Carrying Device Waist Belt System

RELATED APPLICATIONS

p-0002This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/162,730 filed Mar. 24, 2009, the contents of which are incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

p-0003The invention generally relates to backpacks and other carrying systems which encircle a user's waist for support. In particular, the present invention relates to a waist belt coupling system for improving the performance of a carrying system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

p-0004Bags and carrying cases are commonly used to transport items from one location to another. Items may be contained and supported within an internal enclosure during transportation. Most bags also include some form of user attachment system that allows a user to support the bag during transportation. Many types of user attachment systems are designed to be positioned on a user's body in a configuration that supports the bag but does not require the use of appendages. For example, backpack shoulder straps may be individually looped around each of a user's shoulders to support the backpack in an orientation that does not require the user to hold it with their arms. However, each type of user-attachment system possesses particular performance characteristics and limitations that affect the utility of the bag. For example, a single shoulder strap or messenger-style user attachment system is undesirable for exclusive support of a bag with heavier loads due to potential back and/or shoulder discomfort.

p-0005Bags and carrying cases may be further classified according to their overall shape, user-attachment system(s), and material of composition. One subset of carrying cases includes bags which attach to a user's waist, including backpacks, hip-packs, shoulder bags, messenger bags, etc. These types of carrying systems may also include other user-attachment systems in addition to a waist attachment such as shoulder straps, handles, etc. A waist attachment system refers to some form of straps, belts, hooks, etc. that couple to the waist region of a user. In general, the carrying portion of the carrying system is primarily positioned on the dorsal side of the user, and the waist attachment system includes two straps which extend from the left and right sides respectively to the ventral side of the user's body. The two straps may then be releasably coupled together so as to form a singular support strap encircling the user's dorsal and ventral waist region from the carrying portion of the carrying system. By encircling the user's waist with support straps, weight is distributed between the carrying portion of the carrying system and the user's waist”.

p-0006One of the problems with existing waist-type user attachment systems is the inability of the waist attachment system to efficiently articulate in accordance with the movement of the user. When a user walks or runs, each hip sequentially rises and falls within the coronal plane a small amount corresponding to the leading leg/foot in order to allow the hip joint to properly articulate. Conventional hip attachment systems are rigid in that they directly transfer all user hip movement to the carrying portion and therefore require synchronization of hip and carrying portion movements. For example, if one hip is raised, the corresponding side of the carrying portion must also be raised. Unfortunately, this synchronization of movements causes the user to perform unnecessary work as a result of repeatedly raising the weight of the carrying portion with each stride. In addition, a user generally leans forward in the sagittal plane while walking uphill, and the dorsal hip region intermittently tilts slightly forward in the sagittal plane during movement. The necessary synchronization of hip and carrying portion movements thereby causes the carrying portion to be raised and lowered as a result of the sagittal movement. Over long distances and higher pack weights, the required synchronization of hip and carrying portion movements significantly increases the workload of the user.

p-0007Some of these problems have been overcome by existing hip attachments systems, but each respective system has failed to efficiently provide optimal articulation without introducing additional problems. For example, merely allowing the hip attachment point to freely rotate coronally will result in undesirable weight distribution at particular lateral lean angles. In addition, many of the existing articulating hip attachment systems require elimination of existing adjustability functions such as a torso length adjustment.

p-0008Therefore, there is a need in the industry for an improved carrying system hip-type user attachment system that provides the optimal articulation characteristics while maintaining existing adjustment and comfort parameters.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

p-0009The present invention relates to backpacks and other carrying systems which encircle a user's waist for support. One embodiment of the present invention relates to a user-based carrying system capable of independent transportation of a load including a hip-based user attachment system. The carrying system includes an enclosure member having an internal region encased by an internal surface. A user attachment system releasably secures the carrying system to the user for independent transportation without requiring muscular engagement. The user attachment system includes a hip attachment system with a dorsal articulation member and a strap member. The dorsal articulation member includes a front and rear member three-dimensionally moveably coupled to one another. The rear member is coupled to the enclosure member, and the front member is coupled to the strap member. The three-dimensional moveable coupling between the front and rear members includes three restricted degrees of freedom configured to efficiently absorb corresponding user hip movements and directly support other user hip movements. The three restricted freedoms are a restricted rotational coronal freedom, a restricted transverse tilt freedom, and a restricted sagittal tilt freedom. Each of the restricted three dimensional freedoms enables a user to articulate their waist or hips in a particular orientation and/or amount without raising the enclosure member. A second embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for moveably coupling a strap member to an enclosure member in order to efficiently articulate a waist attachment system, thus forming an efficient user-based independent carrying system.

p-0010Embodiments of the present invention represent a significant advance in the field of hip-type user attachment systems for carrying systems. The inclusion of restricted three-dimensional movement freedoms between the hip attachment system and the carrying member ensures that only specific desirable hip articulation movements are translated to the carrying member while others are absorbed. Conventional systems have failed to account for all three specific orientations of hip articulation which should not be translated to an efficient carrying member. Likewise, conventional systems have failed to properly restrict the amount of freedom for each orientation of the moveable coupling. Therefore, conventional carrying systems that include hip-based attachments have failed to provide an overall degree of load carrying efficiency by failing to properly absorb particular user hip movements. Over long distances or periods of time, a failure to absorb certain hip movements causes a significant increase in workload upon a user. In addition, embodiments of the present invention may be utilized in conjunction with conventional torso adjustment systems and shoulder strap systems without compromising on the hip attachment performance characteristics.

p-0011These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be set forth or will become more fully apparent in the description that follows and in the appended claims. The features and advantages may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Furthermore, the features and advantages of the invention may be learned by the practice of the invention or will be obvious from the description, as set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

p-0012The following description of the invention can be understood in light of the Figures, which illustrate specific aspects of the invention and are a part of the specification. Together with the following description, the Figures demonstrate and explain the principles of the invention. In the Figures, the physical dimensions may be exaggerated for clarity. The same reference numerals in different drawings represent the same element, and thus their descriptions will be omitted.

p-0013<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> illustrates a perspective view of a carrying system incorporating a hip attachment system in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

p-0014<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> illustrates a frontal and profile view of the dorsal articulation member of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>;

p-0015<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> illustrates a profile and perspective medial cutaway view of the dorsal articulation member of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>;

p-0016<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> illustrates a front view of the front portion of the dorsal articulation member of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>; and

p-0017<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> illustrates a front view of the rear portion of the dorsal articulation member of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

p-0018The present invention relates to backpacks and other carrying systems which encircle a user's waist for support. One embodiment of the present invention relates to a user based carrying system capable of independent transportation of a load including a hip-based user attachment system. The carrying system includes an enclosure member having an internal region encased by an internal surface. A user attachment system releasably secures the carrying system to the user for independent transportation without requiring muscular engagement. The user attachment system includes a hip attachment system with a dorsal articulation member and a strap member. The dorsal articulation member includes a front and rear member three-dimensionally moveably coupled to one another. The rear member is coupled to the enclosure member and the front member is coupled to the strap member. The three-dimensional moveable coupling between the front and rear members includes three restricted degrees of freedom configured to efficiently absorb corresponding user hip movements and directly support other user hip movements. The three restricted freedoms are a restricted rotational coronal freedom, a restricted transverse tilt freedom, and a restricted sagittal tilt freedom. Each of the restricted three dimensional freedoms enables a user to articulate their waist or hips in a particular orientation and/or amount without raising the enclosure member. A second embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for moveably coupling a strap member to an enclosure member in order to efficiently articulate a waist attachment system, thus forming an efficient user-based independent carrying system. Also, while embodiments are described in reference to a hip-based user attachment system, it will be appreciated that the teachings of the present invention are applicable to other types of carrying system user attachment systems such as chest-based and/or appendage-based attachment systems.

