RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority to United States Patent Application No. 14/302,499, filed on June 12, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to hair accessories, and in particular a waterproof hair sleeve for use in keeping the free end portions of a user's hair dry, while permitting the user's scalp and the rooted portions of the user's hair adjacent to the scalp to be washed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For individuals with longer hair, the process of washing, conditioning, drying, and styling their hair can require a significant amount of time. Shampooing too frequently can furthermore lead to frizzy, damaged hair. On the other hand, infrequent shampooing can result in a build-up of oil from the sebaceous glands of the scalp, resulting in hair that is greasy looking.

Many individuals with longer hair use dry shampoo to reduce the oiliness of their hair. Dry shampoo is a powder or aerosol that is applied to the hair in order to absorb excess oil. While dry shampoos are useful in that they quickly reduce hair oiliness without getting the hair wet, they do not thoroughly clean the hair as effectively as regular shampooing, and they can leave an unsightly powdery residue.

Shower caps are often used by individuals with longer hair in order to prevent their hair from getting wet while they shower. While this eliminates the need to dry and restyle their hair after every shower, it does nothing to clean the hair or reduce its oiliness.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the need in the art for a product that can be used to reduce the oiliness of a user's hair, while avoiding at least some of the disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, the present invention provides a generally waterproof hair sock or sleeve, and more preferably a hair sock that selectively covers a collection of the free end portions of the user's hair, while leaving the user's scalp and the rooted portions of the hair exposed. This permits the scalp and rooted portions of the hair to be washed, thereby reducing the oiliness of the user's scalp and hair. Furthermore, because much of the user's hair remains dry, the hair damage caused by excessive shampooing, and the time required for washing, conditioning, drying, and styling the hair, can be significantly reduced.

In one aspect, the hair sock is provided as an elongated container or bag.

Preferably, the hair sock is formed from a light-weight, flexible material that is waterproof or water resistant, such as latex, polytetrafluoroethylene, vinyl, or any other suitable treated or untreated, synthetic or natural fabrics.

The hair sock has a hollow interior chamber or cavity, and an opening through which a gathered collection of the free end portions of the user's hair can be introduced into the interior cavity. Preferably, the opening is smaller than the user's scalp.

A closure assembly is provided near the opening for selectively sealing the opening around the rooted portions of the user's hair. This prevents water from flowing into the interior cavity while the user's scalp is being washed. The closure assembly can include, for example, a draw string, a collection of elastic bands, an adjustable hook and loop strap, a series of ties, clasps, buttons, or magnets, or a combination of one or more of the foregoing. Preferably, the closure assembly includes an elastomeric draw string that encircles the opening.

The hair sock is preferably designed to be rolled-up into a bun-like configuration that sits on top of the user's head. An arrangement of fasteners can be used to hold the bun together while the user's scalp is being washed.

When not in use, the hair sock can preferably be bundled-up into a compact form for easy storage. For example, a set of built-in pockets can be used for gathering the hair sock into a self-contained storage configuration. Alternatively, a system of fasteners, such as buttons or magnets, could be used to hold the hair sock in a folded or rolled-up state.

Accordingly, in one aspect the present invention resides in a hair sock for maintaining part of a user's hair in a substantially dry state, the hair comprising a plurality of hair strands, each hair strand having a rooted portion that is attached to the user's scalp and an associated free portion that extends from the rooted portion, the hair sock comprising: a flexible and substantially waterproof body extending from a proximal end having an opening to a closed distal end, the body defining an interior cavity open to said opening and sized for receiving a gathered collection of the free portions of a grouping of the hair strands; and a closure assembly for selectively constricting the opening against the associated rooted portions of the grouping of hair strands to seal the gathered collection of free portions within the interior cavity, leaving the user's scalp substantially exposed for washing.

Preferably the closure assembly comprises a draw string, and the body comprises a closed channel arranged circumferentially about the opening, the channel defining a hollow interior and having at least one hole formed therein that is open to the hollow interior; wherein said draw string comprises: a constricting portion at least partially disposed within the hollow interior of the channel; and a gripping portion extending out of the hole.

In one embodiment, the hair sock further comprises an anchor member that is connected to the body at the proximal end; wherein the gripping portion of the draw string comprises a connector selected for mechanical engagement with the anchor member; and wherein the draw string is configured to be held in a tensioned state by engagement of the connector with the anchor member. The anchor member preferably comprises a button, and the connector preferably comprises a loop.

In an especially preferred embodiment, the draw string comprises an elastic cord that is resiliently deformable between a relaxed state wherein the elastic cord has a relaxed length, and a stretched state wherein the elastic cord has a stretched length that is greater than the relaxed length. The stretched length of the elastic cord can be selected to permit the gripping portion to be wound circumferentially about the proximal end of the body at least once before the connector is engaged with the anchor member.

A second connector is optionally attached to the distal end of the body, and is provided for mechanical engagement with the anchor member to selectively hold the body in a bundled state. The body of the hair sock preferably has an arcuate shape, and a length from the proximal end to the distal end that ranges from about 30 cm to about 60 cm.

In preferred a embodiment, the opening has a constricted state and an

unconstricted state, and has a maximum circumference when in the unconstricted state that ranges from about 20 cm to about 45 cm.

In some embodiments of the invention, the rooted portion of each hair strand is a portion of the hair strand that is within 20 cm of a point of attachment to the user's scalp; and the free portion of each hair strand is a portion of the hair strand that is more than 20 cm from the point of attachment to the user's scalp.

In another aspect, the present invention resides in a method for maintaining part of a person's hair in a substantially dry state while washing the person's scalp, the hair comprising a plurality of hair strands, each hair strand having a rooted portion that is attached to the person's scalp and an associated free portion that extends from the rooted portion, the method comprising: inserting a gathered collection of the free portions of a grouping of the hair strands through an opening in a substantially waterproof sleeve and into an internal cavity of the sleeve; tightly securing the opening of the sleeve against the associated rooted portions of the grouping of hair strands to substantially prevent water from flowing into the interior cavity; and washing the person's scalp.

Preferably, the sleeve is flexible and extends from a first end to a second end, the opening being positioned at the first end and the second end being closed, and the method further comprises: winding the sleeve into a bun; and fastening an anchor member arranged at the first end of the sleeve to a connector arranged at the second end of the sleeve to hold the bun together.

Optionally, the sleeve comprises a draw string arranged circumferentially about the opening, the draw string having a second connector; and securing the opening of the sleeve against the rooted portions of the grouping of hair strands comprises: pulling on the second connector to tighten the draw string; and fastening the second connector to the anchor member to hold the draw string in a tightened state.

In a further aspect, the present invention resides in a hair sock for maintaining part of a user's hair in a substantially dry state while the user's scalp is washed, the hair comprising a plurality of hair strands, each hair strand having a rooted portion that is within 20 cm of a point of attachment to the user's scalp and an associated free portion that is more than 20 cm from the point of attachment, the hair sock comprising: a substantially waterproof body for selectively covering the free portions of a grouping of the hair strands, the body defining an interior cavity sized for receiving the free portions of the grouping of hair strands through an opening formed in the body, the opening having a maximum circumference selected to be smaller than a maximum circumference of the user's scalp; and a holding assembly for releasably securing the opening against the associated rooted portions of the grouping of hair strands so that water is substantially prevented from flowing into the interior cavity.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, the body comprises a flexible tube that extends from the opening to a closed end; and the hair sock further comprises a first fastening member attached to the body proximate to the opening; and a second fastening member attached to the body at the closed end; wherein the first fastening member and the second fastening member are selected to be releasably fastenable to one another.

Optionally, the holding assembly comprises a third fastening member selected to be releasably fastenable to the first fastening member; wherein at least one of a size, a texture and a shape of the second fastening member is different from a size, a texture or a shape, respectively, of the third fastening member, such that the second fastening member is distinguishable from the third fastening member by touch.

Preferably, the hair sock further comprises at least one storage pocket that is arranged on the body and defines a cavity sized for receiving part of the body therein in a compacted state.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference may now be made to the following detailed description taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a side view of a hair sock according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 shows a side view of the hair sock of Figure 1 , illustrating a second side of the hair sock;

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the hair sock of Figure 1 , illustrating an opening formed at one end thereof;

Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the hair sock of Figure 3 taken along line

4-4', illustrating a draw string arranged within a channel that encircles the opening;

Figure 5 shows a front view of the draw string illustrated in Figure 4;

Figures 6 to 8 show perspective views illustrating the manner of folding the hair sock of

Figure 1 for storage;

Figure 9 shows a side view of a user of the hair sock of Figure 1 , illustrating the rooted and free portions of the user's hair;

Figure 10 shows a side view of the user of Figure 9, with the hair sock of Figure 1 covering the free portions of the user's hair;

Figure 1 1 shows a side view of the user of Figure 10, with the draw string

constricting the opening of the hair sock against the rooted portions of the user's hair;

Figure 12 shows a side view of the user of Figure 11 , with the hair sock wrapped up in a bun; and

Figure 13 shows a close-up view of the hair sock illustrated in Figure 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference may first be had to Figure 1, which depicts a hair sleeve or sock 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The hair sock 10 includes a body 12, a closure assembly 14, a fastening loop 16, and a pair of cooperating storage pockets 18, 20 which, as will be described, allow the hair sock 10 to be rolled and retained in a compacted state for storage.

The body 12 is shown best in Figures 1 to 3 as an elongated, arcuate tube that extends from an open end 22 to a closed end 24. The body 12 is formed from a pair of coplanar side panels 26, 28 that provide the body 12 with an overall length 30 and width 32 and a radial curvature. The side panels 26, 28 are sealed together along their longitudinal sides 34, 36 and at the closed end 24, leaving an opening 38 at the open end 22 that opens into an interior cavity 40. As will be described, the interior cavity 40 is sized for selectively receiving a gathered collection 42 of the free portions 44 of the user's hair through the opening 38.

The side panels 26, 28 are made from a flexible, light-weight, and waterproof or water resistant material such as latex, polytetrafluoroethylene, or vinyl, although any other suitable flexible and water resistant materials could be used instead. The side panels 26, 28 can be joined together along their longitudinal sides 34, 36 and at the closed end 24 by stitching, adhesive, heat sealing, or any other suitable method that provides a substantially water-tight seal. This ensures that the body 12 is substantially impervious to water, which prevents the gathered collection 42 of the free portions 44 of the user's hair from getting wet when the hair sock 10 is in use. As will be described, the flexibility of the side panels 34, 36 permits the hair sock 10, together with the gathered collection 42 of the free portions 44 of the user's hair, to be rolled up into a bun configuration during use. The arcuate shape of the body 12 also facilitates rolling the sock 10 up into a bun. In particular, the radial curvature of the body 12 makes the hair sock 10 less resistant to being rolled-up, compared to a body 12 having a straight configuration. Preferably the body 12 is light-weight, which improves the comfort and stability of the hair sock 10 when in place on the user's head during use.

The length 30 of the body 12 from the open end 22 to the closed end 24 is preferably within the range of about 30 cm to about 60 cm. Preferably the hair sock 10 is available in a variety of different lengths 30. This allows a user to select a hair sock 10 having an appropriate length 30 based on the user's hair length. In particular, the length 30 can be selected to ensure that the interior cavity 40 is long enough to be capable of receiving the gathered collection 42 of the free portions 44 of the user's hair without leaving a large empty space at the bottom of the closed end 24. In an especially preferred embodiment, the length 30 is about 45 cm. This length 30 permits the hair sock 10 to be used by individuals having a variety of typical longer hair styles.

The body 12 preferably has a generally uniform width 32 of about 10 cm to about 20 cm, although the open end 22 is optionally slightly wider than the rest of the body 12. This ensures that the opening 38 is large enough to easily receive the gathered collection 42 of the free portions 44 of the user's hair. The opening 38 is sized to provide a maximum circumference that is preferably within the range of about 20 cm to about 45 cm. As will be described, the opening 38 does not receive the user's scalp 46 when the hair sock 10 is being used, but rather leaves the scalp 46 exposed for washing. The maximum circumference of the opening 38 can therefore be selected to be smaller than the maximum circumference of the user's scalp 46. In an especially preferred

embodiment, the maximum circumference of the opening 38 is about 30 cm. Preferably, the opening 38 is arranged on a slant which mimics the shape of the user's scalp 46.

The closure assembly 14 includes an elastomeric draw string 48 which is housed within a string channel 50, and an anchor button 52. The string channel 50 is shown best in Figures 3 and 4 as being formed as a closed channel extending circumferentially around the opening 38 at the open end 22 of the body 12. The channel 50 defines a hollow interior 54 that is sized to receive the draw string 48 therein. A pair of access holes 56, 58 are provided at radially opposed locations extending into the channel interior 54.

The draw string 48 is best shown in Figure 5 as being formed from an elastomeric cord 60 having a first end 62 and a second end 64. To position the draw string 48 in place around the opening 38, the first end 62 of the cord 60 is threaded into the access hole 56, through half of the channel 50, and out the access hole 58. The first end 62 is then drawn through the anchor button 52, inserted back in the access hole 58, and threaded through the other half of the channel 50 and out of the access hole 56. To maintain the draw string 48 in position, the first end 62 is then fastened to the second end 64. This can be done, for example, by tying the first end 62 and the second end 64 together in a knot 66. As will be described, the arrangement of the draw string 48 within the channel 50 permits the opening 38 to be selectively constricted around the rooted portions 68 of the user's hair.

The anchor button 52 is best shown in Figure 5 as having a generally oblong shape. The button 52 has holes 70 formed therein through which the cord 60 is threaded for holding the button 52 in place adjacent to the opening 38. As will be described, the button 52 is provided for mechanical engagement with the knot 66 to hold the draw string 48 in a tensioned state. The oblong shape is preferred because it provides a more secure engagement with the knot 66 as compared with a circular shape. An oblong shaped button 52 is furthermore easier to locate by touch and manually manipulate. This is advantageous, as the user must rely solely on her sense of touch to find and manipulate the button 52 when the hair sock 10 is in use.

A short elastic fastening loop 16 is preferably provided at the closed end 24 of the body 12, as shown in Figure 1. As will be described, the loop 16 is provided for mechanical engagement with the button 52 to hold the body 12 in a bundled or bun-like configuration. The loop 16 preferably has a different size, texture, and/or shape than the cord 60, so that the loop 16 and the cord 60 can be distinguished from one another by touch. This is advantageous, as the user will need to rely solely on her sense of touch when connecting and disconnecting the loop 16 and the knot 66 from the button 52. In a preferred embodiment, the loop 16 has a ribbon shape and the elastic cord 60 is cylindrical.

Figures 1 and 2 best show the storage pockets 18 and 20 as formed on panels 26 and 28, respectively, toward the closed end 24 of the body 12. The pocket 18 has an opening 72 that faces away from the closed end 24, and defines a cavity 74 with a size selected to permit the rest of the body 12 to be folded and received therein in a compacted state, as shown in Figure 6. The pocket 20 has the opposite orientation, with an opening 76 that faces towards the closed end 24, as shown in Figure 7. The flexible nature of the body 12 allows it to be refolded and received within the pocket 20 in an inverted arrangement, as shown in Figure 8. When inverted, the pocket 20 covers over the opening 72 of the pocket 18, preventing the folded-up body 12 from falling out of the cavity 74. The loop 16 remains accessible, and can be used for example to hang the hair sock 10 on a garment hook on a bathroom door.

In a most preferred use, the hair sock 10 is for maintaining a gathered collection 42 of the free portions 44 of a user's hair in a substantially dry state while the user's scalp 46 is being washed.

Figure 9 provides a schematic representation of the user's hair. The hair is made up of a plurality of individual hair strands 78 that are each attached to the user's scalp 46 at a point of attachment 80. Each hair strand 78 has a rooted portion 68 that is closest to the point of attachment 80, and a free portion 44 that extends from the rooted portion 68. For the purpose of describing the preferred embodiments of the invention, the rooted portion 68 can be described as the portion of the hair strand 78 that is within 20 cm of the point of attachment 80, and the free portion 44 can be described as the portion of the hair strand 78 that is more than 20 cm from the point of attachment 80.

To use the hair sock 10, the user first gathers a collection 42 of the free portions 44 of the user's hair strands 78, for example in a ponytail as shown in Figure 9. The collection 42 of free portions 44 are then inserted through the opening 38 of the hair sock 10 and into the interior cavity 40. As can be seen in Figure 10, the opening 38 is large enough to receive the collection 42 of the free portions 44 of the user's hair strands 78, but is not large enough to receive the user's scalp 46.

The user then pulls on the knot 66 to tighten the draw string 48, constricting the opening 38 around the rooted portions 68 of the user's hair. Preferably, the user's head is held upside-down while this is done, which helps to prevent the free portions 44 of the user's hair from falling out of the interior cavity 40 while the opening 38 is being constricted.

Because the cord 60 is elastomeric, pulling on the knot 66 also causes the cord 60 to stretch. In order to form a tight seal between the opening 38 and the rooted portions 68 of the user's hair, the cord 60 is stretched as much as possible, and is wrapped around the open end 22 of the body 12 as many times as possible, before the knot 66 is looped around the button 52. The engagement of the knot 66 with the button 52 holds the draw string 48 in a tensioned state, as shown in Figure 11. Furthermore, because of the elasticity of the cord 60, the portion of the cord 60 that is wrapped around the open end 22 of the body 12 tightly squeezes the open end 22 against the rooted portions 68 of the user's hair. This produces a substantially water tight seal.

The hair sock 10 is then rolled up into a bun-like configuration, as shown in Figure 12. This helps to hold the hair sock 10 in place and out of the way so that the user's scalp 46 can be washed. To hold the bun together, the loop 16 is fastened to the button 52. A close-up view showing in detail the connections of the knot 66 and the loop 16 to the button 52 is provided in Figure 13.

Once the hair sock 10 is secured in place, the user's scalp 46 can be washed with water and shampoo. The tight seal between the opening 38 and the rooted portions 68 of the user's hair prevents water from flowing into the interior cavity 40 and wetting the collected free portions 44 of the user's hair that are held therein. After the scalp 46 has been washed, the hair sock 10 can be left in place while the exposed rooted portions 68 dry. Alternatively, the hair sock 10 can be removed immediately. By allowing the user to wash her scalp 46 without getting the collected free portions 44 of her hair wet, the hair sock 10 reduces the hair damage that would otherwise occur with frequent shampooing, and furthermore significantly reduces the amount of time that is required in washing, drying, and styling the user's hair.

While the hair sock 10 has been described in the preferred embodiments as having an elongated tube shaped body 12, this shape is not strictly necessary. Rather, a skilled artisan would appreciate that other shapes could also be used if so desired, such as rectangular, triangular, elliptical, or irregular shapes. While an elongated arcuate tube is preferred, any other shape that adequately covers the collected free portions 44 of the user's hair could be used instead.

The body 12 has been described in the preferred embodiments as being flexible. While the flexibility of the body 12 has a number of advantages, such as permitting the hair sock 10 to be rolled up into a bun and folded into a compact form for easy storage, a skilled artisan would realize that this flexibility is not strictly necessary. For example, the body 12 could alternatively be formed from a material that is generally inflexible, so long as the opening 38 is provided with a suitable mechanism for tightly sealing against the rooted portions 68 of the user's hair.

While the hair sock 10 has been described as using a draw string 48 for sealing the opening 38 against the rooted portions 68 of the user's hair, other closure mechanisms could be used instead. For example, in alternate embodiments of the invention the draw string 48 is replaced with a set of removable elastic bands, or an adjustable hook and loop strap. Any closure mechanism known to a skilled artisan that suitably seals the opening 38 against the rooted portions 68 of the user's hair could be used.

The length 30 of the body 12 has been described in the preferred embodiments as within the range of about 30 cm to about 60 cm. While this range is preferred, a skilled reader will appreciate that a length 30 that falls outside of this range could be used if desired. For example, an individual with unusually long hair might require a hair sock 10 with a length 30 that is greater than 60 cm. While the hair sock 10 has been described in the preferred embodiments as using engagement of the knot 66 with the button 52 to hold the draw string 48 in a tensioned state, and engagement of the loop 16 with the button 52 to hold the hair sock 10 in a bun, other fastening mechanisms could be used instead. For example, hook and loop fasteners, clasps, ties, magnets, or any other suitable fastening mechanisms could be used if so desired. It is furthermore to be appreciated that the button 52 need not be attached to the cord 60, but could instead be directly attached to the body 12 at the open end 22.

In the preferred embodiments, the rooted portion 68 of each hair strand 78 has been described as the portion of the hair strand 78 that is within 20 cm of the point of attachment 80 to the scalp 46, and the free portion 44 has been described as the portion of the hair strand 78 that is more than 20 cm from the point of attachment 80. It is to be understood that the rooted portion 68 more generally refers to that portion of the hair strand 78 that is closest to the point of attachment 80, and which remains outside of the interior cavity 40, or is located within the interior cavity 40 only up to the point where the opening 38 constricts around the hair strand 78. In other words, the rooted portion 68 is the portion of the hair strand 78 that will become wet when the user washes her scalp 46 while using the hair sock 10. The free portion 44 is the portion of the hair strand 78 that is contained within the interior cavity 40 such that it does not become wet when the scalp 46 is washed.

A skilled reader will appreciate that the size of the user's head, the curliness of the user's hair, and the precise size and configuration of the hair sock 10 will affect how much of each hair strand 78 remains outside of the interior cavity 40 when the hair sock 10 is being used. As such, in some circumstances the point at which the hair strand 78 transitions from the rooted portion 68 (i.e. the portion of the hair strand 78 that is closest to the point of attachment 80 and which will become wet when the user's scalp 46 is washed) to the free portion 44 (i.e. the portion of the hair strand 78 that is completely contained within the interior cavity 40 such that it remains dry when the scalp 46 is washed) could be more or less than 20 cm from the point of attachment 80. It is therefore to be understood that the terms "rooted portion" 68 and "free portion" 44 as used herein are not intended to be strictly limited to the definitions provided in the preferred embodiments. While the hair sock 10 has been described in the preferred embodiments as being wrapped up in a bun-like configuration when the hair sock 10 is being used, a skilled reader will appreciate that it is not strictly necessary to do so. In particular, while this bun-like configuration keeps the body 12 of the hair sock 10 out of the way while the scalp 46 is being washed, and helps to prevent the hair sock 10 from sliding off of the collection 42 of the free portions 44 of the user's hair, it is not absolutely necessary in order for the invention to function. For example, so long as the opening 38 is held against the rooted portions 68 of the user's hair with a sufficiently tight grip so that the hair sock 10 is held firmly in place, and water is prevented from entering the interior cavity 40, the collected free portions 44 of the user's hair will remain dry regardless of whether the body 12 is rolled up into a bun.

The draw string 48 has been described in the preferred embodiments as being formed from an elastic cord 60. It is to be appreciated that the draw string 48 does not necessarily need to be formed from an elastic cord 60, and could instead be formed from a non-elastic material. An elastic cord 60 is preferable, however, because the inherent tendency of an elastic cord 60 to return from a stretched state having a stretched length to a relaxed state having a shorter, relaxed length facilitates the formation of a tight seal between the opening 38 and the rooted portions 68 of the user's hair.

While the body 12 has been described in the preferred embodiments as having a closed end 24, it is to be appreciated that the end 24 does not necessarily need to be closed. For example, the length 30 of the body 12 could be selected such that there is a large gap between the collected free portions 44 of the user's hair and the end 24. The hair sock 10 could furthermore be allowed to lie against the user's shoulders or back rather than being rolled up into a bun. With such a configuration the end 24 could be left open, because gravity would prevent any water from flowing up into the interior cavity 40 through the end 24.

It is to be understood that the hair sock 10 does not necessarily need to cover the free portions 44 of all of the user's hair strands 78. For example, a user with bangs could leave her bangs outside of the hair sock 10 while using the sock 10 to cover the free portions 44 of the rest of her hair. In other words, the hair sock 10 could be used to cover a gathered collection 42 of the free portions 44 of a selected subset or grouping of the user's hair strands 78. When the hair sock 10 is used in this way, the opening 38 is constricted only around the associated rooted portions 68 of the selected subset or grouping of hair strands 78, and not around the rooted portions 68 of all of the user's hair strands 78.

It will be understood that, although various features of the invention have been described with respect to one or another of the embodiments of the invention, the various features and embodiments of the invention may be combined or used in conjunction with other features and embodiments of the invention as described and illustrated herein.

Although this disclosure has described and illustrated certain preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not restricted to these particular embodiments. Rather, the invention includes all embodiments which are functional or mechanical equivalents of the specific embodiments and features that have been described and illustrated herein.