Patent Publication Number: US-2006005504-A1

Title: Sentry and door winch assembly

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention generally relates to flagpole winches and cleats, and specifically to a flagpole winch or cleat mounted internally to a flagpole.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Flags are displayed for many different reasons, on many different occasions and in many different ways. In some situations, such as when the flagpole is inaccessible, it is desirable to use a flagpole in which the flag can be raised and lowered using winches and so forth. Various types of flagpoles have been developed.  
      It is often desirable to substantially eliminate exposed halyard, especially while the flag is flying. There are flagpole assemblies in which the halyard remains substantially concealed from view but allows the flag to be raised and lowered. The flagpole assembly includes a hollow pole mounted at its base to a support. A first end of a halyard is connected to a winch. The winch is typically mounted near the base of the pole. The halyard passes through the hollow pole and out an exit opening at the pole tip.  
      Paying out the halyard from the winch causes the flag to lower as the length of the halyard extending from the exit opening in the hollow pole increases. The halyard is retracted by winding the halyard onto the winch. If the halyard has a flag attached to it, the flag is raised by this operation. If not, substantially the entire halyard is housed within the hollow pole or on the halyard winch.  
      A primary advantage of this design is that it simplifies raising and lowering of a flag while keeping the halyard substantially concealed. Keeping the halyard substantially concealed reduces the deterioration of the halyard by preventing its exposure to the elements. It also eliminates problems caused by tangled halyards and flags.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      In a first embodiment, the present invention is a flagpole assembly incorporating a flagpole body, an internal fastening plate, an external fastening plate, and at least one threaded fastener.  
      The flagpole body is generally-cylindrical and hollow, having a first end, a second end, a principal axis, an inner surface, an outer surface and an aperture disposed in the side thereof. The aperture passes from the inner surface to the outer surface along a radial axis substantially orthogonal to the principal axis. At least one internal fastener passage passes from the inner surface to the outer surface.  
      The internal fastening plate is disposed at least partly within the flagpole body, and has an inner surface, an outer surface, an aperture disposed therein and at least one threaded fastening hole generally aligned to an internal fastener passage in the flagpole body. The external fastening plate is disposed at least partly outside of the flagpole body, and has an inner surface, an outer surface, an aperture disposed therein and at least one external fastener passage generally aligned to an internal fastener passage in the flagpole body. The threaded fastener is disposed partly within an external fastener passage, partly within an internal fastener passage and partly within a threaded fastening hole.  
      In a second embodiment, the present invention is a flagpole assembly including a flagpole body, an internal fastening plate, an external fastening plate, at least two threaded fasteners and a winch mount.  
      The generally-cylindrical, hollow flagpole body has a first end, a second end, a principal axis, an inner surface, an outer surface, an aperture disposed in the side thereof, passing from the inner surface to the outer surface along a radial axis substantially orthogonal to the principal axis. The flagpole body includes at least two internal fastener passages passing from the inner surface to the outer surface.  
      The internal fastening plate is disposed at least partly within the flagpole body, and has an inner surface, an outer surface, an aperture disposed therein and at least two threaded fastening holes, each generally aligned to an internal fastener passage in the flagpole body. The external fastening plate is disposed at least partly outside of the flagpole body, and has an inner surface, an outer surface, an aperture disposed therein and at least two external fastener passages, each generally aligned to an internal fastener passage in the flagpole body.  
      Each of the threaded fasteners is disposed partly within an external fastener passage, partly within an internal fastener passage and partly within a threaded fastening hole. The winch mount is secured to one or more of the internal fastening plate, the external fastening plate and the flagpole body, and has a winch secured thereto.  
      In a third embodiment, the present invention is a flagpole assembly including a flagpole body, an internal fastening plate, an external fastening plate and door assembly and a winch mount.  
      The generally-cylindrical, hollow flagpole body has a first end, a second end, a principal axis, an inner surface, an outer surface, and an aperture disposed in the side thereof at least four internal fastener passages passing from the inner surface to the outer surface. The aperture passes from the inner surface to the outer surface along a radial axis substantially orthogonal to the principal axis.  
      The internal fastening plate is disposed within the flagpole body, having an inner surface, an outer surface, an aperture disposed therein and at least four threaded fastening holes, each threaded fastening hole generally aligned to an internal fastener passage in the flagpole body. The external fastening plate and door assembly is disposed at least partly outside of the flagpole body, and has an inner surface, an outer surface, a door aperture having a door disposed therein and at least four external fastener passages, each external fastener passage generally aligned to an internal fastener passage in the flagpole body.  
      Each of the threaded fasteners is disposed partly within an external fastener passage, partly within an internal fastener passage and partly within a threaded fastening hole. The winch mount is secured to the internal fastening plate and has a winch secured thereto. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is an exploded isometric view of a flagpole assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is an exploded section view of the flagpole assembly of  FIG. 1  taken along line  2 - 2 ;  
       FIG. 3  is an unexploded section view of the flagpole assembly of  FIG. 1  taken along line  2 - 2 ;  
       FIG. 4  is an exploded isometric view of a flagpole assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 5  is an exploded section view of the flagpole assembly of  FIG. 4  taken along line  5 - 5 ;  
       FIG. 6  is an unexploded section view of the flagpole assembly of  FIG. 4  taken along line  5 - 5 ;  
       FIG. 7  is a partial section view of the flagpole assembly of  FIG. 4  taken along line  7 - 7 ;  
       FIG. 8  is a frontal view of an external plate which may be used in the flagpole assembly of  FIG. 4 ;  
       FIG. 9  is a top view of the external plate of  FIG. 8 ;  
       FIG. 10  is a partial section view of the external plate of  FIG. 9  taken along line  10 - 10 ;  
       FIG. 11  is a partial section view of the external plate to  FIG. 9  taken along line  11 - 11 ;  
       FIG. 12  is a frontal view of an internal plate which may be used in the flagpole assembly of  FIG. 4 ;  
       FIG. 13  is a top view of the internal plate of  FIG. 12 ;  
       FIG. 14  is a plan section view of an alternate embodiment of the flagpole assembly shown in  FIG. 4 ; and  
       FIG. 15  is a plan section view of a second alternate embodiment of the flagpole assembly shown in  FIG. 4 .  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
      In the description which follows like elements are marked throughout the specification and drawing with the same reference numerals, respectively. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be shown in somewhat schematic or generalized form in the interest of clarity and conciseness.  
      Flagpole assembly  100  includes a flagpole body  102  having a principal axis  104 , an inner surface  106 , an outer surface  108  and an aperture  110  disposed in its side along radial axis  112 , which is generally-orthogonal to principal axis  104 . A set of internal fastener passages  114  are disposed adjacent to aperture  110 .  
      Flagpole assembly  100  also includes an internal fastening plate  116  having an inner surface  118 , an outer surface  120  and an aperture  122 . A set of threaded fastening holes  124  is disposed about aperture  122 . Each of the threaded fastening holes  124  is aligned to an internal fastener passage  114 .  
      Flagpole assembly  100  includes an external fastening plate  126  having an inner surface  128 , an outer surface  130  and a door aperture  132 . A set of external fastener passages  134  is disposed in the external fastening plate  126  adjacent to the door aperture  132 . Each of the external fastener passages  134  is aligned to an internal fastener passage  114  and threaded fastening hole  124 . A mount  138 , securing a cleat  140 , is secured to an internal portion of external fastening plate  126 . In alternate embodiments, a pulley, a winch or other mechanism may be secured to mount  138 . A set of threaded fasteners  136  fastens the flagpole assembly  100  together.  
      A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 4-7 . Flagpole assembly  200  includes a flagpole body  202  having a principal axis  204 , an inner surface  206 , an outer surface  208  and an aperture  210  disposed in its side along radial axis  212 , which is generally-orthogonal to principal axis  204 . A set of internal fastener passages  214  are disposed adjacent to aperture  210 .  
      Flagpole assembly  200  also includes an internal fastening plate  216  having an inner surface  218 , an outer surface  220  and an aperture  222 . A set of threaded fastening holes  224  is disposed about aperture  122 . Each of the threaded fastening holes  224  is aligned to an internal fastener passage  214 .  
      Flagpole assembly  200  includes an external fastening plate  226  having an inner surface  228 , an outer surface  230  and a door aperture  232 . A set of external fastener passages  234  is disposed in the external fastening plate  226  adjacent to the door aperture  232 . Each of the external fastener passages  234  is aligned to an internal fastener passage  214  and threaded fastening hole  224 . A mount  238 , securing a winch  240 , is secured to the flagpole body  202 . A set of threaded fasteners  236  fastens the flagpole assembly  200  together.  
      The internal and external plates used in flagpole assemblies may vary from one application to another.  FIG. 8  through  15  depict variations on the shapes of the internal and external plates, any of which may be operable in the flagpole assembly shown in  FIG. 4 .  
      External plate  326  has the shape of a segment of a cylinder. External plate  326  has an external surface  330 , an internal surface  334  and an aperture  332  disposed in the center thereof. A set of fastening bores  334  is spaced about the aperture  332  in a generally-regular pattern. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 8-11 , the fastening bores  334  are countersunk.  
      Internal plate  316  also has the general profile of a segment of a cylinder. Internal plate  316  has an internal surface  318 , an external surface  320  and an aperture  322  disposed in the center thereof. A set of fastening holes  324  is spaced about the aperture  322  in a generally-regular pattern. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 8-11 , the fastening holes  324  are threaded.  
      Alternate flagpole assemblies  400  and  500  are shown as examples of variations on the geometry of flagpole assembly  200 . Flagpole assembly  400  includes a flagpole body  402  having an internal plate  416  and winch assembly  440  disposed therein and an external plate  426  disposed on the outside thereof. Internal plate  416  and external plate  426  are fastened to the flagpole body  402  and to one another by fasteners  436 . Flagpole assembly  400  incorporates a door  442  to enclose and protect the winch assembly from the elements and tampering. Similarly, flagpole assembly  500  includes a flagpole body  502  having an internal plate  516  and winch assembly  540  disposed therein and an external plate  526  disposed on the outside thereof. Internal plate  516  and external plate  526  are fastened to the flagpole body  502  and to one another by fasteners  436 . Flagpole assembly  500  incorporates a door  542  to enclose and protect the winch assembly from the elements and tampering. It can be seen that flagpole assemblies  400  and  500  employ the same basic layout as flagpole assembly  200 , although the geometry of the components varies between the three, as seen in  FIGS. 6 ,  14  and  15 . Those of skill in the art will appreciate that flagpole assemblies  200 ,  400  and  500  are only exemplary and that other geometries may be employed.  
      In general, although preferred embodiments have been described herein, those skilled in the art will appreciate that substitutions and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.