Miniature flag holder

The present invention is a one piece molded miniature flag holder used to display the smallest sized flags, banners or pennants on computers, cash registers, refrigerators, filing cabinets or walls and partitions for decorative purposes. The flag holder displays the flags, banners or pennants at a nearly vertical position, and can be attached to multiple surfaces with double-sided adhesive mounting tape, magnet strip tape, and/or Velcro™ hook and loop fastening system.

Not applicable

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to flag accessories, holders and brackets, and more particularly, to a one-piece molded plastic holder used to display the smallest size flags, banners or pennants on computer monitors, cash registers, bulletin boards, interior or exterior walls or smooth surfaces and fabric coated partitions. During festive times and national holidays, it is desirable to display flags of many sorts. There are many various patents for flag holding devices, but most are for the standard 3′×5′ or 4′×6′ flags. Holders designed to display the smallest 4 inch by 6 inch flags have focused on a pedestal base to stand them on a table or counter surface and not a means to attach them to a wall or other upright position.

Various patents have proposed different methods of displaying flags by attaching them to flat surfaces, by means of drilling holes into the surface and attaching with screws or other fasteners. U.S. Pat. No. Re. 35,731 to Lach, describes a flag pole bracket which must be attached to a flat surface by means of screws. U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,856 to Neely & Shriner describes a rail bracket flag holder, but this application merely provides a base to attach a conventional flag holder with bolts and wing nuts. Other previous patents for flag holders include U.S. Pat. No. 466,960 to Bert & Widmayer, U.S. Pat. No. 1,053,255 to Ward, U.S. Pat. No. 1,198,840 to Hanck & David, U.S. Pat. No. 1,632,726 to Conklin, and U.S. Pat. No. 2,914,278 to Burke. A flagpole assembly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,253,608 to Burke also requires a bracket to be attached with screws to the desired surface.

In addition, flag holder patents include U.S. Pat. No. 2,322,600 to Stahler which requires the pointed end of the holder to be pushed into the ground for display and U.S. Pat. No. 2,298,744 to Liermann which requires the holder to be inserted into the sash of a window frame. U.S. Pat. No. 5,087,012 to Doublet describes a holder for displaying a flag on a table.

Other patents have been issued for devices which hold objects to flat surfaces, specifically pens or pencils. U.S. Pat. No. 5,484,066 to Luisi describes a mountable object holder attached by adhesive to an automobile dashboard. U.S. Pat. No. D 419,192 to Huang describes a magnet memo clip and pen holder which attaches to a ferrous surface. U.S. Pat. No. D 442,638 to Roush describes a hook and loop pen holder and U.S. Pat. No. D 441,021 to Roush describes a magnetic pen holder.

Patents which describe attaching objects to surfaces by using magnetic or adhesive backing include U.S. Pat. No. 6,052,933 to Lytle for a picture framing system and U.S. Pat. No. 5,974,715 to Werner, et al, for an article for framing a visual work. U.S. Pat. No. 6,491,271 B1 was issued to Adams for a magnetic hook or clip. Patent Application Publication No. US 2002/0064412 A1 by Piech describes a miniature pen with a holder that has an adhesive mounting strip.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a holder used to display the smallest sized flags, banners or pennants on smooth and fabric coated surfaces for decorative purposes. It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a miniature flag holder that is easy to use, stable, durable and reliable. It is a further objective of the present invention to be made of one-piece molded (ABS) durable plastic material which is aesthetically pleasing and simple in appearance and which will last for years of use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1illustrates a complete perspective 3-dimensional overall view of the miniature flag holder5as attached to a computer6, displaying a small flag (shaft)7. The flag, banner, or pennant displayed should be sized approximately 4 inches by 6 inches or smaller. The application of this flag holder can also be mounted vertically on smooth flat surfaces such as walls, ferrous surfaces such as refrigerators and file cabinets or fabric covered surfaces such as partitions used in offices. It depicts the vertical support surface plate1, having a rectangular shape and being of one solid piece, with the flag shaft holding tube2attached by the support brace3to the face of the vertical support surface plate1of the miniature flag holder.

The miniature flag holder is tooled and died for a solid one-piece (ABS-Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) plastic injection mold. There are many other types of materials that could be used which would generate the same form, fit and function, but not necessarily the same durability. The injection mold process uses raw plastic material which is heated in a chamber until it reaches its melting point. It is then injected into a mold where it is allowed to cool to become solid and then it is ejected from the mold.

FIG. 2illustrates a preferred embodiment of the front view of the miniature flag holder vertical support surface plate1having a rectangular shape and an opened4smooth-bored tube2to receive a flag (shaft)7. It shows the bottom of the tube2attached flush to the edge of the bottom portion of the front of the vertical support surface plate1.

FIG. 3illustrates a preferred embodiment of the top perspective view looking down upon the miniature flag holder. The view shows the flag holder with the opened4angled smooth-bored tube2. It also shows the support brace3attached to the smooth-bored tube2and the vertical support surf ce plat1. A shows the placement of a molded rectangular slot for insertion of double-sided adhesive mounting tape, adhesive backed magnetic strip, or VELCRO™ hook and loop fastening system.

FIG. 4illustrates a preferred embodiment of the side view of the miniature flag holder. It shows the opened4angled smooth-bored tube2, having uniform walls of solid construction, which receives the flag shaft. It illustrates the bottom of the tube2attached flush to the edge of the bottom portion of the front of the vertical support surface plate1. It also illustrates the support brace3forming a bridge to connect the flag shaft holding tube2to the vertical support surface plate1at a ten (10) degree angle from the tube2to the front of the vertical support surface plate1. It depicts the vertical support surface plate1being of one solid piece. A shows the placement of a molded rectangular slot for insertion of double-sided adhesive mounting tape, adhesive backed magnetic strip or VELCRO™ hook and loop fastening system. The vertical support surface plate1is to be approximately 1 and ¼ inches wide by 2 inches tall and ⅛ inch thick. The support brace3and shaft holding tube2is to be approximately 1/16 inch thick.

FIG. 5illustrates a preferred embodiment of the bottom view of the miniature flag holder. The view shows the flag holder with the angled smooth-bored tube2for receiving a flag shaft. It also shows the support brace3attached to the smooth-bored tube2and the vertical support surface plate1. It illustrates the bottom of the tube2attached flush to the edge of the bottom portion of the front of the vertical support surface plate1. The bottom of the smooth-bored tube2is a solid closed flat surface. A shows the placement of a molded rectangular slot for insertion of double-sided adhesive mounting tape. adhesive backed magnetic strip or VELCRO™ hook and loop fastening system.

FIG. 6illustrates a preferred embodiment of the back view of the miniature flag holder. A shows the placement of a molded rectangular slot for insertion of double-sided adhesive mounting tape, adhesive backed magnetic strip or VELCRO™ hook and loop fastening system.