Patent Publication Number: US-2018050949-A1

Title: Method and apparatus for making a profiled tubing and a sleeve

Description:
This application is a Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/422,462, filed on Feb. 19, 2015, which claims the benefit of priority to International Application Serial No. PCT/US13/57248, filed on Aug. 29, 2013, which, in turn, claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/694,913, filed on Aug. 30, 2012, the content of each are relied upon and incorporated herein by reference in their entireties as if fully set forth below. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The invention relates to manufacture of three-dimensional (3D) glass articles. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Glass has been used as front covers for electronic devices. Electronic device manufacturers are now desiring that the back covers of electronic devices are also made of glass and that the back covers meet the same high dimensional accuracy and surface quality as the front covers. It is possible to make the front and back covers separately with the requisite dimensional accuracy and surface quality and then assemble them together. However, this adds extra steps to the manufacturing process and may result in loss of dimensional control. The alternative is to manufacture a monolithic glass sleeve, where the front side of the glass sleeve will serve as the front cover and the back side of the glass sleeve will serve as the back cover. Many electronic devices incorporate flat displays. Thus the monolithic glass sleeve would need to have a cross-sectional profile that can accommodate a flat display. In general, this cross-sectional profile will have flat sides that can be arranged in parallel to the flat display. The flatness of the flat sides would also have to meet stringent requirements specified by the electronic device manufacturers. 
     It is known to make glass tubing and then convert the glass tubing into containers. Thus one practical approach to making a monolithic glass sleeve would be to make a glass tubing having the desired cross-sectional profile and then cut the glass tubing into glass sleeves. Methods for forming glass tubing from molten glass are known. The most common ones are the Danner process, the Vello process, and the downdraw process. These processes are described in, for example, Heinz G. Pfaender, “Schott Guide to Glass,” 2nd ed., Chapman &amp; Hall, 1996. These processes are typically used to form glass tubing with a round cross-sectional shape. Extrusion can be used to form glass tubing with a non-round cross-sectional shape, e.g., a cross-sectional shape that could have flat sides. However, extrusion involves tool contact with the glass surface, which could diminish the surface quality of the glass. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect, the present invention relates to an apparatus for making a profiled tubing. The apparatus includes a mandrel adapted for positioning proximate a surface of a tubing. The mandrel has a nozzle section with a select cross-sectional profile that will define a final cross-sectional profile of the tubing. The nozzle section has a feed chamber for receiving a gas and a porous circumferential surface through which the gas can be discharged to an exterior of the mandrel. The gas when discharged to the exterior of the mandrel forms a film of pressurized gas between the porous circumferential surface and the tubing. 
     In one embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a tubing forming apparatus for forming the tubing, wherein the mandrel is arranged inline with the tubing forming apparatus. 
     In one embodiment, the nozzle section is made of a porous material having a porosity of 10 to 20% and a mean pore size of 10 μm or less. 
     In one embodiment, the nozzle section is perforated. 
     In one embodiment, the porous circumferential surface comprises a pair of edge surfaces that are in opposing relation and ramped relative to a tool axis along which the mandrel is aligned. 
     In one embodiment, the porous circumferential surface further comprises a pair of side surfaces that are in opposing relation and form webs between the pair of edges surfaces. 
     In one embodiment, each of the pair of side surfaces has a depressed area. 
     In one embodiment, the apparatus further includes at least a pair of edge chambers formed in the nozzle section and in communication with the feed chamber. Each of the pair of edge chambers is adjacent to and substantially parallel to one of the pair of edge surfaces. 
     In one embodiment, the apparatus further includes a pair of chamber clusters formed in the nozzle section. Each chamber cluster includes at least two edge chambers in communication with the feed chamber. Each chamber cluster is adjacent to and substantially parallel to one of the pair of edge surfaces 
     In one embodiment, the at least two edge chambers of each chamber cluster are equidistant from the adjacent edge surface. 
     In one embodiment, the at least two edge chambers of each chamber cluster have different lengths. 
     In another aspect, the present invention relates to a method of forming a profiled tubing made of a glass material. The method includes disposing a mandrel proximate to a surface of a tubing. The mandrel has a nozzle section with a select cross-sectional profile that will define a final cross-sectional profile of the tubing. The method includes discharging a gas from a porous circumferential surface of the nozzle section to create a film of pressurized gas between the nozzle section and the surface of the tubing. The film of pressurized gas exerts pressure on the surface of the tubing that is sufficient to locally deform the tubing into conformity with the nozzle section. The method includes advancing the film of pressurized gas along a length of the tubing. The method includes heating the tubing such that in any local section of the tubing where the film of pressurized gas is exerting pressure, the local section of the tubing is at a viscosity at which the local section of the tubing can be deformed by the pressure. 
     In one embodiment, the tubing has an initial circumference before being conformed to the nozzle section and a final circumference after being conformed to the nozzle section. The method includes selecting the tubing such that a ratio of the initial circumference to the final circumference is between 0.7 and 0.95. 
     In one embodiment, deformation of the tubing into conformity with the nozzle section includes stretching a wall of the tubing by 5 to 30%. 
     In one embodiment, the method includes delivering the gas to a feed chamber in the nozzle section at a pressure of 1 to 10 atm. 
     In one embodiment, the film of pressurized gas has a thickness in a range from 60 μm to 70 μm. 
     In one embodiment, the method further includes arranging the mandrel inline with a tubing forming apparatus that forms the tubing. 
     In one embodiment, the select cross-sectional shape is oblong. 
     In one embodiment, the method further includes cutting at least one sleeve from a section of the tubing that has been deformed into conformity with the nozzle section. 
     In one embodiment, discharging the gas includes a combination of discharging the gas from the porous circumferential surface and venting the gas from depressed areas of the porous circumferential surface such that the film of pressurized gas is locally created between the tubing and the nozzle section. 
     In another aspect, the present invention relates to a sleeve made of a glass material. The sleeve has a seamless wall. The wall has an inner surface with a surface roughness less than 1 μm and an outer surface with a surface roughness less than 1 μm. The wall also has opposed flat sections. Each of the flat sections has a flatness better than 50 μm on an area of 70×120 mm 2 . 
