Patent Publication Number: US-2020288868-A1

Title: Stand

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-046980, filed Mar. 14, 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD 
     Embodiments described herein relate generally to a stand. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Conventionally, stands for attachment to the housing of an electronic device are known. Such a stand typically includes a base extending between a mounting surface and the housing, and a shelf extending from the base along the mounting surface. 
     It may be beneficial to provide a stand of a novel, improved structure with less inconvenience such as smaller installation footprint. 
     It is thus preferable to provide an improved stand of a novel structure with less inconvenience. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to one aspect of this disclosure, a stand includes a base that is attached to a housing of an electronic device and extends between a mounting surface and the housing; and a shelf including a first wall facing the mounting surface, and a second wall extending from the first wall in a first direction crossing the first wall. The shelf is to be movably supported by the base between a first position and a second position. The first position is a position in which the first wall is accommodated in the base and the second wall is adjacent to the housing. The second position is a position in which the first wall protrudes from the first position in a second direction crossing the first direction and the second wall is spaced apart from the housing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of an exemplary housing of an electronic device to which a stand according to one or more embodiments is attached; 
         FIG. 2  is an exemplary side view of the housing of the electronic device to which the stand of one or more embodiments is attached; 
         FIG. 3  is an exemplary perspective view of the stand of one or more embodiments; 
         FIG. 4  is an exemplary perspective view of the stand of one or more embodiments and the housing, as seen from an angle different from the angle in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an exemplary exploded perspective view of the stand of one or more embodiments; 
         FIG. 6  is an exemplary perspective view of a part of the stand of one or more embodiments, as seen from an angle different from the angle in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 7  is an exemplary plan view of the stand of one or more embodiments with a shelf being in a first position; and 
         FIG. 8  is an exemplary plan view of the stand of one or more embodiments with the shelf being in a second position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The features of the embodiments described below and functions and effects attained by the features are presented for illustrative purposes only. The embodiments can be implemented by features other than the ones disclosed herein. The embodiments can attain at least one of the effects including derivative effects attained by the features. 
     Throughout this disclosure, ordinal numbers are used to distinguish parts, components, members, portions, positions, directions, and else, and are not intended to indicate order or priority. 
     Embodiments 
       FIG. 1  is a front view of a housing  2  of an electronic device  1  to which a stand  30  according to one or more embodiments is attached, by way of example.  FIG. 2  is a side view of the housing  2 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the stand  30  is attached to the housing  2  of the electronic device  1  such as a computer tower of a desktop computer, for example. The stand  30  stands between the housing  2  and a mounting surface  100  of, for example, a desk, a counter, or a rack to support the housing  2  upright. 
     In the following, three orthogonal directions, X-direction, Y-direction, and Z-direction are defined for easier understanding. X-direction is along the depth or in anteroposterior direction of the housing  2  and along the length of the stand  30 . Y-direction is along the width (horizontal length) of the housing  2  and along the width (transverse length) of the stand  30 . Z-direction is along the height (vertical length) of the housing  2  and along the height (thickness or vertical length)of the stand  30 . 
     The Z-direction is an exemplary first direction crossing the mounting surface  100  (bottom wall  21 ). The Y-direction is an exemplary second direction crossing the first direction. The X-direction is an exemplary third direction crossing the first direction and the second direction. In the following description, the X-direction may be referred to as a frontward direction. The opposite direction of the X-direction may be referred to as a rearward direction. The Y-direction may be referred to as a leftward direction. The opposite direction of the Y-direction may be referred to as a rightward direction. The Z-direction may be referred to as an upward direction. The opposite direction of the Z-direction may be referred to as a downward direction. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the housing  2  has, for example, a flat, rectangular-cuboid shape in the Y-direction. The housing  2  includes a plurality of walls such as a bottom wall  2   a , a top wall  2   b , a front wall  2   c , a left wall  2   d , a rear wall  2   e , and a right wall  2   f . The bottom wall  2   a  may be referred to as a lower wall, and the top wall  2   b  may be referred to as an upper wall. The front wall  2   c , the left wall  2   d , the rear wall  2   e , and the right wall  2   f  may be referred to as sidewalls or peripheral walls. 
     The bottom wall  2   a  and the top wall  2   b  extend in a direction orthogonal to the Z-direction, or extend along an XY plane, and are spaced apart in parallel from each other in the Z-direction. The bottom wall  2   a  serves as the bottom end of the housing  2  and the top wall  2   b  serves as the top end of the housing  2 . The stand  30 A includes a base  10 , as described later, which is fastened to the bottom wall  2   a  with fasteners  18  (see  FIGS. 3 and 4 ) such as screws or bolts. 
     The front wall  2   c  and the rear wall  2   e  extend in a direction orthogonal to the X-direction, or extend along an YZ plane, and are spaced apart in parallel from each other in the X-direction. The front wall  2   c  extends between the X-directional ends of the bottom wall  2   a  and the top wall  2   b . The rear wall  2   e  extends between the ends of the bottom wall  2   a  and the top wall  2   b  in the opposite direction of the X-direction. The front wall  2   c  serves as the front end of the housing  2  and the rear wall  2   e  serves as the rear end of the housing  2 . The front wall  2   c  (see  FIG. 1 ) is equipped with, for example, an optical disc drive  3 , a power button  4 , and connectors  5 . 
     The left wall  2   d  and the right wall  2   f  extend in a direction orthogonal to the Y-direction, or extend along an XZ plane, and are spaced apart in parallel from each other in the Y-direction. The left wall  2   d  extends between the Y-directional ends of the bottom wall  2   a  and the top wall  2   b . The right wall  2   f  extends between the ends of the bottom wall  2   a  and the top wall  2   b  in the opposite direction of the Y-direction. The left wall  2   d  serves as the left end of the housing  2  and the right wall  2   f  serves as the right end of the housing  2 . 
     One of the left wall  2   d  and the right wall  2   f  faces a shelf  20  of the stand  30 , as later described. In one or more embodiments, for example, the left wall  2   d  (one of the walls) and the shelf  20  define a storage space  40  in which an object  50  (see  FIG. 2 ) such as a book or a file is accommodated or held. The shelf  20  may be referred to as, for example, a book shelf, a book stand, or a book end. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the stand  30 , and  FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the stand  30  and the housing  2 , as seen from an angle different from the angle in  FIG. 3 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the stand  30  includes, for example, the base  10  and the shelf  20 . The base  10  is a rectangular plate extending along the bottom wall  2   a . The shelf  20  is a substantially L-shaped plate extending along the bottom wall  2   a  and the left wall  2   d.    
     The base  10  includes, for example, a bottom wall  11  and a plurality of leg plates  12  and  13 . The bottom wall  11  is spaced apart from the mounting surface  100  in the Z-direction. The bottom wall  11  has an upper surface  11   a  (see  FIG. 3 ) in the Z-direction and a lower surface  11   b  (see  FIG. 4 ) in the opposite direction of the Z-direction. The lower surface  11   b  faces the mounting surface  100 , and the upper surface  11   a  faces the bottom wall  2   a . The bottom wall  11  is an exemplary third wall. 
     In the four corners of the upper surface  11   a , elastic members  17  are placed to elastically support the bottom wall  2   a . The elastic members  17  are made of, for example, elastomer or rubber. The elastic members  17  are accommodated in recesses  11   g  in the bottom wall  11  with at least part of the elastic members  17  protruding to above the upper surface  11   a  in the Z-direction. The elastic members  17  may be referred to as buffers or cushions. 
     The leg plates  12  are located at two of the four corners of the bottom wall  11  on the shelf  20  (left wall  2   d ) side, that is, two Y-directional corners. The leg plates  12  protrude from the bottom wall  11  in the opposite direction of the Z-direction and extend in the Y-direction along the mounting surface  100  with spacing from the bottom wall  11 . The leg plates  12  are in contact with the mounting surface  100  and support the bottom wall  11  with spacing from the mounting surface  100 . The leg plates  12  are an exemplary fourth wall. 
