Patent Publication Number: US-7210869-B2

Title: Cartridge type stationery product

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a cartridge type stationery product including an attachable and detachable cartridge. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Conventionally, as a cartridge type stationery product of this kind, there is the one described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-81099 and shown in  FIG. 11 . The one described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-81099 is a correction tape coating tool, and as shown in  FIG. 11 , the correction tape coating tool is constructed by a body  50 , and a cartridge  60  which is attachable and detachable to and from the body  50 , and is a disposable and replaceable component. The cartridge  60  is inserted into the body  50  from a rear end opening  50   a  which is formed at a rear end of the body  50 , and a use tip end portion  60   a  made available for use of the cartridge  60  projects from a tip end opening  50   b  which is formed at a tip end of the body  50 . An elastic protuberance  60   b  of this cartridge  60  is locked at a locking hole  50   c  which is formed in the vicinity of the rear end opening  50   a . The cartridge  60  can be detached from the body  50  by pressing a pair of elastic arm portions  60   c  provided at both ends of the cartridge  60  in the opposing directions to each other, and pulling the cartridge  60  from the body  50  while releasing the locking of the elastic protuberance  60   b  from the locking hole  50   c.    
   However, the cartridge  60  is housed in the body  50  by locking of the elastic protuberance  60   b  in the locking hole  50   c , if a restoring force of the elastic arm portion  60   c  is weak, the cartridge  60  is likely to be detached from the body  50  unexpectedly. In order to form the elastic arm portion  60   c  at the cartridge  60 , it is necessary to provide a clearance for the elastic arm portion  60   c  to swing between the elastic arm portion  60   c  and the other portions of the cartridge  60 , and as a result, there arises the problem that the real net capacity of the cartridge  60  is limited. Especially when the capacity of the body  50  in which the cartridge  60  should be housed is small, the net capacity of the cartridge  60  is more limited. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a cartridge type stationery product in which a cartridge is not unexpectedly detached and the capacity of the cartridge can be taken large, in the cartridge type stationery product. 
   In order to achieve the object, a cartridge type stationery product according to the present invention includes a body and a cartridge attachable to and detachable from the body, characterized in that the cartridge is capable of being inserted from an opening of the body, a locking groove is formed on one of the cartridge and the body, and a locking protrusion which is adapted to be inserted into the locking groove is formed on the other of the cartridge and the body, and the locking groove comprises a first groove portion extending from a vicinity of the opening in a cartridge insertion direction, and a second groove portion extending from the first groove portion so as to form an angle with the first groove portion. 
   According to the present invention, on mounting the cartridge into the body, when the cartridge is inserted with respect to the body as the locking protrusion is inserted into the locking groove, the locking protrusion moves in the first groove portion, and after the locking protrusion reaches the end portion of the first groove portion, the cartridge is twisted and rotated with respect to the body, whereby the locking protrusion moves to the second groove portion. When the locking protrusion moves to the second groove portion, the cartridge cannot be moved even if the cartridge is tried to move in the both directions of the insertion direction with respect to the body, and thereby the cartridge can be mounted into the body reliably. When the cartridge is detached from the body, the reverse operation is performed. The cartridge is not easily detached from the body because such twist, namely, rotating manipulation is required. The cartridge is fixed to the body by the locking of the locking groove and the locking protrusion, and since an elastic arm portion is not used, the clearance for the elastic arm portion to swing can be made unnecessary, thus making it possible to take the net capacity of the cartridge large. 
   A cap can be detachably attached to a use tip end portion which is projected from the body of the cartridge. The cartridge can be prevented from being detached unexpectedly when the cap is attached or detached. 
   The cap may be incapable of rotating with respect to the body in the attached state. Because the cap is incapable of rotating with respect to the body, the cartridge can be reliably prevented from being detached unexpectedly when the cap is attached and detached. 
   The cap can cover the locking groove and locking protrusion in the attached state. Since the cap covers the locking groove and the locking protrusion, the outer appearance in the cap attached state can be made favorable. 
   The cap can include an ear portion extending to an outside of the body in the attached state. The ear portion can be used as the manipulation portion when the cap is attached and detached, and favorable manipulability can be obtained. 
   The ear portion can cover the locking groove and the locking protrusion from outside. Since the ear portion of the cap covers the locking groove and the locking protrusion, the outer appearance in the cap fitted state can be made favorable. 
   In one of the cartridge and the body on which the locking groove is formed, an opening may be formed in the vicinity of the second groove portion. When the locking protrusion moves to the second groove portion, the opening in the vicinity of the second groove portion is contracted, and the locking protrusion can move by pushing and widening the second groove portion instead. As a result, the groove width at the boundary portion between the first groove portion and the second groove portion, or the groove width of the second groove portion can be set to be small with respect to the locking protrusion, and thereby it is made possible to give manipulation feeling to the user. The locking protrusion can be fitted into the second groove portion. 
   A narrow width portion whose groove width may be smaller than an outer diameter of the locking protrusion is formed at a boundary portion between the first groove portion and the second groove portion. When the locking protrusion is moved from the first groove portion to the second groove portion, manipulation feeling can be given, and it is made possible to notify the user that the locking protrusion enters the second groove portion reliably. It is also possible to prevent the locking protrusion from releasing from the second groove portion to the first groove portion unexpectedly. 
   A cushion portion can be provided between an insertion end of the cartridge and an internal part of the body, so that the cartridge is biased in a releasing direction from the body by the cushion portion. Even if the dimensional difference exists between the locking protrusion and the locking groove in the locking state, both of the locking protrusion and the locking groove are biased to abut to each other by the cushion portion, and therefore rattling can be prevented. 
   The cushion portion of the invention can be formed integrally at the insertion end of the cartridge. An increase in the number of components can be prevented. Alternatively, the cushion portion can be a spring interposed between the insertion end of the cartridge and the internal part of the body. 
   The present disclosure relates to subject manner contained in Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-331655, filed on Sep. 24, 2003, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an overall view of a cartridge type stationery product according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an overall view showing a state in which a cap in  FIG. 1  is separated from a body and a cartridge; 
       FIG. 3  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the cartridge type stationery product in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the cartridge type stationery product according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 5A  is a side view of the body,  FIG. 5B  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view, and  FIG. 5C  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view seen from the reverse direction from  FIG. 5B ; 
       FIG. 6  is a side view of a cartridge; 
       FIG. 7A  is a side view of a cap, and  FIG. 7B  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view; 
       FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view of a projecting and retracting mechanism (as for a third barrel and a cam body, a perspective view with a half of them being removed); 
       FIG. 9  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 10  is a side view of a cartridge of still another embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 11  is an exploded perspective view of a conventional cartridge type stationery product. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be explained referring to the drawings. 
     FIG. 1  is an overall view of a cartridge type stationery product according to the present invention, and  FIG. 2  is a view showing a state in which a cap is separated from a body and a cartridge. In the drawings, a cartridge type stationery product  10  has a body  12  constructing a writing instrument and a cartridge  20  of a stationery product attachable to and detachable from the body  12 . A use (writing) tip end portion  14   a  of a ball point pen refill  14  (see  FIG. 3 ) which is housed inside the body  12  is projected from one end portion of the body  12 , and a use tip end portion  20   a  of the cartridge  20  which is inserted into the body  12  is projected from the other end of the body  12 . 
   In the following explanation, the explanation is made with the cartridge  20  mainly, and the side on which the use tip end portion  20   a  of the cartridge  20  is projected is referred to be a foremost side (front side) while the side on which the use tip end portion  14   a  of the ball point pen refill  14  is projected is referred to be a rear side. 
   In the case of this example, the cartridge  20  is a marker tool, but the cartridge  20  is not limited to this, and the cartridge  20  can be any replaceable and refillable cartridge of a stationery product such as a correction, adhesive or fluorescent highlighter tape coating tool. 
