TITLE

FLOOR CLEANING DEVICE

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/275,737 filed November 4, 2021

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Non-Applicable SPECIFICATION

Related U.S. Application Data

This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/275,737 filed November 4, 2021.

Field of the Invention

This present invention relates to a floor cleaning device having a flexible floor wiping blade secured to a retaining arm of an elongated width. The wiper is of a pliable yet semi-rigid material which is placeable and removably replaceable via a retaining slot in the bottom of a receiving wand made to exhibit a frame or yoke, generally. Specifically, a vacuum cleaner hose or tube may be secured to a fitting at the top of said frame and made to span a length existing parallel to a surface to be cleaned whereby dirt, debris and liquids are guided to a suction channel within the vacuum frame terminating in an opening at the end of a vacuum wand, near the floor and within close proximity of an edge of a left or right side of the arm facing the operator.

Background of the Invention

Floor cleaning devices come in a number of different forms, including brooms, mops, carpet sweepers, vacuum cleaners, including special attachments for tank-type vacuums, squeegees for wet floors and vibrating floor-contacting devices for loosening and gathering debris. See, for example, Patents Nos. 10,702,115, 10,390,671, 10,130,229, 9,420,931, and 9,386,896, all of which have been granted to the inventor of the current invention.

Generally, there exists in the art any number of electric-powered upright and tank vacuum cleaners having numerous features including handles, tubing (rigid and flexible), attachments (motorized and non-motorized), collection tanks, bags, filters and the like. Yet all vacuums have a vacuum or suction source, typically facilitated by a motor and fan assembly, generating sufficient required to pull dirt, debris or liquid (e.g., water) into the vacuum device for gathering and collection into a tank, filter bag or other similar receptacle. And while a rotating brush is historically used to (1) loosen dirt and debris from hard surfaces and carpet and (2) “sweep” said dirt and debris into an area proximate to a suction opening or openings, other modes exist in the art which accomplish or seek to accomplish the same function including countless static and adjustable nozzles, wands, brushes, adapters and the like. Although universally, once particles are collected in an internal receiving portion (e.g., tank canister or inserted filter bag), air is then expelled, refuse is retained and collection is continued until the receptacle is full or the collection is complete.

Too there are any number of non-electrical, non-powered cleaning tools used widely on flat surfaces in kitchens, bathrooms and on hard wood floors whereby suction is not the primary motive force and physical manipulation is utilized to collect dirt and debris. Historically this gathering and collection has been accomplished by use of brooms, characterized by bristles or similarly stiff fibers attached to a coplanar elongated handle (with or without a dustpan), but, more recently, beginning in 1997, has been accomplished by a handle and cleaning pad combination where a swiveled, flat attachment exists perpendicular to said handle which is made to bear a disposable sheet or pad which may be either a wet or dry type. Too, cleaning solutions may be “sprayable” on a surface ahead of the disposable sheet or pad to wet a surface prior to contact with a sheet or pad. Additionally, there exists any number of surfaces, smooth to rough, solvents and polishes made to loosen and collect numerous sized particles for capture and discarding.

Yet, there is a need in the art of surface cleaning devices and tools wherein rotating brushes allow for loss of smaller particles and disposable sheets need replacement with relatively minimal use. There is therefore a need existing for a simple, effective floor or surface cleaning device which will efficiently clean a surface when attached to the hose or tube of a vacuum cleaner, particularly a canister-type vacuum cleaner. Such a need exists for hard surfaces, indoor or outdoor, dry or wet. It is the goal of inventor to provide this new and novel cleaning device, as well as method for use, to meet this need.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention addresses the unaddressed need in the art of an efficient and effective flatsurface cleaning device wherein the present invention is a new, novel and non-obvious cleaning device comprised of a dry squeegee or blade made of a pliable foam, rubber, silicone or similarly pliable material, retained in a blade holder bar or arm, preferably via a slot which allows exchange of different blades as needed based on required rigidity, pliability, use, wear or a combination thereof. The elongated blade-retaining bar or arm, in addition to having the blade-retaining slot at a lower side, has a fitting for attachment to the hose or tube of a vacuum cleaner (i.e., a domestic canister vacuum cleaner, upright cleaning unit and/or a shop vacuum). This fitting communicates through the interior of the retaining arm with a suction opening which may be centrally located, at one end of the arm, divided along the length of the bar/arm, or elsewhere, wherein this suction opening is most preferably a short distance above the floor or surface and in close proximity to dirt, debris or liquid, when the device is used and positioned in front of the blade facing the user.

In use, the present invention that is the cleaning device is pushed or pulled in a direction and across a surface generally parallel to the length of the arm, in contact with the floor or other largely flat surface. The foam blade “rakes”, gathers and catches dirt, debris, and/or liquid and aggregates the debris along the moving face of the blade at the point where the blade touches a surface. At intervals the device can be angled in a way that the gathered debris is positioned at the suction opening and the vacuum cleaner efficiently removes dirt and debris into a suction channel as is exhibited by all vacuums in normal operation.

In a preferred embodiment the floor-contacting blade is formed of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) foam, also referred to as poly ethylene-vinyl acetate, or PEVA, which is a copolymer of the addition of ethylene to vinyl acetate wherein the weight percent of vinyl acetate and ranges from about 10 to 40 percent and ethylene constituting the remaining 90 to 60 percent, typically. The foam floor contacting blade is pliable yet rigid and allows for guided operation along a mostly planar, horizontal or vertical (wall) surface. In another preferred embodiment, the blade itself may be approximately one-half inch in depth (face-to-face width) and, for example, about twelve to twenty inches in width, in the wider direction, preferably spanning approximately eighteen inches.

The blade retaining arm and frame can be formed of injection-molded polypropylene plastic, for strength, rigidity and resistance to surface damage. Alternatively, certain portions of vacuum cleaner casings and trim pieces may be constructed of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) plastics which may be preferred to other polystyrene plastics and made with the addition of small amounts of styrene-butadiene rubber for impact resistance and acrylonitrile for styrene hardening prior to polymerization allowing for appropriate amounts of both give and rigidity. The vacuum hose connector can be of appropriate size for a vacuum cleaner hose or wand, which in one embodiment is an integral plastic cylindrical member having an outside diameter of about 1 inch and an inside diameter of about VA (or other dimensions for commercially available vacuum cleaners). It is in the contemplation of inventor too that adapters or couplings may be utilized whereby a single floor-cleaning device may be retrofitted to any number of vacuum and floor cleaning apparatuses of a variety of external and internal parts’ diameters.

The vacuum fitting itself is made to receive leads to an elongated slot exhibited below the vacuum “wand” and extending to the bottom of the blade retainer and ultimately leading to the suction opening. The same slot defines a preferably rectangular inner cavity that tightly receives the rectangular outer surface of said foam blade when pushed up into this channel or cavity, the foam blade then forming a bottom boundary of the suction channel (i.e., air duct cavity) where it contacts a surface (e.g., floor). Yet, it is further considered by inventor that the suction duct may be a circular or triangular (e.g., angled) receiving cavity which is made to reciprocate to accommodate a largely flat upper portion of an inserted blade shape where, in the case of the triangular cavity or circular cavity, the channel may be “floored” by the upper, flat portion of a blade. In either case, the suction cavity and upper edge of a foam blade are mated to form a sealed channel for dirt, debris and/or liquid transmittal.

The slot or channel in the blade retainer/receiver is of appropriate width (front to back) to (1) receive a blade, (2) firmly hold/grip the foam blade and (3) allow convenient change (removal and reassertion) of blades. In one embodiment this may be accomplished where both the upper portion of the blade and receiving channel or cavity are rectangular wherein the blade upper portion, being slightly larger than the width of the receiving channel, the blade inserts into the slot to a depth of about one inch and is held in place by confining forces along the length of the blade. Alternatively, the pliable foam may display a width slightly larger than the channel or cavity width wherein the elasticity of the blade material allows for compression upon insertion and, additionally, expansion upon placement to secure said blade into receiving channel. Moreover, the length of the blade may exceed the length of the receiving and retaining arm at either end wherein the retaining arm has a from and border but no side enclosures allowing for the length of the blade to exceed the length of the receiving arm. About half the length (left to right) of the frame’s retainer slot may extend higher, as opposed to the opposite half length, to form the air suction channel above the foam blade as noted above.

More specifically, when the foam blade is fully inserted into the slot or channel, in yet another preferred embodiment, this allows, in a portion of the arm length, a continuous and sealed air channel for communicating the suction from the vacuum cleaner to the suction opening and directly to the dirt, debris and/or liquid suction channel for suctioning.

In another preferred embodiment the frame’ s retaining arm has a shape, at the working side of the floor cleaning device, wherein the slot or channel is increased in depth (front to back), away from the frame, to form a bumped-out suction passage along the leading side of the foam blade where this suction passage extends and projects outward, away from the frame, and down to be near the floor or other surface so as to enable withdrawing debris gathered against the inserted blade. Thus, the air channel is integrally formed with the molded blade frame and retainer and used in conjunction with an inserted blade.

Another embodiment of a floor cleaning device, in accordance with the invention, is in the form of a ‘V’ shape, bifurcated and with two equal blade arms extending outwardly from a vertex, at a preferably right to obtuse angle between 90° and 180°. In another related embodiment the ‘V’ shape has two arms of unequal length. At the vertex of both arms is preferably a cylindrical vacuum fitting arranged vertically, to receive a hose or tube from a tank type vacuum cleaner or a shop vacuum for the creation of a suction opening for suction of dirt, debris or liquid. Further, the frame which is made to receive said bifurcated blade arms is of equal length corresponding to each blade arm’s length.

In one preferred embodiment the cylindrical fitting, atop the device frame, is angled preferably at about 45° and can be fixed for pulling or pushing the device along the floor or similar surface. More preferably the angled connection swivels through 360° so that the blade or squeegee can be swiveled and either pulled or pushed where the inlet for suction may be engaged in the direction of collected particles (e.g., dirt, debris and/or liquid). Each of the two arms may be generally similar to the retaining arm in terms of length and width, described above, but this embodiment is intended for wet floors and has a different form of floor-engaging “wiper” blade and is without a horizontal and internal air channel. A typical squeegee blade, with a moderate degree of flexibility, can be used on each arm. The squeegee blades can be similar to typical squeegee blades used to wipe smooth surfaces, or preferably somewhat stiffer, which may be rectangular or downwardly angled.

In a V-shaped device embodiment, the apex of the two arms includes a small flat pan structure just below the lower terminus of the vacuum tube and at the base of said blade arms. The receiving/retaining arms in this form of the invention are without internalized air movement cavities within the frame’s retaining/receiving arm. The V-shaped pair of squeegee blades gather dry or wet debris toward the apex (vertex) as the device is moved along a floor and the debris is moved to the conjunction of the two arms, “riding” up and onto the thin flat pan, which contacts the floor. The gathered debris is likewise withdrawn through the vacuum tube.

In one V-shaped embodiment, the two arms may be of equal length, different lengths, fixedly secured or adjustable to one another at an apex (vertex). In another preferred embodiment, the point of connection (i.e., apex) between each arm may be adjustable wherein the angle may be increased or decreased via an adjustable “hinge”.

It is therefore among the objects of the invention to provide an improved, ergonomic floor cleaning devices for efficient use, for dry floors, wet floors, or a combination thereof, wherein a vacuum cleaner is attached to the floor cleaning device to effectively, effortlessly, and quickly sequester and remove dust, debris and sometimes liquid from a largely flat wall or floor surface. These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention, which will be apparent from the following description to one having skill in the art, from any one of several preferred embodiments, may be considered along with the many accompanying drawings and descriptions as provided herewith.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Although the novel features and method of use of the application are set forth above, the application itself, as well as a preferred modes of use, and advantages thereof, will best be understood by referencing to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in view of the appended claims, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top, perspective view of the floor cleaning device of the invention showing a foam floor-contacting blade held in a blade retaining arm;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view showing the device as used in combination with a canister vacuum cleaner;

FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view showing the device connected to a vacuum cleaner tube;

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the blade, removed from the device;

FIG. 5 shows a back side elevation view of the blade-retaining arm;

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective front view of the blade-retaining arm alone;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view through the arm, as seen along the line 6-6 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 8 depicts a top plan view of the blade-retaining arm;

FIG. 9 is a transverse sectional view through the arm as seen along line 8-8 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 shows a transverse sectional view through the arm as seen along line 9-9 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a bottom perspective view of the arm;

FIG. 12 illustrates a V-shaped embodiment of the present invention. And while the invention itself and method of use are amendable to various modifications and alternative configurations, the best-known mode of making and using the present invention have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in adequate detail to teach those having skill in the art how to make and practice the same. It should, however, be understood that the above description and preferred embodiments disclosed, are not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiment disclosed, but on the contrary, the invention disclosure is intended to cover all iterations, alternatives and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined within the claim’s broadest reasonable interpretation which is consistent with the specification.

Detailed Description

Although there are described certain features, dimensions, and configurations constituting the present invention, examples set forth for illustrative purposes are included without surrendering any subject matter or departing from the invention’s intent. And, although the following detailed description contains specific references to several preferred embodiments, one having skill in the art will certainly appreciate that modifications, alterations and variations are within the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the following embodiments of the invention are set forth without any loss of generality to, and without imposing limitations upon, the claimed invention. While preferred embodiments are described in connection with the description herein, there is for these embodiments to be limiting. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all equivalents.

The present invention is characterized as a floor cleaning device with a flexible floor wiping blade secured to a retaining arm or frame of elongated width. The wiper can be of a semirigid, semi-pliable material of, for example, silicon, rubber, foam or a hybrid material with one or more of silicon, rubber, foam, which is removable and replaceable via a retaining slot in the bottom of the frame or yoke. A vacuum cleaner hose or tube is secured to a fitting at the top of the frame, leading to a suction channel in the frame that terminates in a suction opening near the floor, facing toward the operator, or away from the operator, as necessity dictates, and near the edge of the left or right side of the arm. Alternatively, the point of suction may be centrally located in the middle of the device or at multiple points along the arm of the device (which may be selectable between opened, partially opened, partially closed and/or closed). The device cleans the floor by dragging a blade across the floor one or more times to create a line of debris, which is subsequently vacuumed up by orienting the device 90° to the debris line, lining up the suction opening with the debris line and dragging the device the length of the debris line. In a second embodiment the floor cleaner has two arms in a V shape, with squeegee blades drawing in debris on a wet floor to the apex of the V, where the debris is removed by a connected vacuum cleaner.

In the drawings, FIG. 1 shows one preferred embodiment of a floor cleaning device 10 of the invention. The device 10 includes a foam floor-wiping blade 12 retained by a blade-retaining arm 14 that has an upper side with a fitting 16 to connect to a vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner will typically be a domestic canister vacuum, a shop vacuum, or a stick (upright) vacuum, or any vacuum cleaner having a hose or tube that can be fitted to an end implement, even if an adapter is required.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the device 10 in use, connected to tube 20 of a canister vacuum cleaner 22 and operated by an operator 21. FIG. 3 shows the device 10 with a connected vacuum cleaner tube 20 which is extendable to adjust to the height and requirements of operator 21.

As shown in FIG. 4, the blade 12 can be shaped generally as a rectangular solid, formed of a flexible or rubbery foam material, which can be neoprene foam or more preferably an EVA foam. The front-to-back thickness is such as to fit tightly (but removably) in the receiving slot of the blade-retaining arm 14 (See FIG. 5); the thickness may be preferably about 1/2 inch but may be of a greater or lesser thickness as to allow for thicker (stiffer) or thinner (bendable) blades for different uses and requirements. For example, FIGS. 5-11 show a preferred form of the retaining arm 14. It is elongated in width, for example about 18 inches, or a range of about 12 to 24 inches. For specific applications of limited space, the width could be less. For large areas it could be greater.

Moreover, the construct being malleable, the bade itself may be of any configuration allowing for desired contact with a surface and “skimming” or “raking” of particles including: a squared blade (as shown in FIGS. 1-5, 6 and 11), a blade forming an angled edge or a blade having a plurality of edges or fins.

As shown in FIG. 5, The retaining arm 14 has a slot 24 preferably throughout its width, for closely and frictionally retaining the foam blade 12. In FIG. 5 the foam blade 12 is indicated in dashed lines, the drawing indicating that it can be of greater length than the frame 24 if desired, extending out widthwise at each end, e.g., about 1/2 inch to one inch. In this embodiment the foam blade extends fully into the depth of the slot through about one-half the width of the retaining arm (on right in FIG. 5), so that the top portion 26 of the retaining arm forms a stop to define the assembled position of the blade on the right and is heightened to form the suction air duct on the left. Another limiting stop is formed at the opposite end of the retaining arm by a lower edge 28 of an end wall 30 shown in the sectional view of FIG. 7.

As can be seen in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, the retaining arm forms, as an upper part of the slot 24, an internal channel 32 or vacuum passage that connects with the vacuum fitting 16, a bottom wall of this channel being formed by the top of the foam blade 25 when in place as indicated in FIG. 5 and also FIG. 7. The foam blade 12 may either close the channel 32 entirely, by forming a rear barrier to chamber/conduit or “bump-out” 34, as in FIGS. 3 and 7, by extending beyond the outermost border of the receiving and retaining arm 14 or the chamber/conduit or “bump-out” 34 may form a completely encapsulated channel as an extension of and within said retaining arm 14 of frame 24 wherein outwardly extending chamber/conduit or “bump-out” 34 exists on one of two leading sides of the device and positionable toward the direction of gathering dirt, debris or liquid. Further it is in the contemplation of inventor that this chamber/conduit or “bump-out” 34 may exist on either a right side or left side of said device 10, may be rotatable for rearward oriented or forward oriented configuration for pulling or pushing operation, respectively, of said device 10 or that said chamber may be centrally located (not shown). What is more, nothing in this description limits a permutation of the device 10 where any combination of right-sided, left-sided, frontward, rearward, centralized, or a combination thereof, may exist in one device.

As depicted in FIG. 6, this chamber/conduit or “bump-out” 34 at a deeper part of the slot 24 and preferably located at or near one end, communicates the suction down along the face of the blade to a suction opening 36 close to the floor and directly adjacent to the forward (leading) side of the blade 12 when in use. FIG. 7, shows a representational and sectional view showing the back wall and indicating (dashed lines) where foam blade 12 is in secured within retaining slot 24, including arrows 40 to show movement of air and debris through the suction opening 36 of the bumped-out chamber 34 and through the channel 32, through the vacuum cleaner fitting 16 and into tube 20 (See FIG. 3) and into a vacuum cleaner 22 or similar suctioning device.

Note that the foam blade 12 is easily removed and removable, so that any clogging in the channel of the device is easily remedied by simply removing the blade. Such clogging debris will not reach the vacuum cleaner fitting 16 and any such debris will be caught in the rectangular channel 24, or in the suction chamber 34 and may be readily retrieved.

FIG. 9 shows in transverse section the transition from the slot 24 to the vacuum fitting 16. FIG. 10, another transverse section seen along the line 9-9 in FIG. 8, shows the deeper cross section of the retaining arm 14 where the suction channel 32 extends above the slot 24, as a continuous space. As in previous FIG. 7 and being visible in FIG. 10, the bottom edge 28 of the far end wall 30, which forms a limit for inserted depth of the foam blade. The perspective view of FIG. 11 is helpful in visualizing some aspects of the retaining arm’s shape not readily appreciated from other views.

In this illustrated embodiment of FIG. 11, the suction outlet/air inlet chamber 34 has an angled lower edge 44 on a transversely extending bumped-out wall 46. See also FIG. 10 where the bottom edge of the extended end wall 30 can also have this angled shape if desired. This can help guide the operator to hold the device at about 45° to the floor (or another selected angle), and it can also help trap debris at the suction outlet when a line of debris is being drawn up into and through the retaining arm 14.

In use the device 10 is typically connected to a straight section of vacuum cleaner tube as shown in FIG. 3, which is connected to a canister vacuum, a shop vacuum or a stick vacuum (such as a DYSON® stick vacuum). The operator, as in FIG. 2, pushes or pulls the device, holding it at an angle such as 45° (which is easily adjustable to 30° to 60° up from the floor), gathering debris against the blade 12. When a line of debris has been compiled against the blade, the operator, in a particular preferred manner of use, turns the device 10 perpendicular and at a right angle to the line of debris with the open bottom of the suction channel 34 positioned facing one end of the line of dirt, debris or liquid. At this point the vacuum cleaner can be turned on (it need not be active as debris is gathered) and the device is advanced to draw up the line of debris. In another alternative use, the vacuum can be functioning during the operation of the device 10, but this is not a requirement for its proper functioning.

In FIG. 12 a V-shaped device 50 and embodiment of the invention is illustrated. A vacuum fitting is shown at 52, at an apex (vertex) 54 of the V-shaped device, formed of two wiper bladeretaining arms 56 connected to and preferably integrally formed along with the vacuum fitting 52, which may be by injection molding. Note that a swivel fitting 57 and/or adapters can be provided with the fitting 52, to allow pushing or pulling of the device.

In this embodiment the arms 56 do not have vacuum air channels. The vacuum fitting 52 comprises a tube, which may be vertically oriented as shown, extending down to a lower suction outlet 58 which will be near the floor, e.g., about 3/8 inch to one inch above the floor. The arms 56 carry squeegee blades 60, which may be fitted into slots in the lower side of each arm, generally as in the earlier-described embodiment. These squeegees 60 can have upper portions with thickness similar to that of the foam floor wiper blades described above, but the lower floorengaging part will be thinner, somewhat similar to conventional squeegees of the type used for cleaning a floor, stiffer than those used for cleaning glass. In a preferred embodiment the length of each arm is between about 12 inches and 15 inches, although smaller or much larger models can be appropriate for various applications.

When in use the device 50 is pushed or pulled with the open side of the V forward, both arms 56 in contact with the floor, so as to trap liquid and debris on a wet floor into the V and ultimately to the apex. There, a flat pan 62 preferably is included, positioned to engage against the floor and to receive the liquid and debris which has been squeegeed from the floor, similar to the function of a dustpan. The flat floor-engaging pan is very thin and can have a beveled or tapered lip as on a dustpan, of rubber or other flexible material, although this can be rigid if desired. The configuration of the flat pan is such as to receive material swept inwardly of the device, along the squeegees, so that the debris rides up onto the pan 62 for removal via the section tube/fitting

52.

The flat collection pan 62 may be about 1/32 inch thick at the forward edge, and about V/2 inch wide at the forward edge. The squeegees 60 can abut against the side edges of the pan, the squeegees being parallel to and in contact with those side edges. In a preferred form the pan 62 is fabricated of ultra-high density polyethylene (UHDPE).

The terms “about”, “approximate” and “approximately” as used herein should be interpreted as meaning plus or minus 10% of the description as stated. The above-described preferred embodiments are intended to illustrate the principles of the invention, but not to provide limitations in its scope. Other embodiments and variations to these preferred embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

This detailed description refers to specific examples in the drawings and illustrations. These examples are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the inventive subject matter. These examples also serve to illustrate how the inventive subject matter can be applied and amendable to various purposes or embodiments. Other embodiments are included within the inventive subject matter, as logical, mechanical and other changes can be made to the example embodiments described herein. Features of various embodiments described above, however essential to the example embodiments in which they are incorporated, do not limit the inventive subject matter as a whole, and any reference to the invention, its elements, operation, and application are not limiting on the whole, but serve only to define these particular example embodiments. Thus, the scope of this disclosure should be determined by the appended claims, in light of the present disclosure, along with their legal equivalents. All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the above-described invention(s) will be known to a person having ordinary skill in the art and are expressly incorporated herein by reference as is to be read into the present claims. This detailed description does not, therefore, limit embodiments of the invention, which are defined only by the appended claims. Each of the embodiments described herein are contemplated as falling within the inventive subject matter, which is set forth in the following claims.