Patent Publication Number: US-2021187905-A1

Title: One-ply cold seal packaging materials

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIORITY APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/952,530 filed Dec. 23, 2019, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present invention generally relates to packaging materials and, in particular, to flexible packaging materials that include cold seal adhesive. 
     It is known for two-ply cold seal packaging material to include outer and inner polymeric films that are laminated together. It is typical for the outer film to be transparent and reverse-printed so that the print is visible through the outer film in a package formed from the packaging material. Typically the inner film has barrier properties, and cold seal adhesive on the inner film forms closure seams of packages formed from the packaging material. 
     There is a desire for a cold seal packaging material having a different balance of properties. 
     SUMMARY 
     An aspect of this disclosure is the provision of a flexible packaging material comprising a plurality of layers in a facing relationship with one another, wherein the layers include an oriented polymer film layer, a barrier layer, a primer layer, an ink layer, and a cold seal adhesive layer. The polymer film layer has opposite first and second sides. The barrier layer may be in a facing, contacting relationship with the first side of the polymer film layer. The barrier layer may comprise metallic material. The primer layer may be disposed on the barrier layer, such that the barrier layer is positioned between the primer layer and the polymer film layer. The ink layer may be disposed on at least a portion of the primer layer. The cold seal adhesive layer may be disposed on at least a portion of the second side of the polymer film layer. 
     A cold seal release layer may be disposed on the ink layer, such that the ink layer is positioned between the cold seal release layer and the primer layer. The packaging material may be formed into a roll in which the cold seal adhesive layer is releasably adhered to the cold seal release layer, and the ink layer is fixedly adhered to the primer layer. 
     The packaging material may be used as a one-ply cold seal packaging material. For example, the packaging material may be formed into a package in which the cold seal adhesive at least partially defines a seal of the package. 
     As another example, a flexible packaging material may comprise, consist essentially of, or consist of an oriented polymer film, cold seal adhesive, barrier material (e.g., metallic barrier material), primer material, ink, and cold seal release material. The polymer film has opposite first and second sides. The cold seal adhesive may be connected to at least a portion of the second side of the polymer film so that the cold seal adhesive is in a facing, contacting relationship with the second side of the polymer film. The barrier material may be connected to the first side of the polymer film so that the barrier material is in a facing, contacting relationship with the first side of the polymer film. The primer material may be connected to the barrier material so that the primer material is in a facing, contacting relationship with the barrier material, and the barrier material is positioned between the primer material and the polymer film. The ink may be connected to at least a portion of the primer material so that the ink is in a facing, contacting relationship with the primer material, and the primer material is positioned between the barrier material and the ink. The cold seal release material may be connected to the ink so that the cold seal release material is in a facing, contacting relationship with the ink, and the ink is positioned between the primer material and the cold seal release material. The packaging material may be used as a one-ply cold seal packaging material. 
     Another aspect of this disclosure is the provision of a method of forming a flexible packaging material. The packaging material can include barrier material fixedly disposed on an oriented polymer film. The polymer film has opposite first and second sides. The barrier material may be connected to the first side of the polymer film so that the barrier material is in a facing, contacting relationship with the first side of the polymer film. Cold seal adhesive may be applied to at least a portion of the second side of the polymer film so that the cold seal adhesive is in a facing, contacting relationship with the second side of the polymer film. Primer material may be applied to the barrier material so that the primer material is in a facing, contacting relationship with the barrier material, and the barrier material is positioned between the primer material and the polymer film. Ink may be printed on at least a portion of the primer material so that the ink is in a facing, contacting relationship with the primer material, and the primer material is positioned between the barrier material and the ink. 
     Cold seal release material may be applied to at least the ink so that the cold seal release material is in a facing, contacting relationship with the ink, and the ink is positioned between the primer material and the cold seal release material. The packaging material may be formed into a roll so that the cold seal adhesive is in a facing, contacting relationship with, and releasably adhered to, the cold seal release material. The packaging material may be unrolled without (e.g., substantially without) the ink and cold seal release material contaminating the cold seal adhesive, so that the packaging material may be formed into a package in which the cold seal adhesive at least partially defines a reasonably strong seal of the package. 
     The foregoing summary provides a few brief examples and is not exhaustive, and the present invention is not limited to the foregoing examples. The foregoing examples, as well as other examples, are further explained in the following detailed description with reference to accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawings are provided as examples, and they are schematic and may not be drawn to scale. The present invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples depicted in the drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic cross-sectional view of packaging material in a flat configuration, wherein the cross-section is taken perpendicular to the length of the packaging material, in accordance with an embodiment of this disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic plan view of an interior side of a wrapper portion of the packaging material of the  FIG. 1 , wherein the wrapper is in an open, flat configuration. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic cross-sectional view of a package formed from the wrapper of  FIG. 2 , in accordance with an embodiment of this disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is another schematic cross-sectional view of the package of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will be evident from the following description and accompanying drawings. Examples of embodiments are disclosed in the following. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. For example, features disclosed as part of one embodiment or example can be used in the context of another embodiment or example to yield a further embodiment or example. As another example of the breadth of this disclosure, it is within the scope of this disclosure for one or more of the terms “substantially,” “about,” “approximately,” and/or the like, to qualify each of the adjectives and adverbs of the Detailed Description section of disclosure, as discussed in greater detail below. 
       FIG. 1  schematically depicts an exemplary packaging material/composite film structure  100 . The packaging material  100  may be useful as a flexible cold seal packaging material, for example, for packaging or wrapping food items. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the flexible material  100  may generally include a plurality of layers in a superposed, facing, contacting relationship with one another. The layers may be continuous or discontinuous, as will be understood in the art, and as will be described further below. 
     More particularly, in the illustrated example, the material  100  includes a layer of oriented polymer film  102  having a first side or surface  104   a  and a second side or surface  104   b  opposite one another. The first surface  104   a  faces (i.e., is more proximate to) an outer side or surface  106   a  of the packaging material  100  and the second surface  104   b  faces (i.e., is more proximate to) an inner side or surface  106   b  of the packaging material  100 . 
     The flexible polymer film layer  102  may generally comprise an oriented polyolefin film, for example, oriented polypropylene (OPP) or oriented polyethylene (e.g., oriented high density polyethylene). The film  102  may be oriented in one direction (e.g., machine direction) or in both directions (e.g., biaxially-oriented). Orienting the film enhances the optical clarity, stiffness, and heat resistance of the film to render it suitable for use in packaging applications. The oriented film  102  may have a thickness of from about 70 to about 130 gauge, for example, from about 80 to about 120 gauge, for example, about 115 gauge. 
     The packaging material  100  further includes a barrier layer  108  positioned along the first side or surface  104   a  of the polymer film layer  102 . In some embodiments, the barrier layer  108  may generally comprise a thin layer of material deposited on the first side of the polymer film layer  102 . The barrier layer  108  may comprise, for example, aluminum or aluminum oxide. More generally, the barrier layer  108  may comprise metallic material, aluminum, aluminum oxide, and/or any other suitable barrier material. The barrier layer  108  may have a thickness of from about 1 to about 100 nm, for example, from about 10 to 40 nm. 
     Still viewing  FIG. 1 , the packaging material further includes a primer layer  110  disposed on the barrier layer  108  (i.e., such that the barrier layer  108  is positioned directly between the first side  104   a  of the polymer film  102  and the primer layer  110 ). Ink  112  may be printed on the primer layer  110  (i.e., such that the primer layer  110  is positioned directly between the barrier layer  108  and the ink  112 ). The primer layer  110  assists with promoting adhesion of the ink  112  to the polymer film  102  by way of the barrier layer  108 , as will be discussed below. In some embodiments, the primer may comprise a polyamide. However, other primers may be suitable. One example of a primer that may be suitable for the primer layer  110  is SunFuse™ Omniprime, commercially available from Sun Chemical (Northlake, Ill.). The primer  110  may typically be applied as a flood coat having a coat weight of from about 3 to about 4 lb/ream. 
     The packaging material  100  further includes a cold seal adhesive layer  114  disposed on at least a portion of the second side  104   b  of the polymer film  102 . The cold seal adhesive layer  114  may typically be applied in discrete areas or regions of the film  102 , and may have a coat weight of from about 2 to about 4.5 lb/ream, for example, about 3.5 lb/ream. The cold seal adhesive layer  114  at least partially defines the inner side or surface  106   b  of the packaging material  100 . 
     The packaging material  100  may further include a cold seal release coating  116  (i.e., an anti-blocking coating) deposited on the ink layer  112 . The cold seal release layer  116  may be transparent, translucent, or any combination thereof. The cold seal release coating  116  may comprise polyamide and a wax, and/or may comprise any other suitable components. The cold seal release coating may typically be applied as a flood coat having a coat weight of from about 0.1 to about 2 lb/ream. 
     As will be discussed in greater detail below, the packaging material  100  may be wound into a roll in which the cold seal adhesive  114  is in opposing, face-to-face, direct contact with, and adhered to (e.g., releasably adhered to), the release coating  116 . It is believed that if the packaging material  100  did not include the primer  110  and/or the release coating  116 , when the packaging material is unrolled, ink  112  may lift or separate away from the barrier layer  108  on the first side  104   a  of the film  102 , so that ink  112  and any associated release coating  116  becomes adhered to the cold seal adhesive  114 . As a result, the cold seal adhesive  114  may be contaminated (e.g., by ink  112  and any associated release coating  116 ), thereby adversely affecting the ability to form a sealed package from the packaging material  100 . While not wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that certain components of the cold seal adhesive  114  (possibly amine-based components) may tend to reduce the adhesion between the cold seal adhesive  114  and the release coating  116  when the packaging material  100  is formed into a roll. As discussed further below, including the primer layer  110  in the packaging material significantly improves adhesion of the ink  112  to the barrier layer  108  (e.g., metallized layer), so that the ink  112  remains deposited on the barrier layer  108  when the roll of material  100  is unwound. As a result, one-ply cold seal packaging materials can be successfully prepared and used. 
     Although countless possibilities are contemplated, in some embodiments, the packaging material  100  may generally have a yield of from about 20,000 to about 30,000 in 2 /lb, for example, about 26,000 in 2 /lb (as measured using ASTM D4321), a basis weight of from about 12 to about 20 lb/ream, for example, about 16 lb/ream (as measured using ASTM D646), a thickness of from about 1.3 to about 2.5 mil, for example, about 1.8 mil (as measured using ASTM F2251), a water vapor transmission rate of from about 0.005 to about 0.5 g/100 in 2 /24 hrs @100° F./90% RH, for example, about 0.02 g/100 in 2 /24 hrs @100° F./90% RH (as measured using ASTM F1249), an oxygen transmission rate of from about 1 to about 5 cc/100 in 2 /24 hrs @73° F./0% RH, for example, about 2.4 g/100 in 2 /24 hrs @73° F./0% RH (as measured using ASTM D3985), and a coefficient of friction of from about 0.1 to about 0.4, for example, about 0.25 (inside/static, inside/kinetic) and 0.35 (outside/static, outside/kinetic) (as measured using ASTM 1894). Such a material may generally be suitable for use as a wrapper (e.g., in a flow wrap process), for example, for a food item. 
     An example of a method of forming the packaging material  100  is described in the following, in accordance with an embodiment of this disclosure. A barrier film (e.g., a metallized film in the form of the film  102  with the barrier layer  108  fixedly thereon) may be drawn from a supply roll along a web travel path. The other layers  106 ,  110 ,  112 ,  116  may be applied by respective applicators positioned along the web travel path to form the packaging material  100 . The packaging material  100  may be formed into a roll at a take-up spindle positioned at the downstream end of the web travel path. 
     The primer layer  110  may be applied directly onto the barrier layer  108  by way of an applicator positioned along the web travel path. The applicator for the primer  110  may be a flexographic printer, gravure coating device, offset gravure coating device, reverse roll coater, and/or any other suitable device for applying the at least one layer of primer material. 
     A print station positioned along the web travel path may include a series of printing devices (e.g., flexographic printing presses) that are spaced apart along the length of the web travel path. In one example, the primer layer  110  may be applied directly onto the barrier layer  108  by way of one or more upstream printing devices of the print station. Downstream from where the primer layer  100  is applied, ink  112  may be applied directly onto the primer layer  110  by way of one or more printing devices of the print station. As compared to one another, one or more of, several of, or each of the printing devices of the print station may be configured to print/apply a different color ink onto the primer layer  110 . 
     The cold seal release layer  116  may be applied directly onto the ink layer(s)  112  by an applicator positioned downstream from the print station along the web travel path. The applicator for the cold seal release layer  116  may be in the form of a gravure coating device, offset gravure coating device, reverse roll coater, and/or any other suitable device for applying the at least one layer of cold seal release material. 
     The cold seal adhesive  114  may be applied directly onto the second side  104   b  of the polymer film  102  by an applicator positioned along the web travel path. The cold seal adhesive  114  may be applied in a pattern, as discussed further below. The applicator for the cold seal adhesive  114  may be in the form of a gravure coating device, offset gravure coating device, reverse roll coater, and/or any other suitable device for applying the at least one layer of cold seal adhesive. 
     As indicated by the above example of a manufacturing method, the packaging material  100  may be formed in an “inline system” configured so that numerous features are incorporated together along the web travel path in a single system. Alternatively, one or more of the processes or operations that have been described herein as being performed within the inline system may be performed “out of line” by separate system(s). More generally, a variety of methods and systems for forming the packaging material  100  are within the scope of this disclosure. 
     After the packaging material  100  is optionally formed into a roll as discussed above, it may be unrolled and supplied to a conventional form-fill-seal (e.g., flow wrapping) machine to form packages  122  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ). As an example,  FIG. 2  schematically depicts an interior side of a flat, single wrapper portion  120  of the packaging material  100  that can be formed into a single package. As depicted in  FIG. 2 , the cold seal adhesive  114  can solely cover the margins of the interior side of the wrapper  120 , so that the wrapper can be folded over onto itself to form a package  122  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the respective strips of the cold seal adhesive  114  can be in opposing face-to-face contact with one another, and cohered to one another, to at least partially form end seals  124  and a fin seal  126  of the package  122 . The fin seal  126  typically extends from one to the other of the end seals  124 . Each package  122  can contain one or more articles  128 , for example food products or any other suitable articles. Each package  122  can completely enclose its contents/articles  128  in a hermitically sealed manner. A wide variety of differently configured packaging materials, wrappers, packages, seals and articles are within the scope of this disclosure. 
     Examples 
     Cold seal performance was evaluated for various packaging materials, as set forth in Table 1. Comparative samples are noted with “C-” and experimental samples of the packaging material  100  are noted with “X-”. The experimental samples of the packaging material  100  can be referred to embodiments of this disclosure, wherein the embodiments of this disclosure can be alike, except for variations noted and variations that will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Sample 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 C-1 
                 Cold seal release layer/ink/115 gauge metallized OPP/cold seal adhesive (CSA) 
               
               
                   
                 (3.62 lb/ream CSA along the end seal and 3.27 lb/ream CSA along the fin seal) 
               
               
                 X-1 
                 Cold seal release layer/ink/SunFuseTM Omniprime primer (~0.4 lb/ream)/115  
               
               
                   
                 gauge metallized OPP/cold seal adhesive (CSA) 
               
               
                   
                 (3.62 lb/ream CSA along the end seal and 3.27 lb/ream CSA along the fin seal) 
               
               
                 C-2 
                 Cold seal release layer/ink/115 gauge metallized OPP/cold seal adhesive (CSA) 
               
               
                   
                 (3.21 lb/ream CSA along the end seal and 3.26 lb/ream CSA along the fin seal) 
               
               
                 X-2 
                 Cold seal release layer/ink/SunFuse ™ Omniprime primer (~0.4 lb/ream)/115  
               
               
                   
                 gauge metallized OPP/cold seal adhesive (CSA) 
               
               
                   
                 (3.21 lb/ream CSA along the end seal and 3.26 lb/ream CSA along the fin seal) 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The rolls of the sample packaging materials were subject to five different environments: Ambient (Temp/Rh), Refrigerated (40° F.), Freezer (0° F.), Oven (122° F./Ambient Rh), and Jungle (95° F./90% Rh). The samples were evaluated for cold seal adhesive strength using ASTM D1876 (80 psi, 1″ wide, serrated jaws and 0.5 second dwell) after two weeks, one month, two months, and three months. 
     Tables 2 and 3 present the results, where *CP denotes forced clean peel with leggy adhesive failure, SAF denotes splitting adhesive failure, and CL denotes a clean peel. Three repetitions were conducted for each test. Comparative samples C-1 and C-2 failed immediately and could not be formed into a package for evaluation. The experimental samples X-1 and X-2 of the packaging material  100  including the primer layer  110  were successfully formed into packages, as indicated below. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Cold Seal Peel Values, Sample X-1 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                   
                 End  
                 End Seal * 
                 Fin  
                 Fin Seal * 
               
               
                   
                 Time 
                 Seal (g) 
                 CP (g) 
                 Seal (g) 
                 CP (g) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 Ambient Seal Strength 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Initial 
                 364 
                 253 
                 380 
                 194 
               
               
                   
                 2 Weeks 
                 441 
                 298 
                 392 
                 353 
               
               
                   
                 1 Month 
                 405 
                 272 
                 360 
                 310 
               
               
                   
                 2 Month 
                 501 
                 339 
                 427 
                 362 
               
               
                   
                 3 Month 
                 495 
                 315 
                 436 
                 373 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 Oven Seal Strength 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Initial 
                 416 
                 272 
                 364 
                 274 
               
               
                   
                 2 Weeks 
                 506 
                 308 
                 423 
                 333 
               
               
                   
                 1 Month 
                 508-SAF 
                 370 
                 445 
                 390 
               
               
                   
                 2 Month 
                 522-SAF 
                 354 
                 459 
                 362 
               
               
                   
                 3 Month 
                 478 
                 395 
                 515 
                 376 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 Jungle Seal Strength 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Initial 
                 356 
                 265 
                 379 
                 300 
               
               
                   
                 2 Weeks 
                 436 
                 317 
                 469 
                 344 
               
               
                   
                 1 Month 
                 386 
                 279 
                 396 
                 301 
               
               
                   
                 2 Month 
                 469 
                 344 
                 450 
                 352 
               
               
                   
                 3 Month 
                 443 
                 390 
                 519 
                 389 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 Refrigerator Seal Strength 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Initial 
                 387 
                 273 
                 352 
                 269 
               
               
                   
                 2 Weeks 
                 401 
                 289 
                 393 
                 308 
               
               
                   
                 1 Month 
                 390 
                 233 
                 343 
                 275 
               
               
                   
                 2 Month 
                 491 
                 308 
                 439 
                 310 
               
               
                   
                 3 Month 
                 398 
                 260 
                 382 
                 285 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 Freezer Seal Strength 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Initial 
                 393 
                 285 
                 394 
                 298 
               
               
                   
                 2 Weeks 
                 464 
                 281 
                 416 
                 346 
               
               
                   
                 1 Month 
                 341 
                 244 
                 364 
                 287 
               
               
                   
                 2 Month 
                 496 
                 391 
                 453 
                 346 
               
               
                   
                 3 Month 
                 407 
                 255 
                 378 
                 311 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 3 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Cold Seal Peel Values, Sample X-2 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 End 
                 End Seal * 
                 Fin  
                 Fin Seal * 
               
               
                 Time 
                 Seal (g) 
                 CP (g) 
                 Seal (g) 
                 CP (g) 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 Ambient Seal Strength 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Initial 
                 362 
                 258 
                 287 
                 241 
               
               
                 2 Weeks 
                 357 
                 228 
                  311-C 
                 287 
               
               
                 1 Month 
                 328 
                 219 
                 314 
                 261 
               
               
                 2 Month 
                 358 
                 246 
                 345 
                 247 
               
               
                 3 Month 
                 361 
                 232 
                 317 
                 320 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 Oven Seal Strength 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Initial 
                 339 
                 262 
                 254 
                 234 
               
               
                 2 Weeks 
                 374 
                 255 
                 417 
                 290 
               
               
                 1 Month 
                 384 
                 252 
                 400 
                 286 
               
               
                 2 Month 
                 404 
                 279 
                 384 
                 286 
               
               
                 3 Month 
                 461 
                 303 
                 380 
                 304 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 Jungle Seal Strength 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Initial 
                 349 
                 221 
                 285 
                 227 
               
               
                 2 Weeks 
                 394 
                 260 
                 342 
                 270 
               
               
                 1 Month 
                 331 
                 232 
                 299 
                 246 
               
               
                 2 Month 
                 356 
                 252 
                 364 
                 273 
               
               
                 3 Month 
                 425 
                 274 
                 390 
                 286 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 Refrigerator Seal Strength 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Initial 
                 351 
                 246 
                 300 
                 257 
               
               
                 2 Weeks 
                 362 
                 229 
                  304-C 
                 298 
               
               
                 1 Month 
                 348 
                 215 
                 282 
                 222 
               
               
                 2 Month 
                 299 
                 197 
                 304 
                 242 
               
               
                 3 Month 
                 351 
                 228 
                 306 
                 229 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 Freezer Seal Strength 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Initial 
                 341 
                 259 
                 276 
                 261 
               
               
                 2 Weeks 
                 333 
                 242 
                  301-C 
                 238 
               
               
                 1 Month 
                 300 
                 234 
                 274 
                 223 
               
               
                 2 Month 
                 329 
                 222 
                 299 
                 238 
               
               
                 3 Month 
                 330 
                 296 
                 322 
                 232 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     To supplement the present disclosure, this application incorporates by reference the entire disclosure of U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2020/0248038. 
     Reiterating from above, it is within the scope of this disclosure for one or more of the terms “substantially,” “about,” “approximately,” and/or the like, to qualify each of the adjectives and adverbs of the foregoing disclosure, for the purpose of providing a broad disclosure. As an example, it is believed that those of ordinary skill in the art will readily understand that, in different implementations of the features of this disclosure, reasonably different engineering tolerances, precision, and/or accuracy may be applicable and suitable for obtaining the desired result. Accordingly, it is believed that those of ordinary skill will readily understand usage herein of the terms such as “substantially,” “about,” “approximately,” “consisting essentially of,” and the like. 
     In the specification and drawings, examples of embodiments have been disclosed. The present invention is not limited to such exemplary embodiments. The use of the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Unless otherwise noted, specific terms have been used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation. While the present invention is described herein in detail in relation to specific aspects and embodiments, it is to be understood that this detailed description is only illustrative and exemplary of the present invention and is made merely for purposes of providing a full and enabling disclosure of the present invention and to set forth the best mode of practicing the invention known to the inventors at the time the invention was made. 
     The detailed description set forth herein is illustrative only and is not intended, nor is to be construed, to limit the present invention or otherwise to exclude any such other embodiments, adaptations, variations, modifications, and equivalent arrangements of the present invention. All directional references (e.g., upper, lower, upward, downward, left, right, leftward, rightward, top, bottom, above, below, vertical, horizontal, clockwise, and counterclockwise) are used only for identification purposes to aid the reader&#39;s understanding of the various embodiments of the present invention, and do not create limitations, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use of the invention unless specifically set forth in the claims. Joinder references (e.g., joined, attached, coupled, connected, and the like) are to be construed broadly and may include intermediate members between a connection of elements and relative movement between elements. As such, joinder references do not necessarily imply that two elements are connected directly and in fixed relation to each other. Further, various elements discussed with reference to the various embodiments may be interchanged to create entirely new embodiments coming within the scope of the present invention.