p-0019The following terms are defined as follows:

p-0020User-based carrying system—a carrying system configured to be secured to a user. A user-based carrying system may be further defined as being capable of independent transportation, meaning that it does not request a user to maintain an appendage based active muscular engagement. For example, a backpack or shoulder bag are user-based carrying systems that allow for independent transportation because they include one or two straps that may be looped over a user's torso during transportation. In contrast, a conventional briefcase is a user-based transportation system that is dependent on the user maintaining a continuous grasp of the handle or some form of appendage-torso compression during transportation.

p-0021Restricted freedom—a restricted amount of movement/articulation freedom within a particular orientation or plane. For example, a restricted vertical freedom may be a particular finite movement or articulation type within a vertical orientation. The particular movement may be a distance, an angle, etc. A yoyo toy has a particular restricted freedom to only extend the length of the string to which it is attached.

p-0022Three-dimensional moveable coupling—a coupling between two members that permits the members to move with respect to one another in at least three orthogonal planes of movement. For example, an anatomical hip joint includes a ball and socket type moveable coupling that allows a user to move three dimensionally.

p-0023Sandwich coupling—a coupling between at least three members in which the outer or peripherally disposed member(s) are coupled to one another so as to e also effectively couple the medial or internally disposed members. A sandwich coupling may utilize various schemes that allow for movement between members. For example, a sandwich coupling may include routing a coupler through a central recess of a first and second member. The coupler may include a specific geometrical shape on either side that is larger than the central recesses of the first and second member, thereby sandwich coupling the members via chocking

p-0024Coronal plane—a vertical anatomical plane equally splitting the front and rear portion.

p-0025Transverse plane—a horizontal anatomical plane equally splitting the top and bottom portion.

p-0026Sagittal plane—a vertical anatomical plane equally splitting the left and right side portions.

p-0027Waist region—an anatomical region corresponding to the abdominal area around a user's navel. The waist region may also be referred to as the hips and/or the hip region.

p-0028Reference is initially made to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1-3</figref>, which illustrate views of a user-based carrying system, designated generally at <b>100</b>. The illustrated carrying system <b>100</b> is configured to facilitate independent transportation of a load by a user. The system <b>100</b> includes an enclosure member <b>110</b> and a user-attachment system. The enclosure member <b>110</b> defines an internal region <b>112</b> substantially encased by an internal surface. The internal region <b>114</b> is a three dimensional region capable of storing items. The enclosure member <b>110</b> further includes an external surface <b>112</b> and a lid. The external surface <b>112</b> is opposite the internal surface. The lid is selectively disposed over an upper opening to the enclosure member. Various other well known components and configurations of an enclosure member <b>110</b> may be included in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, including but not limited to compression straps, padding, secondary openings to the internal region, external storage compartments, sleeves, pockets, etc. The illustrated user attachment system includes a hip attachment system and a first and second shoulder strap <b>102</b>, <b>104</b>. The shoulder straps <b>102</b>, <b>104</b> are configured to extend vertically or sagittally around the shoulder regions of a user, thereby encircling the shoulder straps <b>102</b>, <b>104</b> and the enclosure member <b>110</b> around the user's shoulder regions. The shoulder straps <b>102</b>, <b>104</b> are rigidly individually coupled at the top end of the external surface of the enclosure member <b>110</b>. The shoulder straps <b>102</b>, <b>104</b> are optional components conventionally found on backpack type carrying systems but are not required for implementation of embodiments of the present invention. The illustrated hip attachment system includes a dorsal articulation member <b>150</b> and a strap member <b>160</b>.

p-0029The strap member <b>160</b> is configured to transversely extend around a user's waist region and selectively releasably couple at a ventral waist region so as to continuously encircle the waist region of the user. The strap member <b>160</b> further includes a dorsal pad <b>166</b>, a left strap <b>162</b>, a right strap <b>164</b>, and a ventral coupler <b>168</b>. The dorsal pad <b>166</b> is a medial strap region configured to be disposed at a dorsal portion of the user's waist region. The dorsal pad <b>166</b> is coupled to the dorsal coupler <b>150</b>. The left and right straps <b>162</b>, <b>164</b> are configured to extend transversely on opposite sides of the dorsal pad <b>166</b> toward the ventral region of the user in an engaged state. The left and right straps <b>162</b>, <b>164</b> may include both padded and non-padded regions as illustrated in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1-3</figref>. The coupling between the strap member <b>160</b> and the dorsal coupler <b>150</b> enables the left and right straps <b>162</b>, <b>164</b> to articulate in a plurality of restricted three dimensional directions represented by the left and right movement arrow <b>163</b>, <b>165</b>. The particular orientations of articulation will be described in more detail below. The ventral coupler <b>168</b> is coupled on the opposite ends of the left and right straps <b>162</b>, <b>164</b> with respect to the dorsal pad <b>166</b>. The ventral coupler <b>168</b> is a releasable coupling mechanism that may include a left and right coupler member corresponding to the left and right straps <b>162</b>, <b>164</b>. The ventral coupler <b>166</b> may incorporate any form of releasable coupling mechanism such as a plastic male-female type buckle. Various well known belt systems and technologies may be utilized including but not limited to padded straps, compliant buckles, releasably adjustable strap length mechanisms, dorsal posterior padding, etc. In an engaged state, the strap member <b>160</b> encircles a user's waist/hip region; therefore, all forces corresponding to a user's hip movements are transferred to the strap member <b>160</b>. However, as described below, and in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, only certain hip movement forces are transferred to the enclosure member <b>110</b> via the dorsal coupler <b>150</b>.

p-0030Reference is next made to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>, which illustrates the exploded coupling scheme of the strap member <b>160</b> and the enclosure member <b>110</b> via the dorsal coupler <b>150</b>. The dorsal coupler <b>150</b> includes a front member <b>130</b> coupled to the strap member <b>160</b> and a rear member <b>120</b> coupled to the enclosure member <b>110</b>. The front and rear members <b>130</b>, <b>120</b> are three-dimensionally moveably coupled to one another so as to permit three dimensional movement therebetween. The three-dimensionally moveable coupling includes three restricted orientations of movement freedom, including a restricted rotational coronal freedom, a restricted transverse tilt freedom, and a restricted sagittal tilt freedom. The three freedoms are described in terms of the corresponding anatomical planes within which the movements occur when the carrying system is engaged with a user. The engagement of the carrying system <b>100</b> with a user includes disposing the enclosure member on the dorsal side of the user's torso and encircling the strap member around the user's waist. The restricted freedoms will be discussed in more detail below in conjunction with the specific structures through which they are accomplished. In operation, the restricted freedoms effectively enable the strap member <b>160</b> to freely move with respect to the enclosure member <b>110</b> within certain orientation and quantity parameters. Therefore, certain incidental hip movements are not translated to the enclosure member <b>110</b>. However, hip movements that exceed or fall outside of the restricted freedoms are translated to the enclosure member <b>110</b> to allow for proper support. While walking, for example, a user naturally raises each hip individually to a certain extent in correspondence with the forward leg. This unbalanced hip-based movement corresponds to a coronal rotation of the strap member <b>160</b> with respect to the enclosure member <b>110</b>. Likewise, certain user hip movements correspond to a transverse tilt and a sagittal tilt between the strap member <b>160</b> and the enclosure member <b>110</b>.

p-0031The front member <b>130</b> includes a web-shaped, plate-like structure rigidly coupled to the dorsal pad <b>166</b> of the strap member <b>160</b>, as illustrated. The rigid coupling refers to a coupling scheme through which movements of the strap member <b>160</b> are directly translated to the front member <b>130</b>. The web shaped plate configuration of the front member <b>130</b> enables an optimal coupling with the strap member <b>160</b>. However, it will be appreciated that other planar shaped structures may be utilized for the front member <b>130</b> and remain consistent with the present invention. The rear member <b>120</b> also includes a plate-like shape structure. The rear member <b>120</b> is coupled to the enclosure member <b>110</b>. The coupling between the rear member <b>120</b> and enclosure member <b>110</b> is configured to dispose a portion of the rear member <b>120</b> within the internal region <b>114</b> (see <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1-3</figref>) of the enclosure member <b>110</b> while allowing external access to a coupling region. In the illustrated embodiment, a flat, plate-like portion of the rear member <b>120</b> is disposed within the internal region <b>114</b> while a circular coupler region is exposed. The coupling between the rear member <b>120</b> and the enclosure member <b>110</b> may also include a torso-length translational adjustment system. Therefore, the rear member <b>120</b> may be configured to selectively translate coronally with respect to the enclosure member <b>110</b> to accommodate differences in user torso length and/or relative waist region locations. However, any optional torso-length translational adjustment system is configured to selectively rigidly support the rear member <b>120</b> with respect to the enclosure member <b>110</b> in the selected lengthwise position. Therefore, an elevation or tilt of the rear member <b>120</b> correspondingly elevator tilts the enclosure member <b>110</b>.

