Patent Publication Number: US-8973517-B1

Title: Solar powered flagpole

Description:
The applicant claims priority from his previously filed provisional application filed May 20, 2010 and assigned Ser. No. 61/346,580. The present invention relates to illuminated flagpoles and in particular to a flagpole illuminated from a solar collector at the end of the pole. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Homeowners who desire to display the flag frequently employ a pole mounting that extends outward of a vertical wall. The mounting supports a pole that may be either perpendicular to the wall or at an angle with outer end of the pole at a higher elevation than the mounting. Guidelines for showing respect to the United States flag suggest that the flag be lowered at sunset and not raised until sunrise. Alternately, if one wishes to continue to display the flag after sunset, the flag should be illuminated. Raising and lowering the flag on a regular basis can be burdensome for one who wishes to show respect, and therefore it is desirable to provide a simple flagpole that can be easily and inexpensively illuminated after sunset. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly, the present invention is embodied in a flagpole consisting of a tubular body having an inner opening, an outer wall, an outer end, and a longitudinal axis. The tubular body has a plurality of spaced-apart apertures therein with the apertures positioned with centers along a single line extending parallel to the longitudinal axis. 
     Within the inner opening of the tubular body are a plurality of electrically illuminated lighting elements, with each of the electrically illuminated lighting elements positioned adjacent one of the apertures. Also positioned within the tubular body is a rechargeable battery and at the outer end of the tubular body is an adjustably mounted solar energy collector. The solar energy collector is electrically connected to the rechargeable battery, and through a switch to the plurality of lighting elements. By operating the switch, the power from the battery or the solar collector is applied to the illuminating elements. The wiring may also include a light detection device connected to the switch, with the light detection device configured to operate the switch and apply power to the illuminating elements when little or no light is being detected by the light detector and disconnecting power to the illuminating elements when light is detected by the light detector. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the solar collector is retained in an adjustable mount that allows the detector to be rotated about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body. The mounting that retains the solar collector may also be rotatably mounted at the outer end of the flagpole. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A better understanding of the invention will be had after a reading of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a flagpole in accordance with the present invention with a flag thereon; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the flagpole shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is the bottom view of the flagpole shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged side view showing the outer end of the flagpole shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4A  is an enlarged exploded view of the outer end of the flagpole shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged bottom view of the outer end of the flagpole of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the flagpole shown in  FIG. 1  with the solar panel and connector removed; 
         FIG. 7  is another side view of the flagpole shown in  FIG. 1 , but fitted with a smaller flag; 
         FIG. 8  is a side elevational view of a color tinted sleeve for use with the flagpole shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 9  is a fragmentary isometric view of a flag having a sleeve along one side thereof; 
         FIG. 10  is a side elevational view of a support pole for retaining the flag of 
         FIG. 7  to the pole of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a side elevational view of the pole and showing another feature of the invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a fragmentary bottom view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view of the flagpole shown in  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a side view of a flagpole with illuminating fixtures therein and a transparent sleeve mounted on the outer race of a bearing for rotation around the pole in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 15  is an enlarged exploded fragmentary side view showing the attachment of the transparent sleeve to the outer race of one of the bearings shown in  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIG. 16  is an end view of a bearing assembly for retaining a transparent sleeve to the flagpole as shown in  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIG. 17  is an electric circuit for the battery, solar panel, and illuminating elements in the flagpole of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 18  is a side elevational view of a modified solar collector having a light attached thereto in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , a flagpole  10  in accordance with the invention includes a tubular pole body  12  having an inner end  14  and an outer end  16  and a cylindrical inner opening  18 . The inner end  14  of the pole body  12  is retained against the wall  20  of a building or the like by a retainer  22  attached to the wall by a plurality of screws, not shown. The retainer  22  can retain the pole so that the longitudinal axis  24  of the pole body  12  is parallel to the ground and perpendicular to the wall  22 , or the retainer  22  can support the pole body  12  at a gradual angle as shown, with the outer end  16  of the pole body at a higher elevation that the inner end  14 . 
     Suspended below the pole body  12  is a flag  26 , which is retained to the pole body  12  by upper and lower annular connectors  28 ,  30 , each of which extends around the pole body  12  and has a manually operable snap connector  29 ,  31  attached thereto. The snap connectors  29 ,  31  can be easily attached to eyes  25 ,  27  at the ends of a flag  26 . 
