DISHWASHER APPLIANCE WITH AN EMBEDDED SPRAY ARM

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Chinese Utility Model Patent Application No. 202423229643.1, filed on Dec. 25, 2024, entitled “DISHWASHER,” the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the technical field of cleaning equipment, and in particular, to a spray arm for a dishwasher appliance.

BACKGROUND

A dishwasher appliance is a device used to automatically clean tableware, mainly bowls, chopsticks, plates, dishes, knives, and forks, along with other various cooking and eating utensils. A dishwasher appliance can include a cleaning chamber, a bowl basket, a water circulation device, a spray arm and other various parts. The spray arm can be located in the cleaning chamber, and can have a water spray layout that can clean tableware positioned within the bowl basket with water emitted in a multitude of directions.

In order to increase washing capacity, most existing dishwasher appliances often choose to add multi-layer baskets inside the dishwasher appliance. This will easily lead to the spray arm providing the above layout being very large. It can be difficult to thoroughly clean the tableware placed in the center of the bowl basket, especially when there is a multitude of tableware, cups or small dishes placed in the center area of the middle bowl basket that are placed at an angle, have a deep interior, and/or are covered by other tableware, and cannot be sprayed with sufficient water to rinse, which can result in an incomplete cleaning.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a dishwasher appliance includes a water inlet pipe positioned within an interior of the dishwasher appliance, a bowl basket translatable within the interior of the dishwasher appliance, wherein a portion of a bottom wall of the bowl basket extends toward an interior of the bowl basket to define a receiving groove, and a spray arm configured to clean tableware positioned within the interior of the bowl basket, wherein the spray arm is coupled with the bowl basket at a first end and a second end disposed opposite the first end, positioned within the receiving groove, and selectively coupled with the water inlet pipe at the second end, wherein an interior of the spray arm forms a water flow channel and the spray arm includes a first side wall, a second side wall, a bottom wall, wherein the first side wall, the second side wall, and the bottom wall are interconnected to define the water flow channel, and a plurality of water outlets in fluid communication with the water flow channel, wherein the plurality of water outlets are configured to emit water into the interior of the bowl basket at an angle.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a dishwasher appliance includes a water inlet pipe positioned within an interior of the dishwasher appliance, a bowl basket translatable within the interior of the dishwasher appliance, wherein a portion of a bottom wall of the bowl basket extends toward an interior of the bowl basket to define a receiving groove, and a spray arm configured to clean tableware positioned within the interior of the bowl basket, wherein the spray arm is coupled with the bowl basket at a first end and a second end disposed opposite the first end, positioned within the receiving groove, and selectively coupled with the water inlet pipe at the second end, wherein an interior of the spray arm forms a water flow channel and the spray arm includes a plurality of water outlets in fluid communication with the water flow channel, wherein the plurality of water outlets are configured to emit water into the interior of the bowl basket at an angle.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a spray arm assembly configured for use within a dishwasher appliance includes a first side wall, a second side wall, a bottom wall, wherein the first side wall, the second side wall, and the bottom wall are interconnected to form a water flow channel, and wherein the first side wall and the second side wall extend at an incline toward one another from opposite sides of the bottom wall, respectively, such that the spray arm assembly has a substantially triangular cross-sectional profile, and a plurality of water outlets, wherein one or more of the plurality of water outlets are positioned on the first side wall and one or more of the plurality of water outlets are positioned on the second side wall such that the spray arm assembly can emit water at an angle when the spray arm assembly is selectively coupled with the water inlet pipe of the dishwasher appliance.

The present disclosure can provide several advantages, including, but not limited to the following. A spray arm of a dishwasher can be fixed at a bottom of a bowl basket of the dishwasher in an embedded manner. Accordingly, the spray arm can occupy a reduced amount of space between an upper and a lower bowl basket, thereby allowing for the placement of large tableware within the lower bowl basket. Advantageously, the bowl basket can be raised to accommodate the built-in installation of the spray arm such that the bowl basket also provides an inclined placement area for tableware such as cups and small plates, so that cups can be placed at an angle to save space for bowls and baskets, and at the same time, the dirty surfaces of the cups can directly face a spray surface of the spray arm. Additionally, the spray arm can be moved to the outside of the dishwasher as the bowl basket slides out, which facilitates later cleaning and maintenance of the spray arm and also simplifies the replacement of the spray arm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side perspective exploded view of a spray arm of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the spray arm of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective exploded view of a front mounting plate of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of a rear mounting plate of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of the spray arm attached with the front mounting plate and the rear mounting plate of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the spray arm attached with the front mounting plate and the rear mounting plate and installed onto a bowl basket of the dishwasher; and

FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of the spray arm attached to the bowl basket, wherein the connection between the spray arm and a water inlet pipe of the present disclosure is shown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present illustrated embodiments reside primarily in combinations of method steps and apparatus components related to a dishwasher appliance, specifically, to a spray arm embedded within a bowl basket of a dishwasher appliance. Accordingly, the apparatus components and method steps have been represented, where appropriate, by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. Further, like numerals in the description and drawings represent like elements.

For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the disclosure as oriented in FIG. 1. Unless stated otherwise, the term “front” shall refer to the surface of the element closer to an intended viewer, and the term “rear” shall refer to the surface of the element further from the intended viewer. However, it is to be understood that the disclosure may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

The terms “including,” “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. An element preceded by “comprises a . . . ” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.

The present disclosure provides a dishwasher. As shown in FIGS. 1, 6, and 7, the dishwasher includes a waterway system, a bowl basket 17, and a spray arm 1. The waterway system includes a water inlet pipe 3. The bottom wall of the bowl basket 17 is bent toward the inside of the bowl basket 17 to form a receiving groove 171. The water inlet pipe 3 is connected to one end of the spray arm 1, and the spray arm 1 interior defines a water flow channel, and the spray arm 1 is provided with a plurality of water outlets 7 connected with the water flow channel. The spray arm 1 is placed in the receiving groove 171 and connected to the bowl basket 17 at both ends.

The spray arm 1 can be installed into the receiving groove 171 at the bottom of the bowl basket 17.

In addition to providing enough installation space for the spray arm 1, the receiving groove 171 allows the spray arm 1 to be embedded within the bowl basket 17 when the spray arm 1 is installed within the receiving groove 171. Further, the spray arm 1 is installed at the bottom of the bowl basket 17. This layout can avoid the obstruction and interference that can occur when the spray arm 1 limits the tableware capacity of a lower bowl basket in the same dishwasher and the placement height of tableware within the lower bowl basket. Additionally, the receiving groove 171 can allow the spray arm 1 to be positioned deep within the interior of the bowl basket 17 to ensure that, when the water inlet pipe 3 is connected, the spray arm 1 can directly spray water into the inside of the bowl basket 17 to fully rinse the cups and small plates placed in the center of the bowl basket 17, thus avoiding an incomplete cleaning of the tableware.

The spray arm 1 can be designed as a tubular structure with a triangular cross-section. The tubular spray arm 1 is mounted on the bowl basket 17.

As shown in FIG. 6, the bottom of the bowl basket 17 is divided into two placing areas. A first placement area 172 on a left side of the bowl basket 17 and a second placement area 173 on a right side of the bowl basket 17. The user can place a cup or a saucer that is tilted and/or upside down into the first placement area 172 or the second placement area 173. Because the cross section of the spray arm 1 is triangular, the two inclined planes on its upper side, namely a first side wall 4 and a second side wall 5 are faced toward the first placement area 172 and the second placement area 173, respectively. A cleaning water flow that is ejected from one or more water outlets 7 provided on the surface of the first side wall 4 and the surface of the second side wall 5 can rush toward the inside of an inclined cup placed within first placement area 172 and the inner surface of a saucer placed in the second placement area 173, respectively, and at an angle, thereby fully cleaning the cup and the saucer. Additionally, the orientation of the water outlets 7 on the first side wall 4 and the water outlets 7 on the second side wall 5 can be flexibly arranged and combined to wash various types of tableware.

In addition, the first side wall 4 provides an inclined surface and the second side wall 5 provides an inclined surface. In addition to providing space for the opening of the water outlet 7 to meet the needs of water flow at different incident angles for dishes and cups, the inclined surfaces can also facilitate the passage of oil or vegetable residues dropped from an upper bowl basket or tableware across the spray arm 1 to avoid causing damage to the first side wall 4 and the second side wall 5 of the spray arm 1. A blockage of one of the water outlets 7 on either the first side wall 4 and/or the second side wall 5 or a change of the spray direction of one of the water outlets 7 can affect a cleaning effect provided by the spray arm 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the spray arm 1 can have a bottom cover 8 that is located between the first side wall 4 and the second side wall 5. The bottom cover 8 has a drainage slope 9 and a drainage outlet 10 on an upper surface of the bottom cover 8. The bottom cover 8 can function to substantially reduce the amount of water remaining inside the spray arm 1 after a washing cycle of the dishwasher. Water that remains within the spray arm 1 after a washing cycle of the dishwasher can provide a humid environment conducive to the growth of bacteria, thereby potentially contaminating clean water passing through the spray arm 1 during a washing cycle, and contaminating tableware that the user desires to clean. Therefore, the drainage slope 9 is provided on the upper surface of the bottom cover 8. Specifically, after a washing cycle of the dishwasher, when water is no longer poured into the bottom of the spray arm 1, water remaining inside the spray arm 1 will slide down the drainage slope 9 to the bottom of the drainage slope 9, and then to the outside of the spray arm 1 by passing through the drainage outlet 10 that is formed at the bottom of the drainage slope 9. Accordingly, the drainage slope 9 and the drainage outlet 10 function to facilitate the drainage of water from the spray arm 1 to substantially reduce the growth of bacteria within the spray arm 1.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, since the water outlets 7 are spaced along a length direction of the spray arm 1, when the water pressure is constant, the water outlets 7 positioned closer to a water inlet pipe 3 to which the spray arm 1 is connected and receives water from, emit water at a greater water pressure and with a greater cleaning ability than the water outlets 7 positioned further from the water inlet pipe 3. In order to avoid this problem of large differences in cleaning capabilities, as shown in FIG. 1, a buffer part 2 is provided at one end of the spray arm 1. The buffer part 2 can buffer the impact of the instantaneous water flow from the water inlet pipe 3, and can also store water within an internal cavity of the buffer part 2 to match the incoming water volume, as well as secure the installation of the spray arm 1 to the water inlet pipe 3. Consequently, the buffer part 2 functions to maintain a substantially uniform water pressure throughout the spray arm 1, such that each of the water outlets 7 can provide a uniform cleaning effect. The spray arm 1 can also have an end cover 11 that connects to the buffer part 2 to cover an internal cavity of the buffer part 2, thereby forming a water storage space that is connected to the water flow channel.

With reference now to FIG. 6, the spray arm 1 in this configuration is fixedly installed on the bowl basket 17.

With reference to FIG. 7, the water inlet pipe 3 is fixed within the interior of the dishwasher. As shown in FIG. 1, a docking hole 12, formed by the end cover 11 of the spray arm 1, is concentric with a nozzle of the water inlet pipe 3. When the bowl basket 17 is on the roller, the user can slide the bowl basket 17 along the side wall of the dishwasher, such that the water inlet pipe 3 is gradually inserted into the docking hole 12 to attach the spray arm 1 to the water inlet pipe 3, thereby establishing a fluid connection between the water inlet pipe 3 and the spray arm 1. The docking hole 12 can have an internal sealing ring 14 that can seal a joint established between the docking hole 12 of the spray arm 1 and a nozzle of the water inlet pipe 3 due to the elasticity of the internal sealing ring 14 and the extrusion of the internal sealing ring 14 from the docking hole 12. The internal sealing ring 14 can complete the connection between the spray arm 1 and the water inlet pipe 3. When the bowl basket 17 needs to be pulled out, the user can pull the bowl basket 17 away from the water inlet pipe 3, and the spray arm 1, that is fixed to the bowl basket 17, will move automatically with the bowl basket 17 and disconnect from the water inlet pipe 3. The connection between the water inlet pipe 3 and the spray arm 1 can be configured such that the connection can be severed to facilitate the movement of the spray arm 1 from the water inlet pipe 3. At the same time, in order to ensure smoothness during docking of the spray arm 1 to the water inlet pipe 3, and to improve the stability of the connection, one or more guide pieces 13 are provided at an opening of the docking hole 12, wherein the one or more guide pieces 13 can facilitate the establishment of the connection between the spray arm 1 and the water inlet pipe 3, particularly when the spray arm 1 has an offset docking trajectory relative to the water inlet pipe 3. Specifically, the one or more guide pieces 13 can correct and align the nozzle of the water inlet pipe 3 via the sliding of the one or more guide pieces 13.

With reference now to FIGS. 3-5, the spray arm 1 is installed onto the bowl basket 17. The spray arm 1 has a tubular structure and has two mounting plates, specifically a front mounting plate 15 and a rear mounting plate 16, wherein the spray arm 1 is connected to the bowl basket 17 via the front mounting plate 15 and the rear mounting plate 16.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a front end ferrule that matches the shape of a first end of the spray arm 1 extends from a bottom portion of the front mounting plate 15 and a rear end ferrule that match the shape of a second end of the spray arm 1, extends from a bottom portion of the rear mounting plate 16. During the installation process, the user can insert the first end of the spray arm 1 into the front end ferrule and the second end of the spray arm 1 into the rear end ferrule.

With reference to FIGS. 3-6, the bowl basket 17 is formed of a plurality of strips of metal that are bent, interwoven, and interconnected. To install the spray arm 1 to the bowl basket 17, a buckle 6, positioned on a surface of the rear mounting plate 16, can receive one of the plurality of strips of metal of the bowl basket 17. Specifically, the strip of metal received by the buckle 6 can slide through an opening formed by the buckle 6, such that the buckle 6, and therefore the rear mounting plate 16 and the spray arm 1, are installed onto the bowl basket 17.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the front mounting plate 15 can be formed of a first mounting part 151 and a second mounting part 152 that can be snapped together to form the front mounting plate 15. The second mounting part 152 has engaging grooves 18 that match the shape and size of one or more of the plurality of strips of metal. Therefore, the first mounting part 151 and the second mounting part 152 can be positioned such that one or more of the plurality of strips of metal are positioned between the first mounting part 151 and the second mounting part 152. Specifically, the first mounting part 151 and the second mounting part 152 can sandwich one or more of the plurality of strips of metal that form at least a portion of a side wall of the bowl basket 17. Further, the one or more strips of metal of the plurality of strips of metal sandwiched by the first mounting part 151 and the second mounting part 152 can each be disposed within a corresponding engaging groove 18 to attach the front mounting plate 15 to the bowl basket 17. As such, the attachment of the front mounting plate 15 and the rear mounting plate 16 to the bowl basket 17 can further fix the spray arm 1 to the bowl basket 17.

In order to prevent the spray arm 1 from protruding between two adjacent bowl baskets and causing unnecessary obstruction to the upper space of the baskets, a receiving groove 171, shown in FIG. 6, is provided on the bottom surface of the bowl basket 17 to provide an installation space for the installation of the spray arm 1. Also, in addition to providing space for the installation of the spray arm 1, the receiving groove 171 can allow the water outlets 7 on the spray arm 1 to penetrate deep into the interior of the bowl basket 17 so that the water outlets 7 are placed obliquely within the first placement area 172 and the second placement area 173 to achieve a thorough cleaning effect during a wash cycle of the dishwasher.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 7, in order to further enhance the accuracy and stability of the docking between the water inlet pipe 3 and the docking hole 12 of the spray arm 1, the rear mounting plate 16 can have a guide rod 21 positioned on a surface of the rear mounting plate 16. The guide rod 21 can have a length and can pass through a guide groove 22 that is positioned adjacent to the water inlet pipe 3 when the bowl basket 17 is pushed back and as the spray arm 1 is connected to the water inlet pipe 3. The guide groove 22 can ensure that the docking hole 12 and the mouth of the water inlet pipe 3 are concentrically aligned, thereby facilitating the connection between the spray arm 1 and the water inlet pipe 3.

The invention disclosed herein is further summarized in the following paragraphs and is further characterized by combinations of any and all of the various aspects described therein.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a dishwasher appliance includes a water inlet pipe positioned within an interior of the dishwasher appliance, a bowl basket translatable within the interior of the dishwasher appliance, wherein a portion of the bottom wall of the bowl basket extends toward an interior of the bowl basket to define a receiving groove, and a spray arm configured to clean tableware positioned within the interior of the bowl basket, wherein the spray arm is coupled with the bowl basket at a first end and a second end disposed opposite the first end, positioned within the receiving groove, and selectively coupled with the water inlet pipe at the second end, wherein an interior of the spray arm forms a water flow channel and the spray arm includes a first side wall, a second side wall, a bottom wall, wherein the first side wall, the second side wall, and the bottom wall are interconnected to define the water flow channel, and a plurality of water outlets in fluid communication with the water flow channel, wherein the plurality of water outlets are configured to emit water into the interior of the bowl basket at an angle.

According to another aspect, the first side wall and the second side wall are positioned on opposite sides of the bottom wall, respectively and extend at an incline toward one another from the bottom wall such that the spray arm has a substantially triangular cross-sectional profile.

According to another aspect, one or more of the plurality of water outlets are positioned along the first side wall of the spray arm and one or more of the plurality of water outlets are positioned along the second side wall of the spray arm such that the spray arm can emit water into the interior of the bowl basket at an angle.

According to another aspect, the spray arm further includes a drainage slope positioned on an upper surface of the bottom cover and a drainage outlet positioned on an upper surface of the bottom cover, wherein the drainage slope and the drainage outlet are configured to facilitate the egress of water from the water flow channel after the end of a washing cycle of the dishwasher appliance.

According to another aspect, the dishwasher appliance further includes a buffer part, wherein the buffer part is coupled to the second end of the spray arm such that the spray arm can be selectively coupled to the water inlet pipe via the buffer part, wherein the buffer part includes an internal cavity.

According to another aspect, the dishwasher appliance further includes an end cover, wherein the end cover is fixedly attached to the buffer part to cover the internal cavity of the buffer part and to thereby form a water storage space that is connected to the water flow channel, wherein the water storage space receives water from the water inlet pipe prior to the passage of the water to the water flow channel.

According to another aspect, the dishwasher appliance further includes a front mounting plate coupled with the first end of the spray arm and a rear mounting plate coupled with the second end of the spray arm, wherein the spray arm is fixedly coupled to the bowl basket via the front mounting plate and the rear mounting plate.

According to another aspect, the front mounting plate includes a first mounting part and a second mounting part, wherein the first mounting part and the second mounting part can be snap fit together to form the front mounting plate.

According to another aspect, a strip of metal of a plurality of strips of metal that comprise the bowl basket can be interposed between the first mounting part and the second mounting part when the front mounting plate is fixedly attached to the bowl basket.

According to another aspect, the strip of metal can be positioned within an engaging groove formed by the second mounting part when the strip of metal is interposed between the first mounting part and the second mounting part.

According to another aspect, the rear mounting plate includes a buckle, wherein the buckle is configured to receive a strip of metal of a plurality of strips of metal that comprise the bowl basket to attach the rear mounting plate to the bowl basket.

According to another aspect, the rear mounting plate further includes a guide rod, wherein the guide rod is configured to pass into a guide groove when the bowl basket is translated toward the water inlet pipe, wherein the guide groove is positioned adjacent to the water inlet pipe.

According to yet another aspect, a dishwasher includes a water inlet pipe positioned within an interior of the dishwasher appliance, a bowl basket translatable within the interior of the dishwasher appliance, wherein a portion of the bottom wall of the bowl basket extends toward an interior of the bowl basket to define a receiving groove, and a spray arm configured to clean tableware positioned within the interior of the bowl basket, wherein the spray arm is coupled with the bowl basket at a first end and a second end disposed opposite the first end, positioned within the receiving groove, and selectively coupled with the water inlet pipe at the second end, wherein an interior of the spray arm forms a water flow channel and the spray arm includes a plurality of water outlets in fluid communication with the water flow channel, wherein the plurality of water outlets are configured to emit water into the interior of the bowl basket at an angle.

According to another aspect, the spray arm has a substantially triangular cross-sectional profile.

According to another aspect, the spray arm further includes a first side wall, a second side wall, and a bottom wall, wherein the first side wall, the second side wall, and the bottom wall are interconnected to define the water flow channel, and wherein the first side wall and the second side wall extend at an incline toward one another from the bottom wall.

According to another aspect, one or more of the plurality of water outlets are positioned along the first side wall and one or more of the plurality of water outlets are positioned along the second side wall.

According to another aspect, the bowl basket further includes a first placement area and a second placement area, wherein the first placement area and the second placement area are positioned on opposite sides of the receiving groove and the one or more of the plurality of water outlets positioned on the first side wall are configured to emit water into the first placement area and the one or more of the plurality of water outlets positioned on the second side wall are configured to emit water into the second placement area.

According to yet another aspect, a spray arm assembly configured for use within a dishwasher appliance includes a first side wall, a second side wall, a bottom wall, wherein the first side wall, the second side wall, and the bottom wall are interconnected to form a water flow channel, and wherein the first side wall and the second side wall extend at an incline toward one another from opposite sides of the bottom wall such that the spray arm assembly has a substantially triangular cross-sectional profile, and a plurality of water outlets, wherein one or more of the plurality of water outlets are positioned on the first side wall and one or more of the plurality of water outlets are positioned on the second side wall such that the spray arm assembly can emit water at an angle when the spray arm assembly is selectively coupled with the water inlet pipe of the dishwasher appliance.

According to another aspect, the spray arm assembly further includes a drainage slope positioned on an upper surface of the bottom cover, and a drainage outlet positioned on an upper surface of the bottom cover, wherein the drainage slope and the drainage outlet are configured to facilitate the egress of water from the water flow channel after the end of a washing cycle of the dishwasher appliance.

According to another aspect, the spray arm assembly further includes a buffer part, wherein the buffer part is positioned at an end of the spray arm assembly, such that the spray arm assembly can be selectively coupled to the water inlet pipe of the dishwasher appliance via the buffer part, wherein the buffer part includes an internal cavity, and wherein the spray arm assembly further includes an end cover, wherein the end cover is attached to the buffer part to cover the internal cavity of the buffer part and thereby form a water storage space that is connected to the water flow channel, wherein the water storage space receives water from the water inlet pipe prior to the passage of the water to the water flow channel when the spray arm assembly is selectively coupled to the water inlet pipe.

It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that construction of the described disclosure and other components is not limited to any specific material. Other exemplary embodiments of the disclosure disclosed herein may be formed from a wide variety of materials, unless described otherwise herein.

For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” (in all of its forms, couple, coupling, coupled, etc.) generally means the joining of two components (electrical or mechanical) directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two components (electrical or mechanical) and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two components. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in nature unless otherwise stated.

It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the disclosure as shown in the exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present innovations have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures and/or members or connector or other elements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustment positions provided between the elements may be varied. It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system may be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors, textures, and combinations. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present innovations. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the desired and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present innovations.

It will be understood that any described processes or steps within described processes may be combined with other disclosed processes or steps to form structures within the scope of the present disclosure. The exemplary structures and processes disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as limiting.