     The leg plates  12  are both provided with protrusions  12   a  (see  FIG. 4 ) protruding in the opposite direction of the Z-direction. The protrusions  12   a  are made of elastic material such as elastomer or rubber to prevent the leg plates  12  from being abraded or slipping, which may otherwise occur by contacting the mounting surface  100 . The protrusions  12   a  (elastic members) are accommodated in convex-shape chambers  12   b  (see  FIG. 3 ) protruding from the leg plates  12  in the Z-direction and opening in the opposite direction of the Z-direction. 
     The leg plates  13  are located at the other two of the four corners of the bottom wall  11  opposite the shelf  20 , that is, in the opposite direction of the Y-direction. The leg plates  13  protrude from the bottom wall  11  in the opposite direction of the Z-direction and extend in the opposite direction of the Y-direction along the mounting surface  100  with spacing from the bottom wall  11 . The leg plates  13  are in contact with the mounting surface  100  and support the bottom wall  11  with the spacing from the mounting surface  100 . 
     The leg plates  13  are provided with protrusions  13   a  (see  FIG. 4 ) protruding in the opposite direction of the Z-direction. As with the protrusions  12   a , the protrusions  13   a  are made of elastic material such as elastomer or rubber and are accommodated in chambers  13   b  (see  FIG. 3 ) protruding from the leg plates  13  in the Z-direction and opening in the opposite direction of the Z-direction. 
     The shelf  20  includes, for example, the bottom wall  21 , a sidewall  22 , and a leg plate  23 . The bottom wall  21  is a rectangular plate extending along the mounting surface  100 . The bottom wall  21  is slidably supported by later-described rails  14  (see  FIGS. 5 and 6 ) of the base  10  in the Y-direction with spacing from the mounting surface  100  in the Z-direction. The bottom wall  21  is an exemplary first wall and may be referred to as a transverse wall. 
     The bottom wall  21  has an upper surface  21   a  in the Z-direction and a lower surface  21   b  in the opposite direction of the Z-direction. The lower surface  21   b  faces the mounting surface  100 , and the upper surface  21   a  faces the storage space  40  (or the object  50 , see  FIG. 1 ). In one or more embodiments, the upper surface  21   a  is more distant from the mounting surface  100  than top surfaces  12   b   1  of the chambers  12   b  of the leg plates  12  in the Z-direction. The upper surface  21   a  is an exemplary first surface, and the top surfaces  12   b   1  are an exemplary second surface. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the bottom wall  21  is provided with slits  21   c  passing through the upper surface  21   a  and the lower surface  21   b  in the Z-direction. The slits  21   c  are located at X-directional, opposite ends  21   d  of the bottom wall  21  and extend long in the Y-direction. Stoppers  15  (see  FIGS. 5 and 6 ) of the base  10  are inserted into the slits  21   c , as later described. 
     The sidewall  22  is, for example, a rectangular plate extending in the Z-direction from a Y-directional end of the bottom wall  21 . In one or more embodiments, in the Z-direction, a length L 1  of the sidewall  22  (see  FIG. 2 ) is set to equal to or longer than half a length L 2  of the housing  2 . The sidewall  22  is an exemplary second wall and may be referred to as an upright wall or a vertical wall. 
     The sidewall  22  has an outer surface  22   b  in the Y-direction and an inner surface  22   a  in the opposite direction of the Y-direction (see  FIGS. 1, 3, and 4 ). The inner surface  22   a  faces the storage space  40  (the object  50 , the left wall  2   d ) and the outer surface  22   b  faces oppositely to the storage space  40 . The sidewall  22  is provided with an opening  22   c  passing through the inner surface  22   a  and the outer surface  22   b  in the Y-direction. 
     The leg plate  23  is located at, for example, the periphery of the opening  22   c  of the sidewall  22 . The leg plate  23  protrudes from the periphery of the opening  22   c  in the opposite direction of the Z-direction and extends in the Y-direction along the mounting surface  100  with spacing from the sidewall  22  in the opposite direction of the Z-direction. In one or more embodiments, while no object  50  is placed on the bottom wall  21 , the leg plate  23  is slightly spaced apart from the mounting surface  100  in the Z-direction. With the object  50  placed on the bottom wall  21 , the weight of the object  50  causes the bottom wall  21  to bend in the opposite direction of the Z-direction, placing the leg plate  23  in contact with the mounting surface  100 . The leg plate  23  is an exemplary fifth wall. 
     The leg plate  23  includes a protrusion  23   a  (see FIG.  4 ) protruding in the opposite direction of the Z-direction. The protrusion  23   a  is made of elastic material such as elastomer or rubber to prevent the leg plate  23  from being abraded or slipping, for example, which may otherwise occur by contacting the mounting surface  100 . The protrusion  23   a (elastic member) is accommodated in a chamber  23   b  (see  FIG. 3 ) of a convex shape protruding from the leg plate  23  in the Z-direction and opening in the opposite direction of the Z-direction. 
     The stand  30  is, for example, fastened to the bottom wall  2   a  with the fasteners  18  such as screws or bolts passing through the base  10  in the Z-direction. In one or more embodiments, the bottom wall  11  includes protrusions  19  adjacent to the respective fasteners  18 . The protrusions  19  have, for example, a columnar shape following the perimeter of openings  2   h  (see  FIG. 4 ) of the bottom wall  2   a . The protrusions  19  may be referred to as first positioners or engaging pins. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the bottom wall  2   a  is provided with central holes  2   g  and the openings  2   h . The central holes  2   g  are located at, for example, the X-directional ends of the bottom wall  2   a . Each central hole  2   g  is provided with a female screw inside to fit with the male screw of the fastener  18 . 
     The openings  2   h  are located on the opposite sides of the bottom wall  2   a  across each central hole  2   g  in the X-direction, for example. The openings  2   h  are recesses opening in the opposite direction of the Z-direction, that is, toward the base  10 . The protrusions  19  (see  FIG. 3 ) are inserted into the openings  2   h  closer to the center (inside) in the X-direction. The openings  2   h  may be referred to as, for example, second positioners. 
     The stand  30  is positioned by the openings  2   h  and the protrusions  19  to be attachable to the housing  2  in two postures, a first posture (see  FIG. 4 ) and a second posture different from the first posture. In the first posture (see  FIG. 4 ), the sidewall  22  of the shelf  20  faces the left wall  2   d . In the second posture, the sidewall  22  faces the right wall  2   f . The location of the openings  2   h  are not limited thereto, and may be provided closer to the center or inside of the respective central holes  2   g  in the X-direction alone. 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the stand  30 , and  FIG. 6  is a perspective view of part of the stand  30 , as seen from an angle different from the angle in  FIG. 3 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the base  10  of the stand  30  is an assembly of divisible components or parts. Specifically, the base  10  includes, for example, a first component  31 , second components  32 , and a third component  33 . 
     The first component  31  includes at least a first part  11   e  serving as part of the bottom wall  11  and the leg plates  12  and  13 . In the X-directional center, the first part  11   e  is provided with a recess  11   c  depressed in the opposite direction of the Z-direction and opening in the Z-direction. The recess  11   c  accommodates, for example, the second components  32  (see  FIG. 6 ) as later described, and the bottom wall  21  of the shelf  20 . The first component  31  may be referred to as, for example, a main component or a base component. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the recess  11   c  is provided at the bottom with a plurality of openings  11   h  corresponding to the second components  32 . The second components  32  include protrusions (not illustrated) protruding in the opposite direction of the Z-direction, and the protrusions are inserted into the openings  11   h . In one or more embodiments, for example, by the contact between the periphery of the openings  11   h  and the protrusions, the second components  32  are restricted from moving along the XY plane relative to the first component  31 . The openings  11   h  may be referred to as third positioners, and the protrusions may be referred to as fourth positioners, for example. 
     The recess  11   c  is provided at the bottom with a plurality of stoppers  15  to be inserted into the slits  21   c  of the bottom wall  21 . The stoppers  15  protrude from the Y-directional ends of the recess  11   c  in the Z-direction. In one or more embodiments, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , for example, the stoppers  15  contact the edges of the slits  21   c  in the opposite direction of the Y-direction to thereby limit the movement of the shelf  20  in the Y-direction relative to the first component  31  (base  10 ). 
     The stoppers  15  also contact the edges of the slits  21   c  in the Y-direction to limit the movement of the shelf  20  in the opposite direction of the Y-direction relative to the first component  31  (base  10 ). In other words, the shelf  20  is movable in the Y-direction relative to the base  10  within the range of the slits  21   c . The slits  21   c  may be referred to as, for example, tracks. The stoppers  15  and the slits  21   c  are not limited to such examples. Alternatively, one set of a stopper  15  and a slit  21   c  may be provided in about the X-directional center, for example. 
     The second components  32  include at least the rails  14 . The rails  14  serve to receive the ends  21   d  of the bottom wall  21  in the X-direction. The rails  14  have a substantial U-shape opening toward the center (inside) in the X-direction, that is, toward the bottom wall  21 , as seen in the Y-direction. The rails  14  slidably support the ends  21   d  of the bottom wall  21  in the Y-direction. In one or more embodiments, the second components  32  are made of synthetic resin. 
     The third component  33  (see  FIG. 5 ) includes at least a second part  11   f  serving as part of the bottom wall  11 . The second part  11   f  covers or closes the recess  11   c  in the Z-direction, while the second components  32  are accommodated in the recess  11   c . This restricts the second components  32  from moving in the Z-direction. The third component  33  may be referred to as, for example, a sub component or a lid. The third component  33  and the first component  31  are made of metal. 
     Opposite ends  11   f   4  of the second part  11   f  in the X-direction are each provided with a plurality of through-holes  11   f   1  to  11   f   3  passing in the Z-direction. The fastener  18  is inserted into the through-hole  11   f   1 , and the protrusion  19  is inserted into the through-hole  11   f   2 . A protrusion  16  is inserted into the through-hole  11   f   3 . The protrusion  16  is for use in positioning the third component  33  relative to the first component  31  in the XY plane. The through-holes  11   f   1  to  11   f   3  may be referred to as clearance holes. 
     The first part lie is provided with a plurality of recesses lid recessed from the upper surface  11   a  in the opposite direction of the Z-direction. The recesses  11   d  can accommodate the X-directional ends  11   f   4  of the second part  11   f.  In one or more embodiments, while the recesses  11   d  accommodate the ends  11   f   4 , that is, the first component  31  and the third component  33  are united together (see  FIGS. 3 and 7 ), the upper surface  11   a  of the first part lie and the upper surface  11   a  of the second part  11   f  are flush with each other in the X-direction. 
       FIG. 7  is a plan view of the stand  30  with the shelf  20  being in a first position P 1 .  FIG. 8  is a plan view of the stand  30  with the shelf  20  being in a second position P 2 . In one or more embodiments, as illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the shelf  20  is movably supported by the rails  14  of the base  10  between the first position P 1  and the second position P 2 . 
     In the first position P 1  of the shelf  20 , the bottom wall  21  is accommodated in the recess  11   c  (see  FIG. 6 ) and the sidewall  22  is adjacent or close to the bottom wall  11  and the left wall  2   d  (see  FIG. 1 ) of the housing  2 . In the first position P 1 , the sidewall  22  may be in contact with the left wall  2   d  or may oppose or be close to the left wall  2   d  with a gap. 
     In one or more embodiments, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , in the first position P 1  of the shelf  20 , the end of the bottom wall  21  and the ends of the leg plates  13  in the opposite direction of the Y-direction are flush with each other in the X-direction. This prevents the shelf  20  from protruding in the opposite direction of the Y-direction beyond the base  10 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , in the second position P 2  of the shelf  20 , the bottom wall  21  protrudes from the recess  11   c  in the Y-direction and the sidewall  22  is away from the bottom wall  11  and the left wall  2   d  (see  FIG. 1 ) of the housing  2 . This forms the storage space  40  between the left wall  2   d  and the sidewall  22 , to be able to contain the object  50  such as a book or a file. 
     As described above, the stand  30  according to one or more embodiments includes the base  10  and the shelf  20 . The base  10  is attached to the housing  2  of the electronic device  1 , extending between the mounting surface  100  and the housing  2 . The shelf  20  has the bottom wall  21  (first wall) facing the mounting surface  100 , and the sidewall  22  (second wall) extending from the bottom wall  21  in the Z-direction (first direction) crossing the bottom wall  21 . The shelf  20  is movably supported by the base  10  between the first position P 1  and the second position P 2 . In the first position P 1 , the bottom wall  21  is accommodated in the base  10  and the sidewall  22  is adjacent to the housing  2 . In the second position P 2 , the bottom wall  21  protrudes from the first position P 1  and the sidewall  22  is away from the housing  2  in the Y-direction (second direction). 
     During use of the shelf  20 , for example, the sidewall  22  in the second position P 2  and the housing  2  define the storage space  40  to store or hold the object  50  such as a book or a file. During non-use of the shelf  20 , the sidewall  22  can be accommodated in the first position P 1  adjacent to the housing  2 . This makes it possible to provide the stand  30  that occupies a smaller installation footprint, for example. Moreover, this makes it possible to adjust the width of the storage space  40  in the Y-direction, that is, the amount of protrusion of the sidewall  22  in the Y-direction in the range between the first position P 1  and the second position P 2  in accordance with an increase or decrease in the volume of the object  50 , for example. 
     In one or more embodiments, the base  10  includes the bottom wall  11  (third wall) that supports the housing  2  with spacing from the mounting surface  100  in the Z-direction; and the leg plates  12  (fourth wall) located in the Y-direction of the bottom wall  11  and being in contact with the mounting surface  100 . In the Z-direction the upper surface  21   a  (first surface) of the bottom wall  21  is more distant from the mounting surface  100  than the top surfaces  12   b   1  (second surface) of the leg plates  12  are. 
     This structure can, for example, prevent the top surfaces  12   b   1  of the base  10  from being located in the storage space  40 , which is more distant from the mounting surface  100  than the upper surface  21   a  is. Thus, this leads to ensuring a sufficient or larger storage space  40  for the object  50 . Furthermore, the gap (recess  11   c ) between the bottom wall  11  and the mounting surface  100  can be effectively used to store the bottom wall  21  of the shelf  20 , for example. 
     In one or more embodiments, the bottom wall  21  is spaced apart from the mounting surface  100  in the Z-direction. The shelf  20  includes the leg plate  23  (fifth wall) that protrudes from the sidewall  22  in the opposite direction of the Z-direction and is able to contact with the mounting surface  100 . 
     Owing to such a structure, by the contact between the leg plate  23  and the mounting surface  100 , for example, the bottom wall  21  can more firmly support the object  50  thereon. Furthermore, by the contact between the leg plate  23  and the mounting surface  100 , the stand  30  can improve in terms of stability, which leads to preventing the housing  2  of the electronic device  1  from inclining or falling down due to vibration of the housing  2  at the time of occurrence of earthquakes, for example. 
     In one or more embodiments, with no object  50  placed on the bottom wall  21 , the leg plate  23  is spaced apart from the mounting surface  100 . 
     Owing to the spacing between the leg plate  23  and the mounting surface  100 , for example, the shelf  20  is more easily or smoothly movable between the first position P 1  and the second position P 2 . 
     In one or more embodiments, the base  10  includes the rails  14  made of synthetic resin to slidably support the opposite ends  21   d  of the bottom wall  21  in the X-direction (third direction). 
     Thus, the synthetic resin rails  14  serve to reduce noise or abrasion occurring between the ends  21   d  of the bottom wall  21  and the rails  14  when sliding with each other, for example. 
     In one or more embodiments, the housing  2  has a rectangular-cuboid shape and is longer in length in the Z-direction than in the Y-direction. In the Z-direction the length L 1  of the sidewall  22  is equal to or longer than half the length L 2  of the housing  2 . 
     Such a sidewall  22  can work to more firmly or stably support or hold the object  50  of a length or height equal to or shorter than the length L 2  of the housing  2 , for example. 
     According to one aspect of this disclosure, it is possible to provide an improved stand of a novel structure with less inconvenience. 
     While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel methods and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the methods and systems described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.