BAG SYSTEM WITH INTERCHANGEABLE PANELS

Abstract

A bag with interchangeable outer panels. The outer panels may include graphics, lights, and/or other visual aspects. The panels are removable and interchangeable. The lights may be arranged to highlight particular areas of the panels (i.e., particular graphics on the panels). The panels also may include pockets for holding other items and standing feet such that a panel when removed from the bag may serve as a tabletop display.

Claims

1. A bag system comprising: a bag including at least one outer surface and an inner volume; a first attachment mechanism configured with the at least one outer surface; a panel including a front side and a back side opposite the front side; a second attachment mechanism configured with the back side; wherein the first attachment mechanism and the second attachment mechanism are configured to mate with one another to releasably secure the panel's back side to the bag's at least one outer surface.

2. The bag system of claim 1 wherein the at least one first attachment mechanism and the at least one second attachment mechanism include corresponding snaps or corresponding hook and loop material.

3. The bag system of claim 1 further comprising: a first panel light configured with the panel's back side and adapted to emit light through the back side to the front side to illuminate a first location on the front side.

4. The bag system of claim 3 wherein the panel's front side includes at least one first graphic at the first location.

5. The bag system of claim 3 wherein the first panel light includes a first light attachment mechanism adapted to secure the first panel light to the panel's back side.

6. The bag system of claim 3 wherein the bag includes a window in its at least one outer surface leading to the inner volume, and the first panel light is adapted to emit light through the window and into the inner volume.

7. The bag system of claim 1 further comprising: a first bag light configured to emit light into the bag's inner volume.

8. The bag system of claim 1 further comprising: a second panel light configured with the panel's front side and adapted to emit light to illuminate a second location on the panel's front side.

9. The bag system of claim 8 wherein the second panel light includes a second light attachment mechanism adapted to secure the second panel light to the panel's front side.

10. The bag system of claim 8 wherein the panel's front side includes at least one second graphic at the second location.

11. The bag system of claim 1 wherein the panel further comprises a foldable stand configured with its back side.

12. The bag system of claim 11 wherein the foldable stand is adapted to transition from a retracted configuration when the panel is attached to the bag's at least one outer surface to an extended configuration when the panel is unattached from the bag's at least one outer surface.

13. The bag system of claim 12 wherein the foldable stand includes a tabletop stand.

14. The bag system of claim 1 wherein the panel includes a peripheral frame.

15. The bag system of claim 14 wherein the second attachment mechanism is configured with the peripheral frame.

16. The bag system of claim 3 wherein the first panel light includes a lens adapted to focus the light at the first location on the panel's front side.

17. The bag system of claim 3 wherein the first panel light includes a control mechanism adapted to power on and to power off the first panel light.

18. The bag system of claim 17 wherein the control mechanism includes a button or a switch.

19. The bag system of claim 1 wherein the panel includes at least one pocket in its back side.

20. The bag system of claim 19 wherein the at least one pocket includes a first at least one pocket and a second at least one pocket and the first and second at least one pockets are overlapping.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

[0005] FIGS. 1-3 show aspects of a bag system with interchangeable panels according to exemplary embodiments hereof;

[0006] FIG. 4 shows aspects of a bag panel according to exemplary embodiments hereof;

[0007] FIG. 5 shows aspects of a bag system with interchangeable panels according to exemplary embodiments hereof;

[0008] FIG. 6 shows aspects of a panel according to exemplary embodiments hereof; and

[0009] FIGS. 7-8 show aspects of a panel according to exemplary embodiments hereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0010] In general, the bag system includes a bag with one or more interchangeable outer panels. The outer panels may include graphics, lights, and/or other types of visual aspects. In this way, panels with first graphics may be interchanged with other panels with second graphics depending on the desire of the bag user. The bag system also may include other aspects as described herein.

[0011] FIG. 1 shows a general depiction of the bag system with interchangeable panels 10, and FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the same.

[0012] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1, the bag system with interchangeable panels 10 (also referred herein as simply the system 10) includes a base bag 100 and an attachable panel assembly 200. In general, the attachable panel assembly 200 may include an attachable panel 202 that may be attached to an outer surface of the base bag 100 to provide additional functionality to the bag 100. In addition, the system 10 also may include a lighting assembly 300 that may provide lighting to the base bag 100 and/or to the attachable panel assembly 200. The system 10 also may include other elements as necessary to fulfill its functionalities.

[0013] For the purposes of this specification, the assemblies 100, 200, 300 will be described primarily with respect to a bag 100 that includes a small handbag or purse as shown in FIG. 1. However, it is understood that this is meant for demonstrational purposes and that the assemblies 100, 200, 300 also may be implemented with any other types of bags (e.g., briefcases, overnight bags, backpacks, suitcases, luggage, etc.) as well as other types of items (e.g., sashes, notebooks, tablet sleeves, phone cases, etc.).

[0014] In some embodiments, the system 10 includes a bag 100 with a front side 102, a rear side 104, a left side 106, a right side 108, a top 110, and a bottom 112. In some embodiments, at least one side of the bag 100, e.g., the front side 102, may be designed to receive and secure at least one removable panel 202 of the panel assembly 200.

[0015] In some embodiments, the panel assembly 200 may include one or more panels 202 designed to be attached to a surface of the bag 100, e.g., to the bag's front side 102. As such, it may be preferable that the panel 202 include a size and shape that generally corresponds to an area on the bag 100 that is to be covered by the panel 202. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the panel 202 may generally include a size and aspect ratio such that the panel 202 fits within an interior region on a side of the bag 100. In another example, the panel 202 may include a similar size and shape as a side of the bag 100, e.g., the front side 102, such that the panel 202 may cover all or a majority of the bag side (e.g., the front side 102). It is understood, however, that any portion(s) of the bag 100 may be covered by a panel 202 and that the covered portions may or may not necessarily correspond to a particular size and shape of a particular side of the bag 100. As such, the panel 202 may include any size and/or shape as desired. In general, however, and for the purposes of this specification, the panel 202 will be described primarily as including a front side 204, a back side 206, a left side 208, a right side 210, a top side 212, and a bottom side 214.

[0016] The panel 202 may comprise any suitable material, including but not limited to, fabric, textile, leather, plastic, metal, paper, cardboard, wood, composite materials, other suitable materials, and/or any combinations thereof. It may be preferable that at least an outer surface of the panel 202 (e.g., its front side 204) be printable so that it may include visual attributes (e.g., graphics, etc.).

[0017] In some embodiments, the bag 100 may include one or more attachment mechanisms 114 located on at least one side of the bag 100, e.g., on the front side 102, designed to removably secure the panel 202 to the bag 100. As such, the panel 202 also may include corresponding attachment members 216 designed to mate or otherwise engage with corresponding attachment mechanisms 114 on the bag 100. For example, a first attachment mechanism 114 on the bag 100 may comprise a female end of a snap, and a corresponding first attachment mechanism 216 on the panel 200 may include a male end of a snap that may engage with female portion on the bag 100.

[0018] Other types of attachment mechanisms 114, 216 also may be used. For example, the attachment mechanisms 114, 216 may include mating portions of hook and loop material, latches, and/or other suitable attachment mechanisms such as magnets as described below.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the attachment mechanisms 114, 216 may include magnets, with the magnets (114) on the bag 100 and the magnets (216) on the panel 202 arranged with opposite poles facing one another. In this way, the magnets (114, 216) may attract one another when the panel 202 is placed onto the bag 100 and may thereby hold the panel 202 taut against the bag 100. In a first example of this, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bag 100 may include a magnet 114 in each corner of its front side 102 and the panel 202 may include a corresponding magnet 216 in each of its four corners. As such, when the panel 202 is placed onto the bag's front side 102, the magnets may be aligned in each corner to secure the panel 202 to the bag 100. It may be preferable that the magnets 114 be placed within the lining of the bag 100 so that the magnets 114 may be hidden from view when the panel 202 is removed.

[0020] In some embodiments, the panel 202 may include one or more portions comprising a ferromagnetic material such as steel, iron, and/or other ferromagnetic materials. In this way, these portion(s) of the panel 202 may be attracted to and held by the magnets 114 on the bag 100 without the need for additional magnets 216 configured with the panel 202. For example, in some embodiments, the panel 202 may include one or more embedded steel plate(s) (e.g., in its corners and/or along its sides) that may be held by the magnets 114 on the bag 100. In this case, the magnets 216 attached to the panel 202 may be omitted and the magnets 114 on the bag 100 may be positioned on the bag 100 to correspond to the ferromagnetic portions on the panel 202. The ferromagnetic portions on the panel 202 may be stitched, glued, and/or otherwise secured to the panel 202.

[0021] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3, the panel 202 may include a frame 218 about at least a portion of its perimeter comprising ferromagnetic materials (e.g., a metal frame) and the frame 218 may be at least partially aligned with the magnets 114 on the bag 100 when the panel 202 is placed onto the bag 100 to secure the panel 202 thereto. In this case, the inner portion of the panel 202 may comprise a different material such as fabric, etc. The magnets 114 on the bag 100 may be positioned to correspond with at least a portion of the panel's frame 218, e.g., in areas on the bag's front side 102 that correspond to the corners of the panel 202 as shown in FIG. 3, in areas on the bag 100 that correspond to portions of the sides of the frame 218, and/or any combinations thereof.

[0022] In some embodiments, the entire panel 202 may substantially comprise a ferromagnetic material (e.g., the panel 202 may comprise a metal plate), while in other embodiments, only areas of the panel 202 that may correspond to the magnets 114 on the bag 100 when the panel 202 is placed onto the bag 100 may be ferromagnetic. For example, the corners of the panel 202 may include embedded plates of ferromagnetic material (e.g., metal plates) while the remaining portion of the panel 202 may comprise a nonferromagnetic material such as fabric, plastic, etc.

[0023] It is appreciated that in any of the embodiments described herein, that the bag 100 may include the ferromagnetic material(s) (e.g., the embedded metal plates) and the panel 202 may include the corresponding magnets 114. Accordingly, it is understood that any of the details regarding the bag including the magnets 114 also may applied to the panel 202 including the magnets 114, that any of the details regarding the panel 202 including ferromagnetic materials also may be applied to the bag 100 including ferromagnetic materials, and any combinations thereof.

[0024] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2, the panel 202 may include one or more graphics G on its outward facing surface for spectators of the system 10 to view. The graphics G may include any type of visual attribute(s) including graphic art, photographic images, text, patterns, textures, other imagery, and/or any other types of visual attributes. In some embodiments, a user of the system 10 may choose specific graphics that he/she may wish for the graphics G to include. For example, in some embodiments, the graphics G may include marketing information for the user's business. For instance, the graphics G may include the name and logo of the user's business as well as contact information such as a phone number, email address, and/or website URL. The graphics G also may include other imagery such as a picture of the user, and/or imagery that may generally represent the type of business being marketed. It is understood that any type(s) of graphics G may be included.

[0025] In some embodiments, the system 10 may include a lighting assembly 300 designed to illuminate a particular portion of the graphics G on the panel 202. For example, a user may wish to highlight the phone number or email address shown in the graphics G, and as such, may arrange the lighting assembly 300 to illuminate the portion of the panel 202 that includes this information.

[0026] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 4, the lighting assembly 300 may include a light emitting device 302 (e.g., a light emitting diode (LED)) arranged to shine light L1 into the back side 206 of the panel 202 so that the light L1 passes through the panel 202 and emits out the front side 204 of the panel 202. In some embodiments, the light emitting device 302 may be positioned to emit light into a portion of the back side 206 that is immediately opposite the portion of the front side 204 intended to be illuminated (i.e., highlighted). In this way, the light may shine through the panel 202 in the desired area.

[0027] In some embodiments, the panel 202 may comprise fabric or other porous type of material. As such, light emitted into the back of the panel 202 may pass through the panel 202 and illuminate a portion of the panel's front side 204 opposite the location of the light emitting device 302 on the panel's back side 206.

[0028] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 4, if the panel 202 comprises a solid material, such as metal, the panel 202 may include one or more holes 216, e.g., surrounding the portion of the graphics G that the user may wish to highlight. In this way, light L1 may be emitted into the panel's back side 206, through the holes 216, and out the panel's front side 204. In some embodiments, a plurality of holes 216 may be provided in the panel 202 that generally encircle the portion of the graphics G that the user may wish to highlight such that a (dashed) ring of light may be formed around the highlighted graphics G.

[0029] In some embodiments, the light emitting device 302 may include a lens 304 designed to affect the light L1 emitted by the device 302. For example, if the user wishes to illuminate a small portion of the graphics G, the lens 304 may be chosen to focus the light L1 into a fine light beam. In another example, if the user wishes to illuminate a larger portion of the graphics G, a lens 304 may be chosen to diffuse the light L1 so that it may illuminate a larger area.

[0030] In some embodiments, the lens 304 may include a shape that may generally correspond to the shape of the portion of the graphics G to be illuminated. For example, if an email address is wished to be illuminated, the lens 304 may include a rectangular shape that may cause the emitted light L1 to radiate in a generally rectangular shape thereby illuminating the rectangular shape of the email address. Other shapes also may be used, e.g., circular, oval, square, etc.

[0031] It also is appreciated that two or more light emitting devices 302 and/or two or more lenses 304 may be used to illuminate one or more graphics G on the panel 202.

[0032] In some embodiments, the light emitting device 302 may include a light device attachment mechanism 306 designed to secure the light emitting device 302 in place on the back side 206 of the panel 202. In some embodiments, it may be preferable that the light device attachment mechanism 306 be removable and repositionable so that the location of the light emitting device 302 may be chosen and/or modified. In this way, the user may position the light emitting device(s) 302 in positions on the panel's back side 206 that specifically correspond to the portions of the graphics G to be illuminated on the panel's front side 204. In another example, the user may remove the light emitting device(s) 302 from a first location on a first panel 202 and place the device 302 into a second position on a second panel 202. If the second panel 202 includes different graphics G in different locations compared to the first panel 202, the user may simply position the device 302 in the correct positions on the second panel 202 using the light device attachment mechanism 306.

[0033] In some embodiments, the attachment mechanism 306 may include a first portion of hook and loop material with a corresponding second portion of hook and loop material attached to the back side 206 of the panel 202. In some embodiments, the attachment mechanism 306 may include a first magnet coupled to the light emitting device 302 in a position such that it may rest against or near the back side 206 of the panel 202, and a second magnet placed on the front side 204 of the panel 202 opposite the location of the light device's first magnet on the panel's back side 206. In this way, the first and second magnets may attract one another and hold the light emitting device 302 in place. Other types of light device attachment mechanisms 306 also may be used, such as, double-sided tape, fabric hooks, clamps, pins, adhesive, and/or other types of attachment mechanisms.

[0034] In some embodiments, if the panel 202 comprises a ferromagnetic material (e.g., the metal frame 218), the light device attachment mechanisms 306 may include one or more magnets arranged to attract and attach to the back side 206 of the metal panel 202.

[0035] In some embodiments, the light emitting device(s) 302 may be positioned on the front side 204 of the panel 202. In this case, it may be preferable that the light emitting devices 302 be placed adjacent to or near to an area on the front 204 of the panel 202 that the user may wish to illuminate. Accordingly, the light emitting device 302 and its lens 306 may be designed and arranged to emit light L2 in a sideways direction towards the panel's front side 204 so that the light illuminates the desired area on the front side 204. In this scenario, the light emitting devices 302 may be attached to the front 204 of the panel 202 using any of the attachment mechanism 306 described in other sections.

[0036] In some embodiments, the light emitting devices 302 may be positioned around the perimeter or periphery of the panel 202, e.g., along the left side 208 edge, the right side 210 edge, the top side 212 edge, and/or the bottom side 214 edge. In some embodiments, the light emitting devices 302 may include a string of light emitting devices 302, e.g., a string of LED lights extending about the entire or a portion of the panel's perimeter or periphery. In this case, it may be preferable that the light emitting devices 302 may be designed and arranged to emit light onto an interior region of the front side 204 of the panel 202 to illuminate graphics in these areas.

[0037] In some embodiments, the light emitting device 302 may include a power and control switch 308 configured to turn the device 302 on and/or off. In some embodiments, the light emitting device 302 may include a control circuit that causes the device 302 to emit light in different patterns (e.g., steady state and/or flashing at a particular frequency or pattern), in different colors (e.g., red, blue, green, etc.), at different intensities, and/or in other ways. In some embodiments, the power and control switch 308 may be used to control these characteristics of the device 302, e.g., pressing the switch 308 twice in quick succession may change the color of the light, pressing the switch 308 three times in quick succession may change the pattern of the light (e.g., from steady state to flashing), etc.

[0038] In some embodiments, the power and control switch 308 may be located on the back side 206 of the panel 202 so that it may be activated by pressing the front side 204 of the panel 202 in the area of the switch 306, or by pressing the switch 306 from the back side 206 of the panel 202. In other embodiments, the switch 306 may be located in other areas of the system 10, e.g., at an edge of the panel 202, on the panel's front side 204, on the bag 100 (e.g., on the outside of the bag 100 or on the inside), etc.

[0039] In some embodiments, the light emitting device 302 may include a power supply (preferably rechargeable), e.g., one or more rechargeable batteries. In some embodiments, the light emitting device 302 may include a wire or cable that may be plugged into the device 302 (e.g., using a type-C, USB, mini-USB, and/or other types of connectors) to facilitate the recharging of the power supply.

[0040] In some embodiments, the light emitting device 302 may be positioned near an edge of the panel back side 206 so that the panel 202 may appear to be back lit. In some embodiments, it may be preferable to include at least one light emitting device 302 on the back side 206 at or near the left side 208, at or near the right side 210, at or near the top side 212, and at or near the bottom side 214. In this way, the entire perimeter of the panel 202 may appear to be back lit.

[0041] In some embodiments, one or more light emitting devices 302 may be positioned on the back side 206 of the panel 202 at or near the panel's top side 212 so that the back lighting also may generally illuminate the top of the bag 100. In this way, in dark conditions, the top of the bag 100 may be illuminated and easier to see. This may assist the user of the bag to see inside the bag while looking for bag contents.

[0042] In some embodiments, the light emitting devices 302 may be positioned at, around, and/or inside the top of the bag 100 so that the light emitting devices 302 may illuminate the inside of the bag 100. In this embodiment, the light emitting devices 302 may include one or more discreet devices 302 positioned and oriented to emit light into the inner volume of the bag 100. In other embodiments, the light emitting devices 302 may include a string of light emitting devices 302, e.g., a string or strip of LED lights extending about the entire or a portion of the bag's upper and/or side opening(s) (e.g., at the opening(s) and/or slightly within the opening(s), e.g., within the bag 100) and oriented to emit light into the bag 100. In this way, in dark conditions, the interior of the bag 100 may be illuminated and easier to see. This may assist the user of the bag to see inside the bag while looking for bag contents in dark conditions. It also is contemplated that the light emitting devices 302 be arranged in other areas within the interior of the bag 100, e.g., on the interior sides of the bag 100, around the interior bottom perimeter or periphery of the bag 100, sewn into the inner stitching of the bag 100, and/or in any suitable locations within the interior of the bag 100.

[0043] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 5, the light emitting device 302 may be attachable to the bag 100, e.g., on the front side of the bag 100 behind the panel 202 when the panel 202 is attached to the bag's front side. In this case, the light device attachment mechanism 306 may be used to attach the device 302 to the bag's front side in a similar fashion as described in other sections in regard to the attachment of the device 302 to the back side 206 of the panel 202, e.g., by using corresponding hook and loop material sections, magnets arranged to attract one another, magnets on one side and ferromagnetic material on the other side, adhesive, hooks, clamps, etc. As such, it may be preferable for the light emitting device 302 to be positioned on the bag's front side in a location that is directly behind the portion of the graphics G on the panel 202 that are to be illuminated. In this way, the light emitted by the device 302 may shine upon the back side 206 of the panel 202, may pass through the panel 202, and may be emitted through the front side 204 of the panel 202 in the area of the desired graphics G. In addition, the position of the device 302 may be modified depending on the particular panel 202 being attached to the bag 100 and the location of the graphics G to be illuminated on the panel 202.

