TECHN ICAL FI ELD OF THE I NVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for removably securing a flag to a flag pole which has a top portion provided with a thread , which device comprises a first connecting member provided with a thread configured to be secured to said top portion of the flag pole by engagement with said thread thereof.

Such a device is used to removably secure a flag to a thin flag pole of the type that may be used at a construction site or the like, but such a flag pole common ly used at golf courses may be mentioned as a typical example without restricting the invention thereto. Such a flag pole is provided with a flag of a specific shape or color, depending on the location or use of the flag pole. The flag poles on a golf course may as an example be provided with flags of a specific color or provided with the print of a sponsor logotype during a certain golf tournament, which flags then have to be replaced with flags of another color used during golf practice or the like. BACKGROUND ART

A device of the type defined in the introduction is already known through the document US 2006/0260532 A1 , as an example. Said document discloses a flag and pole assembly, which comprises a flag , a flag pole and a said first connecting member in the form of capping nut. The flag is configured to be slipped over the flag pole which pole is provided with a threaded protrusion extending from a top end thereof. The capping nut has an inner thread configured to be engaged with the threaded protrusion so as to secure the flag to the flag pole by acting as a stop for the flag at the top of said pole.

One problem with such devices already known , through for example said document, is that it is time consuming to replace the flag on the flag pole as this process includes unscrewing the capping nut from the threaded protrusion and then screwing said nut back to said protrusion . A golf course may be provided with numerous of flags and if these are to be replaced often the time it takes to replace each flag has great influence on the total working time that has to be spent by the worker that makes the replacements.

SUM MARY OF THE I NVENTI ON

The object of the present invention is to provide a device of the type defined in the introduction being improved in at least some aspect with respect to such devices already known , through for example said document.

This object is according to the invention obtained by providing such a device with :

• a second connecting member configured to be removably secured to said first connecting member and when secured to the latter act as a stop for a portion of a flag that has been brought over the flag pole and the first connecting member, and

• locking means configured to removably secure the first and second connecting members with respect to each other, which locking means comprises a first locking member arranged on one of the first and second connecting members, and a second locking member arranged on the other connecting member, said first locking member is movable between a locking position in which it is configured to be in locking engagement with the second locking member and a releasing position in which it allows said second connecting member to be removed from the first connecting member, said locking means further comprises biasing means configured to apply a biasing force on said first locking member towards said locking position and to keep it in th is position once obtained , in which said biasing force is to be overcome for transferring the first locking member to said releasing position and allowing removal of the second connecting member from the first connecting member.

Such a device allows quickly replacement of the flag of the flag pole by moving the first locking member to the releasing position and then removing the second connecting member from the first connecting member so as to allow the flag to be removed from the flag pole, and when another flag is brought over the flag pole and the first connecting member securing th is flag by securing the second connecting member to the first connecting member by movement of the first locking member to the locking position by action of said biasing means. Thus, the connection of the device to the flag pole by threaded engagement is taken care of by a said first connecting member which has not to be moved when changing flag but the possible speed of changing flag will solely be dependent upon the construction of said locking means.

According to an embod iment of the invention the locking means is configured to allow securing of the second connecting member to the first connecting member by movement of the second connecting member from above towards the first connecting member in the longitudinal direction of the flag pole to a determined position in which the first and second locking members are mutually aligned in such a way, that the first locking member is allowed to be automatically transferred to said locking position by action of the biasing means. The fact that the first locking member is configured to be automatically transferred to said locking position as the second connecting member is moved towards the first connecting member from above implies that the time that it takes to secure a flag to the flag pole is minimized and that th is procedure requires min imum effort by a user who secures the flag .

According to an embodiment of the invention the biasing means is configured to apply a biasing force on the first locking member such that the latter is configured to be moved between said releasing and locking positions in a direction perpend icular or at least su bstantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the flag pole when the first connecting member is secured to the flag pole. This promote a secure interlocking of the two connecting members in the locking state of the locking means.

