BOAT WITH HYDROFOILS RETRIEVABLE ABOVE A WATER LINE

Abstract

A hydrofoil boat incorporates an elongated hull with front and rear portions and deployable hydrofoils for enhanced performance and maneuverability. A front canard hydrofoil is mounted on a front support system positioned at the hull's front portion, configured to be moved between a stowed position and an operating position. The rear portion of the elongated hull supports a pair of rear hydrofoils, each mounted on respective rear support systems. Each rear hydrofoil integrates a motor-driven propeller, with the rear support systems configured both to raise or lower the hydrofoils between stowed and operating positions and to rotate the propellers about vertical axes to facilitate directional steering. The arrangement allows selective deployment of the front and rear hydrofoils above or below the water line, enabling efficient lift, reduced drag, and improved control. The system further enables the retrieval of one or all the hydrofoils above the water line when not in use.

Claims

1. A hydrofoil boat comprising: an elongated hull defining a front portion and a rear portion, a front canard hydrofoil mounted on a front support system positioned in the front portion of the hull and configured to raise or lower the front canard hydrofoil between a front stowed position and a front operating position, a first rear hydrofoil mounted on a first rear support system in the rear portion of the hull, the first rear hydrofoil is equipped with a first motor-driven propeller, wherein the first rear support system is further configured to raise or lower the first rear hydrofoil between a raised position and a lowered position, wherein the hydrofoil boat defines a water line, wherein the hydrofoil boat is configured to retrieve at least one of the front canard hydrofoil while in the front stowed position or the first rear hydrofoil while in the raised position above the water line.

2. The hydrofoil boat, as in claim 1, wherein the elongated hull has a cut-out section on a bottom thereof sized and configured to at least partially fit the front canard hydrofoil therein while the front canard hydrofoil is in the front stowed position.

3. The hydrofoil boat, as in claim 2, wherein the cut-out section of the elongated hull extends above the water line of the hydrofoil boat.

4. The hydrofoil boat, as in claim 3, wherein the cut-out section of the elongated hull is sized to accept the front canard hydrofoil to be out of the water while the front canard hydrofoil is in the front stowed position.

5. The hydrofoil boat, as in claim 2, wherein a hull bottom area adjacent the cut-out section is curved to minimize hydrodynamic drag caused by the cut-out section of the elongated hull.

6. The hydrofoil boat, as in claim 5, wherein the hull bottom area adjacent the cut-out section of the elongated hull extends lower than the front canard hydrofoil when in the front stowed position, thereby protecting the front canard hydrofoil from debris or bottom ground when operating in shallow water.

7. The hydrofoil boat, as in claim 1, wherein the first rear support system is further configured to rotate the first motor-driven propeller around a first vertical axis to facilitate steering of the hydrofoil boat.

8. The hydrofoil boat, as in claim 7, wherein the first rear support system comprises a first rear strut configured to support the first rear hydrofoil.

9. The hydrofoil boat, as in claim 8, wherein the first rear strut has an elongated cross-sectional shape aligned with a thrust vector of the first motor-driven propeller, thereby rotating the first motor-driven propeller around the first vertical axis allows the first rear support system to operate as a rudder of the hydrofoil boat for steering purposes thereof.

10. The hydrofoil boat, as in claim 1, wherein the first rear support system is further configured to tilt the first rear hydrofoil out of the water when the first rear hydrofoil is in the raised position.

11. The hydrofoil boat, as in claim 10, wherein the first rear support system is rotatably supported at the rear portion of the elongated hull to facilitate tilting the first rear support system while the first rear hydrofoil is in the raised position, thereby retrieving the first rear hydrofoil out of the water.

12. The hydrofoil boat, as in claim 1, configured to retrieve both the front canard hydrofoil while in the front stowed position and the first rear hydrofoil while in the raised position above the water line.

13. A hydrofoil boat comprising: an elongated hull defining a front portion and a rear portion, a front canard hydrofoil mounted in the front portion of the hull, a pair of a first rear hydrofoil and a second rear hydrofoil, each of the first rear hydrofoil and the second rear hydrofoil is mounted in the rear portion of the elongated hull on a respective first rear support system and a second rear support system, each of the first rear hydrofoil and the second rear hydrofoil is equipped with a respective first motor-driven propeller and a second motor-driven propeller, wherein each of the first rear support system and the second rear support system is further configured to independently raise or lower the respective first rear hydrofoil and the second rear hydrofoil between a raised position and a lowered position, wherein the hydrofoil boat defines a water line, wherein the hydrofoil boat is configured to retrieve the first rear hydrofoil and the second rear hydrofoil while in the raised position above the water line.

14. The hydrofoil boat, as in claim 13, wherein the elongated hull defines a longitudinal axis of symmetry along a length thereof, and wherein the pair of the first rear hydrofoil and the second rear hydrofoil is located side-by-side in the rear portion of the elongated hull and symmetrically along the longitudinal axis of the elongated hull.

15. The hydrofoil boat, as in claim 14, wherein the pair of the first rear hydrofoil and the second rear hydrofoil is located adjacent to each other and configured to operate together as a single main wing of the hydrofoil boat.

16. The hydrofoil boat, as in claim 13, wherein each of the first rear support system and the second rear support system is further configured to rotate the respective first motor-driven propeller and the second motor-driven propeller around respective a first vertical axis and a second vertical axis to facilitate steering of the hydrofoil boat.

17. The hydrofoil boat, as in claim 13, wherein the first motor-driven propeller and the second motor-driven propeller are turned using battery-operated electric motors, thereby the hydrofoil boat is entirely electrically operated.

18. The hydrofoil boat, as in claim 13, wherein the first rear support system and the second rear support system respectively comprise a first rear strut and a second rear strut, configured to support respectively the first rear hydrofoil and the second rear hydrofoil.

19. The hydrofoil boat, as in claim 18, wherein each of the first rear strut and the second rear strut has an elongated cross-sectional shape aligned with respective thrust vectors of the first motor-driven propeller and the second motor-driven propeller, thereby rotating the respective first motor-driven propeller and second motor-driven propeller around the respective first vertical axis and second vertical axis allows the first rear support system and the second rear support system to operate as rudders of the hydrofoil boat for steering purposes thereof.

20. A hydrofoil boat comprising: an elongated hull defining a front portion and a rear portion, a front canard hydrofoil mounted on a front support system positioned in the front portion of the hull and configured to raise or lower the front canard hydrofoil between a front stowed position and a front operating position, a pair of a first rear hydrofoil and a second rear hydrofoil, each of the first rear hydrofoil and the second rear hydrofoil is mounted on a respective first rear support system and a second rear support system in the rear portion of the elongated hull, each of the first rear hydrofoil and the second rear hydrofoil is equipped with a respective first motor-driven propeller and a second motor-driven propeller, wherein each of the first rear support system and the second rear support system is further configured to: raise or lower the respective first rear hydrofoil and second rear hydrofoil between a raised position and a lowered position, and rotate the respective first motor-driven propeller and the second motor-driven propeller around their respective first and second vertical axes to facilitate steering of the hydrofoil boat, wherein the hydrofoil boat defines a water line, wherein the hydrofoil boat is further configured to retrieve the front canard hydrofoil while in the front stowed position, the first rear hydrofoil while in the raised position, and the second rear hydrofoil while in the raised position above the water line.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Subject matter is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The foregoing and other features of the present disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only several embodiments in accordance with the disclosure and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope, the disclosure will be described with additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the boat of the invention,

[0023] FIG. 2 is a diagram perspective view of various controls for the boat of the invention,

[0024] FIG. 3 is a diagram side view of the boat in hydrofoil flight mode,

[0025] FIG. 4 is a diagram side view of the boat in displacement mode,

[0026] FIG. 5 is a diagram side view of the boat in docking or in a trailer transport configuration,

[0027] FIG. 6 is a close-up side view of the front portion of the hull with the front canard hydrofoil in the raised position,

[0028] FIG. 7 is a further close-up side view of the same,

[0029] FIG. 8 is a close-up view of the same with the flap of the canard hydrofoil tilted down,

[0030] FIG. 9 is a close-up view of the same with the flap of the canard hydrofoil in a neutral position,

[0031] FIG. 10 is a close-up view of the same with the flap of the canard hydrofoil tilted up,

[0032] FIG. 11 is a close-up bottom view of the same,

[0033] FIG. 12 is a close-up perspective view of the same with the front canard hydrofoil removed for clarity,

[0034] FIG. 13 is a close-up perspective view of the rear hydrofoil,

[0035] FIG. 14 is a close-up side view of the components of the rear support system in the down and locked position, and

[0036] FIG. 15 is the same in a lifted and partially tilted position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0037] The following description sets forth various examples along with specific details to provide a thorough understanding of claimed subject matter. It will be understood by those skilled in the art, however, that claimed subject matter may be practiced without one or more of the specific details disclosed herein. Further, in some circumstances, well-known methods, procedures, systems, components and/or circuits have not been described in detail in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring claimed subject matter. In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated and make part of this disclosure.

