Patent Publication Number: US-11391507-B2

Title: Refrigerator appliance with articulating horizontal mullion

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure relates generally to refrigerator appliances and more particularly to refrigerator appliances with features for sealing one or more chilled chambers therein while minimizing encroachment on storage volume within the chilled chamber or chambers. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Refrigerator appliances generally include a cabinet that defines chilled chambers for receipt of food items for storage. One or more insulated, sealing doors are provided for selectively enclosing the chilled food storage chambers. Consumers generally prefer chilled chambers that facilitate visibility and accessibility of food items stored therein. 
     The sealing doors typically sealingly engage with corresponding surfaces of the cabinet. However, the provision of these corresponding surfaces may result in increased thickness of partitions of the refrigerator appliance in order to provide sufficient surface area for sealing. The increased thickness comes at a cost of reduced storage volume within the cabinet. 
     Accordingly, a refrigerator appliance with features for sealing engagement with the doors and increased storage volume would be useful. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be apparent from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, a refrigerator appliance is provided. The refrigerator appliance defines a vertical direction, a lateral direction and a transverse direction. The vertical, lateral and transverse directions are mutually perpendicular. The refrigerator appliance also includes a cabinet extending from a top to a bottom along the vertical direction. The cabinet also extends from a left side to a right side along the lateral direction. The cabinet defines a fresh food storage chamber and a freezer chamber. The fresh food storage chamber and the freezer chamber are mutually separated by a mullion. The refrigerator appliance also includes a drawer slidably mounted within the fresh food chamber such that the drawer is movable along a path of travel between a retracted position and an extended position. An articulating lip is coupled to the mullion. The articulating lip is movable relative to the mullion between a sealing position wherein the articulating lip is in the path of travel of the drawer and an open position wherein the articulating lip is outside of the path of travel of the drawer. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, a refrigerator appliance is provided. The refrigerator appliance defines a vertical direction, a lateral direction and a transverse direction. The vertical, lateral and transverse directions are mutually perpendicular. The refrigerator appliance also includes a cabinet extending from a top to a bottom along the vertical direction. The cabinet also extends from a left side to a right side along the lateral direction. The cabinet defines a fresh food storage chamber and a freezer chamber. The fresh food storage chamber and the freezer chamber are mutually separated by a mullion. The refrigerator appliance also includes a door movably mounted to the cabinet whereby the door is movable between a closed position where the door sealingly encloses at least a portion of one of the fresh food chamber and the freezer chamber and an open position to permit access to the one of the fresh food chamber and the freezer chamber. A gasket is mounted to the door. An articulating lip is coupled to the mullion. The articulating lip includes a bearing surface. The articulating lip is movable relative to the mullion between a sealing position and an open position and the gasket mounted to the door sealingly engages the bearing surface of the articulating lip when the articulating lip is in the sealing position and the door is in the closed position. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures. 
         FIG. 1  provides a perspective view of an exemplary refrigerator appliance according to one or more embodiments of the present subject matter. 
         FIG. 2  provides a view of the refrigerator appliance of  FIG. 1  with a left door and a right door both in an open position. 
         FIG. 3  provides a right side section view of the refrigerator appliance of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  provides a schematic illustration of an exemplary drawer and mullion for a refrigerator appliance according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present subject matter. 
         FIG. 5  provides a view of the drawer and mullion of  FIG. 4  with the drawer in an extended position. 
         FIG. 6  provides a schematic illustration of an exemplary drawer and mullion for a refrigerator appliance according to one or more additional exemplary embodiments of the present subject matter. 
         FIG. 7  provides a view of the drawer and mullion of  FIG. 6  with the drawer in an extended position. 
         FIG. 8  provides a schematic illustration of an exemplary drawer and mullion for a refrigerator appliance according to one or more additional exemplary embodiments of the present subject matter. 
         FIG. 9  provides a view of the drawer and mullion of  FIG. 8  with the drawer in an extended position. 
         FIG. 10  provides a section view of an articulating lip for a refrigerator appliance according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present subject matter. 
         FIG. 11  provides a section view of an articulating lip for a refrigerator appliance according to one or more additional exemplary embodiments of the present subject matter. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 
     As used herein, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third” may be used interchangeably to distinguish one component from another and are not intended to signify location or importance of the individual components. Terms such as “inner” and “outer” refer to relative directions with respect to the interior and exterior of the refrigerator appliance, and in particular the food storage chamber(s) defined therein. For example, “inner” or “inward” refers to the direction towards the interior of the refrigerator appliance. Terms such as “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” “top,” or “bottom” are used with reference to the perspective of a user accessing the refrigerator appliance. For example, a user stands in front of the refrigerator to open the doors and reaches into the food storage chamber(s) to access items therein. 
