Field configurable flagpole truck system and device

A flagpole truck system includes a flag pole truck device, including an enclosure body with a blocking protrusion, first and second pulley mounts, first and second halyard apertures, and internally mounted pulley assembly, a mounting stem assembly with first and second pin apertures, first and second blocking pins; a flagpole; a flag; a halyard; and a flag pole finial; such that the flag pole truck device is configurable in a first configuration for external halyard mounting and in a second configuration for partially internal halyard mounting; and such that the flag pole truck device is configurable for free rotation, restricted rotation, and blocked rotation.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of flagpole accessories, and more particularly to methods and systems for flagpole trucks for mounting on a top of a flagpole.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Flagpoles are typically configured with a top-mounted flagpole truck, which provided means for mounting flag finial and for containing a pulley to which a flag halyard attaches.

However, such flagpole trucks are designed for either internal or external halyard mounting and have only limited options for rotational support. Therefore, changing mounting or rotational configuration is effectively impossible without replacement of the flagpole truck. Add, conventional external halyard mounts position the pulley displaced to a side of the flag truck body, such that the pulley is visible and exposed to the ambient environment.

As such, considering the foregoing, it may be appreciated that there continues to be a need for novel and improved devices and methods for field configurable flagpole trucks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing needs are met, to a great extent, by the present invention, wherein in aspects of this invention, enhancements are provided to the existing model of flagpole trucks.

In an aspect, a field configurable flagpole truck system can include:a) A flagpole, such that a lower end of the flagpole can be mounted on a ground surface;b) A flagpole truck device, which is mounted on a top end of the flagpole, wherein the flagpole truck device, comprises a pulley assembly mounted inside an enclosure interior of the flagpole truck device;c) A flag, which is mounted on a top part of the flagpole;d) A halyard, which is connected to the flagpole truck device, around the pulley assembly, and connected to the flag, such that a movement of the halyard enables positioning of the flag; ande) A flagpole finial, which can be connected to a top of the flagpole truck device;such that the flagpole truck device can be configured in a first configuration, wherein the pulley assembly is positioned in a first position, such that first and second ends of the halyard each protrude downward from the flagpole truck device, such that the first and second ends of the halyard each protrude downward externally and visibly, to a side of the flagpole; andsuch that the flagpole truck device can be configured in a second configuration, wherein the pulley assembly is positioned in a second position,such that the first end of the halyard protrudes downward from the flagpole truck device externally and visibly, to a side of the flagpole, and the second end of the halyard protrudes downward from the flagpole truck device inside of an upper portion of the hollow flagpole.

In a related aspect, the flagpole truck device can include a blocking protrusion, which is connected to a bottom of the enclosure body; and a mounting stem structure of the flagpole truck device can include a first pin aperture and a second pin aperture, which is horizontally displaced to a side of the first pin aperture; and wherein the mounting stem assembly can further include:a) a first blocking pin, which is configured to be inserted into the first pin aperture, such that the first blocking pin protrudes horizontally from the mounting stem structure, such that the first blocking pin is configured to impact with the blocking protrusion to stop a rotation of the mounting stem assembly relative to the enclosure body; andb) a second blocking pin, which is configured to be inserted into the second pin aperture, such that the second blocking pin protrudes horizontally from the mounting stem structure to a side of the first blocking pin with a separation distance between the first blocking pin and the second blocking pin, such that the second blocking pin is configured to impact with the blocking protrusion to stop a rotation of the mounting stem assembly relative to the enclosure body;such that when neither of the first blocking pin and the second blocking pin are inserted in either of the first pin aperture and the second pin aperture, the mounting stem assembly is rotatable 360 degrees freely in either direction, whereby the enclosure body of the flagpole truck device is freely rotatable when the flagpole truck device is mounted on the flagpole;such that when solely one selected blocking pin is inserted in a selected pin aperture, the mounting stem assembly is rotatable in a restricted rotation range in either direction, wherein the restricted rotation range can be 359 degrees or less, whereby the enclosure body of the flagpole truck device is rotatable in the restricted rotation range when the flagpole truck device is mounted on the flagpole; andsuch that when the first blocking pin is inserted in the first pin aperture, and the second blocking pin is inserted in the second pin aperture, with the blocking protrusion positioned between the first blocking pin and the second blocking pin, the mounting stem assembly can be prevented from rotating, whereby the enclosure body of the flagpole truck device is rotatably fixed in position when the flagpole truck device is mounted on the flagpole.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before describing the invention in detail, it should be observed that the present invention resides primarily in a novel and non-obvious combination of elements and process steps. So as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will readily be apparent to those skilled in the art, certain conventional elements and steps have been presented with lesser detail, while the drawings and specification describe in greater detail other elements and steps pertinent to understanding the invention.

The following embodiments are not intended to define limits as to the structure or method of the invention, but only to provide exemplary constructions. The embodiments are permissive rather than mandatory and illustrative rather than exhaustive.

In the following, we describe the structure of an embodiment of a flagpole truck system100with reference toFIG.1, in such manner that like reference numerals refer to like components throughout; a convention that we shall employ for the remainder of this specification.

In an embodiment, as shown inFIGS.1A and1B, a field configurable flagpole truck system100can include:a) A flagpole182, such that a lower end of the flagpole182can be mounted on a ground surface190;b) A flagpole truck device110, which is mounted (i.e., configured to mount/be mountable) on a top end of the flagpole182, wherein the flagpole truck device110, comprises a pulley assembly230mounted inside an enclosure interior216of the flagpole truck device110.c) A flag184, which is mounted on a top part of the flagpole182;d) A halyard187, which is connected to the flagpole truck device110, around the pulley assembly230, and connected to the flag184, such that a movement181of first or second ends188,189of the halyard187enables positioning185of the flag184; ande) A flagpole finial170, which can be connected to a top of the flagpole truck device110;such that the flagpole truck device110can be configured in a first configuration, as shown inFIG.1A, wherein the pulley assembly230is positioned in a first position391(as shown inFIG.3E), such that a first end188(of the halyard187) and a second end189of the halyard187each protrude downward from the flagpole truck device110externally and visibly, to a side of the flagpole182, such that the first and second ends188,189of the halyard187can be tied to a cleat mount162on a bottom portion of the flagpole182; andsuch that the flagpole truck device110can be configured in a second configuration, as shown inFIG.1B, wherein the pulley assembly230is positioned in a second position392(as shown inFIG.3F), such that the first end188of the halyard187protrudes downward from the flagpole truck device110externally and visibly, to a side of the flagpole182, such that an outer end of the first end188of the halyard187can be connected to a flag retaining ring166of the flag184, such that a lower inner portion of the flag184can be held down with a counterweight168, which aids in lowering the flag184;such that the second end189of the halyard187protrudes downward from the flagpole truck device110inside of an upper portion of the hollow flagpole182, such that an outer end of the second end189of the halyard187can connect inside the hollow flagpole182to an internal cam cleat or an internal portion of a winch assembly164.

In a related embodiment, the flagpole finial170can be configured as a flagpole lighting device170, such that the flagpole lighting device170emits light172to illuminate the flag184. The flagpole lighting device170can be configured as described in U.S. Pat. No. 10,808,913, titled “Flagpole lighting system and device”, issued Oct. 20, 2020; which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

In a related embodiment, as shown inFIGS.2A-2H,3A-3D, and4A-4E, the flagpole truck device110can include:a) An enclosure body211, which comprises an enclosure interior216;b) A pulley assembly230, which is positioned inside the enclosure body, wherein the pulley assembly230is configured for use with the halyard187; andc) A mounting stem assembly220, which can include:i. A mounting stem structure222, which comprises (i.e., is configured with) an outer threading224on a lower portion of the mounting stem structure222;wherein an upper end of the mounting stem structure222is rotatably connected to a bottom center of the enclosure body211;wherein the mounting stem structure is connected to a top end of the flagpole182, such that the outer threading224of the lower portion of the mounting stem structure222is screwed into a threaded aperture of a top end of the flagpole182, such that the enclosure body211is rotatably connected to the top end of the flagpole182.

