Abstract:
A ferrule and coupling member assembly for mounting a flag pole is disclosed. The ferrule and coupling member are both formed from a non-metallic material, such as a ceramic composite material, which aids in wear-resistance and provides a low coefficient of friction between the surfaces. In addition, debris will be less likely to become lodged in a gap between the ferrule and coupling member and particulate matter on the golf course will not be able to gouge or scratch the ferrule or the coupling member.

Description:
FIELD 
   The apparatus relates to a mounting device for a flag pole, and in particular, to a ferrule and coupling member for mounting the flag pole in a golf cup. 
   BACKGROUND 
   In order to support a golf flag pole within a golf cup, the flag pole is typically attached to a ferrule, which is usually formed from a soft metal, such as aluminum, zinc or a zinc alloy, at a lower end of the flag pole. The metal ferrule facilitates insertion of the flag pole into a receiving hole positioned in the center of the golf cup, which is often fabricated out of plastic. In this manner, the flag pole is positioned to display the pin flag and hole location to an approaching golfer. 
   When the traditional metal ferrule is received in the plastic golf cup hole, there can be a tendency for the two components to stick together. When this occurs, golfers can pull a portion of or the entire golf cup out of the ground when they attempt to remove the pin. This problem is even more pronounced in a desert or high humidity environment where sand or moisture can be trapped between the cup and ferrule to allow the ferrule and cup to stick together. 
   In an effort to reduce sticking between the ferrule and cup, various modifications to the ferrule have been employed. For instance, ribs have been provided along the sides of the ferrule body so as to reduce the contact area between the ferrule and cup. In addition, the side walls of the ferrule have been tapered inwardly to further minimize contact area and permit easier pole removal. However, these solutions have the shortcomings that the ribs often leave insufficient contact area to provide a stable coupling, and the tapered side walls may result in excessive leaning of the flag pole or render the flag susceptible to movement even in moderate breezes. 
   As golf is a sport primarily undertaken outdoors, under normal weather conditions, different types of debris or other material may blow into the golf cup. Leaves, sand, small rocks, grass clippings, dirt, and the like may regularly fall into the golf cup and become trapped between the ferrule and the ferrule receiving hole. This causes debris to become jammed between the ferrule and the cup, which can cause them to stick together and even result in the golfer at least partially removing the cup from the ground. In addition, debris such as sand or rocks jammed between the plastic walls forming the receiving hole and the soft metal of the ferrule can cause damage to the cup and ferrule that expedites wear and corrosion. 
   The sand and dirt on a golf green often contain fragments of flint or quartz. In addition, many courses use torpedo sand—fine aggregate with sharp edges that promotes sharp, straight blades of grass—as a component of the golf green. These fragments may become lodged between the ferrule and the receiving hole, causing them to stick together and further creating abrasions as they are rubbed between the metal ferrule and the plastic sleeve. Over time, as the golf flag pole is repeatedly removed and then placed back within the receiving hole, any of these fragments lodged between the ferrule and receiving hole may wear down the plastic of the golf cup and cause damage to the soft metal ferrule and/or wear its outer diameter to a smaller dimension. All of this may result in the ferrule and inner wall of the receiving hole having insufficient contact, which leads to a flag pole that may lean, shift, or even fall under certain conditions. This corrosion and abrasion problem may necessitate periodic replacements of both the metal ferrules and the plastic golf hole cups. 
   Debris accumulated in the cup hole may also result in a flag pole and attached ferrule that cannot be properly inserted into the receiving hole because the debris interferes with the proper insertion of the ferrule into the hole. The situation can leave the golf flag pole insufficiently supported in the cup and may cause the pin to tilt or even fall over in a breeze. A downed or tilted pin is not useful to an approaching golfer because it provides misleading information about the exact pin location. 
   One attempt to address these issues involves installing a metal insert into the golf hole cup to receive the metal ferrule. While the metal insert avoids wearing the plastic cup itself through repeated removal and insertion of the ferrule, such a solution still has several drawbacks. The metal-to-metal wear can still scratch or damage the ferrule and insert, and if the ferrule metal and insert metal are different, any moisture in the cup could lead to other issues such as galvanic wear. Furthermore, the metals that are typically used for ferrules or inserts (i.e., zinc, aluminum, bronze) are still soft compared to much of the sand, rocks, or other particulate matter that commonly falls into a golf cup. Therefore, even with a metal insert this debris can still lead to scratches, small deformations, and accelerated wear and corrosion of the metal ferrule and metal insert. 
   Accordingly, there is a desire for a mounting device for a flag pole and a golf cup that provides wear resistance and allows ease of pole insertion and removal without disturbing the cup embedded within the ground. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary golf cup hole inner assembly; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary coupling member for use in the assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary ferrule for use in the assembly of  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the ferrule and coupling member shown coupled together. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a golf cup and flag pole assembly  8  is illustrated. In one form, the assembly  8  includes a plastic golf cup hole liner  10  and a flag pole  11 , which can be used in a golf green, putting area, or the like. The golf cup hole liner  10  includes a generally cylindrical hole liner tube  12  defining a golf ball receiving space  13 . The tube  12  has a generally inclined, conical region  14  extending inwardly to the space  13 , which defines a plurality of openings  16 . The conical region  14  typically has three to four openings  16  to permit water and debris to fall through to the bottom of the tube  12 , but it should be understood that the conical region  14  may feature any number of openings  16 . In the center of the conical region  14 , a ferrule receiving hole  18  is defined through which a ferrule  30  passes when inserted into the golf cup hole liner  10 . Extending downwardly from the conical region  14  is an annular retention wall  20 , which defines an annular pocket  22 . Received in the annular pocket  22  is an insert or coupling member  50 , which is preferably formed from the same material as the ferrule  30 . The liner tube  12  and the retention wall  20  are depicted with walls that are generally vertical, but it will be appreciated that they may have a slight draft angle, particularly if they are fabricated using injection molding techniques. In a preferred form, the golf cup hole liner  10  is composed of plastic, but it will be appreciated that it may be formed of metal, for example aluminum. 
   Turning now to  FIGS. 2-4 , one form of the coupling member  50  is illustrated in more detail. In such form, the coupling member  50  is an annular insert, having an outer wall  56  and an inner wall  58  defining a bore  52  extending through the coupling member. A first or upper end  51  of the bore  52  terminates in a chamfer  54 , which is inclined outwardly to complement a corresponding surface  40  on the ferrule  30  (i.e.,  FIG. 5 ). As further described below, the coupling member  50  is preferably formed from a non-metallic material such as ceramic, and most preferably a ceramic composite material. 
   In use, the coupling member  50  is received in the annular pocket  22  such that the outer wall  56  of the coupling member  50  is adjacent with the annular retention wall  20  of the tube liner  12 . Preferably, the coupling member  50  is inserted into the pocket  22  from the bottom of golf cup hole liner  10  and retained therein by at least one fastening member  69 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , one exemplary form of the fastening member  69  is a plurality of screws  70  and washers  80 . Although three screws and washers are shown, it will be appreciated that the coupling member  50  could be retained within the pocket  22  using any number of fastening members  69  or with different fastening methods, such as a friction-fit, clips, bolts, adhesive, glue, tape, flanges, and the like, so long as the fastening member  69  secures the coupling member  50  into the pocket  22 . In one form, an outer diameter D 1  ( FIG. 4 ) of the coupling member  50  is larger than an inner diameter D 2  ( FIG. 1 ) of the ferrule receiving hole  18  such that the coupling member  50  may be fully seated within the pocket  22  using the fastening member  69 , a lower surface  19  of conical region  14 , and the retention wall  20 . 
   Turning now to  FIG. 5 , one form of the ferrule  30  is shown in more detail. The ferrule  30  is preferably an elongate cylindrical member configured to slide through the receiving hole  18  of the liner  12  and be removably inserted into the bore of the coupling member  50 . To facilitate its insertion into the coupling member bore  52 , the ferrule  30  preferably transitions from a lower end  32  to an annular side wall  49  via an outer chamfered edge  42 . In use, the chamfer  42  aids in guiding the ferrule  30  through the hole  18  and then further into the bore  52  of the coupling member  50  (i.e.,  FIG. 6 ). When inserted in the coupling member  50 , the ferrule  30  comes to rest when the lower angled surface  40  of the ferrule  30  comes into contact with the coupling member chamfer  54 . The chamfer  54  and the lower angled surface  40  are preferably complementary to one another forming an interface between the ferrule  30  and coupling member  50  that is generally inclined relative to the bore  52  to generally increase the ferrule  30  stability in the cup  10 . 
   The angled surface  40  also forms an annular extension or lip  38  on the ferrule  30 . For example, the lower angled surface  40  inclines outwardly from the side wall  49  forming the annular lip  38  where the ferrule  30  has an outer diameter D 3  larger than an outer diameter D 4  of the side wall  49  ( FIG. 5 ). Above the lip  38 , an upper angled surface  36  transitions inwardly to a top end  34  of the ferrule  30 . The top end  34  defines a first opening  43  of a first or upper bore  44 . The bottom end  32  of the ferrule  30  defines a second opening  45  of a second or bottom bore  46 . A lower portion of the flag pole  11  is preferably inserted a distance into the first bore  44  of the ferrule  30 . In a preferred form, the ferrule  30  and flag pole  11  are bonded using epoxy glue, however, it will be appreciated that the flag pole  11  and the ferrule  30  may be assembled by an adhesive, fastener, friction-fit, or any other suitable method to connect a ferrule and flag pole. 
