Disclosure of Invention
Aiming at the defects of the prior art, the invention provides the adjustable plant culture device for biotechnological research, which is convenient for placing, culturing and observing plants and adjusting the plant culture height.
The purpose of the invention can be achieved by adopting the following technical scheme:
in a first aspect, an adjustable plant culture apparatus for biotechnological research comprises: the anti-skid device comprises a shell, wherein anti-skid pads are symmetrically connected to two sides of the lower part of the shell; the two sides in the shell are both connected with the supporting plates in an up-down symmetrical manner; the pushing assembly is arranged inside the shell; the upper side and the lower side of the pushing assembly are provided with the placing racks; the height adjusting assembly is arranged between the inside of the shell and the pushing assembly.
Further, the pushing assembly comprises: the two sides in the shell are symmetrically connected with the first guide rods; the upper side and the lower side of the first guide rod are both connected with the sliding rod in a sliding manner; the sliding rails are connected between the inner sides of the sliding rods on the same side and are matched with the supporting plate; the first sliding blocks are connected to one side inside the sliding rail in a sliding mode, and the inner sides of the first sliding blocks on the upper side and the lower side are connected with the placing rack; the second sliding blocks are connected to one side inside the sliding rail in a sliding mode; the first springs are connected between the second sliding block and the sliding rail; and one side of the lower part of the placing rack is connected with the first handle.
Further, the height adjustment assembly comprises: the two sides of the middle part of the shell are symmetrically and rotatably connected with the rotating rods; the screw rods are symmetrically and rotatably connected to one side of the lower part and one side of the upper part of the shell; the inner sides of the rotating rods are connected with the bevel gears, the inner sides of the screw rods are also connected with the bevel gears, and the bevel gears on the same side are meshed with each other; the outer sides of the screw rods are connected with the driving wheels; the belt is connected between the driving wheels on the upper side and the lower side; the screw rod is connected with the nut through threads, and the inner side of the nut is connected with the slide rail at the same side.
Further, still including the protection subassembly, the protection subassembly includes: the two sides of the shell are both connected with the first support frame in an up-and-down symmetrical manner; the first support frames are connected with the rotating frames in a rotating mode; the protective door is connected between one side of the rotating frames on the two sides and is matched with the placing rack; the middle parts of the protective doors are connected with the glass plates; the inner sides of the protective doors are connected with the second handles; the first stop lever is connected to one side of the upper part of the protective door in a sliding manner and is matched with the shell; and the second springs are connected between the first stop lever and the protective door and are wound on the first stop lever.
Further, still include clamping component, clamping component includes: the middle of the upper part of the placing frame is symmetrically connected with the first clamping plate; the sliding sleeves are connected to two sides of the upper part of the placing frame; the middle of the upper part of the sliding sleeve is connected with the second clamping plate in a sliding manner; the third spring is connected between the second clamping plate and the sliding sleeve and wound on the second clamping plate; the upper parts of the nuts are connected with the second support frames; the contact plate is connected to the inner side of the upper portion of the second support frame, and the contact plate is matched with the second clamping plate.
Further, still including fixed subassembly, fixed subassembly includes: the fixing frame is connected between one sides of the sliding rails on the upper side and the lower side; the fixing rod is connected between one sides of the second sliding blocks and is connected with the sliding rail in a sliding mode; the middle parts of the fixing rods are symmetrically and slidably connected with the second stop levers, and the second stop levers are matched with the fixing frame; the fourth spring is connected between the second stop levers; the upper side and the lower side in the shell are symmetrically connected with the second guide rods; the connecting rods are connected between the second guide rods on the upper side and the lower side in a sliding manner; the fifth springs are symmetrically connected between the connecting rod and the shell and are wound on the second guide rod; the top plate is connected between one sides of the middle parts of the connecting rods and matched with the second stop rods; and the outer sides of the connecting rods are connected with the third handles, and the third handles are connected with the shell in a sliding manner.
Further, still including watering the subassembly, watering the subassembly including: one side of the upper part of the shell is connected with the water pipe; the two sides of the water pipe are both connected with the spray heads in an up-and-down symmetrical manner; the third guide rods are symmetrically connected to the upper and lower sides of the inner side of the shell; the sliding frames are connected to the third guide rods in a sliding mode and are matched with the protective door; the sixth spring is connected between the sliding frame and the third guide rod and wound on the third guide rod; the racks are connected to one side of the upper part of the sliding frame; the ball valves are connected to the two sides of the water pipe in an up-and-down rotating mode; the all-gear, the ball valve downside all is connected with the all-gear, the all-gear with rack intermeshing.
Further, still include the illumination subassembly, the illumination subassembly includes: the upper side in the shell is connected with the protective shell; the outer side of the protective shell is connected with the dust guard in a sliding manner; the seventh spring is symmetrically connected between the protective shell and the dust guard; the inner side of the protective shell is uniformly provided with three growth lamps at intervals; the contact lever, dust guard one side symmetric connection has the contact lever, the contact lever with the rack is mutually supported.
The invention has the advantages that:
(1) according to the potted plant protection device, the first stop lever is pulled to move downwards to be away from the shell, the placing rack pops forwards to push the protection door to rotate outwards to open, after a potted plant is placed on the placing rack, the placing rack is pushed to move backwards, the protection door and the first stop lever are pushed to rotate inwards, the first stop lever is matched with the shell to fix the protection door, so that the placing rack is fixed, the effect of protecting the plant is achieved, and a safer and cleaner growing environment is provided for the plant;
(2) according to the potted plant clamping and fixing device, the placing frame drives the second clamping plate to move forwards to be away from the contact plate, the second clamping plate moves outwards to place a potted plant between the first clamping plate and the second clamping plate, the placing frame drives the second clamping plate to move backwards, the second clamping plate is pushed to move inwards to clamp and fix the potted plant, the effect of automatically clamping and fixing the potted plant is achieved, and the potted plant is prevented from turning over;
(3) according to the invention, the second handle and the top plate are pushed to move forwards, the second gear stop lever is pushed to move inwards to be away from the fixed frame, the fixed rod is loosened, and the fixed rod and the second sliding block are pushed to move forwards under the action of the first spring, so that the placing frame is pushed to move forwards, and the effect of easily controlling the placing frame to move out is achieved;
(4) according to the invention, clear water is sprayed onto the potted plant from the spray head, the protective door is opened and is far away from the sliding frame, the sliding frame and the rack move forwards, the full gear and the ball valve are driven to rotate for 90 degrees, the ball valve is blocked, water spraying is stopped, the effect of automatically controlling the spraying of the clear water to the plant is achieved, and the healthy growth of the plant is assisted;
(5) according to the invention, the growth lamp is turned on to irradiate the potted plant, the placing frame moves forwards to be away from the contact rod, the dustproof plate moves forwards to reset to shield the growth lamp, and irradiation is stopped, so that the effects of shielding the growth lamp when a plant is taken out and put in automatically and avoiding light irradiation and dust contamination are achieved.
Drawings
Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 6 is a schematic perspective view of the pushing assembly of the present invention.
Fig. 7 is a partial perspective view of the pushing assembly of the present invention.
Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the height adjustment assembly of the present invention.
Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the shield assembly of the present invention.
Fig. 10 is an enlarged view of a portion a of the present invention.
Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the clamping assembly of the present invention.
Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the fixing member of the present invention.
Fig. 13 is a partial perspective view of the fastening assembly of the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the sprinkler assembly of the present invention.
Fig. 15 is an enlarged view of part B of the present invention.
Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the lighting assembly of the present invention.
The meaning of the reference symbols in the figures: 1. a housing, 2, a non-slip mat, 3, a support plate, 4, a placing frame, 5, a pushing assembly, 501, a first guide rod, 502, a sliding rod, 503, a sliding rail, 504, a first slider, 505, a second slider, 506, a first spring, 507, a first handle, 6, a height adjusting assembly, 601, a rotating rod, 602, a bevel gear, 603, a screw rod, 604, a driving wheel, 605, a belt, 606, a nut, 7, a protective assembly, 701, a first support frame, 702, a rotating frame, 703, a protective door, 704, a glass plate, 705, a second handle, 706, a first stop rod, 707, a second spring, 8, a clamping assembly, 801, a first clamping plate, 802, a sliding sleeve, 803, a second clamping plate, 804, a third spring, 805, a second support frame, 806, a contact plate, 9, a fixing assembly, 901, a fixing rod, 902, a second stop rod, 903, a fourth spring, 904, 905, a fixing frame, 905, a second guide rod, 906. the device comprises a connecting rod 907, a fifth spring, 908, a top plate, 909, a third handle, 10, a sprinkler assembly, 1001, a water pipe, 1002, a spray head, 1003, a third guide rod, 1004, a sliding frame, 1005, a sixth spring, 1006, a rack, 1007, a ball valve, 1008, an all-gear, 11, a lighting assembly, 1101, a protective shell, 1102, a growth lamp, 1103, a dust-proof plate, 1104, a seventh spring, 1105 and a contact rod.
Detailed Description
The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention, and it is obvious that the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of the embodiments. All other embodiments, which can be derived by a person skilled in the art from the embodiments given herein without making any creative effort, shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.
Example 1
As shown in fig. 1-8, this embodiment discloses a plant culture apparatus with adjustable biotechnology research is used, including shell 1, slipmat 2, backup pad 3, rack 4, promotion subassembly 5 and height adjusting part 6, the equal bilateral symmetry in both sides is connected with slipmat 2 around the shell 1 lower part, the equal longitudinal symmetry in anterior left and right sides is connected with backup pad 3 in shell 1, shell 1 is inside to be equipped with and to promote subassembly 5, both sides all are equipped with rack 4 about promoting subassembly 5, be equipped with height adjusting part 6 between shell 1 inside and the promotion subassembly 5.
The pushing assembly 5 comprises a first guide rod 501, a sliding rod 502, a sliding rail 503, a first sliding block 504, a second sliding block 505, a first spring 506 and a first handle 507, the left side and the right side inside the housing 1 are symmetrically connected with the first guide rod 501 in a front-back manner, the sliding rod 502 is connected with the upper side and the lower side of the first guide rod 501 in a sliding manner, the sliding rail 503 is connected between the inner sides of the sliding rods 502 on the same side, the sliding rail 503 is matched with the supporting plate 3, the first sliding block 504 is connected with the front side inside the sliding rail 503 in a sliding manner, the inner sides of the first sliding blocks 504 on the upper side and the lower side are connected with the placing frame 4, the second sliding block 505 is connected with the rear side inside the sliding rail 503 in a sliding manner, the first spring 506 is connected between the second sliding block 505 and the sliding rail 503, and the front side of the lower portion of the placing frame 4 is connected with the first handle 507.
Height adjusting element 6 is including dwang 601, bevel gear 602, lead screw 603, the drive wheel 604, belt 605 and nut 606, the equal longitudinal symmetry rotary type in the left and right sides of shell 1 middle part front side is connected with dwang 601, lower part front side bilateral symmetry and upper portion front side bilateral symmetry rotary type are connected with lead screw 603 in the shell 1, dwang 601 inboard all is connected with bevel gear 602, lead screw 603 inboard also all is connected with bevel gear 602, homonymy bevel gear 602 intermeshing, the lead screw 603 outside all is connected with drive wheel 604, around there being belt 605 between the drive wheel 604 of the left and right sides, all there is nut 606 through threaded connection on the lead screw 603, nut 606 inboard all is connected with homonymy slide rail 503.
When a user needs to cultivate and observe plants, firstly, the first handle 507 is pulled to move forwards to drive the first sliding block 504 and the placing frame 4 to move forwards, then a potted plant to be cultivated and observed is placed on the placing frame 4, then the first handle 507 is pushed to move backwards to drive the first sliding block 504, the placing frame 4 and the potted plant to move backwards, so that the potted plant moves into the shell 1, the user can observe the growth condition of the potted plant, when the cultivation height of the potted plant needs to be adjusted, the rotating rod 601 is rotated to drive the bevel gear 602 and the lead screw 603 to rotate, so that the nut 606 is driven to move up and down, the sliding rail 503, the first sliding block 504, the placing frame 4 and the potted plant are driven to move up and down, so that the potted plant moves to the proper height, after the potted plant does not need to be cultivated again, the first handle 507 is pulled to move forwards, and finally the placing frame 4 and the potted plant are driven to move forwards out of the shell 1, so that the potted plant can be taken down, promote the first in command 507 rearward movement afterwards, finally drive rack 4 rearward movement and reset, so reciprocal, reach and conveniently place and cultivate the observation plant, conveniently adjust the plant and cultivate the effect of high.
Example 2
In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 1, fig. 2, fig. 3, fig. 4, fig. 9, fig. 10, fig. 11, fig. 12, fig. 13, fig. 14, fig. 15, and fig. 16, the shielding assembly 7 further includes a shielding assembly 7, the shielding assembly 7 includes a first support frame 701, a rotating frame 702, a shielding door 703, a glass plate 704, a second handle 705, a first stop lever 706, and a second spring 707, the first support frame 701 is vertically and symmetrically connected to the left and right sides of the front portion of the housing 1, the rotating frame 702 is rotatably connected to the first support frame 701, the shielding door 703 is connected between the rear sides of the rotating frames 702 on the same side, the shielding door 703 is matched with the rack 4, the glass plate 704 is connected to the middle portion of the shielding door 703, the second handle 705 is connected to the inner side of the front portion of the shielding door 703, the first stop lever 706 is slidably connected to the front inner side of the upper portion of the shielding door 703, the first stop lever 706 is matched with the housing 1, the second spring 707 is connected between the first stop lever 706 and the shielding door 703, the second spring 707 is wound around the first stopper 706.
In the initial state, the protective door 703 blocks the placing rack 4, so that the first sliding block 504 is pressed against the second sliding block 505, the first spring 506 is in a compressed state, the first stop lever 706 is pulled to move downwards to be separated from the housing 1, the second spring 707 is compressed to enable the protective door 703 to be released, at this time, under the action of the first spring 506, the second sliding block 505 is pushed to move forwards, so that the first sliding block 504, the placing rack 4 and the first handle 507 are pushed to move forwards, the protective door 703 is pushed to rotate outwards to open, the first stop lever 706 is driven to rotate outwards, the first stop lever 706 is released, under the action of the second spring 707, the second stop lever 902 is pushed to move upwards, then a potted plant is placed on the placing rack 4, the first handle 507, the placing rack 4 and the potted plant are pushed to move backwards, the first sliding block 504 is driven to move backwards, the second sliding block 505 is pushed backwards, the first spring 506 is compressed, then the second handle 705 is held, the guard door 703 is rotated inward to drive the first stop lever 706 to rotate inward, and after the first stop lever 706 rotates to contact the housing 1, the first stopper 706 moves downward, the second spring 707 is compressed, and after the first stopper 706 rotates back to the home position, under the action of the second spring 707, the first stopper 706 is pushed to move upward and inserted into the housing 1, thereby fixing the protective door 703 and the glass plate 704, so that the protective door 703 blocks and fixes the placing rack 4 again, a user can observe the growth condition of the potted plant through the glass plate 704, the operation is repeated without culturing the potted plant, the protective door 703 is rotated and opened outwards, and the placing rack 4 is moved out forwards and then the potted plant is taken down, the placing rack 4 is pushed to move backwards into the shell 1, then the protecting door 703 is rotated inwards to close and fix, reciprocating like this, reach the effect of protection plant, give the plant safer clean growing environment.
The clamping device is characterized by further comprising a clamping assembly 8, the clamping assembly 8 comprises a first clamping plate 801, a sliding sleeve 802, a second clamping plate 803, a third spring 804, a second supporting frame 805 and a contact plate 806, the first clamping plate 801 is symmetrically connected in the middle of the upper portion of the placing frame 4 in a bilateral mode, the sliding sleeve 802 is connected to the left side and the right side of the upper portion of the placing frame 4, the second clamping plate 803 is connected to the middle of the upper portion of the sliding sleeve 802 in a sliding mode, the third spring 804 is connected between the second clamping plate 803 and the sliding sleeve 802 in a winding mode, the upper portion of the nut 606 is connected with the second supporting frame 805, the contact plate 806 is connected to the inner side of the upper portion of the second supporting frame 805, and the contact plate 806 is matched with the second clamping plate 803.
In the initial state, the contact plate 806 abuts against the second clamping plate 803, the third spring 804 is stretched, the placing frame 4 moves forward to drive the sliding sleeve 802 and the second clamping plate 803 to move forward, after the second clamping plate 803 is far away from the contact plate 806, the second clamping plate 803 is pushed to move outwards under the action of the third spring 804, the potted plant can be placed between the first clamping plate 801 and the second clamping plate 803, then the placing frame 4 moves backwards to drive the sliding sleeve 802 and the second clamping plate 803 to move backwards, after the second clamping plate 803 is moved to contact with the contact plate 806, the second clamping plate 803 is pushed to move inwards, the third spring 804 is stretched to be matched with the first clamping plate 801 to clamp and fix the potted plant, after the potted plant is not required to be cultured, the placing frame 4 moves forwards, the process is repeated, the second clamping plate 803 moves outwards to loosen the potted plant, the contact plate 4 can be taken off the potted plant, after the placing frame 4 moves backwards, the second clamping plate 803 is abutted against the second clamping plate 806 again, the third spring 804 is stretched, resumes to the original state, reciprocates like this, reaches the effect of self-holding fixed cultivated in a pot, avoids cultivated in a pot to turn on one's side.
The fixing device further comprises a fixing component 9, the fixing component 9 comprises a fixing rod 901, a second stop lever 902, a fourth spring 903, a fixing frame 904, a second guide rod 905, a connecting rod 906, a fifth spring 907, a top plate 908 and a third handle 909, the fixing frame 904 is connected between the rear sides of the sliding rails 503 on the left side and the right side, the fixing rod 901 is connected between the rear sides of the second sliding block 505, the fixing rod 901 is connected with the sliding rails 503 in a sliding manner, the second stop lever 902 is connected in a sliding manner on the left side and the right side in the middle of the fixing rod 901, the second stop lever 902 is matched with the fixing frame 904, the fourth spring 903 is connected between the second stop levers 902, the second guide rods 905 are connected on the upper side and the lower side in the inner rear portion of the shell 1 in a sliding manner, the connecting rod 906 is connected between the second guide rods 905 on the left side and the right side in a symmetrical manner, the fifth spring 907 is connected between the connecting rod 906 and the shell 1 in a left-right symmetrical manner, the fifth spring 907 is wound on the second guide rods 905, a top plate 908 is connected between the front sides of the middle parts of the connecting rods 906, the top plate 908 is matched with the second stop rods 902, third handles 909 are connected to the outer sides of the connecting rods 906, and the third handles 909 are connected with the shell 1 in a sliding mode.
In the initial state, the second stop lever 902 is clamped in the fixed frame 904, so that the fixed rod 901 and the second slider 505 are fixed, at this time, the rack 4 cannot be moved out after the protective door 703 is opened, the third handle 909 is pulled to move forward manually, the connecting rod 906 and the top plate 908 are driven to move forward, the fifth spring 907 is stretched, the top plate 908 moves to contact with the second stop lever 902 and then pushes the second stop lever 902 to move inward, the fourth spring 903 is compressed, the second stop lever 902 no longer clamps the fixed frame 904, under the action of the first spring 506, the second slider 505 and the fixed rod 901 are pushed to move forward, the second stop lever 902 is driven to move forward and away from the top plate 908, the second stop lever 902 is abutted by the fixed frame 904, the fourth spring 903 is kept in a compressed state, the third handle 909 is released, under the action of the fifth spring 907, the connecting rod 906, the top plate 908 and the third handle 909 are pushed to move backward and return to the original state, meanwhile, the second slider 505 pushes the first slider 504 and the placing rack 4 to move forwards, so that a potted plant can be placed on or taken down, then the placing rack 4 and the first slider 504 are pushed to move backwards, the second slider 505 is pushed to move backwards, the first spring 506 is compressed, the fixing rod 901 and the second blocking rod 902 are driven to move backwards out of the fixing rack 904, the second blocking rod 902 is pushed to move outwards under the action of the fourth spring 903, the second blocking rod 902 blocks the fixing rod 901, and finally the second slider 505 is fixed and restored to the original state, so that the reciprocating motion is realized, and the effect of easily controlling the placing rack 4 to move out is achieved.
Still including watering subassembly 10, watering subassembly 10 is including water pipe 1001, shower nozzle 1002, third guide arm 1003, carriage 1004, sixth spring 1005, rack 1006, ball valve 1007 and full gear 1008, the upper portion rear side of shell 1 is connected with water pipe 1001, the equal longitudinal symmetry in the anterior left and right sides of water pipe 1001 has shower nozzle 1002, the equal longitudinal symmetry in the anterior left and right sides of shell 1 has third guide arm 1003, all sliding connection has carriage 1004 on the third guide arm 1003, carriage 1004 and guard gate 703 mutually support, all be connected with sixth spring 1005 between carriage 1004 and the third guide arm 1003, sixth spring 1005 winds on third guide arm 1003, carriage 1004 upper portion rear side all is connected with rack 1006, the equal longitudinal rotation formula in the anterior left and right sides of water pipe 1001 is connected with ball valve 1007, ball valve 1007 downside all is connected with full gear 1008, full gear 1008 and rack 1006 intermeshing.
Continuously injecting water from the rear side of the water pipe 1001, in an initial state, the protective door 703 props against the sliding frame 1004, the sixth spring 1005 is in a compressed state, the ball valve 1007 does not block the water pipe 1001, clear water is sprayed to potted plants of the placing rack 4 from the spray head 1002, the protective door 703 is opened by rotating outwards without culturing the potted plants, the protective door 703 is far away from the sliding frame 1004, under the action of the sixth spring 1005, the sliding frame 1004 and the rack 1006 are pushed to move forwards, the full gear 1008 is driven to rotate for 90 degrees, the ball valve 1007 is driven to rotate for 90 degrees, the water pipe 1001 is blocked, the spray head 1002 stops spraying clear water, at the moment, the protective door 703 is closed by rotating inwards, the protective door 703 rotates to contact with the sliding frame 1004, the sliding frame 1004 and the rack 1006 are pushed to move backwards, the sixth spring 1005 is compressed, the full gear 1008 and the ball valve 1007 are driven to rotate for 90 degrees reversely, the water pipe 1001 is not blocked any more, and the reciprocating is realized, the effect of automatically controlling the spraying of the clear water to the plants is achieved, and (3) assisting the healthy growth of plants.
Still including lighting assembly 11, lighting assembly 11 is including protecting crust 1101, grow lamp 1102, dust guard 1103, seventh spring 1104 and contact bar 1105, the inside upside of shell 1 is connected with protecting crust 1101, the sliding connection has dust guard 1103 in the protecting crust 1101 outside, bilateral symmetry is connected with seventh spring 1104 between protecting crust 1101 and dust guard 1103, three grow lamps 1102 are evenly installed to the inboard interval of protecting crust 1101, the bilateral symmetry is connected with contact bar 1105 behind dust guard 1103, contact bar 1105 mutually supports with rack 4.
Open growing lamp 1102, under the initial condition, rack 4 withstands contact bar 1105, seventh spring 1104 is in tensile state, draw rack 4 forward and keep away from behind contact bar 1105, under seventh spring 1104's effect, promote contact bar 1105 and dust guard 1103 and move forward, dust guard 1103 shelters from growing lamp 1102 completely, growing lamp 1102 can't shine this moment, put on or take out after cultivated in a pot, rack 4 moves backward, promote contact bar 1105 and dust guard 1103 and move backward, seventh spring 1104 is stretched, dust guard 1103 no longer is sheltered from, growing lamp 1102 light shines on cultivated in a pot, help the plant to grow fast, need not growing lamp 1102 after, close growing lamp 1102, so reciprocate, reach and shelter from growing lamp 1102 automatically when taking out and putting into the plant, avoid light to shine and dye the effect of dust.
The above examples are only intended to illustrate the technical solution of the present invention, but not to limit it; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that: the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments may still be modified, or some technical features may be equivalently replaced; and such modifications or substitutions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the corresponding technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.