Patent Publication Number: US-8978205-B2

Title: Safety cover for a hinge

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a hinge safety cover and, more particularly, a hinge safety cover in which a hinge installed between a door frame and a door of furniture or a sink, a cabinet, etc. used in a kitchen, is prevented from being exposed to the outside, thereby preventing clothes/bedclothes or a hanger being caught in the hinge so that the clothes/bedclothes are not damaged or the hinge is not broken, or preventing an accident which may cause a part of the body of a person, such as a finger, etc., to be trapped and injured. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In general, hinges are metal products which are used when hanging a door/window by fixing one of hinge mounting plates to a door frame/window frame and fixing the other to a door/window. These hinges are mounted on the hinged doors/windows in furniture, such as a wardrobe storing clothes/bedclothes, or a cabinet, sink, etc. used in a kitchen. 
     This kind of a hinge comprises two mounting plates connected to each other by a hinge pin positioned in the center thereof. One mounting plate is fixed in upper positions of the inner surfaces of a door frame/window frame and a door/window to be opened/closed by a fixing bolt. The other mounting plate is fixed in lower positions thereof by another fixing bolt, so that the door/window is opened and closed. When this hinge is fixed to the door/window and the door frame/window frame by the mounting plates, as the door/window pivots to be opened, a gap widens in the corner of the door/window and the door frame/window frame where the hinge is fixed. If the door/window is fully opened, the gap in the corner of the door/window and the door frame/window frame gets to again narrow. 
     If the clothes/bedclothes as stored are caught in the gap widened in the corner between the door frame/window frame and the door/window, the door/window is not opened/closed. If worse, the clothes/bedclothes are damaged. 
     Moreover, when a part of the body of a person, specifically, a finger, etc., is trapped in the gap widened in the corner between the door frame/window frame and the door/window, if the door/window is opened, an accident of injuring it occurs. 
     Especially, little kids would carelessly put their fingers in the corner of the door frame/window frame and the door/window. In that case, if the door/window is opened, they would be seriously injured. 
     To solve the aforementioned problems, there has been used a hinge which does not narrow but widens the gap in the corner between the door frame/window frame and the door/window when the door/window is opened. Such a hinge comprises a plurality of frames: a fixing frame and a protruding frame to be fixed to the door frame/window frame, and a hinge frame to be installed to the door/window, to pivot with the door/window. 
     When the door/window is closed, the frames overlap around the hinge. However, when the door/window is opened, as the fixing frame and the hinge frame are spaced apart around the hinge, a gap is formed between the frames. 
     When opening/closing the door/window, the clothes on a hanger as stored in the wardrobe or furniture are likely to be caught in the gap between the fixing frame and the protruding frame of the hinge and/or the protruding frame and the hinge frame of the hinge. In that case, the door/window is not closed or, if worse, the clothes are damaged. 
     Moreover, if the clothes made of thin materials, such as blouses or dress shirts, are damaged, these may have to be discarded. 
     Additionally, when a hanger made of the materials, such as synthetic resins or metals, is caught in the gap between the frames of the hinge, if the door/window is opened/closed by force, the hinge is damaged and needs to be replaced. 
     In the wardrobe storing the bedclothes as well as the clothes, if the bedclothes are caught in the gap of the hinge, these are also damaged, like the clothes. 
     If the door/window is opened/closed when a part of the body of a person, specifically, a finger, not the clothes or bedclothes, is trapped in the gap of the hinge, the finger is injured. If worse, it may cause an accident of fracturing the bone of the finger trapped in the gap of the hinge. 
     In addition, since the hinge is shown inside in the door frame/window frame and the door/window, it does not look good in appearance. 
     Further, the conventional hinge is not capable of preventing the door/window from being suddenly closed. Since the door/window is suddenly closed, an unnecessary noise occurs. If the door/window is fast closed, it would cause an accident. 
     Therefore, a method has been really needed to prevent clothes/bedclothes or a part of the body of a person from being trapped in the gap(s) of the hinge. 
     DISCLOSURE 
     Technical Problem 
     Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a hinge safety cover which prevents a hinge installed on a door/window of furniture or a sink/cabinet, etc. used in a kitchen from being exposed to the outside, thereby preventing clothes/bedclothes from being damaged or the hinge from being broken when the clothes/bedclothes or hangers are caught in the gap(s) of the hinge, and in advance preventing the occurrence of any accident that a part of the body of a person, specifically, fingers, is trapped in the gap(s) of the hinge. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a hinge safety cover which comprises a securing cover to be installed on a fixing frame and a protruding frame of the hinge fixed to a door frame/window frame, a pivoting cover to be pivotally connected to the securing cover by a hinge and which covers a hinge frame so as not to be exposed to the outside, the hinge frame pivoting at different angles of the door/window when it is opened/closed and pivoting and operating with the door/window, thereby preventing clothes/bedclothes from being caught between the frames of the hinge when the door/window is opened/closed. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a hinge safety cover in which a number of adjusting bolts connected to the fixing frame and the protruding frame are easily adjusted from the outside, without separating the securing cover from the fixing frame and the protruding frame. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a hinge safety cover in which a door damper supporting the door/window is installed at the securing cover, preventing the door/window from being suddenly closed against the door frame/window frame, preventing an unnecessary noise from occurring when it is suddenly closed, and in advance preventing any accident that may occur between the door/window and the door frame/window frame. 
     Technical Solution 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a hinge safety cover comprising: a securing cover to be fixed on the outside of a fixing frame of a hinge fixed to a door frame, to prevent the fixing frame and a protruding frame fixed to the fixing frame from being exposed to the outside; a pivoting cover to be connected to one side of the securing cover, pivoting with a door as pivoted; and supporting springs each positioned between a top end of the securing cover and the pivoting cover and between a bottom end of the securing cover and the pivoting cover, one end of each of the supporting spring being supported to the securing cover and the other end thereof being supported to the pivoting cover, thereby supporting the pivoting cover to be secured to the door by elasticity. The securing cover comprises: a securing cover body including: protruding plates each inwardly protruding, vertically spaced apart to each other at a regular distance, a protruding frame receiving opening to receive the protruding frame of the hinge between the protruding plates, and securing protrusions protruding at upper and lower positions at both sides of each of the protruding plates so that the securing protrusions are connected to the protruding frame; cover plates each protruding at upper and lower positions of the securing cover body, thereby receiving the fixing frame of the hinge; a protruding part forwardly protruding of the securing cover body, at a right angle; and a catching protrusion protruding in a front end of the protruding part, thereby catching one side end of the pivoting cover. 
     The pivoting cover comprises: a pivoting cover body including hinge holes formed at upper and lower positions of the pivoting cover, a catching part being bent and inwardly protruding at one side end of the pivoting cover; a pivoting plate positioned at one side of the pivoting cover body, thereby preventing the hinge frame of the hinge fixed to the door from being exposed to the outside when the door pivots; sliding rollers vertically spaced apart to each other at a regular distance at one side of the pivoting plate so that the pivoting plate slides on the surface of the door and pivots; and spring supporting protrusions of which one inwardly and downwardly protrudes at one side of one of the hinge holes and the other inwardly and upwardly protrudes at one side of the other hinge hole, thereby supporting the supporting springs. 
     The securing cover further comprises: a first bolt adjusting hole, a second bolt adjusting hole and third bolt adjusting holes. The first bolt adjusting hole is penetrated at the center of the protruding part so that the first bolt adjusting hole is operatively connected to the protruding frame receiving opening, thereby adjusting, from the outside, a first protruding frame adjusting bolt connected to the protruding frame of the hinge. The second bold adjusting hole is penetrated at one side of the securing cover body at a location parallel to a second protruding frame adjusting bolt, so that the second bold adjusting hole is operatively connected to the protruding frame receiving opening, thereby adjusting, from the outside, the second protruding frame adjusting bolt connected to one side of the protruding frame of the hinge. Each of the third bolt adjusting holes is penetrated at the center of each of the cover plates so that each of the third bolt adjusting holes is operatively connected to the inside of each of the cover plates, thereby adjusting, from the outside, each of the fixing frame adjusting bolts connected to the fixing frame of the hinge. 
