Patent Publication Number: US-2005132861-A1

Title: Apparatus for forming die cuts

Description:
BACKGROUND  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to an apparatus for forming paper die cuts. More particularly, the present invention relates to a die cutting apparatus formed from plastic or other suitable material for holding a die cutting blade having a desired pattern.  
      2. Description of the Art  
      Die cuts are preformed pieces of paper or other cuttable material that are cut into a desired shape. For example, die cuts are often available in various shapes such as teddy bears, hearts, stars, etc. Multiple die cuts are usually packaged together for consumer purchase and may include die cuts formed from various colors of paper.  
      The die cuts are formed by pressing a blade, which has been formed into the desired exterior shape, against a sheet of paper or any other cuttable material to cut or punch out a section of the paper or other material corresponding to the shape of the blade. Typically, the blade is held in position by a block of wood.  
      Such die cutting blocks are typically comprised of a block of wood which has a desired pattern laser cut into the wood block. The laser cutting process forms a channel in the wood block for receiving a die cutting blade. The channel extends completely through the wood block but is discontinuous at certain points to keep the interior “cut out” portion of the wood block intact with the remainder of the block. A preformed blade, having a generally rectangular shape, bent to have the same pattern as the pattern cut in the wood block is then inserted into the channel formed therein.  
      Typically, the wood block is approximately ⅝ to ¾ inches in thickness and the blade is approximately 1 inch in width.  
      In order to ensure that the blade remains secured within the channel, the blade is essentially press fitted within the channel. Moreover, the desired shape is typically formed from several sections of blade, each of which must be individually and precisely forced into the channel. In order to insert the blade members, a skilled laborer must pound each of the individual blade members into the channel by hand. The blade is forced into the wood block until the back edge of the blade is substantially flush with or even extending slightly beyond the back side of the wood block, leaving a portion of the blade extending above the top surface of the wood block. With the exception of laser cutting the channel into the block, such die cutting blocks have been manufactured in this manner for decades with little, if any, improvement in the manufacturing or assembly processes.  
      This process of manufacturing such a die cutting instrument is time consuming and labor intensive. As such, the cost to manufacture each die cutting block is relatively high. The retail price of such die cutting blocks have an average retail price of approximately $120 dollars. The primary market for such die cutting blocks are commercial establishments that produce their own sets of die cuts or commercial establishments that allow their customers to use their die cutting machines to create die cuts for a fee. There has not been a die cutting system designed specifically for personal or home use.  
      One significant improvement to such conventional type die cutting device is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/896,667 (the &#39;667 application). The &#39;667 application discloses a die cutting block for forming die cuts from paper and other materials. The die cutting block includes a plastic base portion having a recess formed therein. The recess has a particular desired shape formed therein. An insert portion is utilized to wedge a blade between and tightly hold the blade between the base portion and the insert portion. The blade extends above the base portion and insert portion to provide an exposed edge for cutting paper and the like into a desired shape.  
      While the plastic block disclosed in the &#39;667 application was a significant improvement over the prior art, it would be a further advantage to provide a die cutting block that is less expensive and easy to manufacture, easy to assemble, and capable of being incorporated into and used with any similar die cutting apparatus. It would further be advantageous to provide such a die cutting block that can be manufactured at a price that makes it accessible to the average consumer for home use.  
      These and other advantages will become apparent from a reading of the following summary of the invention and description of the illustrated embodiments in accordance with the principles of the present invention.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Accordingly, a die cutting block configured for cutting one or more sheets of paper is comprised of a base formed from plastic or other suitable material. A steel rule blade, which may be heat treated and toughened to a Rockwell C Hardness of approximately 40 following forming. The ends of the rule are aligned, clamped into position and welded together. The thickness of the base may vary depending upon the height of the steel rule and/or the necessary thickness of the die cutting block for use with a particular die press. A design matching the outline of the steel rule design is formed into the base as by molding.  
      In one embodiment a channel or slot is formed in the base with the width of the slot or channel formed in the base substantially matching the width of the steel rule, within certain tolerances.  
      Because the channel for holding the blade in the base is formed directly in the base, the base itself is formed from a single piece of material. Thus, only a single base component need be molded to accommodate the blade.  
      In one embodiment, the width of the channel for holding the blade is advantageously made slightly smaller than the width of the blade so as to allow formation of an interference fit between the base and the blade to help hold the blade relative to the base.  
      In another embodiment, the channel for holding the blade is defined by an inner wall and an outer wall. The outer wall is supported by a grid of laterally and longitudinally extending walls defining a plurality of recesses in the base. The walls reduce warping of the base when placed under pressure in use, bias the outside wall supporting the blade to maintain an interference fit against the blade, and reduce the amount of material needed to form each base.  
      In another embodiment, the base is configured with a plurality of channels for supporting a plurality of blades. In one such embodiment, a blade design includes an outer blade for cutting an outer shape of a design and interior blades are provided to cut interior design features within the outer blade. In another such embodiment, a plurality of blades are provided in the base, with one or more blades of the plurality of blades provided for cutting out a distinct design. For example, a single base could provide a number of distinct channels with associated blades for providing a complete alphabet set on a single base.  
      In another embodiment, a recess having an outer perimeter having substantially the same design and size as the outer dimensions of the blade is formed in the top surface of the base. The blade is then inserted into the base and a retaining insert is inserted into the space defined by the blade. The base is formed from two pieces, a back member and a blade retaining member. The blade retaining member includes the recess for maintaining the blade. The blade retaining member also includes a blade support structure which extends to the back member so as to provide support to the recess when the blade is being pressed during use. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings embodiments that illustrate what is currently considered to be the best mode for carrying out the invention, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific methods and instruments disclosed. In the drawings:  
       FIG. 1A  is a top view of a first embodiment of a die cutting apparatus in accordance with the principles of the present invention;  
       FIG. 1B  is a partial detail top view of the die cutting apparatus of  FIG. 1A ;  
       FIG. 1C  is a cross-sectional side view of the die cutting apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 1A ;  
       FIG. 2A  is a top view a second embodiment of a die cutting apparatus in accordance with the principles of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2B  is a side view of the die cutting apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 2A ;  
       FIG. 3A  is a top view of a third embodiment of a die butting apparatus in accordance with the principles of the present invention;  
       FIG. 3B  is a side view of the die butting apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 3A ;  
       FIG. 4A  is a top view of the back cover of the die cutting apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 3A ;  
       FIG. 4B  is a cross-sectional side view of the back cover illustrated in  FIG. 4A ;  
       FIG. 5A  is a top view of the blade retaining member illustrated in  FIG. 3A ;  
       FIG. 5B  is a bottom view of the blade retaining member illustrated in  FIG. 5A ;  
       FIG. 5C  is a cross-sectional side view of the blade retaining member illustrated in  FIG. 5A /  
       FIG. 6A  is a top view of the first blade illustrated in  FIG. 3A ;  
       FIG. 6B  is a side view of the first blade illustrated in  FIG. 6A .  
       FIG. 7A  is a top view of the blade retaining insert illustrated in  FIG. 3A ;  
       FIG. 7B  is a side view of the blade retaining insert illustrated in  FIG. 7A ;  
       FIG. 8A  is a top view of the second blade illustrated in  FIG. 3A ; and  
       FIG. 8B  is a side view of the second blade illustrated in  FIG. 8A . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS  
      Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout, there is shown in  FIG. 1A  a first embodiment of a die cutting apparatus, generally indicated at  10 , in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The die cutting apparatus  10  is configured for cutting one or more sheets of paper or other desired material by firmly pressing the die cutting apparatus  10  (and more specifically the blades) against such material. The die cutting apparatus  10  is comprised of a one piece base  12 . The base is defined by an outer perimeter wall  14  and a substantially flat back panel  16  that provides a smooth back surface and is coextensive with the perimeter wall  14 . Within the perimeter wall are a plurality of transversely and laterally extending walls  20 - 37  that extend from the back panel  16  and are substantially planar with the top surface  39  of the perimeter wall  14 . The walls  20 - 37  define a plurality of recesses, such as recesses  40 - 43 .  
      Also depending from the back wall  14  is a design portion  50  supporting five blades  51 ,  52 ,  53 ,  54  and  55 . As shown in  FIG. 1B  (a close-up view of a portion of the die cutting apparatus  10 ), each blade  51  and  53  is vertically supported within the base  12 . The blade  51  is inserted within a channel  60  defined by contoured wall  62  and an interior portion  64  of the design portion  50  that is integrally formed with the base  12 . The blade  53  is vertically supported by a contoured channel  66  formed in the design portion  50 . Circular recesses  68  are formed in the interior portion  64  to reduce the amount of material needed to form the base  12  and to also add rigidity to the base  12  in the design portion  50 . Likewise, the grid of walls  34 ,  35 ,  36 ,  22 ,  23 , and  24  add structural support to the contoured wall  62  while also maintaining resistance to warping of the base  12  resulting from forces applied during use.  
      The blades  51  and  53  are inserted approximately one half to one third of their overall height into their respective channels  60  and  66 . The blades  51  and  53  are secured within the channels  60  and  66  by applying an adhesive  70  in the channels  60  and  66  prior to inserting the blades  51  and  53 . Once solidified, the adhesive  70  prevents the blades from becoming disengaged from the channels. As such, the width of each channel does not have to be so tight as to require the blades to be forced under significant pressure into each respective channel, as is the case with prior art wood type die cutting devices previously discussed. Instead, the adhesive can be applied to the bottom or inserted edge of each blade and/or in the channel prior to inserting each blade into a channel.  
      The blades  51  and  53  are formed from 6 mm steel rule. Prior art devices typically use a 12 mm steel rule. By decreasing the height of the steel rule used to form the blades  51  and  53 , a thinner steel rule can be used. The use of a thinner steel rule material allows tighter and more intricate bends to be formed in the blades to create more complex designs than has be possible in the past. Because the blades are typically subjected to 6000 lbs. of pressure in use, merely using conventional 12 mm steel rule of a thinner gage would result in the blades buckling under pressure. By shortening the height, however, such buckling is eliminated even though a thinner rule is employed. As a result, the height of the blade above the base is less than conventional die cutting devices resulting in a blade cutting depth that allows for fewer sheets of paper to be simultaneously cut. In the consumer market, however, the ability to cut one to four sheets at a time is usually sufficient. Of course, commercial dies on the other hand can typically cut several more sheets simultaneously, but for the home market, the die cutting device is significantly more than adequate.  
      The ease of manufacture and assembly of the die cutting apparatus  10  of the present invention is a significant step forward in the art of such die cutting devices. Specifically, prior art die cutting devices either require skilled technicians to assemble using sophisticated presses and block forming machines or are comprised of multiple pieces that must be assembled. The present invention, however, can be formed by injection molding the single piece base, forming the individual blade or blades and adhesively attaching the blade or blades directly into the base. A release pad, such as a neoprene pad, is then placed over the blades and adhesively attached to the base. Application of the principles of the present invention results in an approximately thirty-five percent savings in the cost of manufacturing of a die cutting apparatus, due to a reduction in the number of individual pieces needed to form each device and the ease of assembling each device.  
      As shown in  FIG. 1C , which is a cross-sectional view along section A-A shown in  FIG. 1A , the channel  60  which supports the outer blade  51  as well as the other channels  80  and  82  which support blades  54  and  55 , respectively, support approximately one third to one half of the height of the blades  51 ,  54  and  55 . The design portion  50  is integral with the base  12  with various recesses  90 ,  91  and  92  formed in the base  12  to reduce the amount of material used to form the base  12  and to prevent flexing of the base  12  when the base  12  and blades  51 ,  54  and  55  are used in a die cutting press (not shown). As previously discussed, because the steel rule used to form the blades  51 ,  54  and  55  is of a height of approximately 5-7 mm, with approximately ½ to ⅓ of the blades embedded into and supported by the base  12 , the blade can be formed into more intricate shapes than typical 12 mm steel rule due to its relative ease in bending. That is, because a 6 mm steel rule blade is easier to bend than a 12 mm steel rule blade, the blade can be bent into tighter radii to form shapes of a greater complexity than can be done with a 12 mm steel rule using current bending techniques and machinery. In addition, by using steel rule that is half the width of conventional steel rule used in such die cutting devices, a die cutting device  10  according to the present invention uses half as much steel rule material as that to form a conventional die cutting device of similar configuration.  
      Each blade  51 ,  54  and  55  is formed from steel that has been bent into a preformed shape. The blades  51 ,  54  and  55  are formed by first providing an elongate strip of steel, forming a desired contour in each blade by forming bends in the strip and then attaching the two opposing ends of the strip with a transversely extending weld.  
      A die cutting device  10 , according to the principles of the present invention can be manufactured for approximately one third to one half less cost of currently available die cutting devices of a similar configuration. The reduction in cost stems from both a reduction in the number of parts and quantities of such materials used to manufacture each device  10  as well as the ease of manufacturing and assembly of each device  10 .  
      Another significant advantage of a die cutting device, generally indicated  100  in accordance with the principles of the present invention, includes the capability of providing multiple independent shapes or designs in a single die cutting device  100 . As shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the die cutting device  100  provides a plurality of independent design shapes  102 ,  104 ,  106  and  108  formed by blades  112 ,  114 ,  116  and  118 , respectively. In this example, the letter “Z” is provided in four different fonts. Each blade  112 ,  114 ,  116  and  118  is independently supported within the base  120  by insertion into and retention by corresponding channels similar to those shown in  FIGS. 1A-1C .  
      A top cap or plate  123 , which fits around the blades  112 ,  114   116  and  118  is provided over the grid of the base  120 . The plate  123  may be coextensive with the base  120  as shown or slightly inset and set within a recess formed in the top of the base  120 . A release pad  121  indicated by dashed lines, may be attached to the top surface  125  of the plate  123 . The top plate  123  prevents the release pad  121  from being cut by the underlying wall grid in the base  120 , such as that shown in  FIG. 1A . The release pad  121  has a thickness approximately equal to the height of the blades  112 ,  114 ,  116  and  118  above the top surface  125  of the plate  123 . The release pad  121  is formed from a foam rubber material such as neoprene or a foam pad that is relatively easily compressible to expose the cutting edges or top edges of the blades  112 ,  114 ,  116  and  118  when the die cutting apparatus  100  is being pressed against a material (such as paper, card stock, fabric, or other sheet type materials) to be cut. That is, as the blades are pressed against a material or stack of materials, such as a stack of paper, the release pad  121  is compressed by the material as the blades are thrust into the material for cutting. As the blades are removed from engagement with the material, the release pad  121  expands back to its pre-cutting position (as shown in  FIG. 2B ) to remove the material being cut from engagement with the blades particularly on the interior sides of the blades. The release pad  121  is attached to the top surface  125  of the plate  123  with a layer of adhesive at least partially covering a portion of the top surfaces of the grid (not visible).  
      Because the present invention is capable of housing a plurality of independent blade designs for cutting out various shapes, a single cutting device  100  can be used for multiple die cut shapes. One particular application of particular utility is to provide a complete alphabet and/or number set on a single die cutting apparatus. As such, a user could purchase a complete alphabet/number set of a particular font by purchasing a single die cutting apparatus according to the present invention containing all such alphanumeric characters. The current present art practice is to provide a single alphanumeric character on each die cutting apparatus. Thus, to possess a complete alphabet set of a particular font, one must obtain twenty-six separate die cutting devices. This limitation is a result of previous techniques employed to manufacture such devices and limitations, including cost and assembly, associated with providing multiple independent shapes on a single die cutting apparatus.  
      To cut out a particular letter from a sheet of material or stack of sheets of material, one could simply place the stack under the particular letter for which cutting is desired, and press the die cutting device into the material, as by placing the device and material in a die cutting press.  
      For example, if one desires to make a cut out from the lower left hand “Z”  116  of the die cutting device shown in  FIG. 2A , one could simply place the design  116  over a corner of a sheet of paper so that the corner of the paper extends around the design  116  formed by the blade  106 . If the corner of the paper is not in contact with any of the other blades  112 ,  114  and  118 , only the blade  116  will cut the paper. By pressing the device  100  against the paper, the blade  116  will cut the “Z”  106  out of the paper. A similar technique could be used for any of the other designs  102 ,  104  or  108  of the device  100  or any combination of designs as desired.  
      It is thus contemplated that a die cutting device according to the present invention could be of any overall size and or shape so as to allow for complete sets of designs to be included on a single die cutting device. An alphabet set is but one example of such a complete set of designs. Because some die cutting devices known in the art in which such a die cutting device could be readily employed may have a limited width within which such a die cutting device could be inserted and effective pressed, the die cutting devices of the present invention may have a length that is substantially longer than the width. As such, the die cutting devices may be elongate, rectangular-shaped to provide a complete set of designs in a device that can be inserted into a known die cutting device such as the SIZZIX die cutting device known in the art. As such, only a portion of the die cutting device may be pressed at any given time to cut out a particular shape or set of shapes. Thus, for example, the device  100  could be extended in length to house two columns of “Z” shapes with three or more “Z”s in each column. The length of the device would thus correspond to the number of designs included in the device.  
      A die cutting apparatus, in accordance with the principles of the present invention, may include blades having various contours and shapes, both enclosed shapes and open shapes into a single cutting apparatus. Thus, while various channels illustrated herein have shown generally closed shapes, it is also part of the present invention to form channels that form open shapes, such as open-sided contours, as desired. Blades positioned within such channels, however, can be inserted and attached to the base as herein described.  
      In addition, in order to be adaptable to different pressing machines used for die cutting purposes known in the art, the thickness of the combination of the base  120  and the blades  112 ,  114 ,  116  and  118  that extend above the base (i.e., the overall thickness or height of the device  100 ) can be produced in any desired thickness to allow the die cutting device  100  to be used in virtually any pressing device known in the art. That is, many die cutting presses are configured to press a die cutting device of a particular thickness and are generally manufactured to be used with a particular die cutting device. By adjusting the thickness of the base  120 , the die cutting device  100  could be effectively adjusted in thickness to be acceptable and therefore usable with a particular die cutting machine known in the art. Because the blades only extend a relatively small distance into the base  120 , unlike prior art device, the thickness of the base can be easily modified to allow use of the device  100  in virtually any pressing device known in the art for use with such devices  100 .  
      Another embodiment of a die cutting device, generally indicated at  200 , is illustrated in  FIGS. 3A and 3B . The die cutting device  200  is comprised of a base assembly  202  and a plurality of blades  204  and  206 . The base assembly  202  is comprised of a back cover  203  formed from a back plate  208  and four side walls  210 ,  212 ,  214  and  216  depending therefrom that form the sides of the device  200 . The back cover  203  forms a receptacle or recess for receiving a blade retaining plate  218 . The back cover  203  provides lateral support and rigidity to a blade retaining member or plate  218  to prevent warping of the plate  218  when the blades  204  and  206  are subjected to pressure in use. The back cover  203  also provides a cosmetic cover to provide a smooth, generally rectangular outer surface resembling that of a conventional die cutting device. The blade retaining plate  218  defines a character defined recess  220  (in this example the letter “A”) which may be of virtually any configuration. The recess  220  is approximately one quarter to one half the height of the blades  204  and  206 , but less than the overall thickness of the back cover  203 . The recess  220  need only be deep enough to provide sufficient support for the blade when the blade is subjected to force under pressure from a die cutting machine (not shown). A blade retaining insert  222  is positioned within the outer blade  204 . The blade retaining insert  222  has a thickness that is approximately the depth of the recess  220  such that the top surface  224  of the retaining plate  218  is substantially in plane with top surface  226  of the insert  222 . The blade retaining insert  222  not only helps to retain the outer blade  204  within the recess  220  by wedging the blade  204  by friction fit within the recess  220 , but also retains the second or inner blade  206  therein. The blade retaining insert  226  has a shape that substantially matches in size and configuration the inside surface of the blade  204 . In order to ensure that the blade retaining insert and associated blades  204  and  206  remain within the recess  220 , an adhesive may be applied within the recess  220  during assembly to adhesively secure the insert  222  and blades  204  and  206  relative thereto. Likewise, the blade retaining plate  218  may be adhesively attached to the back cover  203 . A hole  228  is provided in the blade retaining plate  218  to allow air to flow from the space formed between the back cover  203  and the blade retaining insert  218  during assembly as the blade retaining insert  218  is fitted within the back cover  203 . As further shown in  FIG. 2B , a release pad  230  shown in dashed lines may be adhesively attached to the top surface  224  of the blade retaining plate  218 . The combination of the blade retaining plate  218  and back cover  203  produces a die cutting device that has the appearance, shape and thickness of a conventional die cutting device known in the art while substantially reducing the amount of material needed to manufacture such a device and simplifying the manufacturing process to produce a die cutting device that will not warp or flex during use (as such warping or flexing would otherwise cause inconsistent cuts with the blades  204  and  206 ).  
       FIGS. 4A-8B  illustrate the various individual components that make up the die cutting devise illustrated in  FIGS. 3A and 3B . Referring now to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , there is shown the back cover  203 . The back cover is formed from a back plate  208  and four side walls  210 ,  212 ,  214  and  216  that define recess  219  therein between. The side walls  210 ,  212 ,  214  and  216  depend from and are integrally formed with the back plate  208 . The height of the side walls  210 ,  212 ,  214  and  216  is such that when the blade retaining insert  218  is placed within the recess  219  of the back cover  208 , the top surface  224  of the insert  218  is substantially coplanar with the top surface  240  defined by the side walls  210 ,  212 ,  214  and  216  (see  FIGS. 3A and 3B ).  
      Referring now to  FIGS. 5A, 5B  and  5 C, there is illustrated the blade retaining insert  218 . As shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5 , the top surface  224  defines a recess  220  therein for receiving the blades  204  and  206  (see  FIG. 3A ). The recess is provided with a particular design outline (in this example, the outline of a particular font of the letter “A”). The dimensions of the perimeter  242  of the insert  218  is such that it fits within the back cover  203  (see  FIGS. 3A and 3B ) for being secured thereto.  
      As further shown in  FIGS. 5B and 5C , the blade retaining insert  218  includes a plurality of side walls  244 ,  246 ,  248  and  250  that depend from the back surface  252  of a top plate  254  that defines the recess  220  in the top surface  224  thereof (see  FIG. 5A ). Each side wall  244 ,  246 ,  248  and  250  have a height that is substantially the same as the depth of the recess  219  of the back cover  203  (see  FIG. 4B ). Also, depending from the back surface  254  of the recess  220  are blade support members  260  and  262 . The blade support members  260  and  262  extend from the back surface  254  of the recess  220  to be coextensive with the top surface  264  defined by the side walls  244 ,  246 ,  248  and  250 . The blade support members  260  and  262  lie beneath the blades  204  and  206 , respectively, so as to provide support for the blades when the blades are being subjected to pressure as when used in a die cutting machine (not shown). The blade support member  260  comprises a wall that inscribes the perimeter  266  of the back surface  254  of the recess  220 . The blade support member  260  may be substantially directly below the blade  204  when assembled to provide vertical support to the blade  204  in use. The blade support member  262 , on the other hand, comprises a post member having an outer perimeter shape that substantially matches the shape of the blade  206 . Again, the blade support member  262  provides vertical support for the blade  206  when the blade  206  is subjected to vertical pressure.  
      Referring now to  FIGS. 6A and 6B , the blade  204  is formed from steel rule, with ends welded together to form a single enclosed shape (in this example, the outline of the letter “A”). The blade  204  has a sharpened top edge  270  for cutting a medium, such as paper or the like, into the shape of the blade  204 . As shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , a blade retaining insert  222  is comprised of a relatively thin member that has an outer perimeter shape that substantially matches the inside shape of the blade  204 . The blade retaining insert  222  is substantially the same thickness as the depth of the recess  220  (see  FIG. 5C ). The insert  222  also includes a blade retaining aperture  272  configured for receiving and retaining the blade  206  (see  FIGS. 8A and 8B ) therein. The size and shape of the aperture  272  is such that a friction fit is formed between the insert  222  and the blade  206  to hold the blade  206  therein.  
      While the methods and apparatus of the present invention have been described with reference to certain embodiments, it is contemplated that upon review of the present invention, those of skill in the art will appreciate that various modifications and combinations may be made to the present embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as recited in the claims. The claims provided herein are intended to cover such modifications and combinations and all equivalents thereof. Reference herein to specific details of the illustrated embodiments is by way of example and not by way of limitation.