Electrical plug-in connector, insulating protective element and method for assembling an electrical plug-in connector

Abstract

An electrical plug-in connector includes an internal conductor contact element, an external conductor contact element and an insulating protective element arranged between the internal conductor contact element and the external conductor contact element. The external conductor contact element may have a recess for providing an assembly access point for fastening the internal conductor contact element to an internal conductor of an electrical cable. The insulating protective element can be displaced between an assembly position, in which the assembly access point is cleared through the assembly recess to the internal conductor contact element, and an insulating protection position, in which the assembly access point to the internal conductor contact element is blocked by the insulating protective element.

Claims

1. An electrical plug-in connector for use with an electrical cable of the type having at least one internal conductor, said plug-in connector, comprising: an internal conductor contact element; an external conductor contact element, and an insulating protective element between the internal conductor contact element and the external conductor contact element, the external conductor contact element having an assembly recess which provides an assembly access point for fastening the internal conductor contact element to an internal conductor of the electrical cable, the insulating protective element being displaceable between an assembly position and an insulating protecting position, the assembly position being a position in which the assembly access point is cleared through the assembly recess to the internal conductor contact element, the insulating protection position being a position in which the assembly access point to the internal conductor contact element is blocked by the insulating protective element.

2. An electrical plug-in connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insulating protective element has an access opening which, in the assembly position, is oriented in relation to the assembly recess such that the assembly access point to the internal conductor contact element is cleared through the assembly recess and the access opening.

3. An electrical plug-in connector as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an insulating part between the internal conductor contact element and the external conductor contact element, the insulating part having an assembly opening which, together with the assembly recess of the external conductor contact element provides the assembly access point.

4. An electrical plug-in connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein the external conductor contact element, the internal conductor contact element, the insulating part and the insulating protective element each have a substantially round cross section.

5. An electrical plug-in connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein the insulating protective element is guided in a groove present in one or more of: (i) the external conductor contact element, (ii) the internal conductor contact element, and (iii) the insulating part.

6. An electrical plug-in connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein one or more of: (i) the assembly recess of the external conductor contact element, (ii) the access opening of the insulating protective element and (iii) the assembly opening of the insulating part comprises a bore or an elongate hole.

7. An electrical plug-in connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the internal conductor of the cable is fastened to the internal conductor contact element by a screw, and wherein the screw can be operated by inserting a tool into the assembly access point.

8. An electrical plug-in connector as claimed in claim 7, wherein the screw is completely covered by the insulating protective element when the insulating protective element is in the insulating protection position.

9. An electrical plug-in connector as claimed in claim 7, wherein the screw has a head having a diameter which is larger than a diameter of the access opening of the insulating protective element.

10. An electrical plug-in connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insulating protective element has a latching means for latching with a latching element to latch the insulating protective element in at least one of: the assembly position and the insulating protection position.

11. An electrical plug-in connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical plug-in connector has a longitudinal axis, and wherein the insulating protective element is displaceable between the assembly position and the insulating protection position by being displaced with respect to the longitudinal axis.

12. An electrical plug-in connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insulating protective element has at least one guide means-which protrudes externally of the external conductor contact element to enable displacement of the insulating protective element by a user when the insulating protective element is in an assembled state within the external conductor contact element.

13. An electrical plug-in connector as claimed in claim 5, wherein the groove is between the insulating part and the external conductor contact element.

14. An electrical plug-in connector as claimed in claim 5, wherein the groove is between the insulating part and the internal conductor contact element.

15. An electrical plug-in connector as claimed in claim 14, wherein the groove is between the insulating part and the internal conductor contact element as well as between the insulating part and the external conductor contact element.

16. An electrical plug-in connector as claimed in claim 11, wherein the insulating protective is displaceable between the assembly position and the insulating protection position by being displaced axially with respect to the longitudinal axis.

17. An electrical plug-in connector as claimed in claim 11, wherein the insulating protective is displaceable between the assembly position and the insulating protection position by being displaced rotationally with respect to the longitudinal axis.

18. An electrical plug-in connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insulating protective element has at least one web which protrudes externally of the external conductor contact element to enable displacement of the insulating protective element by a user when the insulating protective element is in an assembled state within the external conductor contact element.

19. A method for assembling an electrical plug-in connector, said method comprising the steps of: a) displacing the insulating protective element of the electrical plug-in connector into an assembly position in which an assembly access point to an internal conductor contact element of the electrical plug-in connector is cleared through an assembly recess which is provided in an external conductor contact element of the electrical plug-in connector; b) fastening the internal conductor contact element to an internal conductor of an electrical cable through the assembly access point when the insulating protective element is in the assembly position; and c) displacing the insulating protective element into an insulating protection position in which the assembly access point to the internal conductor contact element is blocked by the insulating protective element.

20. An electrical plug-in connector for use with an electrical cable of the type having at least one internal conductor, said plug-in connector, comprising: an internal conductor contact element; an external conductor contact element, and an insulating protective element between the internal conductor contact element and the external conductor contact element, the insulating protective element being displaceable between an assembly position and an insulating protecting position, the assembly position being a position in which an assembly access point is clear to permit fastening the internal conductor contact element to an internal conductor of the electrical cable, the insulating protection position being a position in which the assembly access point to the internal conductor contact element is blocked by the insulating protective element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a perspective illustration of an electrical plug-in connector according to the invention and an electrical cable;

(2) FIG. 2 shows a partial section through the electrical plug-in connector and the electrical cable of FIG. 1;

(3) FIG. 3 shows a further sectional illustration of the electrical plug-in connector of FIG. 1 with the cable blanked out;

(4) FIG. 4 shows a perspective illustration of an annular insulating protective element according to the invention;

(5) FIG. 5 shows a cross section through the electrical plug-in connector of FIG. 1 for illustrating the fastening of the internal conductor contact elements by means of an assembly tool which is inserted through the assembly access point;

(6) FIG. 6 shows a detail of an electrical plug-in connector according to a second exemplary embodiment with an annular insulating protective element in the assembly position with a lug, which protrudes axially out of the external conductor contact element, for initiating the displacement;

(7) FIG. 7 shows the electrical plug-in connector of FIG. 6 with the external conductor contact element blanked out;

(8) FIG. 8 shows the electrical plug-in connector of FIG. 6 with the external conductor contact element blanked out in a view which is rotated through 90° for the purpose of illustrating latching means of the insulating protective element;

(9) FIG. 9 shows the electrical plug-in connector of FIG. 6 with the insulating protective element in the insulating protection position;

(10) FIG. 10 shows the electrical plug-in connector of FIG. 6 with the insulating protective element in the insulating protection position and the blanked-out external conductor contact element;

(11) FIG. 11 shows the electrical plug-in connector of FIG. 6 with the insulating protective element in the insulating protection position, with the external conductor contact element blanked out and in a view which is rotated through 90° for the purpose of illustrating latching means of the insulating protective element;

(12) FIG. 12 shows a perspective illustration of a partially annular insulating protective element according to the invention;

(13) FIG. 13 shows a perspective illustration of a front housing assembly of an electrical plug-in connector with the partially annular insulating protective element of FIG. 12 in the assembly position;

(14) FIG. 14 shows the front housing assembly of the electrical plug-in connector of FIG. 13 with the partially annular insulating protective element of FIG. 12 in the insulating protection position;

(15) FIG. 15 shows a first method step of an assembly method for a plug-in connector according to the invention;

(16) FIG. 16 shows a second method step of an assembly method for a plug-in connector according to the invention;

(17) FIG. 17 shows a third method step of an assembly method for a plug-in connector according to the invention;

(18) FIG. 18 shows a fourth method step of an assembly method for a plug-in connector according to the invention;

(19) FIG. 19 shows a fifth method step of an assembly method for a plug-in connector according to the invention; and

(20) FIG. 20 shows a sixth method step of an assembly method for a plug-in connector according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(21) FIG. 1 shows a perspective illustration of an electrical plug-in connector 1 according to the invention. The electrical plug-in connector 1 is illustrated in a manner connected to an electrical cable 2 by way of example.

