Abstract:
A retractable flagpole assembly includes a retractable flagpole, a top pivot holder rotatably capped on the top rod of the retractable flagpole and provided with a hanging lug for securing an inner top end of a flag, an end block spaced below the lower pivot holder and provided with a hanging lug for securing an inner bottom end of the flag, a link coupled between the top pivot holder and the end block, and a lower pivot holder rotatably sleeved onto the retractable flagpole and axially movable along the link and lockable to the end block.

Description:
NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to any reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the United States Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to flagpoles and more particularly, to a retractable flagpole assembly, which can be set between an extended operative position and a received non-operative position and, which prevents the flag from tangling on the flagpole. 
     2. Description of Related Arts 
     A conventional flagpole is known having two receiving portions disposed at different elevations at the top side thereof for the fastening of the top and bottom corners of the fixation end (opposite to the fly end) of a flag. This arrangement cannot prevent the flag from tangling on the flagpole when the flag is flying in the breeze. To avoid the tangled flag problem, a tangle free flagpole is known using two or three swivel pivot holders to secure the flag to the flagpole and a link to link the swivel pivot holders. When the flag is flying in the breeze, the swivel pivot holders can be synchronously turned with the link about the flagpole, preventing the flag from tangling on the flagpole. Taiwan Patent M263591 discloses a similar design. However, this design does not allow the use of a retractable pole. If a retractable pole consisting of multiple parts is used, the swivel pivot holders shall have to be fastened to the top piece of the multiple parts of the retractable pole, however, the swivel pivot holders will become a barrier to stop the top piece of the multiple parts of the retractable pole from being inserted into the inside of the other parts. Therefore, this problem must be settled. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is one object of the present invention to provide a retractable flagpole assembly, which is retractable and can prevent the flat from tangling. 
     To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a retractable flagpole assembly comprises a retractable flagpole, a top pivot holder rotatably capped on the top rod of the retractable flagpole and provided with a hanging lug for securing an inner top end of a flag, an end block spaced below the lower pivot holder and provided with a hanging lug for securing an inner bottom end of the flag, a link coupled between the top pivot holder and the end block, and a lower pivot holder rotatably sleeved onto the retractable flagpole and axially movable along the link and lockable to the end block. 
     Further, the top pivot holder comprises an axle sleeve vertically disposed at one lateral side thereof. The axle sleeve comprises an axial through hole extending through opposing top and bottom ends thereof. The axial through hole of the axle sleeve of the top pivot holder comprises an upper crossed hole portion, a lower flat hole portion, and a stop edge defined between the upper crossed hole portion and the lower flat hole portion. The link comprises a flat top end portion vertically upwardly inserted through the axial through hole of the axle sleeve of the top pivot holder and stopped at the top side of the stop edge of the axle sleeve of the top pivot holder after a rotary motion of the link relative to the top pivot holder. 
     Further, an upper end plug is plugged in the upper crossed hole portion of the axial through hole of the axle sleeve of the upper pivot holder. 
     Further, the end block comprises an axial through hole extending through opposing top and bottom ends thereof. The axial through hole of the end block comprising a lower crossed hole portion, an upper flat hole portion, and a stop edge defined between the lower crossed hole portion and the upper flat hole portion. The link further comprises a flat bottom end portion vertically upwardly inserted through the axial through hole of the end block and stopped at the bottom side of the stop edge of the end block after a rotary motion of the link relative to the end block. 
     Further, a lower end plug is plugged in the lower crossed hole portion of the axial through hole of the end block. 
     The retractable flagpole assembly further comprises an anchor. The anchor comprises a round tube fastened to the bottom end of the retractable flagpole, an angle plate fixedly fastened to the bottom end of the round tube and terminating in a pointed portion for fastening into the ground, and a force-applying portion perpendicularly extended from an upper part of the angle plate for operation by hand or foot or hammer. 
     Further, the lower pivot holder comprises a tubular body sleeved onto the retractable flagpole, and locking means adapted to lock the link to the tubular body. 
     Further, the lower pivot holder comprises a tubular body sleeved onto the retractable flagpole. The locking means comprises two fixed sleeve components fixedly connected to the periphery of the tubular body at different elevations and sleeved onto the link, and a movable sleeve component coupled between the two fixed sleeve components and sleeved onto the link and rotatable relative to the two fixed sleeve components and the link between a locking position to lock the link to the tubular body and an unlocking position for allowing the lower pivot holder to be moved axially relative to the link. 
     Further, the movable sleeve component comprises an eccentric hole extending through opposing top and bottom ends thereof for the passing of the link. The movable sleeve component is forced into friction engagement with the periphery of the link and the periphery of the tubular body when moved to the locking position. 
     The retractable flagpole assembly further comprises a first coupling means located on the bottom end of the lower pivot holder, and a second coupling means located on the top end of the end block and detachably engageable with the first coupling means. 
     In one embodiment, the first coupling means comprises at least one coupling groove, and the second coupling means comprises at least one coupling block detachably engageable with the at least one coupling groove. 
     In another embodiment, the first coupling means comprises at least one coupling block, and the second coupling means comprises at least one coupling groove detachably engageable with the at least one coupling block. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective exploded view of a retractable flagpole assembly in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective exploded view of the flagpole assembly in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic sectional assembly view of a part of the flagpole assembly in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic sectional view of the present invention, illustrating the flagpole adjusted from the received non-operative condition to the extended operative condition. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic sectional applied view of the present invention, illustrating the anchor of the flagpole assembly fastened to the ground. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic sectional view of the present invention, illustrating the flagpole adjusted from the extended operative condition to the received non-operative condition. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic exploded view of a part of an alternate form of the retractable flagpole assembly in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic sectional assembly view of a part of the retractable flagpole assembly shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic drawing of a part of the retractable flagpole assembly shown in  FIG. 7 , illustrating the movable sleeve component of the axle sleeve of the lower pivot holder rotated relative to the fixed sleeve components. 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic drawing of a part of the retractable flagpole assembly shown in  FIG. 7 , illustrating the movable sleeve component of the axle sleeve forced into engagement with the link and the periphery of the tubular body of the lower pivot holder. 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic perspective exploded view of a part of another alternate form of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective assembly view of the alternate form shown in  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13  is a sectional view of the structure shown in  FIG. 12 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a retractable flagpole assembly in accordance with the present invention is shown. The flagpole assembly comprises a retractable flagpole  1 , a top pivot holder  2 , an end block  3 , a link  4 , a lower pivot holder  5 , and an anchor  6 . 
     The retractable flagpole  1  is an adjustable in length, comprising a top rod  11 , an intermediate rod  13  and a bottom rod  12  (see  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 ). The top rod  11  has a rounded top end  111 , and a top screw hole  112  located at the center of the rounded top end  111  for the fastening of a bottom screw rod  71  of a finial  7  (see  FIG. 3 ). 
     The top pivot holder  2  is a hollow cylindrical cap member rotatably capped on the rounded top end  111  of the flagpole  1  (see  FIG. 3 ), comprising a flat top end wall  24  supported on the rounded top end  111  of the flagpole  1 , a top through hole  25  cut through the flat top end wall  24  at the center for the passing of the bottom screw rod  71  of the finial  7 , an axle sleeve  22  vertically disposed at one lateral side thereof, and a hanging lug  21  formed integral with the periphery of the axle sleeve  22  for the fastening of an upper hook member of a flag  8 . The axle sleeve  22  defines an axial through hole  23  (see  FIG. 2 ). The axial through hole  23  comprises an upper crossed hole portion  232 , a lower flat hole portion  231 , and a stop edge  233  defined between the upper crossed hole portion  232  and the lower flat hole portion  231 . Further, after installation of the bottom screw rod  71  of the finial  7  in the top through hole  25  of the top pivot holder  2 , a gap G is left between the finial  7  and the flat top end wall  24  of the top pivot holder  2 , allowing free rotation of the top pivot holder  2  relative to the retractable flagpole  1  (see  FIG. 3 ). 
     The end block  3  comprises a hanging lug  31  formed integral with the periphery thereof for the fastening of a lower hook member of the flag  8  (see  FIG. 2 ), and an axial through hole  32  extending through opposing top and bottom ends thereof. The axial through hole  32  comprises a lower crossed hole portion  322 , an upper flat hole portion  321 , and a stop edge  323  defined between the lower crossed hole portion  322  and the upper flat hole portion  321 . 
     The link  4  is coupled between the top pivot holder  2  and the end block  3 , comprising a flat top end portion  41  and a flat bottom end portion  42  (see  FIG. 2 ). The flat top end portion  41  and flat bottom end portion  42  of the link  4  are disposed on the same plane. The flat top end portion  41  of the link  4  is upwardly inserted through the lower flat hole portion  231  and upper crossed hole portion  232  of the axial through hole  23  of the top pivot holder  2 , and then the link  4  is rotated through an angle relative to the top pivot holder  2 , enabling the flat top end portion  41  of the link  4  to be stopped at the top side of the stop edge  233  in the axial through hole  23  of the top pivot holder  2  (see  FIG. 3 ). The flat bottom end portion  42  of the link  4  is downwardly inserted through the upper flat hole portion  321  and lower crossed hole portion  322  of the axial through hole  32  of the end block  3 , and then the end block  3  is rotated through an angle relative to the link  4 , enabling the flat bottom end portion  42  of the link  4  to be stopped at the bottom side of the stop edge  323  in the axial through hole  32  of the end block  23  (see  FIG. 3 ) to hold the end block  3  in place. Thereafter, an upper end plug  26  and a lower end plug  33  are respectively fastened to the axial through hole  23  of the top pivot holder  2  and the axial through hole  32  of the end block  3  to prevent displacement of the link  4  relative to the top pivot holder  2  or the end block  3 . 
     The lower pivot holder  5  comprises a tubular body  51  sleeved onto the retractable flagpole  1 , and an axle sleeve  52  vertically formed integral with the periphery of the tubular body  51 . The link  4  is inserted through the axle sleeve  52  of the lower pivot holder  5  before connection between the link  4  and the top pivot holder  2  or end block  3 . After installation, the lower pivot holder  5  is coupled to the link  4  and axially movable along the link  4  between the top pivot holder  2  and the end block  3  (see  FIG. 4 ). 
     The anchor  6  comprises a round tube  61  (see  FIG. 1 ), and an angle plate  62  fixedly fastened to the bottom end of the round tube  61  and terminating in a pointed portion  63  for fastening to the ground (see  FIG. 5 ), and a force-applying portion  64  perpendicularly extended from an upper part of the angle plate  62  for operation by hand or foot or hammer to fasten the pointed portion  63  into the ground. 
     As stated above, the link  4  is coupled between the top pivot holder  2  and the end block  3 , the top pivot holder  2  and the end block  3  can be rotated relative to the flagpole  1  synchronously during application (see  FIG. 3 ), therefore, when the flag  8  is flying in the breeze, the top pivot holder  2  and the end block  3  can be rotated relative to the flagpole  1  synchronously, preventing the flag  8  from tangling. Further, the lower pivot holder  5  is coupled to the link  4  and axially movable along the link  4  relative to the flagpole  1  between the top pivot holder  2  and the end block  3  (see  FIG. 4 ). Thus, when extending out the retractable flagpole  1  from a received non-operative condition to an extended operative condition or retracting it from the extended operative condition to the received non-operative condition, the lower pivot holder  5  will be stopped by the top pivot holder  2  or the end block  3  (see  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 6 ), and the flag  8  is kept secured to the top pivot holder  2  and the end block  3 . Thus, the user can roll up the flap  8  on the flagpole  1  conveniently after the retractable flagpole  1  is set in the received non-operative condition. 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate an alternate form of the lower pivot holder  5 . According to this alternate form, the axle sleeve  52  of the lower pivot holder  5  comprises two fixed sleeve components  521  fixedly connected to the periphery of the tubular body  51  at different elevations and axially aligned, and a movable sleeve component  53  rotatably coupled between the two fixed sleeve components  521 . The movable sleeve component  53  comprises an eccentric hole  531  extending through opposing top and bottom ends thereof. The link  4  is inserted through the eccentric hole  531  of the movable sleeve component  53 . After insertion of the link  4  through the fixed sleeve components  521  and the eccentric hole  531  of the movable sleeve component  53 , the movable sleeve component  53  is rotated through an angle relative to the fixed sleeve components  521  to force the inside wall of the movable sleeve component  53  against the link  4 . At this time, the periphery of the movable sleeve component  53  is forced into friction engagement with the tubular body  51  (see  FIGS. 9 and 10 ), and therefore the lower pivot holder  5  is locked to the link  4 , allowing the lower pivot holder  5  to be moved with the top pivot holder  2 , the end block  3  and the link  4  relative to the retractable flagpole  1  synchronously. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates another alternate form of the present invention, which enables the lower pivot holder  5  to be moved axially up and down relative to the link  4  and turned with the top pivot holder  2 , the end block  3  and the link  4  about the retractable flagpole  1  synchronously. According to this alternate form, a female coupling portion  54  (for example, coupling groove) is located on the bottom end of the lower pivot holder  5 , and a male coupling portion  34  (for example, coupling block) is located on the top end of the end block  3  and detachably engageable into the female coupling portion  54 . Thus, when moving the lower pivot holder  5  downwardly along the retractable flagpole  1  toward the end block  3 , the female coupling portion  54  can be forced into engagement with the male coupling portion  34  (see  FIGS. 12 and 13 ) to lock the top pivot holder  2 , the lower pivot holder  5 , the end block  3  and the link  4  together. When unlocking the lower pivot holder  5  from the end block  3  and the link  4 , move the lower pivot holder  5  upwardly to disengage the female coupling portion  54  from the male coupling portion  34 . Further, when released the lower pivot holder  5  from the hand, the lower pivot holder  5  will be forced by its gravity to move downwardly into engagement with the end block  3 . Further, snap, buckle or any of a variety of other fastening means may be used to substitute for the male coupling portion  34  and the female coupling portion  54  for detachably locking the lower pivot holder  5  and the end block  3  together. 
     By means of moving the lower pivot holder  5  to force the female coupling portion  54  into engagement with the male coupling portion  34  or to disengage the female coupling portion  54  from the male coupling portion  34 , the lower pivot holder  5  can be conveniently locked to or unlocked from the end block  3 . Thus, when pulled the top rod  11  out of the intermediate rod  13  and the bottom rod  12  to extend out the retractable flagpole  1 , the lower pivot holder  5  is then forced into engagement with the end block  3 . At this time, the lower pivot holder  5  can be turned with the top pivot holder  2 , the end block  3  and the link  4  about the retractable flagpole  1  synchronously, preventing the flag  8  from tangling on the retractable flagpole  1 . When the lower pivot holder  5  is disengaged from the end block  3 , the lower pivot holder  5  can be moved axially relative to the link  4 , allowing the top rod  11  to be received with the intermediate rod  13  into the inside of the bottom rod  12 . Briefly speaking, the lower pivot holder  5  can be locked to the end block  3  and the link  4 , preventing the flag  8  from tangling on the retractable flagpole  1 . When unlocked the lower pivot holder  5  from the end block  3 , the retractable flagpole  1  can be received from the extended operative condition to the received non-operative condition. 
     Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.