   A body  12  has a first barrel  12 A, a second barrel  12 B and a taper barrel  12 C which are connected to one another to construct one barrel. An elastic grip  13  is attached to an outer peripheral surface of the first barrel  12 A. It is possible to construct the first barrel  12 A and the taper barrel  12 C integrally, but in this example, the first barrel  12 A and the taper barrel  12 C are attachably and detachably screwed in each other. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B and  5 C, at a side surface portion of a tip end of the second barrel  12 B of the body  12 , a pair of semi-elliptical thin portions  12   b  and  12   b  opposing to each other are formed in the vicinity of a tip end opening  12   a , and a notch  12   d  and a locking groove  12   c  are formed in one of the thin portions  12   b . The locking groove  12   c  is comprised of a first groove portion  12   c   1  extending in an axial direction from the notch  12   d  in the vicinity of the tip end opening  12   a  to the rear, and a second groove portion  12   c   2  which is connected to a rear end of the first groove  12   c   1  and forms an angle with the first groove portion  12   c   1 . The first groove portion  12   c   1  extends in an insertion direction of the cartridge  20 , namely, in an approximately axial direction of the cartridge  20 , but “the insertion direction” here may not strictly correspond to the axial direction, and it also includes the direction having a small angle with respect to the axial direction, as shown in the drawing. On the other hand, a significant angle difference exists between the second groove portion  12   c   2  and the first groove portion  12   c   1  instead of a small difference. In this example, the second groove portion  12   c   2  extends in the direction approximately perpendicular to the axial direction. It is preferable that a boundary portion of the first groove portion  12   c   1  and the second groove portion  12   c   2  becomes a narrow width portion  12   j . The narrow width portion  12   j  can be formed by expanding both sides of the groove. 
   Furthermore, in the one thin portion  12   b , an opening  12   i  is formed in parallel with the second groove portion  12   c   2 . The opening  12   i  is not limited to the closed opening as shown in the drawing, but may extend to the notch  12   d  or the like to open. 
   A notch  12   d  and a manipulation window  12   e  for having an access to the cartridge  20  which is inserted into the body  12  if necessary are formed in the other thin portion  12   b.    
   As shown in  FIG. 6 , on a side surface portion of a case  20   b  of the cartridge  20 , a locking protrusion  20   c  which is inserted into the locking groove  12   c  is formed, a pair of releasing buttons  20   d  and  20   d  which are inserted into a pair of notches  12   d  and  12   d  of the body  12  and are to be manipulated to move the locking protrusion  20   c  are formed, and further engaging recessed portions  20   e  and  20   e  are formed adjacently to the releasing buttons  20   d  and  20   d  in the circumferential direction. Corrugation and an arrow indicating the manipulation direction are provided on the surface of the releasing buttons  20   d  to facilitate the manipulation. 
   A cap  22  for protecting the use tip end portion  20   a  of the cartridge  20  when it is not used is fitted on the cartridge  20 . The cap  22  is constructed by an outer cap  22 A and an inner cap  22 B as shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B . The outer cap  22 A has a cap body  22   a , a pair of ear portions  22   d  and  22   d  which are formed on a side surface portion of the cap body  22   a  and extend rearward, and protrusions  22   e  and  22   e  placed on both sides of the ear portions  22   d  and  22   d . The cap body  22   a  envelops the use tip end portion  20   a  together with the inner cap  22 B, and is enabled to be fitted in an annular groove formed in the vicinity of the use tip end portion  20   a  of the cartridge  20 . It is preferable that the outer cap  22 A is constructed by a molded product of comparatively hard plastic and that the inner cap  22 B is constructed by a molding product of comparatively soft plastic, such as polypropylene, polyethylene resin, for example, and thereby the soft inner cap  22 B is in close contact with a periphery of the use tip end portion  20   a  of the cartridge  20  to be able to secure air tightness. 
   The ear portions  22   d  and  22   d  extend to an outside of the body  12  to cover the thin portions  12   b  and  12   b  of the body  12  from outside, in the fitted state in which the cap  22  is fitted on the cartridge  20 . Namely, one of the ear portions  22   d  covers the locking groove  12   c  and the locking protrusion  20   c  which is inserted into the locking groove  12   c , and the other ear portion  22   d  covers the manipulation window  12   e . It is preferable that a corrugation, a mark, a pattern and the like are provided on the surfaces of the ear portions  22   d  and  22   d  to provide favorable manipulability. 
   The protrusions  22   e  and  22   e  are inserted into the engaging recessed portions  20   e  and  20   e  of the cartridge  20  in the fitted state in which the cap  22  is fitted onto the cartridge  20 . 
   Next, a projecting and retracting mechanism  16  for projecting and retracting the ballpoint pen refill  14  is placed inside the body  12  constructing the writing instrument. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the projecting and retracting mechanism  16  is constructed by a third barrel  30  connected to the first barrel  12 A, a slide cam  32  connected to a terminal end portion of the refill  14 , a cam body  34  which is fixed to an inner peripheral surface of the second barrel  12 B and moves the slide cam  32  in the axial direction, and a return spring  36 . 
   In the third barrel  30 , a male threaded portion  30   a  for being screwed into a female threaded portion  12   f  (see  FIG. 3 ) of the first barrel  12 A is formed on a part of an outer peripheral surface of the third barrel  30 , and a plurality of key grooves  30   b  are formed on an inner peripheral surface of the third barrel  30 . A step portion  30   c  is formed on an inner peripheral surface of the third barrel  30 , and an opening  30   d  is formed adjacently to the step portion  30   c.    
   In the slide cam  32 , a reduced diameter portion  32   a  into which the terminal end portion of the refill  14  is inserted and integrally connected is formed on one end portion of the slide cam  32 , and a plurality of keys  32   b  engaged with the key grooves  30   b  of the third barrel  30  and one cam protrusion  32   c  are formed on a part of an outer peripheral surface of the slide cam  32 . 
   In the cam body  34 , a slit  34   a  is formed at one end portion, a circumferential protrusion  34   b  is formed on an outer peripheral surface where the slit  34   a  is not formed to overlap the slit  34   a , a plurality of keys  34   c  are formed on the outer peripheral surface adjacent to the circumferential protrusion  34   b , and an annular protrusion  34   f  is formed on the outer peripheral surface spaced apart from the keys  34   c . A cam surface  34   d  for moving the slide cam  32  in the longitudinal direction is formed on an inner peripheral surface of the cam body  34 . A small protrusion  34   e  by undercutting is formed on a portion of the inner peripheral surface of the cam body  34 , which is near the cartridge. 
   The return spring  36  is interposed between the front end portion of the third barrel  30  and the slide cam  32  in order to urge the slide cam  32  and the ball point pen refill  14  connected to the slide cam  32  to the rear. However, it is possible to provide the return spring  36  between a step portion inside the taper barrel  12 C and a spring receiving portion  14   b  formed on the ball point pen refill  14 , instead of this position. 
   The above third barrel  30 , slide cam  32 , cam body  34  and return spring  36  are assembled as follows. First, a part of the slide cam  32  is inserted into the cam body  34  in a manner that an end portion of the cam protrusion  32   c  of the slide cam  32  abuts against the cam surface  34   d  of the cam body  34 . The return spring  36  is inserted into the third barrel  30 . In this state, parts of the slide cam  32  and the cam body  34  are inserted into the third barrel  30 , then, the annular protrusion  34   f  of the cam body  34  is inserted between the step portion  30   c  of the third barrel  30  and the end edge of the opening  30   d , thereby the cam body  34  is locked to be relatively rotatable with respect to the third barrel  30 . At the same time, the keys  32   b  of the slide cam  32  are fitted in the key grooves  30   b  of the third barrel  30 . The slide cam  32  is inserted between the third barrel  30  and the cam body  34  inside the third barrel  30  and mounted so as to rotate integrally with the third barrel  30 , and the projecting and retracting mechanism  16  made up of these third barrel  30 , slide cam  32 , cam body  34  and return spring  36  becomes a projecting and retracing unit which is integrally unitized. 
   The projecting and retracting unit is inserted into the second barrel  12 B, and thereby the circumferential protrusion  34   b  of the cam body  34  is locked at a step portion  12   g  ( FIGS. 5B and 5C ) formed in the second barrel  12 B. At this time, the keys  34   c  of the cam body  34  are fitted in any of a number of key grooves  12   h  formed on the second barrel  12 B simultaneously, so that the cam body  34  rotates integrally with the second barrel  12 B. The slit  34   a  of the cam body  34  is to compress one end portion of the cam body  34  when the circumferential protrusion  34   b  passes over the step portion  12   b  of the second barrel  12 B upon assembly. The step portions  12   g  and the key grooves  12   h  of the second barrel  12 B are interposed between the cam body  34  and the third barrel  30  of this projecting and retracting unit, whereby the projecting and retracting unit is attached to the second barrel  12 B. 
   The male threaded portion  30   a  of the third barrel  30  in the projecting and retracting unit screws into the female threaded portion  12   f  of the first barrel  12 A, whereby the first barrel  12 A and the second barrel  12 B are connected. When the second barrel  12 B is rotated with respect to the first barrel  12 A, relative rotation occurs between the cam body  34  rotating integrally with the second barrel  12 B and the slide cam  32  rotating integrally with the third barrel  30  screwed into the first barrel  12 A, and the cam protrusion  32   c  of the slide cam  32  moves along the cam surface  34   d  of the cam body  34 , whereby the slide cam  32  moves in the axial direction. The refill  14  integrally connected to the slide cam  32  projects from the tip end of the taper barrel  12 C against the spring force of the return spring  36 , or retracts into the taper barrel  12 C with the help of the spring force of the return spring  36 , in accordance with the rotating direction of the second barrel  12 B with respect to the first barrel  12 A. 
   In the cartridge type stationery product  10  constructed as above, when the cartridge  20  is set in the body  12 , the cartridge  20  is inserted into the tip end opening  12   a  of the second barrel  12 B of the body  12 . After the locking protrusion  20   c  of the cartridge  20  is inserted into the first groove portion  12   c   1  of the locking groove  12   c  of the second barrel  12 B and moved to the end portion of the first groove portion  12   c   1 , the cartridge  20  is twisted and rotated with respect to the body  12 , and then, the locking protrusion  20   c  is moved to the second groove portion  12   c   2 . At this time, resistance is given to the insertion of the locking protrusion  20   c  by the narrow width portion  12 J existing at the boundary portion of the first groove portion  12   c   1  and the second groove portion  12   c   2 , and the resistance becomes the manipulation feeling, which can notify a user that the cartridge  20  is reliably set in the body  12 . When the locking protrusion  20   c  moves to the second groove portion  12   c   2 , the opening  12   i  in the vicinity of the second groove portion  12   c   2  contracts to make it possible to move the locking protrusion by pushing and widening the narrow width portion  12 ; and the second groove portion  12   c   2 . As a result, the groove width of the narrow width portion  121  and the second groove portion  12   c   2  can be set to be small enough relative to the locking protrusion  20   c , and the locking protrusion  20   c  is fitted into the second groove portion  12   c   2 , so that the locking protrusion  20   c  cannot be unexpectedly detached from the second groove portion  12   c   2 . 
   After the cartridge  20  is set in the body  12 , the cap  22  is attached to the cartridge  20 . The protrusions  22   e  and  22   e  of the cap  22  abut against the vertical wall edge in the vicinity of the tip end opening  12   a  of the body  12 , so that the cap  22  becomes incapable of rotating with respect to the body  12 . Accordingly, the cap  22  cannot rotate with respect to the body  12  in the state in which the cap  22  is attached to on the cartridge, and therefore the cartridge  20  to which the cap  22  is attached does not rotate with respect to the body  12  following the movement at the time of attaching and detaching of the cap  22 . The ear portions  22   d  of the cap  22  cover the locking protrusion  20   c , the locking groove  12   c  and the releasing buttons  20   d  in the state in which the cap  22  is attached to the cartridge, in addition to which, the cap  22  covers all the portions of the cartridge  20 , which are exposed from the body  12 , and direct access to the cartridge  20  is impossible. Accordingly, in the state in which the cap  22  is attached to the cartridge, the cartridge  20  cannot be directly manipulated, and the cartridge  20  cannot be rotated with respect to the cap  22 . 
   Next, in order to use the use tip end portion  20   a  of the cartridge  20 , the cap  22  is pulled out, and the cap body  22   a  and the annular groove in the vicinity of the use tip end portion  20   a  are disengaged from each other. When the cap  22  is being pulled out, it is preferable that the ear portions  22   d  and  22   d  of the cap  22  are used as the manipulating portions and these are grasped and pulled out. When the ear portions  22   d  and  22   d  are moved, they are moved in the different direction from the direction in which the cartridge  20  rotates, the cartridge  20  is not unexpectedly detached. 
   In this manner, the use tip end portion  20   a  of the cartridge  20  is exposed and is available for use. 
   When the content of the cartridge  20  runs out and the cartridge needs to be replaced, the cap  22  is removed first. Then, after the cartridge  20  is rotated with respect to the body  12 , and the locking protrusion  20   c  is moved to the first groove portion  12   c   1  from the second groove portion  12   c   2  of the locking groove  12   c , the cartridge  20  is moved in the exact direction opposite to the insertion direction, and thereby the cartridge  20  is detached from the body  12 . 
   As described above, in this embodiment, when the cartridge  20  is mounted in the body  12 , the locking protrusion  20   c  is inserted into the second groove portion  12   c   2 , and therefore even if the cartridge  20  is moved in both directions of the insertion direction with respect to the body  12 , the cartridge cannot be moved, thus making it possible to reliably keep the fixed state of the cartridge  20  to the body  12 . Since the elastic arm portion or the like is not formed on the cartridge  20 , the cartridge  20  is not unexpectedly detached, and the vacant space inside the body  12  can be sufficiently utilized as the net capacity of the cartridge  20 , thus making it possible to secure the net capacity of the cartridge  20  to be larger. 
   Even if the cap  22  is detached in the state in which the cap  22  is attached to the cartridge  20 , the cartridge  20  does not follow the movement of the cap  22 , and the cartridge  20  is not unexpectedly detached from the body  12 . 
   The cartridge  20  is not limited to those of the same kind, but the cartridge  20  can be replaced with another cartridge of a correction, an adhesive, or a fluorescent highlighter tape coating tool. 
   When the ball point pen refill  14  is used, it is used by rotating the second barrel  12 B with respect to the first barrel  12 A. As a result, as described above, the relative rotation occurs between the slide cam  32  and the cam body  34 , the cam protrusion  32   c  of the slide cam  32  moves along the cam surface  34   d  of the cam body  34 , and the slide cam  32  and the ball point pen refill  14  project and retract. 
     FIG. 9  shows another embodiment of the present invention. This example differs from the aforementioned embodiment in the point that a spring  40  as a cushion portion is provided between the cartridge  20  and the internal mechanism in the body  12 , more specifically, between the inner peripheral step portion of the cam body  34  and the end portion of the cartridge  20 . This spring  40  is interposed between the inner peripheral step portion of the cam body  34  and the end portion of the cartridge  20 , and always presses the cartridge  20  to the tip end opening  12   a , and in the state in which the cartridge  20  is set in the body  12 , the spring  40  presses the locking protrusion  20   c  against the locking groove  12   c , namely, inside the second groove portion  12   c   2  to prevent the locking protrusion  20   c  from rattling in the second groove portion  12   c   2 . When the cartridge  20  is detached, the spring  40  is caught by the small protrusion  34   e  by undercutting formed on the cam body  34 , and thereby the spring  40  is prevented from dropping. According to this embodiment, it is possible to omit the opening  12   i.    
     FIG. 10  shows another embodiment of the present invention. This example differs from the example in  FIG. 9  in that a cushion portion  20   f  is integrally formed at the insertion end of the cartridge  20 . The cushion portion  20   f  is constituted of a plurality of slits formed in the insertion end portion of the cartridge  20 . The cushion portion  20   f  is allowed to abut against the internal mechanism inside the body  12  in this manner, whereby the same operation and effects as in the case in which the spring is provided as the cushion portion in  FIG. 9  can be obtained, and since the cushion portion  20   f  is integrated with the cartridge  20 , an increase in the number of components can be prevented. 
   While the principles of the invention have been described above in connection with specific embodiments, and particular modifications thereof, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation on the scope of invention.