TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates generally to shopping trolleys and more particularly to an anti-theft device for a shopping trolley.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] A shopping cart (trolley, trundler, wagon, basket,) is a cart supplied by a shop, especially supermarkets, for use by customers inside the shop for transport of merchandise to the check-out counter during shopping. Customers can then also use the cart to transport their purchased goods to their cars.

[0003] The modern shopping trolley includes a pivoting rear wall, hinged at an upper portion which allows shopping trolleys to be nested together with the front of a shopping trolley being pushed against the pivoting rear wall and moving upward so that the basket portion of the shopping trolley is received within the basket of forward shopping trolley.

[0004] Many modern shopping trolleys also include deployable child seats. The child seat is typically formed between a wall portion attached to the pivoting rear wall and which pivots away from the rear wall from a lower location. A plastic seat is attached to both the wall portion and the pivoting rear wall so that when the wall portion is pivoted forwardly, the plastic seat assumes a substantially horizontal consideration.

[0005] Shopping trolleys have a rear handle and located in front of the handle is a cross bar which braces the rear of the trolley and maintains the walls of the shopping trolley apart.

[0006] Many women deploy the child seat and then place their handbag into the child seat in order to have the handbag close to them but also being accessible. When they do this, the handbag is accessible to others as well and it is possible that a bag snatcher or other criminal can simply walk past the trolley and take the entire handbag when it is located in the child seat.

[0007] It would therefore clearly be an advantage if an antitheft device could be provided to allow the placement of valuables into a portion of the shopping trolley, and preferably the deployable child seat to be available when needed but also secure against bag snatchers.

[0008] It will be clearly understood that, if a prior art publication is referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0009] The present invention is directed to an anti-theft device, which may at least partially overcome at least one of the abovementioned disadvantages or provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice.

[0010] With the foregoing in view, the present invention in one form, resides broadly in an anti-theft device for a shopping trolley having a box body with a base, a number of upstanding walls and an open top, the box body dividable into at least two parts by a pivotable wall portion hinged to a rear wall of the trolley, the anti-theft device including a planar body portion with at least one hinge opening at one edge thereof for attachment to a portion of the shopping trolley and at least one catch opening at an opposite edge to engage with spaced portion of the shopping trolley to at least temporarily close the open top of one of the parts of the shopping trolley.

[0011] In an alternative aspect, the present invention resides in an anti -theft device for a shopping trolley having a box body with a base, a number of upstanding walls and an open top, the anti-theft device including a pair of planar body portions with at least one hinge portion at one edge thereof, one of the pair of planar body portions having an attachment assembly to allow attachment to a wall or base of the shopping trolley and at least one catch opening provided at an opposite edge of the second of the pair of planar body portions to engage with spaced portion of the shopping trolley to at least temporarily define an enclosure in the shopping trolley.

[0012] In this specification, directional terms such as "front", "forward", "rear", "rearward" and "side" are used to define orientation or direction relative to the normal direction in which a trolley is used. "Rear" and "rearward" therefore, for example, refer to closer to the handle of the trolley.

[0013] The antitheft device of the present invention preferably allows easy access to the partitioned section but will act to slow a bag snatcher down by obstructing the opening to the partitioned portion. Therefore, the visibility of the antitheft device and the fact that it is provided will typically deter bag snatchers and they will focus their attention on other trolleys without a device provided.

[0014] The antitheft device of the present invention also however allows easy access to the partitioned section if required by the user. [0015] Preferably, the antitheft device provided will close the volume formed by the child seat provided on most trolleys. Alternatively, a pair of planar body portions may be provided allowing the user to define an enclosure in a trolley that does not have a child seat, typically with one or more of the walls of the trolley. Therefore, the device of the present invention generally defines an enclosure with one or more of the walls, the base and/or the seat of the trolley.

[0016] The device of the present invention is simple to attach and detach from the trolley. If owned by user, the device can be carried with the user and simply attached to the trolley used at each visit then removed and taken with the user. However, the devices may be provided by the owners of the trolleys and therefore, will be more or less permanently attached to the trolley.

[0017] Preferably, the device is made in a unitary form and normally of a light weight but strong and preferably rigid material, and plastic materials are particularly preferred.