     As used herein, terms of approximation such as “generally,” “about,” or “approximately” include values within ten percent greater or less than the stated value. When used in the context of an angle or direction, such terms include within ten degrees greater or less than the stated angle or direction, e.g., “generally vertical” includes forming an angle of up to ten degrees in any direction, e.g., clockwise or counterclockwise, with the vertical direction V. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  provide perspective views of an exemplary refrigerator appliance  100  according to one or more embodiments of the present subject matter with doors  126 ,  128  (described in more detail below) in various positions. Refrigerator appliance  100  defines a vertical direction V, a lateral direction L, and a transverse direction T, each mutually perpendicular to one another. As may be seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , refrigerator appliance  100  includes a cabinet or housing  120  that extends between a top  101  and a bottom  102  along a vertical direction V, between a left side  104  and a right side  106  along the lateral direction L, and between a front  108  and a rear  110  along the transverse direction T. Housing  120  defines a chilled chamber  118  ( FIG. 2 ) for receipt of food items for storage. As used herein, the chamber may be “chilled” in that the chamber is operable at temperatures below room temperature, e.g., less than about seventy-five degrees Fahrenheit (75° F.). 
     As may be seen in  FIG. 2 , the chilled chamber  118  extends along the vertical direction V between the top  101  and the bottom  102  of the cabinet  120  and along the lateral direction L between the left side  104  and the right side  106  of the cabinet  120 . The chilled chamber  118  also extends along the transverse direction T between a front portion  134  and a back portion  136  ( FIG. 3 ). The front portion  134  of the chilled chamber  118  defines an opening  138  for receipt of food items. 
     In some embodiments, the chilled chamber  118  may be, e.g., a fresh food storage chamber  118  as shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3 . In such embodiments, a second chilled chamber, e.g., a separate freezer chamber  116 , may be provided in the cabinet  120 . For example, the refrigerator appliance  100  may include the freezer chamber  116  below the fresh food storage chamber  118 , as illustrated for example in  FIGS. 1 through 3 . 
     As shown for example in  FIG. 2 , various storage components may be mounted within the chilled chamber  118  to facilitate storage of food items therein as will be understood by those skilled in the art. In particular, the storage components may include various combinations of bins  202 , drawers  204 , and shelves  206  mounted within the chilled chamber  118  and/or one or both flexible chambers  300  and  302  ( FIG. 1 ). Bins  202 , drawers  204 , and shelves  206  are configured for receipt of food items (e.g., beverages and/or solid food items) and may assist with organizing such food items. 
     Refrigerator doors  126  and  128  are rotatably mounted, e.g., hinged, to an edge of housing  120  for selectively accessing the chilled chamber  118  within the housing  120 . Refrigerator doors  126  and  128  may be mounted to the housing  120  at or near a front portion  134  of the chilled chamber  118  such that the doors  126  and  128  rotate between a closed position ( FIG. 1 ) and an open position ( FIG. 2 ). In the closed position, the doors  126  and  128  cooperatively sealingly enclose the chilled chamber  118 . Additionally, one or more gaskets  160  and other sealing devices ( FIG. 3 ), may be provided to promote sealing between the doors  126  and  128  and the cabinet  120 . In the open position the doors  126  and  128  permit access to the chilled chamber  118 . In embodiments where a separate freezer chamber  116  is provided, the freezer chamber  116  may be spaced apart from the fresh food chamber  118  along the vertical direction V. For example, the freezer chamber  116  may be positioned below the fresh food chamber  118 , as illustrated, or may be positioned above the fresh food chamber  118 , e.g., in a top mount configuration. A freezer door  130  may be arranged adjacent to, e.g., below, refrigerator doors  126  and  128  for selectively accessing freezer chamber  116 . Freezer door  130  may be coupled to a freezer drawer  132  ( FIG. 3 ) slidably mounted within freezer chamber  116 . Freezer door  130  may also be provided with one or more gaskets  160  to promote sealing between the freezer door  130  and the cabinet  120 . The doors  126  and  128  may be generally mirrored, e.g., the overall shape and size of each door  126  or  128  may be the same as the other door  126  or  128 , with possible internal variations such as the dispenser recess  150  described below. Moreover, although not specifically shown, the doors  126  and  128  are independently rotatable such that, e.g. the right door  126  may be in the open position while the left door  128  is in the closed position, or vice versa. 
     As may be seen in  FIG. 1 , refrigerator appliance  100  also includes a dispensing assembly  140  for dispensing liquid water and/or ice. Dispensing assembly  140  includes a dispenser  142  positioned on or mounted to an exterior portion of refrigerator appliance  100 , e.g., on one of doors  126  and  128 , such as left door  128  as in the illustrated exemplary embodiment. Dispenser  142  includes a discharging outlet  144  for accessing ice and liquid water. For example, ice may be stored in an ice box  162  ( FIG. 2 ) in one of the doors  126  or  128 . An actuating mechanism  146 , shown as a paddle, is mounted below discharging outlet  144  for operating dispenser  142 . In alternative exemplary embodiments, any suitable actuating mechanism may be used to operate dispenser  142 . For example, dispenser  142  can include a sensor (such as an ultrasonic sensor) or a button rather than the paddle. A user interface panel  148  is provided for controlling the mode of operation. For example, user interface panel  148  includes a plurality of user inputs (not labeled), such as a water dispensing button and an ice-dispensing button, for selecting a desired mode of operation such as crushed or non-crushed ice. 
     Discharging outlet  144  and actuating mechanism  146  are an external part of dispenser  142  and are mounted in a dispenser recess  150 . Dispenser recess  150  is positioned on an exterior side of one of the refrigerator doors  126  and  128 , e.g., left door  128  as in the illustrated example embodiment, at a predetermined elevation convenient for a user to access ice or water and enabling the user to access ice without the need to bend-over and without the need to open doors  126  and  128 . In the exemplary embodiment, dispenser recess  150  is positioned at a level that approximates the chest level of a user. 
     Refrigerator doors  126 ,  128  are shown in the closed position in  FIG. 1 . One of the refrigerator doors, e.g., right door  126  as in the illustrated example, may optionally include an outer casing  121  ( FIG. 3 ) comprising a thermally insulated wall  125  ( FIG. 3 ) and a thermally insulated mullion  304 , as illustrated, e.g.,  FIG. 1 , positioned within the outer casing  121 . The outer casing  121  and the mullion  304  define a first flexible chamber  300  and a second flexible chamber  302 . The door, e.g., right door  126 , may also include a front panel  127  rotatably mounted to the outer casing  121  to selectively sealingly enclose or permit access to the first and second flexible chambers  300  and  302 . For example, the front panel  127  may permit access to the flexible chambers  300  and  302  when the door  126  is in the closed position, as shown for example in  FIG. 1 . The flexible chambers  300  and  302  may be selectively operable at a variety of temperatures. 
     In various embodiments, fresh food storage chamber  118  may be operable within a temperature range above the freezing point of water and below room temperature, such as between approximately thirty-three degrees Fahrenheit (33° F.) and approximately sixty degrees Fahrenheit (60° F.). Also by way of example, the freezer chamber  116  may be operable within a temperature range including temperatures below the freezing point of water, e.g., less than thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit (32° F.), such as between approximately thirty degrees Fahrenheit (30° F.) and approximately zero degrees Fahrenheit (0° F.). For example, a temperature of the fresh food storage chamber  118  may be about forty degrees Fahrenheit (40° F.) or about forty-five degrees Fahrenheit (45° F.) and a temperature of the freezer chamber  116  may be about fifteen degrees Fahrenheit (15° F.) or about twenty-five degrees Fahrenheit (25° F.). In various embodiments, a thermally insulated partition or mullion  200  may be provided within the cabinet  120 , e.g., between the fresh food chamber  118  and the freezer chamber  116  ( FIG. 3 ). The mullion  200  may separate the distinct chambers. The mullion  200  may be a horizontal mullion, e.g., mullion  200  may extend along a plane perpendicular to the vertical direction V, e.g., a plane defined by the lateral direction L and the transverse direction T. The thermally insulated mullion  200  may permit or enhance operation of the fresh food chamber  118  and the freezer chamber  116  at distinct temperatures. 
     The flexible chambers  300  and  302  may be selectively operable as either fresh food storage chambers or freezer chambers, e.g., within one of a first temperature range and a second temperature range. For example, the first and second flexible chambers  300  and  302  may be operable as fresh food storage chambers wherein the chambers  300  and  302  each provide an internal temperature within one or more of the fresh food storage temperature ranges described above, e.g., above the freezing point of water and below room temperature, such as between approximately thirty-three degrees Fahrenheit (33° F.) and approximately sixty degrees Fahrenheit (60° F.). The flexible chambers  300  and  302  may also be selectively operable to provide internal temperatures below the freezing point of water, e.g., between approximately thirty degrees Fahrenheit (30° F.) and approximately zero degrees Fahrenheit (0° F.), as described above. 
