BACKGROUND

Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to toilets and, more particularly, to a liquid containment device installable between a toilet seat and a toilet rim that prevents urine from splashing off the toilet rim or out of the toilet onto the floor, the side of the toilet or the clothing of the person urinating.

Description of Related Art

When males urinate from a standing position into a common western sitting style toilet it is very common for urine and toilet bowl water to splash back from the toilet. This splash back undesirably gets on the toilet rim, the toilet seat, the floor, and often the person urinating, contributing to the spread of bacteria and other unsanitary or unpleasant conditions. It is also common for the person urinating to entirely miss the toilet, or direct the urine stream to the toilet bowl rim. This happens for a variety of reasons, including the initial part of the urine stream not going in the direction it was intended, insufficient lighting for using the toilet, the person being new to urinating in a toilet as is common with young boys, water splashing out of the toilet from the impact of the urine stream with the toilet water, or the person simply not paying attention to the direction of the urine stream.

In addition, when finishing the process of urination in a toilet it is often required for the person to give the penis a couple of shakes to shed of the final few drops of urine. These final few drops typically land on the toilet bowl rim closest to the person urinating. Whenever urine hits a bare toilet bowl rim, whether it is a full stream or merely a drop, it will generally splash off the rim onto the floor. It may also ran down the outside of the toilet bowl and onto the floor. It can also splash and splatter on the person urinating. This creates an unpleasant and unsanitary situation which is often spread throughout the building as people can step in the urine on the floor and then walk out of the bathroom and into different areas of the building.

As such, there exists a need for a device that is capable of catching and collecting stray urine that would otherwise contact the toilet bowl rim and direct the collected urine back toward the toilet bowl, and not allow any of the urine to flow onto the floor around the toilet, while keeping the rim clean. It would also be desirable for the device to prevent any stray urine caught thereby from splashing upward or radially outward of the toilet bowl.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The above and other needs are met by aspects of the present disclosure which, in one aspect, comprises a liquid collection device for a toilet is adapted to be received between a rim of a bowl of the toilet and a toilet seat. The rim of the bowl has an outer rim edge and an opposed inner rim edge. A liquid collection platform extends continuously about the rim and has a lower surface and an opposed drainage surface. The drainage surface extends radially inward from about the outer rim edge and past the inner rim edge, and defines a decline therebetween, such that any liquid collected on the drainage surface drains along the decline past the inner rim edge to drain into the bowl of the toilet.

The present disclosure thus includes, without limitation, the following embodiments:

Embodiment 1: A liquid collection device for a toilet, the device being adapted to be received between a rim of a bowl of the toilet and a toilet seat, the rim of the bowl having an outer rim edge and an opposed inner rim edge, the device comprising: a liquid collection platform extending continuously about the rim and having a lower surface and an opposed drainage surface, the drainage surface extending radially inward from about the outer rim edge and past the inner rim edge, and defining a decline therebetween, such that any liquid collected on the drainage surface drains along the decline past the inner rim edge to drain into the bowl of the toilet.

Embodiment 2: The device of any preceding embodiment, or any combination of preceding embodiments, wherein the drainage surface includes an outer border and comprises a wall disposed about and extending above the outer border of the drainage surface to prevent liquid from flowing radially outward from the drainage surface.

Embodiment 3: The device of any preceding embodiment, or any combination of preceding embodiments, wherein the drainage surface includes an inner border dispose radially inward from and opposing the outer border, and comprises a lip disposed about the inner border and extending downwardly from the drainage surface so as to prevent liquid draining from the drainage surface from wicking onto the lower surface of the liquid collection platform.

Embodiment 4: The device of any preceding embodiment, or any combination of preceding embodiments, comprising one or more rim spacers extending from and about the lower surface of the liquid collection platform, the one or more rim spacers being arranged to space the liquid collection platform apart from the rim of the bowl and to interact with the inner rim edge so as to laterally maintain the liquid collection platform with respect to the rim of the bowl.

Embodiment 5: The device of any preceding embodiment, or any combination of preceding embodiments, wherein the toilet seat is connected to the rim of the bowl by one or more fasteners extending therebetween, and wherein the device comprises a mount engaged with and extending laterally from the liquid collection platform, the mount being arranged between the toilet seat and the rim of the bowl such that the one or more fasteners extend through the mount and secure the liquid collection platform between the toilet seat and the rim of the bowl.

Embodiment 6: The device of any preceding embodiment, or any combination of preceding embodiments, wherein the liquid collection platform is removably engaged with the mount, and arranged such that the removable engagement therebetween prevents lateral movement of the liquid collection platform with respect to the mount.

Embodiment 7: The device of any preceding embodiment, or any combination of preceding embodiments, comprising a handle engaged with the liquid collection platform and extending laterally outward from the outer border thereof, the handle being arranged to facilitate removal of the liquid collection platform from the mount for cleaning.

Embodiment 8: The device of any preceding embodiment, or any combination of preceding embodiments, comprising a splash mitigation device arranged to be received on the drainage surface, the splash mitigation device including a plurality of concentrically -arranged and spaced-apart fin members extending continuously around the drainage surface, the fin members having fin surfaces arranged to prevent liquid impinging thereon from above from being deflected upward or radially outward with respect to the drainage surface.

Embodiment 9: The device of any preceding embodiment, or any combination of preceding embodiments, wherein the fin members comprise a radially innermost fin member, and wherein the splash mitigation device comprises a inner wall having a planar cross section and being disposed concentrically with and radially inward of the innermost fin member.

Embodiment 10: The device of any preceding embodiment, or any combination of preceding embodiments, wherein the fin members each include a cross-section formed as a crescent having a convex surface and an opposed concave surface, wherein the convex surface of each fin is disposed radially outward relative to the inner border of the drainage surface.

Embodiment 11: The device of any preceding embodiment, or any combination of preceding embodiments, comprising one or more spacers extending from and about a lower portion of the splash mitigation device, the one or more spacers being arranged to space the fin members apart from the drainage surface such that any liquid captured by and draining from the fin members onto the drainage surface is allowed to drain along the drainage surface past the fin members.

Embodiment 12: The device of any preceding embodiment, or any combination of preceding embodiments, wherein the liquid collection platform comprises one or more splash mitigation device spacers extending upwardly from the drainage surface, the one or more splash mitigation device spacers being arranged to space the fin members apart from the drainage surface such that any liquid captured by and draining from the fin members onto the drainage surface is allowed to drain along the drainage surface past the fin members.

Embodiment 13: The device of any preceding embodiment, or any combination of preceding embodiments, the splash mitigation device includes one or more support portions corresponding to support pads of the toilet seat, the support portions interacting with the support pads so as to support the toilet seat with respect to the liquid collection platform and the rim of the bowl.

Embodiment 14: The device of any preceding embodiment, or any combination of preceding embodiments, comprising a liquid sensor operably engaged with the liquid collection platform and an illumination device operably engaged with the liquid sensor, the liquid sensor being arranged to actuate the illumination device to illuminate the bowl of the toilet in response to the liquid sensor sensing liquid draining along the drainage surface. Embodiment 15: The device of any preceding embodiment, or any combination of preceding embodiments, comprising a cleaning device engaged with and extending about the wall, the cleaning device being arranged to dispense a cleaning liquid onto the drainage surface about the outer border thereof such that the cleaning liquid draining along the decline of the drainage surface cleans the drainage surface.

Embodiment 16: The device of any preceding embodiment, or any combination of preceding embodiments, wherein the cleaning device is arranged to fluidly engage a toilet tank water fill valve so as to receive water therefrom as the cleaning liquid dispensed from the cleaning device.

Embodiment 17: The device of any preceding embodiment, or any combination of preceding embodiments, wherein the drainage surface is arcuate, and wherein a slope of the decline increases radially inward from about the outer rim edge to the inner rim edge.

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent from a reading of the following detailed description together with the accompanying drawings, which are briefly described below. The present disclosure includes any combination of two, three, four, or more features or elements set forth in this disclosure or recited in any one or more of the claims, regardless of whether such features or elements are expressly combined or otherwise recited in a specific embodiment description or claim herein. This disclosure is intended to be read holistically such that any separable features or elements of the disclosure, in any of its aspects and embodiments, should be viewed as intended to be combinable, unless the context of the disclosure clearly dictates otherwise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus described the disclosure in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIGS. 1-3 schematically illustrate a liquid containment device engaged with a toilet, according to one aspect of the present disclosure; and

FIGS. 4-9 schematically illustrate various view of a liquid collection platform and a splash mitigation device collectively forming a liquid collection device according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof. These exemplary embodiments are described so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. Indeed, the disclosure is embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. The various aspects of the present disclosure mentioned above, as well as many other aspects of the disclosure, are described in further detail herein. FIGS. 1-3 schematically illustrate a liquid collection device 200 for a toilet 100, wherein the device 200 is adapted to be received between a rim 110 of a bowl 120 of the toilet 100, and a toilet seat 130. The rim 110 of the bowl 120 has an outer rim edge 112 and an opposed inner rim edge 114. The liquid collection device 200 comprises a liquid collection platform 250 (see, e.g., FIGS. 4-9) extending continuously about the rim 110 and having a lower surface 260 and an opposed drainage surface 280. The drainage surface 280 extends radially inward from about the outer rim edge 112 and past the inner rim edge 114, and defines a decline therebetween, such that any liquid collected on the drainage surface 280 drains along the decline past the inner rim edge 114 to drain into the bowl 120 of the toilet 100. The decline of the drainage surface 280 may have a constant slope of up to about -35 degrees. In other instances, the drainage surface 280 may decline at a variable negatively -increasing slope progressing radially inward toward the inner rim edge 114. In still other instances, the drainage surface 280 is arcuate, and the slope of the decline negatively increases radially inward from about the outer rim edge 112 to the inner rim edge 114. In some instances, the drainage surface 280 may extend radially outward of the outer rim edge 112, for example, up to 8 inches or more outside the outer rim edge 112. The drainage surface 280 may also, in other instances, extend radially inward of the inner rim edge 114 so as to prevent or mitigate toilet water from splashing out of the bowl 120.

The drainage surface 280 includes an outer border 282 and comprises a wall 284 disposed about and extending above the outer border 282 of the drainage surface 280 (see, e.g., FIGS. 4 and 8). The wall 284 is configured to prevent liquid from flowing radially outward from the drainage surface 280. The drainage surface 280 also includes an inner border 286 dispose radially inward from and opposing the outer border 282. The drainage surface 280 may further comprise a lip 288 disposed about the inner border 286 and extending downwardly from the drainage surface 280 so as to prevent liquid draining from the drainage surface 280 toward the bowl 120 from wicking onto the lower surface 260 of the liquid collection platform 250.

In some aspects, one or more rim spacers 290 may extend from and about the lower surface 260 of the liquid collection platform 250, wherein the one or more rim spacers 290 may be arranged to space the liquid collection platform 250 apart from the rim 110 of the bowl 120 (see, e.g., FIG. 5). The one or more rim spacers 290 may be further arranged to interact with the inner rim edge 114 so as to laterally maintain (e.g., center) the liquid collection platform 250 with respect to the rim 110 of the bowl 120. The one or more rim spacers 290 may be attached to or otherwise engaged with the liquid collection platform 250, or may be formed integrally therewith. In some instances, the one or more rim spacers 290 may space the liquid collection platform 250 apart from the rim 110 by about 1/8 inch to about ¼ inch.

In some aspects, the toilet seat 130 is connected to the rim 110 of the bowl 120 by one or more fasteners 300 extending therebetween (see, e.g., FIG. 3). In such instances, the liquid collection device 200 may comprise a mount or mount portion 350 engaged with and extending laterally from the liquid collection platform 250 (see, e.g., FIG. 9), wherein the mount/mount portion 350 is arranged between the toilet seat 130 and the rim 110 of the bowl 120 such that the one or more fasteners 300 extend through the toilet seat 130, the mount/mount portion 350, and the rim 110, and secure the liquid collection platform 250 between the toilet seat 130 and the rim 110 of the bowl 120. In some particular instances (see, e.g., FIG. 7), the liquid collection platform 250 is removably engaged with the mount/mount portion 350, and is arranged such that the removable engagement therebetween prevents lateral movement of the liquid collection platform 250 with respect to the mount/mount portion 350 (e.g., the liquid collection platform 250 is not movable in the plane of the rim 110).

In some instances, a handle 375 may be engaged with the liquid collection platform 250 (see, e.g., FIG. 4-6 and 9). The handle 375 is arranged to extending laterally outward from the outer border 282 of the liquid collection platform 250. The handle 375 may be affixed or otherwise securely engaged with (e.g., formed integrally with) the liquid collection platform 250, though in other instances, the handle 375 may be removably engaged with the liquid collection platform 250 so as to be implemented only when needed. The handle 375 may be arranged to facilitate removal of the liquid collection platform 250 from the mount/mount portion 350 for cleaning of the liquid collection platform 250 and replacing the same with respect to the mount/mount portion 350. In some instances, the removably engaged liquid collection platform 250 may be disposable such that a soiled liquid collection platform 250 can merely be replaced with a replacement.

In some aspects, the liquid collection device 200 may comprise a splash mitigation device 400 arranged to be received on the drainage surface 280 (see, e.g., FIG. 1-3 and 5-9). The splash mitigation device 400 can be removably engaged with the liquid collection platform 250 (e.g., by clips or magnetic materials) or may be secured to the liquid collection platform 250 (e.g., by an adhesive or fasteners). The splash mitigation device 400, in some instances, includes a plurality of concentrically -arranged and spaced- apart fin members 425 extending continuously around the drainage surface 280 (see, e.g., FIG. 8). The fin members 425 have fin surfaces 425A, 425B arranged to prevent liquid impinging thereon from above from being deflected upward or radially outward with respect to the drainage surface 280. In some instances, the fin members 425 comprise a radially innermost fin member 430, and the splash mitigation device 400 further comprises an inner wall 440 having a planar cross section and being disposed concentrically with and radially inward of the innermost fin member 430. The inner wall 440 thus serves as the inner border of the splash mitigation device 400. In mitigating splashing of liquid impinging thereon from above (e.g., preventing or minimizing the liquid from being deflected upward or radially outward with respect to the drainage surface 280), the fin members 425 may each include, for example, a cross-section formed as a crescent having a convex surface 425A and an opposed concave surface 425B, wherein the convex surface 425 A of each fin 425 is disposed radially outward relative to the inner border 286 of the drainage surface 280. In some aspects, the fin members 430 of the splash mitigation device 400 may be configured to define a substantially planar upper surface, but otherwise have a lower surface substantially conforming to and being spaced apart from the drainage surface 280 of the liquid collection platform 250. In such instances, for example, the radially outward fin members 425 have less of a vertical dimension (are vertically shorter) than the radially inward fin members 425 and the innermost fin member 430. In another aspect, one or more splash mitigation device spacers 450 may extend from and about a lower portion of the splash mitigation device 400 (see, e.g., FIG. 8), wherein the one or more splash mitigation device spacers 450 are arranged to space the fin members 425 apart from the drainage surface 280 such that any liquid captured by and draining from the fin members 425 onto the drainage surface 280 is allowed to drain along the drainage surface 280 past the fin members 425 and into the toilet bowl 120. However, in particular aspects, the liquid collection platform 250 may comprise one or more splash mitigation device spacers 460 extending upwardly from the drainage surface 280 (see, e.g., FIG. 4), wherein the one or more splash mitigation device spacers 460 are arranged to space the fin members 425 apart from the drainage surface 280 such that any liquid captured by and draining from the fin members 425 onto the drainage surface 280 is allowed to drain along the drainage surface 280 past the fin members 425 and into the toilet bowl 120. The one or more splash mitigation device spacers 450 / 460 may be attached to, formed integrally with, or otherwise engaged with the splash mitigation device 400 and/or the drainage surface 280, as necessary or appropriate, and serve to space the splash mitigation device 400 from the drainage surface, for example, from about 0.1 inches to about 0.5 inches. In some instances, the splash mitigation device 400 may include one or more support portions 500 (see, e.g., FIG. 9) corresponding, for example, to support pads 135 of the toilet seat 130, wherein the support portions 500 are arranged to interact with the support pads 135 so as to support the toilet seat 130 with respect to the liquid collection platform 250 and the rim 110 of the bowl 120.

In some aspects, a liquid sensor 550 may be operably engaged with the liquid collection platform 280 and an illumination device 600 may be operably engaged with the liquid sensor 550 (see, e.g., FIG. 4), wherein the liquid sensor 550 is arranged to actuate the illumination device 600 to illuminate the bowl 120 of the toilet and/or the liquid collection device 200 in response to the liquid sensor 550 sensing liquid draining along the drainage surface 280. For example, the illumination device 600 may comprise a light source (e.g., LEDs) engaged with the liquid collection platform 250 and/or the splash mitigation device 400. In one alternative, the sensor 550 engaged with the illumination device 600 may comprise a vibration sensor sensitive to vibration caused by splashing or liquid thereon or on the liquid collection platform 250. The sensor 550 and the illumination device 600 may be powered by a power source (not shown) such as a battery. In other instances, the liquid collection platform 250 and/or the splash mitigation device 400 may be comprised of or have engaged therewith a phosphorescent material so as to provide a“glow in the dark” property. This aspect thus provides for illumination of the toilet bowl 120 in low light conditions or when liquid impinging on the liquid collection platform 250 is sensed.

The liquid collection device 200 can be manually cleaned, for example, by using a toilet brush with water or any common bathroom cleaners, or by simply pouring clean water onto the liquid collection device 200. In other instances, as previously disclosed, the liquid collection device 200 can be cleaned by removing the liquid collection platform 250 and/or the splash mitigation device 400 and rinsing/washing the same at a remote location. However, in other aspects, a cleaning device 650 (see, e.g., FIG. 4) may be engaged with and extend about a radially inward portion of the wall 284 disposed about and extending above the outer border 282 of the drainage surface 280. The cleaning device 650 may be arranged to dispense a cleaning liquid onto the drainage surface 280 about the outer border 282 thereof such that the cleaning liquid draining along the decline of the drainage surface 280 cleans the drainage surface 280. In some instances, the cleaning device 650 may comprise a perforated conduit extending about the radially inward portion of the wall 284, wherein the perforated conduit is arranged to fluidly engage a toilet tank water fill valve (not shown) so as to receive water therefrom as the cleaning liquid dispensed from the cleaning device 650.

In various examples, the liquid collection device 200 is configured and arranged with respect to a toilet for urine collection (and drainage into the toilet bowl), and as a splash mitigation (blocking/deflection) device for urine impinging on the device 200. The device 200 may be comprised of a circular or oblong, molded or fabricated ring disposed atop the rim of a toilet bowl, between the rim and the toilet seat, and which is attached between the toilet bowl and toilet seat, for example, by the fasteners usually fastening the toilet seat to the bowl. In this manner, the device 200 comprises an extra component or layer which will additionally space the toilet seat from the rim by the thickness of device 200 which, in various aspects, may be up to about 2 inches thick.

The ring configuration of the device 200 is similar to the round or oblong shape of the rim of the toilet bowl to which it is applied. The ring/device 200 may be slightly wider than the rim of the toilet bowl. The ring/device 200 defines a hole in the middle which is approximately the same inside dimension as the inside dimension of the rim of the toilet bowl. The ring/device 200 is essentially installed between the existing toilet seat and the rim of the toilet bowl, and is secured in place by the existing toilet seat bolts. The ring/device 200 may be configured as a single element, including the portion secured by the toilet seat bolts, so as to provide, for example, theft or removal resistance. However, the device 200 may also be formed as a two-piece assembly, including a spacer installed and secured by the toilet seat bolts, and the ring portion removably engaged with the spacer. The spacer vertically raises the toilet seat to allow space for the ring portion between the seat and the rim. Further, spacer and the ring portion may define complementary engagement shapes that, when engaged, provide a secure engagement for the ring portion to the spacer, and prevent the ring portion from lateral movement with respect to the spacer. In such instance, the ring portion is readily removable for cleaning by lifting vertically such that the ring portion disengages from the spacer and the toilet. In other instances, the ring portion can be removably attached to the spacer using magnetic material engagement.

The ring/device 200 includes a top layer and a bottom layer. The bottom layer is configured as a tray or platform encircling the rim of the toilet bowl, and is configured to decline from the outside of the rim toward the inside of the rim so as to slope toward the toilet bowl. Any urine/liquid that lands on the bottom layer is directed by gravity into the bowl. The bottom layer also has a lip extending around the underside of the radially inner edge to prevent urine from weeping or wicking to the underside of the bottom layer. The top surface of the bottom layer may have a smooth surface. The top surface of the bottom layer may alternately have a textured surface to manipulate the disposition of urine collected thereon and/or help to mitigate splashback created by urine impinging on the top surface. The upper layer acts as a semi-permeable mesh, grid, or grate which presents a favorable profile for stray urine to impact while minimizing splashback, while acting as a splash blocking layer for urine or liquid splashing back from the lower surface of the ring/device 200 or splashing back from the toilet bowl (since the ring/device 200 extends radially inward of the inner rim edge 114). In some instances, the upper layer comprises a series of concentrically -arranged fins or deflectors, wherein the arrangement therebetween minimizes or eliminates straight passages through the fins/deflectors, and to minimize or eliminate horizontal surfaces. For example, the fms/deflectors may be variably angled from greater than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees from vertical to form a grid/mesh/grate that minimizes surfaces that would create a splash or that would direct a splash of liquid upward or radially outward of the toilet bowl (e.g., toward the person urinating) when the upper layer is impacted or impinged by stray urine from a person urinating in a standing position. In some instances, the fins/deflectors may be angled and overlap, thereby forming a splash guard for liquid splashing from the toilet bowl. In other instances, the upper layer may include words, shapes, or designs incorporated into the grate/grid/mesh.

The upper layer may be, for example, about ¼ to ½ inch thick and comprised of 5 to 14 concentric fins/rings each having a cross-sectional shape that directs stray urine impinging thereon radially inward toward the toilet bowl and minimizes surfaces that would create splashback. The radially outermost fins/rings form a barrier between the toilet seat and toilet bowl to block urine that may otherwise be splashed out of the front side of the toilet from a person urinating in the seated position. In some instances, the fins/deflectors in the upper layer may have a reinforced portion with vertical members or vanes that extend through the upper layer to contact the bottom layer, and arranged to have the pads for the toilet seat to resting on when the toilet seat is down. This arrangement provides effective and robust support for the toilet seat and the full weight of a person sitting on the toilet seat, while allowing stray urine to drain therethrough with minimal splashback.

The upper and lower layers are affixed together to form one assembly, and may be formed of the same material or different materials. For example, both layers may be formed from plastic, metal or any other suitable material. Commercial applications of the device may be comprised of, for example, stainless steel for durability. Either or both of the upper and lower layers may be comprised of an aromatic or scent infused material, or may have a deodorizer gel bonded thereto. In some instances, either or both layers may be comprised of, for example, an aromatic anti-bacterial material, or may have an anti-bacterial material applied thereto. In other instances, either or both layers may be comprised of a hydrophobic material or have surfaces thereof coated with a hydrophobic coating to repel liquids.

Many modifications and other aspects of the disclosure set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this disclosure pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not to be limited to the specific aspects disclosed and that modifications and other aspects are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. It should be understood that although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various steps or calculations, these steps or calculations should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one operation or calculation from another. For example, a first calculation may be termed a second calculation, and, similarly, a second step may be termed a first step, without departing from the scope of this disclosure. As used herein, the term“and/or” and the“G symbol includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

As used herein, the singular forms“a”,“an” and“the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms“comprises”, “comprising”,“includes”, and/or“including”, when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. Therefore, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting.