Information
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Patent Grant
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6192824
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Patent Number
6,192,824
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Date Filed
Thursday, December 31, 199826 years ago
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Date Issued
Tuesday, February 27, 200123 years ago
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Inventors
-
-
Examiners
- Hirshfeld; Andrew H.
- Smith; R. Alexander
Agents
-
CPC
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US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 116 173
- 116 174
- 116 202
- 116 DIG 5
- 362 249
- 362 252
- 362 391
- 040 546
- 040 547
- 040 564
- 040 604
- 428 7
- 428 11
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International Classifications
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Abstract
An electrolier flag is provided that is able to emit light by itself and revolves around a flag-rod under the effects of the wind. The integral flag unit is made form a transparent material and includes a banner portion and a lamp reflector portion. The lamp reflector of the flag is attached on a tube holding a string of bulbs by a pivotal connection, so that the light rays from the bulbs are conducted into the banner by the lamp reflector.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrolier flag, and more particularly to an adornment flag that is able to emit light by itself and revolves around the flag-rod under effort of the wind.
2. Description of Prior Art
conventional adornment flags, like a variety of advertising flags, vote propaganda flags, or house for sale marker flags are put on the top of the flag-rod provided for advertising flags, or tied on a long rope with a space maintained between them, meanwhile they decorate the outside of a house or building, Due to a lack of a luminous source, the advertising flags only can be used in the daytime, but at night, they will lose their commercial value,
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the shortcomings of the prior arts like being limited to daytime use and lack of an attractive appearance, and for bringing the advantages of the flag and the electrolier together so that the results and the commercial value of the advertising flag are improved, it is therefore a main object of the present invention to provide an electrolier flag that can emit light by itself for meeting the necessity of night use.
The second object of the present invention is to provide an eleatrolier flag such that the wind can revolve around the flag-rod for improving its appearance.
For achieving these objectives, the present invention provides an electrolier flag made from a transparent material and includes a banner portion and a lamp reflector portion. Wherein the lamp reflector is provided with two corresponding or complementary tube halves with, coupling components for locking the halves together when assembling the electrolier flag to a flag-rod, and a banner extended out from one or both sides of the opening of the lamp reflector. When the lamp reflector is attached on the tube that serves as a flag-rod, the light emitted from the bulbs on the inside of the tube can be condensed and led into the banner to make the banner emit the light. For reducing the friction area between the lap reflector and the outside wall of the tube, so that the light is not decreased by scratches, and to provide fluent and smooth rotary motion, the inside of the lamp reflector is provided with several ring-shaped fins at both ends and a middle position. Additionally, for increasing the reflecting efficiency of the lamp reflector, the inside of the lamp reflector is coated with an electroplated layer, except the connecting area between the banner and the lamp reflector in order to direct light rays to the banner portion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a solid view showing the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. .
2
is a solid view showing one unit of the flag of the present invention;
FIG. 3
is a solid view showing one unit of a second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4
is a solid view showing one unit of a third embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5
is a solid view showing the second embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 6
is a solid view showing the use of the flag-rod in the operation of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to
FIG. 1
, the present invention comprises a flag
1
pivotally attached on a transparent hollow tube
2
, and several lamps
31
connected in series with a cable
3
located within the interior space of the tube
2
, so that the light emitted by the bulbs
31
can be conducted into the banner to illuminate it.
Referring to
FIG. 2
said flag
1
includes the banner portion
11
and the lamp reflector portion
12
. The lamp reflector
12
is made from transparent material and provided with two corresponding or complementary tube halves that connect together and a banner
11
extending at one open side. More than one socket
13
is formed in the connection area between the banner
11
and the lamp reflector
12
. Corresponding to each socket
13
is a plug
14
formed on the opposite edge of the lamp reflector
12
, so that they can be locked together as the lamp reflector
12
is attached to the tube
2
. The inside of the lamp reflector
12
is provided with a proper number of ring-shaped fine
15
at both ends and a middle axial position for reducing the contact area and frictional force between the lamp reflector
12
and the tube
2
and preventing the surface of the outside wall of the tube
2
from being scratched and thereby affecting the light conductivity of the tube wall. Additionally, for increasing the reflecting efficiency of the lamp reflector
12
, the inside of the lamp reflector
12
is coated by an electroplated layer
16
, except the area of the connecting area
17
between the banner
11
and the lamp reflector
12
in order to direct light rays to the banner
11
.
Referring to
FIG. 3
, a second embodiment of the present invention has two corresponding banners
11
respectively extending out from both open edges of the lamp reflector
12
. The connecting areas between the banners
11
and the lamp reflector
12
are provided as photic zones
17
. On the interface surfaces of the banners
11
there is provided cooperating plugs
14
and sockets
13
.
Referring to
FIG. 4
, a third embodiment of the present invention has an engaging plate
18
smaller than the common banner
11
. One edge of the free end of the engaging plate
18
has an opening for engaging a soft banner
11
with a glue connection or using ultrasonic welding. The other elements are the same an described in the first embodiment.
Referring to
FIG. 1
, the flags
1
can be pivotally attached on the tube
2
, sequentially in series. or, as shown in
FIG. 5
, a transparent, spacing collar
4
is inserted between two adjacent flags
1
to maintain a space between the adjacent flags
1
. The tube
2
is made from a soft material so that it can he bent in a desired shape to conform to a change in the environment. Referring to
FIG. 6
, the tube
2
in the present invention is made from a hard transparent material so it can be used as a standing flag-rod.
With respect to the lighting effect and referring to
FIG. 1
, FIG.
5
and
FIG. 6
, the light rays emitted from the bulbs
31
pass into the lamp reflector
12
via the tube
2
. Referring to
FIG. 2
, FIG.
3
and
FIG. 4
, by means of the reflecting galvanized coating
16
at the inside of the lamp reflector
12
, the light emitted from the bulbs
31
is condensed into the lamp reflector
12
, and conducted into the transparent banner
11
via the photic zones
17
(and the banner engaging plate
18
) to illuminate the banner
11
. With respect to the revolving motion, the flag
1
with the lamp reflector
12
is mounted on the tube
2
by a pivotal connection, so that the flag
1
can be swiveled by the wind, and in cooperation with the light, it will appear at night to have a beautiful appearance. The ring fins
15
of the lamp reflector
12
not only reduce the friction area, the scratching area and frictional heat, but also fluently maintain the revolving motion of the flag
1
.
Claims
- 1. An electrolier flag comprising:a longitudinally extended transparent tube; a string of longitudinally spaced lamps disposed within said transparent tube; and, a plurality of flags pivotally connected to said transparent tube, each of said flags including a lamp reflector portion and a banner portion, said lamp reflector portion being formed by a pair of complementary semi-cylindrical members engaged one to the other around a portion of said transparent tube and forming a pivotal connection therewith, said banner portion including at least one banner member extending from at least one edge of at least one of said semi-cylindrical members, wherein light emissions from said lamps are conducted by said lamp reflector portion into said banner portion to illuminate said at least one banner member.
- 2. The electrolier flag as recited in claim 1, wherein said lamp reflector portion includes a plurality of ring shaped fins extending from an internal surface thereof for contacting an external surface of said transparent tube.
- 3. The electrolier flag as recited in claim 1, wherein said lamp reflector portion includes a reflective coating on an internal surface thereof, said lamp reflector portion having a photic zone formed by an internal surface area devoid of said reflective coating, said photic zone being in aligned relation with said at least one banner member.
- 4. The electrolier flag as recited in claim 1, wherein said banner portion includes a pair of banner members, each of said banner members being coupled to a respective one of said semi-cylindrical members.
- 5. The electrolier flag as recited in claim 1, wherein said banner portion further includes a banner engaging plate having a first end coupled to said at least one edge of said at least one of said semi-cylindrical members and an opposing second end engaging said at least one banner member, said second end of said banner engaging plate having an opening formed therein for securing said at least one banner member thereto.
US Referenced Citations (10)