   The first bore  44  extends into the ferrule  30  and preferably terminates in an inwardly extending annular lip  48 , upon which the flag pole  11  may come to rest when inserted into the bore  44 . The ferrule  30  also preferably includes the second or bottom bore  46  so that any loose debris that may have fallen into the golf hole cup  10  can be pushed or trapped into the bore  46  when the ferrule  30  is inserted into the coupling member  50 . In this way, any loose debris will have less opportunity to impede the entry of the ferrule  30  because such debris will be received in the bore  46  rather than between the ferrule  30  and the coupling member  50 . As a result, the ferrule  30  will be more likely to achieve the desired quality of contact with the coupling member  50 . A preferred embodiment has the bore  46  in direct connection with the bore  44 , with the transition between the two defined by the annular lip  48 , but it will be appreciated that the relative depths of these bores could vary and that the bores  44  and  46  may not connect at all (i.e., they may have a segment of material between them). It will also be appreciated that the bore  46  may not be present in certain embodiments of the ferrule  30 . 
   In a preferred form, both the ferrule  30  and the coupling member  50  are constructed from substantially the same non-metallic material such as a ceramic, and preferably substantially the same ceramic composite material. In one embodiment, the ferrule  30  and coupling member  50  are formed primarily from an aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3 ) composite, such as aluminum oxide composites provided by CerCo, LLC (Shreve, Ohio), but it will be appreciated that the composite material could also contain zirconium oxide, silicon nitride, and/or mixtures thereof. The ceramic material may also include a minor component or secondary material. For example, the minor component may include any mineral within the spinel class of minerals, another crystalline material, or an amorphous (i.e., noncrystalline). For example, the minor component may be MgAl 2 O 4 . For purposes herein, spinel refers to a class of minerals which crystallize in the isometric system with an octahedral habit. 
   Ferrules and coupling members constructed from the same ceramic materials have many advantages over the conventional metals or plastics used to construct ferrules and receiving holes of the prior art. Preferred composites for the ferrules and coupling members described herein have Vickers hardness numbers in excess of about 980HV5 (kg/mm 2 ), which is generally hard enough to substantially resist damage from any debris, rock, sand, and the like found on a golf course or putting environment. Preferred materials also exhibit a tensile strength of about 18 kpsi or greater (ACMA Test #4) and a compressive strength of 235 kpsi or greater (ASTMC-773-74). Rather than being scratched or damaged by debris, the ceramic ferrules and coupling members described herein preferably crush or pulverize any debris trapped between them generally due to the hardness of the ceramic material used to form the ferrule and coupling member. In addition, the preferred composites are generally chemically inert and generally pose little variation upon exposure to moisture or temperature gradients. In addition, because the ferrule  30  and coupling member  50  are of the same non-metallic materials, they are generally not subject to galvanic corrosion. 
   The ferrule  30  and coupling member  50  formed from ceramic composites may also be fabricated to greater tolerances than their metal and plastic counterparts. Prior metal/plastic ferrules and cup receiving holes, for example, feature tolerances that generally create a gap of about 0.030 to about 0.050 inches or greater therebetween when assembled. On the other hand, the ferrule  30  and coupling member  50  formed from the above-described ceramic materials may be fabricated to have a gap  90  of only about 0.005 to about 0.010 inches between the coupling member inner wall  58  and the side wall  49  of a coupled ferrule  30  ( FIG. 6 ). The smaller gap  90  together with the hardness of ceramic composite material generally permits the ferrule  30  to enter the coupling member  50  and push out, crush, or pulverize any particles or debris that could otherwise lodge between the two and scratch or damage the surfaces therein. The smaller gap  90  also allows the ferrule side wall  49  and the coupling member inner wall  58  to have more substantial contact and generally enable the flag pole  11  to remain upright even in windy conditions. 
   In addition to increased tolerances, the use of ceramic materials for the ferrule  30  and coupling member  50  also permits a smoother surface than prior plastic and metal components. For example, the ferrule side wall  30  and/or the coupling member inner wall  58  may have a surface finish of about 16 RMS or less, which is smoother than most machined or cast metal and many processed plastics (i.e., a typical metal ferrule has a surface finish of about 20 to 40 RMS). This smooth surface finish permits the ferrule  30  to slide in and out of the bore  52  of the coupling member  50  with low friction and in some cases minimize, and preferably eliminate, sticking or galling of the ferrule in the hole liner. 
   Thus, the golf cup and flag pole assembly  8  allows the ferrule  30  to easily slide in and out of the coupling member  50  with minimal, if any, sticking. At the same time, the embodiments herein minimize, and preferably eliminate, scratching, corrosion, or other damage because the ferrule  30  and coupling member  50  have a relatively tight gap  90  therebetween and because they are both hard enough to generally prevent debris from damaging the ferrule  30  and the coupling member  50 . The small gap  90  also allows substantial contact between the ferrule  30  and the coupling member  50  to form a more desirable level of stability for flag pole  11 . The chamfer  54  and the angled contact surface  40  further provide additional stability. Thus, the embodiments herein generally keep the ferrule stable and allow it hold the flag pole  11  straight even in the presence of wind, moisture, or debris. 
   While embodiments of the described apparatus have been described in the foregoing, it will be understood that other details, materials, and arrangements of parts and components are possible which are within the scope of the claims and are intended to be included herein.