also include a mounting plate  215  disposed on the first primary side (e.g., bottom side) of housing  110 . Thus, when apparatus  200  is mounted on a firearm, mounting plate  215  may be configured to be slide-ably received in a slot on the component of the firearm (e.g., received in a slot on the slide of the semi-automatic pistol). For instance, when apparatus  200  is mounted on the slide of an M1911 pistol, mounting plate  215  may be slide-ably received in a dovetail slot on the slide of the M1911 pistol to securely mount housing  210  onto the slide. 
     In some implementations, housing  210  may be made of metal, metal alloy, polymer, or ceramics. In some implementations, optic insert  220  may include fiber optics or tritium. 
       FIG. 9A  and  FIG. 9B  illustrate assembly and disassembly of housing  210  and optic insert  220  of apparatus  200  in accordance with the present disclosure. Referring to  FIG. 9A  and  FIG. 9B , optic insert  220  may be receivable into and removable from void  213  by at least partially traversing through an imaginary plane  240  defined by and parallel to the first primary side (e.g., bottom side) of housing  210 . That is, for assembly of housing  210  and optic insert  220 , it is necessary to insert optic insert  220  into void  230  in a way such that at least a portion of optic insert  220  traverses through imaginary plane  240 , so that first ledge  222  and second ledge  224  of optic insert  220  can be seated or otherwise received in first recess  216  and second recess  218  of housing  210 , respectively. For disassembly, it is necessary to remove optic insert  220  from void  230  in a way such that at least a portion of optic insert  220  traverses through imaging plane  240 . 
     When apparatus  200 , as a front sight, is mounted on the component of the firearm (e.g., slide of a semi-automatic pistol) with optic insert  220  received in void  213 , the first primary side of housing  210  may physically contact the component (e.g., slide of the semi-automatic pistol) such that optic insert  220  is interlockingly received in housing  210 . Indeed, referring to  FIG. 9B , first plate  212  of housing  210  may include a lip portion  2165  adjacent first recess  216 , and second plate  214  of housing  210  may include a lip portion  2185  adjacent second recess  218 . When apparatus  210 , as a front sight, is installed on a firearm with optic insert  220  received in void  213  of housing  210 , lip portions  2165  and  2185  prevent optic insert  220  from sliding out of housing  210  rearward through the third primary side of housing  210 . Moreover, first recess  216  and second recess  218  prevent optic insert  220  from sliding out of housing  210  upward through the second primary side of housing  210 . Furthermore, first recess  216  and second recess  218  prevent optic insert  220  from sliding out of housing  210  forward through the fourth primary side of housing  210 . This is because first ledge  222  and second ledge  224  of optic insert  220  are interlockingly received in first recess  216  and second recess  218  of housing  210 , respectively. 
     In some implementations, when optic insert  220  is interlockingly received in housing  210 , at least a portion of optic insert  220  may be visible on the second primary side (e.g., top side) of housing  210 , which is opposite the first primary side (e.g., bottom side) of housing  210 . Additionally or alternatively, when optic insert  220  is interlockingly received in housing  210 , at least a portion of optic insert  220  may be visible on each of the third primary side (e.g., back side) and the fourth primary side (e.g., front side) of housing  210 . 
     Highlight of Select Features 
     In view of the above, select features of various embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure are highlighted below. 
     In a first example, an apparatus implementable on a firearm may include a front sight that is detachably mountable on a component of the firearm. The front sight may include an optic insert and a housing having a void configured to accommodate the optic insert therein. The optic insert may be receivable into and removable from the void by at least partially traversing through an imaginary plane defined by and parallel to a first primary side of the housing. When the front sight is mounted on the component of the firearm with the optic insert received in the void, the first primary side of the housing may physically contact the component such that the optic insert is interlockingly received in the housing. 
     In some implementations, when the optic insert is interlockingly received in the housing, at least a portion of the optic insert may be visible on a second primary side of the housing opposite the first primary side of the housing. 
     In some implementations, when the optic insert is interlockingly received in the housing, at least a portion of the optic insert may be visible on each of a third primary side and a fourth primary side of the housing. The third primary side may be between and adjacent to the first primary side and the second primary side. The fourth primary side may be between and adjacent to the first primary side and the second primary side. The third primary side and the fourth primary side may be opposite to each other. 
     In some implementations, the housing may include a first plate and a second plate adjacent to each other such that a space between the first plate and the second plate defines the void. 
     In some implementations, a portion of a first inner wall of the first plate facing the second plate may include a first recess near a side of the first plate that defines a portion of the first primary side of the housing. Additionally, a portion of a second inner wall of the second plate facing the first plate may include a second recess near a side of the second plate that defines a portion of the first primary side of the housing. 
     In some implementations, the optic insert may include a first ledge on and protruding from a first side of the optic insert. The optic insert may also include a second ledge on and protruding from a second side of the optic insert opposite the first side of the optic insert. 
     In some implementations, when the optic insert is interlockingly received in the housing, the first ledge of the optic insert may be received in the first recess of the first plate of the housing and the second ledge of the optic insert may be received in the second recess of the second plate of the housing. 
     In some implementations, the housing may further include a collar on and protruding from the first primary side. The collar may be configured to be received in a recess on the component of the firearm. The collar may include a blind hole that is threaded and configured to receive a screw as the front sight is mounted on the component of the firearm. Alternatively, the housing may also include a mounting plate disposed on the first primary side, which is configured to be received in a slot on the component of the firearm. 
     In some implementations, the housing may be made of metal, metal alloy, polymer, or ceramics. 
     In some implementations, the optic insert may include fiber optics or tritium. 
     In a second example, an apparatus implementable on a firearm may include a front sight that is detachably mountable on a component of the firearm. The front sight may include a housing having a void configured to accommodate an optic insert therein. The housing may be shaped such that the optic insert is receivable into and removable from the void by at least partially traversing through an imaginary plane defined by and parallel to a first primary side of the housing. When the front sight is mounted on the component of the firearm with the optic insert received in the void, the first primary side of the housing may physically contact the component such that the optic insert is interlockingly received in the housing. 
     In some implementations, when the optic insert is interlockingly received in the housing, at least a portion of the optic insert may be visible on a second primary side of the housing opposite the first primary side of the housing. 
     In some implementations, when the optic insert is interlockingly received in the housing, at least a portion of the optic insert may be visible on each of a third primary side and a fourth primary side of the housing. The third primary side may be between and adjacent to the first primary side and the second primary side. The fourth primary side may be between and adjacent to the first primary side and the second primary side. The third primary side and the fourth primary side may be opposite to each other. 
     In some implementations, the housing may include a first plate and a second plate adjacent to each other such that a space between the first plate and the second plate defines the void. 
     In some implementations, a portion of a first inner wall of the first plate facing the second plate may include a first recess near a side of the first plate that defines a portion of the first primary side of the housing. Additionally, a portion of a second inner wall of the second plate facing the first plate may include a second recess near a side of the second plate that defines a portion of the first primary side of the housing. 
     In some implementations, the optic insert may include a first ledge on and protruding from a first side of the optic insert. Additionally, the optic insert may also include a second ledge on and protruding from a second side of the optic insert opposite the first side of the optic insert. 
     In some implementations, when the optic insert is interlockingly received in the housing, the first ledge of the optic insert may be received in the first recess of the first plate of the housing and the second ledge of the optic insert may be received in the second recess of the second plate of the housing. 
     In some implementations, the housing may also include a collar on and protruding from the first primary side. The collar may be configured to be received in a recess on the component of the firearm. The collar may include a blind hole that is threaded and configured to receive a screw as the front sight is mounted on the component of the firearm. Alternatively, the housing may also include a mounting plate disposed on the first primary side, which is configured to be received in a slot on the component of the firearm. 
     In some implementations, the housing may be made of metal, metal alloy, polymer, or ceramics. 
     Additional Notes 
     The herein-described subject matter sometimes illustrates different components contained within, or connected with, different other components. It is to be understood that such depicted architectures are merely examples, and that in fact many other architectures can be implemented which achieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense, any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality is effectively “associated” such that the desired functionality is achieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve a particular functionality can be seen as “associated with” each other such that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective of architectures or intermedial components. Likewise, any two components so associated can also be viewed as being “operably connected”, or “operably coupled”, to each other to achieve the desired functionality, and any two components capable of being so associated can also be viewed as being “operably couplable”, to each other to achieve the desired functionality. Specific examples of operably couplable include but are not limited to physically mateable and/or physically interacting components and/or wirelessly interactable and/or wirelessly interacting components and/or logically interacting and/or logically interactable components. 
     Further, with respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity. 
     Moreover, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims, e.g., bodies of the appended claims, are generally intended as “open” terms, e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc. It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to implementations containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an,” e.g., “a” and/or “an” should be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more;” the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should be interpreted to mean at least the recited number, e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations. Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention, e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc. In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention, e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc. It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.” 
     From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that various implementations of the present disclosure have been described herein for purposes of illustration, and that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the various implementations disclosed herein are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.