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a general perspective view of the boat 100 of the present invention. The boat comprises an elongated hull 101 having a front portion 102 and a rear portion 103, a front canard hydrofoil 180 supported by a front support system 170, a first rear hydrofoil 130 mounted on a first rear strut 125 and supported by a first rear support system 120, and a second rear hydrofoil 150 mounted on a second rear strut 145 and supported by a second rear support system 140. The elongated hull 101 defines a longitudinal axis of symmetry, with major components positioned on or along thereof. For example, the front canard hydrofoil 180 may be located along the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the boat. At the same time, two rear hydrofoils, 130 and 150, may be located side-by-side and also symmetrically with regard to the longitudinal axis of symmetry.

[0039] Present in the design but not shown in FIG. 1 is the electrical control system with associated sensors and powerlines connected to various electrical motors and actuators, as well as a set of batteries required to power up the entire hydrofoil boat of the invention. Positioning of the batteries may be accomplished to balance the weight of the boat, as can be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

[0040] One of the objectives of the novel boat design is to provide a sophisticated control system, which, at the same time, would be familiar to users of conventional boats and, therefore, would be intuitive and easy to use. To that end, the boat provides for various control elements as listed in greater detail below and illustrated in FIG. 2: [0041] the first rear hydrofoil 130 (which may also be referred to as a port aft hydrofoil) and the second rear hydrofoil 150 (which may also be referred to as a starboard aft hydrofoil) may be raised and lowered by their respective rear support systems 120 and 140 along the vertical arrows c and d in FIG. 2as independently controlled via the control system of the boat. The extent of the raising and lowering of the rear hydrofoils 130 and 150 between their respective raised position and lowered position may be sufficient to provide operation of the boat in various water depths, including shallow depths when both rear hydrofoils 130 and 150 (along with the front canard hydrofoil 180) are in their raised positions; [0042] either of the rear hydrofoils 130 and 150 may be independently rotated left and right around their respective vertical axes, as shown by arrows e and f in FIG. 2, to provide for yaw control. Independent control of this rotation may allow the motor-driven propellers of each rear hydrofoil to not operate with their thrust vectors in parallel with each other-so as to perform various docking and other boat maneuvers similar to a conventional twin-outboard boat. For example, pointing both propellers away from each other allows performing a standard twin-outboard docking maneuver (with a variable position of the center-of-pressure point), which is not common in other hydrofoil boats of the prior art. In addition, combining the yaw control with the raising or lowering of the rear or the front hydrofoils may allow for an extra degree of freedom, making it even more advantageous during docking maneuvers; [0043] both rear hydrofoils may be tilted to be out of the water when the boat is docked and when the rear hydrofoils are in the raised position, as seen by arrows a and b in FIG. 2, allowing the hydrofoils 130 and 150 to stay out of the water to minimize marine growth thereon; [0044] each rear hydrofoil 130 and 150 may have at least one flap which may be operated to tilt it up or down, as shown by arrows g and h in FIG. 2providing further control options when the boat is operated in a hydrofoil flight mode; [0045] the front canard hydrofoil 180 may be also raised or lowered by the front support system, as shown by the arrow I in FIG. 2, so as to move the front hydrofoil between the front stowed position and the front operating position; and, finally [0046] the front canard hydrofoil may have at least one flap, which may be operated to tilt up or down, as seen by the arrow j in FIG. 2, so as to further control the performance of the front canard hydrofoil in flight.