     One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the various chambers or portions may be chilled by a sealed refrigeration system, such that, e.g., the first flexible chamber  300  and the second flexible chamber  302  may be operable at or about the temperatures described above by providing chilled air from the sealed system. The structure and function of such sealed systems are understood by those of ordinary skill in the art and are not described in further detail herein for the sake of brevity and clarity. 
     It is to be recognized that the benefits of the present disclosure apply to other types and styles of refrigerator appliances such as, e.g., a top mount refrigerator appliance, a side-by-side style refrigerator appliance or a standalone refrigerator-only or freezer-only appliance. Consequently, the description set forth herein is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to be limiting in any aspect to any particular configuration, such as not limiting to any particular refrigerator chamber configuration. Accordingly, the description herein of, e.g., the through-door dispenser, the door-in-door configuration with flexible chambers  300  and  302 , among other features, are by way of example only. Using the teachings disclosed herein, one of skill in the art will understand that the present subject matter can be used with any other style or model of refrigerator appliance. 
     Referring now specifically to  FIG. 3 , an articulating lip  220  may be coupled to the mullion  200 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the articulating lip  220  may include a bearing surface which provides sealing engagement with at least one of the doors  126 ,  128 , and/or  130  when the respective door or doors is or are in the closed position. For example, the articulating lip  220  may sealingly engage one or more gaskets  160  on the corresponding door(s). Also as may be seen in  FIG. 3 , one of the drawers  204  may be located within one of the chilled chambers, e.g., the fresh food storage chamber  118 , behind the articulating lip  220  when the drawer  204  is in a retracted position. Accordingly, as will be described in more detail below, the articulating lip  220  may permit the drawer  204  positioned therebehind to be relatively larger, e.g., deeper along the vertical direction V, as compared to a construction where the mullion  200  alone sealingly engages the gaskets  160 . This is so because such construction would require a mullion that is thicker, e.g., along the vertical direction V, than the mullion  200  illustrated in  FIG. 3 , resulting in reduced volume of the fresh food storage chamber  118 , and reduced volume of the drawer  204  adjacent to the mullion. 
     In order to provide access to the drawer  204  and/or contents thereof such as food items stored in the drawer  204 , the articulating lip  220  may be movable relative to the mullion  200 . For example, the drawer  204  may be slidably mounted within the fresh food chamber  118  so that the drawer  204  is movable along a path of travel, e.g., generally along the transverse direction T, between a retracted position and an extended position. Thus, the articulating lip  220  may be movable relative to the mullion  200  between a sealing position (e.g.,  FIG. 3 ) and an open position ( FIGS. 5, 7, and 9 ). The articulating lip  220  may be in the path of travel of the drawer  204  when the articulating lip  220  is in the sealing position and the gasket(s)  160  mounted to the door  126 ,  128 , and/or  130  may sealingly engage the bearing surface  224  of the articulating lip  220  when the articulating lip  220  is in the sealing position and the door(s)  126 ,  128 , and/or  130  is or are in the closed position. As illustrated in  FIGS. 5, 7, and 9  and described in more detail below, the articulating lip  220  is outside of the path of travel of the drawer  204  when the articulating lip  220  is in the open position. The articulating lip  220  may be coupled to the mullion  200  by a biasing element  222  and the biasing element  222  may bias the articulating lip  220  to the sealing position. The biasing element  222  may be designed and/or configured to provide minimal resistance to the movement of the drawer  204  along the path of travel of the drawer  204 , such that the pull force required to move the drawer  204  forward past the articulating lip  220  would be minimal or within acceptable limits. For example, in embodiments where the biasing element  222  is one of the example springs described below, the spring constant may be selected such that the pull force required to move the drawer  204  forward past the articulating lip  220  would be minimal or within acceptable limits. 
     In some embodiments, e.g., as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the biasing element  222  may be a coil spring and may be oriented along the vertical direction V. In such embodiments, the coil spring  222  (which is an embodiment of the biasing element  222 ) may be compressed downward along the vertical direction V when the articulating lip  220  is in the open position, e.g., as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . The drawer  204  is illustrated in the retracted position in  FIG. 4 . The drawer  204  may be movable along the path of travel between the retracted position illustrated in  FIG. 4  and an extended position, such as the extended position illustrated in  FIG. 5 . It is to be recognized that the extended position illustrated in  FIG. 5  is merely an example and may be a partially extended position, e.g., the drawer  204  may also be further slidable along the path of travel, e.g., forwards along the transverse direction T, to a fully extended position (not shown). 
