Abstract:
A flagpole assembly comprising a flagpole body having an aperture disposed in the side thereof, one or two internal fastening plates, disposed within the flagpole body, an external fastening plate and door assembly and a set of threaded fasteners securing the flagpole assembly together. A cleat or winch mount may be secured to the internal fastening plate, having a winch secured thereto for securement of a flag halyard inside the flagpole body.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. 10/885,358, filed Jul. 6, 2004. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention generally relates to flagpole winches, cleats and fastening plates, and more particularly to flagpole fastening plate assemblies and flagpole winch or cleat assemblies mounted internally to a flagpole.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     It is often desirable to substantially eliminate exposed flag halyards, especially while a flag is flying from a flagpole. There are flagpole assemblies in which the halyard remains substantially concealed from view but allows the flag to be raised and lowered. The flagpole assembly includes a hollow pole mounted at its base to a support. A first end of a halyard is connected to a winch. The winch is typically mounted near the base of the pole. The halyard passes through the hollow pole and out an exit opening at the pole tip.  
         [0004]     Paying out the halyard from the winch causes the flag to lower as the length of the halyard extending from the exit opening in the hollow pole increases. The halyard is retracted by winding the halyard onto the winch. If the halyard has a flag attached to it, the flag is raised by this operation. If not, substantially the entire halyard is housed within the hollow pole or on the halyard winch.  
         [0005]     A primary advantage of this design is that it simplifies raising and lowering of a flag while keeping the halyard substantially concealed. Keeping the halyard substantially concealed reduces deterioration of the halyard by preventing its exposure to the elements. It also eliminates problems caused by tangled halyards and flags.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention provides a flagpole assembly including a hollow flagpole body, one or more internal fastening plates, an external fastening plate, and plural fasteners for securing the plates to the flagpole body. The embodiments of the invention may also include halyard handling mechanism disposed in the flagpole body.  
         [0007]     The flagpole body is generally-cylindrical having a first end, a second end, a principal axis, an inner surface, an outer surface and an aperture disposed in the side thereof. The aperture extends from the inner surface to the outer surface along a radial axis substantially orthogonal to the principal axis. At least one internal fastener receiving hole or opening extends from the inner surface to the outer surface.  
         [0008]     One or at least two internal fastening plates may be disposed at least partly within the flagpole body, and include inner surfaces, outer surfaces, an aperture disposed therein, or formed thereby, and threaded fastening holes generally aligned to fastener openings or passages in the flagpole body, respectively. The external fastening plate may be disposed at least partly outside of the flagpole body, and has an inner surface, an outer surface, an aperture disposed therein and external fastener passages generally aligned to corresponding fastener passages in the flagpole body. Threaded fasteners are disposed partly within external fastener passages, partly within internal fastener passages and partly within threaded fastener receiving holes.  
         [0009]     In a second or alternate embodiment, the present invention provides a flagpole assembly including a flagpole body, an internal fastening plate or plates, an external fastening plate, plural threaded fasteners and a halyard engaging cleat or a winch mount. In other respects the embodiment which includes the winch mount is substantially like the embodiment mentioned hereinabove.  
         [0010]     In a third embodiment, the present invention provides a flagpole assembly including a flagpole body, one or more internal fastening plates, an external fastening plate and door assembly and a winch mount. In the third embodiment, the external fastening plate and door assembly is disposed at least partly outside of the flagpole body, and has an inner surface, an outer surface, a door aperture having a door disposed therein and at least four external fastener passages, each external fastener passage being generally aligned to an internal fastener passage in the flagpole body. The winch mount includes an internal fastening plate and a winch secured thereto.  
         [0011]     Those skilled in the art will further appreciate the above-mentioned advantages and features of the invention together with other important aspects thereof upon reading the detailed description which follows in conjunction with the drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a flagpole assembly according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is an exploded section view of the flagpole assembly of  FIG. 1  taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is an unexploded section view of the flagpole assembly of  FIG. 1  taken along line  2 - 2 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of a flagpole assembly according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is an exploded section view of the flagpole assembly of  FIG. 4  taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is an unexploded section view of the flagpole assembly of  FIG. 4  taken along line  5 - 5 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  is a detail section view of the flagpole assembly of  FIG. 4  taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 8  is a front elevation view of an external plate which may be used in the flagpole assembly of  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 9  is a top plan view of the external plate of  FIG. 8 ;  
         [0021]      FIG. 10  is a detail section view of the external plate of  FIG. 9  taken along line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 9 ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 11  is a detail section view of the external plate of  FIG. 8  taken along line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 8 ;  
         [0023]      FIG. 12  is a front elevation view of an internal plate which may be used in the flagpole assembly of  FIGS. 1 and 4 ;  
         [0024]      FIG. 13  is a top plan view of the internal plate of  FIG. 12 ;  
         [0025]      FIG. 14  is a transverse section view of another embodiment of the flagpole assembly;  
         [0026]      FIG. 15  is a transverse section view of still another embodiment of the flagpole assembly;  
         [0027]      FIG. 16  is a top plan view of another embodiment of plural internal plates which may be used with the flagpole assemblies of the present invention; and  
         [0028]      FIG. 17  is a front elevation of the plural internal plates shown in  FIG. 16 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0029]     In the description which follows like elements are marked throughout the specification and drawing with the same reference numerals, respectively. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be shown in somewhat schematic or generalized form in the interest of clarity and conciseness.  
         [0030]     Flagpole assembly  100  includes a tubular flagpole body  102  having a principal central axis  104 , an inner surface  106 , an outer surface  108  and an aperture  110  disposed in its side along radial axis  112 , which is generally-orthogonal to principal axis  104 . A set of fastener receiving passages  114 , one shown in  FIG. 1 , is disposed adjacent to aperture  110 .  
         [0031]     Flagpole assembly  100  also includes an internal fastening plate  116  having an inner surface  118 , an outer surface  120  and an aperture  122 . Plate  116  has a somewhat circular segment shape in cross section as shown in  FIG. 2 . A set of threaded fastener receiving holes  124  is disposed about aperture  122 . Each of the threaded holes  124  is positioned to be aligned with a corresponding internal fastener passage  114 .  
         [0032]     Flagpole assembly  100  also includes an external fastening plate  126  having an inner surface  128 ,  FIG. 1 , an outer surface  130 , an aperture  132  and a somewhat circular segment shape in cross section, also as shown in  FIG. 2 . A set of fastener receiving passages  134  is disposed in the external fastening plate  126  adjacent to the aperture  132 . Each of the external fastener passages  134  is positioned to be aligned with a corresponding internal fastener passage  114  and a threaded fastener receiving passage or hole  124 . A mount  138 , including a halyard cleat  140 , is secured to or formed integral with external fastening plate  126 . In alternate embodiments, a pulley, a winch or other mechanism, not shown, may be supported on mount  138 . A set of threaded fasteners  136  is operable to fasten the components described above of flagpole assembly  100  together.  
         [0033]     Another preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 4-7  and comprises a flagpole assembly  200 . Flagpole assembly  200  includes a flagpole body  202  having a principal central axis  204 , an inner surface  206 , an outer surface  208  and an aperture  210  disposed in its side along a radial axis  212 , which is generally-orthogonal to principal axis  204 . Fastener receiving passages  214  are disposed adjacent to aperture  210 , as shown and similar to the arrangement for the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 through 3 .  
         [0034]     Flagpole assembly  200  also includes a generally rectangular internal fastening plate  216  having an inner surface  218 , an outer surface  220  and an aperture  222 . A set of threaded fastener receiving holes  224  is disposed about aperture  122 . Each of the threaded fastening holes  224  is aligned with a corresponding fastener receiving passage  214 . Flagpole assembly  200  includes an external fastening plate  226  having an inner surface  228 , an outer surface  230  and a door aperture  232 . A set of external fastener receiving passages  234  is disposed in the external fastening plate  226  adjacent to the door aperture  232 . Each of the external fastener passages  234  is aligned to a corresponding fastener receiving passage  214  and a threaded fastener receiving hole  224 . A mount plate or block  238  includes an arcuate surface  239  and a threaded fastener receiving hole  238   a  formed therein,  FIGS. 5 and 6 . Plate or block  238  is operable for securing a winch  240 ,  FIG. 6 , to the flagpole body  202 . Plate  238  is adapted to be secured to body surface  206  by a fastener assembly  207 ,  209 ,  FIG. 5 . A set of threaded fasteners  236  fastens the plates  218  and  226  of the flagpole assembly  200  together.  
         [0035]     The internal and external plates used in flagpole assemblies may vary from one application to another.  FIGS. 8 through 17  depict variations on the shapes and configurations of the internal and external plates, which may be operable in the flagpole assemblies of the present invention.  
         [0036]     Referring to  FIGS. 8 through 11 , external plate  326  has a transverse shape of a segment of a cylinder. External plate  326  has an arcuate external surface  330 , an arcuate internal surface  338  and an aperture  332  disposed in the center thereof. A set of fastener receiving passages or bores  334  is spaced about the aperture  332  in a generally rectangular pattern. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 8-11 , the fastener receiving bores  334  are preferably countersunk.  
         [0037]     Referring to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , internal plate  316  also has the general profile or transverse cross section shape of a segment of a cylinder. Internal plate  316  has an internal surface  318 , an external surface  320  and an aperture  322  disposed in the center thereof. A set of fastener receiving holes  324  is spaced about the aperture  322  in a generally rectangular pattern. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 8-11 , the fastener or receiving holes  324  are preferably threaded, as shown.  
         [0038]     Alternate flagpole assemblies  400  and  500  are shown as examples of variations on the geometry of flagpole assembly  200 . Flagpole assembly  400  is shown in  FIG. 14  and includes a flagpole body  402  having an internal plate  416  and a winch assembly  440  disposed therein, and an external plate  426  disposed on the outside thereof. Internal plate  416  and external plate  426  are fastened to the flagpole body  402  and to one another by fasteners  436 . Flagpole assembly  400  incorporates an operable or removable door or cover  442  covering an aperture  444  to enclose and protect winch assembly  440  or other device from the elements and unwanted tampering. Similarly, flagpole assembly  500  includes a flagpole body  502  having an internal plate  516  and winch assembly  540  disposed therein and an external plate  526  disposed on the outside thereof. Internal plate  516  and external plate  526  are fastened to the flagpole body  502  and to one another by fasteners  536 . Flagpole assembly  500  also incorporates a removable door  542  to enclose and protect the winch assembly from the elements and tampering. It can be seen that flagpole assemblies  400  and  500  employ the same basic layout as flagpole assembly  200 , although the geometry of the components varies between the three, as seen in  FIGS. 6, 14  and  15 .  
         [0039]     Referring now to  FIGS. 16 and 17 , the internal plates previously described are single piece structures. However, in certain instances certain dimensions, such as the wall thickness of the flagpole body, may vary whereby the fastener receiving holes in the internal plates will not necessarily be aligned with the fastener receiving holes in the flagpole body or the external plates. Accordingly, the present invention contemplates the provision of separate but substantially identical internal plates designated by the numerals  616  in  FIGS. 16 and 17 . The internal plates  616  include arcuate external surfaces  620  and may have a somewhat shallow U-shape with opposed relatively short legs  622  formed thereon, respectively, and interconnected by web portions  623 , respectively. Accordingly, the internal plates  616  have essentially the shape of the internal plates described above, in some respects. Internal plates  616  are also provided with spaced apart threaded fastener receiving holes  624 , as shown, for receiving fasteners, such as the fasteners  136 ,  236 ,  336  or  436 , not shown in  FIGS. 16 and 17 .  
         [0040]     The components of the flagpole assemblies described herein may be fabricated as cast metal, such as aluminum or similar metals or other materials suitable for exposure to the elements and incorporating the strength requirements of such structures.  
         [0041]     Those of skill in the art will appreciate that flagpole assemblies  200 ,  300 ,  400 ,  500  are only exemplary and that other geometries may be employed.  
         [0042]     In general, although preferred embodiments have been described herein, those skilled in the art will appreciate that substitutions and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.