Abstract
An add-on piece for fastening to a panel element includes a base body, a fastening element, and a guiding element and a mating guiding element which are configured to guide the fastening element with respect to the base body such that during assembling of the add-on piece on the panel element, the fastening element moves away from the base body and comes into engagement with the panel element for fastening the add-on piece to the panel element.
Claims
1. An add-on piece for fastening to a panel element, said add-on piece comprising: a base body; a fastening element; and a guiding element and a mating guiding element which are configured to guide the fastening element with respect to the base body such that during assembling of the add-on piece on the panel element, the fastening element moves away from the base body and comes into engagement with the panel element for fastening the add-on piece to the panel element.
2. The add-on piece of claim 1, wherein the guiding element and the mating guiding element are configured to guide in a pre-assembled state of the add-on piece the fastening element such that the fastening element is blocked in a releasable manner from moving away from the base body.
3. The add-on piece of claim 2, wherein, when the fastening element is engaged with the panel element in an assembled state of the add-on piece, the add-on piece is movable between the pre-assembled state and the assembled state by moving the fastening element away from the base body, with the fastening element being blocked in the assembled state from moving back to the base body.
4. The add-on piece of claim 3, wherein in the assembled state the fastening element is blocked in a releasable manner from moving back to the base body.
5. The add-on piece of claim 3, wherein the fastening element is displaced in a straight line, when moving away from the base body and/or moving back to the base body.
6. The add-on piece of claim 5, wherein the straight line is inclined with respect to an assembling direction.
7. The add-on piece of claim 1, wherein the base body is movable in an assembling direction towards the panel element for assembling the add-on piece so that the fastening element and/or one of the guiding element and the mating guiding element comes into contact with the panel element to cause the fastening element to move away from the base body.
8. The add-on piece of claim 1, wherein the guiding element is a rail and the mating guiding element has a profile that encompasses the rail.
9. The add-on piece of claim 8, wherein the rail is inclined with respect to an assembling direction.
10. The add-on piece of claim 3, wherein the guiding element and the mating guiding element are configured in one of two ways, a first way in which the guiding element and the mating guiding element latch in a releasable manner with one another for releasably blocking the fastening element to move away and/or block the fastening from moving back, a second way in which the guiding element and the mating guiding element latch in a releasable manner with a further element.
11. The add-on piece of claim 1, wherein one of the guiding element and the mating guiding element is fastened to the base body via a wedge.
12. The add-on piece of claim 11, wherein one of the guiding element and the mating guiding element and/or the wedge is formed as one piece with the base body and/or the other one of the guiding element and the mating guiding element is formed as one piece with the fastening element.
13. The add-on piece of claim 1, wherein the fastening element comprises a first fastening element which is guided by the guiding element and mating guiding element with respect to the base body, and a second fastening element, with the first and second fastening elements being arranged on opposite sides of the base body, and further comprising a further guiding element and a further mating guiding element configured to guide the second fastening element with respect to the base body such that during assembling of the add-on piece on the panel element, the second fastening element moves away from the base body and comes into engagement with the panel element for fastening the add-on piece to the panel element, with the first and second fastening elements moving away from the base body in opposite directions.
14. The add-on piece of claim 1, wherein the base body is formed from two half shells that are connected to one another.
15. The add-on piece of claim 1, wherein the base body comprises a display facility in particular a display, an operating element, in particular a switch or a switch receptacle, a receptacle for a recessible rotary knob, a positioning facility for positioning the panel element with respect to a carcass of the cooking appliance, a communication facility, in particular a WLAN module, a loud speaker facility and/or other fastenings to the appliance, in particular a steam hinge.
16. A panel system, comprising: a panel element; and an add-on piece comprising a base body, a fastening element, and a guiding element and a mating guiding element which are configured to guide the fastening element with respect to the base body such that during assembling of the add-on piece on the panel element, the fastening element moves away from the base body and comes into engagement with the panel element for fastening the add-on piece to the panel element.
17. The panel system of claim 16, and further comprising a rotary knob, said add-on piece configured as a switch receptacle for receiving the rotary knob.
18. A cooking appliance, comprising a panel system, said panel system comprising a panel element, and an add-on piece which comprises a base body, a fastening element, and a guiding element and a mating guiding element which are configured to guide the fastening element with respect to the base body such that during assembling of the add-on piece on the panel element, the fastening element moves away from the base body and comes into engagement with the panel element for fastening the add-on piece to the panel element.
19. The cooking appliance of claim 18, constructed in a form of a cooker or baking oven.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0041] Further advantageous embodiments and aspects of the invention are the subject matter of the subordinate claims and of the exemplary embodiments of the invention described below. Furthermore, the invention is explained in detail with the aid of preferred embodiments with reference to the attached figures.
[0042] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of only a section of a baking oven in accordance with one embodiment;
[0043] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the rear side of a panel element;
[0044] FIG. 3 shows the panel element from FIG. 2, wherein two add-on pieces are arranged on said panel element, and specifically two switch receptacles;
[0045] FIG. 4 shows a first housing part of the switch receptacle from FIG. 3;
[0046] FIG. 5 shows a first fastening element of the first housing part from FIG. 3;
[0047] FIG. 6 shows a view of the rear side of the fastening element from FIG. 5;
[0048] FIG. 7 shows a second housing part of the switch receptacle from FIG. 3;
[0049] FIG. 8 shows a second fastening element of the second housing part from FIG. 3;
[0050] FIG. 9 shows a view of the rear side of the fastening element from FIG. 8;
[0051] FIGS. 10 to 12 show in a cross sectional view of the panel element three steps during the assembling of the switch receptacle therein; and
[0052] FIG. 13 shows a cross sectional view of the panel element with the assembled switch receptacle and a rotary knob recessed therein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0053] Like or like-functioning elements are provided with the same reference characters in the figures unless otherwise stipulated.
[0054] FIG. 1 illustrates a cooking appliance 1 in a perspective view. The cooking appliance 1 that in accordance with an exemplary embodiment is a baking oven comprises a panel system 2 and a carcass 3. The panel system 2 is fastened to the carcass 3. The panel system 2 comprises a panel element 4 and one or multiple add-on pieces that are further explained later and can be fastened to the panel element 4.
[0055] The cooking appliance 1 comprises on the front side a door 5. The door 5 can be opened in order to reveal access to a cooking compartment in the interior of the cooking appliance 1. The panel element 4 of the panel system 2 is arranged above the door 5. Moreover, the panel system 2 has by way of example two recessible rotary knobs 6. The rotary knobs 6 can be moved between a first and a second position respectively. In the first position, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the rotary knobs 6 protrude forward beyond the panel element 4, in other words in the depth direction T. In this first position, they can be operated by a user standing in front of the cooking appliance 1. By way of example, it is thus possible to set the temperature in the cooking compartment. In the second position, they are recessed in the panel element 4, in other words, they are arranged essentially with their front side flush with the panel element 4. Symbols 7 can be provided around a respective rotary knob 6 and said symbols, together with a marking 8 on the respective rotary knob indicate information regarding an operating state of the cooking appliance 1. The symbols 7 can by way of example be printed, adhered or in this case embossed onto the panel element 4. Moreover, the symbols 7 can be provided by electronic facilities, such as possibly LEDs. The symbols 7 are provided directly on the side 9 of the panel element 4 that is visible to the user (in the present case also referred to as the front side). Furthermore, the panel system 2 can comprise a display 10. The display 10 which can also be in particular a touch display is configured so as to display information regarding the cooking appliance 1 and/or the food to be cooked that is located therein.
[0056] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the rear side of the panel element 4 from FIG. 1. The rear side of the panel element 4 is identified in the figure by 11. As is apparent when viewed together with FIG. 1, the panel element 4 has a main extension plane E which in the assembled state of the panel system 2 extends in the vertical direction H (cf. also FIG. 1) and in the width direction B (cf. likewise FIG. 1) of the cooking appliance 1.
[0057] A first connecting element 12 and a second connecting element 13 are provided on the panel element 4. In this case, the first connecting element 12 is configured in accordance with the exemplary embodiment as a rail. The rail 12 is produced by a double folded edge of the metal plate from which the panel element 4 is manufactured. The metal plate can be by way of example a steel or stainless steel metal plate. As an alternative, the panel element 4 can also be manufactured from plastic. In this case, the panel element 4 is produced as an injection molded part together with the double folded edge. The rail 12 extends along an upper longitudinal side 14 of the panel element 4, said upper longitudinal side being provided in the vertical direction H.
[0058] Moreover, the panel element 4 comprises a single folded edge 15 which in relation to the vertical direction H extends along the upper longitudinal side 16 of the panel element 4. The single folded edge 15 is manufactured in the same manner as the double folded edge as one piece with the panel element 4. In a similar manner to the double folded edge, the single folded edge 15 is likewise produced from the metal blank that is used for manufacturing the panel element 4 (or injection molding), and especially by being bent out of the main extension plane E. Whereas the single folded edge 15 extends in a perpendicular manner to the main extension plane E, the double folded edge or rail 12 comprises two sections 17, 18. The first section 17 extends likewise in a perpendicular manner with respect to the main extension plane E. The section 18, which is in turn folded over with respect to the section 17, extends in a plane parallel to the main extension plane E.
[0059] The second connecting element 13 is configured in the form of multiple cut-outs in the single fold edge 15. The shape of the cut-outs can be by way of example circular, square, rectangular, round, oval or in any other shape.
[0060] Furthermore, FIG. 2 illustrates through-going holes 19 for the rotary knob 6 and a rectangular slot 20 for the display 10. The slot 20 can also be round, oval etc. The through-going holes 19 are provided with a circumferential indent 21. Owing to the indent 21, it is possible to forego a switch handle protector which reduces the risk of injury for the user and prevents the rotary knob scratching against the through-going hole 19 as the recessible rotary knob 6 is lowered into or moved out of said through-going hole. The indent 21 is produced by the metal blank that is used for manufacturing the panel element 4 (or in injection molding) being bent over circumferential and especially by being bent out of the main extension plane E. In this case, the bent over edge of the circumferential indent is round in order to reduce the risk of injury, in particular in the case of an actuation in order to move out the recessible rotary knob 6.
[0061] In order to fix the panel element 4 in the width direction B to the carcass 3 (cf. FIG. 1), it is possible to provide on the lower longitudinal side 16 by way of example tabs 22 with the aid of which the panel element 4 is screwed to the carcass 3.
[0062] FIG. 3 illustrates the view from FIG. 2. Furthermore, FIG. 3 illustrates an add-on piece in the form of a switch receptacle 23 for receiving one of the rotary knobs 6 (cf. FIG. 1) in its recessed position. FIG. 3 illustrates the switch receptacle 23 in its installed state.
[0063] FIGS. 4 to 9 illustrate the construction and the function of the switch receptacle 23 that is mentioned in conjunction with FIG. 3. The switch receptacle 23 has a base body 24 that comprises a first housing part 25 and a second housing part 26. FIGS. 4 to 6 illustrate the first housing part 25 with a first fastening element 27 of the switch receptacle 23 and FIGS. 7 to 9 illustrate the second housing part 26 with a second fastening element 28 of the switch receptacle 23. The first and second housing part 25, 26 are each in the form of a half shell. It is possible to use for example plastic or metal, such as for example steel, stainless steel or aluminum or a combination of plastic and metal, as a material for the first and second housing part 25, 26 and for the first and second fastening element 27, 28. The first and second housing part 25, 26 and the first and second fastening element 27, 28 can be produced as an injection molded part. The second housing part 26 comprises multiple latching protrusions 29 that are configured on the outer side of the second housing part 26 (cf. FIG. 7). The first housing part 25 comprises the same number of mating latches 30 as the number of latching protrusions 29 in the second housing part 26. The mating latches 30 are arranged on an outer side of the first housing part 25 (cf. FIG. 4). The first housing part 25 is joined to the second housing part 26, in that the latching protrusions 29 latch with the mating latches 30.
[0064] Furthermore, FIG. 4 illustrates a guiding element 31, which is configured by way of example as a rail, and a wedge 32 which are configured as one piece with the first housing part 25. The wedge 32 is configured on the outer surface of the housing part 25. The wedge 32 has a planar surface that is inclined with respect to a direction in which the add-on piece is assembled on the panel element 4 (in the present case also referred to as the “assembling direction M”). The assembling direction M is illustrated in FIG. 10. An angle of inclination a of the wedge 32, which is illustrated in FIG. 10, can be by way of example between 15° and 45°. The rail 31 is arranged on the planar inclined surface of the wedge 32 that faces away from the base body 24. The rail 31 is inclined as the wedge 32 at the same angle α. The cross sectional shape of the rail 31 is in the shape of a “T”. The rail 31 has at the foot of the “T” a surface by way of which the rail 31 is connected to the wedge 32 the inclined planar surface of the wedge 30. The rail 31 has on an inclined planar surface that faces away from the first housing part 25 (roof of the “T”), two cut-outs 33a, 33b. The shape of the cut-outs 33a, 33b can be by way of example circular, square, rectangular, round or oval.
[0065] FIG. 5 illustrates the first fastening element 27. The first fastening element 27 is arranged on the rail 31 (FIG. 4) in such a manner that it is displaceable in a linear manner in a guiding direction F (FIG. 10) on said rail. The displacement direction of the first fastening element 27 is in this case at the same angle α as the rail 31 and the wedge 32 with respect to the assembling direction M. In this case, the rail 31 is used as a guiding rail for the first fastening element 27. The first fastening element 27 has a mating guiding element 34 via which the first fastening element 27 is connected to the rail 31. In another exemplary embodiment, the mating guiding element 34 can be arranged in lieu of the rail 31 on the surface of the wedge 32 that is facing away from the base body 24. The rail 31 can be arranged for this purpose by way of example also in lieu of the mating guiding element 34 on the first fastening element 27. The shape of the cross section of the mating guiding element 34 is preferably in the shape of a “C”. The mating guiding element 34 encompasses the rail 31 at its lateral end edges in the guiding direction F. The mating guiding element 34 and the rail 31 can also have other profiles, by way of example, the mating guiding element 34 can encompass the rail 31 inside and/or outside. The rail 31 can by way of example also encompass the mating guiding element 34 inside and/or outside. The first fastening element 27 is configured so as to come into engagement with the connecting element 12 and to fasten the base body 24 to the panel element 4, as will be explained in more detail later.
[0066] The rail 31 is formed as one piece with the first housing part 25. The mating guiding element 34 is formed as one piece with the first fastening element 27. The rail 31 can be formed by way of example in lieu of the mating guiding element 34 as one piece with the first fastening element 27. The mating guiding element 34 can be formed by way of example in lieu of the rail 31 as one piece with the first housing part 25.
[0067] FIG. 6 illustrates the view of the rear side of the first fastening element 27. In order to come into engagement with one of the two cut-outs 33a, 33b, the first fastening element 27 has a latching protrusion 35 on the planar surface via which the first fastening element 27 is connected to the rail 31. The shape of the latching protrusion 35 corresponds in this case to the shape of the cut-outs 33a, 33b.
[0068] FIG. 7 illustrates the second housing part 26 that comprises a guiding element 36 and an inclined section 37 (also referred to here as a “further element”). The second housing part 26, the guiding element 36 and the inclined section 37 are configured as one piece. The guiding element 36 and the inclined section 37 can be produced by way of example from plastic or metal, such as for example steel, stainless steel or aluminum. The guiding element 36 is configured on the surface of the second housing part 26 and has two angled sections whose cross section is an “L-shape”. The “L-foot” of the respective section faces in this case outwards away from the base body 24. The inclined section 37 is configured with thin walls, bent at one end and at this end connected to the outer surface of the second housing part 26 and arranged between the angled sections of the guiding element 36. The inclined section 37 is likewise inclined in the same manner as the wedge 32 with respect to the assembling direction M. The angle of inclination of the inclined sections 37 can be in this case flatter than the angle of inclination a of the wedge 32, in other words for example only 10°-20°. As a result, the distance traveled by the fastening element 28 in the opposite direction to the vertical direction H in order to come into engagement with the connecting element 13 is shorter in comparison to the distance traveled by the fastening element 27 in the vertical direction H in order to come into engagement with the rail 12. As a result, less installation space is advantageously required.
[0069] The guiding element 36 is inclined at the same angle as the inclined section 37 with respect to the assembling direction M. Furthermore, the inclined section 37 has two cut-outs 38a, 38b. The shape of the cut-outs 38a, 38b can be by way of example circular, square, rectangular, round, oval or in another shape.
[0070] FIG. 8 illustrates the second fastening element 28 that is configured so as to come into engagement with the connecting element 13 and to fasten the base body 24 to the panel element 4, as will be explained in more detail later. The second fastening element 28 has an inclined surface on which a mating guiding element 39 is provided. The shape of the cross section of the mating guiding element 39 is preferably in the shape of a “C”. The mating guiding element 39 encompasses the guiding element 36 on its lateral end edges in the guiding direction. The mating guiding element 39 and the guiding element 36 can also have other profiles, by way of example the mating guiding element 39 can encompass the guiding element 36 inside and/or outside. The guiding element 36 can by way of example also encompass the mating guiding element 39 inside and/or outside. The displacement direction of the second fastening element 28 is at the same angle as the angle of inclination of the guiding element 36 and of the inclined section 37 with respect to the assembling direction M. The guiding element 36 is used as a guiding rail for the second fastening element 28.
[0071] The profile of the mating guiding element 39 corresponds in this case to the profile of the guiding element 36. The mating guiding element 39 can by way of example also be arranged in lieu of the guiding element 36 on the surface of the inclined section 37 that is facing away from the base body 24. The guiding element 36 can be arranged for this purpose by way of example in lieu of the mating guiding element 39 on the second fastening element 28. The mating guiding element 39 and the guiding element 36 can also have other profiles, by way of example the mating guiding element 39 can encompass the guiding element 36 inside and/or outside. The guiding element 36 can by way of example also encompass the mating guiding element 34 inside and/or outside.
[0072] The guiding element 36 is formed as one piece with the second housing part 26. The mating guiding element 39 is formed as one piece with the second fastening element 28. The guiding element 36 can be formed in an alternative embodiment by way of example in lieu of the mating guiding element 39 as one piece with the second fastening element 28. The mating guiding element 39 can be formed by way of example in lieu of the guiding element 36 as one piece with the second housing part 26. The side of the second fastening element 28 that is remote from the mating guiding element 39 has two latching protrusions 40.
[0073] FIG. 9 illustrates the view of the rear side of the second fastening element 28. A further latching protrusion 41 is attached to the inner side of said fastening element and said further latching protrusion comes into engagement with one of the two cut-outs 38a, 38b. The shape of the latching protrusion 41 corresponds in this case to the shape of the cut-outs 38a, 38b.
[0074] Prior to the switch receptacle 23 being mounted on the panel element 4, the first and the second fastening element 27, 28 are attached to the base body 24 in a pre-assembled state which is described below. The first fastening element 27 is pushed onto the rail 31 so far until the latching protrusion 35 latches in the cut-out 33a that is arranged in the assembling direction M closer to the panel element 4. If the latching protrusion 35 latches in the cut-out 33a, the first fastening element 27 is located in a first position with respect to the base body 24. The latching protrusion 35 latches in a releasable manner in the cut-out 33a in such a manner that it is only possible for the first fastening element 27 to move away from the base body 24 in the guiding direction F. In contrast, a movement back of the first fastening element 27 in the opposite direction to the guiding direction F is blocked.
[0075] In a similar manner thereto, the second fastening element 28 is pushed onto the guiding element 36. If the latching protrusion 41 latches in the cut-out 38a, which is arranged closer to the panel element 4 in the assembling direction M, the second fastening element 28 is located in a first position with respect to the base body 24. The latching protrusion 41 latches in a releasable manner in the cut-out 38a in such a manner that the second fastening element 28 can only move away from the base body 24 in the guiding direction F. In contrast, a movement back of the second fastening element 28 in the opposite direction to the guiding direction F is blocked. As a result, the first and second fastening element 27, 28 are prevented from falling off the base body 24, in particular during the assembling. Furthermore, it is not necessary for the first and second fastening element 27, 28 to be held by a worker or robot during the assembling. As a result, the assembling of the switch receptacle 23 is simplified.
[0076] Starting from the pre-assembled state, FIGS. 10 to 12 illustrate now the assembling of the switch receptacle 23 on the panel element 4. FIG. 10 illustrates the switch receptacle 23 with the first and second fastening element 27, 28 in the pre-assembled state together with the panel element 4 in a perpendicular manner with respect to the panel plane E. In this case, the first and second fastening element 27, 28 protrude beyond the base body 24 in the assembling direction M (cf. FIG. 10). For the assembling, the base body 24 is moved in the assembling direction M in a perpendicular manner with respect to the panel plane E (cf. FIG. 3), and especially exclusively in this direction.
[0077] After the first and second fastening element 27, 28 come into contact with the panel element 4 (cf. FIG. 11), the first fastening element 27 is moved in the illustrated direction upwards (corresponding to the vertical direction H) and the second fastening element 28 moves in the illustrated direction downwards (corresponding to a direction opposite to the vertical direction H) while the base body 24 is moved simultaneously towards the panel element 4. The first fastening element 27 moves along the rail 31 in the guiding direction F away from the base body 24 (also referred to in the present case as the “movement away”). In this case, the latching protrusion 35 leaves the cut-out 33a in the first position. The second fastening element 28 moves along the guiding element 36 in the guiding direction away from the base body 24. In this case, the latching protrusion 41 leaves the cut-out 38a in the first position. If the base body 24 moves further in the assembling direction M towards the panel element 4, the first fastening element 27 moves along the rail 31 so far until the latching protrusion 35 latches in the cut-out 33b in the second position, which is further away in the assembling direction M from the cut-out 33b in the first position. The second fastening element 28 moves along the guiding element 36 so far until the latching protrusion 41 latches in the cut-out 38b in a second position, which is further away in the assembling direction M from the cut-out 38b in the first position. Simultaneously, the first fastening element 27 comes into engagement with the double folded edge or with the pocket, which is formed by said double folded edge, is open in the downwards direction (against the vertical direction) and in which the first fastening element 27 engages in the vertical direction H. The latching protrusions 40 of the second fastening element 28 come into engagement with the cut-out 13 (cf. FIG. 12). The profile of the double folded edge corresponds to the profile of the first fastening element 27, with the result that said first fastening element can only be displaced in the extension direction E. The latching protrusions 40 of the second fastening element 28 engage in the cut-out 13 in such a manner that it is prevented from moving out of the cut-out 13. Accordingly, the switch receptacle 23 is fixed in the state illustrated in FIG. 13 in six degrees of freedom (also referred to in the present case as the “assembled state”
[0078] FIG. 13 illustrates a sectional view of the switch receptacle 23 that is assembled on the panel element 4 with a recessed rotary knob 6.
[0079] The inclined section 37 protrudes beyond the second fastening element 28, as is illustrated in FIG. 13, and is accessible to a user. The inclined section 37 is configured in an elastic bendable manner so that as said inclined section is being bent towards the base body 24, the latching protrusion 41 of the second fastening element 28 becomes disengaged from the cut-out 38b. By way of a simultaneous movement of the base body 24 in the opposite direction to the assembling direction M, the base body 24 can the second fastening element 28 moves back in the opposite direction to the guiding direction F (the movement in this direction is also referred to in the present case as the “movement back” and is identified in FIG. 10 by “Z”) and can be dismantled from the panel element 4.
[0080] In a further embodiment, in lieu of the wedge 32, an inclined section (not illustrated) is arranged, which is configured in an elastic bendable manner so that as said inclined section is being bent towards the base body 24 the latching protrusion 35 of the first fastening element 27 becomes disengaged from the cut-out 33b. As a result, the latching protrusions 35 and 41 can be simultaneously released from the cut-outs 33b 38b and the first and second fastening element 27, 28 can be simultaneously dismantled.
[0081] Advantageously, the connecting elements 12, 13 described here and the first and second fastening element 27, 28 are all arranged on the rear side 11 of the panel element 4 so that these are not visible to the user who is operating the cooking appliance 1 in the proper manner. In addition, as is apparent in FIG. 1, this consequently creates a smooth closed surface of the panel element 4.
[0082] Fundamentally, the assembling described here of the switch receptacle 23 and the pre-assembling of the first and second fastening element 27, 28 on the add-on piece 23 can be performed manually or automatically. In lieu of or in addition to the connecting elements 12, 13 described here and the first and second fastening element 27, 28, it is also possible to use non-releasable types of connections, for example clinching.
[0083] In the present description, the add-on piece is described using the example of a switch receptacle 23. Further add-on pieces can be a WLAN module, a sound module, a display 10 or the like.
[0084] Although the present invention has been described with the aid of exemplary embodiments, it can be modified in numerous ways.
