Patent Publication Number: US-9888800-B2

Title: Rotatable serving carousel for outdoor table

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/197,726, filed Jul. 28, 2015. This prior application is incorporated herein by reference, in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to furniture configured for use outdoors. More particularly, the present invention relates to a serving tray-like carousel for retaining bowls and other service items on a table. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Chip bowls are frequently used to hold a variety of snack food items, such as potato chips, tortilla chips, pretzels, crackers, snack mixes, and similar items. Likewise, dip bowls are frequently used to hold accompanying dips or toppings, such as salsas, cheese dips, vegetable dips, meat dips, and similar items. Chip bowls and dip bowls and other similar service items are commonly associated with social gatherings and celebrations. For example, they are often featured at swimming pool parties, graduation parties, family game nights, and any other type of celebration or gathering. Hosts of such events frequently place chip bowls, dip bowls, and other service items on tabletops so that guests may casually serve themselves. 
     However, tabletop space is limited. As a result, tabletops often become overcrowded during these festive events. The aforementioned chip bowls, dip bowls, and other service items may interfere with other objects on the table, such as beverages, tabletop games (board games and card games), and other food vessels. Moreover, the particular placement of the chip bowls and dip bowls is often inconvenient and may require guests to reach across the tabletop or walk around the table in order to access one of the bowls. These and other problems associated with conventional chip bowls and dip bowls can cause frustration, annoyance, and dissatisfaction among guests. The limits on tabletop space are even more pronounced in the outdoor patio furniture setting, as the existing limits on deck or patio space tend to force these tables to be smaller in size. Therefore, outdoor patio tables and other furniture often does not suffice to hold all the bowls, service items, and other things that are desired to be placed on a table in a social gathering or other similar settings. 
     Attempts to address some of these concerns have included the development of a “Lazy Susan” or serving tray for a table that rests upon the tabletop and allows for rotation of elements supported on the serving tray. However, this conventional type of serving tray includes a base which is configured to rest upon the tabletop and therefore continues to take up valuable space and interfere with other items on the tabletop. In this regard, although the need to pass elements around a table may be reduced with such serving tray designs, the problems with space on a tabletop in environments like family game nights or parties continue to persist. 
     Therefore, a need exists for a serving tray that addresses these and other concerns with conventional designs of tables and serving trays. 
     SUMMARY 
     The rotatable serving carousel and other features of the invention disclosed herein overcome the foregoing and other shortcomings and drawbacks of conventional designs. To this end, one embodiment of the rotatable serving carousel includes a centerpiece having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being configured for securing the centerpiece in position relative to an outdoor patio table. The second portion of the centerpiece is coupled to the first portion so as to be rotatable relative to the first portion. The serving carousel also includes at least one serving element connected to the second portion of the centerpiece. The serving element includes a carrier configured to support an item which is typically supported on a tabletop surface, and further includes an arm extending between the second portion of the centerpiece and the carrier. The serving element is rotatable with the second portion about the centerpiece to provide access to the item at various positions around the table. The centerpiece and the at least one serving element are formed from a weather-resistant material such as a metal like aluminum or a plastic. The centerpiece and the at least one serving element collectively support a plurality of items at a position spaced above the tabletop. Advantageously, these items free up space for using the tabletop for other elements and purposes (enabling the tabletop to receive other elements), while improving access to the items on the serving carousel. 
     In some embodiments, the plurality of items includes one or more bowls, which may define different sizes, such as in a scenario where a large bowl holds chips and smaller bowl(s) hold dips and/or various varieties of snacks. The serving carousel may also include a serving platform coupled to or formed integrally with the first portion of the centerpiece. The serving platform includes a support shaft extending upwardly from the first portion and a support element provided at an opposite end of the support shaft from the first portion. For example, the support element may be defined by a generally plate-like platform element. In such embodiments, the support element may hold a bowl or other item, and the carrier on the one or more serving element(s) also may hold a bowl or other item. Therefore, multiple items are removed from the tabletop surface to free up space. 
     In some embodiments, the centerpiece is supported at least partially by sitting on top of the tabletop. In other embodiments, the centerpiece may define a clamp which engages with an umbrella shaft. The serving carousel also includes in some embodiments a light disposed on the carrier(s) to illuminate the tabletop surface. These and other features of the invention are described in detail below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with a general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a rotatable serving carousel installed upon an outdoor table, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the serving carousel and table of  FIG. 1 , with an umbrella shaft and base shown in phantom, and with the drawer system moved to an open position to reveal additional elements thereof. 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the serving carousel and table of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of the rotatable serving carousel of  FIG. 1  removably connected to the table through a different aperture of the table, such as when a tabletop board or card game is covering the center of the table. 
         FIG. 5  is a side elevation view of another embodiment of a rotatable serving carousel of the invention, this embodiment configured to be clamped to an umbrella post as shown. 
         FIG. 6  is a top perspective view of another embodiment of a rotatable serving carousel according to the invention, as installed on an outdoor table, this embodiment including a central serving platform as well as at least one carrier rotatable about the central serving platform. 
         FIG. 7  is a side elevation view of the serving carousel and table of  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-4 , a first embodiment of a rotatable serving carousel  10  of the present invention is installed upon a tabletop  12  (also referred to as a tabletop surface) of an outdoor table  14 , which also includes a plurality of legs  13  for supporting the tabletop  12 . The serving carousel  10  is designed to improve the usage of space on the tabletop  12  while also providing easier access to certain items such as chip and dip bowls supported on the serving carousel  10  to persons at all locations around the table  14 . To this end, the serving carousel  10  provides a support for multiple bowls or other containers and items, which retains these items at a location above the tabletop  12 , with some or all of the bowls and items being moveable around a pivot axis of rotation (typically located in the center of the table  14  but possibly located in other locations as well). As will be readily understood, the serving carousel improves the space efficiency and use of a table  14 , particularly in the outdoor furniture setting where the overall size and functionality such tables and the like are typically constrained by limits of deck or patio space available. 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the serving carousel  10  of this embodiment includes a centerpiece  16  including a first portion, referred to hereinafter as a base portion  18 , and a second portion, referred to hereinafter as a rotatable plug portion  20 . The base portion  18  is formed in a cross-sectional T-shape and is configured to be received within a hole or aperture of the tabletop  12 . For example, the base portion  18  is received within an umbrella hole  22  of the tabletop that may be otherwise provided for receiving the post or shaft  24  of an umbrella  26  (shown in phantom in  FIG. 2 ). In this manner, the serving carousel  10  is held in a centered position on and by the table  14 . Alternatively, the base portion  18  is received within a different hole or aperture of the tabletop, such as a dedicated hole  25  that may be provided primarily for use with the serving carousel  10  ( FIG. 4 ). This configuration is advantageous for applications involving a tabletop that does not have an umbrella hole, or when a tabletop item, such as a tabletop board or card game  23 , covers the umbrella hole  22 , or when it is desirable to simultaneously utilize both the umbrella  26  and the serving carousel  10 . To this end, the location of the serving carousel  10  relative to the table  14  may be varied in other embodiments depending on the needs of the end user, without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     A portion (not shown) of the rotatable plug portion  20  is received in the base portion  18  such that the plug portion  20  may be rotated relative thereto, and without tipping over or disconnection of the plug portion  20  relative to the base portion  18 . For example, a plug, pin, or shaft extends downwardly from plug portion  20  into a channel/receptacle (not shown) formed in the base portion  18  to rotatably and removably connect plug portion  20  with base portion  18 . The projection of plug portion  20  and the corresponding receiving channel of base portion  18  include generally smooth abutting surfaces to facilitate efficient rotation of plug portion  20  within base portion  18 . 
     A plurality of serving elements  27  extends from the rotatable plug portion  20 . Each serving element  27  includes an arm  28  connected to the plug portion  20 . Arms  28  are attached to the plug portion  20  by any suitable attachment means, such as, for example, welding, over-molding, threaded engagement, gluing, or the like. Alternatively, the arms  28  and plug portion  20  may be of a unitary construction. In one embodiment, the arms  28  extend from the centerpiece  16  in a generally upward and radial (outward) direction, such that the distal ends of the arms  28  are spaced above the tabletop  12 . For example, in the embodiment shown, the arms  28  extend upwardly and outwardly from the centerpiece  16  in an arcuate, arch-like or non-linear manner. 
     Each serving element  27  includes a carrier  30   a ,  30   b  disposed on the distal end of a particular arm  28 . Carrier  30   a ,  30   b  is configured to hold a bowl  32   a ,  32   b  thereon using any suitable means. For example, as shown in  FIG. 2 , carrier  30   a ,  30   b  is ring-shaped, such that a bowl  32   a ,  32   b  may be positioned within a central aperture of the carrier  30   a ,  30   b  and held thereby. Alternatively, carrier  30   a ,  30   b  may be plate-shaped with or without a central recess (not shown), such that bowl  32   a ,  32   b  may securely be retained in the central recess. In some embodiments of the invention, bowls  32   a ,  32   b  may be permanently attached to the carrier  30   a ,  30   b . However, it is also possible to have the bowls  32 ,  32   b  provided as separate pieces for easier storage and cleaning of the bowls  32   a ,  32   b  following use on the serving carousel  10 . The carriers  30   a ,  30   b  are attached to the respective arm  28  by any suitable attachment means, such as, for example, welding, over-molding, threaded engagement, gluing, or the like. Alternatively, each carrier  30   a ,  30   b  and associated arm  28  may be of a unitary construction. The serving elements  27  are generally formed from an aluminum material in one embodiment, although other weather-resistant metallic and/or plastics materials configured for outdoor use with an outdoor patio furniture arrangement are also possible in other embodiments. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , each carrier  30   a ,  30   b  is of different sizes to support a variety of bowls. For example, as shown in  FIG. 1 , carrier  30   a  is sized larger to accommodate larger bowl  32   a . For example, bowl  32   a  is a chip bowl. Conversely, carrier  30   b  is sized smaller to accommodate smaller bowl  32   b . For example, bowl  32   b  is a dip bowl. As such, it will be appreciated that carriers of any size may be used in any combination to accommodate the desired bowl types. While the illustrated embodiment portrays the carriers  30   a ,  30   b  as configured to hold a bowl  32   a ,  32   b , the carriers  30   a ,  30   b  are also configured to hold other items, such as candles, vases, or ashtrays. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the rotatable plug portion  20  and serving elements  27 , including arms  28  and carriers  30   a ,  30   b , comprise a rotatable top portion  40 . A person sitting or standing near the table  14  may access the bowl  32   a ,  32   b  that is proximate his or her position by simply reaching his or her hand into the bowl  32   a ,  32   b . Alternatively, the person may manually rotate the top portion  40  in order to access an unreachable bowl  32   a ,  32   b . For example, the person may first rotate the top portion  40  in order to access a chip bowl, such as bowl  32   a , and may then rotate the top portion  40  again in order to access a dip bowl, such as  32   b.    
     With specific reference now to  FIG. 2 , lighting elements, such as, for example, light emitting diodes (LEDs)  34 , are provided on the underside of carrier  30   a ,  30   b . The LEDs  34  project light in a downward direction in order to at least partially illuminate the tabletop  12 . Therefore, the LEDs  34  allow a person to better see the tabletop  12  and any items thereon, such as a board game  23  ( FIG. 4 ), in dark or dimly lit conditions, as may often occur in outdoor settings. In one embodiment, the LEDs  34  are battery-powered. Alternatively, power may be supplied to the LEDs  34  via power cables attached to, or disposed within, the arms  28  (not shown). In a further embodiment, lighting elements may be incorporated with arms  28  to allow for illumination along the entire or a partial portion of the length of arms  28 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , table  14  includes a drawer system  46  mounted to an underside  48  of the tabletop  12 . Drawer system  46  includes a base  50  secured to the underside  48  by way of a fastener (not shown) such as a plurality of nails or screws, or it may be adhered to the underside  48  through the use of an adhesive. Drawer system  46  further includes a drawer  52  configured to be slidably mounted to the base  50 . Base  50  includes a first set of rails (not shown) therein which cooperates with a second set of rails  54  secured to drawer  52 . The first set of rails and the second set of rails  54  slidably cooperate to allow drawer  52  to move between a first position, generally shown in  FIG. 1 , and a second position, generally shown in  FIG. 2 . The movement of drawer  52  is achieved through manual actuation of the drawer  52  by a user. The user typically grasps a handle portion  56  defined by or provided by drawer  52 . Various convenient items such as silverware or plates may be stored within drawer  52  to provide convenient access to individuals sitting at table  14  or generally proximate table  14 . The drawer system  46  is shown in a closed position in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , and in an open position in  FIG. 2 . 
     Tabletop  12  is configured to prevent debris such as leaves and weather elements such as rain from penetrating into drawer  52 . In one embodiment of drawer system  46 , tabletop  12  is of a solid, one-piece construction, configured to prevent items and liquid from passing therethrough. In another embodiment, tabletop  12  is sealed to prevent debris from passing there through. In another embodiment of drawer system  46 , base  50  may resemble a box with five closed sides and one open side for receiving drawer  52  therein. The top-most side prevents exposure of the contents of drawer  52  to the debris and weather elements. Drawer system  46  may also be configured with extremely tight tolerances or a gasket or sealing mechanism (not shown) between box and drawer  52  to prevent bugs or insects from accessing the contents therein. In light of the above, drawer system  46  is configured to protect the contents of drawer  52  from common outdoor unsanitary or inconvenient issues relating to the placement of drawer system  46  on an outdoor piece of furniture, such as table  14 . 
     In as much as serving carousel  10  may be configured to be easily disassembled, drawer  52  is sized to receive the elements of serving carousel  10  therein. For example, the height of drawer  52  is configured to be greater than the depth of the centerpiece  16 , all of the arms  28 , the carriers  30   a ,  30   b , and the bowls  32   a ,  32   b . As such, the table  14  and the serving carousel  10  is provided to a customer as a kit, with the depth of the drawer  52  configured to receive the largest element of the serving carousel  10 . 
     If the user wishes to provide dishes, silverware, plates, or other items such as candles or board games, drawer system  46  may be used to store these items. Drawer  52  is opened by the user to reveal the contents therein by way of a sliding engagement with rails  54 . As set forth above, the user grasps the handle portion  56  and pulls to slide the drawer  52  along rails relative to base  50 , thereby moving this between the open and closed positions as needed. 
     In operation, a user selects one or more bowls  32   a ,  32   b , possibly of differing sizes, and loads the bowls  32   a ,  32   b  with the desired food. For example, as shown in  FIG. 1 , bowl  32   a  may receive chips, while bowls  32   b  may receive cheese dip and salsa. The user then disposes base portion  18  of centerpiece  16  of serving carousel  10  in umbrella hole  22  of table  14 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , base portion  18  extends through hole  22  to firmly and removably connect serving carousel  10  to table  14 . The user then places each bowl  32   a ,  32   b  into a corresponding carrier  30   a ,  30   b  such that the bowl  32   a ,  32   b  is held therein. As such, each bowl  32   a ,  32   b  resides upwardly away from the tabletop  12  of table  14  and this allows the user to access the entire table, save for the general area of the umbrella hole  22 . 
     Thereafter, the user may manually manipulate the various elements of serving carousel  10  to alter the environment of table  14 . For example, to better illuminate tabletop  12 , the user actuates lighting elements  34  to provide downwardly directed light. If a user wishes to access a bowl  32   a ,  32   b  located across the table  14  from the user, the user may manually spin or rotate top portion  40  of serving carousel  10  to move the bowl  32   a ,  32   b  closer. For example, this action is done if a user wishes to try a different style of dip in bowl  32   b  or if the user wishes to access peanuts in a different bowl  32   b . The rotation of top portion  40  is facilitated through the engagement (via insertion, abutment, or otherwise) of rotatable plug portion  20  with base portion  18 . Conversely, if a user at another side or portion of table  14  wishes to rotate top portion  40  back, or access a different bowl  32   a ,  32   b , the arms  28  are spaced apart in this embodiment such that no matter which orientation the serving carousel  10  is currently in, a user at any portion of table  14  may access and manually rotate the top portion  40 . 
     Referring now to an alternative embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , a rotatable serving carousel  110  is installed over the shaft  24  of an umbrella  26 . Many of the elements of this embodiment are identical or substantially similar to those described with reference to the previous embodiments above (including table legs  13 ), and such elements have been applied with the same reference numbers without substantive duplication of description below. To this end, the following description of the rotatable serving carousel  110  of this embodiment focuses on the distinctions of this embodiment. 
     The umbrella shaft  24  is received within the umbrella hole  22  of the tabletop  12  of the table  14 . The rotatable serving carousel  110  includes a centerpiece  116  including a clamp portion  118  and a rotatable sleeve portion  120 . The clamp portion  118  is hollow and generally cylindrically shaped so as to define an annular sleeve, and is configured to be received around the shaft  24  of the umbrella  26 . Further, the clamp portion  118  includes a securing element, shown in  FIG. 5  as a set screw  136 , for maintaining the serving carousel  110  at a desired vertical position along the shaft  24 . Other types of clamps and fasteners may be used for the securing element. 
     The rotatable sleeve portion  120  is also hollow and generally cylindrically shaped, and abuts the clamp portion  118  such that the sleeve portion  120  may be rotated relative thereto. The sleeve portion  120  is also configured to be received over the shaft  24 . For example, a user may align the centerpiece  116  over the umbrella hole  22  and slide the shaft  24  of the umbrella  26  therethrough, until the bottom portion of the shaft  24  reaches the ground or, alternatively, an umbrella stand  38 . The user may then slide the centerpiece  116  along the shaft  24  in both upward and downward vertical directions, as indicated by the arrows, until the serving carousel  110  is positioned at a desired height above the tabletop  12 . The user may tighten the set screw  136  to lock the serving carousel  110  at the desired height. In this manner, both the umbrella  26  and the serving carousel  110  may be utilized at the same time, while maintaining the serving carousel  110  in a centered position. Moreover, if the height of the serving carousel  110  relative to the tabletop  12  is determined to be either too great or too small, the set screw  136  may be loosened and the serving carousel  110  may be adjusted to a more desirable height. The user may rotate a top portion  140  comprising rotatable sleeve portion  120  and the associated serving elements  27  to access any unreachable bowls  32   a ,  32   b.    
     Now turning with reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , another embodiment of a rotatable serving carousel  210  for use with the tabletop  12  of a table  14  configured for outdoor use is shown in detail. Many of the elements of this embodiment are identical or substantially similar to those described with reference to the previous embodiments above (including table legs  13  and drawer system  46 ), and such elements have been applied with the same reference numbers without substantive duplication of description below. To this end, the following description of the rotatable serving carousel  210  of this embodiment focuses on the distinctions of this embodiment. 
     The serving carousel  210  of this embodiment again includes a centerpiece  216  which includes a first or base portion  218  and a second or rotatable portion  220 . The base portion  218  includes a lower projecting shaft  270  sized to extend through an aperture on the table  14  such as the umbrella hole  22  (see  FIG. 7 ), this lower projecting shaft  270  configured to keep the serving carousel  210  secured to the table  14  without tipping over. It will be understood that in other embodiments, one or more apertures for receiving the lower projecting shaft  270  may be provided at other locations of the table  14  as previously described in  FIG. 4  or otherwise (left and right side holes, for example). Moreover, in such embodiments the lower projecting shaft  270  may take a slightly modified form to match the aperture, such as being smaller in cross section, e.g., similar to or a continuation of the support shaft  276  described in further detail below. Likewise, a locking mechanism (not shown) may be provided to connect to the portion of the lower projecting shaft  270  extending through the aperture to further assure that the lower projecting shaft  270  and the base portion  218  remain engaged with the table  14 . 
