[justinsb]

About those three patents that are so similar: the first two stem from the same initial application so should be nearly identical except for the claims; the third is a reissue of the first so should be almost entirely identical. The first situation happens when you file an application but the patent office determines that there are two distinct inventions being claimed, and so want to examine the novelty of each separately. At least that's my understanding; IANAL.

How did you find these? If someone pointed you to them, I think they were trying to mislead you. If you found them, I think you're trying to mislead us :-)