阅读说明：本技术 变调式启闭机构及剃须刀 (Variable-adjustment type opening and closing mechanism and shaver ) 是由 不公告发明人 于 2020-10-08 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种变调式启闭机构,变调式启闭机构安装在一壳体上,变调式启闭机构包括推动组件与推动连接件,推动组件能相对壳体移动并相对壳体转动,推动连接件的一端相对壳体固定,推动连接件的另一端安装在推动组件上,推动连接件随着推动组件的移动而挠性弯曲；变调式启闭机构提供了一种完全不同于现有刀片启闭控制机构的开启方式,开启时噪音小,通过所述启闭控制机构的设置,减少了因为误触刀片所导致的刀片会立刻弹出的缺陷；剃刀组件能够在移动一段行程之后,再启动所述扭簧带动剃刀组件弹出,使用安全性更高,可控性更高；变调式启闭机构的设置减小了剃刀组件在开启时所需要的形成,有助于进一步减小剃刀内部的整体尺寸,节约空间,方便使用者操控。(A tone-changing type opening and closing mechanism is arranged on a shell and comprises a pushing assembly and a pushing connecting piece, wherein the pushing assembly can move relative to the shell and rotate relative to the shell, one end of the pushing connecting piece is fixed relative to the shell, the other end of the pushing connecting piece is arranged on the pushing assembly, and the pushing connecting piece is flexibly bent along with the movement of the pushing assembly; the tone-changing type opening and closing mechanism provides a completely different opening mode from the existing blade opening and closing control mechanism, the noise is low during opening, and the defect that the blade can be popped up immediately due to mistaken contact of the blade is reduced through the arrangement of the opening and closing control mechanism; the razor component can be driven to pop up by starting the torsion spring after moving for a certain stroke, so that the use safety is higher, and the controllability is higher; the arrangement of the tonal modification type opening and closing mechanism reduces the formation required when the shaver component is opened, is favorable for further reducing the whole size in the shaver, saves the space and is convenient for a user to control.)

1. The utility model provides a tonal modification formula starting and stopping mechanism which characterized in that: the variable-tone opening and closing mechanism is installed on a shell and comprises a pushing assembly and a pushing connecting piece, the pushing assembly can move relative to the shell and rotate relative to the shell, one end of the pushing connecting piece is fixed relative to the shell, the other end of the pushing connecting piece is installed on the pushing assembly, and the pushing connecting piece is flexibly bent along with the movement of the pushing assembly.

2. The tonal modification type opening and closing mechanism according to claim 1, which is characterized in that: the pushing assembly comprises a pushing and twisting piece and a razor guide rail piece, the pushing and twisting piece can move relative to the shell, the pushing and twisting piece is rotatably connected with the razor guide rail piece, a guide rail assembly is arranged between the shell and the razor guide rail piece to be connected, the guide rail assembly comprises a guide rail arranged on one of the shell or the razor guide rail piece and a guide piece arranged on the other of the shell or the razor guide rail piece, the guide piece extends into the guide rail, the guide rail comprises a first guide rail and a second guide rail which are arranged in an angle mode, and the first guide rail is connected with the second guide rail.

3. The tonal modification type opening and closing mechanism according to claim 1, which is characterized in that: the tone-changing type opening and closing mechanism is further provided with a torsion spring, one end of the torsion spring is installed on the push-and-twist piece, and the other end of the torsion spring is connected with the razor guide rail piece or fixed relative to the shell.

4. A variable tone opening and closing mechanism according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein: the first guide rail extends along the moving direction of the pushing assembly, and the second guide rail extends from the tail end of the first guide rail towards the top of the pushing assembly in an inclined mode.

5. The tonal modification type opening and closing mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that: one end of the pushing connecting piece is fixedly connected with the razor guide rail piece, the other end of the pushing connecting piece is connected with the shell, the shell is provided with a positioning groove, and the other end of the pushing connecting piece can move in the positioning groove.

6. The tonal modification type opening and closing mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that: the razor guide rail part is provided with two rotary connecting arms, the push-twist part is provided with a rotary connecting part at the position corresponding to the two rotary connecting arms, the rotary connecting arm is provided with a rotary supporting part, and the rotary supporting part is rotatably connected with the rotary connecting part.

7. The tonal modification type opening and closing mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that: the bottom of the razor guide rail part forms an arc-shaped rotating part, the shell is provided with an arc-shaped rotating groove at the position corresponding to the arc-shaped rotating part, and the arc-shaped rotating part is positioned in the arc-shaped rotating groove and supports the razor guide rail part to rotate relative to the shell.

8. The tonal modification type opening and closing mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that: the razor rail has at least one guide wall forming the first and second rails.

9. The tonal modification type opening and closing mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that: the razor rail has two oppositely disposed guide walls forming the first and second rails therebetween, the guide walls defining a displacement of the support shaft in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the razor rail assembly.

10. A shaving razor characterized by: comprising a razor assembly connected to a razor rail member and an on/off control mechanism according to any of claims 1 to 7.

11. The shaving razor of claim 10, wherein: the razor subassembly includes that the razor moves the sword, the razor still includes power pack, power pack includes driving source, eccentric mechanism, moves the sword goods of furniture for display rather than for use, eccentric mechanism is connected with the driving source, and the razor moves the sword and moves the sword goods of furniture for display rather than for use and be connected, moves the sword goods of furniture for display rather than for use and receives eccentric mechanism to drive and reciprocating motion.

12. The shaving razor of claim 10, wherein: the razor assembly has a closed position in which the razor assembly does not protrude relative to the housing, and an open position in which the razor assembly forms an open angle with the housing.

13. The shaving razor of claim 12, wherein: the razor assembly also has an intermediate position in which the razor assembly is convex relative to the housing and in which the razor assembly is inclined relative to the housing at the same angle as the opening angle, the intermediate position being such that the distance between the top of the razor assembly and the housing is a and the open position being such that the distance between the top of the razor assembly and the housing is b, a < b.

14. The shaving razor of claim 10, wherein: the shaver further comprises a blade component, the blade component is provided with a movable blade and a stationary blade, the movable blade is connected with the eccentric mechanism through a movable blade swing part, and the movable blade reciprocates under the driving of the eccentric mechanism.

Technical Field

The invention relates to a personal care or medical shaver, in particular to a tone-changing type opening and closing mechanism and a shaver using the same.

Background

The prior art razor units of a conventional shaving razor or hair clipper are in a generally fixed position relative to the body, and some of the razor units are pivotally mounted directly to the outer housing of the razor, and in use, the user manually depresses the razor units to unlock or slide the razor units to an unlocked position, which is accomplished by ejecting the razor units primarily by means of torsion springs mounted to the housing, as disclosed, for example, in application No. 201220583944.2 entitled razor hidden temple mechanism, which includes a housing, a bracket mounted to the housing, and a temple, the housing being pivotally connected to the bracket, the torsion springs driving the bracket in a pivotal motion. That is to say, drive under the effect of torsional spring the relative casing of temple sword rotates, and then realizes opening and accomodating of temple sword. However, since the structure mainly controls the opening of the temple-shaped knife by the torsion force of the torsion spring, when the temple-shaped knife is actually used and is in a closed state from an open state, pressure impact is easily caused to the shell of the shaver and other parts in contact with the temple-shaped knife under the action of instantaneous impact of the torsion force, and the stability of the whole structure of the shaver is easily reduced and the service life of the shaver is reduced; in addition, the torque control type mechanism is easy to generate larger noise in the two instantaneous states of opening and closing; when the user is in slight negligence and touch by mistake, the spring can be popped out immediately under the action of the torsion spring, so that the skin can be injured by mistake due to impact force; besides the support, the open type mode only has two states of complete closing and complete opening, and is inconvenient for users to adjust according to the concave-convex of the skin at different parts when in use. Accordingly, it is considered desirable by those skilled in the art to provide a new and improved hair shaver which addresses the deficiencies of the prior art.

Disclosure of Invention

In view of this, the invention provides a tone-varying type opening and closing mechanism and a shaver.

In order to achieve the purpose, the invention provides the following technical scheme:

the variable-tone opening and closing mechanism is installed on a shell and comprises a pushing assembly and a pushing connecting piece, wherein the pushing assembly can move relative to the shell and rotate relative to the shell, one end of the pushing connecting piece is fixed relative to the shell, the other end of the pushing connecting piece is installed on the pushing assembly, and the pushing connecting piece is flexibly bent along with the movement of the pushing assembly.

Specifically, the pushing assembly comprises a pushing button piece and a razor guide rail piece, the pushing button piece can move relative to the shell, the pushing button piece is rotatably connected with the razor guide rail piece, a guide rail assembly is arranged between the shell and the razor guide rail piece to be connected, the guide rail assembly comprises a guide rail arranged on one of the shell or the razor guide rail piece and a guide piece arranged on the other of the shell or the razor guide rail piece, the guide piece extends into the guide rail, the guide rail comprises a first guide rail and a second guide rail which are arranged at an angle, and the first guide rail is connected with the second guide rail.

Specifically, the modulation type opening and closing mechanism is further provided with a torsion spring, one end of the torsion spring is installed on the push-torsion piece, and the other end of the torsion spring is connected with the razor guide rail piece or fixed relative to the shell.

Specifically, the first guide rail extends along the moving direction of the pushing assembly, and the second guide rail extends from the tail end of the first guide rail towards the top of the pushing assembly in an inclined mode.

Specifically, one end of the pushing connecting piece is fixedly connected with the razor guide rail piece, the other end of the pushing connecting piece is connected with the shell, the shell is provided with a positioning groove, and the other end of the pushing connecting piece can move in the positioning groove.

Specifically, the razor guide rail part is provided with two rotating connecting arms, the push-twist part is provided with a rotating connecting part at a position corresponding to the two rotating connecting arms, the rotating connecting arms are provided with a rotating supporting part, and the rotating supporting part is rotatably connected with the rotating connecting part.

Specifically, an arc-shaped rotating part is formed at the bottom of the razor guide rail part, an arc-shaped rotating groove is formed in the position of the shell corresponding to the arc-shaped rotating part, and the arc-shaped rotating part is positioned in the arc-shaped rotating groove and supports the razor guide rail part to rotate relative to the shell.

In particular, the razor rail has at least one guide wall forming the first and second rail.

In particular, the razor rail has two oppositely disposed guide walls forming the first and second rails therebetween, the guide walls defining a displacement of the support shaft in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the razor rail assembly.

The invention also provides a shaver comprising a razor assembly connected to a razor rail member and an on-off control mechanism as claimed in any one of the above.

Specifically, razor subassembly includes that the razor moves the sword, the razor still includes power pack, power pack includes driving source, eccentric mechanism, moves the sword goods of furniture for display rather than for use, eccentric mechanism is connected with the driving source, and the razor moves the sword and moves the sword goods of furniture for display rather than for use and be connected, moves the sword goods of furniture for display rather than for use and receives eccentric mechanism to drive and reciprocating motion.

In particular, the razor assembly has a closed position in which the razor assembly does not project relative to the housing, and an open position in which the razor assembly forms an open angle with the housing.

In particular, the razor assembly further has an intermediate position in which the razor assembly is convex relative to the housing and in which the angle of inclination of the razor assembly relative to the housing is the same as the opening angle, the intermediate position being a distance between the top of the razor assembly and the housing and the open position being b distance between the top of the razor assembly and the housing, a < b.

The shaver further comprises a blade assembly, the blade assembly is provided with a movable blade and a stationary blade, the movable blade is connected with the eccentric mechanism through a movable blade swing part, and the movable blade reciprocates under the driving of the eccentric mechanism.

The invention has the beneficial effects that: the tone-changing type opening and closing mechanism provided by the invention provides a starting mode completely different from the existing blade opening and closing control mechanism, the noise is low during starting, and the defect that the blade can be popped out immediately due to mistaken contact of the blade is reduced through the arrangement of the opening and closing control mechanism; according to the invention, the razor component can be driven to pop up by starting the torsion spring after moving for a certain stroke, so that the use safety is higher, and the controllability is higher; the arrangement of the tonal modification type opening and closing mechanism reduces the formation required when the shaver component is opened, is favorable for further reducing the whole size of the inside of the shaver, saves space and is convenient for a user to control.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly described below, it is obvious that the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present invention, and for those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained according to the drawings without creative efforts.

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a shaver according to the invention, showing the shaver in a closed state;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the razor of the present invention, showing the razor in an open position;

fig. 3 is an exploded view of the razor of the present invention, showing the razor in a closed position;

fig. 4 is an exploded view of the razor of the present invention, showing the razor in an open position;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a razor of the present invention showing the connection between a torque element and a razor track element;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a schematic structural view of the power mechanism;

figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the power mechanism.

Detailed Description

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention, and it is obvious that the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of the embodiments. All other embodiments, which can be derived by a person skilled in the art from the embodiments given herein without making any creative effort, shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The invention provides the following technical scheme:

as shown in fig. 1 to 9, the present invention discloses a modulation type opening and closing mechanism and a shaver using the modulation type opening and closing mechanism to control the movement of a shaver assembly between a closed position and an open position. The shaver comprises a shell 1, a shaver component 2, an opening and closing control mechanism 3 and a blade component 4, wherein the blade component 4 is provided with a movable blade and a static blade.

The open-close control mechanism 3 is arranged in the shell 1, and the razor component 2 is connected with the open-close control mechanism 3.

Specifically, the razor assembly 2 includes a stationary razor blade 22, a movable razor blade 21 reciprocating relative to the stationary razor blade 22, and a power unit 11. The power unit 11 comprises a driving source 111, an eccentric mechanism 112 and a moving blade swing part 113, wherein the eccentric mechanism 112 is connected with the driving source 111, and the razor moving blade 21 is connected with the moving blade swing part 113. The movable knife is connected with the eccentric mechanism 112 through the movable knife swing part 113, and the movable knife reciprocates under the driving of the eccentric mechanism 112. The movable knife swing part 113 is driven by the eccentric mechanism 112 to reciprocate. The driving source 111 may be a motor (e.g., a servo motor), an air cylinder, or the like, and in the present embodiment, the driving source 111 is a motor. The eccentric mechanism 112 includes an eccentric wheel 1121 installed on the output shaft of the motor, and a driver 1122 connected to the eccentric wheel 1121, the driver 1122 is connected to the moving blade swing 113, and both ends of the driver 1122 are limited by two side grooves provided on the housing and only do reciprocating motion, so that the rotational motion of the cam can be converted into reciprocating linear motion, and the reciprocating motion of the moving blade 21 of the shaver can be driven. Therefore, the power unit 11 is mainly arranged to convert eccentric rotation into reciprocating linear motion by using a cam. Referring to fig. 3, the variable-adjustment opening and closing mechanism 3 includes a pushing assembly 4 and a pushing connecting member 5, the pushing assembly 4 can move relative to the housing 1 and rotate relative to the housing 1, and specifically, the pushing assembly 4 can move relative to the housing 1 and rotate relative to the housing 1 at the same time. One end of the pushing connecting piece 5 is fixed relative to the shell 1, the other end of the pushing connecting piece 5 is arranged on the pushing assembly 4, and the pushing connecting piece 5 is flexibly bent along with the movement of the pushing assembly 4. The pushing connecting piece 5 is made of flexible materials, and the pushing connecting piece 5 has flexibility so that the pushing connecting piece can be bent and deformed along with the movement of the pushing assembly 4 and can be restored to the original state when the pushing assembly 4 is reset.

Specifically, the pushing assembly 4 includes a push button member 32 and a razor track member 31. The razor assembly 2 is mounted to a razor track member 31. The push button element 32 can move relative to the shell 1, the push button element 32 is connected with the razor guide rail element 31 in a rotating mode, a guide rail assembly 6 is arranged between the shell 1 and the razor guide rail element 31 for connection, the guide rail assembly 6 comprises a guide rail 61 arranged on one of the shell 1 or the razor guide rail element 31 and a guide element 62 arranged on the other of the shell 1 or the razor guide rail element 31, namely, in the specific implementation, if the guide rail 61 is arranged on the shell, the guide element 62 is correspondingly arranged on the razor guide rail element 31. The guide rail assembly 6 is mainly arranged to enable the razor guide rail part 31 to move and rotate simultaneously under the driving of the push-button part 32 and the limiting and guiding of the guide rail assembly 6. The guide 62 extends into the guide rail 61, and the guide rail 61 comprises a first guide rail 611 and a second guide rail 612 which are arranged at an angle, and the first guide rail 611 is connected with the second guide rail 612. The razor assembly 2 is connected to a razor track member 31.

Specifically, taking the orientation shown in the drawing of the present embodiment as an example, the first rail 611 extends along the moving direction of the pushing assembly 4, and the second rail 612 extends from the end of the first rail 611 to the top of the pushing assembly 4 in an inclined manner. In the embodiment disclosed in the present application, the first rail 611 and the second rail 612 are guide grooves formed on two sides of the razor rail member 31, the first rail 611 and the second rail 612 are connected and connected, and a connection between the first rail 611 and the second rail 612 is a smooth transition, which is a connection smooth transition or a curved connection transition between the two. The connection arrangement means that if the first guide rail 611 and the second guide rail 612 are grooves, the groove formed by the first guide rail 611 is communicated with the groove formed by the second guide rail 612; if the first rail 611 and the second rail 612 are of a protruding structure, the tail portion of the first rail 3121 is connected to the head portion of the second rail 3122. The first rail 611 and the second rail 612 may be formed by recessing the housing 1, or two corresponding walls may be protruded, and the first rail 611 and the second rail 612 according to the present invention are defined between the two opposite walls, so that any groove having a guiding function can function as the first rail 611 and the second rail 612 according to the present invention. The function of the guide rail in the arrangement according to the invention is to provide a guiding function for the opening of the razor unit 2, on the basis of which, in practical implementation, the guide rail may also be a real protruding rail, while the guide element 62 is provided with a groove that fits into the protruding rail, as long as the guide element 62 and the guide rail are adapted to support the sliding and turning of the razor rail element 31 along the guide rail 61. In order to accommodate the bending deformation of the razor track member 31 during the movement and rotation, the razor track member 31 is made of plastic material with good elastic property or metal thin sheet, alloy, etc. In particular, as shown in the drawings, the razor guide rail member 31 has two guide walls 310 disposed opposite to each other, and the first guide rail 311 and the second guide rail 312 are formed between the guide walls 310. In this embodiment, grooves are formed on both sides of the razor rail member 31, and the side walls of the grooves form the guide walls 310 according to the present invention. In particular implementations, the guide walls 310 may also be direct protrusions disposed on both sides of the razor track member 31. The width of the slot, i.e., the distance between the two guide walls 310, is matched to the guide 62, and it is preferable that the guide 62 can move just inside the slot. Therefore, the guide wall 310 of the present invention limits the displacement of the guide member 62 in the direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the razor rail assembly, so that the relative shaking of the razor rail member 31 and the housing 1 can be prevented from affecting the stability of the structure. Of course, the guide rail 61 can also be provided with only one guide wall 310, the guide wall 310 serving as a guide for the movement of the guide 62. The guide wall 310 may be a continuously disposed wall or a discontinuously disposed wall as long as it can guide the movement of the guide member 62.

In order to reduce the force required by the push button element 32 when the razor assembly 2 moves between the closed position and the open position, the razor assembly 2 is switched between the closed position and the open position, the operation of the user is facilitated, specifically, the modulation type opening and closing mechanism is further provided with a torsion spring 7, one end of the torsion spring 7 is arranged on the push button element 32, and the other end of the torsion spring 7 is fixed relative to the shell 1. In specific implementation, one end of the torsion spring 7 may be fixed to the push-button element 32, and the other end is fixed to the housing 1; one end of the torsion spring 7 may be connected to the razor rail member 31 and the other end may be fixed to the housing 1. So arranged, the torsion force of the torsion spring 7 changes as the razor rail member 31 moves. The movement of the razor assembly 2 from the closed position to the open position is exemplified, and as the razor track member 31 moves, the two ends of the torsion spring 7 are continuously away from each other, the torsion force of the torsion spring 7 is continuously increased, and when a critical value is reached, the torsion force is generated to push the razor assembly 2 to pop up to the open position; when the razor assembly 2 reaches the closing position from the opening position, the distance between the two ends of the torsion spring 7 gradually increases along with the reset of the razor rail member 31 driven by the torsion pushing member 32, and when the position between the two ends reaches an extreme value, the torsion force of the torsion spring 7 reaches an extreme value, and the torsion spring 7 generates reverse pushing torsion force to push the razor rail member 31 to the razor closing position. That is, the torsion spring 7 is an unnecessary component in the present application, and its main function is to generate a pushing torque force assisting the razor rail member 31 to be quickly returned when approaching the open position and the closed position, thereby facilitating the operation and the confirmation of the gear position by the user.

Specifically, the razor guide rail member 31 has two rotation connecting arms 9, the push button member 32 is provided with a rotation connecting portion 11 at a position corresponding to the two rotation connecting arms 9, the rotation connecting arm 9 has a rotation supporting portion 10, and the rotation supporting portion 10 is rotatably connected to the rotation connecting portion 11. In the embodiment of the present invention, the rotation support portion 10 is formed in a cylindrical shape, but may be formed in a spherical shape, a hemispherical shape, or the like in practical implementation. The rotating connecting part 11 is an arc-shaped groove arranged on the inner wall of the push-twist piece 32. The arrangement of the rotation support portion 10 and the rotation connection portion 11 allows the razor rail member 31 to rotate about the rotation connection portion 11 with respect to the push button member 32. In the specific implementation, however, it is also possible to provide the pivot connection arm 9 at the push button element 32 and the pivot connection 11 at the razor rail assembly 6.

Specifically, an arc-shaped rotating portion is formed at the bottom of the razor guide rail member 31, an arc-shaped rotating groove 12 is formed in the housing 1 at a position corresponding to the arc-shaped rotating portion, and the arc-shaped rotating portion is located in the arc-shaped rotating groove 12 to support the razor guide rail member 31 to rotate relative to the housing 1.

In particular, the razor assembly 2 according to the invention has a closed position, in which the razor assembly 2 does not project with respect to the housing 1, and an open position, in which the razor assembly 2 forms an opening angle with the housing 1.

Specifically, one end of the pushing connecting piece 5 is fixedly connected with the razor guide rail piece 31, the other end of the pushing connecting piece 5 is connected with the shell 1, the shell 1 is provided with a positioning groove 8, and the other end of the pushing connecting piece 5 can move in the positioning groove 8. As shown in fig. 3 and 4, the push link 5 has two connecting ends for connecting the housing 1 and the razor rail member 31, which are bent and accumulate a certain elastic pushing force therebetween. When the razor unit 2 is in the closed position, one end of the push connecting piece 5 connected with the shell 1 is in a position relatively close to the movable blade 21 and the fixed blade 22, and when the razor unit 2 is in the open position, one end of the push connecting piece 5 connected with the shell 1 is in a position relatively close to the position far away from the movable blade 21 and the fixed blade 22. The razor assembly 2 further has an intermediate position between the closed position and the open position, the razor assembly 2 being convex relative to the housing 1 when the razor assembly 2 is in the intermediate position, and the angle of inclination of the razor assembly 2 relative to the housing 1 in the intermediate position being the same as the open angle, the distance between the top of the razor assembly 2 and the housing 1 in the intermediate position being a, and the distance between the top of the razor assembly 2 and the housing 1 in the open position being b, a < b. That is, from the intermediate position to the open position, only a change in relative displacement, and therefore no relative rotation, and therefore no relative angular change, occurs between the razor assembly 2 and the housing 1. The difference in the state from the intermediate position to the open position is mainly due to: when the razor assembly 2 is rotated to the right position, and the torsion force of the torsion spring 7 reaches an extreme value, the razor assembly 2 is pushed to move and pop up along the existing opening angle.

The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.