Fiber optic connector with boot-integrated release and related assemblies

Abstract

Fiber optic connectors, including SC and MPO connectors that include a strain relief boot operably coupled with a release mechanism for releasing the connector from an adapter or other termination device or receptacle. The strain relief boot can be operably coupled to move axially together with the outer housing of the connector.

Claims

1. A fiber optic connector assembly, the assembly having a mated configuration and a non-mated configuration, comprising: a fiber optic socket including first locking features; and a fiber optic connector having a longitudinal axis extending from a front to a back of the connector, the connector including second locking features, a first housing supporting a ferrule, a second housing that moves axially relative to the first housing, and a strain relief boot; wherein in the mated configuration a forward portion of the second housing is housed in the fiber optic socket such that the second locking features lockingly engage the first locking features; wherein the second housing is operably coupled to the strain relief boot such that the second housing and the strain relief boot axially move together relative to the first housing; wherein the fiber optic connector further includes a flange extending radially away from the longitudinal axis, the flange extending from a rear portion of the strain relief boot; and wherein in the mated configuration axial rearward movement of the strain relief boot causes the second housing to engage and flex resilient latch arms disposed in the fiber optic socket to disengage the first locking features from the second locking features.

2. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the flange has a curved outer profile.

3. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the first housing is an inner housing and the second housing is an outer housing.

4. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the second housing and the strain relief boot are portions of an integral single-piece release mechanism.

5. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the strain relief boot is adapted to be flexed away from the longitudinal axis.

6. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the strain relief boot is disposed entirely rearward of the first housing.

7. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the second housing is sleeved over at least a portion of the first housing.

8. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the second locking features are included on the first housing.

9. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the second housing is axially spring loaded.

10. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the first locking features include projections defined by the resilient latch arms.

11. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the second locking features include catches protruding from opposing sides of the first housing and notches positioned rearward of the catches, the notches being configured to receive the projections when the assembly is in the mated configuration.

12. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, wherein in the mated configuration axial rearward movement of the strain relief boot causes the outer housing to spread apart the resilient latch arms disposed in the fiber optic socket to disengage the first locking features from the second locking features.

13. A fiber optic connector configured to mate with a fiber optic socket having first locking features, the connector comprising: a longitudinal axis extending from a front to a back of the connector; second locking features; a first housing supporting a ferrule; a second housing that moves axially relative to the first housing; a strain relief boot; and a flange extending radially away from the longitudinal axis, the flange extending from a rear portion of the strain relief boot, wherein the connector is configured such that when the connector is mated with the fiber optic socket, a forward portion of the second housing is housed in the fiber optic socket such that the second locking features lockingly engage the first locking features; wherein the second housing is operably coupled to the strain relief boot such that the second housing and the strain relief boot axially move together relative to the first housing; and wherein the connector is configured such that when the connector is mated with the fiber optic socket, axial rearward movement of the strain relief boot causes the second housing to engage and flex resilient latch arms disposed in the socket to disengage the first locking features from the second locking features.

14. The fiber optic connector of claim 13, wherein the first housing is an inner housing and the second housing is an outer housing that is sleeved over at least a portion of the inner housing.

15. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 13, wherein the second locking features are included on the first housing.

16. A fiber optic connector configured to mate with a fiber optic socket having first locking features, the connector comprising: a longitudinal axis extending from a front to a back of the connector; second locking features; a first housing supporting a ferrule; a second housing that moves axially relative to the first housing; a strain relief boot; and a flange extending radially away from the longitudinal axis, the flange extending from a rear portion of the strain relief boot, wherein the connector is configured such that when the connector is mated with the fiber optic socket, a forward portion of the second housing is housed in the fiber optic socket such that the second locking features lockingly engage the first locking features; wherein the second housing is operably coupled to the strain relief boot such that the second housing and the strain relief boot axially move together relative to the first housing; and wherein the connector is configured such that when the connector is mated with the fiber optic socket, axial rearward movement of the strain relief boot causes the second housing to engage, flex, and spread apart resilient latch arms disposed in the socket to disengage the first locking features from the second locking features.

17. The fiber optic connector of claim 16, wherein the first housing is an inner housing and the second housing is an outer housing that is sleeved over at least a portion of the inner housing.

18. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 16, wherein the second locking features are included on the first housing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The following drawings are illustrative of particular embodiments of the present disclosure and therefore do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. The drawings are not to scale and are intended for use in conjunction with the explanations in the following detailed description. Embodiments of the present disclosure will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like numerals denote like elements.

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example prior art SC connector.

(3) FIG. 2 is an exploded view of portions of the prior art SC connector of FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an example prior art MPO connector.

(5) FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of a fiber optic connector in accordance with the present disclosure, including an optical cable.

(6) FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the fiber optic connector of FIG. 4.

(7) FIG. 6 is a front view of the fiber optic connector of FIG. 4.

(8) FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the fiber optic connector of FIG. 4 along the line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

(9) FIG. 8 is a further cross-sectional view of the fiber optic connector of FIG. 4 along the line 8-8 of FIG. 6.

(10) FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the fiber optic connector of FIG. 4.

(11) FIG. 10 is an exploded view of an example prior art SC adapter.

(12) FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an assembly including the fiber optic connector of FIG. 4 and the adapter of FIG. 9, the fiber optic connector being in a mated configuration with the fiber optic adapter.

(13) FIG. 12 is a further perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 10.

(14) FIG. 13 is a further perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 10, with a portion of the adapter removed.

(15) FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an assembly including the connector of FIG. 4 and a portion of the adapter of FIG. 9.

(16) FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a distribution array of a plurality of the assemblies of FIG. 10.

(17) FIG. 16 is a top perspective view of a further fiber optic connector in accordance with the present disclosure, including a fiber optic cable.

(18) FIG. 17 is a bottom perspective view of the fiber optic connector of FIG. 15.

(19) FIG. 18 is a top view of the fiber optic connector of FIG. 15.

(20) FIG. 19 is a front view of the fiber optic connector of FIG. 15.

(21) FIG. 20 is a perspective view of an example adapter that is compatible with the connector of FIG. 16.

(22) FIG. 21 is a front view of the adapter of FIG. 19.

(23) FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view of the adapter of FIG. 19 along the line 22-22 in FIG. 21.

(24) FIG. 23 is a perspective view of an example assembly including the fiber optic connector of FIG. 15 and the adapter of FIG. 19, the fiber optic connector being in a mated configuration with the fiber optic adapter.

(25) FIG. 24 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of the assembly of FIG. 22.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(26) Various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout the several views. Reference to various embodiments does not limit the scope of the invention, which is limited only by the scope of the claims attached hereto. Additionally, any examples set forth in this specification are not intended to be limiting and merely set forth some of the many possible embodiments for the claimed invention.

(27) Referring to FIGS. 1-2, a prior art SC connector 10 axially extends along the axis A.sub.1 between a front 11 and a back 13 of the connector 10. Generally, the SC connector 10 includes a plurality of discrete parts that are assembled together to form the connector 10. The parts include, e.g., an inner housing 14 supporting a spring loaded ferrule 16, a rear housing 18 adapted to frictionally mount a flexible strain relief boot 20, and an outer housing 22 positioned around the inner housing 14. The rear housing 18 is a separate component from the inner housing and the two are coupled together when assembling the connector 10. A removable dust cap 24 can be sleeved over the ferrule 16 to protect the ferrule 16 when the connector is not in use. The flexible strain relief boot 20 is not operably coupled to the outer housing 22, but rather is effectively affixed to the rear housing 18 and, thereby, the inner housing 14.

(28) The outer housing 22 moves axially relative to the inner housing 14 (and also relative to the flexible strain relief boot 20) between forward most and rearward most positions. To axially move the outer housing 22 relative to the inner housing 14, a user can grasp the finger hold 26 toward the rear of the outer housing 22.

