STRUCTURE OF ELECTRIC SUNSHADE AND SUNROOF

Abstract

A structure of an electric sunshade and a sunroof may include glass sleds which both open and close a sunroof glass by sliding in a longitudinal direction along mechanism rails disposed at both sides of a roof panel of a vehicle, wherein a front sled and a rear sled are rotatably coupled to both end portions of each of glass sleds, respectively, main cable devices which are connected to a driving motor by a cable, and movable along the mechanism rails, and separately include a cable protrusion slidably accommodated in glass grooves formed in lateral surfaces of the front sled, the rear sled, and the glass sled, and sunshade sleds which are selectively coupled to the main cable devices, and slide to open or close the sunshade.

Claims

1. A structure of an electric sunshade and a sunroof, the structure comprising: glass sleds which both open and close a sunroof glass by sliding in a longitudinal direction along mechanism rails disposed at a first side and a second side of a roof panel of a vehicle, and separately have a front sled and a rear sled at first and second end portions thereof, the front sled and the rear sled coupled to the first and second end portions and rotated; main cable devices which are connected to a driving actuator by a cable, and movable along the mechanism rails, and separately include a cable protrusion slidably accommodated in glass grooves formed in lateral surfaces of the front sled, the rear sled, and the glass sled; and sunshade sleds which are selectively coupled to the main cable devices, and slide to open or close the sunshade, wherein the sunshade sled includes stopper devices that protrude in a height direction to be selectively fastened in accordance with a movement direction of the main cable device, and the sunroof glass and the sunshade of the vehicle are opened or closed by a driving actuator.

2. The structure according to claim 1, including: tilt levers which are disposed at first and second end portions of the sunroof glass, are configured to be moved in upward and downward directions, and separately have a tilt groove; and a tilt protrusion portion which is disposed at a first side of each of the glass sleds, and configured to be movable along the tilt groove, wherein, when the glass sled moves forward thereof, the tilt protrusion portion moves the tilt lever upward to tilt up the sunroof glass.

3. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the stopper devices includes: a rear stopper which is configured to be movable rearward together with the main cable device; and a front stopper which is fastened to the main cable device and configured to be moved forward thereof.

4. The structure according to claim 3, wherein the rear stopper is unfastened from the main cable device when the sunshade is in a completely opened state.

5. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the front sled and the glass sled are coupled by a front hinge, the rear sled and the glass sled are coupled by a rear hinge, and the second end portion of each of the front sled and the rear sled, which is coupled to the glass sled, includes a shape curved toward the mechanism rails.

6. The structure according to claim 5, wherein in the mechanism rails, a front constraining groove is formed to be recessed to correspond to a position where an end portion of the front sled is seated, and a rear constraining groove is formed to be recessed to correspond to a position where an end portion of the rear sled is seated.

7. The structure according to claim 1, wherein a cable groove is disposed in a lower surface of the main cable device, a protrusion portion disposed on an upper surface of a sunshade rotation member is configured to be moved along the cable groove, the protrusion portion rotates while moving along the cable groove, and the main cable device and the sunshade sled are selectively constrained as the stopper devices are selectively inserted.

8. The structure according to claim 7, wherein the cable groove is recessed in a U shape, wherein, when the protrusion portion of the sunshade rotation member is rotated, the main cable device and the sunshade sled are selectively constrained.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a structure of an electric sunshade and a sunroof according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] FIG. 2 illustrates coupling relationships among constituent elements on a mechanism rail of the structure of the electric sunshade and the sunroof according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] FIG. 3 illustrates sub-components of the constituent elements of the structure of the electric sunshade and the sunroof according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] FIG. 4 illustrates an enlarged view of a front sled of the structure of the electric sunshade and the sunroof according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] FIG. 5 illustrates an exploded view of a main cable device and a sunshade sled of the structure of the electric sunshade and the sunroof according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0037] FIG. 6A illustrates a configuration view of a tilting state of the structure of the electric sunshade and the sunroof according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0038] FIG. 6B illustrates a configuration view of a closed state of the structure of the electric sunshade and the sunroof according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0039] FIG. 6C illustrates a configuration view of an opened state of a sunshade of the structure of the electric sunshade and the sunroof according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0040] FIG. 6D illustrates a configuration view of an opened state of a glass of the structure of the electric sunshade and the sunroof according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0041] FIG. 7 illustrates a state in which the sunshade sled of the structure of the electric sunshade and the sunroof according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention is moved rearward; and

[0042] FIG. 8 illustrates an operation when the sunshade sled and the main cable device of the structure of the electric sunshade and the sunroof according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention are released.

[0043] It is/are configured to be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of various features illustrative of the certain principles of the invention. The predetermined design features of the present invention as disclosed herein, including: for example, predetermined dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes will be determined partially by the intended application and use environment.

[0044] In the figures, reference numbers refer to equivalent parts of the present invention throughout the several figures of the drawing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] Hereinafter reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. While the invention will be described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments, it will be understood that present description is not intended to limit the invention to those exemplary embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0046] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be modified in various forms, and the scope of the present invention may not be interpreted as being limited to the following exemplary embodiments. The present exemplary embodiments are provided for more completely explaining the present invention to the person with ordinary skill in the art.

[0047] The term unit, member, or the like, which is described in the specification, signifies a device that performs at least one function or operation.

[0048] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a structure of an electric sunshade 301 and a sunroof of the present invention, and in the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the structure includes the sunshade 301 which is disposed below a sunroof glass 101 and blocks light penetrating the sunroof glass 101.

[0049] The structure includes mechanism rails 400 for moving the sunroof glass 101, and the mechanism rails 400 are disposed at both sides of a roof panel of the vehicle. The structure includes glass sleds 100 which are disposed on the mechanism rails 400, and slide in a longitudinal direction to both open and close the sunroof glass 101.

[0050] A front sled 110 and a rear sled 120 are configured to be rotatable with respect to the glass sled 100, the front sled 110 is fastened to the glass sled 100 by a front hinge 111, and the rear sled 120 is coupled to the glass sled 100 by a rear hinge 121.

[0051] The front sled 110 and the rear sled 120 are rotatably coupled to the glass sled 100, and longitudinal glass grooves 102, which guide a movement of a cable protrusion 210 positioned on a main cable device 200, are formed in the front sled 110 and the rear sled 120.

[0052] An end portion of the front sled 110, which is distant from one end portion of the front sled 110 fastened to the glass sled 100, may be configured to be curved toward the mechanism rail 400, and an end portion of the rear sled 120, which is distant from one end portion of the rear sled 120 fastened to the glass sled 100, may be configured to be curved toward the mechanism rail 400.

[0053] The glass grooves 102, which are positioned in the front sled 110 and the rear sled 120 configured to be curved as described above, are also formed to be curved in accordance with the shapes of the front sled 110 and the rear sled 120, and therefore, when the cable protrusion 210 is positioned at the end portion of the front sled 110 or the rear sled 120, the front sled 110 or the rear sled 120 may be moved upward from the mechanism rail 400.

[0054] When the cable protrusion 210 is positioned at the end portion of the rear sled 120, the rear sled 120 may be moved upward. That is, the front sled 110 and the rear sled 120 may be configured to be moved in an up and down direction in accordance with a position of the cable protrusion 210.

[0055] The curved end portion of the front sled 110 may be inserted into a front constraining groove 410 formed in the mechanism rail 400, and the curved end portion of the rear sled 120 may be inserted into a rear constraining groove 420, such that the movement of the glass sled 100 is constrained. The front sled 110 and the rear sled 120 are moved upwards in accordance with the movement of the cable protrusion 210 positioned on the main cable device 200, releasing the constraint of the glass sled 100.

[0056] The main cable device 200, which is connected to a driving motor or through a cable and moves in the longitudinal direction of the mechanism rail 400, includes the cable protrusion 210 configured to be slidable along the glass grooves 102 formed in lateral surfaces of the front sled 110, the rear sled 120, and the glass sled 100, and as described above, the main cable device 200 is configured to release the constraint of the glass sled 100 in accordance with the position of the cable protrusion 210.

[0057] The front sled 110 has a shape similar to a shape, and the end portion of the rear sled 120 is also formed to be curved downward, wherein the rear sled 120 is configured to entirely have a shape similar to a shape.

[0058] The glass grooves 102 positioned in the lateral surfaces of the front sled 110 and the rear sled 120 are also formed to have shapes similar to the shapes of the front sled 110 and the rear sled 120 to release the constraint of the entire glass sled 100 when the cable protrusion 210 is moved.

[0059] The present invention includes a sunshade sled 300 which is selectively fastened to the main cable device 200 and configured to be movable, one end portion of the sunshade sled 300 is connected to the sunshade 301, and the sunshade sled 300 is configured to control the opening or closing of the sunshade 301 in accordance with the movement of the main cable device 200.

[0060] The sunshade sled 300 in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes stopper units 310 and 320 which protrude in a height direction to be selectively fastened to the main cable device 200, wherein the sunshade sled 300 is configured to be selectively coupled to the main cable device 200 configured to be moved on an upper surface of the sunshade sled 300.

[0061] The sunshade sled 300 includes at least two stopper units 310 and 320, that is, a front stopper 310 and a rear stopper 320, and at least the rear stopper 320 may be configured to be coupled to the main cable device 200 to allow the sunshade sled 300 to move along the main cable device 200.

[0062] The sunshade sled 300 includes stopper constraining grooves 430 configured to selectively open or close the front and rear stoppers 310 and 320, and the sunshade sled 300 includes a sunshade rotation member 330 configured to fix the stoppers inserted into the stopper constraining grooves 430.

[0063] The sunshade rotation member 330, which is formed to fix the stoppers 310 and 320, has a protrusion portion 331 positioned on the sunshade rotation member 330, and the protrusion portion 331 is positioned below the main cable device 200 to be moved along a cable groove 220.

[0064] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the protrusion portion 331 of the sunshade rotation member 330 moves along the cable groove 220 of the main cable device 200 to rotate the sunshade rotation member 330 so that the stoppers 310 and 320 are inserted into the stopper constraining grooves 430.

[0065] That is, as the cable moves rearward, the main cable device 200 moves the sunshade sled 300 and the glass sled 100 integrally and releases a fastened state between the sunshade sled 300 and the main cable device 200 after the sunshade 301 is completely opened.

[0066] With the configuration of the inserted stopper, the main cable device 200, which moves on the upper surface of the sunshade sled 300, is unfastened from the sunshade sled 300, and thus moves only the glass sled 100 rearward.

[0067] The sunshade sled 300, which is selectively fastened to the main cable device 200 as described above, will be described below in accordance with opened states of the sunroof glass 101 and the sunshade 301.

[0068] FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 illustrate coupling relationships among separate constituent elements of the structure of electric sunshade 301 and the sunroof according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0069] As illustrated, the main cable device 200 includes the glass sled 100 which is positioned on the mechanism rail 400 and fixed to the sunroof glass 101, and the cable protrusion 210 which is connected to the driving motor by the cable and moves along the glass groove 102 positioned in an internal surface of the glass sled 100.

[0070] The sunshade 301 includes the sunshade sleds 300 which are positioned below the sunroof glass 101 and fixed to both sides of the sunshade 301. The main cable device 200 is configured to be moved on the upper surface of the sunshade sled 300, and the main cable device 200 and the sunshade sled 300 are configured to be selectively constrained.

[0071] Tilt levers 104, which are connected to both end portions of the glass 101, included and configured to be moved in the up and down direction. The protrusion portions 331 and 105 move along the tilt lever 104 including a tilt groove 106, and when the glass sled 100 moves forward, the protrusion portions 331 and 105 move the tilt lever 104 upward, tilting up and opening the sunroof glass 101.

[0072] In a state in which the sunroof and the sunshade 301 are closed, the main cable device 200 in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is positioned at the end portion of the front sled 110, and the front sled 110 is fixed to the front constraining groove 410, constraining the glass sled 100.

[0073] To tilt up the sunroof glass 101, the main cable device 200 moves forward, and the cable protrusion 210 moves along the glass groove 102, such that the front sled 110 is moved upward and released from the front constraining groove 410, and the glass sled 100 is moved forward thereof.

[0074] As the glass sled 100 moves forward as described above, the tilt protrusion portion 105 connected to one end portion of the glass sled 100 moves along the tilt groove 106 of the tilt lever 104, such that the tilt lever 104 moves upward, tilting up the sunroof.

[0075] When the main cable device 200 moves rearward along the glass groove 102 in the state that a sunroof is closed, the sunshade sled 300 moves in conjunction with the main cable device 200.

[0076] However, the glass sled 100 may be maintained in a fixed state until the cable protrusion 210 of the main cable device 200 is positioned at the end portion of the rear sled 120. Therefore, when the cable protrusion 210 of the main cable device 200 is positioned at the end portion of the glass groove 102, the sunshade 301 is in a completely opened state, and the sunroof glass 101 begins to move.

[0077] When the sunshade 301 is in the completely opened state, the main cable device 200 is uncoupled from the sunshade sled 300, such that as the glass sled 100 moves rearward, the sunroof glass is opened.

[0078] FIG. 4 illustrates the front constraining groove 410 which constrains the front sled 110 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0079] As described above, the end portion of the front sled 110 has a shape curved toward the mechanism rail 400, and the front sled 110 is fixed by the front constraining groove 410 positioned at the mechanism rail 400.

[0080] The front constraining groove 410 is formed to constrain the front sled 110 and thus constrain the movement of the glass sled 100 in a state in which the sunroof glass 101 and the sunshade 301 are completely closed.

[0081] The end portion of the rear sled 120, which is configured to correspond to the end portion of the front sled 110, also has a shape curved to have a predetermined curvature toward the mechanism rail 400, and the rear sled 120 is constrained by the rear constraining groove 420.

[0082] When the sunroof glass 101 comes into the completely opened state, the rear sled 120 is positioned in the rear constraining groove 420 at a rear end portion of the mechanism rail 400 to constrain the movement of the glass sled 100, and the rear sled 120 may be positioned while being inserted into the rear constraining groove 420 until the sunshade 301 is opened and comes into the completely opened state.

[0083] As described above, the front constraining groove 410 and the rear constraining groove 420 may be configured to be positioned in the completely closed state and the completely opened state of the sunroof glass 101 and the sunshade 301 to constrain the movement of the glass sled 100.

[0084] FIG. 5 illustrates a configuration between the sunshade sled 300 and the main cable device 200 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0085] The main cable device 200 is configured to move on the upper surface of the sunshade sled 300, and the main cable device 200 may be selectively constrained by the configuration of the stopper units 310 and 320 positioned on the sunshade sled 300.

[0086] The sunshade sled 300 includes at least the two stopper units 310 and 320, and the two stopper units 310 and 320 are configured to selectively protrude in accordance with a movement direction of the main cable device 200. in the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the sunshade sled 300 may include the front stopper 310 and the rear stopper 320.

[0087] The sunshade sled 300 includes the stopper constraining grooves 430 into which the stopper units 310 and 320 are inserted, and before the main cable device 200 is connected to the sunshade sled 300 at the initial time, the front stopper 310 may be positioned by being inserted into the stopper constraining groove 430.

[0088] The stopper constraining groove 430 may be provided at a position at which the rear stopper 320 is inserted, and thus the stopper constraining groove 430 may be formed at the position of the rear stopper 320 when the sunshade 301 is in the completely opened state.

[0089] When the main cable device 200 meets the rear stopper 320 of the sunshade sled 300, the front stopper 310 may protrude while the sunshade sled 300 moves rearward, surrounding the main cable device 200.

[0090] When the sunshade 301 is in a completely opened state, the main cable device 200 and the sunshade sled 300 are uncoupled, and the main cable device 200, which is uncoupled as the rear stopper 320 is inserted, may independently move rearward.

[0091] The main cable device 200, which moves toward a rear side of the sunroof independently of the sunshade sled 300 as described above, further is configured to open the sunroof glass 101 by being fastened to the end portion of the rear sled 120.

[0092] In a state in which the main cable device 200 and the sunshade sled 300 are uncoupled, the sunshade rotation member 330 including the protrusion portion 331 is positioned between the front stopper 310 and the rear stopper 320.

[0093] Thereafter, the protrusion portion 331 moves along the cable groove 220 positioned in a lower surface of the main cable device 200, and when the rear stopper 320 is inserted into the stopper constraining groove 430, the protrusion portion 331 moves along the cable groove 220 to rotate the sunshade rotation member 330.

[0094] The rotated sunshade rotation member 330 allows the rear stopper 320 to be inserted and fixed into the stopper constraining groove 430, preventing the sunshade 301 from swinging.

[0095] FIG. 6A is an operation view illustrating a state in which the sunroof is tilted up according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0096] The cable protrusion 210 of the main cable device moves to a front end portion of the front sled 110 to move the glass sled 100, the tilt protrusion portion 105 connected to the one end portion of the glass sled 100 moves along the tilt groove 106 of the tilt lever 104, and the tilt lever 104 moves upward, tilting up the sunroof.

[0097] When tilting up the sunroof, the cable moves forward, and thus the main cable device 200 moves forward, tilting up the sunroof. Furthermore, the sunshade sled 300, which is configured to move in a direction opposite to the movement direction of the cable, may be configured to be moved in an opening direction.

[0098] FIG. 6B is an operation view illustrating a state in which the sunroof comes into a closed state according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0099] The glass sled 100 is fixed as the front sled 110 is inserted into the front constraining groove 410, such that the closed states of the sunroof glass 101 and the sunshade 301 are maintained.

[0100] The cable protrusion 210 positioned on the main cable device 200 is positioned in the glass groove 102, and the cable protrusion 210 is configured to be positioned in the glass groove 102 horizontally formed in the front sled 110.

[0101] FIG. 6C is an operation view illustrating a state in which the sunroof sunshade 301 is opened according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0102] When the main cable device 200 moves toward the rear side of the sunroof along the glass groove 102 in the state illustrated in FIG. 6B, the sunshade 301 connected to the main cable device 200 is opened. As the main cable device 200 moves along a horizontal portion of the glass groove 102, the sunshade 301 is opened.

[0103] When the main cable device 200 moves along the horizontal portion of the glass groove 102, the main cable device 200 is first fastened to the sunshade sled 300 positioned below the main cable device 200. That is, the front stopper 310 positioned on the sunshade sled 300 is positioned to be inserted into the stopper constraining groove 430, and when the main cable device 200 is fastened to the rear stopper 320 and then moves rearward, the front stopper 310 protrudes to surround the main cable device 200.

[0104] Therefore, the main cable device is fastened to the sunshade sled 300 and moves along the horizontal portion of the glass groove 102, and the sunshade 301 connected to the sunshade sled 300 is opened.

[0105] FIG. 6D is an operation view illustrating a state in which the sunroof glass 101 is completely opened according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0106] In the portion as illustrated in FIG. 6C in which the sunshade 301 is opened, the rear sled 120 is inserted and fixed into the rear constraining groove 420. However, when the main cable device 200 is released from the sunshade sled 300 and moves along the curved glass groove 102 positioned at the end portion of the rear sled 120 after the sunshade 301 is completely opened, the rear sled 120 moves upward to move away from the rear constraining groove 420.

[0107] After the constraint of the rear sled 120 is released as described above, the glass sled 100 moves rearward, such that the sunroof glass fixedly positioned on the glass sled 100 is opened.

[0108] The rear stopper 320 positioned on the sunshade sled 300 releases the fastened state between the main cable device 200 and the sunshade sled 300, such that the rear stopper 320 is positioned to be inserted.

[0109] Therefore, the main cable device 200, together with the end portion of the rear sled 120, moves toward the rear side of the sunroof, completely opening the sunroof glass 101.

[0110] FIG. 7 is an operation view illustrating a fastening relationship between the sunshade sled 300 and the main cable device 200 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0111] The main cable device 200 and the sunshade sled 300 are coupled to each other and move toward the rear side of the sunroof to open the sunshade 301, and since the rear stopper 320 and the front stopper 310 are formed to surround the main cable device, the sunshade sled 300, together with the main cable device, is moved rearward.

[0112] That is, in the closed state of the sunshade 301 and the sunroof glass 101, the main cable device 200 moves toward the rear side of the sunroof to open the sunshade 301, and the main cable device 200 is fastened to the sunshade sled 300 positioned below the main cable device 200.

[0113] The front stopper 310 positioned on the sunshade sled 300 is inserted into the stopper constraining groove 430 before the main cable device 200 is positioned on the upper surface of the sunshade sled 300, and when the main cable device 200 moves rearward together with the rear stopper 320, the front stopper 310 protrudes upward to surround the main cable device 200.

[0114] Therefore, the main cable device 200 and the sunshade sled 300 are fastened to each other to be surrounded by the rear stopper 320 and the front stopper 310, and the main cable device 200, together with the sunshade sled 300, moves along the glass groove 102 in the horizontal section.

[0115] The glass groove 102 in the horizontal portion has a distance identical to a movement distance of the sunshade sled 300 for completely opening the sunshade 301.

[0116] FIG. 8 illustrates an operation in which the sunshade sled 300 and the main cable device 200 are unfastened after the sunshade 301 is completely opened according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0117] As illustrated, the rear stopper 320 and the front stopper 310 of the sunshade sled 300 move in a state of being fastened to surround the main cable device 200, and after the sunshade 301 is completely opened, the main cable device 200 and the sunshade sled 300 are uncoupled.

[0118] That is, after the sunshade 301 is completely opened, the rear stopper 320 is inserted into the stopper constraining groove 430, such that the main cable device 200 moves toward the rear side of the sunroof independently of the sunshade sled 300. The sunshade rotation member 330 including the protrusion portion 331 moves along the cable groove 220 of the main cable device 200, and after the rear stopper 320 is inserted, the protrusion portion 331 moves to the end portion of the cable groove 220, and the sunshade rotation member 330, which operates in conjunction with the protrusion portion 331, is rotated, preventing the rear stopper 320 from protruding upward from the sunshade sled 300.

[0119] The cable groove 220, which is configured to rotate the sunshade rotation member 330, is recessed in a U shape, such that as the protrusion portion 331 of the sunshade rotation member 330 is rotated, the main cable device 200 and the sunshade sled 300 are selectively constrained.

[0120] That is, the present invention includes the sunshade rotation member 330 as a constituent element for preventing the protrusion of the rear stopper 320 by the main cable device 200 that moves rearward. When the main cable device 200 moves forward, the sunshade rotation member 330 rotates so that the rear stopper 320 protrudes, such that the main cable device 200 and the sunshade sled 300 are selectively constrained in accordance with the movement direction of the main cable device 200.

[0121] For convenience in explanation and accurate definition in the appended claims, the terms upper, lower, internal, outer, up, down, upper, lower, upwards, downwards, front, rear, back, inside, outside, inwardly, outwardly, internal, external, internal, outer, forwards, and backwards are used to describe features of the exemplary embodiments with reference to the positions of such features as displayed in the figures.

[0122] The foregoing descriptions of predetermined exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously ma modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described to explain certain principles of the invention and their practical application, to enable others skilled in the art to make and utilize various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, as well as various alternatives and modifications thereof. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents.