Patent ID: 8177185

Claim:
A flag pole and base assembly comprising: a base for being secured to a surface, the base having a longitudinal base axis, a first mating surface extending transverse to the longitudinal base axis, and a wall extending upwardly along the longitudinal base axis from a perimeter of the first mating surface to an upper edge of the wall and defining a pocket therein; an elongate post having a central post axis and opposite ends thereof; a ferrule secured to one of the opposite ends of the elongate post and configured for being removably received in the base pocket, the ferrule including at least a coupling portion having a second mating surface extending transverse to the central post axis and a curved outer surface with a curvature along the central post axis such that a diameter of the coupling portion transverse to the central post axis at the second mating surface is less than a diameter intermediate the coupling portion; a coupling interface between the ferrule and the base configured to position the central post axis along the longitudinal base axis when the ferrule is received in the base pocket as the second mating surface of the coupling portion engages the first mating surface of the base; the curvature of the outer surface of the ferrule coupling portion along the central post axis and the upper edge of the base wall are configured for allowing the ferrule to be inserted in the base pocket with the elongate post oriented at an inclined angle relative to the base longitudinal axis and for allowing the ferrule to be removed from the base pocket with a force orthogonal to the longitudinal base axis with both the insertion and the removal configurations independent of a circumferential orientation of the ferrule about the longitudinal base axis; wherein the base pocket wall is annular and at least partially surrounds the base longitudinal axis; and wherein the annular wall includes separate segments spaced circumferentially about the longitudinal base axis at the perimeter of the first mating surface.