WO2000041160A1 - Decorative flag with movable element - Google Patents

Abstract

A decorative flag (10) has a cut-out area (16) and a rotation element (20) suspended therein so that when under the influence of wind, the rotation element (20) spins relative to the flag (10) within the perimeter (18) of the cut-out (16). The flag (10) is weighted along a portion of its edge so that the flag (10) resists flapping when under the influence of wind and, therefore, resists furling around a flagpole (34a) and, therefore, also prevents fouling of the rotational element (22).

Description

DECORATIVE FLAG WITH MOVABLE ELEMENT

Field of the Invention

This present invention relates to decorative flags, and

more particularly to a decorative flag with a wind responsive

element.

Background of the Invention

Flags, generally speaking, have been known and

flown for centuries, whether they have depicted a geopolitical seal,

a sports team logo, an advertisement, or whether the flag is the

traditional and well known white flag of surrender. Traditional

planar flags have depicted virtually any motif that one can imagine.

A blank sheet of material has represented a tab/a rasa for a flag

designer's imagination.

Especially in residential areas, it has become

increasingly popular to own a selection of decorative flags to

display at various times of the year in support of a favorite sports team, to celebrate holidays, or simply to display whimsical

seasonal decoration. Flags such as these are often mounted on

flagpoles that are affixed to, for instance, a front porch support

column or a house's outer wall.

Flags have not been limited to construction from solid

sheets of fabric. They have also been constructed with holes

within their outer perimeter in order to allow wind to blow through

the flag. These holes not only have function to help prevent flag

edges from fraying, but they have also helped define designs of

integral construction with the portion of the flag forming the flag's

outer perimeter, thus creating a static silhouette.

In addition to decorative flags, which are generally

planar in construction, other three dimensional decorative articles

are also popular, such as wind chimes and wind socks. Some

three dimension articles respond to wind, for instance, by making

noise or moving back and forth. However, such articles do not

seem to enjoy the same degree of popularity as decorative flags,

perhaps because the shape and the bright colors of decorative

flags enable them to be seen at greater distances. Also, flags tend

to be less expensive than these other articles, and therefore there

is a greater tendency for someone to buy an assortment of flags to commemorate different seasons of the year or events associated

with different times of the year. In other words, decorative flags

have a greater degree of aesthetic versatility, due primarily to their

flat cloth construction, their bright colors and their relatively low

cost.

Summary of the Invention

It is an objective of this invention to further enhance

the aesthetic appeal of decorative flags, by making them more

responsive to wind.

It is another objective of this invention to incorporate

into a decorative flag some of the aesthetic benefits of three

dimensional non-flag articles, but without adversely affecting the

other benefits typical of decorative flags, such as relatively low

cost, bright colors, aesthetic versatility, and ease in storing.

The present invention achieves the above-stated

objectives with a flag in which a separate decorative element is

rotatably supported within a cut-out area defined within the flag.

In response to wind, the separate element may rotate with respect

to the flag. The decorative element may be flat or three

dimensional. Thus, this invention incorporates wind-

responsiveness into a decorative flag, but in a manner that maintains and does not detract from the other well-recognized

benefits of decorative flags.

According to a preferred embodiment, the present

invention contemplates a decorative flag made of substantially

planar fabric that has one or more cut-out areas defined within the

flag's perimeter, this cut-out area capturing a separate decorative

element that is movably, e.g., rotatably, connected to or

suspended from the perimeter of the flag's cut-out area. When

under the influence of wind, the separate element moves, e.g.,

rotates within the cut-out area's perimeter and separately from the

movement of the flag's perimeter. In order to make best use of

the wind's influence upon the flag, the flag is hung along a top

edge and weighted along at least a portion of its bottom edge so

as to attempt to minimize furling and, therefore, fouling and

impairment of the rotation capability of the separate spinning

element. In other words, the flag preferably is weighted so that

when the wind blows, the flag is less apt to furl around a flagpole,

and thereby is less apt to snarl the separate rotatable element so

as to prevent it from spinning within the perimeter of the cut-out

area. The range of aesthetic possibilities afforded to the

spinable element is limited only to the bounds of one's imagination.

For instance, a "baseball" design could be affixed within the cut¬

out area's perimeter to spin during baseball season or a "balloon"

design could be affixed to spin within the cut-out area to celebrate

a birthday. Either of the two examples of rotational elements

mentioned above may be of substantially planar configuration or

may take the relative shape of the object it is intended to mimic,

so long as the outer circumference fits inside and freely rotates

within the cut out area.

The features and objectives of the present invention

will become readily apparent from the detailed description taken in

conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawing

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a decorative flag

constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the

invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a decorative flag,

similar to Fig. 1 , showing a variation of the preferred embodiment

of the invention. Fig. 3 is a blown up view of a relative motion

connector used to connect the decorative element to the flag in

accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description of The Preferred Embodiment

Figs. 1 and 2 each show a flag 10 according to the

present invention. Fig. 1 shows a first preferred embodiment of

the invention and Fig. 2 shows a variation. The flag 10 has a

substantially planar cloth (natural or synthetic) body 1 2 with an

outside perimeter 14. The body 1 2 of the flag 10 defines a cut-

out area 1 6 having at least one cut-out perimeter 1 8. Within the

cut-out perimeter 1 8 is suspended a rotational decorative element,

designated generally by reference numeral 20. While Fig. 1 shows

a substantially planar rotational decorative element 20a, it will be

understood that either a substantially planar rotational element 20a

or a substantially non-planar, e.g., three dimensional, rotational

decorative element 20b (Fig. 2) of any desired configuration can be

suspended within the perimeter 1 8 of the cut-out area 1 6. Other

than the decorative elements 20a and 20b, Figs 1 and 2 are

identical, and like numbers refer to like elements. Fig. 1 shows the decorative element 20a suspended

within the perimeter 18 of the cut-out area 1 6 by at least one

relative motion connector, preferably a pair of spinners 22

connecting opposite ends of the rotational elements 20a or 20b to

the cut-out perimeter 18, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, respectively.

Fig. 3 shows the spinner in greater detail. The spinner 22 has a

first outer cut-out tab 22a that is received within cut-out

sleeve 30a in the flag body 1 2, and is secured therein by cut-out

stitching 32a. Similarly, a second inner cut-out T-shaped tab 22b

is received within a cut-out sleeve 30b in the rotational element

20a, and is secured therein by cut-out stitching 32b.

When under the influence of wind, the rotational

element 20a spins relative to the flag body 1 2 on a spinner

bearing 24. The spinner bearing 24 has a first bearing body 24a

and a second bearing body 24b that are rotatably connected to

one another. The spinner bearing 24 is attached to the first cut¬

out T-shaped tab 22a and second cut-out T-shaped tab 22b by

first and second leaders 26a, 26b. The first leader 26a is attached

to the first bearing body 24a and looped through a first tab

hole 28a defined in the cut-out tab 22a. Similarly, the second

leader 26b is attached to the second bearing body 24b and looped through a second tab hole 28b defined in the cut-out tab 22b.

Thus, the rotational element 20a may move, e.g., rotate, relative

to the flag body 12. This rotation is made possible because the

spinner bearing 24 has first bearing body 24a rotationally attached

to second bearing body 24b, which are in turn attached to the cut¬

out tab 22a and cut-out tab 22b, respectively, which are in turn

held to the flag body 1 2 and the rotational element 20a,

respectively.

In the preferred embodiment, the flag 10 hangs

generally downwardly from a substantially horizontal support, e.g.,

a flagpole 34a, and has a top edge portion of its perimeter 14

folded back upon itself and secured so as to form an upper

sleeve 34 receivable upon the flagpole 34a. It will be appreciated

to those skilled in the art that it is not necessary for the flagpole

34a to hang in horizontal orientation. It could hang at an angle

other than horizontal, preferably with the sleeve 34 oriented at a

corresponding angle so that when received upon the angled pole

34a the bottom edge of the flag 1 2 will hang generally plumb to

the ground (not shown). Also in the preferred embodiment, a

bottom edge portion of the flag perimeter 14 is folded back upon

itself and secured so as to create a lower sleeve, or seam 36 that receives a dowel 38 that weights a lower portion of the flag

perimeter 14.

When hung in the wind, shown schematically with

directional arrow 40, it can be seen that while a portion of the

wind 40a passes unobstructed around the flag perimeter 14 and

through the cut-out area 1 6, another portion of the wind 40b

encounters the flag body 1 2 and rotational element 20a. When

the wind portion 40b strikes the flag body 1 2, the dowel 38

received within the seam 36 partially neutralizes the flapping

motion that the flag 10 would be subject to without the dowel 38

weighting the flag 10.

When the rotational element 20a is struck by the

wind 40b, the spinner 22 allows the force of the wind 40b to spin

the rotational element 20a in either direction relative to the flag 1 2.

In Fig. 1 , the direction of rotation is depicted by rotational

arrow 42. Rotation does not wind-up the first and second

leaders 26a, 26b because the first bearing body 24a and second

bearing body 24b rotate relative to each other. Those skilled in

the art will appreciate that the rotational element 20a may be

configured so that the wind 40b encountering the rotational

element 20a would cause the rotational element 20a to rotate in an opposite direction; and further that various types of relative

motion connectors could be used. Also, those skilled in the art will

appreciate that while a single cut-out area 16 is shown in the

figures, the flag 10 could have plural cut-out areas 16 each

suspending therein rotational elements 20a having either the same

or different designs.

From the above disclosure of the general structure of

the present invention and the preceding summary of the preferred

embodiment, those skilled in the art will readily comprehend the

various modifications to which the present invention is susceptible.

Therefore, inventors desire to be limited only by the scope of the

following claims.

We claim:

Claims

1 . A flag, comprising:

a flag body having at least one cut-out area,

at least one decorative element connected to said flag

body so that said element spans a portion of said cut-out area, and

at least one relative motion connector by which said

decorative element is attached to said flag body, said connector

permitting movement of said decorative element within said cut¬

out area relative to said flag body without said flag body

substantially interfering with said decorative element's movement.

2. The flag of Claim 1 , wherein said flag body is

substantially planar.

3. The flag of Claim 1 or 2, wherein said flag body is

made from cloth.

4. The flag of any of Claims 1 -3, wherein said decorative

element is substantially planar.

5. The flag of any of Claims 1 -3, wherein said decorative

element is substantially non-planar.

6. The flag of any of Claims 1 -5, said relative motion

connector comprising:

a spinner that permits said decorative element to

rotate relative to said flag.

7. The flag of Claim 6, said flag further comprising :

a pair of relative motion connectors located on

opposite ands of the decorative element, each relative motion

connector including a spinner.

8. The flag of any of Claims 1 -7, said flag comprising:

a seam formed by a bottom edge portion of said flag

folded back upon itself, and

a dowel received within said seam to weight said flag

so the flag resists furling when under the influence of wind.

9. A flag, comprising:

a flagpole;

a planar flag body hanging generally downwardly from

said pole, said flag body defining at least one cut-out area,

at least one decorative element connected to said flag

body so that said element spans a portion of said cut-out area,

at least one relative motion connector by which said

decorative element is attached to said flag body, said relative

motion connector permitting rotational movement of said

decorative element within said cut-out area relative to said flag

body without said flag body substantially interfering with said

decorative element's movement, and

a sleeve along an upper edge of the flag body for

hanging the flag body from the flagpole.

10. The flag of Claim 9, wherein said decorative element

is substantially planar.

1 1 . The flag of Claim 9, wherein said decorative element

is substantially non-planar.

1 2. The flag of any one of Claims 9-1 1 , said relative

motion connector comprising:

a spinner that permits said decorative element to

rotate relative to said flag.

1 3. The flag of any one of Claims 9-1 2, wherein said

flagpole is oriented horizontally.

14. The flag of any one of Claims 9-1 3, wherein said

sleeve is oriented horizontally.

1 5. A flag, comprising:

a planar flag having at least one cut-out area,

at least one decorative element connected to said flag

body so that said element spans a portion of said cut-out area,

at least one relative motion connector by which said

decorative element is attached to said flag body, said connector

permitting movement of said decorative element within said cut¬

out area relative to said flag body without said flag body

substantially interfering with said decorative element's movement,

a lower sleeve formed in a bottom edge portion of

said flag, and

a dowel received within said lower sleeve to weight

said flag so the flag resists furling when under the influence of

wind.

1 6. The flag of Claim 1 5, wherein said decorative element

is substantially planar.

1 7. The flag of Claim 1 5, wherein said decorative element

is substantially non-planar.

1 8. The flag of any one of Claims 1 5-1 7, said relative

motion connector comprising :

a pair of spaced spinners located on opposite ends of

the at least one decorative element, thereby to permit said

decorative element to rotate relative to said flag.