[0018] Whilst not forming part of the invention, a modern shopping trolley typically has a generally box shaped body with a base wall and a number of sidewalls, each of which is normally formed from a regular array of members which have a mesh configuration. The trolley is normally mounted on wheels and comes with a handle in order to push the trolley. Typically, a plurality of members are provided in a first direction and a plurality of members are provided in a second direction perpendicular to the first, in order to form the mesh configuration. As mentioned above, the rear wall of the trolley, that is the wall adjacent the handle, is typically suspended from an upper area in order to allow the rear wall to pivot upwardly so that the trolleys can nest.

[0019] There are two general configurations of trolleys as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. According to the first embodiment illustrated in Figure 5, the trolley is provided with a child seat. As illustrated, a pivoting wall portion is provided attached to the rear wall of the trolley. The pivoting wall portion is normally provided as a rectangular wall portion with a pair of depending arms, one on either lateral side of the wall portion and the arms are normally hinged to the rear wall.

[0020] A seat member, normally made of plastic is provided between a lower part of the rectangular wall portion and the rear wall of the trolley. The seat member is permanently attached to the rear wall but hinged to allow the seat member to pivot and is typically slidably attached to the movable wall portion in order to allow movement of the pivoting wall portion away from and toward the rear wall, guided by the seat member. The seat member will normally have a stop assembly provided in order to limit the travel of the pivoting wall and to hold the pivoting wall in the deployed condition.

[0021] Also as mentioned above, most trolleys have a cross bar which is a fixed metal bar extending across the width of the trolley in front of the handle.

[0022] According to the second embodiment illustrated in Figure 6, the trolley may be provided without a child seat, simply having a pivoting rear wall, a base wall and sidewalls to form a generally rectangular basket. The cross bar is also provided in this embodiment in front of the handle.

[0023] The device of the present invention includes a planar body portion which is generally flat, and typically flat on both sides. The body portion is designed to span the gap from a deployed pivoting wall which forms the child seat and a rear wall of the trolley. The planar body portion is generally rectangular but may have other shapes such as for example, it may taper in width from the rear to the front as most trolleys have a tapering shape.

[0024] The planar body portion may have a cut out or shaped opening in a forward edge. The shaped opening is preferably arcuate configured as a scallop opening. Some trolleys have a utility hook provided in the form of an arcuate extension, extending upwardly from the rectangular portion of the pivoting wall in order to allow a user to hang bags and the like therefrom. The shaped opening in the forward edge of the planar body portion of the device of the present invention will preferably allow the device to be opened and closed whilst attached to the trolley without obstruction from the utility hook.

[0025] The planar body portion may also include a cupholder or similar into or through the upper surface of the planar body portion. The opening may extend completely through the planar body or alternatively, simply into the planar body. The cupholder will preferably have a sidewall defining the at least a part of the opening. Preferably the sidewall will stand proud of an upper surface of the planar body portion. The cupholder may include a depending wall, with or without a base wall, in order to hold a cup.

[0026] A raised portion is preferably provided at or adjacent a rear edge of the device of the present invention. Preferably, the raised portion is provided completely along the rear edge. The attachment of the device of the present invention to the trolley may angle of the planar body portion downwardly from the forward side to the rearward side of the device. Therefore, the raised portion may provide a rest or stop for items placed on the planar body portion such as a shopping list for example. Normally, the raised portion will be provided as part of the structure that defines the catch opening. [0027] The device includes at least one hinge opening at one edge of the planar body portion for attachment to a portion of the pivoting wall of the shopping trolley. Generally, the at least one hinge opening is provided at and normally along the forward edge of the planar body portion. Preferably, the hinge opening is provided on the underside of the body portion leaving a substantially flat upper surface of the body portion. The hinge opening may be divided in order to allow for the shaped opening formed in the forward edge of the planar body portion.

[0028] As mentioned above, the at least one hinge opening may allow attachment which is releasable or more permanent. The hinge opening also preferably allows rotation of the planar body portion about the attachment to the pivoting wall. Preferably, approximately 270° of rotation is allowed, but other angles may be preferred. Typically, when the planar body portion is rotated completely about the hinge opening, it abuts the outer or forward side of the pivoting wall when in an unsecured condition. The provision of the device of the present invention in this form will preferably still allow the trolleys to nest while the device is attached.

[0029] Normally, the at least one hinge opening is defined by a pair of wall portions which together define a substantially circular opening or channel. The wall portions are typically separated from one another and each have a free end which is spaced from the other wall portion. This provides an entry channel in order to force the at least one hinge opening onto the pivoting wall of the trolley in order to attach and detach the device if required. The free ends of the wall portions may be deformable in order to allow passage of a part of the trolley during attachment and detachment.

[0030] The device of the present invention also includes at least one catch opening at or adjacent an opposite edge of the planar body portion to the at least one hinge opening in order to engage with a cross bar of the shopping trolley to at least temporarily close the open top of the partitioned portion.

[0031] The catch opening will normally be provided as a part of a formation provided at the rear edge of the planar body portion with the catch opening provided in the formation. The formation will preferably be provided across the width of the planar body portion and the catch opening will normally be a continuous opening provided in the formation. Provision of catch opening and a hinge opening as disclosed will allow the device to be opened toward the user rather than away from the user, pivoting around the hinge opening.

[0032] Typically, the catch opening will be provided on an underside of the planar body portion and extension will typically extend further rearwardly than the catch opening in order to provide a gripping portion to allow the user to open and close the device.

[0033] The catch opening is normally provided in an enlarged portion standing proud of the upper and lower surfaces of the planar body. The extension normally extends to the rear of the enlarged portion. The extension is preferably angle downwardly and will normally be provided with a rounded free end.

[0034] The at least one catch opening is typically defined by a pair of wall portions. The wall portions preferably define a substantially circular in cross-sectional opening. The wall portions are typically separated from one another with each having a free end and the free ends of the respective wall portion is typically spaced apart. A distance between the free ends of the wall portions is preferably chosen according to the dimension of the crossbar to which the catch opening is to attach. The spaced apart free ends also form an entry channel into the opening. The wall portions or free ends may be deformable in order to allow passage of the crossbar into and from the opening during opening and closing.

[0035] According to the preferred embodiment, the entry channel between the wall portions of the catch opening is preferably larger than the entry channel between the wall portions of the hinge opening as the hinge opening is designed to be used less than the catch opening.

[0036] In an alternative embodiment, normally used with the trolley without a child seat, the device may be provided with two planar body portions rather than one. Preferably, the pair of planar body portion is hinged to one another. One of the planar body portions has the at least one catch opening as described above provided and the at least one hinge opening is provided on the other planar body portion opposite the hinge between the two planar body portions.

[0037] In this configuration, the device can be used as described above but can be used to form a pair of walls of an enclosure by attachment of the at least one hinge opening to a base wall of the trolley and the and the at least one catch opening used as described above. Generally, once the at least one hinge opening is attached to a base wall of the trolley, the planar body portions can be angled relative to one another about the hinge between them and the catch opening attached to the crossbar in front of the handle.

[0038] Although not strictly required, a separate latch or lock may be provided to hold the device in the closed condition.

[0039] In an alternative configuration, the at least one catch opening may be defined through the provision of one or more hook-shaped members or assemblies. In particular, the hook shaped members or assemblies preferably include an arcuate portion located on one surface of the planar body portion. The arcuate portion is preferably slightly resilient in order that when the planar body portion is forced downwardly, the arcuate portion is deformed slightly in order to pass the crossbar or handle of the trolley. In this way, instead of having a portion of the catch opening on either side of the crossbar or handle of the trolley, the catch opening may be open on one side and close to the other and the arcuate portion simply deforms to allow passage of the crossbar or handle of the trolley which is then seated in the arcuate portion. Typically, more than one separate hook shaped member or assembly is provided. Normally the hook shaped members or assemblies are spaced in a substantially linear manner across the width of the planar body portion.

[0040] The hook shaped members or assemblies may be integrally formed with the planar body portion as explained above or alternatively, may be formed separately, and then attached to the planar body portion. Normally the hook shaped members or assemblies are on the opposite surface of the planar body portion to the raised portion

[0041] In a preferred embodiment, the hook shaped members or assemblies are provided to engage with the handle of the trolley with the at least one hinge opening engaging with the crossbar of the child seat portion of the trolley.

[0042] The entry to the at least one hinge opening may be provided on an upper side of the planar body portion according to some embodiments. The entry to the at least one hinge opening may be either upwardly directed or directed towards the opposite edge of the device.

[0043] The raised portion can be provided at the end of the planar body portion opposite to the entry to the at least one hinge opening. In this way, the raised portion will typically be located adjacent the handle of the trolley when the device is in the use condition. The

configuration of the raised portion can be such that the raised portion can also be used when in the storage condition to attach a lower end of the device to the rear wall of the trolley in order to limit or prevent the device being kicked by a user when in the non-use condition. The raised portion can therefore be provided as a number of spaced apart sections with spaces therebetween corresponding to the spacing of the bars in the rear wall of the trolley. Preferably, the spaced apart sections of the raised portion can be at least temporarily force between the bars of the trolley in order to retain the device against the rear wall of the trolley in the non-use condition.

[0044] Any of the features described herein can be combined in any combination with any one or more of the other features described herein within the scope of the invention. [0045] The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0046] Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows:

[0047] Figure 1 is an isometric view of an anti-theft device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0048] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the anti-theft device illustrated in Figure 1 along line A-A.

[0049] Figure 3 is a schematic view of the anti-theft device illustrated in Figure 1 located relative to a pivotable wall according to a first possible configuration.

[0050] Figure 4 is a schematic view of the anti-theft device illustrated in Figure 1 located relative to a pivotable wall according to a second possible configuration.

[0051] Figure 5 is an isometric view of a conventional shopping trolley with a deployable seat for toddlers.

[0052] Figure 6 is an isometric view of a conventional shopping trolley without a deployable seat.

[0053] Figure 7 is an end elevation view of an alternative embodiment of anti-theft device of the present invention.

[0054] Figure 8 is an end elevation view of the device illustrated in Figure 7 showing the movement between the non-use or storage condition into the use condition.

[0055] Figure 9 is a schematic plan view of the embodiment illustrated in Figures 7 and 8.

DESCRIPTION OF EMB ODEVIENT S [0056] According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, an anti- theft device 10 for a shopping trolley 11 is provided.

[0057] A modern shopping trolley 11 typically has a generally box shaped body 12 with a base wall 13 and a number of sidewalls 14, each of which is formed from a regular array of members which have a mesh configuration. The trolley 11 is normally mounted on wheels 15 and comes with a handle 16 in order to push the trolley 11. The rear wall 17 of the trolley 11, that is the wall adjacent the handle 16, is suspended from an upper region in order to allow the rear wall 17 to pivot upwardly so that trolleys of the same configuration can nest.

[0058] There are two general configurations of trolleys as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. According to the first embodiment illustrated in Figure 5, the trolley 11 is provided with a child seat. As illustrated, a pivoting wall portion 18 is provided attached to the rear wall 17 of the trolley 11. The pivoting wall portion 18 has an upper rectangular wall portion 19 with a pair of depending arms 20, one on either lateral side of the wall portion 19 and the arms 20 are normally hinged to the rear wall 17.

[0059] A seat member 21, normally made of plastic is provided between a lower part of the rectangular wall portion 19 and the rear wall 17 of the trolley. The seat member 21 is permanently attached to the rear wall 17 but hinged to allow the seat member 21 to pivot and is typically slidably attached to the pivoting wall portion 18 in order to allow movement of the pivoting wall portion 18 away from and toward the rear wall 17, guided by the seat member 21.

[0060] Also as mentioned above, both configuration of trolley have a cross bar 22 which is a fixed metal bar extending across the width of the trolley 11 in front of the handle 16.

[0061] According to the second embodiment illustrated in Figure 6, the trolley is provided without a child seat, simply having a pivoting rear wall 17, a base wall 13 and sidewalls 14 to form a generally rectangular basket 12. The cross bar 22 is also provided in this embodiment in front of the handle 16.

[0062] The anti-theft device of the illustrated embodiment is provided particularly for the trolley illustrated in Figure 5 and includes a planar body portion 24 with a hinge opening 25 at one edge thereof for attachment to a portion of the pivoting wall 18 of the shopping trolley 11 and a catch opening 26 at an opposite edge to engage with the cross bar 22 of the shopping trolley 11 to at least temporarily close the open top of the child seat portion of the trolley 11.

[0063] As illustrated, the device 10 is made in a unitary form and normally of a light weight but strong and preferably rigid plastic material.

[0064] The planar body portion 24 is designed to span the gap from the deployed pivoting wall 18 which forms the child seat and a rear wall 17 of the trolley. The planar body portion 24 is generally rectangular.

[0065] As seen in Figure 1, the planar body portion 24 has an arcuate opening 27 in a forward edge. Some trolleys 11 have a utility hook 23 provided in the form of an arcuate extension, extending upwardly from the rectangular portion of the pivoting wall 18 in order to allow a user to hang bags and the like therefrom. The arcuate opening 27 allows the device 10 to be opened and closed whilst attached to the trolley 11 without obstruction from the utility hook 23 as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4.

[0066] The planar body portion 24 of the preferred embodiment also includes a cupholder opening 28 through the planar body portion 24. The cupholder opening 28 has a sidewall 29 defining the at least a part of the opening 28 with a portion of the sidewall 29 standing proud of an upper surface of the planar body portion 24.

[0067] There are two portions of the hinge opening 25 provided along the forward edge of the planar body portion to allow for the arcuate 27 opening formed in the forward edge of the planar body portion 24. As illustrated, the hinge opening 25 is provided on the underside of the body portion 24 leaving a substantially flat upper surface of the body portion 24.

[0068] The hinge opening also preferably allows rotation of the planar body portion 24 about the attachment to the pivoting wall 18. Preferably, approximately 270° of rotation is allowed. Typically, when the planar body portion 24 is rotated completely about the hinge opening 25, it abuts the outer or forward side of the pivoting wall 18.

[0069] As illustrated in Figure 2 in particular, the hinge opening 25 is defined by a pair of wall portions 31 which together define a substantially circular opening or channel. The wall portions 31 are separated from one another to provide an entry channel 32 in order to force the hinge opening 25 onto the pivoting wall 18 of the trolley in order to attach and detach the device if required.

[0070] The catch opening will normally be provided as a part of a formation provided at the rear edge of the planar body portion 24 with the catch opening 26 provided in the formation. The formation is provided across the width of the planar body portion 24 and the catch opening 25 of the preferred embodiment is a continuous opening provided in the formation. Provision of catch opening 26 and a hinge opening 25 as disclosed allows the device to be opened toward the user rather than away from the user, pivoting around the hinge opening.

[0071] A raised portion 30 is provided at or adjacent a rear edge of the device preferably completely along the rear edge. Normally, the raised portion will be provided as part of the structure that defines the catch opening 26.

[0072] The catch opening is provided on an underside of the planar body portion 24 and an extension 33 extends further rearwardly than the catch opening 26 in order to provide a gripping portion to allow the user to open and close the device.

[0073] The catch opening 26 is normally provided in an enlarged portion standing proud of the upper and lower surfaces of the planar body. The extension 33 is preferably angled downwardly and will normally be provided with a rounded free end.

[0074] The catch opening 26 is defined by a pair of wall portions 34 defining a substantially circular in cross-sectional opening. The wall portions 34 are separated from one another to form an entry channel 35 into the opening 26. The distance between the free ends of the wall portions 34 is chosen according to the dimension of the crossbar 22 to which the catch opening 26 is to attach.

[0075] According to the preferred embodiment, the entry channel 35 between the wall portions 34 of the catch opening 26 is larger than the entry channel 32 between the wall portions 31 of the hinge opening 25 as the hinge opening 25 is designed to be used less (to attach and detach) than the catch opening 26.

[0076] In the alternative configuration illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, the catch opening 26 is defined through the provision of a pair of hook-shaped assemblies 36. In particular, the hook shaped assemblies 36 include an arcuate portion 37 located on one surface of the planar body 12. The arcuate portion 37 is slightly resilient in order that when the planar body 12 is forced downwardly by a user, the arcuate portion 37 is deformed slightly in order to pass the crossbar or handle of the trolley. In this way, instead of having a portion of the catch opening on either side of the crossbar or handle of the trolley as in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, the catch opening 35 is open on one side and closed on the other and the arcuate portion 37 simply deforms to allow passage of the crossbar or handle of the trolley which is then seated in the arcuate portion 37. A pair of hook shaped assemblies 36 is provided with an opening or separation between them across the width of the body 12 to allow passage of the bag hook on the trolley. The hook shaped assemblies are spaced in a substantially linear manner across the width of the planar body 12.

[0077] The hook shaped assemblies 36 are integrally formed with the planar body 12 as explained above. As illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, the hook shaped assemblies 36 are on the opposite surface of the planar body 12 to the raised portion 30.

[0078] In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, the hook shaped assemblies are provided to engage with the handle of the trolley with the hinge opening 25 engaging with the crossbar of the child seat portion of the trolley.

[0079] In this embodiment, the entry to the hinge opening 25 is provided on an upper side of the planar body 12. The entry to the hinge opening 25 may be either upwardly directed or directed towards the opposite edge of the device as illustrate in Figure 7.

[0080] The raised portion 30 is provided at the end of the planar body 12 opposite to the entry to the hinge opening 25. In this way, the raised portion 30 is located adjacent to the handle of the trolley when the device is in the use condition. The configuration of the raised portion 30 can be such that the raised portion 30 can also be used when in the storage condition to attach a lower end of the device to the rear wall of the trolley in order to limit or prevent the device being kicked by a user when in the non-use condition or alternatively and as illustrated, can also be used when the device is move to the storage condition within the trolley to attach a lower end of the device to the inner side of the rear wall of the trolley. The raised portion can therefore be provided as a number of spaced apart sections with spaces therebetween corresponding to the spacing of the bars in the rear wall of the trolley. Preferably, the spaced apart sections of the raised portion can be at least temporarily force between the bars of the trolley in order to retain the device against the rear wall of the trolley in the non-use condition.

[0081] In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, the plate including latch hooks and hinge clips is unitary. The latch hooks which attach to back of child seat are curved with a smooth flat surface so if not in use a child can sit comfortably. The hinge clips opening is small enough to be securely clipped into place between the bars of the trolley and hard to remove once on. The latch hooks which attach over the front bar of the trolley form a secure enclosure is also smooth with a rounded edged and extend under about 2 to 3 cm underneath.

[0082] As illustrated in Figure 9, the planar body of this embodiment has wings 38 to span the width of the basket area when in place, and when swung towards the front of the trolley can be located within the trolley width. [0083] The body has 2 or 3 hooks underneath which clips over the cross bar of the trolley and when pushed forward, hooks the body securely, bracing the body between the seat and the handle of the trolley to prevent movement of the seat. To release, a user will move the body towards the user which pulls seat forward slightly and the body can easily be unhooked and lifted up so to allow access to the seat cavity by a user.

[0084] The body attaches to the back of the child seat with 4 or more clips between the bars of the trolley. The clips are attached to the top of the plate so it swings 270 degrees from the use to storage position behind child seat.

[0085] When in the use position and with an empty basket, the device can move easily and freely towards and under handle which allows the seat to collapse and device to slide forward allowing the stacking of trolleys whilst the device is still attached.

[0086] When the plate is not in use it can be moved to hang securely and safely from back of child seat, within the trolley. In this position, the child seat can be used with no hindrance to child seated in seat or in trolley basket.

[0087] The hooks are a soft curved assembly so they are safe for children who might be in trolley basket.

[0088] In use, the antitheft device will be used in the closed configuration to limit access to the portion in which items can be stored but can still be easily and quickly accessed by the user. It also forms a useful working surface upon which items can be placed when in the closed condition.

[0089] In the present specification and claims (if any), the word 'comprising' and its derivatives including 'comprises' and 'comprise' include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers.

[0090] Reference throughout this specification to 'one embodiment' or 'an embodiment' means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases 'in one embodiment' or 'in an embodiment' in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations.