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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the monitoring of articles such as the
keys for the automobiles in the inventory of automobile dealerships. More
particularly, the invention is directed to a system which allows
authorized users to easily locate keys and similar articles.
It is not uncommon for automobile dealerships to have a large number of
both new and used vehicles in stock. Consequently, the dealer is
confronted with the difficult problem of keeping track of a large number
of keys which must be available to the salesmen, service manager, "lot
man" and other authorized personnel. Typically, the keys are hung on a key
board when not in use. Each peg on the board is assigned to a particular
key which is to be hung on the peg when the salesman or other user who has
borrowed it no longer requires use of the key. Another common procedure is
to assign a table, drawer or other area for storage of the keys, and the
keys that are not in use are simply placed randomly in the storage area.
Both of these systems are unsatisfactory. Salesman and others often fail to
return the keys when they are finished with them, and it is difficult for
others to locate missing keys because no record is normally kept to
identify who has each key. Attempts to provide systems where keys are
checked in and checked out by identified personnel have been no more
successful, primarily because of failure to follow the proper procedure.
In the case of hangboards, even keys which have been returned are
sometimes difficult to locate because they are inevitably hung on the
incorrect peg from time to time. In the case of surface or drawer storage,
it is usually necessary to sort through a large number of keys in order to
locate the key that is desired or to determine that it is missing.
In addition to the problem of physically keeping track of the keys,
automobile dealerships can obtain valuable management information if they
are able to determine which personnel are in possession of which keys at
what times. For example, if some sales personnel are not obtaining keys,
they are not showing vehicles to customers or giving demonstration rides.
Conversely, sales persons who access large numbers of different keys are
showing large numbers of vehicles to customers. Models which particular
sales people or all sales people are overlooking or are demonstrating
frequently can be determined if a record is kept of the removal and return
of keys. Vehicles which are damaged or taken to lunch or used to perform
personal errands by sales personnel could also be made known to the
dealership management. Information as to who has what keys at what times
is thus potentially valuable information for management purposes to
determine which models and colors to stock and which sales persons are
working hardest.
Similar problems are encountered in keeping track of keys in other
businesses such as the operation of parking lots, office buildings,
apartment buildings, real estate companies, and rental car companies.
Monitoring the locations of articles other than keys can also present
significant difficulty, especially when there are a large number of
articles that differ little in appearance. For example, in pharmacies and
other businesses which handle drugs and medicines, it is difficult to keep
close track of inventory and to determine who is removing what products in
what quantities.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a system for storing and monitoring
keys and other articles and is directed particularly to a system having
the capability of providing a printed record containing information as to
which articles have been checked out by which authorized persons, and the
date and time each article was removed and returned. Another important
aspect of the invention is the provision of a scale which serves to
provide a determination as to how much of a particular pharmaceutical or
other product is removed by persons having access to it.
In accordance with the invention, keys or other articles are held on a
storage panel and may be removed by authorized personnel only after a
valid user code has first been entered. The location of each article
requested is indicated by an indicator light, and each article can be
returned to the storage panel at any randomly selected storage location
which is vacant. The system is polled or scanned repeatedly to determine
the identity of the article present at each storage location, and the
system enters into memory the user code that has been entered prior to
removal of an article. The date and time of removal is also monitored, as
is the date and time each article is returned to the storage panel.
An optional weighing scale determines the weight of each article at its
removal and as it is returned. Consequently, in the case of drugs and
medications, the amount of product removed is determined and stored in
memory with the user code of the authorized user who removed the product.
This provides close monitoring of the drug inventory and allows management
to determine which drugs are removed by which persons in order to match
the quantities actually removed with the records of sales.
The provision of a printer in the system is an important feature of the
invention. The printer operates to provide a "hard" written record of
which articles have been removed and returned by which persons. In one
mode of operation, the printer prints a record of the dates and times of
removal and return of all articles removed over a 30 day period by any
particular user of the system. This provides management with information
regarding the sales activity of each sales person and enables management
to evaluate the sales personnel of the business. In another mode of
operation, the printer prints a record of when and by whom a particular
article was removed during a 30 day period. In the case of an automobile
dealership, this provides information as to which models are being
demonstrated frequently (or improperly used frequently), and which models
are being overlooked by salesmen (or are unpopular with customers). Other
computational devices can be used.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings which form a part of the specification and are
to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals
are used to indicate like parts in the various views:
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an article monitoring system
constructed according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the single board computer included in the
article monitoring system;
FIGS. 3 and 4 together form a schematic diagram of the in/out decoder
included in the article monitoring system;
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the control timer/counter included in the
system;
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the circuitry which controls the display
units in the system;
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of one of the display units in the system;
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the circuitry for the keyboard included in
the system;
FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of the software which controls the operation of
the system;
FIG. 10 is a flow diagram for the software routine which updates the time
of day;
FIG. 11 is a flow diagram for the software routine which controls scanning
of the locator boards in the system;
FIG. 12 is a flow diagram for the software routine used when one of the
keys on the keyboard is depressed;
FIG. 13 is a flow diagram for the software routine used when the "user" key
is depressed on the keyboard;
FIG. 14 is a flow diagram for the software routine used when one of the
"digit" keys is depressed on the keyboard; and
FIG. 15 is a flow diagram for the software routine used when the "vehicle"
key is depressed on the keyboard.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a storage and monitoring system which may be
physically constructed in the same manner disclosed in our copending
application, Ser. No. 680,081, filed Dec. 10, 1984 and entitled "Method
and Apparatus for Monitoring Keys and Other Articles", which application
is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. The article
monitoring system of the present invention serves to monitor the locations
of keys such as the keys for the automobiles in the inventory of an
automobile dealership, and the system can also monitor other keys such as
those that are handled by parking lots, rental car companies, real estate
companies, factories, office buildings and other businesses which must
keep track of a relatively large number of keys. It is also to be
understood that the system can be used to monitor items other than keys,
such as containers which hold pharmaceutical products.
As explained in the above referenced patent application, the keys or other
articles which are monitored by the system are held by article holders
which may be digitally coded cards that plug into edge connectors on a
storage panel 9. The storage panel 9 may receive four different plug in
type locator boards which are generally designated by numeral 10 in FIG.
1. By using the plug in locator boards 10, a "lot man" or other person can
detach the boards 10 one at a time from the storage panel 9 in order to
have ready access to all of the keys on the board, such as when storing
automobiles overnight. It should be understood that a different number of
locator boards can be provided if desired, and that provision of
detachable locator boards is not a necessary part of the present
invention.
In accordance with the present invention, the keys or other articles stored
on the locator boards 10 are monitored through the use of a single board
computer 12, a keyboard 14 and a digital display 16. A printer 18 and an
optional weighing scale 20 are also included in the system and controlled
by the computer 12. The computer functions to control all operations of
the system, including the polling and servicing of the keyboard 14, the
displaying of desired information on the display panel 16, scanning of the
locator boards 10, storing in memory all transactions that occur on the
locator boards 10, transmitting the required information to the printer
18, and transmitting information to and from the scale 20.
FIG. 2 illustrates in block diagram form the major elements of the single
board computer 12. A Z80 central processing unit (CPU) 22 controls the
operation of the system in accordance with the application software. A
reset and clock circuit 24 provides synchronous operation via a system
clock line 26 and provides both a power up reset and an internal push
button reset (not shown) along a system reset line 28. A buffer 30 which
includes four bus buffers provides buffering of the address and data
signals which are applied on an address bus 32 and a data bus 34,
respectively.
The address bus 32 connects with a memory decoder 36 which uses standard
decoding methods to break the memory addressing into four 16K memory
blocks. The first block of memory is used to address a read only memory
(ROM) 38, and the remaining three blocks of memory are used to address a
random access memory (RAM) 40. The data bus 34 connects with the RAM 40
through a data buffer 42. The memory consists of up to 16K ROM and 48K
RAM. The ROM 38 preferably includes four 4K.times.8 EPROMS and uses
standard addressing and reading techniques. The RAM 40 preferably includes
twenty-four 16K.times.1 dynamic RAM's (DRAMS) which are both cascaded and
cascoded to create a 48K.times.8 memory block. Because dynamic memory is
used in the RAM, special techniques are implemented for memory access,
including memory refresh, address multiplexing and data buffering.
The address bus 32 connects with an in/out decoder 44 which uses standard
decoding techniques to partially decode the in/out addressing into eight
blocks of 32 addrerses. The first block is used to address the display
panel 16 which requires a further breakdown of the in/out addressing, as
will be described more fully. The next four blocks of addresses are used
to address the locator boards 10, while the sixth in/out addressing block
is used to address the keyboard 14. The last two address blocks serve to
address a dual asynchronous receiver/transmitter (DART) 46 and a control
timer/counter (CTC) 48.
The on board DART 46 is used to provide an RS-232 interface 50 for the
printer 18 and for the weighing scale 20 (if provided) and other
computational devices that may be desired. The interface circuit which is
connected to the RS-232 side of the DART 46 provides proper signal levels
and also allows the single board computer 12 to appear as either data
terminating equipment (DTE) or as data circuit terminating equipment
(DCE).
As shown in FIG. 5, the CTC 48 receives buffered input signals from the CPU
22 and provides on its output side four timing channels for the single
board computer 12. The highest priority channel is connected with output
line 52 of the CTC and is used to maintain an internal time of day clock
for the system. The second timing channel connects with the interrupt
(INT) line 54 and provides timing for program applications (including
continual scanning of the locator boards 10). The final two channels are
connected with the A clock and B clock lines 56 and 58 and serve to
provide the baud rates for the two channels within the DART 46.
Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4 together, the in/out decoder 44 includes a
pair of data latches 60 and 62 which receive digitally coded signals on
the buffered address lines BA5-BA7 and BA0-BA2, respectively. Circuit 60
is activated by a buffered in/out request (BIOREQ) applied from the CPU on
line 64. The Y0 output line 66 of circuit 60 provides a display signal
(DISP) which enables circuit 62. The Y1-Y4 output lines of circuit 60 are
used to address the locator boards 10. The Y5 output line 68 is used to
address the keyboard and forms one input to a pair of OR gates 70 and 72.
The second input to gate 70 is a buffered read input (BRD) on line 74,
while the other input to gate 72 is a buffered write signal (BWR) on line
76. The Y6 and Y7 outputs of circuit 60 are used to address the DART 46
and the CTC 48, respectively.
The output lines of data latch 62 are applied on the (SL0)-(SL7) lines
which, as shown in FIG. 4, each connect with a different OR gate included
in a gate array 78. The other input to each OR gate in the array 78 is
provided on the buffered write line (BWR) 76, while the output signals
from the OR gates are provided on the display lines DISP 0-7.
Referring now to FIG. 6, the display lines DISP 0-7 control display units
0-7, respectively, which are located on the display panel 16 on the face
of the storage panel 9. Display units 0-4 respectively provide digital
displays of the day, month, year, hour and minute. The remaining display
units 5-7 provide digital displays of the vehicle, user/vehicle, and user,
respectively. The data which is displayed on the display units is provided
from circuit 80 which receives buffered data signals on its input side.
Each of the display units 0-7 has a specific function, except that the
"days" display unit 0 is used to perform two functions, namely, to display
the current date when requested and to display the number of days that
past transactions are to be printed by the printer 10. Standard techniques
are used for the display. When the information is to be displayed, the
approximate display unit is selected (via lines DISP 0-7), the data is
latched, and the data written to the unit is displayed.
FIG. 7 illustrates schematically the circuitry for a typical one of the
display units for the digital display 16. The enabling signal for the
display unit is provided on line 82 as the clock input to a latch circuit
84. The outputs from circuit 84 are applied to a pair of decoder circuits
86 and 88 which in turn drive respective seven segment readout circuits 90
and 92. Any of the displays can have more than two digits if desired.
The circuitry for the keyboard 14 is illustrated schematically in FIG. 8. A
pair of latch circuits 94 and 96 receive buffered data from the central
processing unit and are enabled by the key read (KYRD) and key write
(KYWT) output signals from OR gates 70 and 72 (see FIG. 3). The output
lines from circuit 94 provide vertical "columns" which include terminals
for one side of each key 98 on the keyboard 16. The output lines from the
other latch circuit 96 provide horizontal "rows" which include terminals
for the other side of each key 98. The rows and columns are normally held
in a high state through resistors 99, and if any row or column is in a low
state, the corresponding row or column for a key which is depressed will
likewise be placed in a low state due to the connection between the row
and column provided by the depressed key.
This arrangement allows the computer to continually poll the keyboard 16 to
determine when a key is depressed and to detect which key is depressed, as
will be described more
A crystal controlled audio alarm 100 is provided to indicate an incorrect
procedure or illegal removal of an article from one of the locator boards.
In the event of such an occurrence, the buffered data on line BO7 is set
to a low state to provide a low signal on one side of the alarm 100. The
other side of the alarm is connected with a positive voltage, so the alarm
then sounds to provide an audible alarm signal.
FIGS. 9-15 depict flow diagrams for the software used to control the CPU
22. Referring first to FIG. 9, upon powering up of the system, the RAM 40,
CTC 48, DART 46 and in/out decoder 44 are initialized, along with the
registers in the CPU. The storage locations (edge connectors) on the
locator boards 10 are scanned for the presence of articles, and the
identity of the articles at each storage location is determined and stored
in memory. The main loop of the program involves scanning of the keyboard
16 and, if a key is depressed, the key is serviced in accordance with the
routine shown in FIG. 12. Once the key has been serviced, or if there is
no key depressed, the routine involves scanning of the keyboard again.
Referring now to FIG. 10, the time of day is repeatedly updated by
interrupt routine No. 1, and the program is returned to the main loop once
the time of day has been updated.
FIG. 11 depicts the flow diagram for interrupt routine No. 2 which involves
scanning of the locator boards 10. If there is no change in the locator
boards status, (i.e., no article has been removed or returned) application
timers are serviced and the program returns to the main loop. If there is
a change in the locator board status, the change is serviced prior to
servicing of the application timers and returned to the main loop.
If a key is depressed during scanning of the keyboard, the routine depicted
in FIG. 12 is followed. First, the scan code is converted to a key code,
and the particular key which is depressed is then determined, and the
routine for that particular key is called. At the end of the key detect
routine, the program returns to the main loop. Function mode 1 is entered
if the "user" key is depressed, mode 2 is entered if the "vehicle" key is
depressed, mode 3 is entered if the "days" key is depressed, and mode 4 is
entered if the "set time" key is depressed.
Referring now to FIG. 13, the routine involved when the user key is
depressed, includes fetching of the function register followed by a
determination as to whether the function mode in effect is equal to 0. If
it is, the function register is set to mode 1 and stored, the digit key in
memory is cleared, and the user display is set to 0 preparatory to
receiving entry of a user code before returning to the main loop. If the
mode does not equal 0, the active function light is asserted, the audible
alarm 100 is activated, the alarm timer is loaded for a short time out,
and the active function error flag is set before returning to the main
loop.
Referring now to FIG. 14, depression of the digit key on the keyboard 16
calls the digit key routine which first involves fetching of the function
register and a determination of whether or not the function mode is equal
to 0. If it is, the no function light is asserted, the alarm is activated,
the alarm timer is loaded for a short time out and the no function error
flag is set before returning to the main loop. If the function does not
equal 0, a determination is made as to whether or not the mode 4 function
(set time) is in effect. If it is, the digit counter is fetched, the digit
is stored in the location indicated in the memory and it is displayed
before returning to the main loop. If the mode four function is not in
effect, the value in memory is updated and a determination is made as to
whether or not the mode 1 function (user key) is in effect. If it is, the
user display is updated prior to returning to the main loop. If it is not,
a determination is made as to whether the mode 2 (vehicle key) is in
effect. If it is, then the vehicle display is updated prior to returning
to the main loop. If the mode 2 function is not in effect, the program
immediately returns to the main loop.
With reference to FIG. 15, the routine which is followed when the vehicle
key is depressed involves fetching the function register and determining
whether or not the function is equal to 0. If it is not, the function
register is set to mode 2 and stored, the digit value is cleared, and the
vehicle display is set to all 0's (preparatory to receiving a coded
vehicle number) prior to return to the main loop. If the function is equal
to 0, the alarm routine is entered in the same manner previously described
in connection with FIG. 13.
The system operates in substantially the same manner explained in the above
referenced application Ser. No. 680,081. When the system is put into
effect, the sales personnel and other authorized users of the system are
each assigned a unique user code, and the code assigned to each authorized
user is recorded. If the system serves the purpose of storing and
monitoring keys, then each key is connected with a binary coded card of
the type disclosed in the above referenced patent application, and each
key holder is thus provided with a unique identification code determined
by the binary code of its terminal strips. Each edge connector is assigned
an address which the system associates with the key presently stored
there, or with a vacancy if the edge connector is vacant.
Once the system has been activated, it begins continuous scanning of all of
the edge connectors on the locator boards 10. The scanning provides the
computer with continuously updated information as to which key is located
at each addressable storage location on each locator board. During the
scanning operation, the computer sequentially addresses the edge
connectors in the locator boards and detects and stores in memory the
identity of the key holding card which is inserted in the particular edge
connector at each addressed location (or a vacancy if the edge connector
is vacant).
The software also commands the polling or scanning of the keyboard 16 in
order to detect the depression of the keys 98 on the keyboard. The
scanning technique involves strobing low the "columns" (output lines of
circuit 94) of the keyboard in sequence and reading the "rows" of the
keyboard (output lines of circuit 96) each time one of the columns is
strobed low. If all of the rows are in a high state when read, then none
of the keys 98 is depressed and the scanning operation moves on to the
next column. Once all of the columns have been strobed, the routine starts
with the first column again and repeats the sequential strobing of the
columns and reading of the rows.
If a particular key 98 is depressed, strobing of the column to a low state
will result in the corresponding row being placed in a low state due to
the connection between the column and row provided by the depressed key
98. Consequently during the reading operation, the row for the key will be
read as being in a low state to inform the computer that the key has been
depressed. The application software determines which key is depressed and
performs the programmed service routine for that particular key.
If an incorrect procedure is followed or if a key is illegally removed from
one of the locator boards, the BD7 input line of circuit 94 is placed in a
low state, and the audible alarm 100 is then sounded.
When an authorized user of the system desires to locate and remove a
particular key, he first depresses the clear (CLR) key 98 and then enters
his personal user code which may be a three digit number by depressing the
appropriately numbered keys in succession. The user code will be displayed
on the "user" display unit (display unit 7 in FIG. 6). The user then
presses the enter (ENT) key, and the display will go blank if the user
code is valid. If the user code is invalid, the alarm 100 will sound and
the user display (unit 7) will display all 8's. The user code can be
reentered by waiting for the display and alarm to terminate and repeat the
procedure starting with depression of the user key and entry of a valid
user code.
Once a valid user code has been entered and accepted, the vehicle key (VEH)
is then depressed, followed by entry of the numerical identification code
which corresponds to the vehicle which is desired (a description of which
is contained on the storage panel in connection with its identification
code). The enter key ENT is then depressed, and if the key for the desired
vehicle is present on one of the locator boards 10, the indicator light
directly above the key will be energized to provide an indication of the
location of the key on the storage panel. The user can then remove the key
from the locator board, and the system retains in memory the user code,
the identification code of the removal key, and the date and time of its
removal. If the key is not present on any of the locator boards, the
identification code number for the key will be displayed on the "vehicle"
display unit (display unit 5 in FIG. 6). The date and time of its removal
and the user code which was in effect at the time the key was removed will
be displayed on the "user/vehicle" display unit (display unit 6). This
information provides the identity of the person in possession of the key
and allows it to be obtained from him. If the missing key was illegally
removed from the storage panel, the user display will display all 8's.
An authorized user can remove more than one key at a time from the board
after his valid user code has been entered and accepted. The authorized
user can enter multiple identification codes in succession and remove the
keys which correspond to the identification codes which are entered, and
this procedure can be repeated as many times as desired so long as each
identification code is entered within sixty seconds following entry of the
previous code. After each identification code is entered, the key which is
indicated by the corresponding indicator light can either be immediately
removed or it can remain on the board with its indicator light remaining
in the energized state while subsequent identification codes are entered.
At the end of the entry of all of the desired identification codes, the
various indicator lights will remain energized, and all of the desired
keys can then be removed at the end of the procedure. Each identification
code must be entered within sixty seconds of the previous entry, or all of
the prior entries will be erased.
A "hard" printed copy of transactions can be ordered by depression of the
print (PRNT) key 98. In one printing mode, a record of all of the keys
that have been removed by a particular authorized user (for up to thirty
days) can be printed by depressing the user key following depression of
the print key and then entering the user code for the user whose activity
is being monitored. The enter key is then depressed, and the alarm will
sound if the user code is invalid. If the user code is valid, the display
goes blank, and the "days" key is then depressed followed by entry of the
number of days to be covered (there is a maximum of thirty days in the
preferred embodiment, although this limitation on the permissible
"backtracking" can be changed). When the enter key is subsequently
depressed, the printer 18 begins to print a record which contains
information providing the identification code of each key removed by the
person who is being monitored, along with a record of the date and time
each key was removed and returned. When the printing operation has been
completed, the printer 18 becomes inactive and the normal operation of the
system is resumed automatically.
In another mode of operation of the printer, a record can be printed
indicating which authorized users removed a particular key during the time
that is covered. To enter this mode of operation, the vehicle key is
depressed following depression of the print key. The identification code
for the desired vehicle is then entered on the digit keys, and the enter
key is depressed. If the identification code is invalid, the alarm will
sound. If it is valid, the display will be cleared. The days key is then
depressed, followed by depression of the proper digit keys for the number
of days to be covered followed by depression of the enter key. The printer
then prints a written record which contains information as to the user
code of each user who removed the key for the desired vehicle from the
storage panel, along with the date and time the key was removed and
returned by each user.
The printed records which are available by reason of the provision of the
printer 18 provide management of the automobile dealership with
information which is of considerable assistance in personnel evaluation
and inventory selection. For example, each salesman can be monitored as to
his activity in demonstrating vehicles, and it can also be determined
whether a particular salesman or other person is making use of vehicles
for lunches or personal errands. It can also be determined which vehicle
models are being regularly demonstrated to customers and which are seldom
if ever being demonstrated. This provides the management of the dealership
with information concerning which models and/or colors are popular with
prospective customers, and this information is valuable with respect to
inventory planning.
Although the invention has been described with respect to the storage and
monitoring of keys for the inventory of an automobile dealership, it
should be understood that keys for other types of businesses can also be
monitored. For example, real estate offices, factories, office buildings
and rental car companies have need to monitor a large number of keys, and
the system is useful in these types of businesses as well as others.
It should also be understood that the system can be used to monitor
articles other than keys. For example, pharmaceutical containers can be
monitored in pharmacies and other businesses which handle pharmaceuticals
and similar products. In the case of pharmaceuticals, the optional
weighing scale 20 is preferably provided, and each container for the
pharmaceuticals is preferably weighed immediately after it is removed and
again immediately before it is returned to its storage location. The
container can be placed on the scale 20, and the weigh (WGH) key 98 can
then be depressed to weigh the container and its contents and provide
information as to the weight to the computer 12. After a prescription has
been filled, the container is again placed on the scale 20 and weighed,
and the computer then has information concerning the weight of the
pharmaceutical that was dispensed and the identity of the authorized user
at the time (and the date and time the pharmaceutical was dispensed). This
information is helpful in keeping track of the inventory of the pharmacy
and in other businesses. It is contemplated that the scale will identify
the objects in the same manner as the storage panel. If an object is not
weighed on the scale within a preselected time after its removal from the
storage board, or within a preselected time before it is returned to the
storage panel, a secondary alarm will signal the lack of a weighing
operation.
It is noteworthy that each key or other article which is removed from the
storage panel 9 need not be replaced at the particular storage location
from which it was removed. Each article can be returned to any vacant
storage location on the storage panel, and the computer 12, through the
scanning of the locator boards, is able to determine that the article is
now present on the board in a different storage location. This ability of
the storage panel to receive the articles randomly rather than at
preassigned locations is an important feature of the invention which
enhances its appeal.
From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted
to attain all the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with
other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the
structure.
It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of
utility and may be employed without reference to other features and
subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the
claims.
Since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without
departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter
herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be
interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
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