Food Tube Attachment Device

The present invention generally relates to feeding attachments for pouched foods. More particularly, the present invention relates to an attachment to couple with pouched foods such as purees, fruit sauces, and yogurts to allow children to consume the contents of the food pouches with reduced mess and allowing the product to be resealed.

Soft, liquid-like foods such as purees, fruit sauces, and yogurts are a staple in the diet of many young children and babies. For decades these foods have been served using a jar and spoon; however, more convenient methods have emerged on the market. One common method is known as a “pouch,” such as a 2-to-4 ounce disposable, flexible plastic container with a plastic feeding nozzle. To open the pouch, the nozzle sealing cap is detached, most commonly with a twisting motion, which then exposes a straw-like nozzle for easy consumption by the child or baby. Some versions of these pouches are capable of re-sealing after being opened, often using the previously detached cap. This provides convenient temporary storage without concern of leaking or spilling.

Although convenient, pouches are sometimes cost-prohibitive for many consumers. A similar delivery method commonly used by, but not limited to, the yogurt industry is a long slender tube-shaped plastic container or “tube.” These tubes are usually more reasonably priced, sometimes equating to 3-to-4 times as many ounces per dollar spent. This cost difference between the pouches and the tubes is likely attributed to increased packaging cost of the pouch and increased value to the consumer through convenience. Regardless, tubes virtually always provide a cost-effective alternative to pouches. However, what the tubes gain in cost effectiveness, they lack in user convenience.

A tube does not contain a straw-like nozzle like a pouch. Instead, the tube is usually torn leaving an opening to allow a user to consume the tube's contents. Tubes can be difficult for children to open and are often provided to a child already opened by an adult. Furthermore, the opening can be jagged, inconsistent, and prove difficult to form a proper seal with the child's mouth. This can make consumption of the tube's contents messy and wasteful. Additionally, tubes cannot be easily stored for later consumption once opened because tubes do not contain a cap or seal. Therefore, a need exists for an attachment that can allow the tube's contents to be easily consumed through a straw-like nozzle. Additionally, a need exists to allow the tube to be stored for reuse and reopened easily by children without an adult immediately present, such as school lunch time. This device would allow the user to benefit from the cost-effectiveness of the tube style container while giving the convenience of a pouch style container.

The following presents a simplified summary of the present invention to provide a basic understanding of the invention's concepts. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify critical elements or to limit the scope of this disclosure. The sole purpose of this summary is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the detailed description of the invention.

The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in some embodiments of the present invention, relates to a food tube attachment device including: a nozzle having a top and a bottom, a channel between the top and the bottom, a coupling means, and a gasket receiving area; a nozzle control handle having a complimentary coupling means to the nozzle's coupling means; the gasket secured in the gasket receiving area of the nozzle; wherein the coupling of the nozzle's coupling means and the nozzle control handle's complimentary coupling means may be manipulated from a disengaged position to an engaged position and secured in the engaged position; wherein, with the food tube attachment device beginning in the disengaged position, a seal is created when an opening of a food tube receives the bottom of the nozzle and the gasket before the nozzle control handle is manipulated from the disengaged position to the engaged position; wherein this manipulation deforms the gasket to create the seal with the food tube so that the contents of the food tube travel through the channel by entering from the bottom of the nozzle and egressing out the top of the nozzle; and wherein the food tube attachment device is made of food-safe materials.

The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in some embodiments of the present invention, relates to a method for assembling and using a food tube attachment device, the steps comprising: securing a gasket within a gasket receiving area around a bottom of a nozzle, the nozzle having a channel between the bottom and a top; inserting the top of the nozzle through a shell; aligning and securing an indexing notch of the nozzle with a keyhole receiver present on an interior wall of the shell to prevent undesired rotation of the shell and the nozzle; placing a nozzle control handle over the top of the nozzle; coupling a complimentary coupling means of the nozzle control handle to a coupling means of the nozzle in a disengaged position; inserting an opening of a food tube into a cavity between the interior wall and an exterior wall of the shell; manipulating the nozzle control handle from the disengaged position to an engaged position which deforms the gasket to create a seal with the food tube by compressing the food tube's opening between the deformed gasket and the exterior wall of the shell; and the user causing contents of the food tube to egress through the channel from the bottom of the nozzle through the top of the nozzle so that the user may consume the contents of the food tube.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative of only a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein reference numerals are used to refer to elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It may be evident that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram or other simplified form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.

Food tubes provide convenient and engaging access to foods typically of a yogurt, puree, pudding, or other semi-solid/semi-liquid consistency. These types of foods are enjoyed by all but are particularly more commonly consumed by children or ill, injured, or infirmed individuals. All of these individuals may lack the motor skills necessary for easily opening and consuming the contents of a food tube in a clean manner. Additionally, the ability for someone else to prep a food tube with a food tube attachment device for later consumption is particularly helpful for those individuals. Therefore, there exists a need for a food tube attachment device which provides a tight seal around a food tube, a way to store the tube for later use, and easy access for children and other benefitted individuals.

depicts an exploded view of an exemplary food tube attachment device. In some embodiments, a food tube attachment device includes a nozzle control handle, a shell, a nozzle cap, a gasket, and a nozzle. All components of the present invention should be made of food-safe materials not only because they may contact food and a user's mouth but further because the food tube attachment device is intended to be usable by children or the recovering or infirmed. Food-safe plastics, rubbers, silicone, wood, and metals, and the like are common materials used for such food-safe purposes. Regardless of material(s), the food tube attachment device should not chemically or otherwise interact with any type of puree, yogurt, sauce, or common food that could be held within a non-rigid plastic container (such as a pouch or food tube) and easily accessed. Further, some components, such as the nozzle capand the gasket, may require balance between the level of elasticity and rigidity to serve their purpose and retain enough durability for hundreds of uses.

The nozzle control handlemay be plate-shaped or disc-shaped and include a rigid exterior surface about its outer circumference to provide the user a better grip when engaging and disengaging the nozzle control handleonto the food tube attachment device. In alternative embodiments, the nozzle control handle'souter circumference may be further adapted to provide a better grip for the user to engage and/or disengage the nozzle control handleonto/from the food tube attachment device. Examples of such adaptions include knurled edges, tabs, bars, or other suited structures to allow the user to generate more rotational force when turning the nozzle control handle in the screwing motion to engage the device.

The interior ring of the nozzle control handlemay include a complimentary coupling means (such as screw threads) that are complimentary to a coupling means (such as screw threads) of the nozzle. This allows the nozzle control handleto screw onto the nozzleand, preferably, reach a locking point so that the nozzle control handledoes not undesirably unscrew from the nozzle. However, the nozzle control handleshould be capable of being disengaged and/or unscrewed from the nozzleso that the user may couple the food tube attachment device to another food tube after the contents of previous food tube has been depleted.

In some embodiments, manipulating (i.e. screwing) the nozzle control handleonto the nozzleand locking it into a secured position is considered “engaging the device” as this action secures an opening of a food tube to the food tube attachment device and creates a desirable seal so that the contents of the food tube go through the nozzle to be easily consumed by the user.

The shellis depicted already coupled with a loop of the nozzle cap. This loop may wrap around the shellor the shellmay be adapted to compliment the loop to achieve a more secure coupling. The top side of the shellmay include a groove, dip, or slotted area for allowing the nozzle control handleto be secured in a locked or engaged position. The shell may also include structures for preventing the rotational movements of the nozzleand/or gasket.

The nozzle capmay be designed so that it includes an easy-to-use piece, handle, or “grip” to uncap the nozzle capform the nozzle. This grip may be made of rubber, silicone, plastic, etc. but should allow users having simpler motor skills (such as children) to easily uncap the nozzle cap. In alternative embodiments, the nozzle capcould be coupled by a tether to any of the nozzle, the nozzle control handle, or the shell.

The gasketshould be made of elastic and durable material because it will bear the brunt of the force created by the assembly and engagement of the food tube attachment device. This force is created by the compression of the device due to the screwing of the nozzle control handleonto the nozzle. Further, the gasketshould have sufficient width or thickness so that it does not fold in an undesirable way during the compression generated by the engagement of the food tube attachment device. The disforming of the gasketpresses the food tube against another part of the food tube attachment device in order to create the seal which allows the contents of the food tube to only egress through the nozzle.

The nozzleis depicted having a top (the tip of the nozzlethat is engaged by the user's mouth) and a bottom (the end of the nozzlethat is encompassed by the opening in the food tube), an indexing notch, a gasket recessed area for receiving the gasketand preventing it from undesirably sliding up and down the nozzle, screw threads for coupling with the nozzle control handle, and a circumferential lip that provides a retaining means for the structure of the nozzle capto engage with to resist undesired removal of the nozzle cap. A channel exists between the bottom and the top of the nozzle to allow food to pass from the food tube through the nozzle.

In alternative embodiments, the nozzlemay have one part of a coupling mechanism and the nozzle control handlemay have the corresponding part of the coupling mechanism (aka a complimentary coupling mechanism). This coupling mechanism may simply create a tight coupling, or it may have adjustable tightness by fastening the nozzle control handleonto the nozzle like a threaded nut on a bolt with corresponding threads. The capability to adjust the tightness of the seal on the opening of the food tube is beneficial because food tubes may have different thicknesses of plastic; therefore, the ability to adjust the tightness creates a pseudo one-size-fits-all version of the present invention. Further, in alternative embodiments, the lip may serve to create a flush seal with the nozzle control handleto further prevent the contents of the food tube from undesirably escaping through an avenue that is not the channel of the nozzle.

provides an exemplary nozzle and gasket for a food tube attachment device. The nozzlemay be coupled with a gasket. This coupling may be permanent due to construction or using adhesion, or the coupling may be temporary to allow for the gasketor the nozzleto be replaced should one or both of the parts become worn or damaged. The ability to be replaced is particularly useful for the gasketwhich will bear the majority of the wear caused by use of the device due to the compression placed on the rubber, silicone, or other food-safe suitable material to maintain an adequate seal between the gasketand the shellwith the food tube between them.

The gasketmay further include an interfacing surfaceA which is designed to create a more desirable seal with the shellwhen the seal is created with the food tube in the device. The interfacing surfaceA also may provide a bit more durability and longevity to the gasketas it may resist long-term deformation due to its structure or material (which may be a different material than that of the gasket, making it somewhat of a cap). Further, the interfacing surfaceA may be adapted to better engage the interior of the shellwith the gasketwhen the nozzle control handleis screwed onto/engaged with the nozzle. The interfacing surfaceA may be made of a small layer of plastic or other hard material which is attached to the gasket and is rigid enough to keep its shape and orientation as the shellis pressed down onto the interfacing surface. This prevents the gasket from undesirably deforming in a way which would not create a proper seal.

The top of the nozzlehas an opening for the contents of the food tube to egress. The top portion of the nozzleshould be relatively uniform and smooth for the user's comfort. Below the top portion of the nozzle, which engages the user's mouth, there may be the circumferential lipA which may further serve as a tactile notice to the user that the user has inserted enough of the nozzleinto the user's mouth. Obviously, this is only possible after the nozzle caphas been removed from the nozzle, freeing up the circumferential lipA for this additional purpose. In alternative embodiments, the circumferential lipA may be designed to be flush and/or to create a seal with the nozzle control handlewhen the nozzle control handleis in the engaged position.

Below the circumferential lipA are the screw threads that couple with complimentary threads on the interior ring of the nozzle control handleto lock the nozzle control handlein the engaged position on the nozzle. Below the screw threads are another lip and the indexing notchwhich couples with the shellto prevent undesired rotation of the shelland/or nozzlewhen assembling the food tube attachment device on the food tube and during use. Below the indexing notchis the gasket recessed area which is already coupled with the gasketand having a bottom lip at the bottom end of the nozzlewhich does not let the gasket slip beyond it. Further, the bottom lip is made of durable and rigid enough material and structure so that it supports the force generated by the downward compression created by the nozzle control handlebeing manipulated and locked into the engaged position by fully screwing the nozzle control handleonto the screw threads of the nozzleuntil they reach the engaged position. Even further, the bottom lip may be further adapted to better retain the gasketas it deforms during the compression generated by manipulating and locking the nozzle control handleinto the engaged position.

provides a more detailed view of an embodiment of a nozzle cap. The depicted embodiment labels the nozzle capor “nozzle receiver” being attached to one end of a tetherA, on the other end of the tetherA is a (previously mentioned) loopB that couples to the shell. The nozzle capor nozzle receiver should be configured to compliment the shape of the nozzleso that it is retained in place with sufficient resistance to being undesirably removed. Further, the nozzle capmay have a slightly smaller opening than the immediately following portion of inner space of the nozzle cap. This slightly smaller opening may be a small lip which is made of elastic material and designed to fit over the circumferential lipA of the nozzlewith a small amount of force, locking the cap on the nozzle with that small amount of pressure followed by the retaining force of trying to move the small lip back over the circumferential lipA. The amount of force necessary to move the small lip of the nozzle capover and back over the circumferential lipA of the nozzleis small enough that the action should be easily performed by a child but still require enough force that actions like brushing the nozzle caparound in a bag or lunchbox does not dislodge the nozzle capfrom the nozzle.

In some embodiments, the present invention may include a nozzle cap handleC (aka “grip”) on the end of the tetherA with the nozzle cap. The nozzle cap handleC may be a circular ring that allows the user to grip and easily remove the nozzle capfrom the nozzle. The nozzle cap handleC may be rigid or elastic, comprised of materials including silicone, rubber, and/or hand plastics. In alternative embodiments, the nozzle cap handleC may be a small stem, lever, bar, or other easily grabbable structure that allows the user to easily remove and/or re-fit the nozzle caponto the nozzle. The tetherA also could have varying widths, lengths, and levels of rigidity so long as it allows the nozzle capto easily reach and cover the nozzleand also be removed.

depicts an assembled food tube attachment device having a removeable cap and coupled with a food tube. The depicted embodiment shows a fully assembled food tube attachment device on a food tubeand in the engaged position. Note that the food tubeshould be inserted from below the device (the side with the bottom of the nozzle) into the gap between the shelland the nozzle/gasketprior to the nozzle control handlebeing manipulated (i.e. screwed down) into the engaged position.

As shown, the shellis almost completely covered by the nozzle cap'swide loop. The shellentirely covers the gasketand the area of the nozzlethat has the gasket recessed area. In this engaged position, the gasketis pressing the food tubeinto the interior of the shellso that the layers of the seal are (1) shell, (2) food tube, and (3) gasket.

Further, the nozzle control handleis fully threaded down the screw threads of the nozzleand in the engaged position (aka locked position). At least the nozzle control handleand the nozzleare designed to have a self-locking screw mechanism wherein after the nozzle control handleis fully screwed on the nozzle, the position locks so that the nozzle control handledoes not undesirably unscrew from the nozzle. In fact, the user would need to apply some amount of force to manipulate or unscrew the nozzle control handleonce it reaches this engaged position. Additionally, use of the food tube attachment device should not accidentally cause the nozzle control handleto unscrew from the nozzle.

In further embodiments, the nozzle control handleand the nozzleinclude a clip, locking mechanism, or other retainer member(s) to prevent the nozzle control handle from undesirably unscrewing from the nozzle.

In further embodiments, it may be desired that the shellalso includes a structure such as a groove, dip, or slotted area with a complimentary piece (such as a notch or peg) on the under or bottom side of the nozzle control handleto lock the food tube attachment device in the engaged position. These further embodiments likely result in increased stability in the engaged position and requiring increased force to disengage the nozzle control handlefrom that engaged position.

features a cross section of an embodiment of a shell. The shellmay include structures to allow the nozzle cap'scoupling to the shell. The nozzle cap'sloopB may encircle a recessed areaB in the shelldesigned to snuggly fit the loop of the nozzle capto prevent the nozzle capfrom undesirably detaching from the shell. In alternative embodiments, the shellmay include other structures such as a peg that couples with a hole or slot on the nozzle cap'stetherA so that the nozzle capmay be moved and placed in a “capped” position on top of the nozzle.

In some embodiments, the shellmay also include a handle locking structureA on its top portion that engages with a corresponding piece on the nozzle control handleto lock the nozzle control handleinto an engaged position (aka a locked position) after the nozzle control handlehas been fully engaged (i.e. screwed down the screw threads) with the nozzle. This may be accomplished by having a small notch, bump, peg, or similarly purposed structure on the underside of the nozzle control handlethat engages with the handle locking structureA which may be in the form of a groove, dip, or slotted area which compliments a coupling with the corresponding piece of the nozzle control handle.

The depicted embodiment shows the shellhaving an interior wallC and an exterior wallD. Further, the shellmay have a cavity for receiving the opening of the food tubecreated between the interior wallC and the exterior wallD. The exterior wallD may include a structure or means for receiving the loopB of the nozzle capin the form of a recessed areaB about an exterior circumference/wall of the shell. The recessed areaB may include edges that are about as wide as the thickness of the loop of the nozzle cap. These edges allow for the nozzle cap'sloop to be detached from the shellwith some measure of force, primarily depending on the elasticity or rigidity of the loop of the nozzle cap.

In alternative embodiments, the interior wallC and the exterior wallD may be the same piece, not creating the cavity for receiving the open end of the food tube. In this embodiment, the seal is still created by the gasketpressing the food tube into the wall of the shell (whether interior or exterior does not matter if they do not create a cavity). This alternative embodiment is less ideal because the cavity serves to allow the opening of the food tube to be inserted deeper into the shelland usually creates a better seal as to not allow the contents of the food tube to escape through any direction other than through the channel of the nozzle.

features a cross section of an embodiment of the assembled food tube attachment device in a disengaged position. This depiction shows the assembled food tube attachment device including the attached but disengaged nozzle control handleat the top of the screw threads of the nozzle, the shellaround the body of the nozzleand including a keyhole receiver for an indexing notchthat is part of the structure of the nozzle, and the gasketlodged between the bottom of the nozzleand the shell. A food tubeis also shown in the figure but it is not yet inserted to be sealed by the food tube attachment device.

In some embodiments, the interior wallC of the shellmay be constructed with the keyhole receiver for the corresponding indexing notchof the nozzleto prevent the nozzleand gasketfrom rotating when the nozzle control handleis manipulated or screwed from the disengaged position to an engaged position on the nozzle. The keyhole receiver and the indexing notchare important for ideal embodiments of the present invention because it is generally much more difficult to seal the food tube attachment device onto the food tubewithout this keyhole receiver and this indexing notchpreventing undesired rotation of the nozzle, gasket, and/or shell.

The embodiment depicts the top of the shellshows the handle locking structureA (shown as a circular groove or railway about the top circumference of the shell) which engages with a peg or protrusion on the bottom of the nozzle control handleto better secure the nozzle control handlein the engaged position. Similar but alternative structures may be used to aid in locking the nozzle control handlein the engaged position, but all such structures should be able to be disengaged many times without damage to the structures on the shellor the nozzle control handle. Therefore, these structures are likely to be made materials such as rubbers or plastics which are somewhat elastic but return to their original form. Further embodiments of this may include manually operated hole-and-peg locks, retaining clips and receivers, and pen-click locks.

Alternative embodiments which do not include the shellmay have the handle locking structure as part of the coupling mechanism of the nozzleand the nozzle control handle.

The gasketis shown having somewhat of a “C-shape” which encourages the gasketto deform in a desired manner. The depicted gasketshould deform outward from the center (aka from the nozzle) until the gasketmeets the shell.

features the cross section of the embodiment of the assembled food tube attachment device coupled with a food tube in an engaged position. In this engaged position, the food tubewas inserted into the cavity between the interior wallC and the exterior wallD of the shell. Further, in this embodiment, the seal between the food tubeand the food tube attachment device is created by the compression of the rotational/screwing motion of the nozzle control handleonto the threads of the nozzle. The food tube attachment device may be maintained in the engaged position by a locking mechanism that at least includes the nozzleand the nozzle control handlebut may further include the shell.

The nozzle, the gasket, and the shellmay be used to create a seal due to the force applied by manipulating and securing the nozzle control handleonto the nozzleinto the engaged position via the coupling means present on the nozzlewith its complimentary coupling means on the nozzle control handle. The depicted coupling means (the screw threads) on the nozzleallows the nozzle control handleto screw onto the nozzle, tightening the shell'spressure onto the nozzleand the gasketwhile preventing the nozzle control handlefrom undesirably disengaging after reaching the locking point in the nozzle control handle'srotation about the screw threads of the nozzle. In some embodiments, the nozzle control handleand the nozzlemay pair to form a self-locking screw mechanism.

To assemble the depicted food tube attachment device, first, the gasket, having an opening, is coupled over the exterior of the nozzleand positioned onto the gasket recessed area. Next, the nozzlecoupled with the gasketare inserted into the shell. The indexing notchof the nozzleshould be rotationally aligned with the keyhole receiver of the shell. Then, the nozzle control handleis placed over the top of the nozzleand aligned with the screw threads of the nozzle. The food tubeis inserted into the cavity between the interior wallC and the exterior wallD of the shell. Finally, the nozzle control handleis tightened onto the nozzle, gasket, shell, and food tube. This creates the depicted deformation of the “C-shaped” gasketwhich is now pressing the walls of the food tubeagainst the exterior wall of the shell, creating a tight seal which does not let food escape nor allows the food tubeto dislodge from the cavity of the shellwithout the nozzle control handlefirst being unlocked and/or disengaged.

In alternative embodiments, instead of the coupling means including screw threads and the locking mechanism to lock the food tube attachment device in the engaged position, a different structure, such as a sealable cam lever may be used to create the flexible seal between the food tube attachment device and the food tube. The cam lever, may have a pivot attachment on the nozzle(such as a pin joint). When rotating about the pin-joint the cam lever may assert force against the top of the shell, which translates into linear motion of the nozzle. Just as the screw threads of the nozzleand complimentary screw threads of the nozzle control handleconvert rotational motion into linear motion to deform the gasket, the cam lever may achieve this same linear motion to deform the gasket.

In further alternative embodiments, the food tube attachment device may include a spring-structure instead of the nozzle control handleso that the spring-structure may engage or disengage the food tube attachment device in the engaged position and the disengaged position. This engagement and disengagement should still operate by deforming the gasketto exert pressure on the food tubeagainst one of the walls of the shell. Even further, this spring-structure may include rotational locking structures similar to those found in a click-action pen for writing.

In alternative embodiments, the shellmay not include an exterior wall and the food tube is retained in the engaged position merely by the outward pressure created by the deformation of the gasketas the food tube attachment device is manipulated and/or locked into the engaged position.

It should be understood that any of the examples described herein may include various other features in addition to or in lieu of those described above. By way of example only, any of the examples described herein may also include one or more of the various features disclosed in any of the various references that are incorporated by reference herein.

It should be understood that any one or more of the teachings, expressions, embodiments, examples, etc. described herein may be combined with any one or more of the other teachings, expressions, embodiments, examples, etc. that are described herein. The above-described teachings, expressions, embodiments, examples, etc. should therefore not be viewed in isolation relative to each other. Various suitable ways in which the teachings herein may be combined will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the teachings herein. Such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the claims.

It should be appreciated that any patent, publication, or other disclosure material, in whole or in part, that is said to be incorporated by reference herein is incorporated herein only to the extent that the incorporated material does not conflict with existing definitions, statements, or other disclosure material set forth in this disclosure. As such, and to the extent necessary, the disclosure as explicitly set forth herein supersedes any conflicting material incorporated herein by reference. Any material, or portion thereof, that is said to be incorporated by reference herein, but which conflicts with existing definitions, statements, or other disclosure material set forth herein will only be incorporated to the extent that no conflict arises between that incorporated material and the existing disclosure material.

Having shown and described various versions of the present invention, further adaptations of the methods, systems, and apparatus described herein may be accomplished by appropriate modifications by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. Several such potential modifications have been mentioned, and others will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For instance, the examples, versions, geometrics, materials, dimensions, ratios, steps, and the like discussed above are illustrative and are not required. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be considered in terms of the following claims and is understood not to be limited to the details of structure and operation shown and described in the specification and drawings. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.