Hair Straightening Device

Abstract

A hair straightening device including a first arm, a hinge connected to the first arm, and a second arm connected to the hinge. The first arm, the second arm, or both are rotatable around the hinge between an open position where the first arm and the second arm do not contact each other and a closed position where the first arm and the second arm contact each other. The second arm comprises protrusions extending away from an interior surface of the second arm that faces the first arm of when the hair straightening device is in the closed position. The first arm may include holes corresponding to the protrusions, a first deformable material that is contacted and deformed by the protrusions, a first non-deformable material that is contacted but not deformed by the protrusions, or a combination thereof.

Claims

1. A hair straightening device comprising: a first arm; a hinge connected to the first arm; and a second arm connected to the hinge; wherein the first arm, the second arm, or both are rotatable around the hinge between an open position where the first arm and the second arm do not contact each other and a closed position where the first arm and the second arm contact each other; wherein the second arm comprises protrusions extending away from an interior surface of the second arm that faces the first arm of when the hair straightening device is in the closed position; and wherein the first arm comprises: holes that correspond to the protrusions of the second arm and in which at least a portion of the protrusions of the second arm are arranged when the hair straightening device is in the closed position; a first deformable material that is contacted and deformed by the protrusions of the second arm when the hair straightening device is in the closed position; or a first non-deformable material that is contacted but not deformed by the protrusions of the second arm when the hair straightening device is in the closed position.

2. The hair straightening device according to claim 1; wherein the first arm comprises both the holes and the first deformable material.

3. The hair straightening device according to claim 2; wherein the holes are formed in a non-deformable material that is different from and covers the first deformable material, and which is not deformed by the protrusions of the second arm when the hair straightening device is in the closed position.

4. The hair straightening device according to claim 1; wherein the first arm comprises the holes, which are formed in a non-deformable material that is not deformed by the protrusions of the second arm when the hair straightening device is in the closed position.

5. The hair straightening device according to claim 1; wherein the protrusions comprise a deformable material so that ends of the protrusions are deformed by an interior surface of the first arm that faces the protrusions when the hair straightening device is in the closed position.

6. The hair straightening device according to claim 5; wherein the interior surface of the first arm is formed from a non-deformable material that is not deformed by the protrusions of the second arm when the hair straightening device is in the closed position and the protrusions contact and are deformed by the interior second surface.

7. The hair straightening device according to claim 1; wherein each protrusion has a width that decreases as the protrusions extends from the interior surface of the second arm.

8. The hair straightening device according to claim 7; wherein each protrusion is shaped as a cone or pyramid.

9. The hair straightening device according to claim 1; wherein each protrusion has a width that is constant as the protrusions extends from the interior surface of the second arm.

10. The hair straightening device according to claim 1; wherein the device weighs from 5-60 grams; and wherein each of the first and second arms comprises a hair-side surface configured to contact hair when hair is arranged between the first and second arms and the device is in the closed position; and wherein each hair-side surface has: a length extending from the hinge to an end of the respective first or second arm that is in a range of from 1-6 inches; and a width perpendicular to the length that is in a range of a 1-6 inches.

11. The hair straightening device according to claim 10; wherein the length of each hair-side surface is greater than or equal that the width of that hair-side surface.

12. The hair straightening device according to claim 10; wherein the length of each hair-side surface is less than the width of that hair-side surface.

13. The hair straightening device according to claim 1; wherein at least one arm of the first and second arms comprises a port through which a mass of material can be added, removed, or both, to the inside of the one arm to adjust the weight of the device

14. The hair straightening device according to claim 13; wherein the at least one arm further comprises a cover configured to open and close the port.

15. The hair straightening device according to claim 1, further comprising: a spring that applies a spring force to bias the first and second arms towards each other to maintain the device in the closed position.

16. The hair straightening device according to claim 1; wherein one arm of the first and second arms comprises a magnet generator that generates a magnetic field; and wherein the other arm of the first and second arms comprises a magnetic attractor that is attracted to the magnetic generator by the magnetic field so as to bias the first and second arms towards each other to maintain the device in the closed position.

17. The hair straightening device according to claim 16; wherein the magnet generator is a permanent magnet.

18. The hair straightening device according to claim 16; wherein the magnet attractor is a permanent magnet.

19. The hair straightening device according to claim 16; wherein the magnet attractor is a piece of metal.

20. A hair straightening device comprising: a first arm; a hinge connected to the first arm; and a second arm connected to the hinge; wherein the first arm, the second arm, or both are rotatable around the hinge between an open position where the first arm and the second arm do not contact each other and a closed position where the first arm and the second arm contact each other; wherein the first arm comprises a deformable first material that forms an interior deformable surface of the first arm that faces the second arm when the hair straightening device is in the closed position; and wherein the interior deformable surface of the first arm is deformed by the second arm when the hair straightening device is in the closed position.

21. The hair straightening device according to claim 20; wherein the second arm comprises a deformable second material that forms an interior deformable surface of the second arm that faces the interior deformable surface of the first arm when the hair straightening device is in the closed position; wherein the interior deformable surface of the second arm is deformed by the first arm when the hair straightening device is in the closed position; and wherein the deformable second material is the same as or different from the deformable first material.

22. The hair straightening device according to claim 20; wherein the second arm comprises a non-deformable material that forms an interior non-deformable surface of the second arm that faces the interior deformable surface of the first arm when the hair straightening device is in the closed position; wherein the interior non-deformable surface of the second arm is not deformed by the first arm when the hair straightening device is in the closed position and the deformable surface of the first arm contacts and presses against the non-deformable surface of the second arm; and wherein the non-deformable material is different from the deformable first material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] FIGS. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of the hair straightening device 1 in a closed state.

[0042] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the hair straightening device 1 in an open state.

[0043] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the hair straightening device 1 with a 180 opening.

[0044] FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the hair straightening device 1.

[0045] FIGS. 6 and 7 show yet another embodiment of the hair straightening device 1.

[0046] FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of the hair straightening device 1 where the arms 2,3 have nonuniform varying widths.

[0047] FIGS. 9 and 10 show an embodiment of the hair straightening device 1 where the arms 2,3 have nonuniform varying thicknesses.

[0048] FIGS. 11 and 12 show yet again another embodiment of the hair straightening device 1.

[0049] FIGS. 13-17 show another embodiment of the hair straightening device 1.

[0050] FIGS. 18A-18D show various shapes for the toothed surface.

[0051] FIGS. 19 and 20 show yet another embodiment of the hair straightening device 1.

[0052] FIGS. 21A shows the hair straightening device 1 with arms 2,3 in a straight state.

[0053] FIG. 21B shows the hair straightening device 1 with arms 2,3 in a bent state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0054] It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of the present invention have been simplified to illustrate elements that are relevant for a clear understanding of the present invention, while eliminating, for purposes of clarity, many other elements which are conventional in this art. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other elements are desirable for implementing the present invention. However, because such elements are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the present invention, a discussion of such elements is not provided herein.

[0055] The present invention will now be described in detail on the basis of exemplary embodiments. It is noted that any numerical ranges disclosed herein are included to individually disclose every sub-range and number, both whole integer and partial fraction, within the disclosed range. For example, a disclosed range of 1-100 is intended to individually disclose 20-90, 40-80, 30.5-50.2, 20, 67.3, 84.512924, and every other range and number that falls within the recited range.

[0056] FIGS. 1-3 show an embodiment of the hair straightening device 1 that has a first arm 2 and a second arm 3. The two arms 2,3 come together to clamp or clip onto the bottom portion of damp hair that has been combed straight. Each of the first and second arms 2,3 has a corresponding hair-side surface 4,5. The damp hair is sandwiched between the two hair-side surfaces 4,5, when the straightening device 1 is closed. The clip 1 is designed so as to have a weight sufficient to hold hair down and straight, and prevent the hair from springing or curling back up, regardless of the length of the hair or strength of the curl force of the hair. The device 1 is left attached to the hair until it becomes dry, at which point the first and second sides 2,3 are separated from each other and the clamp 1 is removed from the hair. In this manner, the hair is held straight until it dries, at which point it remains straight even when the device is removed.

[0057] The two arms 2,3 have ends 6,7 that come together securely by way of magnetic attraction, clamp, clip, or spring (e.g., compression spring, extension spring, torsion spring, constant force spring). The other ends 8,9 of the arms 2,3 can also be held together by way of magnetic attraction, clamp, clip, or spring. In this way, the ends 8,9 can be permanently connected to each other, or can be removably connected like the ends 6,7 so that so that the arms 2,3 are completely detachable from each other.

[0058] Alternatively or additionally, the ends 8,9 can be attached to each other via a hinge 10 so that the arm 2 rotates around the hinge 10. The hinge 10 can be integral to and a part of the arm 3, or can be a separate component that is attached to the arm 3. The end 8 of the arm 2 can be permanently attached to the hinge 10 for ease of use, or can be designed to be separated from the hinge 10 for portability.

[0059] One or both of the hair-side surfaces 4,5 may be made from a non-slip material that provides friction against hair so that the device 1 does not slide off the hair after being clipped around the hair. Examples of such a material includes elastomers like silicone, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, latex, and the like, as well as foams like latex foam, polyurethane non-memory foam, polyurethane memory foam, soy memory foam, neoprene foam, foam rubber, silicone foam and the like.

[0060] In a preferred embodiment, one of the hair-side surfaces 4,5 is a tooth-lined or fiber-grabbing surface and the other hair-side surfaces is a smooth non-slip surface that has an impression potential (e.g., silicone). When the two surfaces 4,5 come together, they grab onto the ends and don't slip off the hair strands. The tooth-lined or fiber-grabbing surface, side one, submerges into or gently penetrates the soft and smooth non-slip surface, side two, to securely grab the hair. The size of the device 1 may vary depending on the texture, thickness, and amount of hair a particular clip 1 is designed to collect for the purpose of creating a taut smooth surface.

[0061] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the ends 6,7 coming together by way of magnetic attraction via two magnetic piecesa magnet generator 11 (e.g., a magnet) that is incorporated into or on one of the ends 6,7, and a magnetic attractor 12 (e.g., a magnet, a piece of magnetic metal) that is attracted to the magnetic generator and which is incorporated into or on the other of the ends 6,7. If a magnetic piece 11,12 is incorporated on a hair-side surface 4,5, then it is preferably covered with a material that has a soft, pliable surfacelike fabric, cloth, neoprene, wet-suit material, spongy material (e.g., a piece of natural or synthetic sponge), a foam material, a plastic, or any of the non-slip materials listed above for the hair-side surfaces 4,5so that the soft, pliable material is arranged between the magnetic piece 11,12 and the hair. For example, the magnetic piece 11, the magnetic piece 12, or both, may be covered by the non-slip materials listed of the respective hair-side surface 4,5 itself. Such a soft, pliable surface has more give than the hard magnetic pieces, and prevents harsh lines being left in the hair from the magnetic pieces. Weight distributed slightly unevenly keeps strands from kinking.

[0062] While FIG. 3 show the magnetic pieces 11,12 arranged on the ends 6,7 of the arms 2,3, the magnetic pieces 11,12 can be arranged anywhere along the arms 2,3. The magnetic pieces 11,12 can also extend from the ends 6,7 to the ends 8,9, or any length in-between. Furthermore, more than two magnetic pieces 11,12 can be usedsuch as multiple magnetic pairs 11,12 arranged along the arms 2,3, one long magnetic generator 11 paired with multiple magnetic attractors 12, multiple magnetic generators 11 paired with one long magnetic attractor 12, or any combination thereof.

[0063] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, protrusions or teeth 13 line one of the surfaces 4,5, and holes 14 line the other of the surfaces 4,5 into which the protrusions or teeth 13 submerge when the device 1 is closed. This increases the surface area of the device 1 in contact with the hair, thereby increasing the frictional force and making for a more secure grip on the hair.

[0064] The clip 1 may also adhere to the tips of the strands of hair by simple tension from a clamp or other tension coil system creating a tight grip (e.g., a torsion spring arranged near or around the hinge 10). The one or more hair-side surfaces 4,5 of the clip could be a spongey or giving surface 16 that would keep the hair from crimping but also create a non-slip gripping surface to ensure the weighted device does not fall down the length of the strands eventually falling off.

[0065] As shown in FIG. 4, the device may have a 180 opening allowing the arm 3 that is covered in rigid or flexible protrusions or teeth 13 to comb through, manipulate, and untangle hair by running the length of the strands before clamping the hair between the arms 2,3 to sandwich and hold onto the hair.

[0066] As shown in FIG. 5, the interior hair-side surface of the arm 2 can be formed by a resilient material or padding 16, which can be comprise felt, velvet, cushioning (e.g., an elastomeric or foam material such as those listed above for the hair-side surfaces 4,5), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), or the like. The protrusions or teeth 13 on the arm 3 submerge into the padding 16 when the device 1 is closed. Because the padding 16 is a resilient material that deforms when the protrusions or teeth 13 are pushed into it, there is no need for holes 14 to be formed in the interior hair-side surface of the padding 16. However, holes 14 for the protrusions or teeth 13 can be formed in the padding 16 to provide a more secure contact between the protrusions or teeth 13 and the padding 16, and strengthen the grip of the clip 1 on hair.

[0067] The protrusions 13 can be formed from a rigid materiallike hard plastic, resin, metal, wood, etc.to enable the flexible teeth 13 to comb through, manipulate, and untangle hair. The protrusions 13 can also be formed from a deformable and resilient materiallike one an elastomer or foamto provide additional force against the hair and increase the surface area of the clip 1 that actually squeezes the hair. If the teeth 13 are formed from a deformable and resilient material, then there is no need for holes 14 to be formed in the interior hair-side surface 4 of the arm 2. However, such holes 14 for the protrusions 13 can of course be formed in the hair-side surface 4be it deformable or rigidto provide a more secure contact between the teeth 13 and the hair-side surface 4, and strengthen the grip of the clip 1 on hair.

[0068] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the device may be made up of two arms 2,3 that come together through a coiled tension clamp where the interior hair-side surface areas 4,5 of arms 2,3, are made up of felt, velvet, or cushioning (e.g., a foam material) 16 that grasps to the strand ends.

[0069] While the above embodiments have frequently been described as using some soft, deformable padding material to form one or both of the hair-side surface 4,5, one or both of these surfaces can instead be formed from a rigid, non-deformable material, like plastic, metal, resin, or wood. For example, in a variation of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the felt, velvet, or cushioning (e.g., a foam material) 16 of one of the arms 2,3 can be replaced or overlaid with a rigid, non-deformable material. This creates a smooth, taut surface to protects hair from creases and dents.

[0070] FIGS. 1-7 show the two arms 2,3 as being of a uniform width and thickness. But the two arms 2,3 may be of different widths, different thicknesses, or both. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the first arm 2 may include a first portion 2a having a width W.sub.2a, and second portion 2b having a width W.sub.2b that is wider than the width W.sub.2a. The second portion 2b is configured to contact the hair of a user when the hair straightening device 1 is in a closed state. FIG. 8 shows a second portion 2b with a length L.sub.2a that is greater than the width W.sub.2b. But the second portion 2b can also be designed with a with a length L.sub.2a that is equal to or less than the width W.sub.2b. Similarly, the second arm 3 may include a first portion 3a having a width W.sub.3a, and second portion 3b having a width W.sub.3b that is wider than the width W.sub.3a. The first and second portions 2a,2b may be formed from two different pieces that are attached to each other, or may be formed from a single integral piece. Similarly, the first and second portions 3a,3b may be formed from two different pieces that are attached to each other, or may be formed from a single integral piece.

[0071] In addition, the two arms 2,3 may have the same thicknesses, or different thicknesses. For example, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the first arm 2 has a thickness T.sub.2 that is greater than a thickness T.sub.3 of the second arm 3. This configuration can of course be reversed so that the first arm 2 has a thickness T.sub.2 that is less than a thickness T.sub.3 of the second arm 3. Furthermore, the thickness of the two arms 2,3 from the ends 6,7 to the respective ends 8,9 can be constant or varied. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the thickness of each of the arms 2,3 can decrease from the ends 6,7 to the respective ends 8,9 so that the ends 8,9 can be squeezed together by a user against a spring arranged near, in, or around the hinge 10. to separate the ends 6,7 from each other so that hair can be placed between the arms 2,3 before the user releases the ends 8,9 so that the spring can close the ends 6,7 together to grasp the hair.

[0072] As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 the device may be made up of two sides that clamp together by way of a first portion 18 that engages with and is held to a second portion 19. This can be accomplished by hook-and-loop fasteners, snaps, buttons and button holes, interlocking knobs, and the like. In one embodiment, the first portion 18 is a magnetic attractor 12 (e.g., a magnet, a piece of magnetic metal) and the second portion 19 is a magnetic generator 11 (e.g., a magnet) to which the first portion 18 is attracted and held when the device 1 is closed. In this embodiment, the hinge 10 is formed from a flexible materialsuch as flexible plastic, rubber, an elastomeric material (e.g., TPU), fabric, cloth, felt, and the liketo allow the first arm 2 to bend or rotate around the hinge 10 and move between the open position shown in FIG. 11 and the closed position shown in FIG. 12.

[0073] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 11 and 2, the first arm 2, second arm 3, and hinge 10 are formed from a single material. The first and second arms 2,3 include a spongey or giving material 16, such as that described above. Teeth 13 extend from the hair-side surface of the padding 16 of the second arm 3, and push into the hair-side surface of the padding 16 of the first arm 2 when the device 1 is closed. Including protrusions 13 all alone the surface of the arm 3 (e.g., as shown in 11-17) rather than just in a row (e.g., as shown in FIGS. 1-5) further increases the surface area of the device 1 in contact with the hair, making for a more secure grip on the hair.

[0074] The device 1 is heavy enough to lengthen hair or pull curls out without damaging the hair or injuring the userpreferably 5-60 grams. The device can be of a fixed weight or of an adjustable weight. For example, a port 15 can be incorporated into one of both of the ends 6,7 so that the corresponding arm 2,3 can be filled with a substance (e.g., water, sand, etc.) to add or remove weight. The weight creates a smooth surface in the hair without slack that does not permit the hair to recoil upwards. The hair-side surfaces 4,5 are preferably 1-6 inches long and a 1-3 inches wide; therefore creating a surface area of 1-18 square inches.

[0075] FIGS. 13-17 show an embodiment of the device 1 where the hinge 10 is formed has ends 10A,10B and a shaft 10C. At least one of the two arms 2,3 slides along the shaft so that the arms can move between an open state shown in FIG. 16 and a closed state shown in FIG. 17. The shaft 10C is formed of any of the flexible materials mentioned above. For example, the shaft 10C may be formed of a resilient and elastic material so as to act like a flat spring. As another example, the shaft 10C may be malleable and bendable without any resilience or elasticity (e.g., formed by a fabric material). This allows that shaft 10C to bend as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. Rows of protrusions 13 are formed along the hair-side surface 5 of the arm 3. The arms 2,3 are held in the closed position by any of the mechanisms discussed above, including hook-and-loop fasteners, snaps, buttons and button holes, magnets, and the like. For example part of the one or both of the arms 2,3 may be formed by a magnetic material. Similarly, each of the arms 2,3 may be formed multiple layers, one of which is formed by a magnetic piece (i.e., a magnetic generator or a magnetic attractor as described above). This would allow for a magnetic field to be generated across the entire hair-side surface of at least one of the arms 2,3ensuring a more secure closure of the two arms 2,3 than if the magnetic field was localized to just a portion of one of the hair-side surfaces.

[0076] The protrusions 13 may be formed in a variety of shapes. For example, each tooth can be formed to have a width that decreases as the tooth extends from the interior surface of the second armsuch as in the shape of a cone or pyramid. Alternatively, each tooth can have a width that is constant as the tooth extends from the interior surface of the second armsuch as a column or pillar. The cross section of such a straight-sided column or pillar may be circular, triangular, rectangular, or the like. The protrusions 13 can have pointed, rounded, or flat ends.

[0077] Each tooth or protrusion 13 has a height H.sub.P that extends perpendicular from a hair-side surface of the respective arm 2,3, and has a length and a width that are both perpendicular to the height. While many of the embodiments of the protrusions 13 shown in the drawings have widths and lengths that are equal to each other, this does not need to be the case. For example, the protrusions 13 can each be formed to have a length L.sub.P that is greater than a width W.sub.P.

[0078] Any shape can be used for such protrusions 13, with some examples of such shapes shown in FIGS. 18A-18D. For example, FIG. 18A protrusion may be formed to have wave-like cross section with a curved peak. FIG. 18C shows another example where the protrusions 13 have a trapezoidal cross section with a flat peak. And FIG. 18D shows the protrusions 13 having a triangular cross section with a pointed peak.

[0079] As mentioned above, the length L.sub.P of each protrusion 13 may be equal to or greater than the corresponding width W.sub.P. Furthermore, the length direction of each protrusion 13 may be parallel to the length direction and perpendicular to the width direction of the corresponding arm 2,3. In another embodiment, the length direction of each protrusion 13 is parallel to the width direction and perpendicular to the length direction of the corresponding arm 2,3. In yet another embodiment, the length direction of each protrusion 13 intersects with both the length direction and the width direction of the corresponding arm 2,3.

[0080] The length L.sub.P of each protrusion 13 may be substantially equal to the length or width of the arm 2,3, on which the protrusion is arranged. For example, the entire hair-side surface 4,5 of one or both of the arms 2,3 may contoured with protrusion 13 formed as ribs or ridges with peaks 21 and troughs 22. If both hair-side surfaces 4,5 of the arms 2,3 are contoured with ribs/ridges, preferably the peaks 21 of the hair-side surface 4 fit in the troughs 22 of the hair-side surface 5 and the peaks 21 of the hair-side surface 5 fit in the troughs 22 of the hair-side surface 4 with the device 1 is in the closed state.

[0081] The hair-side surfaces of the troughs 22 may be smooth as shown in FIGS. 18A, 18C, and 18D, or may include mini protrusions 23 as shown in FIG. 18B. Preferably, the height of the mini protrusions 23 is less than the height H.sub.P of the protrusions 13 so that the peaks of the mini protrusions 23 do not extend past the peaks 21 of the protrusions 13. While the mini protrusions 23 have only been shown with regard to a wave-like cross section, such mini protrusions 23 can be included in any cross-sectional shape (e.g., the trapezoidal cross section of FIG. 18C, the triangular cross section of FIG. 18D, etc).

[0082] FIGS. 19 and 20 show an embodiment of the device 1 where the two sides/arms 2,3 clamp together by way of corresponding knobs 20 that interlock as shown in FIG. 20 to hold the device 1 in the closed state.

[0083] The arms or sides 2,3 may be rigid so as to have a cross section in the length or width direction that is curved, straight, or a combination thereof. Alternatively, the arms or sides 2,3 may be malleable so that they can be bent by a user into the desired shape. This would allow the hair to be shaped as each user desires. FIG. 21A shows a hair straightening device 1 with bendable arms 2,3 in a straight state. FIG. 21B shows the hair straightening device 1 after the arms 2,3 have been bent by a user. The arms 2,3 will stay in that bent shape until it is changed by the user. Such arms can be bent and shaped before the device 1 is applied to the hair, or after it is applied. While FIG. 21B shows arms 2,3 with both bent portions and straight portions, the entire length of each arm 2,3 may of course be bent or curved.

[0084] It is noted that the embodiments described above are not exclusive to each other.

[0085] In particular, any feature from any embodiment may be used in another embodiment. Similarly, the any of the features of a given embodiment may be combined with any of the features in any of the other embodiments.

[0086] It is also noted that the terminology used above is for the purpose of reference only, and is not intended to be limiting. For example, terms such as upper, lower, above, below, rightward, leftward, clockwise, and counterclockwise refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made. As another example, terms such as inward and outward may refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the component described. As a further example, terms such as front, rear, side, left side, right side, top, bottom, horizontal, and vertical describe the orientation of portions of the component within a consistent but arbitrary frame of reference which is made clear by reference to the text and the associated drawings describing the component under discussion. Such terminology will include the words specifically mentioned above, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import.

[0087] While this invention has been described in conjunction with the specific embodiments outlined above, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the preferred embodiments of the invention as set forth above are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventions as defined in the following claims.

[0088] In addition, it is noted that citation or identification of any document in this application is not an admission that such document is available as prior art to the present invention.