Flag storage and display device

Claim 2

A flag storage and display device comprising: a housing adapted to be mounted to a support structure; a hollow tubular member extending outwardly from said housing; a reversible motor within said housing; a shaft means, a portion of which is threaded, extending outwardly from said housing within said tubular member and coupled to said reversible motor for rotation thereby; a pole member coaxially supported within said tubular member and adapted for extension and retraction therefrom and thereinto, said pole member being further adapted to retain a flag removably secured adjacent the outward end thereof; means for engaging the threaded portion of said shaft means to cause longitudinal motion of said pole member; and means for coupling said pole member and said shaft means to provide rotation of said pole member thereby.

Claim 3

A flag storage and display device according to claim 1 wherein said shaft means includes: a first shaft having exterior splines extending outwardly from and coupled to said reversible motor for rotation thereby; said threaded portion of said shaft being an exteriorly threaded sleeve secured to the inward end of said pole member and having interior splines configured to mate with said exterior splines of said shaft.

Claim 4

A flag storage and display device according to claim 2 wherein said means for causing longitudinal motion of said pole member includes support bearing means mounted within said tubular member, said support bearing means being interiorly threaded such that it is adapted to engage the threads of said threaded sleeve.

Claim 5

A flag storage and display device according to claim 3 and further including: control means for controlling the operation of said motor, said control means including switch means mounted to said tubular member; and means for actuation of said switch means when said pole member reaches the end of its longitudinal extension movement and when said pole member reaches the end of its longitudinal retraction movement, said actuation means being normally mounted to said pole member.

Claim 6

A flag storage and display device according to claim 2 and further including: a generally spherical member on the outward end of said pole member; and a resilient collar on the outward end of said tubular member, wherein said spherical member is adapted to seat itself into said resilient collar to form a weatherproof seal when said pole member is fully retracted.

Claim 7

A flag storage and display device according to claim 1 wherein said shaft means includes a shaft having exterior splines extending longitudinally rearwardly from its forward end for a relatively short portion of its length and being exteriorly threaded over substantially the remaining portion of its length.

Claim 8

A flag storage and display means according to claim 6 wherein said means for causing longitudinal motion of said pole member and said means for causing rotational motion of said pole member include: a stop member mounted to the inward end of said pole member; and a rocker arm pivotally mounted within said stop member having a tooth on one side of said pivot and a knife edge on the other side of said pivot, said tooth being adapted to engage said threads on said shaft to provide longitudinal motion of said pole member during rotation of said shaft, said rocker arm being normally biased for engagement of said tooth with said threads; said knife edge being adapted to engage said splines on said shaft to provide rotational motion of said pole member during rotation of said shaft when said pole member is near its full outward extension.

Claim 9

A flag storage and display device according to claim 7 and further including: a support bearing mounted to the inside surface of said tubular member; a thread engaging member mounted within said support bearing and biased inwardly to contact the exterior surface of said pole member; a threaded sleeve disposed adjacent the inward end of said pole member outwardly of said stop member and adapted to be engaged by said thread engaging member when said pole member is near its full outward extension and substantially at the same time said knife edge engages said splines on said shaft.

Claim 10

A flag storage and display device according to claim 6 and further including a cap mounted to the outward end of said pole member and adapted to seal the outward end of said tubular member when said pole member is fully retracted.

Claim 11

A flag storage and display device according to claim 8 and further including: control means for controlling the operation of said motor, said control means including switch means mounted to said tubular member; means for actuation of said switch means when said pole member reaches the end of its longitudinal movement, said actuation means normally being mounted to said pole member.

Claim 12

A flag storage and display device according to claim 1 wherein said shaft means includes a shaft externally threaded over a substantial portion of its length, a shaft end bearing on its outward end and a radially projecting drive key mounted to said shaft for limited longitudinal motion thereon and rotational motion therewith adjacent said shaft end and rearward of said end bearing.

Claim 13

A flag storage and display device according to claim 11 wherein said means for causing longitudinal motion of said pole member include: a nut assembly plate having an interiorly threaded portion for engaging the threaded portion of said shaft, and a yoke portion; and a guide tube longitudinally mounted within said tubular member and adapted to be engaged by a straddling fit thereon of said yoke portion.

Claim 14

A flag storage and display device according to claim 11 wherein said means to provide rotation of said pole member includes a furling lug mounted to the inner surface of said tubular member and adapted to engage said drive key to provide rotation of said pole member when said pole member is near its full outward extension.

Claim 15

A flag storage and display device according to claim 11 and further including: control means for controlling the operation of said motor, said control means including switch means mounted to said tubular member; and means for actuation of said switch means when said pole member reaches the end of its longitudinal movement, said actuation means normally being mounted to said pole member.

