Flag folding aid

A device for use in assisting a person in folding a flag. The device comprises a band having an internal diameter, a first end and a second end and an intermediate extent therebetween. The band is formed into a circular configuration with first and second ends in alignment. A plate is positioned upon the band opposite the first and second ends. A threaded aperture is formed within the plate. A clipping arm is included and has a first end and a second end and an intermediate extent therebetween. A hole is formed within the first end of the arm. A clip is positioned upon the second end of the arm. A hook arm has a first end and a second end and an intermediate extent therebetween. A hole is formed within the first end of the arm. A hook is positioned upon the second end of the arm. A screw is positioned through the hole within the first end of the clipping arm and within the hole within the first end of the hook arm. The screw is threadably secured within the aperture of the plate. The screw functions to rotatably couple the hook arm and the clipping arm to the band.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to flag folder and more particularly pertains 
to a device for and method of folding a flag. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
The use of aids for folding sheets is known in the prior art. More 
specifically, these aids heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose 
of folding are known to consist basically of familiar, expected, and 
obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs 
encompassed by the crowded prior art which has been developed for the 
fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
For example, U.S. Pat. 3,961,782 to Lowry discloses a aid for folding 
sheets and the like. U.S. Design Pat. No. 244,014 to Kim discloses a 
universal adjustable flagpole. U.S. Pat. 3,749,038 to Dodsworth discloses 
a material folding and stitching aid. U.S. Pat. No. 3,713,643 to 
Gerstenberger discloses a folding aid. U.S. Pat. No. 5,255,627 to Williams 
discloses a flag and flagpole attachment. 
In this respect, the flag folder according to the present invention 
substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the 
prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for 
the purpose of folding flags. 
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for 
new and improved flag folder which can be used for folding flags. In this 
regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of 
folding aids now present in the prior art, the present invention provides 
an improved flag folder. As such, the general purpose of the present 
invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to 
provide a new and improved flag folder and method which has all the 
advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages. 
To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a method of 
folding a flag. The flag is standard having a first end with two apertures 
and a second end. The method utilizing a device secured to a flagpole. The 
method including the following steps. Providing a band, the band having an 
internal diameter, a first end and a second end and an intermediate extent 
therebetween, a hole formed within the first end, a hole formed within the 
second end, the band being formed into a circular configuration with first 
and second holes being in alignment. Securing a screw within the hole of 
the first end and within the hole of the second end. Positioning a nut 
over the screw, a plate, with a threaded aperture formed therein, 
positioned upon the band opposite the screw, the screw and nut functioning 
to adjust the internal diameter of the band. Securing the band about a 
flagpole. Providing a clipping arm, the clipping arm having a first end 
and a second end and an intermediate extent therebetween, a hole formed 
within the first end of the arm, a clip positioned upon the second end of 
the arm. Providing a hook arm, the hook arm having a first end and a 
second end and an intermediate extent therebetween, a hole formed within 
the first end of the arm, a hook positioned upon the second end of the 
arm. Providing a screw, the screw positioned through the hole within the 
first end of the clipping arm and within the hole within the first end of 
the hook arm, the screw threadably secured within the hole of the plate, 
the screw functioning to rotatably couple the hook arm and the clipping 
arm to the band. Folding the flag in half such that the two apertures of 
the first end come into alignment. Securing the two aligned apertures over 
the hook of the hook arm and securing the folded corner of the first end 
within the clip of the clipping arm. Folding the flag into triangular 
sections from the second towards the first end, removing the first end 
from hook and from the clip. 
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features 
of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that 
follows may be better understood and in order that the present 
contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, 
additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter 
and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention 
in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its 
application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the 
components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the 
drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being 
practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood 
that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose 
of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting. 
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon 
which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the 
designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the 
several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, 
that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions 
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present 
invention. 
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent 
and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the 
scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar 
with patent of legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a 
cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of 
the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention 
of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to 
be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide new and 
improved flag folder which have all the advantages of the prior art 
folders and none of the disadvantages. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide new and improved 
flag folder which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
It is further object of the present invention to provide new and improved 
flag folder which are of durable and reliable constructions. 
An even further object of the present invention is to provide new and 
improved flag folder which are susceptible of a low cost of manufacture 
with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly are then 
susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making 
such flag folder economically available to the buying public. 
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide new and 
improved flag folder which provide in the apparatuses and methods of the 
prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming 
some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a method 
of folding flags. 
Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide new and 
improved device for use in assisting a person in folding a flag, the 
device includes the following components. A band having an internal 
diameter, a first end and a second end and an intermediate extent 
therebetween. A hole formed within the first end, a hole formed within the 
second end. The band being formed into a circular configuration with first 
and second holes being in alignment. A screw secured within the hole of 
the first end and within the hole of the second end. A nut positioned over 
the screw, a plate positioned upon the band opposite the screw, the screw 
and nut functioning to adjust the internal diameter of the band. A 
threaded aperture formed within the plate. A clipping arm having a first 
end and a second end and an intermediate extent therebetween. A hole 
formed within the first end of the arm, a clip positioned upon the second 
end of the arm, means positioned intermediate the first and second ends 
for use in adjusting the length of the clipping arm. A hook arm having a 
first end and a second end and an intermediate extent therebetween, a hole 
formed within the first end of the arm, a hook positioned upon the second 
end of the arm, means positioned intermediate the first and second ends 
for use in adjusting the length of the hook arm. A screw positioned 
through the hole within the first end of the clipping arm and within the 
hole within the first end of the hook arm, the screw threadably secured 
within the aperture of the plate, the screw functioning to rotatably 
couple the hook arm and the clipping arm to the band. 
