Environmentally responsive fibers and garments

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dynamic fiber/yarn capable of changing in response to external stimuli. The fiber/yarn in accordance with the present invention undergoes a radial symmetric change. The fiber/yarn in accordance with the present invention may be heat sensitive, moisture sensitive, magnetic field sensitive, electromagnetic field sensitive, etc.

Claims

1. A stimuli-sensitive composite fiber comprising at least two different types of polymer materials: a stimuli-sensitive polymer material capable of undergoing a cross-sectional reversible and radially symmetric physical change, the stimuli-sensitive polymer material being located at a core of the stimuli-sensitive composite fiber, the stimuli-sensitive polymer material comprising a first cross-sectional and radially symmetric shape in the absence of an external stimulus and a second cross-sectional and radially symmetric shape in the presence of the external stimulus; and a second polymer material having a third cross-sectional and radially symmetric shape in the absence of the external stimulus and a fourth cross-sectional and radially symmetric shape in the presence of the external stimulus, wherein a transition from the third cross-sectional and radially symmetric shape to the fourth cross-sectional and radially symmetric shape in the second polymer material is induced by the change from the first cross-sectional and radially symmetric shape to the second cross-sectional and radially symmetric shape of the stimuli-sensitive polymer material.

2. The stimuli-sensitive composite fiber of claim 1, wherein the stimuli-sensitive polymer material transitions from the first cross-sectional and radially symmetric shape to the second cross-sectional and radially symmetric shape in response to heat.

3. The stimuli-sensitive composite fiber of claim 1, wherein the stimuli-sensitive polymer material transitions from the first cross-sectional and radially symmetric shape to the second cross-sectional and radially symmetric shape in response to moisture.

4. The stimuli-sensitive composite fiber of claim 1, wherein the stimuli-sensitive polymer material transitions from the first cross-sectional and radially symmetric shape to the second cross-sectional and radially symmetric shape in response to an electromagnetic field.

5. The stimuli-sensitive composite fiber of claim 1, wherein the stimuli-sensitive polymer material and the second polymer material comprise polyesters.

6. The stimuli-sensitive composite fiber of claim 1, wherein the third cross-sectional and radially symmetric shape of the second polymer material comprises protrusions that change position in response to a force exerted by the second cross-sectional and radially symmetric shape of the stimuli-sensitive polymer material on the third cross-sectional and radially symmetric shape of the second polymer material, to form the fourth cross-sectional and radially symmetric shape of the second polymer material.

7. The stimuli-sensitive composite fiber of claim 1, wherein the stimuli-sensitive composite fiber further comprises a finish layer on at least a portion of a perimeter of the stimuli-sensitive composite fiber.

8. The stimuli-sensitive composite fiber of claim 1, wherein the stimuli-sensitive polymer material is a first color and wherein the second polymer material is a second color.

9. The stimuli-sensitive composite fiber of claim 8, wherein the reversible physical change in the stimuli-sensitive polymer material induces a reversible color change in the stimuli-sensitive composite fiber from the first color of the stimuli-sensitive polymer material to the second color of the second polymer material.

10. A garment comprising a stimuli-sensitive composite fiber capable of undergoing a cross-sectional and radially symmetric reversible physical change, the stimuli-sensitive composite fiber's cross-sectional area comprising: a first material at a core of the stimuli-sensitive composite fiber, the first material capable of undergoing a physicochemical change in response to an external stimulus, wherein the first material comprises a first cross-sectional and radially symmetric shape in the absence of the external stimulus, and wherein the first material comprises a second cross-sectional and radially symmetric shape in the presence of the external stimulus; and a second material comprising a third cross-sectional and radially symmetric shape in the absence of the external stimulus and a fourth cross-sectional and radially symmetric shape in the presence of the external stimulus, wherein the second material is adjacent to the first material, and wherein in the presence of the external stimulus, the physicochemical change in the first material causes a mechanical shift in the second material from the third cross-sectional and radially symmetric shape to the fourth cross-sectional and radially symmetric shape.

11. The garment of claim 10, wherein the stimuli-sensitive composite fiber further comprises a finish layer on at least a portion of a perimeter of the stimuli-sensitive composite fiber.

12. The garment of claim 10, wherein the first material undergoes the physicochemical change in response to heat.

13. The garment of claim 10, wherein the first material undergoes the physicochemical change in response to moisture.

14. The garment of claim 10, wherein the first material undergoes the physicochemical change in response to an electromagnetic field.

15. The garment of claim 10, wherein the first material and the second material comprise polyesters.

16. A stimuli-sensitive composite fiber capable of undergoing a cross-sectional and radially symmetric reversible physical change, the stimuli-sensitive composite fiber's cross-sectional area comprising: a first material at a core of the fiber, the first material capable of undergoing a physicochemical change in response to an external stimulus, wherein the first material comprises a first cross-sectional and radially symmetric shape in the absence of the external stimulus, and wherein the first material comprises a second cross-sectional and radially symmetric shape in the presence of the external stimulus; and a second material that is adjacent to the first material, and wherein in the presence of the external stimulus, the physicochemical change in the first material causes a mechanical shift in the second material from a third cross-sectional and radially symmetric shape to a fourth cross-sectional and radially symmetric shape.

17. The stimuli-sensitive composite fiber of claim 16, wherein the first material undergoes the physicochemical change in response to heat.

18. The stimuli-sensitive composite fiber of claim 16, wherein the first material undergoes the physicochemical change in response to moisture.

19. The stimuli-sensitive composite fiber of claim 16, wherein the first material undergoes the physicochemical change in response to an electromagnetic field.

20. The stimuli-sensitive composite fiber of claim 16, wherein the stimuli-sensitive composite fiber further comprises a finish layer on at least a portion of a perimeter of the stimuli-sensitive composite fiber.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

(1) The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a yarn or fiber in accordance with the present invention before and after a mechanical change has been induced by an external environmental stimulus;

(3) FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a yarn or fiber in accordance with the present invention after extrusion and before and after treatment to dissolve away a filler polymer;

(4) FIG. 3 is a close up view of the core first polymer material shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, having magnetorheological properties presented in the on and off states;

(5) FIG. 4 is a representative garment made with a fabric/textile formed from a fiber/yarn in accordance with the present invention, with magnetorheological properties; and

(6) FIG. 5 is a representative garment made with a fabric/textile formed from a fiber/yarn in accordance with the present invention, with the external stimulus being temperature.

(7) FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a different yarn or fiber in accordance with the present invention after extrusion and before and after treatment to dissolve away a filler polymer;

(8) FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the yarn or fiber in FIG. 6 in accordance with the present invention before and after a mechanical change has been induced by an external environmental stimulus; and

(9) FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a further different yarn or fiber in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(10) The present invention relates to a novel fiber that undergoes radial physicochemical and a mechanical change in response to an external stimulus and yarns, textiles, fabrics, garments and/or articles of manufacture incorporating such fibers. The stimulus can be a change in temperature, moisture, the presence of an electromagnetic field, or a magnetic field, etc., to mention a few examples.

(11) In reference to FIG. 1, a cross-section of an exemplary composite stimuli-sensitive fiber 100 in accordance with the present invention is shown. Other configurations having different shapes, types, and numbers of components may be used without departing from the present invention. The composite stimuli-sensitive fiber 100 in FIG. 1 may comprise a first polymer material 130 located at the core of the fiber 100. The first polymer material 130 may be capable of undergoing a reversible physicochemical change in response to an external stimulus. In the example depicted in FIG. 1, first polymer material 130 takes the form of a cross with arms, such as first arm 132, second arm 134, etc., connected at a center 133. In addition to the first polymer material 130, the composite stimuli-sensitive fiber may additionally comprise a second polymer material 120 adjacent to the first polymer material 130. In the example depicted in FIG. 1, second polymer material 120 takes the form of pairs of horn-like protrusions extending in pairs from structures mechanically operative with arms, 132, 134, etc. of first polymer material 130. The second polymer material 120 may be capable of undergoing a mechanical change in direct response to the physicochemical change in the first polymer material 130. The mechanical change in the second polymer material 120 may be directly dependent on the shape and orientation of the second polymer material 120 in relation to the first polymer material 130. For example, as depicted in the example of FIG. 1, second polymer material 120 may take the form of diamond shaped portions between arms 132, 134, etc., of First polymer material 130. By way of further example, second polymer material 120 may comprise a first leg 122 connected at a first apex 123 to a first extension 124 at a first angle and a second leg 126 connected at a second apex 127 to a second extension 128 at a second angle. First leg 122 may be mechanically engaged with first arm 132 of first polymer material 130, while second leg 126 may be mechanically engaged with second arm 134 of first polymer material 130. When first arm 132 and second arm 134 expand, first leg 122 and second leg 126 are forced closer together, changing the angles of attachment at first apex 123 (between first leg 122 and first extension 124) and at second apex 127 (between second leg 126 and second extension 128). This mechanical action by the diamond shaped portions of second polymer 120 moves protrusions 121, 129, 141, etc., as illustrated in FIG. 1.

(12) For example, in the fiber shown in FIG. 1, the first polymer material 130 located at the core of the fiber, may have a first shape 101 in the absence of an external stimulus, the first shape 101 of the first material 130 generally comprising at least four arms of substantially equal length, each arm progressively widening as the arm extends from the core. The second polymer material 120 may be adjacent, contacting, and mechanically engaged to the first polymer material 130 at least at one point so that the second material 120 having a second shape 102, may be in a first position in the absence of an external stimulus to the first material 130, and may be forced into a third shape 103 by the first material as the first material expands in response to an external stimulus.

(13) The second polymer material 120 of the present example may generally have a shape that may form discrete hollow diamond shaped structures ending in two horn-like protrusions. For example, first leg 122 and first extension 124 may meet at a first apex 123 at a first angle, with a first protrusion 121 extending from first extension 124. Similarly, second leg 126 and second extension 128 may meet at a second apex at a second angle, with a second protrusion 129 extending from second extension 128. The hollow diamond shape may be mechanically engaged with the first polymer material 130 in each of the gaps between the arms of the first shape 101 of the first polymer material 130, for example at first arm 132 and first leg 122 and at second arm 134 and second leg 126. Since the first polymer material 130 and the second polymer material 120 are mechanically engaged, when the first polymer material 130 expands or contracts in response to an external stimulus, the hollow diamond shapes comprising the second polymer material 120 may be compressed (when the first material 130 expands) or released (when the first material 130 contracts) resulting in a mechanical motion that may be transmitted from, for example, first leg 122 and second leg 126 to first extension 124 and second extension 128, to ultimately move the horn like protrusions 121, 129 formed by the second material 120 to a first open position 104 (when the first material 130 is contracted) to a second closed position 102 (when the second material 120 is expanded). Any number of additional structures may be used in a fiber in accordance with the present invention. In other words, the changes induced by an external stimulus in the core first polymer material 130 start a chain reaction that effects a radial change throughout the whole length of the fiber, which in turn may alter the properties of a fabric/textile when the fiber is woven or knitted into a fabric/textile for use in the manufacture of articles of clothing, bags, protective cases, or any other type of article accommodating the type of fabric/textile woven from the fiber in accordance with the present invention.

(14) References to materials or structures as first or second or the like are for purposes of description only, and do not imply primacy or order of creation, importance, or any consideration other than ease of description and understanding of a particular example. For example, while the example of FIG. 1 describes the polymer material at the core of a fiber as a first material 130 and the polymer material mechanically engaged with the core polymer material 130 as a second material 120, but other terminology may be used. Further, the relative positions of different materials may vary from the examples depicted herein. For example, rather than locating one type of material at a fiber core and another type of material at a fiber periphery, different types of materials may be located and mechanically engaged within a fiber core, around a fiber periphery, across the width of a fiber, etc. Also, any number of types of materials may be utilized within a fiber in accordance with the present invention.

(15) Now, in reference to FIG. 2, the fiber in accordance with the present invention may generally be manufactured by melt-spinning due to the nature of the polymer materials. The fiber in accordance with the present invention may have unique and fragile structures arranged and oriented according to a predetermined pattern suitable for the type of transformation desired. Due to the fragility of the radial shape of the fiber in accordance with the present invention, a removable third polymer material 110, may be used during manufacture of the fiber. The third polymer material 110, as seen in FIG. 2, may fill any of the gaps between the first polymer material 130 and the second polymer material 120 when the fiber is being extruded or melt-spun. The third polymer material 110 may aid in giving the extruded or melt-spun fiber a generally round cross-sectional area 201 but, as long as the cross-sectional area of the fiber is suitably filled, the cross-sectional area may be a square, oval, etc., or any other shape suitable for enclosing the complex fiber structures formed by the first polymers, second polymer, or other components of a fiber in accordance with the present invention.

(16) The third polymer material 110 may comprise a sacrificial polymer that may be dissolvable without damaging the other polymers that make up the fiber. For example, if the first 130 and second 120 polymer materials are resistant to acid, the sacrificial third polymer material 110 may comprise a polymer that is dissolvable in an acid bath so that it may be easy to remove; or if the first 130 and second 120 polymer materials are base-resistant, the sacrificial third polymer material 110 may be a base-soluble polymer material. In a different example, the filler polymer material 110 may comprise a water soluble polymer so that it may be easily removed through washing with water, etc. Once the sacrificial third polymer material 110 is removed, the active cross-section form 202 of the fiber in accordance with the present invention is obtained.

(17) The sacrificial third polymer material 110 may be removed from the fiber before forming a yarn and/or before weaving/knitting a fabric/textile from a fiber or a yarn incorporating the fiber. Alternatively, sacrificial third polymer material 110 may be removed after a fabric/textile has been woven or knitted from the fiber in accordance with the present invention, or the sacrificial polymer material 110 may be removed after the fabric/textile has been used to produce an article of manufacture. The sacrificial polymer material 110 may be removed selectively along a fiber, fabric/textile, and/or article of manufacture to create zones with different adaptability to environmental changes. In other words, the filler polymer material 110 may be removed in any step following the manufacture of the fiber in accordance with the present invention and the removable step may be adjusted according to the needs in the processing steps that follow.

(18) Many different polymer materials that have the ability to contract and expand in response to an external stimulus may be used as the core first polymer material 130. For example, a magnetorheological polymer material may be used as the core first polymer material 130. The core magnetorhelological material may be a suspension of magnetic particles, or nanoparticles, where the suspension may be capable of undergoing a physical change in response to a magnetic field stimulus. For example, in known fluid magnetorheological materials, the viscosity of the fluid may increase at a predictable and proportional rate to the strength of the magnetic field applied, as the magnetic particles arrange themselves in the direction of the magnetic field. In the case of polymeric magnetorheological materials, the area occupied by the polymer may increase and decrease (expand or contract) in response to the presence or absence of a magnetic field. The magnetorheological material may be expanded in its off state and may contract in its on state when a magnetic field may be applied and the particles arrange themselves in the direction of the magnetic field.

(19) If a magnetorheological material is used as the core first polymer material 130 in the fiber in accordance with the present invention, the fiber may microscopically radially change by applying a magnetic field on a fabric/textile incorporating this fiber. Referring to FIG. 1 again, in their off state the first 130 and second 120 polymer materials may be in a first closed position 102. Once a magnetic field is applied, the first 130 and second 120 polymer materials in their on state may change to a second open position 101, as the magnetic particles in the first polymer material 130 arrange themselves in the direction of the magnetic field. This feature may be better understood with the representative drawings in FIG. 3, where 310 is the off state and 320 is the on state, the off state 310 being when there is no magnetic field applied to the fiber, and the on state 320 being when a magnetic field is applied to the fiber. Off and on are merely relative states. The desired properties of a fiber, yarn, textile, and/or garment may be enabled by an off state or an on state, depending upon the materials and configurations used in a given fiber in accordance with the present invention.

(20) The changes observable in the macroscopic change as an addition of all the microscopic changes happening at the fiber level may be observable when the fiber is incorporated into a fabric/textile. The macroscopic changes observed in a fabric/textile may be, for example, color changes (by employing different colored polymer materials as the first core polymer material and second mechanically engaged polymer material), level of insulation changes (by changing the pore size of the fabric/textile), fabric/textile feel changes (by shielding or exposing different polymer materials to the surface), etc. The changes may be controllable by the user since the magnetic field may be applied by the user by, for example, waving a physical magnet over the fabric/textile. As the magnetic field fades away, the first polymer material 130 may slowly revert back to its off state, which in turn, may return the original properties to the fabric/textile.

(21) In a different example, the garment, or article of manufacture comprising a magnetorheological fiber in accordance with the present invention, may be engineered with electromagnetic field generating probes that may be turned on or off by providing a source of electricity such as a battery. In this example, a user may additionally be able to control the length of time desired for the change to take effect.

(22) The magnetorheological properties of a fabric/textile incorporating a fiber in accordance with the present invention may be better understood in reference to FIG. 4, where a garment 400 with magnetorheological properties is shown. The properties of the fabric/textile making the garment may be changed, for example, by waving, as indicated by arrow 410, a magnet 420 over the textile 430. Alternatively, the change effects may be made to last longer, or the effects may be made controllable by, for example generating an electromagnetic field, which may be induced by including the necessary probes in the garment with a source of electricity such as a battery.

(23) In a different example of a fiber in accordance with the present invention, a heat sensitive polymer material may be used as the core first polymer material 130. The heat sensitive polymer material may for example expand at temperatures slightly over normal body temperature, or any other temperature desired for the particular end purpose of a fabric/textile woven from a fiber in accordance with the present invention. Just as in the example presented above, for the use of magnetorheological polymer materials, a number of different changes, and a combination of changes may be manifested on a fabric/textile incorporating a fiber in accordance with the present invention. For example, both a color change and a change in the level of insulation may be observable in a garment in response to the wearer's body temperature increasing due to physical exertion. For example, if the first core polymer material 130 and the second mechanically engaged polymer material 120 shown in the example of FIG. 1 were different colors, the pore size of the fabric/textile may increase as the first and second polymer materials change from a first open position 104 to a closed position 105, while the second polymer material 120 is predominantly exposed to the surface of the fabric/textile. In other words, the color of the fabric/textile may change from being predominantly the color of the first core polymer 130, when open, to predominantly the color of the second mechanically engaged polymer 120 when closed.

(24) In a different example the core first polymer material 130 may be a heat-sensitive polymer material, and the second mechanically engaged polymer material 120 may be a moisture wicking polymer material so that, for example, a garment 500 made from a fabric/textile 510 incorporating fibers in accordance with the present example may have altered moisture management properties as the body temperature and perspiration of a wearer increases with increased physical exertion. This may be better understood in reference to FIG. 5, where a heat induced change in the properties of an athletic garment is represented. Thus, a fabric/textile incorporating fibers in accordance with the present invention may dynamically adjust to the particular needs of the end product of manufacture.

(25) In a different example, the core first polymer material 130 may be a moisture sensitive polymer material that may expand or contract in response to the presence or absence of moisture, either from body perspiration or, alternatively, from environmental sources, such as rain, fog, etc. If the fiber is made to be sensitive to perspiration, for example, a polymer that expands in response to the presence of moisture may be used for the core first polymer material 130 to decrease the level of insulation, and a moisture wicking polymer material may be used as the second mechanically engaged polymer material 120 to improve the moisture management properties of the fiber/yarn and fabric/textile incorporating the fiber.

(26) In FIG. 6 a cross-section of a different exemplary composite stimuli-sensitive fiber 600 with a different configuration, is shown. Like the composite stimuli-sensitive fiber 100 described in FIG. 2, the fiber 600 in accordance with the present invention may generally be manufactured by melt-spinning, extrusion, or any other suitable method. The fiber 600 in accordance with the present invention may comprise at least three different kinds of polymer materials. The composite stimuli-sensitive fiber 600 in FIG. 6 may comprise a first polymer material 630 located at the core of the fiber 600. The first polymer material 630 may be capable of undergoing a reversible physicochemical change in response to an external stimulus. The composite stimuli-sensitive fiber 600 may additionally comprise a second polymer material 620 adjacent to the first polymer material 630. Since the first polymer material 630 and the second polymer material 620 in the fiber 600 may have unique and fragile structures arranged and oriented according to a predetermined pattern suitable for the type of transformation desired, a sacrificial third filler polymer material 610 may be used during manufacture of the fiber 600. The sacrificial polymer material 610, as seen in FIG. 6, may fill any of the gaps between the first polymer material 630 and the second polymer material 620 when the fiber is being extruded or melt-spun. The sacrificial polymer material 610 may aid in giving the extruded or melt-spun fiber a generally round cross-sectional area 601 but, as long as the cross-sectional area of the fiber is suitably filled, the cross-sectional area may be a square, oval, etc., or any other shape suitable for enclosing the complex fiber structures formed by the first polymers, second polymer, or other components of a fiber in accordance with the present invention.

(27) The sacrificial polymer material 610 may be a polymer that may be dissolvable without damaging the other polymers that make up the fiber. For example, if the first polymer material 630 and second polymer material 620 are resistant to acid, the sacrificial polymer material 610 may comprise a polymer that is dissolvable in an acid bath so that it may be easy to remove; or if the first 630 and second 620 polymer materials are base-resistant, the sacrificial polymer material 610 may be a base-soluble polymer material. In a different example, the sacrificial polymer material 610 may comprise a water soluble polymer so that it may be easily removed through washing with water, etc. Once the sacrificial polymer material 610 is removed, the active cross-section form 602 of the fiber in accordance with the present invention may be obtained.

(28) In FIG. 7 a cross-section of the exemplary composite stimuli-sensitive fiber 600 in its active configuration with the sacrificial polymer material 610 dissolved away is shown. The composite stimuli-sensitive fiber 600 in FIG. 7 comprises a first polymer material 630 and a second polymer material 620 adjacent to the first polymer material 630. In the example depicted in FIG. 6, the second polymer material 620 takes the form of pairs of horn-like projections extending in pairs from structures mechanically operative with physical changes in the first polymer material 630. In other words, the composite fiber 600 in this example may undergo a structural change from a first structure 701 to a second structure 702, as a response to a given physical change in the first polymer material 630.

(29) FIG. 8 is yet another example of a composite fiber 800 in accordance with the present invention. In this example, the composite fiber 800 may first be extruded or melt-spun comprising a first polymer material 810, a second polymer material 820, and a third polymer material 830, shown collectively as 801, wherein the first polymer material 810 may be a sacrificial polymer material. Before removal of the first polymer material 810, the composite fiber 800 may first undergo a finishing process to impart additional desirable properties such as water resistance, fire resistance, etc. Such finishing processes may be chemical and/or mechanical. Examples of possible chemical finishes that may be used in accordance with the present invention are softeners, absorbency finishes, resin finishes, oil repellant finishes, water repellant finishes, ultra-violet protective finishes, various types of coatings, laminations, etc. Chemical finishes may be applied at a fiber, yarn, textile, partially constructed item, and/or fully constructed item stage of manufacturing. Chemical finishes may be applied with any technique, such as a bath, a spray, contact application by pads or other mechanisms, by using adhesives or bonding agents, etc. Examples of possible mechanical finishes that may be used in accordance with the present invention are calendaring, compacting, peaching, sueding, sanding, brushing, shearing, embossing, etc. Mechanical finishes may be applied at a fiber, yarn, textile, partially constructed item, and/or fully constructed item stage of manufacturing. More than a single type of finish may be applied to a fiber/yarn/textile/item. The resulting fiber after finishing is shown collectively as 802. The finish applied may add material to fiber 800 or may modify the surface of fiber 800, as generally shown as 802. Because a finish may, but need not, interact differently to different materials, a first finished surface 840 may be formed over first polymer material and a second finished surface 850 may be formed over third polymer material 830. Additional finished surfaces may be formed over additional materials of a fiber exposed to a finish. After the finishing step has been completed, the first polymer material 810 may then be dissolved/removed by any suitable method that will remove the first polymer material 810 and finish layer 840 over sacrificial first polymer material 810. As a result, a fiber 803 having the second polymer material 820 and the third polymer material 830 with the desired finish layer 850 may be obtained in their active configurations, as shown as 803 while removing sacrificial first polymer material 810 and coating layer 840 overlaying the now removed sacrificial polymer material 810. As a result, both finished and unfinished surfaces are present in fiber 803, such that mechanical changes, such as described above, may expose different types of surfaces to alter the properties of the fiber.

(30) Additional objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

(31) From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure.

(32) It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

(33) Since many possible uses may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.