     An annular grommet  33  having an opening with a diameter approximately equal to the outer diameter of the pole body  12  is fitted around the pole body  12  immediately outward, or above the lower annular connector  30  to retain the lower connector  30  in a spaced relationship from the upper connector  28 . In the preferred embodiment, the annular grommet  33  fits snuggly around the circumference of the pole body  12  so that it will not move as a result of the flapping of the flag or the movement of the air. On the other hand, the grommet  33  should not fit so tightly around the pole body  12  that it cannot be easily manually moved along the length thereof to a desired location. The position of the grommet  33  can therefore be changed as needed thereby enabling the flagpole  10  to accept flags  26  having different widths. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 ,  4 A, and  5 , the upper annular connector  28  is preferably rotatably fitted around the circumference of a cylindrical retaining shanks  35  for retaining a pivotal mounting  42  to the end of the pole body  12  for adjustably retaining a solar panel  44  as is further described below. Preferably, the upper annular connector  28  has an inner diameter that is smaller than the outer diameter of the pole body  12  such that it is retained between the distal end of the pole body  12  and an annular flange  45  on the connector  42  as is also described below. 
     To illuminate the flag  26 , the pole body  12  has a plurality of apertures  32 - 32  therein that extend along a portion of the length of the pole body, with the first aperture  32  positioned near the outer end  16  and the last of the apertures  32  positioned midway along the length of the pole body  12 . The first and last apertures  32 - 32  are spaced a distance from each other that is a little less than the distance between the upper and lower eyes  25 ,  27  provided on a flag  26 . Flags  26  are commonly available with a width of twenty-eight inches or thirty-six inches. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the first and last apertures are spaced apart by about thirty-three or thirty-four inches and there are six or seven apertures altogether. The apertures  32  are preferably spaced equally distanced apart, with the centers of each of the apertures  32  positioned along a line that extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pole body  12 . The pole body  12  is positioned with respect to the retainer  22  such that the apertures  32  are all directed generally downwardly, such that light passing through the apertures  32 - 32  will illuminate the flag  26 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , within the inner opening  18  of the pole body  12  are a plurality of illuminating elements  34 - 34 , which preferably are LEDs because they draw a relatively low amount of energy for the amount of light produced. The illuminating elements are positioned with one element adjacent each of the apertures  32 . Preferably, an elongate reflector  36  having an arcuate reflective inner surface is positioned in the opening  18 , with the arcuate surface of the reflector  36  positioned opposite the apertures  32 - 32  such that light from the illuminating elements  34 - 34  that is not initially directed outward through the apertures  32 - 32  will be reflected and ultimately redirected toward the apertures  32 - 32  thereby maximizing the light through the apertures  32 - 32 . The reflector  36  can be an elongate continuous arcuate shaped reflective member that is slideably received within the inner opening of the pole  12 , or the reflectors may be a plurality of contoured members  36  with one member  36  adjacent each illuminating element  34  as shown. Additional small reflective elements  38 - 38  may be positioned along the length of the reflector  36  and generally perpendicular to the length of the pole body  12  to further direct light through the apertures  32 - 32 . 
     As also shown in  FIGS. 6 and 17 , near the inner end  14  of the flagpole body  12  and inside the inner opening  18  is a rechargeable battery  40 . The battery  40  is connected to a double throw switch  41  for alternately connecting the battery  40  to either the illuminating elements  34 - 34  or the solar panel  44 , and the double throw switch  41  is controlled by a control circuit  43 . The control circuit  43  measures voltage from the solar panel  44 , and if the solar panel  44  is delivering a significant voltage, indicative of daylight, the control circuit  43  operates the switch  41  to connect the battery  40  to the solar panel  44  for charging the battery  40 . One the other hand, if the control circuit  43  detects little or no voltage from the solar panel  44 , indicative of night, the control circuit  43  will disconnect the solar panel  44 , and connect the battery  40  to the illuminating elements  34 - 34  for illuminating the flag  26 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 4A , positioned near the outer end  16  of the pole body  12  is the adjustable mounting  42  that pivotally retains the solar panel  44 . The mounting  42  includes a bracelet  45  that attaches to the rear surface of the solar panel  44 , and attached to the bracket  45  by an adjustable pivot pin  47  is the elongate shank  35 . The shank  35  has an outer diameter that is less than the inner diameter of the upper annular connector  28  for rotatably receiving the connector  28 . Centrally located on the shank  35  is the annular flange  45  having an outer diameter that is greater than the inner diameter of the connector  28  to prevent the connector  28  from interfering with the pivot pin  47 . The distal end of the shank  35  is slideably received into the inner opening  18  of the pole  12  through the outer end  16 . The mounting  42  is adjusted with respect to the pole  12  such that the light absorbing surface  48  of the solar panel  44  is directed upwardly while the aperture  32 - 32  containing the illuminating elements  34 - 34  are directed downwardly. The parts are retained in their desired orientation by a set screw  51  that extends through a threaded hole, unnumbered, at the end  16  of the pole  12  and abuts the shank  35 . 
     A washer  50  is fitted around the shank  35  between the upper retainer  28  and the end  16  of the pole  12 . To assemble the parts, the cylindrical shank  35  is first inserted through the central opening in the upper retainer  28  and then washer  50  and into the outer end  16  of the pole body  12 . The shank  35  is inserted into the outer end  16  of the pole body  12  without compressing the retainer  28  between the parts thereby allowing the upper retainer  28  to rotate freely around the shank  35 . The set screw  51  then retains the adjustable mounting  42  so that it cannot be rotated with respect to the longitudinal axis  24  of the pole  12 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  6 , and  7 , in one aspect of the invention, the pole body  12  has a length sufficient to retain a large flag  26  having a large width  62  as shown in  FIG. 1 , or a smaller flag  60  having a smaller width  64  as shown in  FIG. 7 . As stated above, flags are typically available with a width of twenty-eight inches or thirty-six inches, and therefore the smaller flag  60  will have a width of twenty-eight inches and the larger flag  26  will have a width of thirty-six inches. The pole body  12  has apertures  32 - 32  that extend along the pole body sufficient to illuminate the large width  62  of the large flag  26 . To illuminate only the smaller flag  64  having a twenty-eight inch width, switch  68  is provided. When the switch  68  is closed, all the illuminating elements  34  for all the apertures  32 - 32  are connected to the battery  40  and are illuminated, whereas when the switch  68  is open, only the illuminating elements in apertures needed to illuminate the smaller flag  64  are connected to the battery  40 . Accordingly, the switch  68  can be used to illuminate only a portion of the illuminating elements. I have found that it is preferable to have six or seven illuminating elements for use with a large flag  62 , and only four or five elements to illuminate a smaller flag  64 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the switch  68  is operable by a thumb slide  69  on the outer surface of the pole  12 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , in another embodiment of the invention a color tinted transparent sleeve  70  is provided that can be slipped over the circumference of the tubular body  12  of the flagpole. The tinted sleeve  70  will thereby project light of a desired color through the apertures  32 - 32  to illuminate a flag  21  attached thereto. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , some flags are manufactured with a sleeve along one edge thereof with the sleeve adapted to receive a cylindrical post for mounting of the flag. Such flags do not have upper and lower eyes, such as eyes  25 ,  27  described with respect to flag  26 . Accordingly, a flag  80  having a sleeve  82  that extends along one edge thereof can only be retained by inserting a pole through the sleeve  82 . To retain a flag  80  to a flagpole  10  described above, an elongate support pole  84  is provided that has an overall length that is a little longer than the width  88  of the flag  80  such that a portion of the pole  84  will extend out each end of the sleeve  82 . A metal eye  90 ,  92  is provided at each end of the pole  84 . To attach the pole  84  to the flagpole  10  the pole  84  is extended through the sleeve  82  and the connectors  29 ,  31  on the flagpole  10  are attached to the eyes  90 ,  92  at the end of the pole  84 . 
     The pole  84  may also have spring clips  94  and  95  at each end with the spring clips having compressing ends  96 ,  97  that are directed towards each other and compress against the surface of the pole  84 . An outer end portion of the sleeve  82  is fitted under each of the compressing ends  96 ,  97  so as to be compressed against the surface of the pole  84  to hold the flag  80  in place. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 11 ,  12 , and  13 , in another embodiment the apertures  32 - 32  in the pole body  12  may be circumferentially enlarged, that is extended around a larger portion of the circumference of the pole body with each aperture  32 - 32  adapted to receive a colored transparent lens, four of which  94 ,  95 ,  96 ,  97  are depicted in  FIG. 12 . In this embodiment, the colored lenses  94 - 97  are depicted as having one-half colored red R and the other half colored green G, with every other lens having the red R and green G side reversed ( 94  and  96  being reversed from  95  and  97 ) as shown in  FIG. 12 . Fitted around the pole body  12  is an opaque sleeve  98  having apertures  100 - 100  spaced linearly along the length thereof so as to align with the apertures  32 - 32  of the pole body  12 . An eye  102 ,  104  at each end of the sleeve  98  receives a hook  106 ,  108  for attaching to the eyes of a flag  26 . The apertures  100 - 100  in the sleeve  98  have a circumferential width  112  that is smaller (extends in an arc around a smaller portion of the circumference) than the circumferential width  114  of the apertures  32 - 32 , as best shown in  FIG. 13 . The inner diameter of the sleeve  98  is a little greater than the outer diameter of the pole body  12  so that the sleeve  98  can easily rotate around the pole body  12 . Also, the sleeve  98  is retained near the outer end of the pole body  12  with the aperture  100 - 100  aligned with the apertures  32 - 32  of the pole by the grommet  33 . Accordingly, wind blowing on the flag  26  will cause the sleeve  98  to rotate a few degrees in each direction around the pole body  12 , and as the sleeve  98  rotates from side to side, the smaller apertures  100 - 100  thereof will alternately align with the red or green tinted lenses  94 ,  95 ,  96 ,  97 . The effect will be to change the color of the light directed on the flag  26  as the flag  26  moves in the breeze. 
     It should be appreciated that while the lenses  94 - 97  have been described as having one half tinted red and the other half tinted green with the arrangement of colors reversed on every other lens, the lenses may be tinted in any color, and the tinting can be in one, two, three, or any combination of colors without departing from the invention. Similarly, the lenses in each of the apertures may be identical to each other, or every lens may be different from every other lens without departing from the invention. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 14 ,  15 , and  16 , in yet another embodiment, a rotatable transparent sleeve  120  is fitted around the circumference of the flagpole  12  with each end of the sleeve  120  retained to a cylindrical race of a bearing  122 ,  124  where the inner race of each of the bearings  122 ,  124  has a central opening sized to fit snugly around the outer circumference of the flagpole  12 . In this embodiment, bearing assembly  122  is representative of both assemblies  122 ,  124  and therefore, the description of assembly  122  is applicable to both assemblies  122 ,  124 . 
     Each bearing assembly  122 ,  124  includes a stationary inner race  126 , the inner diameter of which is sized to receive the flagpole  12 . The inner race  126  extends outward of the bearing assembly and includes a set screw  128  that can be tightened against the surface of the flagpole  12  to retain the bearing assembly  122 ,  124  at its desired position along the length thereof. The bearing assembly  122  also includes a plurality of needle bearings, not shown, that facilitate the rotation of the outer race  130  with respect to the inner race  126 . The outer surface of the outer race  130  has a plurality of raised tabs  132 , 134 ,  136  thereon, and one of the race tabs  136  includes an eye-hole  138  to which a clip  140  is attachable. Extending between the upper and lower bearing assemblies  122 ,  124  is the transparent sleeve  120  having an inner diameter that is sized to receive the outer surface of the bearing assemblies  122 ,  124 . Sleeve  120  further has a plurality of notches at each end thereof, two of which  142 ,  144  are visible in  FIG. 15 , for fitting around the raised tabs  132 ,  136 ,  138  on the outer race  128  to thereby ensure that the sleeve  120  rotates with the outer race of both the upper and lower bearing assemblies  122 ,  124 . A flag  148  is then attached to the clips  140  that extend through the eye-hole  138  on the outer race of each of the bearing assemblies  122 ,  124 . A flagpole having a rotatable transparent sleeve as provided above will be unable to become wrapped around the pole  12  because the weight of the flag  26  will cause the sleeve  120  to rotate and unwind the flag  148 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 18  in yet another embodiment of the invention, an additional illuminating member  150  can be attached to the bottom surface of the photoelectric cell  44 , with the additional illuminating member  150  directed downwardly and at an angle to further illuminate the flag  26  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     While the present invention has been described with respect to several different embodiments, it will be appreciated that many modifications and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore the intent of the appended claims to cover all such modifications and variations which fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.