Abstract:
A flag holder is selectively removably attached to a cemetery flower vase and is adapted to hold one or more flags therein. The flag holder comprises a pair of clamp members which are clamped onto the vase at the lower end thereof with one of the clamp members having holes formed therein adapted to receive the staffs or poles of flags therein.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to a flag holder for use with a cemetery flower vase and more particularly to a flag holder which may be selectively removably attached to a cemetery flower vase. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Cemetery flower vases have long been used on cemetery or grave markers. Normally, the flower vases of the prior art have a base portion which is somehow affixed to the marker so that the vase will remain in an upright position but which may be selectively removed from the marker in some instances to permit cemetery maintenance or to permit the vase to be cleaned or replaced. Although the conventional cemetery vases do provide a very good holder for flowers, none of the flower vases of applicants&#39; knowledge include any means for supporting one or more flags thereon. Many people who place flowers in a cemetery vase for memorial purposes will also stick a small flag or the like into the ground near the marker to commemorate the deceased person&#39;s military service or for patriotic purposes unrelated to the deceased person&#39;s military service. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    A flag holder is described which may be attached to a cemetery vase and which is adapted to hold one or more flags therein. The flag holder of this invention includes a pair of elongated clamp members which are horizontally disposed and which are placed on either the lower end of the cemetery flower vase or the stem portion of the cemetery flower vase and clamped thereto by means of threaded connectors extending between the clamp members which embrace the vase. One or more flag supports are provided in one of the clamp members into which the staff or pole of the flag may be inserted. The flag holder of this invention may be easily attached to conventional cemetery flower vases without modifying those vases. The flag holder of this invention is adapted to be used on cemetery flower vases which have a stem portion or with those vases which have a tapered or cylindrical body portion extending from the upper end thereof down to the base portion thereof. 
         [0006]    It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide a flag holder for use with a cemetery flower vase. 
         [0007]    A further object of the invention is to provide a flag holder which may be attached to a cemetery flower vase and which is adapted to hold one or more flags therein. 
         [0008]    A further object of the invention is to provide a flag holder of the type described which is selectively removably attached to the cemetery flower vase. 
         [0009]    A further object of the invention is to provide a flag holder which may be clamped onto a cemetery flower vase in a convenient manner. 
         [0010]    Still another object of the invention is to provide a flag holder of the type described which is aesthetically pleasing. 
         [0011]    These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the flag holder of this invention clamped onto a cemetery flower vase which is positioned on a grave marker; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the flag holder of this invention; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a partial sectional view illustrating the manner in which the clamp members of the flag holder are clamped onto the stem portion of a cemetery flower vase. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0015]    In  FIG. 1  the numeral  10  refers to a conventional grave marker found in cemeteries and which is usually embedded in a concrete slab referred to generally by the reference numeral  12 . The numeral  14  refers to one type of a conventional cemetery flower vase which is positioned on the marker  10  and which includes a hollow body portion  16  having an open upper end, stem portion  18 , and base  20 . Base  20  may be secured to the marker  10  in several different ways. In some cases, the base  20  is secured to the marker  10  by screws or anchor bolts. In other cases, the base  20  is received within a mounting ring which is embedded in the marker  10  and which receives the base  20  therein to maintain the vase  14  in its upright position and in a stable manner. Many of the cemetery flower vases  14  include the stem portion  18  but other cemetery flower vases  14  do not utilize a stem portion  18  with the body portion  16  extending all the way down to the base  20  in either a cylindrical fashion or as is in most cases, a tapered fashion. The flag holder of this invention, as will be described hereinafter, is designed to be attached to any type of cemetery flower vase  14  regardless of the manner in which the base  20  is secured to the marker  10  and regardless of whether the vase  14  has a stem portion  18  or not. 
         [0016]    The flag holder of this invention is referred to generally by the reference numeral  22  and is comprised of clamp members  24  and  26 . Clamp member  24  includes opposite ends  28  and  30 , an inner edge  32  and an outer edge  34 . Clamp member  24  also includes a top surface  36  and a bottom surface  38 . Clamp member  24  is provided with a generally semi-circular recess  40  formed in its inner edge  32 . The size of the recess  40  will depend upon whether the flag holder is to be attached to a cemetery flower vase which has a stem portion  18  or which is simply a cylindrical vase or a tapered vase. Flag support bores  42  and  44  are formed in clamp member  24  and will normally extend completely through clamp member  24  and which preferably extend downwardly and inwardly through clamp member  24 . A pair of internally threaded openings  46  and  48  are formed in the inner edge  32  of clamp member  24  as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Clamp member  26  includes an inner edge  50 , outer edge  52 , and opposite ends  54  and  56 . Clamp member  26  also includes a top surface  58  and a bottom surface  60 . A pair of openings  62  and  64  extend horizontally through clamp member  26  and are adapted to receive the cap screws  66  and  68  therein which may be threadably secured to the internally threaded openings  46  and  48  as will be described hereinafter. The inner edge  50  of clamp member  26  includes a generally semi-circular recess  70  formed therein. The size of the recess  70  will depend on whether the clamp  22  is to be secured to a cemetery flower vase having a stem portion or whether the flower vase is cylindrical or has a tapered configuration. 
         [0017]    In use, clamp member  24  will be positioned as illustrated in  FIG. 1  so as to be positioned forwardly of the vase  14 . Clamp member  26  will be disposed behind the flower vase  14  and the cap screws  66  and  68  will be extended through the openings  62  and  64  respectively and threadably received by the internally threaded openings  46  and  48  in clamp member  26  to securely clamp the flag holder  22  onto the cemetery flower vase  14 . Flags  72  and  74  may then be inserted downwardly through the openings  42  and  44  respectively so that the flags will be preferably be angularly disposed as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0018]    It can therefore be seen that a novel flag support has been provided which may be attached to a cemetery flower vase in a convenient and stable manner. The flag holder  22  may be secured to cemetery flower vases having different configurations as described above and may be easily attached thereto and easily removed therefrom as desired. 
         [0019]    It can therefore be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.