Abstract:
A laptop computer protective bag, including a supportive front wall, a back wall, and a substantially rigid bridge wall that holds the front wall inclined relative to the back wall when the computer is in use resting on the front wall. Flexible side walls form a closed chamber with extremities of the front and rear walls being in close proximity when toe computer is in use, a pair of fans blowing air through the front wall for cooling a bottom surface of the computer, a vent structure permitting the air to flow through the chamber. Also disclosed is a backpack assembly that incorporated the protective bag.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/975,241, filed Sep. 26, 2007, and which is incorporated herein by this reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to accessories for laptop computers, notebook computers and similar electronic devices having display screens and keyboards, and more particularly to a utilitarian case or bag for such devices. 
         [0003]    Computer cases and bags of the prior art are generally directed to providing inclined ergonomic support for the computer while in use. Other features typically present are various carrying handles, storage cavities, and physical restraints for the computer while in use. It is believed, however, that none of the prior art provides a completely satisfactory device for protectively transporting and conveniently facilitating use of the computer as well as effectively cooling the computer. 
         [0004]    Thus there is a need for an improved case or bag for laptop computers, notebook computers, and the like, that provides protection for such a device, that permits improved convenience in operation of the device as well as improved heat removal from the device, and that is inexpensive to provide. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    The present invention meets this need by providing a laptop computer bag that includes a supporting panel and fans mounted such that cooling air is blown against a bottom surface of a laptop computer that has been removed from the bag and rested on the supporting surface. In one aspect of the invention, the bag includes a front wall that provides the supporting surface; a back wall; a side wall structure including a substantially rigid bridge wall connected along an edge extremity of one of the front and back walls and connectable to the other of the front and back walls, and opposite side walls connected between the front wall and the back wall, the side wall structure being flexible for permitting edge extremities of the front and back walls opposite the bridge wall to move into close proximity when a load is carried on the front wall with the back wall resting on a supporting surface. In this condition, and with the bridge wall connected between the front and back walls, a substantially closed chamber is formed between the front and back walls. A fan is mounted on one of the walls for blowing air through the front wall, a vent structure being formed in at least one of the walls for passing air that is driven by the fan. 
         [0006]    Preferably the air is blown outwardly through the front wall for impinging on a bottom surface of the laptop computer. The fan can be mounted to the front wall, the bag further comprising a protective grill member covering the fan. There can be a spaced pair of fans and protective grills on the front wall for improved cooling air flow. The vent structure can include a plurality of vent holes formed in each of the side walls. Alternatively, the fan can be mounted on the bridge wall, the vent structure including a vent opening formed in the front wall for passing air that is driven by the fan. There can be a first protective grill on the fan, the vent structure also including a second protective grill covering the vent opening. Also, there can be a spaced pair of the fans and corresponding first protective grills, the vent structure including a spaced pair of vent openings and second protective grills on the front wall. 
         [0007]    The protective bag can further include one or more mouse trays slidably mounted within the bag for deployment extending through one or both of the side walls. The bag can include a riser member formed on the front wall for spacing a bottom surface of the computer away from the front wall to facilitate air flow under the computer. 
         [0008]    Preferably the protective bag includes a wrist pad for supporting palms and/or wrists of a user when the computer is supported on the front wall, the wrist pad providing a stop for locating the computer. The wrist pad can be mounted on the front wall, the bag further comprising a bottom wall connected between the front wall and the back wall, and between the side walls, the bottom wall being flexible for permitting the edge extremities of the front and back walls opposite the bridge wall to move into close proximity. The bridge wall can be connected to the back wall as well as the front wall, the bag further comprising a strip fastener dividing the bottom wall between the front wall and the back wall, the strip fastener extending into each of the side walls for permitting the computer to be inserted therethrough when the strip fastener is in an open condition. The strip fastener can be a zipper fastener. 
         [0009]    Alternatively, with the bridge wall connected to both front and back walls, the bag can further include a wrist pad wall foldably connected to the front wall and having the wrist pad mounted thereto; and structure for releasably securing the wrist pad wall in a closed position connected to the back wall when the computer is enclosed within the bag, the wrist pad wall having an open position substantially coplanar with the front wall. The structure for securing the wrist pad wall can include a wrist pad flap foldably extending from the wrist pad wall opposite the front wall and having a fastener for connecting the wrist pad flap in facing relation to the back wall. 
         [0010]    The bag can include a power cable connected to the fan and having a USB plug wired thereto for powering the fan from the laptop computer. Alternatively, or additionally, the bag can include a battery pack for powering the fan. 
         [0011]    In another aspect of the invention, the laptop computer bag includes a front wall for defining a supporting surface for a laptop computer, a back wall, an openable side wall structure connectable for enclosing the laptop computer between the front and back walls, and a fan mounted on one of the walls for blowing air through the front wall in communication with a bottom surface of the laptop computer, a vent structure being formed in at least one of the walls for passing air that is driven by the fan. Preferably the air is blown outwardly through the front wall for impinging on a bottom surface of the laptop computer. Preferably the bag includes a bridge structure for spacing corresponding bridge plane portions of the front wall and the back wall at a predetermined first wall spacing, and the side wall structure incorporates flexible elements for permitting variable spacing between the front and back walls except along the bridge plane portions thereof, for permitting edge extremities of the front and back walls opposite the bridge structure to move into a reduced second wall spacing when the laptop computer is carried on the front wall with the back wall resting on a supporting surface, the front wall being inclined relative to the back wall. 
         [0012]    In yet another aspect, the laptop computer bag includes a wall structure defining an openable chamber for receiving the computer and for supporting the computer external to the chamber for operation thereof, a fan mounted on the wall structure, and inlet and outlet openings formed in the wall structure for passing air that is driven by the fan in communication with a bottom surface of the laptop computer. Preferably the air is blown outwardly through the wall structure for impinging on a bottom surface of the laptop computer 
         [0013]    In a further aspect of the invention, a backpack assembly includes a main storage bag having a pair of shoulder straps, and the laptop computer bag removably fastened to a front wall of the main storage bag. The fastening can include a strip fastener pair having a first element affixed to the front wall of the main storage bag and a second element affixed to a corresponding location on the back wall of the protective bag, and a safety flap projecting forwardly from the main storage bag and having a first safety fastener element thereon, a second safety fastener element being affixed to a corresponding location on the front wall of the protective bag. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings, where: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a protective computer bag according to the present invention, the bag being in an upright closed condition; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view as in  FIG. 1 , showing the bag in an open condition; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the bag of  FIG. 1  in a collapsed and deployed condition for supporting a laptop computer; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view as in  FIG. 1 , showing an alternative configuration of the computer bag; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the bag of  FIG. 4 , from a different perspective; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing a back side of the bag of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view as in  FIG. 6 , showing the bag of  FIG. 4  in an open condition with a laptop computer partially inserted therein; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view as in  FIG. 3 , showing the bag of  FIG. 4  in a collapsed condition supporting the laptop computer; 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is perspective view as in  FIG. 8 , showing the bag of  FIG. 4 , and showing the laptop computer in an open condition, with supporting panels of the bag deployed and with a computer mouse resting on one of the panels; 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view as in  FIG. 9 , showing a seated user operating the computer; 
           [0025]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view showing yet another configuration of the computer bag of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 12  is perspective view showing a variation of the configuration of  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view showing an alternative briefcase configuration of the bag of  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 14  is a side elevational view showing the briefcase of  FIG. 13  in an open condition for receiving a laptop computer; 
           [0029]      FIG. 15  is a side view as in  FIG. 14 , showing the briefcase of  FIG. 13  positioned for use supporting a laptop computer; 
           [0030]      FIG. 16  is a rear oblique perspective view showing the computer bag configured generally as in  FIG. 4  and forming part of a backpack assembly; 
           [0031]      FIG. 17  is a side view of the backpack assembly of  FIG. 16 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 18  is a front oblique perspective view of the backpack assembly of  FIG. 16 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 19  is a side view as in  FIG. 17 , showing the computer bag disassembled from a remainder of the backpack assembly; 
           [0034]      FIG. 20  is a perspective view as in  FIG. 18 , showing the separated condition of  FIG. 19 ; 
           [0035]      FIG. 21  is a side view showing the computer bag of  FIG. 16  positioned for use supporting a laptop computer; and 
           [0036]      FIG. 22  is a side view as in  FIG. 21 , showing the bag in an open condition for receiving the laptop computer. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0037]    The present invention is directed to a protective bag or case for a portable electronic device such as a laptop computer or notebook computer, that is particularly effective in both protecting the computer for transport, and facilitating convenient use of the computer while greatly reducing heat build-up within the computer. With reference to  FIGS. 1-3  of the drawings, a protective bag  10  includes a front wall  12 , a foldably connected bridge wall  14 , a back wall  16 , and opposite side walls  18  connected between the front and rear walls, the side walls being flexible for permitting portions of the front and back walls to move into close proximity. 
         [0038]    The bridge wall  14  has a bridge flap  20  foldably extending therefrom opposite the front wall  12 , a plurality of hidden fastener pairs  22 , such as magnetic fasteners, being located in the bridge flap and the rear wall  16  for releasably securing the bridge flap in a closed condition, respective first fastener elements  22 A being fixed within the back wall  16  and second fastener elements being secured at corresponding locations within the bridge flap  20 . The bridge wall  14  is sufficiently stiff to hold the front and rear walls  12  and  16  spaced apart by a distance S when the bridge flap  20  is secured to the back wall  16  by the bridge fasteners  22 . A pair of fans  24  is mounted in spaced relation on the front wall  12  and having respective protective grill members  25  covering them. Also, a pair of riser members  26  are formed and/or secured to the front wall  12  in a suitable manner for facilitating air flow from the fans  24  against a bottom surface of the laptop computer. Further, a plurality of vent openings  27  are formed in each side wall  18  for admitting air into the bag during operation of the fans  24 . It will be understood that while the above-described direction of cooling air flow is preferred, the opposite direction of flow is also contemplated within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0039]    As further shown in  FIG. 1 , the bag  10  is provided with a pair of connecting rings  28  anchored to respective ones of the side walls  18  proximate the bridge wall  14  for attachment of a shoulder belt  29  in a conventional manner. Power for the fans  24  is delivered through a power cable  30  that has a conventional USB plug  31  at a free end thereof. The plug  31  can be inserted in an available USB socket of the computer (not shown). Alternatively, fan power can be from a battery pack incorporating a battery or batteries as described below in connection with  FIG. 13 . The battery pack can also have a USB socket adapter connected thereto for receiving the plug  31 . 
         [0040]    As further shown in the drawings, a pair of mouse trays  32  is slidably supported within the bag  10  and extendable through corresponding side walls  18 . Each tray can be provided with a pull tab  33  to facilitate deployment thereof for operation of a computer mouse (not shown) either right-handed or left-handed, and/or for supporting notes or other reference material during operation of a laptop computer (not shown) being supported by the risers  26  on the front wall  12 . 
         [0041]    In the exemplary configuration shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , a wrist pad wall  34  is foldably connected to the front wall  12  opposite the bridge wall  14 , the wall  34  having a wrist pad  35  formed thereon. The wrist pad wall  34  also has a wrist pad flap  36  foldably extending therefrom opposite the front wall  12 , a plurality of fastener pairs  38 , such as hook-loop fasteners, being located on the wrist pad flap and the rear wall  16  for releasably securing the wrist pad flap in a closed condition, respective first fastener elements  38 A being fixed on the back wall  16  and second fastener elements  38 B being secured at corresponding locations on the wrist pad flap  36 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the bag  10  forms a closed container for the computer when the wrist pad flap  36  is secured to the back wall  16 . According to the present invention, when the bag  10  is placed with the back wall  16  on a supporting surface with the bridge wall  14  connecting the back wall by the bridge flap  20  secured to the back wall, and with the wrist pad wall  34  in an open position, the front wall  12  assumes a sloping orientation relative to the back wall  16  when loaded, for example, by a laptop computer resting thereon. In this condition, shown in  FIG. 3 , the wrist pad wall  34  can also rest on the supporting surface, substantially coplanar with the back wall (to the extent that the supporting surface is also planar), the front wall  12  contacting the rear wall  16  opposite the bridge wall  14 . Also, the wrist pad  35  projects upwardly relative to the front wall  12  in the condition of the bag  10  shown in  FIG. 3 , the pad serving as a stop for locating the computer as well as a support for palms and/or wrists of a user. As described herein, although the bag  10  is substantially closed in the condition of  FIG. 3 , the cooling air is allowed to flow into (or out of) the bag through the openings  27  during operation of the fans  24 . 
         [0042]    As further shown in  FIG. 2 , the wrist pad wall  34  is provided with counterparts of the fasteners  38 A for engagement by the fasteners  38 B to hold the wrist pad flap  36  against the wrist pad wall  34  during use of the bag as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0043]    Suitable materials for the walls  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 , and  34 , as well as the flaps  20  and  36  and the riser members  26 , include leather, leatherette, and other suitable plastics, the front wall  12 , bridge wall  14 , and wrist pad wall  34  being reinforced by suitable rigid and/or semi-rigid members (not shown). The wrist pad  35  can be formed of any suitable resilient material and covered with the same leather, leatherette, etc., material of the various walls. Suitable devices for the fans  24  are commercially available and having a thickness of approximately 0.63 inch, being approximately 2.38 inches square. As further shown in  FIG. 3 , the front panel  12  has a length L (which can be approximately 17 inches or other suitable length for accommodating the width of computers to be placed thereon) between the side walls  18 , and a width W (which can be approximately 14 inches) between the bridge wall  14  and the wrist pad wall  34 . Also, the wrist pad wall  34  can have a width B between the front wall  12  and the wrist pad flap  36 , and the bridge wall  14  can have a width S between the front a d back walls  12  and  16 . Preferably the widths B and S are approximately the same (such as approximately 3 inches) for spacing the front and back walls substantially parallel in the closed condition of the bag shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0044]    With further reference to  FIGS. 4-10 , an alternative configuration of the bag, designated  10 ′, includes counterparts of the front wall, designated  12 ′, the bridge wall  14 , the back wall, designated  16 ′, the side walls  18 , the bridge flap  20 , the fasteners  22 , the fans  24 , the grill members  25 , the vent openings  27 , the connecting rings  28  and shoulder belt  29 , the power cable  30 , and the mouse trays  32 . A counterpart of the wrist pad, designated  35 ′, is formed directly on the front wall  12 ′, a flexible counterpart of the wrist pad wall, designated bottom wall  40 , is connected between the front and rear walls  12 ′ and  16 ′, and between the side walls  18 . Thus the bottom wall  40 , as well as the side walls  18 , collapses when the laptop computer, designated  42 , is placed thereon as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . As used herein and below, the correspondingly numbered elements, with or without primes (′, ″, or ′″), are intended to be substantially functionally equivalent. 
         [0045]    A counterpart riser member, designated  26 ′, is formed on the front wall  12 ′ between the fans  24  and the bridge wall  14 . Preferably the front wall is somewhat flexible between the riser member  26 ′ and the wrist pad  35 ′, permitting a region thereof surrounding the fans  24  to sag somewhat in the condition of  FIGS. 8 and 9 , thereby facilitating the passage of cooling air from the fans and against the bottom surface of the computer  42  notwithstanding the inclusion of only one riser member counterpart  26 ′. Further, with suitable components for the fans  24  being commercially available with thicknesses on the order of ⅝ inch, the region of the front wall  12 ′ can flex slightly outwardly without projecting beyond the wrist pad  35 ′ when the computer  42  is inside and filling the bag  10 ′. 
         [0046]      FIG. 4  shows the bag  10 ′ in an upright, closed condition in which the laptop computer  42  can be protectively enclosed therein.  FIG. 5  more clearly shows one of the end walls  18 .  FIG. 6  shows a back side of the bag  10 ′, the back wall  16 ′ having a zipper closure  44  for an internal storage pocket, and a clasp  46  for securing the bridge wall  14  and flap  20  in a closed condition, the clasp substituting for the fasteners  22 , described above for the configuration of  FIGS. 1-3 . Also, in further accordance with the present invention, the back wall  16 ′ incorporates a fastener strip  48  for attachment to a back pack, described below, thereby to facilitating more convenient carrying of the bag  10 ′. 
         [0047]      FIG. 7  shows the bag  10 ′ in an open condition, with the computer  42  being inserted or withdrawn therefrom.  FIG. 8  shows the bag  10 ′ resting with the back wall on a supporting surface  49 , with the computer  42  in place on the front wall  12 ′ and the riser member  26 ′, the computer being closed.  FIG. 9  shows the bag  10 ′ and computer  42  as in  FIG. 8 , but with the computer open and the mouse trays  32  in respective deployed conditions, a computer mouse  50  resting on one of the trays, and with the USB plug  31  of the power cable  30  plugged in to a USB port of the computer.  FIG. 10  shows the bag  10 ′ with the computer  42  in use by a seated user  52 , the back wall  16 ′ being preferably somewhat flexible for cushioning the legs of the user. 
         [0048]    With further reference to  FIG. 11 , another alternative configuration of the bag, designated  10 ″, includes counterparts of the front wall  12 ′, the bridge wall, designated  14 ′, the back wall  16 ′, the side walls  18 , the bridge flap  20 , the fasteners  22 , the fans  24 , the grill members  25 , the riser member  26 ′, and the wrist pad  35 ′ on the front wall  12 ′, the connecting rings  28  on the side walls  18  and shoulder belt  29 , the power cable  30 , the mouse trays  32 , and the bottom wall  40  as described above in connection with  FIGS. 4-10 . The fans  24  and grill members  25  are relocated on the bridge wall  14 ′, with air flow preferably directed into the bag  10 ″. Counterparts of the grill members  25  are mounted on the front wall  12 ′ for protectively covering corresponding vent openings  27 ′, the vent openings  27 ′ being sized and located approximately as the fans  24  of the previously described computer bags  10  and  10 ′. (See, for example,  FIGS. 3 and 4 .) The previously described vent openings  27  in the side walls  18  of the bags  10  and  10 ′ are not formed in the side walls  18 ′ of the instant computer bag  10 ″. 
         [0049]    With further reference to  FIG. 12 , another configuration of the bag, designated  10 ′″, is a variation of the bag  10 ″ of  FIG. 11 , having the fans  24  and grill members  25  relocated to respective side walls, designated  18 ′. The bag  10 ′″ includes the bridge wall  14  (as in the configurations of  FIGS. 1-10  (not supporting the fans  14 ). The fans are located in the side walls  18  proximate the bridge wall  14 , it being understood that the side walls  18 ′ are subjected to incidental flexure only within regions close to the bridge wall  14 . In this configuration, the connecting rings  28  are relocated proximate opposite ends of the bridge wall  14 . 
         [0050]    With further reference to  FIGS. 13-15 , yet another configuration of the protective bag, designated protective briefcase or bag  11 , includes the fans  24  and grill members  25  as well as the riser member  26 ′ and the wrist pad  35 ′ on the front wall  12 ′ as described above in connection with  FIGS. 4-10 , but with the vent openings  27  located on a counterpart of the bridge member, designated  14 ″, the bridge member being directly connected to the back wall  16  as well as the front wall  12 ′, with the vent openings  27  being relocated thereto between opposite hinged connections of a handle, designated  21 ′. Counterparts of the side walls, designated  18 ″, and the bottom wall, designated  40 ′, are split, being openably connected by a zipper closure  54 , the bag  11  being openable with the front wall  12 ′ pivoting beyond a perpendicular relation to the back wall  16 ′ in the manner of a briefcase as shown in  FIG. 14  for receiving the laptop computer  42 .  FIG. 15  shows the bag  11  with the bottom wall  40 ′ and the sidewalls  18 ″ partially collapsed in a closed condition of the bag and supporting the laptop computer in a convenient sloping orientation relative to the supporting surface  49 . 
         [0051]    Further shown in  FIG. 13  is a battery pack  43  that is mounted to the front panel  12 ′ inside the bag and between the fans  24 . The battery pack can include three or four conventional Type AA 1.5 volt batteries and an on-off switch (not shown). Suitable battery packs for use in the present invention are commercially available with approximate dimensions of 2.4 inches square and 0.75 inch thick. It will be understood that the battery pack  43  and/or the power cable  30  with its USB plug  31  can be provided in any of the configurations of the protective laptop bag described herein, and further that those having skill in computer electronics can provide appropriate wiring for powering the fans selectively from the battery pack or a laptop USB port. For example, the battery pack can be wired directly to the fans, with the on/off switch (not shown) used to turn the fans on or off. Alternatively, the battery pack can have a USB adaptor for receiving the plug  31 . 
         [0052]    With further reference to  FIGS. 16-22 , a backpack assembly  60  incorporates a computer bag  110  configured generally as described above in  FIG. 4 , except as described below and shown in the drawings. As shown in  FIG. 16 , the backpack assembly  60  includes a main storage bag  62  having a pair of shoulder straps  64 , the computer bag  110  being removably affixed against the front of the computer bag  110  as described below. The main storage bag  62  also incorporates a main flap closure  66 , an auxiliary (zipper) closure  68 , and an associated auxiliary compartment  69  in a conventional manner as further shown in  FIG. 16 . 
         [0053]    The computer bag  110  includes counterparts of the front wall  12 ′, bridge wall  14 ″, back wall  16 ′, side walls  18 , riser  26 ′, and wrist pad  35 ′ as described above in connection with  FIGS. 4-10 . The bag  110  can be provided without a handle. The bridge wall  14 ″ is connected directly between the front wall  12 ′ and the rear wall  16 ′, the bag also having a counterpart of the bottom wall  40 ′ as described above in connection with  FIGS. 13-15 , a counterpart of the zipper closure, designated  54 ′ extending only a short distance into each side wall  18  for opening the bag  110  for inserting and removing the laptop computer  42  as shown in  FIG. 21 . It will be understood that the bottom wall  40 ′ can be narrowed, for example, to consist only of the zipper closure  70 . Also, the front wall  12 ′ can be configured to flex somewhat along the wrist pad  35 ′ to accommodate the thickness of the laptop computer  42  when the closure  70  is in its closed condition. 
         [0054]    The connection between the computer bag  11  and the main storage bag  62  is effected by at least one and preferably a pair of pack fastener strips  72  that are affixed to a front wall  73  of the main storage bag  62 , the fastener strips  72  releasably engage a corresponding pair of fastener strips  48  that are affixed to the back wall  16 ′ of the bag  11 , one such fastener strip being shown and described above in connection with  FIG. 6 . (Three each of the fastener strips  48  and  73  are shown in  FIG. 19 .) The fastener strips can comprise hook and loop type fasteners. The main storage bag  62  also is provided with a safety flap  74  that extends against the bridge wall  14  and having safety (snap) fasteners  76  that releasably engage corresponding safety fasteners  78  on the front wall  12 ′ between the riser member  26 ′ and the bridge wall as best shown in  FIGS. 18-20 . The connection between the computer bag  110  and the main storage bag  62  can be effected by other conventional means such as with straps and ties or other fasteners. 
         [0055]    Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. For example, the bridge wall  14  of  FIGS. 1-3  can be foldably connected to the back wall  16  (or  16 ′), the bridge flap  20  being fastenable to the front wall  12  (or  12 ′). Also, in the configuration of  FIG. 12 , the connecting rings  28  can be relocated to the side walls  18 ′ adjacent the bridge wall  14 ′. Further, the bag  110  of  FIGS. 16-22  can include the zipper fastener  54  extending fully to proximate the bridge wall  18 ″ as described in connection with  FIGS. 13-15 . Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not necessarily be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.