Patent Publication Number: US-2007109315-A1

Title: Method and system for arranging a paint color display

Description:
This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 10/748,953, filed Dec. 30, 2003 for Method and System for Arranging a Paint Color Display which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The invention pertains to displays of paint color samples. More particularly, at least one embodiment of the invention relates the systematic arrangement of paint color samples in a convenient-to-search order.  
     DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART  
      When selecting paints, it is often useful to display the paint colors available on color cards. Each card typically provides a color sample for a single paint color. When a large number of different paint colors are available, it becomes a difficult task to organize these cards in a way that is easily accessible to customers. Ideally, the cards should be organized and displayed in such a way that the customer is able to find the desired color(s) with relative ease. Additionally, it would be helpful if the card arrangement could also “suggest” other colors to the customer that would go well with a selected color. Prior art attempts to display paint color samples to consumers have been unsatisfactory in several respects. The present invention overcomes these shortcomings.  
     SUMMARY  
      Paint color sample cards are arranged on a two-dimensional display surface such that colors having a similar hue angle, or colors that lie within a hue range, are categorized or grouped together (e.g., along a column) as a family of colors. For example, paint color sample cards having the same base hue or color are arranged on the same display region (e.g., column). Groups of paint color sample cards having different base hues or colors are arranged such that there is a gradual transition between paint colors from one region to the next region. For instance, the colors of sample cards may gradually change from column to column across a two-dimensional display array. Additionally, within each color group or family, paint color sample cards may be arranged from the most chromatic (purest) to the least chromatic colors (shaded). Thus, a customer may conveniently search for a desired color across columns and then search for the desired shade or tint down the rows. Accent color sample cards are preferably displayed adjacent to the various base color groups. For instance, along the region where red-based sample cards are displayed, color cards of white paint colors having a red tint are arranged to provide customers a convenient way to find accent colors.  
      Combination style cards may be provided within each color family. The combination style cards may include one or more color schemes having one or more colors found in the color family in which the combination style card is placed. That is, the combination style cards are used to provide color scheme ideas to shoppers for some of the colors in the color display. In one embodiment, the combination style card is a tri-fold card including three different color schemes. For each color scheme in the combination style card, a different room, environment, or exterior may be shown in the combination style card. Along each column and row of the color display, a plurality of different combination style cards may be displayed. The combination style cards may be organized such that a user may obtain color scheme ideas for every major room or environment of a home by the combination style cards arranged along a particular column and/or by the combination style cards arranged along a particular row. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  illustrates how a tertiary color wheel may be mapped onto a paint color display according to one embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 2  illustrates a method for arranging paint color samples in a color display according to one embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 3  illustrates a paint color display according to one embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 4  illustrates a paint color display according to one embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 5  illustrates a first view of a paint sample card according to one embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 6  illustrates a second view of a paint sample card according to one embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 7  illustrates a theme paint color sample card according to one embodiment of the invention.  
       FIGS. 8-11  illustrate a plurality of combination style cards that include color schemes and room samples and may be arranged in a particular order that facilitates obtaining a room-by-room paint scheme for a house according to one embodiment of the invention.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      In the following description numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, one skilled in the art would recognize that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, and/or components have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the invention.  
      In the following description, certain terminology is used to describe certain features of one or more embodiments of the invention. For instance, a paint color “display” includes any cabinet, counter, advertising panel, card holders, etc., and combination thereof that may be used to exhibit paint color samples for customers or shoppers.  
      One aspect of the present invention provides a method for systematically arranging paint color samples for convenient browsing, identification, and/or selection of desired colors by shoppers. Paint color sample cards are arranged on a two-dimensional display surface such that colors having a similar hue angle, or colors that lie within a hue range, are categorized or grouped together (e.g., along a column) as a family of colors. For example, paint color sample cards having the same base hue or color are arranged on the same display region (e.g., column). Groups of paint color sample cards having different base hues or colors are arranged such that there is a gradual transition between paint colors from one region to the next region. For instance, the colors of sample cards may gradually change from column to column across a two-dimensional display array. Additionally, within each color group or family, paint color sample cards may be arranged from the most chromatic (purest) to the least chromatic colors (shaded). Thus, a customer may conveniently search for a desired color across columns and then search for the desired shade or tint down the rows.  