     The securing cover further comprises: an opening/closing part to be inserted into the first bolt adjusting hole and to open/close the first bolt adjusting hole, and opening/closing stoppers to open/close the second bolt adjusting hole and the third bolt adjusting holes. 
     The securing cover further comprises: a door damper including a supporting pin with its front end to support an inside of the door so that the open door pivots to be closed at a certain speed. The door damper may be inserted into one side of the protruding frame receiving opening of the securing cover body of the securing cover and the supporting pin protrudes towards the door. 
     The door damper may be inserted into one side of the cover plate of the securing cover and the supporting pin protrudes towards the door. 
     Advantageous Effects 
     As described above, the hinge safety cover according to the present invention prevents a hinge, which is installed on a door/window of furniture or a sink, cabinet, etc. used in a kitchen, from being exposed to the outside, thereby preventing clothes/bedclothes from being damaged or a hinge from being broken when the clothes/bedclothes or hanger are caught in a gap of the hinge. It also prevents the occurrence of any accident caused when a part of the body of a person, specifically, fingers, is trapped in a gap of the hinge. 
     Further, since the hinge safety cover comprises the securing cover to be secured to the hinge and the pivoting cover in the fan shape pivotally connected to the securing cover, it pivots at diverse angles of the door/window pivoting when the door/window is opened/closed. Therefore, it covers the hinge pivoting and operating with the door/window, thereby preventing clothes/bedclothes from being caught in the hinge when the door/window is opened/closed. 
     Furthermore, in the hinge safety cover, a number of adjusting bolts connected to the fixing frame and the protruding frame are easily adjusted from the outside, without separating the securing cover from the fixing frame and the protruding frame. 
     Additionally, in the hinge safety cover, since the door damper supporting the door/window is installed at the securing cover, the door/window is prevented from being suddenly closed against the door frame/window frame. Therefore, it prevents an unnecessary noise from occurring when it is suddenly closed and it prevents any accident that may occur between the door/window and the door frame/window frame. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       These and other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an example view of a hinge safety cover according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an example view of an inside of the hinge safety cover; 
         FIG. 3  is an example view of a cross-section of the hinge safety cover; 
         FIG. 4  is an example view of a securing cover and a pivoting cover separated from the hinge safety cover; 
         FIG. 5  is an example view of a state of installing the hinge safety cover at a hinge; 
         FIG. 6  is an example view of the state that the hinge safety cover has been installed at the hinge; 
         FIG. 7  is an example view of a central cross section of the hinge safety cover as installed at the hinge; 
         FIG. 8  is an example view of a top cross section of the hinge safety cover as installed at the hinge; 
         FIG. 9  is an example view of a door pivoting at a right angle after the hinge safety cover is installed at the hinge; 
         FIG. 10  is an example view of the door pivoting at a greater angle than the right angle after the hinge safety cover is installed at the hinge; 
         FIG. 11  is an example view of opening/closing stoppers separated from the securing cover of the hinge safety cover; 
         FIG. 12  is an example view of a hinge safety cover according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  is an example view of a front of a securing cover in the hinge safety cover of  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 14  is an example view of a cross-section taken along a Line A-A′ in  FIG. 13 ; 
         FIGS. 15 ,  16  and  17  are example views of states of a door pivoting in the hinge safety cover of  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 18  is an example view of a hinge safety cover according to another embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 19  is an example view of a cross-section taken along a Line B-B′ in  FIG. 18 . 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMBERS OF MAJOR ELEMENTS 
     
       
         
           
               
               
             
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 100: door frame 
                   
               
               
                 200: door 
               
               
                 300: hinge 
               
               
                 310: fixing frame 
                 311: fixing frame adjusting bolts 
               
               
                 320: protruding frame 
                 321: 1 st  protruding frame adjusting bolt 
               
               
                 322: 2 nd  protruding frame 
               
               
                 adjusting bolt 
               
               
                 330: hinge frame 
               
               
                 400: securing cover 
               
               
                 410: securing cover body 
                 411: protruding plates 
               
               
                 412: protruding frame receiving 
               
               
                 opening 
               
               
                 413: securing protrusions 
               
               
                 414: 1 st  bolt adjusting hole 
                 415: 2 nd  bold adjusting hole 
               
               
                 416: 3 rd  bolt adjusting holes 
                 420: cover plates 
               
               
                 430: protruding part 
                 431: hinge protrusions 
               
               
                 440: catching protrusion 
                 450: opening/closing part 
               
               
                 460: opening/closing stoppers 
               
               
                 500: pivoting cover 
               
               
                 510: pivoting cover body 
                 511: hinge holes 
               
               
                 512: catching part 
                 520: pivoting plate 
               
               
                 530: sliding rollers 
                 540: spring supporting protrusions 
               
               
                 600: supporting springs 
               
               
                 700: door damper 
                 710: supporting pin 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     BEST MODE 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. 
     In  FIGS. 1 through 4 , a hinge safety cover comprises a securing cover  400 , a pivoting cover  500  and supporting springs  600 . The securing cover  400  is secured to the outside of a fixing frame of a hinge  300  fixed to a door frame  100  so that the fixing frame  310  and a protruding frame  320  to be connected to the fixing frame  310  are not exposed to the outside. The pivoting cover  500  is connected at one side of the securing cover  400  by a hinge so that it pivots together with a door  200  as pivoted. The supporting springs  600  are positioned between a top end of the securing cover  400  and the pivoting cover  500  and a bottom end of the securing cover  400  and the pivoting cover  500 , respectively. One side of each of the supporting springs  600  is supported to the securing cover  400  and the other side thereof is supported to the pivoting cover  500 , thereby supporting the pivoting cover  500  to be secured to the door  200  by elasticity. 
     The securing cover  400  comprises a securing cover body  410 . The securing cover body  410  comprises protruding plates  411 , a protruding frame receiving opening  412  and securing protrusions  413 . The protruding plates  411  each inwardly protrude, vertically spaced apart to each other at a regular distance, inside the securing cover body  410 . The protruding frame receiving opening  412  is formed so that the protruding frame  320  of the hinge  300  is inserted between the protruding plates  411 . The securing protrusions  413  protrude at upper and lower positions at both sides of each of the protruding plates  411  so that the securing protrusions  413  are connected to the protruding frame  320 , respectively. 
     The securing cover  400  further comprises cover plates  420 , a protruding part  430  and a catching protrusion  440 . The cover plates  420  are positioned at upper and lower positions of the securing cover body  410 . The protruding part  430  forwardly protrudes at a right angle at one side of the securing cover body  410 . The protruding part  430  includes hinge protrusions  431  each protruding at upper and lower positions of the protruding part  430 . The catching protrusion  440  protrudes at a front end of the protruding part  430 , thereby catching one side end of the pivoting cover  500 . 
     The securing cover  400  further comprises a first bolt adjusting hole  414  and a second bolt adjusting hole  415 . The first bolt adjusting hole  414  is penetrated at a center of the protruding part  430  so that it is operatively connected to the protruding frame receiving opening  412 , thereby adjusting, from the outside, a first protruding frame adjusting bolt  321  connected to the protruding frame  320  of the hinge  300 . The second bolt adjusting hole  415  is penetrated at one side of the securing cover body  410  at a position being parallel to a protruding frame adjusting bolt  322  so that it is operatively connected to the protruding frame receiving opening  412 , thereby adjusting, from the outside, the second protruding frame adjusting bolt  322  connected to one side of the protruding frame  320  of the hinge  300 . 
