Abstract:
A flag holder designed to be mounted on a post is made of a collar adapted to hold at least one and preferably several dowels. The collar includes a center arm and two substantially parallel side arms connected to the center arm in substantially perpendicular format to form a shaped band for encircling a post. The collar also includes a pair of gripping ears extending inwardly from the second ends of the parallel side arms. Thus, the collar surrounds a central cavity for receiving the post. The collar further includes at least one dowel and preferably more channel forms on the outer surface of the collar, wherein the dowel channel forms include at least one dowel channel for receiving a dowel holding a flag.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application entitled “FLAG HOLDER,” Ser. No. 61/921,750, filed Dec. 30, 2014, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a mounted holder for rods, dowels and the like, and specifically a flag holder for mounting to a post, such as a 4 inch by 4 inch (4×4) post or the like. 
     BACKGROUND 
     It has become a symbol of national pride to display flags and other banners in prominent spots, such as a mailbox, flag pole or the like. Prior art systems do exist to display flags by attaching a flag-holder base to the side of the wall, a post or a tree. Typically, such bases are attached by means of screws or nails. 
     It is often desirable to mount a flag holder on a post without the need for nails or screws which can damage the post. Such a device is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,377,944 to Getsinger, which discloses a sleeve with pockets for receiving flag poles. This embodiment enables a sleeve to be slipped over the top of the post. The walls are intended to resiliently flex to frictionally hold the sleeve onto the sides of the post in a jaw-like manner, without the need to modify the post. Unfortunately, such a device requires a post without any blocking device on the end, such as a mailbox, finial, cap cover or the like to enable the sleeve to slip on to the post. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a flag holder that is mounted on a post, such as a 4×4 post (or the like) and that is constructed to provide a pressure or squeeze fit to the post in order to releasably attach the holder to post. The flag holder includes channels to receive dowels or other cylindrical objects, such as a flag pole. 
     More particularly, the present invention is directed to a mounting bracket adapted to be secured to a post, the mounting bracket comprising a collar adapted to hold at least one dowel The collar comprises a center arm having a first and second end, and two substantially parallel side arms having first and second ends, wherein the first ends of the side arms are connected to the first and second ends of the center arm in substantially perpendicular format to form a shaped band for encircling a post. The collar is also defined by a first top surface, a second lower surface, a third outer surface and a fourth inner surface and a pair of gripping ears extending inwardly from the second ends of the parallel side arms, wherein the center arm, parallel side arms and gripping ears extend around a central cavity and wherein the gripping ears extend to an opening therebetween. The present invention further includes at least one dowel channel form on the third outer surface of the collar, wherein the dowel channel form includes at least one dowel channel for receiving a dowel. 
     The invention is also directed to a mounting bracket adapted to be secured to a post, the mounting bracket comprising a collar adapted to hold at least one dowel. The collar comprises a center arm having a first and second end, and two substantially parallel side arms having first and second ends, wherein the first ends of the side arms are connected to the first and second ends of the center arm in substantially perpendicular format to form a shaped band for encircling a post, wherein finger grips positioned on the parallel side arms to assist in separating the side arms, and wherein the side arms include a memory-enhanced inward angle to create a friction fit on a post, and a first top surface, a second lower surface, a third outer surface and a fourth inner surface. The invention further includes a pair of gripping ears extending inwardly from the second ends of the parallel side arms, wherein the center arm, parallel side arms and gripping ears extend around a central cavity and wherein the gripping ears extend to an opening therebetween. The present invention further includes at least one dowel channel form on the third outer surface of the collar, wherein the dowel channel form includes at least one dowel channel for receiving a dowel. 
     The present invention illustrates an easy, quick and efficient manner in which to attach and display a flag or other item attached to a small pole such as a wooden dowel rod, on a post, such as a 4×4 post, typically used for a mailbox stand. Advantageously, the flag holder of the present invention requires no drilling of holes in the post to result in uneven or poorly angled holes. In addition and most advantageously, the flag holder of the present invention can be fitted on the post without the requirement of having it slipped over the end of a post, which is required by, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,377,944. Further, staples or nails are not required to hold the flag holder or a dowel rod to the post. 
     The objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention made in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the flag holder of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective of the flag holder of  FIG. 1  mounted on a square post. 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the flag holder of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a partial perspective view of a second embodiment of a flag holder illustrating ridges or teeth and a thumb grip. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating a horizontally mounted flag holder on a mailbox. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating a third embodiment of the flag holder of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-3 , the present invention is directed to a flag holder  10  comprising a collar  12  designed to support the flag holder  10  to a post  14 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . As used in this disclosure, the term “post” incorporates a variety of objects to which the flag holder can be attached, including but not limited to square, round or rectangular posts or poles of any size or dimension. For purposes of the present disclosure, the term “post” will be exemplified by a 4×4 square post. Such a post  14  is typically used to support a mailbox  16  resting on a support  18 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Such posts  14  are also used for fences, gates, porch railings and the like. The collar  12  may be manufactured with a number of materials such polyresin, wood, plastic, polycarbonate, metals and other similarly situated rigid types of materials. 
     The collar  12  is a generally three-sided device which includes parallel side arms  20 ,  22  connected to a center arm  24  at intersection points  26 ,  28 . The collar  12  is further defined by a first top surface  30 , a second lower surface  32 , a third outer surface  34 , and a fourth inner surface  36 . Situated at the distal ends  38 ,  40  of the side arms  20 ,  22  are a pair of gripping ears  42 ,  44  having ends  46 ,  48  which extend to an opening  50  of a central cavity  51  surrounded by the collar  12 . 
     The flag holder  10  is further provided with one or more dowel channel forms  52 , essentially shelves placed at various locations along the outer surface  34  of the side arms  20 ,  22  and the center arm  24  and extending therefrom. Each dowel channel form  52  includes at least one dowel channel  54 . As illustrated in the dowel channel form  52  on the center arm  24 , there may be a plurality of dowel channels  54  on the dowel channel form  52 . The dowel channel  54  is typically a cylindrical channel bored at roughly a 45° angle with respect to the outer surface  34  of the flag holder  10 . The dowel channel  54  is typically bored to a diameter of between about ¼″-¾″ to accommodate the proximal end  56  of a dowel  58  having a similar diameter. In this manner, the proximal end  56  of the dowel  58  having a flag  60  or the like at its distal end  62  can be slidably placed within the dowel channel  54  to set the dowel  58  at an angle, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The dowel channels  54  may be tapered to accommodate varying dimensions in dowel sizes. 
     The flag holder  10  may also include finger grips  64 , which are indentations in the inner surface  36  of the side arms  20 ,  22  near the intersection points  38 ,  40 , to assist in removing the flag holder  10  from a post  14 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the side arms  20 ,  22  may also include ridges or teeth  66 , in the form of wire and metal brads which are molded on the inner surface  36  of the side arms  20 ,  22  for the purpose of adding an additional gripping action onto the post  14 . When applied, the teeth  66  penetrate the post  14  to further secure the device  10 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the side arms  20 ,  22  of collar  12  preferably include a memory-enhanced inward angle, represented by arrows  68 ,  70  to create a friction fit when the flag holder  10  is placed on a post  14  in the manner illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 5 . This creates a friction-fit gripping action which causes the flag holder  10  to attach to the post  14  in a releasable yet secure manner, such that it will not be inadvertently removed from the post  14  or slip along the length of the post  14 . 
     To attach the flag holder  10  to the post  14 , one can grip the side arms  20 ,  22  of the collar  12  at the finger grip area  64  and urge the side arms  20 ,  22  in an outward direction, i.e., in the direction of arrows  72 ,  74 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , such that the ends  46 ,  48  of the gripping ears  42 ,  44  create an opening  50  greater than the length of one side of the post  14 . The collar  12  is then wrapped around the post  14  and the side arms  20 ,  22  are released causing an inward force to frictionally attach to the post  14 . The gripping ears  42  and  44  provide a further gripping action on the post  14 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the flag holder  10  in which the dowel channels  54  are bored directly into the outer surface  34  of the collar  12  such that the dowels  58  extend from the outer surface  34  at about a 90° angle. It is within the scope of the present invention to have multiple dowel channels  54  positioned on the outer surface  34  of the side arms  20 ,  22  and the center arm  24 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates yet another embodiment of the invention wherein dowel channels  54  can be placed on the first top surface  30 , the second lower surface  32  (not illustrated), and the third outer surface  34  of the flag holder  10 . In this manner, the flag holder can be used with both a vertically and a horizontally placed post  14 . While not illustrated, it is within the scope of this embodiment to include a dowel channel form  52  for the dowel channels  54  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     The three-sided collar  12  allows for a placement anywhere on the post  14  as opposed to a solid/continuous collar which would require slipping the collar over an opened end, which would create an issue if the ends include a mailbox or a finial. It is within the scope of the present invention to increase the size and strength of the collar  12  to hold larger dowels  58  for larger flags  60 , bird feeders and planters. Further, the collar  12  can have a variety of shapes in order to accommodate a post  14  of any configuration, such as a round post, a triangular post, or posts with more than 4 sides. In addition the side arms  20 ,  22  can be configured in different lengths or as an expandable arm length to accommodate posts  14  which may be rectangular in shape. 
     Any version of any component or method step of the invention may be used with any other component or method step of the invention. The elements described herein can be used in any combination whether explicitly described or not. 
     All combinations of method steps as used herein can be performed in any order, unless otherwise specified or clearly implied to the contrary by the context in which the referenced combination is made. 
     As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. 
     Numerical ranges as used herein are intended to include every number and subset of numbers contained within that range, whether specifically disclosed or not. Further, these numerical ranges should be construed as providing support for a claim directed to any number or subset of numbers in that range. For example, a disclosure of from 1 to 10 should be construed as supporting a range of from 2 to 8, from 3 to 7, from 5 to 6, from 1 to 9, from 3.6 to 4.6, from 3.5 to 9.9, and so forth. 
     All patents, patent publications, and peer-reviewed publications (i.e., “references”) cited herein are expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety to the same extent as if each individual reference were specifically and individually indicated as being incorporated by reference. In case of conflict between the present disclosure and the incorporated references, the present disclosure controls. 
     The devices, methods, compounds and compositions of the present invention can comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of the essential elements and limitations described herein, as well as any additional or optional steps, ingredients, components, or limitations described herein or otherwise useful in the art. 
     While this invention may be embodied in many forms, what is described in detail herein is a specific preferred embodiment of the invention. The present disclosure is an exemplification of the principles of the invention is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiments illustrated. It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular examples, process steps, and materials disclosed herein as such process steps and materials may vary somewhat. It is also understood that the terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting since the scope of the present invention will be limited to only the appended claims and equivalents thereof.