阅读说明：本技术 发光的马尾辫夹持器 (Luminous pony tail holder ) 是由 迪米特里·R·博斯 于 2019-03-19 设计创作，主要内容包括：马尾辫夹持器包括具有第一部分和第二部分的截头圆锥形基座,每个部分相互铰接以围绕马尾辫在打开位置和闭合位置之间移动。基座的底边缘至少部分地覆盖有导电表面。截头圆锥形罩可与基座固定并包括至少两个导电突出部,每个突出部适于与基座的底边缘卡扣配合,以通过机械的和电的方式将罩固定到基座。当罩与基座接合时,与罩固定在一起的多个LED连接到电池。控制器以各种方式从电池向LED提供电,从而基于罩的旋转位置、环境声级、选定的发光模式或无线指令信号来产生独特的发光效果。(The ponytail holder includes a frustoconical base having a first portion and a second portion, each portion being hingedly connected to one another for movement about the ponytail between an open position and a closed position. The bottom edge of the base is at least partially covered with a conductive surface. The frustoconical cover may be fixed with the base and include at least two conductive tabs, each tab adapted to snap-fit with a bottom edge of the base to mechanically and electrically secure the cover to the base. When the cover is engaged with the base, the plurality of LEDs secured with the cover are connected to the battery. The controller provides power to the LEDs from the battery in various ways to produce unique lighting effects based on the rotational position of the shroud, the ambient sound level, the selected lighting mode, or the wireless command signal.)

1. A ponytail holder, the ponytail holder comprising:

a frustoconical base having a first portion and a second portion, each portion being interconnected at a hinge edge and the position of each portion being settable between an open position and a closed position, each portion having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a fastening edge opposite the hinge edge, the fastening edges of each portion being selectively fastenable to one another to secure the base in the closed position, each portion having a top edge and a bottom edge that together form a top opening and a bottom opening, respectively, when the base is in the closed position;

a base battery fixed with the base and electrically connected with the plurality of base LEDs through a base controller and a plurality of conductors fixed with the base, the base controlling the color and intensity of the base LEDs; and

a base mode switch electrically connected to the base controller to alternate between pre-programmed lighting modes in the base controller.

2. The ponytail holder of claim 1, wherein the base further comprises a wireless receiver in electrical connection with the base controller, the wireless receiver for receiving a signal to instruct the base controller to control the color and brightness of each LED.

3. The ponytail holder of claim 1, wherein the bottom edge of each section is at least partially covered with an electrically conductive surface and is electrically connected to opposite sides of the base battery, a resistor having a first resistance is included in the base between the base battery and the plurality of LEDs, the ponytail holder further comprising:

a frustoconical cover securable with the base when the base is in the closed position, the cover including an outer surface, an inner surface adapted to abut the outer surface of each portion of the base, a top opening, and a bottom opening;

said cover comprising at least two electrically conductive inward tabs proximate said bottom opening of said cover, each tab adapted to snap-fit with said bottom edge of said base to mechanically and electrically secure said cover to said base;

a plurality of cover LEDs secured to the cover, each cover LED connected to a conductive tab of the cover to connect the cover LED to the base battery when the cover is engaged with the base;

thus, the cover LED fixed with the cover has a lower resistance than the base LED, so that when the cover is engaged with the base, electricity flows only through the cover LED.

4. The ponytail holder of claim 3, further comprising:

a cover controller electrically secured between the cover LED and the base battery when the cover is engaged with the base, the cover controller controlling a color and intensity of the cover LED; and

a shade mode switch electrically connected with the shade controller to alternate between pre-programmed lighting modes in the shade controller.

5. The ponytail holder of claim 4, wherein the hood controller further comprises a wireless receiver for receiving a signal to instruct the hood controller to control the color and brightness of each hood LED.

6. The ponytail holder of claim 4, wherein the cover further comprises a cover battery that is electrically connected in parallel to the base battery of the base when the cover is engaged with the base.

7. The ponytail holder of claim 4, wherein each section of the base further comprises a plurality of separate parallel spikes projecting from each section, the spikes of the two sections of the base being substantially parallel to each other when the base is in the closed position.

8. A ponytail holder, the ponytail holder comprising:

a frustoconical base having a first portion and a second portion, each portion being interconnected at a hinge edge and the position of each portion being settable between an open position and a closed position, each portion having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a fastening edge opposite the hinge edge, the fastening edges of each portion being selectively fastenable to one another to secure the base in the closed position, each portion having a top edge and a bottom edge that together form a top opening and a bottom opening, respectively, when the base is in the closed position;

a base battery fixed with the base;

the bottom edge of each portion is at least partially covered with a conductive surface and is electrically connected to opposite sides of the base battery;

a frustoconical cover securable with the base when the base is in the closed position, the cover including an outer surface, an inner surface adapted to abut the outer surface of each portion of the base, a top opening, and a bottom opening;

said cover comprising at least two electrically conductive inward tabs proximate said bottom opening of said cover, each tab adapted to snap-fit with said bottom edge of said base to mechanically and electrically secure said cover to said base;

a plurality of cover LEDs secured to the cover, each cover LED connected to a conductive tab of the cover to connect the cover LED to the base battery to illuminate the cover LED when the cover is engaged with the base.

9. The ponytail holder of claim 8, further comprising:

a cover controller electrically secured between the cover LED and the base battery when the cover is engaged with the base, the cover controller controlling a color and intensity of the cover LED; and

a shade mode switch electrically connected with the shade controller to alternate between pre-programmed lighting modes in the shade controller.

10. The ponytail holder of claim 9, wherein the hood controller further comprises a wireless receiver for receiving a signal to instruct the hood controller to control the color and brightness of each hood LED.

11. The ponytail holder of claim 8, wherein the cover further comprises a cover battery that is electrically connected in parallel to the base battery of the base when the cover is engaged with the base.

12. The ponytail holder of claim 8, wherein each section of the base further comprises a plurality of separate parallel spikes protruding from each section, the spikes of the two sections of the base being substantially parallel to each other when the base is in the closed position.

13. A ponytail holder, the ponytail holder comprising:

a frustoconical base having a first portion and a second portion, each portion being interconnected at a hinge edge and the position of each portion being settable between an open position and a closed position, each portion having an inner surface, an outer surface and a fastening edge opposite the hinge edge, the fastening edges of each portion being selectively fastenable to each other to secure the base in the closed position, each portion having a top edge and a bottom edge that together form a top opening and a bottom opening, respectively, when the base is in the closed position, the fastening edges of each portion including electrical contacts that form an electrical fastening switch that is closed when the base is in the closed position and that is open when the base is in the open position, the electrical clasp switch is turned off;

a base battery secured with the base and electrically connected with the plurality of base LEDs through a plurality of conductors secured with the base, thereby illuminating the base LEDs only when the clasp switch is closed.

14. The ponytail holder of claim 13, wherein the base further comprises a base controller electrically connected between the base battery and the base LED by a plurality of conductors, and the base controller controls the color and intensity of the base LED by at least one program of the base controller.

15. The ponytail holder of claim 13, further comprising a frustoconical cover securable with the base when the base is in the closed position, the cover comprising an outer surface, an inner surface adapted to abut the outer surface of each portion of the base, a top opening, and a bottom opening, the cover being at least partially non-opaque.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to hair accessories and more particularly to a lighted ponytail holder with interchangeable covers.

Background

Ponytail grippers are known in the art for holding a person's ponytail intact and in place on the head. Such holders take the form of two parts, circular, cylindrical or conical, through which the ponytail is inserted and thereby held in place. Some prior art holders have staggered teeth, such as U.S. patent 2,445,071 to Kovacs et al, 2/7/1947; williams' U.S. Pat. No. 5,937,867 at 8/17/1999; king's us patent 7,963,289 on 6/21/2011; and Horman's us patent 6,311,699 on 11/6/2001. Such prior art devices may leave the ponytail intact for a period of time, but the ponytail often falls off of a single row of teeth or spikes during the course of the day and with the movement of a person's head.

Chang, U.S. patent 6,089,240 at 7/18/2000 teaches a hair holding device having two rows of elastic panels for compressing a ponytail therebetween. Such devices include an outer flange for opening the device to insert a ponytail, but this flange is a mechanical device that interferes with the appearance of the product. Furthermore, with such devices, the appearance, color, pattern, or other decorative features that women and girls typically desire to match a particular garment, mood, or hairstyle cannot be altered. Furthermore, once the elastic sheet of such a product wears out and fails, it cannot be replaced without replacing the entire device. So-called "hair cones" and "hair bands" sold on the internet also have similar disadvantages.

Disclosure of Invention

The device is a ponytail holder for holding a ponytail of a person. The frustoconical base has a first portion and a second portion, each portion being interconnected at a hinge edge and the position of each portion being settable between an open position and a closed position. Each portion has an inner surface and an outer surface and a fastening edge opposite the hinge edge. The fastening edges of each section may be selectively fastened to one another to secure the base in a closed position about a person's ponytail. Each section has a top edge and a bottom edge that together form a top opening of the base and a bottom opening of the base when the base is in the closed position.

In some embodiments, the fastening edge of each portion includes electrical contacts that form an electrical fastening switch that is closed when the base is in the closed position and open when the base is in the open position. In such an embodiment, the plurality of base LEDs are electrically connected to a base battery secured with the base by a plurality of conductors secured with the base, such that the base LEDs are illuminated only when the clasp switches are closed.

In some embodiments, the base may further include a controller electrically connected between the base battery and the base LEDs. An electrical base mode switch may be included to switch the base controller to a different base LED illumination mode, such as power on, power off, blinking, pulsing, random, cell phone control, or other modes that may be programmed into the base controller.

In some embodiments, the base controller is also connected to the microphone and adapted to change the brightness and color of the base LEDs based on a predetermined sound level detected by the microphone. Alternatively or in addition, the ponytail holder may also include a wireless receiver with an antenna for receiving signals to control the color and brightness of the base LED. In such an embodiment, preferably each base LED is individually connected with a conductor and connected to a base controller, and the base controller may control the pattern and color of the base LEDs that emit light based on the wireless signals received by the base controller.

Preferably, each part of the base further comprises a plurality of individual parallel spikes projecting therefrom, the spikes of the two parts of the base being substantially parallel to each other when the base is in the closed position, and preferably at least partially overlapping. Thus, the ponytail holder is held in place on the person's head by the engagement of the point with the person's ponytail.

In a preferred embodiment, the frusto-conical shaped cover may be fixed with the base when the base is in the closed position. The cover includes an outer surface, an inner surface adapted to abut the outer surface of each portion of the base, a top opening, and a bottom opening. In some embodiments, the cover is at least partially non-opaque such that the base LEDs are at least partially visible through the cover when the cover is engaged with the base. In some embodiments, the cover is electrically inert and serves only to optically filter light emitted from the base LEDs.

Preferably, the bottom edge of each portion is at least partially covered with a conductive surface. The base battery is fixed with the base, each pole of the base battery being connected with one of the base LEDs or with the conductive surface of each of the bottom edges of each portion of the base. In such embodiments, the cover includes at least two electrically conductive inward projections proximate the bottom opening of the cover. Each tab is adapted to snap-fit with the bottom edge at the conductive surface of the base to mechanically and electrically secure the cover to the base.

In embodiments having conductive protrusions on the shroud, preferably, the shroud further comprises a shroud battery, a shroud mode switcher, a shroud controller, a wireless receiver in communication with the shroud controller, and a plurality of shroud LEDs. In such embodiments, the cap LED acts in preference to any base LED when a resistor may be included in the base to transfer electricity to the cap in the presence of the cap. In this way, the base can be active and the base LED illuminated until the cover engages the base, after which the cover LED is active in preference to the base LED. The shade LEDs are preferably driven by a shade controller, which is determined by the selection of one of the lighting modes by the shade mode switcher. This can be accomplished simply by placing the base cell in a parallel relationship with the cover cell. Indeed, in some embodiments, the base may include only the base battery, and not the base LED, base controller, or base mode switcher.

The wireless control signals sent to the base controller or the cover controller by the wireless receiver may originate from, for example, a person's phone or other mobile electronic device such as a lighting controller at a concert. In such embodiments, for example, the cell phone may set the color of the LEDs to any desired color desired by the person, or a photograph of a color such as the color of clothing may be taken by the person using the cell phone. In this way, the color of the LED can be matched to the color of a person's clothing or clothing.

The invention can firmly clamp the ponytail even along with the continuous movement of people in one day. The present invention provides a means for quickly changing the appearance of the device and provides a selectable colored lighting effect in a stand-alone mode or when synchronized with the surrounding ponytail holder by a wireless signal from a cell phone or other controller. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a person mating the present invention with her ponytail;

FIG. 2 is a bottom exploded perspective view of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the base of the present invention in an open configuration with the batteries of the base separated therefrom;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the present invention showing the cover of the present invention mounted on the base of the present invention and a mobile electronic device sending signals to the controller of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the present invention showing the cap engaged with the base to power the plurality of LEDs;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7A is a block diagram of the electronic components of the first embodiment of the present invention, showing the base with the base battery, controller, clasp switch and plurality of LEDs;

FIG. 7B is a block diagram of the electronic components of a second embodiment of the present invention having a mode switcher and a wireless receiver;

FIG. 7C is a block diagram of an electronic component of a fourth embodiment of the invention in which the cover further includes a cover LED, a cover controller, a cover mode switcher, and a cover battery, wherein the base battery powers the cover LED and the base LED remains unlit when engaged with the base;

FIG. 7D is a block diagram of the electronic components of a fifth embodiment of the present invention, wherein the base supplies power only to the enclosure and does not have a base controller, base LEDs, or base mode switcher; and

fig. 7E is a block diagram of an electronic component of a fifth embodiment of the invention, wherein the plurality of cover LEDs are LEDs or LCD display screen material, and wherein the base is used as a cover switch to activate the cover controller.

Detailed Description

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. The following explanation provides specific details for a thorough understanding of, and enabling description for, these embodiments. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without such details. In other instances, well-known structures and functions have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments.

Throughout this specification and claims, the words "comprise", "comprising", and the like, are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense, unless the context clearly requires otherwise; i.e., having the meaning of "including, but not limited to". Words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number, respectively. Further, as used in this application, the words "herein," "above," "below," and words of similar import shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. When the claims use the word "or" to reference a listing of two or more items, that word covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any item in the list, all items in the list, and any combination of items in the list. When the word "each" is used to refer to an element previously introduced in at least one number, the word "each" does not necessarily mean a plurality of these elements, but may also mean a single element.

Fig. 1-3 show ponytail holder 10 for holding a ponytail 15 of person 14. The frustoconical base 20 has a first portion 30 and a second portion 40, each connected to one another at a hinge edge 34, 44 and the position of each portion being disposable between an open position 50 (fig. 3) and a closed position 60 (fig. 1 and 2). Each portion 30, 40 has an inner surface 31, 41 and an outer surface 39, 49, and a fastening edge 36, 46 opposite the hinge edge 34, 44. The fastening edges 36, 46 of each section 30, 40 are selectively fastenable to one another to secure the base 320 in the closed position 60 around the person's ponytail 15. Each section 30, 40 has a top edge 38, 48 and a bottom edge 32, 42 that together form a top opening 70 of the base 20 and a bottom opening 80 of the base 20 when the base 20 is in the closed position 60. Preferably, the base 20 is formed as a unitary piece by a plastic injection molding process.

In some embodiments, the fastening edges 36, 46 of each portion 30, 40 include electrical contacts 171 (fig. 3 and 7A) that form an electrical fastening switch 172 that is closed when the base 20 is in the closed position 60 and open when the base 20 is in the open position 50. In such an embodiment, the plurality of base LEDs 130 are electrically connected to a base battery 180 secured to the base 20 via a plurality of conductors 170 secured to the base 20, such that the base LEDs 130 are illuminated only when the clasp switches 170 are closed.

In some embodiments, the base 20 may also include a controller 140 electrically connected between the base battery 180 and the base LEDs 130. An electrical base mode switch 165 (fig. 4 and 7B) may be included to switch the base controller 140 to a different base LED illumination mode, such as power on, power off, blinking, pulsing, random, cell phone control, or other modes that may be programmed into the base controller 140. In such embodiments, the clasp switch 172 can be removed, if desired, during manufacture, whenever one of the illumination modes is de-energized. The base controller 140 is preferably an integrated circuit chip designed to power the base LEDs 130 in various illumination modes.

In some embodiments, base controller 140 is also connected to microphone 150 and is adapted to vary the brightness and color of base LEDs 130 based on a predetermined sound level detected by microphone 150 (fig. 3). Alternatively or in addition, ponytail holder 10 may also include a wireless receiver 145 (fig. 4 and 7B) having an antenna 147, the wireless receiver 145 for receiving a signal 146 to control the color and brightness of base LED 130. In such an embodiment, preferably each pedestal LED130 is individually connected with the conductors 170 and to the pedestal controller 140, and the pedestal controller 140 may control the pattern and color of the illuminated pedestal LED130 based on the wireless signals 146 received by the pedestal controller 140.

Preferably, each portion 30, 40 of the base 20 further comprises a plurality of independent parallel spikes 100 (fig. 2, 3 and 6) projecting therefrom, the spikes 100 of the two portions 30, 40 of the base 20 being substantially parallel to each other and preferably at least partially overlapping when the base 20 is in the closed position 60. Thus, ponytail holder 10 is held in place on the head of person 14 by engaging point 100 with person's ponytail 15.

In a preferred embodiment, the frustoconical cover 90 may be secured with the base 20 when the base 20 is in the closed position 60 (fig. 4-6, 7C-7E). The cover 90 includes an outer surface 99, an inner surface 91 adapted to abut the outer surface 39, 49 of each portion 30, 40 of the base 20, a top opening 98, and a bottom opening 92. Preferably, the cover 90 is made by a plastic injection molding process. In some embodiments, the cover 90 is at least partially non-opaque such that the base LEDs 130 are at least partially visible through the cover 90 when the cover is engaged with the base 20. In some embodiments, the cover 90 is electrically inert and serves only to filter light emitted from the base LEDs 130.

Preferably, the bottom edge 32, 42 of each portion 30, 40 is at least partially covered with a conductive surface 190 (fig. 7C-7E). The base battery 180 is secured to the base 20, and each pole 181, 182 (fig. 3) of the base battery 180 is connected to one of the base LEDs 130 or to the conductive surface 190 of each of the bottom edges 32, 42 of each portion 30, 40 of the base 20. Alternatively, a separate battery pack (not shown) may be bolted to base 20 externally of base 20, such as within ponytail 15, or clipped to another portion of the head of person 14. Preferably, the base battery 180 is a relatively flat coin-type battery that can be at least partially housed within the base 20.

In such an embodiment, the cover 90 includes at least two conductive inward projections 110 proximate the bottom opening 92 of the cover 90. Each tab 110 is adapted to snap-fit with the bottom edge 38, 48 at the conductive surface 190 of the base 20 to mechanically and electrically secure the cover 90 to the base 20. The tab 110 may be at the bottom opening 92 (fig. 2), or raised slightly upward from the bottom opening 92 (fig. 4-6), to further secure the cover 90 to the ponytail 15 and the person's head, thereby preventing the ponytail holder 10 from rocking on the person's head.

In embodiments (fig. 7C-7E) having the conductive tab 110 on the shroud 90, the shroud 90 preferably further includes a shroud battery 183, a shroud mode switch 166, a shroud controller 141, a wireless receiver 145 in communication with the shroud controller 141, and a plurality of shroud LEDs 131. In such an embodiment, when a resistor 200 (fig. 7C) may be included in the base 20 to transfer electricity to the cap 90 in the presence of the cap 90, the cap LED131 functions before any base LED130, otherwise the components of the base 20 should have substantially the same resistance as the resistance of the cap 90. The resistor 200 may be set to, for example, 1000 ohms. Alternatively, when the cover 90 is present, a bypass switch (not shown) may be included to open the circuit of the base 20. In this way, the base 20 may be active and cause the base LED130 to emit light until the cover 90 engages the base 20, after which the cover LED131 is active in preference to the base LED 130. The shade LEDs 131 are preferably driven by a shade controller 141, which is determined by the selection of one of the lighting modes by the shade mode switch 166. As shown in fig. 7C-7E, this can be accomplished simply by placing the base battery 180 in a parallel relationship with the cover battery 183. Indeed, in some embodiments, the base 20 may include only the base battery 180, and not the base LEDs 130, the base controller 140, or the base mode switcher 165.

Cover LEDs 131 (similar to base LEDs 130, which for purposes of this disclosure may not be light emitting diodes per se, but may also be other lamps or electrical lighting sources known in the art) are secured with cover 90, each cover LED131 being connected with an electrically conductive tab 110 of cover 90 to connect cover LED131 to base battery 180 when cover 90 is engaged with base 20. Such cap LEDs 131 may be a single display screen material 132 (fig. 7E) having pixels of the display screen, each pixel serving as a cap LED 131. Such display screen material 132 may comprise, for example, a bendable or curved high resolution display substrate as is known in the art, and in embodiments where the cover controller 141 is also included in the cover 90, such display screen material may be used on the base 20 (not shown) with the at least partially transparent cover 90, or on the cover 90 itself (fig. 7E).

In some embodiments, the base 20 includes a plurality of recesses 120 that serve as detents in the bottom edges 32, 42 of the base 20, each recess being electrically isolated from one another and adapted to mechanically and electrically engage one of the tabs 110 of the cover 90. The opposing pairs of recesses 120 supply power from the base battery 180 to the LEDs 130, 131. Optionally, in such embodiments, the portions 33, 43 of the bottom edges 32, 42 of the base 20 between the recesses 120 are free of the conductive surface 190 (fig. 6), such that when the protrusion 110 of the cover 90 is located between the recesses 20 of the base 20, no power from the base battery 180 is supplied to either of the LEDs 130, 131, and the LEDs 130, 131 are in the off state.

The wireless control signal 146 sent to the base controller 140 or the cover controller 141 by the wireless receiver 145 may originate from, for example, the phone 16 (fig. 4) of the person 14 or other mobile electronic device (not shown), such as a lighting controller at a concert. In such embodiments, for example, cell phone 16 may set the color of LEDs 130, 131 to any desired color desired by person 14, or a photograph of a color, such as the color of clothing (not shown), is taken by person 14 using cell phone 16. In this way, the color of LEDs 130, 131 may be matched to the color of the clothing or clothing of person 14.

In some embodiments where the base 20 includes base LEDs 130 and each base LED is connected to a base battery 180 through a base mode switch 165 (or base controller 140) and a plurality of conductors 170, the cover 90 includes a non-opaque region 93 (fig. 2) or aperture 94 through the cover so that light from the base's LEDs 130, 131 can be seen through the cover 90. Such holes may be circular slots as shown, or elongated slots (not shown), or the like. Such non-opaque regions 93 may be translucent and include one or more color or prism filters or the like.

Thus, a variety of different covers 90 may be used or included in a kit (not shown) that also includes the base 20. The cover 90 is interchangeable and preferably includes a variety of appearances and colors. In addition, each cover 90 may include a unique pattern or set of colored LEDs 130 such that, for example, one cover may include a red-white-blue patriotic theme while another cover includes a christmas holiday red-green theme. The outer surface 99 of each cover 90 may include a unique color and/or pattern even in the event that the LEDs 130, 131 are off (e.g., if the base battery 180 is low on power).

While particular forms of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the LEDs 130, 131 may be alternative light sources, such as electroluminescent films or electroluminescent wires, etc. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims.

Particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the invention with which that terminology is associated. In general, unless the above detailed description section explicitly defines such terms, the terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification. Accordingly, the actual scope of the invention encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the invention.

The above detailed description of embodiments of the invention is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed above or to the particular field of use mentioned in the present disclosure. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. Likewise, the teachings of the invention provided herein may be applied to other systems, not necessarily the systems described above. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments.

All of the above patents and applications, as well as any other documents including those which may be listed in the accompanying application documents, are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions and concepts of the various documents described above to provide yet further embodiments of the invention.

The present invention may be modified in view of the above "detailed description. While the above description details certain embodiments of the invention and describes the best mode contemplated, no matter how detailed the above appears in text, the invention can be practiced in many ways. Accordingly, implementation details may vary considerably while still being encompassed by the invention disclosed herein. As noted above, particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the invention with which that terminology is associated.

While certain aspects of the invention are presented below in certain claim forms, the inventors contemplate the various aspects of the invention in any number of claim forms. Accordingly, the inventors reserve the right to add additional claims after filing the application to pursue such additional claim forms for other aspects of the invention.