TWO FLOOR EXPANDABLE HOUSE STRUCTURE

Abstract

A two-level expandable house structure can be used on an innovative recreational vehicle or new kind of movable house. The two-level structure will offer more space to people. For the same footprint area, a two-floor house will have more square footage of living space. The second level can be formed over a main section, which defines the footprint of the expandable house in the collapsed state, and also expansion sections that extend from one or both sides of the main section. Thus, the expandable house may expand to about three times its footprint and, with the second level, may expand to about six times the living space as compared to the main structure.

Claims

1. An expandable structure comprising: a main section, the main section defining a footprint of the expandable structure in a collapsed state, the main section including a front wall and a rear wall, with sides spanning between the front and rear walls; a first expansion section, the first expansion section expandable outward in a first direction from a first side of the main structure; and a second expansion section, the second expansion section expandable upward to create a living space above both the main structure and the first expansion section in a fully expanded state.

2. The expandable structure of claim 1, further comprising a third expansion section, the third expansion section expandable outward in a second direction, opposite the first direction, from a second side, opposite the first side, of the main structure, wherein the second expansion section creates a living space above the third expansion section.

3. The expandable structure of claim 1, further comprising an outer wall of the first expansion section is movable from a position adjacent the main section in the collapsed state, to a position away from the main section in the fully expanded state.

4. The expandable structure of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of expansion arms interconnecting the outer wall with the main section, the plurality of expansion arms expandable and contractable to move the outer wall.

5. The expandable structure of claim 1, further comprising a first level expansion section floor member, the first level expansion section floor member disposed substantially vertically adjacent the main structure in the collapsed state, the first level expansion section floor member movable to provide a floor for the first expansion section in the fully expanded state.

6. The expandable structure of claim 1, further comprising front and rear expansion section walls pivotably attached to the main section, the front and rear expansion section walls movable between a first position, adjacent the first side of the main section in the collapsed state, and a second position, with the front expansion section wall extending between the front wall of the main section and a front edge of the outer wall and the rear expansion section wall extending between the rear wall of the main section and a rear edge of the outer wall when the expandable structure is in the fully expanded state.

7. The expandable structure of claim 1, further comprising a main section upper front wall extendable from a front slot formed in the front wall of the main section; and a main section upper rear wall extendable from a rear slot formed in the rear wall of the main structure.

8. The expandable structure of claim 7, further comprising a roof system attached to an upper edge of the main section upper front and rear walls, where extension of the main section upper front and rear walls from respective front and rear walls of the main section raises the roof system to reveal a main section floor in a fixed position thereunder.

9. The expandable structure of claim 8, further comprising upper level floor panels disposed within a floor slot formed in the main section floor in the collapsed state, the upper level floor panels movable from the floor slot to provide a second level floor above the first expansion section.

10. The expandable structure of claim 1, further comprising: an outer wall of the first expansion section is movable from a position adjacent the main section in the collapsed state, to a position away from the main section in the fully expanded state; front and rear expansion section walls pivotably attached to the main section, the front and rear expansion section walls movable between a first position, adjacent the first side of the main section in the collapsed state, and a second position, with the front expansion section wall extending between the front wall of the main section and a front edge of the outer wall and the rear expansion section wall extending between the rear wall of the main section and a rear edge of the outer wall when the expandable structure is in the fully expanded state; front and rear upper expansion section walls disposed within wall slots formed in respective front and rear expansion section walls in the collapsed state, the front and rear upper expansion section walls expandable from the wall slots to form second level front and rear expansion section walls in the fully expanded state; and an outer wall upper wall disposed within an outer wall slot formed in the outer wall in the collapsed state, the outer wall upper wall expandable from the outer wall slot to form a second level outer wall in the fully expanded state.

11. The expandable structure of claim 10, further comprising: a roof system attached to an upper edge of main section upper front and rear walls, where extension of the main section upper front and rear walls from respective front and rear walls of the main section raises the roof system to reveal a main section floor in a fixed position thereunder; a fixed roof panel covering at least a portion of the main section; and a plurality of movable roof panels movable from within the fixed roof panel to provide a roof over the first expansion section.

12. The expandable structure of claim 10, further comprising: a first wall spacer operable to fill a gap between the main section upper front wall and the front upper expansion section wall; a second wall spacer operable to fill a gap between the main section upper rear wall and the rear upper expansion section wall; a first corner spacer operable to fill a gap between the front upper expansion section wall and the outer wall upper wall; and a second corner spacer operable to fill a gap between the rear upper expansion section wall and the outer wall upper wall.

13. An expandable structure comprising: a main section, the main section defining a footprint of the expandable structure in a collapsed state, the main section including a front wall and a rear wall, with sides spanning between the front and rear walls; a first expansion section, the first expansion section expandable outward in a first direction from a first side of the main structure; a second expansion section, the second expansion section expandable outward in a second direction, opposite the first direction, from a second side, opposite the first side, of the main structure; a third expansion section, the third expansion section expandable upward to create a living space above the main structure, the first expansion section and the second expansion section in a fully expanded state; a first outer wall of the first expansion section is movable from a position adjacent the first side of the main section in the collapsed state, to a position away from the main section in the fully expanded state; a second outer wall of the second expansion section is movable from a position adjacent the second side of the main section in the collapsed state, to a position away from the main section in the fully expanded state; a first level first expansion section floor member, the first level first expansion section floor member disposed substantially vertically adjacent the first side of the main structure in the collapsed state, the first level first expansion section floor member movable to provide a floor for the first expansion section in the fully expanded state; a first level second expansion section floor member, the first level second expansion section floor member disposed substantially vertically adjacent the second side of the main structure in the collapsed state, the first level second expansion section floor member movable to provide a floor for the second expansion section in the fully expanded state; first and second sets of front and rear expansion section walls, the first set pivotably attached to the first side of the main section and the second set pivotably attached to the second side of the main structure, the first and second sets of front and rear expansion section walls movable between a first position, adjacent respective first and second sides of the main section in the collapsed state, and a second position, with the front expansion section wall extending between the front wall of the main section and a front edge of respective first and second outer walls and the rear expansion section wall extending between the rear wall of the main section and a rear edge of respective first and second outer walls when the expandable structure is in the fully expanded state.

14. The expandable structure of claim 13, further comprising: front and rear upper first expansion section walls disposed within wall slots formed in respective front and rear first expansion section walls in the collapsed state, the front and rear upper first expansion section walls expandable from the wall slots to form second level front and rear first expansion section walls in the fully expanded state; a first outer wall upper wall disposed within an outer wall slot formed in the first outer wall in the collapsed state, the first outer wall upper wall expandable from the outer wall slot to form a first second level outer wall in the fully expanded state; front and rear upper second expansion section walls disposed within wall slots formed in respective front and rear second expansion section walls in the collapsed state, the front and rear upper second expansion section walls expandable from the wall slots to form second level front and rear second expansion section walls in the fully expanded state; and a second outer wall upper wall disposed within an outer wall slot formed in the second outer wall in the collapsed state, the second outer wall upper wall expandable from the outer wall slot to form a second second level outer wall in the fully expanded state.

15. The expandable structure of claim 14, further comprising a main section upper front wall extendable from a front slot formed in the front wall of the main section; and a main section upper rear wall extendable from a rear slot formed in the rear wall of the main structure.

16. The expandable structure of claim 15, further comprising: a roof system attached to an upper edge of main section upper front and rear walls, where extension of the main section upper front and rear walls from respective front and rear walls of the main section raises the roof system to reveal a main section floor in a fixed position thereunder; a fixed roof panel covering at least a portion of the main section; and a plurality of movable roof panels movable from within the fixed roof panel to provide a roof over the first expansion section.

17. The expandable structure of claim 16, further comprising: a first set of first wall spacers operable to fill a gap between the main section upper front wall and the front upper first and second expansion section walls; a second set of second wall spacers operable to fill a gap between the main section upper rear wall and the rear upper first and second expansion section walls; a first set of first corner spacers operable to fill a gap between the front upper first and second expansion section walls and respective first and second outer wall upper walls; and a second set of second corner spacers operable to fill a gap between the rear upper first and second expansion section walls and respective first and second outer wall upper walls.

18. An expandable structure comprising: a main section, the main section defining a footprint of the expandable structure in a collapsed state, the main section including a front wall and a rear wall, with sides spanning between the front and rear walls; a main section upper front wall extendable from a front slot formed in the front wall of the main section; a main section upper rear wall extendable from a rear slot formed in the rear wall of the main structure; a first expansion section, the first expansion section expandable outward in a first direction from a first side of the main structure, the first expansion, in a fully expanded state, defined by front and rear first expansion section walls and an outer wall; and a second expansion section, the second expansion section expandable upward to create a living space above both the main structure and the first expansion section in the fully expanded state, the second expansion section, in the fully expanded state, defined by front and rear upper first expansion section walls and an upper outer wall, wherein the front upper first expansion section wall expandable from a slot in a top surface of the front first expansion section wall; the rear upper first expansion section wall expandable from a second slot in a top surface of the rear first expansion section wall; and the upper outer wall expandable from a third slot in a top surface of the outer wall.

19. The expandable structure of claim 18, further comprising a roof system attached to an upper edge of the main section upper front and rear walls, where extension of the main section upper front and rear walls from respective front and rear walls of the main section raises the roof system to reveal a main section floor in a fixed position thereunder.

20. The expandable structure of claim 19, further comprising upper level floor panels disposed within a floor slot formed in the main section floor in the collapsed state, the upper level floor panels movable from the floor slot to provide a second level floor above the first expansion section.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Some embodiments of the present invention are illustrated as an example and are not limited by the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references may indicate similar elements.

[0011] FIG. 1A illustrates a perspective view of an expandable house in a collapsed state, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0012] FIG. 1B illustrates a perspective view of the expandable house of FIG. 1A, in a fully expanded state;

[0013] FIG. 2 illustrates a pictorial method for expanding the expandable house of FIG. 1A into the fully expanded state shown in FIG. 1B;

[0014] FIG. 3A illustrates a perspective view of an outer expansion wall of the expandable house of FIG. 1A;

[0015] FIG. 3B illustrates a partially cut-away side view of one side expansion section with the outer expansion wall fully expanded and the floor panel moving into a deployed position in the expandable house of FIG. 1A;

[0016] FIG. 3C illustrates an outer side view of a front or rear wall for a side expansion section of the expandable house of FIG. 1A;

[0017] FIG. 3D illustrates an outer side perspective view of the front or rear wall of FIG. 3C;

[0018] FIG. 3E illustrates a perspective view of the expandable house of FIG. 1A with one side expansion section fully expanded and side walls moving into a deployed position;

[0019] FIG. 4A illustrates a perspective view of a main frame design of the main section of the expandable house of FIG. 1A;

[0020] FIG. 4B illustrates a perspective view of one side expansion section being expanded and second level floor panels sliding out of the main section to provide a second level floor over the side expansion section;

[0021] FIG. 5A illustrates an outer side perspective view of a front or rear expansion wall showing a second level wall expanding out of the first level front or rear expansion wall;

[0022] FIG. 5B illustrates an outer side view of the front or rear expansion wall of FIG. 5A;

[0023] FIG. 6A illustrates a perspective view of a second level attachment between the front or rear raised expansion wall and the main section raised wall, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] FIG. 6B illustrates a detailed view of the second floor attachment of FIG. 6A;

[0025] FIG. 7A illustrates a second level corner sealing attachment between the expansion outer wall and the expansion raised front or rear wall, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] FIG. 7B illustrates a detailed view of the corner sealing attachment of FIG. 7A;

[0027] FIG. 8A illustrates a perspective view of a retractable roof structure in a fully expanded state; and

[0028] FIG. 8B illustrates a top view of the retractable roof structure of FIG. 8A, showing the direction of expansion thereof.

[0029] The illustrations in the figures may not necessarily be drawn to scale.

[0030] The invention and its various embodiments can now be better understood by turning to the following detailed description wherein illustrated embodiments are described. It is to be expressly understood that the illustrated embodiments are set forth as examples and not by way of limitations on the invention as ultimately defined in the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS AND BEST MODE OF INVENTION

[0031] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term and/or includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms a, an, and the are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms comprises and/or comprising, when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

[0032] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

[0033] In describing the invention, it will be understood that a number of techniques and steps are disclosed. Each of these has individual benefit and each can also be used in conjunction with one or more, or in some cases all, of the other disclosed techniques. Accordingly, for the sake of clarity, this description will refrain from repeating every possible combination of the individual steps in an unnecessary fashion. Nevertheless, the specification and claims should be read with the understanding that such combinations are entirely within the scope of the invention and the claims.

[0034] In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.

[0035] The present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated by the figures or description below.

[0036] As is well known to those skilled in the art, many careful considerations and compromises typically must be made when designing for the optimal configuration of a commercial implementation of any system, and in particular, the embodiments of the present invention. A commercial implementation in accordance with the spirit and teachings of the present invention may be configured according to the needs of the particular application, whereby any aspect(s), feature(s), function(s), result(s), component(s), approach(es), or step(s) of the teachings related to any described embodiment of the present invention may be suitably omitted, included, adapted, mixed and matched, or improved and/or optimized by those skilled in the art, using their average skills and known techniques, to achieve the desired implementation that addresses the needs of the particular application.

[0037] Broadly, embodiments of the present invention provide a two-floor expandable house structure. The structure can be used on an innovative recreational vehicle or new kind of movable house. A two-story structure will offer more space to people. For the same footprint area, a two-floor house will have more square footage of living space. The second level can be formed over a main section, which defines the footprint of the expandable house in the collapsed state, and also expansion sections that extend from one or both sides of the main section. Thus, the expandable house may expand to about three times its footprint and, with the second level, may expand to about six times the living space as compared to the main structure.

[0038] The figures are briefly described below, followed by a broader discussion of each figure and the components therein.

[0039] FIG. 1A illustrates the folded status of the structure. The structure can be 86 width, 12 height, and 20 length which makes it a non-overload item on-the-road travel. FIG. 1B illustrates the expanded status which expands the overall footprint area by about three times. By expanding up, the entire structure has a living space that is expanded about six times larger than that of the collapsed state.

[0040] FIG. 2 illustrates the expanding process of the structure. In step 1, the outside wall of the first floor is expanded outward. In step 2, the two floor panels of the first floor are folded down. In step 3, the side walls of the first floor are rotated outward. In step 4, the middle part of the second level, with the roof, is raised upward. In step 5, the second level slabs are slid out from the main section to form a floor over the expansion sections. In step 6, the side walls are raised up from the walls of the first level. In step 7, mechanical panels are positioned to eliminate gaps between walls of the second level. In step 8, the roof is expanded out from the main section to cover the expansion sections, and accordingly, cover the entire structure.

[0041] FIG. 3A introduces the outer wall of the first level. The outer walls can be controlled by hydraulic rods, for example. This enables the wall to be folded back and pushed out. FIG. 3B illustrates the floor panel of the first level. The floor panel can be hingedly connected to the main structure. There can exist some kind of mechanism to drop the floor down, such as hydraulic arms, a gear controlled hinge, or the like. FIGS. 3C and 3D show the side wall panels of the expanded part of the first level. As shown in FIG. 3E, the side wall panels can spin out after the outer wall and floor panel can be set up.

[0042] FIG. 4A illustrates the main frame design of the structure. Two side walls can be hollow inside. There are lifting mechanisms set inside the hollow side walls. The lifting mechanisms can raise the wall panels for second level. The ceiling panel, which is the floor of second level, has three parts, for example. The middle part is for the stairs. The two side parts are hollow for the floor panels storage. As shown in FIG. 4B, the floor panels slide out from the middle storage of the main section.

