Abstract:
A flag pole assembly for use with a vehicle having a trailer hitch, the flag pole assembly comprising a horizontal member having oppositely disposed first and distal ends, wherein the horizontal member includes a first hole in the first end to attach the horizontal member to the hitch of a vehicle and the horizontal member is at least thirty inches long, a vertical member coupled to the distal end of the horizontal member and the vertical member extends upward, and at least one attachment link is affixed to the vertical member for attaching a first ornament.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Applicant claims priority under 35 USC 119(e) to provisional application 61/583,440 filed on Jan. 5, 2012. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a flag pole assembly that attaches to a vehicle&#39;s trailer hitch. In particular, the invention relates to a flag pole assembly capable of being secured to the trailer hitch of a vehicle for the purpose of displaying a flag, banner, and/or windsock. A sports team ornament, e.g., a logo, graphic, mascot, nickname, and/or chant, may also be displayed above and below the flag to promote allegiance to a particular team. An elongated first member permits a user to open and close the vehicle tailgate without interference from the flag pole assembly. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and are for illustration by way of example and not limitations. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a top perspective view of a flag pole assembly secured to the trailer hitch of a truck, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an elevation view of the flag pole assembly shown in  FIG. 1 , including a first ornament, wherein the assembly is in an erect configuration and secured to a trailer hitch, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an elevation view of the flag pole assembly shown in  FIG. 1 , including a securing tab, and in an intermediate configuration, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an elevation view of the flag pole assembly shown in  FIG. 1 , in a stored configuration, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a top perspective view of a flag pole assembly including a first ornament attached near the top of a vertical member and a second ornament attached near the base of the vertical member, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an elevation top perspective view of a flag pole assembly including an alternative embodiment of the second ornament, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a top perspective view of a flag pole assembly including a third ornament attached near the top of the vertical member, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a top perspective view of a flag pole assembly including an alternative embodiment of the third ornament attached near the top of the vertical member, a light source providing illumination to the third ornament, and an electrical conduit located within the horizontal and vertical members, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a top perspective view of a flag pole assembly including a first, second, and third ornament attached to the vertical member, i.e., the first ornament is attached near the top of the vertical member, the second ornament is attached near the base of the vertical member, and the third ornament is attached near the top of the vertical member, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a top perspective view of a flag pole assembly including an alternative embodiment of the third ornament attached near the top of the vertical member, a light source providing illumination to the third ornament, and an electrical conduit located on the exterior surface of the horizontal and vertical members, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is to a flag pole assembly  100  as shown in  FIGS. 1-10 . Specifically, the invention is a flag pole assembly  100  that is capable of being secured to the trailer hitch of a vehicle  102  ( FIG. 1 ), and the assembly  100  extends out far enough to permit a user to open and close the vehicle tailgate without inference from the assembly  100 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the flag pole assembly  100  includes a generally horizontal member  02  at least thirty inches in length and presenting a first and a distal end, and a generally vertical member  04  presenting a base and a top end, the vertical member  04  extending from the distal end of the horizontal member  02 . The members are made of any rigid material, including but not limited to metal, such as steel or aluminum, wood, plastic, or other man-made materials. The horizontal member  02  and the vertical member  04  may be hollow or solid. The horizontal member  02  has a first hole  06  in a first end that allows the user to attach the horizontal member  02  to a trailer hitch receiver  104  by inserting a first fastener  106  through the first hole  06 . The fastener  106  can be a pin, screw, bolt, rivet, or any similar fastener. The distal end of the horizontal member  02  is joined to the vertical member  04  by welding, bonding, or fastening. The horizontal member  02  further includes at least a second hole  08  hear the distal end, and the vertical member  04  includes at least a third hole  10  near the base, wherein the second hole  08  and third hole  10  are aligned. A second fastener  12  is inserted through the second hole  08  and third hole  10 . The horizontal member  02  and vertical member  04  may include additional holes for receiving additional fasteners. The vertical member  04  further includes at least one attachment link  14  near the top end operable to secure a first ornament  108  to the vertical member  04 . 
     In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the vertical member  04  further includes a second attachment link  16  spaced approximately the vertical length of the first ornament  108  from at least one attachment link  14 . The attachment links  14 ,  16  can be made of metal, plastic, or other man-made materials and can be attached to the vertical member  04  in various ways, including but not limited to welding and bonding. The first ornament  108  can be a flag, banner, windsock, or similar display that is attached to the flag pole assembly  100  and is used to display team spirit or other passion. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, as shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , the horizontal member  02  further includes a securing tab near the distal end and engaging the base of the vertical member  04 . The securing tab  18  is biased toward a secured configuration, whereby the vertical member  04  is constrained to an erect configuration ( FIG. 2 ). The user may apply a force to the vertical member  04  sufficient to overcome the bias, whereby the vertical member  04  and securing tab  18  present an intermediate configuration ( FIG. 3 ). Further application of the force causes the vertical member  04  to become disengaged from the securing tab  18 , thereby resulting in the vertical member  04  being folded toward the horizontal member  02  in a stored configuration, as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     In another embodiment of the invention, as shown in  FIG. 5 , a second ornament  20  is attached below the first ornament  108  near the base of the vertical member  04  to further display team pride. The second ornament  20  may be attached to vertical member  04  in various ways, including but not limited to welding, bonding, and fastening. The second ornament  20  shown in  FIG. 5  is a team name, logo, graphic, or mascot made of metal, plastic, or another man-made material. Like the first ornament  108 , the second ornament  20  is easily visible during the day and is illuminated at night by the vehicle&#39;s brake lights. 
     Another embodiment of the second ornament  20  is shown in  FIG. 6 , wherein the second ornament  20  is either an appliqué or sticker of a team name, logo, graphic, or mascot that is applied to the base of the vertical member  04  or a team name, logo, graphic, or mascot that is painted on the base of the vertical member  04 . 
     In another embodiment of the invention, as shown in  FIG. 7 , a third ornament  22  is attached above the first ornament  108  and near the top of the vertical member  04  to further exhibit team pride. The third ornament  22  is a team name, logo, graphic, or mascot that is made of metal, plastic, or another man-made material and is attached near the top of vertical member  04  in various ways, including but not limited to welding, bonding, and fastening. 
     Another embodiment of the third ornament  22  is shown in  FIG. 8 . The horizontal member  02  and vertical member  04  are hollow. The third ornament  22  includes a plug  24  that fits inside the top of the vertical member  04  and securely fastens the third ornament  22  to the top of vertical member  04 . An electrical conduit  26  is located inside the hollow horizontal member  02  and vertical member  04 . In this way, the vertical and horizontal members  02 ,  04  protect the electrical conduit  26  from weather and incidental damage. The electrical conduit  26  extends out the first end of the horizontal member  02  and attaches to the vehicle&#39;s power source. The opposite end of the electrical conduit  26  extends out the top end of vertical member  04  and attaches to a light source  28 . The light source  28  is operable to emit illuminating rays  30  and thereby make this embodiment of the third ornament  22  visible at night. In an alternative embodiment, a battery can be used, instead of the vehicle&#39;s power source, to provide power for the light source  28 . Alternatively, the electrical conduit  26  may be fastened to the outside surfaces of horizontal member  02  and vertical member  04  as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
     In another embodiment of the invention, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the flag pole assembly  100  includes three ornaments attached to the vertical member  04 , i.e., a first ornament  108  is attached to the vertical member  04  by attachment links; a second ornament  20  is attached near the base of the vertical member  04 ; and a third ornament  22  is attached near the top of the vertical member  04 . 
     Thus, there has been described a flag pole assembly  100 . It is apparent to those skilled in the art, however, that many changes, variations, modifications, other uses, and applications are possible and also such changes, variations, modifications, other uses, and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed covered by the invention, which is limited only by the claims which follow.