US20240091632A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20240091632A1
Application number: US18/371,306
Authority: US
Inventors: Arlen J. Lowrance
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2022-09-21
Filing date: 2023-09-21
Publication date: 2024-03-21

Abstract

According to one embodiment, the apparatus of the present invention includes one or more artificial fish which are removably placed on a support member and which can be engaged and removed by an operation which is similar to the action of fishing. An artificial lure is positioned over the support member and pulled toward the user in an attempt to engage the lure with one of the fish. If the lure engages such a fish, the fish is considered to be caught and can be drawn away from the support member toward the user. Additionally, one or more of the fish may be secured to the back side of the support member by way of an elastic bungee that extends when fish is pulled away from the support and then retracts to pull the fish back to the support after the fish has been released from the lure.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/408,519 filed on Sep. 21, 2022, and incorporates said provisional application by reference into this document as if fully set out at this point.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to games for children and, in more particular, to physical games that can be used to simulate fishing and/or improve eye-hand coordination.

BACKGROUND

Computer-based fishing games for children abound. However, such do not provide any real insight into the sport. Physical fishing games are designed to engage children and teach them some basic concepts of the sport including casting, retrieval of the fish, etc.

The prior art approaches to fishing simulation suffer from some certain disadvantages when used in the context of fund raising. One of the overarching concerns in fund raising is the turn-rate, i.e., how quickly a participant can be instructed and complete the assigned task and a new participant introduced to the game. For example, often a low turn rate is observed with prior art fishing games because they require a motion that simulates casting a fishing pole which then requires a relatively large amount of space. This limits the number of stations that are open to participations. Additionally, prior art approaches may require a level of skill that very young children do not possess which means the participant may need multiple casts in order to complete the assigned task. Further, the fish that are the target of the endeavor need to be disengaged from the lure after they have been snagged by the user and then manually returned to their starting position which may result in a delay due to dropped or mispositioned target fish.

Heretofore there has been a need for a physical fishing simulation game that overcomes some of the disadvantages of the prior art.

Before proceeding to a description of the present invention, however, it should be noted and remembered that the description of the invention which follows, together with accompanying drawings, should not be construed as limiting the invention to the examples (or embodiment) shown and described. This is so because those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains will be able to devise other forms of this invention within the ambit of the appended claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one embodiment, the apparatus of the present invention includes one or more game pieces which are removably suspended or laid on a support surface and which can be engaged and removed therefrom by an operation which can be likened to the action of casting a fishing lure toward a target in the water and then drawing it back. In this game, the user maneuvers an engaging member (referred to as a lure or an artificial lure hereinafter) toward the support member and the game pieces supported thereby, with the object of game being to engage the lure with one of the game pieces so that it can be drawn away from the support member, thus being “caught” by the user. In some embodiments the game pieces will be flat fish cutouts, i.e., they have a periphery that is shaped like a fish of some type. In some cases, each fish cutout will bear an image of a different type of fish printed thereon. In practice, the lure is maneuvered by the user in the direction of the support member and its fish or other game pieces with the intent of causing the lure to land beyond the fish so that it can then be pulled toward the user in an attempt to engage the lure with a selected one of the artificial fish. If the lure engages such a fish, the fish is considered to be caught and can be drawn away from the support toward the user.

Additionally, and unique to this embodiment, a retaining member or tether is secured to one or more of the game pieces. The retaining member allows the game piece to be engaged by the lure and drawn away from its position on the support member and then, after the lure is disengaged, the tether will be configured to draw the fish back toward its original position. In some embodiments the tether might be elastic and will extend when the caught fish is drawn toward the user and then retract to pull the fish back toward the support member after it has been released from the lure. In other embodiments, the tether might be inelastic, e.g., it might be a fishing line or other inelastic cord, which is attached at one end to the game piece and at the other end to a free hanging weight, the weight operating to draw the game piece back toward the support member after it has been released from the lure. If the retaining member is elastic, it might be attached to the underside of the support surface, the floor, etc.

According to some embodiments, the user maneuvers an artificial lure toward the support member and its fish which, if the lure is accurately positioned, can engage a fish and remove it from the support. In practice, the fish can be mounted with its lure-catchable mouth facing three different positions in relation to the fishing participant.

- 1. Away from participant.
  - The lure is cast over fish and retrieved under and into fish's mouth.
- 2. Toward participant.
  - The lure is maneuvered forward and under fish's mouth then upward to hook and retrieve fish. This mounting position allows the use of large lure sizes.
- 3. In a near vertical position.
  - This position allows the use of both small and large lures. The lure is cast over fish to be retrieved into fish's mouth.
    All three fish mounting positions can utilize fish retention/retraction lines to assist fish restocking ease/speed for fast participant turn-rates.

In still other embodiments, the above identified action game might be accompanied by, or separate from, a knock-down game in which targets are first knocked down by a user, beginning with a particular one of the targets, i.e., the reset target. In some embodiments that will be the center target. Then, after the reset target and one or more of the other targets are knocked down, the user will be able to reset all of the downed targets and move them back into an upright position by engaging the reset target and drawing it toward the user, thereby returning the reset target and any downed targets to their upright position.

The foregoing has outlined in broad terms some of the more important features of the invention disclosed herein so that the detailed description that follows may be more clearly understood, and so that the contribution of the instant inventors to the art may be better appreciated. The instant invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. Rather, the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various other ways not specifically enumerated herein. Finally, it should be understood, the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting, unless the specification specifically so limits the invention. Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent upon examining the accompanying drawings and upon reading the following description of the preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and further aspects of the invention are described in detail in the following examples and accompanying drawings.

FIG.1 contains a front view of an embodiment which utilizes elastic lines as retaining members.

FIGS.2A-2D contain some example poles that would be suitable for use with an embodiment of the inventive fishing game.

FIG.3 is an example of an embodiment wherein the restoring force associated with each tether is provided by a weight at its end remote from that of the.

FIGS.4A and4B contain more detailed information about the structure of fish game pieces that would be suitable for use with an embodiment.

FIG.5 contains a front view of a knock down game embodiment.

FIG.6 contains a rear view of the embodiment ofFIG.5 after only the reset target has been knocked into a horizontal orientation.

FIG.7 contains a view of the rear side of the reset target which contains an example of a support post suitable for use with this embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and will herein be described hereinafter in detail, some specific embodiments of the instant invention. It should be understood, however, that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments or algorithms so described.

This application incorporates by reference the entirety of U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,891,667 and 7,484,733 as if fully set out herein at this point.

The present embodiment involves a fishing game device or apparatus100 that requires an action on the part of the user/game player similar to that of actual fishing. In the embodiment ofFIG.1, a user plays the game by using a short rod or pole of the sort generally indicated inFIG.2 to cast or otherwise position anartificial lure110 supported by the pole toward asupport member170 on which are laid, hung, or otherwise supported a plurality of artificial fishFIG.130. In some embodiments the fishFIG.130 might be held in a vertical orientation but the general mode of operation will be the same.

It should be noted that for purposes herein the game pieces or figures that are utilized in the game will generally be referred to as “fish,” “fish shaped”, fish figures, etc. However, it should be clear that any sort of figure might be used in the same way as the fish figures are used herein. Also, the fish game pieces are typically flat and relatively thin. In some embodiments, each fish game piece bears the image of a fish on its front, back or both. In some instances, a plurality of fish game pieces will be provided and each will bear the image of a different type of fish. Thus, when this application refers to “fish” (e.g., “fish shaped”, “fish game piece”, “fish figure”, etc.) that text should not be limited to its literal meaning but instead it should be broadly construed to include any sort of game piece that is suitable for use with the support surface, tether, and lures discussed hereinafter and which includes the specialized structures discussed herein.

InFIG.1, one of thefish130 has been snagged by alure110 and pulled away from thesupport surface170. In this particular case, thelure110 comprises a hook-and-loop material lure110 which has mated with a complementary patch of thesame material160 on the back of thefish130. Note that hook-and-loop material is just one example of the sort of lure that could be used. Another example would be a magnet and steel (or other ferromagnetic material) combination. More generally, all that is required is that the lure be readily removably attached to its complementary material on the back of the fish so that the fish may be easily caught and then released.

Thelure110 is connected to a rod (not shown) byline185. Some general examples of rods are included inFIGS.2A to2D.Retraction tether180 is attached to thefish130 and extends from thefish130, though thesupport surface170 and to anattachment point181 below thesupport surface170. In this particular case, thetether180 is elastic and expands to allow the fish to be caught and drawn away from thesupport member170. Then, after thefish130 is released from thelure110, thetether180 provides a restoring force to urge thefish130 to move back toward thesupport surface170, thereby causing the hook andloop material165 on the back of the fish to mate with acomplementary patch175 of the same material which is affixed to thesupport surface170. For purposes of clarity in the discussion that follows, thecomplementary patch175 on thesupport170 may also be referred to as ahanger175. Thus, when thefish130 is released, it will automatically be drawn back to its original position on thesupport surface170 and engage thehanger175 without interaction by the user. As is seen inFIG.1, it may be advantageous for thetether180 to be attached to thefish130 proximate to the hook andloop material165 on its back side and then pass through ahole190 in thesupport surface170 andhanger175 to the location beneath thesupport surface170 where it is secured. This makes it more likely that the releasedfish130 will reengage with thehanger175 when it returns to the support surface.

FIG.3 illustrates another arrangement of the instant invention. In this variation, instead of an elastic tether, aninelastic tether380 is used which is attached to aweight390 that is situated underneath thesupport surface370. As before, once thefish130 is released by disengaging it from thelure215, theweight390 will cause thetether380 to draw thefish130 back down to its original position on thesupport surface370 where, in this case, the hook- and loop-material on the underside of thefish130 will mate with thecomplimentary material395 which is affixed to the support surface, thereby positioning thefish130 to be caught again. In some embodiments, the weight might be one or more metal washers. In others, it might be a fishing lure weight of the sort sold to fishermen. In either case, this operation will automatically tend to restore thefish130 to its original position on thesupport surface370 after it is separated from thelure215, thereby resetting the fish for another try by the same participant or by another participant without needing for the game to be manually reset.

In still another embodiment (not pictured), an arrangement like that illustrated inFIG.1 might be used but instead of having multipleelastic tethers180 affixed to acommon attachment point181, inelastic tethers will be used, withmultiple fish130 being tethered to a single weight. Thus, drawing one fish away from the support surface will raise the weight and, upon release of the fish, restoring force from the weight will return it to its original position. It is preferred that such action not disturb the locations of the other fish.

FIG.2 contains some example poles that would be suitable for use with an embodiment.FIG.2A contains a fishing rod andreel combination210 with a hook andloop lure215 attached to aconventional fishing line218 by afastener212.FIG.2B contains anotherexample rod220 which comprises of ashort handle221 with a hook andloop lure225 attached to aline228 by afastener222.FIG.2C contains another exemplary embodiment of arod230 which comprises ahandle231 with an attachedline238 terminated by a fishing float orbobber235 which is sized to make it provide some weight to the end of theline238 so that thelure232 may be swung or cast toward the fish. Finally,FIG.2D contains arepresentation240 of a modifiedpaddle ball bat241 and attachedball245 connected by aline248, to which has been added alure242. Obviously, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that there are many possible ways a lure and rod might be configured and attached to each other.

As is generally indicated inFIG.2, the artificial lure might be a plastic plug, a magnet, a section of hook-and-loop material, etc. If the lure is comprised of a piece of hook-and-loop material, it will be designed to mate with a complementary section of thesame material110 on the back of thefish130. Many other arrangements are possible and all that is required is that thelure110 be capable of becoming removably attached to an artificial fish so that it can be pulled away from thesupport member170.

The rod105 and lure110 are connected by a thin line of some sort. In some cases this will be standard fishing line, although any sort of line or string could potentially be used. Preferably the fish will be arranged on thesupport member170 in a row as is illustrated inFIGS.1 and2. In some cases theartificial fish130 will be arranged in a vertical configuration and hung tail-down from thesupport member170.

FIGS.4A and4B contain a more detailed illustration of one embodiment of a game piece, e.g.,fish130, that is suitable for use with the instant invention. Preferably each of the plurality offish130 inFIG.1 will have the silhouette and markings of a real fish although, as has been discussed previously, that sort of target is used for purposes of illustration only and any shape that has an accompanying guide slot of the sort illustrated in this figure could be used. Each “fish”130 in this embodiment is provided with areleasable mounting mechanism165 on its back or under side which is designed to mate with acomplementary hanger175 on thesupport surface170. In one embodiment, Velcro® or a similar hook-and-loop material will be used. Other embodiments might use magnets, clips, etc. What is important, though, is that however the fish is mounted on thesupport surface170 it needs to be held securely enough to keep it in place but it should be readily released when snagged by alure110.

In some embodiments, aguide slot320 will be provided to aid the user in snaring a fish. In this case, the user might position thelure110 so that theline185 from the rod passes over the guide surfaces340 of the fish150. Once that is done, it will then be relatively easy to maneuver the line to theslot320 where it can be then pulled toward the user to draw thelure110 up againstlure engaging member160. For purposes of the instant disclosure, the term “guide member” will generally refer to any structure provided on the engageable end of the fish that assists a user in guiding a lure into a position where it can become attached to the fish. By way of example only, the guide member of the embodiment ofFIG.3 comprises theguide slot320 and guidesurface340.

In practice, after the line108 is seated within theguide slot320, thelure110 will be in a position to snare thefish130 by engaging thelure110 with the complementarylure engaging member160 on its back, e.g., by engaging thelure110 with a compatible piece of hook-and-loop material160 affixed to the back of the fish. After thelure110 is so positioned, the user will be able to tug on the rod, thereby removably attaching thelure110 to thefish130 and disengaging it from the support surface.

FIGS.4A and4B show, respectively, a generalized representation of the top and bottom of afish130. Note that affixed to the midsection of thefish130 in some embodiments there is anattachment member350 which provides a means of securing thetether180 to the fish. This may be an item such as a button, or a bead, staple, etc., that secures thetether180 after it passes through the fish or it may be just a knot in the end of thetether180. Obviously, many other arrangements are possible including affixing the tether with glue, magnets, etc. All that is required is that thetether180 be affixed to the fish in some way, preferably proximate to theattachment member350. The intent is that this should be a permanent or semi-permanent attachment, although attaching thetether180 to thefish130 removably is certainly possible so long as the attachment is strong enough to hold against the restoring force exerted by thetether180 against thefish130.

Eachfish130 will have aguide surface340 andguide slot320 at the head of thefish130 and proximate to the hook-and-loop material165 (the “catching member”, hereinafter) on the underside of thefish130. Theguide surface340 has been provided to make it easier for the user to maneuver the lure into theguide slot320 and engage the catchingmember165 on the underside of thefish130.

In some embodiments, a single elastic or inelastic tether is used to connect thefish130 to thesupport surface170. In other embodiments, thetether180 might attach at two or more locations on thefish130, e.g., the tether might split into two leads at the end near thefish130 and be attached to opposite ends of the fish tail fins. In still other embodiments, thetether180 may be attached to a part of the fish other than proximate to the head, e.g., the tail, gills, a fin, etc. with respect to the Practically speaking, currently the preferred place is to secure theattachment member tether165 to thefish130 is near its midsection. Clearly, many variations of this approach are possible with the main goal being to choose a location that will cause thefish130 to be returned to near its starting position when thetether180 draws it back to thesupport surface170.

Although the embodiments ofFIGS.1 and3 show the tether dropping down from thesupport surface170 toward the floor, that is just one way of configurating it. In the event that the tether is an elastic cord, it could be attached at its end remote from the fish to the underside of the support surface, just to provide one example. Many other variations are possible.

Note that for purposes of the instant application, when the term “support member” is used that term should be broadly construed to include any arrangement where the fish are removably attached to the support member and theguide surface340 andguide slot320 of the fish are presented in a way that allows the fish to be engaged by thelure110 and pulled away from the support member by a user.

Note also that in some embodiments thehangers175/395 could be eliminated, although that would make for a more frustrating game for the users. That is, absent thehanger175/395 a fish would be free to rotate about thehole190/398 in the support surface through which thetether180/380 passes. This would make engaging the lure with the fish more difficult.

Note that some embodiments might have the following advantages. According to a Fishing Game Fund-Raising embodiment, this sort of approach would benefit greatly from the use of this new design. In this embodiment, the participants turn-rate is very high. That is because:

- 1. Fish will not be wind-blown and will remain very close to restocking position in view of their retaining member.
- 2. A one minute time limit allows 4 participants to catch and restock up to 5 fish. This will result in an extremely high turn-rate.
- 3. This eye/hand coordination challenge may include a paddle-ball or a very short fishing rod with several Sponsor Product Targets to impact with the lure before casting to catch each fish.
- 4. The general approach would work well with fish species and IGFA (International Game Fish Association) world record weight of each fish. (This information is posted at the tail of each fish in some embodiments).
- 5. The general approach teaches conservation via the restocking of each caught fish by repositioning it on the support member after it has been caught by a user.
- 6. In some embodiments participants win a sponsor's product raffle ticket each time they improve their fish catching time record.

Turning now toFIG.5, there is provided another eye-hand coordination game500 which features a quick and easy reset of downed targets. According to the pictured embodiment, there is provided a knock-down target game which contains a number of rearwardly rotatably mounted

upright targets

510 and520 which a user is tasked with knocking down. The term “rearwardly rotatable” should be understood to mean that each target is rotatable toward the rear of the target between a vertical/upright orientation and a horizontal orientation. One goal will be to knock down some predetermined number of the targets which might include one, two or more targets.

In the embodiment ofFIG.5, eachtarget510 is mounted (either removably or not) on avertical post550, which post550 is rotatably mounted on thesupport member540. Similarly, thereset target520 is mounted to itsown post555, which post550 is surmounted byreset catcher530 and is rotatably mounted on thesupport member540. Clearly, the use of a separate post to support eachtarget510/520 is not essential and the targets could be directly rotatably mounted on the support member.

In some embodiments, the user will use a paddle andrubber ball combination240 such as is illustrated inFIG.2D. As is conventionally done, in this variation theball245 could be connected to thepaddle241 via anelastic connector248. In this variation, the user will use thepaddle241 to strike theball245 which in turn will strike one of thetargets510/520 if the user's aim is true. Since thetargets510/520 are rotatably mounted, that will result in the struck target being knocked down from a veridical into a horizontal orientation, except that, as is explained below, thereset target520 must be knocked down first or none of theother targets510 will fall when struck. Note that, although the paddle andball combination240 is a preferred way to allow a user to strike the targets, that is not a requirement. Any sort of object that could be swung toward or thrown at the targets could be used instead of theball245. One advantage of the paddle/ball combination240 is that there is no need to retrieve separately thrown objects after the user's turn is completed. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that theball245 could easily be replaced by a weighted lure of any sort that has sufficient mass to knock over the targets and can engage thereset catcher530 with sufficient force (e.g., using a hook-and-loop material, magnets, etc., or by physical engagement as is generally suggested inFIG.7) to allow thereset target520 to be drawn upright when that is desired. For purposes of the discussions that follows in connection with this embodiment, the term “plug” will be used to describe balls (rubber or otherwise), weighted lures, etc., that would be suitable for use with this embodiment. All that is required is that the plug have sufficient mass to knock down a target and then be able to engage thereset catcher350 with sufficient attaching force to pull thereset target520, and any other downed targets, into an upright orientation.

As is generally illustrated inFIG.5, thereset target520 is preferably different from theother targets510 in several ways. First, it is preferably larger than the others and situated in the middle of the target array, but that is not critical. Neither its size nor its location in the target group is a requirement.

Also, in this figure therest target520 is attached to apost555 that is surmounted by areset catcher530. Of course, in some embodiments thereset catcher530 might be attached directly to thereset target520. As was the case with the fishing embodiments discussed above, thereset catcher530 might take any form so long as a user will be able to engage a lure of some sort with it and pull thereset target520 into an upright orientation when that is desired. Note that the device that is used to knock down the targets (e.g., the paddle and ball combination ofFIG.2D) might be different from the one that is used to engage thereset target520, although preferably they will be the same device.

Note also that thereset target520 might also include a support post710 (FIG.7) on the back of thereset target520 that is intended to elevate thetarget520 slightly off of the support surface after it has been knocked down into a horizontal orientation. As should be clear, one function of thesupport post710 is to elevate thereset catcher530 off of the support member to make it easier for the lure to engage thereset catcher530. Also, it should be noted that the reset post might be affixed to thesupport post710 or directly to thetarget520 itself. Additionally, if the rotation of thereset target520 is stopped before it contacts the support surface and remains suspended above it, asupport post710 might not be necessary.

Most significantly though, thereset target520 contains areset bar560 affixed (removably or otherwise) to thepost555 or to the rearward side ofreset target520 itself. Thereset bar560 extends the length of the game or at least extends far enough to include thetargets510 are intended to be reset when thereset target520 is pulled back into an upright orientation by the user. That is, when thereset target520 is upright, thereset bar560 will prevent theother targets510 from being knocked down into a horizontal orientation. It is only after thereset target520 has been pushed down into a horizontal orientation, thereby taking thereset bar560 away from the backs of the other targets, that the other targets can be knocked into a horizontal orientation as well.

Finally, when the user engages the catchingmember530 and pulls thereset target520 back into an upright/vertical orientation, thereset bar560 will similarly raise into verticality any of the other targets that were knocked down previously, thereby resetting the game.

Note that some embodiments might contain a mechanism to help hold the targets in their vertical orientation until they are struck. For example, a patch of hook-and-loop material on the front of each target or on its post could be matched with a complementary patch on a barrier which has been placed in front of the targets to halt their forward rotation. Magnets could also be used. That would make it less likely that an unstruck target would fall after thereset target520 has been struck, or that the weight of multiple targets pressing backward might cause thereset target520 to fall without it being struck. Many other variations are possible and those of ordinary skill in the art will be readily able to devise them.

It is to be understood that the terms “including”, “comprising”, “consisting” and grammatical variants thereof do not preclude the addition of one or more components, features, steps, or integers or groups thereof and that the terms are to be construed as specifying components, features, steps, or integers.

If the specification or claims refer to “an additional” element, that does not preclude there being more than one of the additional element.

It is to be understood that where the claims or specification refer to “a” or “an” element, such reference is not to be construed that there is only one of that element.

It is to be understood that where the specification states that a component, feature, structure, or characteristic “may”, “might”, “can” or “could” be included, that particular component, feature, structure, or characteristic is not required to be included.

Where applicable, although state diagrams, flow diagrams or both may be used to describe embodiment, the invention is not limited to those diagrams or to the corresponding descriptions. For example, flow need not move through each illustrated box or state, or in exactly the same order as illustrated and described.

Methods of the present invention may be implemented by performing or completing manually, automatically, or a combination thereof, selected steps or tasks.

The term “method” may refer to manners, means, techniques and procedures for accomplishing a given task including, but not limited to, those manners, means, techniques and procedures either known to, or readily developed from known manners, means, techniques and procedures by practitioners of the art to which the invention belongs.

For purposes of the instant disclosure, the term “at least” followed by a number is used herein to denote the start of a range beginning with that number (which may be a range having an upper limit or no upper limit, depending on the variable defined). For example, “at least 1” means 1 or more than 1. The term “at most” followed by a number is used herein to denote the end of a range ending with that number (which may be a range having 1 or 0 as its lower limit, or a range having no lower limit, depending upon the variable being defined). For example, “at most 4” means 4 or less than 4, and “at most 40%” means 40% or less than 40%. Terms of approximation (e.g., “about”, substantially”, “approximately”, etc.) should be interpreted according to their ordinary and customary meanings as used in the associated art unless indicated otherwise. Absent a specific definition and absent ordinary and customary usage in the associated art, such terms should be interpreted to be ±10% of the base value.

When, in this document, a range is given as “(a first number) to (a second number)” or “(a first number)-(a second number)”, this means a range whose lower limit is the first number and whose upper limit is the second number. For example, 25 to 100 should be interpreted to mean a range whose lower limit is 25 and whose upper limit is 100. Additionally, it should be noted that where a range is given, every possible subrange or interval within that range is also specifically intended unless the context indicates to the contrary. For example, if the specification indicates a range of 25 to 100 such range is also intended to include subranges such as 26-100, 27-100, etc., 25-99, 25-98, etc., as well as any other possible combination of lower and upper values within the stated range, e.g., 33-47, 60-97, 41-45, 28-96, etc. Note that integer range values have been used in this paragraph for purposes of illustration only and decimal and fractional values (e.g., 46.7-91.3) should also be understood to be intended as possible subrange endpoints unless specifically excluded.

It should be noted that where reference is made herein to a method comprising two or more defined steps, the defined steps can be carried out in any order or simultaneously (except where context excludes that possibility), and the method can also include one or more other steps which are carried out before any of the defined steps, between two of the defined steps, or after all of the defined steps (except where context excludes that possibility).

Further, it should be noted that terms of approximation (e.g., “about”, “substantially”, “approximately”, etc.) are to be interpreted according to their ordinary and customary meanings as used in the associated art unless indicated otherwise herein. Absent a specific definition within this disclosure, and absent ordinary and customary usage in the associated art, such terms should be interpreted to be plus or minus 10% of the base value.

Still further, additional aspects of the instant invention may be found in one or more appendices attached hereto and/or filed herewith, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference as is fully set out at this point.

CONCLUSIONS

Of course, many modifications and extensions could be made to the instant invention by those of ordinary skill in the art.

Thus, the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned above as well as those inherent therein. While the inventive device has been described and illustrated herein by reference to certain preferred embodiments in relation to the drawings attached thereto, various changes and further modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made therein by those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit of the inventive concept the scope of which is to be determined by the following claims.