[0043] FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate the side wall mechanism. In some embodiments, there are screw rods inside the wall of first floor. The wall panels for second level are connected with a ball screw mechanism and set inside the first-level wall panels. After driving the screw rod, the wall panels for second level can move up and down.

[0044] FIG. 6A illustrates a small panel to eliminate the gap between the expanded second-level wall panels. For the middle panels, there are sliding pieces which were inside the middle wall panel. They can be inserted into shallow slots on the side wall panels. As shown in FIG. 6B, the small piece panel can mate with the slots and finally eliminate the gaps.

[0045] FIG. 7A illustrates an exemplary method for eliminating the gap at the corners. There is a small panel piece which can rotate out from the outer wall of the second floor. As shown in FIG. 7B, the small piece panel will hook onto the side walls.

[0046] Referring now to FIGS. 1A and 1B, an expandable house 10 (also referred to simply as house 10) includes a retractable roof system 12 that includes fixed roof panels 121 that cover a main section 11 of the house 10 and movable roof panels 122 that cover an expansion section 13 of the house 10. The movable roof panels 122 may stack or nest within the fixed roof panels 121 in the collapsed state as shown in FIG. 1A.

[0047] The house 10 can include a front side 18, a rear side 16 and outer walls 14. The outer sides 14 are movable away from the main section 11 to expand the structure, as discussed in greater detail below. When collapsed, as shown in FIG. 1A, the front expansion wall 24 and the rear expansion wall 22 may be folded and stored between the outer wall 14 and the main section 11. Similarly, in the collapsed state, the floor panel 20 may be disposed substantially vertically between the outer wall 14 and the main section 11. In some embodiments, the floor panel 20 is stored substantially coplanar with the outer wall 14 and/or the folded front and rear expansion walls 24, 22.

[0048] In the expanded state, as shown in FIG. 1B, a second level 15 may be formed over both the main section 11 and the expansion sections 13. The second level 15 may be bounded by expansion section upper front and rear walls 32, expansion section upper outer walls 30 and the main section upper front and rear walls 34, as described in greater detail below.

[0049] Referring to FIG. 2, a general expanding process of the house 10 is shown. In step S1, the outer wall 14 of the first level is expanded outward. In step S2, the two floor panels 20 of the first level are folded down. In step S3, the front and rear expansion walls 24, 22 of the first level are rotated outward. In step S4, the middle part of the second level, with the roof system 12, is raised upward, along with main section upper front and rear walls 34. As can be seen, a floor surface 40 is provided below the roof system 12 and the floor surface 40 is exposed upon raising the roof system 12. An opening 42 is provided in the floor surface 40 to provide steps 44 between the first and second levels. In step S5, the second level floor panels 46 are slid out from storage within the floor surface 40 of the main section 11 to form a floor over the expansion sections 13 (and a roof for the lower level). In step S6, the expansion section upper front and rear walls 32 are raised up from the front and rear expansion walls 24, 22 of the first level. In step S7, mechanical panels, as described below, are positioned to eliminate gaps between walls of the second level. In step S8, the roof system 12 is expanded out from the main section 11 to cover the expansion sections 13, and accordingly, cover the entire expandable house 10.

[0050] Referring now to FIGS. 3A through 3E, the outer wall 14 can be attached to expansion arms 50 that may be attached to and extend from the main section 11 to push the outer wall 14 into the extended state. While four expansion arms 50 are shown (one in each corner of the outer wall 14), it should be understood that more or fewer expansion arms may be used. The inside surface 54 of the outer wall 14 may include a slot 52 running along an upper edge thereof. The slot 52 may be used to receive a floor panel 46, as described below, when the floor for the second level is expanded.

[0051] When the outer wall 14 is fully expanded, as shown in FIG. 3B, the floor 20 for the first level may be pivoted into a user position. In some embodiments, the floor 20 may be hingedly connected to the main section 11 at a pivot axis 56. As discussed above, the floor 20 may be moved by various mechanisms, such as hydraulic arms, gears, or the like.

