초록 ▼

A flag holder designed to reduce the fraying of the trailing edge of a flag supports a flag with an upper fitting and a lower fitting. The upper fitting may be fixed with respect to the flagpole or, if desired, may rotate with respect to the flagpole. However, the upper fitting may not reciprocate w

A flag holder designed to reduce the fraying of the trailing edge of a flag supports a flag with an upper fitting and a lower fitting. The upper fitting may be fixed with respect to the flagpole or, if desired, may rotate with respect to the flagpole. However, the upper fitting may not reciprocate with respect to the flag holder. The lower fitting may freely reciprocate with respect to the flagpole and, if desired, may be rotatable with respect to the flagpole. As soon as wind conditions exceed a desired threshold, the lower fitting begins to rise up the flagpole, moved by flexing of the flag, until it arrives at the location of the upper fitting, causing the body of the flag to assume an elongated generally U-shaped configuration which drastically reduces the snapping effect that would otherwise cause fraying of the downstream edge of the flag. As soon as wind conditions reduce, the lower fitting automatically lowers, causing the flag to be fully opened again.

대표청구항 ▼

1. In a moving vehicle, the improvement comprising a flag holder, comprising:a) an upper fitting and a lower fitting, each including coupling means for coupling to a separate attachment location on a leading edge of a flag, banner or pennant, said leading edge having a length;b) a flagpole mounted o

