Abstract:
A vertical flag display apparatus comprises a support bar, a flag spar, a flag pole, and locking end caps. The flag spar can be a rod, bar, or other tubular pole. The flag spar threads through a flag sleeve so that the flag hangs down from the spar when the spar is held parallel to the ground. The locking end caps attach to an end of the spar and ensure that the flag can not slide off of the spar. The end caps attach to each end of the support bar securing the spar to the support bar. The flag pole attaches to the support bar and extends downwards and perpendicular to the support bar. The flag pole is attached to the side of a building, etc. so as to hold the flag pole generally 45 degrees out from the side of the building and in an upwards orientation.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/279,943 entitled “Improved Apparatus for Displaying a Flag Vertically” and filed on Oct. 28, 2009. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The invention relates generally to flags and flag display devices and more particularly to a vertical flag display apparatus for displaying a flag in a vertical orientation generally parallel to a wall or other location. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    There are many methods for hanging and/or displaying a flag currently known. The classic flag pole relies on a generally vertical pole fixed to the ground or other location with a flag attached to a rope apparatus that can be used to raise the flag from the ground to the top of the pole. Generally speaking, flags are rectangular in shape, having two short sides and two long sides defining the perimeter of the flag. Usually, one of the short sides is attached to the rope apparatus. Thus, when the wind blows, it causes the flag to extend outwards, such that the long sides of the flag extend parallel to the ground. The flag is then displayed for all to see. However, when the wind is not blowing, a standard flag display apparatus allows the flag to hang limply from the rope apparatus. Most of the flag is then folded over itself, causing the entire field of the flag not to be viewable. 
         [0004]    Flags are basically two dimensional in appearance, comprising a sheet of fabric or other material(s) having a front face and a rear face, both faces surrounded by a rectangular perimeter having two opposite and parallel short sides and two opposite and parallel long sides. The faces display the field of the flag; usually the same field is displayed on both faces of the flag. The field can depict a design, a motto, an emblem, a picture, a phrase, one or more colors, combinations of the aforementioned items, etc. For example, the United States flag has a blue rectangle covered in 50 white stars in the upper left of the field and the remainder of the field has alternating red and white stripes. When a US flag is displayed from a standard flag pole and the wind is not blowing, the configuration of the items displayed in the field can be difficult to discern. 
         [0005]    In order to overcome this deficiency in standard flag display devices, other types of devices have begun to grow in popularity. One class of devices holds rectangular flags in a rigid manner so that they extend out from a flagpole or other structure regardless of whether a wind is blowing or not. However, such devices give the flag a stiff, unappealing appearance and are not favored. Instead, many persons display flags in a vertical orientation where the long sides of the flag hang downwards and are perpendicular to the ground. Vertical flag display devices that can display a flag in this manner are varied; but generally, they have a spar or horizontal member which holds one of the short ends of the flag and allows the flag to hang vertically. A problem inherent in most such vertical display devices lies in the attachment of the flag to the spar. Nails, tacks, etc. are often employed which can damage the flag, especially with repeated use. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,402,116 to Northup attempts to overcome the above mentioned deficiency by employing a flag having a channel through which the spar (or dowel) is slid. The flag and spar are then inserted into a sleeve having a slit through which the flag can extend downwards. The sleeve has a threaded opening in its sidewall that accepts a threaded support pole. When the pole is screwed into the opening it places pressure on the flag and dowel, securing the flag to the dowel without puncturing the flag. However, this arrangement has a number of deficiencies itself. First, the end of the support pole that is pushing against the flag wears on the flag each time it is affixed to the sleeve, causing a wear spot to develop on the flag. Such a spot can eventually become a hole in the flag—exactly the problem that the Northup device was designed to avoid. Furthermore, in heavy winds, the dowel, flag and sleeve can be rotated by the wind relative to the support pole, causing the device to separate and the flag to be lost as the support pole no longer puts pressure on the flag. Finally, the Northup device also has no provision for securing the corners of the flag on the ends of the dowel such that a high wind can cause the loose corners to be pushed towards the support pole and the flag then ‘bunches-up’ making it difficult for an observer to see the entire field. 
