Abstract:
A golf ball ejection device integrated into a golf flag pin whereby balls sitting in the hole-cup are raised to ground level and expelled outward therefrom in random directions and distances. This is accomplished by apply manual pressure to a slidable component of the flag pin that raises a dome shaped ejector component positioned within the hole-cup thereby ejecting the golf balls contained therein, which also prevents balls from falling back into the cup.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to golf flag pins and, more specifically, to a golf ball ejection device integrated into a golf flag pin whereby balls sitting in the hole-cup are raised to ground level and expelled outward therefrom in random directions and distances. 
     This is accomplished by apply manual pressure to a slidable component of the flag pin that raises a dome shaped ejector component positioned within the hole-cup, which also prevents balls from falling back into the cup. 
     The golf ball ejection device of the present invention provides an embodiment where an ejector sleeve that is slidably mounted on the mast rod is raised using a golf club or by hand the attached dome shaped ejector raises approximately to the hole-cup lip whereupon the curved surface of the dome shaped ejector causes the balls to travel in a random fashion away from the cup. 
     Furthermore, the present invention provides an embodiment where the ejector sleeve and attached dome shaped ejector resting at the base of the hole-cup is raised when pressure is applied to a mushroom shaped palm button located on the top of the flag pin mast, which causes the mast rod which is tethered to the ejector sleeve to raise the ejector-sleeve dome to approximately ground level thereagain expelling the hole-cup balls radially in random fashion. 
     The golf ball ejection device of the present invention allows a golfer to repetitiously practice their putting without having to retrieve golf balls from the hole-cup then randomly spread the balls out for another round of putting practice. It should also be noted that varying the pressure on the ejector component can vary the distance the balls travel from the hole-cup thereby allowing the golfer to practice long or short putts or any distance therebetween. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     There are other golf ball devices primarily designed for picking up golf balls. While these golf ball devices may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The instant invention is a golf ball ejection device wherein the user simply raises or lowers a convex cone by simply raising or releasing the lower rod—then automatically falls back into position (according to the cable configuration) a push rod that is telescopically disposed within a stationary outer tube with cables disposed therebetween for raising and lowering a convex cone disposed in the bottom of the cup that upon reaching ground level extricates and expels any golf balls therein to increase the ease for the user to continue to practice on putting green or collect the balls afterward. 
     Note: Once the rod is pushed down—expelling the golf balls in a radius around the cup at various distances and preventing any golf balls from falling back into the cup—it automatically falls back to the bottom of the cup—the bottom convex cone is weighted to make this action happen. 
     Review: Prior art is a fixed rod with a small basket attached at bottom that goes into the bottom of the cup—user had to raise rod and basket attached to remove the balls—often the balls would fall back into the cup and user had to bend over to eject. 
     This invention lets the user simply push the top of the rod—the convex cone rises to ground level and expels balls outward in a radius that forms around the cup and prevents any balls from falling back into the cup. The user then simply lets go of the push rod and the mechanism automatically falls back in place at the bottom of the cup. 
     A primary object of the present invention is to provide a ball ejector device for a golf-green hole-cup actuateable through manual manipulation of a component of the golf flag pin of the present invention. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a flag pin comprising a mast rod and an ejector sleeve. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a flag pin where the ejector sleeve encompasses a portion of the mast rod and is slideable along the mast rod. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide the mast rod with a hole-cup removable-anchor member. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide a removable-anchor member comprising a ferrule plug to accommodate a golf-green hole-cup having a hole-cup ferrule. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide said ferrule plug with spaced apart peripheral rings serving as frictional elements to engage the interior wall of the hole-cup ferrule. 
     A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a hole-cup removable-anchor member for a hole-cup without a hole-cup ferrule consisting of a planar plate fixed to the base of the mast rod having a shape substantially conforming to the shape of the hole-cup base. 
     A still yet further object of the present invention is to provide said planar plate and said hole-cup base each with a mating fastener element, such as hook and loop, to releasably secure the flag pin planar plate to the base of the hole-cup. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide the mast rod with an ejector-sleeve stop limiting the travel of the ejector sleeve along the mast rod. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide the ejector sleeve with an ejector-sleeve dome positioned approximately at the base of the ejector sleeve having a circumference substantially conforming to the base of the hole-cup. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a circumferential lifter projecting from the ejector sleeve exterior surface forming a hook so that a golf club can be used to raise the ejector sleeve to a point where golf balls within the hole-cup are radially ejected by virtue of the ejector-sleeve dome that rises to a predetermined height determined by the location of the mast-rod ejector-sleeve stop, preferably the base of the dome is approximately ground level when raised. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide a golf flag pin further comprising a mast sleeve. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a flag pin where the mast rod is slideable within the mast sleeve. 
     A yet further object of the present invention is to provide the mast rod with a mountable and dismountable flag so that varied events can be noted through placement of designer flags. 
     A still yet further object of the present invention is to provide the mast rod with a flag barrel for mounting a desired flag there on with the flag barrel having a flag-barrel bore for mounting the flag barrel onto the mast rod. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide the mast rod with a flag-barrel stop that may be integrally manufactured with the mast rod or adjustably fastenable by providing a flag-barrel stop with a bore for selectively positioning and fastening the flag-barrel stop onto the mast rod. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide the mast rod with a palm button having a palm-button mast seat providing means for mounting the palm button to the top of the mast rod. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a mast sleeve having a top end and a bottom end with a through bore therebetween. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to fixedly attach the bottom end of the mast sleeve with a ferrule plug. 
     A further object of the present invention is to alternately provide the ferrule plug with spaced apart peripheral rings serving as frictional elements to engage the interior wall of the hole-cup ferrule. 
     A yet further object of the present invention is to provide the mast sleeve top end with a mast-sleeve cap having a mast-sleeve cap bore for receiving reciprocal motion of the mast rod there through. 
     A still yet further object of the present invention is to optionally provide a bushing positioned within said mast-sleeve cap bore to aid in the movement of the mast rod there through. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide the mast rod with a mast-rod stop having a mast-rod stop bore for mounting said mast-rod stop onto the mast rod limiting the movement of the mast rod through the mast sleeve with the mast-rod stop fixedly attached to the mast rod below the mast-sleeve cap. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide the mast rod with a fastener approximately positioned at the base of the mast rod for securing at least one line to said fastener. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide the mast-sleeve cap with peripheral cavities for passing line there through. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide the ejector sleeve with a top end and a bottom end having a bore passing there through with said bore serving as housing for the mast sleeve. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide the ejector sleeve top end with an ejector-sleeve cap having an ejector-sleeve cap bore for receiving reciprocal motion of the mast rod there through. 
     A yet further object of the present invention is to optionally provide a bushing positioned within said ejector-sleeve cap bore to aid in the movement of the mast rod there through. 
     A still yet further object of the present invention is to provide an ejector sleeve with an ejector-sleeve dome positioned approximately at the base of the ejector sleeve with the dome base having a circumference substantially conforming to the base of the hole-cup. 
     Another object of the present invention is to fixedly attach lines fasten to the mast-rod line fastener then passing the lines through a respective mast-sleeve cap cavity and fixedly attaching their free ends to the ejector-sleeve dome so that when a downward pressure is applied to the mast rod, preferably through the palm button, the ejector sleeve will rise to a predetermined height limited by the location of the mast-rod ejector-sleeve stop, preferably the dome base is approximately ground level when raised, thereby ejecting any golf balls contained within the hole-cup. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball ejection device wherein said dome is weighted to provide a gravity feed that will lower the weighted dome back into said hole-cup. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball ejection device that prevents expelled golf balls from falling back into the hole-cup through judicious placement of the ejector-sleeve stop. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide an ejection device that may be adapted for use in industry. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball ejection device that is inexpensive to manufacture and operate. 
     A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball ejection device that is simple and easy to use. 
     Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds. 
     The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a golf ball ejection device wherein the user simply raises or lowers a dome-shaped convex cone by simply raising the outer ejector rod then releasing the ejector rod which then automatically falls back into position or by applying a downward pressure on a cabled mast rod that is telescopically disposed within a stationary mast sleeve with cables disposed between the mast rod and the ejector sleeve having the dome-shaped convex cone disposed in the bottom of the cup that upon reaching ground level extricates and expels any golf balls therein to increase the ease for the user to continue to practice on putting green or collect the balls afterward. 
     The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which forms a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 
     The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of the present invention in use. 
         FIG. 2  is an illustrative view of the present invention in use 
         FIG. 3  is an illustrative view of the present invention in use. 
         FIG. 4  is an illustrative view of the present invention in use. 
         FIG. 5  is an illustrative view of another embodiment of the present invention in use. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view of the present invention, taken from  FIG. 5  as indicated. 
         FIG. 7  are the ejector sleeve and mast sleeve of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross sectional view of the present invention, taken from  FIG. 6  as indicated. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross sectional view of the present invention, taken from  FIG. 6  as indicated. 
         FIG. 10  is an enlarged partial view of the golf ball ejection device of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is the golf ball ejection device from a seated position to an ejection position. 
         FIG. 12  is the golf ball ejection device from a seated position to an ejection position. 
         FIG. 13  is an alternate lifting device of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCED NUMERALS 
     Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the figures illustrate the Golf Ball Ejection Device of the present invention. With regard to the reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the various drawing figures.
           10  Golf Ball Ejection Device of the present invention     12  user     14  golf ball     16  green     18  hole-cup     20  ferrule     22  ferrule plug     24  mast sleeve     26  mast-sleeve cap     28  mast-sleeve-cap bore     30  mast-sleeve-cap line-cavities     32  mast rod     34  palm button     36  palm-button mast seat     38  flag     40  flag barrel     42  flag-barrel bore     44  flag-barrel stop     46  flag-barrel-stop-bore     48  ejector-sleeve stop     50  ejector-sleeve-stop bore     52  mast-rod stop     54  mast-rod-stop bore     56  line     58  mast-rod line fastener     60  ejector-sleeve dome     62  ejector sleeve     64  ejector-sleeve cap     66  ejector-sleeve-cap bore     68  ferrule-plug rings     70  ferrule dome fastener     72  ejector-sleeve lifter     74  ejector-sleeve mast-sleeve aperture     76  pulley       

     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention (and several variations of that embodiment). This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments, practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to appended claims. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , shown is an illustrative view of the present invention in use. Shown is a golfer  12  practicing their putting on green  16  having hole-cup  18  using the flag-pin of the present invention that serves as a golf ball ejection device  10 . The golf ball ejection device  10  comprises mast rod  32  and ejector sleeve  62  that is slidably movable along mast rod. An ejector sleeve lift  72  is fixedly attached to the ejector sleeve that can be manually moved by hand or golf club which will raise ejector sleeve  62  and ejector sleeve dome  60  that when raised approximate ground level will radially eject the balls away from hole-cup  18 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , shown is an illustrative view of the present invention in use. Shown is golfer  12  applying manual pressure to the movable component of the golf ball ejector device  10  of the present invention. In its simplest embodiment, the present invention provides a mast rod  32  and ejector sleeve  62  where mast rod  32  is removable anchored in ferrule  20  of hole-cup  18  by ferrule plug  22  and ejector sleeve  62  having a top end and a bottom end with a through bore extending there between encompasses mast rod  32  incorporating an ejector-sleeve dome  60  fixedly attached to the bottom end of the ejector sleeve  62  and an ejector sleeve lift  72  fixedly attached to the top end of the ejector sleeve whereby a user can use their putter to hook the lift and raise the ejector sleeve so that the golf balls  14  contained in hole-cup  18  will be ejected from the hole-cup when the ejector-sleeve dome reaches ground level. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , shown is an illustrative view of the present invention in use. In its simplest embodiment, the present invention provides a mast rod  32  and ejector sleeve  62  where mast rod  32  is removable anchored in ferrule  20  of hole-cup  18  by ferrule plug  22  and ejector sleeve  62  having a top end and a bottom end with a through bore extending there between encompasses mast rod  32  incorporating an ejector-sleeve dome  60  fixedly attached to the bottom end of the ejector sleeve  62  and an ejector sleeve lift  72  fixedly attached to the top end of the ejector sleeve whereby a user can use their putter to hook the lifter and raise the ejector sleeve so that the golf balls  14  contained in hole-cup  18  will be ejected from the hole-cup when the ejector-sleeve dome reaches ground level. Mast rod  32  further provides ejector-sleeve stop  48  that is fixedly attached at a predetermined point on mast-rod  32  so that when the ejector sleeve is raised the ejector-sleeve dome lower rim is approximately ground level wherethen the sloped surface of the dome will cause the golf balls to radially travel from the flag pin. Also shown is mast rod  32  having flag  38  mounted thereon. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , shown is an illustrative view of another embodiment of the present invention in use. As aforementioned, in its simplest the present invention  10  provides an anchored mast rod and movable ejector sleeve. The present invention also provides for a mast rod  32  that is movably suspended within a mast sleeve  24  and tethered to the ejector sleeve  62  so that downward movement of the mast rod  32  is the actuator for raising the ejector sleeve  62 . As illustrated golfer  12  practicing his putting on green  16  is ejecting golf balls  14  from hole-cup  18  by applying a downward pressure on palm button  34  where again the ejector-sleeve stop  48  prevents further movement of the ejector sleeve  32  with the ejector-sleeve dome  60  positioned approximate ground level with the sloped surface causing the balls  14  contained within hole-cup  18  to radially travel away from hole-cup  18 . Also depicted is flag  38  and flag-barrel stop  44 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , shown is a cross sectional view of the present invention, taken from  FIG. 5  as indicated. Shown is golf green  16  having hole-cup  18  and ferrule  20  with the golf ball ejection device  10  positioned therein. Golf ball ejection device  10  primarily comprises a mast rod  32  tetheredly suspended within mast sleeve  24  by line  56  which is fixedly attached to ejector-sleeve  62  dome  60  so that downward pressure of mast rod  32  causes ejector sleeve  62  and attached dome  60  to rise thereby ejecting any golf balls contained within hole-cup  18 . Ejector sleeve  62  functions in similar matter as that shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Basically it sits in hole-cup  80  and when desired the balls contained therein can be ejected through manual manipulation of a movable golf ball ejection device  10  movable component 
     The flag pin mast is comprised of mast rod  32  and mast sleeve  24  with the mast rod forming the actuatable component for raising the ejector sleeve  62 , preferably by applying downward pressure on provided palm button  34  equipped with palm-button mast seat  36  for mounting the palm button to the mast rod. The palm button  34  is provided as a simple mechanism for a user to apply downward pressure to the mast rod  32  thereby actuating the ejection of golf balls contained in hole-cup  18 . 
     The present invention further envisions that there is a need for customizing special events. Therefore, the present invention provided a golf flag pin with a flag barrel  40  having flag-barrel bore  42  as means for mounting and dismounting various flags  38  onto mast rod  32  thereby enabling flags to be easily changed to a plurality of flags specifically designed to denoted a special event. Mast rod  32  provides flag-barrel stop  44  which may be an integral part of the mast or provide flag-barrel-stop bore  46  whereby the flag-barrel stop  44  can be adjustably positioned and fastened onto the mast rod to accommodate flags of varying lengths. 
     Mast rod  32  also provides ejector-sleeve stop  48  for limiting the vertical rise of the ejector sleeve  62  with the ejector-sleeve stop  48  also providing an ejector-sleeve-stop bore  46  whereby the positioning of the ejector-sleeve stop  48  can also vary. 
     Further provided is mast-rod line fastener  58  positioned approximately to the base of mast rod  32  whereby line  56  can be fastened thereto and mast-rod stop  52  having mast-rod-stop bore  54  with mast-rod stop  52  limiting the vertical rise of the mast rod once pressure is removed from palm button  34 . 
     Mast sleeve  24  has a top end and a bottom end with a through bore extending there between with the bottom end having attached ferrule plug  22  that alternately provides ferrule-plug  22  with spaced apart ferrule-plug rings  68  serving as frictional elements for frictionally engaging the interior wall of ferrule  20 . 
     The top end of mast sleeve  24  has mast-sleeve cap  26  fixedly attached containing a mast-sleeve-cap bore  28  for receiving mast rod  32  therein. Cap  26  also provides spaced apart peripheral cavities serving as mast-sleeve-cap line-cavities  30  for extending line  56  from the mast-rod line fastener  58  through cavities  30  then secured to the ejector-sleeve dome  60 . 
     Ejector sleeve  62  has a top end and a bottom end with a through bore extending there between with dome  60  fixedly attached to the bottom end while the top end has an ejector-sleeve cap  64  containing ejector-sleeve-cap bore  66  receiving mast sleeve  32  there through. 
     The cyclical operation of ejecting the golf balls contained in the hole-cup is performed by the user applying downward pressure on the mast rod&#39;s palm button  34  causing the mast rod  32  downward into the mast sleeve  24  resulting in the line  56  attached to the mast-rod line fastener  58  downward which draws the line across the mast-sleeve-cap line-cavities  30  exerting an upward force on the ejector sleeve&#39;s dome  60  thereby raising the ejector sleeve  62  preferably to the point where it engages the ejector-sleeve stop  48  mounted on the mast-rod  32 . The ejector-sleeve dome  60  stops approximate ground level where the sloped surface of the dome causes the balls to radially roll away from the flag pin while prevent any balls from rolling back into the hole-cup  18 . Once the user releases the palm button  34 , the weight of the ejector sleeve  62  applies a downward fore on line  56  moving the mast rod  32  upward until mast-rod stop  52  engages the mast-sleeve cap  26  preventing further vertical movement of the mast rod  32 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , shown are the ejector sleeve and mast sleeve of the present invention. The ejector sleeve  62  has a top end and a bottom end with a bore extending there between with the top end having an ejector-sleeve cap  64  containing an ejector-sleeve-cap bore  66  for passage of the mast rod  32 , while the bottom end has a dome shaped element  60  that is positioned within the base of the hole-cup  18 . The dome shaped element  60  has a centrally position aperture  74  thereby enabling the mast sleeve  24  to be inserted within the ejector sleeve  62 . 
     The mast sleeve  24  has a top end and a bottom end with a bore extending there between with the bottom of the mast sleeve having a ferrule plug  22  attached that optionally provides the ferrule plug  22  with spaced apart ferrule-plug rings  68  that serve as frictional elements for engaging the interior wall of the hole-cup ferrule  20  when placed therein. The top end of mast sleeve  24  has mast-sleeve cap  26  fixedly attached containing a mast-sleeve-cap bore  28  for receiving mast rod  32  therein. Cap  26  also provides spaced apart peripheral cavities serving as mast-sleeve-cap line-cavities  30  for extending line  56  from the mast-rod line fastener  58  through cavities  30  then securing the line to the ejector-sleeve dome  60 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , shown is a cross sectional view of the present invention, taken from  FIG. 6  as indicated. Depicted is the ejector sleeve  62  encompassing ejector-sleeve cap  64  having ejector-sleeve-cap bore  66  with the mast rod  32  passing there through. Also shown is the ejector-sleeve dome  60  that is an integral part of ejector sleeve  62 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , shown is a cross sectional view of the present invention, taken from  FIG. 6  as indicated. Depicted is the ejector sleeve  62  encompassing mast sleeve  24  having mast-sleeve cap  26  fixedly attached there over containing a mast-sleeve-cap bore  28  having mast rod  32  therein. Also shown are peripherally positioned mast-sleeve-cap line-cavities  30  for extending line  56  there over which extend from the mast-rod line fastener through cavities  30  where it is then secured to the ejector-sleeve dome  60  within the ejector sleeve  62 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , shown is an enlarged partial view of the golf ball ejection device of the present invention. The Golf ball ejection device primarily comprises a mast rod  32  tethered within mast sleeve  24  by line  56  which is fixedly attached to ejector-sleeve  62  dome  60  so that downward pressure of mast rod  32  causes ejector sleeve  62  and attached dome  60  to rise thereby ejecting any golf balls contained within hole-cup  18 . Mast rod  32  also provides ejector-sleeve stop  48  for limiting the vertical rise of the ejector sleeve  62  with the ejector-sleeve stop  48  also providing an ejector-sleeve-stop bore  46  whereby the positioning of the ejector-sleeve stop  48  can also vary. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , shown is the golf ball ejection device from a seated position to an ejection position. Downward pressure is applied on the mast rod  32  causing the mast rod  32  downward into mast sleeve  24  resulting in line  56  attached to the mast-rod line fastener  58  to move downward which draws the line across the mast-sleeve-cap line-cavities  30  exerting an upward force on the ejector sleeve&#39;s dome  60  thereby raising the ejector sleeve  62  preferably to the point where it engages the ejector-sleeve stop  48  mounted on the mast-rod  32 . The ejector-sleeve dome  60  stops approximate ground level where the sloped surface of the dome causes the balls to radially roll away from the flag pin while prevent any balls from rolling back into the hole-cup  18 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 13 , shown is an alternate lifting device of the present invention. Depicted is a downwardly movable mast  32  having at least one line  56  fixedly attached to the base of the mast  32  with a mast sleeve  24  encompassing the bottom portion of said mast wherein said mast sleeve  24  base is immovably anchored to a structure and incorporates spaced apart pulleys  76  for placement of said line thereover with an outer sleeve  62  encompassing said mast sleeve and tethered by said line to said mast whereby a downward force upon said mast will raise said outer sleeve  62  a distance determined by the height of said mast sleeve. 
     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above. 
     While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
     Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.