NAIL ART TOOL

Description

BACKGROUND

Field

The present application relates to nail art tools, and more specifically, tools for applying nail decorations and/or nail polish to a user's nail.

Description

Nail art has become a popular for individuals to customize the appearance of their nails using various colors, designs, and decorative elements. Typically, in order to get intricate designs, individuals have to go to salons, where skilled technicians apply intricate designs using specialized tools and materials. However, going to a salon often involves significant costs and can be time-consuming. Therefore, some individuals choose to apply nail art at home, but applying nail art at home can be challenging, and often leads to imperfect or unprofessional looking designs.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, there is a need for a tool that can allow individuals to more easily and efficiently apply high-quality nail art designs at home. Disclosed herein are embodiments of a nail art tool with interchangeable applicators and methods of use. Advantageously, the nail art tool overcomes at least some of the drawbacks of existing applicators discussed above.

In some embodiments, a tool for applying nail art to a nail can include an elongate body including a connector portion, and a plurality of interchangeable applicators including a first applicator including a cone shaped applicator portion, a second applicator including a sponge applicator portion, a third applicator including a rounded, resilient insert, and the plurality of interchangeable applicators can be configured to be removably coupled to the connector portion.

In some embodiments, the connector portion of the elongate body can include an opening extending into the connector portion, and the opening can be configured to receive a portion of the plurality of interchangeable applicators to removably couple the plurality of interchangeable applicators to the connector portion of the elongate body.

In some embodiments, the first applicator can further include a connector portion coupled to the cone shaped applicator portion and the connector portion of the first applicator can be configured to be removably inserted into an opening in the connector portion of the elongate body, and the second applicator portion can further include a connector portion coupled to the sponge applicator portion, and the connector portion of the second applicator can be configured to be removably inserted into the opening in the connector portion of the elongate body.

In some embodiments, the connector portion of the first applicator and the connector portion of the second applicator can be press-fit, friction-fit, or snap-fit into the opening of the connector portion of the elongate body.

In some embodiments, the third applicator can further include a base configured to be coupled to the connector portion of the elongate body.

In some embodiments, the rounded, resilient insert can be configured to be removably inserted into a recess in the base.

In some embodiments, the base of the third applicator can be press-fit, friction-fit, or snap-fit to the connector portion of the elongate body.

In some embodiments, the elongate body can include silicone.

In some embodiments, a tool for applying nail art to a nail can include an elongate body including a base portion and a connector portion extending from the base portion, the connector portion including an opening extending into the connector portion, a plurality of interchangeable applicators including, a first applicator including a cone shaped applicator portion and a connector portion configured to be removably inserted into the opening of the connector portion of the elongate body, a second applicator including a sponge applicator portion and a connector portion configured to be removably inserted into the opening of the connector portion of the elongate body, and a third applicator including a rounded, resilient insert and a base, the rounded, resilient insert can be configured to be removably inserted into a recess in the base, and the base can be configured to be coupled to the connector portion of the elongate body, and the plurality of interchangeable applicators can be configured to apply nail polish to the nail.

In some embodiments, the first applicator can include silicone.

In some embodiments, the connector portion of the second applicator can include plastic.

In some embodiments, the connector portion of the second applicator can include a tapered protrusion configured to secure the connector portion of the second applicator in the opening of the connector portion of the elongate body.

In some embodiments, the connector portion of the elongate body can include a dome shape.

In some embodiments, the connector portion of the elongate body can be recessed from an outer surface of base portion.

In some embodiments, the nail polish can be applied to the plurality of interchangeable applicators by dipping the plurality of interchangeable applicators in the nail polish and/or applying the nail polish to the plurality of interchangeable applicators with a nail polish brush.

In some embodiments, a method for applying nail art to a nail with a tool including a plurality of interchangeable applicators can include, selecting an applicator of the plurality of interchangeable applicators; coupling the selected applicator to a connector portion of an elongate body of the tool; and applying nail art to the nail with the selected applicator, and the plurality of interchangeable applicators can include a first applicator with a cone shaped applicator portion, a second applicator including a sponge applicator portion, and a third applicator including a rounded, resilient insert.

In some embodiments, the method can further include applying nail polish to the selected applicator, and applying nail art to the nail can include applying the nail polish to the nail.

In some embodiments, applying the nail polish to the selected applicator can include dipping the selected applicator into the nail polish, or applying the nail polish to applicator with a nail polish brush.

In some embodiments, when the selected applicator includes the first applicator or the second applicator, coupling the selected applicator to the connector portion of the elongate body can include inserting a connector portion of the selected applicator into an opening in the connector portion of the elongate body.

In some embodiments, when the selected applicator includes the third applicator, coupling the selected applicator to the connector portion of the elongate body can include inserting the rounded, resilient insert into a recess of a base of the third applicator, and positioning the base over the connector portion of the elongate body so a protrusion in the base extends into an opening in the connector portion.

All of these embodiments are intended to be within the scope of the invention herein disclosed. These and other embodiments will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description having reference to the attached figures, the invention not being limited to any particular disclosed embodiment(s).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present application are described with reference to drawings of certain embodiments, which are intended to illustrate, but not limit the present disclosure. It is to be understood that the attached drawings are for the purpose of illustrating concepts disclosed in the present application and may not be to scale.

FIG. 1 illustrates a tool for applying nail art to nails.

FIG. 2A illustrates a perspective view of a body of the tool of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2B illustrates a top view of the body of the tool of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A illustrates a first applicator of the tool of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3B illustrates the first applicator of FIG. 3A coupled to the body of the tool.

FIG. 3C illustrates a user applying nail art to a nail with the first applicator of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4A illustrates a second applicator of the tool of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4B illustrates the second applicator of FIG. 4A coupled to the body of the tool.

FIG. 4C illustrates a user applying nail art to a nail with the second applicator of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5A illustrates an exploded view of a third applicator of the tool of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5B illustrates a bottom perspective view of a base of the third applicator of FIG. 5A.

FIG. 5C illustrates the third applicator of FIG. 5A coupled to the body of the tool.

FIG. 5D illustrates a user applying nail art to the third applicator of FIG. 5A.

FIG. 5E illustrates a user applying nail art to a nail with the third applicator of FIG. 5A.

FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic of a method of applying nail art to a nail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Although several embodiments, examples and illustrations are disclosed below, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that inventions described herein extend beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments, examples, and illustrations and includes other uses of the inventions and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. Embodiments of the inventions are described with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein like numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The terminology used in the description presented herein is not intended to be interpreted in any limited or restrictive manner simply because it is being used in conjunction with a detailed description of certain specific embodiments of the inventions. In addition, embodiments of the inventions can include several novel features and no single feature is solely responsible for its desirable attributes or is essential to practicing the inventions herein described.

FIG. 1 illustrates a tool 100 for applying nail art to a user's nails. The tool 100 includes a body 102 and an applicators 104 (e.g., a set of different applicators). The applicators 104 can be interchangeable. The applicators 104 removably couple to the body 102. A user can select which applicator 104 to couple to the body 102 based on the nail art the user wants to apply to the user's nails. The tool 100 can include one (1) applicator 104, two (2) applicators 104, three (3) applicators 104, four (4) applicators 104, five (5) applicators 104, six (6) applicators 104, seven (7) applicators 104, eight (8) applicators 104, nine (9) applicators 104, and/or ten (10) applicators 104 (or other suitable number of applicators). In some embodiments, the applicators 104 (e.g., set or kit of applicators) can include a first applicator 120, a second applicator 130, and/or a third applicator 140. The first applicator 120 can be a cone shaped applicator. The second applicator 130 can be a sponge applicator. The third applicator 140 can be a rounded applicator (e.g., flexible or deformable applicator).

