| CLAIMS 1. Electric shower comprising at least one moving contact (16), at least one fixed contact (17), at least two electric feeding wires (18), one electric resistance (47) and one acting set (15) operated by means of the opening and closing of the water flow, characterized by the fact that the electric feeding wires (18) are associated to the fixed contact (17), the moving contact (16) being put in a position below the fixed contact (17), wherein the opening of the water flow operates the acting set (15) against the moving contact (16), the moving contact (16) being moved against the fixed contact (17) for feed- ing the electric resistance (47) with electric current. 2. Electric shower according to claim 1 , characterized by the fact that the electric feeding wires (18) are associated to the fixed contact (17) by conventional welding means. 3. Electric shower according to claim 1 , characterized by the fact that the acting set (15) comprises at least one pin (57) capable of reaching the inner surface of the moving contact (16) in a substantially central portion, the pin (57) being associated to a plunger (58) which is associated to a diaphragm (60). 4. Electric shower comprising an element of captation and drai- nage of the leakage current, characterized by the fact that it is a polymeric conductor (74). 5. Electric shower according to claim 4, characterized by the fact that the polymeric conductor (74) is bi-injected in the body (1). 6. Electric shower according to claims 4 and 5, characterized by the fact that the polymeric conductor (74) is associated, within the body (1) to an external earth wire (19) that extends outwards from the body (1). 7. Electric shower according to claims 4 to 6, characterized by the fact that the polymeric conductor (74) is polypropylene with electric conducting charge. 8. Electric shower comprising an electric resistance (47) and a sieve (4) associated to the lower portion of a body (1) through association means (3), characterized by the fact that the electric resistance (47) is asso- ciated to a resistive set (8) being jointly associated to the sieve (4) by means of a separating element (5), being the simple dissociation between the sieve (4) and the body (1) allows direct access to the electric resistance (47). 9. Electric shower according to claim 8, characterized by the fact that the separating element (5) is capable of promoting the seal between a lower chamber (7) and a higher chamber (6) where the electric resistance is (47). 10. Electric shower according to claims 8 and 9, characterized by the fact that it allows the exchange of the electric resistance (47) in one stage. |
Background of the Invention
Passage electric heaters, notably the domestic electric showers, have been presenting over the years a considerable variety of technical and constructive solutions aiming at their optimization. Such improvements have been developed seeking to achieve a better working of the equipment, more comfort for the user, as well as benefits in the manufacturing process.
In any event, independently of such improvements, the electric showers have similar working systems. These equipments are designed to connect, disconnect and control the power of an electric resistance which, in turn, is permanently kept immerse in water contained in a heat chamber. Such working, though conceptually similar among the several models of electric showers, has been under constant improvement.
Document PI 0405777 describes an electric shower endowed with a heating chamber, a hydraulic point of water supply, in the lower portion, in an integrated manner, it presents a sieve or shower to water outlet. All these sets are involved by an external cover of finishing that, in turn, includes details to expose the electric wiring, a connection of the connecting hose of the little manual shower, a temperature control knob and an access to the heating chamber.
Although the working concept of the several known electric showers is similar, there are several drawbacks both at the showers' manufacturing level, their working and their maintenance by the user.
One of the main features of the conventional electric showers refers to the use of a metallic electric conductor to capture and drain leakage current. Usually such electric conducting element (the so-called earth) is me- tallic, normally from an alloy of predominantly cooper and, in some options, an aluminum alloy. It is known that copper or aluminum alloys give sufficient conductibility for the leakage current to be be adequately captured and drained by the electric installation of a dwelling, in any event, this element requires a specific stage of assembly in the industrial process, not being possible its elimination in the productive process. Such feature thus obliges an additional control, resulting in an increase of the product's final cost.
Another predominant aspect in the electric showers known by the prior art is the constructive triggering of the electric contacts that will transmit the current to the resistance when the latter is submerse in water (after the tap is opened by the user). In most cases, the contacts are built on the ends of flexible blades that are attached by opposite ends in mechanisms adequate to move them up and down, so that their contacts may make, or not, the electric connection with the fixed contacts, connecting or disconnecting the electric resistance.
One of the main disadvantages of this kind of mechanism regards the speed in which the flexible blades move. One of the problems arises from the fact that such blades (endowed with silver pastille at their end to facilitate electric contact) have electric contacts of flexible wires that are heavy. In this regard, the approach speed of the pastilles tends to be reduced, with the risk of spark or arc-chute that leads to the premature wear of the pastilles, and may even be able to provoke their union.
In the event such phenomenon occurs, a recurrent situation, once the user closes the water to the shower, the pastilles will continue unit- ed and making the passage of the current to the resistance. Since the resistance will no longer be submerged in water, such phenomenon will provoke a current overload in the resistance causing it to burn, requiring its replacement. It is noteworthy that though the resistance may be replaced, the current constructive configuration of the electric showers leads to a premature wear of the pastilles (for instance, of silver), a fact that inevitably leads to a premature wear of the equipment.
It must be additionally noted that the flexible electric contacts are manufactured with special material to bear the constant plastic deformation to which they are subject, resulting in an element of higher cost.
Finally, it is inevitable that the useful life of an electric resistance of a shower is smaller than the useful life of an electric shower. In this regard, it is a common practice for the user to buy an electric resistance to proceed with its replacement.
In the conventional devices, the details of the pieces and parts that contribute for the working of the electric resistance, generally, require at least the removal of one or more component, and there is still a need of ma- nipulating the resistance after the removal of such parts, since the referred resistance remains within the device and needs to be removed. Such solution presented by the prior art, besides being cumbersome, is inconvenient by the fact of requiring a minimum of technical knowledge for the resistance exchange.
In short, no solution has been found that allows the elimination of the assembly stage of the metallic conducting wire, neither its replacement by a non-metallic material for the flow of leakage current.
Additionally, there is still no solution capable of providing a correct working in the performance of the flexible blades that allows a larger speed of activation of the electric contacts to activate the resistance. In other words, there has not been found yet a concept of working in the sense of improving the flexibility of the referred flexible blades, changing their assembly and the way they are inflected, with a view to obtaining a reduced response time for the opening and closing of the contacts.
Finally, no practical solution has been found for the replacement of the electric resistance that allows its performance with only one stage, i.e., through the simple removal of a piece or a joint set of pieces.
Purposes of the Invention
It is, therefore, an objective of the present invention to provide an electric shower with a solution of captation and flow of leakage current that seeks to eliminate the use of a metallic conductor within the device through its replacement by a polymeric conductor. It is also an objective of the present invention to provide an electric shower with a functional arrangement for the set of moving and fixed contacts and wires of the electric operating system of the resistance that enables a more simplified, fast and efficient connection
It is also an objective of the present invention to provide an electric shower with a practical solution for the replacement of the electric resistance that enables its performance with only one stage, i.e., through the simple removal of a piece of a joint set of pieces allocated in the sieve region. Summary of the Invention
The objectives of the present invention are achieved through an electric shower comprising at least one moving contact, at least one fixed contact, at least two electric feeding wires, an electric resistance and an actionable actuator set by means of opening and closing of the water flow, wherein the electric feeding wires are associated to fixed contact, the moving contact being disposed in a position below the fixed contact, wherein the opening of the water flow drives the acting set against the moving contact, the moving contact being moved against the fixed contact to supply electric resistance with electric current.
The objectives of the present invention are also achieved through an electric shower comprising an element of captation and drainage of the leakage current wherein it is a polymeric conductor.
The objectives of the present invention are also achieved through an electric shower comprising an electric shower and a sieve associated to the lower portion of a body through the association means, wherein the elec- trie resistance is associated to a heating resistive set, the resistive set being jointly associated to the sieve by means of a separating element, wherein the simple dissociation between the sieve and the body allows direct access to the electric resistance.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The present invention will hereinafter be more fully described based on performance examples represented in the drawings. The figures show: Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the top angle of a shower of the present invention fully assembled;
Figure 2 represents a perspective view of the interior angle of a shower of the present invention fully assembled;
Figure 3 represents a side view of a longitudinal cut of a shower of the present invention;
Figure 4 represents a side view of transversal cut of a shower of the present invention;
Figure 5 represents a view in exploded perspective of higher an- gle showing the sub-sets of a shower of the present invention;
Figure 6 represents a view in exploded perspective of lower angle showing the sub-sets of a shower of the present invention;
Figure 7 represents a view in exploded perspective in a higher angle of a shower of the present invention;
Figure 8 represents a view in exploded perspective in a lower angle of a shower of the present invention;
Figure 9 represents a view in exploded perspective in a higher angle of a shower of the present invention;
Figure 10 represents a view in exploded perspective in a lower angle of a shower of the present invention;
Figure 11 represents a view in perspective in a higher angle of a transversal cut of a shower of the present invention;
Figure 12 represents a view in perspective in a higher angle of a longitudinal angle of a shower of the present invention;
Figure 13 represents two perspectives individualizing the constructive details of the fitting system between the resistive set and the separating element;
Figure 14 represents a view in perspective of a transversal cut demonstrating some constructive details of the separating element;
Figure 15 represents a view in exploded perspective in higher angle and two amplified details, showing the constructive peculiarities of the heating resistive set and the separating element; Figure 16 represents a view in exploded perspective in a lower angle and an amplified detail, showing the constructive peculiarities of the heating resistive set and the separating element;
Figure 17 represents three partial perspectives, one mounted and two enlarged details, showing details of the removable set at the moment of changing the electric resistance of the device;
Figure 18 represents a view in perspective and a view in transversal cut, specifying the constructive details of the operating device of the electric contacts;
Figure 19 represents a view in perspective and a longitudinal cut, specifying the constructive details of the electric conductor of interconnected plastic with a conventional wire.
Detailed Description of the Drawings
According to the figures, preferably, but not compulsorily, the present invention comprises a body 1 endowed with a cylindrical shape, the referred body being endowed with a posterior radial connection or nipple 2 for water entrance. In turn, the lower portion of body 1 is completely open, its edge having an extension that configures engaging means 3 to receive a sieve 4. Between the referred pieces 1 ,4 a sealing separating element is ar- ranged 5, forming two chambers, a higher chamber 6 and a lower chamber 7 sealed among them, wherein through lower chamber 7 that occurs the water outlet. It must be noted that higher chamber 6 (also known as or heating chamber or wet chamber) constitutes the heating chamber where the resistive set is assembled 8 which is powered by the automatic devices drive 9 which, in turn, is assembled in the higher part of body 1 in a dry chamber 10 with the respective finishing cover 11 (see figures 1 to 6). Note that the heating resistive set 8 is furnished with any electric resistance 47 typically used in electric showers, independently of eventual changes it may suffer.
When operating, the heating resistive set 8 is kept 30 submerged in an amount of water retained by higher chamber 6. The water is kept in a higher chamber 6 through the action of the separating element 5 that has as outlet only a vertical tube denominated as siphon tube 12. Thus, the water that passes to the lower chamber 7 is only the one that exceeds the volume of the higher chamber 6, maintaining the referred heating resistive set 8 permanently submerged in water.
As mentioned, above the siphon tube 12 is located, within the dry chamber 10 the drive device 9. The working of the drive device occurs with the water pressure that enters the device. Between dry chamber 10 and higher chamber 6 there is a separating wall 13 where the higher side has integrated a complementary housing with the shape of a circular wall 14, in whose interior is assembled the acting set 15 of moving contacts 16 aligned with the fixed contacts 17 (see figures 3, 4, 18 and 19).
Note that the fixed contacts 17 are adequately interlinked with the corresponding electric feeding wires 18. Unlike the solutions found in the prior art, the electric feeding wires 18 are conventional wires, wherein such solution was possible by the fact that the contacts that were moving before are now fixed. Accordingly, it is not necessary to use special flexible electric wires, a situation heretofore necessary since they were able to resist the constant plastic deformation that the movement of contacts required.
Between circular wall 14 and below the acting set 15, a chamber of flow pressure 20 is formed, which contains a communication 21 for water entrance and, on the opposite side, a tubular water outlet 22 whose lower extremity ends in the lower part of the higher chamber 6 where the outflow (volume) of the referred tubular water outlet 22 is strangled, or smaller than the entry of nipple 2. The difference of section between nipple 2 and water outlet 22 is enough to create a pressure within the chamber of flow pressure 20, wherein this pressure allows the movement of the acting set 15 in the sense of closing the electric circuit. Optionally and depending on the shower's features, the lower extremity of water outlet 22 may be shorter in order to ensure that the resistive set 8 does not run the risk of being discovered of water while it still keeps itself electrically connected.
As illustrated in figures 18 and 19, the acting set 15 of operating moving contacts 16 is formed, initially, by a cage 50 with circular-shaped lid, having next to its edge legs 51 that develop themselves vertically down and have in their extremities free and claw-shaped 52 that fit in corresponding slots 53 existing in the base of the circular wall 14 that, in turn, has a guiding pawl 54 to fit slot 55 existing in cage 50. Note that the central portion of cage 50 still presents two adjacent vertical holes 56, which constitute vertical guides to freely allow the passage of two cylindrical pins 57 existing in the higher face of a plunger 58 in the shape of inverted plate, in whose diameter or cylindrical wall 59 an annular diaphragm 60 is bi-injected, also comprised by the acting set 15. Such diagraph 60 is endowed of an inner wall 61 integrated to the wall of plunger 58 and, after the membranous portion 62, an external portion 63 is adjusted against the inner face of the circular wall 14 thereby completing the pressure chamber 20. Thus, the water flow pressure 25 causes plunger 58 to move up, displacing with it pins 57 on whose ends are positioned at least one moving contact 16. In short, the acting set 15 is comprised by cage 50, by plunger 58 and by diaphragm 60.
The moving contacts 16 may be laminar metallic conducting pieces ordinarily rectangular pieces, denominated contact blades 64, that extend side by side and in the sense of any diameter of cage 50 and, in the boundaries of this diameter, such contacts 16 are perpendicularly designed down, configuring different terminals, wherein one of them is a circular ter- minal 65 and the other a folded terminal 66 in a "U" shape. Circular terminal 65 and folded terminal 66 associate themselves, respectively, to a first lateral projection 67 substantially circular and a second lateral projection 68 of drawer type. Note that in the first lateral projection 67 penetrates the upper end of a corresponding conducting pin 23 for the transmission of current up to the electric resistance 47, while the second lateral projection 68 configures a receptacle to another adapting laminar contact 69 whose ends are coupled to other conducting pins 23 to equally feed the electric resistance 47. Optionally, the folded terminal 66 and the adapting contact 69 may be formed by a single piece.
The floating ends of the blade contacts 64 have traditional pastilles 70 of the noblest conducting material (such as silver), which also happens with the fixed contacts 17. These pastilles 70 are axially aligned so that when moving the mobile contacts 16 against the fixed contacts 17 the same may close the circuit of electric resistance feeding 47.
The fixed contacts 17 present a "L" shape, having welded in its horizontal portion the terminals of the electric feeding wires 18, while the parts or subsequent edges 71 are vertically guided down for fitting and fixation in drawer projections existing in cage 50 and aligned with a second projection 73 existing in body 1 and above nipple, such projection that, together with cover 11 , works as a press-wires for the electric wires 18,19. Optionally, the fixed contacts 17 have only horizontal surface, having no backside ends guided down, wherein the fixation of the fixed contacts 17 may happen by interference and with the aid of the association by soldering the electric feeding wires 18.
Thus, the functional arrangement for the set of moving contacts 16 of the drive system has seen its functional concept deeply changed to reach a simplified and more efficient working, i.e., the blades or laminar pieces 64 are arranged like a seesaw, having as ridge the corresponding pine 57 of plunger 60 whose up and down movement cause the blades 64 to move against the fixed contacts 17, establishing or interrupting the electric current to heating resistive set 8. Note that the effect produced by plunger 58 stays very close to the floating ends of the moving contacts 16, whose extremities are anchored in cage 50, producing a great spring effect for fast closing and opening of the contact, also avoiding unwanted effects, specially spark and arc-chute.
This configuration is absolutely distinct from those presented by the prior art and allows a simpler construction of the equipment, with use of conventional electric feeding wires 18 instead of the flexible ones, a fact that contributes for a reduction of costs, besides a simpler assembly of the electric feeding wires 18, being enough to proceed with a conventional soldering of the same.
It is worth reminding that in the prior art the movement, besides slower, due to the need to drag the weight of the electric feeding wires, was linear, a fact that facilitated the occurrence of arc-chute. Therefore, differently from the prior art, it is noteworthy that the speed of movement of the moving contacts 16 towards the fixed contacts 17 of the present invention is noticeably faster. Such fact occurs for two reasons. On one hand, the moving contacts 16 are no longer connected to the electric feeding wires 18 since such electric wires are not directly connected to fixed contacts 17. This solution causes the movable contacts 16 not to drag the weight of the electric feeding wires and, naturally, by the fact of moving less mass, are able to ensure a faster movement. On the other hand, such as it may be observed by Figures 11 and 18, the cylindrical pins 57 touch the lower surface of the moving contacts 16 in their substantial medium portion, which allows the speed of movement of the tip of the moving contacts 16 to be effectively superior than the one of contact point (extremity where the pastilles are present 70).
To mention yet that such improvements provoke less occurrence of arc-chute, generate a smaller necessity of heat dissipation, which allows that lamps 63 thinner be used in the contacts 16,17, contributing for a even lighter set. The decrease in the occurrence of arc-chute allows the pastilles 70 to have a superior useful life, what contributes directly for a useful file of the electric shower. Finally, since the set allows moving with less weight, it requires less power, resulting in a need of lower water flows for the union of contacts 16,17.
Once the electric circuit is closed, the current passes through the moving contacts 16 that are in connection with the conducting pins 23 that vertically pass over the separation wall 13, below which the conducting pins 23 are in contact with the resistive heating contact 8. Thus, occurring hydraulic pressure the electric contacts 16, 17 close, establishing the passage of an electric current to the heating resistive set 8. This working condition is kept while there is pressure in the interior of the pressure flow chamber 20 and, otherwise, the same is kept off.
It becomes thus clear that the solution found by the present invention may overcome all problems presented by the state of the star with regard to the closing of the electric circuit. Additionally, the electric shower of the present invention is endowed with an innovative drainage solution to the level of drainage of the leakage current. As illustrated in figures 18 and 19 the use of a metallic conductor was eliminated in the interior of the device, having been replaced by a polymeric conductor 74, obtaining remarkable advantages in the manufacture of the set.
In detail, an external earth wire 19, of the conventional kind, is inserted together with the electric feeding wires 18 in the interior of the dry chamber 10. After passing the wire-press, the external earth wire 19 has an end connectable to a polymeric conductor 74.
Such polymeric 74 extends to a central portion of separation wall 13 and, from this point down, it is surrounded by a tubular projection 75 which develops itself concentrically in the siphon's interior 12, after which the referred polymeric conductor 74 ends and has its end exposed in the higher part of the lower chamber of the disperser 4. The Polymeric conductor 74 is preferably of polymeric material with electric conducting charge, i.e., capable of allowing the passage of the electric charge, being preferably of polymeric material so that it has the necessary features for the captation of eventual power and of its drainage until the external earth wire 9. Note that, as in the prior art, the polymeric conductor 74 maintains contact with the water in two distinct moments, in the moment of entry soon after nipple 2 and in the lower chamber 7.
One of the main advantages of the polymeric conductor 74 occurs by the fact that this material is bi-injected together with body 1 of the electric shower. This way, besides a considerable improvement in the industrial process, a reduction of cost is obtained by the fact that one stage is decreased from the assembly, wherein such configuration already reaches the assembly line ready.
Figures 7 and 8 show two exploded perspectives for the exempli- fication of the sub-assembly of the set that configures the means for fast exchange of the resistive set 8.
Such exchange allows to be performed without the resistive set 8 being touched by the user before the same is completely removed from the shower's interior, an operation performed manipulating only a set through the simple dissociation of sieve 4 of body 1 , in only one stage, thus leaving the resistive set 8 exposed. Once the resistive set 8 is exposed, one may pro- ceed, without any danger, to its removal and replacement by another.
Thus, in order to facilitate the described operation, different building details were created, defined by a pre-assembled set 24 (see figures 7 and 8). The pre-assembled set 24 is comprised by the sieve 4, separating element 5 and heating resistive set 8, forming a removable unit, whose coupling to body 1 is performed manually by the interaction of the association means 3.
Such as illustrated by figures 9 to 12, it is noted that the main external hilt piece is the sieve itself, endowed, preferably, but not compulsorily, of ordinarily semi-spheroid shape, wherein it has the usual outlets 25 for the water in the form of rain and the auxiliary outlet 26 for the little manual shower (not illustrated). The higher edge of sieve 4 has an internal thread 28 existent in the body (1), thus allowing the association between the two pieces 1 , 4.
In one possible constructively configuration, sieve 4 has a con- centric inner wall 29 whose higher edge distributes lengthening of the type locking teeth 30 over which the external diameter of the separating element 5 is fitted. In turn, separating element 5 presents female edge 31 with transversal section in an inverted "U" endowed with some high points 32 for the fitting of the locking teeth 30. In the aforementioned female edge it is still bi-injected an elastomeric sealing ring 33 that is kept pressured by a substantially conic wall 34 of the lower portion of body 1.
As illustrated by figures 13 and 14, around the siphon 12 the separating element 5 there are vertical projections 35, ordinarily tubular, with an inner strangling 36, wherein siphon 12 has a radial projection that configures a fitting bayonet 37, wherein such elements 35, 37 constitute means for the stable fitting of the heating resistive set 8.
Figures 15, 16 and 17 show that the resistive set is endowed with a cage support 38 with grating defined by a central cube 39 of diameter suitable for broad fitting in siphon 12, where rotational and longitudinal sealing occurs, since the referred central tube 39 has a lateral fitting defined by a rip 40 combined with a pair of handles 41 , one radial and the other axial, through which passes the fitting bayonet 37 to promote light locking of the resistive set 8 which has, additionally, nails 42 arranged in its lower portion for penetration in the vertical projections 35 of the referred separating element 5, resulting in a light fixation between the parts.
Note that the central ring-shaped cube 39, includes radial projec- tions 43 which end in a circular cradle and with section in half cane 44, grated with higher projections 45 that match themselves with additional projections 46 shaped as tweezers for fitting and fixation of an electric resistance 47.
Electric resistance 47 has the traditional shape of spiral spring, wherein, preferably, but not compulsorily, in its external portions, as well as in its middle portion, contacts are fixed in the shape of laminar springs 48, all alike, having a straight line bottom and cooperating to fit the additional projections 46, whereas the higher end of the arch-shaped contact 49 presents the shape of arc for sliding and accommodation, with certain pressure, against the lower ends of the conducting pins 23.
As illustrates the detail "A" of Figure 15, the arc-shaped contact 49 of the electric resistance 47 may approach itself tangentially to pin 23, whereas in the detail "B" the approach is axial, wherein in both cases the working is of identical functioning.
As it may be noted, the improvements introduced in the shower of the present invention substantiating the advantages previously cited, allowing a system of easy exchange of the electric resistance 47, since the same is part of the pre-assembled 24 which includes, within sieve 4, the separating element 5 and the heating resistive set 8. In this condition, all this set is coupled or uncoupled from the body through the association means 3, through the threads 27,28 anticipated in both parts 1 ,4. Thus, through the removal of the pre-assembled subset 24 the heating resistive set 8 is ex- posed in a way to remove it easily through the disassembly of the poles 42 of the vertical projections and the fitting bayonet 37 of rip 40 and handles 41. Once this is done, support cage 38 and its electric resistance 47 are released for the exchange of the resistive set 8.
Optionally, the electric resistance 47 may be replaced taking advantage of the same support cage 38.
Note that the removal of the pre-assembled subset 24 allows the electric resistance 47 to be decoupled from the electric circuit before being exposed. Consequently, the safety provided by the set is unique when com- pared to the prior art. Thus, as a result of the exposed handling, it is impossible to be "unaccomplished" by the user. The safety offered is such that the change of electric exchange 47 may be performed even in conditions in which the user forgets to turn off the circuit breaker or the equivalent electric feeding of the shower.
Therefore, the system of easy exchange of the electric resistance
47 does not allow the user to be in touch with the electric portions of the electric resistance 47 without the same being uncoupled from the shower's inner circuit.
On the other hand, the same situation occurs when the pre- assembled subset 24 is replaced in the shower, i.e., during the tapping of the sieve 4 in the body 1 occurs the gradual approach of the arch-shaped contacts 49 of the electric resistance 47 to the pins 23, wherein, at the end of the tapping, the spring effect of the arch-shaped contacts 49 guarantees the electric connection of the electric resistance 47 with the pins 23, leaving the shower ready for operation.
Note that the technical solutions presented by the present invention have application in any kind of electric shower, independently of its design and without any damage to the device.
Having described examples of preferred concretizations, it must be understood that the scope of the present invention encompasses other possible variations, being limited solely by the wording of the attached claims, possible variations included therein.