[0044] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 5, the bag 100 may include a window 116 e.g., on the front side 102 of the bag 100, such that when the panel 202 is attached to the front side of the bag 100, light L2 emitted from the light emitting device 302 also may shine through the window 116 and into the interior of the bag 100. In this case, it may be preferable that the light emitting device 302 be positioned on the back side 206 of the panel 202 and/or on the front side of the bag 100 in an area directly adjacent to the window 116 such that light emitted from the device 302 may pass through the window 116 and into the interior of the bag 100. This may enable the user to see the bag's contents more clearly in dark conditions.

[0045] In addition, because the location of the window 116 and the corresponding light emitting device 302 may be predetermined and permanent, it may be preferable for at least some of the graphics G to be illuminated be positioned on the front side 204 of the panel 202 in front of this area to receive light from the device 302 in this location.

[0046] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 6, the panel 202 may include one or more pockets 220 on its back side 206 designed to receive and secure items such as marketing materials (e.g., business cards, fliers, etc.), pens, other types of items, and/or any combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the pockets 220 may be located on an interior portion of the panel's back side 206, each with a pocket opening 222 (e.g., a slot) facing towards and/or at a side edge, e.g., at an edge of the left side 208, at an edge of the right side 210, at an edge of the top side 212, and/or at an edge of the bottom side 214. In this way, a user may have access to the pockets 220 without having to remove the panel 202 from the bag 100. In other embodiments, a pocket 220 may have its opening 222 purposely positioned in the interior of the panel's back side 206 (i.e., facing away from the edges) so that the pocket 220 and its opening 222 is hidden and not easily accessible without removing the panel 202 from the bag 100. This may be useful to hold items of higher value.

[0047] In some embodiments, the panel 202, when removed from the bag 100, may serve as a stand-alone holder of items. In some embodiments, the panel 202 may be folded in half with its front side 204 facing outwards and its back side 206 folded over on itself such that any pockets 220 on the back side 206 may be hidden. In some embodiments, the panel 202 may include a securing mechanism 224 that may releasably hold the panel 202 folded and that may be released to enable the panel 202 to be unfolded (e.g., for access to the pockets 220 inside).

[0048] In some embodiments, a pocket 220 may be designed to hold the user's mobile phone. In some embodiments, the pocket 220 may be sized and shaped to secure the phone to the back of the panel 202 such that the phone's light feature may be used as the light emitting device 302. In this case, the phone may be placed into the pocket 220 with the phone's light feature facing into the back side 206 of the panel 202. In this way, the phone's light feature may emit light that passes through the panel 202 and that illuminates the corresponding area of the front side 204 of the panel 202 opposite the light. The panel 202 may include one or more such pockets such that the phone's light may be positioned in different locations depending on the location and size of the graphics to be illuminated on the panel's front side 204.

[0049] It also is contemplated that the pocket(s) 220 may be positioned on the side of the bag 100 being covered by the panel 202 such that the phone may be positioned within the pocket(s) 220 with its light feature facing away from the bag 100 and into the back side 206 of the panel 202 when the panel is secured to the bag 100. In this way, the front side 204 of the panel 202 opposite the phone's light feature may be illuminated.

[0050] In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the panel 202 when detached from the bag 100 may provide functionality of a tabletop display. In some embodiments, the panel 202 may include one or more standing feet 226 that may be extended from a generally retracted position (e.g., flush against the back side 206 of the panel 202 as shown in FIG. 7) to a generally extended position (e.g., extending outward from the back side 206 of the panel 202 as shown in FIG. 8). When extended, the standing feet 226 may provide lateral support to the panel 202 and hold the panel 202 generally upright when placed on a flat surface (e.g., like a picture frame). When retracted, it may be preferable that the standing feet 226 remain generally hidden from view when the panel 202 is secured to the bag 100 as described herein. In some embodiments, the standing feet 226 may be rotatably coupled to the panel's frame 218 such that the feet 226 may be retracted and generally incorporated into the frame 218 when not in use and then extended outward when to be used to hold the panel 202 upright on a tabletop or similar.

[0051] It is understood that any aspect and/or element of any embodiment of the assembly 10 described herein or otherwise may be combined with any other aspect and/or element of any other embodiment described herein or otherwise in any way to form additional embodiments of the assembly 10 all of which are within the scope of the assembly 10.

[0052] Where a process is described herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the process may operate without any user intervention. In another embodiment, the process includes some human intervention (e.g., a step is performed by or with the assistance of a human).

[0053] As used herein, including in the claims, the phrase at least some means one or more, and includes the case of only one. Thus, e.g., the phrase at least some ABCs means one or more ABCs, and includes the case of only one ABC.

[0054] As used herein, including in the claims, term at least one should be understood as meaning one or more, and therefore includes both embodiments that include one or multiple components. Furthermore, dependent claims that refer to independent claims that describe features with at least one have the same meaning, both when the feature is referred to as the and the at least one.

[0055] As used in this description, the term portion means some or all. So, for example, A portion of X may include some of X or all of X. In the context of a conversation, the term portion means some or all of the conversation.

[0056] As used herein, including in the claims, the phrase using means using at least, and is not exclusive. Thus, e.g., the phrase using X means using at least X. Unless specifically stated by use of the word only, the phrase using X does not mean using only X.

[0057] As used herein, including in the claims, the phrase based on means based in part on or based, at least in part, on, and is not exclusive. Thus, e.g., the phrase based on factor X means based in part on factor X or based, at least in part, on factor X. Unless specifically stated by use of the word only, the phrase based on X does not mean based only on X.

[0058] In general, as used herein, including in the claims, unless the word only is specifically used in a phrase, it should not be read into that phrase.

[0059] As used herein, including in the claims, the phrase distinct means at least partially distinct. Unless specifically stated, distinct does not mean fully distinct. Thus, e.g., the phrase, X is distinct from Y means that X is at least partially distinct from Y, and does not mean that X is fully distinct from Y. Thus, as used herein, including in the claims, the phrase X is distinct from Y means that X differs from Y in at least some way.

[0060] It should be appreciated that the words first, second, and so on, in the description and claims, are used to distinguish or identify, and not to show a serial or numerical limitation. Similarly, letter labels (e.g., (A), (B), (C), and so on, or (a), (b), and so on) and/or numbers (e.g., (i), (ii), and so on) are used to assist in readability and to help distinguish and/or identify, and are not intended to be otherwise limiting or to impose or imply any serial or numerical limitations or orderings. Similarly, words such as particular, specific, certain, and given, in the description and claims, if used, are to distinguish or identify, and are not intended to be otherwise limiting.

[0061] As used herein, including in the claims, the terms multiple and plurality mean two or more, and include the case of two. Thus, e.g., the phrase multiple ABCs, means two or more ABCs, and includes two ABCs. Similarly, e.g., the phrase multiple PQRs, means two or more PQRs, and includes two PQRs.

[0062] The present invention also covers the exact terms, features, values and ranges, etc. in case these terms, features, values and ranges etc. are used in conjunction with terms such as about, around, generally, substantially, essentially, at least etc. (i.e., about 3 or approximately 3 shall also cover exactly 3 or substantially constant shall also cover exactly constant).

[0063] As used herein, including in the claims, singular forms of terms are to be construed as also including the plural form and vice versa, unless the context indicates otherwise. Thus, it should be noted that as used herein, the singular forms a, an, and the include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0064] Throughout the description and claims, the terms comprise, including, having, and contain and their variations should be understood as meaning including but not limited to, and are not intended to exclude other components unless specifically so stated.

[0065] It will be appreciated that variations to the embodiments of the invention can be made while still falling within the scope of the invention. Alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose can replace features disclosed in the specification, unless stated otherwise. Thus, unless stated otherwise, each feature disclosed represents one example of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

[0066] The present invention also covers the exact terms, features, values and ranges, etc. in case these terms, features, values and ranges etc. are used in conjunction with terms such as about, around, generally, substantially, essentially, at least etc. (i.e., about 3 shall also cover exactly 3 or substantially constant shall also cover exactly constant).

[0067] Use of exemplary language, such as for instance, such as, for example (e.g.,) and the like, is merely intended to better illustrate the invention and does not indicate a limitation on the scope of the invention unless specifically so claimed.

[0068] While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.