Patent ID: 12194356

The foregoing and other features of the present development will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only several embodiments in accordance with the development and are not to be considered limiting of its scope, the development will be described with additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying drawings. In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present development, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the drawings, can be arranged, substituted, combined, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated and make part of this disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Curveballs are different from other types of pitches. They are much slower than other types of pitches and have topspin that can cause the ball to drop downwards. Topspin describes a ball rotating forwards as it is moving and is opposite from backspin, which describes a ball rotating backwards as it is moving. As a ball with topspin interacts with the air, the ball pushes the air upwards and the air pushes the ball downwards.

At release, the wrist and the forearm are supinated. In other words, the hand is in palm-in position and the top of the wrist is facing away from the body when the ball is released. Although some pitchers snap their wrist to impart additional topspin to the ball at the release, it is important that the wrist/hand position is maintained at a proper or desired position at the release to reduce the risk of injury.

The stabilizing device disclosed herein inhibits or prevents change in the wrist/hand position during the wind-up and the release by restricting wrist movement. The stabilizing device can include a base member and two stiffening devices that limit the degree of flexion and extension of the wrist during the wind-up and the release.

Referring toFIGS.1and2, the training aid100can include a base member110, a first stiffener120, and a second stiffener130. The base member110can be a strip of material that can wrap around a wrist and act as a brace. The base member110can include an attachment member112that may be a strip of fabric material which may be one element of a hook and loop fastener product known commercially as VELCRO or fabric with the VELCRO bonded to it. The trademark VELCRO refers to an article for purposes of fastening comprising a pair of surfaces, one of which is loosely felted providing elements having rounded ends, the two surfaces or material being adapted to securely hold together when pressed against each other, but having the capability that they can be pulled apart so they can unfasten. The surfaces or elements may be called felted or hooked surfaces.

The attachment member112can utilize other types of devices including, but not limited to, pins, adhesives, laces, bands, tapes, hooks, buttons, or the like, to removably couple the base member110the user's wrist. The attachment member112can allow the base member110to accommodate wrists of different sizes. The attachment member112can be positioned at any location along the base member110. The base member110, once removably coupled to the wrist, may be fixed in position such that it does not slide towards the elbow or the hand. The base member110can define an opening118that is formed between the first pocket114and the second pocket116. The opening118can be dimensioned to receive the wrist and the forearm of a user.

The base member110can include a first pocket114and a second pocket116. The first pocket114can be located on the bottom side of the wrist. The second pocket116can be located on the top side of the wrist. The bottom side of the wrist can refer to a portion of the wrist that faces the body when the hand and the wrist are in supinated position. The top side of the wrist can refer to a portion of the wrist that faces away from the body when the hand and the wrist are in supinated position.

The first pocket114can be shaped and dimensioned to receive the first stiffener120. The second pocket116can be shaped and dimensioned to receive the second stiffener130. The first pocket114can extend along the body of the base member110along a direction substantially parallel to an axis defined by a forearm. Likewise, the second pocket116can extend along the body of the base member110along a direction substantially parallel to the axis defined by the forearm. The space defined by the first pocket114can extend along the length (that is, the direction substantially parallel to the axis defined by the forearm) of the base member110. The space defined by the second pocket116can extend along the length of the base member110. The shape and the dimensions of the first pocket114and the second pocket116can be substantially the same.

The first pocket114can be dimensioned to have a width that is substantially the same as a width W1(seeFIG.3A) of the first stiffener120. The second pocket116can be dimensioned to have a width that is substantially the same as a width W2(seeFIG.4A) of the second stiffener130. The dimensions of the first pocket114and the first stiffener120can advantageously prevent the first stiffener120from being dislodged from the base member110. Likewise, the dimensions of the second pocket116and the second stiffener130can advantageously prevent the second stiffener130from being dislodged from the base member110. The first stiffener120and the second stiffener130can be permanently affixed to the base member110.

The first stiffener120and the second stiffener130can extend from the base member110in a direction towards the fingertips of the user's hand. The first stiffener120and the second stiffener130can be positioned such that the user's hand is positioned therebetween. The first stiffener120can be coupled to a portion of the base member110adjacent to the bottom portion of the wrist. The second stiffener130can be coupled to a portion of the base member110adjacent to the top portion of the wrist.

The first stiffener120can include a distal end122. The second stiffener130can include a distal end132. The distal ends122,132can be free ends positioned over the top and the palm of the hand, respectively. The first stiffener120and the second stiffener130may not wrap around the hand, but instead extend over the top and the pam of the hand, respectively. When the training aid100is coupled to the wrist, the first stiffener120and the second stiffener130may be the only portions of the training aid100that extend past the wrist. The base member110may not provide any support for the hand. As discussed herein, the first stiffener120and the second stiffener130may not extend so far past the wrist to restrict movements of the fingers. The first stiffener120and the second stiffener130may not be coupled to each other except via the base member110.

Referring toFIGS.3A to4C, the first stiffener120can include a proximal end128and a distal end122. The first stiffener120can include a first curved portion124and a second curved portion126between the proximal end128and the distal end122. The proximal end128can be placed within the first pocket114such that the first stiffener120is removably coupled to the base member110. The distal end122of the first stiffener120can be positioned between a distal end and a proximal end of a user's palm. The first stiffener120can prevent the wrist from flexing about a transverse axis (that is, a radioulnar axis that extends through the wrist and is substantially parallel to the top and the bottom sides of the wrist).

The distal end122of the first stiffener120can be positioned about the center of the palm. In some examples, the distal end122is positioned at around a bottom third portion of the palm to ensure that the palm area remains free enough to allow a user to hold and throw a ball while using the training aid100.

The first stiffener120can have a thickness D1that can be between about 0.05 cm and about 0.5 cm, between about 0.1 cm and about 0.45 cm, between about 0.15 cm and about 0.4 cm, between about 0.2 cm and about 0.35 cm, between about 0.25 cm and about 0.3 cm, or about 0.1 cm, about 0.15 cm, about 0.2 cm, about 0.25 cm, about 0.3 cm, about 0.35 cm, about 0.4 cm, about 0.45 cm, about 0.5 cm, or ranges between any two of aforementioned values. The thickness D1can be greater than 0.5 cm or less than 0.1 cm.

The thickness D1of the first stiffener120can vary between the proximal end128and the distal end122. For example, the thickness of the first curved portion124can be greater than that of the second curved portion126. Since the wrist acts as a pivot for the hand, it may be advantageous for the first curved portion124has a thickness that is greater than that of the second curved portion126. The thickness of the first curved portion124may be greater than that of the second curved portion126. The changes between the thicknesses of the first curved portion124and the second curved portion126can be gradual.

The first stiffener120can have a width W1that can be between about 2.5 cm and about 7 cm, between about 3 cm and about 6.5 cm, between about 3.5 cm and about 6 cm, between about 4 cm and about 5.5 cm, between about 4.5 cm and about 5 cm, or about 2.5 cm, about 3 cm, about 3.5 cm, about 4 cm, about 4.5 cm, about 5 cm, about 5.5 cm, about 6 cm, about 6.5 cm, about 7 cm, or ranges between any two of aforementioned values. The width W1can be greater than 7 cm or less than 2.5 cm.

The width W1of the first stiffener120can vary between the proximal end128and the distal end122. For example, the width of the first curved portion124can be greater or less than that of the second curved portion126.

The first stiffener120can have a length L1that can be between about 6 cm and about 15 cm, between about 7 cm and about 14 cm, between about 8 cm and about 13 cm, between about 9 cm and about 12 cm, between about 10 cm and about 11 cm, or about 6 cm, about 7 cm, about 8 cm, about 9 cm, about 10 cm, about 11 cm, about 12 cm, about 13 cm, about 14 cm, about 15 cm, or ranges between any two of aforementioned values. The length L1can be less than 6 cm or greater than 15 cm. The length L1of the first stiffener120can be such that the first stiffener120can provide the user adequate amount of support to prevent flexing of the wrist and yet provide ample amount of space to allow the user to grip a ball without any hindrance from the first stiffener120. The distal end122of the first stiffener120may not extend beyond the middle portion of the palm such that the distal end122does not negatively impact the range of the forefingers of the hand (that is, the index finger, the middle finger, the ring finger, and the little finger).

The first stiffener120can include an inner surface123facing the wrist and the palm and an outer surface121that faces away from the wrist and the palm. At least a portion of the inner surface123of the first stiffener120can be in physical contact with the palm or the wrist to prevent the wrist from flexing about its transverse axis. The inner surface123and the outer surface121can be substantially flat or arcuate in cross-section (seeFIG.4B). Arcuate inner surface123can advantageously provide better fit for the training aid100at the wrist area. The inner surface123can be concave or convex with respect to the outer surface121. The outer surface121can be concave or convex with respect to the inner surface123.

Different portions of the inner surface123and the outer surface121can have different cross-sectional curvatures. For example, the inner surface123of the first curved portion124rests against the proximal portion of the palm and the wrist. Therefore, it may be advantageous for the inner surface123of the first curved portion124to be concave (with respect to the outer surface121) such that the inner surface123corresponds to the overall curved shape of the proximal portion of the palm and the wrist. On the other hand, the inner surface123of the second curved portion126rests against the middle portion of the palm. Therefore, it may be advantageous for the inner surface123of the second curved portion126to be convex (with respect to the outer surface123) such that the inner surface123corresponds to the overall curved shape of the middle portion of the palm.

The first curved portion124and the second curved portion126can together have a shape that substantially corresponds to a shape of a proximal portion of the palm (that is, a portion proximal and adjacent to the wrist). A distal end of the first curved portion124can define a proximal end of the second curved portion126. The first curved portion124can be curved away from the proximal end128. The second curved portion126can be curved away from the first curved portion124and into the palm of the hand. In some examples, the second curved portion126can be substantially flat.

The first curved portion124and the second curved portion126may together allow different muscles in the hand to flex and grip a ball. This is advantageous in allowing a user to grip a ball without having the training aid100restricting movements of the fingers.

The second stiffener130can include a proximal end138and a distal end132. The second stiffener130can be substantially flat in contrast to the first stiffener120. The proximal end138can be placed within the second pocket116such that the second stiffener130is removably coupled to the base member110. The distal end132of the second stiffener130can be positioned between the wrist and knuckles of the hand. The second stiffener130can prevent the wrist from extending about the transverse axis (that is, a radioulnar axis that extends through the wrist and is substantially parallel to the top and the bottom sides of the wrist).

The second stiffener130can have a thickness D2that can be between about 0.05 cm and about 0.5 cm, between about 0.1 cm and about 0.45 cm, between about 0.15 cm and about 0.4 cm, between about 0.2 cm and about 0.35 cm, between about 0.25 cm and about 0.3 cm, or about 0.1 cm, about 0.15 cm, about 0.2 cm, about 0.25 cm, about 0.3 cm, about 0.35 cm, about 0.4 cm, about 0.45 cm, about 0.5 cm, or ranges between any two of aforementioned values. The thickness D1can be greater than 0.5 cm or less than 0.1 cm. The thickness D2of the second stiffener130and the thickness D1of the first stiffener120can be the same or different.

The thickness D2of the second stiffener130can vary between the proximal end138and the distal end132. Since the wrist acts as a pivot for the hand, it may be advantageous for a portion of the second stiffener130closer to the wrist has a thickness that is greater than that of a portion of the second stiffener130further from the wrist. The changes between the thicknesses of the first curved portion124and the second curved portion126can be gradual.

The second stiffener130can have a width W2that can be between about 2.5 cm and about 7 cm, between about 3 cm and about 6.5 cm, between about 3.5 cm and about 6 cm, between about 4 cm and about 5.5 cm, between about 4.5 cm and about 5 cm, or about 2.5 cm, about 3 cm, about 3.5 cm, about 4 cm, about 4.5 cm, about 5 cm, about 5.5 cm, about 6 cm, about 6.5 cm, about 7 cm, or ranges between any two of aforementioned values. The width W2can be greater than 7 cm or less than 2.5 cm. The width W2of the second stiffener130and the width W1of the first stiffener120can be the same or different.

The width W2of the second stiffener130can vary between the proximal end138and the distal end132. For example, the width of a distal portion of the second stiffener130can be greater or less than that of a proximal portion (that is, a portion that is closer to the wrist than the distal portion) of the second stiffener130. The change of the width of the second stiffener130along its length can be gradual.

The second stiffener120can have a length L2that can be between about 6 cm and about 15 cm, between about 7 cm and about 14 cm, between about 8 cm and about 13 cm, between about 9 cm and about 12 cm, between about 10 cm and about 11 cm, or about 6 cm, about 7 cm, about 8 cm, about 9 cm, about 10 cm, about 11 cm, about 12 cm, about 13 cm, about 14 cm, about 15 cm, or ranges between any two of aforementioned values. The length L2can be less than 6 cm or greater than 15 cm.

The second stiffener130can include an inner surface133facing the top of the hand and the wrist and an outer surface131that faces away from the top of the hand and the wrist. At least a portion of the inner surface133of the second stiffener130can be in physical contact with the top of the hand or the wrist to prevent the wrist from extending about its transverse axis. The inner surface133and the outer surface131can be substantially flat or arcuate in cross-section (seeFIG.3B). Arcuate inner surface133can advantageously provide better fit between the second stiffener130and the top of the hand and the wrist. The inner surface133can be concave or convex with respect to the outer surface131. The outer surface131can be concave or convex with respect to the inner surface133.

FIGS.5A-5Cshow the training aid100coupled to a user's wrist and forearm. As discussed herein, the base member110can cover a distal portion of the user's forearm and the wrist. As shown inFIGS.5A-5C, the first stiffener120and the second stiffener130can extend from the base member110towards the fingertips. The first stiffener120and the second stiffener130can be modular and removably coupled to the base member110as discussed herein. In some examples, the first stiffener120and the second stiffener130can be permanently affixed to the base member110.

The first stiffener120and the second stiffener130together maintain a desired wrist/hand position (for example, angular position of the hand with respect to the forearm) during the wind-up, the release, and the follow-through by preventing the wrist from flexing and extending about its transversal axis. As discussed herein, maintaining the proper or desired wrist/hand position (that is, an angular position between an axis defined by the forearm and an axis defined by the palm or the top of the hand) can reduce the risk of injury and improve velocity of the curveball. If the wrist is extended or flexed at the release, such wrist position can generate tension or stress to different ligaments or muscles between the wrist and the elbow. The training aid100can maintain a proper or desired wrist/hand position between about 0 degrees and about 60 degrees, between about 5 degrees and about 55 degrees, between about 10 degrees and about 50 degrees, between about 15 degrees and about 45 degrees, between about 20 degrees and about 40 degrees, between about 25 degrees and about 45 degrees, between about 30 degrees and about 40 degrees, or about 0 degrees, about 5 degrees, about 10 degrees, about 15 degrees, about 20 degrees, about 25 degrees, about 30 degrees, about 35 degrees, about 40 degrees, about 45 degrees, about 50 degrees, about 55 degrees, about 60 degrees, about 65 degrees, or any range between two of aforementioned values. In some examples, the first stiffener120and the second stiffener130maintain the wrist/hand position 0 degrees such that the hand is substantially aligned with the forearm.

In addition to reducing the risk of injury while teaching the user how to throw curveballs, the training aid100can also function as a brace that helps the user to maintain the proper or desired wrist/hand position. Such brace can prevent wrist-related injuries such as wrist sprains, muscle strains, tendonitis, wrist inflammation, carpal tunnel syndrome, and the like.

The first stiffener120can have a first degree of stiffness and the second stiffener130can have a second degree of stiffness. The first degree of stiffness and the second degree of stiffness can be the same or different. Different portions of the first or the second stiffener120,130can have different or the same degree of stiffness. For example, the first curved portion124and the second curved portion126of the first stiffener120can have the same or different level of stiffness. A portion of the first curved portion124proximate to the wrist may have a higher degree of stiffness than a portion of the second curved portion126proximate to the middle of the palm. This can advantageously allow the first stiffener120to inhibit or prevent flexing of the wrist.

The first stiffener120and the second stiffener130may allow radial and ulnar deviation of the wrist, which describes the wrist pivoting with respect to a sagittal axis that orthogonally extends through the top and the bottom sides of the wrist. In some examples, the first curved portion124and the second curved portion126can prevent both radial and ulnar deviation of the wrist with respect to the sagittal axis. This can prevent users from “flicking” or “snapping” their wrists at the release point to provide additional topspin to curveballs. Since such “flicking” or “snapping” motion of the wrist can generate stress to various joints (for example, wrist, below, and shoulder) of a throwing arm, preventing radial and ulnar deviation of the wrist can prevent injury.

In some examples, the first stiffener120can allow radial deviation of the wrist but inhibit or prevent the ulnar deviation of the wrist. At least a portion of the first stiffener120can be positioned such that when a user grips a ball, thenar muscles500(seeFIG.5A) of the user's hand contacts and rests against a side of the first stiffener120. The thenar muscles500are found at the base of the thumb and form a muscle bulk on the thumb side of the hand. These muscles allow one to control movement of the thumb. When the thenar muscles500bring the thumb towards the small finger (for example, when a user grips a ball), they flex and protrude in a direction away from the palm. When flexed, the thenar muscles500can contact the first stiffener. The contact between the thenar muscles500and the first stiffener120can prevent the ulnar deviation of the wrist during the wind-up, the release, and the follow-through.

The first stiffener120can be positioned and dimensioned such that when a user grips a ball, hypothenar muscles502(seeFIG.5A) of the user's hand does not come in the way of the first stiffener120. The first stiffener120can be positioned such that it covers at least a portion of the hypothenar muscles502. Therefore the hypothenar muscles502can slide under the first stiffener120during radial deviation of the wrist.

The first stiffener120and the second stiffener130can be made from one or more of materials including, but not limited to, various types of plastic, stainless steel, steel alloys, nickel titanium, molybdenum, copper, copper alloys, ceramic, and the like, to provide sufficient rigidity to maintain wrist/hand position and yet provide sufficient flexibility for comfort. Different parts of the first stiffener120and the second stiffener130can be made from different materials. For example, the first curved portion124of the first stiffener120can be made from a material that is more rigid and less flexible and a material used for the second curved portion126. This can advantageously allow the first stiffener120to prevent flexing of the wrist while allowing some flexibility for the second curved portion126to provide comfort.

In some examples, the first stiffener120and the second stiffener130can include materials positioned between the user's hand and the corresponding inner surfaces121,131, respectively, to reduce the impact between the hand and the first stiffener120and the second stiffener130.

FIG.6is a flow diagram illustrating a method of coupling the training aid100to the wrist. At step602, the base member110is coupled to the wrist via methods disclosed herein. At step604, the first stiffener120coupled to the base member110. As disclosed herein, the first stiffener120can be permanently or removably coupled to the base member110. The first stiffener120can extend from the wrist towards the palm of the hand. The first stiffener120can include, as disclosed herein, the first curved portion124and the second curved portion126that has a shape corresponding to the shape of the wrist and a proximal portion of the palm. The first curved portion124and the second curved portion126can substantially extend along the contour of the wrist, a proximal portion of the palm, and the middle portion of the palm. At step606, the second stiffener130is coupled to the base member110. The second stiffener130can be positioned opposite of the first stiffener120. The second stiffener130can extend from the base member110towards the fingertips. The second stiffener130can extend along the top of the hand. As disclosed herein, the first stiffener120and the second stiffener130can prevent flexing and extending of the wrist, thereby preventing injury while learning how to throw curveballs. Additionally, the training aid100can function as a brace that can promote healing of wrist or hand-related injuries.

Although this disclosure has been described in the context of certain embodiments and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the disclosure extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. In addition, while several variations of the embodiments of the disclosure have been shown and described in detail, other modifications, which are within the scope of this disclosure, will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art. It is also contemplated that various combinations or sub-combinations of the specific features and aspects of the embodiments may be made and still fall within the scope of the disclosure. For example, features described above in connection with one embodiment may be used with a different embodiment described herein and the combination still fall within the scope of the disclosure. It should be understood that various features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments may be combined with, or substituted for, one another in order to form varying modes of the embodiments of the disclosure. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the disclosure herein should not be limited by the particular embodiments described above. Accordingly, unless otherwise stated, or unless clearly incompatible, each embodiment of this invention may comprise, additional to its essential features described herein, one or more features as described herein from each other embodiment of the invention disclosed herein.

Features, materials, characteristics, or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment, or example are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described in this section or elsewhere in this specification unless incompatible therewith. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. The protection is not restricted to the details of any foregoing embodiments. The protection extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Furthermore, certain features that are described in this disclosure in the context of separate implementations may also be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single implementation may also be implemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations, one or more features from a claimed combination may, in some cases, be excised from the combination, and the combination may be claimed as a subcombination or variation of a sub combination.

Moreover, while operations may be depicted in the drawings or described in the specification in a particular order, such operations need not be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. Other operations that are not depicted or described may be incorporated in the example methods and processes. For example, one or more additional operations may be performed before, after, simultaneously, or between any of the described operations. Further, the operations may be rearranged or reordered in other implementations. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that in some embodiments, the actual steps taken in the processes illustrated and/or disclosed may differ from those shown in the figures. Depending on the embodiment, certain of the steps described above may be removed, others may be added. Furthermore, the features and attributes of the specific embodiments disclosed above may be combined in different ways to form additional embodiments, all of which fall within the scope of the present disclosure. Also, the separation of various system components in the implementations described above should not be understood as requiring such separation in all implementations, and it should be understood that the described components and systems may generally be integrated together in a single product or packaged into multiple products.

For purposes of this disclosure, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features are described herein. Not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves one advantage or a group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.

Conditional language, such as “may,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements, and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements, and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without user input or prompting, whether these features, elements, and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment.

Conjunctive language such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y, and Z,” unless specifically stated otherwise, is otherwise understood with the context as used in general to convey that an item, term, etc. may be either X, Y, or Z. Thus, such conjunctive language is not generally intended to imply that certain embodiments require the presence of at least one of X, at least one of Y, and at least one of Z.

Language of degree used herein, such as the terms “approximately,” “about,” “generally,” and “substantially” as used herein represent a value, amount, or characteristic close to the stated value, amount, or characteristic that still performs a desired function or achieves a desired result. For example, the terms “approximately”, “about”, “generally,” and “substantially” may refer to an amount that is within less than 10% of, within less than 5% of, within less than 1% of, within less than 0.1% of, and within less than 0.01% of the stated amount.

The scope of the present disclosure is not intended to be limited by the specific disclosures of preferred embodiments in this section or elsewhere in this specification, and may be defined by claims as presented in this section or elsewhere in this specification or as presented in the future. The language of the claims is to be interpreted broadly based on the language employed in the claims and not limited to the examples described in the present specification or during the prosecution of the application, which examples are to be construed as non-exclusive.