     The securing cover  400  further comprises third bolt adjusting holes  416 . Each of the third bolt adjusting holes  416  is penetrated at a center of each of the cover plates  420  so that it is operatively connected to an inside of the cover plate  420 , thereby adjusting, from the outside, each of fixing frame adjusting bolts  311  connected to the fixing frame  310  of the hinge  300 . The securing cover  400  further comprises an opening/closing part  450  and opening/closing stoppers  460 . The opening/closing part  450  is inserted into the first bolt adjusting hole  414 , to open/close the first bolt adjusting hole  414 . The opening/closing stoppers  460  open/close the second bolt adjusting hole  415  and the third bolt adjusting holes  416 . 
     The pivoting cover body  510  comprises hinge holes  511  at upper and lower positions thereof and a catching part  512  bent and inwardly protruding at one side end thereof. The pivoting plate  520  is positioned at one side of the pivoting cover body  510 , thereby preventing the hinge frame  330  of the hinge  300  fixed to the door  200  from being exposed to the outside when the door  200  pivots. 
     The pivoting cover  500  further comprises sliding rollers  530  and spring supporting protrusions  540 . The sliding rollers  530  are vertically spaced apart to each other, at a regular distance, at one side end of the pivoting plate  520  so that the pivoting plate  520  slides to the surface of the door  200  and pivots. One of the spring supporting protrusions  540  inwardly and downwardly protrudes at one side of one of the hinge holes  511  of the pivoting cover body  510  and the other spring supporting protrusion  540  inwardly and upwardly protrudes at one side of the other hinge hole  511 , thereby supporting one side end of each of the supporting springs  600 . 
     In the hinge safety cover shown in  FIG. 5 , the supporting springs  600  are respectively connected to the hinge protrusions  431  protruding at the upper and lower positions of the protruding part  430  of the securing cover  400 . The hinge protrusions  431  are respectively connected to and inserted into the hinge holes  511  positioned at the upper and lower positions of the pivoting cover body  510  of the pivoting cover  500 . 
     When the protruding frame  320  is connected to and inserted into the protruding frame receiving opening  412 , a number of the securing protrusions  413  protruding at the lower and upper positions at the both sides of the protruding plates  411  are caught in an upper edge and an lower edge of the protruding frame  320  as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . Then, the securing cover body  410  and the cover plates  420  are secured to the protruding frame  320  and therefore, the fixing frame  310  and the protruding frame  320  are fixed to the door frame  100  so as not to be exposed to the outside. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , one end of each of the supporting springs  600  which is connected to be supported to each of the hinge protrusions  431  between the protruding part  430  of the securing cover  400  and the pivoting cover body  510  of the pivoting cover  500 , is supported to the front of each of the cover plates  420  provided at the upper and lower positions of the securing cover body  410  of the securing cover  400 . The other end thereof is supported to each of the spring supporting protrusions  540  protruding at the upper and lower positions of the hinge holes  511  of the pivoting cover body  510  of the pivoting cover  500 . Then, the pivoting cover body  510  and the pivoting plate  520  of the pivoting cover  500  are secured towards the door  200  by the elasticity. 
     MODE FOR INVENTION 
     After the securing cover  400  is installed at the protruding frame  320  of the door frame  100 , when the door  200  is opened from the door frame  100  at a right angle direction as shown in  FIG. 9 , the pivoting cover body  510  and the pivoting plate  520  of the pivoting cover  500  pivot in the same direction as the door  200  around the hinge protrusions  431  respectively protruding at the upper and lower positions of the protruding part  430  of the securing cover  400  connected to the hinge holes  511 . 
     Then, in the pivoting cover  500  pivoting with the door  200 , a plurality of the sliding rollers  530  at the end of the pivoting plate  520  rotate in a state of being secured to the surface of the door  200 . Then, the pivoting plate  520  slides to the surface of the door  200 , pivoting with the door  200  around the hinge protrusions  431  of the securing cover  400 . Accordingly, no noise occurs and the pivoting cover  500  is capable of easily pivoting without scratching the inside surface of the door  200 . 
     When the door  200  pivots to be opened at a greater angle than the right angle, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the pivoting cover  500  pivots with the door  200  so that the pivoting plate  520  covers the hinge frame  330  installed at the door  200  so as not to be exposed to the outside. 
     When the catching part  512  inwardly protruding at the one side end of the pivoting cover body  510  catches the catching protrusion  440  outwardly protruding at the one side end of the protruding part  430  of the securing cover  400 , the pivoting cover body  510  and the pivoting plate  520  of the pivoting cover  500  do not pivot at a greater angle than a certain angle. This prevents clothes/bedclothes or a part of the body of a user from being caught or trapped in the gap between the protruding part  430  of the securing cover  400  and the pivoting cover body  510  of the pivoting cover  500  when the door  200  is excessively opened. 
     In the case of adjusting the fixing frame adjusting bolts  311  connected to the fixing frame  310  of the hinge  300  installed at the door frame  100  because it is not aligned in the position with the door frame  100  when opening/closing the door  200 , each of the opening/closing stoppers  460  connected to the center of each of the cover plates  420  at the upper and lower positions of the securing cover body  410  of the securing cover  400  needs to be separated from each of the third bolt adjusting holes  416  as shown in  FIG. 11 . Then, the fixing frame adjusting bolts  311  of the fixing frame  310  of the hinge  300  are exposed through the third bolt adjusting holes  416 , so that the fixing frame adjusting bolts  311  can be adjusted from the outside by using a proper tool. 
     In the case of adjusting the second protruding frame adjusting bolt  322  of the protruding frame  320  of the hinge  300 , it is possible to easily adjust, from the outside, the second protruding frame adjusting bolt  322  by using a proper tool by separating the opening/closing stopper  460  connected to the second bolt adjusting hole  415  penetrated to be operatively connected to the protruding frame receiving opening  412  inside of the one side of the securing cover body  410 . 
     In the case of adjusting the first protruding frame adjusting bolt  321  of the protruding frame  320 , it needs to separate the opening/closing part  450  connected to the first bolt adjusting hole  414  in the front of the protruding part  430  of the securing cover  400  in the condition that the door  200  is opened as shown in  FIG. 10  and to adjust the first protruding frame adjusting bolt  321  of the protruding frame  320  by using a tool like a driver. 
     As described above, in the hinge safety cover according to the present invention, it is possible to easily adjust, from the outside, the fixing frame adjusting bolts  311  and the first and second protruding frame adjusting bolts  321 ,  322 , without separating the securing cover body  410  and the cover plates  420  of the securing cover  400  from the fixing frame  310  and the protruding frame  320  of the hinge  300 . 
     The securing cover  400  further comprises a door damper  700  including a supporting pin  710  with a front end supporting the inside of the door so that the open door  200  pivots to be closed at a certain speed, not to be suddenly closed, as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 14 . The door damper  700  is inserted into any of the upper and lower positions of the protruding frame receiving opening  412  of the securing cover body  410  of the securing cover  400  so that the supporting pin  710  protrudes towards the door  200 . 
     In the drawings, the door damper  700  is illustrated as being installed at the lower position of the protruding frame receiving opening  412  of the securing cover body  410 . However, the door damper  700  may be installed at the upper position of the protruding frame receiving opening  412  by preparing a space to receive it. Otherwise, the door dampers  700  may be installed at the upper and lower positions of the protruding frame receiving opening  412 , respectively. 
     In the door damper  700  as shown in  FIGS. 15 through 17 , the supporting pin  710  inserted inside the door damper  700  protrudes toward the door  200  when the door  200  is opened. When the door  200  is closed by the hinge  300 , the supporting pin  710  is slowly inserted inside the door damper  700  by supporting the inside of the door  200 . Therefore, an accident is prevented by preventing the door from being suddenly closed. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 18 and 19 , the door damper  700  may be positioned outside the cover plates  420  of the securing cover  400  in the manner that the supporting pin  710  protrudes towards the door  200 . In the drawing, the door damper  700  is described as, for example, being installed by extending a lower part of the cover plate  420  positioned at the lower position of the securing cover body  410 . However, the door damper  700  may be carried out by being installed at an upper position of the cover plate  420  by extending the upper part of the cover plate  420  positioned at the upper position of the securing cover body  410 . When the door is made of the heavy materials, like metals, the cover plates  420  may be extended upwardly and downwardly in the securing cover body  410  so that the door dampers  700  are installed at the upper and lower positions of the cover plates  420 , respectively, thereby preventing the heavy door from being suddenly closed. 
     The invention has been described using a preferred embodiment(s). However, it is to be understood that the scope of the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment(s). The scope of the claims, therefore, should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all various modifications and similar arrangements within the capabilities of persons skilled in the art using presently known or future technologies and equivalents.