     As may be seen in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the drawer  204  may include a front surface  205  and the articulating lip  220  may include a rear surface  226 . For example, the articulating lip  220  may include a first leg, e.g., a vertical leg, which extends generally along the vertical direction V and on which the bearing surface  224  is defined, as well as a second leg, e.g., an oblique leg, which extends at an oblique angle to the vertical leg and on which the rear surface  226  is defined. In some embodiments, e.g., as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 through 9 , the legs of the articulating lip  220  may meet at and collectively define an upper corner of the articulating lip  220 . When the drawer  204  travels forward along the path of travel, e.g., as illustrated by arrow  1000  in  FIG. 5 , from the retracted position ( FIG. 4 ) to or towards an extended position (e.g.,  FIG. 5 ), the front surface  205  of the drawer  204  engages the rear surface  226  of the articulating lip  220 . As the drawer  204  continues travel along the path of travel towards the extended position, e.g., forward along the transverse direction T, the articulating lip  220  moves downward along the vertical direction V, e.g., as indicated by arrow  1002  in  FIG. 5 . Thus, the articulating lip  220  moves to the open position, e.g., as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , where the coil spring  222  is compressed and the articulating lip  220  is outside of the path of travel of the drawer  204 , permitting the drawer  204  to continue to slide outward from the fresh food storage chamber  118 . In some embodiments, the front surface  205  of the drawer  204  may include features for improved, e.g., smoother and/or more gradual, engagement with the articulating lip  220 , such as a chamfered corner as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
     In some embodiments, e.g., as illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the biasing element  222  may be a coil spring and may be oriented generally along the transverse direction T. In such embodiments, when the front surface  205  of the drawer  204  bears on the rear surface  226  of the articulating lip  220  as the drawer  204  moves from the retracted position ( FIG. 6 ) to the extended position ( FIG. 7 ), the drawer  204  and the articulating lip  220  both move forward along the path of travel, e.g., as indicated by arrow  1000  in  FIG. 7 . As may be seen in  FIG. 7 , the biasing element  222 , e.g., the transverse-oriented coil spring, is thereby in tension when the articulating lip  220  is in the open position. Additionally, as may be seen in  FIG. 7  where the articulating lip  220  is illustrated in the open position, the articulating lip  220  is at least partially outside of the path of travel of the drawer  204  in that at least a portion, e.g., at least the first leg and the bearing surface  224  thereon, of the articulating lip  220  is forward of the drawer  204  at the fully extended position of the drawer  204 , e.g., the first leg of the articulating lip  220  is closer to the front of the refrigerator appliance  100  than the farthest forward extent of the path of travel of the drawer  204 . Also as illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , in some embodiments the front surface  205  of the drawer  204  may include a rounded or filleted corner to provide improved, e.g., smoother and/or more gradual, engagement with the articulating lip  220 . 
     Turning now to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , in some embodiments, the articulating lip  220  may be coupled to the mullion  200  by a torsion spring, where the torsion spring is an embodiment of the biasing element  222 . In such embodiments, the articulating lip  220  may be rotatable, e.g., generally about the lateral direction L, such as along the rotational path indicated by arrow  1004  in  FIG. 9 , between the sealing position ( FIG. 8 ) and the open position ( FIG. 9 ). In some embodiments, the second leg of the articulating lip  220  may be a tapered oblique leg, e.g., as illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , to promote improved, e.g., smoother and/or more gradual, engagement of the front surface  205  of the drawer  204  and the rear surface  226  of the articulating lip  220 . Additionally, the taper of the oblique leg of the articulating lip  220  may provide improved clearance between the lip  220  and the biasing element  222  and/or the drawer  204  when the articulating lip  220  is in the open position. 
     In various embodiments, the articulating lip  220  may be at least partially insulated. For example, as illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the articulating lip  220  may include thermal insulation  228  in a portion of the articulating lip  220 . In some embodiments, e.g., as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the second leg of the articulating lip  220  on which the rear surface  226  is defined may be curved, such as compound curved as illustrated in  FIG. 10 . In additional exemplary embodiments, e.g., as illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the second leg of the articulating lip  220  may be spaced apart from the first leg of the articulating lip  220 , such that the first and second legs do not meet at an upper corner as described above, but rather each end at a respective end of a horizontal top of the articulating lip  220 , as illustrated in  FIG. 11 . 
     As mentioned above, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. For example, the articulating lips  220  illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 11  may be coupled to the mullion  200  by any of the exemplary biasing elements illustrated throughout  FIGS. 4 through 9 . As another example, the chamfered front corner of the drawer  204  illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5  may be provided in additional exemplary embodiments where the articulating lip  220  is coupled to the mullion  200  with a transverse coil spring, e.g., as in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , or a torsion spring, e.g., as in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , etc. 
     This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.