     The base portion  218  also includes a central ring-shaped base  272  which is larger in cross-sectional size than the lower projecting shaft  270  such that the central ring-shaped base  272  sits atop the tabletop  12  when the serving carousel  210  is installed on the outdoor furniture. A central serving platform  274  is coupled to or formed integrally with the base portion  218  and includes a support shaft  276  extending upwardly from the central ring-shaped base  272  and a support element  278  provided at an upper or opposite end of the support shaft  276  from the central ring-shaped base  272 . It will be understood that the lower projecting shaft  270 , the central ring-shaped base  272 , and the support shaft  276  may be formed as hollow elements or as solid elements in various embodiments. 
     The support element  278  is shown as a generally plate-like platform element in these Figures, but carriers  30   a ,  30   b  from the previous embodiment or other bowl/service item holding elements may be substituted as the support element  278  without departing from the scope of the invention. The support element  278  is configured to receive a large bowl  32   a  which could hold chips, apples, or any type of food or service item as shown, this large bowl  32   a  being conveniently located in a central position accessible to everyone sitting at the table  14  but raised off of the tabletop  12  to avoid limiting space at that location. 
     The rotatable portion  220  in this embodiment of the serving carousel includes an annular support base  282  with at least one serving element  227  projecting radially outwardly and upwardly from the support base  282 . The annular support base  282  is sized with a central aperture (not shown) configured to closely receive the support shaft  276 , and these elements have corresponding smooth or lubricated surfaces facing one another so that the support base  282  and the serving element(s)  227  can rotate about the axis of rotation defined through the base portion  218 . The one serving element  227  shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7  again includes a carrier element  230  and an arm  228  which extends in an arc-like manner between the carrier element  230  and an outer periphery of the support base  282 . In this embodiment, the serving carousel  210  consists of only one serving element  227 . The arm  228  may be integrally formed with or coupled (by adherence, welding, and the like) to these other elements. The carrier element  230  of this embodiment is a double-ring structure (the two rings connected by side struts, e.g., a ring-shaped support) defining a central aperture which can receive a lower projecting portion of a small bowl  32   b  or similar element. Modifications to the carrier element  230  may be provided to support different types of elements which may need to be accessed when using the table  14 . 
     The arm  228  of this embodiment may also include a telescoping function in one option. To this end, the arm  228  is defined by a hollow receptacle portion  228   a  extending from the support base  282  and a rod-like portion  228   b  extending from the carrier element  230 . The rod-like portion  228   b  may be adjustably slid into and out of the hollow receptacle portion  228   a  to adjust how far the carrier element  230  is disposed relative to the centerpiece  216 . The rod-like portion  228   b  and the hollow receptacle portion  228   a  may include any known type of securing or clamping mechanism to lock these two elements in position relative to one another when the carrier element  230  is located in a desired position. 
     In operation, the rotatable serving carousel  210  functions in a similar manner as the previous embodiments when used with the table  14 , such as by allowing users to rotate the one or more serving elements  227  around the table  14  to provide easy access to the small bowl  32   b  as well as the larger bowl  32   a  located in the center at the support element  278 . Also as with previous embodiments, the rotatable serving carousel  210  is formed from a weather-resistant material configured for outdoor use, including metallic materials like aluminum in one example (and rigid plastics in another example). 
     The serving carousel  10 ,  110 ,  210  and table  14  collectively improve the amount of space that may be used on the tabletop  12  while also providing access to chip and dip bowls or other elements (such as bowls that contain game cards or board game components, in another example) to persons at all sides of the table  14  without negatively impacting the space that can be used on the tabletop  12  itself for a game board, food plates, and/or other elements. To this end, lifting bowls or other service items off the tabletop  12  and providing them on the rotatable serving carousel  10 ,  110 ,  210  improves the functionality of outdoor tables and similar furniture, thereby overcoming the drawbacks associated with such furniture in large social gatherings and similar settings. 
     While the present invention has been illustrated by a description of exemplary embodiments and while these embodiments have been described in some detail, it is not the intention of the Applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The various features of the disclosure may be used alone or in any combination depending on the needs and preferences of the user. Further, features that are described and/or illustrated with respect to one embodiment may be used in the same way or in a similar way in one or more other embodiments and/or in combination with or instead of the features of the other embodiments. This has been a description of the present invention, along with the preferred methods of practicing the present invention as currently known. However, the invention itself should only be defined by the appended claims.