Patent Publication Number: US-11377268-B2

Title: Sealable container system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Food containers for home use that provide for a negative air pressure (relative to ambient air pressure) are known in the prior art, and typically employ a complicated one-way valve on a lid or some other valve, nozzle, or air-pump mechanism. Such mechanisms are necessarily opaque in many cases, which hinders the view of food items that may be contained in such containers. Also, such mechanisms add to the cost of such products, and complicate their operation. Many of these containers fail to provide a strong negative-pressure seal when closed and or will leak when upended. 
     Further, many such prior art containers are necessarily circular in plan view so that pressure is evenly distributed around the rim of the container and the lid. This is necessary with many prior art devices due to the valve mechanism or sealing mechanism utilized with such devices. With these prior art mechanisms, a square or rectangular container that has a seal having a point or radiused corner doesn&#39;t properly function to maintain a negative air pressure within the container. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Disclosed herein is a sealable container system as specified in the independent claims. Embodiments of the present invention are given in the dependent claims. Embodiments of the present invention can be freely combined with each other if they are not mutually exclusive. 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, a sealable container system includes a body and a lid assembly. The body includes: an open top end; a closed bottom end; at least one side wall, where the closed bottom end and the at least one side wall defines an internal volume in the body; and one or more bumps residing on the at least one side wall and projecting away from an inside surface of the at least one side wall and toward the internal volume. The lid assembly includes: a lid with a top side and a bottom side opposite the top side; an outer wall and an inner wall residing at the bottom side and projecting downward from the bottom side; a channel between the outer wall and the inner wall; and a gasket that includes a wall portion and a lip. When the gasket engages the lid, the wall portion resides within the channel and the lip resides outside the channel. 
     When the lid assembly is pressed into the open end of the body, the lip of the gasket engages the one or more bumps and deforms to accommodate the one or more bumps, where a gap between the lip of the gasket and the inside surface of the at least one side wall is formed, where air in the internal volume exits through the gap. 
     When the lip of the gasket engages the one or more bumps and deforms to accommodate the one or more bumps, a gap between the lip of the gasket and the inside surface of the at least one side wall is formed, where air in the internal volume exits through the gap. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE FIGURES 
         FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a top perspective view and a bottom perspective view, respectively, of the sealable container system according to the first exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a top perspective view of the body of the sealable container system according to the first exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a close-up perspective view of the divot according to the first exemplary embodiment. 
         FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate a top exploded perspective view and a bottom exploded perspective view, respectively, of the lid assembly according to the first exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates close-up perspective views of the lid assembly according to the first exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates close-up front and side views of the clip according to the first exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the sealable container system according to the first exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a close-up cross-sectional view of the lid assembly in a closed position according to the first exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a close-up cross-sectional view of the lid assembly in an open position according to the first exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a top perspective view of the body of the sealable container system according to the second exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 13  illustrates a close-up perspective view of the divot according to the second exemplary embodiment. 
         FIGS. 14A-14B  illustrate a top exploded perspective view and a bottom exploded perspective view, respectively, of the lid assembly according to the second exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 15  illustrates a close-up cross-sectional view of the sealable container system according to the second exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 16  illustrates a close-up cross-sectional view of the lid assembly in a closed position according to the second exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 17  illustrates a close-up cross-sectional view of the lid assembly in an open position according to the second exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 18  illustrates a top perspective view of the body of the sealable container system according to the third exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 19  illustrates a close-up perspective view of the bump according to the third exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 20  illustrates a close-up cross-sectional view of the lid assembly in a closed position according to the third exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 21  illustrates a close-up cross-sectional view of the lid assembly in an open position according to the third exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 22  illustrates a close-up cross-sectional view of the lid assembly in a closed position according to the fourth exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 23  illustrates a close-up cross-sectional view of the lid assembly in an open position according to the fourth exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 24  illustrates a bottom perspective view of the sealable container system according to the fifth exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 25  illustrates a bottom exploded perspective view of the sealable container system according to the fifth exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 26  is a top exploded perspective view of the body and gasket of the sealable container system according to the fifth exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 27  is a cross-sectional view of the sealable container system according to the fifth exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 28  is a cross-sectional view of the sealable container system according to the fifth exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the present invention and is provided in the context of a patent application and its requirements. Various modifications to the embodiment will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the generic principles herein may be applied to other embodiments. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiment shown but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein. 
     Reference in this specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “an exemplary embodiment”, or “a preferred embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Moreover, various features are described which may be exhibited by some embodiments and not by others. Similarly, various requirements are described which may be requirements for some embodiments but not other embodiments. In general, features described in one embodiment might be suitable for use in other embodiments as would be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
     Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to.” Words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number respectively. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below” and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. When the claims use the word “or” in reference to a list of two or more items, that word covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list and any combination of the items in the list. When the word “each” is used to refer to an element that was previously introduced as being at least one in number, the word “each” does not necessarily imply a plurality of the elements but can also mean a singular element. 
       FIGS. 1-11  illustrate a first exemplary embodiment of the sealable container system according to the present invention. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a top perspective view and a bottom perspective view, respectively, of the sealable container system according to the first exemplary embodiment. The sealable container system  100  includes a body  102  and a lid assembly  101 .  FIG. 3  illustrates a top perspective view of the body of the sealable container system according to the first exemplary embodiment. The body  102  includes an open top end, a closed bottom end  116 , and at least one side wall  103 . The bottom end  116  and the side walls  103  define an internal volume in the body  102 . The side walls  103  include one or more divots  104  residing at the upper edges of the side walls  103  proximate to the open top end and in an inside surface of the side walls  103 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a close-up perspective view of the divot according to the first exemplary embodiment. Each divot  104  is composed of a cavity in the inside surface of the side wall  103  and a bump  114  residing within the cavity and projecting toward the inside volume of the body  102 . The divot  104  includes a top cavity  104   a  above the bump  114  and in the upper edge of the side wall  103 . The divot  104  further includes a bottom cavity  104   b  under the bump  114  and within the side wall  103 . Each divot  104  is able to engage a clip of the lid assembly  101  to seal the container system as described further below. Preferably, the body  102  is made from a semi-rigid material, such as a semi-rigid plastic injection-molded material. 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate a top exploded perspective view and a bottom exploded perspective view, respectively, of the lid assembly according to the first exemplary embodiment. The lid assembly  101  includes a lid  105  and an elastomeric gasket  106 . The lid  105  includes a top side  107   a  and a bottom side  107   b  opposite the top side  107   a , with an outer wall  108  and an inner wall  109  residing at the bottom side  107   b  and projecting downward from the bottom side  107   b . A plurality of clips  111  resides on an outer surface of the outside wall  108 . The clips  111  are able to engage the divots  104  of the body  102 , as described below. In this exemplary embodiment, when the lid assembly  101  fully engages the body  102 , the clips  111  are not visible by a user from outside of the sealable container system  100 , and the user need not interact with the clips  111  to engage or disengage the lid assembly  101  from the body  102 . The outer  108  and inner  109  walls reside at the bottom side  107   b  such that a channel  110  exists between the outer  108  and inner  109  walls and a lip  117  exists at the outer edges of the lid  105 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the gasket  106  includes a wall portion  120  and a lip  115  at the outer edges of the gasket  106 . When engaged with the lid  105 , the wall portion  120  of the gasket  106  resides within the channel  110  of the lid  105 , while the lip  115  of the gasket  106  resides outside of the channel  110 . The lip  115  is configured for resilient deformation, as described further below. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a close-up perspective view of the lid assembly according to the first exemplary embodiment.  FIG. 8  illustrates close-up front and side views of the clip according to the first exemplary embodiment. The lid assembly  101  includes the lid  105  coupled to the gasket  106 , and the lid  105  includes the outer wall  108  and the clip  111 . The clip  111  includes a clip protrusion  112  projecting outward from the outer wall  108  and a clip support rib  113  that couples the clip protrusion  112  to the outer surface of the outer wall  108 . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the sealable container system according to the first exemplary embodiment. When the lid assembly  101  engages the body  102  in a closed position, the lip  115  of the gasket  106  fully seats against the inside surface of the side walls  103  of the body  102 , and the clips  111  of the lid assembly  101  engages the divots  104 . 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a close-up cross-sectional view of the lid assembly in a closed position according to the first exemplary embodiment. As the lid assembly  101  is pressed into the open end of the body  102 , the lip  115  of the gasket  106  abuts the divot  104 , and the cavities  104   a - 104   b  form a gap between the lip  115  and the inside surfaces of the side walls  103 . This allows air in the internal volume of the body  102 , that is displaced due to the pressing of the lid assembly  101 , to exit through the gap. When the lip  115  travels past the divot  104 , the lip  115  fully seats against the inside surfaces of the side walls  103 , imparting negative air pressure to the internal volume of the body  102 . “Negative air pressure”, as used herein, refers to the air pressure in the internal volume of the body being lower than the air pressure outside of the internal volume. The air pressure in the internal volume may include, but is not limited to, a vacuum. The negative air pressure within the body  102  urges the lip  115  of the gasket  106  against the inside surface of the side walls  103 . As the lid assembly  101  continues to be pressed into the body  102 , the clip protrusion  112  eventually engages the bump  114 . In this exemplary embodiment, the clip protrusion  112  engages the lower portion of the bump  114 . This creates resistance between the bump  114  and the clip protrusion  112 , which assists in holding the lid assembly  101  in the closed position. In this exemplary embodiment, a tactile and/or audio feedback occurs when the clip protrusion  112  engages the bottom portion of the bump  114 , signaling to the user that the lid assembly  101  is fully seated on the body  102 . 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a close-up cross-sectional view of the lid assembly in an open position according to the first exemplary embodiment. To remove the lid assembly  101  from the body  102 , the lid  105 , via the lip  117 , is pulled away from the body  102  to sufficiently overcome the negative air pressure imparted to the internal volume of the body  102 . As the lip  117  of the lid  105  is pulled, the clip protrusion  112  disengages from the bump  114 . The lip  115  of the gasket  106  abuts the divot  104 , reforming the gaps with the gap. This allows air to enter the internal volume of the body  102  through the cavities  104   a - 104   b  and releases the negative air pressure within the body  102 . 
       FIGS. 12-17  illustrate a second exemplary embodiment of the sealable container system according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 12  illustrates a top perspective view of the body of the sealable container system according to the second exemplary embodiment. The body  202  includes an open top end, a closed bottom end  216 , and at least one side wall  203 . The bottom end  216  and the side walls  203  define an internal volume in the body  202 . The side walls  203  include one or more divots  204  residing in the upper edges of the side walls  203  proximate to the open top end and in the inside surfaces of the side walls  203 .  FIG. 13  illustrates a close-up perspective view of the divot according to the second exemplary embodiment. Each divot  204  is composed of a cavity in the upper edge and the inside surface of the side walls  203 . Unlike the divot  103  illustrated in  FIG. 4 , no bump resides within the divot  204 . 
       FIGS. 14A-14B  illustrate a top exploded perspective view and a bottom exploded perspective view, respectively, of the lid assembly according to the second exemplary embodiment. The lid assembly  201  includes a lid  205  and an elastomeric gasket  206 . The lid  205  includes a top side  207   a  and a bottom side  207   b , with an outer wall  208  and an inner wall  209  residing at the bottom side  207   b  and projecting downward from the bottom side  207   b . The outer  208  and inner  209  walls reside at the bottom side  207 B such that a channel  210  exists between the outer  208  and inner  209  walls and a lip  217  exists at the outer edges of the lid  205 . As illustrated in  FIG. 14A , the gasket  206  includes a wall portion  220  and a lip  215  at the outer edges of the gasket  206 . When engaged with the lid  205 , the wall portion  220  of the gasket  206  resides within the channel  210 , while the lip  215  resides outside of the channel  210 . The lip  215  of the gasket  206  is configured for resilient deformation, as described further below. Contrary to the lid assembly  101  illustrated in  FIGS. 5-6 , the lid assembly  202  does not include any clips. 
       FIG. 15  illustrates a close-up cross-sectional view of the sealable container system according to the second exemplary embodiment. When the lid assembly  201  engages the body  202  in a closed position, the lip  215  of the gasket  206  fully seats against the inside surface of the side walls  203  of the body  202 . 
       FIG. 16  illustrates a close-up cross-sectional view of the lid assembly in a closed position according to the second exemplary embodiment. As the lid assembly  201  is pressed into the open end of the body  202 , the lip  215  of the gasket  206  abuts the divot  204 , and the divot  204  forms a gap between the lip  215  and the inside surfaces of the side walls  203 . This allows air in the internal volume of the body  202 , that is displaced due to the pressing of the lid assembly  201 , to exit through the gap. When the lip  215  travels past the divot  204 , the lip  215  fully seats against the inside surface of the side wall  203 , imparting negative air pressure to the internal volume of the body  202 . 
       FIG. 17  illustrates a close-up cross-sectional view of the lid assembly in an open position according to the second exemplary embodiment. To remove the lid assembly  201  from the body  202 , the lid  205 , via the lip  217 , is pulled away from the body  202  to sufficiently overcome the negative air pressure imparted to the internal volume of the body  202 . As the lip  217  of the lid  205  is pulled, the lip  215  of the gasket  206  abuts the divot  204 , reforming the gap. This allows air to enter the internal volume of the body  202  through the gap and releases the negative air pressure within the body  202 . 
       FIGS. 18-21  illustrate a third exemplary embodiment of the sealable container system according to the present invention. In this third exemplary embodiment, the sealable container system includes the lid assembly  101  illustrated in  FIGS. 5-8 . 
       FIG. 18  illustrates a top perspective view of the body of the sealable container system according to the third exemplary embodiment. The body  302  includes an open top end, a closed bottom end  316 , and one or more side walls  303 . The bottom end  316  and the side walls  303  define an internal volume in the body  302 . The side walls  303  include one or more bumps  304  projecting away from an inside surface of the side walls  303  toward the internal volume in the body  302 .  FIG. 19  illustrates a close-up perspective view of the bump according to the third exemplary embodiment. In this exemplary embodiment, the bump  304  is of a partial tubular shape, however, other shapes may be used. 
       FIG. 20  illustrates a close-up cross-sectional view of the lid assembly in a closed position according to the third exemplary embodiment. As the lid assembly  101  is pressed into the open top end of the body  302 , the lip  115  of the gasket  106  engages the bump  304 . Upon engagement of the bump  304 , the lip  115  deforms to accommodate the bump  304 , such that a gap is formed between the lip  115  and the inside surfaces of the side walls  303 . This allows air in the internal volume of the body  302 , that is displaced due to the pressing of the lid assembly  101 , to exit through the gap. When the lid assembly  101  continues to be pressed into the open top end of the body  302 , the lip  115  of the gasket  106  eventually clears the bump  304 , allowing the lip  115  to be fully seated against the inside surfaces of the side walls  303 . Negative air pressure within the body  302  urges the lip  115  of the gasket  106  against the side walls  303  of the body  302  when the lid  105  is fully seated within the body  302 . As the lid assembly  101  continues to be pressed into the body  302 , the clip protrusion  112  eventually engages the lower portion of the bump  304 . This creates resistance between the bump  304  and the clip protrusion  112 , which assists in holding the lid assembly  101  in the closed position. In this exemplary embodiment, a tactile and/or audio feedback occurs when the clip protrusion  112  engages the bottom portion of the bump  304 , signaling to the user that the lid assembly  101  is fully seated on the body  302 . 
       FIG. 21  illustrates a close-up cross-sectional view of the lid assembly in an open position according to the third exemplary embodiment. To remove the lid assembly  101  from the body  302 , the lid  105 , via the lip  117 , is pulled away from the body  302  to sufficiently overcome the negative air pressure imparted on the internal volume of the body  302 . As the lip  117  is pulled, the clip protrusion  112  disengages from the bump  304 , and the lip  115  of the gasket  106  engages the bump  304  such that the gaps re-form between the lip  115  of the gasket  106  and the inside surface of the side walls  303 , allowing air to enter the internal volume of the body  302  through the gaps and releasing the negative air pressure within the body  302 . 
       FIGS. 22-24  illustrate a fourth exemplary embodiment of the sealable container system according to the present invention. In this fourth exemplary embodiment, the sealable container system includes the body  302  illustrated in  FIGS. 18-19  and the lid assembly  101  illustrated in  FIGS. 14A-14B . 
       FIG. 22  illustrates a close-up cross-sectional view of the lid assembly in a closed position according to the fourth exemplary embodiment. As the lid assembly  201  is pressed into the open top end of the body  302 , the lip  215  of the gasket  206  engages the bump  304 . Upon engagement of the bump  304 , the lip  215  deforms to accommodate the bump  304 , such that a gap is formed between the lip  215  and the inside surfaces of the side walls  303 . This allows air in the body  302 , that is displaced due to the pressing of the lid assembly  201 , to exit through the gap. When the lid assembly  201  continues to be pressed into the open top end of the body  302 , the lip  215  of the gasket  206  eventually clears the bump  304 , allowing the lip  215  to be fully seated against the side walls  303 . Negative air pressure within the body  302  urges the lip  215  of the gasket  206  against the side walls  303  of the body  302  when the lid  205  is fully seated within the body  302 . 
       FIG. 23  illustrates a close-up cross-sectional view of the lid assembly in an open position according to the fourth exemplary embodiment. To remove the lid assembly  201  from the body  302 , the lid  205 , via the lip  217 , is pulled away from the body  302  to sufficiently overcome the negative air pressure imparted on the internal volume of the body  302 . As the lip  217  is pulled, the lip  215  of the gasket  206  engages the bump  304  such that the gaps re-form between the lip  215  of the gasket  206  and the inside surface of the side walls  303 , allowing air to enter the internal volume of the body  302  and releasing the negative air pressure within the body  302 . The lid assembly  201  may then be completely removed from the body  302 . 
       FIGS. 24-28  illustrate a fifth exemplary embodiment of the sealable container system according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 24  illustrates a bottom perspective view of the sealable container system according to the fifth exemplary embodiment.  FIG. 25  illustrates a bottom exploded perspective view of the sealable container system according to the fifth exemplary embodiment. The sealable container system  1  includes a body  20  that has an open top end  28  (see  FIG. 26 ), a closed bottom end  22 , and at least one side wall  25 . The bottom end  22  and the side walls  25  defines an internal volume  21  within the body  20 . The side walls  25  include at least one protuberance or bump ( FIGS. 26-28 ) projecting away from an inside surface of the side walls  25  towards the internal volume  21 . Preferably the body  20  is made from a semi-rigid plastic injection-molded material. The body  20  may be opaque, translucent, or transparent. 
     A lid  40  has a top side  48 , a bottom side  42 , and a peripheral edge  45 . An outside peripheral lip  50  projects downwardly from the bottom side  42  of the lid  40  proximate the peripheral edge  45 , and an inside peripheral lip  60  projects downwardly from the bottom side  42  of the lid  40  proximate the outside peripheral lip  50  and generally parallel thereto ( FIG. 28 ). Preferably the lid  40  is made from a semi-rigid, transparent plastic injection-molded material. 
     An elastomeric gasket  70  has a retention leg  72  configured for securing between the inside and outside peripheral lips  50 ,  60  of the lid  40 . The gasket  70  has a resilient sealing lip  74  projecting away from the retention leg  72  at a bottom side thereof. The sealing lip  74  is configured for resilient deformation by the at least one peripheral wall  25  of the container base  20 . Preferably the retention leg  72  of the gasket  70  further includes a plurality of elastomeric, resilient rectanguloid pegs  11  adapted to interlock with the corresponding apertures  12  in the inside peripheral lip  60 . Alternately the pegs  11  may be configured to engage the apertures  12  in the outside peripheral lip  50  (not shown). Although the lid  40  is shown with the inside peripheral lip  60 , the pegs  110 , and the apertures  12 , the lid  40  can also be constructed as a single piece with an integrated elastomeric gasket  70 . 
     As such, as the lid  40  is pressed into the open top end  28  of the body  20 , the sealing lip  74  is deformed upward by air being displaced within the body  20  and the sealing lip  74  is pressed against the inside surface  24  of the side walls  25 . As the lid  40  continues to be pressed into the open top end  28 , the sealing lip  74  eventually engages the protuberance  30 . The protuberance  30  is preferably a partial sphere or dome but can be other shapes as well. The protuberance  30  may also include a plurality of structures that, as a combination, provide a desired texture. Upon engagement of the protuberance  30 , the sealing lip  74  deforms to accommodate the protuberance  30 , such that a gap  80  is formed between the sealing lip  74  and the inside surface  24  on both sides of the protuberance  30 . When the lid  40  continues to be pressed into the open top end  28 , the sealing lip  74  eventually clears the protuberance  30 , allowing the sealing lip  74  to be fully seated against the side walls  25 . Negative air pressure within the body  20  urges the sealing lip  74  against the side walls  25  of the body  20  when the lid  40  is fully seated within the body  20 . Further, the top surface  48  of the lid  40  may be pressed in a center or any portion thereof to expel additional air out of the body  20  past the sealing lip  74 , whereupon the sealing lip  74   re -seals the body  20  and maintains the negative air pressure within the body  20 . 
     Thereafter, upon pulling the lid  40  away from the body  20  sufficiently to overcome the negative pressure imparted to the internal volume  21 , the sealing lip  74  passes the at least one protuberance such that the gaps re-form between the sealing lip  74  and the inside surface  24  of the side walls  25 , allowing air into the body  20  to further release the lid  40 . 
     In some embodiments, the body  20  is circular in plan view (not shown) and having one side wall  25 , or triangular in plan view (not shown) having three of the side walls  25 . Preferably, however, the body  20  is rectangular or square in plan view, the body  20  having four side walls  25  and the lid  40  having four peripheral edges  45 . As such, inside corners formed between each side wall  25  of the body  20  each have an inside radius  90  configured to match an outside radius  100  of corners of the sealing lip  74  of the gasket  70  ( FIG. 26 ). Further, in such an embodiment preferably there are at least two of the protuberances  30  on the inside surfaces  24  of each of the four side walls  25 . 
     Although the bodies  20 ,  102 ,  202 , and  302  in the exemplary embodiments are disclosed above with rectangular shapes, any of the bodies  20 ,  102 ,  202 ,  302  may alternatively have a non-rectangular shape (e.g. circular shape), without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Similarly, any of the lid assemblies  40 ,  101 , and  201  may have an alternative shape to match the shape of their corresponding bodies  20 ,  102 ,  202 ,  302 . 
     Although the present invention has been described in accordance with the embodiments shown, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that there could be variations to the embodiments and those variations would be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, many modifications may be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.