         [0007]    What is needed is a flag display apparatus that can hold a flag in a vertical orientation without damaging the flag and without the possibility of losing the flag in high winds. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    One embodiment of the present invention is a device comprising a support bar, a flag spar, a flag pole, locking end caps, securing clips, and an attachment bracket. A vertical flag display apparatus can display various types of flags without damaging them. If the flag to be displayed has a sleeve on one of its edges, the apparatus can use a standard flag spar. The flag spar can be a rod, bar, or other tubular pole that is approximately as long as the sleeve of the flag. In other embodiments, the flag spar is longer or shorter than the length of the sleeve. The flag spar can be threaded through the sleeve so that the flag hangs down from the spar when the spar is held parallel to the ground. Each of the locking end caps then attach to an end of the spar in order to ensure that the flag can not slide off the spar. Securing clips can be placed on each end of the spar and function to hold the flag corners in place under high-wind conditions. The end caps then attach to each end of the support bar securing the spar to the support bar. The support bar extends generally parallel to and above the spar in one embodiment. The flag pole attaches to approximately the center of the support bar and extends generally 45 degrees downwards and perpendicular to the support bar. The flag pole is then placed in the attachment bracket and the bracket is attached to the side of a building or other location so as to hold the flag pole generally 45 degrees out from the side of the building and in an upwards orientation. Other angles besides 45 degrees are contemplated. The described device holds the flag in a vertical orientation so that it is parallel with the side of the building. However, as the flag is only in contact with the device along the length of the flag spar, the remainder of the flag is free to flutter and move with the wind. 
         [0009]    If the flag to be displayed does not have a sleeve, the flag spar can be configured to securely hold an edge of a standard flag. Various mechanisms are contemplated including a clamp bar that holds the entire length of the flag to the spar. In another embodiment, the spar contains a channel in which the edge of a flag can be inserted and then the spar closes tightly on the flag ensuring that it is secured therein. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The aforementioned and other features and objects of the present invention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to the following descriptions of a preferred embodiment and other embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a vertical flag display apparatus in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  illustrates a close-up side view of a vertical flag display apparatus; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  illustrates a close-up front elevation view of a locking end cap component of a vertical flag display apparatus; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  illustrates a close-up side elevation view of a locking end cap component; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  illustrates a close-up side elevation view of a locking end cap and a locking clip; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  illustrates a close-up front elevation view of a locking clip. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    In the following discussion, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention may be practiced without such specific details. 
         [0018]    Referring now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a vertical flag display apparatus  100  in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. The embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  has the following displayed components: an attachment bracket  110 , a pole  120 , a support bar  130 , a first locking end cap  140 , a second locking end cap  150 , a first locking clip  160 , a second locking clip  169 , a first accent cap  170 , and a second accent cap  175 . Also shown is an exemplary flag  190 . A flag spar is used to support the flag  190 , but the spar  280  is not visible in  FIG. 1 , see  FIG. 2 , item  280 . 
         [0019]    The attachment bracket  110  illustrated in  FIG. 1  is shaped with a generally flat attachment plate  112  having mounting holes  114  that accept fasteners to attach the bracket  110  to a wall or other attachment point. In other embodiments, other means of attaching the attachment bracket  110  to an attachment point are contemplated. Furthermore, the attachment bracket  110  does not have to have a generally flat attachment plate  112 , instead, it can be shaped to generally match the surface of the attachment point. The attachment bracket  110  is illustrated in  FIG. 1  as having a second angled receptacle  116  for receiving the pole  120  at a second angle. Other embodiments can have only one receptacle or a plurality thereof. 
         [0020]    The pole  120  has a proximal end that rests in the receptacle of the bracket  110 . The distal end of the pole  120  attaches to the support bar  130 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the pole can be generally straight in shape; other shapes of poles  120  are known in the art and can be utilized herewith. The function of the pole  120  is to extend the position of the flag  190  out away from the attachment point. The pole  120  shown in  FIG. 1  has a cross-section that is generally shaped as a circle, other shapes are contemplated. 
         [0021]    The pole  120  is connected to the support bar  130 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the distal end of the pole  120  contacts the support bar  130 . The attachment can be permanent or it can be removably affixed. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the distal end of the pole can be shaped so as to closely match the curved surface of the support bar  130 . A simple removable connection means such as a screw can be used to affix the support bar  130  to the pole  120 . Other attachment means are contemplated. 
         [0022]    The support bar  130  is shown in  FIG. 1  as being generally cylindrical in shape. However, in other embodiments, the support bar  130  can be other shapes. The support bar  130  functions as an intermediary support structure between the flag spar (see item  280  in  FIG. 2 ) and the pole  120 . 
         [0023]    At each end of the support bar  130  is a locking end cap  140  and  150 . The end caps are designed to lock securely to the support bar  130  and receive and hold the flag spar  280 . See the descriptions of  FIGS. 2-5  for further explanations of the locking end caps  140  and  150 . 
         [0024]    In order to mount a flag on the vertical flag display apparatus  100 , the flag spar  280  is removed from at least one of the locking end caps  140  and  150  and the flag  190  is attached thereto. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the flag  190  has a sleeve which slides over the flag spar  280 . In other embodiments, the flag spar  280  can have a channel for receiving an end of the flag  190  and then can be tightened so as to secure the flag  190  to the flag spar  280 —such embodiments allow flags that do not have a sleeve to be flown by the apparatus  100 . 
         [0025]    Once the flag  190  is affixed to the flag spar  280 , the spar  280  is reattached to the locking end caps  140  and  150 . In one embodiment, first and second locking clips  160  and  169  can then be secured over the flag  190  to ensure that the flag  190  stays in place on the flag spar  280  even in high-wind conditions. In other embodiments, other means of securing the flag  190  to the spar  280  can be used. In yet another embodiment, no means of securing the flag  190  are used. 
         [0026]    The first and second accent caps  170  and  175  attach at either end of the flag spar  280  outside of the first and second locking end caps  140  and  150  in order to secure the flag spar  280  to the end caps  140  and  150 . For additional descriptions of the accent caps  170  and  175 , see  FIG. 5  and descriptions thereof below. 
         [0027]    Once the flag  190  is properly secured to the vertical flag display apparatus  100 , the pole  120  can be placed in the attachment bracket  110  and the flag  190  is then on display. As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , a flag  190  displayed using the apparatus  100  hangs vertically with both fields in full view, even if no wind is present to move the flag  190 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 2  illustrates a close-up side view of a vertical flag display apparatus  200 . The distal end of a flag pole  220  can be seen as can the conforming shape of the attachment point thereof as it meets the support bar  130  (not shown in  FIG. 2 , see  FIG. 1 ). Other shapes are contemplated as are other means of attaching the pole  220  to the support bar  130  (for a description of one possible means, see  FIG. 1  description above). 
         [0029]    One locking end cap  250  is illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The locking end cap  250  has a support bar cap component  252 , a flag spar cap component  254 , and an extension component  256  connecting the first two components  252  and  254 . The support bar cap component  252  connects the locking end cap  250  to one end of the support bar  130 . For a detailed description of how one embodiment accomplishes this connection, see the description for  FIG. 3  below. The flag spar cap component  254  connects the locking end cap  250  to one end of the flag spar  280 . 
         [0030]    As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the flag spar  280  is cylindrically shaped and passes completely through the flag spar cap component  254  of the locking end cap  250 . In order for the flag spar  280  to be visible, the accent cap  175  is not attached to the end of the flag spar  280 . For descriptions thereof, see  FIG. 5 , item  570  (which is a mirror of item  175 ). 
         [0031]    The extension component  256  functions to adequately space the support bar  130  from the flag spar  280 . This is done for appearances and to allow the flag  290  to be supported by the spar  280  without contacting and rubbing on the support bar  130 . Furthermore, the spacing allows room for the locking clips  160  and  169  to secure the flag  290  to the spar  280 . 
         [0032]    The flag  290  illustrated in  FIG. 2  has a sleeve  292  that allows the flag spar  280  to be inserted therein. As noted above, the apparatus  200  can be used with a standard flag that does not have a sleeve. 
         [0033]      FIG. 3  illustrates a close-up front elevation view of a locking end cap  340  of a vertical flag display apparatus. One locking end cap  340  is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The locking end cap  340  has a support bar cap component  342 , a flag spar cap component  344 , and an extension component  346  connecting the first two components  342  and  344 . 
         [0034]    The support bar cap component  342  connects the locking end cap  340  to one end of the support bar  130 . In one embodiment, this is accomplished by sliding the support bar flange  343  in one end of the support bar  130 . The fit between these two components is such that the locking end cap  340  is tightly held within the support bar  130 . Additionally a locking spring button flange  341  also can be utilized; it slides into the support bar  130  as well. The sliding action forces the flange  341  downwards and causes tension as the flange  341  can be made of a springy, resilient material. When the flange  341  is fully seated within the support bar  130 , a spring button pops up into a hole in the support bar  130  releasing at least some of the tension on the flange  341  and thereby securing the locking end cap  340  to the support bar  130 . 
         [0035]    The flag spar cap component  344  connects the locking end cap  340  to one end of the flag spar  280 . This is accomplished by inserting one end of the flag spar  280  through the flag spar flange  345 . The fit between these components can be made tight enough that no further securing means is necessary. However, in one embodiment, an accent cap  170  having an outside diameter greater than the inside diameter of the flag spar flange  345  can be attached to the end of the flag spar  280  effectively stopping the flag spar  280  from sliding back through the flag spar flange  345 . For a more detailed description of the accent cap  170  see  FIG. 5  and its descriptions below. 
         [0036]    The extension component  346  has two additional flanges as well. The first is a secondary support bar flange  347  that serves to further engage the support bar  130  and ensure that the locking end cap  340  is secured to the support bar  130 . The second flange is the rigidity flange  348  which serves to provide strength and rigidity to the extension component  346 . Other means of accomplishing these goals are contemplated. 
         [0037]      FIG. 4  illustrates a close-up side elevation view of a locking end cap  440 . The support bar cap component  442 , flag spar cap component  444 , extension component  446 , support bar flange  443 , locking spring button flange  441 , flag spar flange  445 , secondary support bar flange  447 , and rigidity flange  448  are shown from the side view (see  FIG. 3  for an additional view of these components). 
         [0038]      FIG. 5  illustrates a close-up side elevation view of a locking end cap  540  and a locking clip  560 . The support bar cap component  542 , flag spar cap component  544 , extension component  546 , locking spring button flange  541 , flag spar flange  545 , secondary support bar flange  547 , and rigidity flange  548  are shown from the side view (see  FIGS. 3 and 4  for additional views of these components). 
         [0039]    Additionally,  FIG. 5  illustrates the first accent cap  570 . The cap  570  removably attaches to the flag spar  580  and locks the spar  580  to the locking end cap  540 . The support bar  530  is locked to the support bar cap component  542  as well. 
         [0040]    A first locking clip  560  is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The clip  560  has a support bar attachment component  561  that can be any means of attaching the clip  560  to the support bar  530 , in the embodiment shown here, it is a small bolt. A chain  562  attaches the support bar attachment component  561  to the clip attachment component  563  (here, another small bolt). In other embodiments, other means of attaching the clip components to the support bar  530  are contemplated. The clip handles  564  and the clip body  565  are shown in  FIG. 5 , for a description of their functionality, see  FIG. 6  below. 
         [0041]      FIG. 6  illustrates a close-up front elevation view of a locking clip having a support bar attachment component  661 , a chain  662 , a clip attachment component  663 , clip handles  664  and a clip body  665  are shown in  FIG. 6 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , the clip body  665  grasps the flag spar  280  and squeezes the flag sleeve  292  tightly against the flag spar  280 . Spring tension in the clip  660  secures the hold and ensures that the flag  190  can not slide up and down the flag spar  280  when under heavy wind conditions. A user can squeeze the clip handles  664  together and release the clip body  665  from the flag  190  and flag spar  280  in order to move, remove, or replace the flag  190 . 
         [0042]    Likewise, the flag spar  160  is depicted as being a cylindrical dowel, but can be shaped differently in other embodiments. 
         [0043]    In one embodiment, the flag spar  280  comprises two or more sections that can be detached or separated from one another for ease of storage. Such sections can attach to one another via screw-type threads, shock-cords and male/female ends, telescoping and locking components, etc. 
         [0044]    When fully assembled, the flag pole  120  is attached to the support bar  130 . The attachment point is approximately the center of the support bar  130 . In other embodiments, other attachment points can be utilized. In yet other embodiments, more than one flag pole  120  can be used to securely hold the support bar  130  in a given position. 
         [0045]    In one embodiment, the flag pole  120  comprises two or more sections that can be detached or separated from one another for ease of storage. Such sections can attach to one another via screw-type threads, shock-cords and male/female ends, telescoping and locking components, etc. 
         [0046]    Not shown in the FIGs. is an optional flag storage compartment that can be added to the apparatus to store and protect a flag  190  when it is not actively being displayed. In another embodiment, the flag spar  280  can be configured to rotate so that the flag  190  can be wound around the flag spar  280  and the storage compartment can be extended down from the support bar  130  to enclose the stored flag  190  and the flag spar  280 . As an example, the rotating flag spar  280  can act in a manner similar to a window shade where the exposed end of a flag  190  is pulled to rotate the spar  280  and extend the flag  190  into displayed position. When the flag  190  is to be stored, a sharp downwards tug releases the roll-up mechanism allowing the spar  280  to rotate and roll-up the flag  190  into a stored position. 
         [0047]    Also not shown in  FIG. 1  is an optional flag retention piece. In one embodiment, the flag retention piece could be a high-friction material such as rubber or other non-slip material that is attached to the flag spar  280  in order to reduce the possibility of the flag sleeve  292  slipping on the flag spar  280 . 
         [0048]    It is contemplated that in some embodiments, the support bar  130  could be in close proximity to the spar  280  in order to securely hold the flag  190  between them. 
         [0049]    The above specification, examples and data provide a description of the structure and use of exemplary embodiments of the described articles of manufacture and methods. It will further be understood from the foregoing description that various modifications and changes may be made in the embodiments of the present invention without departing from its true spirit. This description is intended for purposes of illustration only and should not be construed in a limiting sense. The scope of this invention should be limited only by the language of the following claims.