CA2960231A1

CA2960231A1 - Container, use of the container as a trim paint pail, and corresponding handle assembly

Info

Publication number: CA2960231A1
Application number: CA2960231A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Romeo Arvinte; Francois Panfili
Original assignee: A Richard Tools Co
Current assignee: A Richard Tools Co
Priority date: 2017-03-08
Filing date: 2017-03-08
Publication date: 2018-09-08
Also published as: CA2997710A1

Description

CONTAINER, USE OF THE CONTAINER AS A TRIM PAINT PAIL, AND
CORRESPONDING HANDLE ASSEMBLY
Field of the invention:
The present invention relates to a container. More particularly, in its intended preferred use, the present invention relates to an improved container, which can be used as a hand-held trim paint pail (for example), and also relates to a kit for assembling the same, and to corresponding methods of assembling and use associated thereto, as well as to a corresponding handle assembly for the container, and to a kit for assembling the same, and to corresponding methods of assembling and use associated said handle assembly.
Background of the invention:
The Assignee of the present application has developed various new products and manufacturing processes over the years, for which various US utility patents and design patents have been obtained (see some examples given below), the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference:
3,160,995; 4,062,152; 4,320,601; 4,779,385; 4,937,984; 4,964,243; 5,007,206;
5,036,627; 5,056,268; 5,123,216; 5,193,313; 5,527,212; 5,239,783; 5,245,797;
5,313,746; 5,319,889; 5,398,454; 5,398,457; 5,470,272; 5,482,499; 5,533,925;
5,558,569; 5,605,500; 5,624,305; 5,709,595; 5,833,524; 5,967,886; 6,004,194;
6,099,397; 6,179,696 Bl; 6,257,969 Bl; 6,629,331; 6,705,931 B2; 6,719,620;
6,726,868; 6,742,215; 6,775,912; 6,860,799 B2; 7,033,259 B1; 7,384,328;
7,963,418;
8,256,638; 8,628,381; 8,856,995; 9,358,665; D258,043; D263,277; D343,104;
D344,003; D354,666; D371,948; D387,962; D392,860; D404,273; D414,395;
D431,993; D435,408; D459,965 S; D463,639; D474,389; D494,434 S; D504,602 S;
D511,954 S; D541,998; D555,361; D555,362; D555,363; D573,863; D580,731;

2 D583,521; D584,059; D584,870; D584,871; D586,515; D592,822; D612,120;
D623,918; D630,856; D634,549; D637,819; D638,223; D644,905; D645,627;
D649,862; D652,283; D656,808; D659,503; D665,548; D675,391; D681,343;
D697,955; D700,784; D710,199; D712,156; D712,227; D712,610; D720,592;
D729,484; D738,057; D740,510; D742,199; D742,610; D743,701; D744,759;
D754,974; D756,049; D756,583; D766,199; 2001/0051501 Al; 2004/0192180 Al;
2008/0034525; 2008/0141481; 2008/0209850; 2009/0127266; 2011/0171889;
2011/0226776; 2012/0137445; 2012/0219538; 2013/0150222; 2013/0309948;
2015/0026898; and 2016/0167199.
Hand-held vessels are well known in the art.
For example, known to the Applicant is US patent No. 6,708,838 B2 granted on March 23rd, 2004 to BERGMAN et al., as well as US patent No 6,991,829 B2 granted on January 31st, 2006 to BERGMAN (as well as corresponding Canadian equivalents Nos. 2,422,885 and 2,690,049).
These documents describe a hand-held vessel having a bottom wall, a sidewall and a supportive strap attached to the bottom wall and the sidewall. The bottom wall and sidewall have an inner and outer surface. The sidewall extends from the bottom wall, whereby the inner surfaces of the bottom wall and sidewall define a cavity for holding fluids or loose materials therein. The strap has a first end and a second end, whereby the first end is fixedly attached to the sidewall and the second end is selectively secured to the bottom wall. The strap is adaptable to accept a user's hand disposed between the strap and the outer surface of the sidewall. The strap urges the hand against the outer surface of the sidewall to secure the vessel to the hand and stabilize the vessel with respect to movement relative to the hand.

3 Other known hand-held vessels are described in the following US documents:
6,601,743 B2; 6,991,829; 7,644,835 B2; 8,550,285 B2; 8,556,116 B2;
8,919,604 B2; and 9,409,200 B2.
Also known the Applicant is US design patent No. D460,845 S granted on July 23rd, 2002, to BERGMAN, and relating to a "hand-held container".
Despite these known products, there is always a need to continue innovating and finding better and/or different ways of providing and/or using a handle assembly of a container, such as a paint pail, for example, and/or the like, in a quicker, easier, simpler, faster, more efficient, more reliable, more adjustable and/or more durable manner.
Hence, in light of the aforementioned, there is a need for an improved container which would be able to overcome or at least minimize some of the aforementioned prior art problems.
Summary of the invention:
The object of the present invention is to provide a container, which by virtue of its design and components, would be an improvement over other related containers and/or handle assemblies known in the prior art.
In accordance with the present invention, the above object is achieved, as will be easily understood, with a container (or "pail"), such as the one briefly described herein, and such as the one exemplified in the accompanying drawings.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container comprising:

4 a containment body for receiving and containing material therein, the containment body being provided with at least one side wall, and a bottom wall; and a handle assembly being mountable and cooperable with the containment body, the handle assembly being configured for operating between a drawn-out configuration and a drawn-in configuration with respect to the containment body; and a biasing assembly operatively disposed between the containment body and the handle assembly for biasing said handle assembly towards the drawn-in configuration.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a handle assembly for use with the above-mentioned container.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a method of operating the above-mentioned container and/or handle assembly.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a kit with components for assembling the above-mentioned container and/or handle assembly.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a set of components for interchanging with components of the above-mentioned container and/or handle assembly.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a method of assembling components of the above-mentioned kit and/or set.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a method of manufacturing the above-mentioned container, handle assembly and/or components thereof (ex. handle, strap, etc.).

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a surface or an object having been treated with material from the above-mentioned container and/or handle assembly.

5 According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a method of doing business with the above-mentioned container, handle assembly, method(s), kit and/or set.
The objects, advantages and other features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of preferred embodiments thereof, given for the purpose of exemplification only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Brief description of the drawings:
Figure 1 is a top perspective view of a container according to a possible embodiment of the present invention, the container being shown with its corresponding handle assembly in a drawn-out configuration according to a given embodiment of the present system.
Figure 2 is another top perspective view of what is shown in Figure 1, the container being now with its corresponding handle assembly in a drawn-in configuration according to a given embodiment of the present system.
Figure 3 is an enlarged view of what is shown in Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a top perspective view of what is shown in Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a bottom perspective view of what is shown in Figure 4.

6 Figure 6 is a side elevational view of what is shown in Figure 3.
Figure 7 is a partial sectional view of a portion of what is shown in Figure 3.
Figure 8 is another partial sectional view of a portion of what is shown in Figure 3.
Figure 9 is another partial view of what is shown in Figure 7, some components being shown in an exploded relationship with respect to the containment body of the container.
Figure 10 is another perspective view of what is shown in Figure 9.
Figure 11 is another perspective view of what is shown in Figure 9, some components being now shown in an assembled configuration with respect to the containment body according to a possible embodiment of the present system, and the at least one handle of the handle assembly being shown in an exploded relationship with respect to other components.
Figure 12 is another side elevational view of what is shown in Figure 3, the container and corresponding handle assembly being now shown in a drawn-out configuration according to a possible embodiment of the present system.
Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view along a given plane of what is shown in Figure 12.
Figure 14 is another side elevational view of what is shown in Figure 12, the container and corresponding handle assembly being now shown in a drawn-in configuration according to a possible embodiment of the present system.