     In one embodiment, the sleeve has an oblong cross-sectional shape. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing summary and the following detailed description are exemplary of the present invention and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the present invention as claimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments of the present invention and together with the summary and detailed description serve to explain the principles and operation of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The following is a description of the figures in the accompanying drawings. The figures are not necessarily to scale, and certain features and certain views of the figures may be shown exaggerated in scale or in schematic in the interest of clarity or conciseness. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a conforming tool. 
         FIG. 2A  is a surface roughness profile of a glass sleeve formed by the conforming tool. 
         FIG. 2B  is a surface roughness profile of a glass surface formed by a prior art method. 
         FIGS. 3A-3G  are oblong cross-sectional shapes. 
         FIG. 4A  shows the conforming tool used as an internal shaping tool. 
         FIG. 4B  shows the conforming tool used as an external shaping tool. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-section of  FIG. 1  along the tool axis. 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom end view of the conforming tool of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the conforming tool of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-section of  FIG. 7  along line  8 - 8 . 
         FIG. 9A  is a perspective view of another conforming tool. 
         FIG. 9B  shows the nozzle of the conforming tool of  FIG. 9A . 
         FIG. 10  is a setup for forming a profiled tubing using the conforming tool of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIGS. 11A-11E  illustrate a process of shaping a tubing using the conforming tool of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 12  illustrates gas discharge during use of the conforming tool of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a glass sleeve formed by the conforming tool of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 14  shows a continuous glass tubing process incorporating use of the conforming tool of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, numerous specific details may be set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present invention. However, it will be clear to one skilled in the art when embodiments of the present invention may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well-known features or processes may not be described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure the invention. In addition, like or identical reference numerals may be used to identify common or similar elements. 
       FIG. 1  shows a conforming tool  100  for non-contact shaping of an initial tubing made of a glass material into a profiled tubing. The glass material will typically be glass. The glass material may also be glass-ceramics, but only glass-ceramics that can avoid nucleation or crystallization under the shaping conditions will generally be suitable. A possible example of glass-ceramics is transparent beta spodumene, available as KERALITE from Eurokera. The choice of glass is much wider and would be based on the desired properties of the profiled tubing or sleeves to be made from the profiled tubing. The conforming tool  100  can be used with ion-exchangeable glasses, which are generally desired in applications where toughness and damage resistance are important. Examples of ion-exchangeable glasses are alkali-aluminosilicate glasses or alkali-aluminoborosilicate glasses. The conforming tool  100  can also be used with glasses having high coefficient of thermal expansion. 
     In one embodiment, the conforming tool  100  is configured as a mandrel  101  that can be inserted inside a tubing. For shaping of the tubing, the conforming tool  100  generates a gas bearing that exerts forming pressure on the tubing and acts as a barrier between the conforming tool  100  and the tubing. The gas barrier will allow the surface quality of the tubing to be preserved through the shaping process with the conforming tool  100 . The gas barrier can prevent imperfections such as streaking from developing on the inner surface of the tubing during the shaping process.  FIG. 2A  shows an inner surface roughness profile of a glass sleeve cut from a glass tubing shaped by the conforming tool  100 . The profile shows that the glass sleeve has a maximum inner surface roughness of 0.18 nm. The surface roughness measurement shown in  FIG. 2A  was made on a Zygo Interferometer. For comparative purposes,  FIG. 2B  shows an inner surface roughness profile of a rectangular glass sleeve cut from a glass tubing shaped by a prior art method that involved contact of a tool with the wall of the glass tubing. For the prior art sleeve, streaks on the glass surface were measured. The streaks appeared as waves with 1 μm amplitude (peak to valley distance) and a 0.6 mm period. If the amplitude is taken as a measure of surface roughness, then the maximum surface roughness observed in the prior art sleeve will be approximately 1 μm, which is much greater than the surface roughness of the glass sleeve made using the conforming tool  100 . Further, the streaks are apparent on the surface when viewed with the naked eye because they introduce a significant and very local slope change to the surface, ultimately producing a glass cover that looks distorted and unattractive. 
     In one embodiment, a profiled tubing or sleeve shaped by the conforming tool  100  has an inner surface roughness less than 1 μm on 40 mm length and an outer surface roughness less than 1 μm on 40 mm length. In another embodiment, a profiled tubing or sleeve shaped by the conforming tool  100  has an inner surface roughness in a range from 0.2 nm to 10 nm on a 40 μm×40 μm area and an outer surface roughness in a range from 0.2 nm to 10 nm on a 40 μm×40 μm area. It should be noted that since the surface quality of the tubing is preserved through the shaping process, the surface roughness of the tubing after shaping by the conforming tool  100  will depend on the surface roughness of the tubing before shaping by the conforming tool  100 . Therefore, the specification of the surface roughness for the tubing shaped by the conforming tool  100  is also a specification of the surface roughness for the tubing prior to being shaped by the conforming tool  100 . 
     The conforming tool  100  is configured to shape a tubing from an initial cross-sectional profile to a final cross-sectional profile, where the final cross-sectional profile is different from the initial cross-sectional profile. The cross-sectional profile of the tubing is characterized by a shape and a size. Therefore, shaping of the tubing may involve shape transformation and/or dimensional transformation. In one embodiment, the conforming tool  100  is used to shape a tubing from an initial round cross-sectional shape to a final non-round cross-sectional shape. In a more specific embodiment, the final non-round cross-sectional shape is an oblong shape. “Oblong” means elongated. In one embodiment, the oblong shape has an aspect ratio greater than 5:1. In another embodiment, the oblong shape has an aspect ratio greater than 10:1. 
     Several examples of oblong cross-sectional shapes are shown schematically in  FIGS. 3A-3G . These oblong shapes are made of different combinations of splines, radiuses, tapers, and flats.  FIG. 3A  shows an oblong shape  400  with flat sides  402 ,  404  and round ends  406 ,  408 .  FIG. 3B  shows an oblong shape  410  with flat sides  412 ,  414  and round ends  416 ,  418 .  FIG. 3B  is similar to  FIG. 3A , with the exception that the ends  416 ,  418  are rounded with a smaller radius than the ends  406 ,  408 . In  FIG. 3C , oblong shape  420  has flat sides  422 ,  424  and flat ends  426 ,  428 , i.e., a rectangle. In  FIG. 3D , oblong shape  430  has flat sides  432 ,  434  and tapered ends  436 ,  438 .  FIG. 3E  shows an oblong shape  440  with splined sides  442 ,  444  and splined ends  446 ,  448 .  FIG. 3F  shows an oblong shape  450  with splined ends  452 ,  454  and flat ends  456 ,  458 .  FIG. 3G  shows an oblong shape  460  with a splined side  462 , a flat side  464 , and flat edges  466 ,  468 . The oblong shape  460  is asymmetric. 
     When the conforming tool  100  is used as an internal tool, convex cross-sectional profiles, such as shown in  FIGS. 3A-3G , can be formed in the tubing.  FIG. 4A  shows an example of using the conforming tool  100  as an internal tool for shaping a tubing  470 . To form concave or convex-concave cross-sectional profiles, the conforming tool  100  may be used as an external tool that is located outside of the tubing.  FIG. 4B  shows an example of using the conforming tool  100  as an external tool for shaping a tubing  472 . When the conforming tool  100  is used as an external tool, the gas bearing generated by the conforming tool  100  will be between the outer surface of the tubing and the conforming tool  100 . Without making any modifications to the conforming tool  100 , the conforming tool  100  will not circumscribe the circumference of the tubing and will apply the shaping force only in a section of the circumference of the tubing. The conforming tool  100  may be rotated about the tubing if full coverage of the shaping force along the circumference is desired. Alternatively, the conforming tool  100  can be reconfigured to a ring shape that will circumscribe the circumference of the tubing. It is also conceivable that any combination of internal and external, gas bearing and non-gas-bearing, conforming tools may be used to shape the tubing. 
     Returning to  FIG. 1 , the mandrel  101  is aligned with a tool axis  104  and may be symmetric or asymmetric about the tool axis  104 . Typically, the mandrel  101  will be symmetric about the tool axis  104 . The mandrel  101  is made of a nose  102  and a nozzle  120 . The nose  102  and nozzle  120  can be formed as separate parts that are joined together or as an integral body. The nose  102  forms the leading part of the conforming tool  100  and aids insertion of the mandrel  101  into a tubing, whereas the nozzle  120  forms the trailing part of the conforming tool  100  and determines the shape to which the tubing will be conformed. The nose  102  is shaped and sized for entry into the tubing under initial conditions of the tubing. That is, if D TI  is the initial cross-sectional dimension of the tubing and D M  is the maximum cross-sectional dimension of the nose  102 , then D M  is less than D TI . The nose  102  may be generally tubular in shape and may have a cross-sectional profile that is generally round in shape. In this embodiment, the glass tubing may also have an initial cross-sectional profile that is round in shape. In this case, D M  can be the maximum cross-sectional diameter of the nose  102  and D TI  can be the initial cross-sectional diameter of the tubing. However, the cross-sectional shape of the nose  102  is not limited to a round shape, and neither is the initial cross-sectional shape of the tubing. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the top end of the nose  102  includes a connection port  106 , and the bottom end of the nose  102  includes a connection pin  108 . The connection port  106  receives a connection  114  of a plug  112  located above the nose  102 . The plug  112  is coupled to the nose  102  by securing the connection pin  114  to the connection port  106  by a suitable method, such as a threaded or welded connection between the connection pin  114  and the wall  116  of the connection port  106 . The connection pin  108  extends into a connection port  122  in the nozzle  120 . The nose  102  is coupled to the nozzle  120  by securing the connection pin  108  to the connection port  122  by a suitable method, such as a threaded, welded, or bonded connection between the connection pin  108  and the wall  124  of the connection port  122 . A conduit runs  110  runs through the nose  102 , from the connection port  106  to the connection pin  108 . The conduit  110  may be straight and axially aligned with the tool axis  104 . Alternatively, the conduit  110  may not be straight and/or axially aligned with the tool axis  104 . 
     The plug  112  has a conduit  118  that is in communication with the conduit  110  in the nose  102  via the connection port  106 . The conduit  118  may be straight and axially aligned with the tool axis  104 . Alternatively, the conduit  118  may not be straight and/or not axially aligned with the tool axis  104 . Regardless of the configurations of the conduits  110 ,  118 , communication between the conduits  110 ,  118  should be possible. The plug  112  can be coupled to a pipe (not shown), which can be coupled to a source of gas, for delivery of gas to the conduits  110 ,  118 . The gas delivered to the conduit  110  will ultimately be delivered to the nozzle  120 . The gas may be air or an inert gas such as nitrogen. As in the case of the nose  102 , the plug  112  is shaped and sized for entry into the tubing under initial conditions of the tubing. That is, if D P  is the maximum cross-sectional dimension of the plug  112  and D TI  is the initial cross-sectional dimension of the tubing, then D P  is less than D TI . 
     Returning to  FIG. 1 , the nozzle  120  has an upper section  120   a , which like the preceding nose  120  is shaped and sized for entry into the tubing under initial conditions of the tubing. If the maximum cross-sectional dimension of the upper nozzle section  120   a  is D NU  and the initial cross-sectional dimension of the tubing is D TI , then D NU  is less than D TI , and preferably D NU  is approximately equal to D TI  minus 2δ, where δ is the width of a gas bearing gap that will be formed between the upper nozzle section  120   a  and the tubing when the mandrel  101  is inserted in the tubing. The upper nozzle section  120   a  can be tubular in shape and have a cross-sectional shape in a plane transverse to the tool axis  104  that is round. In general, the upper nozzle section  120   a  will have a cross-sectional shape that matches or is similar to the initial cross-sectional shape of the tubing. This is so that an even gas bearing gap can be formed between the upper nozzle section  120   a  and the tubing when the upper nozzle section  120   a  is inserted in the tubing. Even pressurized gas in the even gas bearing gap may have the effect of centering the upper nozzle section  120   a  within the tubing. 
     The nozzle  120  has a lower nozzle section  120   b , which defines the shape to which the tubing will be conformed during use of the conforming tool  100 . For this reason, the cross-sectional shape of the lower nozzle section  120   b  is dictated primarily by the final cross-sectional shape of the tubing, although the cross-sectional shape of the lower nozzle section  120   b  may not be an exact copy of the final cross-sectional shape. In one embodiment, the lower nozzle section  120   b  has a non-round cross-sectional profile. In a more specific embodiment, the lower nozzle section  120   b  has an oblong cross-sectional profile, where “oblong” means elongated. The aspect ratio of the oblong shape may be as previously mentioned for the final cross-sectional shape of the tubing.  FIG. 6  shows an example of a cross-sectional shape of the lower nozzle section  120   b  that is suitable for forming the tubing or sleeve final cross-sectional shape shown in  FIG. 3A . In the case of the lower nozzle section  120   b , there are depressions  138   a ,  138   b  in the “flat” sides  402   a ,  402   b  of the oblong shape. These depressions are for flux venting and will enable forming of the flat sides  402 ,  404  shown in  FIG. 3A . 
     In one embodiment, the lower nozzle section  120   b  has a bi-tapered shape made of a major tapered shape and a minor tapered shape. Referring to  FIG. 5 , the major width of the lower nozzle section  120   b , as measured along axis  125  that is transverse to the tool axis  104 , is gradually narrowing in a direction towards the nose  102 . The major width of the lower nozzle section  120   b  defines the major tapered shape. The minor width of the lower nozzle section  120   b , as measured along axis  127  that is transverse to the tool axis  104  and orthogonal to axis  125 , is gradually narrowing in a direction away from the nose  102 . The tapering of the minor width is best seen in  FIG. 7 . The minor width of the lower nozzle section  120   b  defines the minor tapered shape. 
     In  FIG. 5 , the smallest major dimension of the lower nozzle section  120   b  occurs at the intersection  119  of the lower nozzle section  120   b  with the upper nozzle section  120   b  and will generally be the same as the largest dimension of the upper nozzle section  120   b . The largest major dimension of the lower nozzle section  120   b  occurs at the bottom end  117  of the nozzle  120  (or the distal end of the nozzle  120  remote from the nose  102 ). If D TF  is the final dimension of the tubing, i.e., the dimension of the tubing after shaping by the conforming tool  100 , and D NL  is the maximum major dimension of the lower nozzle section  120   b , then D NL  is approximately equal to D TF  minus 2δ, where δ is the width of a gas bearing gap that will be formed between the lower nozzle section  120   b  and the tubing during use of the conforming tool  100 . Typically, δ will be determined by the thickness of the pressurized gas film to be created between the lower nozzle section  120   b  and the tubing. 
     Returning to  FIG. 1 , the lower nozzle section  120   b  has opposed edges  128   a ,  128   b  with edge surfaces  132   a ,  132   b , respectively, that are ramped relative to the tool axis  104 . The lower nozzle section  120   b  has a web  130  extending between and connecting the opposed edges  128   a ,  128   b . The web  130  has opposed side surfaces  134   a ,  134   b  (in  FIG. 7 ), which are contiguous with the edge surfaces  132   a ,  132   b . The distance between the edge ramped surfaces  132   a ,  132   b  in a direction transverse to the tool axis  104  defines the major width of the lower nozzle section  120   b . The distance between the side web surfaces  134   a ,  134   b  in a direction transverse to the tool axis  104  defines the minor width of the lower nozzle section  120   b . The edge ramped surfaces  132   a ,  132   b  and web side surfaces  134   a ,  134   b  together define a lower nozzle circumferential surface  136   b . The upper nozzle section  120   a  has an upper nozzle circumferential surface  136   a . Together, the circumferential surfaces  136   a ,  136   b  make up the circumferential surface  136  of the nozzle  120 . 
     The web surfaces  134   a ,  134   b  have depressed areas  138   a ,  138   b , respectively, which will serve as venting flux sites during use of the conforming tool  100 . Referring to  FIG. 5 , in one embodiment, the ramped surfaces  132   a ,  132   b  are symmetrically disposed about the tool axis  104 , and the inclination angles of the ramped surfaces  132   a    132   b  relative to the tool axis  104  are the same. In alternate embodiments, the ramped surfaces  132   a ,  132   b  may be asymmetrically disposed about the tool axis  104  and/or have different inclination angles relative to the tool axis  104 . The inclination angles of the ramped surfaces  132   a ,  132   b  will generally be a function of the width of the lower nozzle section  120   b  at the intersection  119 , the width of the lower nozzle section  120   b  at the bottom end  117 , and the height of the lower nozzle section  120   b . Typically, the inclination angles will be selected such that gradual shaping of the glass tubing is achieved. 
     A feed chamber  140  is formed in the nozzle  120 . The feed chamber  140  extends from the connection port  122  to a non-distal point in the lower nozzle section  120   b . The feed chamber  140  is in communication with the conduit  110  of the nose  102 . Two edge chambers  142   a    142   b  are formed in the nozzle  120 . The edge chambers  142   a ,  142   b  extend from the top end  123  of the nozzle  120  to non-distal points in the lower nozzle section  120   b . The edge chambers  142   a ,  142   b  are offset from the feed chamber  140 . In one embodiment, the feed chamber  140  is axially aligned with the tool axis  104 , and the edge chambers  142   a ,  142   b  are disposed symmetrically about the tool axis  104 . However, it is possible in other embodiments that the feed chamber  140  may not be axially aligned with the tool axis  104  and/or the edge chambers  142   a ,  142   b  may be disposed asymmetrically about the tool axis  104 . 
     The edge chambers  142   a ,  142   b  are arranged on opposite sides of the nozzle  120 , with the edge chamber  142   a  being adjacent to the ramped surface  132   a  and the edge chamber  142   b  being adjacent to the ramped surface  132   b . In  FIGS. 1 and 8 , the edge chamber  142   a  may be one of a plurality of chambers in a chamber cluster  144   a  adjacent to the ramped surface  132   a . For example, the chamber cluster  144   a  may include edge chambers  146   a ,  148   a  in addition to the edge chamber  142   a . Similarly, the edge chamber  142   a  may be one of a plurality of chambers in a chamber cluster  144   b  adjacent to the ramped surface  132   b . For example, the chamber cluster  144   b  may include edge chambers  146   b ,  148   b  in addition to the edge chamber  142   b.    
