Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    In the art of flagpole ornaments, including spherical ornaments or balls, there has been a continuing need to provide ornaments which are durable, easy to install, easy to modify for various flagpole upper brackets or trucks, which have requisite strength in use and during installation and are economical to manufacture. These requirements, collectively, have been difficult to meet in prior art flagpole ornaments, particularly spherical ornaments or so-called flagpole balls. For example, a problem with prior art flagpole ball ornaments is that, for ornaments which are constructed of two hemispherical parts, the parts typically become at least partially separated wherein one of the hemispherical parts becomes skewed or rotated relative to the other part. Still further, prior art flagpole ball ornaments are also, typically, prone to separating or becoming disassembled wherein one or more parts may fall to the ground. Thermal stresses, other environmental factors and vibration of the pole all contribute to early failure of prior art flagpole ball ornaments. The present invention has been developed to overcome the deficiencies and failures associated with prior art flagpole ornaments, generally of the type described herein. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention provides an improved flagpole ornament, particularly an ornament mounted at the top or peak of a flagpole and, more particularly, a spherical ornament or flagpole ball. 
         [0003]    In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an improved flagpole ball is provided which comprises opposed hemispherical ornament parts which are cooperable in assembly to provide a flagpole ball and which may be easily formed of a durable and corrosion resistant metal, such as aluminum. The opposed hemispherical ornament parts are supported in assembly with each other by a generously proportioned circumferential rim formed on one of the hemispherical parts. Thanks to the generous proportions of the height of the rim and the provision of a spacer or internal brace member, a flagpole ball ornament in accordance with present invention has a significantly reduced possibility of the hemispherical parts becoming separated while in their working positions. 
         [0004]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the hemispherical ornament parts are advantageously retained in assembly with each other by the aforementioned elongated internal brace member which is engaged with the hemispherical parts along a diametral axis and the hemispherical parts are secured to the brace member by threaded fasteners including, preferably, steel fasteners which are secured with a thread locking composition, for example. 
         [0005]    In one embodiment, the internal brace member is provided with opposed threaded bores for receiving a steel bolt and/or machine screw at one end and a continuous threaded member at the other end and which is provided to connect the ornament to a post or column member mountable on an upper flagpole bracket or so-called truck member. In an alternate embodiment the brace member is provided with a clearance bore or passage for receiving a single elongated bolt having a conventional head and adapted to threadly engage the column or post member. The post member is provided with an internally threaded bore at one end for connection to the continuous threaded member or bolt and an externally threaded part at its opposite end for the threaded engagement with the pole upper bracket or truck member. The post may be interchanged with other post members for accommodating different sizes of threaded bores or tapped holes in respective truck members. 
         [0006]    In accordance with yet a further aspect of the invention a novel flagpole ball assembly is provided which is durable in use, corrosion resistant, easy to assemble and economical to manufacture. 
         [0007]    Those skilled in the art will further appreciate the advantages and superior features of the flagpole ornament of the present invention upon reading the detailed description which follows in conjunction with the drawing. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a detail view of an improved flagpole ornament shown mounted on an upper bracket or truck member of a flagpole; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a longitudinal central section view of the flagpole ornament shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation of an alternate embodiment of a post member for use with the ornament shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a longitudinal central section view of an alternate embodiment of a flagpole ornament in accordance with the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0012]    In the description which follows, like parts are marked throughout the specification and drawing with the same reference numerals, respectively. The drawing figures are not necessarily to scale and certain elements may be shown in somewhat schematic form in the interest of clarity and conciseness. 
         [0013]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated a flagpole ornament in accordance with the invention and generally designated by the numeral  10 . The flagpole ornament  10  is illustrated mounted on the peak of a vertical oriented flagpole  12  having a conventional upper bracket or truck assembly  14  suitably mounted thereon. Truck assembly  14  includes a somewhat inverted cup-shaped truck member  16  mounted on the peak of flagpole  12  in a conventional manner and supporting a conventional rotatable pulley  18  over which is trained a flag halyard  20 . Flagpole ornament  10  is characterized as a generally spherical member or ball  11  and includes an upstanding post member  22  suitably connected to the truck member  16  as will be described in further detail herein. 
         [0014]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the flagpole ball  11  is characterized by opposed hollow, shelllike, hemispherical parts  24  and  26  which are interengaged to form a substantially spherical member. Hemispherical parts  24  and  26  are each, preferably formed of relatively thin-walled aluminum, for example, and are fabricated in a conventional manner by suitable forming technique, known to those skilled in the art. However, hemispherical ornament part  26  includes a slightly radially inwardly displaced circular rim  28  delimited by a circumferential edge  30  and dimensioned to fit snugly within and engaged with the inside wall  24   a  of part  24 , as illustrated. The radially inwardly displaced rim  28  provides an annular shoulder  32  which is adapted to engage circumferential edge  25  of part  24  in a snug-fitting relationship to form the spherical ball member  11 . 
         [0015]    Ball member  11  is held in assembly and strengthened against deformation by an internal diametral column or brace member  34  preferably comprising a cylindrical aluminum rod which is provided with opposed axially extending internally threaded bores or tapped holes  36  and  38 , as shown. Hemispherical part  24  is preferably somewhat flattened at a circular portion  24   b  opposite another somewhat flattened circular portion  26   b  of part  26 . Parts  24  and  26  are also provided with fastener receiving openings  24   c  and  26   c,  respectively. A pan-head machine screw  40  is operable to be inserted through opening  24   c  and threadedly engaged with brace member  34  at threaded bore  36 , as shown, for securing part  24  to brace member  34 . 
         [0016]    Referring further to  FIG. 2 , ornament post member  22  includes an externally threaded end part  23  which is shown threadedly engaged with truck member  16  and suitably locked in engagement therewith by a conventional hex-shaped locknut  43 . The opposite end of post member  22  includes an internally threaded bore  27  opening to a transverse end-face  29  of post member  22  which is engageable with the flattened part  26   b  of hemispherical ornament part  26 . An externally, continuous threaded or “allthread” fastener member  46  extends through opening  26   c,  is threadedly engaged with brace member  34  at threaded bore  38  and is threadedly engaged with post member  22  at threaded bore  27 . Fastener member  46  is preferably formed of steel while post member  22  and, as mentioned previously, brace member  34  are preferably formed of aluminum. Generally planar transverse end faces  34   a  and  34   b  of brace member  34  are tightly engaged with the respective flattened or planar circular portions  24   b  and  26   b  of the hemispherical parts  24  and  26 . Accordingly, the head  41  of fastener  40  may be in complete area contact with a surface of the hemispherical part  24  and the end-face  29  of post member  22  is also in substantially total area contact with the flattened or planar portion  26   b  of hemispherical part  26 . In this way, upon assembly of the ornament  10 , the brace member  34  is in engagement with the hemispherical parts  24  and  26  over relatively large areas to distribute stresses thereon while aiding in maintaining the assembly as a consequence of tightening the fastener  40  and tightening the post  22  against hemispherical part  26 , thanks to the allthread fastener member  46 . Still further, the flagpole ornament  10  may advantageously utilize thread locking and sealant compositions coated on the cooperating threads of the brace member  34  and the fasteners  40  and  46 , including a thread locking composition available under the trademark LOCTITE, for example. 
         [0017]    Referring briefly to  FIG. 3 , an alternate embodiment of a post member for use with the ornament  10 , in place of post member  22 , is illustrated and generally designated by the numeral  52 . Post member  52  includes a transverse end face  53 , an internally threaded bore  54  and an axially extending externally threaded part  55  which may be of a different thread size than the threaded portion  23  of post member  22 . In this way, post members may be interchanged as required by the particular flagpole upper bracket or truck member to which the ornament  10  is to be connected. 
         [0018]    As previously mentioned, parts  24  and  26  are preferably formed of relatively thin-walled aluminum. For a ball diameter of about 4.0 inches, the wall thickness may be about 0.030 inches and the height “x” of the rim  28 ,  FIG. 2 , is preferably about 0.38 to 0.50 inches. The brace member  34  and the post members  22  or  52  may be formed of aluminum cylindrical rod having a diameter of about 0.625 inches. The overall length of the post members  22  and  52  may be about 4.0 inches with the externally threaded portions being about 2.0 inches and the internally threaded portions  27  and  54  being about 1.0 inch deep and being of a thread size 5/16-18NC, for example. The allthread faster member  46  is preferably at least about 1.0 inches to 2.0 inches in length. Fabrication and assembly of the ornament  10 , based on the foregoing description, is believed to be within the purview of one skilled in the art. 
         [0019]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , another embodiment of a flagpole ball ornament in accordance with the invention is illustrated and generally designated by the numeral  60 . The flagpole ornament  60 , utilizes the components of the flagpole ball ornament  10 , as indicated in  FIG. 4 , including the opposed hemispherical parts  24  and  26  and the post or column member  22 . However, the internal brace member  34  has been replaced by a similar brace member  34   g,  which is provided with a fastener clearance bore  38   a  for receiving an elongated machine screw or bolt  62  having a distal threaded portion  63  engageable with threaded bore  27  of post member  22 . Brace member  34   g  also includes the opposed transverse end faces  34   a  and  34   b.  Machine screw or bolt  62  includes a conventional hexhead  64  and is of a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the bore  38   a.  Accordingly, fastener  62  comprising the hexhead machine screw or bolt is operable to secure the hemispherical parts  24  and  26  tightly together and braced by the brace member  34   g  and further wherein a single fastener may be utilized to secure the ball ornament to the post or column member  22 . When assembling the flagpole ornament  60 , a thread locking and sealant composition as mentioned hereinabove is preferably used on the threads of the threaded shank part  63  and/or the bore  27 . The brace member  34   g  may, in fact, be identical to the brace member  34  except for the bore  38   a,  which may be of the same diameter as required for pre-drilling the brace member  34  to accommodate the threaded bores  36  and  38  when such bores are tapped in the brace member  34 . 
         [0020]    Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein, those skilled in the art will recognize that various substitutions and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

Technology Category: 4