7 Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view taken alone a given plane of what is shown in Figure 14.
Figure 16 is a rear view of what is shown in Figure 3.
Figure 17 is a front view of what is shown in Figure 3.
Figure 18 is a top view of what is shown in Figure 3.
Figure 19 is a bottom view of what is shown in Figure 3.
Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention:
In the following description, the same numerical references refer to similar elements. Furthermore, for sake of simplicity and clarity, namely so as to not unduly burden the figures with several references numbers, not all the figures have been provided with reference numbers, and components and features of the present invention illustrated in some figures can also be easily inferred from others.
The embodiments, geometrical configurations, materials mentioned and/or dimensions shown in the figures are preferred, for exemplification purposes only.
Moreover, although the present invention was primarily designed for hand-held use, and for trimming and/or painting applications, as well as carrying out other possible functions related thereto (e.g. priming, varnishing, etc.), it may be used with other types of materials and objects and in other fields, as apparent to a person skilled in the art. For this reason, expressions such as "hand-held", "trim", "paint", "pail", etc., as used herein should not be taken as to limit the scope of the present invention and includes all other kinds of ways, materials, objects and/or purposes with which the present invention could be used and may be useful.

8 Moreover, in the context of the present invention, the expressions "container", "pail", "vessel", "tool", "device", "unit", "product", "apparatus", "system", "kit" and "assembly", as well as any other equivalent expressions and/or compounds word thereof known in the art will be used interchangeably, as apparent to a person skilled in the art. This applies also for any other mutually equivalent expressions, such as, for example: a) "fastening", "tightening", "securing", "strapping", "holding", "handling", "manipulating", "clamping", "biaising", "urging", etc.; b) "strap", "handle", "belt", etc.; c) "engaging", "hooking", "mounting", "penetrating", "inserting", etc.; d) "extremity", "end", "portion", "segment", etc.; e) "slit", "hole", "slot", "recess", "notch", "hook", "inlet", socket", etc.; f) "housing", "shell", "body", "frame", etc.; g) "receiving", "containing", "holding", "storing", etc.; h) "material", "fluid", "paint", "substance", "particles", etc.; i) "top", "upper", etc.; j) "bottom", "lower", etc.; k) "edge", "rim", "lip", etc.; as well as for any other mutually equivalent expressions, pertaining to the aforementioned expressions and/or to any other structural and/or functional aspects of the present invention, as also apparent to a person skilled in the art.
Furthermore, in the context of the present description, it will be considered that all elongated objects will have an implicit "longitudinal axis" or "centerline", such as the longitudinal axis of a handle or a strap for example, or the centerline of a bore, for example, and that expressions such as "connected" and "connectable", or "mounted"
and "mountable", may be interchangeable, in that the present invention also relates to a kit with corresponding components for assembling a resulting fully assembled and operational container (and/or a containment body provided with a corresponding strap).
In addition, although the preferred embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprises various components and although the preferred embodiments of the container (i.e. containment body and handle assembly) as shown consists of certain geometrical configurations as explained and illustrated herein, not all of these components and geometries are

9 essential to the invention and thus should not be taken in their restrictive sense, i.e.
should not be taken as to limit the scope of the present invention. It is to be understood, as also apparent to a person skilled in the art, that other suitable components and cooperations thereinbetween, as well as other suitable geometrical configurations may be used for the container (i.e. containment body and handle assembly), and corresponding parts, according to the present invention, as briefly explained and as can be easily inferred herefrom by a person skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention.
List of numerical references for some of the corresponding preferred components illustrated in the accompanying drawings:
1. container (or "paint pail") 3. containment body (or "paint pail body") 5. handle assembly 7. spring-loaded handle (ex. metallic handle, and/or other type of "resilient"
and/or "spring-like" material, such as Delrin TM, for example) 9. flexible and adjustable handle strap 11. pivot pin 13. spring 15. snap pin button 17. snap hole 19. magnet Broadly described, the container according to the present invention, as shown in the accompanying drawings, is a container which, in its preferred intended use, is an improved container, with separate containment body and handle assembly, that are cooperable with one another so as to form a resulting container (ex. a "paint pail"), which may be hand-held by a user or hooked onto said user (ex. on a belt of a user, etc.), the handle assembly being configured to be biased (i.e. urged, pushed, etc.) towards a drawn-in configuration, and while being selectively adjustable (ex. via pivoting, tilting, etc.) with respect to the containment body, so as to ensure an adjustable opening for a user's hand (or other component), and allow firm gripping and/or securing of the container by the user, in an ergonomic manner, due to different 5 components and features of the present container, as can be easily understood by a person skilled in the art, in view of the following description.
The present container, and corresponding handle assembly, is(are) a new version and/or an improvement(s) of the one(s) described in international patent

10 application No. PCT/CA2014/050729 having been filed by the same Assignee of that of the present case, the content of this latter application being also incorporated herein by reference.
The present container and/or handle assembly system may come in the form of an embodiment including one and/or several of the following possible components and features (and/or different combination(s) thereof):
1. A container comprising:
a containment body for receiving and containing material therein, the containment body being provided with at least one side wall, and a bottom wall; and a handle assembly being mountable and cooperable with the containment body, the handle assembly being configured for operating between a drawn-out configuration and a drawn-in configuration with respect to the containment body; and a biasing assembly operatively disposed between the containment body and the handle assembly for biasing said handle assembly towards the drawn-in configuration.
2. A container according to any one of the preceding combination(s), wherein the handle assembly comprises at least one handle, a proximate portion of

11 the least one handle being operatively connectable (ex. mountable, insertable, etc.) to the containment body.
3. A container according to any one of the preceding combination(s), wherein the at least one handle includes at least one substantially rigid handle.
4. A container according to any one of the preceding combination(s), wherein the at least one handle includes at least one metallic handle (alternatively, the at least one handle could include at least one handle made of another "resilient"
or "spring-like" material, such as Delrin TM, for example, etc., although various other suitable alternatives and/or materials are also contemplated for the present container, etc.).
5. A container according to any one of the preceding combination(s), wherein the at least one handle includes at least one spring-loaded handle.
6. A container according to any one of the preceding combination(s), wherein the at least one handle is configured for pivoting about at least one pivot axis.
7. A container according to any one of the preceding combination(s), wherein the at least one handle includes at least one cavity for receiving a corresponding pivot pin of the container.
8. A container according to any one of the preceding combination(s), wherein the proximate portion of the at least one handle is U-shaped.
9. A container according to any one of the preceding combination(s), wherein the at least one handle includes a first extremity (ex. a proximate extremity) positioned, shaped and sized for abutting against a corresponding spring of the container, the spring being configured for providing the at least one handle with a biasing force (ex. spring-loaded force, etc.) urging the handle assembly towards the

12 drawn-in configuration (and/or closer to the containment body and/or a corresponding side wall thereof, etc.).
10. A container according to any one of the preceding combination(s), wherein the at least one handle includes a substantially uniform width along its length.
11. A container according to any one of the preceding combination(s), wherein the at least one handle including a varying width along its length.
12. A container according to any one of the preceding combination(s), wherein the at least one handle includes a first portion (ex. proximate portion, top portion, etc.) being wider than a second portion (ex. distal portion, bottom portion, etc.) of the at least one handle.

13. A container according to any one of the preceding combination(s), wherein the at least one handle includes at least one positioning hole for receiving a corresponding complementary component of the handle assembly.

14. A container according to any one of the preceding combination(s), wherein the at least one handle includes a pair of positioning holes, each positioning hole being configured for receiving a corresponding complementary component of the handle assembly.

15. A container according to any one of the preceding combination(s), wherein the at least one handle includes n positioning holes, n being an integer equal or greater than 1 (ex. n=1, 2, 3, 4, etc.), each positioning hole being configured for receiving a corresponding complementary component of the handle assembly (as can be easily understood, the lower the snap pin button will be positioned, for example, the "tighter" and/or the "safer" the hand of the user will be, etc.).

16. A container according to any one of the preceding combination(s), wherein each positioning hole includes a snap hole.
=

17. A container according to any one of the preceding combination(s), wherein the at least one handle includes a second extremity (ex. a distal extremity) that is angled.

18. A container according to any one of the preceding combination(s), wherein the second extremity of the at least one handle is angled inwardly towards the containment body (and/or a corresponding side wall thereof).

19. A container according to any one of the preceding combination(s), wherein the at least one handle defines an open-end loop about the containment body.

20. A container according to any one of the preceding combination(s), wherein the handle assembly comprises at least one strap, a proximate portion of the least one strap being operatively connectable (ex. mountable, insertable, etc.) to the containment body.

21. A container according to any one of the preceding combination(s), wherein the at least one strap comprises a first extremity (ex. a proximate extremity, top extremity, etc.) and/or a mounting portion for removably mounting a proximate portion of the at least one strap onto a corresponding portion (ex.
recess(es), cavity(ies), groove(s), flange(s), etc.) of the containment body.

22. A container according to any one of the preceding combination(s), wherein an inside portion of the first extremity (ex. a proximate extremity, top extremity, etc.) and/or mounting portion of the at least one strap includes at least one magnet (ex. for receiving thereon a metallic component of a tool to be used with the container, such as metallic ferrule of a paint brush, when the container is used as a "paint pail", for example).

23. A container according to any one of the preceding combination(s), wherein a portion of the at least one strap comprises at least one component for selectively cooperating with a corresponding complementary component of the at least one handle in order to adjustably alter a given profile (geometrical disposition, arrangement, positioning, etc.) of the at least one strap.

24. A container according to any one of the preceding combination(s), wherein a portion of the at least one strap comprises at least one male component for selectively cooperating with a corresponding complementary female component of the at least one handle in order to adjustably alter a given profile (geometrical disposition, arrangement, positioning, etc.) of the at least one strap.

25. A container according to any one of the preceding combination(s), wherein a portion of the at least one strap comprises at least one female component for selectively cooperating with a corresponding complementary male component of the at least one handle in order to adjustably alter a given profile (geometrical disposition, arrangement, positioning, etc.) of the at least one strap.

26. A container according to any one of the preceding combination(s), wherein a portion of the at least one strap comprises at least one interlocking component for selectively cooperating with a corresponding complementary component of the at least one handle in order to adjustably alter a given profile (geometrical disposition, arrangement, positioning, etc.) of the at least one strap (and/or for selectively adjustably selecting a "gripping", "tightening" and/or "comfort"
level(s) of the strap about a user's hand, etc. ¨ indeed, as previously explained, and as can be easily understood, the lower the snap pin button will be positioned, for example, the "tighter" and/or the "safer" the hand of the user will be, etc.).

27. A container according to any one of the preceding combination(s), wherein a portion (ex. a distal portion and/or midsection) of the at least one strap comprises at least one projecting component for removably inserting into a corresponding positioning hole provided about the at least one handle of the handle assembly.

28. A container according to any one of the preceding combination(s), 5 wherein the at least one projecting component includes a snap pin button.

29. A container according to any one of the preceding combination(s), wherein the at least one strap defines an open-end loop about the containment body.
10 30. A container according to any one of the preceding combination(s), wherein the at least one strap is made of a flexible material.
31. A container according to any one of the preceding combination(s), wherein the at least one strap is made of a stretchable material.
32. A container according to any one of the preceding combination(s), wherein the at least one strap is made of an elastic material.
33. A container according to any one of the preceding combination(s), wherein the at least one strap is made of a polymeric material.
34. A container according to any one of the preceding combination(s), wherein the at least one strap includes a substantially uniform width along its length.
35. A container according to any one of the preceding combination(s), wherein the at least one strap including a varying width along its length.
36. A container according to any one of the preceding combination(s), wherein the at least one strap includes a proximate width that is wider than a distal width.

37. A container according to any one of the preceding combination(s), wherein the at least one strap includes a rearward groove being positioned, shaped =
and sized complementary to the at least one handle of the handle assembly.
38. A container according to any one of the preceding combination(s), wherein the biasing assembly includes at least one spring having a first end operatively abutting the containment body and a second end operatively abutting the handle assembly (and/or the at least one handle thereof).
39. A container according to any one of the preceding combination(s), wherein the second end of the spring is configured for operatively abutting the distal extremity of the at least one handle, adjacent to a corresponding pivot axis (and/or pivot pin).
40. A container according to any one of the preceding combination(s), wherein the at least one spring is nestable into a corresponding cavity.
41. A container according to any one of the preceding combination(s), wherein the cavity for receiving the spring is defined within the handle assembly.
42. A container according to any one of the preceding combination(s), wherein the cavity for receiving the spring is defined within the at least one strap (and/or a mounting portion thereof).
43. A container according to any one of the preceding combination(s), wherein the containment body includes at least one mounting flange for receiving at least one corresponding component of the handle assembly.
44. A container according to any one of the preceding combination(s), wherein the containment body includes a pair of mounting flanges for receiving at least one corresponding component of the handle assembly.

45. A container according to any one of the preceding combination(s), wherein a pivot axis of the handle assembly is defined about at least one mounting flange of the containment body.
46. A container according to any one of the preceding combination(s), wherein a pivot axis of the handle assembly is defined about a pair of mounting flanges of the containment body.
47. A kit with corresponding components (ex. at least one component selected from the group consisting of containment body, handle assembly, biasing assembly, handle, strap, pivot pin, spring, etc.) for assembling a container according to any one of the preceding combination(s).
48. A method of using a container according to any one of the preceding combination(s).
49. A handle assembly for use with a container according to any one of the preceding combination(s).
50. A kit with corresponding components (ex. at least one component selected from the group consisting of handle, strap, pivot pin, spring, etc.) for assembling a handle assembly according to any one of the preceding combination(s).
51. A method of using a handle assembly according to any one of the preceding combination(s).
As illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the containment body may comprise at least one curved side wall, the at least one curved side wall being configured for receiving a palm of a hand of a user of the container. The container may also comprise at least one straight side wall, which can for example, be opposite to the least one curved wall configured for receiving a palm of a hand of a user of the container, as also shown in the accompanying drawings. The containment body may also comprises a containment portion for selectively containing "paint"
therein (for example, and/or any other type of "fluid", "liquid", etc.), and an angled wringing portion operatively connected to the containment portion for selectively wringing paint from a paint tool, the wringing portion being provided with a plurality of ridges to improve a wringing capability of the containment body, as can be easily understood when referring to the accompanying drawimngs. At least one side wall may also be provided with a label seat, for receiving a corresponding label with information associated with the container, the manufacturer, the wholesaler, the distributor, the seller, etc. It is worth mentioning that the configurations, geometrical profiles and other aspects of the containment body can be substantially different from those exemplified in the accompanying drawings, provided that according to the present invention, the handle assembly is "separate" from the containment body and/or "removably affixable" onto such containment body, or at least very least, configured to be biased towards and selectively pivotable with respect to the containment body, such as in the various manners and examples given hereinabove.
It is also worth mentioning that the present system is also meant to cover a containment body and/or handle assembly sold separately, and meant and/or capable of being used with a container such as the one briefly described herein, and such as the one exemplified in the accompanying drawings.
Finally, and according to the present invention, the container, handle assembly and/or corresponding parts (ex. biasing assembly, handle, pivot pin, spring, etc., etc.) are preferably made of substantially rigid materials, such as plastics, hardened polymers, composite materials, and/or the like, whereas other components thereof (e.g. strap, etc.) can be made of substantially flexible materials, such as rubberized material, in order to achieve the resulting advantages briefly discussed herein (ex.
better grip, bending od strap, etc.), depending on the particular applications for which the container is intended for and the different parameters in cause (load applied to the containment body, strap, etc.), as apparent to a person skilled in the art. As also shown in the accompanying drawings, the containment body may be provided with reinforcement flanges operatively connecting the bottom wall of the container to a bottom rim thereof for providing the bottom portion and thus the overall container with greater structural rigidity, etc.
Furthermore, the present invention is a substantial improvement over the prior art in that, by virtue of its design and components, the tool is simple and easy to use, as well as is simple and easy to manufacture and/or assemble, without compromising the reliability of its functions. Hence, it may now be appreciated that the present invention represents important advantages over other tools known in the prior art, in that the container can be used a trim paint pail for such applications, in a very quick, easy and ergonomic manner, with improved performance, as briefly explained hereinabove.
Moreover, the present invention is also advantageous in that it provides a simpler, more easy-to-use and esthetically pleasing container than those of the prior art.
As may now be appreciated, the present invention is a substantial improvement over containers and/or handle assemblies of the prior art in that, by virtue of its design and components, as briefly explained herein, the present system enables to overcome or at least minimize some of the known drawbacks associated with conventional systems, providing for an easier, more accurate, more functional and more versatile container and/or handle assembly.
Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been briefly described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these embodiments and that various changes and modifications could be made without departing form the scope and spirit of the present invention, as apparent to a person skilled in the art.