According to an embodiment of the invention one of said locking members comprises a projection and the other locking member comprises a recess, into which recess said projection is configured to project when the first locking member is in said locking position to secure the second connecting member to the first connecting member. Such a locking engagement by said locking members is simple and suitable for this purpose.

According to an embodiment of the invention the connecting member with the first locking member has an elongated recess extending at least substantially in the longitud inal direction of the flag pole, the second locking member is a projection extending from a portion of the other connecting member, and said projection of said other connecting member is configured to be inserted in said elongated recess and secured in said recess by engagement with the first locking member when the second connecting member is secured to the first connecting member. The interconnection of the securing members by interaction between said elongated recess and said projection ensures that a steady interconnection of said members may be established . According to an embod iment of the invention the first locking member has an elongated body provided with a through-hole extending perpendicularly or at least substantially perpendicularly to the extension of said body, and said first locking member is arranged in said connecting member with the first locking member to have said through-hole aligned with an opening to said elongated recess when the first locking member is moved against the biasing force of the biasing means to the releasing position , and to have the through-hole located offset with respect to said opening of the elongated recess when the first locking member is moved to the locking position by action of the biasing means.

According to an embodiment of the invention said projection has a top portion defined by a narrower neck portion which top portion has a tapered top end , said tapered end is configured to be inserted in the through-hole of the first locking member when said projection is introduced in said elongated recess and to move the first locking member towards the releasing position as the projection is brought further into the elongated recess, and the first locking member is configured to be snapped to the locking position by action of the biasing means when the entire top portion of the projection is brought through the through-hole of the first locking member and to act as a stop for the top portion of the projection so that said top portion is secured in the elongated recess when the first locking member is in the locking position .

According to an embod iment of the invention said projection is pin-like.

According to an embodiment of the invention the second connecting member comprises said first locking member and the first connecting member comprises said second locking member.

According to an embod iment of the invention the locking means further comprises a locking element arranged on the connecting member with the first locking member and configured to limit the movement of the first locking member between the locking and releasing positions by obstructive engagement with parts of the first locking member when the latter has obtained the respective positions. Said locking element acts to prevent that the first locking member comes out of position which could impair the function thereof.

According to an embodiment of the invention a first end portion of the first locking member opposite to a second end portion of th is member acted upon by the biasing means is configured to protrude out of an opening in an outer surface of a body of the connecting member with the first locking member so as to allow movement of the first locking member to the releasing position by pushing the first locking member against the action of the biasing means by said first end . The second connecting member may easily be removed from the first connecting member by pushing the first locking member to the releasing position by such a protruding first end .

According to an embodiment of the invention the biasing means comprises a spring member acting between the first locking member and portions of the connecting member provided with the first locking member.

According to an embodiment of the invention said spring member is a compression spring . A compression spring is especially suitable for use as such a spring member. According to an embodiment of the invention the device further comprises a light reflector, preferably a prism reflector, arranged on the second connecting member. The second connecting member may easily be designed to allow securing of a light reflector thereto and by that to the flag pole, without that it complicates the replacement of the flag of the flag pole. The invention also relates to a flag arrangement comprising a device according to the invention , as well as use of such a flag arrangement according to the respective appended independent claims. The function of such a flag arrangement and the possibilities provided therethrough is clear from the above discussion of the embod iments of such a device.

Further advantages as well as advantageous features of the invention will appear from the following description of an embodiment of the invention .

BRI EF DESCRI PTIONS OF THE DRAWI NGS

With reference to the appended drawings, below follows a specific description of an embodiment of the invention cited as an example.

In the drawings: Fig . 1 is a schematic side-view of a flag pole provided with a flag which is secured thereto by a device according to the invention which together form a flag arrangement, with an enlarged view of the circled area A showing a top portion of the flag pole,

Fig . 2 is an enlarged view showing the device of Fig . 1 ,

Fig . 3 is a sectional view showing a cross-section of the device of Fig . 1 in the intersection A of Fig . 2,

Fig . 4 is a view corresponding to Fig . 3 with the second connecting member located in a position in which it is released from the first connecting member, Fig . 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the individual parts of the device of Fig . 1 , Fig . 6 is a bottom view showing the second connecting member of the device of Fig . 1 with the first locking member in the releasing position , and

Fig . 7 is a view correspond ing to Fig . 6 with the first locking member in the locking position .

DETAI LED DESCRI PTION OF AN EMBODI MENT OF THE I NVENTION

A device 1 for removably securing a flag 2 to a flag pole 3 according to an embod iment of the invention is illustrated in the appended figures 1 -7 and will now be described while at the same time making reference to all these figures. The flag pole 3 is suitable for use at a golf course and has a protrusion 4 extending from a top portion 5 thereof, which protrusion is provided with an outer thread 6.

The device 1 comprises a first connecting member 7 with an inner thread 8 configured to be secured to said protrusion 4 of the flag pole 3 by engagement with said outer thread 6 thereof. The device 1 further comprises a second connecting member 9 configured to be removably secured to said first connecting member 7 and when secured to the latter act as a stop for a tu be-like portion 10 of a flag 2 that has been brought over the flag pole 3 and the first connecting member 7.

The device 1 further comprises locking means configured to removably secure the first 7 and second 9 connecting members with respect to each other. The locking means comprises a first locking member 1 1 arranged at the second connecting member 9, and a second locking member in the form of a pin-like projection 12 extending from a portion 13 of the first connecting member 7, which portion 13 is provided with said inner thread 8. The first locking member 1 1 is movable between a locking position in which it is in locking engagement with the pin-like projection 12 and a releasing position in which it allows said second connecting member 9 to be removed from the first connecting member 7.

The first locking member 1 1 has an elongated plate-like body 14 provided with a recess in the form of a through-hole 15 extending perpendicularly or at least substantially perpendicularly to the extension of said body. The first locking member is housed in a guide recess 16 in a bottom part of a body 1 7 of the second connecting member 9. A bottom plate 18 provided with a hole 18a is secured to the bottom of said body 1 7 by screws 19 so as to act as a stop for the first locking member 1 1 from the bottom side of the second connecting member 9. The guide recess 16 has an open ing 20 in an outer peripheral surface 21 of said body 1 7 of the second connecting member 9, out of which opening a first end portion 22 of the first locking member 1 1 protrudes.

The locking means further comprises biasing means in the form of a compression spring 23 configured to apply a biasing force on said first locking member 1 1 towards said locking position and to keep it in this position once obtained , in which said biasing force is to be overcome for transferring the first locking member to said releasing position and allowing removal of the second connecting member 9 from the first connecting member 7. The compression spring 23 is arranged in said gu ide recess 16 of the second connecting member 9 and configured to apply said biasing force on the first locking member 1 1 such that the latter is moved between said releasing and locking positions in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the flag pole 3 when the first connecting member 7 is secured to the flag pole, by acting between a second end portion 24 of the first locking member 1 1 and portions 25 of said guide recess.

The second connecting member 9 further has an elongated recess 26 extending at least substantially in the longitudinal direction of the flag pole 3 when the second connecting member is secured to the first connecting member 7. The first locking member 1 1 is arranged in the second connecting member 9 to have said through-hole 15 aligned with an opening 27 to said elongated recess 26 when the first locking member is moved against the biasing force of the compression spring 23 to the releasing position , and to have the through-hole 15 located offset with respect to said opening 27 of the elongated recess 26 when the first locking member 1 1 is moved to the locking position by action of the compression spring 23. The pin-like projection 1 2 of the first connecting member 7 has a top portion 28 defined by a narrower neck portion 29, which top portion has a tapered top end 30. Said tapered top end is configured to be inserted in the through-hole 15 of the first locking member 1 1 when the pin-like projection 12 is introduced in the elongated recess 26 of the second connecting member 9 through the hole 18b of said bottom plate 18 and to move the first locking member towards the releasing position as the projection 12 is brought further into the elongated recess by guiding the through- hole 15 along an outer surface of the tapered top end 30 towards a transition between the tapered top end and the top portion 28 of the pin-like projection 12. The first locking member 1 1 is configured to be snapped to the locking position by action of the compression spring 23 when the entire top portion 28 of the projection 12 is brought through the through-hole 15 of the first locking member 1 1 and to act as a stop for the top portion of the projection so that said top portion is secured in the elongated recess 26 when the first locking member is in the locking position .

The locking means further comprises a locking element in the form of a pin 31 arranged at the second connecting member 9 and configured to limit the movement of the first locking member 1 1 between the locking and releasing positions by obstructively engaging parts in the form of inner surfaces of an elongated hole 32 of the first locking member when said member has obtained the respective positions. The second connecting member 9 is further provided with a light reflector in the form of a prism reflector 33 which is used to reflect a beam of light directed thereto by a rangefinder for measuring the distance to a golf hole, as an example. The second connecting member may also be provided with other objects suitable for use at a flag pole.

Hereinafter a replacement of the flag 2 on the flag pole 3 by use of said device 1 is shortly described .

A worker at a golf course pushes the first locking member 1 1 on said first end 22 thereof against the action of the compression spring 23 to the releasing position . The through-hole 15 of the first locking member is aligned with the elongated recess 26 of the second connecting member 9 once said position is obtained (see Fig . 6) and the top portion 28 of the pin-like projection 12 may be brought out of said recess by easily lifting the second connecting member from the first connecting member 7. The flag 2 may now be replaced by another while the first connecting member remains on the flag pole 3. The worker then secures the second connecting member 9 to the first connecting member 7 by moving the second connecting member from above towards the first connecting member in the longitudinal direction of the flag pole 3 (see Fig . 4) to a determined position in which the first 1 1 and second 1 2 locking members are mutually aligned which means that the entire top portion 28 of the pin-like projection 12 is brought through the through-hole 15 of the first locking member 1 1 so that said member is automatically transferred to said locking position by action of the compression spring 23 (see Fig . 3) . This means that the only action required by the worker to secure the second connecting member to the first connecting member is to move said second member from above towards and onto said first member. The invention is of course not in any way restricted to the embodiment thereof described above, but many possibilities to modifications thereof will be apparent to a person with ord inary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as de- fined in the appended claims.

A "flag" is in th is d isclosure to be interpreted as a flag assembly, which in addition to the flag itself comprises one or more portions or elements for attaching the flag to a flag pole, e.g . a tube-like portion , metal rings or a wire.

Although the device accord ing to the invention is configured to removably secure a flag to a flag pole it is clear from the description of the function of the device that this also may be used to removably secure an object such as a prism reflector to a thin pole that is not provided with a flag .

A "recess" is in this disclosure to be interpreted as also including a hole without a bottom.

That a projection or the like is brought into a recess is in th is disclosure to be interpreted as also including that the projection is passively brought into the recess by pushing a body provided with the recess over said projection .

The connecting action between the first and second connecting members by the locking means may also be performed by magnetism. This means that at least one of the locking members arranged on any of the connecting members may comprise one or a plurality of magnets and that the other locking member arranged on the other connecting member then comprises one or a plurality of magnets or one or a plurality of parts wh ich consist of a material that interacts with magnets, such as a metal . The second locking member may in such a case as an example comprise one or a plurality of metal washers arranged along a circu lar ledge extending around a lower portion of a pin-like projection extending from a portion of the first connecting member. The first locking member may then comprise one or a plurality of magnets arranged along a circular rim defining an opening to an elongated recess at the bottom of the second connecting member. The first locking member may in such a case be movable between a locking position in which the magnets of the respective locking members are aligned and in locking engagement with each other as a surface of said ledge provided with magnets facing a surface of said rim provided with magnets are in contact and said pin-like projection is brought into said elongated recess, and a releasing position in which the magnets of the respective locking members are located at a distance to each other by a rotating movement of the second connecting member with respect to the first connecting member, so that the first locking member allows said second connecting member to be removed from the first connecting member. The biasing means is in this case said one or a plurality of magnets of the first locking member.