MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION

The present invention relates to an apparatus suitable for the installation on board a means of transportation for the recording of data referring back to the driving or piloting of the means of transportation itself.

More particularly, the present invention relates to such an apparatus, suitable for the automatic sending of an alert in case of crash of the means of transportation.

The so-called 'black-boxes' installed in aircraft and in watercraft are known in the art . They are electronic apparatuses for the recording of data referring back to air or sea navigation, respectively, particularly useful for the purposes of reconstruction of the dynamics of a crash.

However, similar apparatuses are not presently available that are suited to the application for the driving of land means of transportation, or "motor vehicles' in general, unless affected by functional and accuracy limitations. This constitutes a strongly felt deficiency, particularly for its implications for insurance purposes .

The present invention sets itself the object of remedying such deficiency. The present invention therefore sets itself the object of providing an apparatus that is also suitable on aircraft and watercraft and overcomes such limitation.

Therefore, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide an electronic apparatus for recording data referring back to the driving of a means of transportation, particularly a land means of transportation, particularly data that allow for the reconstruction of the dynamics of a crash that has involved the means of transportation and of the driving style; and that constitutes a valid aid in terms of safety and for rescue in case of emergency.

It is also an object of the present invention to also provide such an apparatus, that is further useful for the purposes of a customisation of insurance programmes of means of transportation and other high added value services for the driver, such as for instance secure remote payments and customer- loyalty building systems .

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that is repeatedly reusable.

The inventive apparatus offers the advantage of providing, within a safety enclosure, a flexible system of assistance for the driving or piloting of a means of transportation, as well as a versatile means for the purposes of insurance and financial services to customise the type of action, on the basis of physical resources that allow for the association with telematic platforms and hence the use of same for the purposes of remote assistance to driving or piloting, diagnostics of the state of the means of transportation, personal safety, which can be made available at a very low cost according to the present application.

The inventive apparatus is completely neutral, i.e. indifferent to the vehicle on which it will be used, in that all the necessary sensing equipment and data processing, storage and transmission functions are on board.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide such an apparatus, suitable for operating in conjunction with passive deterrence means against theft.

An object of the present invention is therefore an apparatus according to the appended Claims 1 to 13 and 22 and 23.

Also, an object of the present invention is a rearview mirror according to the appended Claims 15 to 20.

Still further, an object of the present invention is a kit according to Claim 21.

The present invention is disclosed in the following detailed description of its preferred embodiments, only given by way of example and not by any way of limitation whatsoever, with reference to the appended drawings, wherein: FIGURE 1 is a high-level block diagram of an inventive apparatus;

- FIGURE 2 is a top view of a first embodiment of the inventive apparatus ;

- FIGURE 3 is a side view of said first embodiment;

- FIGURE 4 is a top view of a second embodiment of the inventive apparatus;

- FIGURE 5 is a side view of said second embodiment;

- FIGURE 6 is an exploded view of a rearview mirror of a motor vehicle on the inside of which an inventive apparatus is directly mounted;

- FIGURE 7 is a view of the rear of said mirror.

With reference to FIGURE 1, an inventive apparatus is an apparatus for the recording and remote transmission of data referring back to the driving or piloting of a land, airborne or marine means of transportation, comprising an engine, apparatus which comprises a combination of the following assembly of units, which is operative when the apparatus itself is integrally mounted on a land, airborne or marine means of transportation:

- a data processing central unit 1, comprising a persistent internal memory, wherein

a land vehicle identification number or VIN {Vehicle Identification Number) ; or a watercraft hull identification number or HIN {Hull Identification Number) ; or an aircraft identification marking code or IMA {Identification Mark Assignment) , forming a unique identification code of the means of transportation, are stored; and wherein

a firmware is resident running a main control logic programme and intended to start the apparatus;

and, in functional communication with the central unit 1 :

- a non-volatile memory 3, which may be a flash memory, forming a memory area for useful data that are acquired by the apparatus in the course of its operation;

- a connection interface 5 with the central unit 1, which can be a serial interface RS232, or USB;

- a satellite localisation unit 7 of a GNSS system, i.e. global satellite system for navigation (Global Navigation Satellite System) , such as for instance the United States global system for GPS positioning (Global Positioning System) or the Russian global satellite system for navigation GLONASS (Global 'naja Navigacionnaja Sputnikovaja Sistema) , suitable for providing position and speed information about the means of transportation. The satellite localisation unit 7 may be configured to operate in a continuous mode or upon request, such as for instance in the wake-up, get-a-fix, position and speed data storage and/or sending, go-back-to-sleep modes;

sensing means of dynamic events, suitable for carrying out a detection of dynamic parameters, comprising at least tri-axial accelerometer means 9, suitable for carrying out a detection of own acceleration; at least tri-axial gyroscope means 9A, suitable for carrying out a detection of the set-up of the means of transportation (by 'set-up' it is meant in this description, according to the art literature, the space orientation of the means of transportation, identified as angles formed by a triad of reference axes integral with the means of transportation with respect to a triad of fixed reference axes) ; and at least tri-axial magnetometer means 9B forming an orientation compass. It is contemplated that the accelerometer means 9 comprise two accelerometers, one having high-sensitivity and response speed characteristics between +16g of acceleration; the other one having a wide response range, typically from +100gr to +400gr;

- communication means 11, which can operate based on a dual mobile cell phone or radio mode, i.e. comprise a mobile cell phone unit that can be of the GSM system - i.e. global system for mobile communications {Global System for Mobile Communications) - or, as an alternative, comprise a unit of the general packet radio system GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) - with an antenna 11A and a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) subscriber identity module card 11B, or an 'embedded' eSIM card 11B' , directly welded in the circuit board and suitable for ^X M2M' from-machine-to-machine communication; which can be configured through the communication interface 5; microphone 11C and loudspeaker 11D, which provide a support for voice calls and voice emission. The data transmission means 11 can operate via the protocol SMS, i.e. Short Message Service (Short Message Service) as a support for the exchange of SMS messages; or through a network communications protocol Internet Protocol Suite, in particular Transmission Protocol

Control/Internet Protocol or briefly, TCP/IP. A plurality of communication channels is thus provided, of which for each function of the inventive apparatus the most efficient one will be selectable. The SMS protocol will be the most suitable for the exchange of messages and point-specific controls; for the sensing of the instantaneous state of the apparatus; for enabling/disabling given functions. The TCP/IP protocol is the most suitable for the transmission of pre-recorded data; for the updating of the apparatus firmware 'over- the air' (OTA) ; machine-to-machine M2M' communication protocols will be the most suitable as protocols referred to emergency calls, i.e. eCalls' ;

- with reference to FIGURES 2, 3, 4 and 5, a panic button 13; 13A for manual control, acting on an electric contact, to send a signal to the central unit 1;

- an electric power supply;

- in the non-volatile memory means 3 time intervals being stored of pressure applied to panic button 13; 13A, of which one to control the power-on and initialisation of the apparatus, for instance of 10 seconds; and another one to control the sending of a panic signal, for instance of 3 seconds, to the central unit 1; and

- with reference to FIGURES 2 , 3 and 4 , it comprises a case 121; 121A, wherein the assembly of units described above is contained. The case is provided with fixing means 123 for quick assembly in the means of transportation integrally to it.

Several antennas are present in the inventive apparatus in a small space, the direct print of which on printed circuit, with customisation of the geometries of the antennas, obtained by resolution of the equations of the electromagnetic wave propagation by finite element methods, makes the production of the apparatus economically viable, and makes a dual installation of the group of antennas possible with the same effectiveness at both positions of both the dashboard and the windscreen, which are antagonistic to each other in this regard.

Operation at frequencies much higher than the preexisting ones is contemplated for the inventive apparatus, avoiding the overlapping with same.

The central unit 1 is programmed to perform the following functions:

- upon the first power-on of the apparatus, loading of an apparatus initialisation string; auto-calibration and unique coupling of the apparatus to the means of transportation through the acquisition of the unique identification code of the means of transportation via a telematic platform. In this way the apparatus switches from a hibernation state as supplied from the factory to a 'normal' operating state;

- acquisition and cyclic writing at a high speed for instance of 500-1000 readings/s for a total for instance of 60-90 seconds in the non-volatile memory 3, and transmission to a telematic central of co-ordinates information; speed; acceleration, and set-up of the means of transportation information; this information constitutes useful data referring back to the driving or piloting of the means of transportation, provided by the satellite localisation unit 7 and by said accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer 9; with keeping of said useful data in a historical log for a programmed specific period of time for instance of 750-1500 hours with 1 reading of all of the above parameters per second.

The central unit 1 is programmed for detecting crash events of the means of transportation from the above- mentioned detection of dynamic parameters; and for computing the speed of the means of transportation by integration on the accelerations detected by the accelerometer;

- processing of, and response to queries on request, with access code protection, on the useful data recorded in the non-volatile memory means 3, so as to allow an authorised downloading of the useful data for off-line inspection/processing, through the interfacing means 5; - dialling of an emergency call, upon reception, with the apparatus started, of the panic signal imparted through button 13; 13A for the preset time interval; or upon detection of a crash event of the means of transportation, through (mobile cell phone or radio) communication means 11, to a number of a set of preset emergency telephone numbers configured in the firmware of the inventive apparatus. Such set mandatorily contains a National Emergency Single Number, such as for instance the number 112 in Europe and the number 911 in the United States of America, and a call centre reference number. The emergency call has as a precursor a message, such as for instance an SMS message, having an information structure as required by the regulations of the place of use of the means of transportation, comprising for instance: the unique identification number of the means of transportation; the type of means of transportation; the data for latitude and longitude localisation of the means of transportation; date and the time of the crash occurred to the means of transportation; number of occupants of the means of transportation; dynamic characteristics of the crash, such as for instance the speed at which the impact took place and the deceleration which the means of transportation suffered in the impact. Of the total parameters contemplated by the regulations in force, the selection of a minimum set of data is contemplated that fall within the maximum string of message (for instance SMS) requirements. The SMS or Internet Protocol Suite message is then followed by the opening of a voice channel for an emergency call for remote assistance.

It is contemplated that the inventive apparatus further comprises a wireless local network communication interface board i.e. LAN board, or a personal network one i.e. PAN board, suitable for data entry in a protected manner, particularly a Bluetooth (BT) interface 21, with antenna 21A, and/or of near-field communication (NFC) 23, with antenna 23A, or Wi-Fi, with the central unit 1.

Three distinct types of wireless functions are thus implemented in a single apparatus construction:

(1st) a long-range one, of a global range, which through a module, for instance GMS or GPRS or 3G or 4G or LTE, communicates the vehicle position and asks for help in case of need;

(2nd) a short-range one - with a range of 10-100 meters with the radio module at 2.4 GHz, 10 meters with BT V4 Smart BT and 10-50 mm with NFC, for remote control functions at the apparatus, extension of typical services such as diagnostics via OBD outlet, connection with other BT devices and safe transactions ;

(3rd) an intermediate range one, i.e. with a range of 300 meters with the Wi-Fi module - to help 'car-to- car' connectivity communicating to other nearby vehicles in the stream of traffic, if equipped with similar and/or identical apparatuses, their own, extremely accurate dynamic data in real time. In this way it is possible to avoid any type of crashes in an automatic manner and without the aid of much more expensive and complex systems, such as the radar or the sonar, interfaced with infrared systems during night-time driving.

In other words, three distinct basic hardware configurations are implemented on a single printed circuit board.

Physical switches able to recognise the configurations are provided, and the firmware is a single one for all of the configurations and is able to recognise the hardware configuration in the initialisation phase.

The firmware is configurable and upgradable, with access code protection, upon reception of controls imparted through the local or personal network communication interface, and therefore suitable for a protected customised activation of services, upon reception of SMS messages containing activation codes.

In particular, it is contemplated that such LAN or PAN, in particular BT, communication interface includes a system 15 for the connection to an on-board diagnostic interface (OBD) with the engine control unit of the means of transportation; in particular, according to the OBD-II regulation, to read monitoring data (not of imminent danger) among the data provided by the engine control unit, which controls the actuators of the engine and reads detections from a plurality of sensors of the means of transportation, for instance the engine valve positions .

The central unit 1 is then provided with a code for filtering such monitoring data, for the safety of the means of transportation, contained among said OBD monitoring data, such as for instance faulty ABS or brake or steering alerts. The filtering code may be provided through an additional, commercially available physical unit .

The central unit 1 is then programmed for forwarding messages for the signalling of alert data for the safety of the means of transportation to the manufacturer or to the dealer selling the means of transportation, for the purposes of a recall as a point-specific and not a mass intervention.

It is contemplated that the central unit 1 is provided with a code for the filtering of historical data about the risk of the means of transportation, for the purposes of plotting an insurance profile of the means of transportation. Historical risk data may be for instance the recurrence of braking events, as the recurring of braking events is suggestive of a dangerous driving style; the calculation of the activations of the antitheft device, also provides objective information about the risk of theft of the means of transportation. The central unit 1 is programmed for keeping a time log of such historical risk data, extended to a given period of time of continued driving.

The interface LAN or PAN, in particular NFC, board, allows for the entering of personal data, transmitted by SMS messages, in a protected manner, and is thus suitable for a customised protected activation of services.

It is then further contemplated that customised insurance and/or financial profiles are uploaded to the firmware, jointly with the identifying records of the means of transportation, such as for instance the data about the vehicle registration document, the data about the registration with the Motor Vehicle Registration Board, and the personal records of the owner of the means of transportation; and further also jointly with data about ordinary scheduled service of the means of transportation; loyalty card data. It is also contemplated that insurance companies through SMS messages may activate or deactivate the functions of the apparatus in an arbitrary way, customised for each specific case.

It is further contemplated that a programme is resident in the central unit 1 for performing the following operation:

- deletion of the data stored in the apparatus.

Such deletion is of significance in consideration of the assumption that the product may be given as a free loan for use, or the profile of same may be changed for other services deleting previous profiles, for instance a new insurance agency may see to reinstalling the entire apparatus .

Such deletion is also of significance in case of switching to another provider of mobile phone services.

Advantageously, the deletion operation is executable up to one of the following three progressive levels:

1st level: deletion of the personal records of the user owning the apparatus and of the registration data;

2nd level: deletion of enabled services data;

the deletion of said 1st and 2nd level being reversible ;

3rd level: deletion of the data necessary for the apparatus operation;

each deletion level being notified to a telematic centre .

It is contemplated that the inventive apparatus further comprises anti-tampering means 17, in functional communication with the central unit 1 and suitable for transmitting a tampering signal to same upon detection of an attempted unauthorised opening of the apparatus itself. The anti-tampering means can for instance be microswitches . The central unit 1 is programmed to perform an operation of deletion of the data in the apparatus upon reception of the tampering signal, and to notify the tampering to a telematic centre and recognise and execute a deletion control of the data in the apparatus, received in response from the telematic centre, at the above-mentioned three levels.

It is further contemplated that the central unit 1 is programmed with an analysis software able to discriminate non-natural vibrations consequent to attempts of unauthorised access and/or theft of the means of transportation at the levels and in the shape of vibration trains, as received from accelerometer means 9 and gyroscope means 9A. That is, the same sensing equipment provided for the detection of dynamic events mentioned above, with accelerometer means 9 and gyroscope means 9A, can be used to constitute stationary vehicle antitheft sensors. The central unit is programmed for sending a signal to stop the battery of a motor vehicle and/or the turning-on of the lights and/or the activation of the horn of a motor vehicle and for the transmission through communications means 11 of a motor vehicle unauthorised access alert to the telematic centre, upon detection of the non-natural vibrations.

It is further contemplated that harmfulness curves are stored in the internal memory of the inventive apparatus. These are diagrams that delimit areas inside which impact survival values are positive, and outside which they are zero, i.e. the death of an occupant of a means of transportation occurs. The harmfulness curves are parametrised with reference to the values of the deceleration undergone by a means of transportation. The effects of decelerations on the human body have been accurately studied by Aerospace Medicine and constitute acknowledged data used in the forensic environment . The instrumentation present in the inventive apparatus is able to evaluate the values of an impact undergone by a motor vehicle. It is then contemplated that the central unit 1 is programmed to carry out a first evaluation of a crash severity based on the data received from the accelerometer 9 and on the harmfulness curves and to transmit a help request signal containing a code representing such first evaluation, for the purposes of an immediate customisation of the intervention, i.e. for sending in real time the right team specifically for the type of crash that has occurred, in order to make the most of the 'golden hour' within which the survival rate is of 90%.

It is contemplated that the electric power supply subsystem is a connection to the battery of the motor vehicle, directly and/or through a cigar lighter device of the means of transportation and/or means for the collection of solar light energy.

It is contemplated that in the central unit 1 a dedicated software is installed for the optimised management of electric power supply, which:

- upon detection of the absence of a satellite in view from the constellation of the localisation system used - for instance GPS (of the United States of America) or GLONASS (of the Russian Federation) - controls the switching of the apparatus from a satellite search state, which causes signal amplification with considerable power consumption peaks, to a quiescent state;

- upon detection of the absence of a radio signal of the GNSS system, i.e. of the absence of cell phone network coverage, controls the switching of the apparatus from a signal search state, which causes considerable power consumption peaks, to a hibernation state;

- upon detection of the absence of motion of the means of transportation, controls the bypassing of the power supply to the accelerometer, the gyroscope and the magnetometer 9 .

The inventive apparatus may be equipped with means for detecting the ambient temperature 25; and the dedicated software for optimised management of the electric power supply:

- upon detection of an ambient temperature above a given upper threshold temperature, it controls the switching of the apparatus to a hibernation state waiting for the detection of a given lower threshold temperature, upon the occurrence of which it controls the resetting to the normal apparatus operation; and it controls the lowering of the working frequency of the central unit 1 upon detection of moderately high temperatures, i.e. falling between said upper threshold temperature and an intermediate threshold temperature.

It is contemplated that the inventive apparatus has an autonomy of at least 100 hours after a crash.

With reference to FIGURE 2, an inventive apparatus may comprise a box 121, which in the preferred embodiment has a discoidal shape i.e. flat with a generally circular profile, with one lower and one upper bottom.

As depicted in FIGURE 3, the box 121 is equipped, on one lower bottom in the preferred embodiment, with double sided tape 123 for fixing by direct polymerization on an attachment surface, for assembly in a motor vehicle so as to be integral to it in any movement of same, such as for instance to the windshield, the dashboard or under the engine bonnet. Other fixing means may be used, such as for instance fasteners and metal screws; suction caps. Inside the box 121 the above-described units are mounted, in a layered arrangement .

The panic button 13 is mounted in the box 121, immediately accessible. According to the preferred embodiment the panic button 13 is arranged at the centre on an upper bottom of the box 121, and a routing groove 125 is suitable for guiding the user finger towards the panic button 13, as is particularly useful in case of emergency. A loudspeaker grille 127 is obtained in the upper bottom and is suitable for fitting below it a loudspeaker of the radio or cell phone unit. It is contemplated that there are aeration holes of the box on the front part of the box intended to be exposed. The holes are expected to be cone-shaped to retain water spray and dust. It is contemplated that the box is designed to be watertight for at least 10 minutes, for the applicability thereof to convertible automobiles.

It is contemplated that the inventive apparatus is further equipped with a radio remote control 27 with a respective antenna 27A.

The remote control can transmit a signal to stop the battery of a motor vehicle and/or the turning-on of the lights and/or the activation of the horn of a motor vehicle and to transmit through communications means 11 a motor vehicle unauthorised access alert to a telematic centre. The central unit 1 is programmed for activating the radio remote control means upon applying pressure on the panic button 13; 13A for a given time interval, such as for instance 1 second.

Said remote control in this way can actuate various intervention degrees, sending corresponding control signals. The control signals can be transmitted by CAN- bus (having a high level of immunity to electromagnetic noise) .

It is contemplated that the radio remote control works at a frequency of 2.4 GHz. In fact, such a frequency is hard to intercept. The radio remote control constitutes an advantageous hidden remotization, meaning that it makes an activation possible with no visibility for ill-intentioned persons.

An apparatus is thus provided which, after suspicious events, autonomously from the electronic configuration of a motor vehicle, enables, through relays, to permanently inhibit the possibility of turning on the motor vehicle.

The measure is further contemplated to arrange the assembly of units of the inventive apparatus, which in particular can be fitted with the separate radio remote control for the activation of the panic signal control, inside a rearview mirror of an automobile.

This measure first of all offers the advantage of no visual impact and therefore of not attracting the attention of potentially ill-intentioned persons.

The present invention is also an automobile rearview mirror, comprising an enclosure wherein a mirror is assembled, and comprising the assembly of units of the inventive apparatus, assembled inside the enclosure of the mirror.

With reference to FIGURE 6, a motor vehicle rearview mirror according to the present invention comprising an enclosure comprising a rear case 401 with a support arm from the top 401A, and a front frame 403, and closed by a mirror 405 fixed on the rear case by the frame, contains the assembly of units 200 of the inventive apparatus, with the battery connector 211, the microphone 11C and the loudspeaker 11D in the cavity of the rear case 401. The power supply cable 213 passes through a hole 213' provided through the rear case 401.

With reference to FIGURE 7, through the rear case

401 loudspeaker holes 127B and microphone holes 129B are provided.

The panic button 13B may be provided on the inventive mirror in an immediately accessible position, particularly, for instance, in the frame 403.

The present invention additionally contemplates that one or more internal panoramic shooting cameras 407 in functional communication with the central unit 1 are assembled on the enclosure of the mirror in such a position as to be able to film the inside of the compartment of a motor vehicle.

The present invention additionally contemplates that one or more external panoramic shooting cameras 409 in functional communication with the central unit 1 are mounted on the enclosure of the mirror in such a position as to be able to film the outside of the interior compartment of a motor vehicle.

The central unit 1 is programmed to control the cameras to create and store the films shot on the inside/outside of the motor vehicle according to an iterative control cycle, for instance of 60-90 s. According to the present invention it is required that the central unit 1 is programmed to store dynamic data of the motor vehicle in each frame of the films shot by said cameras, as allowed by the video format. Each frame of the films is thus further used as a holder of dynamic data of the means of transportation, as allowed by the video format. The dynamic data advantageously comprise for each instant the latitude, longitude, speed and other dynamic data related to the means of transportation. So, each film ends up by constituting advantageous additional evidence. The images of the means of transportation can thus additionally be referenced on a map at each instant .

A video screen 411 in functional communication with central unit 1 is provided to display the shots on request .

The present invention additionally contemplates that the central unit 1 is programmed for controlling the microphone 11C to record the sounds in the interior compartment in synchronism with the shooting of the cameras 407 in an audio portion in an audiovisual track, and are in functional communication with the loudspeaker 11D to play the audio portion of the audiovisual track on request .

A video screen 411 in functional communication with central unit 1 is provided to display the shots on request . The video screen 411 may be, for instance, a liquid crystal display known in prior art.

The cameras connected as 'dashcams' are able to provide data completeness as requested for the reconstruction of a crash. The presence of two panoramic viewing cameras for the visual coverage of the interior compartment provide the means for sending ^v eCalls' emergency calls, complete with the given number of passengers of a means of transportation and, in conjunction with a face recognition system, of the data for identifying same.

The external panoramic shooting cameras may consist of cameras already pre-existing in the motor vehicle, such as for instance the cameras of the 'park control' system. They enable to film and provide information on the traffic conditions in which the motor vehicle is driven.

The present invention is also a kit comprising an apparatus as described above, and a kit of data microdisks for marking a means of transportation. Such data microdisks are suitable for an effective marking of a means of transportation to prevent the theft thereof by passive deterrence, through their distributed application over numerous critical areas of the means of transportation. They are made for instance of polyester and bear, visible by an e.g. 25X optical magnification device, a personal identification number or unique data microdisk PIN code associated with the VIN, HIN or IMA unique identification code of the means of transportation, and the identifying records of the means of transportation, such as for instance the VIN, HIN or IMA unique identification code of the means of transportation itself, the data of the vehicle registration document, and the data of registration with the Motor Vehicle Registration Board. Such microdisk PIN unique code is stored in a data bank which the Police may access if the means of transportation is stolen.

The data microdisk PIN unique code applied to the means of transportation and the identifying records related to same are loaded in the firmware of central unit 1. The central unit 1 is programmed to activate the apparatus upon reception of an SMS message including an activation code and the data microdisk PIN unique code .

The present invention is also an apparatus as disclosed above further comprising a protection enclosure, so that it is suitable for use on a watercraft, and a leisure watercraft in particular. Such enclosure will be made on the basis of precise regulations formulated for the purpose.

The present invention is also an apparatus as disclosed above further comprising a combination of a protection enclosure and altitude sensing means, such as for instance barometer means, so that it is suitable for use on an aircraft, and particularly a leisure aircraft. The present invention has been disclosed and illustrated with reference to specific embodiments thereof, but variations, additions or omissions may be made, without so departing from the relevant scope of protection, which is only defined by the appended claims.