Patent Grant
9159254
1. Field
The present invention relates generally to assemblies for attaching objects to vehicles and improvements thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to mounting assemblies for attaching flagpoles to trucks and improvements thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the field of automobile attachment assemblies, a variety of designs and structures exist for fastening various objects to an exterior or interior of a vehicle. Assemblies for fastening signage, lighting elements, antennas, hitches, placards, flags or other objects have been designed for mounting upon vehicles of various shapes and sizes. Many vehicle owners, particularly for patriotic reasons or to showcase their support for favorite sports organizations, desire to display a flag upon their automobile. Trucks provide a favorable structure for flag attachment due to their generally large chassis assemblies and truck bed storage areas where blocking visibility out of a cabin window is less of a concern than for automobiles.
Truck bed sidewalls often include one or more holes that provide access to enclosed areas within the truck chassis, known as stake holes or stake pockets. Certain designs have used these stake pockets to provide a secure attachment mechanism for a mounting assembly used to fasten an object to the truck bed side wall. These mounting assemblies may also be attached semi-permanently, for example, with screws or bolts, when positioned within the stake pockets for increased stability. Other designs have instead focused on vacuum-based or alternative fastening methods, such as roof-mounted suction cups or window-mounted clamps. Those who desire a longer lasting solution may alternatively opt for a more permanent design that requires drilling or puncturing into the body of the vehicle in order to fasten the object with screws, adhesives or clamps to the automobile chassis.
While current flagpole mounting systems exist in the prior art, such systems are often made for small, lightweight flags or are difficult to install or maintain. Current systems may even require permanent alterations to the vehicle, increasing the chances for expensive damage or repair costs when removing the system or potentially hurting the resale value of the vehicle. Thus, current systems do not adequately meet the needs of individuals who desire an inexpensive and removable, yet secure, flagpole mounting system, particularly those individuals who desire a mounting assembly or system that can securely fasten one or more of larger or heavier objects to vehicles without requiring permanent alterations to the vehicle chassis. Ideally, the mounting assembly would utilize the stake pockets, sidewalls, or back side behind the cab/rear window of a truck bed for attaching the mounting assembly to the vehicle. In order to accommodate the wide variety of vehicles available for purchase with a wide variety of dimensions, the mounting assembly should also be adjustable so that costly individual engineering or manufacturing of the assemblies for specific vehicle types is avoided. An ideal mounting assembly should be safe to both the owner of the vehicle on which it is installed and to owners of other vehicles that may be in the vicinity of such a vehicle on the roadway. Hence, the mounting assembly should be configured to securely couple to the vehicle and adequately hold the mounted object during vehicle movement or during a crash. Safety is of particular importance for commercial vehicles available today with ever-increasing engine performance and vehicle speed capabilities.
An ideal mounting assembly should also be practical for everyday use. Thus, the mounting assembly should be easy to both install and to remove by the owner of the vehicle. The mounting assembly should also be difficult for casual thieves to steal flags already attached to the mounting assembly without requiring the owner to un-mount the mounting assembly and store it elsewhere when the vehicle is parked or unattended. Finally, an ideal mounting assembly should also minimize the amount of storage area taken up by the mounting assembly and should also provide illumination to any attached flagpole. In addition to aesthetic reasons, those individuals desirous of flying the American flag on their vehicle for patriotic reasons need a form of illumination upon the flag in order to comply with the flag display requirements during the hours of darkness specified by Title 4, Chapter 1, Section 6 of the U.S. Code.
An assembly for mounting a flagpole to a vehicle is disclosed. In one embodiment, a flag and pole mounting assembly includes a middle shaft having a first portion and a second portion, the middle shaft configured to extend substantially between a first sidewall and a second sidewall of a vehicle. At least one flagpole attachment member is coupled to the middle shaft between the first portion and the second portion, the flagpole attachment member defining an opening for receiving a flagpole.
The flag and pole mounting assembly may also include a first endshaft, a second endshaft, a first post and a second post. The first endshaft has a connecting portion coupled to the first portion of the middle shaft and an end portion. The second endshaft has a connecting portion coupled to the second portion of the middle shaft and an end portion. The first post couples to the end portion of the first endshaft and is configured to engage with a first stake pocket located in the first sidewall of the vehicle. Similarly, the second post couples to the end portion of the second endshaft and is configured to engage with a second stake pocket located in the second sidewall of the vehicle. Moreover, a light source and a solar panel may be utilized to illuminate a flag when a flagpole is positioned in the flagpole attachment member.
In another embodiment, a flag and pole mounting assembly includes a middle shaft having a first portion and a second portion, the middle shaft configured to extend substantially between a first sidewall and a second sidewall of a vehicle. A first endshaft has a connecting portion coupled to the first portion of the middle shaft and an end portion. Similarly, a second endshaft has a connecting portion coupled to the second portion of the middle shaft and an end portion. A first bracket couples to the first endshaft via a first threaded component and is configured to contact the first sidewall of the vehicle. Likewise, a second bracket couples to the second endshaft via a second threaded component and is configured to contact the second sidewall of the vehicle. A flagpole attachment member couples to the middle shaft between the first portion and the second portion of the middle shaft, the flagpole attachment member defining an opening to receive the flagpole.
In still another embodiment, a flag and pole mounting assembly includes a shaft and a post coupled to the shaft. The post is configured to be received within a cavity of a vehicle. A flagpole attachment device is coupled to the shaft and defines an opening for receiving a flagpole, the flagpole attachment member adjustably oriented around a perimeter of the shaft.
Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present invention will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims. Component parts shown in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, and may be exaggerated to better illustrate the important features of the present invention. In the drawings, like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the different views, wherein:
Referring now to
At one end of the middle shaft 202, a first slot 260 extends along a first portion of the middle shaft 202. A first endshaft 204, defining a cavity for receiving the middle shaft 202, is configured to slide along and couple with the first slot 260 of the first portion of the middle shaft 202 via a bolt or other fastener 261. Hence, the first endshaft 204 is permitted to connect with the middle shaft 202 at a variety of positions along the first slot 260, providing an adjustable extension of the total length of the mounting assembly 104. A similar connection is made at the other end of the middle shaft 202. A second slot 262 extends along a second portion of the middle shaft 202 and a second endshaft 206 defining a cavity therein couples with the second slot 262 of the second portion of the middle shaft 202 via a bolt or other fastener 261. By altering the connection location via the fasteners 261 of the first or second endshafts 204 or 206 along the first or second portions of the middle shaft 202, the mounting assembly 104 is adjustable to fit a variety of truck shapes or sizes.
A wide variety of attachment mechanisms may be employed to adjustably couple the endshafts 204 or 206 to the middle shaft 202. In one example, the first slot 260 or the second slot 262 may be manufactured as a plurality of discrete holes rather than as a continuous slot or channel, the fasteners 261 each engaging with these discrete holes to achieve a desired total length for the mounting assembly 104 or for coupling the endshafts 204 or 206 at a variety of rotated positions to the middle shaft 202. In another example, the first slot 260 or the second slot 262 may instead extend along the first or second endshafts 204 or 206 instead of along the middle shaft 202. The first or second endshafts 204 or 206 may also slide within an interior of the middle shaft 202 rather than along the exterior surface. Moreover, other fastening methods may be employed in place of or in addition to the fasteners 261 described above to adjustably mount the first endshaft 204 or the second endshaft 206 to the middle shaft 202. In still another embodiment, the middle shaft 202 itself may be adjustable in length, thereby eliminating the need for adjustable connection portions or endshafts.
A first post 270 is connected to the first endshaft 204. With reference to
Three flagpole attachment members 230 are coupled to the middle shaft 202 between the first portion and the second portion of the middle shaft 202. An alternative embodiment may utilize greater or fewer flagpole attachment members 230. The flagpole attachment member 230 is connected to the middle shaft 202 via a bolt or screw that passes through an interior of the middle shaft 202, as discussed in greater detail in
Additionally, a light source 240 is coupled to the flagpole attachment member 230 and directs light toward the flagpole 110 for illumination. In another embodiment, the light source 240 may be coupled to the middle shaft 202 or another component of the mounting assembly 104 or the vehicle so long as the light source 240 can illuminate the flagpole 110, an associated flag or the truck bed itself. In still another embodiment, no light source 240 may be incorporated at all. The light source 240 comprises one or more LEDs in order to provide ample lighting with minimal power consumption. Other types of light sources may be used in alternative embodiments, for example neon or incandescent bulbs. Various colored bulbs or bulb covers may be employed to illuminate the attached flagpole 110 or associated flag with a variety of different colors, hues or tints. A solar panel 250 is coupled to and electrically connected with the light source 240 to provide power for illuminating the flagpole 110. The solar panel 250 may be coupled to another component of the mounting assembly 104 in another embodiment. Alternatively, a battery may be used in place of or in addition to the solar panel 250. In still other embodiments, the light source 240 may be configured to electrically connect with the truck or vehicle's electrical system or battery, thereby eliminating the need for any additional power components.
The flagpole attachment member 230 includes a cavity, preferably cylindrical in shape, to accept the flagpole 110. The flagpole 110 slides within the cavity of the flagpole attachment member 230 and engages with an endcap or endpiece 308 of the flagpole attachment member 230. Alternatively, the endcap 308 may be of any shape or configuration or may screw onto the flagpole 110. In still another embodiment, the flagpole 110 may extend through the cavity of the flagpole attachment member 230 and rest on the base of the truck bed or fasten to an endcap or base that rests on the truck bed, as seen in more detail for
The flagpole attachment member 230 also includes an opening 320 for receiving the light source 240. The light source 240 has a protruding element 322 for positioning within the opening 320 of the flagpole attachment member 230. The opening 320 of the flagpole attachment member 230 and the protrusion 322 of the light source 240 are preferably cylindrical or rounded in shape, permitting the light source 240 to be rotatably coupled to the flagpole attachment member 230. Hence, the light source 240 can be finely adjusted or directed as desired toward the flagpole 110 after the flagpole 110 has been received by the flagpole attachment member 230. The solar panel 250 is electrically connected with the light source 240 for providing power to the light source 240. Other aspects, components or features of the flagpole attachment member 230 mounting assembly 104 may be similar to the embodiments elsewhere described.
In still another embodiment for attaching a flagpole to a vehicle,
In contrast to the above described embodiments, the flagpole attachment member 530 fastens to the middle shaft 502 via a clamping configuration, wherein the bolt 504 does not enter or pass through the middle shaft 502. Instead, the bolt 504 only passes through two portions of the flagpole attachment member 530 that act as a clamp around the middle shaft 502. Hence, the two portions of the flagpole attachment member 530 are pulled towards each other by rotating the nut 506 along the bolt 504, thus tightening the flagpole attachment member 530 around the middle shaft 502. The middle shaft 502 of mounting assembly 500 can thus be manufactured without slots or discrete holes for accommodating any connecting components for the attachment of the flagpole attachment member 530. Other aspects, components or features of the flagpole attachment member 530 or the mounting assembly 500 may be similar to the embodiments elsewhere described.
Turning now to
The first endshaft 604 has an end portion and has a connecting portion that connects with a middle shaft 602 at a first portion of the middle shaft 602. The second endshaft 606 has an end portion and has a connecting portion that connects with the middle shaft 602 at a second portion of the middle shaft 602. The curved portion of the first endshafts 604 is formed between the connecting portion and the end portion of the first endshaft 604. Likewise, the curved portion of the second endshaft 606 is formed between the connecting portion and the end portion of the second endshaft 606. Each curved portion forms a substantially 90 degree curve. A first post 670 is coupled with the end portion of the first endshaft 604 and a second post 672 is coupled with the end portion of the second endshaft 606. The curved portions of the endshafts 604 and 606 provide an aesthetically pleasing look while also eliminating sharp edges that may otherwise be a safety concern for an assembly located on an exterior of a vehicle. Other aspects, components or features of the mounting assembly 600 may be similar to the embodiments elsewhere described.
Referring next to
The mounting assembly 700 comprises a middle shaft 702 coupled to a first endshaft 704 and a second endshaft 706. The first or second endshafts 704 or 706 are adjustably connected to the middle shaft 702 in order to accommodate a variety of truck bed dimensions, as discussed above for
Rotating the first threaded component 707 or the second threaded component 708 provides an additional adjustment of the total length of the mounting assembly 700. For example, by rotating the first threaded component 707 in one direction, the first threads of the first threaded component will extend from the first endshaft 704 and the second threads of the first threaded component will extend from the first bracket 770, effectively increasing the total length of the mounting assembly 700. By rotating the first threaded component 707 in the opposite direction, the first threads of the first threaded component will retreat into the first endshaft 704 and the second threads of the first threaded component will retreat into the first bracket 770. The second threaded component 708 operates in a similar manner. Other aspects, components or features of the mounting assembly 700 may be similar to the embodiments elsewhere described.
An alternative flag and pole mounting assembly 804 is shown in
With reference to
The flagpole attachment member 1130 preferably contains a cavity for receiving a flagpole 1110, as discussed in greater detail above. The flagpole 1110 extends through the flagpole attachment member 1130 and engages with a base 1108 positioned on the truck bed 1102. The flagpole 1110 may be screwed or bolted to the base 1108 as shown, or alternatively may screw or otherwise engage with a portion of the base 1108. The base 1108 may rest on the truck bed without any fastening elements or it may be secured by bolts, adhesives, etc. In an alternative embodiment, the base 1108 may not be needed and an endcap of the flagpole attachment member 1130 may be used to stabilize the flagpole 1110 when it is positioned within the flagpole attachment member 1130. Other aspects, components or features of the mounting assembly 1100 may be similar to the embodiments elsewhere described.
Although the above described embodiments showcase varying features, components or attachment mechanisms, it is to be understood that the same or similar features, components or attachment mechanisms present for one embodiment may be incorporated into the other described embodiments as desired. In addition, the mounting assemblies above described may be designed or configured for a variety of objects to be mounted or secured to a truck in place of or in addition to flag attachment, for example light vehicles (e.g. bicycles, motorcycles, ATVs, etc.), pets (e.g. dogs), or fishing rods or equipment.
Exemplary embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in an illustrative style. Accordingly, the terminology employed throughout should be read in a non-limiting manner. Although minor modifications to the teachings herein will occur to those well versed in the art, it shall be understood that what is intended to be circumscribed within the scope of the patent warranted hereon are all such embodiments that reasonably fall within the scope of the advancement to the art hereby contributed, and that that scope shall not be restricted, except in light of the appended claims and their equivalents.
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