Abstract:
Flag pole holder for attaching to railings on balconies, porches, decks, and stairwells. The holder has a longitudinal pole having a base portion that sits on a floor surface for supporting the weight of the holder and an upper end portion for supporting either or both a flag and a windsock. An angled portion in the pole allows for flag/windsock to hang over the railing. Tie lines such as cords attach the pole to the railings to further stable the holder. Alternatively, or in combination a stand on a support surface such as a ground surface, can be used under the pole for supporting the holder with or without tie lines and plastic clips.

Description:
This invention relates to flags, and in particular to attaching a flag, windsock holder and/or banner to pole holders for balconies and railings. 
     BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART 
     Over the years displaying flags has become popular for holidays, showing support for sports teams, and showing patriotism and for acknowledging events, etc. Multilevel apartments, condominiums, and office buildings have balconies that are difficult to display flags from. Many types of devices have been proposed for supporting either or both flags and umbrellas that cannot be used for balconies. For example, ground based devices for supporting flags have included various types of screws and spikes, that are inserted into the ground, and can not be used for balconies. See U.S. Pat. No. 1,736,177 to Snook; U.S. Pat. No. 4,649,678 to Lamson; U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,699 and 5,088,681 both to Perreault et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,293,889 to Hall et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,363,607 to Turturro; U.S. Pat. No. 5,396,916 to Boissonnault; U.S. Pat. No. 5,397,130 to Brown; U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,218 to Leonard; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,586,517 to Willis et al. 
     Other types of devices have also been proposed for mounting flag poles to other surfaces which are also not practical for use on balconies. The Willis &#39;517 patent further describes anchor type devices for mounting flags to the sides of walls. Viden &#39;299 describes a device for mounting flags to moving vehicles such as automobiles. 
     Few devices exist for easily mounting flag poles to railings especially those found on balconies. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,315,926 to Trenda et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,856 to Neely et al. each describes a railing mounts for flags”, that require clamps to be bolted directly to railings to support the flagpole. However, there are inherent problems to using devices such as Trenda &#39;926 and Neely &#39;856. Both patents require the clamp components to directly contact the railings along substantial surface areas that easily cause damage such as but not limited to scratches, nicks, and the like. Additionally both patents have most of the flag poles weight to bear directly on the clamp and associated rail components the clamp is attached to. Thus, the effects of wind, storms, and/or heavy flag poles can also damage the railing components adjacent to the clamps by causing the railings themselves to potentially bend and twist over time. Both patents are limited to supporting the base of the flagpoles. Upper portions of the flagpoles can easily bend and move and are thus not stable when used. Also, none of the cited patents allow for using windsocks to be attached to the flagpoles. 
     Thus, the need exists for solutions to the above problems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A primary objective of the invention is to provide a flagpole holder for balconies that does not damage railings and associated components on the balcony. 
     A secondary objective of the invention is to provide a flagpole holder for balconies that does not bear the weight of the flagpole on the railing. 
     A third objective of the invention is to provide a flagpole holder for balconies that allows the floor of the balconies to carry the weight of the flagpole. 
     A fourth objective of the invention is to provide a flagpole holder for balconies that provides for stability along the entire length of the flagpole. 
     A fifth objective of the invention is to provide a flagpole holder for balconies that does not require any clamps, and bolts to be used. 
     A sixth objective of the invention is to provide a flagpole holder for balconies that can easily be assembled and disassembled. 
     A seventh objective of the invention is to provide a flagpole holder for balconies that allows either or both a flag and a windsock to be supported thereon. 
     A preferred embodiment of the flag pole holder for railings includes a structure such as a balcony, deck, porch, and stairwell having a hand railing about a portion of the structure, a longitudinal pole having an upper end portion and a lower end portion, the longitudinal pole being attached to the hand railing, and at least one of a flag, a banner, and/or a windsock attached to the upper end portion of the pole, wherein the end portion of the pole is substantially supported by a floor portion of the structure. 
     The holder can include a second pole connected by an angled connector to the longitudinal pole where the second pole supports the flag, banner, and/or windsock, to overhang outside the structure. The second pole can include two poles telescoping extendable to one another with a locking screw locking a selected extension position. A loop end on the upper telescoping pole allows at least one of the flag, the banner, and the windsock to be attached thereto. Lines attached to the holder allow for the holder to be attached to the adjacent handrail(s) for stabilizing the holder in a selected position, and preventing the holder from twisting and moving over time. 
    
    
     Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a presently preferred embodiment which is illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 shows a side view of the novel flag pole and windsock holder of the invention. 
     FIG. 2 shows the novel holder of FIG. 1 affixed to a railing with a flag attached. 
     FIG. 3 shows the novel holder of FIG. 1 affixed to a railing with a windsock attached. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Before explaining the disclosed embodiment of the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangement shown since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. 
     FIG. 1 shows a side view of the novel holder  1  for flags and windsocks of the invention. Holder  1  includes a main support tube  10  such as an approximately four foot long hollow PVC pipe, having a bottom end  12  that can include a rubber cap member  13  attached and wrapped about the end  12 . Main pipe  10  can include an upper end  14  having an angled connector  20  attached thereon, such as an approximately forty-five degree angled connector formed from PVC, and the like. A first plastic type U-shaped cleat  23  with the cleat opening aimed downward can be affixed to an outer surface of the lower vertical portion of angled connector  20 , and a second plastic type cleat  27  with the cleat opening aimed upward can be affixed to an outer surface of the upper angled portion of the angled connector  20 . Extending upward from the angled connector  20  can be an end  32  of a second pipe  30  inserted into the angled connector  20 . 
