FOLDING BASSINET

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/692,962, filed September 10, 2024, the entire teachings of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The technical field relates to bassinets and, in particular, to folding basinets.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

A variety of bassinet configurations are known. In some configurations a bassinet may be portable to allow a caregiver to easily transport and deploy the basinet. The bassinet may include a bed supported by a frame. The frame may support the bed at a position above the ground to allow facile access for placing, retrieving or attending to a baby in the bed. The frame may be foldable to a compact size for transport.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Objects, features, and advantages disclosed herein will be apparent from the following description of particular embodiments, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters/descriptions refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles disclosed herein. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in every drawing.

FIG. 1 is a front, right perspective view of one example of a bassinet consistent with the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a front, right perspective view of the frame of the bassinet shown in FIG. 1 in an open position.

FIG. 3 is a front, left perspective and partial sectional view of a portion of the frame of the bassinet shown in FIG. 1 in a folded position.

FIG. 4 is a front, left perspective view of a portion of the frame of the bassinet shown in FIG. 1 in an intermediate step in unfolding from the folded position shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a front, right perspective view of a portion of the frame of the bassinet shown in FIG. 1 in a further intermediate step in unfolding from the folded position shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a portion of the frame of the bassinet shown in FIG. 1 in a further intermediate step in unfolding from the folded position shown in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The examples described herein may be capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting as such may be understood by one of skill in the art. Throughout the present description, like reference characters may indicate like structure throughout the several views, and such structure need not be separately discussed. Furthermore, any particular feature(s) of a particular exemplary embodiment may be equally applied to any other exemplary embodiment(s) of this specification as suitable. In other words, features between the various exemplary embodiments described herein are interchangeable, and not exclusive.

In general, bassinet consistent with the present disclosure includes a frame that allows facile folding to a compact size for transport. In some embodiments, the frame includes four legs, each with a lower portion coupled to an upper portion by an associated pivot joint, a bed frame including left and right sides for supporting a bed, and front and rear couplers. The upper portions of the legs are pivotally coupled to the front or rear coupler and the ends of the left and right sides of the bed frame are pivotally coupled to the front or rear coupler. In some embodiments, to move the frame to the folded position the lower portions of the legs fold upwardly toward the upper portions and opposite sides of a bed frame fold downwardly toward the legs. In some embodiments, the opposite sides of the bed frame are restricted from opening to an open position by the legs. The bassinet thus cannot open from the folded position to an open position without moving the lower legs to an open position.

FIG. 1 illustrates one example embodiment of a bassinet 100 consistent with the present disclosure. The illustrated example embodiment includes a frame 102 in an open position for supporting a bed 104 at a position above the ground to allow facile access for placing, retrieving or attending to a baby in the bed 104. The bed 104 may have a known configuration including a mattress 106 and a side enclosure with a top rail 110 for securely retaining the baby in the bed 104. The bed 104 may also include a retractable cover 112 for protecting the baby, e.g., from the sun, wind, insects, etc.

FIG. 2 is a front, right perspective view of the frame 102 in an open position and FIG. 3 is a left front perspective view of a portion of the frame 102 in a folded position. As shown, the illustrated example frame 102 includes a left leg assembly 202, a right leg assembly 204, a bed frame 206, and front 208 and rear 210 couplers. The bed 104 may be supported by the bed frame 206, e.g., with a bottom of the bed 104 resting on a top of the bed frame 206. In some embodiments, the bassinet 100 may have a minimum height of 15” from the floor to the bed frame 206 and may have a minimum height of 27 inches from the floor to the top rail 110 of the bed 104.

In the illustrated example embodiment, the left leg assembly 202 includes a left front upper leg 212 pivotally coupled to a left front lower leg 214 by a pivot joint 216, and a left rear upper leg 218 pivotally coupled to a left rear lower leg 220 by a pivot joint 222. The top of the left front upper leg 212 is pivotally coupled to the front coupler 208, and the top of the left rear upper leg 218 is pivotally coupled to the rear coupler 210. The bottom of the left front lower leg 214 is coupled the bottom of the left rear lower leg 220 by a crossbar 224 to provide stability.

The pivot joints 216, 222 are configured to allow left front lower leg 214 and left rear lower leg 220, respectively, to move between an open position, e.g., as shown in FIG. 2, and a closed position, e.g., as shown in FIG. 3. In moving from the open position to the closed position, the left front lower leg 214 and the left rear lower leg 220 rotate upwardly about the pivot joints 216, 222, respectively, toward the left front upper leg 212 and left rear upper leg 218, respectively, and in a clockwise direction when viewed from a front of the frame 102.

The right leg assembly 204 includes a right front upper leg 224 pivotally coupled to a right front lower leg 226 by a pivot joint 228, and a right rear upper leg 230 pivotally coupled to a right rear lower leg 232 by a pivot joint 234. The top of the right front upper leg 224 is pivotally coupled to the front coupler 208, and the top of the right rear upper leg 230 is pivotally coupled to the rear coupler 210. The bottom of the right front lower leg 226 is coupled the bottom of the right rear lower leg 232 by a crossbar 236 to provide stability.

The pivot joints 228, 234 are configured to allow right front lower leg 226 and right rear lower leg 232, respectively, to move between an open position, e.g., as shown in FIG. 2, and a closed position, e.g., as shown in FIG. 3. In moving from the open position to the closed position, the right front lower leg 226 and the right rear lower leg 232 rotate upwardly about the pivot joints 228, 234, respectively, toward the right front upper leg 224 and right rear upper leg 230, respectively , and in a counter-clockwise direction, when viewed from a front of the frame 102.

The pivot joints 216, 222, 228, 234 may be any known pivot joint for allowing pivoting of the lower legs relative to the upper legs. In some embodiments, the pivot joints 216, 222, 228, 234 may include a detent that allows locking of the lower legs 214, 220, 226, 232 relative to the upper legs 212, 218, 224, 230, respectively when the lower legs 214, 220, 226, 232 are in an open position. The detent of each pivot joint 216, 222, 228, 234 may be released, for example, by depressing a central portion of the pivot joint 216, 222, 228, 234 to thereby allow rotation of the associated lower legs 214, 220, 226, 232 relative to the upper legs 212, 218, 224, 230, respectively. In some embodiments, the upper legs 212, 218, 224, 230 and lower legs 214, 220, 226, 232 may be pressed fit into associated receptacles of the pivot joints 216, 222, 228, 234, and/or joined with a detent such as a button pin.

The bed frame 206 includes a left side 238 and a right side 240. A front end 240 of the left side 238 of the bed frame 206 is pivotally coupled to the front coupler 208 and a rear end 242 of the left side 238 of the bed frame 206 is pivotally coupled to the rear coupler 210. A front end 244 of the right side 240 of the bed frame 206 is coupled to the front coupler 208 and a rear end 246 of the right side 240 of the bed frame 206 is coupled to the rear coupler 210. The left 238 and right 240 sides are pivotally coupled to the couplers 208, 210 to move about the couplers 208, 210 between an open position, e.g., as shown in FIG. 2, and a closed position, e.g., as shown in FIG. 3. In the open position the left 238 and right 240 sides have a top T and a bottom B.

The illustrated example embodiment includes a left front support 248 extending between the bottom of the left side 238 of the bed frame 206 and the left front upper leg 212 of the left leg assembly 202, a left rear support 250 extending between the bottom of the left side 238 of the bed frame 206 and the left rear upper leg 218 of the left leg assembly 202, a right front support 252 extending between the bottom of the right side 240 of the bed frame 206 and the right front upper leg 224 of the right leg assembly 204, and right rear support 254 extending between the bottom of the right side 240 of the bed frame 206 and the right rear upper leg 230 of the right leg assembly 204. The supports 248, 250, 252, 254 are pivotally coupled to the associated left side 238 or right side 240 of the bed frame 206 and the associated upper leg 212, 218, 224, 230 for movement between an open position, e.g., as shown in FIG. 2. and a closed position, e.g., as shown in FIG. 3.

