Patent Publication Number: US-2018042401-A1

Title: Gravity feed roller strip seats for plastic glide tray

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCED APPLICATION 
     This application is related, and claims priority, to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/374,025, filed on Aug. 12, 2016, that is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Disclosure 
     The present disclosure relates generally to gravity feed strip seats having rollers disposed therein or thereon as a mechanism for moving an item thereon via gravity, and methods for assembling the same. The present disclosure also relates to systems comprised of the gravity feed strip seats and plastic glide trays. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to gravity feed roller strip seats having rollers disposed therein or thereon that are configured to be disposed in a plastic glide tray that may be inclined, where the roller strip seats fit into the plastic glide tray and assist in moving an item disposed thereon and methods of assembly thereof. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Currently, items such as beverages disposed in coolers are often placed in plastic glide trays to display the beverage in the coolers, both in big box supermarkets and in convenience stores. The basic function of the plastic glide tray is to hold the merchandise (beverage containers in bottles and/or cans) in proper alignment and to allow continual advancement of the merchandise toward the front of the plastic glide tray under gravitational force. Low cost, fixed dividers and easy installation are said to be the great advantages of such plastic glides, but steep pitches such as 12 to 16 degrees or more are often required to advance the merchandise to the front of the plastic glide tray. However, such a steep pitch for the incline is a great disadvantage in that the necessary pitch of 12 to 16 degrees reduces available vertical space in the coolers. The vertical space is of great value to the stores in that the greater the pitch angle, the fewer shelves can be deployed, and thus less merchandise can be displayed, in each cooler. Given the cost of the purchase and operation of the cooler, and that the stores cannot maximize inventory in the cooler for the given internal volume, profitability is reduced. In addition, such steep pitches may still fail to properly advance merchandise to the front of the plastic glide tray. 
     Modifications to improve the driving force for the advancement of merchandise in such plastic glide trays to attempt to (1) reduce the angle of pitch, (2) increase the quantity of merchandise that can be placed in the cooler, (3) and/or improve the actual advancement of merchandise disposed in the plastic glide tray and thereby improve the function, are practical issues of great marketing potential. Many methods have been tried but none is completely satisfactory, including spring-pusher systems such as mentioned below. 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,497,342; 7,628,282; and 7,922,010 disclose product management display systems for merchandising both larger and heavier products that include the use of a pusher mechanism along with one or more roller assemblies. In combination, the product management display systems are said to improve the merchandising of products on the shelves, especially on horizontal or non-inclined shelves or surfaces. An exemplary embodiment of the patented product management display system includes a pusher mechanism mounted to a track that extends generally from the front of the shelf to the back of the shelf. The pusher mechanism is configured to urge product forward and toward the front of the shelf. At least one roller assembly is positioned beneath the product that is merchandised, and adjacent the track, to assist the pusher mechanism in urging the product toward the front of the shelf. 
     U.S. Patent Publication No. 2010/0276383 discloses a product management display system that includes a pusher mechanism mounted to a track that extends generally from the front of the shelf to the back of the shelf. The pusher mechanism is configured to urge product forward and toward the front of the shelf. At least one roller assembly is positioned beneath the product to be merchandised to assist the pusher mechanism in urging the product toward the front of the shelf. It is said that the disclosed product management display system may be mounted to a horizontal shelf or surface and heavier and/or wider product may be properly merchandised without the need to modify the system. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 8,312,999 discloses a product management display system for merchandising product on a shelf that includes using a trackless pusher mechanism that travels along a surface on which product is placed. The trackless pusher mechanism also includes a pusher paddle and a floor that extends forward of the pusher paddle. A flat coiled spring or other biasing element is operatively connected behind the pusher paddle and extends across the floor of the pusher mechanism to the front of the shelf. In use, the product to be merchandised may be placed on the coiled spring and on the floor of the pusher mechanism. Using this configuration, it is said that the pusher paddle is prevented from tipping or bending backwards during operation. In an alternative aspect, a mounting member may be used to mount the end of the coiled spring to the floor of the system. It is said that the disclosed display system may be used with the merchandising of product on horizontal or non-inclined shelves or surfaces, as well as with gravity-fed systems, or systems that use gravity as a mechanism to urge product toward the front of the shelf. 
     While the above systems are said to be an improvement to existing product management display systems, these systems are complex in design and construction, thus making them difficult to install without special tools and/or by a trained service person. The above systems are also difficult to keep clean and are subject to reduced efficiency as they become soiled with, e.g., spilled beverage. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a system that advances items in a plastic glide tray without a spring-loaded pusher member. 
     There is a further need for a system that advances items in a plastic glide tray that reduces the number of working parts that need to be assembled or disassembled. 
     There is a further need for a system that allows for replacement of parts without the need for specially trained service personnel, thus reducing downtime and repair costs. 
     There is also a need for a system that allows for easy cleaning. 
     The present disclosure provides a simple but innovative solution to overcome the above problems and recognized needs of the prior art. 
     SUMMARY 
     One embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a roller strip seat comprising: a seat, wherein the seat comprises a base having a top, a bottom, a width having two edges and a length having two ends; a first and a second roller support bar disposed on opposite sides of the width along the length and having a portion disposed substantially perpendicularly in a direction away from the top, wherein each of the first and second rollers support bars has a plurality of spaced apart openings disposed therein, wherein a spaced apart opening of the first roller support bar is disposed opposite a spaced apart opening of the second roller support bar, and wherein oppositely disposed spaced apart openings of the first and second roller support bars are configured to hold one of a plurality of rollers; at least one locator disposed on and away from the bottom; at least one locking element disposed on and away from the bottom; and a plurality of rollers, wherein one of the plurality of rollers each is disposed in oppositely disposed spaced openings. 
     Preferably, the spaced openings of the first and second roller support bars are evenly spaced along a length of each of the first and second roller support bars. Also preferably, the at least one locator is disposed and configured to matingly engage a plastic glide tray so as to properly align the base of the roller strip seat in the plastic glide tray. More preferably, the at least one locator comprises a plurality of locators and, more preferably still, at least one of the plurality of locators is disposed proximal each edge of the width and proximal each end of the length. Most preferably, the plurality of locators comprises a first and a second pair of locators, wherein each of the first pair of locators is disposed substantially opposite the other and substantially equidistant from each edge and proximal a first end of the length, and wherein each of the second pair of locators is disposed substantially equidistant from each edge and proximal a second end of the length. Also preferably, the at least one locking element is disposed and configured to matingly engage a plastic glide tray so as to lock the base of the roller strip seat to the plastic glide tray. More preferably the least one locking element comprises a plurality of locking elements and, more preferably still, at least one of the plurality of locking elements is disposed proximal each end of the length of the roller strip seat. Most preferably, the at least one locking element comprises a plurality of locking elements disposed along the length of the roller strip seat, and the plurality of locking elements are uniformly disposed along the length of the roller strip seat. 
     Each roller comprises a cylinder portion having a diameter and a length and a connection element at each end of the length. Preferably, each cylinder portion has substantially the same diameter. Also preferably, each connection element is configured to matingly engage one of a pair of oppositely disposed openings in the first and second roller support bars so as to allow the cylinder to freely rotate. Also preferably, the configuration of the connection elements on each roller in association with the configuration of the oppositely disposed openings allows the roller to freely rotate without pulling away from or out of the oppositely disposed openings in the first and second roller support bars. 
     Another embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a method of assembling a roller strip seat, the method comprising: providing a seat having base with a top, a bottom, a width having two edges and a length having two ends; providing a plurality of rollers; disposing a first and a second roller support bar on opposite sides of the width along at least a portion of the length and substantially perpendicularly in a direction away from the top; disposing a plurality of spaced apart openings in each of the first and second of rollers support bars; arranging a spaced opening of the first roller support bar to be opposite a spaced apart opening of the second roller support bar to form a pair of spaced apart openings; configuring oppositely disposed spaced openings of the first and second roller support bars to hold one of the plurality of rollers; disposing at least one locator on and away from the bottom of the base; disposing at least one locking element disposed on and away from the bottom of the base, wherein the at least one locator and at least one locking element are configured to matingly engage a plastic glide tray; configuring each of the plurality of rollers with connectors so as to be disposed in oppositely disposed spaced apart openings; and placing at least one of plurality of rollers in one of the plurality of pairs of oppositely disposed spaced apart openings. 
     Additional details of the rollers and the roller support bars are described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,376,154 having the same inventor as the present disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent or patent application publication with color drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee. 
         FIG. 1  is an overhead perspective view of a plastic glide tray having a roller strip seat disposed therein of the present disclosure; and  FIG. 1A  is a detail view of section “A” of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view of a plastic glide tray having a roller strip seat disposed therein showing locking elements and locators of the roller strip seat used to align and lock the roller strip seat to the plastic glide tray of the present disclosure;  FIG. 2A  is a detail view of section “A” of  FIG. 2 ; and  FIG. 2B  is a detail view of section “B” of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded bottom perspective view showing the parts of plastic glide tray and roller strip seat of the present disclosure; and  FIG. 3A  is a detail view of section “A” of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 4  is a side perspective view of a front roller strip seat having rollers disposed therein of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a side perspective view of a middle roller strip seat having rollers disposed therein of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom perspective view of a rear roller strip seat having rollers disposed therein of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of a plastic glide tray having a roller strip seat dispose therein of the present disclosure; and  FIG. 7A  is an enlarged cross-sectional view through line “A-A” of  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A preferred embodiment of the present disclosure will now be described in conjunction with the Figures, in which like numerals denote like elements. 
       FIG. 1  shows a system  100  that is a combination of a plastic glide tray  110  and a roller strip seat  120 . Generally, system  100  is used in a refrigerated enclosure (not shown) to maintain beverage bottles or cans at a suitable temperature. As is known, a refrigerated enclosure generally comprises a box-like structure having doors that either slide or rotate to open so that a beverage bottle or can may be removed from the refrigerated enclosure. Plastic glide tray  110  comprises a bottom  130 , a backstop  140 , a front stop  150 , a lower front guard  160  and plastic dividers  170 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , plastic glide tray  110  comprises a front section  111 , a plurality of middle sections  112  and a rear section  113 . In practice, front, middle and rear sections  111 ,  112  and  113  are typically of a set standard length, with variations of the depth of a refrigerated enclosure being accommodated by the number of middle sections  112  used. Front section  111 , middle sections  112 , and rear section  113  are detachably connected so that, as mentioned above, plastic glide trays  100  of different lengths can be assembled to accommodate different depths of refrigerated enclosures. The connections of front section  111 , middle sections  112 , and rear section  113  will be more easily seen in conjunction with  FIG. 2 . Roller strip seat  120  comprises a plurality of rollers  180  and a pair of roller support bars  190 . In the embodiment of plastic glide tray  110  shown in  FIG. 1 , backstop  140  is shown as a semi-rectangular configuration having a back edge  141  and two parallel side retention bars  142 . The function of backstop  140  is to prevent merchandise, such as beverage bottles or cans, from falling off the back of system  100 . Also in the embodiment of plastic glide tray  110  shown in  FIG. 1 , front stop  150  is of a generally arc-like curved design  151  that is configured to conform to the exterior shape of a typical beverage bottle or can. Lower front guard  160 , in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , comprises two curved portions  161 . The function of curved portions  161  is to prevent a typical beverage bottle or can from tilting forward at the bottom thereof and possibly slipping out of plastic glide tray  110 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , lower front guard  160  is shown as two curved portions  161  but could be a continuous curved strip or other suitable design. Plastic dividers  170  can be integral with bottom  130  of plastic glide tray  110  or separate therefrom. If separate therefrom, plastic dividers  170  would have suitable attachment means for attaching to bottom  130 . Also in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , plastic dividers  170  each comprises an opening  171 . Openings  171  are a mere matter of design choice and are employed, generally, to reduce the amount of material, i.e. plastic, that is necessary for the manufacture of plastic dividers  170 . The function of plastic dividers  170  is to delineate rows of beverage bottles or cans and prevent the bottles or cans from tipping sideways into adjacent rows of beverage bottles or cans. In operation, beverage bottles or cans are inserted between dividers  170  of plastic glide tray  100  and are pushed rearwardly toward backstop  140  until plastic glide tray is filled with beverage bottles or cans. As noted above, backstop  140  prevents beverage bottles or cans from proceeding too far rearwardly and exit plastic glide tray  110  and or tilt in a rearward direction. Bottom  130  also comprises a front spacer  131  disposed on the front edge of bottom  130  below curved portions  161 . The function of front spacer  131  is to assure proper spacing of a front edge  132  (here shown in a typical curved shape) of bottom  130 , and thus plastic glide tray  110 , at a distance away from the doors of refrigerated enclosure so as not to interfere with the function thereof. 
       FIG. 1A  shows a detail of section “A” of  FIG. 1 . Shown in  FIG. 1A  is a portion of roller support bar  190  and a plurality of rollers  180 . As can be seen in  FIG. 1  A, roller support bar  190  has a plurality of substantially evenly spaced apart side openings  191 , a plurality of evenly spaced top openings  192  and, disposed near the upper edge  193  of top openings  192 , a pair of oppositely disposed protrusions  194  (only one of which is shown for each top opening  192  in the  FIG. 1A  in perspective view). Each roller  180  comprises a cylindrical portion  181  having a length and a connector  182  at each end of the length (only one of which is shown for each roller  180  in the  FIG. 1A  perspective view). Rollers  180  can be inserted into roller support bar  190  by aligning connectors  182  above top openings  192  and pressing downwardly. Connectors  182  are of a size slightly greater than a space  195  between adjacent protrusions  194  such that pressing downwardly on rollers  180  causes connectors  182  to pass by protrusions  194  and be seated properly into openings  191 . Protrusions  194 , in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  A, have a rounded configuration such that connectors  182  may pass more easily downwardly therebetween for insertion into openings  191 . The connection or fit between connector  182  and protrusions  194  is of a “snap-fit” nature. Openings  191  are provided so that a tool of suitable size and material may be inserted therein to pass under connector  182  and exert an upward force thereon to “pop” connector  182  upwardly past protrusions  194  for removal of roller  180  from roller support bar  190 , such as for replacement of a broken roller. While connectors  182  are of a dimension slightly greater than the distance  195  between adjacent protrusions  194 , connectors  182  are of a dimension smaller than a space  196  between opposite walls  197  of openings  191 . By this cooperative dimensional relationship between connectors  182  and spaces  195  and  196 , rollers  180  are assured of being held in roller support bar  190  to prevent rollers  180  from disengaging out of position in roller support bar  190 , yet allow rollers  180  to rotate freely when placed in position in roller support bar  190 . 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a bottom  200  of plastic glide tray  110  having a roller strip seat  120  (not fully shown in  FIG. 2 ) of the present disclosure disposed therein showing locking elements  210  and locators  220  of roller strip seat  120  that are used to align and lock roller strip seat  120  to plastic glide tray  110 . Front section  111 , middle sections  112 , and rear section  113  are more clearly seen in  FIG. 2  and can be detachably connected using suitable connection means (not shown in  FIG. 2 ). In one commercial embodiment of plastic glide tray  110 , front section  111 , middle sections  112 , and rear section  113  are detachable via connection means (not shown in  FIG. 2 ) to adjust the length of the plastic glide tray. This detachment and reconnection is accomplished by breaking off one or more middle sections  112  and re-attaching rear section  113 . In this commercial embodiment, rear section  113  is provided with “prongs” (not shown in  FIG. 2 ) that can be slid into receiving “holes” (not shown in  FIG. 2 ) of the remaining middle section  112 . Bottom  200  of plastic glide tray comprises a plurality of ribs  230  (see,  FIG. 2A ). Ribs  230  are generally disposed on bottom  200  of plastic glide tray  110  in a substantially perpendicular crisscross pattern with some longitudinal ribs  231  disposed substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis L of plastic glide tray  110  and other transverse ribs  232  disposed substantially perpendicular to longitudinal ribs  231  (see  FIG. 2A ). Also disposed on bottom  130  of plastic glide tray  110  is a plurality of bottom openings  240  which are also disposed substantially parallel to longitudinal axis L of plastic glide tray  110 . Longitudinal ribs  231 , transverse ribs  232  and bottom openings  240  are provided to reduce the amount of material needed to manufacture plastic glide tray  110 , yet maintain structural rigidity and integrity thereof, and bottom openings  240  of plastic glide tray are generally of uniform width. In addition, longitudinal ribs  231  and transverse ribs  232  provide less surface area and thus reduced friction for better sliding of beverage bottles or cans (when roller strip seat  120  is not disposed thereon). Also, bottom openings  240  allow for drainage in case of beverage bottle or can leakage. 
       FIG. 2A  shows a detail view of section A of  FIG. 2 . In  FIG. 2A , longitudinal ribs  231  and transverse ribs  232  and bottom openings  240  are more easily seen. Also shown in  FIG. 2A  is a plurality of locking elements  210  that are disposed on the bottom  200  of roller strip seat  120 . Locking elements  210  are disposed on the bottom  200  of roller strip seat  120  in positions so that they engage with bottom openings  240 . As shown in  FIG. 2A , locking elements  210  comprise an arrow-shaped tip  211  and a stem  212  (more clearly seen in  FIG. 3A ). The arrow-shaped tip  211  shown in  FIG. 2A  is generally a trapezoidal shape/structure having a narrower tip  213  and a wider base  214 . This generally trapezoidal shape/structure of arrow-shaped tip  211  is configured so that locking element  210  can be easily inserted into bottom opening  240  and be held against adjacent edges  241  of bottom opening  240  to lock roller strip seat  120  in position on plastic glide tray  110 .  FIG. 2B  shows a detail view of section B of  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2B  shows a detail view of the bottom of rear section  113 . In  FIG. 2B , longitudinal ribs  231  and transverse ribs  232  are shown as are locking elements  210  and a pair of locators  220 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , roller strip seat  120  is comprised of a plurality of sections: front section  311 , middle sections  312 , and rear section  313 , conforming to front section  111 , middle sections  112 , and rear section  113  of plastic glide tray  110 , respectively. Each of the plurality of front section  311 , middle sections  312 , and rear section  313  of roller strip seat  120  has a pair of locators  220  disposed generally proximal a rear edge and a front edge of each of front section  311 , middle sections  312 , and rear sections  313  (see,  FIG. 3 ) and configured to abut a transverse rib  232  also disposed generally proximal a rear edge and a front edge of each of front section  111 , middle sections  112 , and rear section  113  of plastic glide tray  110 . Locators  220  are disposed to allow each of front section  311 , middle sections  312 , and rear section  313  of roller strip seat  120  to be properly placed and aligned (i.e. “located”) in relation to its matching front section  111 , middle sections  112  and rear section  113  of plastic glide tray  100 . Once properly placed and aligned, each of front section  311 , middle sections  312 , and rear section  313  of roller strip seat  120  can then be pressed downwardly so that locking elements  210 , now properly aligned with bottom openings  240 , can matingly engage therewith. Thus, locators  220  allow proper and rapid alignment of each of front section  311 , middle sections  312  and rear section  313  of roller strip seat  120  with front section  111 , middle sections  112  and rear section  113  of plastic glide tray  110 , respectively. 
       FIG. 3  shows an exploded bottom view of plastic glide tray  100  and roller strip seat  120  of  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 3A  shows a detail view of section A of  FIG. 3 . As can be more clearly seen in  FIG. 3A , in the embodiment of the present disclosure shown in the Figures, locking elements  210  and locators  220  project downwardly from the bottom surface  310  of roller strip seat  120 . Also in the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure as shown in  FIG. 3A , locking elements  210  comprise an arrow-shaped tip  211  and a stem  212 . The arrow-shaped tip  211  shown in  FIG. 3A  is generally a trapezoidal structure having a narrow tip  213  and a wider base  214 . Base  214  of arrow-shaped tip  211  has a generally flat portion  215  that rests against oppositely disposed edges of longitudinal ribs  231  of bottom opening  240 . This configuration serves to provide vertical stability to each of front section  311 , middle sections  312  and rear section  313  of rollers strip seat  120  when disposed in place against plastic glide tray  110 . As is known in the art, plastic glide tray is generally fabricated from molded plastic material, such as polypropylene (PP). PP is generally used since it has an inherent low friction coefficient and allows for proper “sliding” of beverage bottles or cans in the plastic glide tray. As a result of the PP material and length, longitudinal ribs  231  have a degree of “flexibility” such that bottom openings  240  have a degree of “expandability”. Thus, bottom openings  240  can be expanded by and accept arrow-shaped tip  211 , and then return to their original size and shape and thus abut against generally flat portion  215 , thereby “locking” arrow-shaped tip  211  in place. Stem  212  has a width  320  and a length  330  that are configured to substantially conform to the width and depth dimensions of bottom openings  240  of plastic glide tray  110 . Of course, width  320  and length  330  of stem  212  will depend upon any particular plastic glide tray  110  with which roller strip seat  120  is used and, therefore, the particular dimensions of width  320  and length  330  are not provided here. While arrow-shaped tip  211  is in the shape of a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure shown in the Figures, it will be appreciated that arrow-shaped tip  211  need not be in that particular shape. Alternative shapes can be envisioned by those of skill in the art based on the present disclosure, such shapes including a “ball and post”, wherein the ball corresponds to arrow-shaped tip  211  and the post corresponds to stem  212 . It should be noted that stem  212  can be designed as a solid piece or with a “narrow” area to provide for flexibility of placement of arrow-shaped tip  211 . Other possible shapes will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art. Locators  220  of the preferred embodiment shown in the Figures generally have a post-like shape and, as shown in, e.g.,  FIGS. 3 and 3A , are comprised of a generally square shape having substantially equal widths  340  and lengths  350 . Widths  340  and length  350  need not be of any particular size, with the only requirement being that they be of appropriate size to fit in bottom openings  240 . Locators  220  also have a depth  360  that likewise need not be of any particular dimension, so long as depth  360  provides sufficient contact with an edge of bottom opening  240  to allow sure placement of locators  220  in and with relation to bottom openings  240 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a side perspective view of front section  311  of roller strip seat  120 ;  FIG. 5  shows a side perspective view of middle section  312  of roller strip seat  120 ; and  FIG. 6  shows a bottom perspective view of the rear section  313  of roller strip seat  120 .  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  to not use any new elements that have not been described with respect to  FIGS. 1-3A . 
       FIG. 7  shows a side view of plastic glide tray  110  comprised of front section  111 , middle sections  112  and rear section  113  having a roller strip seat comprised of front section  311 , middle sections  312  and rear section  313  disposed therein.  FIG. 7A  shows a cross-sectional view through line A-A of  FIG. 7 . As with  FIGS. 4-6 ,  FIG. 7  does not introduce any new elements that have not been described with respect to  FIGS. 1-3A . Also, in  FIG. 7 , locking element  210  on the left is not fully seen due to being disposed behind transverse rib  232 . 
     As will be appreciated based on the foregoing detailed description, plastic glide tray  110  may be comprised of any sized front section  111 , any number of middle sections  112 , and any sized rear section  113 . Accordingly, front section  311 , middle sections  312  and rear section  313  of roller strip seat  120  may be sized accordingly. Generally, middle sections  312  are the same size, but can be sized differently to accommodate changes in a plastic glide tray. 
     It should also be noted that the terms “first”, “second”, “third”, “upper”, “lower”, and the like may be used herein to modify various elements. These modifiers do not imply a spatial, sequential, or hierarchical order to the modified elements unless specifically stated. 
     While the present disclosure has been described with reference to one or more exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed as the best mode contemplated, but that the disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. 
     All of the patents and patent publications referred to herein are Incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth verbatim in this disclosure.