Apparatus and Method for Sealing Window Air Conditioner

The present embodiments relate to a device and method of sealing an appliance within a window assembly, more specifically a saddle-type window air conditioner.

Typical saddle-type window air conditioners are installed by passing at least the outdoor portion/unit through the window opening and subsequently straddling the outdoor portion/unit and indoor portion/unit relative to the window assembly, or portions thereof (e.g. window sill). However, sealing such a window air conditioner with the window assembly may be difficult. Thus, there is a need to improve sealing the window air conditioner relative to the window assembly.

In some embodiments, for example, a window air conditioner may include an indoor portion. In various embodiments, the window air conditioner may include an outdoor portion. In some embodiments, the window air conditioner may include a bridge connecting the indoor portion and the outdoor portion. In various embodiments, the window air conditioner may include a collar, or portions thereof, configured to seal between the bridge and the window assembly. In some embodiments, the collar may include one or more members surrounding the bridge having an inner periphery adjacent the bridge and an outer periphery. In various embodiments, at least one of the inner periphery and/or the outer periphery of the one or more members include one or more ribs projecting therefrom.

In some embodiments, the window air conditioner may include one or more sealing members positioned between the one or more members and the window assembly. In various embodiments, the one or more ribs may engage the one or more sealing members. In some embodiments, the one or more ribs may project from the one or more members in one or more planes perpendicular to a direction from the indoor portion to the outdoor portion. In various embodiments, the one or more members may include a sloped surface decreasing in elevation in a direction from the indoor portion to the outdoor portion. In some embodiments, the one or more members may include one or more grooves extending in a direction from the indoor portion to the outdoor portion. In various embodiments, the one or more grooves may intersect the one or more ribs. In some embodiments, the one or more members may define one or more outlets in downstream fluid communication with the one or more grooves (e.g. adjacent the outdoor portion). In various embodiments, the one or more members may include a sleeve having an inner periphery adjacent the bridge. In some embodiments, the inner periphery of the sleeve may be positioned above the one or more outlets. In various embodiments, the inner periphery and the outer periphery includes the one or more ribs. In some embodiments, the collar, or portions thereof, may define a through opening receiving the bridge. In various embodiments, the window air conditioner may be a saddle-type window air conditioner.

In some embodiments, a collar for sealing a window air conditioner may include a first member having an outer periphery and an opposing inner periphery between an indoor side and an outdoor side. In various embodiments, the collar may include one or more ribs projecting outwardly away from at least one of the outer periphery and/or the opposing inner periphery. In some embodiments, the one or more ribs may be positioned in one or more planes substantially perpendicular to a direction from the indoor side to the outdoor side.

In addition, in some embodiments, the collar may include one or more sealing members engaged by the one or more ribs adjacent at least one of the outer periphery and/or the opposing inner periphery of the first member. In various embodiments, at least one of the outer periphery and/or the inner periphery may be a sloped surface. In some embodiments, the sloped surface may decrease in elevation from the indoor side to the outdoor side. In various embodiments, the one or more ribs may project from the sloped surface. In some embodiments, the collar may include one or more grooves intersecting the one or more ribs in a direction from the indoor side to the outdoor side. In various embodiments, the one or more grooves may be downwardly sloped from the indoor side to the outdoor side. In some embodiments, the first member may include one or more outlets in downstream fluid communication with the one or more grooves adjacent the outdoor side. In some embodiments, the first member may include a sleeve adjacent the outdoor side. In various embodiments, the sleeve may be positioned above the one or more outlets. In some embodiments, the collar may include a second member. In various embodiments, the first member and/or the second member may define a though opening, or portions thereof, configured to seal a window air conditioner with a window assembly defining a window opening. In various embodiments, the second member may include an outer periphery and an opposing inner periphery. In some embodiments, the second member may include one or more ribs projecting from at least one of the opposing inner periphery and/or the outer periphery. In various embodiments, the first member may be substantially U-shaped and/or the second member may be substantially planar. In some embodiments, opposing ends of the first member and the second member may be adjacent to each other, respectively.

In some embodiments, a method of reducing fluid from transferring through a window opening into an inside of a room relative to a window air conditioner positioned therein may include providing a window air conditioner having a bridge connecting an indoor portion and an outdoor portion. In various embodiments, the method may include providing a collar having one or more members. In some embodiments, the method may include positioning the one or more members about the bridge. In various embodiments, the one or more members may include an outer periphery and an inner periphery. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the outer periphery and/or the inner periphery may include a plurality of ribs projecting away from the outer periphery and/or the inner periphery. In various embodiments, the method may include positioning one or more sealing members adjacent the outer periphery and adjacent the inner periphery. In some embodiments, the method may include engaging the plurality of ribs to the one or more sealing members.

In addition, in some embodiments, the method may include draining fluid from at least one of the inner periphery and/or the outer periphery at a downward angle from an indoor side towards an outdoor side of the one or more members. In various embodiments, the method may include shielding fluid from one or more outlets of at least one of the inner periphery and/or the outer periphery adjacent an outdoor side of the one or more members. In some embodiments, the method may include channeling fluid between the plurality of ribs from an indoor side towards an outdoor side of the one or more members. In some embodiments, positioning the one or more sealing members may include positioning the one or more sealing members substantially 360 degrees about the inner periphery and/or the outer periphery of the one or more members.

These and other advantages and features, which characterize the invention, are set forth in the claims annexed hereto. For a better understanding of the invention, and of the advantages and objectives attained through its use, reference should be made to the Drawings, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is described example embodiments of the invention. This summary is merely provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the detailed description, and is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Turning now to the Figures, wherein like numbers denote like parts throughout the several views, the overall configuration of various embodiments of a sealing mechanismfor a window A/C unit will be described. The type, size, and shape of the window air conditionermay be varied while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure. In general, the Figures depict one or more sealing mechanismsfor a window air conditioner, wherein the window air conditionerhas three primary sections or portions: a connector/bridge or member, an indoor portionand an outdoor portion. Together the connector, indoor portion, and outdoor portionmake up a generally inverted U-shaped, or “saddle-type” window air conditioner, having an open space/channelbetween the indoor portionand the outdoor portion. Although not shown, the window air conditioner may be a U-shaped unit. The bridgemay be disposed between of connect the outdoor portionand the indoor portion. The open spaceis bounded at the top by the bridge(e.g. bottom surface). In an installed position with the window assemblyas shown in, the open spaceis configured to be place over or receive a window sill, such that the indoor portionis situated indoors of and downwardly depending with respect to the window sill, and the outdoor portionis situated outdoors of and downwardly depending with respect to the window sill. In this manner, the open spacecan receive the window silltherewithin when the saddle-type window air conditioneris installed in a window openingas shown in the one embodiment in.

In some embodiments, as best shown in, the window assemblymay include a vertically operable window sash, a horizontal window sill, and a pair of vertical side window tracksfor slidably receiving the vertical side faces of the window sash. Thus, the window sashmay be vertically slid up and down by a user.

With reference now to, one embodiment of the sealing mechanismis shown. The one or more sealing mechanisms close off the remaining gap (e.g. remainder of window opening) between the window assembly, or portions thereof, (e.g. the lowered window sash, the horizontal window sill, vertical side window tracks) and the installed window air conditioner, or portions thereof. The sealing mechanismmay reduce or prevent fluid (e.g. air, water, etc.) from entering the indoors from the outdoors relative to the installed window air conditioner. The sealing mechanism may be installed to the window air conditioner before installation of the window air conditioner, during installation of the window air conditioner to the window assembly, and/or after installation of the window air conditioner in the window assembly.illustrate the sealing mechanismin an installed position.

In some implementations, the sealing mechanismand/or window air conditionermay include one or more collars, or portions thereof. The collar, or portions thereof, may be configured to seal the window air conditioner, or portions thereof, and/or window assembly, or portions thereof. The collarmay be configured to seal (e.g. 360 degrees) about the bridgeand/or between the bridgeand the window assembly, or portions thereof. The collarmay include an indoor sidefacing or adjacent the indoor portionand/or an outdoor sidefacing or adjacent the outdoor portion. The collarmay include one or more members(e.g. upper/first collar/member, lower/second collar/member, first, second, etc.) surrounding the bridge. The collarand/or member(s)may include an inner peripheryadjacent the bridgeand an outer periphery. The inner peripherymay be opposing the outer periphery. The inner peripheryand outer peripherymay be positioned between the indoor sideand outdoor sideof the collar/member. The inner peripherydefined by the collarand/or membersmay define a through opening. Although the inner/outer periphery,may be 360 degrees about the bridgeas shown, the inner/outer periphery may be less than 360 degrees in some embodiments. The through openingmay receiving the bridge. The collarmay be made of a variety of materials, such as, but is not limited to, plastic or metal, or combinations thereof.

In some implementations, the sealing mechanism, window air conditioner, and/or collar, or portions thereof, may include one or more sealing members. The one or more sealing members, if used, may be positioned between the collar, or portions thereof, (e.g. member(s)) and the bridgeand/or window assembly. As shown in, the sealing membersmay be positioned adjacent one or more portions of the inner periphery(e.g. with ribs, without ribs) and/or one or more portions of the outer periphery(e.g. with ribs, without ribs) of the member(s)/collar. The one or more sealing membersmay close off the remaining gap (e.g. remainder of window opening) between the window assembly, or portions thereof, (e.g. the lowered window sash, the horizontal window sill, vertical side window tracks) and the installed collar, or portions thereof (e.g. members, outer periphery). The one or more sealing members may close off the remaining gap (e.g. remainder of window opening, between collar and bridge/conditioner) between the window air conditioner, or portions thereof, (e.g. bridge) and the installed collar, or portions thereof (e.g. members, inner periphery). The member(s)and/or one or more portions of the inner peripheryand/or outer peripherymay engage or receive one or more sealing members. The sealing membersmay be positioned substantially 360 degrees about the inner peripheryand/or the outer peripheryof the collar/member(s). Other degrees of coverage or portions of the collar/members are contemplated. The sealing members may be of a variety of shapes, sizes, quantities, constructions, and positions relative to the collar and still be within the scope of the invention. The sealing members may be made of a variety of materials such as, but is not limited to, foam and/or rubber, or combinations thereof. Further, the one or more sealing members may have a variety of different compression characteristics. For example, one sealing member may be more compressible than another sealing member. Further, for example, two different types of sealing members may be used that have different compression characteristics.

In some implementations, the sealing mechanism, window air conditioner, member(s), and/or collarmay include one or more ribs. The ribs, if used, may be positioned on one or more membersand/or collar, or portions thereof. The rib(s)may project (e.g. inwardly, outwardly, away from, towards the sash, sill, tracks or portions of the window, towards the bridge or portions of the conditioner) from one or more surfaces of the memberor collar. The inner peripherymay include one or more ribs. The ribs, if any, on the inner periphery may project radially inward. The outer peripherymay include one or more ribs. The ribs, if any, on the outer periphery may project radially outward. The inner and outer periphery,, or portions thereof, may include one or more ribs. The ribs may project substantially perpendicular to a direction or plane from indoor portion/side,to the outdoor portion/side,of the window air conditionerfrom the collar/member, or portions thereof. The rib(s)may be positioned in one or more planes perpendicular to the axis A of the through opening. The plurality of ribsmay be parallel to each other in different planes (e.g. perpendicular planes to the axis A). The ribmay be rectangular in cross section. The one or more ribsmay engage and/or compress one or more of the sealing members, or portions thereof. The channelsdefined between adjacent ribs (e.g. adjacent parallel planes of the ribs) may not compress or may compress less of the sealing memberthan the rib(s)may compress the sealing member. Alternatively stated, the adjacent ribs intermittent/discontinuous contact/position does not compress the entire sealing member or varies the compression across the surface of the sealing member in at least one direction. The ribs/channelsand/or pattern of compression/non compression of the sealing member(e.g. along the axis A, along a direction) may prevent or reduce capillary action of fluid between the indoor and outer spaces/sides/portions.

In some implementations, the sealing mechanism, window air conditioner, member(s), and/or collar, or portions thereof, may include one or more ribs, if used, projecting from one or more surfaces/members. One or more of the surface(s)may circumscribe the bridgeand face inwardly and/or outwardly therefrom. Although the rib(s) are shown positioned substantially 360 degrees about the inner periphery of the collar/member(s)/surface(s), the rib(s) may be positioned less than 360 degrees of coverage or portions of the collar/members/surfaces. Although the rib(s) are shown positioned substantially less than 360 degrees about the outer periphery of the collar/member(s)/surface(s), the rib(s) may be positioned of coverage or portions of the collar/members/surfaces. As shown, the second membersurface or outer peripherymay not include ribsin some embodiments. In some embodiments as shown, the width of the distal free endof the ribs may vary or be different from each other. For example, the distal free endof the ribsprojecting from the top surfaceor outer peripheryof the first memberor membermay have a larger width in the direction along the axis A than the distal free endof the ribsprojecting from the bottom surfaceor inner peripheryof the first memberor member. The one or more surfacesmay be sloped in some embodiments. The inner peripheryand/or outer peripheryof the collar/member(s), or portions thereof, may include the one or more sloped surfaces. The sloped surfacemay have projecting rib(s)therefrom. Although the proximal endof the ribsmay be adjacent the sloped surface, the distal free endof the rib(s)may project to the same elevation/distance and/or plane (e.g. horizontal). For example, the length of ribsprojecting may decrease in the direction towards the outdoor portion/side. Alternatively, the distal free endsof a plurality of ribsmay not extend to the same plane in some embodiments. The sloped surfaceand/or collarmay decrease in elevation or narrow in a direction from the indoor portion/sideto the outdoor portion/side. In the one embodiment shown, a top wall of the collar/member/mechanism may include both a top sloping surface and an opposing bottom sloping surface. Although the top wall/memberof the collar/member/mechanismmay include the slope wall/surfaces(e.g. top surface, outer periphery, bottom surface, inner periphery) as shown in at least, it should be understood that other walls or portions of the collar/member/mechanism may include one or more sloped surfaces. For example, as shown in, a bottom wall/memberand/or one or more side wallsof the collar/member/mechanism may include one or more sloped surfacesalone or in combination with the top wall. Although the sloped surfaceand/or ribs(e.g. in a plurality of planes) may extend or be positioned from the indoor sideto the outdoor sideof the collar/member/surface as shown, it should be understood that a portion of the surfacemay be sloped in the direction from the indoor side to the outdoor side in some embodiments. The rib(s) may be a variety of shapes, sizes, quantities, positions, and constructions and still be within the scope of the invention.

In some implementations, the sealing mechanism, window air conditioner, member(s), and/or collar, or portions thereof, may include one or more grooves. Further, the inner peripheryand/or outer peripherymay include one or more grooves. The one or more groovesmay funnel or direct fluid in one or more desired directions to control fluid movement, fluid discharge, and/or sealing. The one or more grooves, if used, may extend along a direction from the indoor side/portiontowards the outdoor side/portionand/or along the axis A. The groovesmay be included on sloped surfaces/wallsor non-sloped surfaces/wallsof the members/collar. A plurality of groovesmay be parallel to each other in planes parallel to the axis A in some embodiments. The one or more groovesmay intersect the one or more ribs, if used. In the one embodiment shown, the top wallof the collar/member/mechanism may include a top surface (e.g. sloping, sloped surface) or outer peripheryhaving one or more grooves. The one or more grooves(e.g. bottom wall) may be sloped. The one or more groovesmay be downwardly sloped in a direction from the indoor side/portionto the outdoor side/portion. In the one embodiment shown, the bottom wallof the collar/member/mechanism may include a top surface (e.g. non sloping) or inner peripheryhaving one or more grooves. As shown in the one embodiment of the member/surfacewith rib(s), the bottom wallof the groovemay be adjacent or in the same plane as the surface(e.g. sloped surface, non sloped surface) of the member. Although not shown, in members/surfaces that do not include rib(s) projecting therefrom, the groove(s), if used, or bottom wall may be at a depth below or within the member or surface. Although the both the top walland bottom wallof the collar/member/mechanism may include the groove(s)(e.g. top surface, outer periphery, inner periphery), it should be understood that other walls or portions of the collar/member/mechanism may include one or more grooves. For example, one or more side wallsmay include one or more grooves.

In some implementations, the sloped surfacesof the surfacesand/or the groove bottom wall, if used, may be orientated at a variety of angles. In some embodiments, the one or more sloped surfaces may be angled between 5 degrees to about 15 degrees from the horizontal.

In some implementations, the one or more grooves, if used, may intersect or define the one or more ribs. The groove(s)may intersect or define adjacent ribsin at least one plane and/or adjacent ribs in a plurality of parallel planes. As shown in the one embodiment, the top wall/member(e.g. top surface, outer periphery) and the bottom wall/member(e.g. top surface, inner periphery) includes a plurality of ribsintersected/defined by one or more groovesin a single plane and/or a plurality of planes (e.g. parallel to each other) perpendicular to the axis A of the through opening. As shown in the one embodiment, the opposing side walls/members(e.g. inner periphery, outer periphery, inner surface, outer surface) may include a single rib in each plane of a plurality of planes (e.g. parallel to each other) perpendicular to the axis A of the through opening without one or more grooves intersecting them. Further, the bottom surface of the top wallmay include a single rib in each plane of a plurality of planes (e.g. parallel to each other) perpendicular to the axis A of the through opening without one or more grooves intersecting them.

In some implementations, the sealing mechanism, window air conditioner, member(s), groove(s), and/or collar, or portions thereof, may include one or more outlets. The one or more outlets, if used, may be downstream of or downstream fluid communication with one or more grooves. The outletsmay be adjacent one or more ends of the groove(s). The outletsmay be adjacent the indoor side/portionand/or outdoor side/portionof the collar/member/conditioner and/or opposing ends of the through opening. As shown in the one embodiment, a first outletmay be positioned adjacent the one or more ends of the groove(s)adjacent the outdoor sidepositioned on the bottom wall/memberof the collar. Further as shown in the one embodiment, a first outletmay be positioned adjacent one end of the grooveadjacent the outdoor sidepositioned on the top wall/memberof the collar. The grooveand/or outletmay be a variety of shapes, sizes, quantities, positions, and constructions and still be within the scope of the invention. For example, the groove may be of a variety of depths and/or shapes (e.g. linear, nonlinear, arcuate bottom, flat bottom). Further, for example, a second outlet may be adjacent the indoor sidein some embodiments. Further, one or more grooves may not be angled in some embodiments. The grooves may be in a horizontal plane. In some embodiments, the grooves may be shapes other than linear as shown.

In some implementations, the sealing mechanism, window air conditioner, member(s), and/or collar, or portions thereof, may include one or more sleeves. The one or more sleeves, if used, may be one or more flanges extending from the outdoor sideof the sealing mechanism/collar/member(s). The sleevemay include an inner peripheryadjacent the bridgeof the window air conditioner. The sleevemay extend (e.g. horizontally) from the top wall/membertowards the outer portionand/or substantially parallel to the bridge and/or along the axis A. The sleevemay extend from the top walland/or the side walls. As shown in the one embodiment, the sleeveextends from the top walland the opposing side walls. The outlet(s)may be positioned inside or within the inner peripheryof the sleeve, or portions thereof. The inner peripheryof the sleeve(s) (e.g. projecting from surfaceor top wall) may be positioned above the outlet(s)(e.g.), if used. The sleeve may narrow in the direction along the axis A. The sleeve may be positioned above the outlet(s)adjacent the outdoor side. The sleeve may shield the through apertureand/or outlets(e.g.), if used, from fluid (e.g. rain, etc.). The sleeve may be a variety of shapes, sizes, quantities, positions, and constructions and still be within the scope of the invention. Although the sleeve projects from each of the side wallsand top wall, it should be understood that the sleeve, or portions thereof, may project from one or more membersor walls,,. For example, the sleeve may project only from the top wallin some embodiments.

In some implementations, the sealing mechanism, window air conditioner, and/or collarmay include one or more members. The one or more membersdefine one or more portions of the collaror sealing mechanism. At least one member may define the collaror sealing mechanism. In the one embodiment shown, the collar may include the first memberand the second member. In some embodiments, at least one member(e.g. first, second, etc.) may include one or more ribs, one or more sloped surfaces, the inner periphery, the outer periphery, the one or more grooves, one or more outlets, and/or one or more sleeves, etc. The member(e.g. first) may be substantially U-shaped or an inverted U-shaped member. Another member(e.g. second) may be substantially planar. The first and second members,may define the through opening. The second memberor bottom wallmay have at least one or more ribsprojecting from the inner periphery thereof. The second memberor bottom wallmay also include grooves in the inner peripherythereof. The bottom surface or outer peripheryof the bottom wallmay not include grooves and/or ribs in some embodiments. The first and second members,and/or through openingmay be configured to seal the window air conditionerwith the window assembly. The opposing endsof the second membermay couple, respectively, to the opposing endsof the upside down U-shaped first member. The first membermay include the top walland depending side walls. The second membermay include the bottom wall. The first memberand the second membermay be coupled to each other in a variety of structures and ways. One or more attachment mechanismsmay couple or connect the membersor collar, or portions thereof. The attachment mechanismsmay be adjacent the opposing ends,of the first memberand/or second member. Although a biased clip fastenerand catchbetween the two members,releasably couple the two members to compress the sealing members to the bridge, the attachment mechanismsmay be of a variety of constructions, shapes, sizes, quantities, and positions. For example, a screw or fastener may be used to couple the members to each other in the installed position. In some embodiments, the collar, or portions thereof, may include a flangeprojecting radially inward and/or radially outward to create one or more receiving channels to hold one or more sealing member. As shown in the one embodiment, a flangemay project radially outwardly/inwardly of perpendicular to the axis A from one or more of the members, or portions thereof (e.g. surfaces, inner periphery, outer periphery, indoor side, outdoor side). Although the top member may include a radial flangeadjacent the indoor sideas shown, the top member may not include a radial flange projecting upwardly from the outdoor side.

In use, the sealing mechanism, or portions thereof, may reduce or prevent fluid from transferring through the window openinginto the inside of the room relative to the window air conditionerpositioned in the window assemblyin the installed position. The collar, or portions thereof, and/or one or more membersof the collarmay be positioned about the bridgeof the installed or preinstalled window air conditioner. One or more sealing membersmay be held or positioned between the one or more membersand the bridge. The one or more sealing membersmay be positioned (e.g. about 360 degrees, less than 360) about the through opening, member(s)(e.g. inner periphery) and/or bridge, or portions thereof. For example, the sealing membersabout the inner periphery of the collar may include a lower seal member(e.g. planar seal member) and an upper seal member(e.g. upside down U-shaped seal member). The two or more members may be coupled to each other (e.g. via one or more attachment mechanisms, clips, catch, screws). The members(s) and/or rib(s), if used, on the inner peripheryof the one or more membersmay engage or compress portions of the sealing member(s)against the bridge. One or more sealing membersmay be held or positioned between the one or more members(e.g. outer periphery) and the window assembly, or portions thereof (e.g. sash, tracks, sill). The one or more sealing membersmay be predetermined and/or cut to size or fit relative to the sealing mechanism, window air conditioner, and/or window assembly, or portions thereof. The one or more sealing membersmay be positioned (e.g. about 360 degrees, less than 360) about the collarand/or member(s)(e.g. outer periphery). For example, the sealing membersabout the outer peripheryof the collarmay include a bottom seal member, opposing side seal members, and/or a top seal member. The members(s)and/or rib(s), if used, on the outer peripheryof the one or more membersmay engage or compress portions of the sealing member(s)against the window assembly, or portions thereof. When the sealing mechanismis installed, the sealing mechanism (e.g. groove, outlet, sloped surface, planar surface, channels) may drain fluid from (e.g. away) the inner periphery and/or outer periphery in one or more directions (e.g. towards the indoor portion, towards the outdoor portion, axially along axis A, radially from axis A). The draining may be at a downward angle from the indoor side/portiontowards the outdoor side/portionof the collar/members/conditioner (e.g. along sloped surface or sloped groove). The downward angle may be along the sloped surfaceof at least one member and/or sloped groovein some embodiments. Fluid may be channeled (e.g. via grooves) or directed between adjacent or a plurality of ribs within a plane and/or surface. The fluid may be channeled/drained in a direction from the indoor side/portionto the outdoor side/portionof the collar/members/conditioner. Further, in some embodiments, the sleevemay shield one or more outlets, though openingadjacent at least one of the inner periphery, and/or the outer peripheryadjacent the indoor sideand/or outdoor side. As shown in the one embodiment, the sleevemay shield one or more outletsand/or though openingadjacent the inner periphery/adjacent the outdoor side

While several embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the embodiments described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the scope of the present disclosure.

All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the defined terms.

The indefinite articles “a” and “an,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.”

The phrase “and/or,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements listed with “and/or” should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., “one or more” of the elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B”, when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising” can refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements); etc.

As used herein in the specification and in the claims, “or” should be understood to have the same meaning as “and/or” as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, “or” or “and/or” shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as “only one of” or “exactly one of,” or, when used in the claims, “consisting of,” will refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term “or” as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e. “one or the other but not both”) when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of,” “only one of,” or “exactly one of.” “Consisting essentially of,” when used in the claims, shall have its ordinary meaning as used in the field of patent law.

As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently, “at least one of A or B,” or, equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) can refer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc.

It should also be understood that, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, in any methods claimed herein that include more than one step or act, the order of the steps or acts of the method is not necessarily limited to the order in which the steps or acts of the method are recited.

In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all transitional phrases such as “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” “holding,” “composed of,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of” shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively, as set forth in the United States Patent Office Manual of Patent Examining Procedures, Section 2111.03.

It is to be understood that the embodiments are not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Unless limited otherwise, the terms “connected,” “coupled,” “in communication with,” and “mounted,” and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect connections, couplings, and mountings. In addition, the terms “connected” and “coupled” and variations thereof are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.

The foregoing description of several embodiments of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise steps and/or forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching.