Patent Publication Number: US-11384552-B2

Title: Massage system for inflatable pool

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a 35 U.S.C. § 371 national stage application of and which claims the benefit and priority of PCT Application Ser. No. PCT/CN2018/074778, filed on Jan. 31, 2018, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present subject matter relates to inflatables and, more particularly to injecting air into water contained within spas/pools and the air passageways therefor. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Often times, it is useful, beneficial, and/or entertaining to aerate water or create recreational/therapeutic water movement within a pool and/or spa, such as by way of jets and/or bubbles. However, not all spas and/or pools have piping and other water aeration accessories integrated therein to facilitate such amusements. A particular challenge exists concerning the circulation of air within an inflatable pool/spa, especially when such a pool/spa may be foldable, transportable, storable, etc. Therefore, introduction of a system for dispersing air within and throughout an inflatable pool and/or spa represents an improvement in the art. 
     In the current state of the art, pipes made from lightweight metal or rigid plastic materials may be added to existing pump and/or filter mechanisms compatible with inflatable pools. The addition of rigid piping into the walls and/or floor of an inflatable pool is technically difficult, inconvenient, and adds time to set-up and tear-down. However, such attachments that may aim to achieve incorporation of jets (air and/or water) may not be universally portable to inflatable pools and/or spas, especially inflatable pools and/or spas omitting a rigid frame. 
     To solve this challenge, the below disclosure sets forth an air passageway system for incorporation into an inflatable spa/pool. Still further, the apparatus and system contemplated herein may be flexible and may provide for the introduction of aeration/air bubbles proximal a center of the inflatable spa/pool. 
     The description provided in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely because it is mentioned in or associated with the background section. The background section may include information that describes one or more aspects of the subject technology. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an air passageway system includes an annular air delivery passageway, a linear air delivery passageway, and one or more air injection passageways. In accordance with this aspect, the annular air delivery passageway, the linear air delivery passageway, and the one or more air injection passageways are constructed from flexible polyvinyl chloride walls. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a system for aerating an inflatable spa includes one or more air delivery passageways, one or more air injection passageways, and one or more apertures for dispersing air from the one or more air injection passageways into water contained within the inflatable spa. Further in accordance with this aspect, the one or more air delivery passageways are disposed within a sidewall and a floor of the inflatable spa, and at least one of the one or more air delivery passageways partially surround the floor of the inflatable spa. Further still, a portion of the floor is comprised of at least one of the one or more air injection passageways and the one or more air delivery passageways. 
     According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, an air passageway system includes one or more air passageways, a plurality of internal passageway walls, and at least one space partially defined by first and second internal passageway walls of the plurality of internal passageway walls. Further according to this system, the one or more air passageways are comprised of the at least one space partially defined by the first and second internal passageway walls. 
     Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and the attached drawings wherein like numerals designate like structures throughout the specification. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide further understanding and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate disclosed embodiments and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the disclosed embodiments. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1A  is an example embodiment of an air passageway system in accordance with the present disclosure and shown with transparent sidewalls as well as bottom/floor and sidewall air passageways disposed within an inflatable spa; 
         FIG. 1B  is an example embodiment of the air passageway system of  FIG. 1A  with the sidewalls, bottom, and floor of the inflatable spa omitted; 
         FIG. 1C  is an example embodiment of the air passageway system of  FIG. 1A  shown through a cutaway of the sidewalls of the inflatable spa; 
         FIG. 2A  is another example embodiment of an air passageway system in accordance with the present disclosure and shown with transparent sidewalls as well as bottom and sidewall air passageways disposed therein; 
         FIG. 2B  is an example embodiment of the air passageway system of  FIG. 2A  with the sidewalls, bottom, and floor of the inflatable spa omitted; 
         FIG. 2C  is an example embodiment of the air passageway system of  FIG. 2A  shown through a cutaway of the sidewalls of the inflatable spa; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged plan view of a bottom/floor air passageway; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the bottom/floor air passageway taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged isometric view from above of the spa of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged isometric view from above of the spa of  FIG. 1  with the air passageways active; 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged isometric view from above of the spa in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged plan view of the bottom air passageways of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 9  is an isometric view of the spa of  FIG. 1  further illustrating an example exterior; 
         FIG. 10  is an enlarged view of a portion of an interior surface of the spa of  FIG. 1 , further illustrating nozzles and apertures. 
     
    
    
     In one or more implementations, not all of the depicted components in each figure may be required, and one or more implementations may include additional components not shown in a figure. Variations in the arrangement and type of the components may be made without departing from the scope of the subject disclosure. Additional components, different components, or fewer components may be utilized within the scope of the subject disclosure. In the accompanying drawings, capitalized letters “A-L” are used interchangeably with lower-case letters “a-l” for purposes of clarity. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description of various implementations and is not intended to represent the only implementations in which the subject technology may be practiced. As those skilled in the art would realize, the described implementations may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Still further, modules and components depicted may be combined, in whole or in part, and/or divided, into one or more different parts, as applicable to fit particular implementations without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1A , an inflatable spa  110  constructed in accordance with the present disclosure is illustrated with interior and exterior surfaces  102 ,  104  thereof shown as transparent. An air passageway system  100  is disposed within a sidewall  106  and/or a bottom/floor  108  of the inflatable spa  110  and includes a plurality of air passageways  158 . The air passageway system  100  comprises an annular air delivery passageway  112   a , a bottom/floor air delivery passageway  112   b , and upward air injection passageways  114 A- 114 L. The bottom/floor air delivery passageway  112   b  may be linear across an extent of the bottom/floor  108 . The air passageway system  100  further comprises an air injection ring passageway  116 . The bottom/floor air delivery passageway  112   b  (and thereby the air injection passageway  116 ) and the annular air delivery passageway  112   a  may share and air inlet and be in fluid communication with one another. Each of the upward air injection passageways  114 A- 114 L may inject air into/aerate water contained within the inflatable spa  110  through one or more air injection apertures  118   a  that traverse the interior side surface  102 . Additionally, the air injection ring passageway  116  may inject air into/aerate the water contained within the inflatable spa  110  through air injection apertures  118   b.    
     The annular air delivery passageway  112   a  of the air passageway system  100  is disposed proximal a bottom of the sidewall  106 , as shown in  FIG. 1A , and travels about a perimeter of the inflatable spa  110  to deliver air to the upward-oriented air injection passageways  114 A- 114 L. The upward air injection passageways  114 A- 114 L are disposed in pairs  122   a - 122   f . and extend vertically away from coupling points  124 A- 124 L with the annular air deliver passageway  112   a . The upward air injection passageways  114 A- 114 L form a hook or j-shape as same curve towards the interior surface  102  of the sidewall  106  to feed air through the air injection apertures  118   a  positioned therethrough. Example embodiments may include one or more nozzles  126  associated with each of the air injection apertures  118   a  ( FIG. 10 ). 
     Further in the example embodiment of  FIG. 1A , the bottom/linear air delivery passageway  112   b  extends from the sidewall  106  of the inflatable spa  110  towards the center/middle of the bottom  108  of the inflatable spa  110  to deliver air to the air injection ring passageway  116 . Air may be provided to the bottom air delivery passageway  112   b  and the annular air delivery passageway  112   a  by an air intake connection  128 . The air intake connection  128  may couple the air delivery passageways  112   a ,  112   b  with a pump mechanism. The pump mechanism may be disposed between the interior and exterior walls  102 ,  104  of the inflatable spa  110  or the pump mechanism may be disposed outside of the inflatable spa  110  as a separate component and/or within a separate housing. The pump mechanism may be a component of a filter system and may draw air from the ambient environment or may draw air from within the inflatable spa  110  while replacing said air within the inflatable  110  by another air intake, such as the air intake used during inflation of the inflatable spa  110 . In an example embodiment, the air delivery passageways  112   a ,  112   b  may have a dedicated air intake with access to outside air. Further in example embodiments, the air delivery passageways  112   a ,  112   b  may be supplied with air from an air source, such as an air tank, compressor, and/or another suitable source of pressurized gas.  FIG. 1B  further illustrates the relative locations of the annular air delivery passageway  112   a  and the upward air injection passageways  114 A- 114 L.  FIG. 1C  depicts a cutaway through the sidewall  106  and illustrates the relative location of the upward air injection passageways  114 G,  114 H, respectively, disposed between interior panels  162   c ,  162   b  and  162   b ,  162   a . The annular air delivery passageway  112   a  travels about a perimeter of the inflatable spa  110  beneath and/or through the interior panels  162 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2A , example embodiment of the air passageway system  100  is constructed in accordance with the present disclosure. Again, the interior and exterior side surfaces  102 ,  104  are shown as transparent in  FIG. 2A . An embodiment of the air passageway system  100  is disposed within the sidewall  106  and/or the bottom  108  of the inflatable spa  110 . The example embodiment depicted in  FIG. 2A  includes the bottom/linear air delivery passageway  112   b  and the air injection ring passageway  116  similar to that shown in  FIG. 1 . The example embodiment of  FIG. 2A  further comprises an elevated annular air delivery passageway  132  disposed within the sidewall  106  of the inflatable spa  110  and elevated vertically therein. 
     In the configuration of  FIG. 2A , the elevated annular air delivery passageway  132  is arranged within an upper portion of the sidewall  106  and travels about a perimeter of the inflatable spa  110  to deliver air to downward-oriented air injection passageways  134 A- 134 L. The downward-oriented air injection passageways  134 A- 134 L form a hook or j-shape and extend vertically down from the elevated annular air delivery passageway  132  before curving towards the interior surface  102  of the sidewall  106 . The downward-oriented air injection passageways  134 A- 134 L meet the interior surface  102  and disperse air through the air injection apertures  118   a  that traverse the interior surface  102  and direct air into the water contained within the inflatable spa  110 . The downward-oriented air injection passageways  134 A- 134 L are coupled to the elevated annular air delivery passageway  132  at coupling points  156 A- 156 L and are arranged in pairs  154   a - 154   f  about the annular perimeter of the inflatable spa  110 .  FIG. 2A  again depicts the bottom air delivery passageway  112   b , the air injection ring passageway  116 , and the air injection apertures  118   b . disposed through the interior surface  102  of the bottom  108  of the inflatable spa  110  about a general center/interior thereof. In further example embodiments, the air injection ring passageway  116  may be configured offset or otherwise not disposed generally about a center of the inflatable spa bottom  108 . In an example embodiment, the annular air delivery passageways  112   a ,  132  and the air injection passageways  114 A- 114 L,  134 A- 134 L may transport and output jets/streams of pressurized water, instead of air. Accordingly, kneading water jets and or wave-like water movement may be introduced into the water of the inflatable spa  110 .  FIG. 2B  further illustrates the relative locations of the elevated annular air delivery passageway  132  and the downward-oriented air injection passageways  134 A- 134 L.  FIG. 2C  depicts a cutaway through the sidewall  106  and illustrates the relative location of the downward-oriented air injection passageways  134 G,  134 H, respectively, disposed between interior panels  162   c ,  162   b  and  162   b ,  162   a . The elevated annular air delivery passageway  132  travels about a perimeter of the inflatable spa  110  above and/or through the interior panels  162 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the air injection ring passageway  116  is shown enlarged and in detail. As mentioned hereinabove, the bottom air delivery passageway  112   b  supplies air to the air injection ring passageway  116 . In the example embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , both the air injection ring passageway  116  and the bottom air delivery passageway  112   b  are at least partially surrounded by an insulating material  136 , such as expandable polyethylene (EPE) and/or another suitable material. The insulating material  136  may be disposed throughout the bottom  108  and sidewall  106  of the inflatable spa  110  to increase insulation and softness thereof. The insulating material  136  may also take up space within one or more interior compartments  138 , between interior panels  162  ( FIGS. 1C and 2C ) of the inflatable spa  110  or between bottom/floor walls  102   b ,  104   b , such that a relatively lesser volume of air is required to fully inflate the inflatable spa/pool  110 . 
     A cross-section of the bottom air delivery passageway  112   b  is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . However, construction of the passageways of the air passageway system  100  may be similar, except for the orientation thereof, throughout. The air passageway system  100  is constructed into the sidewall(s)  106  and the bottom  108  of the inflatable spa  110 . In the depicted component, the bottom air delivery passageway  112   b  comprises a void/space  140  within the bottom  108  of the inflatable spa  110 . The void/space  140  is defined by the interior and exterior surfaces  102   b ,  104   b  of the bottom  108  and first and second internal passageway walls  142 ,  144 . To produce the void/space  140 , the passageway walls  142 ,  144  are arranged throughout the one or more interior compartments  138 , such as within the bottom/floor  108 , of the inflatable spa  110 . The passageway walls  142 ,  144  are sealed to respective inside faces  146 ,  148  of the interior and exterior surfaces  102   b ,  104   b  of the bottom  108  of the inflatable spa  110 . Likewise, to fabricate the other portions of the air passageway system  100 , such as the annular air deliver passageway  112   a  and the elevated annular air delivery passageway  132 , the passageway walls  142 ,  144  are sealed to respective inside faces  146 ,  148  of the interior and exterior surfaces  102 ,  104  of the sidewall(s)  106 . In an alternative embodiment, the above-detailed assembly of the passageway walls  142 ,  144  may construct flattened channels, rather than round tubular piping. According to still another alternative embodiment, the passageway system  100  may include flattened channels forming the bottom air delivery passageway  112   b  and the air injection ring passageway  116 , while the remaining air passageways  112   a ,  114 A- 114 L,  132 ,  134 A- 134 L are substantial tubular/cylindrical. The flattened channels may be more easily integrated into the bottom/floor  108  and less uncomfortable for a user to step on when disposed within the floor  108 . 
     Referring still to  FIG. 4 , the passageway walls  142 ,  144  are sealed to the inside faces  146 ,  148  at corresponding coupling points  150   a ,  150   b ,  152   a ,  152   b . The passageway walls  142 ,  144 , like the interior and exterior surfaces  102 ,  104  of the bottom  108  and the sidewall(s)  106  are fabricated from PVC, vinyl, coated canvas, and/or another water-tight and/or air-tight material suitable for construction of the inflatable spa  110 . The passageway walls  142 ,  144  may be sealed to the inside faces  146 ,  148  according to PVC heat welding techniques in order to create an air-tight seal therebetween. Preferably, the passageway walls  142 ,  144  are welded, such as by high-frequency welding, sonic welding, or the like, directly to the inside faces  146 ,  148 . In an alternative embodiment, PVC tapes  160  may also be used to seal the passageway walls  142 ,  144  to the inside faces  146 ,  148  or to one another. Accordingly, the air passageway system  100  may have air pumped therethrough under pressure and supply said air to the apertures  118  for injection into the water. The remaining one or more interior compartments  138  of the inflatable spa, as noted above and shown once again in  FIG. 4 , may have insulating material  136  disposed therein to facilitate structural and inflation advantages. 
     The apertures  118  through which the air is injected into the water contained within the inflatable spa  110  may be formed in the inside face  146  and traverse the interior surface  102 . The apertures  118  may have valves disposed therein to allow airflow out of the apertures  118  while prevent water from entering the air passageway system  100 . In example embodiments, valves are omitted and the apertures  118  are relatively simple holes. The perimeters of each hole may be reinforced. Still further, the air passageway system  100  constructed as described hereinabove may be collapsible, such as when the inflatable spa/pool  110  is stored and/or transported. Still further, the air passageways  158  of the air passageway system  100  may be collapsible and/or flexible when pressure is applied thereto, such as when a user walks or stands on the bottom/floor  108  of the inflatable spa/pool  110 . Similarly, the air passageways  158  disposed within the sidewall(s)  106  may flex and/or collapse in response to pressure exerted thereon, such as by an impact and/or a user climbing in/out of the inflatable spa/pool  110 . 
     In example embodiments, one or more portions of the air passageway system  100  may be rigid, such as the coupling points  124 A- 124 L,  156 A- 156 L. The air passageways  158  may be entirely flexible and integrally built into the inflatable spa/pool  110  as portions of the floor  108  and/or sidewall  106 . This flexibility may allow the passageways  158  to be folded as part of the floor  108  and/or sidewall  106  during storage and/or transport of the inflatable spa/pool  110 . However, if portions of the passageways  158  are rigid, flexible portions disposed therebetween may provide foldability. Even when particular rigid portions are present, the integration of the flexible PVC portions of the air passageways  158  allows for flexibility and folding similar to the foldability of the body of the inflatable spa/pool  110 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates the inflatable spa filled with water while the air passageway system  100  is inactive. The bottom air delivery passageway  112   b  and the air injection ring passageway  116  are visible beneath the water. In this example embodiment, valves prevent water from entering the void(s)/space(s)  140  and filling the air passageway system  100  during the period of inactivity for the air passageway system  100 . The air passageway system  100  is illustrated in operation in  FIG. 6 . The air injection ring passageway  116  arranged about a center of the bottom  108  of the inflatable spa  110  releases air into the water and may form one or more wave(s) thereby. 
       FIGS. 7, 8, 9, and 10  depict the inflatable spa  110  with the air passageway system  100  disposed therein without water provided within the spa  110 . As detailed hereinabove, the air passageway system  100  is integral to the bottom  108  and sidewall(s)  106  of the inflatable spa  110  and some components thereof are visible even though the bottom  108  and sidewall(s)  106  are opaque. Specifically, the annular air delivery passageway  112   a , bottom air delivery passageway  112   b , and the air injection ring passageway  116  present as slight depressions in the interior surface  102  of the bottom  108  of the inflatable spa  110 . 
     Alternative embodiments in which the apertures  118   a ,  118   b , the air injection ring passageway  116 , the pairs of upward air injection passageways  122   a - 122   f , and the pairs of downward-oriented air injection passageways  154   a - 154   f  are arranged differently are contemplated hereby. The air injection ring passageway  116  may be rectangular, star-shaped, triangular, oval, ellipses, and/or custom-shaped. Further, more or fewer apertures and air injection passageways  124 A- 124 L,  134 A- 134 L may be present within the sidewall(s)  106 . Additionally, in an example embodiment the downward-oriented and upward-oriented air injection passageways may be used simultaneously and/or mixed and matched interchangeably. 
     The embodiment(s) detailed hereinabove may be combined in full or in part, with any alternative embodiment(s) described. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The above disclosure may represent an improvement in the art because it allows for dispersing air throughout an inflatable pool/spa without the use of rigid piping. Further, this disclosure provides the user with improved storage and transport of the inflatable by omitting rigid piping. Still further, the disclosure improves the art by supplying an alternative configuration for providing air/jets through the floor of an inflatable pool/spa; in particular near a center or middle of the inflatable pool/spa, which would be otherwise technically difficult to reach with traditional rigid piping. 
     It is to be understood that all described elements and features in this disclosure can be formed of any number of materials including, but not limited to, polymers, rubbers, foams, ceramics, metals, metal alloys or any other material known to those skilled in the art. In particular, the material forming the air passageway system  100  and/or inflatable pool/spa  110  may be plastic, vinyl, coated fabric, and/or another suitable material or combination of materials. Valve(s) disposed on these components and/or the nozzles  126  ( FIG. 10 ) may be formed from extruded plastic, machined aluminum, another metal alloy, and/or another materials or combination of materials suitable for manufacturing valve(s) for inflatables. 
     While some implementations have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of the disclosure; and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying claims. 
     Headings and subheadings, if any, are used for convenience only and do not limit the invention. The word exemplary is used to mean serving as an example or illustration. To the extent that the term include, have, or the like is used, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term comprise as comprise is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim. Relational terms such as first and second and the like may be used to distinguish one entity or action from another without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. 
     Phrases such as an aspect, the aspect, another aspect, some aspects, one or more aspects, an implementation, the implementation, another implementation, some implementations, one or more implementations, an embodiment, the embodiment, another embodiment, some embodiments, one or more embodiments, a configuration, the configuration, another configuration, some configurations, one or more configurations, the subject technology, the disclosure, the present disclosure, other variations thereof and alike are for convenience and do not imply that a disclosure relating to such phrase(s) is essential to the subject technology or that such disclosure applies to all configurations of the subject technology. A disclosure relating to such phrase(s) may apply to all configurations, or one or more configurations. A disclosure relating to such phrase(s) may provide one or more examples. A phrase such as an aspect or some aspects may refer to one or more aspects and vice versa, and this applies similarly to other foregoing phrases. 
     The disclosed systems and methods are well adapted to attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as those that are inherent therein. The particular implementations disclosed above are illustrative only, as the teachings of the present disclosure may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. Furthermore, no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown, other than as described in the claims below. It is therefore evident that the particular illustrative implementations disclosed above may be altered, combined, or modified and all such variations are considered within the scope of the present disclosure. The systems and methods illustratively disclosed herein may suitably be practiced in the absence of any element that is not specifically disclosed herein and/or any optional element disclosed herein. While compositions and methods are described in terms of “comprising,” “containing,” or “including” various components or steps, the compositions and methods can also “consist essentially of” or “consist of” the various components and steps. All numbers and ranges disclosed above may vary by some amount. Whenever a numerical range with a lower limit and an upper limit is disclosed, any number and any included range falling within the range are specifically disclosed. In particular, every range of values (of the form, “from about a to about b,” or, equivalently, “from approximately a to b,” or, equivalently, “from approximately a-b”) disclosed herein is to be understood to set forth every number and range encompassed within the broader range of values. Also, the terms in the claims have their plain, ordinary meaning unless otherwise explicitly and clearly defined by the patentee. Moreover, the indefinite articles “a” or “an,” as used in the claims, are defined herein to mean one or more than one of the element that it introduces. If there is any conflict in the usages of a word or term in this specification and one or more patent or other documents that may be incorporated herein by reference, the definitions that are consistent with this specification should be adopted. 
     A phrase “at least one of” preceding a series of items, with the terms “and” or “or” to separate any of the items, modifies the list as a whole, rather than each member of the list. The phrase “at least one of” does not require selection of at least one item; rather, the phrase allows a meaning that includes at least one of any one of the items, and/or at least one of any combination of the items, and/or at least one of each of the items. By way of example, each of the phrases “at least one of A, B, and C” or “at least one of A, B, or C” refers to only A, only B, or only C; any combination of A, B, and C; and/or at least one of each of A, B, and C. 
     In one aspect, a term coupled or the like may refer to being directly coupled. In another aspect, a term coupled or the like may refer to being indirectly coupled. Terms such as top, bottom, front, rear, side, horizontal, vertical, and the like refer to an arbitrary frame of reference, rather than to the ordinary gravitational frame of reference. Thus, such a term may extend upwardly, downwardly, diagonally, or horizontally in a gravitational frame of reference. 
     The title, background, brief description of the drawings, abstract, and drawings are hereby incorporated into the disclosure and are provided as illustrative examples of the disclosure, not as restrictive descriptions. It is submitted with the understanding that they will not be used to limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the detailed description, it can be seen that the description provides illustrative examples and the various features are grouped together in various implementations for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. The method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed subject matter requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed configuration or operation. The claims are hereby incorporated into the detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter. 
     The claims are not intended to be limited to the aspects described herein, but are to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language claims and to encompass all legal equivalents. Notwithstanding, none of the claims are intended to embrace subject matter that fails to satisfy the requirements of the applicable patent law, nor should they be interpreted in such a way. 
     The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and “said” and similar references in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. An element proceeded by “a,” “an,” “the,” or “said” does not, without further constraints, preclude the existence of additional same elements. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the disclosure and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the disclosure unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the disclosure. 
     Numerous modifications to the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Preferred embodiments of this disclosure are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the disclosure. It should be understood that the illustrated embodiments are exemplary only, and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the disclosure.