Abstrict A side garnish molding assembly for use in a motor vehicle is provided
which includes inner and outer panels and a partition extending
between and integral with the inner and outer panels. The assembly
also includes an air curtain cavity defined by the partition in
combination with the inner and outer panels and at least one deployable
air curtain disposed in the cavity.
Claims What is claimed is:
1. A side garnish molding assembly for use in a motor vehicle comprising:
an inner panel, an outer panel and a partition extending between
and integral with said inner and outer panels; an air curtain cavity
defined by said partition in combination with said inner and outer
panels; at least one deployable air curtain disposed within said
air curtain cavity; a plurality of longitudinally spaced flanges
integral with and extending away from said inner panel; and a plurality
of clips having a like number as said plurality of flanges, each
of said clips having an open end in contacting, clamping engagement
with one of said flanges, each of said clips having an opposite
end adapted for insertion through a mating aperture formed in a
structure of the motor vehicle.
2. An assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein: said inner panel
includes a substrate and a cover integral with said substrate; said
cover faces an interior of the motor vehicle when said assembly
is installed in the motor vehicle.
3. An assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising: a head-impact-countermeasure
cavity disposed above said air curtain cavity, said head-impact-countermeasure
cavity being defined by said partition in combination with said
inner and outer panels.
4. An assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein: said inner panel
comprises a substrate, said substrate of said inner panel, said
outer panel and said partition being made as a unitary construction;
said assembly further comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced
mount hooks integral with said outer panel, said mount hooks being
adapted for receiving mating hooks of a structure of the motor vehicle.
5. A side garnish molding assembly for use in a motor vehicle comprising:
an inner panel having a substrate; an outer panel; a partition extending
between and integral with said inner and outer panels, said substrate
of said inner panel, said outer panel and said partition being formed
as a unitary construction; an upper, head-impact-countermeasure
cavity and a separate, lower, air curtain cavity, said head-impact-countermeasure
cavity and said air curtain cavity being defined by said partition
in combination with said inner and outer panels; and at least one
deployable air curtain disposed within said lower air curtain cavity.
6. An assembly as recited in claim 5, wherein: said inner panel
includes at least one deployment portion, each said deployment portion
being generally aligned with one of said at least one deployable
air curtains, said at least one deployment portion of said inner
panel being operably effective for pivoting open away from said
outer panel when a corresponding one of said air curtains is deployed.
7. An assembly as recited in claim 5, further comprising: a plurality
of longitudinally spaced mount hooks integral with said outer panel,
said mount hooks being operably effective for receiving mating hooks
of a structure of the motor vehicle.
8. A side garnish molding assembly for use in a motor vehicle comprising:
an inner panel including an upper portion and a lower portion; an
outer panel; a partition extending between and integral with said
inner and outer panel; an upper, head-impact-countermeasure cavity
and a lower air curtain cavity, said upper and lower cavities being
defined by said partition in combination with said inner and outer
panels; an air curtain assembly disposed within said lower air curtain
cavity, said air curtain assembly including at least one deployable
air curtain; said inner panel including at least one deployment
portion, each said deployment portion being generally aligned with
one of said at least one deployable air curtains, said at least
one deployment portion of said inner panel being operably effective
for pivoting open away from said outer panel when a corresponding
one of said air curtains is deployed, said outer panel being integral
with said upper portion of said inner panel and in contacting engagement
with said lower portion of said inner panel when said air curtain
is stowed and not deployed, said outer panel being otherwise spaced
apart from said inner panel; a plurality of longitudinally spaced
and upwardly extending flanges integral with said upper portion
of said inner panel, said flanges being spaced apart from said outer
panel toward an upper edge of said inner panel; and a plurality
of clips having a like number as said plurality of flanges, each
of said clips having an open end in contacting, clamping engagement
with one of said flanges, each of said clips having an opposite,
substantially closed end operably effective for being inserted through
a mating aperture formed in a sheet metal structure of the motor
vehicle.
9. An assembly as recited in claim 6, wherein: each said deployment
portion includes an upper, proximal side, a lower, distal side,
and first and second ends longitudinally spaced from one another;
and said proximal side of said deployment portion is hingedly connected
to an adjacent portion of said inner panel via a hinge.
10. An assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein: said hinge is a
living hinge.
11. An assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein: said distal side
of each of said deployment portions of said inner panel terminates
in a hook; and said outer panel includes at least one deployment
portion aligned with said at least one deployment portion of said
inner panel, each said deployment portion of said outer panel having
a distal side terminating in an outwardly extending flange, said
flange being in contacting engagement with a corresponding one of
said hooks when said at least one air curtain is in a stowed position.
12. An assembly as recited in claim 5, further comprising: at least
one bushing extending between and integral with said inner and outer
panels, said at least one bushing having a bore formed therein;
and at least one plug, said at least one plug having a shank portion
shaped for engagement with said bore of said at least one bushing;
said plug including an interior bore extending partially therethrough
and terminating in a land, said land being operably effective for
receiving a head of a conventional fastener when said assembly is
secured to the motor vehicle.
13. An assembly as recited in claim 5, wherein: said outer panel
includes at least one access door to facilitate inserting said at
least one deployable air curtain within said lower air curtain cavity.
14. A method of installing a side garnish molding assembly for
use in a motor vehicle comprising the steps of: hooking a portion
of the molding assembly onto a metal structure of the vehicle; rotating
an upper portion of the molding assembly toward a roof of the motor
vehicle; clipping an upper portion of the molding assembly to the
metal structure of the motor vehicle.
15. An assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein: said opposite end
of each of said clips is resilient to facilitate insertion into
a mating aperture of a structure of the motor vehicle.
16. An assembly as recited in claim 5, wherein: said substrate
of said inner panel, said outer panel and said partition are made
of a thermoplastic material.
17. An assembly as recited in claim 5, wherein: said substrate
of said inner panel, said outer panel and said partition are formed
by a blow molding process.
18. An assembly as recited in claim 5, wherein: said substrate
of said inner panel, said outer panel and said partition are formed
by an injection molding process.
19. An assembly as recited in claim 5, wherein: said inner panel,
said outer panel and said partition extend longitudinally from a
front portion of the motor vehicle to a rear portion of the motor
vehicle and are disposed above a front side window and a second
row side window during normal usage. Description FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to trim assemblies for the interior
of motor vehicles, and more particularly, to a modular side garnish
molding assembly incorporating one or more air curtains.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Side mounted air curtain assemblies are known in the automotive
art and are designed primarily to keep occupants within a motor
vehicle during a rollover event. Such air curtain assemblies have
found particular application in certain vehicles, such as sport
utility vehicles, known to experience rollovers.
One known air curtain assembly comprises an elongated plastic box
containing an air manifold and air curtain within the box. Typically
a vehicle has two such assemblies, one mounted on each side, with
each assembly extending longitudinally between the front and rear
ends of the vehicle. With known assemblies of this type, the box
is attached directly to a sheet metal structure of the vehicle via
a plurality of mount brackets and associated fasteners. The fasteners
extend through holes in the brackets and are torqued directly to
the sheet metal structure of the vehicle.
Air curtain assemblies of this type also include a source of gas
to inflate the air curtain, typically comprising pellets of various
solids known in the art, housed in a canister. When a sensor, typically
mounted within the instrument panel of the vehicle, senses vehicle
side loads indicating that a rollover condition is imminent, an
electric charge is sent to the canister that vaporizes the pellets
within the canister. The resulting gas inflates the air curtain(s)
and causes the curtain(s) to deploy downwardly, typically with one
curtain over each window on the corresponding side of the vehicle.
Air curtain assemblies of this type are subject to certain disadvantages.
For example, in addition to the need for torqued fasteners to react
the deployment force when the air curtain(s) deploy, additional
torqued fasteners are typically required to force the elongated
box to conform to the shape of the vehicle trim as they are typically
shaped to fit the vehicle body.
Additionally, the assembly of the air curtain assembly to the sheet
metal structure of the vehicle, with the required torquing of a
multitude of fasteners, and the subsequent installation of the interior
trim over the corresponding interior portion of the vehicle, are
done using a sequential, layered approach, as opposed to a modular
approach. This adds cost to the assembly process and may lengthen
the assembly line due to the time required by these layered tasks
in combination with the required line speed. If the assembly line
must be lengthened, the potential plant capacity can be reduced.
Also, torquing of the required fasteners to install the air curtain
assembly to the sheet metal structure of the vehicle typically requires
one or more assemblers to enter the vehicle as it is moving down
the assembly line which is undesirable.
Another safety measure that can be incorporated in existing vehicles
is a head-impact-countermeasure structure in the interior of the
vehicle that is designed to slow the velocity of an occupants' head
upon impact with this structure during a crash situation. Known
head-impact-countermeasure structures can assume a variety of configurations,
but all are believed to be separate from any side curtain assembly,
requiring separate assembly that can also add to the overall assembly
time for the vehicle.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need for an improved air curtain
assembly as well as the associated trim assembly for motor vehicles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention provides a side garnish molding
assembly for use in a motor vehicle comprising an inner panel, an
outer panel and a partition that extends between and is integral
with the inner and outer panels. The assembly further includes an
air curtain cavity defined by the partition in combination with
the inner and outer panels. At least one deployable air curtain
is disposed within the air curtain cavity.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present
invention will become better understood with regard to the following
description, appended claims and accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view partially in cut-away, of a portion
of an interior of a motor vehicle incorporating a side garnish molding
assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2--2 in FIG.
1;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3--3 in FIG.
1;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4--4 in FIG.
1;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5--5 in FIG.
1;
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to that shown in FIG.
2 but prior to installation of the assembly of the present invention,
and illustrating an access door;
FIG. 7 is an enlarged view, partially in cut-away, of the circled
area 7 in FIG. 1; and
FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the circled area 8 shown in FIG.
3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially
in cut-away, of a portion of an interior of a motor vehicle incorporating
a side garnish molding assembly 10 according to one embodiment of
the present invention. As best seen in the cross-sectional views
illustrated in FIGS. 2 5, the side garnish molding assembly 10 is
mounted to a metal structure, indicated generally at 12, of the
motor vehicle as subsequently discussed in greater detail. The molding
assembly 10 extends longitudinally from a front portion 14 of the
motor vehicle to a rear portion 16 of the motor vehicle and is disposed
above a front side window 18 and a second row side window 20 during
normal usage as shown in FIG. 1. In some motor vehicles, the second
row side window 20 can be a rear side window.
The side garnish molding assembly 10 includes an inner panel 22
that extends throughout the longitudinal extent of assembly 10.
The inner panel 22 includes an upper portion, indicated generally
at 24 and a lower portion, indicated generally at 26. Assembly 10
also includes an outer panel 28 which is integral with the upper
portion 24 of inner panel 22 and is in contacting engagement with
the lower portion 26 under normal use, when the included air curtain
(subsequently discussed) is stowed and not deployed. Under normal
use (i.e., no air curtains deployed), the outer panel 28 is spaced
apart from the inner panel 22 between the upper portion 24 and lower
portion 26 of inner panel 22 as may be appreciated from FIGS. 2
4. A partition 30 extends between inner panel 22 and outer panel
28 and is integral with both of the panels 22, 28.
The assembly 10 includes an upper, head-impact-countermeasure cavity
32 and a lower, air curtain cavity 34. The upper 32 and lower 34
cavities are defined by the partition 30, inner panel 22 and outer
panel 28.
Molding assembly 10 includes an air curtain assembly 36 disposed
in the air curtain cavity 34. Each air curtain assembly can include
two or more deployable air curtains, with the illustrative embodiment
including air curtains 38a and 38b in each air curtain assembly.
Air curtains 38a and 38b are in fluid communication with an air
manifold 40.
The cross-sectional views illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 show a rear
air curtain 38b in a stowed position. In contrast, the cross-sectional
view illustrated in FIG. 5 shows a forward air curtain 38a starting
to deploy, as illustrated in solid lines, and in a fully deployed
position as indicated in phantom lines.
The air curtain assembly 36 further includes a canister 42 which
houses a source of gas used to inflate each of the air curtains
38a and 38b. Canister 42 is in fluid communication with the air
manifold 40 via at least one connector conduit 44, shown in FIG.
4. In the illustrative embodiment, canister 42 is located under
a locally depressed portion 46 of a side rail member 48 of a side
frame assembly of the motor vehicle. However, it should be understood
that canister 42 can be located in a variety of other locations
within the motor vehicle. In the illustrative embodiment, the connecting
conduit 44 passes through an opening in the outer panel 28 and is
attached to air manifold 40 in a manner that provides fluid communication
between the manifold 40 and canister 42 via connecting member 44.
The air curtain assembly can include one or more straps (not shown)
that engage manifold 40 and are then secured to inner panel 22 by
conventional fasteners (not shown). Alternatively, air curtains
38a and 38b can be disposed within plastic cases (not shown) that
are secured to inner panel 22 by conventional fasteners. In this
event, the cases are forced open upon the deployment of the air
curtains 38a and 38b. It is conceivable that manifold 40 and air
curtains 38a and 38b can be otherwise secured within air cavity
34.
The inner panel 22 of assembly 10 includes two deployment portions
indicated generally at 50a and 50b in FIG. 1. Deployment portion
50a is generally longitudinally aligned with forward air curtain
38a and deployment portion 50b is generally longitudinally aligned
with rear air curtain 38b. Each deployment portion 50 of inner panel
22 is operably effective for pivoting open away from the outer panel
28 when the corresponding and generally aligned one of the air curtains
38 is deployed, as shown in FIG. 5. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5,
each deployment portion 50 of inner panel 22 includes an upper,
proximal side 52, and lower distal side corresponding to the lower
portion 26 of inner panel 22 within the deployment portion 50. The
deployment portion 50 also includes first 56 and second 58 ends
that are longitudinally spaced from one another as shown in FIG.
1.
The inner panel 22 includes a substrate material that is formed
from one of the following materials: thermoplastic olefin (TPO);
polypropylene and any derivative thereof; or other suitable material.
Since the inner panel 22 faces the interior of the motor vehicle
in which it is used, the panel 22 also includes a cover 23 (shown
in FIG. 1) made of a conventional cover stock material such as a
formable textile that is integral with the substrate of panel 22.
The cover 23 faces the interior of the motor vehicle as shown in
FIG. 1. For purposes of illustration, the cover 23 is not shown
in the cross-sectional views illustrated in FIGS. 2 6.
In the illustrative embodiment, the substrate of inner panel 22,
outer panel 28 and partition 30 are made as a unitary construction
of the same material, i.e., thermoplastic olefin (TPO), polypropylene
or a derivative thereof; or other suitable thermoplastic material.
However, as may be appreciated, the outer panel 28 and partition
30 do not include a cover as they are not viewable from the interior
of the vehicle during normal use, i.e., when the air curtains 38a
and 38b are not deployed. Outer panel 28, partition 30 and the substrate
of inner panel 22 can be formed by a blow molding or injection molding
process. The cover 23 can be formed using a vacuum forming process
and then becomes integral with the substrate of inner panel 22 during
the blow molding or injection molding process.
As shown in FIG. 7, which is a fragmentary view, partially in cut-away,
of a portion of FIG. 1, score lines are formed in the substrate
material of the inner panel 22 at the ends 56, 58 of the deployment
portions 50, to facilitate the opening of each deployment portion
50 when a corresponding air curtain 38 is deployed. The proximal
side 52 of the deployment portion 50 of inner panel 22 is hingedly
connected to an adjacent portion, indicated at 60, of inner panel
22 via a hinge 62. Use of a blow molding process in the illustrative
embodiment, allows hinge 62 to be a living hinge, as may be appreciated
by one skilled in the art. During deployment of air curtain 38,
the deployment portion 50 of inner panel 22 pivots about the hinge
62 away from the outer panel 28.
As may be appreciated from FIG. 2 and FIG. 5, the outer panel 28
includes a pair of deployment portions 64, with each of the portions
64 being generally aligned with one of the deployment portions 50
of the inner panel. As best seen in FIG. 8, the lower portion 26
of the inner panel 22 terminates in a hook 66 and a lower, distal
side 68 of the outer panel 28 terminates in an outwardly extending
flange 70 that is received within hook 66 so as to prevent the inner
panel 22 from opening away from outer panel 28 under the normal
force of gravity.
The motor vehicle can include a sensor (not shown) mounted in a
control box 17 (schematically shown in phantom lines in FIG. 1)
in the area of the instrument panel of the motor vehicle, or in
another location, that is capable of detecting side loads on the
motor vehicle. When side loads are detected indicating that rollover
of the motor vehicle is imminent, an electric charge is sent via
circuitry (not shown) to canister 42 that vaporizes the pellets
within canister 42. The pellets within canister 42 can be made of
sodium azide or a comparable material. The resulting gas passes
through connecting conduit 44 into air manifold 40 and then into
air curtains 38a and 38b, causing air curtains 38a and 38b to deploy.
When the air curtains 38a and 38b are deployed, there is sufficient
force exerted on the inner panel 22 by each of the air curtains
38a and 38b during the inflation and deployment of air curtains
38a and 38b, such that the hook 66 of inner panel 22 is disengaged
from the flange 70 of outer panel 28, thereby allowing the panel
22 to pivot about the living hinge 62 away from the outer panel
28 in the deployment portions 50a and 50b. FIG. 5 shows the forward
air curtain 38a in a partially deployed state in solid lines and
in a fully deployed state in dashed lines. Hook 66 includes a rounded
end 67 that is effective for preventing hook 66 from tearing air
curtains 38a and 38b during deployment.
The outer panel 28 includes at least one access door 72 formed
therein for each air curtain 38. In the illustrative embodiment
the outer panel 28 includes at least two access doors 72, with one
being generally aligned with each of the air curtains 38a and 38b.
Alternatively, a plurality of access doors 72 may be generally aligned
with each of the air curtains 38a and 38b to facilitate installation
of the air curtains 38a and 38b, depending on the particular shape
of assembly 10 required to accommodate a particular vehicle. The
access door 72 is connected to an adjacent portion 74 of outer panel
28 by a living hinge 76 as shown in FIG. 6. Accordingly, the access
door 72 may pivot open about hinge 76 away from the inner panel
22 to permit the air manifold 40, connector conduit 44 (not shown
in FIG. 6) and each of the air curtains 38a and 38b to be loaded
into the lower air curtain cavity 34 prior to assembling the side
molding assembly 10 to the sheet metal structure 12 of the motor
vehicle.
The upper, head-impact-countermeasure cavity 32 can contain air
therein or alternatively can be filled with foam (not shown) or
other material (not shown) or can include ribs (not shown) extending
between the inner panel 22 and the outer panel 28. The purpose of
the head-impact-countermeasure cavity 32 and the portions of the
inner panel 22 and outer panel 28, as well as partition 30, which
define cavity 34, is to create a head-impact-countermeasure portion
of assembly 10 to provide occupants of the motor vehicle with additional
head protection during a crash event. The parameters associated
with the head-impact-countermeasure cavity 34 and the associated
structure of panels 22, 28 and partition 30 that define the countermeasure
portion of side garnish mold assembly 10, are selected to ensure
that assembly 10 has a sufficient design to meet auto industry safety
standards regarding countermeasure areas, as determined by the HlCd
rating of this portion of assembly 10.
Referring now to FIG. 2 5, a portion of the metal structure 12
of the motor vehicle is illustrated. More particularly, structure
12 includes first 78 and second 80 portions of a sheet metal roof
which are joined by conventional means, such as spot welding, at
joint 82. Structure 12 also includes the side rail member 48 of
a side frame assembly, discussed previously, that is connected to
the roof portions 78, 80 at joint 82 by conventional means, such
as spot welding. Side rail member 48 includes a plurality of longitudinally
spaced hooks 86, (two of the hooks 86 are shown in FIGS. 2 and 5).
The outer panel 28 of side garnish molding assembly 10 includes
a plurality of longitudinally spaced hooks 88 that engage the hooks
86 of the side rail member 48 during the installation of the assembly
10 to the motor vehicle. Accordingly, there can advantageously be
an equal number of hooks 86 and 88.
A plurality of longitudinally spaced and upwardly extending flanges
90 are integral with the upper portion 24 of inner panel 22 as shown
in FIGS. 2 and 4 6. The flanges 90 are spaced apart from the outer
panel 28 toward an upper edge 92 of the inner panel 22. Assembly
10 further includes a plurality of clips 94, that can be made of
metal, with assembly 10 advantageously including a like number of
clips 94 and flanges 90. Each of the clips 94 has an open end 96
in contacting, clamping engagement with one of the flanges 90. Each
clip 94 also includes an opposite, substantially closed end 98,
which is inserted through a mating aperture 100 formed in an upper
end of the side rail member 48 of the side frame assembly of metal
structure 12 of the motor vehicle. The closed end 98 of clip 94
is resilient or spring-like so that it is capable of collapsing
somewhat to permit passage through aperture 100 and then expanding
somewhat after passing through aperture 100, thereby retaining clip
94 in place.
The installation of assembly 10 can occur as follows as the motor
vehicle moves down the assembly line. Initially, the hooks 88 of
outer panel 28 are engaged with the hooks 86 of the side rail member
48 of the metal structure 12 of the motor vehicle. The assembly
10 can then be rotated toward the roof 78, 80 of the motor vehicle
so that the clips 94 secured to flanges 90 of inner panel 22 can
engage apertures 100 of the side rail 84 member 48. When this occurs,
the upper portion 24 of panel 22 is pressed against a headliner
77 of the motor vehicle, retaining it in place. These operations
can be done quickly and efficiently from a location on the assembly
line exterior of the motor vehicle. Finally, the fasteners such
as screws 118 and 126 are torqued.
The incorporation of the air curtains 38a and 38b within the lower
air curtain cavity 34 and the upper head-impact-countermeasure cavity
32, as well as the use of hooks 84, flanges 90 and clips 94 to initially
install the assembly 10 to the metal structure 12, provides a modular
assembly 10 which is relatively easy to install.
It is necessary to incorporate sufficient torqued fasteners in
assembly 10 to react the loads on assembly 10 created when the air
curtains 38a and 38b deploy. Also, some local areas of the metal
structure 12 are conducive to the use of torqued fasteners, such
as the B-pillar 122 due to the structural strength of this area
of the vehicle, and areas having special features such as coat hooks
or hand assist grips. For instance, at the longitudinal position
illustrated in FIG. 3, assembly 10 includes a bushing 102 extending
between and integral with the inner 22 and outer 28 panels of assembly
10. The bushing 102 has a bore 104 formed therein. Assembly 10 can
also include a hanger 106 having a shank portion 108 shaped for
engagement with the bore 104 of bushing 102, and a head portion
including at least one coat hook 110 disposed on the interior of
the motor vehicle. The hanger 106 also includes an interior bore
112 extending partially therethrough and terminating in a land 114
that is suitable to accept a head 116 of a conventional fastener
such as screw 118 that is threaded into a convention spring nut
120 secured to the side rail member 48 in a conventional manner
as known in the art. After screw 118 is torqued, a plug 121 is inserted
in the interior bore 112.
Another location where one or more torqued fasteners can be used
to attach the assembly 10 to the metal structure 12 of the motor
vehicle, is in the area of the B-pillar 122 of the motor vehicle,
as shown in the cross-sectional view illustrated in FIG. 4. In this
area, the inner panel 22 includes a lower extension 124 that is
secured to the side rail member 48 by conventional fasteners such
as screw 126 and spring nut 120.
Notwithstanding the use of the torqued fasteners 116 and 126 in
local areas of molding assembly 10, significantly fewer torqued
fasteners are used to attach assembly 10 to structure 12 than the
typical number of torqued fasteners used to install prior conventional
air curtain assemblies, since the air curtain assembly 36 is part
of the modular side garnish molding assembly 10 of the present invention.
While the foregoing description has set forth the preferred embodiments
of the present invention in particular detail, it must be understood
that numerous modifications, substitutions and changes can be undertaken
without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present
invention as defined by the ensuing claims. The invention is therefore
not limited to specific embodiments as described, but is only limited
as defined by the following claims. |