Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Bicycles are popular for recreation, exercise, and transportation. A bicycle user typically carries a number of accessories with her on the bicycle, which may include a bicycle lock, a tire inflation pump, replacement tubes, and tools for replacing tires and fixing components. Storing and transporting these accessories on a bicycle pose difficulties for the bicycle user as space on the bicycle is limited and these accessories add weight to the bicycle. These accessories may also be stolen when stored with the bicycle and left unattended. 
     A popular lock used to secure bicycles includes a flexible cable with first and second ends that lock together when in a locked position. The first and second ends of the flexible cable may lock together using a combination lock, a barrel lock, or a key operated lock arrangement. 
     A popular pump used to inflate bicycle tires is a handheld pump with a piston-cylinder combination. Another popular pump used to inflate bicycle tires is a floor pump that includes a piston-cylinder combination. These pumps include a nozzle aperture adapted to receive a Schrader tire valve stem, a Presta tire valve stem, or both. 
     Prior bicycle accessories have not provided a combination bicycle pump and lock incorporating a flexible cable for securing the bicycle when unattended. These accessories also did not provide a simple and reliable way of using one end to receive both to a tire valve stem for inflation and the male end of a flexible cable lock. These accessories further lack a flexible cable lock having one end with both a piston-cylinder pump and a lock bolt or shackle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art by providing a combination lock and pump which incorporates a flexible, break-resistant cable with a male end that includes both a pump piston-cylinder and a lock bolt or shackle as well as a female end that includes a lock body and receiving aperture or apertures for a tire valve stem and the lock bolt or shackle. A pump air inflation tube connects the male end&#39;s piston-cylinder to the female end&#39;s receiving aperture. The inflation tube preferably runs parallel with the flexible cable. 
     In one configuration, the apparatus includes a first aperture in the female end capable of receiving the lock bolt when used as a lock and a second aperture in the female end capable of receiving the tire valve tem when used as a pump. The apparatus&#39;s second end also includes a lever arm used to releasably engage the tire valve stem when the stem is inserted into the second aperture. The pump piston-cylinder of the male end of the apparatus includes a handle connected to a piston that travels in a reciprocating fashion within a cylinder to force air into a bicycle tire tube. 
     In another configuration, the apparatus includes an aperture in the female end capable of receiving both the lock bolt when used as a lock and the tire valve stem when used as a pump. The apparatus&#39;s female end includes a lever used to releasably engage the tire valve stem when the stem is inserted into the aperture. The pump piston-cylinder of the male end of the apparatus includes a handle connected to a piston that travels in a reciprocating fashion within a cylinder to force air into a bicycle tire tube. 
     In another configuration, the apparatus includes a barrel lock and shackle configuration in which the female end is capable of receiving a tire valve as well as a shackle when in a locked position. 
     In other configurations, the female end includes apertures to accommodate Schrader and Presta valve stems and/or rectangular-shaped locking members of the male end. 
     In another configuration of the male end, the locking bolt is capable of being secured in the female end when in a locked position and forms part of a piston rod of the piston-cylinder pump when in a pump configuration. 
     In other configurations, the pump of the present invention located away from the male and female ends or is a floor pump. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention in an unlocked configuration. 
         FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of the male and female ends of the first preferred embodiment in an unlocked configuration. 
         FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of the male and female ends of the first preferred embodiment in a locked configuration. 
         FIG. 3A  is a cross-sectional view of the female end of the first preferred embodiment in an unlocked configuration and in a non-inflation configuration. 
         FIG. 3B  is a cross-sectional view of the female end of the first preferred embodiment in a locked configuration. 
         FIG. 3C  is a cross-sectional view of the female end of the first preferred embodiment in an inflation configuration. 
         FIG. 3D  is a cross-sectional view of the flexible cable of the first preferred embodiment. 
         FIG. 4A  is a cross-sectional view of the male end of the first preferred embodiment with a piston handle in a storage configuration. 
         FIG. 4B  is a cross-sectional view of the male end of the first preferred embodiment with the piston handle in a pump configuration. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the male and female ends of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention in an unlocked configuration. 
         FIG. 6A  is a cross-sectional view of the female end of the second preferred embodiment in an unlocked configuration and in a non-inflation configuration. 
         FIG. 6B  is a cross-sectional view of the female end of the second preferred embodiment in a locked configuration. 
         FIG. 6C  is a cross-sectional view of the female end of the second preferred embodiment in an inflation configuration. 
         FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of a third preferred embodiment of the present invention in an unlocked configuration. 
         FIG. 7B  is a perspective view of the male and female ends of a third preferred embodiment of the present invention in an unlocked configuration. 
         FIG. 8A  is an exploded perspective view of the female end of the third preferred embodiment. 
         FIG. 8B  is a cross-sectional view of the female end of the third preferred embodiment in an unlocked configuration and in a non-inflation configuration. 
         FIG. 8C  is a cross-sectional view of the male and female ends of the third preferred embodiment in a locked configuration. 
         FIG. 8D  is a cross-sectional view of the male and female ends of the third preferred embodiment in an inflation configuration. 
         FIG. 9A  is a perspective view of the male end of an alternative embodiment of the present invention and illustrating its use as a lock for the combination lock and pump. 
         FIG. 9B  is a perspective view of the male end of the alternative embodiment and illustrating its use as a pump for the combination lock and pump. 
         FIG. 10A  is a cross-sectional view of the male end of the alternative embodiment and illustrating its use as a lock for the combination lock and pump. 
         FIG. 10B  is a cross-sectional view of the male end of the alternative embodiment and illustrating its use as a pump for the combination lock and pump. 
         FIG. 11A  is an exploded view of the male end&#39;s first cut-away section of the alternative embodiment. 
         FIG. 11B  is an exploded view of the male end&#39;s second cut-away section of the alternative embodiment. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the female end of a fourth embodiment of the present invention in an unlocked configuration. 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the male and female ends of a fifth embodiment of the present invention in an unlocked configuration. 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the male and female end of a sixth embodiment of the present invention in an unlocked configuration. 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a seventh embodiment of the present invention in an unlocked configuration. 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of an eighth embodiment of the present invention in an unlocked configuration. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention is a combination lock and pump that has a flexible cable with first and second ends in which the first end is capable of both engaging the second end when in a locked position and engaging a valve of a bicycle tire for inflation.  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the combination lock and pump that includes a flexible cable  10  with a first end  20  and a second end  30 . As shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the second end  30  of the flexible cable  10  is a male end that includes a lock bolt  31  capable of being secured in a lock aperture  21  of the first end  20  of the flexible cable  10  when in a locked position. The lock bolt  31  of the second end  30  includes a circumferential groove  311  capable of being secured within the lock aperture  21  of the first end  20  when in the locked position. The first end  20  is a female end that includes the lock aperture  21 , a pump aperture  22  capable of receiving a tire valve stem of a tire, a lock cylinder  23  with a key hole  231 , and a lever arm  27  for releasably securing the first end  20  to the tire valve stem. 
     The internal components of the first end  20  of the first embodiment are shown in  FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C . The first end  20  includes an aperture to receive the lock cylinder  23 . The lock cylinder  23  engages a lock lug  232  to releasably secure the groove  311  of the lock bolt  31  when in the locked position, as shown in  FIG. 3B . As is known in the art, rotation of a key in the lock cylinder  231  results in the locking and unlocking engagement of the lock lug  232 . For example and without limitation, this application incorporates by reference the cable lock disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,075,878. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3A , the flexible cable  10  includes steel rope  11  made of multiple strands of galvanized steel laid together and an inflation tube  12  that runs parallel to steel rope  11 . The flexible cable  10  further includes a coating  13  made of plastic or cloth to protect the steel rope  11  and inflation tube  12  from corrosion and damage. The coating  13  is swaged to the flexible cable  10 . The steel rope may also be a metal chain that runs parallel to the inflation tube  12 .  FIG. 3D  shows a cross-section of the flexible cable  10  in which the strands of the steel rope  11  run parallel to the inflation tube  12  and are encased by coating  13 . While the rope  11  is described as made of steel, the rope  11  may be made of any break-resistant material, such as high density plastic. 
     The first end  20  of the first embodiment includes a cavity  24  for receiving a collar  14  of the flexible cable  10  that prevents flexible cable  10  from being withdrawn from the first end  20 . The inflation tube  12  of the flexible cable  10  extends from the first end  20  to the second end  30 , as described in further detail below. The cavity  24  of the first end  20  houses one end of the inflation tube  12 . The first end  20  includes an air passage  241  that connects the cavity  24  to the pump aperture  22  to allow air to pass from the inflation tube  12  to the pump aperture  22 . The pump aperture  22  houses an urging member  25  with a leakproof ring  251  and an elastic body  26 . 
     When in a non-inflation position as shown in  FIG. 3A , the lever arm  27  extends parallel to the body of the first end  20 . The lever arm  27  is rotatably attached to the first end  20  by a pin  271 . The lever arm  27  includes a head  272  with a first surface located a first distance R 1  from the pin  271  and a second surface located a second distance R 2  from the pin  271 . The second distance R 2  being a greater distance away from the pin  271  than the first distance R 1 . 
     The urging member  25  of the first end  20  includes a protrusion  252  partly surrounded by a duct  253 . The urging member  25  also includes a through hole  254  to allow air to pass from the air passage  241  to the duct  253 . The urging member contacts the head  272  of the lever arm  27  on one end and the elastic body  26  at another end. The elastic body  26  includes a duct  261 . 
     When in an inflation position as shown in  FIG. 3C , the lever arm  27  extends upwardly from the first end  20  and the head  272  of the lever arm  27  pushes the urging member  25  downwardly because the second distance R 2  of the head is greater than the first distance R 1 . In turn, the urging member  25  pushes the elastic body  26  such that the elastic body  26  deforms to securely engage a tire valve stem  50  that has been placed in the duct  261 . The protrusion  252  of the urging member  25  releasably presses a pin of the tire valve stem  50  inwardly when the urging member  25  is pushes downwardly by the lever arm  27 . When pressurized air is pumped through the inflation tube  12 , as described below, the pressurized air passes from the cavity  24  of the first end  20  to the duct  253  via the air passage  241  and through hole  254  and into the tire valve stem  50  to inflate the bicycle tire tube. 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  show the second end  30  of the flexible cable  10  of the first embodiment of the present invention. The lock bolt  31  is securely attached to the steel rope  11  of the flexible cable  10 . The second end  30  includes a housing  32  having a cylinder  33  with one end in communication with an end of the inflation tube  12 . The pump of the combination lock and pump includes a piston rod  34  extending within the cylinder  33 , a piston  35  connected to one end of the piston rod  34 , and a seal  351  disposed around the outer periphery of the piston  35 . The seal  351  deforms on an upstroke permitting air to enter the cylinder  33  around the deformed seal  351 . The seal  351  seals the piston  35  within the cylinder  33  on a downstroke to create a pressurized air chamber. During the downstroke of the piston  35 , pressurized air travels from one end of the inflation tube  12  in the second end  30  to the pump aperture  22  in the first end  20  to inflate a bicycle tire tube when the first end is in the inflation position. 
     The piston rod  34  includes another end rotatably connected to a handle  36 . The handle  36  is capable of rotating between a folded storage position, as shown in  FIG. 4A , and an unfolded pump position, as shown in  FIG. 4B . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the second embodiment of the present invention is similar in construction to the first embodiment described above with the principal difference being the first end  40  has a dual-use aperture  41  to receive both a lock bolt  51  in a locked position and a tire valve stem of a tire (not shown) in an inflation position. The second end  50  of the second embodiment includes the lock bolt  51  with a circumferential groove  511 . 
     The internal components of the first end  40  of the second embodiment are shown in  FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C . The first end  40  includes an aperture to receive the lock cylinder with a key hole  431 . The lock cylinder  43  engages a lock lug  432  to releasably secure the groove  511  of the lock bolt  51  when in the locked position, as shown in  FIG. 6B . As is known in the art, rotation of a key in the lock cylinder  43  results in the locking and unlocking engagement of the lock lug  432 . The lock lug  432  is positioned adjacent to the opening of the dual-use aperture  41  and includes a leakproof ring  433  to prevent the leakage of air when using the second embodiment as a pump. 
     Like in the first embodiment of the present invention, the second embodiment includes an urging member  45  with a leakproof ring  451  and an elastic body  46 . The urging member  45  and the elastic body  46  are housed in the dual-use aperture  41 . In the second embodiment, a portion of the elastic body  46  is removed to allow for the passage of the lock lug  432  into the groove  511  of the lock bolt  51  when in the locked position, as shown in  FIG. 6B . 
     A lever arm  47  pushes the urging member  45  downwardly when the lever arm  47  extends upwardly in an inflation position, as shown in  FIG. 6C . The urging member  45  then pushes the elastic body  46  such that the elastic body  46  deforms to securely engage the tire valve stem  50 . Protrusion  452  of the urging member  45  releasably presses the pin of the tire valve stem  50  inwardly when in the inflation position to allow pressurized air pumped through the inflation tube  12  to pass through the dual-use aperture  41  into the tire valve stem  50  to inflate the bicycle tire tube. The locking lug  432  does not impede the tire valve stem when in the unlocked position. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the third embodiment of the present invention is similar in construction to the first and second embodiments described above with the principal difference being the first end  60  has a barrel lock configuration. The barrel lock configuration of the first end  60  has an end cap  601  and combination wheels  62 . The first end  60  receives an end of inflation tube  608  of flexible cable  77 . The second end  70  of the third embodiment includes a shackle  71  with circumferential grooves  711 ,  712 ,  713 , and  714 . 
     The internal components of the first end  60  of the third embodiment are shown in  FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C, and 8D . The first end  60  includes an aperture  651  to receive the shackle  71 . A distal end of the end cap  601  includes both a groove for housing a lever arm  63  and apertures  603  for receiving a pivot pin  604 . The first end  60  further includes a shaft body  65 , a collet  66 , and clutches  621 - 624 . The shaft body  65  includes a collar  652  at one end of the aperture  651  for receiving the shackle  31 . The collar  652  includes a collet bore  653  for receiving a head  661  of the collet  66 . 
     As further shown in  FIGS. 8A-8D , the collet  66  includes arms  662  extending in parallel from the head  661  and pin bores  664  on an end opposite the head  661 . Integrally formed with head  661  of the collet  66  is a plurality of fingers  663 . When the collet  66  is inserted within the collet bore  653 , the arms  662  extend through passages  659  in a distal portion of the collet bore  653  such that the head  661  is housed within the collet bore  653 . When the collet  66  is inserted within the collet bore  653 , the arms  662  also extend through the passages  659  in the end cap  601  such that the pivot pin  604  may project through the collet pin bores  664  and apertures  603  in the end cap  601 . The collet  66  further includes a dimple  665  on each arm  663 . 
     As further shown in  FIGS. 8A-8D , the shaft body  65  includes four aligned cylindrical well holes  654 ,  655 ,  656 ,  657  for receiving four locking balls  674 ,  675 ,  676 ,  677 . Each of the clutches  621 - 624  has a locking ball recess  671  into which one of the locking balls  674 - 677  moves when the respective clutch is in the unlocked position and shackle  71  is pulled for removal. Each of clutches  621 - 624  also has projections  672  which can engage recesses  621  on each wheel  62 . The shaft body  65  further includes a pair of aligned cylindrical well holes  658  for receiving securing balls  678 . 
     A cylindrical elastic body  68  having a valve insertion opening is disposed within the collet  66  such that the collet fingers  663  contact the elastic body  68 . The elastic body  68  is held in a central position within the collet bore  653  by a retaining ring  69  having a seating groove  691 . 
     The first end  60  further includes an urging member  64  having a leakproof ring  641  and a protrusion  642  partly surrounded by a duct  643 . One end of the duct  643  receives a collar  609  of the inflation tube  608 . The end of the inflation tube  608  includes a cylindrical-shaped spring portion that urges the urging member  64  outwardly along the aperture  651  from a retracted position, as shown in  FIG. 8C , to an extended position, as shown in  FIG. 8B  for use during inflation. 
     To place the third embodiment in the locked position as shown in  FIG. 8C , the wheels  62  are rotated to an unlocked combination, the shackle  71  is inserted into the collar  652 , collet bore  653 , and into the aperture  651  of the shaft  65 . As shackle  71  enters the aperture  651 , the shackle  71  pushes the urging member  64  inwardly to its retracted position and balls  674 - 678  are caromed outwardly through well holes  654 - 658 . In turn, the balls  674 - 677  enter the clutch recesses  671 . Once the shackle  71  fully enters aperture  651 , the balls  674 - 677  descend into the shackle grooves  711 - 714 . One or more of the wheels  62  are then rotated to a locked position to retain at least one of the balls  674 - 677  in the shackle grooves  711 - 714 . To unlock the third embodiment, each wheel  62  is rotated to its respective unlocked combination, the shackle  71  is then removed from the aperture  651  of the shaft  65 . The protrusion or shackle  71 , or both, may be made of a magnetized material to aid in moving the urging member  64  from the retracted position to the extended position during removal of the shackle  71  from the first end  60 . 
     When in an inflation position as shown in  FIG. 8D , the lever arm  63  extends upwardly from the first end  60  and the head  631  pulls the pivot pin  604  upwardly thus pulling the collet  66  inwardly into the collet bore  653 . The outwardly projecting portions of the collet fingers  663  are deflected inwardly by the sliding interaction of the collet head  661  against the outer edge of the housing sidewalls of the collar  652 . The inward movement of the collet finger  663  causes the elastic body  68  to be squeezed inwardly to securely engage the tire valve stem  50 . Because the urging member  64  had previously been urged outwardly by the springing action of the inflation tube  608  toward the collet bore  653 , the urging member  64  extends passed the pair of well holes  658  and securing balls  679  of the shaft body  65 . Each dimple  665  of the collet  66  urges the respective securing ball  679  into a securing position when the pivot pin  604  pulls the collet  66  upwardly, thus securing the urging member  64  in the extended position adjacent the collet bore  653 . 
       FIGS. 9A-11B  show an alternative embodiment of the second end  90  of the flexible cable  10  in which a locking bolt  91  forms part of the piston rod of the piston-cylinder pump. As shown in  FIGS. 10A and 10B , the second end  90  includes a cap  92  with rotatably connected handle members  921 ,  922  and a securing portion  93  with recesses  931 ,  932  to accommodate a pair of projections  911 ,  912  on the locking bolt  91 . The second end  90  further includes a cylinder  94  with one end in communication with an end of the inflation tube  12 . The cylinder  94  houses a piston  95  connected to one end of the locking bolt  91  and a seal  951  disposed around the outer periphery of the piston  95 . The seal  951  deforms on an upstroke permitting air to enter the cylinder  94  around the deformed seal  951 . The seal  951  seals the piston  95  within the cylinder  94  on a downstroke to create a pressurized air chamber. During the downstroke of the piston  95 , pressurized air travels from one end of the inflation tube  12  in the second end  90  to the first end of the present invention to inflate a bicycle tire tube when the first end is in the inflation position. 
     When using the alternative embodiment as a lock as shown in  FIGS. 9A and 10A , the cap  92  is releasably secured to the housing of the second end  90  by projections  923 ,  924  on the end of the handle members  921 ,  922 . The projections  923 ,  924  are releasably held by latches  961 ,  962  in the housing of the second end  90 . The second end  90  further includes a push button  96  to move latches  961 ,  962  to release the projections  923 ,  924  of the handle members  921 ,  922 . When in use as a lock, the locking bolt  91  is secured in place by projections  911 ,  912  being retained in recesses  931 ,  932  of the securing portion  93 . The locking bolt  91  further includes a circumferential groove  913  to lock the locking bolt  91  in place when inserted into the first end of the present invention. While the second member  90  is shown in  FIGS. 9A-11B  as having a locking bolt  91 , the second member  90  may include a shackle with shackle grooves for use in a barrel lock configuration, as described in the third embodiment. 
     Upon depressing push button  96 , the handle members  921 ,  922  of the cap  92  are released so that the cap  92  may slide to the end of the locking bolt  91  to use the second end  90  as a pump, as shown in  FIGS. 9B and 10B .  FIG. 11A  shows a cut-away section of the locking bolt  91  and cap  92 , in which the cap  92  may include a spring  923  to urge the cap  92  upward toward the end of the locking bolt  91 . The cap  92  may also include teeth  924  along the inner portion of each handle member  921 ,  922 . The teeth  924  may engage teeth  912  on the locking bolt  91  to form a rack and pinion configuration such that each handle member  921 ,  922  rotates outwardly away from the cap  92  as the cap  92  slides toward the end of the locking bolt  91 . When the cap  92  reaches the end of the locking bolt  91  and the handle members  921 ,  922  are fully rotated outwardly, the cap  92  may be rotated to rotate the locking bolt  91  to slide projections  911 ,  912  along recesses  931 ,  932  of the securing portion  93 .  FIG. 11B  shows a cut-away section of the locking bolt  91 , the securing portion  93 , and the piston  95 . Once completely rotated, the projections  911 ,  912  of the locking bolt  91  clear the recesses  931 ,  932  of the securing portion  93  such that the locking bolt  91  is no longer secured in place by the securing portion  93 . As a result, the locking bolt  91  may act as a piston rod to slide piston  95  along cylinder  94  to use the the second end  90  as a pump. 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , the fourth embodiment of the present invention is similar in construction to the previous embodiments described above with the principal difference being the first end  80  has a first pump aperture  81  capable of receiving a Schrader tire valve stem and a second pump aperture  82  capable of receiving a Presta tire valve stem of a tire (not shown). 
     As shown in  FIG. 13 , the fifth embodiment of the present invention is similar in construction to the previous embodiments described above with the principal difference being the first end  100  has a rectangular-shaped lock aperture  101  capable of receiving a rectangular-shaped shackle  102  with a slot  103  for locking the shackle  102  within aperture  101 . The first end  100  also includes a pump aperture  105  capable of receiving a tire valve stem of a tire (not shown). 
     As shown in  FIG. 14 , the sixth embodiment of the present invention is similar in construction to the previous embodiments described above with the principal difference being the first end  110  has a dual-use aperture  111  to receive both a rectangular-shaped shackle  112  in a locked position and the tire valve stem  50  in an inflation position. The shackle  112  includes a slot  113  for locking the shackle  112  within aperture  111 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 15 , the seventh embodiment of the present invention is similar in construction to the previous embodiments described above with the principal difference being the flexible cable  120 , and not the second end  121 , includes a piston-cylinder pump  122  of the combination lock and pump. 
     As shown in  FIG. 16 , the eighth embodiment of the present invention is similar in construction to the previous embodiments described above with the principal difference being the second end  130  includes a locking bolt  131  projecting perpendicular to the body of the second end  130 , a rotating projection  132  on a side of the second end  130  opposing the locking bolt  131 , and an elongated pump piston-cylinder configuration  133  for use as a floor pump. 
     Each of the previous embodiments may also include an end of the flexible tube with a nozzle to receive a pressurized air cartridge for inflation of the bicycle tire. 
     In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numerals may describe similar components in different views. Like numerals having different letter suffixes may represent different instances of similar components. The drawings illustrate generally, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, various embodiments discussed in the present document. 
     The above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. For example, the above-described examples (or one or more aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. Other embodiments can be used, such as by one of ordinary skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The abstract is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b) to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. Also, in the above Detailed Description, various features may be grouped together to streamline the disclosure. This should not be interpreted as intending that an unclaimed disclosed feature is essential to any claim. Rather, inventive subject matter may lie in less than all features of a particular disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment, and it is contemplated that such embodiments can be combined with each other in various combinations or permutations. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the following claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. 
     While the present invention has been shown and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that those of ordinary skill in the art will no doubt devise certain alterations and modifications in form and detail to the present invention. 
     The following claims are therefore intended to cover all such alterations and modifications that nevertheless incorporate the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Category: e