Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to a ladder-mountable storage device for storing and retractably deploying a flag. The flag can be displayed on the end of a ladder to warn onlookers. If used on the end of a ladder extending from a vehicle, the flag warns drivers to keep a safe distance, for example. The ladder-mountable storage device can also be attached to the top of ladders placed alongside buildings and other structures.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 62/090,525 to Eric Anderson, entitled “LADDER FLAG STORAGE DEVICE,” filed on Dec. 11, 2014, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to storage devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a ladder-mountable storage device for storing and retractably deploying a flag. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) requires that any object extending more than four feet out from the rear end of a vehicle must be marked with a bright orange or red flag. This is especially common in construction and contracting work when vehicles need to transport long ladders between work sites. The high-visibility flag is meant to help drivers maintain safe following distances from vehicles with oversized loads. If the object, such as a ladder, is not clearly marked it may be difficult for drivers to see and judge how far out from the vehicle the object extends. Flags or other markers may be used to mark ladders in other situations when safety is of high concern. For example, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) require that any ladder which exceeds certain height limits must have a highly visible flag or other marker placed at the top. 
         [0006]    Currently, most people will simply tie flags, towels, or other similar fabric bodies to ladders. There are several problems with this. First, a flag that is poorly tied around the side rail or rung of a ladder is subject to coming loose and ultimately being lost, especially if subject to high winds or bumpy roads while driving. Second, this leaves flags exposed to the elements; they become wet, dirtied, and may eventually become sun-bleached if left out for too long. This creates a hassle when the flag must constantly be tied and untied to either wash it or store it. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present disclosure relates to a ladder-mountable storage device for storing and retractably deploying a flag. The flag can be displayed on the end of a ladder to warn onlookers. If used on the end of a ladder extending from a vehicle, the flag warns drivers to keep a safe distance. The ladder-mountable storage device can also be attached to the top of ladders placed alongside buildings and other structures. 
         [0008]    In an embodiment, the ladder flag storage device comprises an enclosure attachable to the end of a ladder (e.g., along the side rail), the enclosure including an opening extending into an interior of the enclosure; a flag stored in the interior of the enclosure; an elastic cord disposed within the interior of the enclosure, a first end of the elastic cord anchored and a second end of the elastic cord attached to a first end of the flag; a guide on a surface of the interior of the enclosure to guide the elastic cord around an end of the enclosure; and a stop preventing the elastic cord from being removed from the enclosure through the opening. The flag is removed from the interior of the enclosure through the opening. In an embodiment, the flag can be removed from the enclosure by pulling a pull cap attached a second end of the flag. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1A  illustrates a ladder flag storage device attached to the end of a ladder extending from a truck bed, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 1B  illustrates a close-up view of the ladder flag storage device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  illustrates the ladder flag storage device attached to the top of a ladder placed alongside a building; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3A  illustrates a perspective view of the ladder flag device with the flag retracted; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3B  illustrates a perspective view of the ladder flag device with the flag displayed; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4A  illustrates a side cutaway view of the ladder flag device with the flag retracted; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4B  illustrates a front view of the ladder flag device; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 4C  illustrates a side cutaway view of the ladder flag device with the flag displayed. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]      FIG. 1A  illustrates a ladder flag storage device  100  attached to a side rail of a ladder  250 . As shown, the ladder  250  extends from the back of a truck bed  210  of a pickup truck but other types of vehicles, such as a utility truck, an SUV, etc., could be used to transport the ladder  250 .  FIG. 1B  illustrates a closer view of the ladder flag storage  100  device. As can be seen, the ladder flag storage device  100  includes an enclosure  120  and a flag  150  extending from the enclosure  120 . The enclosure  120  can be made from a sturdy plastic, such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), or a metal such as aluminum. The flag  150  can be made of a suitable material, such as cloth, plastic sheet, laminated paper, etc. The flag  150  can be deployed in accordance with safety protocols to warn drivers of the existence of the ladder  250  so as to keep a safe distance. 
         [0018]    The ladder flag storage device  100  can be attached along the side rail (or on anther surface) of the ladder  250  by use of double-sided adhesive pads or tape, hook-and-loop fastening (e.g., Velcro), screwing or riveting, etc. Additionally, it is to be understood that in various embodiments the ladder flag storage device  100  may be made integral with the ladder  250 . In an embodiment, the enclosure  120  can fit along inside edges of a ladder side rail. 
         [0019]      FIG. 2  illustrates another usage of the ladder flag storage device  250 . As shown, the ladder flag storage device  250  is attached to the top side of a ladder  250  that is placed alongside a building  280 . Although the building  280  appears as a residential dwelling, it is to be appreciated that the ladder flag storage device  100  could instead be attached to the top side of on a ladder  250  that is placed alongside a commercial building, a garage, a wall, a bridge, or any other suitable structure. Furthermore, although the ladder  250  illustrated herein is a straight ladder, such as an extension ladder, the ladder flag storage device  100  can be used in conjunction with various other types of ladders, including step ladders and multi-purpose ladders. Finally, it is to be understood that while the device  250  is shown and described herein as being attached to the side of a ladder, the device  250  could be attached to a variety of different objects besides a ladder. 
         [0020]      FIG. 3A  illustrates a perspective view of the ladder flag device  100  with the flag  150  stored therein. As depicted, the ladder flag device  100  is not attached to a ladder  250 . At the front end of the ladder flag device  100 , a pull cap  130  is placed over an opening  125 . As will be described in greater detail, the opening  125  extends into a hollow interior of the enclosure  120  wherein the flag  150  is stored. A small portion of the flag  150  protrudes through a central hole in the pull cap  130 . The width of the pull cap  130  is substantially larger than that of the opening  125  to prevent the pull cap  130  from entry into the enclosure  12 . The pull cap may be made of a flexible material such as rubber so that it can be easily grasped. 
         [0021]      FIG. 3B  illustrates a perspective view of the ladder flag device  100  with the flag  150  displayed. As can be seen, the flag  150  is removed from the interior of the enclosure. A first end  132  of the flag  150  is connected to the device while a second end  134  is free. In the illustrated embodiment, the flag  150  can be removed from the enclosure  120  by grasping the pull cap  130  and outwardly pulling it. 
         [0022]      FIG. 4A  illustrates a side cutaway view of the ladder flag device  100  with the flag  150  stored therein. As shown, the interior of the enclosure  120  contains a cord  140 , a cord guide  142 , a connector  136  and the flag  150 . As mentioned, the second end  134  of the flag  150  extends through a central hole in the pull cap  130 . Although the pull cap  130  is shown shaped as a sphere, it is to be understood that the pull cap  130  could assume a different shape, e.g., a hemisphere, a cube, a cylinder, a torus, etc. Although various retraction mechanisms can be used to allow the flag  150  to be forcefully pulled back into the enclosure, such as retraction mechanisms using a spring, the illustrated embodiment shows usage of an elastic cord  140 , preferably a bungee-type cord. Furthermore, it is to be understood that a substantially inelastic cord (e.g., a string or cable wire) could instead be attached to the flag  150 . In such a case, however, the flag  150  would have to be placed back into the enclosure manually. It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the illustrated example. 
         [0023]    As illustrated, the interior of the enclosure  120  includes a front wall F, a back wall B, a right-side wall R and a left-side wall L. In the illustrated embodiment, the cord is a bungee cord, and the cord  140  is fixedly attached (anchored) at or near a corner where the front wall F and the right-side wall meet. The cord  140  extends from this attachment point approximately parallel to the right-side wall until arriving at the guide  147  which curves around the back wall B. The guide  147  supports the cord  140  and when the cord  140  is pulled, the cord  140  hugs the guide  147 . The cord then continues along the left side wall L for a short distance until it is attached to the first end  132  of the flag  150  using the connector  145 , as shown. 
         [0024]      FIG. 4B  illustrates a front view of the ladder flag device  100 . As can be seen, the entrance  125  is shaped as a slit. The connector  145  shown is a hog ring. In this case, the first end  132  of the flag  150  would overlap an end of the cord  140  with the hog ring clamping these together. The hog ring may be fastened using hog tie ring pliers, for example. If a hog ring is chosen for the connector  145 , it should be wide enough when used such that it does not slip through the entrance  125  when the flag is removed. It is to be understood that various other types of connectors  145  may be used, such as a staple, sewing, etc., and in certain cases a separate “stop” (e.g., a ring disposed around the end of the cord  140 ) may also be needed to prevent the cord  140  from being removed from the enclosure  120 . Additionally, the connector  145  can include a tube-like extender to hold the flag  150  a farther distance from the entrance  125 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 4C  illustrates a side cutaway view of the ladder flag device  100  with the flag  125  displayed. 
         [0026]    While this invention has been described in conjunction with the various exemplary embodiments outlined above, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.