Hot air device

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of European patent application No. 24 184 608.8, filed Jun. 26, 2024, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to the technical field of hot air devices, in particular to work safety when working with a hot air device. In particular, the invention relates to a combination of a heating tube and a protective tube surrounding the heating tube for a hot air device.

BACKGROUND

Hot air devices typically comprise a heating tube in which a heating element is accommodated and a fan which guides air through the heating tube so that it flows around the heating element, heats up accordingly and exits at a hot air outlet end of the heating tube. The fan can be integrated into the hot air device or be a separate device so that the hot air device has an external air supply. The surface of the heating tube can, depending on the air outlet temperature, in particular in the region of the hot air outlet end heat up to 500° C.-600° C. To protect against burns, hot air devices are therefore fitted with a contact guard or protective tube, which surrounds the heating tube spaced apart at a distance from it. A protective tube can also be referred to as a contact protection tube.

Particularly in the case of hand-held hot air device for applications in which a force must be exerted on a workpiece with the hot air tool, such as draw welding using a hand-held hot air device and a special nozzle, it is advantageous to hold or grip the device as close as possible at the nozzle, i.e. at the air outlet end.

There are possibilities for the embodiment of the contact protection or protective tube of hot air devices.

The heating tube can be surrounded by a passive contact protection. A contact protection can be made of a material with low thermal conductivity, such as plastic. A disadvantage of this solution is that the contact protection must also maintain a sufficient distance from the heating tube in order not to be heated too much, which increases the size of the hot air device. However, it would be desirable to provide a compact hot air hand tool.

As an alternative to passive contact protection, active cooling can be provided. Active cooling can be achieved, for example, by means of rear ventilation, in particular according to the “injector principle”. Therein, part of the air flow or compressor air is blown into the space between the heating tube and the protective tube.

SUMMARY

However, it has hereby been discovered that, in particular in the region of the air outlet end of the protective tube, areas with high temperatures (>60° C.) can still occur, so that the user can only touch this with work gloves for extended periods of time. In practice, this can lead to repeated work interruptions during which the hot air device should cool down and/or the wearing of work gloves to protect against the high temperatures makes fine motor skills and thus efficient work by the user more difficult.

It is an object of an aspect of the present invention to at least partially overcome the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art. It would be desirable to provide a hot air device which, during operation of the hot air device, in particular in areas to be touched by the user, heats up only slightly and only slowly, so that the user can touch it over a longer period of time, possibly even without work gloves.

According to an aspect of the invention, a hot air device is provided comprising a heating tube and a protective tube, wherein the protective tube surrounds the heating tube and (at least in sections) is spaced apart from it, wherein the heating tube comprises a hot air outlet end, wherein the protective tube comprises a first main body and an air outlet end directed towards the hot air outlet end of the heating tube, wherein (transversely to a flow direction of the hot air flow through the heating tube) a non-uniform distance is provided between the protective tube and the heating tube, wherein the distance in the air outlet end is greater than the distance in a region of the first main body, in particular directly, adjacent to the air outlet end and wherein the air outlet end of the protective tube comprises at least one pass-through opening in a wall, preferably in the region of the widening of the distance. A distance (or spacing) can refer to a so-called annular gap height between the heating tube and the protective tube. In other words, in particular in the longitudinal direction of the hot air flow a non-uniform annular gap height can be provided between the heating tube and a protective tube surrounding the heating tube, wherein one or more pass-through openings are provided in the wall of the protective tube in the area of a change or relative cross-sectional widening.

The hot air device can in particular be a hand-held hot air device. The hot air device can have an integrated air supply or an external air supply.

In the context of the present disclosure, a tube is to be understood in particular as a tubular body which is generally cylindrical or substantially cylindrical, at least in sections. A wall of the tube encloses the interior or the volume of the tube along the length of the tube and limits the tube to the outside. The protective tube according to an aspect of the invention has an open end at which the air outlet end is arranged. As will be appreciated by the skilled person, such an open end is not to be understood as a pass-through opening in the wall of the tube. In other words, the at least one pass-through opening is provided in a side wall of the protective tube.

Due to a non-uniform and in the air outlet end greater distance between the protective tube and the heating tube in combination with pass-through openings in the wall at the air outlet end, the surface temperature of the protective tube can advantageously be considerably reduced during operation of the hot air device. In particular at the air outlet end, where particularly strong heating is observed with conventional protective tubes of hot air devices, the hot air device according an aspect of the invention allows the surface temperature to be reduced and heating occurs more slowly.

Thereby, the pass-through openings in the region of the air outlet end can enable additional cool ambient air to be drawn into the space between the protective tube and the heating tube due to the air flow in said space, which additionally cools the air flow in the air outlet end and thus the air outlet end as such.

In combination with the pass-through openings in the wall, the greater distance (or separation) between the protective tube and the heating tube in the air outlet end not only enables a reduction in the heating of the protective tube by heat radiation, in particular at the air outlet end, but also an improvement in the cooling effect by the additional ambient air sucked in through the pass-through openings.

The at least one pass-through opening in the wall is preferably arranged in the area of the widening of the distance. This allows the cooler ambient air to be drawn in advantageously. A further advantage of the arrangement in the region of the widening of the distance is that the user can clearly see from which section the additional cooling effect is provided. This can further simplify handling.

However, it is also possible that the at least one pass-through opening is arranged after the widening of the distance or that one or more additional pass-through openings are arranged in the wall after the region of the widening of the distance. Furthermore, it is also possible that the one or more pass-through openings in the wall are arranged exclusively in the area of the widening of the distance. Thereby turbulences, which could otherwise occur due to additional pass-through openings after the region of the widening of the distance, can be avoided and an improved cooling air flow up to the air outlet can be achieved.

Advantageously, the reduced and slow heating of the protective tube reduces the risk of injury or burns of the user and allows the user to touch the protective tube even over an extended period of time and in particular without work gloves, which improves the user's work flow and fine motor skills during work.

In a preferred embodiment, the protective tube has a non-uniform first inner diameter, wherein the first inner diameter is larger in the air outlet end than in a region of the first main body directly adjacent to the air outlet end.

In the context of the present disclosure, an inner diameter of a tube is to be understood in particular as the length of a distance between two points on an inner surface of the wall, wherein both points lie in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the tube and wherein the distance passes through the center of gravity of the part of the plane enclosed by the inner surface of the wall of the tube. An inner diameter of a tube may, as will be appreciated by the skilled person, be uniform, for example if the tube is cylindrical. An inner diameter of a tube may also be non-uniform, as will be appreciated by the skilled person. The inner diameter can be non-uniform along the length of the tube, for example if the tube has thickenings or extensions or narrow passages. The inner diameter of a tube can be non-uniform along the circumference of the tube if, for example, if the tube is not cylindrical but prismatic with a polygonal base. The inner diameter of a tube can also be non-uniform along the length and circumference.

This advantageously allows a smooth, for example cylindrical, shape of the heating tube, which avoids a constriction at the hot air outlet end and thus enables a wider distribution of the hot air over the workpiece.

In a preferred embodiment, the heating tube comprises a second main body and a non-uniform second outer diameter, wherein the second outer diameter is smaller in the hot air outlet end than in a region of the second main body directly adjacent to the hot air outlet end.

This advantageously allows a smooth, for example cylindrical, shape of the protective tube, which makes it easier for the user to hold or grasp the protective tube securely. Since the wall thickness of a heating tube is often relatively uniform and a non-uniform outer diameter is analogously reflected in a non-uniform inner diameter, reference can also be made to the non-uniform inner diameter of the heating tube for simplification. In an embodiment, the heating tube can have a second main body and a non-uniform second inner diameter, wherein the second inner diameter is smaller in the hot air outlet end than in a region of the second main body directly adjacent to the hot air outlet end. It is to be understood that the designations first and second are used herein to differentiate between diameters or elements of the protective tube and heating tube.

In a preferred embodiment, the air outlet end can comprise at least 2 pass-through openings. In particular, the air outlet end can comprise at least 2 and no more than 50 pass-through openings, in particular at least 6 and no more than 50.

Advantageously, by having more than one pass-through opening or a division into several pass-through openings an advantageous cooling effect ca be achieved with advantageous mechanical stability of the air outlet end. This applies in particular to embodiments in which the at least one pass-through opening extends over more than 60% of the circumference of the protective tube.

Limiting the number of pass-through openings to a maximum of 50 advantageously ensures a sufficient size of the pass-through openings. The more pass-through openings are provided, the smaller they become. Very small pass-through openings hinder or slow down the air flow through them. This can make it more difficult to draw in additional ambient air. The proposed number enables in this specific application both good stability and good intake of additional ambient air.

In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the at least one pass-through openings can be circular or slit-shaped.

Circular pass-through openings are limited in size by the length of the air outlet end, which advantageously reduces the risk of small parts being sucked in through the pass-through opening.

Slit-shaped pass-through openings advantageously allow a pass-through opening to extend over a larger part of the circumference of the protective tube, so that the number of pass-through openings can be reduced and at the same time the size of the individual pass-through opening is maximized. Further, a slit-shaped pass-through opening allows the length of the air outlet end to be kept short. This advantageously allows a concentration of the cooling effect at the air outlet end of the protective tube, which usually heats up particularly strongly in conventional hot air devices.

In a preferred embodiment, the air outlet end can comprise a first section and a second section, wherein the second section is arranged between the first section and the first main body and the distance (or separation) in the first section is greater than the distance (or separation) in the second section.

This allows widening the distance in the air outlet end, in particular section-by-section or step-by-step, which advantageously improves the flow properties of the air flow in the air outlet end by preventing a sudden drop in flow velocity.

In a preferred embodiment, the first section can have a uniform inner diameter over its entire length.

This advantageously stabilizes the air flow in the air outlet end such that sufficient additional ambient air can be drawn in through the pass-through openings. With increasing distance in the first section, the flow velocity can drop, which can reduce the suction effect through the pass-through openings. In contrast, an increasingly smaller inner diameter would increase the pressure in the protective tube, which can also reduce the suction effect.

The first section can have a non-uniform or uniform first inner diameter along its circumference.

In a preferred embodiment, the second section can have a non-uniform first inner diameter, which in particular increases towards the first section.

This can improve the flow characteristics of the air flow in the air outlet end and thus the heat removal compared to embodiments in which the second section has a non-uniform inner diameter, which becomes smaller towards the first section.

In a preferred embodiment, the first inner diameter in the second section can increase evenly or (monotonically) continuously or steadily towards the first section.

This further improves the flow properties of the air flow in the air outlet end, in particular with regard to the turbulence-free merging of the air flow flowing through the protective tube and the air flow merging with it and flowing through the at least one pass-through opening. In addition, the deposition of contaminations from the outside on the second section or in the vicinity of the pass-through openings is reduced by avoiding recesses.

In a preferred embodiment, the second section can be formed at a right angle to the first section.

This advantageously allows the user to grasp the air outlet end with one (or both) hands without completely covering the pass-through openings.

In a preferred embodiment, the at least one pass-through opening can be arranged in the first section and/or in the second section, in particular exclusively in the second section.

This allows the at least one pass-through opening to extend over a particularly large part of the air outlet end, which favors air circulation between the outside and the interior of the protective tube. This can contribute to cooling.

In a preferred embodiment, the at least one pass-through opening can be arranged exclusively in the second section.

This favors a low-turbulence flow in the air outlet end, since the merging of the air flow flowing through the protective tube and the air flow flowing through the at least one pass-through opening takes place predominantly in the second section. This improves heat dissipation with the air flow.

In a preferred embodiment, the second section can extend over at least 15% and no more than 50% of the length of the air outlet end.

Advantageously, in particular in embodiments in which the at least one pass-through opening is arranged exclusively in the second section, this can allow the air flow passing through the at least one pass-through opening to flow along a sufficiently long region of the end of the protective tube to achieve effective cooling thereof.

In a preferred embodiment, the at least one pass-through opening can extend over at least 30% and no more than 95% of a circumference of the protective tube, in particular over at least 50% and no more than 95%.

This advantageously enables sufficient cooling of the air outlet end or sufficient intake of additional ambient air.

In a preferred embodiment, the air outlet end can extend over at least 5% and no more than 50% of the length of the protective tube.

It is advantageous that the air outlet end extends over at least 5% of the length of the protective tube, as this ensures that the air flow passing through the at least one pass-through opening flows along the protective tube over a sufficient length to achieve effective cooling.

It is advantageous that the air outlet end extends over a maximum of 50% of the protective tube, as it is known that the end of the protective tube at which the air exits heats up particularly strongly. Furthermore, an extension over more than 50% would result in the air stream flowing through the at least one pass-through opening also heating up increasingly on its way through the interior of the protective tube, so that no effective cooling is possible at the end of the protective tube, i.e. at the point where the air stream exits the protective tube, as is the case with conventional protective tubes. In addition, an extension of more than 50% would result in the flow velocity in the protective tube being reduced by an increased inner diameter in the air outlet end over the majority of the protective tube, so that the cooling of the protective tube is reduced. Furthermore, the protective tube would take up a significantly larger volume and thus lose its ease of use.

In a preferred embodiment, the distance or separation between the protective tube and the heating tube in the air outlet end can be no more than 1.5 times as large as the distance or separation in a region of the first main body directly adjacent to the air outlet end.

This can advantageously allow sufficient ease of use or handling of the protective tube and a sufficient air flow along the protective tube required for effective cooling of the same.

In a preferred embodiment, the protective tube surrounds the heating tube at least in sections and is spaced apart from it, so that an intermediate space is formed between the heating tube and the protective tube,

• • wherein the hot air device is configured such that
  • a first air flow can be directed through the heating tube in direction of the hot air outlet end, such that the first air flow is heated by a heating element and exits the heating tube through the hot air outlet end, and
  • a second air flow in the same direction as the first air flow can be directed through the intermediate space, such that the second air flow reducing a heat transfer from the heating tube to the protective tube causes a third air flow at the air outlet end through the at least one pass-through opening into the intermediate space and exits together with the third air flow from the protective tube through the air outlet end.

Advantageously, in such a hot air device, the surface temperature of the entire protective tube can be significantly reduced during operation of the hot air device. In particular at the air outlet end, where particularly strong heating is observed in conventional protective tubes for hot air devices, the disclosure allows the surface temperature to be reduced and heating occurs more slowly.

The pass-through openings allow cool ambient air to be drawn into the air outlet end due to the air flow therein, which additionally cools the air flow in the air outlet end and thus the air outlet end as such.

Further advantages and features will be apparent from the following description and the attached drawings. It is understood that the features mentioned above and to be explained below can be used not only in the respective combination indicated, but also in other combinations without going beyond the scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

In the following, non-limiting embodiments are explained in detail with reference to the drawing.

FIG. 1 shows a part of a hot air device 100 comprising a protective tube 10, a heating tube 24 and a distance between the protective tube and the heating tube as a cross-section.

FIG. 2 shows a protective tube 10 of a hot air device 100 as a side view, wherein the at least one pass-through opening 22 is slit-shaped.

FIG. 3 shows a protective tube 10 of a hot air device 100 as a side view, wherein the at least one pass-through opening 22 is circular.

FIG. 4 shows a protective tube 10 of a hot air device 100 as a side view, wherein the at least one pass-through opening 22 is slit-shaped and is arranged in a first section 18 and in a second section 20.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic longitudinal section through a hot air device 100.

FIG. 6A shows a thermal image of a conventional hot air device as an example for comparison.

FIG. 6B shows a thermal image of a hot air device 100.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Identical or corresponding features are denoted by the same reference signs in the figures.

FIG. 1 shows a part of a hot air device 100. The hot air device 100 comprises a protective tube 10 and a heating tube 24, wherein the protective tube 10 surrounds the heating tube 24 and is spaced apart from it. The hot air device 100 can be a hand-held hot air device. However, the hot air device 100 can be any hot air device, for example a built-in hot air device. The illustration is therefore focused on the region with the heating tube and protective tube.

The heating tube 24 comprises a hot air outlet end 30, a second main body 13 and a second inner diameter 17a, 17b.

In the hot air outlet end 30, the second inner diameter 17b of the heating tube 24 in the shown example is 0.93 times as large as the second inner diameter 17a in a region 13a of the second main body 13 directly adjacent to the hot air outlet end 30. In the shown example, the inner and outer diameters differ only by the (uniform) material thickness, so that reference can be made to the inner diameter for simplification. The explanations apply analogously with reference to the outer diameter.

In other preferred embodiments, the second inner diameter in the hot air outlet end 30 can be smaller and no more than 0.5 times as large as the second inner diameter 17a in a region 13a of the second main body 13 directly adjacent to the hot air outlet end 30.

In the shown example, the second inner diameter 17a, 17b is non-uniform, wherein the second inner diameter 17a, 17b in the hot air outlet end 30 is smaller than in a region 13a of the second main body 13 directly adjacent to the hot air outlet end 30.

In other preferred embodiments, the heating tube 24 may have a uniform second inner diameter 17a, 17b.

The protective tube 10 comprises a first main body 12, an air outlet end 14 and a first inner diameter 16.

The air outlet end 14 comprises at least one pass-through opening 22 in a wall and is directed towards the hot air outlet opening 30 of the heating tube 24.

In the air outlet end 14, the distance in the shown example is 2.25 times as large as the distance (separation) between the protective tube 10 and the heating tube 24 in a region 12a of the first main body 12 directly adjacent to the air outlet end 14.

In other preferred embodiments, the distance in the air outlet end 14 can be at least greater than and no more than 10 times as large as the distance in a region 12a of the main body 12 directly adjacent to the air outlet end 14.

In the shown example, the first inner diameter 16 is uniform, yet a non-uniform distance or spacing is provided between the protective tube 10 and the heating tube 24, wherein the distance in the air outlet end 14 is larger than in a region 12a of the first main body 12 directly adjacent to the air outlet end 14.

In other preferred embodiments, the protective tube 10 may have a non-uniform first inner diameter 16.

FIG. 2 shows a protective tube 10 for the hot air device 100. The protective tube 10 has a non-uniform first inner diameter 16a, 16b, 16c.

In other preferred embodiments, the first inner diameter 16a, 16b, 16c is uniform.

The main body 12 is tubular and has a substantially uniform first inner diameter 16a along the length of the first main body 12 and two open ends.

In other preferred embodiments, the first main body 12 can have any other shape as long as it is substantially tubular so as to fulfill the ordinary function of a protective tube. The first main body 12 can in particular have a first inner diameter 16a that is non-uniform over its length and/or circumference.

The air outlet end 14 comprises a first section 18, a second section 20 and pass-through openings 22 in a wall and is directed towards the hot air outlet opening of the heating tube.

In the air outlet end 14, the first inner diameter 16b, 16c of the protective tube 10 in the shown example is 1.1 times as large as the first inner diameter 16a in a region 12a of the first main body 12 directly adjacent to the air outlet end 14.

In other preferred embodiments, the first inner diameter in the air outlet end 14 can be at least larger and no more than 1.5 times as large as the first inner diameter 16a in a region 12a of the first main body 12 directly adjacent to the air outlet end 14.

In the shown example, the air outlet end 14 extends over 10% of the length of the protective tube 10.

In other preferred embodiments, the air outlet end 14 can extend over at least 5% and no more than 50% of the length of the protective tube 10.

In the shown example, the first section 18 has a uniform first inner diameter 16b along its entire length.

In other preferred embodiments, the first section 18 may have a non-uniform first inner diameter 16b along its length.

The second section 20 is arranged between the first section 18 and the first main body 12.

In the shown example, the second section 20 extends over 15% of the length of the air outlet end 14.

In other preferred embodiments, the second section 20 may extend over at least 15% and no more than 50% of the length of the air outlet end 14.

In the second section 20, the first inner diameter 16c in the shown example increases evenly or continuously or steadily towards the first section 18.

In other preferred embodiments, the first inner diameter 16c in the second section 20 can increase unevenly or discontinuously towards the first section 18, or the second section 18 can be arranged at a right angle to the first section 18.

In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 2, 8 pass-through openings 22 are provided. In other preferred embodiments, at least one pass-through opening 22 may be provided, preferably at least 2 and no more than 50, more preferably at least 6 and no more than 50.

The pass-through openings 22 in the shown example are slit-shaped, are arranged regularly or symmetrically along the circumference of the air outlet end 14, extend along 80% of the circumference of the air outlet end 14 and are identical to each other.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the protective tube 10 for the hot air device comprising 12 pass-through openings 22, wherein the pass-through openings 22 in the shown example are circular, are regularly or symmetrically arranged along the circumference of the air outlet end 14, extend along 50% of the circumference of the air outlet end and are identical to each other.

In other preferred embodiments, the at least one pass-through opening 22 can have any shape, may be irregularly or asymmetrically arranged along the circumference of the air outlet end 14, may extend along at least 30% and no more than 95% of the circumference of the air outlet end 14, and/or may not all be identical to each other.

The pass-through openings 22 in the preferred embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are arranged exclusively in the second section 20.

FIG. 4 shows a further preferred embodiment of the protective tube 10 for the hot air device 100 comprising 24 pass-through openings 22, wherein the at least one through opening 22 is arranged in the first section 18 and in the second section 20.

In other preferred embodiments, the at least one pass-through opening 22 can be arranged in the first section 18 and/or in the second section 20, for example exclusively in the first section 18.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic longitudinal section of a part of a hot air device 100. The hot air device 100 comprises the protective tube 10 and a heating tube 24. The protective tube 10 surrounds the heating tube 24 at least in sections and is spaced apart from it. Due to the spacing of the protective tube 10 from the heating tube 24, an intermediate space 26 is formed between the protective tube 10 and the heating tube 24. The heating tube 24 has a hot air outlet end 30 and is configured to receive a heating element (not shown).

The hot air device 100 is configured such that during operation of the hot air device 100

• • a first air flow 32 is directed through the heating tube 24 in direction of the hot air outlet end 30, so that the first air flow 32 is heated by a heating element and exits the heating tube 24 through the hot air outlet end 30, and
  • a second air flow 34 in the same direction as the first air flow 32 can be directed through the intermediate space 26, such that the second air flow 34 reducing a heat transfer from the heating tube 24 to the protective tube 10 causes a third air flow 36 at the air outlet end 14 through the at least one pass-through opening 22 into the intermediate space 26 and exits together with the third air flow 36 from the protective tube 10 through the air outlet end 14.

The first air flow 32 is ejected from the hot air device 100 as hot air after being heated by a heating element not shown.

The second air flow 34 heats up to a lesser extent in comparison with the first air flow 32 and thereby removes heat from the heating tube 24 and the protective tube 10, which is consequently transported away with the second air flow 34 and discharged from the hot air device 100.

At the air outlet end 14, the second air flow 34 passes the at least one pass-through opening 22 and due to its flow velocity causes, as it is assumed, the third air flow 36 to flow in or be sucked in through the at least one pass-through opening 22.

The second air flow 34 and the third air flow 36 flow together through the air outlet end 14 and heat up to a lesser extent in comparison with the first air flow 32, and thereby remove heat from the heating tube 24 and the protective tube 10, which is consequently transported away with the second air flow 34 and the third air flow 36 and discharged from the hot air device 100.

FIG. 6 shows a thermal image of a conventional hot air device as a comparative example (FIG. 6A) and a thermal image of a hot air device 100 (FIG. 6B) after operation over an identical, normal period of time.

The surface of the protective tube of the conventional hot air device during operation over an extended period of time heats up at the main body of the protective tube at a position 38 to about 33° C. and at the air outlet end at a position 40 to about 44° C. The protective tube at position 40 at the air outlet end is therefore 11° C. hotter than at position 33 on the main body.

The surface of the protective tube 10 of the hot air device 100 during operation heats up at the first main body 12 of the protective tube 10 at a position 42 to about 31° C. and at the air outlet end 14 at a position 44 to only about 38° C. The protective tube at position 44 at the air outlet end is thus 7° hotter than at position 42 on the first main body. Compared to the conventional protective tube, the difference can thus be reduced by 4° C. with the proposed solution.

Accordingly, heating of the protective tube 10 compared to a conventional protective tube both at the main body 12 and at the air outlet end 14, in particular at the air outlet end 14, is reduced and slowed down.

In conclusion, with the solutions proposed herein an improved hot air device can be provided. In particular, a temperature at an air outlet end of a protective tube of the hot air device can be reduced so that the user can touch it over a longer period of time and possibly without work gloves.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description is of one or more embodiments of the invention. The invention is not limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed herein, but rather is defined solely by the claims below. Furthermore, the statements contained in the foregoing description relate to the disclosed embodiment(s) and are not to be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention or on the definition of terms used in the claims, except where a term or phrase is expressly defined above. Various other embodiments and various changes and modifications to the disclosed embodiment(s) will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

As used in this specification and claims, the terms “e.g.,” “for example,” “for instance,” “such as,” and “like,” and the verbs “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and their other verb forms, when used in conjunction with a listing of one or more components or other items, are each to be construed as open-ended, meaning that the listing is not to be considered as excluding other, additional components or items. Other terms are to be construed using their broadest reasonable meaning unless they are used in a context that requires a different interpretation. In addition, the term “and/or” is to be construed as an inclusive OR. Therefore, for example, the phrase “A, B, and/or C” is to be interpreted as covering all of the following: “A”; “B”; “C”; “A and B”; “A and C”; “B and C”; and “A, B, and C.”