In a related embodiment, as shown in3A and3B, the enclosure body211can further include:a) an upper body portion212, which can include:i. a peripheral sidewall314, which can be substantially cylindrical with a widening diameter from a top to a bottom of the peripheral sidewall314; andii. a top plate316, which can be mounted on a top of the peripheral sidewall314; andb) a bottom base plate232, which can be connected to a bottom of the peripheral sidewall314of the upper body portion212;such that the enclosure interior216is formed between the upper body portion212and the bottom base plate232, i.e. between the top plate316, peripheral sidewall314, and the bottom base plate232.

In a related embodiment, as shown in3A and3B, the flagpole truck device110can further include:a) a top mounting structure252, which can be connected to a center of a top of the upper body portion212;wherein the top mounting structure252comprises a central aperture354, which can be a threaded central aperture354; such that the top mounting structure is configured to receive a lower portion of the flagpole finial170, such that the lower portion of the flagpole finial170can be inserted into the central aperture354, such that the lower portion of the flagpole finial170can be screwed into the central aperture354; andb) a top mounting cap258, which is configured to cover the central aperture354, for use of the top mounting structure252without a flagpole finial170mounted on the top mounting structure252.

In a related embodiment, as shown inFIGS.2C-2H, the flagpole truck device110can include a blocking protrusion226, which is connected to a bottom of the enclosure body211(i.e., to a bottom of the bottom base plate232); the mounting stem structure222can include a first pin aperture512and a second pin aperture514, which is horizontally displaced (i.e. laterally displaced relative to a vertical/elongated axis of the mounting stem structure222) to a side of the first pin aperture, wherein the first pin aperture512and the second pin aperture514are positioned above the outer threading224; and wherein the mounting stem assembly220, can further include:a) a first blocking pin622, which is configured to be inserted into the first pin aperture512(or alternatively the second pin aperture514), such that the first blocking pin622protrudes horizontally from the mounting stem structure222, such that the first blocking pin622is configured to impact with the blocking protrusion226to stop a rotation of the mounting stem assembly220relative to the enclosure body211; andb) a second blocking pin624, which is configured to be inserted into the second pin aperture512(or alternatively the first pin aperture512), such that the second blocking pin624protrudes horizontally from the mounting stem structure222, to a side of the first blocking pin622with a separation distance229(or separation gap229), as shown inFIG.2H, between the first blocking pin622and the second blocking pin624, such that the second blocking pin624is configured to impact with the blocking protrusion226to stop a rotation of the mounting stem assembly220relative to the enclosure body211;such that when neither of the first blocking pin622and the second blocking pin624are inserted in either of the first pin aperture512and the second pin aperture514, the mounting stem assembly220is freely rotatable592360 degrees in either direction (relative to the enclosure body211), as shown inFIG.2J, whereby the enclosure body211of the flagpole truck device110is freely rotatable when the flagpole truck device110is mounted on the flagpole182;such that when solely one (i.e., one and only one) selected blocking pin622,624of the first blocking pin622and the second blocking pin624is inserted in a selected pin aperture512,514of the first pin aperture512and the second pin aperture514, the mounting stem assembly220is rotatable in a restricted rotation range594in either direction, wherein the restricted rotation range594can be 359 degrees or less (depending on size of the selected blocking pin622,624), as shown inFIG.2K, whereby the enclosure body211of the flagpole truck device110is rotatable in the restricted rotation range when the flagpole truck device110is mounted on the flagpole182; andsuch that when the first blocking pin622is inserted in the first pin aperture,622and the second blocking pin624is inserted in the second pin aperture622, with the blocking protrusion226positioned between the first blocking pin622and the second blocking pin624, the mounting stem assembly220is substantially prevented from rotating (less any minor tolerance gaps allowing slight movement), as shown inFIG.2L, whereby the enclosure body211of the flagpole truck device110is substantially rotatably fixed in position when the flagpole truck device110is mounted on the flagpole182, such that rotation is blocked and prevented.

In another related embodiment, a top of the enclosure body211(i.e., the top plate316) can be configured to include:a) a first pulley mount262, which can be a pulley mount aperture262; andb) a second pulley mount264, which can be a pulley mount aperture262,wherein the first pulley mount262is positioned on an outward side (closer to the periphery sidewall) of the top of the enclosure body, relative to the second pulley mount264;such that the pulley assembly230is configured to be connected to the first pulley mount262in a first position391, such that pulley is oriented along a tangent of a peripheral line381of an outer periphery of an inner side of the top316of the enclosure body211(wherein the peripheral line381is perpendicular to a radius line382of the enclosure body211), as shown inFIG.3E; andsuch that the pulley assembly230is configured to be connected to the second pulley mount264in a second position392, such that the pulley assembly230is oriented along a radius line382of the inner side of the top of the enclosure body211(from a center of the top plate316to a periphery of the top plate316, wherein the radius line382is perpendicular to the tangent of the peripheral line381), as shown inFIGS.3E and3F.

In another related embodiment, a bottom of the enclosure body211(i.e, the bottom base plate232) can be configured to include:a) a first halyard aperture272; andb) a second halyard aperture274;such that when a halyard187is mounted in the pulley assembly230, when the pulley assembly230is configured in the first position391, a first end188of the halyard187can be configured to protrude through the first halyard aperture272and a second end189of the halyard187can be configured to protrude through the second halyard aperture274, as shown inFIGS.21and3E;such that a first end188(of the halyard187) and a second end189of the halyard187each protrude downward from the flagpole truck device110externally and visibly, to a side of the flagpole182.

In a further related embodiment, the mounting stem structure222can be configured with (i.e. further include):a) a vertical protruding aperture576(as shown inFIGS.5A-5D), which protrudes vertically through the mounting stem structure222;such that when a halyard187is mounted in the pulley assembly230, when the pulley assembly230is configured in the second position392, a first end188of the halyard187can be configured to protrude through the a selected halyard aperture272,274(of the first halyard aperture272and the second halyard aperture274) and a second end189of the halyard187can be configured to protrude through the vertical protruding aperture576of the mounting stem structure222, as shown inFIG.2M, such that the second end189of the halyard187protrudes into a hollow interior of the flagpole182, when the mounting stem structure222is connected to the flagpole182;such that the first end188of the halyard187protrudes downward externally and visibly, to a side of the flagpole182, and the second end189of the halyard187protrudes downward inside of an upper portion of the hollow flagpole182.

In various related embodiments, the flagpole truck device110can further include:a) a bearing242, which can be a ball bearing242;wherein the bearing242can be mounted between the enclosure body211and the mounting stem structure222, such that the enclosure body211is rotatable relative to the mounting stem structure222, wherein the bearing242can be mounted between an upper protruding portion of enclosure body211and the bottom base plate232of the mounting stem structure222, such that the bearing242is mounted inside an indentation of the bottom base plate232; andb) at least two mounting bolts244with corresponding nuts, which are configured to connect the upper body portion212and the bottom base plate232securely together.

In a related embodiment,FIGS.7A and7B, show respectively top and bottom exploded views of parts of the flagpole truck device110. Note that the pulley assembly130is shown twice in bothFIGS.7A and7B, to show relative parts orientation in the first position191and the second position192of the pulley assembly130.

In related embodiments, the flagpole truck device110can be configured to universally mount to different flagpoles182, as provided by various manufacturers.

In related embodiments, the flagpole truck device110can be configured to universally mount to different flagpoles182, as provided by various manufacturers.

Here has thus been described a multitude of embodiments of the flagpole truck device110, the flagpole truck system100, and methods related thereto, which can be employed in numerous modes of usage.

The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification, and thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention, which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Many such alternative configurations are readily apparent and should be considered fully included in this specification and the claims appended hereto. Accordingly, since numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, the invention is not limited to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and thus, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.