Abstract:
A pole assembly which includes a pole, a hub being placed on the pole, the hub having a plurality of enclosed channels formed therein, a plurality of arm assemblies with each arm assembly having a vertical segment designed to fit within a respective channel and an arm extending outwardly from the vertical segment, and a finial designed to sit on top of an upper end of the pole, the finial having a spirit level incorporated therein.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a pole assembly and more particularly, relates to a pole assembly which can be used outside and which can be used with many different accessories. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The use of poles to support another object is well known in the art. If inserted in the ground, typically the poles must be braced or inserted in materials such as concrete in order that they be stable enough to withstand sideways or transverse forces. The insertion of the pole in the soil is at times difficult and does not result in a vertical pole, but rather one which is skewed to one side or the other. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a pole system which is readily insertable into the soil and which will result in a pole which is vertical. 
         [0004]    According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pole assembly comprising a pole, a hub placed on the pole, the hub having a plurality of enclosed channels formed therein, a plurality of arm assemblies, each arm assembly having a vertical segment designed to fit within a respective channel, an arm extending outwardly from the vertical segment, and a finial designed to sit on an upper end of the pole, the finial having a level incorporated therein. 
         [0005]    The pole may either be formed as a unitary pole or more preferably, is formed as a plurality of sections. The sections may be suitably connected together—the connection may rely on friction or alternatively, mechanical fasteners can be employed. Such fasteners are well known in the art. 
         [0006]    The system utilizes a hub member and preferably, there are a plurality of such hub members. The hub members are designed to engage with the pole and in turn, support other accessories. In a preferred embodiment, the hub member will seat on a pin which extends diametrically through the pole. Thus, there may be provided a plurality of apertures extending diametrically and thus, the hubs may be located at desired locations. 
         [0007]    The hub members may be utilized to support a plurality of arm assemblies or in an alternative, may be utilized to support one or more containers. One may also use other arrangements as is known in the art. 
         [0008]    When the hubs are supported by a pin, the arrangement is preferably one wherein the hub can rotate if a sufficient force is applied thereto. This may be accomplished by means of a scalloped bottom surface upon which the pin will rest. The scallops are essentially recesses in the wall and can be designed so that when a certain force is applied, the hub will rotate; this can be advantageous if an accidental force is applied to one of the containers or arm assemblies. 
         [0009]    The hubs themselves may have one or more channels formed therein for receiving a vertical segment of an arm assembly. The engagement is such that the arms are retained in position by means of friction and no tools are necessary. 
         [0010]    The arm assemblies are designed such that an arm extends outwardly and may either have an object hung therefrom or in the alternative, they may support a tray or the like. The objects supported or hung may either be practical, like a bird feeder, or decorative if so desired. 
         [0011]    In one embodiment, there are provided upper and lower arm assemblies, the arrangement being such that the upper arm assembly supports a bird feeder while there is a corresponding lower arm assembly which will support a tray to catch excess bird feed. The excess bird feed would then be eaten by birds who normally feed on a flat surface. 
         [0012]    The finial used in the present invention is of a double utility. Firstly, it will function as a conventional finial—a decorative finish to the top of a pole or post. However, inside the finial there is a spirit level which may be utilized in aligning the pole when inserting it in the soil. Preferably, the spirit level is of the bull&#39;s eye type. 
         [0013]    The pole assembly of the present invention is preferably packaged such that it can be readily shipped. To this end, there will a threaded bottom section which can store a pusher rod while the baffle, which is a hollow member, could store all the parts—the pole sections, the arm assemblies, hubs and the finial. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating embodiments thereof, in which: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an assembled pole system according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a further embodiment thereof; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a still further embodiment thereof; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a still further embodiment thereof; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a partial view of a hub and container; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a still further embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a still further embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view illustrating an upper hub and finial; 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the bottom of a hub member mounted on a pole; 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  is an exploded view of the upper portion of a pole system; 
           [0025]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the mounting of a container on a pole; 
           [0026]      FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the lower section of a pole; 
           [0027]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a screwthreaded lower section of a pole with a pusher bar for insertion of the pole into soil; 
           [0028]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a finial; 
           [0029]      FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view thereof; 
           [0030]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the upper end of a pole lower section and use of the finial; 
           [0031]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the pole shown in  FIG. 17 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 19  is a perspective view of the lower portion of a hub secured to a pole; 
           [0034]      FIG. 20  is a perspective view of the upper portion of the baffle extending about a pole; 
           [0035]      FIG. 21  is a perspective view illustrating the bottom of a hub; 
           [0036]      FIG. 22  is an exploded view illustrating the tray and method of attachment to an arm; and 
           [0037]      FIG. 23  is an exploded view illustrating one method of joinder of two pole sections. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0038]    Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference characters thereto, there is illustrated a pole system which is generally designated by reference numeral  10 . 
         [0039]    Pole system  10  has a pole which is generally designated by reference numeral  12 . Pole  12 , in the illustrated embodiment, has an upper section  14 , a middle section  16 , and a lower section  18 . Although three sections are shown, other arrangements such as a unitary pole could be utilized. Sections  14 ,  16  and  18  may be joined together by suitable means as will be discussed hereinbelow. Naturally, many ways of joining the poles can be utilized including mechanical fasteners, frictional engagement, etc. 