When the frame 102 is in the open position, the right front lower leg 226, right front upper leg 224, the right rear lower leg 232, the right rear upper leg 230, the left front lower leg 214, the left front upper leg 212, the left rear lower leg 220, and the left rear upper leg 218, each has an associated outer side O and an associated inner side I and the left 238 and right 240 sides of the bed frame 206 are positioned substantially horizontally to the floor surface. To fold the frame 102 from the open position shown in FIG. 2 to place it in the folded configuration show in FIG. 3, the left 238 and right 240 sides of the bed frame 206 are folded downwardly from their substantially horizontal position relative to the floor surface with their bottoms B in opposed facing relationship. The lower legs 214, 220, 226, 232 are folded upwardly to toward an associated end of the coupler 208, 210 to place the outer sides O of the lower legs 214, 220, 226, 232 adjacent to the outer side O of the upper legs 212, 218, 224, 230. For example, the right front lower leg 226 is rotated toward right end of the front coupler 208 to position the outer side O of the right front lower leg 226 adjacent the outer side O of the right front upper leg 224, and the left front lower leg 214 is rotated toward the left end of the front coupler 208 to be position the outer side O of the left front lower leg 214 adjacent the outer side of the left front upper leg 212. The outer side O of each of the lower legs 214, 220, 226, 232 when the frame 102 is in the open position shown in FIG. 2 is thus positioned adjacent the outer side O of associated upper legs 212, 218, 224, 230, respectively when the frame 102 is in the folded position. In the folded position, the inner sides I of the upper legs 212, 218, 224, 230 are positioned closer to each other compared to the open position shown in FIG. 2.

In the illustrated example embodiment, in the folded position the bottoms B of the left 238 and right 240 sides are positioned adjacent outer sides O of the upper legs 212, 218, 224, 230, respectively, and the outer sides O of the lower legs are positioned adjacent to tops T of the left 238 and right 240 sides respectively so that the left 238 and right 240 sides are folded downwardly from their substantially horizontal orientation in the open position and positioned at least partially between the upper legs 212, 218, 224, 230 and the lower legs 214, 220, 226, 232. In some embodiments, the left 238 and right 240 sides of the bed frame 206 may be restricted from opening to a substantially horizontal position with respect to the floor surface until the lower legs 214, 220, 226, 232 are moved to their open position. A user thus cannot unfold the left 238 and right 240 sides of the bed frame 206 to their open position without unfolding the lower legs 214, 220, 226, 232 to their open position and moving the upper legs 212, 218, 224, 230 to their open position, shown in FIG. 2. This ensures that the left 238 and right 240 sides of the bed frame 206 are not unfolded to their open position until the lower legs 214, 220, 226, 232 are securely positioned on the ground to support the bed frame 206 and the bed 104.

To unfold the frame 102 from the folded position shown in FIG. 3 to the open position shown in FIG. 2, a user unfolds the lower legs 214, 220, 226, 232 to their open position by pivoting the lower legs 214, 220, 226, 232 downwardly about the associated pivot joints 216, 218, 228, 234, opens the upper legs 212, 218, 224, 230 from their closed position to their open position by moving the upper legs 212, 218, 224, 230 relative to the couplers 209, 210 to spread the upper legs 212, 218, 224, 230 into the open position, and then opening the left 238 and right 240 sides of the bed frame 206 to their open position.

The front and rear couplers 208, 210 may be provided in a variety of configurations for facilitating folding the frame 102 to the folded position shown in FIG. 3 and unfolding the frame 102 to the open position shown in FIG. 2. FIGS. 3-7 sequentially illustrate unfolding of the frame 102 from the folded position in FIG. 3 to the open position in FIG. 3 and include portions of the front coupler 208 in cross-section. For ease of explanation, the description herein may be with respect to the front coupler 208, it being understood that the rear coupler 210 may be configured and may operate in the same manner as the front coupler 208.

As shown, particularly in FIG. 6, the front coupler 208 has a left end 602 and a right end 604 and includes a base 606, a left latch 608, a right latch 610, and a release button 612. The left latch 608, the right latch 610, and the release button 612 may be disposed in opening 614 in the base 606. The left latch 608 has the same configuration as the right latch 604 but may face in an opposite direction with respect to the base 606, i.e., the front of the right latch 610 and the rear of the left latch 608 are shown in FIGS. 3-7.

In the illustrated example embodiment, the left latch 608 and right latch 610 are generally rectangular in shape with a central opening 652, 654, respectively, therein. The front end 244 of the right side 240 of the bed frame 206 and the front end 240 of the left side 238 of the bed frame 206 are received in the right 604 and left 602 ends of the front coupler 208, respectively. In the illustrated example embodiment, for example, the front ends 240, 244 of the left 238 and right 240 sides of the bed frame 206 are received in the left 608 and right latch 610 and in an associated receptacle 616, 618 formed in the base 606. The outer ends of the left 608 and right 6010 latch each includes a detent pin 620, 622, respectively, extending therethrough for releasably engaging associated detent grooves 624 and 402 (FIG. 4) , and 626 and 404 (FIG. 4) in the front ends 240, 244 of the left 238 and right 240 sides, respectively, of the bed frame 206. In the illustrated example embodiment, the detent groove is 624 positioned at substantially about 90 degrees from the detent groove 402 in the front end 240 of the left side 238 of the bed frame 206, and the detent groove is 626 positioned at substantially about 90 degrees from the detent groove 404 in the front end 244 of the right side 240 of the bed frame 206.

At least a portion of the release button 612 extends through the left latch 608 and the right latch 610 adjacent the inner ends thereof and may be operatively coupled to the detents 620, 622 for releasing engagement between the detent and the detent grooves 624 and 402, and 626 and 404 in the front ends of the left 238 and right 240 sides of the bed frame 206. As shown in FIG. 4, for example, when the left 238 and right 240 sides of the bed frame 206 are in their closed position, the detent grooves 402, 404 may be released from the detents 620, 622, respectively, and the detents 620, 622 may be disposed in the detent grooves 624, 626. When the left 238 and right 240 sides of the bed frame 206 are in their open position, the detent grooves 624, 626 may be released from the detents 620, 622, respectively, and the detents 620, 622 may be disposed in the detent grooves 402, 404. This locks the left 238 and right 240 sides of the bed frame 206 in both the open and closed position. In some embodiments, for example, the release button 612 may be coupled to all both of the detents 620, 622 to move at least a portion of the detents 620, 622 out of engagement with the detent grooves 624 and 402, and 626 and 404 when the release button 612 is depressed.

The tops of the right front upper leg 224 and the left front upper leg 212 are disposed in associated receptacles 628, 630, respectively, in the base 606 and each include a spring biased plunger 632, 634 biased to by a compression spring 636, 638 to extend outwardly therefrom adjacent bottom openings 640, 642 in the left latch 608 and the right latch 610, respectively. In some embodiments, for example, the each of the plungers 632, 634 may be biased by the compression spring 636, 638 against a rod coupled to the joint 228, 216. As the lower legs 226, 214 are folded upwardly about the joints 228, 216 the rod may push the plungers 632, 634 outwardly from the tops of the upper legs 224, 212. In some embodiments, the compression springs 636, 638 may be positioned between a fixed shelf in the upper legs 224, 212 to bias the plungers 636, 638 outwardly from the tops of the upper legs 224, 212.

The bottom openings 640, 638 are each configured for receiving the tops of the spring biased plungers 634, 632, respectively. The release button 612 may also be operatively coupled to a first detent 644 in the left latch 608 and a second detent 646 in the right latch 610 that engage associated slots 648, 650, respectively, in the spring biased plungers 634, 632 when the frame 102 is in a folded position and the plungers 634, 632 are extended through the bottom openings 640, 638 into the central openings 652, 654 of the left 608 and right 610 latches, e.g., as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In some embodiments, for example, the release button 612 may be coupled to all of the first 644 and second 646 detents to move at least a portion of the first 644 and second 646 detents out of engagement with the plungers 634, 632 when the release button 612 is depressed.

In the illustrated example embodiment, when the frame 102 is in the folded position as shown in FIG. 3, the spring biased plungers 634, 632 extend through the bottom openings 640, 638 into the central openings 652, 654 of the left 608 and right 610 latches and are retained in the central openings 652, 654 by the first 644 and second 646 detents. The front ends 240, 244 of the left 238 and right 240 sides the bed frame 206 are disposed in the receptacles 616, 618 and the detent pins 620, 622 engage first detent groove 402, 404 therein. In this position, the right front upper leg 224 and the left front upper leg 212 and the front ends 240, 244 of the left 238 and right 240 sides of the bed frame 206 are locked in the coupler 208 and restricted from movement to the open position.

As shown in FIG. 4 to open the frame 102, a user may unfold the lower legs 214, 220, 226, 232, e.g. by depressing the central button of the pivot joints 216, 222, 228, 234, and rotating the lower legs 214, 220, 226, 232 toward the open position and away from the ends of the couplers 208, 210. In embodiments wherein the plungers, e.g. plungers 634, 632, are spring biased against a rod associated with the pivot joints 216, 222, 228, 234, the action of rotating the lower legs 214, 220, 226, 232 toward the open position may withdraw the plungers, e.g. plungers 634, 632, from the central openings 652, 654 and through the bottom openings 640, 638. In other embodiments, the plungers, e.g., plungers 634, 632, may be grasped and manually forced downwardly by a user against the bias of their associated compression springs, 638, 636 to withdraw the plungers 634, 632 from the central openings 652, 654 and through the bottom openings 640, 638.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the lower legs 214, 220, 226, 232 have rotated to their open position, e.g. 180 degrees relative to the associated upper leg 212, 218, 224, 230 in some embodiments and the plungers, e.g. plungers 634, 632, are withdrawn from the bottom openings 640, 638, the upper legs 212, 218, 224, 230 may be spread outwardly relative to the couplers 208, 210. The user may then depress the release button 612 to release the detents 620, 622 and then rotate the left 238 and right 240 sides of the bed frame 206 upwardly until the detents 620, 622 engages the second detent groove 402, 404 in the ends the left 238 and right 240 sides. In this position the left 238 and right 240 sides are releasably locked in the open position by the detents 620, 622 and the supports 248, 250, 252, 254 are rotated to their open position to support the left 238 and right 240 sides of the bed frame 206 on the upper legs 212, 218, 224, 230.

Consistent with one aspect of the disclosure there is provided a bassinet including: a frame having an open position for supporting a bed above a surface and a folded position, the frame including: a right front leg including a right front lower leg pivotally coupled to a right front upper leg by first pivot joint; a right rear leg including a right rear lower leg pivotally coupled to a right rear upper leg by a second pivot joint; a left front leg including a left front lower leg pivotally coupled to a left front upper leg by a third pivot joint; a left rear leg including a left rear lower leg pivotally coupled to a left rear upper leg by a fourth pivot joint; a bed frame having a right side and a left side; a front coupler, the right front upper leg, the left front upper leg, a front end of the right side of the bed frame, and a front end of a left side of the bed frame being pivotally coupled to the front coupler; and a rear coupler, the right rear upper leg, the left rear upper leg, a rear end of the right side of the bed frame, and a rear end of a left side of the bed frame being pivotally coupled to the rear coupler.

In some embodiments the front coupler includes a front coupler right end and a front coupler left end, and wherein the front end of the right side of the bed frame and the front end of the left side of the bed frame are pivotally coupled to the front coupler right end and the front coupler left end, respectively, and the rear coupler includes a rear coupler right end and a rear coupler left end, and wherein the rear end of the right side of the bed frame and the rear end of the left side of the bed frame are pivotally coupled to the rear coupler right end and the rear coupler left end, respectively. In some embodiments, the front coupler includes a first detent at the front coupler right end for releasably engaging the front end of the right side of the bed frame, and a second detent at the front coupler left end for releasably engaging the front end of the left side of the bed frame. In some embodiments, the rear coupler includes a third detent at the rear coupler right end for releasably engaging the rear end of the right side of the bed frame, and a fourth detent at the rear coupler left end for releasably engaging the rear end of the left side of the bed frame.

In some embodiments, the front coupler includes front coupler first and second receptacles at a bottom thereof for receiving the right front upper leg and the left front upper leg, respectively, and the rear coupler includes rear coupler first and second receptacles at a bottom thereof for receiving the right rear upper leg and the left rear upper leg, respectively.

In some embodiments, the right front upper leg, the left front upper leg, the right rear upper leg, and the left rear upper leg each has an associated spring plunger extending outwardly from a top end thereof, and each spring biased plunger is configured to extend into an associated opening in the front coupler or the rear coupler for releasably locking the right front upper leg and the left front upper leg to the front coupler, and releasably locking the right rear upper leg and the left rear upper leg to the rear coupler.

In some embodiments, the bassinet further includes a first support coupled between the right side of the bed frame and the right front upper leg; a second support coupled between the right side of bed frame and the right rear upper leg; a third support coupled between the left side of the bed frame and the left front upper leg; and a fourth support coupled between the left side of bed frame and the left rear upper leg.

In some embodiments, when the frame is in the open position, the right front lower leg, right front upper leg, the right rear lower leg, the right rear upper leg, the left front lower leg, the left front upper leg, the left rear lower leg, and the left rear upper leg, each has an associated outer side and an associated inner side, and the left and right sides of the bed frame are positioned substantially horizontally to the floor surface, and when the frame is in the folded position, the associated outer sides of the right front lower leg, the right rear lower leg, the left front lower leg, the left rear lower legs are positioned adjacent the associated outer sides of the right front upper leg, the right rear upper leg, the left front upper leg, and the left rear upper leg, respectively, and the left and right sides of the bed frame are pivoted downwardly toward the surface. In some embodiments, when the frame is in the folded position, the left side of the bed frame is at least partially disposed between the left front lower leg and the left rear lower leg, and the right side of the bed frame is at least partially disposed between the right front lower leg and the right rear lower leg. In some embodiments when the frame is in the folded position, the left front lower leg and the left rear lower leg restrict the left side of the bed frame from pivoting to substantially horizontal to the floor surface, and the right front lower leg and the right rear lower leg restrict the right side of the bed frame from pivoting to substantially horizontal with the floor surface.

In some embodiments, the each of the front coupler and the rear coupler includes an associated opening therein and an associated left latch and an associated right latch disposed in the associated opening.

Unless otherwise stated, use of the word "substantially" may be construed to include a precise relationship, condition, arrangement, orientation, and/or other characteristic, and deviations thereof as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, to the extent that such deviations do not materially affect the disclosed methods and systems. The term “coupled" as used herein refers to any connection, coupling, link, or the like by which signals carried by one system element are imparted to the "coupled" element. Such “coupled" devices, or signals and devices, are not necessarily directly connected to one another and may be separated by intermediate components or devices that may manipulate or modify such signals. Likewise, the terms “connected” or “coupled” as used herein in regard to mechanical or physical connections or couplings is a relative term and does not require a direct physical connection. Elements, components, modules, and/or parts thereof that are described and/or otherwise portrayed through the figures to communicate with, be associated with, and/or be based on, something else, may be understood to so communicate, be associated with, and or be based on in a direct and/or indirect manner, unless otherwise stipulated herein.

Throughout the entirety of the present disclosure, use of the articles "a" and/or "an" and/or "the" to modify a noun may be understood to be used for convenience and to include one, or more than one, of the modified noun, unless otherwise specifically stated. The terms "comprising", "including" and "having" are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. The phrase “at least one of A and B” should be understood to mean “only A, only B, or both A and B.”

Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” below,” upper,” “lower,” “above”, “left”, “right” and the like may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature’s relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the drawings. These spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation shown in the drawings. For example, if the device in the drawings is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” may encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

Although the terms “first,” “second,” “third” etc. may be used to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections are not to be limited by these terms as they are used only to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another element, component, region, layer or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer, or section could be termed a second element, component, region, layer, or section without departing from the scope and teachings of the present invention.

While the principles of the invention have been described herein, it is to be understood by those skilled in the art that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation as to the scope of the invention. Other embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the present invention in addition to the exemplary embodiments shown and described herein. Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present invention, which is not to be limited except by the following claims.