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate the body 102 of the tool 100. The body 102 can be made of or include silicone and/or any other suitable material. As shown in FIG. 2A, the body 102 can extend between a first end 106 and a second end 108. The body 102 includes a base portion 109 and a connector portion 110. The base portion 109 of the body 102 can be an elongated cylindrical shape. Accordingly, when viewed from a top plan view, as shown in FIG. 2B, the base portion 109 can be circular shaped. In some embodiments, the base portion 109 can include an ovular cylinder, triangular prism, a square prism, a rectangular prism, a pentagonal prism, a hexagonal prism, an octagonal prism, and/or any other elongated prism shape. In some embodiments, when view from the top plan view, the base portion 109 can be oval shaped, triangle shaped, square shaped, rectangle shaped, pentagon shaped, hexagon shaped, octagon shaped, and/or any other shape. The base portion 109 can be sized and/or shaped so a user can hold the base portion 109 with one hand. The base portion 109 can be sized and/or shaped to reduce or minimize strain of the user's hand. The base portion 109 can be elongated so a user can hold and/or use the tool 100 like a pen. Accordingly, the elongated shape of the base portion 109 can allow a user to more accurately and/or easily control the position of the applicator 104 when applying nail art to the user's nail. The base portion 109 can be solid such that the base portion 109 does not include any openings.

The connector portion 110 can extend from a first end 111 of the base portion 109 so the connector portion 110 forms the first end 106 of the body 102. The connector portion 110 and the base portion 109 can be a single (e.g., monolithic, seamless) piece. The connector portion 110 can include a dome (e.g., rounded) shape. The connector portion 110 can be recessed from an outer surface 113 of the base portion 109. Accordingly, a width (e.g., radius) 115 of base portion 109 may be larger than a width (e.g., radius) 117 of the connector portion 110. The body 102 may include a lip 112 at the first end 111 of the base portion 109 that extends around the connector portion 110.

The connector portion 110 may include an opening 119. The opening 119 can be located on the connector portion 110 so the opening 119 is positioned at the first end 106 of the body 102. The opening 119 can extend into the connector portion 110 along a longitudinal axis 101 of the body 102. As shown in FIG. 2B, the opening 119 can be circle shaped. In some embodiments, the opening 119 can be oval shaped, triangle shaped, square shaped, rectangle shaped, pentagon shaped, hexagon shaped, octagon shaped, and/or any other shape. The connector portion 110 may couple (e.g., attach) the applicators 104 to the body 102. In some embodiments, the opening 119 may receive a portion of the applicators 104 to couple the applicators 104 to the body 102 (e.g., in press-fit, friction-fit or snap-fit manner). In some embodiments, the applicators 104 can be positioned over the connector portion 110 to couple the applicators 104 to the body 102.

FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate the first applicator 120 of the tool 100. FIG. 3A illustrates the first applicator 120 of the tool 100 in isolation, FIG. 3B illustrates the first applicator 120 coupled to the body 102 of the tool 100, and FIG. 3C illustrates a user applying nail art to the user's nail using the tool 100 with the first applicator 120 coupled to the body 102 of the tool 100.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the first applicator 120 can include an applicator portion 122 and a connector portion 124. The applicator portion 122 can extend between the connector portion 124 and a first end 121 of the first applicator 120. The connector portion 124 can extend between the applicator portion 122 and a second end 123 of the first applicator 120. The applicator portion 122 can be a tapered shape. The applicator portion 122 can be tapered from the connector portion 124 to the first end 121 of the first applicator 120. The applicator portion 122 can be cone shaped. Accordingly, the applicator portion 122 may form a tip 125 at the first end 121 of the first applicator 120.

The connector portion 124 can be a same size and/or shape as the opening 119 in the connector portion 110 of the body 102. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 3B, the connector portion 124 can be removably inserted into the opening 119 in the connector portion 110 of the body 102 to couple (e.g., attach) the first applicator 120 to the body 102. The connector portion 124 can be press-fit, snap-fit, and/or friction-fit in the opening 119. The applicator portion 122 may extend out from the opening 119 when the connector portion 124 is inserted into the opening 119.

As shown in FIG. 3C, the first applicator 120 can be used to apply small nail polish designs (e.g., dots) 301 to a user's nail 302. Nail polish can be applied to the tip 125 of the first applicator 120. The nail polish can be applied to the tip 125 of the first applicator 120 by inserting (e.g., dipping) the tip 125 of the first applicator 120 into the nail polish, or the nail polish can be applied to the tip 125 of the first applicator 120 with a nail polish brush. The user can press the tip 125 of the first applicator 120 against the user's nail 402 to apply the nail polish to the user's nail 402.

The first applicator 120 can be used to apply nail art decorations (e.g., gems, sequins, charms, etc.) to the user's nail 302. The user can press the tip 125 of the first applicator 120 against a nail art decoration. The first applicator 120 can include silicone and/or any other suitable tacky (e.g., sticky) material. The material of the first applicator 120 may be sufficiently rigid or firm so the tip 125 of the first applicator 120 does not deform when the tip 125 is pressed against the user's nail 302 and/or the nail art decoration. Therefore, the nail art decoration sticks to the tip 125 of the first applicator 120. Accordingly, a user can pick up the nail art decoration with the tip 125 of the first applicator 120. The user may transfer the nail art decoration to the user's nail 302 by pressing the nail art decoration against the user's nail 302 with the tip 125 of the first applicator 120.

FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate the second applicator 130 of the tool 100. FIG. 4A illustrates the second applicator 130 of the tool 100 in isolation, FIG. 4B illustrates the second applicator 130 coupled to the body 102 of the tool 100, and FIG. 4C illustrates a user applying nail art to the user's nail using the tool 100 with the second applicator 130 coupled to the body 102 of the tool 100.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the second applicator 130 can include an applicator portion 132 and a connector portion 134. The applicator portion 132 can extend between the connector portion 134 and a first end 131 of the second applicator 130. The connector portion 134 can extend between the applicator portion 132 and a second end 133 of the second applicator 130. The connector portion 134 can be made of or include plastic and/or any other suitable rigid material.

The applicator portion 132 can be ovular or round shaped (e.g., generally spherical). The applicator portion 132 can be egg shaped. A first end 132A of the applicator portion 132 at the first end 131 of the second applicator 130 can be rounded. A second end 132B of the applicator portion 132 coupled to the connector portion 134 can be flat. Accordingly, the applicator portion 132 can include a truncated egg shape (or truncated spherical shape). The applicator portion 132 may include a height 132C and a width 132D. The height 132C of the applicator portion 132 may be larger than the width 132D of the applicator portion 132. The applicator portion 132 can include a porous, resilient material (e.g., a sponge material). The applicator portion 132 can be made of or include polyurethane foam, latex foam, microfiber foam, and/or any other suitable porous, resilient material.

The connector portion 134 can be a same size and/or shape as the opening 119 in the connector portion 110 of the body 102. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 4B, the connector portion 134 can be removably inserted into the opening 119 in the connector portion 110 of the body 102 to couple (e.g., attach) the second applicator 130 to the body 102. The connector portion 134 can be press-fit, snap-fit, and/or friction-fit in the opening 119. The applicator portion 132 can extend out from the opening 119 when the connector portion 124 is inserted into the opening 119.

The connector portion 134 can include a lip (e.g., rim) 136 at a first end 134A of the connector portion 134. The first end 134A of the connector portion can be an end of the connector portion 134 coupled to or adjacent to the applicator portion 132. The lip 136 can extend circumferentially around the first end 134A of the connector portion 134. The lip 136 can extend radially outward from the first end 134A of the connector portion 134. The lip 136 may contact an edge 119A of the opening 119 in the connector portion 110 of the body 102 when the connector portion 134 of the second applicator 130 is inserted into the opening 119. The lip 136 may prevent or inhibit the connector portion 134 from being inserted too far into the opening 119 (e.g., when the user presses the applicator portion 132 against the user's nail).

The connector portion 134 can include tapered protrusions 138. The tapered protrusions 138 can be circumferentially spaced around the connector portion 134. The tapered protrusions 138 can extend a height 138A from the lip 136 towards a second end 134B of the connector portion 134. The tapered protrusions 138 may extend a thickness 138B radially outward from an outer surface 135 of the connector portion 134. The tapered protrusions 138 may be tapered along the height 138A of the tapered protrusions 138. The thickness 138B may decrease along the tapered protrusions 138 along the height 138A. The thickness 138B of the tapered protrusions 138 can be largest at the lip 136. Friction between the tapered protrusions 138 and an inner wall of the opening 119 can secure the connector portion 134 in the opening 119 to prevent or inhibit the connector portion 134 from falling out of the opening 119.

As shown in FIG. 4C, the second applicator 130 can be used to apply nail polish to a user's nail 402. The second applicator 130 can be used to apply an aura, ombre, and/or any other gradient design 401 to the user's nail 402. Nail polish can be applied to the applicator portion 132 of the second applicator 130. The nail polish can be applied to the applicator portion 132 of the second applicator 130 by inserting (e.g., dipping) the applicator portion 132 into the nail polish, or the nail polish can be applied to the applicator portion 132 with a nail polish brush. The user can press the applicator portion 132 against the user's nail 402 to apply the nail polish to the user's nail 402. As described above, the applicator portion 132 can include a porous, resilient material. Therefore, when the applicator portion 132 is pressed against the user's nail 402, nail polish is not applied to portions of the user's nail 402 that are aligned with pores or voids in the applicator portion 132.

FIGS. 5A-5E illustrate the third applicator 140 of the tool 100. FIG. 5A illustrates an exploded view of the third applicator 140 of the tool 100 in isolation, FIG. 5B illustrates a base 144 of the third applicator 140, FIG. 5C illustrates the third applicator 140 coupled to the body 102 of the tool 100, FIG. 5D illustrates a user applying nail polish to an insert 142 of third applicator 140, and 5E illustrates a user applying nail art to the user's nail using the tool 100 with the third applicator 140 coupled to the body 102 of the tool 100.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the third applicator 140 can include a rounded, resilient applicator. The third applicator 140 can include the insert 142 and the base 144. The insert 142 and/or the base 144 can be transparent or semi-transparent as shown in FIG. 6C. The insert 142 can be made of or include silicone and/or any other suitable resilient (e.g., deformable, flexible) material. The insert 142 can extend between a first end 142A and a second end 142B. The insert 142 can include a height 142C. The height 142C can be a distance between the first end 142A and the second end 142B. The insert 142 can include a cylindrical shape and/or any other shape. The first end 142A of the insert can include a curved shape, a rounded shape or a dome shape.

The base 144 can be made of or include plastic and/or any other suitable rigid material. The base 144 can include a first (e.g., top) portion 145 and a second (e.g., bottom) portion 146. The first portion 145 can extend between the second portion 146 and a first end 144A of the base 144. The second portion 146 can extend between the first portion 145 and a second end 144B of the base 144. The first portion 145 and/or the second portion 146 can include a cylindrical shape and/or any other shape. A width (e.g., diameter) 145A of the first portion 145 may be larger than the width (e.g., diameter) 146A of the second portion 146.

The first portion 145 can include a recess 147 extending into the first portion 145 from the first end 144A of the base 144. The insert 142 can be removably inserted into the recess 147 in the base 144, as shown in FIG. 5C. The insert 142 can be inserted into the recess 147 so the second end 142B is inserted furthest into the recess 147. The insert 142 can be press-fit, snap-fit, and/or friction-fit in the recess 147. A depth 147A of the recess 147 can be less than the height 142C of the insert 142. Therefore, when the insert 142 is positioned in the recess 147, the first end 142A of the insert 142 extends out of the recess 147.

As shown in FIG. 5B, the second portion 146 can include a recess 148. The recess 148 can extend into the second portion 146 from the second end 144B of the base 144. The base 144 may include a wall 143 between the first portion 145 and the second portion 146. The wall 143 can form a barrier between the recess 147 in the first portion 145 and the recess 148 in the second portion 146. The wall 143 can form a bottom (e.g., base) 147B of the recess 147 in the first portion 145 and a bottom (e.g., base) 148B of the recess 148 in the second portion 146.

The second portion 146 can include a protrusion 149 (or post). The protrusion 149 can extend through the recess 148 from the wall 143 (e.g. the bottom 148B of the recess 148) toward (e.g., to) an opening 148C of the recess 148 at the second end 144B of the base 144. The protrusion 149 can be hollow. An interior 149A of the protrusion 149 can connect with the recess 147 in the first portion 145 via an opening 143A in the wall 143 aligned with the protrusion 149. The opening 143A and/or the hollow interior 149A of the protrusion 149 can prevent or inhibit suction between the insert 142 and the wall 143 (e.g. the bottom 147B of the recess 147 in the first portion 145) when the insert 142 is positioned in the recess 147.

As shown in FIG. 5C, the base 144 can be coupled to the body 102 of the tool 100. The base 144 can be coupled to the body 102 before or after the insert 142 is inserted into the base 144. The base 144 can be positioned over the connector portion 110 of the body 102 so the connector portion 110 is positioned in the recess 148 (shown in FIG. 5B) in the second portion 146 of the base 144. The second end 144B of the base 144 can contact the lip 112 around the connector portion 110 when the base 144 is positioned over the connector portion 110. The protrusion 149 can be inserted into the opening 119 in the connector portion 110 when the base 144 is positioned over the connector portion 110. In some embodiments, the protrusion 149 can be press-fit, snap-fit, and/or friction-fit in the opening 119 to secure the base 144 to the body 102. In some embodiments, the second portion 146 of the base 144 can be press-fit, snap-fit, and/or friction-fit to the connector portion 110 to secure the base 144 to the body 102.

As shown in FIGS. 5D and 5E, the third applicator 140 can be used to apply Frenches, tuxes, and/or any other nail tip design 501 to a user's nail 502. As shown in FIG. 5D, nail polish 504 can be applied to the insert 142. The nail polish can be applied to the insert 142 of by inserting (e.g., dipping) the insert 142 into the nail polish, or the nail polish can be applied to the insert 142 with a nail polish brush 505. The nail polish 504 can be applied to the first end 142A of the insert 142. As shown in FIG. 5E, the user can press the first end 142A of the insert 142 against the user's fingertip 508 so an end 503 of the user's nail 502 extends into (e.g., deforms, flexes) the insert 142. As described above, the insert 142 can include silicone and/or any other resilient material. Therefore, when the user's nail 502 extends into the insert 142, the insert 142 may deform so the insert 142 contacts the user's nail 502 (e.g., the surface of the user's nail) and applies the nail polish 504 to the user's nail 502.

FIG. 6 illustrates a method 600 of applying nail art to a nail using the tool 100. At step 602, an applicator 104 can be selected. The applicator 104 can be selected based on a type of nail art that will be applied to the nail and/or a design of nail polish that will be applied to the nail. If the nail art comprises a nail art decoration (e.g., gem, sequin, charm, etc.), the first applicator 120 can be selected. If the design of nail polish includes a small design (e.g., dots), the first applicator 120 can be selected. If the design of nail polish includes an aura, ombre, and/or any other gradient design, the second applicator 130 can be selected. If the design of nail polish includes a nail tip design (e.g., French, tux), the third applicator 104 can be selected.

At step 604, the applicator 104 selected at step 602 can be coupled to the body 102 of the tool 100. If the applicator 104 selected at step 602 is the first applicator 120, the connector portion 124 of the first applicator 120 can be inserted into the opening 119 in the connector portion 110 of the body 102. If the applicator 104 selected at step 602 is the second applicator 130, the connector portion 134 of the second applicator 130 can be inserted into the opening 119 in the connector portion 110 of the body 102. If the applicators 104 selected at step 602 is the third applicator 140, the second portion 146 of the base 144 of the third applicator 140 can be positioned over the connector portion 110 and the protrusion 149 can be inserted into the opening 119 in the connector portion 110 of the body 102.