p-0032The front member <b>130</b> is coupled to the rear member <b>120</b> via a three dimensional restricted moveable coupling. The restricted three dimensional moveable coupling includes a restricted rotational coronal freedom, a restricted transverse tilt freedom, and a unidirectional restricted sagittal tilt freedom. The three restricted freedoms selectively allow particular movement orientations of the user's hips to be translated to the enclosure system to product optimal carrying efficiency according to anatomical movement parameters. During movement, it is known that humans anatomically raise and tilt their hips and waist region sequentially corresponding to the forward most foot so as to effectively distribute weight. It is undesirable for a carrying system user to incur the additional work requirement to raise the load contained within the enclosure member during movement. Therefore, the three restricted freedoms of movement between the front and rear members <b>130</b>, <b>120</b> prevent selected movements from translating to the enclosure member <b>110</b>. A user may thereby raise/tilt their waist region within particular parameters while avoiding translation of movement to the enclosure member <b>110</b>. The restricted rotational coronal freedom allows a user to laterally articulate their hips up or down within 10 degrees to the enclosure member <b>110</b>. Likewise, the restricted transverse tilt freedom allows a user to transversely tilt their hips forward or rearward within 10 degrees while avoiding translation of movement to the enclosure member <b>110</b>. In addition, the unidirectional restricted sagittal tilt freedom allows a user to only tilt their hips forward 10 degrees while avoiding translation of movement to the enclosure member <b>110</b>. The forward tilt of a user's hips may also be described as a clockwise rotation of the pelvis from a profile perspective. It will be appreciated that the 10 degree range described in reference to the illustrated embodiment is not to be construed as limiting on the implementation of embodiments of the present invention. Therefore, embodiments of the present invention may be practiced with restricted ranges above or below that which described in reference to the illustrated embodiment.

p-0033Reference is next made to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 5-8</figref> which illustrates various views of the components and architecture of the dorsal articulation member <b>150</b> of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>. <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 5A</figref>, <b>5</b>B, <b>6</b>A and <b>6</b>B illustrate views of an assembled dorsal articulation member <b>150</b>, including the front member <b>130</b>, rear member <b>120</b>, and a coupler <b>140</b>. <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 7 and 8</figref> illustrate the front and rear members <b>130</b>, <b>120</b> individually. The front member <b>130</b> and rear member <b>120</b> both include planar regions and coupling regions, respectively. The front member <b>130</b> includes a web shaped plane region, a circular convex coupling region <b>132</b>, and a recess <b>136</b> (see <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref>). Likewise, the rear member <b>120</b> includes an inverted T-shaped plane region, a raised circular concave coupling region <b>122</b>, and a recess <b>126</b> (see <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref>). The circular convex coupling region <b>132</b> of the front member <b>130</b> is positioned within the raised concave coupling region <b>122</b> of the rear member <b>120</b> and the coupler <b>140</b> is extended through the respective recesses <b>126</b>, <b>136</b> to effectuate sandwich coupling the front and rear members <b>130</b>, <b>120</b> together. The coupler <b>140</b> is only loosely coupled over the front and rear member <b>130</b>, <b>120</b> to preserve the three dimensional freedom of movement therebetween. This coupling between the front and rear members <b>130</b>, <b>120</b> is analogous to a ball (convex coupling region <b>132</b> of front member <b>130</b>) and socket (concave coupling region <b>122</b> of the rear member <b>120</b>) coupling scheme. It will be appreciated that the concave and convex surfaces may be interchangeable between the front and rear members <b>130</b>, <b>120</b> without affecting the functionality.