(22) The invention is described, merely by way of example, with reference to embodiments of electrical plug-in connector 1 illustrated in the figures. In principle, an electrical plug-in connector according to the invention can have any desired design, for example a coaxial design, a triaxial design or another design. In the exemplary embodiment, the electrical plug-in connector 1 has, by way of example, a round geometry. However, in principle, the invention can also be suitable for use with a rectangular plug-in connector, for example a flat plug-in connector.

(23) FIGS. 2 and 3 show sectional illustrations of the plug-in connector 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 in the longitudinal direction, that is to say along the longitudinal axis L or along the center axis of the electrical plug-in connector 1, wherein FIG. 2 shows a partial section through the rear region of the plug-in connector 1 together with the electrical cable 2 and FIG. 3 shows a complete section through the plug-in connector 1 without the electrical cable 2.

(24) The electrical plug-in connector 1 has two internal conductor contact elements 3 (cf., in particular, FIG. 3). This is to be understood as merely exemplary. In principle, the electrical plug-in connector 1 can have any desired number of internal conductor contact elements 3, for example even only one internal conductor contact element 3. The internal conductor contact elements 3 are provided for making contact with mating contact elements of a corresponding mating plug-in connector (not illustrated) and are to be electrically connected to the internal conductors 4 of the electrical cable 2, as can be seen particularly clearly in FIG. 2.

(25) The electrical plug-in connector 1 illustrated is designed, by way of example, for transmitting high currents. To this end, the internal conductors 4 of the cable 2 can particularly advantageously be fastened to the internal conductor contact elements 3 or clamped thereto by means of a screw 5 (cf., inter alia, FIG. 3). To this end, the screws 5 can particularly advantageously be fitted from opposite sides of the plug-in connector 1, as illustrated in the exemplary embodiments. For example, a first screw 5 can be provided for connecting a first internal conductor 4 to a first internal conductor contact element 3, starting from a first side of the plug-in connector 1, and a second screw 5 can be provided for fitting a second internal conductor 4 to a second internal conductor contact element 3, starting from a side of the plug-in connector 1 that is opposite the first side. However, in principle, fitting can also be performed from the same side of the plug-in connector 1 or starting from any desired direction.

(26) The electrical plug-in connector 1 further has an external conductor contact element 6 which runs around the internal conductor contact elements 3 for electromagnetic shielding purposes. The external conductor contact element 6 is connected to an external conductor shield, in particular an external conductor shielding braid 7 of the electrical cable 2 (cf., inter alia, FIG. 2). To this end, the external conductor shielding braid 7 can be pressed or clamped, for example, between the external conductor contact element 6 and an external housing 8 of the plug-in connector 1, as illustrated in FIG. 2 for example. To this end, the external housing 8 can be screwed, for example, onto the external conductor contact element 6, as will be described further below as part of the assembly method in FIGS. 15 to 20. In preferred embodiments, the external housing 8 may be electrically conductive.

(27) In order to prevent the protruding individual wires of the external conductor shielding braid 7 from unintentionally establishing short circuits with one of the internal conductor contact elements 3, an insulating protective element 9 is arranged between the external conductor contact element 6 and the internal conductor contact elements 3. The insulating protective element 9 of the plug-in connector 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, 5 to 11 and 15 to 20 is of annular design and illustrated in a perspective manner in FIG. 4 by way of example.

(28) For the purpose of providing an assembly access point M (indicated in FIG. 5 by way of example) for fastening the internal conductor contact elements 3 to the respective internal conductors 4 of the electrical cable 2, corresponding assembly recesses 10 are provided in the external conductor contact element 6, which assembly recesses are particularly advantageously designed as an elongate hole (cf., for example, FIGS. 6, 9 as well as 13 and 14) in the exemplary embodiments.

(29) According to the invention, the insulating protective element 9 can be displaced between an assembly position (cf., for example, the orientation in FIG. 6 or in FIG. 13) and an insulating protection position (cf., for example, the orientation in FIG. 9 or in FIG. 14). In the assembly position, the insulating protective element 9 is arranged relative to the external conductor contact element 6 in such a way that the assembly access point M is cleared through the assembly recesses 10 of the external conductor contact element 6 as far as the respective internal conductor contact element 3. However, in the insulating protection position, the assembly access point M is blocked by the insulating protective element 9.

(30) To this end, the insulating protective element 9 preferably has at least one access opening 11. In the exemplary embodiments, a separate access opening 11 and a separate assembly recess 10 are provided for each internal conductor contact element 3 and, respectively, for each assembly access point M. In the assembly position, the access opening 11 is oriented in relation to the assembly recess 10 in such a way that the assembly access point M to the respective internal conductor contact element 3 is cleared through the assembly recess 10 and the access opening 11. However, in the insulating protection position, the access opening 11 is correspondingly displaced and the assembly access point M is blocked as a result.

(31) The electrical plug-in connector 1 optionally has an insulating part 12 between the internal conductor contact elements 3 and the external conductor contact element 6. In the present case, the insulating protective element 9 is guided between the insulating part 12 and the external conductor contact element 6, wherein the insulating protective element 9 can also be guided between the insulating part 12 and the internal conductor contact elements 3 in principle. In order to ensure the assembly access point M in the case of the insulating protective element 9 being in the assembly position, the insulating part 12 has assembly openings 13 (cf. FIG. 5) which correspond to the assembly recesses 10 and are arranged in alignment with the assembly recesses 10 of the external conductor contact element 6.

(32) In the exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 11 and 15 to 20, the insulating protective element 9 can be displaced rotationally between the assembly position and the insulating protection position with respect to the longitudinal axis L of the electrical plug-in connector 1. To this end, the insulating protective element 9 is guided in a recess or groove 14 which is formed between the insulating part 12 and the external conductor contact element 6. However, in principle, the insulating protective element 9 can, for example, also be guided exclusively in a groove of the external conductor contact element 6, in a groove of the internal conductor contact element 3 or even in a groove of the insulating part 12. The insulating protective element 9 can also be guided in a groove which is formed between the insulating part 12 and the internal conductor contact element 3.

(33) In the exemplary embodiments, the access opening 11 of the insulating protective element 9 is designed as a bore by way of example. However, the access opening 11 can also be designed as an elongate hole or as another recess, for example also as a rectangular recess. This analogously applies to the assembly recess 10 of the external conductor contact element 6 and the assembly opening 13 of the insulating part 12 too.

(34) FIG. 5 shows, with reference to a cross section through the plug-in connector 1, the fastening of the internal conductor contact elements 3 to the internal conductors 4 of the electrical cable 2 through the cleared assembly access point M by way of example. An assembly tool, for example the illustrated screwdriver 15, can be guided through the assembly access point M, which can be provided by the orientation of the insulating protective element 9 into the assembly position, through the assembly recesses 10, assembly openings 13 and access openings 11 as far as the screws 5, in order to clamp the internal conductors 4 within the hollow-cylindrical internal conductor contact elements 3 by tightening the screws 5. Torx® brand screws 5 are illustrated purely by way of example; any desired types of screw can be provided in principle. As an alternative, crimping or pressing or soldering of the internal conductor contact elements 3 and the internal conductors 4 can also be provided using a corresponding suitable assembly tool.

(35) In order to prevent the screws 5 from being lost, provision can be made for the diameter of the screw heads of the screws 5 to be larger than the diameter of the access opening 11 of the insulating protective element 9. As a result, the assembly tool 15 can be guided through the access opening 11 but the screws 5 are not lost, even if they are only loosely contained in the insulating protective element 9 in a delivery state.

(36) FIGS. 6 to 11 are used to further illustrate the functioning of the insulating protective element 9 and the electrical plug-in connector 1.

(37) FIG. 6 illustrates the insulating protective element 9 within the external conductor contact element 6 in its assembly position, and FIG. 9 illustrates said insulating protective element in its insulating protection position. The insulating protective element 9 was, as shown in FIG. 9, rotationally displaced in order to reach the insulating protection position, as a result of which the assembly access point M is blocked and therefore the screw 5 is covered too. As a result, the situation of protruding individual wires of the external conductor shielding braid 7 of the cable 2 making unintentional electrical contact with the screw 5 or the internal conductor contact element 3 is no longer possible.

(38) In the variant of the insulating protective element 9 shown in FIGS. 6 to 11, the insulating protective element 9 has, in a departure from the exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 and 15 to 20, additional guide means 16, in the present case lugs which protrude axially from the insulating protective element 9, as a result of which the insulating protective element 9 can be displaced particularly conveniently by the user in its assembled state within the external conductor contact element 6. For the purpose of better illustration, the external conductor contact element 6 is blanked out in FIGS. 7 and 10. However, in principle, a corresponding guide means 16 can also be dispensed with. Therefore, for example, the user or the fitter can also displace the insulating protective element 9 using a finger or the assembly tool 15, in particular if the assembly recess 10 of the external conductor contact element 6, as illustrated, is designed as an elongate hole and therefore grants sufficient access to the insulating protective element 9.

(39) The figures further illustrate a possible way of latching the insulating protective element 9 in the assembly position and in the insulating protection position. This can be seen particularly clearly in FIGS. 4, 8, 11 and 12. To this end, the insulating protective element 9 has axially protruding latching means 17 which interact with corresponding latching elements 18 of the insulating part 12, which are designed as a rail guide by way of example.

(40) Any desired number of latching means 17 and latching elements 18, for example even only one latching means 17 and one corresponding latching element 18, can be provided in principle; in the exemplary embodiment, two latching means 17 and two latching elements 18 are illustrated on opposite sides of the insulating protective element 9 and, respectively, of the insulating part 12 by way of example.

(41) In the exemplary embodiment, a latching arrangement is provided in the assembly position and in the insulating protection position. However, in principle, a latching arrangement can also be provided only in the assembly position or in the insulating protection position. At least one latching arrangement can particularly advantageously be in the insulating protection position since the insulating protective element 9 can then not be unintentionally (for example during subsequent use of the plug-in connector 1) moved back to the “unsecure” assembly position again.

(42) In order to make the latching arrangement releasable at least with application of increased force, the latching means 17 of the insulating protective element 9 according to FIGS. 1 to 11 is designed in the middle of an elastic spring arm 19. The spring arm 19 is formed, by way of example, by an elongate hole-like recess in the insulating protective element 9. However, in principle, the spring arm 19 can also be shaped in a different way. Furthermore, the latching means 17 can also be fastened to a free end of the spring arm 19.

(43) The insulating protective element 9 does not necessarily have to be latched to the insulating part 12 (which is optional in any case). The insulating protective element 9 can also be latched to the external conductor contact element 6 or even to one of the internal conductor contact elements 3. Latching with any desired plug-in connector component of the plug-in connector 1 can be provided in principle.

(44) The insulating protective element 9 can also be of only partially annular design, wherein an insulating protective element 9 can particularly advantageously be provided for each internal conductor contact element 3 in this case. An exemplary insulating protective element 9 of partially annular design is illustrated in a perspective manner in FIG. 12.

(45) The partially annular insulating protective element 9 of FIG. 12 can likewise be displaced rotationally between the assembly position and the insulating protection position with respect to the longitudinal axis L of the electrical plug-in connector 1. However, in the case of a partially annular insulating protective element 9, axial displacement between the assembly position and the insulating protection position can also be advantageous. Axial displacement of this kind is illustrated, by way of example, in FIGS. 13 and 14.

(46) FIG. 13 shows the partially annular insulating protective element 9 within the external conductor contact element 6 in its assembly position, as a result of which the assembly access point M to the corresponding internal conductor contact element 3 is cleared.

(47) FIG. 14 shows the partially annular insulating protective element 9 in its insulating protection position. The assembly access point M in the plug-in connector 1 illustrated in FIG. 14 is therefore blocked owing to the axial displacement of the insulating protective element 9 or its access opening 11 relative to the assembly recess 10 of the external conductor contact element 6.

(48) The guide means 16 shown in FIGS. 12 to 14 (likewise an axially projecting lug) can be used for the purpose of initiating the axial displacement of the insulating protective element 9. Furthermore, the partially annular insulating protective element 9 can also latch in the external conductor contact element 6, in the insulating part 12 and/or in the internal conductor contact element 3 in the assembly position and/or the insulating protection position, for which reason a laterally protruding latching means 17 is shown in FIG. 12 by way of example.

(49) The insulating protective element 9 can also be of platelet-like design (not illustrated further in the exemplary embodiments) in the case of axial displacement of the insulating protective element 9 in particular.

(50) FIGS. 15 to 20 show a method according to the invention for assembling the electrical plug-in connector 1 with reference to a few exemplary method steps. It should be noted that further method steps can also be provided in principle. In particular, method steps can also be dispensed with within the scope of the invention; the figures therefore show, in particular, only optional method steps too. Furthermore, the order of the method steps can vary.

(51) Initially, provision can be made for the electrical cable 2 to be prepared or prefabricated for making contact with the electrical plug-in connector 1. To this end, the electrical cable 2 can be free of a cable sheath 20 at its end which is to be processed. The external conductor shielding braid 7 can then be pushed toward the rear over the remaining cable sheath 20. A filler layer (not illustrated in figures) which guides the internal conductors 4 jointly in itself, and a cable film (likewise not illustrated) which may be present can then be removed in order to separate the internal conductors 4 and to make them accessible for further processing. The individual internal conductors 4 can then be freed of the insulation 21 in a front section and the cores of the internal conductors 4 can be exposed. Core sleeves 22 can in turn then be connected, for example crimped or soldered, to the exposed cores of the internal conductors 4. This state of the cable is illustrated in FIG. 15.

(52) In FIG. 15, the external housing 8 and also a lock nut 23 are furthermore already pushed onto the cable sheath 20 of the cable 2 for subsequent fitting. In the method step illustrated in FIG. 15, the front housing assembly 25 (also known by the term “connector head”), which consists of the external conductor contact element 6, the internal conductor contact elements 3, the insulating part 12, the insulating protective element 9 as well as a protective cap 24, can finally be pushed onto the internal conductors 4 of the cable 2.

(53) In a subsequent method step according to FIG. 16, the insulating protective element 9 can initially be moved to the assembly position (if not already preassembled in this way) for the purpose of fastening the internal conductor contact elements 3 to the internal conductors 4 of the cable 2. Therefore, the assembly access point M to the internal conductor contact elements 3 through the external conductor contact element 6 and the insulating part 12 is ensured. For example, a screwdriver 15, illustrated in FIG. 5, can then be used in order to tighten the respective screws 5 for the purpose of clamping the internal conductors 4 in the internal conductor contact elements 3.

(54) In a subsequent method step according to FIG. 17, the screwdriver 15, a finger of the fitter or a guide means 16, which may be present, of the insulating protective element 9 can then be used in order to displace the insulating protective element 9 into its insulating protection position in which the assembly access point M to the internal conductor contact element 3 is blocked by the insulating protective element.

(55) In a subsequent method step according to FIG. 18, provision can be made for the external conductor shielding braid 7 to be placed onto the external conductor contact element 6 of the plug-in connector 1.

(56) In a further method step, as shown in FIG. 19, the external housing 8 of the plug-in connector 1, together with the lock nut 23, can then be pushed onto the external conductor contact element 6 from behind and screwed to it. As a result, the external conductor shielding braid 7 is firmly clamped between the external conductor contact element 6 and the external housing 8 of the plug-in connector 1. Since the insulating protective element 9 is in its insulating protection position, individual wires of the external conductor shielding braid 7 which may be protruding cannot produce a short circuit with the internal conductor contact elements 3.

(57) Provision may be made for the insulating protective element 9 to have an assembly-preventing arrangement (not illustrated) which permits fitting of the external housing 8 of the electrical plug-in connector 1 only when the insulating protective element 9 is in its insulating protection position. For example, a web which projects axially in the direction of the cable 2 can be provided for this purpose, which web, in the assembly position of the insulating protective element 9, blocks mounting of the external housing 8 of the plug-in connector 1 onto the external conductor contact element 6 in an interlocking manner and clears the displacement path for the external housing 8 to the external conductor contact element 6 only in the insulating protection position.

(58) Finally, FIG. 20 illustrates the fully assembled electrical plug-in connector 1 on the cable 2, wherein finally the lock nut 23 has been screwed onto the external housing 8 in order to provide, firstly, leak-tightness between the cable 2 and the plug-in connector 1 and, secondly, strain relief.

(59) While the invention has been described with reference to various preferred embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt to a particular situation or application of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed but rather, that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims, either literally or under the Doctrine of Equivalents.