(29) The inner housing 14 includes a protruding catch 28 on each of two opposing sides and a protruding stop 30 rearward of the catches 28 on each of the two opposing sides. Each of the pair of protruding catches 28 and the pair of protruding stops 30 partially extends into a window 32 on either side of the outer housing 22. The protruding catches 28 engage a forward portion of the frames of the window 32 when the outer housing 22 is in its rearward most position relative to the inner housing 14. The protruding stops 30 engage a rearward portion of the frames of the windows 32 when the outer housing 22 is in its forward most position relative to the inner housing 14.

(30) A pair of axially extending guides 36, 38 above and below each window 32 on either side of the outer housing are adapted to engage flexible latch arms disposed in the socket of an adapter (not shown in FIGS. 1-2). As the connector 10 is axially pushed forwards into the adapter socket, the guides 36, 38, engage the flexible latch arms of the adapter and spread them apart until the protruding catches 28 clear the latch arms rearwardly. As the connector continues to push forward, the guides 36, 38 then release the latch arms, allowing the latch arms to snap over the rear of the protruding catches 28 and into the notch 40 immediately behind each of the protruding catches 28, which axially stabilizes or locks the connector 10 relative to the adapter.

(31) To remove the connector 10 from the adapter, the outer housing 22 is pulled rearwards such that the guides 36 and 38 again engage the latch arms of the adapter and spread them apart (i.e., out of the notches 40) such that the latch arms can clear the protruding catches 28 forwardly and thereby release the connector 10. Thus, the technician must be able to reach the outer housing 22 in order to disengage the connector 10 from its adapter or other receptacle.

(32) The guides 36, 38 are contoured with chamfers, peaks and troughs to provide for the latch arm engagement and disengagement described.

(33) A keying feature 42 on the outer housing 22 can be adapted to mate with a complementary feature of the adapter to provide for coupling of connector and adapter in only one orientation.

(34) Referring now to FIG. 3, an example prior art MPO connector 50 terminates a multi-fiber cable 52. The connector 50 includes an inner housing 54 supporting a multi-fiber ferrule 56 and an outer housing 58 moveable relative to the inner housing against a spring that biases the outer housing 58 along the central axis A.sub.1 of the connector 50 towards the front 51 of the connector 50. The ferrule 56 is also axially spring loaded.

(35) Latch arms on opposing sides within an MPO adapter socket or other compatible termination device lockingly snap into notches on opposing sides 53 and 55 of the outer surface of the inner housing. When the outer housing 58 is in the relaxed or forward-most position as shown in FIG. 3, a forward portion 60 of the outer housing covers the notches. By axially sliding the outer housing 58 rearwards (i.e., against the spring bias) relative to the inner housing 54, the latch arms become uncovered by the outer housing 58. Further rearward pulling of the outer housing 58 causes the portions of the latch arms that engage the notches to ride up ramps at the front of the notches such that the latch arms disengage the notches, thereby releasing the MPO connector from the adapter or other termination device/receptacle.

(36) A technician can grasp the outer housing 58 (e.g., at finger grips 64) and pull back to actuate this release mechanism. A rear protruding stop 66 on the inner housing 54 can stop the outer housing 58 from being pulled back too far, e.g., from being pulled rearward beyond the inner housing 54 or from damaging the spring that axially biases the outer housing. A strain relief boot 68 is attached at the rear of the inner housing 54. Thus, the outer housing 58 is not operably coupled to the strain relief boot 68 and moves independently of the strain relief boot 68.

(37) Referring now to FIGS. 4-9, an example single fiber optical connector 100 in accordance with the present disclosure will be described that provides at least one advantage over the prior art connectors described above. The connector 100 terminates a cable 80 carrying an optical fiber 82. In some examples, the cable 80 is, e.g., a 900 micron cable carrying, e.g., a 250 micron coated optical fiber 82 that passes through the connector from the rear, the coated fiber alone entering the bore 130 of the ferrule 108.

(38) The connector 100 is defined by a central longitudinal axis A.sub.2 and extends longitudinally from a front 102 to a back 104.

(39) The fiber optic connector 100 includes an inner housing 106 supporting a ferrule 108. A forward portion 110 of the connector 100 can be adapted to operably mate with a standard SC adapter. That is, the fiber optic connector 100 can be TIA FOCIS 3 (or another recognized industry standard) compatible. In addition, the inner housing 106 can be identical to the prior art SC connector inner housing 14 described above.

(40) The fiber optic connector 100 further includes an outer housing 112 that houses the inner housing 106. The outer housing 112 is axially movable (i.e., along the axis A.sub.2) relative to the inner housing 106 and operably coupled to a strain relief boot 114 such that the outer housing 112 and the strain relief boot 114 axially move (i.e., along the axis A.sub.2) together relative to the inner housing 106.

(41) The strain relief boot 114 extends rearwards beyond a rear end 116 of the inner housing. The strain relief boot 114 is adapted to provide bend radius protection to the cable 80 and the fiber 82 carried by the cable 80. The strain relief boot 114 can be resiliently flexed away from axial alignment with the axis Az. Optionally, to provide or enhance its flexion capability, the strain relief boot 114 can include one or more grooves or apertures 118.

(42) Optionally, a flange 120 extends radially from a rear portion of the strain relief boot 114, the flange 120 being integral with the strain relief boot 114. The flange includes an annular concave surface 122 surrounding the axial bore 124 of the strain relief boot and facing substantially away from the inner housing 106 of the connector 100. However, this surface need not be concave. The axial bore 124 of the strain relief boot is in communication with the inner volumes 126 and 128 defined by the outer housing 112 and the inner housing 106, respectively, as well as the fiber bore 130 of the ferrule 108.

(43) The flange 120 can be, but need not be, made integrally with the rest of the strain relief boot 114 and can serve as a finger hold for more easily grasping the strain relief boot 114 when releasing the connector 100 from an adapter or other termination device. The axial distance of the flange 120 from the portion 110 of the connector 100 that is inserted in the adapter or other termination device, combined with the inherent flexibility of the strain relief boot, can facilitate grasping and removing of a given connector 100, particularly from a high density panel or area of connectors, such as the high density array 300 of adapters 200 and connectors 100 shown in FIG. 15.

(44) The flange 120 can also provide additional strain relief to the cable 80, particularly from lateral loads.

(45) The strain relief boot 114 is disposed entirely rearward of the inner housing 106 and has a length L.sub.1 that is at least 25%, 50%, 75%, 100% as long (or greater) as an axial length L.sub.2 of the inner housing.

(46) The strain relief boot 114 can include a tapered region 136 that radially narrows from front to back and is radially narrower at all points than at least one or all radial dimensions of the outer housing 112. The tapered region 136 is disposed forward of the flange 120.

(47) In axial regions between adjacent apertures 118, the inner surface 140 of the strain relief boot 112 defines portions of the circumferentially closed axially extending bore 124 that receives the fiber optic cable 80. In one or more of the axial regions between adjacent apertures 118, the inner surface 140 is circumferentially continuous and uninterrupted around the axis A.sub.2.

(48) Optionally, a neck region 142 (which can taper axially) operably connects the outer housing 112 to the strain relief boot 114.

(49) The inner housing 106 includes a protruding catch 144 on each of two opposing sides and a protruding stop 146 rearward of the catches 144 on each of the two opposing sides. Each of the pair of protruding catches 144 and the pair of protruding stops 146 partially extends into a window 148 on either side of the outer housing 112. The protruding catches 144 engage a forward portion of the frames of the windows 148 when the outer housing 112 is in its rearward most position relative to the inner housing 106. The protruding stops 146 engage a rearward portion of the frames of the windows 148 when the outer housing 112 is in its forward most position relative to the inner housing 106.

(50) A pair of axially extending guides 150, 152 above and below each window 148 on either side of the outer housing are adapted to engage flexible latch arms disposed in the socket of an adapter (not shown in FIGS. 1-2).

(51) The guides 150, 152 are contoured with chamfers, peaks and troughs to provide for the adapter latch arm engagement and disengagement described below.

(52) A keying feature 160 on the outer housing 112 can be adapted to mate with a complementary feature of the adapter to provide for coupling of connector and adapter in only one orientation.

(53) Referring now to FIGS. 4-14, the prior art SC adapter 200 (FIG. 10) and the connector 100 of FIGS. 4-9 are compatible with each other as shown in FIGS. 11-14.

(54) The adapter 200 includes a main housing 202 defining first and second connector sockets 204 and 206 each adapted to receive the forward portion 110 of a connector 100.

(55) Within the main housing 202 is held a ferrule alignment mechanism 208 including a ferrule alignment sleeve 210 and ferrule alignment sleeve housings 212 for receiving the ferrules 108 of two connectors 100 and axially aligning and optically coupling them.

(56) The ferrule alignment mechanism 208 includes pairs of latch arms 214 and 216 extending parallel to the axis A.sub.3 of the adapter 200 and adapted to engage the protruding catches 144 of the connector inner housing. The latch arms 214 and 216 are positioned relative to their corresponding alignment sleeve housing 212 such that projections 218 (projecting toward the axis A.sub.3) on the latch arms 214, 216 will slide and then latch over the protruding catches 144 of the inner housing of the connector 100 when the connector 100 is properly inserted in the adapter socket and the ferrule properly inserted in the alignment sleeve 212. The latch arms 214, 216 can be resiliently flexed outward (i.e., away from the axis A.sub.3) when, e.g., pushed outward by the guides 150, 152 of the connector 100 as the outer housing 112 or the strain relief boot 114 of the connector 100 is pulled rearwards (i.e., in the direction of the arrow 180 in FIG. 13).

(57) The surfaces of the projections 218 can be rounded or chamfered to assist in guiding the projections to their latching position rearward of the protruding catches 144 of the connector 100.

(58) The main housing 202 can include a keying slot 220 adapted to receive the keying feature 160 of the connector 100. The main housing 202 can also include a removable coupler 222 having flexible coupling arms for coupling the adapter 200 to distribution equipment, such as a patch panel.

(59) During connector installation, as the connector 100 is axially pushed forwards (i.e., opposite the direction of the arrow 180) into the connector socket 204, the guides 150, 152, engage the flexible latch arms 214 of the adapter 200 and spread them apart until the protruding catches 144 clear the latch arms rearwardly. As the connector continues to push forward, the guides 150, 152 then release the latch arms, allowing the latch arms to snap over the rear of the protruding catches 144 and into the notches 145 immediately behind each of the protruding catches 144, which axially stabilizes or locks the connector 100 relative to the adapter 200.

(60) To remove the connector 100 from the adapter 200, the strain relief boot 114 is pulled rearwards (in the direction of the arrow 180) such that the guides 150 and 152 again engage the latch arms 214 of the adapter and spread them apart (i.e., out of the notches 145) causing the latch arms to clear the protruding catches 144 forwardly and thereby release the connector 100. The technician can grasp any portion of the strain relief boot or the outer housing 112 to release the connector 100 from the adapter 200.

(61) Referring now to FIGS. 16-19, an example multi-fiber optical connector 400 in accordance with the present disclosure will be described. The connector 400 can be adapted to be compatible with a standard TIA FOCIS 5 (or another recognized industry standard) adapter or other connector termination device.

(62) The connector 400 is defined by a longitudinal axis A.sub.4 and terminates a multi-fiber optical cable 90, e.g., a ribbon cable. The connector 400 includes an inner housing 402 supporting a multi-fiber ferrule 404 at a front end, the ferrule 404 defining a plurality of axially extending fiber holes. A spring within the inner housing 402 axially biases the ferrule 404 forwards. A forward portion 406 of the connector 400 is adapted to operably mate with a standard MPO adapter (described below in connection with FIGS. 20-24).

(63) The connector 400 further includes an outer housing 408 surrounding the inner housing 402 and axially movable relative to the inner housing 402. The outer housing 408 can be axially spring loaded, the spring biasing the outer housing forwards.

(64) The outer housing 408 is operably coupled to a strain relief boot 410 such that the outer housing 408 and the strain relief boot 410 axially move together relative to the inner housing 402.

(65) The strain relief boot 410 is disposed entirely rearward of both the inner housing 402 and the outer housing 408. The strain relief boot 410 is adapted to provide bend radius protection to the cable 90 and the fibers carried by the cable 90. Thus, the strain relief boot 410 can be resiliently flexed away from axial alignment with the axis A.sub.4. Optionally, to provide or enhance its flexion capability, the strain relief boot 410 can include one or more grooves or apertures 412.

(66) Optionally, a flange 414 extends radially from a rear portion of the strain relief boot 410, the flange 414 being integral with the strain relief boot 410. The flange includes an annular concave surface 416 surrounding the axial bore of the strain relief boot and facing substantially away from the inner housing 402 of the connector 400. However, this surface need not be concave. In addition, the flange can include an annular convex outer surface 417.

(67) The flange 414 can serve as a finger hold for more easily grasping the strain relief boot 410 when releasing the connector 400 from an adapter or other termination device. The axial distance of the flange 414 from the portion 406 of the connector 400 that is inserted in the adapter or other termination device, combined with the inherent flexibility of the strain relief boot 410, can facilitate grasping and removing of a given connector 400, particularly from a high density array of connectors.

(68) The flange 414 can also provide additional strain relief to the cable 90, particularly from lateral loads.

(69) The strain relief boot 410 is disposed entirely rearward of the inner housing 402 and has a length L3 that is at least 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100% as long (or greater) as an axial length of the inner housing 402.

(70) The strain relief boot 410 can include a tapered region 420 that radially narrows from front to back and is radially narrower at all points than at least one or all radial dimensions of the outer housing 408. The tapered region 420 is disposed forwards of the flange 414.

(71) In one or more axial regions between adjacent apertures 412, the inner surface of the strain relief boot 410 is circumferentially continuous and uninterrupted around the axis A.sub.4.

(72) Optionally, a neck region 422 (which can taper axially) operably connects the outer housing 408 to the strain relief boot 410.

(73) Optionally, a keying feature 424 on the inner housing 402 provides for insertion into an adapter or other termination device in the proper orientation.

(74) A gap 430 between the inner housing 402 and the outer housing 408 is adapted to receive the free ends of the latch arms of an adapter or other termination device, as described below.

(75) Referring now to FIGS. 20-22, an example multi-fiber connector adapter 500 is defined by a longitudinal axis A.sub.5 and includes a housing 502 having opposing first and second sockets 504 and 506 to receive and optically couple first and second connectors at an optical coupling plane 507, such as male and female versions of the connectors 400.

(76) A keying groove 508 can be adapted to receive the corresponding keying feature of the connector.

(77) Each of the sockets 504 and 506 includes a pair of opposing latch arms 510, 512, each of the latch arms including a projection 514 at its free end that projects towards the axis A.sub.5.

(78) Referring now to FIGS. 23-34, when, inserting the connector 400 into the adapter 500, the connector 400 is translated forwards (opposite the direction of the arrow 450 in FIG. 23) into the socket of the adapter. In doing so, the projections 514 of the latch arms 510 snap into notches 440 on either side of the inner housing 402, the rearward portions of the latch arms being covered by the inner wall 442 of the outer housing 408.

(79) By pulling on the strain relief boot 410 (including the flange 414) rearwards (i.e., in the direction of the arrow 450 in FIG. 23), the inner wall 442 of the outer housing 408 uncovers the latch arms 510. Further rearward pulling of the strain relief boot 410 causes the projections 514 to ride up ramps 441 at the forward ends of the notches 440 such that the latch arms 510 disengage the notches 440, thereby releasing the connector 400 from the adapter 500 or other termination device/receptacle.

(80) The technician can grasp any portion of the strain relief boot 410, the neck region 422, or the outer housing 408 to release the connector 400 from the adapter 500.

(81) Although in the foregoing description, terms such as “front,” “forwards,” “back”/“rear,” etc., were used for ease of description and illustration in relating features to one another, no restriction on the use of the components and assemblies of this disclosure is intended by such use of the terms.

(82) Having described the preferred aspects and embodiments of the present disclosure, modifications and equivalents of the disclosed concepts may readily occur to one skilled in the art. However, it is intended that such modifications and equivalents be included within the scope of the claims which are appended hereto.