Patent Application
20220068172
The present invention relates to relates to flagpoles, particularly flagpoles that are hollow or of substantially tubular construction and which are configured for attachment of a flag, pennant or banner thereto.
The present invention provides a pneumatic flagpole to which a vertically oriented flag is selectively attachable. The flagpole includes a vertically elongate wall surrounding an elongate interior space through which air flows vertically upward. The wall has an exterior wall surface over which is positioned a flag selectively attached to the flagpole. The wall is provided with a plurality of vertically spaced apertures, each of the apertures extending between the interior space and the exterior wall surface. The flag is positioned adjacent to the apertures, and is engaged by air expelled from the interior space through the apertures, whereby the flag is caused to fly.
The various objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Although the drawings represent embodiments of the disclosed apparatus, the drawings are not necessarily to scale or to the same scale and certain features may be exaggerated or omitted in order to better illustrate and explain the present disclosure. Moreover, in accompanying drawings that show sectional views, cross-hatching of various sectional elements may have been omitted for clarity. It is to be understood that this omission of cross-hatching is for the purpose of clarity in illustration only.
Corresponding reference characters indicated corresponding parts throughout the several views.
The disclosed invention is adaptable to various modifications and alternative forms, and the specific embodiments thereof shown by way of example in the drawings, are herein described in detail. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may appreciate and understand the principles and practices of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description are not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. In the following description, “vertical” and “horizontal,” “top” and “bottom,” and “upper” and “lower” refer to directions, orientations and positions relative to an inventive flagpole as installed and/or a flag attached thereto as described herein.
As installed, longitudinal, pneumatic flagpole 20 extends vertically, as shown in the Figures. Various embodiments of flagpole 20 according to the present invention include substantially rigid, elongate pole portion 22. Pole portion 22 has a substantially cylindrical wall 23 that extends longitudinally along its linear central axis A. Herein, axial, radial and circumferential directions, orientations and positions are relative to central axis A unless indicated otherwise. In certain embodiments, a segment of substantially cylindrical pole portion 22 that terminates at its top end is tapered in the manner common to many prior flagpoles. Pole portion 22 may, for example, be a pipe or tube made of steel, stainless steel, aluminum, or schedule 40 PVC. Optionally, the exterior wall surface 24 of pole portion 22 may be painted, polished, brushed, coated or stained, to provide any of a variety of colors and finishes that are typical of prior flagpoles or that may be desired. Flagpole 20 as erected is structurally stable, and certain embodiments may be solidly affixed by known means to the ground or a floor, a building or a pedestal. In some installations, the bottom terminal end of pole portion 22 is slidably received into and supported by a ground sleeve (not shown) that is inserted into the ground. The ground sleeve is oftentimes encased in a surrounding concrete foundation located below ground level.
Tubular pole portion 22 has hollow, elongate interior space 26 located between its axially opposite ends. In some embodiments, interior space 26 is defined by interior wall surface 28 of pole portion 22, which in certain embodiments renders portions of interior space 26 generally cylindrical, as depicted in the Figures. As shown, some embodiments of flagpole 20 include finial 30, which may be in the form of, for example, a ball (as shown), an eagle, or other ornament that is attached to top end 32 of pole portion 22. In the depicted embodiments, the upper, terminal end of interior space 26 is substantially sealed, and in certain embodiments of flagpole 20, the upper, terminal end of interior space 26 is at least partially sealed by the attachment of finial 30 at pole portion top end 32.
As described further below, pressurized air continually supplied to interior space 26 is expelled therefrom via a plurality of apertures provided in pole portion 22. A flag is attached to flagpole 20 in proximity to these apertures, whereby airflow streams emitted from interior space 26 through the apertures flow onto or over the attached flag, causing the flag to fly as it would under the influence of a natural breeze.
Referring to
Those having ordinary skill in the relevant art recognize that fly dimension F of attached flag 34 extends in a generally radial direction from the part of pole portion exterior wall surface 24 that is nearest to flag hoist end 38. Fly dimension F includes the width of attached flag 34, which is the distance between fly end 36 and opposing hoist end 38. Hoist dimension H of attached flag 34 extends between the uppermost and lowermost edges of flag 34 at hoist end 38, which ordinarily corresponds to the flag height.
Flag hoist end 38 typically has reinforced border edging provided with a pair of flag attachment holes defined by annular, metal upper and lower grommets 40, 42. Upper and lower grommets 40, 42 are located near the opposite ends of hoist dimension H. Upper and lower grommets 40, 42 are respectively receivable of upper and lower snap hooks 44, 46 by which flag 34 is selectively attached to flagpole 20.
In certain embodiments of flagpole 20, snap hooks 44, 46 are affixed to the upper portion of pole portion 22, proximate its top end 32. In such embodiments, examples of which are shown in
In the embodiments shown in
In other embodiments of flagpole 20, flag 34 is attached to upper and lower snap hooks 44, 46 that are themselves attached to a moveable halyard, a rope or cable that runs on a pulley rotatably attached to a truck that is mounted to the top end of the flagpole. The finials of some flagpoles are mounted to the trucks of their halyard systems.
The truck can be of a stationary type having a fixed position relative to axis A, which can prevent the halyard from becoming twisted about the pole portion and become difficult to operate; or the truck can be of a rotatable type able to move between different radial positions about axis A, which better accommodates flag flying with changing wind directions. The pulley over which the halyard rides defines the “peak” of a flagpole, i.e., the highest point to which a flag can be raised. Halyard systems allow an attached flag to be easily raised and lowered along a flagpole to positions of differing heights. The halyard is secured against further vertical movement when the flag reaches the vertical position desired.
Halyard systems are well-known in the relevant art and generally of either the internal type or the external type. Certain embodiments of flagpole 20, such as the embodiment shown in
Internal halyard systems are characterized by the opposite terminal ends of halyard 48 not being attached to each other to form a continuous, or endless loop. Rather, truck pulley 50 on which halyard 48 rides is located between and defines halyard first and second segments 56, 58 located on opposite sides of pulley 50 and located externally and internally of pipe portion 22.
As one of halyard first segment 56 and halyard second segment 58 is vertically moved up or down, it is shortened or lengthened, respectively; that movement causes the other to reciprocate by moving in the opposite vertical direction and is respectively lengthened or shortened. Halyard first segment 56 extends to a first terminal end 60 of halyard 48, to which lower snap hook 46 is securely attached. Upper snap hook 44 is attached to halyard first segment 56 at a distance from lower snap hook 46 that is substantially equivalent to the spacing between upper and lower grommets 40, 42 of flag 34. Upper and lower grommets 40, 42 of flag 34 are respectively receivable of upper and lower snap hooks 44, 46.
As depicted in
In certain embodiments of flagpole 20 including an internal halyard system, the abovementioned cleat, cam or winch mechanism is disposed within pole portion 22, and may be selectively accessed by an operator via a closeable access door or hatch (not shown) in wall 23 of pole portion 22.
According to certain embodiments of flagpole 20 including an internal halyard system, counterweight 62 is attached to halyard first segment 56 at first terminal end 60, proximate to lower snap hook 46, to keep halyard first segment 56 and hoist end 38 of attached flag 34 substantially plumb, and to help keep upper and lower snap hooks 44, 46 substantially radially aligned relative to axis A. In some embodiments of flagpole 20, beaded retainer sling 64, which encircles pole portion 22, is also attached to halyard first segment 56 at, or proximately below, lower snap hook 46, thereby retaining halyard first terminal end 60 and the lowermost end of the flag hoist end 38 to pole portion 22. Accordingly, flag 34 is selectively attached to embodiments of flagpole 20 including an internal halyard system.
In certain embodiments of flagpole 20 including an internal halyard system, halyard second segment 58 at least partially extends through interior space 26, which also contains the abovementioned cleat, cam or winch mechanism. In certain other such embodiments, interior space 26 is substantially out of fluid communication with halyard second segment 58 and the cleat, cam or winch mechanism.
Certain embodiments of flagpole 20, such as that shown in
In the flagpole 20 embodiment shown in
Interior space 26 and the ambient air located about the exterior of pole portion 22, are in fluid communication via one or more pluralities of apertures 68. Each plurality of apertures 68 is located vertically between upper and lower snap hooks 44, 46, by which flag 34 is attached to flagpole 20 and vertically positioned relative to pole portion 22, directly or via halyard 48. Further, although each aperture 68 may be a punched or cut hole of uniform size and shape, in certain embodiments of flagpole 20 a plurality of apertures 68 may be holes of different sizes and shapes, and/or provided by orifices in fittings (not shown) received into the holes.
Moreover, in certain embodiments of flagpole 20, each plurality of apertures 68 includes a vertically distributed array of discrete, singular apertures 68, each of which is substantially radially aligned with snap hooks 44, 46 affixed to pole portion 22. Pressurized air that exits interior space 26 via each aperture 68 flows into the ambient airspace in which attached flag 34 is located, as a single, high speed airflow stream, over or onto flag 34, causing the flag to fly.
In certain such embodiments of flagpole 20, each plurality of apertures 68 includes a vertically distributed array of circumferentially-spaced pairs of apertures 68 in pole portion 22, the positions of these pairs substantially aligned along axis A. Pressurized air exits interior space 26 through the arrayed pairs and flows into the ambient airspace as generally parallel, horizontally spaced, high speed airflow streams, onto and/or over attached flag 34.
In certain embodiments of flagpole 20 depicted herein, pole portion 22 includes at least one plurality of vertically spaced apertures 68 located in the upper portion thereof, with each plurality of apertures 68 including three singular apertures 68, as shown in
In some embodiments of flagpole 20, each aperture 68 in a plurality of apertures is configured as a hole that is punched, cut or otherwise provided through pole portion wall 23 and extends between external wall surface 24 and internal wall surface 28. The hole may have a round, square, or other defined shape. In other embodiments, such a hole is receivable of one of a plurality of interchangeable fittings configured to provide apertures 68 of different sizes and/or orientations, to regulate the airflow characteristics and/or adjust the directions of pressurized air streams expelled from interior space 26 through apertures 68, as desired.
In certain embodiments of flag pole 20, a pair of circumferentially adjacent apertures 68 are provided, and the plurality of vertically spaced apertures includes a plurality of such pairs of apertures 68. The circumferentially adjacent apertures of each such pair of apertures 68 may be configured as a hole that is punched, cut or otherwise provided, as described above,
In all depicted embodiments of flagpole 20, a plurality of apertures 68 directs its respective, high speed airflow streams over or onto attached flag 34, which is located in the ambient air space. The high speed airflow streams themselves, and/or ambient air displaced in response to the movement of these airflow streams, engages surfaces of flag 34, simulating a natural breeze flowing over flag 34. Thus, attached flag 34 is continually lifted and flown even during windless ambient conditions, regardless of whether flagpole 20 is erected in an indoor environment such as an auditorium, or enclosed stadium where ambient conditions are nearly always windless, or outdoors, where ambient wind conditions vary substantially.
In the embodiment of flagpole 20 shown in
Referring to
At least one electrically-powered fan 74 is disposed within interior space 26 at a position vertically above opening 72. Ambient air is drawn by fan 74 into interior space 26 through opening 72. The air continuously received into interior space 26 and fan 74 is forced by the fan upwardly within pole portion 22, pressurizing the air within interior space 26. The pressurized air in interior space 26 is expelled through apertures 68 located in pole portion wall 23, thereby establishing a continuous, pressurized airflow through interior space 26. The pressurized air exits interior space 26 via apertures 68 as continuous airflow streams directed onto and/or over attached flag 34, causing the flag to fly. The amount of airflow through interior space 26 and the plurality of apertures 68 may be controlled through selection of the size and number of fans 74 and apertures 68 and/or the speed(s) of the fan(s) in a manner known in the relevant art.
Referring now to
Halyard systems of either external or internal type facilitate selective position a flag at various heights along the pole portion of the flagpole. Certain embodiments of flagpole 20 have at least one plurality of apertures 68 that is located only proximate the top of pole portion 22; in such an embodiment an attached flag 34 would be selectively hoisted and secured by an operator at the peak of flagpole 20 to facilitate pressurized airflow streams exiting interior space 26 via a plurality of apertures 68 to directly or indirectly engage and fly flag 34, as described above.
Certain embodiments of flagpole 20 having a first pair of upper and lower snap hooks 44, 46 either affixed to pole portion 22 (see
Some embodiments of flagpole 20 that include first and second pairs of upper and lower snap hooks 44, 46 and 44′, 46′ also include at least one plurality of second apertures 88 located between the second pair of snap hooks 44′, 46′ (see
The embodiment of flagpole 20 shown in
“Half-mast” is a style of flag display where the attached flag is flown at least the width of the flag between the top of the flag and the top of the flagpole, which can be achieved by merely adjusting halyard 48 to lower attached flag 34 into a position in which flag hoist end 38 is substantially aligned axially with the plurality of second apertures 88. Referring to
Certain embodiments of flagpole 20 are envisioned to be most commonly used with internal halyard systems and erected outdoors, where attached flag 34 would often fly under prevailing natural winds from different directions, include multiple pluralities of circumferentially distributed apertures 68. In some instances the force of such prevailing winds can overcome the induced, simulated breeze induced by flagpole 20. Certain such embodiments include a rotatable truck 52, which facilitates freedom of movement of halyard 48 and flag 34 about pole portion 22 in response to the prevailing wind regardless of wind direction.
When the prevailing winds die, attached flag 34 can come to rest in its last angular position about pole portion 22. Were but a single plurality of linear, vertically-arrayed apertures 68 provided, halyard 48 and hoist end 38 of flag 34 could then be substantially radially misaligned with apertures 68, and pressurized airflow expelled from interior space 26 via apertures 68 might then not engage attached flag 34 directly or indirectly, in which case the expelled air streams could not cause flag 34 to fly. An operator might then be required to manually reposition halyard 48 and attached flag 34 into operable radial alignment relative to apertures 68.
Providing in pole portion 22 multiple, circumferentially distributed pluralities of linear, vertically-arrayed apertures 68 (e.g., 68a, 68b, 68c, 68d) allows attached flag 34 to continue flying after the prevailing wind dies, regardless of the resulting angular position flag 34 assumes about pole portion 22. Though not shown, certain embodiments of flagpole 20 similarly include multiple, circumferentially distributed pluralities of linear, vertically-arrayed second apertures 88.
The four pluralities of linear, vertically-arrayed apertures 68 depicted in
The shapes and sizes of the plurality of apertures may be uniform, or differ from each other to tailor the air impingement effect upon flag 34. The apertures may be through holes in the substantially cylindrical wall 23 of pole portion 22 itself, or in fittings disposed within such holes. Two example embodiments of flagpole 20 so tailored are shown in
While this invention has been described as having preferred designs, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/073,321 filed Sep. 1, 2020, the disclosure of which in its entirety is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63073321 | Sep 2020 | US |