[0052] As shown in FIGS. 3C and 3D, the front expansion wall 24 can include lower and upper slots 60, 62 formed along upper and bottom vertical edges of an outer surface thereof. The slots 60, 62 can receive the expansion arms 50 as the front and rear expansion walls 24, 22 are moved into an expanded state, as shown in FIG. 3E. In inner slot 64 may be formed along an upper vertical edge of the front and rear expansion walls 24, 22 for receiving the floor panels 46, as discussed below, as they are moved into position to provide a floor for the second level.

[0053] FIG. 4A illustrates the framework forming the main section 11. The framework includes the front wall 18, the rear wall 16, and the floor surface 40 forming the roof of the first level and the floor for the second level. A first level floor 74 may span between the front and rear walls 18, 16. The front and rear walls 18, 16 can include a slot 70 that houses the main section upper walls 34 (see FIG. 4B, for example). A slot 68 can be formed on each side, below the floor surface 40. The slot 68 houses the floor panels 46, as described below. Openings 72 are provided in the front and rear walls 18, 16 for housing the expansion arms 50 (see FIG. 3E, for example).

[0054] FIG. 4B shows the rear side of the house second level expanded upward, including the main section upper rear wall 34 and the expansion section upper rear wall 32. FIG. 4B further illustrates the floor panels 46 being slid from the slot 68 (see FIG. 4A) to form a ceiling for the first level and a floor for the second level. It should be understood that, in FIG. 4B, the front walls and the outer wall on the second level are not illustrated for clarity purposes.

[0055] FIGS. 5A ad 5B show the expansion section upper front wall 32 being raised from the front expansion wall 24. A track 74 may be disposed along a slot 78 (see FIG. 6B) formed along opposing vertical edges of the expansion section upper front wall 32. The track 74 may be a gear, a screw or the like. The track 74 may be used to raise the and lower expansion section upper front wall 32 in conjunction with a mating gear or other drive mechanism (not shown) as may be known in the art.

[0056] FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate a wall spacer 76 that may extend, via arms 78, out of the main section upper front and rear walls 34 to sealingly engage with the expansion section upper front wall 32 once the walls 34, 32 are fully raised.

[0057] FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate a corner spacer 80 that may be pivotably attached to the expansion section upper front and rear walls 32 to sealingly engage with the expansion section outer wall 30 (which, itself, can be raised up from the outer wall 14 in a manner similar to or different from the raising and lowering of the expansion section upper front and rear walls 32, as described above).

[0058] FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrates the roof system 12, where fixed roof panels 121 can house movable roof panels 122 that can be expanded, as shown by the arrows in FIG. 8B, out of their storage position in the fixed roof panels 121 to cover the entire expandable house 10 when in the fully expanded state.

[0059] All the features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanying abstract and drawings, may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

[0060] Claim elements and steps herein may have been numbered and/or lettered solely as an aid in readability and understanding. Any such numbering and lettering in itself is not intended to and should not be taken to indicate the ordering of elements and/or steps in the claims.

[0061] Many alterations and modifications may be made by those having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiments have been set forth only for the purposes of examples and that they should not be taken as limiting the invention as defined by the following claims. For example, notwithstanding the fact that the elements of a claim are set forth below in a certain combination, it must be expressly understood that the invention includes other combinations of fewer, more or different ones of the disclosed elements.

[0062] The words used in this specification to describe the invention and its various embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this specification the generic structure, material or acts of which they represent a single species.

[0063] The definitions of the words or elements of the following claims are, therefore, defined in this specification to not only include the combination of elements which are literally set forth. In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the elements in the claims below or that a single element may be substituted for two or more elements in a claim. Although elements may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, it is to be expressly understood that one or more elements from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination and that the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.

[0064] Insubstantial changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalently within the scope of the claims. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements.

[0065] The claims are thus to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, what can be obviously substituted and also what incorporates the essential idea of the invention.