     The chamber clusters  144   a ,  144   b  are disposed symmetrically about the tool axis  104 . However, it is possible in other embodiments that the chamber clusters  144   a ,  144   b  may be disposed asymmetrically about the tool axis  104 . The edge chambers  142   a ,  142   b ,  146   a ,  146   b ,  148   a ,  148   b  are generally tubular in shape. The cross-sectional shape of each of the edge chambers  142   a ,  142   b ,  146   a ,  146   b ,  148   a ,  148   b  may be circular or oblong. In one embodiment, each of the edge chambers in each of the chamber clusters  144   a ,  144   b , have different lengths. However, it is possible that in other embodiments the lengths of the edge chambers in each of the chamber clusters  144   a ,  144   b  may be the same. The lengths of the edge chambers  142   a ,  142   b ,  146   a ,  146   b ,  148   a ,  148   b  will affect distribution of the gas discharged from the adjacent ramped surfaces  132   a ,  132   b  during use of the conforming tool  100 . 
     In one or more embodiments, the edge chambers  142   a ,  146   a ,  148   a  are oriented in the same direction as the adjacent ramped surface  132   a , i.e., the edge chambers  142   a ,  146   a ,  148   a  are substantially parallel to the adjacent ramped surface  132   a . In one embodiment, the edge chambers  142   a ,  146   a ,  148   a  are distributed along the adjacent ramped surface  132   a  in such a way that they are substantially parallel to and substantially equidistant from the adjacent ramped surface  132   a . Similarly, in one or more embodiments, the edge chambers  142   b ,  146   b ,  148   b  are oriented in the same direction as the adjacent ramped surface  132   b . That is, the edge chambers  142   b ,  146   b ,  148   b , i.e., the edge chambers  142   b ,  146   b ,  148   b  are substantially parallel to the adjacent ramped surface  132   b . Also, in one embodiment, the edge chambers  142   b ,  146   b ,  148   b  are distributed along the adjacent ramped surface  132   a  in such a way that they are substantially parallel to and substantially equidistant from the adjacent ramped surface  132   b . It is possible to arrange the edge chambers so that they are not equidistant from their respective adjacent ramped surface. The edge chambers essentially serve as plenums for distribution of gas to the ramped surfaces  132   a ,  132   b.    
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the edge chambers  142   a ,  142   b ,  146   a ,  146   b ,  148   a ,  148   b  are in communication with the feed chamber  140  via interconnecting holes  150  in the nozzle  120 . The nozzle  120  is porous, which means that the edge chambers  142   a ,  142   b ,  146   a ,  146   b ,  148   a ,  148   b  are also in communication with the feed chamber  140  via the porous structure of the nozzle  120 . The feed chamber  140  and edge chambers  142   a ,  142   b ,  146   a ,  146   b ,  148   a ,  148   b  are in communication with the ramped surfaces  132   a ,  132   b  and web surfaces  134   a ,  134   b  via the porous structure of the nozzle  120 . The ramped surfaces  132   a ,  132   b  and web surfaces  134   a ,  134   b , being part of the nozzle  120  that is porous, are porous and allow fluid supplied to the feed chamber  140  and edge chambers  142   a ,  142   b ,  146   a ,  146   b ,  148   a ,  148   b  to be discharged to the exterior of the nozzle  120  or mandrel  101 . 
     The porous structure of the nozzle  120  may be due to the material used in making the nozzle  120  or due to perforations in the nozzle  120 . In one embodiment, the nozzle  120  is made of a porous material, examples of which include porous graphite, porous silicon carbide, and porous zirconia. It should be noted that porous silicon carbide and porous zirconia are prone to stick with glass. Therefore, when these materials are used, it may be desirable to coat them with high-temperature non-stick material, i.e., in case the nozzle  120  accidentally contacts the tubing while the glass material of the tubing is soft. The porosity of the porous material may be in a range from 10% to 20%. Preferably, the porous material will have a mean pore size less than 50 μm to allow for precise machining of the nozzle  120 . More preferably, the porous material will have a mean pore size of 10 μm or less. In another embodiment, the nozzle  120  is made of a non-porous or semi-porous material that is perforated to provide the nozzle  120  with the desired pore structure. The perforations may be made by machining or other suitable method for forming holes in a body. 
     Gas flow through a porous layer depends on gas pressure, layer thickness, and material permeability. The pore structure of the nozzle  120  is selected to achieve the desired permeability of the nozzle  120  to gas. Preferably, the pore structure of the nozzle  120  is such that permeability of the nozzle  120  to gas is homogeneous and sufficiently low to allow the development of a gas cushion in the gas bearing gap that can counteract the attraction forces created by the surface of the tubing. The gas pressure to create the gas cushion will generally be in a range of 1 to 10 atm. This low gas pressure range is allowed by the arrangement of the gas distribution chambers  142   a ,  142   b ,  146   a ,  146   b ,  148   a ,  148   b  in the nozzle  120  and a sufficient distance between the gas distribution chambers and the surface of the nozzle  120 . Too large a gas pressure should be avoided to limit failure risks. Gas can be distributed by a porous material, allowing uniform flow, both at a small scale and on a large scale area. Other means of distributing gas such as perforations formed in a non-porous or semi-porous material are also possibilities. 
       FIG. 9A  shows another mandrel  160  having a nose  162  and a nozzle  164 . The main difference between the mandrel  160  and the mandrel  101  described above appears in the nozzle  164 , which is shown separately in  FIG. 9B . The nozzle  164  has an upper nozzle section  164   a , an intermediate nozzle section  164   b , and a lower nozzle section  164   c . The edge chambers  170 ,  172  start from the upper nozzle section  164   a , pass through the intermediate nozzle section  164   b , and end at non-distal points in the lower nozzle section  164   c . The feed chamber  168  extends from the upper nozzle section  164   a  into the intermediate nozzle section  164   b  and ends at the interface between the intermediate nozzle section  164   b  and the lower nozzle section  164   b . The upper nozzle section  164   a  has a generally oval cross-sectional shape. The intermediate nozzle section  164   b  changes from a generally oval cross-sectional shape at the top interface with the upper nozzle section  164   a  to a generally splined rectangular shape at the bottom interface with the lower nozzle section  164   c . The lower nozzle section  164   b  is generally bi-tapered as described for the lower nozzle section  120   b  above. The mandrel  160  may be used to shape a tubing whose initial cross-sectional shape is generally oval or round.  FIGS. 9A and 9B  show that the mandrel of the conforming tool  100  is not restricted to one shape and also that the nozzle section of the mandrel may have any desired cross-sectional profile to form a desired cross-sectional profile in a tubing. 
       FIG. 10  shows a setup for shaping a glass tubing  200  using the conforming tool  100 . The glass tubing  200  is arranged in a vertical orientation, i.e., with the axial axis of the glass tubing  200  being vertically oriented. In other setups, the glass tubing  200  may be arranged in a horizontal or inclined orientation. The conforming tool  100  is suspended on the end of a pipe  204 , which runs through the glass tubing  200 . The pipe  204  is preferably a rigid pipe made of a material that can withstand the temperatures at which the glass tubing will be reformed and that also won&#39;t generate spurious material that can contaminate the glass tubing. The pipe  204  may be made of stainless steel, for example. The pipe  204  is attached to a support  206  above the glass tubing  200 . The pipe  204  is in communication with a fluid source  207 . In one embodiment, the fluid source  207  is a source of pressurized gas or air. In operation, the glass tubing  200  is pulled downwardly so that the conforming tool  100  advances along the length of the glass tubing  200  in the upward direction. The pulling force  203  can be provided by any suitable pulling system, such as, for example, a belt tractor that imposes a constant pulling force or a constant speed on the glass tubing  200 . Alternatively, the pulling force  203  can be provided by gravity. Alternatively, the glass tubing  200  can be supported in a fixed position and the conforming tool  100  can be pulled upwardly. 
     The glass tubing  200  extends through a metal cylinder  208 , which is disposed within a helical inductor  210 . The metal cylinder  208 , acting as a susceptor, absorbs electromagnetic energy from the helical inductor  210 . The absorbed electromagnetic energy is re-emitted as infrared radiation towards the glass tubing  200 . Any portion of the glass tubing  200  within the metal cylinder  208  will be heated by infrared radiation from the metal cylinder  208 . The metal cylinder  208  and helical inductor  210  thus constitute one type of heating arrangement of the glass tubing  200 . In general, any suitable method and arrangement for heating the glass tubing  200  may be used. Heating may be radiant heating, induction heating, resistive heating, or any combination of the preceding. Other heating methods not specifically mentioned may also be used provided the heating methods can elevate the temperature of the glass tubing  200  to a level at which the glass tubing  200  can be deformed when fluid pressure is applied by the conforming tool  100 . The heating arrangement may also provide different temperature zones, e.g., a preheating zone, a reforming zone, and a cooling zone. For a glass material such as Corning code  7740  borosilicate glass, for example, the preheating zone and cooling zone may be at 650° C. while the forming zone is at 780° C. 
     The entire glass tubing may be heated to a forming temperature T 1 ±δ 1 , where δ 1  is some acceptable margin of error, e.g., less than 11% of T 1 . T 1 ±δ 1  is a temperature at which the glass has a relatively low viscosity, e.g., &lt;10 9  Poise or in a range from 10 8  Poise to 10 9  Poise. Forming temperature T 1 ±δ 1  may be between the annealing point and softening point of the glass. In one embodiment, forming temperature T 1 ±δ 1  is at least 20° C. below the softening point. At forming temperature T 1 ±δ 1 , the viscosity of the glass is low enough that the glass can be permanently deformed. While the glass tubing  200  is at the forming temperature T 1 ±δ 1 , the conforming tool  100  can be translated along the glass tubing  200  to shape the glass tubing  200  to the desired final cross-sectional profile. The temperature requirements may be different from what is stated above if the tubing is made of glass-ceramics, particularly if nucleation or crystallization is to be avoided. However, in general, the conforming tool  100  will be applied to the tubing while the tubing is at a temperature at which it can be deformed. 
     Instead of heating the entire glass tubing  200  to T 1 ±δ 1 , the entire glass tubing  200  may be heated to an initial temperature T 0 ±δ 0 , where δ 0  is some acceptable margin of error, e.g., less than 11% of T 0 . At initial temperature T 0 ±δ 0 , the glass has a relatively high viscosity, e.g., between 6×10 9  Poise and 10 12  Poise. At initial temperature T 0 ±δ 0 , deformation of the glass tubing or optical defects in the glass tubing can be avoided. Initial temperature T 0 ±δ 0  may be near the annealing point of the glass. In one embodiment, initial temperature T 0 ±δ 0  is within 10° C. of the annealing point. The glass tubing  200  can then be locally heated to the forming temperature T 1 ±δ 1  mentioned above, where T 1 ±δ 1  is greater than T 0 ±δ 0 . At any instance, the portion of the glass tubing  200  at the forming temperature T 1 ±δ 1  can be deformed using the conforming tool  100 . This means that to shape the entire glass tubing  200  using the conforming tool  100 , the local heat and conforming tool  100  will have to be applied along the length of the glass tubing  200 . 
       FIGS. 11A-11E  illustrates use of the conforming tool  100  to shape the glass tubing  200 . The heating arrangement is not specifically shown in these figures. However, as discussed above, for the shaping process to work, the glass tubing has to be at a temperature at which it can be deformed. Relative to the orientation of the glass tubing  200  in  FIG. 11A , the process starts from the bottom end of the glass tubing  200 . As the glass tubing  200  is pulled downwardly, the plug  112  and nose  102  of the conforming tool  100  first enter the glass tubing  200  through the bottom end of the glass tubing  200 . Then, the upper nozzle section  120   a  follows the nose  102  into the glass tubing  200 . At this point, gas is supplied into the chambers of the nozzle  120  and discharged outside of the nozzle  120  via the porous circumference  136  of the nozzle  120 . Because of the sizing of the upper nozzle section  120   a  as discussed above, a circumferential gap  314  is defined between the upper nozzle section  120   a  and the glass tubing segment  316  in opposing relation to the upper nozzle section  120   a . The discharged fluid from the upper nozzle section  120   a  forms a film of pressurized gas in the circumferential gap  314 . The film of pressurized gas in the circumferential gap  134  functions as a gas bearing between the surfaces of the upper nozzle section  120   a  and the glass tubing  200 . The gas bearing exerts pressure on the wall of the glass tubing segment  316 . This pressure radially expands the glass tubing segment  316 , allowing a small portion of the lower nozzle section  120   b  to then enter into the glass tubing  200 , as shown in  FIG. 11B . 
     Two gaps  318   a ,  318   b  are created between the opposed ramped surfaces  132   a ,  132   b  of the lower nozzle section  120   b  and the glass tubing  102 . The discharged gas from the lower nozzle section  120   b  forms a film of pressurized gas in each of the gaps  318   a ,  318   b . The films of pressurized gas in the gaps  318   a ,  318   b  function as gas bearings between the ramped surfaces  132   a ,  132   b  and the glass tubing  200 . The gas bearings exert pressure on the wall of the glass tubing segment  316 . This pressure laterally expands the glass tubing segment  316 , allowing more of the lower nozzle section  120   b  to enter into the glass tubing  200 . This process continues until the entire nozzle  120  has entered into the glass tubing  200  and passed through the glass tubing segment  316 . As the nozzle  120  passes through the glass tubing segment  316 , the glass tubing segment  316  will assume the shape of the nozzle  120 , as shown in  FIGS. 11C-11E . The last cross-section of the nozzle  120  to pass through any particular point along the length of the glass tubing will determine the cross-sectional profile at that particular point in the tubing. 
     The conforming tool  100  can be advanced inside and along the glass tubing  200  until the nozzle  120  has completely passed through the entire glass tubing  200  or a desired length of the glass tubing  200 . Advancing of the conforming tool  100  can involve pulling the glass tubing  200  downwardly and over the conforming tool  100  as discussed above, pulling the conforming tool  100  upwardly and inside the glass tubing  200 , or a combination of the preceding. The conforming tool  100  has to be advanced in a single direction for the conforming or shaping operation. Advancing of the conforming tool  100  can be at a constant or variable speed. However, the speed will need to be tailored such that conforming or shaping of the glass tubing can be completed accurately and efficiently. 
     Shaping of the glass tubing  200  is achieved by applying gas pressure to the glass tubing  200  while the glass tubing  200  is at the temperature at which it can be deformed. The gas pressure is provided by thin film(s) of pressurized gas created between the glass tubing  200  and the nozzle  120  via discharge of gas from the nozzle  120  as described above. The film(s) of pressurized gas serves not only to exert pressure on the glass tubing  200  but to also separate the conforming tool  100  from the glass tubing  200  so that there is no physical contact between the glass tubing  200  and the conforming tool  100  while the glass tubing  200  is at the forming temperature, where the glass tubing  200  will generally be soft. The thickness of each thin film of pressurized gas is typically in a range from 60 μm to 70 μm, but may be up to 120 μm in some embodiments. The thin film(s) of pressurized gas is translated along the length of the glass tubing  200  as the conforming tool  100  advances along the length of the glass tubing  200 . The thin film(s) of pressurized gas constitutes a gas bearing. The width of the gas bearing gap, which will determine the thickness of the film, will depend on glass viscosity, conforming speed (i.e., the speed at which the conforming tool  100  is advancing along the glass tubing), and venting flux in the depressed areas of the nozzle  120 . 
       FIG. 12  shows an end view of the shaping process. Gas is discharged through the ramped surfaces  132   a ,  132   b  of the lower nozzle section  120   b , wherein the discharged gas forms two gas bearings between the ramped surfaces  132   a ,  132   b  and the glass tubing  200 . These gas bearings exert opposing forces on the glass tubing  200  to laterally expand the glass tubing  200  in opposite directions. The opposing forces are applied at the portions of the glass tubing  200  in opposing relation to the ramped surfaces  132   a ,  132   b . While the portions of the glass tubing  200  facing the ramped surfaces  132   a ,  132   b  are being laterally expanded, the portions of the glass tubing  200  facing the web surfaces  134   a ,  134   b  will be flattened. Also, due to venting flux at the depressed areas  138   a ,  138   b  in the web surfaces  134   a ,  134   b , films of pressurized gas that can exert pressure on the glass tubing  200  will not be substantially formed between the web surfaces  134   a ,  134   b  and the glass tubing  200 . The force available for lateral expansion of the glass tubing  202  will depend on the pressure of the opposed gas bearings, which in turn will depend on the pressure of the gas supplied to the feed chamber of the nozzle  120 , the configuration of the edge chambers of the nozzle  120  that distribute gas to the ramped surfaces  132   a ,  132   b , and the pore structure of the nozzle  120 . The flattening of the portion of the glass tubing  200  opposite to the web surfaces  134   a ,  134   b  will also depend on the venting flux at the web surfaces  134   a ,  134   b.    
     In general, the diameter and lengths of the edge chambers  142   a ,  142   b ,  146   a ,  146   b ,  148   a ,  148   b  (see  FIG. 1 ), the depression of the web surfaces  134   a ,  134   b , the positioning of the edge chambers relative to the ramped surfaces  132   a ,  132   b , and the pressure of the gas supplied to the edge chambers can be appropriately selected to provide the desired gas bearing pressure distribution around the nozzle  120  to form the desired oblong cross-sectional shape in the glass tubing  200 . For example, to form an oblong internal cross-sectional shape of 6 mm by 65 mm, the edge chambers can be 3 mm in diameter and be positioned 1.5 mm from the adjacent ramped surfaces. The depressed areas of the web surfaces may be between 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm deep. Gas such as nitrogen or air may be used as the supplied gas. The venting flux in the depressed areas may be 0.5 to 1.5 m 3  per hour, measured at 780° C. With this configuration, flat faces can be obtained in the portion of the glass tubing opposite to the web surfaces. The localized gas bearing at the ramped surfaces will also ensure lateral tensioning to help in flatness control of the flat faces. However, it should be clear that the properties of the conforming tool  100  and supplied gas will need to be set based on the shape to be formed and the pressure distribution needed to form the shape and should not be limited to the specific example given above. 
     It is possible to have web surfaces  134   a ,  134   b  without venting flux sites such that gas bearings may be formed between the web surfaces  134   a ,  134   b  and the glass tubing  200 , e.g., if it is desired to have an oblong cross-sectional shape with splined sides rather than flat sides. In this case, the geometry of the nozzle  120  may be such that the gas bearings formed between the web surfaces  134   a ,  134   b  and the glass tubing  200  are different compared to the gas bearings formed between the ramped surfaces  132   a ,  132   b  and the glass tubing  200  so that lateral expansion force can be applied to the glass tubing  200  biaxially in different amounts. In general, the portion(s) of the glass tubing  200  where greater lateral expansion is desired will have higher gas bearing pressure than the portion(s) of the glass tubing  200  where lower to no lateral expansion is desired. 
     In one or more embodiments, the initial circumference of the glass tubing  200 , i.e., the circumference before conforming the glass tubing  200  to the final cross-sectional profile, is selected to be smaller than the final circumference of the glass tubing  200 , i.e., the circumference after conforming the glass tubing  200  to the final cross-sectional profile. In other words, there will be some geometrical lateral tensioning of the wall of the glass tubing  200  during the reforming. The ratio between the initial circumference and the final circumference is less than 1. Preferably, the ratio between the initial circumference and the final circumference is below 0.96. More preferably, the ration is between 0.7 and 0.95, which will result in stretching of the glass tubing wall by 5 to 30%. The ratio of 0.7 and 0.95 can be used where intentional thinning of the wall of the glass tubing  200  is desired along with the conforming. 
     A glass sleeve can be cut from a glass tubing shaped using the conforming tool  100  and process described above. In one embodiment, the glass sleeve has a seamless wall and an oblong cross-sectional shape, with an aspect ratio greater than 5:1. Preferably, the aspect ratio is greater than 10:1. In one embodiment, the glass sleeve has an absolute thickness (see  182  in  FIG. 13 ) less than 12 mm. The absolute thickness includes the glass thickness. In one embodiment, the glass sleeve has an absolute width (see  184  in  FIG. 13 ) up to 70 mm. The absolute width includes the glass thickness. In one embodiment, the glass sleeve has an inner surface roughness that is less than 1 μm, preferably in a range from 0.2 nm to 10 nm. In one embodiment, the glass sleeve has an outer surface roughness that is less than 1 μm, preferably in a range from 0.2 nm to 10 nm. In one embodiment, the wall of the glass sleeve has opposing flat sections. The flatness in each of the flat sections is better than 50 μm on 50×90 mm 2 , as measured by a confocal microscope or mechanical gage system. Preferably, the flatness in each of the flat sections is better than 30 μm on 70×120 mm 2 , as measured by a confocal microscope or mechanical gage system. Flatness is measured in terms of deviation from a perfectly flat surface. Therefore, the smaller the deviation, the better the flatness. The glass tubing from which the glass sleeve is cut may be made of an ion-exchangeable material so that the glass sleeve can be subjected to an ion-exchange process for chemical strengthening. 
       FIG. 13  shows a glass sleeve  180  cut from a glass tubing shaped using the conforming tool  100  and process described above and meeting the requirements described above. Other glass sleeves with different cross-sectional profiles can be similarly formed. The glass sleeve  180  has a mean surface roughness of 0.18 nm, as measured on a Zygo Interferometer, which is comparable to the mean surface of a pristine glass tubing that has not been shaped by the conforming tool  100 . This means that, as mentioned earlier, the surface quality of the glass tubing is preserved through the reforming process. In addition, the flat sides of the glass sleeve  180  meet the requirements stated above. The glass sleeve  180  can function as a case for an electronic device. The components of the electronic device can be arranged in the compartment of the glass sleeve  180 , with any flat display of the electronic device adjacent to a flat side (or surface) of the glass sleeve  180 . The open ends of the glass sleeve  180  can then be sealed with a suitable plug, which may be made of a material other than glass. It is also possible to flame seal one end of the glass sleeve  180  before arranging the components of the electronic device in the glass sleeve. After arranging the components of the electronic device in the glass sleeve  180 , the remaining open end of the sleeve  180  can be sealed with a plug. The assembled product will have seamless, same-quality, top and bottom surfaces. 
     The conforming tool  100  can be used advantageously in a glass tubing process to enable continuous production of a profiled glass tubing.  FIG. 14  shows an example of a glass tubing process incorporating the conforming tool  100 . The glass tubing apparatus in  FIG. 14  is configured to form the glass tubing by a Vello process. However, the conforming tool  100  is not limited to a Vello process. Other glass tubing processes such as the Danner process or downdraw process may also take advantage of the conforming tool  100  to continuously generate a profiled glass tubing having the required cross-sectional shape and wall thickness. In the process shown in  FIG. 14 , molten glass  500  flows from a tank  502  through an orifice  504  surrounding a bell  506 . Air is blown through a hollow tip  508  of the bell  506  to form the glass tubing  510 . Below the hollow tip  518  is the conforming tool  100 . The glass tubing  510  passes over the conforming tool  100  ( 160 ) while the conforming tool  100  ( 160 ) shapes the glass tubing  510  to the final cross-sectional profile  512 . After the conforming tool  100 , the glass tubing  510  progressively passes from a high viscosity state to a frozen state below the softening point (˜10 8  poise), and advantageously below 10 11  poise for accurate dimensional control. 
     In one embodiment, the glass tubing  510  turns from the vertical to the horizontal while at a very high viscosity. This would allow the horizontal portion of the glass tubing  510  to be cut periodically, as shown at  514 ,  516 , without disturbing the upper part of the process near the tank and conforming tool. The turning is possible at the very high viscosity state partly because of the relative thinness of the glass tubing, e.g., less than 12 mm, and the large turn radius, e.g., 2 to 4 m. In an alternate embodiment, the glass tubing is not turned from the vertical to the horizontal and the periodic cutting of the glass tubing is operated vertically. Pulling means such as roller or belt tractors can be arranged after the conforming tool to support the glass tubing, and the vertical cutting can take place after the pulling means. 
     Fine diamond saw cutting may be used in both the horizontal and vertical cutting of the glass tubing. Fine diamond saw cutting would allow straight and close-to-chip free cutting that will only require a final beveling and polishing operation to assure expected aesthetic and mechanical performances. Other methods of cutting, such as laser cutting, may also be used. Large profiled tubes may be initially cut from the continuous profiled glass tubing. Then, smaller sleeves, e.g., of the size suitable for containing a small electronic device, can be cut from the large profiled tubes. The sleeves can be subjected to an ion-exchange process for improved strength. 
     While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments can be devised which do not depart from the scope of the invention as disclosed herein. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the attached claims.