At step 606, the nail art decoration and/or the nail polish can be applied to the applicator 104. The applicator 104 can be inserted (e.g., dipped) into nail polish to apply the nail polish to the applicator 104 and/or the nail polish can be applied to the applicator 104 with a nail polish brush. If the applicator is the first applicator 120, the first applicator 120 can be pressed against the nail art decoration to pick up the nail art decoration.

At step 608, the nail art decoration and/or the nail polish applied to the applicator 104 at step 606 can be applied to the nail. If the applicator is the first applicator 120, the nail art decoration can be pressed against the nail with the first applicator 120 to apply the nail art decoration to the nail. The nail polish can be applied to the nail by pressing the applicator 104 against the nail.

While certain embodiments of the inventions have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. Indeed, the novel methods and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms. Furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the systems and methods described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. For example, one portion of one of the embodiments described herein can be substituted for another portion in another embodiment described herein.

Features, materials, characteristics, or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment, or example are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described in this section or elsewhere in this specification unless incompatible therewith. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. The protection is not restricted to the details of any foregoing embodiments. The protection extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Furthermore, certain features that are described in this disclosure in the context of separate implementations can also be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single implementation can also be implemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations, one or more features from a claimed combination can, in some cases, be excised from the combination, and the combination may be claimed as a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.

Moreover, while operations may be depicted in the drawings or described in the specification in a particular order, such operations need not be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. Other operations that are not depicted or described can be incorporated in the example methods and processes. For example, one or more additional operations can be performed before, after, simultaneously, or between any of the described operations. Further, the operations may be rearranged or reordered in other implementations. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that in some embodiments, the actual steps taken in the processes illustrated and/or disclosed may differ from those shown in the figures. Depending on the embodiment, certain of the steps described above may be removed, others may be added. Furthermore, the features and attributes of the specific embodiments disclosed above may be combined in different ways to form additional embodiments, all of which fall within the scope of the present disclosure. Also, the separation of various system components in the implementations described above should not be understood as requiring such separation in all implementations, and it should be understood that the described components and systems can generally be integrated together in a single product or packaged into multiple products.

For purposes of this disclosure, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features are described herein. Not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves one advantage or a group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.

Conditional language, such as “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements, and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements, and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without user input or prompting, whether these features, elements, and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment.

Conjunctive language such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y, and Z,” unless specifically stated otherwise, is otherwise understood with the context as used in general to convey that an item, term, etc. may be either X, Y, or Z. Thus, such conjunctive language is not generally intended to imply that certain embodiments require the presence of at least one of X, at least one of Y, and at least one of Z.

Language of degree used herein, such as the terms “approximately,” “about,” “generally,” and “substantially” as used herein represent a value, amount, or characteristic close to the stated value, amount, or characteristic that still performs a desired function or achieves a desired result. For example, the terms “approximately”, “about”, “generally,” and “substantially” may refer to an amount that is within less than 20% of, within less than 10% of, within less than 5% of, within less than 1% of, within less than 0.1% of, and within less than 0.01% of the stated amount. As another example, in certain embodiments, the terms “generally parallel” and “substantially parallel” refer to a value, amount, or characteristic that departs from exactly parallel by less than or equal to 15 degrees, 10 degrees, 5 degrees, 3 degrees, 1 degree, or 0.1 degree.

The scope of the present disclosure is not intended to be limited by the specific disclosures of preferred embodiments in this section or elsewhere in this specification, and may be defined by claims as presented in this section or elsewhere in this specification or as presented in the future. The language of the claims is to be interpreted broadly based on the language employed in the claims and not limited to the examples described in the present specification or during the prosecution of the application, which examples are to be construed as non-exclusive.