Patent Publication Number: US-10781982-B2

Title: Method for making an LED lighting fixture

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/150,914, filed May 10, 2016, which claims priority of Taiwanese Patent Application No. 104114909, filed on May 11, 2015, which are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The disclosure relates to a method for making an LED lighting fixture, and more particularly to a method for making an LED lighting fixture in which a plurality of LED dies are oriented in various directions, and which can achieve a superior heat dissipation effect. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Taiwanese Patent No. 1413745 discloses a method for manufacturing a lamp body and the lamp body manufactured thereby. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the lamp body includes a lamp body carrier board unit  11 , a plurality of strips  12 , a luminous unit  13 , and a combining unit  14 . The strips  12  are arranged at a peripheral edge of the lamp body carrier board unit  11  in a radiating manner and have a bending angle relative to the lamp body carrier board unit  11 . The luminous unit  13  is mounted on the lamp body carrier board unit  11 . The combining unit  14  is mechanically connected to the strips  12  through a locking sleeve  15  and a plurality of rivets  16 . 
     Since the luminous unit  13  is mounted on the lamp body carrier board unit  11  which is substantially horizontal, light produced by the luminous unit  13  travels mainly in one direction, e.g., a downward direction so that some areas around the luminous unit  13  are not sufficiently illuminated. In addition, since the combining unit  14  is mechanically connected to the strips  12  through the locking sleeve  15  and the rivets  16 , the assembly of the lamp body is time-consuming and the production cost for the lamp body is relatively high. 
     SUMMARY 
     Certain embodiments of the disclosure provide a method for making an LED lighting fixture that may alleviate at least one of the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art. Such a method may include the steps of: 
     a) cutting a flat blank to form a flat plate including
         a central piece having a central region defining a central axis and a circumferential region surrounding the central region, and   a plurality of peripheral extensions which extend radially from the circumferential region and which are angularly displaced from each other about the central axis;       

     b) forming on the flat plate a patterned circuit which includes a plurality of electrical contact pairs that are formed on the central piece or the peripheral extensions and that are angularly displaced from each other about the central axis; 
     c) bringing a plurality of LED dies into electrical contact with the electrical contact pairs respectively; and 
     d) bending the peripheral extensions rearwardly relative to the central piece and toward the central axis to collectively form a shell. 
     Certain embodiments of the disclosure provide a method for making an LED lighting fixture that may alleviate at least one of the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art. Such a method may include the steps of: 
     a1) cutting a flat blank to form a rectangular flat plate including an upper marginal portion, a lower marginal portion opposite to the upper marginal portion in a longitudinal direction, and a body portion disposed between the upper and lower marginal portions; 
     b1) forming on the body portion of the rectangular flat plate a patterned circuit which includes a plurality of electrical contact pairs that are displaced from each other; 
     c1) bringing a plurality of LED dies into electrical contact with the electrical contact pairs, respectively; and 
     d1) rolling up the rectangular flat plate around an axis oriented in the longitudinal direction to form a tubular shell. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent in the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiment(s) with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view illustrating a lamp body disclosed in Taiwanese Patent No. 1413745; 
         FIG. 2  is a flow diagram of a first embodiment of a method for making an LED lighting fixture according to the disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic perspective view illustrating a cutting step of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view of a flat plate obtained after the cutting step; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the flat plate obtained after a step of applying an insulation layer of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic view of a central piece of the flat plate in a state in which a patterned activating material layer is formed on the insulation layer; 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view taken long line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic view of the central piece of the flat plate in a state in which a patterned circuit is formed on the patterned activating material layer; 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view taken long line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic view of the central piece of the flat plate in a state in which a plurality of LED dies are in electrical contact with electrical contact pairs of the patterned circuit; 
         FIG. 11  is a sectional view taken long line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a side view of the central piece of the flat plate in a state in which a plurality of flap portions are bent; 
         FIG. 13  is a side view of a shell formed by bending the flat plate; 
         FIG. 14  is an exploded perspective view of an LED lighting fixture made by the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 15  is a side view of the LED lighting fixture made by the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 16  is a sectional view taken long line  16 - 16  of  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIG. 17  is a sectional view taken long line  17 - 17  of  FIG. 15 ; 
         FIG. 18  is a flow diagram illustrating a step of forming a patterned activating material layer in a second embodiment of a method for making an LED lighting fixture according to the disclosure; 
         FIG. 19  is a schematic view illustrating the central piece of the flat plate in a state in which a flexible masking layer is placed thereon; 
         FIGS. 20, 21, and 22  are sectional views illustrating consecutive sub-steps of the step of forming the patterned activating material layer in the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 23  is a perspective view of a first variation of the LED lighting fixture made by the method of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 24  is a schematic view illustrating a configuration of an insert segment of the first variation of the LED lighting fixture made by the method of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 25  is a sectional view taken long line  25 - 25  of  FIG. 23 ; 
         FIG. 26  is a schematic view of a flat plate for a second variation of the LED lighting fixture made by the method of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 27  is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating an insert segment press-fitted into a lamp base in the second variation of the LED lighting fixture made by the method of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 28  is a schematic view of a flat plate for a third variation of the LED lighting fixture made by the method of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 29  is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating an insert segment press-fitted into a lamp base in the third variation of the LED lighting fixture made by the method of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 30  is a schematic view of a flat plate for a fourth variation of the LED lighting fixture made by the method of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 31  is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating an insert segment press-fitted into a lamp base in the fourth variation of the LED lighting fixture made by the method of the disclosure; 
         FIGS. 32 and 33  are perspective views illustrating a fifth variation of the LED lighting fixture made by the method of the disclosure; and 
         FIGS. 34 and 35  are perspective views illustrating an LED lighting fixture made by a second embodiment of the method of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Before the disclosure is described in greater detail, it should be noted that where considered appropriate, reference numerals or terminal portions of reference numerals have been repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements, which may optionally have similar characteristics. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a first embodiment of a method for making an LED lighting fixture according to the disclosure is shown to include the steps of: A) cutting a flat blank to form a flat plate; B) forming a patterned circuit; C) bringing a plurality of LED dies into electrical contact with electrical contact pairs of the patterned circuit; D) installing a driver module; E) bending the flat plate; F) press-fitting an insert segment into a lamp base; and G) installing a lamp cover. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 , in step A), a flat blank  20  is cut using a machine tool (not shown) to form a flat plate  2 . The machining process for forming the flat plate  2  includes, for example, laser cutting and punching. In this embodiment, the flat blank  20  and the flat plate  2  formed therefrom are made from a metal plate having superior thermal conductivity and heat dissipation (for example, an aluminum or copper plate). The flat plate  2  has an outer surface  23 , and includes a central piece  21  and a plurality of peripheral extensions  22 . The central piece  21  is illustrated in the embodiment as having a circular shape, and has a central region  217  defining a central axis (X) and a circumferential region  215  surrounding the central region  217 . The peripheral extensions  22  extend radially outward from a periphery  211  of the circumferential region  215  and are angularly displaced from each other about the central axis (X). Each of the peripheral extensions  22  includes an elongate portion  221  extending radially outward from the periphery  211  of the circumferential region  215  and a distal end portion  222  opposite to the circumferential region  215 . 
     In addition, the circumferential region  215  is cut to form a plurality of slits  212  which are angularly displaced from each other about the central axis (X) so as to form a plurality of flap portions  216  each having a free end proximate to the central region  217  and a bent line radially opposite to the free end. Each of the slits  212  is in a U-shaped form in the illustrated embodiment. Alternatively, the slit  212  may be in a V- or C-shaped form. In addition, the circumferential region  215  is cut to form a plurality of slots  213  and two through-holes  214 . 
     When the flat plate  2  is made from a metal plate as illustrated in the embodiment, a layer of epoxy resin is applied to the outer surface  23  of the flat plate  2  via electrophoretic deposition to provide the flat plate  2  with an insulation layer  3  having an insulation surface  31 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . Other insulation materials and other application techniques commonly used in the art may be used for forming the insulation layer  3 , if applicable. 
     Alternatively, the flat plate  2  may be formed by cutting a flat blank made from an insulation flat blank. In this case, it is not necessary to further apply an insulation layer to the flat plate  2 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6, 7, 8, and 9 , in step B), a patterned activating material layer  4  is formed on the insulation surface  31  of the flat plate  2  via screen printing, spray coating, transfer printing, or other application techniques commonly used in the art, and is then cured via heating or ultraviolet irradiation. Specifically, the patterned activating material layer  4  is formed on the central piece  21  of the flat plate  2 . Chemical plating is then performed on the patterned activating material layer  4  to form a patterned circuit  5  on the patterned activating material layer  4 . 
     In the embodiment, the patterned activating material layer  4  is formed using an ink which includes a catalystic metal source, an organic solvent, and an adhesive. The catalystic metal source is selected from the group consisting of palladium, platinum, gold, silver, copper, and combinations thereof. 
     Alternatively, the patterned activating material layer  4  may be formed using a material containing the catalystic metal source via powder coating, or by immersing the flat plate  2  in a solution containing the catalystic metal source for a predetermined period of time to form an activating material layer on the flat plate  2 , followed by removal of unwanted portions of the activating material layer. 
     As described above, the patterned circuit  5  is formed on the patterned activating material layer  4  via chemical plating. Specifically, the flat plate  2  formed with the patterned activating material layer  4  on the insulation surface  31  is immersed in a chemical plating solution. Metal ions contained in the chemical plating solution are reduced to metal nuclei at the catalystic metal source of the patterned activating material layer  4 . The metal nuclei thus formed act as a catalystic material for further reduction of the metal ions remaining in the chemical plating solution so as to form the patterned circuit  5  on the patterned activating material layer  4 . In the embodiment, the patterned circuit  5  is made from a metal material having high heat conductivity (K) and low resistivity (ρ) (for example, copper). 
     Alternatively, step B) of forming the patterned circuit  5  may include the sub-steps of: i) forming an activating material layer on the insulation surface  31  of the flat plate  2 ; ii) performing chemical plating on the activating material layer to form an electrical conductive layer on the activating material layer; and iii) removing unwanted portions of the activating material and electrical conductive layers. 
     In addition, other techniques for forming a patterned circuit on an insulation surface, for example, a laser direct structuring technique or a molded interconnect device technique, may be used for forming the patterned circuit  5 . 
     The patterned circuit  5  includes a plurality of electrical contact pairs  50  that are formed on the central piece  21  and are angularly displaced from each other about the central axis (X). The flap portions  216  in the circumferential region  115  have the electrical contact pairs  50  formed respectively thereon. The patterned circuit  5  further includes an electrical contact pair  50 ′ formed on the central piece  21  other than the flap portions  216 . Each of electrical contact pairs  50 ,  50 ′ defines a mounting position (P). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , in step C), a plurality of LED dies  6  are respectively mounted at the mounting positions (P) and brought into electrical contact with the electrical contact pairs  50 ,  50 ′ via surface mounting technology. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 14 , in step D), a driver module  7  is installed and brought into electrical contact with the patterned circuit  5 . The driver module  7  includes a driving circuit unit  71 , two first transmission lines  72  connected to the driving circuit unit  71 , two second transmission lines  73  connected to the driving circuit unit  71  and opposite to the first transmission lines  72 , and an adapter board  74  having a pair of electrodes  741 . The electrodes  741  of the adapter board  74  are soldered to two conductive portions  51  of the patterned circuit  5 . The first transmission lines  72  are respectively passed through the through-holes  214  in the central piece  21 , and a conductive portion  721  of each of the first transmission lines  72  is soldered to a corresponding one of the electrodes  741  of the adapter board  74  such that the driving circuit unit  71  is brought into electrical connection with the patterned circuit  5  via the first transmission lines  72  and adapter board  74 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5, 12, 13, and 14 , in step E), the flat plate  2  is positioned in a first female mold part (not shown) of a punching machine (not shown). A first male mold part (not shown) matching the first female mold part is then used to punch to the flap portions  216  of the central piece  21  so as to bend each of the flap portions  216  along the bent line forwardly and at an angle (A) relative to the circumferential region  215 . The flat plate  2  is then positioned in a second female mold part (not shown) of the punching machine such that the driving circuit unit  71  of the driver module  7  is disposed downwardly of the central piece  21 . A second male mold part (not shown) matching the second female mold part is then used to punch to the peripheral extensions  22  so as to bend the peripheral extensions  22  rearwardly relative to the central piece  21  and toward the central axis (X) such that the bent peripheral extensions  22  collectively form a shell  2 ′ which includes a skirt segment  221 ′ and an insert segment  222 ′ that are proximate to and distal from the central piece  21 , respectively. The skirt segment  221 ′ is composed of the elongate portions  221  and encloses the driver module  7 , and the insert segment  222 ′ is composed of the distal end portions  222 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 13, 14, and 16 , each of the flap portions  216  is bent at an angle (A) relative to the circumferential region  215 , and the peripheral extensions  22 , specifically the elongate portions  221  thereof, are bent rearwardly relative to the central piece  21  and toward the central axis (X) via step E). Therefore, the LED dies  6  respectively mounted on the flap portions  216  are oriented in various directions such that light emitted by the LED dies  6  can illuminate a relatively large area. In the embodiment, the angle (A) is about 45°. It should be noted that the angle (A) may be adjusted to be within the range of, for example, from 1° to 90° using a punching machine with suitable male and female mold parts. 
     The central piece  21  and the peripheral extensions  22  cooperatively define a receiving space  24 . The ends of the distal end portions  222  cooperatively define an opening  25 . Two adjacent ones of the peripheral extensions  22  define a gap  26  therebetween. The receiving circuit unit  71  is received in the receiving space  24 , and the second transmission lines  73  pass through the opening  25 . The heat produced by the LED dies  6  during operation may be dissipated through the patterned circuit  5  and the shell  2 ′ formed by the flat plate  2 . Moreover, since air may be circulated through the gaps  26 , the heat dissipation effect may be further enhanced, thereby increasing the service life of the LED dies  6 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 14 and 17 , in step F), the insert segment  222 ′ is press-fitted into a lamp base  8  so as to form a snug engagement therebetween. The lamp base  8  includes a sleeve member  81  and a cap member  82  threadedly engaged with the sleeve member  81 . The sleeve member  81  includes a bottom wall  811  and a surrounding wall  812  extending upwardly from a periphery of the bottom wall  811 . The bottom wall  811  and the surrounding wall  812  cooperatively define a recess  813 . The bottom wall  811  is formed with a through-hole  814  communicated with the recess  813 . 
     Specifically, in step F), the second transmission lines  73  are passed through the recess  813  and the through-hole  814  so as to extend outwardly of the sleeve member  81 . The insert segment  222 ′ is press-fitted into the sleeve member  81 . When the insert segment  222 ′ is press-fitted into the sleeve member  81 , the bottom ends of the distal end portions  222  abut against the bottom wall  811  and two lateral sides of each of the distal end portions  222  abut against the surrounding wall  812  such that the insert segment  222 ′ is fittingly engaged with the sleeve member  81 . Conductive portions  731  of the second transmission lines  73  are then soldered to the cap member  82 , which is then screwed to the sleeve member  81 . Since the insert segment  222 ′ and the sleeve member  81  are coupled by press-fit engagement, assembly is relatively simple and convenient compared to the prior art shown in  FIG. 1 . Thus, assembly time and production cost may be reduced. 
     In step G), anchoring hooks  91  of a lamp cover  9  are respectively inserted into the slots  213  of the central piece  21 , and the lamp cover  9  is then rotated through a proper angle relative to the central piece  21  so as to permit the lamp cover  9  to be installed on the central piece  21 . An LED lighting fixture  200  is thus made. 
     It should be noted that the step of bending the peripheral extensions  22  and the step of bending the flap portions  216  may be performed after the step of forming the patterned activating material layer  4  and prior to the step of forming the patterned circuit  5 . 
     Alternatively, the step of bending the peripheral extensions  22  and the step of bending the flap portions  216  may be performed after the step of forming the patterned circuit  5  and prior to the step of bringing the LED dies  6  into electrical contact with the electrical contact pairs  50  of the patterned circuit  5 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2  and  FIGS. 18 to 22 , the second embodiment of the method for making an LED lighting fixture according to the disclosure is substantially the same as the first embodiment except that the step of forming the patterned activating material layer  4  includes the sub-steps of: i′) placing on the insulation surface  31  of the flat plate  2  a flexible masking layer  40  having a predetermined cutout pattern  401 ; ii′) filling the predetermined cutout pattern  401  with an activating material  41 ; and iii′) removing the flexible masking layer  40 . 
     Specifically, as shown in  FIGS. 19 and 20 , the flexible masking layer  40  having the predetermined cutout pattern  401  is adhered to the insulation surface  31  of the central piece  21  of the flat plate  2 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 21 , the activating material  41  is applied via spraying using a nozzle  42  so as to fill the predetermined cutout pattern  401  with the activating material  41 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 22 , the flexible masking layer  40  is removed so as to form the patterned activating material layer  4  on the insulation surface  31 . 
     The second embodiment of the method of the disclosure is relatively flexible since the procedure for forming the patterned activating material layer  4  may be applied to the insulation surface  31  that is flat or curved. 
       FIGS. 23, 24, and 25  illustrate a first variation of the LED lighting fixture made by the method of the disclosure, in which the number of the peripheral extensions  22  is even ( 6  in the illustrated variation). Each of the peripheral extensions  22  has two lateral sides  223  opposite to each other. The peripheral extensions  22  are bent such that one of two adjacent peripheral extensions  22  abuts against a corresponding one of the two lateral sides  223  of the other of the two adjacent peripheral extensions  22  so as to permit three inner ones of the six peripheral extensions  22  to cooperatively define a triangular opening  25  and to permit each of three outer ones of the six peripheral extensions  22  to abut against corresponding ones of the lateral sides  223  of the corresponding ones of the three inner ones of the peripheral extensions  22 . Moreover, when the insert segment  222 ′ is press-fitted into the sleeve member  81  of the lamp base  8 , the lateral sides  223  of the three outer ones of the six peripheral extensions  22  abut against the sleeve member  81 . 
       FIGS. 26 and 27  illustrate a second variation of the LED lighting fixture made by the method of the disclosure, in which the central piece  21  of the flat plate  2  is in a polygonal form, and in which each of the peripheral extensions  22  has two lateral sides  223 . Each of the lateral sides  223  is indented to form a plurality of protrusions  224  spaced part from each other and distal from the central piece  21 . When the peripheral extensions  22  after bending are press-fitted into the sleeve member  81 , the protrusions  224  abut against an inner wall surface of the sleeve member  81 . 
       FIGS. 28 and 29  illustrate a third variation of the LED lighting fixture made by the method of the disclosure, in which the central piece  21  of the flat plate  2  is in a polygonal form, and in which the distal end portion  222  of each of the peripheral extensions  22  has two lateral sides  225 . Each of the lateral sides  225  is indented to form a plurality of protrusions  226  spaced part from each other and distal from the central piece  21 . When the distal end portion  222  of each of the peripheral extensions  22  after bending are press-fitted into the sleeve member  81 , the protrusions  226  abut against an inner wall surface of the sleeve member  81 . 
       FIGS. 30 and 31  illustrate a fourth variation of the LED lighting fixture made by the method of the disclosure, in which the central piece  21  of the flat plate  2  is in a polygonal form, and in which the distal end portion  222  of each of the peripheral extensions  22  has a first lateral side  227  and a second lateral side  228  opposite to each other. The second lateral side  228  of the distal end portion  222  of each of the peripheral extensions  22  is indented to form a plurality of protrusions  229  spaced part from each other. When the peripheral extensions  22  are bent, the distal end portion  222  of one of two adjacent peripheral extensions  22  abuts against the first lateral side  227  of the distal end portion  222  of the other of the two adjacent peripheral extensions  22  such that the distal end portions  222  of the peripheral extensions  22  are arranged in a radiating manner. When the distal end portions  222  of the peripheral extensions  22  are press-fitted into the sleeve member  81 , the protrusions  229  abut against an inner wall surface of the sleeve member  81 . 
       FIGS. 32 and 33  illustrate a fifth variation of the LED lighting fixture  200  made by the method of the disclosure, in which the electrical contact pairs  50  of the patterned circuit  5  are formed on the elongate portion  221  of each of the peripheral extensions  22 , and the LED dies  6  are mounted on the elongate portions  221  of the peripheral extensions  22  and oriented in different various directions. The lamp cover  9  in the fifth variation of the LED lighting fixture  200  is a light-tight shading cover formed with various light-transmitting patterns  92 , which are numbers in the illustrated variation. The lamp cover  9  is snap-engaged with the central piece  21 . 
       FIGS. 34 and 35  illustrate an LED lighting fixture  200  made by a third embodiment of a method for making an LED lighting fixture according to the disclosure. The third embodiment of the method of the disclosure includes the steps of: 
     A1) cutting a flat blank to form a rectangular flat plate including an upper marginal portion, a lower marginal portion opposite to the upper marginal portion in a longitudinal direction, and a body portion disposed between the upper and lower marginal portions; 
     B1) forming on the body portion of the rectangular flat plate a patterned circuit  5  which includes a plurality of electrical contact pairs  50  that are displaced from each other; 
     C1) bringing a plurality of LED dies  6  into electric contact with the electrical contact pairs  50 , respectively; 
     D1) rolling up the rectangular flat plate around an axis oriented in the longitudinal direction to form a tubular shell  2 ′ which includes a tubular body  21 ′ corresponding to the body portion and an insert segment  22 ′ corresponding to the lower marginal portion; 
     E1) press-fitting the insert segment  22 ′ into a lamp base  8 ; and 
     F1) securing a lamp cover  9  on an upper end portion of the tubular shell  2 ′ by, e.g., snap engagement. 
     In the method for making an LED lighting fixture according to the disclosure, since the insert segment  222 ′,  22 ′ is press-fitted into the sleeve member  81  of the lamp base  8 , assembly is relatively simple and convenient compared to the prior art shown in  FIG. 1 . Thus, the assembly time and production cost for the LED lighting fixture  200  made by the method of the disclosure may be reduced. In addition, since the LED dies  6  mounted on the LED light fixture  200  made by the method of the disclosure are oriented in different directions, the light emitted by the LED dies  6  can illuminate a relatively large area. Furthermore, the heat produced by the LED dies  6  may be dissipated by the patterned circuit  5  and the shell  2 ′ formed by the flat plate  2 . Thus, the heat conductivity and the heat dissipation effect of the LED lighting fixture  200  made by the method of the disclosure may be enhanced. 
     In the description above, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details have been set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiment(s). It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that one or more other embodiments may be practiced without some of these specific details. It should also be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” an embodiment with an indication of an ordinal number and so forth means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic may be included in the practice of the disclosure. It should be further appreciated that in the description, various features are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of various inventive aspects. 
     While the disclosure has been described in connection with what is (are) considered the exemplary embodiment(s), it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiment(s) but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.