      Another aspect of the invention provides for accent color sample cards to be displayed adjacent to the various base color groups. For instance, along the region where red-based sample cards are displayed, color cards of white paint colors having a red tint are arranged to provide customers a convenient way to find accent colors.  
      Yet another feature of the invention provides for combination style cards to be arranged within each color family. The combination style cards may include one or more color schemes having one or more colors found in the color family in which the combination style card is placed. That is, the combination style cards are used to provide color schemes ideas to shoppers for some of the colors in the color display. In one implementation of the invention, the combination style card is a tri-fold card including three different color schemes. For each color scheme in the combination style card, a different room or environment or exterior may be exhibited or shown in the combination style card. Along each column and row of the color display, a plurality of different combination style cards may be displayed. The combination style cards may be organized such that a user may obtain color scheme ideas for every major room or environment of a home by the combination style cards arranged along a particular column and/or by the combination style cards arranged along a particular row.  
       FIG. 1  illustrates how a tertiary color wheel  102  may be mapped onto a paint color display  120  according to one embodiment of the invention. A tertiary color wheel  102  is a known way of arranging colors according to their hue, chroma, and lightness. The tertiary color wheel  102  is based on the basic primary color wheel of yellow, red, blue colors and includes six segments of gradually blending colors. These gradually blending colors have different hue angles within the tertiary color wheel  102 . For example, the region between yellow  110  and red  106  colors define orange colors  108 , the region between red  106  and blue  114  colors define purple colors  116 , and the region between blue  114  and yellow  110  colors define green colors  112 . The tertiary color wheel  102 , and other color models, typically arrange colors so that they gradually blend from one color to the next.  
      One embodiment of the invention translates the color wheel, or any other color model, into a two-dimensional display arrangement to provide customers or shoppers convenient access and/or identification of paint colors. For instance, a paint color display  120  is arranged so that each column  126 - 136  in the color display represents a different segment, i.e., a range of hue angles, of the color wheel  102 . Additionally, the columns  126 - 136  of the color display  120  may be maintained in the same order as the different segments  106 - 116  of the color wheel  102 . For instance, if the order of the color wheel segments is  106 - 116 , then the same order is maintained when arranging the corresponding columns  126 - 136  in the display  120 .  
      Within each column, a plurality of paint color display cards may be organized such that the more chromatic colors (purest) are placed at the top of the columns and the less chromatic colors are placed at the bottom of the columns. That is, outer colors in the color wheel  102 , typically the purest colors, are at the top of the column, the colors at the middle of the color wheel, typically more muted colors, are at the middle of the column, and the colors at the center/inner portion of the color wheel, typically more shaded colors, are at the bottom of the column. For instance, paint colors  142 - 146  in the Red segment  106  of color wheel  102  may be arranged from top to bottom of a corresponding column  126 , with the outer color  142  at the top of the column  126  and the inner color  146  at the bottom of the column  126 .  
      Within each category  142 ,  144 , or  146  of a column or color family, the colors may be arranged according to their hue angle in the corresponding color model (e.g., color wheel  102 ).  
      In one embodiment of the invention, an additional column  138  may be included in the paint color display  120  to display a particular category of colors. Such column  138  may serve to display a particular family of colors. For example, column  138  may display neutral colors in having different undertones. Yellow-toned neutral colors may be displayed at the top  150  of column  138 , followed by red-toned neutral colors in the middle portion  152  of column  138 , and blue-toned neutral colors in the bottom portion  154  of column  138 . According to one embodiment of the invention, the selection of colors that are placed in column  138  may be based on human expertise selection.  
       FIG. 2  illustrates a method for arranging paint color samples in a color display according to one embodiment of the invention. The colors of a color wheel, or a color model are divided into groups, categories, families, or segments  202 . This may be done, for example, by dividing colors in a color wheel based on hue angle. A plurality of colors from each group, category or segment are selected for display  204 . Colors may be added or removed from a group, category or segment based on expert human input  206 . The selected paint colors are then organized on sample cards  208 . Each sample card may include one or more paint colors.  
      According to one implementation of the invention, each sample card includes a plurality of paint color samples belonging to the same category. The paint color samples in each paint sample card may be organized according to shade, hue, and/or chroma. For instance, a sample card may include three colors having approximately the same hue angle but having varying chromatic values.  
      The sample cards are then arranged on a two-dimensional display so that there is a gradual transition between paint sample colors  210 , both in the horizontal and vertical directions. For instance, paint color samples may have a gradual change in color hue angles from column to column and a gradual change in shades from row to row.  
       FIG. 3  illustrates a paint color display according to one embodiment of the invention. This paint color display  300  may be arranged so that there is a gradual transition between paint colors. For instance, from columns  302 - 312 , there may be a gradual change in the hue angles of the paint colors displayed therein. Additionally, the paint color display  300  may also be arranged so that there is a gradual change in the shades or chroma of colors from row to row. For instance, from rows  316 - 330  the red-based paint colors may transition from pure red colors  332  to more muted red colors  334  to light shades of red  336 . Along each column or family of colors, as the chroma of a particular base-color changes, one or more whites colors  340 - 344  of similar tint may be placed alongside the other color samples. These white colors  340 - 344  are white paint colors having similar tint as the neighboring colors so that they may be aesthetically pleasing when used together.  
      According to one implementation of the invention, the paint color display  300  may be arranged into a plurality of columns, each column corresponding to a segment of a color wheel. For ease of color identification, each column may be associated with a number that is also used to identify the paint colors in that column. For example, each paint color card arranged under column “100” may include a unique number, e.g., “110-D”, “158-A”, etc., that identifies colors in that column.  
      According to one implementation of the invention, each column includes a plurality of color cards arranged from the purest color (i.e., most chromatic) to the most shaded color (least chromatic). Such arrangement permits a person to visually search the various shades of colors and identify the desired paint color.  
      In one implementation of the invention, a two-dimensional array paint color display system  300  includes a plurality of paint sample cards and is arranged so as to assist customers in the selection of paint colors. A plurality paint sample cards, each having one or more paint color samples, are selected from only one of a plurality of contiguous hue portions (e.g.  106 - 116 , in  FIG. 1 ) of a full range of known color hues such that each hue in each of said hue portions (e.g.,  106  in  FIG. 1 ) is closely related to or the same as each other hue in that same hue portion.  
      Within each region or family of colors representing a hue portion (e.g. paint colors having a similar hue)  302 - 314 , paint color sample cards may be arranged according to either increasing or decreasing hue values in a first dimension of the two-dimensional array paint color display  300  and according to either increasing or decreasing chromatic values in a second dimension of two-dimensional array paint color display. In one implementation of the invention, adjacent paint color sample cards in each region represent substantially equal intervals of visual color perception. According to one embodiment of the invention, the two-dimensional array paint color display  300  includes a plurality of regions, portions or areas  302 - 314  of non-overlapping hue groups. The plurality of hue portions  302 - 312  may span the full range of known color hues.  
       FIG. 4  illustrates a paint color display according to one embodiment of the invention. Like the paint color display of  FIG. 3 , each column  402 - 412  includes colors of a particular hue and arranged based on their chromatic value. Similar to the arrangement illustrated in  FIG. 3 , each column  402 - 412  corresponds to a particular range of hues, with the colors arranged based on their relative chromatic value within a column. For instance, the most chromatic colors may be found on row  416  and the least chromatic colors in row  418 , with their relative chromatic value decreasing from left to right. Such arrangement of colors permits a user to browse across the columns for a desired hue and then browse up and/or down along a the rows to find the desired color.  
      In one embodiment of the invention, a portion or all of rows  418 ,  420 , and  422  may include white colors of similar tone as the surrounding color samples. Such positioning of similarly-toned white colors is intended to provide an easy way for a consumer, who has selected a desired paint color, to find an appropriate white paint color. For instance, if a user selects a color in color card  424 , then the user may find an appropriate white paint color by browsing the adjacent or proximate white paint color samples  426 .  
      According to another aspect of the invention, an additional column  414  may be appended to the rest of the display  400  for displaying includes a special category of colors (e.g., neutrals, earth-tones, etc.) that have been selected based on human expertise and may be arranged according to their respective underlying tones (e.g., yellow, red, blue, etc.).  
