Abstract:
A stand for supporting a golf flagpole in an inclined position includes a collar rotatably secured to the shaft of the flagpole and one or more legs pivotably coupled to the collar. The one or more legs hang generally parallel to the shaft when the flagpole is in an upright position. When the flag of the flagpole is tipped toward the green, the one or more legs swing outwardly away from the shaft to a position generally perpendicular to the shaft to support the flagpole in an inclined position. Regardless of the position or direction that the legs are facing when the flag is tipped toward the green, the collar rotates so that the legs extend to the green to support the flagpole.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of application Ser. No. 61/278,356, filed on Oct. 6, 2009, entitled GOLF FLAG. 
     FIELD 
     The present invention relates to golf equipment, and more particularly, to an apparatus for use in combination with a golf flagpole or pin to prop-up the golf flagpole and provide a convenient rest for golf clubs. 
     BACKGROUND 
     When playing golf, the location of cup on the green is identified by the golf flagpole or pin. When putting, the pin must be removed from the cup. Typically, the pin is dropped on the green away from the putting lines of the various players. When all of the players have putted out, one of the players has to bend over and pick up the pin and replace it in the cup. This is repeated for each hole in the round of golf. This repetitive bending over and picking up the pin or flag may be difficult for older golfers. Additionally, when approaching the green, players often have a chip shot then a putt. The player will often bring an iron club along with a putter. In this situation, the club is laid on the fringe of the green or on the green while putting, necessitating bending over and picking up the club after everyone has putted out—another strain on a player&#39;s back. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus in combination with a golf flagpole or pin to hold up the flagpole so it does not lie on the ground and does not require the player to bend over to retrieve the flagpole to replace it in the hole. The apparatus includes a collar slidably and rotationally fitted to the shaft of the flagpole. One or two legs are pivotably coupled to the collar and have a first position aligned with the flagpole shaft when the flagpole is in an upright position in the cup, and a second position pivoted away from and supporting the flagpole shaft in an inclined position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a golf flagpole and stand of the present invention supported in the golf hole in an upright position; 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of one of the legs of the stand of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is the stand of  FIG. 1  shown in an inclined position supporting a golf club; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged exploded partial view of the flagpole stand of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the flagpole stand showing the mountings for the legs; 
         FIG. 6  is an bottom plan view of the collar of the flagpole stand; 
         FIG. 7  is a rear elevational view of the collar of the flagpole stand; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates an alternate embodiment of a golf flagpole and stand of the present invention supported in the golf hole in an upright position; 
         FIG. 9  is the stand of  FIG. 8  shown in an inclined position; 
         FIG. 10  is a partial sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the collar of the flagpole stand; 
         FIG. 11  is a top plan view of an alternate embodiment of the collar of the flagpole stand; 
         FIG. 12  is a top plan view of an alternate embodiment of the collar of the flagpole stand; and 
         FIG. 13  is a top plan view of an alternate embodiment of the collar of the flagpole stand. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for the claims and/or as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. 
     Moreover, except where otherwise expressly indicated, all numerical quantities in this description and in the claims are to be understood as modified by the word “about” in describing the broader scope of this invention. Practice within the numerical limits stated is generally preferred. Also, unless expressly stated to the contrary, the description of a group or class of materials as suitable or preferred for a given purpose in connection with the invention implies that mixtures or combinations of any two or more members of the group or class may be equally suitable or preferred. 
     Referring to the figures, an embodiment of the golf flagpole or pin stand is generally indicated by reference numeral  20 . The golf flagpole  22  includes a shaft  24 , a flag  26  attached to the upper end of the shaft  24  and an adaptor  28  fixed to the lower end of the shaft  24 . The adapter  28  is received in the cup  30  in a green  32  to hold the golf flagpole  22  in an upright position  54  (see  FIG. 1 ). When a golfer is putting on the green  32 , the flagpole  22  must be removed from the cup  30 . The flagpole  22  is typically seven feet tall and marks the cup  30  location in the green  32 . The flag  26  includes a number printed on the flag  26  to indicate the hole number. 
     The golf flagpole stand  20  includes a collar  40  with a pair of cut outs  42  to receive the ends  44  of legs  46 . The legs  46  freely pivot about a pin or screw  48  which is countersunk in the side  50  of the collar  40  through the cutouts  42 . A spring-biased ball latch  52  may be used to help keep the legs  46  relatively stationary or still when the flagpole  22  is in the upright position  54 . The spring-biased ball latch  52  includes a stainless steel ball bearing  56 , a compression spring  58  and a set screw  60 . The spring-biased ball latch  52  is countersunk in the side  50  of the collar  40  preferably below the pins  48  with a portion of the ball bearing  56  extending into the cutout  42  to make contact with the side  62  of the end  44  of the leg  46 . A dimple or seat  64  is machined or pressed into the side  62  of the end  44  of the leg  46  to receive the ball bearing  56 . The pressure the spring  58  exerts on the ball bearing  56  may be adjusted as needed by turning the set screw  60  in the appropriate direction, as desired. In this way, the pressure on the sides  62  of the ends  44  of the legs  46  may be increased or decreased to compensate for geographical and weather conditions to keep the legs  46  from swinging in the wind and distract a golfer. For example, a golf course located along a coast using the present invention may experience consistent and higher winds than an inland golf course. Springs  58  with higher spring constants may also be used to increase the pressure on the ball bearing  56 , as desired. 
     The collar  40  includes an aperture  64  which is preferably centered in the collar  40 . The aperture  64  is sized to loosely fit around the flagpole shaft  24  so that it may freely rotate or pivot. Upper  66  and lower  68  retainers may be fastened around the flagpole shaft  24  to hold the collar  40  at approximately a midpoint along the flagpole shaft  24 . Upper  70  and lower  72  washers provide a bearing surface for the collar  40  to rotate against. The washers are preferably made of nylon or other plastic material. 
     The flagpole  22  may be removed from the cup  30  by grasping the flagpole shaft  24  just below the collar  40  and lifting the adaptor  28  from the cup  30 . A grip  75  may be attached to the flagpole shaft  24  near the center of gravity of the combination of the flagpole  22  and the stand  20 . The flag  26  may then be tipped toward the green  32 . As the flag  26  is lowered, the collar  40  rotates to a position where the legs  46  are positioned toward the green  32 . The rotation occurs because the side of the collar  40  where the legs are attached is heavier than the opposite side. The weight of the legs  46  causes the legs  46  to pivot downwardly away from the flagpole shaft  24 , overcoming the pressure of the spring-biased ball latch  52 . Because the cutouts  42  are machined perpendicularly to the curved side surface  50  of the collar  40 , the legs  46  form an inverted “V” and a tripod with the lower end of the flagpole shaft  24  when extended. The legs  46  extend at an angle of approximately 90° relative to the surface  50  of the collar  40  and to the flagpole shaft  24 . The flagpole shaft  24  rests an angle of approximately 45° relative to the surface of the green  32 . In this inclined position  74 , the flagpole  22  is stable and not laying flat on the green  32 . The lower end  76  of each leg  46  may be beveled so as to be relatively flat on the green  32  when in the inclined position  54  and include a base or foot  78  with claws or tines  80  to provide stability to the flagpole stand  20  in the inclined position  74 . The location and size of the grip  75  may aid in the placement of the flagpole in the inclined position  74 . 
     On the side  50  of the collar  40  opposite the cutouts  42  for legs  46 , one or two notches  82  may be cut into the collar  40 . When in the inclined position  74 , the notches  82  may be used to receive the shaft  84  or grip  86  of a golf club  88 . The notches  82  are particularly useful when the golfer had a short chip onto the green and was carrying both an iron, such as a 7-iron, for the chip shot and a putter for the putt when the ball is on the green. When putting, the iron  88  may be leaned against the flagpole stand  20 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . In this manner, the club  88  need not be laid on the ground, which would require the golfer to bend over and pick it up after completing the hole. Additionally, by providing a club stand, the club rip  86  does not get wet from lying on the ground. 
     After the hole is completed, the flagpole shaft  24  may be grasped just under the collar  40 . When the flagpole shaft  24  is returned to an upright position  54 , the legs  46  swing to a vertical position and snap back into place by the ball latch  52 , if present. The weight of the legs  46  in conjunction with the pivot at the ends  44  naturally cause the legs  46  to return to the vertical position when the flagpole  22  is in the upright position  54 . 
     A weather shield or cover  90  may be included to protect the flagpole stand  20  from the weather. The shield  90  may be in the shape of a cube as shown, or cylindrical, for example. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , an alternative embodiment of the golf flagpole stand is generally indicated by reference numeral  100 . The flagpole stand  100  includes a collar  102 , a cutout  104  to receive the end  106  of a leg  108 . The leg  108  is free to pivot about a pin or screw (not shown). A spring-biased ball latch (not shown) may also be included to help keep the leg  108  relatively stationary when the flagpole  22  is in an upright position  54 . The collar  102  is positioned on the flagpole shaft in a similar manner as described above for the first embodiment. 
     The leg  108  extends to a base  110  which includes a coupler  111  from which two smaller legs  112  extend outwardly and downwardly forming an inverted “V.” It should be understood that other shapes or configurations may be used for a base attached to the leg  108 . When the flagpole  22  is removed from the cup  30  by grasping the flagpole shaft  24  just below the collar  102  and lifting the adapter  28  from the cup  30 , the flagpole  22  may be placed in the inclined position  74 . 
     As the flag  26  is tipped toward the green  32 , the collar  102  may rotate to a position where the smaller legs  112  are positioned toward the green  32 . The rotation occurs because the leg  108 , coupler  110  and legs  112  are heavier than the other sides of the collar  102 . The weight of the coupler  110  and legs  112  cause the leg  108  to pivot away from the flagpole shaft  24 , overcoming the pressure of the spring-biased ball latch (not shown). The leg,  108  extends at an angle of approximately 90° relative to the flagpole shaft  24 . The flagpole shaft  24  rests at an angle of approximately 45° relative to the surface of the green  32 . The lower end  114  of each leg  112  may be beveled so as to be relatively flat on the green  32  when in the inclined position  74  and each includes a foot  116  with claws or tines. 
     After the hole is completed, the flagpole shaft  24  may be grasped just under the collar  100 . When the flagpole shaft  24  is returned to an upright position  54 , the leg  108  swings to a vertical position and snaps back into place by the ball latch (not shown). The weight of the leg  108 , coupler  110  and lower legs  112  naturally cause the leg  108  to return to the vertical position when the flagpole  22  is in the upright position  54 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , an alternate embodiment of collar  120  is illustrated with a portion removed to show the mounting details. In this embodiment the collar  120  is secured to the shaft  24  of the flagpole by a ball bearing  122  extending from a bore  124  into the center aperture  126  of the collar  120 . The ball bearing  122  is spring biased  128  and held in place with a set screw  130 . An annular slot or channel  132  is cut in the flagpole shaft  24  to receive the ball bearing  122 . The ball bearing  122  and spring  128  allows the collar  120  to freely turn and pivot on the flagpole shaft  24  and eliminates the additional mounting hardware. 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , another embodiment of a collar  140  is illustrated. The collar  140  is similar to the other collars described above but the aperture  142  is offset away from the cutouts  144  for the legs (not shown) toward the notches  146 . The offset aperture  142  provides more mass on the side of the collar  140  with the legs so that the collar  140  more readily pivots or turns when the flagpole is tipped and the legs are deployed. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , two more embodiments of a collar  150  and  160  are illustrated, respectively. The collar  150  includes an aperture  152  for receiving the flagpole shaft, cutouts  154  for pivotally receiving the legs, and a pair of notches  156  opposite the cutouts. The collar  160  includes an aperture  162  for receiving the flagpole shaft, cutouts  164  for pivotally receiving the legs, and a pair of notches  166  opposite the cutouts. The shape of the collar is not important and many different configurations and shapes of a collar may be used within the scope of the present invention. 
     The collar  40  ( 140 ,  150  and  160 ) is preferably made of aluminum or stainless steel for durability and to resist corrosion. Other materials may be used such as rubber, high density plastic or epoxy resins, for example. The legs  46  may be made of aluminum, Fiberglas, or PVC plastic, for example, with stainless steel or aluminum ends  44  for durability. 
     It is to be understood that while certain now preferred forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims.