Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to fabric and garments, which are easily seen. Such fabrics and garments may be used as safety apparel.

Background

[0002] Safety experts recognize the importance of high visibility garments, especially for workers in hazardous situations. For example, high visibility garments can greatly reduce the danger to a worker in occupations such as traffic control, construction, electrical maintenance, road maintenance, and equipment operation. A goal of high visibility garments is to make the presence of the worker known to others in the vicinity, thereby giving others an opportunity to warn the worker and/or take action to minimize or eliminate a danger. Previous attempts to achieve a high visibility garment have used heat retardant combinations of modacrylic, cotton, polyester, linen, wool and other similar natural and man-made fibers, but these provide a lower level of personal protection per weight of fabric. In addition, these garments have proven deficient because they either lose their fire retardant characteristics gradually through washing, or offer inferior personal protection from heat or fire.

[0003] In addition to providing high visibility, there is a need for garments which give long-lasting and increased personal protection from fire and/or heat. Such garments are particularly useful to workers engaged in drilling for petroleum, refining oil, smelting metal, and working on electrical utilities, oil and gas delivery, as well as serving in the military, and providing security services. Presently, there are standards that govern garments needed to protect workers from fire or excessive heat. For example, one of those standards is provided by the American Society for Testing and Materials ("ASTM") in standard ASTM F1506, which is a vertical flame test. ASTM F1506 measures the duration and distance that a flame will burn an ignited portion of the fabric before the flame self extinguishes. This test also measures whether the fabric will melt or drip due to exposure to a flame. [0004] Although Aramid-based yarns and/or fibers perform well in a vertical flame test, they are difficult to dye. A lengthy and harsh process is required in order to dye Aramid- based yarns, and the available colors are limited in number. In addition, the traditional dyeing process for Aramid fibers requires high temperature and a long time, and the strong chemicals used will, in most cases, chemically "burn" or destroy other fire-resistant fibers that might be desired in a yarn. As used herein, the term "Aramid" is used to identify a class of aromatic polyamide fibers in which the chain molecules are highly oriented along the fiber axis.

[0005] Although manufacturers have been able to dye Aramid-based yarns and/or fibers in high visibility tones that match the required chromaticity criteria specified by the American National Standards Institute ("ANSI") and the International Safety Equipment Association ("ISEA") in ANSI/ISEA 107 2004, manufacturers have not been able to achieve the required luminance factor required to meet these standards. The Canadian counterpart of ANSI/ISEA 107 2004 is found at Canadian Standards Association ("CSA") Z-96. For these reasons, Aramid-based yarns have not been commonly dyed for use in garments in a high visibility color that would meet the minimum requirements set by ANSI/ISEA 107 2004 or CSA Z-96.

[0006] Furthermore, there is a need for garments which insulate the wearer from cold weather. Fleece fabric has been recognized as an excellent fabric for garments worn in cold weather. The pile height of fleece fabric creates an excellent heat barrier and insulator.

Fleece is used in standalone garments and as liners for garments. Fleece has also been produced from fire resistant yarns, and fleece has proven useful in protecting workers from direct and indirect heat, including heat produced by an explosion. Fleece has also proven useful in protecting workers from electric arcs. [0007] Although fleece is established as providing protection from cold weather, and as an insulator, fleece does not perform well in cold and windy conditions. Attempts to overcome this deficiency have been made by using a woven fabric to form the outside surface of the garment, and using the fleece as an internal liner. Other garment designs have laminated a thin membrane or fabric on the inside surface of the fleece fabric in order to prevent wind from reaching the wearer. Such garments prevent wind from reaching the wearer, but they also prevent air from leaving the garment, thereby preventing perspiration produced by the wearer from leaving the garment. By holding the wearer's perspiration against the wearer, the wearer becomes uncomfortable and may become cold. In addition, such garments are expensive.

Summary of the Invention

[0008] The invention may be embodied as a fabric which achieves the high visibility standards of ANSI/ISEA 107 2004 or its Canadian counterpart CSA Z-96. To achieve those standards, the fabric must meet the chromaticity and luminosity criteria. Currently, three colors that meet the chromaticity criteria are: (i) "fluorescent yellow-green", (ii) "fluorescent orange-red" and (iii) "fluorescent red". In order to meet the luminosity criteria, the luminance factor must be equal to or greater than 0.76 for fluorescent yellow-green, 0.40 for fluorescent orange-red, and 0.25 for fluorescent red. A fabric or yarn that meets both the chromaticity and luminosity criteria of ANSI/ISEA 107 2004 or its Canadian counterpart CSA Z-96 is referred to herein as having "high visibility" or as being "highly visible".

[0009] Such a fabric may be fashioned into a garment, which can protect the person wearing the garment from dangerous situations The fabric may be of the type formed of warp and weft yarns. One or more of the yarns may have one or more types of Aramid- based fibers, and one or more types of dyeable fibers. As used herein, the word "fiber" includes staples and filaments.

[0010] The dyeable fibers are present in an amount which can achieve the high visibility standards of ANSI/ISEA 107 2004 or CSA Z-96. The dyeable fiber may be a viscose flame resistant fiber, such as that which is sold under the name "Lenzing FR". Also, the dyeable fiber may be: polyester, nylon, rayon, modacrylic, cotton, wool, linen or combinations thereof. As used herein, the term "modacrylic" identifies long-chain synthetic polymer fiber composed of less than 85%, but at least 35% weight acrylonitrile units, except when the polymer qualifies as rubber. [0011] The fabric may include a dye, which colors the dyeable fibers so that the fabric meets ANSI/ISEA 107 2004 or CSA Z-96. The dyeable fiber may be dyed before combining it with the Aramid-based fiber, or after combining it with the Aramid-based fiber, or may be dyed after the yarn has been formed into fabric. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the Aramid-based fibers and the dyeable fibers are intimately blended together in the yarn.

[0012] The amount of Aramid-based fiber in the yarn may be at least 20 weight percent and not more than 40 weight percent. However, depending on the dyeable fiber, the amount of Aramid-based fiber may be less than 20 weight percent. Also, it is believed that it may be possible to obtain a high visibility fabric from yarns having up to 45 weight percent or even 50 weight percent Aramid-based fiber.

[0013] The fabric may meet the standards of ASTM F1506 and/or ASTM D4108-87.

Such a fabric would then provide not only the benefits that come from being easily seen, but also may provide protection from electric arcs and/or flames. [0014] Another embodiment of the invention, has at least two types of yarn. One of the types is used to form a core and the other type is used to form a face of the fabric. The face yarn may be dyed to meet the high visibility standards of ANSI/ISEA 107 2004 or CSA Z-96. The core yarn includes Aramid-based fibers so that the fabric meets the thermal protection performance standards of ASTM D4108-87 and/or the vertical flame test performance standards of ASTM F1506. The face yarn may include viscose fibers, which may be fire-resistant. For example, the face yarn may include at least about 80 weight percent viscose fibers and at most about 20 weight percent Aramid-based fibers.

[0015] The Aramid-based fibers of the core yarn and/or the face yarn may have

Aramid fibers, meta-Aramid fibers and/or para-Aramid fibers. [0016] The face yarn may be formed into a fleece. In such an embodiment, the face yarn may contact the core yarn, but be free to move relative to the core yarn. Alternatively, the face yarn may contact or be attached to the core yarn in such a way as to prevent movement of the face yarn from one side of the structure formed by the core yarn to the other side of the core structure.

[0017] The invention includes methods of making fabrics. Examples of such methods are described herein. Brief Description Of The Drawings

[0018] For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and the subsequent description. Briefly, the drawings are:

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of fabric according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic of a napping operation;

Figure 3 is schematic of a cutting instrument, which can be used to crop or

shear fabric;

Figure 4 is a schematic of fabric after having been cropped and sheared; Figure 5 is a flow chart of a method according to the invention; and Figure 6 is a flow chart of another method according to the invention.

Further Description of the Invention

[0019] The present invention may be used to provide a high visibility fabric, which may be used to make garments. Furthermore, the present invention may be used to make a garment that is not only highly visible but is also fire resistant and/or protective with respect to electric arcs, and which also provides insulation to the wearer in cold weather. One embodiment of the invention is a fabric formed from at least two yarns. Figure 1 depicts features of such a fabric 10. The fabric 10 has a first yarn 13 that is used to make a core, and a second yarn 16 that is used to make a face of the fabric 10. The face yarn 16 forms the outside appearance of the fabric 10. The face yarn 16 may be used on two sides of the core structure, so that the appearance of the fabric 10 is uniform. The face yarn 16 may substantially overlay the yarn 13 that is used for the core so that the core is not visible. The face yarn 16 is formed from a yarn that can be dyed to make the fabric 10 highly visible, and the core may be formed to provide protection from flames, excessive heat and/or electric arc. In this manner, a highly visible protective garment may be produced.

[0020] A fabric 10 according to the invention may include a blend of aromatic polyamide (a.k.a. "Aramid") yarns and other fibers. Aramid yarn provides protection from fire and will perform well in a vertical flame test. Also, Aramid yarn is known to provide lower char length, and no drip or melt, and a good level of TPP ("thermal protection performance"), which is often measured by ASTM D4108-87. Aramid yarn is known also for providing greater protection from flash fire and electric arcs, which may result from electrical explosions. ASTM F 1506-08 outlines the performance specifications for flame resistant textile materials used in wearing apparel of electrical workers who may be exposed to momentary electric arc and related thermal hazards. Furthermore, Aramid fibers have high strength, due to the fact that the chain molecules of the aromatic polyamide are highly oriented along the fiber axis. [0021] The core yarn 13 of the fabric 10 may be made from Aramid-based fibers, which may include Aramid fibers, meta-Aramid fibers, para-Aramid fibers, or a blend of one or more of such fibers. Meta-Aramid fiber, which handles similarly to traditional textile apparel fibers, has excellent resistance to heat, as it neither melts nor ignites in normal levels of oxygen. Para-Aramid fiber, which has a much higher tenacity and elastic modulus, may be used not only for its fire resistant qualities, but also for its strength and resistance to cutting and abrasion. The fabric designer may select the particular Aramid-based fiber for use in creating a yarn, depending on the desired performance characteristics. Other types of fibers may be used depending on the desired performance characteristics, such as cost, TPP, arc thermal performance value (a.k.a. ATPV), anti-static, anti-microbial, durability, and density. For example, to achieve anti-static characteristics, a conductive fiber, such as those made of carbon or metal, may be included in the yarn.

[0022] As noted above, a fabric 10 according to the invention may use a yarn 16 for the face of the fabric 10 that has fibers which can be dyed for high visibility. Such a yarn 16 may be formed by blending Aramid-based fibers and/or Aramid-based yarn with other fibers and/or yarns which are not Aramid-based. The non-Aramid-based material may be flame resistant or non-flame resistant, but the non-Aramid-based material is capable of being dyed so that the yarn 16 and resulting fabric 10 meets minimum requirements for high visibility set out in standards such as ANSI/ISEA 107 2004 and in CSA Z-96.

[0023] In one embodiment of the invention, a yarn 16 used for the face of the fabric

10 has viscose flame resistant fibers (such as Lenzing FR) blended with Aramid fibers (such as Nomex 450 or 462) in order to meet these standards. The viscose flame resistant fibers may be made from wood, which offers protection from heat in a wide range of different applications. Viscose flame resistant fibers offer protection from the following sources of heat: fire, radiant heat, electric arcs, liquid metals and flammable liquids. As an added benefit, viscose flame resistant fibers are soft to the touch, and therefore pleasant to wear. Furthermore, viscose flame resistant fibers keep the body dry and cool. In addition, viscose flame resistant fibers can be formed into a yarn that is less susceptible to heat stress, and readily dissipates heat, which is beneficial in a fire situation. Other natural or man-made fibers and/or yarns could be used in this blend as long as the target criteria is respected.

[0024] One such face yarn 16 may be made from viscose flame resistant yarn, or from a blend of viscose flame resistant fibers and other fibers, that are intimately blended and spun according to conventional techniques, such as ring spun or air jet. For example, the face yarn 16 may be formed from an intimate blend of about 80 weight percent viscose flame resistant material (such as Lenzing FR), and about 20 weight percent meta-Aramid fiber (such as that sold under the trademark "Nomex 450"). The 80 weight percent viscose portion of the yarn 16 will accept a dye in the high visibility color spectrum, and will contribute significantly to the fabric's final shade. The 80 weight percent is a guideline and could be increased or decreased based on the fabric 10 and structure being produced, as long as it forms the predominant color and coverage required to achieve the desired shade and luminosity. It is believed that not more than about 45 weight percent Aramid-based fiber should be in the face yarn 16 in order to allow for proper dying of the face yarn 16 for purposes of achieving high visibility, but the maximum amount of Aramid-based fiber may be as high as 50 weight percent.

[0025] Alternatively, the face yarn 16 could be formed from as much as 100 weight percent Lenzing FR fibers, or other flame resistant fibers, or a blend with other fibers that are capable of being dyed in the high visibility shades that meet the target standard for chromaticity, and at a brightness that meets the target standard for luminosity. For example, currently the minimum luminance factor requirement for background materials is 0.76 for fluorescent yellow-green, 0.40 for fluorescent orange-red, and 0.25 for fluorescent red.

Those other fibers could be, but are not limited to, cotton, wool, modacrylic, polyester, nylon, rayon, and linen.

[0026] Having described face yarns 16 that can be used to make a fabric 10 according to the invention, we now move to describing yarns that can be used to make the core of the fabric 10. The yarn 13 used to make the core may be made from one of the following, or a blend of one or more of the following fibers: an Aramid, a meta-Aramid (such as Nomex), an antistatic fiber (such as electrically conductive fibers, e.g. metal fibers), and/or a para-Aramid (such as Kevlar). In one particular embodiment, the core yarn 13 is 93 weight percent Nomex, 2 weight percent antistatic, 5 weight percent Kevlar. The core could also be made from 100 weight percent Aramid, or a combination of an Aramid-based fiber and other fibers (natural or man-made), or 100 weight percent non- Aramid fibers, provided that it will maintain the desired flame resistant properties and the arc resistant properties of the fabric 10.

[0027] The invention includes a method of making the fabric described above. In one such method (see Fig. 5), a face yarn, dyed to meet the high visibility standards of

ANSI/ISEA 107 2004 or CSA Z-96, is provided 100. Also, an Aramid-based core yarn is provided 103 in an amount that allows the fabric to meet the thermal protection performance standards of ASTM D4108-87 or the vertical flame test performance standards of ASTM F1506, or both. A core structure, such as a Jersey knit fabric, may be formed 106, and the face yarn may be woven 109 into the core structure in an amount sufficient to meet the high visibility standards of ANSI/ISEA 107 2004 or CSA Z-96. [0028] Having generally described a method that is in keeping with the invention, additional details are provided which serve to illustrate a particular way of executing that method. In an embodiment of the invention, the fabric 10 may be formed as a double velour fleece, knitted on a terry machine. The terry knit fabric 10 may have a plain jersey base formed by the core yarn 13, with the face yarns 16 interknit in selected rows of needle loops running from course to course, and drawn to their desired long length over a selected sinker height, or other suitable device. Figure 1 depicts such a fabric 10. The fabric 10 depicted in Figure 1 shows that the face yarn 16 is knitted to form a loop that will be used for napping, which will give the fleece appearance. The loop created by the face yarn 16 could be left loose to allow the face yarn 16 to float back and forth on either side of the core yarn 13, for example, by inserting the loop through the core structure but not securely attaching the loop to the core structure. Alternatively, the loop created by the face yarn 16 could be attached to the core structure in a manner which does not allow the loop to move back and forth, relative to the core structure. The invention could also be produced in other various types of fabric structures, including but not limited to various knits, as well as woven or non woven structures, by various techniques. For example, the fabric 10 may be woven or knit to achieve a warp and weft construction.

[0029] The fabric 10 described above may be constructed to provide excellent resistance to wind by selecting the size of the yarns and the knitting machine cut (the number of knitting needles per inch of cylinder). As an example, a suitable fabric 10 according to the invention can be made by using a 38/1 cotton-count yarn for the face and a 28/1 cotton-count yarn for the core. By increasing the size of the core yarn 13 relative to the face yarn 16, the space between wales is decreased and there is a reduction of the space around the face yarn 16. This results in a reduction of the space that is available for air flow through the fabric 10. It is believed that yarn sizes for the face and/or core may be as large as 5/1 cotton-count or as small as 45/1 cotton-count, depending on the characteristics desired by the fabric designer.

[0030] Selection of the yarn size used for the face and the yarn size used for the core may be influenced by the machine cut selected by the fabric designer. Also, it should be apparent that the difference in size between the face yarn 16 and the core yarn 13 should be selected in such a way that ensures that the finished fabric 10 has a desired face pile. For example, a desired face pile may be determined based on appearance and/or washing performance.

[0031] In addition, the size of the face yarn 16 relative to the core yarn 13 may be selected so that the face yarn 16 can move freely from one side of the fabric 10 to the other, in order to form an acceptable pile on each side of the fabric 10.

[0032] Furthermore, selection of the yarn sizes may be done so as to increase the number of courses per inch, so that air flow is minimized, but maintaining the freedom of the face yarn 16 to move from one side of the core structure to the other, and maintaining fabric elasticity. For example, we have found that a fabric 10 meeting the high visibility standards and fire/heat/electric arc standards can be made using 44 courses per inch. By tightening the core yarn 13 spacing around the face yarn 16, the movement of the face yarn 16 from one side of the core to another may be restricted or prevented. When the face yarn 16 is prevented from moving relative to the core, the face yarn 16 may be locked in place on one side of the core, and such an arrangement may be used to produce a single sided fleece structure.

[0033] The fabric 10 according to the invention may be produced without the built-in wind resistant features by creating a fabric 10 with fewer whales and courses for a given area of fabric 10, or by reducing the size of the core yarn 13 relative to the face yarn 16. [0034] The present invention can also be used in the production of fire resistant fabrics which stretch. To produce such a fabric 10, an elastomeric yarn may be wrapped with fire resistant fibers to protect it, or used in the core structure of the fabric 10 so as to hide and protect the elastomeric fibers of the core yarn 13 from heat by the face yarns 16. The result is a fabric 10 with an increased ability to stretch and recover. Whether protected by wrapping, or hidden by placing in the center, when exposed to fire or heat the elastomeric yarns are less likely to drip or melt, and thereby maintain characteristics that are important to a fire resistant fabric 10, without negatively impacting the high visibility or the ability of the fabric 10 to protect against electric arc, fire or heat resistance. [0035] Having described one embodiment of the invention in which at least two types of yarns are used, it should be noted that the invention is not limited to that embodiment. Another embodiment of the invention is a fabric, wherein the yarn used to make the fabric is an intimate blend of one or more Aramid-based fibers and one or more fibers which can be dyed, and the amount of each type of fiber is selected, to meet ANSI/ISEA 107 2004 or CSA Z-96. The yarn fibers may be selected so that the standards of ASTM D4108-87 and/or ASTM F1506 are met. Such a yarn may be used to fabricate a knit, woven or non-woven fabric, such as a jersey fabric, jogging fleece, or interlock which may be fashioned into a protective garment. In such a jersey fabric, yarn which forms the fabric would need to be relied on to supply both the high visibility characteristics and the characteristics associated with protecting the wearer from fire, heat and/or electric arc. It is believed that in order to meet the high visibility standards of ANSI/ISEA 107 2004, the Aramid-based fiber content would not be more than 50 weight percent, and probably would need to be less than 45 weight percent, or even 40 weight percent. It is believed that at least 20 weight percent Aramid-based fiber would be needed to meet the performance standards of ASTM F 1506 and/or ASTM D4108-87, but if the other fibers in the yarn have suitable characteristics, the Aramid-based fiber content may be lower than 20 weight percent. It should be noted that such yarns having an Aramid-based fiber content on the low end of the range, and in particular those having Aramid-based fiber content lower than 20 weight percent would probably need to include other fire-resistant and/or arc-resistant fibers in order to meet these standards. The fibers that are not Aramid-based may be selected from a range of options, including but not limited to viscose, polyester, nylon, rayon, modacrylic, cotton, wool, linen or any combination of these, in order to achieve the characteristics desired by the fabric designer. [0036] In a method of making such a fabric (see Fig. 6), a yarn is provided 200 which has an intimate blend of (a) one or more types of Aramid-based fibers, and (b) one or more types of dyeable fibers. The dyeable fibers are present in an amount which can achieve the high visibility standards of ANSI/ISEA 107 2004 or CSA Z-96. The dyeable fibers are dyed 206 to meet or exceed ANSI/ISEA 107 2004 or CSA Z-96 chromaticity and luminosity requirements for occupational activities for high visibility safety apparel. The yarn is formed 203 into a fabric. Dyeing 206 may occur before or after the yarn is formed into a fabric. If dying 206 occurs after the fabric is formed, the fabric may be dyed 206 to the desired high visibility chromaticity and luminosity, for example by using a pressurized jet dyeing machine. [0037] Dyes may include cationic, or basic dyestuff compositions. Appropriate dye chemicals and methods may be needed in order to dye viscose portions of the yarn.

Similarly, other fibers in the fabric may require different dyeing chemicals and methods. The Aramid-based components of the fabric may be left in their natural un-dyed state since they are hidden by the face yarn 16, and therefore have no effect on the outside appearance of the fabric. However, if desired, the Aramid-based components of the fabric could be dyed in a shade that will not affect or take away from the high visibility performance of the fabric. The decrease in visibility afforded by un-dyed Aramid-based components of the face yarn 16 should be offset by the ability to dye other components of the face yarn 16. Nevertheless, if required, the Aramid-based portion could be pre-dyed or stained in a shade that will not affect or take away from the high visibility performance of the fabric. Pre-dyed Aramid-based fibers could be used in the face yarn 16 or the core yarn 13 as part of an effort to maintain or improve the high visibility characteristics of the fabric.

[0038] As part of the dyeing cycle, finishing chemicals could be added to enhance the fabric performance, and/or add features, such as moisture management, anti-microbial, anti- odor, antistain, antistatic, sheen, softness, and/or to meet other performance requirements.

Such performance enhancing chemicals could be added after dyeing. For example, the fabric may be dried in an oven at which time application of chemicals for enhancing the

performance characteristics of the fabric may be applied.

[0039] Also, softeners may be applied to the fabric in order to help in the napping and brushing operations, which may follow the drying operation. The fabric may be subjected to a napping or fraying operation. Figure 2 depicts such an operation. Available fibers and fragments are brought to the surface of the fabric, thus raising the fibers to an upright position to modify the fabric's superficial characteristics, thereby increasing the thickness of the fabric. In doing so, the insulative qualities of the fabric may be increased.

[0040] Napping may be carried out in an installation that is equipped with metal needles 19. The napping tool may be a roller 22 with curved metal needles 19 called "workers". Generally, 24 to 36 workers 22 are arranged around a rotary drum 25. Some of the workers 22 are arranged to act with the pile, and others are arranged to act against the pile. The rotational speed of the pile needles 19 may be different from the rotational speed of the counterpile needles 19. Other techniques that could be used include, but are not limited to, immersing, brushing, and sanding. [0041] Then the fabric may be subjected to cropping or shearing, which involves the elimination of individual fibers emerging from the yarns (floating fibers) in order to give the surface of the fabric a uniform appearance by cutting the napped fibers. Cropping or shearing may be done with a cutting instrument (see Figure 3) , which may include a cylinder 28 with helical blades 31, a knife 34 which enables the cutting height to be kept uniform, and a fabric rest 37 on which the fabric is placed. Figure 4 depicts the finished fabric. The finish of the fabric after cropping or shearing has a good resistance to abrasion and rubbing, which will allow the fabric to maintain its desired characteristics after many wearings, careful washing and/or dry cleaning. After surface finishing is completed, the fabric may be heat-set in an oven to stabilize its dimension. A wickable, repellant, anti-microbial, anti-odor, anti-fungus or any other desired enhanced feature can be applied at this stage of the manufacturing process.

[0042] It should be noted that the finishing procedures outlined above are for the purpose of illustrating how the fabric might be manufactured to form a finished product. Other finishing processes may be used. [0043] The resulting fabric may be formed to meet both the ANSI/ISEA 107 and/or

CSA Z-96 standards for high visibility, and for arc rate testing under ASTM F1506. The fabric could be made to meet the antistatic standard of Method 5931 (1990), "Determination of Electrostatic Decay of fabrics", and the Electrostatic Discharge Association Advisory ESD ADVl 1.2-1995, "Triboelectric Charge Accumulation Testing requirement. In addition, the invention may be used to produce a fabric which is wind resistant and also is suitable for cold weather situations where high visibility and flame resistance is desired.

[0044] Although the present invention has been described with respect to one or more particular embodiments, it will be understood that other embodiments of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Hence, the present invention is deemed limited only by the appended claims and the reasonable interpretation thereof.