TEMPORARY SHELTER SYSTEM

Abstract

A shelter is provided that includes a floor, at least three rigid walls attachable to the floor, a roof is attachable to the walls, a hold down system is connectable to each corner of the roof and the floor to hold the roof, the rigid walls, and the floor in compression, the hold down system including at least one rod positionable at each corner of the corners of the roof and sized to extend through the roof, and attach to the roof and the floor; and the shelter having a deployed configuration in which the floor, the walls, and the roof are attached together via the hold down system to form a shelter that defines an enclosed interior, the shelter having a palletized configuration in which the rigid walls, the roof, and the floor are layered on a rigid pallet.

Claims

1. A shelter, comprising: a foundation system; a floor attachable to the foundation system; at least three rigid walls attachable to the floor, each rigid wall of the at least three rigid walls comprising an exterior surface and an interior surface, a first side edge and a second side edge, the first and second side edges attachable to an adjacent rigid wall using an interlocking finger joint, each of the at least three rigid walls further including at least two through holes formed at the first side edge and at least two through holes formed at the second side edge, all of the at least two through holes communicate with the exterior surface and interior surface of the respective rigid wall and are positioned to communicate with the at least two through holes of an adjacent rigid wall when the rigid walls are assembled together; a wall connector plate located at each through hole on the exterior surface of a respective rigid wall; a roof attachable to the walls and the floor and having a slope with respect to the floor, the roof having at least three corners, the number of corners being equal to the number of rigid walls, an exterior surface, and an interior surface; a hold down system connectable to each corner of the at least three corners of the roof and the floor to hold the roof, the at least three rigid walls, and the floor in compression, the hold down system comprising at least one rod positionable at each corner of the corners of the roof and sized to extend through the roof, and attach to the roof and the floor; and the shelter having a deployed configuration in which the floor, the at least three rigid walls, and the roof are attached together via the hold down system to form a shelter that defines an enclosed interior, the shelter having a palletized configuration in which the at least three rigid walls, the roof, and the floor are layered on a rigid pallet.

2. The shelter of claim 1 wherein the foundation system comprises a foundation form and concrete cured within the foundation form, and further comprising at least three corners, the number of corners being equal to the number of rigid walls, with an anchor bolt extending from each corner to be attachable to the floor.

3. The shelter of claim 1 wherein the hold down system includes a leveling nut and washer to enable leveling of the floor.

4. The shelter of claim 1 wherein the hold down system further includes a roof washer at each corner of the corners of the roof and sized and shaped to receive the respective rod.

5. The shelter of claim 1 further comprising a roof connector plate that is sized and shaped to be attachable to the roof and to accommodate the slope to the roof, the roof connector plate including a circular ring plate and a recessed insert portion having an opening sized and shaped to accommodate the respective rod.

6. The shelter of claim 1 further comprising: at least one internal wall having a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge, the first and second lateral edges attachable to an adjacent rigid wall using an interlocking finger joint, each of the at least one internal walls further including at least two internal wall through holes formed at the first lateral edge; and at least two central through holes formed in at least one of the at least three rigid walls located medially relative to the side edges of the respective rigid wall, wherein the at least two internal wall through holes communicate with a first surface and the first lateral edge of the respective internal wall and are positioned to communicate with the at least two central through holes when the internal wall is assembled with the respective rigid wall.

7. The shelter of claim 6 further comprising at least two internal wall through holes formed at the second lateral edge of the at least one internal wall.

8. The shelter of claim 6 further comprising a wall connector plate located at each central through hole on the exterior surface of a respective rigid wall.

9. A shelter, comprising: an anchor system; a floor attachable to the anchoring system; at least three rigid walls attachable to the anchor system, each of the at least three rigid walls comprising an exterior surface and an interior surface, a first side edge and a second side edge, the first and second side edges attachable to an adjacent rigid wall using an interlocking finger joint, each of the at least three rigid walls further including at least two through holes formed at the first side edge and at least two through holes formed at the second side edge, all of the at least two through holes communicate with the exterior surface and interior surface of the respective rigid wall and are positioned to communicate with the at least two through holes of an adjacent rigid wall when the at least three rigid walls are assembled together; a wall connector plate located at each through hole on the exterior surface of a respective rigid wall; a roof attachable to the at least three walls and having a slope with respect to the floor, the roof having at least three corners, the number of corners being equal to the number of rigid walls, an exterior surface, and an interior surface; a hold down system connectable to each corner of the at least three corners of the roof and the floor to hold the roof, the at least three rigid walls, and the floor in compression, the hold down system comprising at least one rod positionable at each corner of the corners of the roof and sized to extend through the roof, and attach to the roof and the floor; and the shelter having a deployed configuration in which the floor, the at least three rigid walls, and the roof are attached together via the hold down system to form a shelter that defines an enclosed interior, the shelter having a palletized configuration in which the at least three rigid walls, the roof, and the floor are layered on a rigid pallet.

10. The shelter of claim 9 further comprising a roof connector plate that is attachable to the roof and is sized and shaped to accommodate the slope to the roof, the roof connector plate including a circular ring plate and a recessed insert portion having an opening sized and shaped to accommodate the respective rod.

11. The shelter of claim 9 further comprising: at least one internal wall having a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge, the first and second lateral edges attachable to an adjacent rigid wall using an interlocking finger joint, each of the at least one internal walls further including at least two internal wall through holes formed at the first lateral edge; and at least two central through holes formed in at least one of the at least three rigid walls located medially relative to the side edges of the respective rigid wall, wherein the at least two internal wall through holes communicate with a first surface and the first lateral edge of the respective internal wall and are positioned to communicate with the at least two central through holes when the internal wall is assembled with the respective rigid wall.

12. The shelter of claim 11 further comprising at least two internal wall through holes formed at the second lateral edge of the at least one internal wall.

13. The shelter of claim 9 further comprising a wall connector plate located at each central through hole on the exterior surface of a respective rigid wall.

14. The shelter of claim 9 wherein the anchor system comprises a threaded rod at each corner of the floor, each threaded rod having a first end attachable to the floor and a second end attachable to an anchor.

15. The shelter of claim 9 wherein the hold down system includes a leveling nut and washer to enable leveling of the floor.

16. The shelter of claim 9 wherein the hold down system further includes a roof washer at each corner of the roof and sized and shaped to receive the respective rod.

17. A shelter, comprising: a floor; at least three rigid walls attachable to the floor, each rigid wall of the at least three rigid walls comprising an exterior surface and an interior surface, a first side edge and a second side edge, the first and second side edges attachable to an adjacent rigid wall using an interlocking finger joint; a roof attachable to the at least three walls, the roof having at least three corners, the number of corners being equal to the number of rigid walls, an exterior surface, and an interior surface; and a hold down system connectable to each corner of the at least three corners roof and the floor to hold the roof, the at least three rigid walls, and the floor in compression, the hold down system comprising at least one rod positionable at each corner of the roof and sized to extend through the roof, and attach to the roof and the floor.

18. The shelter of claim 17 wherein the shelter has a deployed configuration in which the floor, the at least three rigid walls, and the roof are attached together via the hold down system to form a shelter that defines an enclosed interior, the shelter having a palletized configuration in which the at least three rigid walls, the roof, and the floor are layered on a rigid pallet.

19. The shelter of claim 17 further comprising a wall connector plate located at each through hole on the exterior surface of a respective rigid wall.

20. The shelter of claim 17 further comprising an anchoring system that comprises an anchor, and an anchor bolt having a first end attachable to the floor and the second end attachable to the anchor.

21. The shelter of claim 17 further comprising a foundation system that comprises a foundation form with at least three corners, the number of corners being equal to the number of rigid walls, concrete cured in the foundation form, and an anchor bolt extending from each of the corners, each anchor bolt attachable to a respective corner of the floor.

22. The shelter of claim 17, wherein each of the at least three rigid walls further comprises at least two through holes formed at the first side edge and at least two through holes formed at the second side edge, all of the at least two through holes communicate with the exterior surface and interior surface of the respective rigid wall and are positioned to communicate with the at least two through holes of an adjacent rigid wall when the at least three rigid walls are assembled together.

23. The shelter of claim 17 further comprising a roof connector plate that is sized and shaped to accommodate a slope to the roof, the roof connector plate including a circular ring plate and a recessed insert portion having an opening sized and shaped to accommodate the respective rod.

24. The shelter of claim 17 further comprising: at least one internal wall having a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge, the first and second lateral edges attachable to an adjacent rigid wall using an interlocking finger joint, each of the at least one internal walls further including at least two internal wall through holes formed at the first lateral edge; and at least two central through holes formed in at least one of the at least three rigid walls located medially relative to the side edges of the respective rigid wall, wherein the at least two internal wall through holes communicate with a first surface and the first lateral edge of the respective internal wall and are positioned to communicate with the at least two central through holes when the internal wall is assembled with the respective rigid wall.

25. The shelter of claim 24 further comprising at least two internal wall through holes formed at the second lateral edge of the at least one internal wall.

26. The shelter of claim 17 further comprising a wall connector plate located at each central through hole on the exterior surface of a respective rigid wall.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be more readily appreciated as the same become better understood from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0015] FIG. 1 is an isometric illustration of a shelter formed in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0016] FIG. 2A illustrates in the top portion a foundation form and in FIG. 2B a completed foundation with concrete poured in the foundation form in accordance with the present disclosure and as utilized in the shelter of FIG. 1;

[0017] FIG. 3A shows a top plan view and FIG. 3B shows a side view of a roof connector plate formed in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0018] FIG. 4 is a side view of a roof hold down system coupled to an anchor system using the roof washer of FIGS. 3A and 3B in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0019] FIG. 5 is a cross-section along lines A-A of FIG. 4 of the roof hold down system in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0020] FIG. 6 is a cross section along lines B-B of FIG. 4 of the anchor system in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0021] FIG. 7 is a side view of a roof hold down system coupled to the foundation system using the roof washer of FIGS. 3A and 3B in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0022] FIG. 8 is a cross-section along lines A-A of FIG. 7 of the roof hold down system in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0023] FIG. 9 is a cross section along lines B-B of FIG. 7 of the foundation system in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0024] FIGS. 10A and 10B are top plan and side views, respectively, of a wall connector plate formed in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0025] FIG. 11 is a partial axonometric view of a corner connection formed by two walls using the wall connector plate of FIGS. 10A and 10B in accordance with the present disclosure; and

[0026] FIG. 12 is a top cross-section view of the corner connection of FIG. 11.

[0027] FIG. 13 is a partial axonometric view of a connection formed by an internal wall and an external rigid wall.

[0028] FIG. 14 is a top cross-section view of the connection of FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] In the following description, certain specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various disclosed implementations. However, one skilled in the relevant art will recognize that implementations may be practiced without one or more of these specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures or components or both associated with the use of ISO containers, laundry facilities and equipment, toilets, water and electrical supplies have not been shown or described in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring descriptions of the implementations.

[0030] Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout the specification and claims that follow, the word comprise and variations thereof, such as comprises and comprising are to be construed in an open inclusive sense, that is, as including, but not limited to. The foregoing applies equally to the words including and having.

[0031] Reference throughout this description to one implementation or an implementation means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the implementation is included in at least one implementation. Thus, the appearance of the phrases in one implementation or in an implementation in various places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same implementation. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more implementations.

[0032] By way of general description, the present disclosure provides shelters that are small, compact dwelling structures, built with light-weight, strong, and relatively inexpensive materials, into a structure that, through the design of the structure itself, further increase the strength of the dwelling unit by nature of the design of the structural elements into a whole that is stronger than the sum of the pieces. The shelter is one of the basic building blocks of a community model in which the basic building blocks of the community are selected and sized so as to fit within the same shipping container all of the necessary elements to support a full community. This very compact design enables the basic building blocks to be delivered to the site in one package that is easily unloaded and easily assembled. When the community needs to be moved, it can be quickly cleaned, broken down, repackaged, stored, and then shipped to the new location.

[0033] More particularly, the present disclosure is directed to a temporary shelter system that is an improvement upon applicant's patented Palletized Shelter System, U.S. Pat. No. 10,260,228, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0034] In this improved design, the structural integrity of a base or floor is designed with metal joists and composite floor panel as the interior walkable finished surface. There are at least three walls made of a structural composite material that interlock at the floor, corners, and roof. At the wall corners, wall connector plates pull together the corners with a bolt and nut. These wall connectors can also be used to extend wall lengths to form larger shelters.

[0035] Connecting the roof to the base, while encapsulating the walls, are threaded rods with roof connector plates, waterproof nuts and rubber washers. These rods place the shelter in tension providing resistance to wind and other environmental forces. To quickly anchor the structure to the ground, an optional metal foundation system is weighted with material to counteract the predicted uplift per the consumers requirements. These materials can be concrete, asphalt, sandbags, gravel, etc. The foundation system frame, acting as a counterweight, is positively connected to the base, walls and roof via the threaded rods, washers, gaskets and waterproof nuts. The foundation sits directly on whatever grade or subgrade of the customer's choosing.

[0036] The design of the present disclosure addresses several problems pertaining to portable shelters, as discussed below:

[0037] 1. Problem: Too much dependence on aluminum and other metal components. Too many bolts are required to secure the structure. Current shelters utilize aluminum and other metals, which are costly, heavy, conductive during temperature swings leading to condensation, are labor intensive to make, complicated to manufacture consistently to tight tolerances, and provide a less desirable esthetic. There can also be sharp corners with exposed metal pieces which is a safety concern to end users and customers.

[0038] Solution: Utilizing structural composite panels, including the unique wall connector plates, bolts, and interlocking (finger joint) panel edges all work to create an extremely robust connection requiring no metal wall studs. This design provides superior shear strength at the wall-to-wall connection points. No metal studs are needed in the walls or roof system.

[0039] 2. Problem: The connection of wall studs and roof joists to the composite panel walls and structural base of the current shelter is cumbersome and inaccurate during deployment. It also requires more bolts, nuts and connectors, slowing deployment of the emergency shelter.

[0040] Solution: In order to securely connect the roof to the walls, base and optional foundation system, the walls will have tabs that interlock into the bottom of the roof panel. The bottom of the walls is slotted on the inside and sit on the edge of the base. The roof is connected to the floor or foundation system or both using roof connector plates, threaded rods, and threaded inserts in the floor or couplers in the foundation.

[0041] 3. Problem: The current shelter has an aluminum base with steel rods that extend from the sides of the base for anchoring. While this creates a common place to anchor, there is no consistent way to provide an anchoring system for the customer, which forces each customer to come up with a solution of their own. This may cause the anchoring system to be inadequate. There is also no consistent way to level the shelter. Often times customers need to use shims to level the shelter which is inconsistent and time consuming. The use of steel interacting with the aluminum structure can be the catalyst of aluminum breakdown over extended periods of time.

[0042] Solution: The introduction of an optional foundation system is a way to provide the customer with a predictable anchor connection and leveling system. The vertical rods of the new shelter are a positive connection point of the unit to the foundation frame or form. The foundation frame can be used with sandbags or other weight. It is also designed to provide a form for a concrete pad. No additional rebar or structural elements are required. When concrete is used, the unit can sit directly on the concrete pad once poured. The shelter can also be suspended above the foundation system and leveled utilizing the foundation frame and rod connection. A nut and washer are used to raise and lower each corner with supportive pedestals under the middle of the front wall as well as middle of the back wall.

[0043] Referring to FIG. 1, shown therein is an assembled shelter 20 formed in accordance with the present disclosure. Generally, the shelter 20 includes a floor 22 having four corners 24. There are four rigid walls that include a front wall 26, back wall 28, and two side walls 30, 32 attachable to the floor 22. Each rigid wall 26, 28, 30, 32 of the four rigid walls comprising an exterior surface 34 and an interior surface 36, a first side edge 38 and a second side edge 39 (shown more clearly in FIG. 11), the first and second side edges 38, 39 attachable to an adjacent rigid wall using an interlocking finger joint that is shown more clearly in FIG. 11. A door opening 37 is provided in the front wall 26 as shown in FIG. 1.

[0044] A roof 40 is provided for attachment to the four walls 26, 28, 30, 32, the roof 40 having four corners 42, an exterior surface 44, and an interior surface 46. The floor 22 is attachable to the roof 40 and the four rigid walls 26, 28, 30, 32, via a hold down system 50 connectable to each corner 42 of the roof 40 and each corner 24 of the floor 22 to hold the roof 40, the four rigid walls 26, 28, 30, 32, and the floor 22 in compression. Generally, the hold down system 50 includes at least one rod 52 positionable at each corner 42 of the roof 40 and is sized to extend through the roof 40 and attach to each corner 42 of the roof 40 and each corner 24 of the floor 22, which will be described more fully herein below.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 1, the shelter 20 has a deployed configuration shown in FIG. 1 in which the floor 22, the four walls 26, 28, 30, 32, and the roof 40 are attached together via the hold down system 50 to form a shelter that defines an enclosed interior 48, the shelter having a palletized configuration in which the four rigid walls 26, 28, 30, 32, the roof 40, and the floor 22 are layered on a rigid pallet (not shown).

[0046] In one aspect of the present disclosure, a foundation system 54 is provided as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B that includes a foundation form 56 with four corners 58. The form can be filled with a substance to provide weight and stability, such as sand, dirt, rocks, or more preferably, concrete 60 that is cured in the foundation form 56 to form a foundation 57. Anchor bolts 62 are preferably positioned to extend from each of the four corners 58. Each anchor bolt 62 is attachable to a respective corner 24 of the floor 22 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9. More particularly, a leveling nut 64 and washer 66 shown in FIG. 9 are provided to enable leveling of the shelter 20 at each of the four corners 24 of the floor 22.

[0047] FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a roof connector plate 68 that is sized and shaped to accommodate a slope to the roof 40. The roof connector plate 68 includes a circular ring plate 69 and a recessed insert portion 71 having an opening 73 sized and shaped to accommodate the rod 52 (shown assembled in FIGS. 7 and 8). A nut 75 attaches to the end of the rod 52 and is slightly recessed into the roof connector plate 68.

[0048] Alternatively, instead of the foundation system 54 described above, an anchor system 70 can be utilized as shown in FIGS. 4-6. The anchoring system 70 includes an anchor 72 and an anchor bolt 74 having a first end 76 attachable to each corner 24 of the floor 22 and a second end 78 attachable to the anchor 72.

[0049] As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, each of the four rigid walls 26, 28, 30, 32 has at least two through holes 80 formed at the first side edge 38 and at least two through holes 80 formed at the second side edge 39. All of the at least two through holes 80 communicate with the exterior surface 34 and interior surface 36 of the respective rigid wall 26, 28, 30, 32 and are positioned to communicate with the at least two through holes 80 of an adjacent rigid wall 26, 28, 30, 32 when the four rigid walls 26, 28, 30, 32 are assembled together. A wall connector plate 82 is inserted into the through hole 80 on the exterior of each wall 26, 28, 30, 32, and a through bolt 84 extends through the adjacent walls 28, 32 and the wall connector plates 82 and is secured in place with a nut 86 as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12.

[0050] Because the walls 28, 32 meet at a right angle, the through hole 80 is at an approximate angle of 45 degrees to each wall 28, 32. In order to recess the through bolt 84 and nut 86 within each respective wall 28, 32, the initial portion of the through hole 80 is enlarged to accommodate recessing of the wall connector plate 82 as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. The wall connector plate 82 is shown in more detail in FIGS. 10A and 10B to include an oval-shaped ring plate 88 and an insert portion 90 that has two walls 92, 94 intersecting at about a 90 degree angle, as seen in the top plan view of FIG. 10B. An opening 96 is provided in one of the walls 94 to accommodate the through bolt 84.

[0051] As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the shelter 20 may alternatively include one or more internal walls 102 to create discrete rooms within the shelter 20. Each internal wall 102 comprises a first surface 112 and a second surface 114, a first lateral edge 104 and a second lateral edge, the first lateral edge 104 and second lateral edge attachable to an adjacent rigid wall 26, 28, 30, 32 using an interlocking finger joint that is shown more clearly in FIG. 13. One more of the four rigid walls 26, 28, 30, 32 has at least two central through holes 81 formed medially relative to the two through holes 80 that are formed at the first edge 38 and second side edge 39 of the respective rigid wall 26, 28, 30, 32. The at least two central through holes 81 can be formed at any distance from the first side edge 38 and second side edge 39 that is desirable to accommodate an internal wall 102 perpendicular to the respective rigid wall 26, 28, 30, 32. The internal walls 102, like the four rigid walls 26, 28, 30, 32, have at least two through holes 110 formed at least at the first lateral edge 104 and, in some embodiments, also at the second lateral edge.

[0052] The internal wall through holes 110 located at the first lateral edge 104 communicate with the first surface 112 and the first lateral edge 104 of the respective internal wall 102 and are positioned to communicate with the at least two central through holes 81 of an adjacent rigid wall 26, 28, 30, 32 when the internal wall 102 is assembled with the respective rigid wall 26, 28, 30, 32. A wall connector plate 82 is inserted on the exterior of each rigid wall 26, 28, 30, 32 and a through bolt 84 extends through the adjacent internal wall 102 and the wall connector plates 82 and is secured in place with a nut 86 as shown in FIG. 14.

[0053] Because the internal wall 102 meets the respective rigid wall 26, 28, 30, 32 at a right angle, the central through holes 81 and internal wall through holes 110 are each located at an approximate angle of 45 degrees to each wall 102, 26, 28, 30, 32. In order to recess the through bolt 84 and nut 86 within each respective wall 102, 26, 28, 30, 32, the initial portion of the through hole 81, 110 is enlarged to accommodate recessing of the wall connector plate 82 as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. The wall connector plate 82 is shown in more detail in FIGS. 10A and 10B and is described in more detail above.

[0054] The internal wall 102 may also have at least two internal wall through holes 110 formed at the second lateral edge of the internal wall 102. The internal wall through holes 110 are positioned to communicate with at least two central through holes 81 on a second rigid wall 26, 28, 30, 32. The second lateral edge of the internal wall 102 is attached to the second rigid wall 26, 28, 30, 32 using interlocking finger joints, through holes 110, 81, wall connector plates 82, through bolts 84, and nuts 86 as described previously.

[0055] While the shelter 20 may have four exterior walls, described herein as the front wall 26, back wall 28, and two side walls 30, 32, it should be appreciated that the shelter 20 may have more than four exterior walls or as few as three exterior walls. In embodiments in which the structure has greater or fewer than four walls, the corresponding components vary in number and arrangement accordingly. For example, in a shelter 20 with five externals walls, the floor 22 and roof 40 respectively have five corners 24 and the hold down system 50 includes at least one rod 52 positionable at each of the five corners 42 of the roof 40. Likewise, in a shelter 20 with five external walls, the foundation system (if used) has five corners 58. Alternatively, in a shelter 20 with five external walls that uses an anchor system 70, each corner 24 of the floor 22 attaches to the first end 76 of the anchor bolt 74. The angle of the through holes 80 to each external wall likewise changes according to the angle at which the external walls are positioned relative to each other.

[0056] The various implementations described above can be combined to provide further implementations. Aspects of the implementations can be modified, if necessary to employ concepts of the various patents, applications and publications to provide yet further implementations.

[0057] The various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. All of the U.S. patents, U.S. patent application publications, U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patent applications and non-patent publications referred to in this specification and/or listed in the Application Data Sheet are incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety. Aspects of the embodiments can be modified, if necessary to employ concepts of the various patents, applications and publications to provide yet further embodiments.

[0058] These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of the above-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, the claims are not limited by the disclosure.