1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to flag poles. More particularly, the present invention relates to a simplified halyard system for a flag coupled to a flag pole.
2. Related Art
Halyard systems for hoisting and lowering flags to flag poles are well known in the art. Flag poles extending upward 20 ft. and taller typically include halyard systems having various pulleys at the upper and/or lower ends of the flag pole with a flag line coupled to such pulleys and attached to a peripheral side of the flag. Halyard systems utilizing pulleys are known to be located internal and external to the flag pole with various manually accessible locking mechanisms for holding the flag in a suspended position with respect to the flag pole. However, external pulley systems pose problems with theft and exposure to the elements in the environment. Although internal pulley systems deter theft and exposure to the elements, such internal pulley systems are typically much more expensive than the external systems as the internal systems often require more advanced pulley systems to suspend the flag along the outside of the pole.
The locking mechanisms for maintaining and manually releasing the flag in the suspended position with respect to the flag pole are also known in the art. One locking mechanism includes a crank coupled to a line member with a locking wench system. The crank can be turned to facilitate up and down movement of the line member and can be locked in position with the wench system to thereby position the flag along the flag pole as desired. However, this locking mechanism is expensive and requires excessive components along with the pulley system to properly function.
Another type of locking mechanism operated with a pulley system is a spring-biasing cam locking system. Such a spring-biasing cam locking system prevents movement of the line in the upward direction and allows movement of the line in the downward direction. When the line needs to be moved in the upward direction, the line can be pulled downward and moved to an open space adjacent to the cam to allow such movement in the upward direction. Although the spring-biasing cam locking mechanism is relatively inexpensive, over time the line will experience wear against the ruff surface of the cam and components of the spring-biasing cam locking mechanism may break down and degrade. Further, the spring-biasing cam locking mechanism is operated with a pulley system, which adds cost to the manufacturer and the end user.
Another problem with internal pulley systems is the necessity of having an access opening with a locking door to allow both authorized access and prevent unauthorized access to the halyard system. Such locking doors typically include a hinge, various plates for mounting the door to the cylindrical surface of the tube, several exposed fasteners and a pad lock. These many components employed for the locking door will often weather over time from exposure to the elements and are rather unsightly to look upon.
It has been recognized that it would be advantageous to develop a simplified halyard system for suspending a peripheral side of a flag adjacent to a flag pole that is less costly for the manufacturer and the end user.
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing a halyard system configured to suspend a flag on a flag pole. The halyard system includes a holding member, a line member and a weighted-down mass structure. The holding member is coupled to the flag pole. The line member is operatively coupled to an upper side portion of the flag and extends through an upper portion of the flag pole and is operable to be removably coupled to the holding member. The weighted-down mass structure is operatively coupled to a lower corner of the flag adjacent the pole and is operable to freely hang from the lower side portion of the flag. With this arrangement, the weighted-down mass structure places tension on the line member and a peripheral side of the flag so as to substantially maintain the peripheral side of the flag in a suspended position along side the flag pole.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description which follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which together illustrate, by way of example, features of the invention.
Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used herein to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and additional applications of the principles of the inventions as illustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention.
In one embodiment, the halyard system 100 of the present invention includes a holding member 170, a line member 150 and a mass structure 190. The holding member 170 can be coupled to a bottom portion of an interior of the flag pole 110. The line member 150 can be operatively coupled to the first eyelet 138 of the flag 130 and extends through an upper portion of the flag pole 110 and is operable to be removably coupled to the holding member 170 within the flag pole 110. The mass structure 190 can be operatively coupled to the second eyelet 140 of the flag 130 and is operable to freely hang from the flag 130. In this manner, the mass structure 190 is operable to place tension on the peripheral side 132 of the flag 130 so as to substantially maintain the peripheral side 132 of the flag 130 in a suspended position along side the flag pole 110. Further, the weight of the mass structure 190 provides a tension force Ft in the line member 150 to facilitate a coupling arrangement with the holding member 170 as well as facilitate lowering the flag 130 down the flag pole 110 after releasing the line member 150 from the holding member 170.
With respect to
The tube member 112 can also include an access opening 200 sized and configured to access the line member 150 and holding member 170. Such an access opening 200 can be positioned in the tube member 112 at a height suitable for a person to readily access the line member 150 and the holding member 170, such as approximately four feet to five feet above the base plate 114.
The tube member 112 extends a predetermined length, which can be any suitable length in accordance to the desired height of the flag pole 110. In one embodiment, the tube member 112 can include a substantially constant diameter along the longitudinal length of the tube member 112. In another embodiment, the diameter of the tube member 112 can include a slight taper along the longitudinal length from the lower portion to the upper portion of the tube member 112. In addition, the thickness of the tube member 112 can vary, from one tube member to another, depending on the length of the tube member 112 for proper stability and structural integrity as known to one of ordinary skill in the art.
The holding member 170 can be positioned against the inner surface 118 of the tube member 112 and preferably adjacent to and above the access opening 200 or any suitable position within the tube member 112, such as the opposite inner side of the access opening 200, so that a person can readily access the holding member 170. Such a holding member 170 can be a bracket-type structure or any other suitable structure configured to couple the line member 150 thereto. The holding member 170 can be a unitary structure with a first portion 172 and a second portion 174. The first portion 172 is sized and configured to abut against the inner surface 118 of the tube member 112 for fastening thereto with, for example, bolts, screws or any other suitable fastening means, such as welding. The second portion 174 can extend outwardly upward from the inner surface 118 of the tube member 112 at a predetermined angle 178. Such a predetermined angle 178 can be between approximately 25 degrees and 60 degrees from the inner surface 118 of the tube member 112, as indicated in drawing
Referring now to
The mass structure 190 is operatively coupled to the second eyelet 140 at the lower corner portion 136 of the flag 130 so that the mass structure 190 freely hangs from the flag 130 with a gravitational force Fg applied thereto. Such a mass structure 190 can include a second coupling link 192 so that the mass structure 190 can be readily removed from or coupled to the second eyelet 140 of the flag 130. The mass structure 190 is sized and configured to provide tension in the peripheral side 132 of the flag 130 so that the peripheral side 132 of the flag 130 substantially maintains a suspended position along side the flag pole 110 when in the raised position as well as being suspended when raising or lowering the flag 130. Additionally, to substantially maintain the peripheral side 132 in the suspended position in, for example, climates with high winds, a strap 158 can be included to extend around the flag pole 110 and removably couple to the second eyelet 140 and/or the second coupling link 192 of the mass structure 190.
Further, with respect to
In addition, the mass structure 190 is a dense, weighted down material with a predetermined weight having a gravitational force Fg applied in the downward direction. The predetermined weight is such that, when the flag 130 is in the raised position, a person can manually release the interference fit between the line member 150 and the holding member 170 so that the weight of the flag 130 combined with the predetermined weight of the mass structure 190 naturally pulls the line member 150 upward within the tube member 112 to, thereby, lower the flag 130. Such weighted down material of the mass structure 190 can be any suitable material, such as a metal, lead, and/or a dense polymeric-type material or combinations thereof. The mass structure 190 can be shaped in the form of a ball, cylinder, cone or any suitable shape desired. The mass structure 190 can include a weight between approximately 3 lbs. to 30 lbs. However, such weight may vary depending on the weight of the line member 150, the weight of the flag 130 and the friction produced between the line member 150 and the channel 122 in the cap 120 of the flag pole 110. As such, the weight of the mass structure 190 can be readily determined by one of ordinary skill in the art knowing the above-noted weights and approximate friction produced in the channel 122 in the flag pole 110. A damping surface 191 of foam rubber or other sound reducing material can be applied to minimize sound of the weight impacting the pole.
Turning now to
Referring to
The rear plate 230 can be joined to the back surface 222 of the front plate 220 with an outer periphery 232 smaller than an outer periphery 226 of the front plate 220. The rear plate 230 can be contoured to coincide with the contoured back surface 222 of the front plate 220 and can include a ring configuration symmetrically centered on the back surface 222 of the front plate 220. The outer periphery 232 of the rear plate 230 is sized and configured to fit snug within an edge 202 defining the access opening 200. With this arrangement, the door member 210 can be readily fitted with the access opening 200 by simply positioning the rear plate 230 within the access opening 200 and adjusting the orientation until the contoured back surface 222 of the front plate 220 sits flush against the outer surface 224 of the tube member 112.
The lock housing 240 includes a front portion 242 and a rear portion 244 and extends through the front plate 220. The front portion 242 can sit flush with or protrude from a face surface 228 of the front plate 220. The front portion 242 includes a key hole 246 defined therein configured to receive a key (not shown). The rear portion 244 protrudes from the back surface 222 of the front plate 220 and is operatively coupled to a locking extension member 250.
The locking extension member 250 can include a middle portion 252 with opposite end portions 254 in a wing-type configuration. The middle portion 252 can be coupled to the rear portion 244 of the lock housing 240. Such a locking extension member 250 can be placed in an open position with the opposite end portions 254 extending vertically (shown in outline) and a locked position with the opposite end portions 254 positioned horizontally. The locking extension member 250 can be rotated to such positions by inserting the key in the key hole 246 and turning the key to either the open or locked positions as known to one of ordinary skill in the art. The locking extension member 250 can provide the locked position with the opposite end portions 254 sized and configured to abut with an inner surface 256 of the tube member 112. Locking the door member 210 is employed by rotating the locking extension member 250 from the open position to the locked position so that the end portions 254 rotatably slide against the radial curvature of the inner surface 256 of the tube member to provide an interference type fit. Likewise, rotating the locking extension member 250 to the open position, as indicated by arrows 258, provides clearance for the end portions 254 with respect to the inner surface 256 of the tube member 112 to, thereby, allow the door member 210 to be manually removed to expose the access opening 200 and allow access to the line member 150 and holding member 170 (
Referring to
Referring to
It is to be understood that the above-referenced arrangements are only illustrative of the application for the principles of the present invention. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements can be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention while the present invention has been shown in the drawings and fully described above with particularity and detail in connection with what is presently deemed to be the most practical and preferred embodiments(s) of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications can be made without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention as set forth in the claims.
The present invention provides and can be directed to, for example, the following structure:
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/US04/20076 | 6/21/2004 | WO | 9/11/2006 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60480272 | Jun 2003 | US |