Claim 16

A flag storage and display device comprising: a housing adapted to be mounted to a support structure; a hollow tubular member extending outwardly from said housing; a reversible motor within said housing; a pole member coaxially supported within said tubular member and adapted for extension and retraction therefrom and thereinto, and also adapted to retain a flag removably secured adjacent the outward end thereof; first and second interiorly threaded shaft support bearings mounted within said tubular member; a first shaft extending outwardly from and coupled to said motor for rotation thereby, said shaft having exterior longitudinal splines; an exteriorly threaded hollow second shaft coupled to said pole member and having interior splines configured to mate with those of said first shaft for rotation thereby, said exterior threads adapted to engage the interior threads of said support bearings to provide longitudinal motion of said pole member; first and second stop members mounted respectively to the rearward end of said pole member and the rearward end of said threaded shaft; means for controlling operation of said motor, said control means including first and second microswitches mounted to said first and second support bearings respectively, one of said microswitches being adapted to be actuated by one of said stop members at the termination of said outward extension of said pole member, the other Of said microswitches being adapted to be actuated by the other of said stop members at the termination of said inward retraction of said pole member, actuation of said microswitches causing said motor to stop; a generally spherical member on the outward end of said pole member; and a resilient collar on the outward end of said tubular member into which said spherical member is adapted to seat itself at the full retraction of said pole member to provide a weathertight seal.

Claim 17

A flag storage and display device comprising: a housing adapted to be mounted to a support structure; a hollow tubular member extending outwardly from said housing; a reversible motor within said housing; a pole member coaxially supported within said tubular member and adapted for extension and retraction therefrom and thereinto, and also adapted to retain a flag removably secured adjacent the outward end thereof; first and second interiorly threaded shaft support bearings mounted within said tubular member; a first shaft extending outwardly from and coupled to said motor for rotation thereby, said shaft having exterior longitudinal splines; an exteriorly threaded hollow second shaft coupled to said pole member and having interior splines configured to mate with those of said first shaft for rotation thereby, said exterior threads adapted to engage the interior threads of said support bearings to provide longitudinal motion of said pole member; first and second stop members mounted respectively to the rearward end of said pole member and the rearward end of said threaded shaft; means for controlling operation of said motor, said control means including first and second microswitches mounted to said first and second support bearings respectively, one of said microswitches being adapted to be actuated by one of said stop members at the termination of said outward extension of said pole member, the other Of said microswitches being adapted to be actuated by the other of said stop members at the termination of said inward retraction of said pole member, actuation of said microswitches causing said motor to stop; a generally spherical member on the outward end of said pole member; and a resilient collar on the outward end of said tubular member into which said spherical member is adapted to seat itself at the full retraction of said pole member to provide a weathertight seal.

Claim 18

A flag storage and display device comprising: a housing adapted to be mounted to a support structure; a hollow tubular member extending outwardly from said housing; a reversible motor within said housing; a pole member coaxially supported within said tubular member and adapted for extension and retraction therefrom and thereinto, and also adapted to retain a flag removably secured adjacent the outward end thereof; first and second shaft support bearings mounted within said tubular member, said first bearing having an inwardly projecting spring-biased toothed member within it; a stop member mounted on the rearward end of said pole member having within it a pivotally mounted spring-biased rocker arm, said rocker arm having a toothed end and a knife-edged end; an exteriorly threaded sleeve located on said pole member forwardly adjacent said stop member, said threads adapted for engagement with said spring-biased toothed member; a shaft, a relatively short forward portion of its length having exterior splines adapted for engagement by said knife-edged end of said rocker arm to provide rotation of said pole member thereby, a substantial portion of said shaft being exteriorly threaded for engagement with the toothed member of of said first rocker arm, said shaft extending outwardly from said motor and coupled thereto for rotation thereby; means for controlling operation of said motor, said control means including first and second microswitches mounted to said first and second support bearings respectively, one of said microswitches being adapted to be actuated by said stop member at the termination of said outward extension of said pole member, the other of said microswitches being adapted to be actuated by said stop member at the termination of said inward retraction of said pole member, said actuation of said microswitches causing said motor to stop; and a cap member located at the outward end of said pole member and adapted to seal the outward end of said tubular member at the termination of the inward retraction of said pole member to provide a weathertight seal.

Claim 19

A flag storage and display device comprising: a housing adapted to be mounted to a support structure; a hollow tubular member extending outwardly from said housing; a reversible motor within said housing; a pole member coaxially supported within said tubular member and adapted for extension and retraction therefrom and thereinto, and also adapted to retain a flag removably secured adjacent the outward end thereof; first and second shaft support bearings mounted within said tubular member, said first bearing having an inwardly projecting spring-biased toothed member within it; a stop member mounted on the rearward end of said pole member having within it a pivotally mounted spring-biased rocker arm, said rocker arm having a toothed end and a knife-edged end; an exteriorly threaded sleeve located on said pole member forwardly adjacent said stop member, said threads adapted for engagement with said spring-biased toothed member; a shaft, a relatively short forward portion of its length having exterior splines adapted for engagement by said knife-edged end of said rocker arm to provide rotation of said pole member thereby, a substantial portion of said shaft being exteriorly threaded for engagement with the toothed member of of said first rocker arm, said shaft extending outwardly from said motor and coupled thereto for rotation thereby; means for controlling operation of said motor, said control means including first and second microswitches mounted to said first and second support bearings respectively, one of said microswitches being adapted to be actuated by said stop member at the termination of said outward extension of said pole member, the other of said microswitches being adapted to be actuated by said stop member at the termination of said inward retraction of said pole member, said actuation of said microswitches causing said motor to stop; and a cap member located at the outward end of said pole member and adapted to seal the outward end of said tubular member at the termination of the inward retraction of said pole member to provide a weathertight seal.

Claim 20

A flag storage and display device comprising: a housing adapted to be mounted to a support structure; a hollow tubular member extending outwardly from said housing; a reversible motor within said housing; a pole member coaxially supported within said tubular member and adapted for extension and retraction therefrom and thereinto, and also adapted to retain a flag removably secured adjacent the outward end thereof; a first support bearing mounted within said tubular member; control means to operate said motor; a guide tube mounted within said tubular member between said support bearing and said housing; an elongated switch rod housed within said guide tube having an end portion which protrudes through the forward surface of said support bearing and a loop portion which extends through a slot in the outer surface of said guide tube, said switch rod being coupled to said control means for actuation thereof; a second support bearing mounted to said pole member outward of said first support bearing and adapted to engage the end portion of said switch rod when said pole member reaches the end of its retraction motion; a nut assembly plate mounted to the inward end of said pole member, said plate having interior threads and having a yoke portion adaptable for straddling engagement of said guide tube during extension and retracTion of said pole member, said yoke portion being adapted also to engage said loop portion of said switch rod at the end of said pole member''s outward extension; a shaft, a substantial portion of which is exteriorly threaded, extending outwardly from and coupled to said motor for rotation thereby, said shaft being adapted to engage the threads of said nut assembly plate to provide longitudinal motion of said pole member upon rotation of said shaft, said shaft also having an end bearing disposed on the forward end thereof, a spring rearwardly adjacent said end bearing and a drive key radially projecting from said shaft for rotation therewith and for limited longitudinal motion thereon; a furling lug mounted to the inner surface of said pole member and adapted to engage said drive key to provide rotation of said pole member when said pole member is near its full outward extension; and a cap member located at the outward end of said pole member and adapted to seal the outward end of said tubular member at the termination of said inward retraction of said pole member to provide a weathertight seal.

Claim 21

A flag storage and display device comprising: a housing adapted to be mounted to a support structure; a hollow tubular member extending outwardly from said housing; a reversible motor within said housing; a pole member coaxially supported within said tubular member and adapted for extension and retraction therefrom and thereinto, and also adapted to retain a flag removably secured adjacent the outward end thereof; a first support bearing mounted within said tubular member; control means to operate said motor; a guide tube mounted within said tubular member between said support bearing and said housing; an elongated switch rod housed within said guide tube having an end portion which protrudes through the forward surface of said support bearing and a loop portion which extends through a slot in the outer surface of said guide tube, said switch rod being coupled to said control means for actuation thereof; a second support bearing mounted to said pole member outward of said first support bearing and adapted to engage the end portion of said switch rod when said pole member reaches the end of its retraction motion; a nut assembly plate mounted to the inward end of said pole member, said plate having interior threads and having a yoke portion adaptable for straddling engagement of said guide tube during extension and retracTion of said pole member, said yoke portion being adapted also to engage said loop portion of said switch rod at the end of said pole member''s outward extension; a shaft, a substantial portion of which is exteriorly threaded, extending outwardly from and coupled to said motor for rotation thereby, said shaft being adapted to engage the threads of said nut assembly plate to provide longitudinal motion of said pole member upon rotation of said shaft, said shaft also having an end bearing disposed on the forward end thereof, a spring rearwardly adjacent said end bearing and a drive key radially projecting from said shaft for rotation therewith and for limited longitudinal motion thereon; a furling lug mounted to the inner surface of said pole member and adapted to engage said drive key to provide rotation of said pole member when said pole member is near its full outward extension; and a cap member located at the outward end of said pole member and adapted to seal the outward end of said tubular member at the termination of said inward retraction of said pole member to provide a weathertight seal.