p-0034The surfaces of the front and rear members <b>130</b>, <b>120</b> include specific structures to effectuate the three restricted freedoms of movement. The first restricted rotational coronal freedom corresponds to a substantially parallel rotational freedom between the plane-shaped structures of the front and rear members <b>130</b>, <b>120</b>. This rotational freedom is generally inherent to concave-convex type couplings in which the concave and convex curvatures substantially match or correspond to one another. However, to restrict the freedom to allow only 10 degrees of rotation in either parallel rotational direction, a set of tabs <b>138</b> and channels <b>128</b> are included on the coupling regions <b>132</b>, <b>122</b> of the front and rear members <b>130</b>, <b>120</b>, respectively. The tabs <b>138</b> are positioned on the lateral sides of the convex coupling region <b>132</b> of the front member <b>130</b>, which is oriented toward the rear member <b>120</b>. The rear member <b>120</b> includes channels <b>128</b> within the raised concave coupling region <b>122</b> within which the tabs <b>138</b> are positioned. The sandwich coupling parameters between the front and rear members <b>130</b>, <b>120</b> and the corresponding thickness of the tabs <b>138</b> and channels <b>128</b> selected contain the tabs <b>138</b> within the channels <b>128</b>. The radial shape of the channels <b>128</b> thereby limits the rotational freedom of the tabs <b>138</b> to rotate with respect to the rear member <b>120</b>. It will be appreciated that the radial dimensions of the channels <b>128</b> and tabs <b>138</b> may be adjusted to increase or decrease the rotational freedom.

p-0035The second restricted transverse tilt freedom corresponds to a freedom to laterally tilt (raise one side and lower the other side) the front member <b>130</b> with respect to the rear member <b>120</b>. This form of freedom is also generally inherent to concave-convex type couplings in which the concave and convex curvatures match or correspond to one another. However, to restrict the freedom to only 10 degrees in either lateral direction, the diameter of the front portion recess <b>126</b> and the coupler <b>140</b> are specifically sized and shaped to obstruct tilt freedom beyond the desired parameters. The tab <b>138</b> and channel <b>128</b> structure thickness may also be specifically shaped to coordinate with the coupler <b>140</b> sandwich coupling parameters so as to restrict the lateral freedom to the selected parameters. It will be appreciated that the thicknesses and curvatures may be altered to increase or decrease the transverse tilt freedom.

p-0036The third restricted sagittal tilt freedom corresponds to vertically tilting the front member <b>130</b> with respect to the rear member <b>120</b>. This form of freedom is also generally inherent to concave-convex type couplings in which the concave and convex curvatures match or correspond to one another. The third restricted sagittal tilt freedom is unidirectional. However, to restrict the freedom to only one direction and only specific angles within that direction, the shaped and diameter of the front member recess <b>126</b> coordinated with the coupler <b>140</b> are specifically sized and shaped to obstruct tilt freedom beyond the desired parameters. To effectuate the unidirectionally restricted freedom, the front member recess <b>126</b> is slightly off-set downward, thereby positioning the top portion of the front member recess <b>126</b> directly against the coupler <b>140</b> and allowing the desired articulation downward only. This slight offset is best illustrated and designed in the profile view of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6A</figref> and front view of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref>. The tab <b>138</b> and channel <b>128</b> structure thickness may also be specifically shaped to coordinate with the coupler <b>140</b> sandwich coupling parameters to restrict the lateral freedom to the selected parameters. It will be appreciated that the thicknesses, curvatures, and offsets may be altered to increase or decrease the transverse tilt freedom.

p-0037Various other embodiments have been contemplated, including combinations in whole or in part of the embodiments described above. Various additional components and or materials may be used in conjunction with embodiments of the present invention.