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various 
features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with 
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this 
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating 
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should 
be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there 
is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

The same reference numerals refer to the same parts through the various 
Figures. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1 thereof, 
the preferred embodiment of the new and improved flag folder embodying the 
principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated 
by the reference numeral 10 will be described. 
The present invention relates to a device for use in folding a flag and a 
method of using the device. In its broadest context, the present invention 
includes a device which is adapted to be secured about a flagpole. The 
device includes a band which is secured about the flag pole and two arms 
which are pivotally secured to the band. One of the arms has a hook at its 
outermost extremity and the other arm has a clip at its outermost 
extremity. The method involves the steps of employing the device for 
folding a flag. First, the specifics involving the device will be 
described, then the method. 
The band 22 has an internal diameter, a first end, a second end and an 
intermediate extent therebetween. Holes are formed within the first and 
second ends of the band 22. In order for the band 22 to fit about a 
flagpole, it is formed into a circular configuration with first and second 
holes being in alignment. A screw 24 is secured within the hole of the 
first end and within the hole of the second end and a nut 26 is positioned 
over the screw 24. The nut 26 and bolt are used in keeping the ends of the 
band 22 together. In order to provide sufficient strength two screws 24 
can be employed in conjunction with two nuts 26. Together the screw 24 and 
nut 26 function to adjust the internal diameter of the band 22. 
Furthermore, a plate 28, with a centrally located threaded aperture, is 
positioned upon the band 22 opposite the screw 24. 
Two arms are pivotally secured to the band 22. The first arm, or the 
clipping arm 30 has a first end, a second end and an intermediate extent 
therebetween. A hole is formed within the first end of the arm and a clip 
32 is positioned upon the second end of the arm. Means are positioned 
intermediate the first and second ends for use in adjusting the length of 
the clipping arm 30. This means, in the preferred embodiment takes the 
form of a telescopic arrangement. The second arm, or the hook arm 34, has 
a first end and a second end and an intermediate extent therebetween. A 
hole is formed within the first end of the arm and a hook 36 is positioned 
upon the second end of the arm. Like the first arm, means are positioned 
intermediate the first and second ends for use in adjusting the length of 
the hook arm 34 and this means can take the form of a telescopic 
arrangement. 
A screw 38 is positioned through the hole within the first end of the 
clipping arm 30 and within the hole within the first end of the hook arm 
34. Additionally, this screw 38 is threadably secured within the aperture 
of the plate 28. This screw 38 functions to rotatably couple the hook arm 
34 and the clipping arm 30 to the band 22. Thus, each of the arms can be 
selectively positioned anywhere about the aperture of the plate 28. 
The method of using the above described device will now be described. The 
first step in the method involves securing the band 22 of the device 
around a flagpole. The screws 24 of the band 22 are employed in this step 
for ensuring that the band 22 fits securely about the periphery of the 
flagpole. The user then lowers the clipping arm 30 and the hook arm 34 to 
a horizontal orientation. When the arms are not in use they are stored in 
line with the length of the flagpole. The person employing the device then 
folds the flag in half such that the eyelets or holes of the first end are 
aligned with one another. In this orientation, the original length of the 
flag remains the same, but the width is divided in half. Now the aligned 
holes of the flag are secured to the hook 36 of the hook arm 34, and the 
fold of the first end of the flag is secured to the clip 32 of the 
clipping arm 30. Now the flag may be folded. This folding, if done in the 
traditional sense, is accomplished by folding the flag into triangular 
sections. When the folding is complete, the first end is removed from the 
hook 36 and the clip 32. The arms of the device may now be secured to 
their orientation in line with the length of the flagpole. 
Thus, what has been described is a flagpole attachment that enables a 
single person to properly fold a flag--a job normally done by two people. 
The unit has an adjustable metal band that fits securely around any size 
flagpole. Two plastic, aluminum, or steel arms are attached to a plate on 
the band. When not in use, they pivot to a vertical position and align 
with the flagpole. When used for folding, they swing to a horizontal 
orientation and telescope outward to accommodate various sized flags. One 
end of the arm has a spring clip, while the other has either a hook or 
another spring clip. To prepare for use, the unit is pivoted to a 
horizontal position and the arms are extended. After the flag is 
lowered,it is folded twice without using the attachment. The result is a 
flag having the same length, but a width one fourth it original. One end 
of the partially folded flag is attached to the device using clips, while 
the other is held manually. The person then folds it into triangles and 
removes it upon reaching the pole. The arms are retracted and the entire 
mechanism is either removed from the pole or stored in a vertical 
orientation. Schools, companies, government agencies, or anyone else who 
flies a flag could save time and money by assigning one person to fold it 
each day, rather than two. The device is durable and could be stored 
directly on the flagpole, conserving space. 
As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same 
should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further 
discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the 
optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to 
include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of 
operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to 
one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those 
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are 
intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the 
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and 
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired 
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and 
described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may 
be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.