         [0040]    In the embodiments of  FIGS. 1 to 3 , pole  12  includes a screwthreaded lower portion  20 . In this regard, the screwthreaded portion  20  is described in greater detail in co-pending application co-pending application Ser. No. 15/330,615 entitled Screwthreaded Pole filed Oct. 19, 2016 in the name of Inventor Paul L. Cote, the teachings of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
         [0041]    A baffle  22  is provided and is mounted on pole  12 . Baffle  22  includes a top wall  24  containing apertures  26 . Different shaped baffles  22  can be utilized as seen in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0042]    In the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 to 3 , pole system  10  includes an upper hub  28  and a lower hub  30 . Upper hub  28  is utilized to support a plurality of upper arm assemblies  32  from which are suspended bird feeders  34 . 
         [0043]    Extending from lower hub  30  are a plurality of lower arm assemblies  36  upon which are mounted trays  37 . Lower arm assemblies  36  are used to support trays  37 . Lower arm assemblies  36  may be supported within a hub or alternatively, may be directly secured to the pole or to the baffle member. In a preferred arrangement, there are provided an equal number of upper arm assemblies and lower arm assemblies with the assemblies being aligned vertically. In the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , there is provided a lower container  38  and an upper container  40  which can be utilized to grow plants and the like. In particular, one may select plants which are attractive to one or more types of birds. 
         [0044]    As may be seen in  FIG. 4 , the pole system  10  may also utilize a base  42  onto which pole  12  is mounted. 
         [0045]    As may be seen in  FIG. 6 , pole system  10  may also include a plurality of containers  44 . Some of the containers may be mounted on pole  12  while other containers  44  may be hung from upper arm assemblies  32 . The pole system could also incorporate decorative hangers for lights, candles or the like as shown by reference numeral  46 . 
         [0046]    A further arrangement is shown in  FIG. 7  wherein pole  12  is secured to a fence by means of clamps  50 . 
         [0047]    Each upper arm assembly  32  includes a vertical segment  52  with an arm  54  extending therefrom. There is also provided a downwardly extending segment  56 . 
         [0048]    Upper hub  28  has an outer wall  58  which includes a reinforced area  60 . Reinforced area  60  is designed to abut downwardly extending segment  56  to provide support for upper arm assembly  32 . 
         [0049]    Hub  28  includes a plurality of channels generally designated by reference numeral  62  which are formed between outer wall  58  and inner wall  64 . Inner wall  64  includes a bottom surface  66  which is of a scalloped configuration. For the mounting of hub  28 , pole  12  is provided with a plurality of diametrically opposed apertures  68  which are designed to receive a pin  70 . Hub  28  will then rest on pin  70  and the scalloped bottom surface  66  permits rotation of hub  28  when excessive force is applied thereto. This arrangement is shown in co-pending application entitled Hub Member and Supporting Arms For A Pole Mounted Assembly filed Nov. 11, 2016 in the name of Inventor Paul L. Cote, the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0050]    As shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , lower section  18  is provided with diametrically opposed apertures  74  located near the upper portion of lower section  18 . A rod  76  is stored interiorly of lower section  18  and as may be seen in  FIG. 12 , rests on a protrusion  78 . Rod  76  is designed to fit within apertures  74  and thus a transverse force may then be applied thereto to permit the insertion of lower section  18  into the soil. 
         [0051]    On top of upper section  14  of pole  12 , there is provided a finial generally designated by reference numeral  80 . Finial  80  is shown in greater detail in  FIGS. 14 to 17  and reference will now be had thereto. 
         [0052]    Finial  80  has an outer tapering wall  82  and an inner cylindrical wall  84 . Transverse ribs  86  extend between outer wall  82  and inner wall  84 . There is also provided a finial. upper portion  88 . Finial upper portion  88  has a diameter slightly less than inner wall  84  and there is thus provided a ledge or wall  90 . Wall  90  is sized such that when finial  80  is turned upside down as shown in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , it will fit within the lower section  18  of pole  12 . Interiorly of finial  80  is a bull&#39;s eye level  92  which may be used as shown in  FIG. 16  when inserting lower section  18  into the soil. This ensures that the lower section  18  will be vertical after installation. 
         [0053]    In a further embodiment, pole  12  as shown in  FIG. 17  may include a plurality of containers  44  mounted thereon. An inlet hose  96  for water or other liquid is connected to an interior vertical tube  98  which in turn is in fluid communication with a central segment  100  for supplying the liquid adjacent the containers. 
         [0054]    As shown in  FIG. 20 , lower arm assemblies  36  may be secured to baffle  22 . In an alternative, lower arm assembly  36  may be secured to pole  12 . 
         [0055]    As shown in  FIG. 22 , trays  37  may be secured to lower arm assembly  36  by means of a center structure  104  having slots  106  which is designed to receive retaining member  108 . 
         [0056]    One method of securing the pole sections together is illustrated in  FIG. 23 . In this, a pair of pins  70  are received in slots  110  such that an upper section of the pole is retained and supported by a lower section. 
         [0057]    It will be understood that the above described embodiments are for purposes of illustration only and that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.