     Second pipe  30  can be approximately one &amp; ½ foot long hollow pipe formed from PVC, and the like. Attached about upper end  34  of second pipe  30  can be another coupler  40  attached thereon. To one side of the coupler  40  can be a adjust lock screw  45 , that can also be formed from plastic, and the like, that can screw through a through-hole  41  in the side of the coupler to abut against a side of the third pipe  50 . 
     Third pipe  50  can also be a hollow PVC pipe having a diameter smaller than the diameter of second pipe  30 . For example, main pipe  10  and second pipe  20  can each have a diameter of approximately two inches, and third pipe  50  can have an outer diameter of approximately 1 &amp; ½ inches. Pipe  50  can telescopingly be received within end  34  of pipe  30 , and extend in either direction as shown by double arrow E to selected extended lengths, where the adjustment screw  45  can be tightened to lock the selected extension of pipe  50 . Attached about the upper end  54  of pipe  50  can be a cap member  60  formed from material such as a plastic, rubber, and the like. Attached to cap member  60  can be closed loop  63  such as a plastic tie, rubber band, cord, and the like. Wrapped about the cleats  23 ,  27 , and screw  45  can be a flexible line  70  such as a rope cord, nylon cord, and like. When holder  1  is not being used, line  70  can have one end  72  wrapped about cleat  27  with a first part  74  of line  70  extending upward to wrap in a knot  75  about screw  45 , and a second part  76  extending downward to wrap about both cleats  27  and  23 , with an end  78  dangling therefrom. When holder  1  is to be used, the line  70  is unwrapped from the cleats  23  and  27 . 
     FIG. 2 shows the novel holder of FIG. 1 affixed to a railing  110 ,  120  with a flag  200  attached. Railing  110 ,  120  can be an outer corner of a balcony where two railings  110 ,  120  meet in a perpendicular configuration to one another at vertical member  130 . Railings  110 ,  120  can have vertical supports  112 ,  122  connected to lower horizontal railing members  118 ,  128 , respectively. A floor  140  can support the railings  110 ,  120 , vertical supports  112 ,  122 ,  130  and lower horizontal members  118 ,  128 . When assembled, main pipe  10  of holder  1 , can have the lower cap end  13  sitting on floor  140  so that the weight of holder  1  substantially rests on the floor  140 . Main pipe  10  can be attached to vertical member  130  by ties  19 , such as but not limited to plastic ties, cord pieces, rubber bands, wires, and the like. Although two ties  19  are shown, less than or more than two ties can be used as needed to secure the main pole  10  in place. Angled connector  20  can be positioned so that second pipe  30  hangs over one or both of the railings  110 ,  120  to be outside the balcony  100 . Third pipe  50  is extended out to a selected extension and locked in place by tightening adjustment screw  45  through connector  40 . Flag  200  has sleeve end  210  wrapped about third pipe  50  with loop  63  attached to an upper end  212  of flag sleeve  210  beneath top cap  60 . Line section  76  can extend from the knot connection  75  at screw  45  to right handrail  110  with line end  78  attached to right handrail  110 . Line end  78  can be attached to railing  110  by a knot wrap, or other techniques such as a clip, and the like. Line section  74  can extend from the knot connection  75  at screw  45  to left handrail  120  with line end  72  attached to right handrail  120 . Line end  72  can be attached to railing  120  by a knot wrap, or other techniques such as a clip, and the like. The respective railing attached positions of line ends  72  and  78  to handrails  120 ,  110  further stabilize and position the second pipe  30  in a selected angled position to overhang outside the balcony  100 . Flag  200  can also have sleeve end  210  attached to other points on the holder such as wrapped about second pipe  30 , main pipe  10 , and the like. 
     FIG. 3 shows the novel holder  1  of FIG. 1 affixed to a railing  110 ,  120  with a windsock  300  attached. The method of attaching and supporting the holder  1  to the balcony  100  is similar to that described in FIG. 2 above. Referring to FIG. 3, a windsock  300  can have a tie end  310  tied about the loop  63  attached to the cap  60  on top of pipe  50 . Additionally, the windsock  300  can be attached to the loop member  63  while the flag  200  is being flown in FIG.  2 . Furthermore, the windsock  300  can be attached to other points on the holder  1  such as but not limited to the screw  45 , cleats  23 ,  27 , and the like. 
     For either or both embodiments previously described, a separate stand  400  such as an umbrella stand, and the like, can also be used as a base on a support surface, such as a ground surface, deck surface and the like, having an upper opening  410 , for allowing a lower end of the main pole  10  to be supported by the stand  400  without having to use the ties  19  or lines  72 - 78  when the invention does not need to be attached to a railing. The stand can also be used with the tie lines when extra stability and support is needed. 
     Although the preferred embodiments show the holder attached to a comer of where two railings meet, the invention can also be separately attached to outer and side railings. 
     While the preferred embodiments describe attaching the holder  1  to a balcony, the railings can be on a porch, deck, stairwell, and the like. 
     Although the angled connector is shown as being approximately forty-five degrees, the angled connector can be a perpendicular connector, and have other degrees, and the like. 
     While the preferred embodiment describes using pole pieces formed from PVC, the invention can be practiced with other materials, such as but not limited to wood, plastic, aluminum, galvanized metal, combinations, thereof, and the like. 
     Although the holder is described as holding flags and windsocks, the invention can also display other things that can fly in the wind such as but not limited to banners, balloons, and the like. 
     While the pole for the preferred embodiment appears to be cylindrical, the pole can include other shapes such as but not limited to square cross-sectional shaped, and the like. 
     Although the preferred embodiment is described for use with balconies, the invention can be used railings on other structures, such as but not limited to porch railings, decks, stairwells. 
     While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms of certain embodiments or modifications which it has presumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.