Patent Publication Number: US-2004041070-A1

Title: Flag holder accessory for a receiver assembly

Description:
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/243,485 filed Oct. 26, 2000. 
    
    
     
       TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002] The present invention relates generally to accessories for mounting on receiver assemblies and, more particularly, to a flag holder accessory for mounting on an accessory receiver of a receiver assembly and holding and displaying a flag.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] It has long been known to construct towing hitches that are mounted to vehicles in order to allow the towing of trailers or the like. In recent years such hitches have been designed to include a receiver box having a rearwardly directed opening or cavity for the receipt of a hitch or draw bar that carries a hitch ball or other means allowing connection to a trailer. Examples of such a structure include the Insta-Hitch II and Custom Hitch Receiver 35365 as manufactured by Reese Products, Inc. of Elkhart, Ind. Such a hitch receiver is also disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,768,837 to Reese, owned by Reese Products, Inc.  
       [0004] Recent efforts to enhance the versatility of a hitch receiver have led to development of various accessories (e.g., both open and closed article carriers, bike racks, ski racks, tables, winches or other equipment) mounted by means of an accessory mounting bar in the receiver box of a receiver assembly. Because of their convenience and suitability to the particular applications/interests of the user, such accessories have become very popular.  
       [0005] In order to allow for or accommodate trailer towing and accessory mounting simultaneously, a trailer hitch assembly with both a trailer hitch receiver and towing accessory receivers has been recently developed and is the subject of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/194,502, filed Apr. 3, 2000. This new trailer hitch receiver assembly includes a central frame member, a mounting bracket carried on each end of the central frame member for securing the central frame member to the vehicle, a hitch receiver box carried on the central frame member and at least one accessory receiver for receiving and holding a recreational and/or utilitarian accessory.  
       [0006] The present invention relates to a flag holder particularly adapted for mounting in a receiver box and/or accessory receiver of a receiver assembly. The flag holder allows the user to fly a selected flag or banner from his vehicle. Such a flag may be utilized to help identify the vehicle from a distance, show allegiance to a particular sports team or cause, display a humanitarian message or for any other useful or desirable purpose.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007] In accordance with the purposes of the present invention as described herein, an apparatus is provided for mounting a flag to a receiver assembly mounted to or carried on a towing vehicle. The apparatus includes a pole for receiving and carrying the flag, a body including a bar for securing the body to the receiver assembly and a mount for receiving and holding the pole, and a fastener for securing the pole to the mount.  
       [0008] More specifically describing the invention, a pair of aligned mounting apertures are provided in the bar for receiving and holding a pin that secures the apparatus to the receiver assembly. Additionally, the mount includes an opening for receiving and holding the flag pole. The proximal end of the pole is received in a socket of a sleeve including a threaded end. The fastener comprises a cooperating lock nut, threadedly received on the threaded end of the sleeve, for clamping the flag pole to the mount. In one possible embodiment of the invention the mount is a flange projecting upwardly from the bar at an included angle with the bar of between substantially 10° to about 70°.  
       [0009] Still other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in this art from the following description wherein there is shown and described a preferred embodiment of this invention, simply by way of illustration of one of the modes best suited to carry out the invention. As it will be realized, the invention is capable of other different embodiments and its several details are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
     [0010] The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the present invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:  
     [0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a receiver assembly to which the apparatus of the present invention may be mounted;  
     [0012]FIGS. 2 a - 2   c  are partially cutaway detailed front, right side and rear elevational views of the flag holding apparatus; and  
     [0013]FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the apparatus of FIGS. 2 a - 2   c  connected to the receiver assembly. 
    
