Patent Publication Number: US-2023157421-A1

Title: Magnetic buckle

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This non-provisional patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/969,110, filed Feb. 2, 2020 and titled “BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY,” the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the reproduction of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable. 
     REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING OR COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to the field of closure devices, and more particularly, to buckles for releasably connecting two ends of one or more straps. 
     Buckles are used every day all over the world to releasably secure opposing ends of a belt around a user&#39;s body. Many conventional two-piece buckles have multiple moving and/or flexible parts which require two hands and significant dexterity to manipulate. Currently available magnetically-assisted buckles are no exception, as they too require appreciable fine motor skills to operate. For example, buckles with depressible release buttons, flexible arms, movable release catches can be particularly challenging to unlatch, especially with only one hand. The moving and/or flexible parts of such buckles also tend to wear out after a certain number of use cycles, requiring replacement of the worn part or the entire buckle. Accordingly, a need exists for a more durable buckle which can be operated with only one hand. What is needed then are improvements in buckles. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     This Brief Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. Features of the presently disclosed invention overcome or minimize some or all of the identified deficiencies of the prior art, as will become evident to those of ordinary skill in the art after a study of the information presented in this document. 
     Disclosed herein is a durable magnetic buckle with no moving parts or wear parts. The buckle comprises a magnetic male buckle member and a magnetic female buckle member. The male buckle member includes male latching means which releasably engages corresponding female latching means in the female buckle member. A magnet is arranged within each buckle member. The magnets are arranged so as to be offset from each other along a longitudinal axis of the buckle when the buckle is latched. The magnet of the male buckle member is offset from the magnet of the female buckle member in a release direction such that magnets pull the male latching means into the corresponding female latching means when opposing interfacing surfaces of the buckle members are placed in proximity to each other. The offset magnets also maintain the buckle in a latched condition until manually unlatched. When latched, the male buckle member cannot be pulled apart from the female buckle member in a direction either orthogonal to the interfacing surfaces or against the release direction. The female buckle member is provided with a plurality of angled guide surfaces which interface with corresponding opposing surfaces of the male buckle member during operation. The guide surfaces facilitate one-handed unlatching of the male buckle member from the female buckle member by translating the latching means out of engagement and releasing the male buckle member from the female buckle member when the male buckle member is displaced in the release direction relative to the female buckle member. 
     The present invention is of particular significance when used in connection with a strap of webbing or other material sized to be worn around a user&#39;s body as a belt, and that application of the present invention is described herein in detail. However, the present invention may also have application to straps used to connect two parts of an item (e.g., of a backpack or rucksack). Numerous other objects, advantages, features, and applications of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art upon a review of the following drawings and description of a preferred embodiment. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various drawings unless otherwise specified. In the drawings, not all reference numbers are included in each drawing, for the sake of clarity. 
         FIG.  1    is an elevated fragmentary isometric assembled view of an embodiment of a magnetic buckle constructed in accordance with the invention showing the buckle in a latched condition and engaged with an exemplar strap. 
         FIG.  2   . is another fragmentary isometric view of the objects of  FIG.  1    showing the buckle in an unlatched condition. 
         FIG.  3    is an elevated exploded isometric view of the buckle of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  4    is a depressed exploded isometric view of the buckle of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  5    is a depressed isometric view of the male buckle member of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  6    is an elevated isometric view of the female buckle member of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  7    is a depressed isometric view of the female buckle member of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  8    is a first longitudinally sectioned side elevational assembled view of the buckle of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  9    is a first longitudinally sectioned isometric assembled view of the buckle of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  10   . is a second longitudinally sectioned side elevational assembled of the buckle of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  11   . is a second longitudinally sectioned isometric assembled view of the buckle of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  12   . is a third longitudinally sectioned side elevational assembled of the buckle of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  13    is a first transversely sectioned isometric view of the buckle of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  14    is a second transversely sectioned isometric view of the buckle of  FIG.  1   . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     While the making and using of various embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts that are embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention and do not delimit the scope of the invention. 
     Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize numerous equivalents to the specific apparatus and methods described herein. Such equivalents are considered to be within the scope of this invention and are covered by the claims. 
     To facilitate the understanding of the embodiments described herein, a number of terms are defined below. The terms defined herein have meanings as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the portions relevant to the present invention. Terms such as “a,” “an,” and “the” are not intended to refer to only a singular entity, but rather include the general class of which a specific example may be used for illustration. The terminology herein is used to describe specific embodiments of the invention, but their usage does not delimit the invention, except as set forth in the claims. 
     This description and appended claims include the words “below”, “above”, “over,” “under,” “side”, “top”, “bottom”, “upper”, “lower”, “when”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “upright”, etc. to provide an orientation of embodiments of the invention to allow for proper description of example embodiments. The foregoing positional terms refer to the assembly when in the orientation shown in  FIG.  1   . A person of skill in the art will recognize that the assembly can assume different orientations when in use. 
     Similarly, an “upright” position as described herein is considered to be the position of the apparatus or assembly components while in proper operation or in a natural resting position as described and shown herein, for example, in  FIG.  1   . It is also contemplated that embodiments of the invention may be in orientations other than upright without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. Further, the terms “above”, “below”, “over”, and “under” mean “having an elevation or vertical height greater or lesser than” and are not intended to imply that one object or component is directly over or under another object or component, unless specifically indicated to the contrary. The term “when” is used to specify orientation for relative positions of components, not as a temporal limitation of the claims or apparatus described and claimed herein unless otherwise specified. 
     The phrase “in one embodiment,” as used herein does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although it may. Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, “can,” “might,” “may,” “e.g.,” and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and/or states. 
     All combinations of method or process steps as used herein can be performed in any order, unless otherwise specified or clearly implied to the contrary by the context in which the referenced combination is made. 
     The methods and devices disclosed herein, including components thereof, can comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of the essential elements and limitations of the embodiments described herein, as well as any additional or optional components or limitations described herein or otherwise useful. 
     Referring initially to  FIGS.  1 - 2   , depicted therein is an embodiment of a magnetic buckle  10  constructed in accordance with, and embodying, the principles of the present invention. The magnetic buckle  10  includes a first magnetic buckle member  12  and a second magnetic buckle member  14 . The first and second buckle members  12 ,  14  can be formed as individual monolithic structures from any suitably strong, durable, and rigid material. The buckle  10  is depicted as attached to a strap  1  having a first end  2  and a second end  4 . The first end  2  of the strap  1  is securely engaged to the first buckle member  12 , while the second end  4  of the strap  1  is adjustably engaged with the second buckle member  14 , as will be described in more detail below. The strap  1  can be formed from a variety of flexible materials from which straps and belts are known to be formed, including leather, webbing, and the like. The strap  1  by itself does not form a part of the invention. 
     The first buckle member  12  is a female buckle member which includes a first magnet  16  and a pair of latching apertures  18 . The second buckle member  14  is a male buckle member which includes a second magnet  20  and latching means exemplified by a pair of latch hooks  22 . The latch hooks  22  of the second buckle member  14  are receivable in and engageable with the latching apertures  18  of the first buckle member  12  whereby the buckle  10  is latched. The first and second magnets  16 ,  20  are attracted to each other via an attractive magnetic force and are arranged within each buckle member  12 ,  14  so that the magnets pull the latch hooks  22  into engagement with the latching apertures  18  when the respective buckle members  12 ,  14  are placed in proximity to each other. Each of the first and second magnets  16 ,  20  can be a permanent magnet such as a neodymium magnet. Suitable neodymium magnets can have a grade of N30, N35, N38, N42, or N52. Other types of magnets suitable for use in the present invention will be apparent to ordinarily skilled artisans. 
     The first and second magnets  16 ,  20  are also offset from one another within the respective first and second buckle members  12 ,  14  so that the attractive magnetic force between the magnets  16 ,  20  causes them to attempt to vertically align when placed in proximity to one another. This biases the latch hooks  22  into engagement with the latching apertures  18  and maintains the buckle  10  in a latched condition until the buckle  10  is manually unlatched as described below. In this way, the second buckle member  14  is releasably engageable with the first buckle member  12  to secure the ends  2 ,  4  of the strap  1  around a person or an object. It is to be understood that the magnetic buckle  10  can be used to secure together opposite ends  2 ,  4  of a single strap  1  or to connect ends of two separate straps which may be attached to an object such as a backpack. As such, the utility of the magnetic buckle  10  disclosed herein is not limited to use as a belt buckle. With the foregoing general principles of the invention understood, the construction and operation of the magnetic buckle  10  will now be described in detail. 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  3 - 14   , the first buckle member  12  includes a first end  24  defining a slanted or angled surface  25  and a second end  26  defining a slot  27  in which strap  1  is receivable. The first end  2  of the strap  1  is releasably secured in the slot  27  by a plurality of threaded fasteners  28 , which can be set screws. The fasteners  28  extend through threaded holes  30  defined in the second end  26  of buckle member  12  to engage the strap  1  and secure it within the second end  26 . In other embodiments, the first end  2  of the strap  1  can be secured in the slot  27  by a plurality of teeth (not shown). The teeth can extend from a hinge connected to the first buckle member  12  and adapted to releasably compress and thereby retain the strap in the slot  27 . A flattened tongue  31  extends outwardly a distance from the second end  26  to support and protect the first end  2  of the strap  1 . 
     The first buckle member  12  defines a lateral axis  32 , a longitudinal axis  34 , and a release direction  36  extending along the longitudinal axis  34  from the first end  24  to the second end  26 . The first buckle member  12  also defines a backing surface  38  and a mounting surface  40  which defines a reference plane  42 . The latching apertures  18  are defined in the mounting surface  40 . The latching apertures  18  can extend partially or completely through the first buckle member  12  from the mounting surface  40  to the backing surface  38 . 
     An elongated depression  44  is defined in the mounting surface  40  between the latching apertures  18  such that the latching apertures  18  are laterally spaced from the depression  44  and each other. The depression  44  includes a plurality of angled side walls  46  extending from the mounting surface  40  to a bottom surface  48  of the depression  44 . A recess  50  sized and shaped to receive the first magnet  16  can be defined in the bottom surface  48  of the depression  44 . The first magnet  16  can be secured in the recess  50  by securing means such that the magnet  16  is recessed from the mounting surface  40  and the reference plane  42 . Suitable securing means include, but are not limited to, adhesives and mechanical fasteners. The recess  50 , and thus the first magnet  16 , is arranged closer to the free first end  24  of the first buckle member  12  than the latching apertures  18 . This facilitates the first and second magnets  16 ,  20  pulling or drawings the latch hooks  22  into the latching apertures  18  and maintaining the latch hooks  22  in engagement with the latching apertures  18  as will be explained below. 
     In some embodiments, the recess  50  in which the first magnet  16  is secured can be formed in a backing surface  38  of the first buckle member  12 . In such embodiment, the first magnet  16  can be separated or spaced from the bottom surface  48  of the depression  44  by a thin layer of the constituent material from which the first buckle member  12  is formed. This protects the first magnet  16  from becoming dislodged or otherwise unsecured from the recess  50  during use of the buckle  10 . In still other embodiments, the first magnet  16  can be received in a passage (not shown) defined through a side of the first buckle member  12 . 
     Each latching aperture  18  includes a first end wall  52  and a second end wall  54 . The first end wall  52  is closer to the first end  24  of the first buckle member  12  than the second end  26  of the first buckle member  12 , while the first magnet  16  and the recess  50  in which it is secured is arranged closer to the first end  24  of the first buckle member  12  than the first end wall  52  of the latching apertures  18 . Each first end wall  52  defines a ledge  56  with which a latch hook  22  is engageable. Engagement of the latch hooks  22  with the vertical portions of the first end walls  52  prevents the second buckle member  14  from being pulled apart from of the first buckle member  12  in a direction against (i.e., opposite from) the release direction  36  when the buckle  10  is latched. Engagement of the latch hooks  22  with the ledges  56  prevents the second buckle member  14  from being pulled apart from of the first buckle member  12  in a direction orthogonal to the reference plane  42  when the buckle  10  is latched. In this way, the second buckle member  14  is prevented from becoming inadvertently unlatched in either direction from the first buckle member  12  while the latch hooks  22  are engaged with latching apertures  18 . 
     Each first end wall  52  also defines a first angled guide surface  58  and each second end wall  54  defines a second angled guide surface  60 . The second angled guide surface  60  can be longer than the first angled guide surface  58  and can extend along the length of each second end wall  54 . These angled guide surfaces  58 ,  60  guide the latch hooks  22  into the latching apertures  18  when the first and second buckle members  12 ,  14  are placed in sufficient proximity that the magnets  16 ,  20  can pull the first and second buckle members  12 ,  14  together. As such, precise manual alignment of the latch hooks  22  with the latching apertures  18  is not required. 
     The second buckle member  14  includes a first end  62  and a second end  64  defining a cavity  65 . A bar  66  extends laterally across the cavity  65 . The second end  4  of the strap is receivable in the cavity  65  and around the bar  66  as exemplified in  FIGS.  1 - 2    to adjustably engage the strap  1  with the second buckle member  14 . A keeper loop (not shown) can be placed around the strap  1  and used in a known manner to fix the second end  4  to the strap  1  and prevent the strap  1  from undesirably slipping around the bar  66  or disengaging from the second end  64  of the second buckle member  14 . 
