WO2008153305A1

WO2008153305A1 - Automatic flag hoisting device

Info

Publication number: WO2008153305A1
Application number: PCT/KR2008/003241
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hyung Jun Kim
Original assignee: Hyung Jun Kim
Priority date: 2007-06-11
Filing date: 2008-06-11
Publication date: 2008-12-18
Also published as: KR200438726Y1

Abstract

Provided is an automatic flag hoisting device, which includes: a flagpole that is fixed so that a flag such as a national flag, a group flag, and an event flag flutters; a storage portion including a chamber where the plurality of fixed shafts are fixed to keep the flagpole in custody, and an entrance having a door; a flagpole drive including a drive motor, and a plurality of link members which are connected with the lower portion of the flagpole; and a control unit having a controller in which particular dates are set in the controller to hoist the flag.

Description

AUTOMATIC FLAG HOISTING DEVICE

Technical Field The present invention relates to an automatic flag hoisting device.

Background Art

In general, there are flags of several forms such as national flags, group flags, and event flags in which characters, pictures, colors are put on a piece of cloth or paper, to thereby symbolize a certain meaning.

These flags are flying at general homes as well as public offices and main roads, on national holidays or in the case that events are held.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a conventional flag hoisting device which is installed in a pillar. As shown, a flag fixing rod 3 is slantingly formed on a support plate 1 which is attached on a street lamp pillar

10. A flagpole 4 is inserted into the flag fixing rod 3 and then fixed to the flag fixing rod 3 by a clamping bolt (not shown).

However, in the case of such a conventional flag hoisting device, a flagpole where a flag has been installed should be inserted into a flag fixing rod in order to hoist the flag, and the flagpole should be taken away from the flag fixing rod in a reverse order to the flag hoisting process in order to drop the flag. That is, it is inconvenient to combine the flagpole with the flag fixing rod and separate the former from the latter in order to hoist and drop the flag in the conventional flag hoisting device. Such a conventional flag hoisting and dropping process is much troublesome at general homes and requires for a prudent attention. Accordingly, hailing about flag hoisting is gradually fallen.

In addition, to fly national flags on street lamp pillars of a main road or roadside to celebrate an event, employees of public offices go out in spot and hang up the flags on the street lamp pillars one by one, and then hang down the flags if the event is ended. Accordingly, it is burdensome to hang up and down flags since tremendous expense and time as well as excessive manpower are consumed.

Disclosure of the Invention To solve the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic flag hoisting device in which a flagpole is rotatably combined with a fixed shaft formed in the inner portion of a housing in the automatic flag hoisting device, and the lower portion of the flagpole is connected with a link combined with a drive motor, to thereby make the flagpole enter and exit from the inside of the housing to the outside therof y the link due to driving of the drive motor, and to thus make flag hoisting conveniently performed to accordingly minimize manpower cost.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an automatic flag hoisting device in which a drive motor is automatically driven at preset dates to fly a flag.

To accomplish the above objects of the present invention, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic flag hoisting device, comprising: a flagpole that is fixed so that a flag such as a national flag, a group flag, and an event flag flutters, in which the lower portion of the flagpole is formed so as to rotate with respect to a plurality of fixed shafts; a storage portion including a chamber where the plurality of fixed shafts are fixed to keep the flagpole in custody in which the chamber is formed in the inside of a housing which is installed in a pillar, and an entrance having a door which is opened and closed so that the flagpole rotates around the fixed shafts to then enter and exit the entrance, in which the entrance is formed in the front surface of the housing; a flagpole drive including a drive motor which is formed at the lower part of the chamber in the storage portion, a plurality of link members which are connected with the lower portion of the flagpole, in which the plurality of link members are formed in the drive motor, so that the plurality of link members are rotated by drive of the drive motor to thus make the flagpole rotate around the fixed shafts, and then enter and exit the entrance; and a control unit having a controller which is provided at one side of the housing in the storage portion, in which particular dates are set in the controller to hoist the flag. ^;

Preferably but not necessarily, the housing in the storage portion comprises: a fixing band which is formed at the back of the housing so as to be fixed to the pillar; a fixing ring which is formed at the end of one side of the fixing band which is partitioned into two sides; and a locking body having a locking ring which locks the fixing ring in which the locking body is formed at the end of the other side of the fixing band, so that the locking ring is fixed to and locked with the fixing ring to thus make the housing installed and fixed to the pillar by pressurization of the locking body.

Preferably but not necessarily, the door in the storage portion comprises: guide grooves which are respectively formed at the upper and lower portions of the housing to guide the door in which the upper and lower portions of the door are inserted into the upper and lower portions of the housing, respectively; and a wire which is formed at both sides of the upper portion of the door, and wherein the ends of the wire are combined with a winding roller which is combined with an opening and closing motor which rotates forwards and backwards, so as to be wound around the winding roller, in which the wire is wound around the winding roller by drive of the opening and closing motor and the door is guided along the guide grooves to then be opened or closed so that the entrance is opened or closed.

Preferably but not necessarily, an installation groove is formed at one side of the outer circumference of the pillar in correspondence to the housing in which the housing in the storage portion is installed in the installation groove, to thereby prevent the housing from being protruded externally from the pillar.

Preferably but not necessarily, the controller in the control unit comprises: a timer which sets particular dates so that the flagpole kept in custody in the chamber of the housing in the storage portion enters and exits the entrance at the respective particular dates so as to be hoisted; a circuit that drives the opening and closing motor that opens or closes the door in a forward direction, by operation of the timer; an opening proximity sensor which detects completion of the opening of the door to thus make the opening and closing motor stop; a circuit that drives the drive motor in a forward direction, so that a flag is hoisted after the door has been completely opened; a circuit that drives the opening and closing motor and the drive motor in a backward direction, respectively, so that the hoisted flagpole enters the chamber after sunset; and a closing proximity sensor that detects closing of the door after the flagpole has been dropped. Brief Description of the Drawings

The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing the preferred embodiments thereof in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a conventional flag hoisting device which is installed in a pillar;

FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view schematically showing a state where a flag is hoisted in a housing of an automatic flag hoisting device according to the present invention; FIG. 3 is a partially exploded perspective view schematically showing a state where a flag is hoisted in a chamber in a housing of an automatic flag hoisting device according to the present invention;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspective views schematically showing an operational state of a drive motor of an automatic flag hoisting device according to the present invention, in which FIG. 4A shows a state where a flagpole is kept in the inside of the chamber of the housing and FIG. 4B shows a state where the flagpole is exposed externally from the chamber and hoisted by link members which are connected by driving of drive motor;

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a fixing unit of an automatic flag hoisting device according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view schematically showing a state where an automatic flag hoisting device according to the present invention has been installed on the outer circumferential surface of a pillar; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view schematically showing a state where an automatic flag hoisting device according to the present invention has been installed into the inside of a pillar.

Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention The above and/or other objects and/or advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by the following description. Hereinbelow, an automatic flag hoisting device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing. First, like reference numerals denote like components or parts in the drawings. In order to avoid unambiguity in describing the present invention, the specific description of the relevant known functions or structures will be omitted.

FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view schematically showing a state where a flag is hoisted in a housing of an automatic flag hoisting device according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a partially exploded perspective view schematically showing a state where a flag is hoisted in a chamber in a housing of an automatic flag hoisting device according to the present invention. FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspective views schematically showing an operational state of a drive motor of an automatic flag hoisting device according to the present invention, in which FIG. 4A shows a state where a flagpole is kept in the inside of the chamber of the housing and FIG. 4B shows a state where the flagpole is exposed externally from the chamber and hoisted by link members which are connected by driving of drive motor. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a fixing unit of an automatic flag hoisting device according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view schematically showing a state where an automatic flag hoisting device according to the present invention has been installed on the outer circumferential surface of a pillar. FIG. 7 is a perspective view schematically showing a state where an automatic flag hoisting device according to the present invention has been installed into the inside of a pillar. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 7, an automatic flag hoisting device 100 according to this invention includes: a flagpole 120 where a flag is installed; a storage portion 130 in which a housing 131 is formed to store the flagpole 120; a flagpole drive 140 having a drive motor 142 which is driven to make the flagpole 120 kept in the storage portion 130 enter or exit the storage portion 130; and a control unit 150 which is provided at one side of the housing 131 in the storage portion 130 and controls the drive motor 142 according to preset specific dates such as national holidays.

Here, the flag may be flags of several forms that symbolize countries, groups, events, etc. The flagpole 120 of the automatic flag hoisting device 100 is formed in a plurality of fixed shafts 122, respectively. One end of the national flag, the event flag, the group flag, etc., is fixed to the upper side of the flagpole 120 so as to flutter.

In addition, a pivot hole 121 of a throughhole form is formed to penetrate the lower portion of the flagpole 120, and is formed rotatably with respect to the fixed shaft 122.

Here, the fixed shaft 122 may be formed in a smoothly curved line form or horizontally in a straightforward line.

Moreover, it is desirable to manufacture the flagpole 120 using Poly Ethylene Terephthalate (PET) whose life-time is long and manufacturing cost is inexpensive.

The storage portion 130 in the automatic flag hoisting device 100 includes: a housing 131 having a chamber 132 that stores the flagpole 120; and a door 136 that opens or closes the chamber 132 of the housing 131. The housing 131 of the storage portion 130 is fixedly installed on the pillar 110 and includes a plurality of fixed shafts 122 with which the respective flagpoles 120 are fixed. Here, the plurality of fixed shafts 122 are formed in the lower-inner portion of the chamber 132 at predetermined intervals.

Furthermore, an entrance 133 having a door 136 is formed in the front portion of the housing 131, so that the flagpole 120 is pivoted around the fixed shaft 122 and thus enters or exits the entrance 133 in communication with the chamber 132.

In addition, a fixing band 135 is formed on the back of the housing 131. * Accordingly, the housing 131 can be installed on and fixed to the pillar 110. Here, a fixing ring 135a is formed at the end of one side of the fixing band 135 which is partitioned into two sides, and a locking body 135b having a rotatable locking ring 135c which locks the fixing ring 135a is hinge-combined with the end of the other side of the fixing band 135.

Moreover, an installation groove 111 is formed at one side of the outer circumference of the pillar 110 in correspondence to the housing 131 in which the housing 131 in the storage portion 130 is installed in the installation groove

111, to thereby prevent the housing 131 from being protruded externally from the pillar 110.

The door 136 in the storage portion 130 is formed of a soft flexible form and includes guide grooves 134 which are respectively formed at the upper and lower portions of the housing 131 in which the upper and lower portions of the door 136 are inserted into the upper and lower portions of the housing 131, respectively, so that the door 136 is slid along the guide grooves 134.

In addition, a wire 137 is formed at both sides of the upper portion of the door 136, and the ends of the wire 137 are wound around a winding roller 138 which is combined with an opening and closing motor 139 which rotates forwards and backwards.

Here, the ends of the wire 137 are wound around the winding roller 138 in a reverse direction mutually. Accordingly, the door 136 is opened and closed according to the rotational direction of the opening and closing motor 139 so that the entrance 133 is opened or closed.

The flagpole drive 140 of the automatic flag hoisting device 100 includes: a drive motor 142 which is formed in the inside of the chamber 132 of the storage portion 130; and link members 141 which are combined with the drive motor 142.

The drive motor 142 of the flagpole drive 140 is driven to rotate forward and backward. The drive motor 142 is formed in a lower-inner space of the chamber 132. If the fixed shaft 122 is formed in a curved line form, the drive motor 142 is formed along the curved line. Meanwhile, if the fixed shaft 122 is horizontally formed in a straight line form, the drive motor 142 is formed along the straight line.

In addition, the drive motor 142 is driven by an external power supply, in which a driving shaft 142a is formed in a polygonal shape.

The link members 141 of the flagpole drive 140 includes a first link 141a which is fixed to the drive shaft 142a of the drive motor 142, and a second link 141b whose one side is fixed to the first link 141a and whose other side is combined with the lower portion of the flagpole 120.

The first link 141a of the link members 141 is configured to have a pivot hole 121 opposing the driving shaft 142a penetrated at the end of one side of the first link 141a so as to be fixed to the driving shaft 142a, in which the driving shaft 142a is formed into a predetermined length to simultaneously rotate along the rotational direction of the driving shaft 142a.

The second link 141b of the link members 141 is formed longer than length of the first link 141a, in which the end of one side of the second link 141b is rotatably combined with the end of the other side of the first link 141a and the end of the other side of the second link 141b is rotatably combined with the lower portion of the flagpole 120.

. Here, the link members 141 and the flagpole 120 are combined with each other at right angle since the flagpole 120 is made to rotate around the fixed shaft 122 in the direction of the link members 141.

The lower portion of the flagpole 120 is located in the front portion of the fixed shaft 122 at a state where the first link 141a and the second link 141b are overlapped each other, so as to be stored in the chamber 132 of the housing 131. Meanwhile, the flagpole 120 is located in the rear portion of the fixed shaft 122 at a state where the first link 141a and the second link 141b are outspread with respect to each other, so as to be exposed through the entrance 133 to thus fly the flag.

The control unit 150 of the automatic flag hoisting device 100 includes a controller 151 which is installed at one side of the housing 131 in which specified dates at which flags are flied may be set by users. The controller 151 includes a timer 152 which sets specified dates and a circuit which drives the opening and closing motor 139 in a forward direction in order to open the door 136 by action of the timer 152.

In addition, the controller 151 includes a circuit which drives the drive motor 142 in a forward direction to thus make the flag fly, and a circuit which drives the opening and closing motor 139 and the drive motor 142 in a backward direction to thus make the flagpole 120 enter the inside of the chamber 132 after sunset and to thereby drop the flag.

The controller 151 also includes an opening proximity sensor 153 which detects completion of the opening of the door 136 by the driving of the opening and closing motor 139 to thus make the opening and closing motor 139 stop, and a closing proximity sensor 154 that detects closing of the door 136 after the flagpole 120 has been dropped.

Meanwhile, the control unit 150 is connected with an external electric power source, a battery unit, a solar collector, etc., to receive electric power.

The function of the automatic flag hoisting device according to the present invention will follow.

First, it is desirable to set specified dates for flying flags in the controller 151 of the control unit 150. The housing 131 of the storage portion 130 is installed on the pillar 110.

For this purpose, the back surface of the housing 131 is closely attached to the outer circumference of the pillar 110 so that the housing 131 of the storage portion 130 can be fixed on the pillar 110, and then the locking ring 135c of the fixing band 135 is combined and locked with the fixing ring 135a. In addition, the locking body 135b is pressurized in the opposite direction that locking ring 135c has been locked with the locking body 135b and thus the divided sides of the fixing band 135 approach to thus surround and stick to the outer circumference of the pillar 110. Accordingly, the housing 131 is fixed to the pillar 110 and thus the housing 131 of the storage portion 130 is installed on the pillar 110.

Meanwhile, when an installation groove 111 is formed in the pillar 110, the housing 131 is installed in the inside of the installation groove 111, to accordingly avoid the housing 131 from being projected to the outside of the pillar 110. To fly a flag at a state where the housing 131 is placed to the pillar 110, ^• the opening and closing motor 139 is driven in a forward direction to open the door 136 at a specified date confirmed by the timer 152 of the controller 151. In this case, the controller 151 applies a driving signal to a circuit for driving the opening and closing motor 139 in a forward direction. In this manner, if the controller 151 applies a driving signal to a circuit for driving the opening and closing motor 139 in a forward direction, the opening and closing motor 139 is made to rotate in a forward direction, and simultaneously the winding roller 138 is also made to rotate. According to rotation of the winding roller 138, one side of the wire 137 which is formed at both sides of the upper portion of the door 136 is released, and the other side of the wire 137 is wound. Accordingly, the door 136 is guided along the guide groove 134 and is opened, to thus make the entrance 133 opened.

The opening and closing proximity sensor 153 senses completion of opening of the door 136. Then, the controller 151 applies a driving signal to the circuit that drives the drive motor 142 in a forward direction, in order to fly the flag after the door 136 has been completely opened.

Like this, if the forward driving signal is applied to the drive motor 142, the driving shaft 142a is made to rotate, and the first link 141a of the link members 141 that are overlapped over each other is also made to rotate in a forward direction.

Here, as the first link 141a is made to rotate, the second link 141b is also made to operate. In this case, the lower part of the flagpole 120 located in the front portion of the fixed shaft 122 moves to the rear portion of the fixed shaft 122, by the second link 141b, and simultaneously the upper portion of the flagpole 120 is made to rotate around the fixed shaft 122. Accordingly, the flagpole 120 which has been kept in the housing 131 of the storage portion 130 is exposed to the outside through the entrance 133, to thus fly the flag.

To drop the hoisted flag and then keep the flag in the housing 131 of the storage portion 130, that is, to drop the hoisted flag at a sunset time measured by the timer 152 of the controller 151 in the control unit 150 and then keep the dropped flag in the chamber 132 of the housing 131 in the storage portion 130, a backward driving signal is applied to the opening and closing motor 139 and the drive motor 142, respectively, through a circuit that drives the opening and closing motor 139 and the drive motor 142 in a backward direction. First, if a backward driving signal is applied to the drive motor 142 through the circuit that drives the drive motor 142 in a backward direction, in a reverse order to that of the flag hoisting order, the fixed shaft 122 is made to rotate backward, and simultaneously the first link 141a of the link members 141 is also made to rotate backward. In addition, the second link 141b moves from the rear portion of the fixed shaft 122 to the front portion thereof by the backward rotating first link 141a, and simultaneously the lower part of the flagpole 120 located in the rear portion of the fixed shaft 122 moves to the front portion of the fixed shaft 122.

Accordingly, the upper portion of the flagpole 120 is made to rotate around the fixed shaft 122, and simultaneously the flagpole 120 is restored into the

- chamber 132 through the entrance 133, to thus drop the flag.

Here, if the flag is dropped, a backward driving signal is applied to the opening and closing motor 139 through a circuit that drives the opening and closing motor 139 in a backward direction. Accordingly, the opening and closing motor 139 is made to rotate backward, and the winding roller 138 is also made to rotate backward, to thereby make the released one side of the wire 137 wound and the wound other side of the wire released. As a result, the opened dooπ. 136 is guided along the guide groove 134 to simultaneously close the , opened entrance 133 and store the flag in the chamber 132 of the housing 131. As described above, the automatic flag hoisting device according to the present invention makes the flagpole enter and exit the housing, and makes the flagpole drive automatically operate at a specified date for hoisting a flag by a control unit having a controller in which the specified date for hoisting a flag is set, to thereby provide an effect of reducing waste of manpower and time and saving expenses.

The automatic flag hoisting device according to the present invention can perform a flag hoisting and dropping work conveniently and quickly. Since a flag is stored in the chamber if it is not necessary to hoist the flag, an effect of preventing the flag from being damaged is provided. The automatic flag hoisting device according to the present invention can withdraw and hoist a flag such as a national flag, a group flag, and an event flag from the inner portion of the chamber to the outside of the chamber at a state where the flag is accommodated in the chamber, to accordingly provide an effect of remarkably increasing convenience in use. When a number of flags are hoisted in apartment houses, big buildings, or pillars, using the automatic flag hoisting device according to the present invention, a number of flagpoles are formed in the fixed shaft, to thus hoist or drop a number of the flags simultaneously, and thus provide an effect of inculcating patriotism, provincialism, and interests about various kinds of events.

The housing of the automatic flag hoisting device according to the present invention may be installed in an installation groove which is formed in a pillar, so that the housing is not exposed to the outside. Thus, damage of the housing due to vehicles can be prevented. As described above, the present invention has been described with respect to particularly preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and it is possible for one who has an ordinary skill in the art to make various modifications and variations, without departing off the spirit of the present invention. Thus, the protective scope of the present invention is not defined within the detailed description thereof but is defined by the claims to be described later and the technical spirit of the present invention. Industrial Applicability

As described above, the present invention provides an automatic flag hoisting device for use in homes, buildings, schools, pillars, etc., which need to fly flags, respectively.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic flag hoisting device, comprising: a flagpole (120) that is fixed so that a flag such as a national flag, a group flag, and an event flag flutters, in which the lower portion of the flagpole is formed so as to rotate with respect to a plurality of fixed shafts (122); a storage portion (130) including a chamber (132) where the plurality of fixed shafts (122) are fixed to keep the flagpole (120) in custody in which the chamber (132) is formed in the inside of a housing (131) which is installed in a pillar (110), and an entrance (133) having a door (136) which is opened and closed so that the flagpole (120) rotates around the fixed shafts (122) to then enter and exit the entrance (133), in which the entrance (133) is formed in the front surface of the housing (131); a flagpole drive (140) including a drive motor (142) which is formed at ' the lower part of the chamber (132) in the storage portion (130), and a plurality of link members (141) which are connected with the lower portion of the flagpole (120), in which the plurality of link members (141) are formed in the drive motor (142), so that the plurality of link members (141) are rotated by drive of the drive motor (142) to thus make the flagpole (120) rotate around the fixed shafts (122), and then enter and exit the entrance (133); and a control unit (150) having a controller (151) which is provided at one side of the housing (131) in the storage portion (130), in which particular dates are set in the controller (151) to hoist the flag.

2. The automatic flag hoisting device according to claim 1, wherein the housing (131) in the storage portion (130) comprises: a fixing band (135) which is formed at the back of the housing (131) so as to be fixed to the pillar (110); a fixing ring (135a) which is formed at the end of one side of the fixing band (135) which is partitioned into two sides; and a locking body (135b) having a locking ring (135c) which locks the fixing ring (135a) in which the locking body (135b) is formed at the end of the other side of the fixing band (135), so that the locking

^• ring (135c) is fixed to and locked with the fixing ring (135a) to thus make the housing (131) installed and fixed to the pillar (110) by pressurization of the locking body (135b).

3. The automatic flag hoisting device according to claim 1, wherein the door (136) in the storage portion (130) comprises: guide grooves (134) which are respectively formed at the upper and - lower portions of the housing (131) to guide the door (136) in which the upper.- and lower portions of the door (136) are inserted into the upper and lower portions of the housing (131), respectively; and a wire (137) which is formed at both sides of the upper portion of the door (136), and wherein the ends of the wire (137) are combined with a winding roller (138) which is combined with an opening and closing motor (139) which rotates forwards and backwards, so as to be wound around the winding roller (138), in which the wire (137) is wound around the winding roller (138) by drive of the opening and closing motor (139) and the door (136) is guided along the guide grooves (134) to then be opened or closed so that the entrance (133) is opened or closed.

4. The automatic flag hoisting device according to claim 1, wherein an installation groove (111) is formed at one side of the outer circumference of the pillar (110) in correspondence to the housing (131) in which the housing (131) in the storage portion (130) is installed in the installation groove (111), to thereby prevent the housing (131) from being protruded externally from the pillar (110).

5. The automatic flag hoisting device according to claim 1, wherein the controller (151) in the control unit (150) comprises: a timer (152) which sets particular dates so that the flagpole (120) kept in custody in the chamber (132) of the housing (131) in the storage portion (130) enters and exits the entrance (133) at the respective particular dates so as to be hoisted; a circuit that drives the opening and closing motor (139) that opens or closes the door (136) in a forward direction, by operation of the timer; an opening proximity sensor (153) which detects completion of the opening of the door (136) to thus make the opening and closing motor (139) stop; a circuit that drives the drive motor (142) in a forward direction, so that a flag is hoisted after the door (136) has been completely opened; a circuit that drives the opening and closing motor (139) and the drive motor (142) in a backward direction, respectively, so that the hoisted flagpole (120) enters the chamber (132) after sunset; and a closing proximity sensor (154) that detects closing of the door (136) after the flagpole (120) has been dropped.