    
     [0014] Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0015] Reference is now made to the drawing figures showing a receiver assembly, generally designated by reference numeral  10 , and the flag holding apparatus of the present invention, generally designated by reference numeral  11 .  
     [0016] The receiver assembly  10  includes a central frame member or cross member  12  preferably formed from a pair of tubular steel sections  14  welded to the opposing side walls  16  of a centrally located receiver box  18  so as to project outwardly in opposing directions. The tubular steel sections  14  may be formed with a round cross section as shown in the drawing figures, a square cross section or any other appropriate shape providing the necessary strength to function as a receiver assembly.  
     [0017] The receiver box  18  includes a reinforced lip  20  defining an opening leading to a hitch bar receiving cavity  22 . Aligned apertures  24  in the opposing side walls  16  of the receiver box  18  allow the secure connection of a hitch bar in the receiver box in a manner well known in the art by means of a connecting pin and cooperating pin clip (not shown). A chain plate  26  of steel material is welded to the receiver box  18  and tubular steel sections  14  in order to strengthen the connection. As is known in the art, the chain plate  26  includes two apertures  28 . The safety chains of a trailer may be connected to the chain plate  26  through engagement in these apertures  28 .  
     [0018] Vehicle mounting brackets  30  are mounted adjacent the distal end of each tubular section  14 . More specifically, each mounting bracket  30  includes a notch  32  sized and shaped to receive the tubular section  14 . The brackets  30  are welded to the tubular sections  14  in order to complete the connection.  
     [0019] The mounting brackets  30  each include a mounting flange  34  and an upwardly projecting mounting lug  36 , both with apertures  38 . Nut and bolt fasteners (not shown) are extended through these apertures  38  and cooperating apertures drilled in the frame of the towing vehicle in order to mount the receiver assembly  10  thereto.  
     [0020] As also shown in FIG. 1, the receiver assembly  10  incorporates a pair of tow hooks or loops  40 , one integrally formed in each mounting bracket  30 . The tow hooks  40  may be engaged with a tow line such as a rope, chain or cable in order to complete certain towing applications. As also shown, the receiver assembly  10  includes a pair of accessory receivers  50  carried on the tubular sections  14  of the central frame member  12 . Each of the accessory receivers  50  is formed from a steel tube that is welded to the section  14  so that one accessory receiver is positioned between the receiver box  18  and each mounting bracket  30 .  
     [0021] As shown, each accessory receiver  50  includes a circular port or opening  52  and cooperating aligned apertures  54  in the sidewall thereof to allow secure connection of a trailer hitch accessory by means of a connecting pin and pin clip of a type well known in the art such as utilized to secure the hitch bar in the receiver box  18 . Each of the accessory receivers  50  is oriented with respect to the central frame member  12 , receiver box  18  and the towing vehicle upon which the assembly  10  is mounted so as to be readily accessible by the towing vehicle operator. More specifically, each falls in a first plane which defines an included angle of between about 10° to about 30° (e.g. 20°) with a second plane which contains the longitudinal axis of the receiver box  18 . Thus, the accessory receivers  50  have a port or opening  52  that opens upwardly for better visibility and accessibility that directly leads to easy connection of an accessory.  
     [0022] As best shown in FIGS. 2 a - 2   c,  the flag holding apparatus  11  of the present invention includes a pole  60  for receiving and carrying a flag, pennant or like device  62 . The pole  60  may be formed from fiberglass, wood, plastic, aluminum or other appropriate material. The flag holding apparatus  11  includes a body  63 , preferably constructed from aluminum, plastic or steel, having a bar  64  for securing the body in an accessory receiver  50  of the receiver assembly  10  and a mount  66  for receiving and holding the pole  60 . As shown, the bar  64  has a circular cross section which is concentrically received and snugly fits within the port  52  of the accessory receiver  50 . A pair of aligned mounting apertures  68  are provided at opposed sides of the bar  64 . When the bar  64  is properly inserted in the accessory receiver  50  the mounting apertures  68  in the bar are aligned with the cooperating apertures  54  in the sidewall of the accessory receiver  50 . A pin  70  of a type known in the art is then inserted through the aligned apertures  54 ,  68  and a cooperating pin clip (not shown) is utilized to secure the pin in position and complete the connection (see also FIG. 3). More specifically, the pin  70  includes a bend  74  at one end and a pin clip receiving groove adjacent the opposite end. Together, the bend  74  and pin clip prevent the pin  70  from being inadvertently removed from the aligned apertures  54  and  68  in the receiver  50  and bar  64  respectively so as to complete a secure and positive connection.  
     [0023] The flag pole  60  is secured to the mount  66  by means of a fastener such as cooperating sleeve  78  and lock nut  80 . More specifically, the sleeve  78  includes a socket for receiving and holding the proximal end of the flag pole  60 . The connection may be completed by threads, friction fit, appropriate adhesive or any other means known in the art suitable for the intended purpose. The sleeve  78  includes a threaded end  84  which is received in and passes through an aperture in the mount  66 . The lock nut  80  is tightened on the threaded end  84  so that the mount  66  is clamped between the lock nut  80  and the sleeve  78 . As shown in drawing FIGS. 2 a - 2   c  and  3 , the outer wall of the sleeve  78  may be formed in a hexagonal, nut shape to allow engagement with a wrench. This aids in the tightening of the lock nut  80  thereby allowing the completion of a secure and positive connection between the flag pole  60  and the mount  66 . Of course, substantially any form of fastener other than the sleeve  78  and nut  80  may be used so long as that fastener performs the intended function.  
     [0024] As best shown in drawing FIG. 2 b,  the mount  66  may take the form of a flange which projects upwardly from the bar  64  and forms an included angle with the bar of between substantially 10° to substantially 70°. This provides the flag holding apparatus  11  with a swept, aerodynamic look which enhances user satisfaction.  
     [0025] The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of this invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, the bar  64  could be sized and shaped to be received in the receiver box  18  if desired. Substantially any shaped bar  64  could be used and it could be hollow as shown or solid so long as it allows attachment to the receiver assembly  10 . Further, it should be appreciated that the apparatus  11  may be mounted to a receiver assembly  10  that does not include a receiver box  18  but, instead, just one or more accessory receivers  50 .  
     [0026] The embodiment was chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled.