Patent Publication Number: US-9429284-B2

Title: Adjustable recessed trim

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention is directed generally to adjustable recessed trim. More particularly, various inventive methods and apparatus disclosed herein relate to adjustable recessed trim for a lighting fixture. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Recessed lighting, where a lighting assembly is mounted in a recessed fashion in a ceiling or the like, is in common usage in the lighting industry. Typical recessed lighting fixture installations include a frame mounted inside a ceiling opposite the room side of the ceiling. The frame typically supports a junction box, includes hanger bars or other structure for securing the frame inside the ceiling, and also includes a frame aperture for receiving and supporting a trim or finishing section. After the frame has been installed, the trim or finishing section is then installed, typically from the room side of the ceiling through the opening in the ceiling and into the frame aperture. The trim or finishing section provides an aesthetically pleasing look from the room side of the ceiling and/or provides certain lighting characteristics. 
     In certain downlight implementations it may be desirable to have a light source whose positioning is adjustable. In such implementations a housing is typically provided inside the ceiling attached to the frame over the frame aperture. The light source is mounted within the housing and adjustably positioned so as to provide desired light output through the opening in the ceiling. The housing is larger than the frame aperture to enclose mechanical and/or electrical components that extend beyond the frame aperture. Although existing downlight implementations enable adjustability of the light source, they have one or more drawbacks. For example, the large housing over the frame may increase material costs of the downlight and/or may be difficult or impossible to install in certain environments (e.g., where plenum space is limited). Also, for example, the frame, housing, and/or other component of the downlight may not be adaptable for both adjustable and non-adjustable installations. 
     Thus, the Applicants have recognized a need in the art to provide an improved adjustable recessed downlight trim that optionally overcomes one or more disadvantages of existing adjustable downlights. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure is directed to inventive methods and apparatus for adjustable recessed trim. For example, in some embodiments an adjustable recessed trim for a lighting fixture is provided having an enclosure with a light output opening and a light source opening provided upward from the light output opening. An adjustable cover piece having a cover piece light source opening and a cover piece flange extending from the cover piece light source opening is provided over the enclosure and is adjustable between at least a first position and a second position. Methods related to the adjustable recessed trim are also provided. For example, methods related to installation, adjustment, and/or manufacture of the recessed trim are provided. 
     Generally, in one aspect, an adjustable recessed downlight trim is provided that includes a light output opening, an enclosure extending upwardly from the light output opening and defining an enclosed space therein, and an adjustable cover piece provided over the enclosure and adjustable between at least a first position and a second position. The enclosure has an enclosure light source opening therein provided upward from the light output opening. The cover piece has a cover piece light source opening and a cover piece flange extending from the cover piece light source opening. The cover piece light source opening is smaller than the enclosure light source opening and is in registration with the enclosure light source opening in the first position and the second position. The cover piece flange covers the remainder of the enclosure light source opening that is not in registration with the cover piece light source opening in the first position and in the second position. 
     In some embodiments the adjustable cover piece is pivotable between the first position and the second position. In some versions of those embodiments the adjustable cover piece is pivotally attached to the enclosure. 
     In some embodiments the cover piece is adjustable to a plurality of positions between the first position and the second position. 
     In some embodiments the first position and the second position are offset at least twenty degrees along an arcuate path. 
     In some embodiments the enclosure and the cover piece are in sliding contact with one another. 
     In some embodiments the cover piece flange has an arcuate cross section. 
     In some embodiments the enclosure and the adjustable cover piece are sized to extend through an adjustable recessed downlight frame in at least one of the first position and the second position. 
     In some embodiments the enclosure and the adjustable cover piece define a maximum peripheral dimension in the first position, and the maximum peripheral dimension is less than or equal to a peripheral dimension of a trim flange provided peripherally of the light output opening and below the enclosure. 
     In some embodiments the adjustable recessed downlight trim further includes a trim flange provided peripherally of the light output opening and below the enclosure. In some versions of those embodiments the enclosure and the adjustable cover piece do not extend peripherally beyond the trim flange in at least one of the first position and the second position. 
     In some embodiments the cover piece flange extends entirely around the cover piece light source opening. 
     Generally, in another aspect, an adjustable recessed trim is provided that includes a trim flange surrounding an opening, an enclosure extending upwardly from the trim flange and defining an enclosed space therein, and an adjustable cover piece pivotally coupled to the enclosure and adjustable along a substantially arcuate path between at least a first position and a second position. The enclosure has an upper enclosure opening therein provided upward from the opening. The cover piece has a cover piece opening and a cover piece flange extending from the cover piece opening. The cover piece opening is smaller than the upper enclosure opening and is in registration with the upper enclosure opening in the first position and the second position. The cover piece flange covers portions of the upper enclosure opening in the first position and the second position. 
     In some embodiments the enclosure includes a lower enclosure and an upper enclosure atop the lower enclosure. In some versions of those embodiments the trim flange is cohesively formed with the lower enclosure. 
     In some embodiments the cover piece includes a plurality of light source socket retention openings peripherally of the cover piece opening. 
     In some embodiments the enclosure and the adjustable cover piece do not extend beyond the trim flange in at least one of the first position and the second position. 
     Generally, in another aspect, a method of adjusting positioning of a light source opening in an adjustable recessed lighting fixture is provided and includes the step of slidably adjusting a positioning of an outer cover piece provided directly over top of a light source opening along an arcuate path, wherein the light source opening is provided in an upper portion of a trim frame enclosure substantially opposite a light output opening and the outer cover piece includes a cover piece opening therethrough that is smaller dimensionally than the light source opening. 
     In some embodiments the method further includes the step of fixing the positioning of the outer cover piece from an interior of the trim frame enclosure. 
     The term “light source” should be understood to refer to any one or more of a variety of radiation sources, including, but not limited to, LED-based sources (including one or more LEDs as defined above), incandescent sources (e.g., filament lamps, halogen lamps), fluorescent sources, phosphorescent sources, high-intensity discharge sources (e.g., sodium vapor, mercury vapor, and metal halide lamps), lasers, other types of electroluminescent sources, pyro-luminescent sources (e.g., flames), candle-luminescent sources (e.g., gas mantles, carbon arc radiation sources), photo-luminescent sources (e.g., gaseous discharge sources), cathode luminescent sources using electronic satiation, galvano-luminescent sources, crystallo-luminescent sources, kine-luminescent sources, thermo-luminescent sources, triboluminescent sources, sonoluminescent sources, radioluminescent sources, and luminescent polymers. 
     The term “lighting fixture” is used herein to refer to an implementation or arrangement of one or more lighting units in a particular form factor, assembly, or package. The term “lighting unit” is used herein to refer to an apparatus including one or more light sources of same or different types. A given lighting unit may have any one of a variety of mounting arrangements for the light source(s), enclosure/housing arrangements and shapes, and/or electrical and mechanical connection configurations. Additionally, a given lighting unit optionally may be associated with (e.g., include, be coupled to and/or packaged together with) various other components (e.g., control circuitry) relating to the operation of the light source(s). An “LED-based lighting unit” refers to a lighting unit that includes one or more LED-based light sources as discussed above, alone or in combination with other non LED-based light sources. A “multi-channel” lighting unit refers to an LED-based or non LED-based lighting unit that includes at least two light sources configured to respectively generate different spectrums of radiation, wherein each different source spectrum may be referred to as a “channel” of the multi-channel lighting unit. 
     It should be appreciated that all combinations of the foregoing concepts and additional concepts discussed in greater detail below (provided such concepts are not mutually inconsistent) are contemplated as being part of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein. In particular, all combinations of claimed subject matter appearing at the end of this disclosure are contemplated as being part of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein. It should also be appreciated that terminology explicitly employed herein that also may appear in any disclosure incorporated by reference should be accorded a meaning most consistent with the particular concepts disclosed herein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. Also, the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of an adjustable recessed downlight trim; a cover piece of the adjustable recessed downlight trim is illustrated exploded away. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an upper perspective view of the adjustable recessed downlight trim of  FIG. 1  with the cover piece illustrated in a first position; an interior reflector cone is not shown. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an upper perspective view of the adjustable recessed downlight trim of  FIG. 1  with the cover piece illustrated in a second position. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a lower perspective view of the adjustable recessed downlight trim of  FIG. 1  with the cover piece illustrated in the first position; the interior reflector cone is not shown. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a lower perspective view of the adjustable recessed downlight trim of  FIG. 1  with the cover piece illustrated in the second position; the interior reflector cone is not shown. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a section view of the adjustable recessed downlight trim taken along the section line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Although existing downlight implementations enable adjustability of the light source, they have one or more drawbacks. For example, the large housing utilized over the frame may increase material costs of the downlight and/or may limit installation options. Also, for example, the frame, housing, and/or other component of the downlight may not be adaptable for both adjustable and non-adjustable installations. 
     Thus, the Applicants have recognized a need in the art to provide an improved adjustable recessed downlight trim that optionally overcomes one or more disadvantages of existing adjustable downlights. 
     More generally, Applicants have recognized and appreciated that it would be beneficial to provide various inventive methods and apparatus related to adjustable recessed trim for a lighting fixture. 
     In view of the foregoing, various embodiments and implementations of the present invention are directed to adjustable recessed trim. 
     In the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation and not limitation, representative embodiments disclosing specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the claimed invention. However, it will be apparent to one having ordinary skill in the art having had the benefit of the present disclosure that other embodiments according to the present teachings that depart from the specific details disclosed herein remain within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, descriptions of well-known apparatus and methods may be omitted so as to not obscure the description of the representative embodiments. Such methods and apparatus are clearly within the scope of the claimed invention. For example, aspects of the methods and apparatus disclosed herein are described in conjunction with and particularly suited for utilization in a lighting fixture. However, one or more aspects of the methods and apparatus described herein may be implemented in other configurations such as, for example, other recessed products such as cameras, speakers, and/or ventilation systems that may be installed in a recessed configuration. 
     An embodiment of an adjustable recessed downlight trim  10  is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 6 . The recessed downlight trim  10  is configured for implementation as a component of a recessed lighting fixture. The recessed downlight trim  10  can be installed within a frame aperture of a recessed lighting fixture installed within a ceiling or other recessed installation. As described herein, in some embodiments the recessed downlight trim  10  may be wholly installed from a room side of a recessed lighting fixture. Also, as described herein, in some embodiments the recessed downlight trim  10  may be installed as a component of a recessed lighting fixture and it will not be necessary to install a separate housing that is coupled to the recessed frame and provided over top of the recessed downlight trim  10 . 
     Referring initially to  FIGS. 1-3 , various upper perspective views of the recessed downlight trim  10  are illustrated. The recessed downlight trim  10  has an enclosure including a lower enclosure  20  and an upper enclosure  30 . In alternative embodiments the enclosure may be formed of a single piece or more than two pieces. A cover piece  40  is pivotally coupled to the upper enclosure  30  and lower enclosure  20 . In alternative embodiments the cover piece  40  may alternatively be coupled to only one of the lower enclosure  20  and the upper enclosure  30 . The cover piece  40  is illustrated exploded away from the enclosure in  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 2  the cover piece  40  is illustrated in a first position and in  FIG. 3  the cover piece  40  is illustrated adjusted to a second position. 
     The lower enclosure  20  includes a trim flange  22  extending radially from a lower extent thereof. When the recessed downlight trim  10  is installed in a recessed lighting fixture, the trim flange  22  will be provided on the room side of the ceiling covering the perimeter of the aperture that is provided through the ceiling for installation of the recessed lighting fixture. Retention springs  25  are provided upward of the trim flange  22  along a periphery of the lower enclosure  20 . The retention springs  25  are biased to exert outward pressure on a frame aperture of a recessed lighting fixture to retain the recessed downlight trim  10  therein. Additional retention springs and/or other retention structure may optionally be provided along the periphery of the lower enclosure  20 . 
     A connection extension  32  on each side of upper enclosure  30  extends down over the lower enclosure  20  and is attached thereto by rivets  27  that extend through openings of the connection extension  32  and through corresponding openings of the lower enclosure  20 . The rivets  27  also extend through and connect a cover piece bracket  46  of the cover piece  40  and function as a pivot point of the cover piece  40 . Additional openings  26  are visible through the lower enclosure  20  near the attachment of connection extension  32  thereto. The openings  26  provide for alternative attachment configurations of the upper enclosure  30  to the lower enclosure  20 . For example, in the illustrated attachment configuration, a central axis of the light source opening  31  of the upper enclosure  30  is offset approximately fifteen degrees in a first direction from a central axis of the light output opening  21  of the lower enclosure  20 . The central axis of the light source opening  31  is surrounded by the enclosure light source opening  31  of the upper enclosure  30  and extends through the center of the enclosure light source opening  31 . The central axis of the light output opening  21  is surrounded by the light output opening  21  of lower enclosure  20  and extends centrally through the light output opening  21 . 
     In alternative attachment configurations the upper enclosure  30  may be attached to one or more alternative openings  26  such as those that are visible to, for example, be offset in another direction, be fully aligned with the lower enclosure  20 , and/or be offset to a differing degree relative to the lower enclosure  20 . Multiple attachment configurations may enable the recessed downlight trim  10  to be utilized as an offset downlight and/or a direct downlight. Although a specific attachment configuration of the lower enclosure  20  to the upper enclosure  30  is illustrated, on of ordinary skill in the art, having had the benefit of the present disclosure, will recognize and appreciate that in alternative configurations other couplings may be utilized. For example, other fasteners may be utilized in addition to or as an alternative to rivets  27 . Also, in some alternative embodiments the upper enclosure  30  and the lower enclosure  20  may be formed as one cohesive piece. 
     The upper enclosure  30  has an enclosure light source opening  31  extending therethrough. The enclosure light source opening  31  enables a light source and/or a socket for the light source to extend therethrough and be provided in the enclosed space of the enclosure. In the illustrated embodiment the enclosure light source opening  31  is substantially rectangular with two opposed arcuate notches formed in opposed sides of the light source opening  31 . The enclosure light source opening  31  is provided at the top of the upper enclosure  30 . In the illustrated embodiment a central axis of the light source opening  31  is offset approximately fifteen degrees in a first direction from a central axis of the light output opening  21 . In alternative embodiments the central axis of the light source opening  31  may be offset to a differing degree and/or direction or may not be offset at all. The size of the enclosure light source opening  31  is larger than the lamp and/or lamp socket that will extend therethrough when the recessed downlight trim  10  is utilized in a recessed lighting fixture. 
     The cover piece  40  includes a cover piece opening  41  that is in registration with the enclosure light source opening  31  in the first position of  FIG. 2  and in the second position of  FIG. 3 . The cover piece opening  41  has a rim  42  extending therearound that includes opposed openings  43 . The rim  42  may receive and retain a light source socket therein. For example, a light source socket may include opposed biased protrusions that are aligned with the openings  43  and that may be retained within the openings  43  to thereby retain the light source socket. The cover piece opening  41  is sized to enable a light source socket, light source ballast, light source heatsink, and/or a light source to extend therethrough. In the illustrated embodiments the cover piece opening  41  is the same size as the opening formed by the rim  42 . In alternative embodiments the rim  42  and the cover piece opening  41  may optionally be different sizes. As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , portions of the cover piece opening  41  and the light source opening  31  are in registration with one another in the first and second positions. The portions in registration with one another are of a size to enable at least a portion of the light source to extend therethrough. A portion of the cover piece opening  41  is blocked by the upper enclosure  30  in the first position and second position in the illustrated embodiment. In other adjustment positions of the cover piece  40  the cover piece opening  41  may be blocked to a lesser extent or not at all by the upper enclosure  30 . For example, in a position approximately midway between the first position and the second position the cover piece opening  41  and the light source opening  31  may be in complete non-blocked registration with one another. 
     Provided peripherally of the cover piece opening  41  and rim  42  is a cover piece flange  44  that sits atop the upper enclosure  30 . The cover piece flange  44  may optionally be in sliding engagement with the upper enclosure  30 . The illustrated cover piece flange  44  has a substantially arcuate lower surface that substantially matches the shape of portions of the upper surface of the upper enclosure  30 . For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 6 , the cover piece flange  44  is directly atop the upper enclosure  30  in the first position. In the second position of  FIG. 3 , the cover piece flange  44  is directly atop the upper enclosure  30  and a portion of the cover piece flange  44  overhangs the upper enclosure  30 . In all positions of the cover piece  40 , portions of the light source opening  31  are covered by the cover piece flange  44  to thereby restrict the effective size of the opening  31  between the enclosed space and the ceiling side of the recessed downlight trim  10 . 
     Extending downward from each side of the cover piece  40  is one cover piece bracket  46 . The cover piece brackets  46  are coupled to the upper enclosure  30  and lower enclosure  20  at a pivot point by rivet  27 . One cover piece bracket  46  also includes an extension with a screw  48  extending therethrough. The screw  48  extends through an arcuate slot  34  provided through upper enclosure  30 . The screw  48  moves within slot  34  to guide cover piece  40  along a path during adjustment. The length of slot  34  may be selected to restrict movement of the cover piece  40  to a desired range of motion. For example, in the illustrated embodiment the slot  34  extends approximately thirty degrees around a center point thereof and restricts movement of the cover piece  40  to positions between the first position of  FIG. 2  and second position of  FIG. 3 . 
     Although a specific attachment of cover piece  40  to the enclosure is illustrated and described herein, one of ordinary skill in the art, having had the benefit of the present disclosure, will recognize and appreciate that in alternative embodiments other configurations may be utilized. For example, in some embodiments protrusions may additionally or alternatively be provided on each side of one or both of the cover piece brackets  46  that contact the cover piece brackets  46  in the first position and the second position and restrict movement of the cover piece  40  between the first position and second position. Also, for example, in some embodiments, in addition to or as an alternative to the cover piece brackets  46 , the cover piece flange  44  may ride in and be retained in tracks extending from the upper enclosure  30  around all or portions of the cover piece  40 . 
     Although a circular trim flange  22  and substantially circular enclosure are illustrated and described herein, one of ordinary skill in the art, having had the benefit of the present disclosure, will recognize and appreciate that in alternative embodiments the trim flange  22  and/or enclosure may take on other shapes. For example, the trim flange  22  may be generally elliptical, rectangular, or other shape in some alternative embodiments. Also, for example, in some alternative embodiments the enclosure may optionally be modified to substantially correspond to the shape of the trim flange  22 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4-6 , additional views of the recessed downlight trim  10  are illustrated.  FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate various lower perspective views of the recessed downlight trim  10  and  FIG. 6  provides a section view of the recessed downlight trim  10  along the section line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 2 . In  FIG. 4  the cover piece  40  is illustrated in the first position and in  FIG. 5  the cover piece  40  is illustrated adjusted to the second position. Interior surface  24  of lower enclosure  20  is visible in  FIGS. 2, 4, and 5  and may optionally be configured to provide desired aesthetic and/or light altering characteristics. Interior surface  39  of upper enclosure  30  is also visible and may similarly optionally be configured to provide desired aesthetic and/or light altering characteristics. In  FIGS. 1 and 6  an interior reflector cone  52  is visible provided interior of the enclosure and blocking the interior surface  24  and portions of the interior surface  39 . The interior reflector cone  52  is not illustrated in  FIGS. 2, 4, and 5  for ease in viewing other aspect of the recessed downlight trim  10 . The interior reflector cone  52  may provide desired light output characteristics for the recessed downlight trim  10 . In other embodiments one or more additional or alternative reflectors such as a kick reflector and/or a parabolic reflector may be provided. Also, for example, one or more light blocking structures may be provided such as a light blocking structure partially covering the light output opening  21 . Such alternative and/or additional structure may optionally be provided as a separate component interior of the enclosure (such as interior reflector cone  52 ) and/or may be cohesively formed as part of the enclosure. 
     A wing nut  49  is attached to screw  48  and may be tightened by a user to fix the positioning of the cover piece  40  at a desired location. For example, the user may tighten the wing nut  49  when the cover piece  40  is at a position between the first and second positions to fix the cover piece at such position. Angle indicator markings  37  may optionally be provided on the interior surface  39  in combination with an angle indicator  47  on the interior facing portion of the cover piece  40 . The markings  37  and indicator  47  provide a user with an indication of the selected adjustment angle of the light source. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 6 , in the first position the enclosure and the cover piece  40  do not extend beyond the trim piece flange  22 . Also, in the first position, the cover piece  40  and the enclosure define a maximum peripheral dimension upward of the trim flange  22  that is sized to fit through a frame aperture of a recessed lighting fixture. Thus, the recessed downlight trim  10  may optionally be installed from a room side of the fixture through a frame aperture. The maximum peripheral dimension in the first position may also be less than or equal to a peripheral dimension of the light output opening  21 . The recessed downlight trim  10  may be installed as a component of a recessed lighting fixture and it will not be necessary to install a separate housing that is coupled to the recessed frame and provided over top of the recessed downlight trim  10 . In some embodiments the light source opening  31  alone may be larger than a maximum size that is allowed for UL or other certification. However, the covering of the light source opening  31  with the cover piece  40  and the resulting opening provided by virtue of at least portions light source opening  31  and cover piece opening  41  being in registration with one another provide an effective opening that is of a size sufficiently small for UL or other certification. 
     While several inventive embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the inventive embodiments described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the inventive teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific inventive embodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, inventive embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Inventive embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the inventive scope of the present disclosure. 
     All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the defined terms. 
     The indefinite articles “a” and “an,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.” 
     The phrase “and/or,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements listed with “and/or” should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., “one or more” of the elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B”, when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising” can refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements); etc. 
     As used herein in the specification and in the claims, “or” should be understood to have the same meaning as “and/or” as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, “or” or “and/or” shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as “only one of” or “exactly one of,” or, when used in the claims, “consisting of,” will refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term “or” as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e. “one or the other but not both”) when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of,” “only one of,” or “exactly one of.” “Consisting essentially of,” when used in the claims, shall have its ordinary meaning as used in the field of patent law. 
     As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently, “at least one of A or B,” or, equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) can refer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc. 
     It should also be understood that, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, in any methods claimed herein that include more than one step or act, the order of the steps or acts of the method is not necessarily limited to the order in which the steps or acts of the method are recited. 
     In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all transitional phrases such as “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” “holding,” “composed of,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of” shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively, as set forth in the United States Patent Office Manual of Patent Examining Procedures, Section 2111.03.