      Yet another aspect of the invention provides for one or more rows  425  and  427  to include paint sample cards of individual paint colors. For instance, each sample card in row  425  may contain a different saturated color found in rows  416  and/or  420 . Similarly, each sample card in row  427  may contain a different saturated color found in rows  421  and/or  422 .  
      Another feature of the invention provides for a plurality of combination style cards to be displayed along each column  402 - 414 . The combination style cards are used to provide color schemes ideas to shoppers for some of the colors in the color display. In one implementation of the invention, a combination style card is a tri-fold card including three different color schemes. For each color scheme in the combination style card, a different room or environment or exterior may be exhibited or shown in the combination style card.  
      A plurality of combination style cards  430 - 452  may be laid out at particular locations (e.g., the beginning of one or more rows) along one or more columns of the color display. A plurality of different combination style cards, showing different color schemes and sample rooms or environments, may be displayed. The combination style cards may be organized such that a user may browse color scheme ideas for every major room or environment of a home. For instance, for each color scheme in each combination style card, a sample room of a home (e.g., kitchen, family room, dining room, living room, bathroom, entrance, hallways, etc.) may be depicted as painted with the particular color scheme. By browsing the combination style cards down a particular column or color family, a user is shown color schemes having the same base hue (or within a color family) for every room in a home. In this manner, a user is able to select color schemes having the same base hue (or color family) for every room or environment in a home from the combination style cards (e.g.,  430 ,  432  and  434 ) arranged along a column.  
      Additionally, the combination style cards may also be used to suggest color schemes for a plurality of rooms in a home, where the color schemes are based on two or more base colors. For instance, a user may select combination style cards (e.g.,  432 ,  438 ,  444 ) arranged along a particular row (e.g.,  421 ) in adjacent columns to obtain color schemes having different base colors. In one implementation of the invention, each combination style card shows three color combinations of typically related or adjoining rooms within a home. A user may select combination style card  432  having a sample entrance, living room and dining room using three different color schemes and the same first base color. The user may then select combination style card  438  having a sample kitchen, family room, and breakfast nook with three different color schemes and the same second base color. Lastly, the user may select combination style card  444  having a sample master bedroom, second bedroom, and bathroom with three different color schemes and the same third base color.  
      The combination style cards  430 - 452  are thus arranged to provide a user of the display the opportunity and ease of selecting paint color schemes for a whole house by selecting the combination style cards along a particular column or row.  
       FIG. 5  illustrates a first view of a paint sample card  500  according to one embodiment of the invention. The paint sample card may be used in the paint color display unit illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . A paint sample card  500  may include a plurality of paint colors samples  502 ,  504 , and  506  that are related to each other. For instance, the paint color samples  502 ,  504 , and  506  may be different shades of the same color hue. Within a sample card, the paint color samples may be arranged from the lightest paint color  502  to the darkest paint color  506 .  
      According to one aspect of the invention, each color sample card may include one or more colors of similar hue but having varying chromatic values. The color samples on each color sample cards may span less than a total hue range and a total chroma range for the corresponding hue region or portion represented by that display. Each color sample card may represent a different hue range that is non-overlapping with other color sample cards in the same group.  
      According to one embodiment of the invention, a unique number or identifier  508  may identify a paint color card  500 . Similarly, each paint color sample on a card may have a unique number or identifier  510 ,  512 ,  514  identifying the paint color shown. The numbers or identifiers for each paint color may be associated with the number or identifier for the paint color card. For instance, if a color card is identified by “600A”  408  then the paint colors thereon may be identified as “600A-1”  510 , “600A-2”  512 , and “600A-3”  514 .  
      In one embodiment of the invention, each paint color sample  502  may also include a catchy name  516  that is descriptive, characteristic, and/or suggestive of the color. For example, names like “December Dawn”  516 , “Lazy Sunday”  518 , and “California Lilac”  520  maybe used to describe colors in a color card  500 .  
       FIG. 6  illustrates a second view of a paint sample card  600  according to one embodiment of the invention. The illustrated second view  600  may correspond to the opposite side of the paint color card  500  illustrated in  FIG. 5 . For each paint color on the opposite side of the card  600 , the color name  602  and associated paint number or identifier  604  may appear in a corresponding location on the card  600 . According to one implementation, for each sample color in a paint sample card  600 , a unique bar code  606  may be placed on the card  600 . This unique bar code  606  may serve to enter the desired paint color into a computer or scanning system and facilitate purchase or mixing of the corresponding paint.  
       FIG. 7  illustrates a theme paint color sample card  700  according to one embodiment of the invention. A paint sample card  700  may represent a color style (e.g., Yellow-toned Neutral). The card may include a depiction of a house interior or exterior  702  painted using a particular color scheme that includes a plurality of paint colors. For instance, the house interior or exterior  702  may be shown as painted in a four-color scheme. Paint color samples  704 ,  706 ,  708 , and  710  for the illustrated color scheme may be placed in the card  700 . Each of the paint colors in the samples  704 ,  706 ,  708 , and  710  may have an associated name and/or unique identifier to help shoppers identify each color. The color-scheme may be selected using color theory and/or expert input.  
      According to one embodiment of the invention, the paint color samples of a color-scheme may have different sizes depending on their purpose. For example, a larger color sample size  704  indicates a wall paint color while smaller paint color sample sizes may indicate trim  708 , accent  710 , and/or white  706  paint colors.  
       FIGS. 8-11  illustrate a plurality of combination style cards that include color schemes and room samples and may be arranged in a particular order that facilitates obtaining a room-by-room paint scheme for a house according to one embodiment of the invention. These tri-fold combination style cards include three color schemes and a corresponding sample room for each color scheme. Each corresponding sample room is painted according to one of the associated color schemes in the combination style card. The cards illustrated in  FIGS. 8-11  may be some of the combination style cards shown in display illustrated in  FIG. 4 .  
      One aspect of the invention provides an arrangement of color schemes that may be used to paint a whole house. For example, where a home is to be painted using a particular family of color or base hue, a user may select from the combination style cards along the particular column corresponding to the desired color family or base hue. Each combination style card in said column includes one or more color schemes, with each color scheme including one or more colors in said column. For each color scheme in a combination style card, the combination style card includes a sample room illustration having its various surfaces, walls, doors, frames, windows, ceiling, etc., painted according to the color scheme.  
      According to one implementation of the invention, the combination style cards found in a column or color group illustrate the various rooms of a conventional home painted according to a corresponding color scheme. Each combination style card may include a set of rooms that may typically be adjacent to each other in a typical home. Thus, each combination style card may provide a plurality of color schemes that work together across various adjacent rooms or areas of a home.  
      In one embodiment of the invention the combination style cards found along a column or color family of a display each has illustrations and color schemes of different of rooms found in a typical home. That is, a first card may illustrate an entrance, a living room and a family room, a second card may illustrate a kitchen, dining room, and hallway, and a third card may illustrate a master bedroom, bathroom, and study. Thus, a user may be able to find color schemes for every room and environments in a home by browsing the combination style cards for a desired base hue.  
      Another aspect of the invention enables a user to select color schemes having different base colors or hues. For instance, a user may select from three contiguous hues or color families (e.g., reds, oranges, and yellows) to select color schemes that the various rooms or environments in a home. Harmonious color schemes across color families may be selected from combination style cards  
      Another aspect of the invention provides for  
      Referring to  FIG. 8 , a set of tri-folding combination style cards are illustrated therein. These cards may correspond to the combination cards found in column  402  of  FIG. 4 . For example, combination style cards  802 ,  804 , and  806  may be arranged at the locations corresponding to cards  430 ,  432  and  434  in  FIG. 4 , respectively. Similar to the card illustrated in  FIG. 7 , each combination card includes three color schemes  810 ,  812 , and  814  with corresponding samples of rooms or environments  816 ,  818 , and  820  painted according to the associated color scheme  810 ,  812 , and  814 . A user may select combination style cards  802 ,  804 , and  806  to obtain nine harmonious color schemes that may be used together to paint a conventional home. The various combination cards  802 ,  804 , and  806  may provide different, yet harmonious, colors schemes using the same base color or family of colors. For example, combination card  802  may provide nine color schemes using red-based colors. These nine color schemes may enable a user to paint a home using a plurality of the harmonious color schemes. For instance, card  802  illustrates samples of a painted den, bedroom and bathroom, card  804  illustrates samples of a painted dinning room, living room, and hall, and card  806  illustrates samples of a painted family room, den, and kitchen.  
      According to one implementation of the invention, each color scheme  810 ,  812 , and  814  in a combination card  802  includes a main color  822 ,  824 , and  826  which belongs to the color family or column in which the combination card is displayed. In one implementation, each main color  822 ,  824 , and  826  in a card  802  has a different chromatic value (shade) within the color family. For example, in card  802  color  822  may have a medium chromatic value, color  824  may have a light chromatic value and color  826  may have a deep chromatic value. The order in which the light, medium, and deep main colors are arranged may vary from combination cards to combination card. For instance, in card  804  color  828  may have a light chromatic value, color  830  may have a deep chromatic value, and color  832  may have a medium chromatic value. Similarly, in card  806  color  834  may have a deep chromatic value, color  830  may have a medium chromatic value, and color  832  may have a light chromatic value. Such rotation of the order of the relative chromatic values for the main colors in each color scheme is intended to generate aesthetically pleasing color scheme combinations. In another embodiment of the invention, the main colors within a combination style card may vary according to their relative hue angle instead of their relative chromatic values.  
       FIGS. 9-11  similarly illustrate combination style cards having various color schemes and associated sample rooms. In one implementation of the invention, combination style cards  902 ,  904 , and  906  in  FIG. 9  may be arranged at the locations corresponding to cards  436 ,  438  and  440  in  FIG. 4 , respectively; combination style cards  1002 ,  1004 , and  1006  in Fig. may be arranged at the locations corresponding to cards  442 ,  444  and  446  in  FIG. 4 , respectively; and combination style cards  1102 ,  1104 , and  1106  may be arranged at the locations corresponding to cards  448 ,  450  and  452  in  FIG. 4 , respectively.  
      As previously mentioned, a user may also wish to select color schemes having different main colors or running across two or more columns of a two-dimensional color display. One embodiment of the invention arranges combination style cards in such a way that a user can select from coordinating color schemes across different base hues. A user may find color scheme suggestions for every room or environment of a convention home by browsing the combination style cards across a given row of a two-dimensional color display. For instance, a user may find harmonious color combination schemes by browsing cards  432 ,  438  and  444  in  FIG. 4 .  
      In one implementation of the invention, card  804  in  FIG. 8 , card  904  in  FIG. 9 , and card  1004  in  FIG. 10  correspond to cards  432 ,  438 , and  444 , in  FIG. 4 , respectively. A user may find red-based color schemes and samples of a dining room  840 , living room  842  and hall  844 , orange-based color schemes and samples of a den  908 , kitchen  910 , and study  912 , and yellow-based color schemes and samples of a bedroom  1008 , bathroom  1010 , and den  1012 . Similarly, a user may browse across any of the other rows of a two-dimensional color display to find color schemes and suggestive samples for the various rooms and environments of a home.  
      According to one implementation of the invention, the sample rooms and environments may repeat every three columns. For example, card  804  in  FIG. 8 , which may correspond to the first column card location  432  in  FIG. 4 , and card  1104  in  FIG. 11 , which may correspond to the fourth column card location  450  in  FIG. 4 , both have a sample hall  844  and  1108 , sample living room  842  and  1112  and sample dining room  840  and  1110 . Thus, in  FIG. 4 , a user may also select combination cards  440 ,  446  and  452 , for example, to create a harmonious color scheme across different rooms and using different base hues. Typically, when selecting color schemes having different base hues, it is preferable to select combination style cards that have adjacent or neighboring base colors as their main color since this tends to improve the harmony between color schemes.  
      In other implementations of the invention combination style cards, a combination style card may have one or more color schemes and/or sample rooms without departing from the invention.  
      While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of and not restrictive on the broad invention, and that this invention not be limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since various other modifications are possible. Those skilled, in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just described preferred embodiment can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.