     The second buckle member  14  also includes a first side  67  defining an outer surface  68  and a second side  69  defining a joining surface  70  adapted to be joined with the mounting surface  40 . The second side  69  can define a guide channel  72  in which the first buckle member  12  is receivable. The guide channel  72  can have an open first end  74  which can be coterminous with the first end  62  of the second buckle member  14 , and a second end  76  which defines an end wall  78  having an angled guide surface  80 . End wall  78  can separate the guide channel  72  from the cavity  65 . The guide channel  72  can further include longitudinally extending side walls  82  which extend orthogonal to the joining surface  70  from the open first end  74  to the end wall  78 . The side walls  82  can extend around and cover or mask the first buckle member  12  when the first buckle member  12  is received in the guide channel  72 . This arrangement provides a polished aesthetic look and prevents the buckle  10  from snagging against objects or the environment. 
     The latch hooks  22  extend from the joining surface  70  and are adapted to engage the latching apertures  18  defined in the mounting surface  40  of the first buckle member  12 . Each latch hook  22  includes an extension portion  84  extending from the joining surface  70  and a hook portion  86  extending from the extension portion  84 . Each hook portion  86  defines a lip  88  adapted to engage the ledge  56  of a respective latching aperture  18  when the respective latch hook  22  is received in the latching aperture  18 . At the same time, each latch hook lip  88  can also engage a vertical surface  57  of each first latching aperture end wall  52  below each ledge  56 . 
     The second buckle member  14  also comprises locating means in the form of a flattened protuberance  90  adapted to engage the depression  44  extending from the joining surface  70  between the latch hooks  22  such that the latch hooks  22  are laterally spaced from the protuberance  90  and each other. The second magnet  20  can be secured at least partially within the protuberance  90  such that at least a portion of the magnet  20  extends beyond the joining surface  70 . The protuberance  90  is positioned closer to the second end  64  of the second buckle member  14  than the latch hooks  22 . The protuberance  90  is shaped and sized to engage the depression  44  defined in the mounting surface  40  of the first buckle member  12  when buckle  10  is latched. As such, the second magnet  20  extends beyond (i.e., crosses) the reference plane  42  into the depression  44  of the first buckle member  12  when the protuberance  90  is engaged with the depression  44 . This arrangement offsets the first and second magnets  16 ,  20  along a joining axis  35  extending orthogonal to the reference plane (i.e., vertical), which facilitates the magnets  16 ,  20  in positioning and maintaining the second buckle member  14  in a latched condition with the first buckle member  12 . 
     The protuberance  90  includes a plurality of angled side walls  92  which can correspond in angle or slope to the angled side walls  46  of depression  44  such that the angled side walls  92  of the protuberance  90  can translate along one or more of the angled side walls  46  of the depression  44  when the protuberance  90  is pulled into depression  44  by offset magnets  16 ,  20 . This further facilitates alignment and engagement of the depression  44  by the protuberance  90  when the joining surface  70  is placed in proximity to the mounting surface  40 , which in turn facilitates alignment of the latch hooks  22  with the latching apertures  18 , and thus engagement of the latch hook lips  88  with the latching aperture ledges  56 . 
     The second buckle member  14  can include a recess  94  sized and shaped to receive the second magnet  20  defined in outer surface  68  of the first side  67 . The second magnet  20  can be secured in the recess  94  using securing means. The recess  94  can extend into the protuberance  90  such that the second magnet  20  extends beyond the joining surface  70  and at least partially into the protuberance  90 . The recess  94 , and thus the second magnet  20 , can be located closer to the second end  64  of the second buckle member  14  than the first end  62 . As shown in  FIG.  3   , this places the second magnet  20  longitudinally offset from the first magnet  16  when the buckle is latched  10 , thus facilitating the first and second magnets  16 ,  20  pulling the latch hooks  22  into the latching apertures  18  and maintaining the latch hooks  22  in engagement with the latching apertures  18  when the buckle  10  is latched. 
     In some embodiments, a protruding rim  96  can extend outward from the outer surface  68  around a perimeter of the second buckle member  14 . As such, the magnetic buckle  10  can further include a cover plate  98  adapted to be received against the outer surface  68  and within the area defined by the rim  96 . The cover plate  98  can be secured to the outer surface  68  of the second buckle member  14  over the second magnet  20  and within the rim  96  such that a surface  99  of the cover plate  98  is substantially flush with the rim  96 . The surface  99  of the cover plate  98  can be provided with decoration. The cover plate  98  can be secured to the outer surface  68  by any suitable securing means, including but not limited to adhesives and mechanical fasteners. For example, in one embodiment, the cover plate  98  is secured to the outer surface  68  via an adhesive layer or underlayment  100 . The cover plate  98  can help secure the second magnet  20  in the second buckle member  14 , and provides the assembled buckle  10  with a clean aesthetic appearance. 
     In use, the magnetic buckle  10  is releasably latched by placing the joining surface  70  of the second buckle member  14  in proximity to the mounting surface  40  of the first buckle member  12  with the first end  62  of the second buckle member  14  proximate to the second end  26  of the first buckle member  12  and the second end  64  of the second buckle member  14  proximate to the first end  24  of the first buckle member  12 , as exemplified in  FIG.  3   . 
     As noted above and best shown in  FIGS.  8 - 9   , the first and second magnets  16 ,  20  are arranged within their respective buckle members  12 ,  14  so as to be offset from each other when the buckle  10  is latched. More specifically, the first and second magnets  16 ,  20  are longitudinally offset along the longitudinal axis  34  and vertically offset along a joining axis  35  which extends orthogonal to the reference plane  42  (i.e., vertical). The second magnet  20  is arranged within the second buckle member  14  further along the longitudinal axis  34  in the release direction  36  than the first magnet  16  within the first buckle member  12  so as to cause the magnetic attraction between the magnets to pull the latch hooks  22  and protuberance  90  of the second buckle member  14  into engagement with the latching apertures  18  and depression  44  and of the first buckle member  12 , respectively, when the joining surface  70  is placed in proximity to the mounting surface  40 . The protuberance  90  and the latch hooks  22  can translate obliquely along the angled guide surfaces of the depression  46  and latching apertures  58 ,  60  when the joining surface  80  is placed in proximity to the mounting surface  40 . As such, the angled guide surfaces of the depression  46  and latching apertures  58 ,  60  guide the protuberance  90  and the latch hooks  22 , respectively, into the depression  44  and latching apertures  18 . With the latch hooks  22  received in the latching apertures  18 , the offset magnets  16 ,  20  bias the lip  88  of each latch hook  22  into engagement with the ledge  56  of each latching aperture  18  and thereby maintain the first and second buckle members  12 ,  14  in a latched condition until the second buckle member  14  is manually disengaged from the first buckle member  12 . Because the second magnet  20  is arranged at least partially within the protuberance  78 , at least a portion of the magnet  20  extends across the reference plane  42  and into the depression  44  when the protuberance  90  is engaged with the depression  44 . This also helps maintain the first and second buckle members  12 ,  14  in a latched condition. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  10 - 12   , displacement of the second buckle member  14  in the release direction  36  relative to the first buckle member  12  disengages the latch hook lips  88  from the latching aperture ledges  56 . Further displacement of the second buckle member  14  in the release direction  36  relative to the first buckle member  12  translates the latch hooks  22  obliquely along the second angled guide surfaces  60  (indicated by an arrow) and out of the latching apertures  18  to release the second buckle member  14  from the first buckle member  12  and thereby unlatch the buckle  10 . This displacement of the second buckle member  14  simultaneously disjoins the joining surface  70  from the mounting surface  40 , and causes the angled surface  25  of the first end  24  of the first buckle member  12  to translate obliquely along the angled guide surface  80  of the end wall  78  of the guide channel  72  and out of the guide channel  72  to release the second buckle member  12  from the first buckle member  12 . Displacement of the second buckle member  14  in the release direction  36  thus elevates the second buckle member  14  off of the mounting surface  40  of the first buckle member  12 . 
     As best shown in  FIG.  14   , the first and second magnets  16 ,  20  are not laterally offset from each other (i.e., they are laterally aligned) in order to maximize the attractive magnetic force exerted by the magnets upon the first and second buckle members  12 ,  14 . However, in other embodiments, it is contemplated that it could be advantage to use additional magnets. In such case, it can also be advantageous to laterally offset some or all of the magnets. 
     Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. For example, it is contemplated that embodiments of the present invention could employ a fewer or a greater number of latch hooks from the embodiment depicted in the drawings. It is also contemplated that that embodiments of the present invention could employ latch hooks or other latching means having a different configuration from that of the latch hooks shown in the drawings. 
     This written description uses examples to disclose the invention and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims. 
     It will be understood that the particular embodiments described herein are shown by way of illustration and not as limitations of the invention. The principal features of this invention may be employed in various embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize numerous equivalents to the specific procedures described herein. Such equivalents are considered to be within the scope of this invention and are covered by the claims. 
     All of the compositions and/or methods disclosed and claimed herein may be made and/or executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure. While the compositions and methods of this invention have been described in terms of the embodiments included herein, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that variations may be applied to the compositions and/or methods and in the steps or in the sequence of steps of the method described herein without departing from the concept, spirit, and scope of the invention. All such similar substitutes and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit, scope, and concept of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     Thus, although there have been described particular embodiments of the present invention, it is not intended that such references be construed as limitations upon the scope of this invention except as set forth in the following claims.