Abstract:
A flag and pole assembly in which the pole tapers from bottom to top and where the flag extends beyond the top of the pole, such that the flag and pole arch and easily move with little wind and which is visually attractive in conditions with no wind.

Description:
This application claims benefit of Prov. No. 60/100,915, filed Sep. 17, 1998. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention, known as the SkyStreamer™, is a unique flag or pennant system. It comprises a flexible pole in combination with a flag, streamer or pennant which work together to achieve a unique visual appearance. It can be displayed in most any location, including but not limited to decks, backyards, patios, businesses or otherwise used as a location or attention grabbing device. It may also be used in parking lots at sporting events to show team affiliation and support. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Flags, pennants or streamers are typically displayed in a limited number of ways. Each may be attached along a horizontal or vertical edge to a rigid structure, such as a pole, suspended from a taught rope, such as over a street or intersection, or suspended from the side of a building or other structure. In the latter situation, the flag will remain substantially motionless because the proximity of the building to the flag inhibits the wind from acting upon the flag. In the other situations, the flags or pennants will hang limp and motionless if insufficient wind exists to move them. The size and shape of the flag also factor into the movement of the flag. As can be appreciated, a limp or motionless flag fails to attract attention. In addition, a motionless flag that drapes over itself due to the manner in which it is displayed, hides some or large portions of the flag, thereby defeating one of the reasons it is displayed. Indeed, if the flag or pennant is intended for advertising, it is disadvantageous for the flag to cover itself or to be motionless. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present pennant or flag system provides a distinct physical characteristic unique for this invention. It is designed and intended to mimic the physical characteristics of bamboo, in that the top portion of the pole arches and sways in the presence of a small breeze. By attaching a pennant or flag to the pole, a unique visual effect is created which sets apart the present invention from any rigid flag pole assembly. Even when there is no wind, the upper portion of the flag causes the upper portion of the pole to flex and provides an accentuated visual effect. When the wind blows, the pole and flag rise and dance in unison. The stoop-over effect is an important feature of the system in that it provides eye appeal when the wind is not blowing or when the wind velocity is small. 
     The term “flag” includes not only a traditional rectangular flag, but also two and three dimensional displays of different geographic shapes such as triangular pennants, elongated banners and wind socks. The preferred embodiment is a right triangle in which the tip extends beyond the end of the pole. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front plan view of the flag or pennant system of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a front plan view of an assembled pole of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a front plan of a disassembled flag pole showing the various components in position for assembly. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a shock cord connecting an end plug and ferrule or bushing. 
     FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the base section. 
     FIG. 6 is a disassembled back plan view of the base section and tube support member. 
     FIG. 7 is a front plan view of a flag, streamer or pennant of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present flag or pennant system  10  is generally comprised of a pole  12  and a flag, streamer or pennant  14 . A base  16  may be utilized to secure the pole  12 . (See FIG. 1.) In the preferred embodiment the pole  12  is made from separate sections of rod or tubing. It is appreciated that the pole can be made from metal, wood, plastics or composites such as fiberglass. To provide added strength, particularly at the base, the sections may be solid or hollow, and, if hollow, reinforced with an internal sleeve. If made from fiberglass, additional strength can be achieved if the fibers overlap. Preferably, the base portions are a pultruded fiberglass for strength purposes. As shown in FIG. 2, the pole sections decrease generally in diameter to provide a tapered pole from top to bottom. The upper sections may preferably be of wound fiberglass to provide a spring or flexibility to the upper portion of the pole. Of course, it should be appreciated that the flag pole can be one single piece, instead of multiple sections. 
     Turning to FIG. 3, the component pieces or sections of the pole  12  are illustrated as disassembled. It should be appreciated that the pole may comprise more or less component pieces than are shown. In this embodiment, the base section  18  of the pole  12  receives an end plug  20  at its bottom open end. At the opposite end of base section  18 , a ferrule or bushing  22  is inserted into the open end. Up to half of the ferrule  22  is positioned inside the base section  18  in order that the remaining portion of the ferrule  22  can receive the next section  24  of pole  12 . Additional ferrules  26 ,  28  are utilized to connect further pole sections  30 ,  32  in the same fashion. While the ferrules  22 ,  26  and  28  are illustrated as having a uniform diameter, they may have two different diameters to accommodate joining pole sections of different diameters. The ferrules may be solid, hollow, cylindrical or any other geometrical shape and cross-section. Similarly, when it is desired to make a transition in the size of pole sections, a ferrule  34  may have a hollow center portion  36  to accommodate a pole section  38  of smaller diameter than the preceding pole section. The pole sections may also be sized or dimensioned to fit one within another without the use of a ferrule or bushing. For example, pole section  40  is illustrated to fit within an open end of pole section  38 . A stop  42  may be affixed to pole section  40  to limit the extent that pole section  40  is inserted into pole section  38 . A stop may also be added to the inside of pole section  38  to serve the same purpose. Similarly, a joining section  44 , having dimensions greater than pole sections it receives, can fit on the outside of the pole sections. The second to last pole section  46  includes a hollow tip or cutout at one end to accommodate the last pole section  48 . Typically, pole section  48  is a solid section of fiberglass and includes a safety tip  50  to prevent injury. 
     Based upon the foregoing, it will be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art that the pole sections can be assembled in a wide variety of ways. In the preferred embodiment, the pole is approximately 26 feet long, and the individual sections range from 24 to 51 inches, as shown in the accompanying drawings. 
     It is further preferable that an elastic or shock cord  52  is strung inside the pole to provide additional stability to the pole when the sections are assembled. Such a shock cord also assists in assembly of the component pieces. As shown in FIG. 4, the elastic or shock cord  52  can be attached to the base end plug  20  on one end and an upper ferrule or bushing  44  on the other end. 
     The base  16  of the pole stand is preferably made of a two foot long by ten inch wide by two inch thick piece of plastic. Of course, one of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the purpose of the base is to stabilize the pole for display of the flag. In this regard, the base may be configured in a wide variety of ways. The base may also be configured in order to position the pole in a variety of orientations relative to the base, including but not limited to a vertical orientation. 
     In the embodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, a hole  54  is positioned close to one end of the base  16 . The hole  54  has a notch  56  on the undersurface. The hole  54  accepts a tube  58  that on one end has a cross piece or rod  60  through its diameter which extends out about one-half inch on either side of the tube  58 . The stand can be assembled by inserting the tube  58  through the hole  54  in the base  16  from underneath until the cross piece  60  at the bottom of the tube  58  fits into the notch  56  at the bottom of the base  16 . This cross piece and notch arrangement keeps the tube  58  from being pulled through the hole  54 . The stand may be stabilized by parking a vehicle tire, or placing some other suitable weight, on the base. The base section of the flag pole  12  is then joined with the tube  58 . Alternatively, the end plug  20  may include a hollow portion  62  to accommodate the tube  58  or the tube  58  may be sized larger than the diameter of the lowest section  18  so that section  18  and end plug  20  are seated inside the hollow tube  58 . Disassembly of the stand is in reverse order of assembly and allows the stand to be stored compactly. The dimensions of the base, tube, and crosspiece set-up can vary according to the dimensions of the flag pole and the physical loads expected by a combination of the size of the flag, the size of the vehicle tire, or the dimensions of some other weight other than a vehicle that would be used to stabilize the base. The material from which the base, tube and cross-piece are made can be wood, plastic, metal or a composite, such as fiberglass. 
     With respect to the pennant or flag  14 , it is generally triangular in shape. It may be affixed to the pole in many ways known in the art. In the preferred embodiment, shown in FIG. 7, a sleeve  64  runs along one of the side edges of the flag  14 . The pole  12  is inserted into the sleeve  64 . Also in the preferred embodiment, the flag is widest at its base and narrower at its top where it reaches a point. Generally, the flag may be any geometric shape, but triangular is preferred, and more preferred is a right triangle. It is also preferred that the flag extend along substantially the entire length of the pole, except for a few feet above the ground. The flag may also extend beyond the upper tip of the pole to provide a greater visual effect of an arching and dancing pennant, in which case the sleeve  64  does not extend to the upper end of the flag. In the preferred embodiment, the flag is 28 inches wide at its base, and approximately 24 feet in length. The flag  14  may be also made of multiple panels  66 ,  68  of different colors to show affiliation or support for an athletic team, may include particular advertising, or may be designed simply for aesthetics. Any design or pattern desired may be incorporated into the flag. 
     Various embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail. It should be understood that any feature of any embodiment can be combined in any combination with a feature of any embodiment. Furthermore, adaptations and modifications to the described embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such modifications and adaptations are expressly within the scope of the present invention as set forth in the following claims.