1. In a moving vehicle, the improvement comprising a flag holder, comprising:a) an upper fitting and a lower fitting, each including coupling means for coupling to a separate attachment location on a leading edge of a flag, banner or pennant, said leading edge having a length;b) a flagpole mounted on said vehicle and having an axis of elongation;c) said upper fitting mounted on said flagpole with an upper mounting, said upper mounting precluding said upper fitting from moving along said axis of elongation of said flagpole;d) said lower fitting being mounted on said flagpole with a lower mounting permitting movement of said lower fitting along said flagpole toward said upper fitting, said lower mounting constraining said lower fitting to move solely linearly parallel to said axis of elongation while precluding said lower fitting from rotating about said axis of elongation;e) whereby, when said upper and lower fittings are coupled to separate attachment locations on said flag, banner or pennant, and said vehicle is moving, relative wind speed above a desired threshold with respect to said flagpole causes said lower fitting to move up said flagpole toward said upper fitting, thereby causing said flag, banner or pennant to adopt a non-planar elongated U-shaped configuration reducing snapping of a trailing edge thereof remote from said flagpole.2. The flag holder of claim 1, wherein said upper mounting permits rotation of said upper fitting about a periphery of said flagpole.3. The flag holder of claim 2, wherein said upper mounting includes an annular recess in one of said flagpole and upper fitting, and a protrusion in the other of said upper fitting and flagpole.4. The flag holder of claim 3, wherein said recess is in said flagpole.5. The flag holder of claim 1, wherein said upper mounting precludes rotation of said upper fitting about a periphery of said flagpole.6. The flag holder of claim 5, wherein said upper mounting includes a threaded recess in said flagpole and a threaded protrusion on said upper fitting threadably received in said threaded recess.7. The flag holder of claim 6, wherein said upper fitting comprises a threaded eyelet.8. The flag holder of claim 1, wherein said flagpole has an elongated slot along said axis of elongation and said lower fitting has a protrusion received in said slot and constrained to move along said slot.9. A flag holder mounted on a moving vehicle having a flagpole mounted thereon, said flagpole having an axis of elongation, said flag holder comprising:a) an upper fitting and a lower fitting, each including coupling means for coupling to a separate attachment location on a leading edge of a flag, banner or pennant, said leading edge having a length;b) said upper fitting being fixedly mounted on said flagpole with an upper mounting, said upper mounting precluding said upper fitting from moving with respect to said flagpole;c) said lower fitting being mounted on said flagpole with a lower mounting permitting movement of said lower fitting along said flagpole toward said upper fitting, said lower mounting constraining said lower fitting to move solely linearly parallel to said axis of elongation while precluding said lower fitting from rotating about said axis of elongation;d) whereby, said upper and lower fittings are coupled to separate attachment locations on said flag, banner or pennant, so that with said vehicle moving and relative wind speed being above a desired threshold with respect to a position of said flagpole, said lower fitting moves up said flagpole toward said upper fitting, thereby causing said flag, banner or pennant to adopt an elongated U-shaped non-planar configuration reducing snapping of a trailing edge thereof remote from said flagpole;e) said upper mounting including a threaded recess in said flagpole and a threaded protrusion on said upper fitting threadably received in said threaded recess.10. The flag holder of claim 9, wherein said flagpole has an elongated slot along said axis of elongation and said lower fitting has a protrusion received in said slot and constrained to move along said slot.11. The flag holder of claim 9, wherein said upper fitting comprises a threaded eyelet.12. A method of reducing snapping of a trailing edge of a flag, banner or pennant, including the steps of:a) mounting a flagpole having an axis of elongation on a movable vehicle;b) mounting an upper fitting on said flagpole, such that said upper fitting is constrained from moving along said axis of elongation;c) mounting a lower fitting on said flagpole, such that said lower fitting is free to move along said flagpole toward said upper fitting, said lower mounting constraining said lower fitting to move solely linearly parallel to said axis of elongation while precluding said lower fitting from rotating about said axis of elongation;d) providing a flag, banner or pennant having a leading edge with upper and lower attachment locations thereon, and said trailing edge, said leading edge having a length;e) attaching said upper attachment location to said upper fitting and said lower attachment location to said lower fitting;f) moving said vehicle such that wind speed with respect to said flagpole increases to a level above a desired threshold, whereby said lower fitting moves up said flagpole toward said upper fitting, said flag, banner or pennant adopting a non-planar elongated U-shaped configuration reducing snapping of said trailing edge.13. The method of claim 12, wherein said upper mounting permits rotation of said upper fitting about a periphery of said flagpole.14. The method of claim 12, wherein said upper mounting precludes rotation of said upper fitting about a periphery of said flagpole.15. The method of claim 12, wherein said lower mounting precludes rotation of said lower fitting about a periphery of said flagpole.16. The method of claim 12, wherein said flagpole has an elongated slot along said axis of elongation and said lower fitting has a protrusion received in said slot and constrained to move along said slot.17. In a moving vehicle, the improvement comprising a flag holder, comprising:a) an upper fitting and a lower fitting, each including coupling means for coupling to a separate attachment location on a leading edge of a flag, banner or pennant;b) a flagpole mounted on said vehicle and having a body, an axis of elongation and a length;c) said upper fitting mounted on said flagpole with an upper mounting, said upper mounting precluding said upper fitting from moving along said axis of elongation of said flagpole;d) said lower fitting being mounted on said flagpole body with a lower mounting permitting free movement of said lower fitting along said length of said flagpole toward said upper fitting, said lower mounting substantially precluding said lower fitting from lateral movement with respect to said axis of elongation, such lateral movement being limited by slight spacing between said lower mounting and said body, said slight spacing provided solely to facilitate said free movement;e) whereby, when said upper and lower fittings are coupled to separate attachment locations on said flag, banner or pennant, and said vehicle is moving, relative wind speed above a desired threshold with respect to said flagpole causes said lower fitting to move up said flagpole toward said upper fitting, thereby causing said flag, banner or pennant to adopt a non-planar elongated U-shaped configuration reducing snapping of a trailing edge thereof remote from said flagpole.18. The improvement of claim 17, wherein said upper mounting permits rotation, of said upper fitting about a periphery of said flagpole.19. The improvement of claim 18, wherein said upper mounting includes an annular recess in one of said flagpole and upper fitting, and a protrusion in the other of said upper fitting and flagpole.20. The improvement of claim 17, wherein said upper mounting precludes rotation of said upper fitting about a periphery of said flagpole.21. The improvement of claim 20, wherein said upper mounting includes a threaded recess in said flagpole and a threaded protrusion on said upper fitting threadably received in said threaded recess.22. The improvement of claim 17, wherein said flagpole has an elongated slot along said axis of elongation and said lower fitting has a protrusion received in said slot and constrained to move along said slot.