[0047] Together, a combination of these control features allows for sophisticated yet intuitive control of the boat of the present invention. FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 show various configurations of the boat 100 depending on the user intent and water depth available. The boat may be operated in one of two modes: [0048] a hydrofoil flight mode (as seen in FIG. 3) when all three hydrofoils 130, 150, and 180 are deployed to their selected operational depths and the boat 100 is moving at or above the speed sufficient to lift the hull 101 above the water line, [0049] a water displacement mode (as seen in FIG. 4) at slow speed, when the front hydrofoil 180 is in the stowed position, and the rear hydrofoils 130 and 150 are deployed at a minimal depth to submerge propellers into the waterthe boat 100 is operated in this case similarly to a conventional twin-outboard displacement boat.

[0050] The boat 100 may also be configured for docking and trailer transport configuration by raising the front canard hydrofoil 180 to the upper stowed position, as well as raising the rear hydrofoils 130 and 150 to the upper positions, followed by tilting them out of the water, as seen in FIG. 5 with the hydrofoils above the water line 10. In this configuration, all hydrofoils are not subject to marine growth and fouling while docking. The hydrofoils are also protected from damage by being stored closer to the hull 101 during transport, thereby addressing yet another concern of the prior art hydrofoil boats.

[0051] The design for the hydrofoils and their respective support systems are now described in greater detail. FIGS. 6 through 12 illustrate various close-ups of the front portion 102 of the hull 101. FIG. 6 shows the front hydrofoil 180 in the front stowed position. An inverted bow 104 may be implemented as part of the hull 101 design. In traditional boats, the inverted bow is broadly known to aid with penetrating waves and reducing slamming loads because the buoyancy force rises sub-linearly with boat depth below the water line. Although an inverted hull feature is generally known, it is not typically used with hydrofoil boats. The present invention uses the inverted bow, which in combination with other features of the boat, helps to create additional advantages for the boat. In particular, the inverted bow 104 may be advantageous for use with the boat of the present invention for two reasons. First, when hydrofoiling a short distance above the waves, it may be preferable to slice through a large wave rather than be pushed up over it, disturbing the vessel from its altitude setpoint. Second, there may be certain situations where a hydrofoil boat can expect to experience significant slamming loads on the bow. One such situation is unintentional ventilation of the canard hydrofoil 180, where the lift on the front hydrofoil may be quickly lost, causing the bow of the boat to fall into the water. Another situation is an intentional fast landing of the boat to recover from a sudden fault condition while in a hydrofoil flight. In both cases, the presence of the inverted bow 104 may result in a more graceful return to the surface of the water, as compared to a traditional bow.

[0052] The boat 100 may feature a cut-out section 105 in the front portion 102 of the hull 101 sized to fit the front canard hydrofoil 180 within thereof. FIG. 7 shows a further close-up view of the cut-out section 105. The hull 101 may be shaped to define the cut-out section 105 between the two distinctly separate areas of the lower part of the front portion 102, a front area 106 located in front of the cut-out section 105, and the rear area 107, located adjacent to the cut-out section 105 and further behind thereof. The side view of the front canard hydrofoil 180 supported on the lower part of the front strut 175 is also seen in FIG. 7. The cut-out section 105 extends above the water line 10, as best seen in FIG. 8. Not only the cut-out section 105 may be shaped to allow the front hydrofoil 180 to be completely retracted out of the water (so it does not foul while docked), it also allows the boat to be placed on a trailer without damaging the foil. Finally, it protects the canard hydrofoil 180 from debris or the ground when driving the boat in displacement mode, especially in shallow waters.

[0053] The hull areas 106 and 107 in front and behind the cut-out section 105 may both have individually-curved, low-hydrodynamic-drag shapes because they are both exposed to the flow of water when the boat is moving. In particular, the front area 106 may have a flat vertical surface 108 (similar to the transom for a traditional boat hull) to maximize the buoyancy that this section of the hull provides and to limit the spray of water through the opening 111 in the front bearing 110 that the front strut 175 of the canard hydrofoil 180 passes through.

[0054] The rear area 107 behind the cut-out section 105 may also extend further down the hull than the front canard hydrofoil 180 in the stowed position so that the hydrofoil 180 is protected when transported on the trailer. In addition, the rear area 107 may be symmetrically shaped to gradually increase in depth behind the cut-out section 105 along profile 109, as best seen in FIGS. 7 and 11.

[0055] The front canard hydrofoil 180 may, in turn, feature at least one flap 182, which may be tilted up or down by the internal electrical actuator (not shown) positioned within the housing of the canard hydrofoil 181. FIG. 8 shows the flap 182 tilted down. The depth of the cut-out section 105 may be sufficient to keep the canard hydrofoil entirely out of the water and above the water line 10 when the flap 182 is in the down position, as seen in FIG. 8. The water line 10 is showed the configuration of the boat when it is fully loaded and, as a result, is submerged into the water at the greatest depth.

[0056] FIG. 9 shows the flap 182 in the neutral position, while FIG. 10 shows the flap 182 tilted up. The cut-out section 105 may be large enough to fit the front canard hydrofoil 180 at any position of the flap 182.

[0057] FIG. 11 shows the close-up of the front portion 102 with a view from the bottom. The front canard hydrofoil 180 may extend laterally and away from the longitudinal axis of symmetry with sufficient width to make it visible from the top of the boat, thereby facilitating visual inspection thereof. The center of the front canard hydrofoil may still be located at or along the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the boat 100.

[0058] The front strut 175 supporting the front canard hydrofoil 180 may be arranged to pass through the opening 111 of the front bearing 110 in the hull 101 and extend vertically to the front support system 170. The front support system 170, in turn, may be configured to allow the strut 175 to be moved up or down as desired to select the suitable depth for the front canard hydrofoil 180. Various mechanical or electro-mechanical systems may be used to facilitate manually-operated or mechanized action of lifting and lowering the strut 175. In one example (not shown), an electric motor may be operably connected via a gearbox to a rack and pinion arrangement to cause the strut 175 to move up and down (similarly to the design of the rear support system described in greater detail below). In other examples, a suitable winch or manually-operated gearbox system may be deployed for that purpose, as the invention is not limited in this regard.

[0059] FIG. 12 shows a detail of the cut-out section 105 with the front canard hydrofoil 180 removedfor better clarity of the position of the front bearing 110 having the elongated opening 111 matching the shape of the strut 175. The strut 175 may be made with an elongated cross-section oriented along the hull 101 of the boat 100, so as to provide better stability for the boat while in a hydrofoil flight mode.

[0060] FIG. 13 shows a close-up perspective view of the rear hydrofoil 150, which has the same design as the rear hydrofoil 130 and may be attached at the bottom of the rear strut 145. Together, both rear hydrofoils 130 and 150 may operate as a single main wing of the hydrofoil boat 100.

[0061] As the front strut 175, the rear strut 145 (as well as the rear strut 125) may have an elongated hydro-dynamically designed cross-section. The long axis of this cross-section may be aligned with the direction of the thrust vector of the corresponding propeller 153 being driven by a respective motor. Rotating the respective first and second hydrofoils 130 and 150 around their respective first and second vertical axes causes the first and second rear struts 125 and 145 to operate as rudders of the hydrofoil boat 100, which may be useful for steering purposes.

[0062] In the example shown in FIG. 13, an electric motor may be located inside an enlarged portion of the housing 154 behind the propeller 153. The housing 154 may also be hydro-dynamically shaped to minimize resistance when moving through the water. The rear hydrofoil 150 may further have a suitable shaped lateral housing 151 with one or more flaps 152 located along the length thereof. Flaps 152 may be operated to be tilted up or down by internal electric actuators located in the housing 154 or the housing 151. FIG. 13 shows an example of the flaps tilted down, as the invention is not limited in this regard.

[0063] Details of the upper portion of the rear support system 140 are seen in FIGS. 14 and 15. To facilitate the lifting of the upper portion 141 of the rear strut 145, a rack gear arrangement may be made on the strut 141, with the corresponding pinion gear 144 rotatably mounted on the main bracket 143. An electric motor may be used to turn the pinion gear 144 via a suitable gearbox (not shown in FIG. 14 for clarity). A lock bar channel 192 may be attached to the top of the main bracket 143 and configured for the insertion of a lock bar (not shown). When positioned in the lock bar channel 192, the lock bar may be located directly above the rear strut 145. When present, it prevents the rear strut 145 from moving up the main bracket 143, thereby locking the rear hydrofoil 150 in place and relieving a constant load on the rack-and-pinion system from the weight of the boat when in a hydrofoil flight mode or operation.

[0064] The main bracket 143 is pivotally attached to the transom bracket 146, which, in turn, is affixed to the hull 101 of the boat 100. The main bracket 143 may therefore tilt around the axis of rotation 147 when the rear hydrofoil 150 needs to be stowed away and out of the water.

[0065] To facilitate the tilting process, a hydraulic cylinder 148 or another suitable linear actuator may be used. Initially, the cylinder 148 may be in the retracted position, as seen in FIG. 14. An optional locking pin may be used to prevent it from moving. When the pin is removed, and the cylinder is elongated, it may cause the main bracket 143 to tilt about the axis of rotation 147, as best seen in FIG. 15. Further extension of the cylinder 148 may be used to cause the completion of the tilting operation to lift the rear hydrofoil 150 out of the water. To secure the rear support system in the tilted position, a guard rail in the back of the rear support system 140 may have an opening 149 (see FIG. 1), such that the upper portion of the rear strut 141 may fit inside thereof to facilitate additional fixation and securing the rear support position in place. This may be done during transport of the boat on a trailer, or during storing the boat out of the water for other purposes.

[0066] It is contemplated that any embodiment discussed in this specification can be implemented with respect to any method of the invention, and vice versa. It will be also understood that particular embodiments described herein are shown by way of illustration and not as limitations of the invention. The principal features of this invention can be employed in various embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain, using no more than routine experimentation, numerous equivalents to the specific procedures described herein. Such equivalents are considered to be within the scope of this invention and are covered by the claims.

[0067] All publications and patent applications mentioned in the specification are indicative of the level of skill of those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains. All publications and patent applications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. Incorporation by reference is limited such that no subject matter is incorporated that is contrary to the explicit disclosure herein, no claims included in the documents are incorporated by reference herein, and any definitions provided in the documents are not incorporated by reference herein unless expressly included herein.

[0068] The use of the word a or an when used in conjunction with the term comprising in the claims and/or the specification may mean one, but it is also consistent with the meaning of one or more, at least one, and one or more than one. The use of the term or in the claims is used to mean and/or unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives only or the alternatives are mutually exclusive, although the disclosure supports a definition that refers to only alternatives and and/or. Throughout this application, the term about is used to indicate that a value includes the inherent variation of error for the device, the method being employed to determine the value or the variation that exists among the study subjects.

[0069] As used in this specification and claim(s), the words comprising (and any form of comprising, such as comprise and comprises), having (and any form of having, such as have and has), including (and any form of including, such as includes and include) or containing (and any form of containing, such as contains and contain) are inclusive or open-ended and do not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps. In embodiments of any of the compositions and methods provided herein, comprising may be replaced with consisting essentially of or consisting of. As used herein, the phrase consisting essentially of requires the specified integer(s) or steps as well as those that do not materially affect the character or function of the claimed invention. As used herein, the term consisting is used to indicate the presence of the recited integer (e.g., a feature, an element, a characteristic, a property, a method/process step or a limitation) or group of integers (e.g., feature(s), element(s), characteristic(s), propertie(s), method/process steps or limitation(s)) only.

[0070] The term or combinations thereof as used herein refers to all permutations and combinations of the listed items preceding the term. For example, A, B, C, or combinations thereof is intended to include at least one of: A, B, C, AB, AC, BC, or ABC, and if order is important in a particular context, also BA, CA, CB, CBA, BCA, ACB, BAC, or CAB. Continuing with this example, expressly included are combinations that contain repeats of one or more item or term, such as BB, AAA, AB, BBC, AAABCCCC, CBBAAA, CABABB, and so forth. The skilled artisan will understand that typically there is no limit on the number of items or terms in any combination, unless otherwise apparent from the context.

[0071] As used herein, words of approximation such as, without limitation, about, substantial or substantially refers to a condition that when so modified is understood to not necessarily be absolute or perfect but would be considered close enough to those of ordinary skill in the art to warrant designating the condition as being present. The extent to which the description may vary will depend on how great a change can be instituted and still have one of ordinary skilled in the art recognize the modified feature as still having the required characteristics and capabilities of the unmodified feature. In general, but subject to the preceding discussion, a numerical value herein that is modified by a word of approximation such as about may vary from the stated value by at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 12, 15, 20 or 25%.

[0072] All of the devices and/or methods disclosed and claimed herein can be made and executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure. While the devices and methods of this invention have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that variations may be applied to the devices and/or methods and in the steps or in the sequence of steps of the method described herein without departing from the concept, spirit and scope of the invention. All such similar substitutes and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and concept of the invention as defined by the appended claims.