Supports – Staff type – Bracket
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-14
2001-08-21
Ramirez, Ramon O. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Staff type
Bracket
C248S229120, C248S229220, C411S408000, C411S431000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276651
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a mounting device for flagpoles, and more particularly to such a mounting device particularly adapted for mounting on an elongate fixed support member such as a railing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In many apartment or condominiums, particularly high rise apartments or condominiums, it is desired to mount flags on outside railings, especially where restrictions do not permit the drilling of holes in masonry facades or walls for the installation of conventional mounting brackets for the flagpole. Railings for porches or patios may include an upper horizontal bar or rail and the flagpole mounting device of the present invention is particularly designed to be mounted onto such a horizontal bar or rail.
Heretofore, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,279,669 dated Sep. 24, 1918, flagpole mounting device have been provided which are effective for mounting a flagpole on a horizontal support member, such as a rod or post. The mounting device shown in the '669 patent loosely mounts the flagpole with a spring and does not permit mounting of the flagpole along various lengths of the flagpole. Also the firm securement of the mounting device to the horizontal support would be difficult as the mounting device is closely positioned adjacent opposed abutting surfaces.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The flagpole mounting device comprising the present invention includes a pair of generally identical clamping members or plates which may be mounted on opposed surfaces of a fixed horizontal support member, such as a rail pipe or bar. The clamping members have inner concave surfaces with serrated teeth to engage and grip the rail tightly upon installation of the mounting device. The clamping plates have axially aligned openings adjacent one end thereof to receive the flagpole and may be mounted on the horizontal support member at a predetermined angle for the display of flags at a desired angle. The ends are split at the openings to define a pair of gripping arms for each clamping plate. Each pair of gripping arms has aligned openings to receive a set screw for effecting a tight gripping engagement of the arms with the flagpole thereby to secure the flagpole to each of the clamping plates to provide a redundancy for a gripping of the flagpole. Thus, even though one pair of gripping arms is not tightly secured to the flagpole, the flagpole will remain in secured relation with the remaining pair of gripping arms.
The clamping plates also have opposed ends with axially aligned openings positioned outwardly of the horizontal support member to receive an externally threaded stud. The stud is secured within one opening and extends through the other opening with an end portion of the stud extending axially outwardly of the other opening. A manual adjusting knob has an integral internally threaded nut which may be threaded onto the extending end portion of the stud. The adjusting knob has a hard plastic body for receiving the threaded nut and an outer rubberlike cover extends over the plastic body for manual gripping. The plastic body is hollow to receive the nut and also provides space for the extending end portion of the stud. Manual gripping or rotation of the adjusting knob exerts a clamping force in a lever action against the clamping plates for tightly gripping of the rail by the clamping plates. The relatively large diameter of the adjusting knob over about two (2) inches permits the knob to exert a relatively high torque force from manual rotation of the knob. The mounting device may be easily mounted on metal or wooden railings of round, oval, rectangular, or irregular cross-sections. Set screw
44
furnished to lock in position permitting removal of knob to discourage theft.
An object of the invention is to provide a mounting device for a flagpole which may be easily mounted on a horizontal railing.
A further object of the invention is to provide such a mounting device in which a flagpole is first mounted on the mounting device and then the mounting device is easily mounted with the flagpole on a railing.
Another object of the invention is to provide such a flagpole mounting device which may be safely installed on an outside railing of a high rise condominium or apartment.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1015717 (1912-01-01), Shimer
patent: 1279669 (1918-09-01), Deming
patent: 1312947 (1919-08-01), Billington
patent: 1653083 (1927-12-01), Blaw
patent: 2686029 (1954-08-01), Raymond
patent: 3904161 (1975-09-01), Scott
patent: 4772000 (1988-09-01), Aubert
patent: 5039056 (1991-08-01), Paxton
patent: 5131780 (1992-07-01), Love
patent: 5836327 (1998-11-01), Davis
patent: 5857658 (1999-01-01), Niemiec
Browning Bushman
Ramirez Ramon O.
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