FLAGPOLE MOUNTING

The invention relates to flagpole mounting. More particularly, the invention relates to a flagpole holder and to a method of mounting a flagpole.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The inventor is aware of flagpole mountings on vehicles, which are permanently mounted by onto the body of a vehicle by means of bolts.

However, on removal of the flagpole mounting the body of the vehicle is often damaged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a flagpole holder, which includes a rigid body having flagpole mounting means for removably receiving a flagpole on a first side of the body; a suction cup disposed on a second side of the body, the suction cup fast with the rigid body, operable to engage a smooth surface; an activation lever on the first side of the body, the activation lever controllably connected to the suction cup and moveable between a de-

activated condition in which the suction cup is not tensioned and an activated condition in which the suction cup is tensioned.

The flagpole holder may include a locking mechanism shaped and dimensioned substantially to fit onto the first side of the body, operable to lock the activation lever in an activated condition. The locking mechanism may include a cover shaped and dimensioned to enclose the first side of the body at least partially.

The cover may include a keyed lock fast with the cover to engage the body of the flagpole holder, for locking the cover in position over the body of the flagpole holder.

The flagpole mounting means may include at least one socket shaped and dimensioned to receive a flagpole. The flagpole mounting means may include at least two sockets one of which extends substantially upright to an operative mounting plane of the suction cup, the other of which extends substantially parallel to the operative mounting plane of the suction cup.

The flagpole mounting means may include a fastener for fastening the flagpole in the socket. The fastener may be in the form of a pin receivable through transversally extending apertures through the socket wall and a flagpole thereby to secure the flagpole in the socket.

The central portion of the suction cup may include a protrusion operatively protruding towards the first side of the body to extend through an aperture on the first side of the body for attachment to the activation lever.

The suction cup protrusion may include attachment means for hingedly attaching to the activation lever, the attachment means being defined by an aperture through the protrusion.

The activation lever may include attachment means matched to the attachment means of the suction cup protrusion for hingedly attaching to the protrusion. The activation lever may be fast with a central section of the suction cup, the activation lever operable to engage the first side of the body in cam fashion to tension the suction cup in a first order lever fashion.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of mounting a flagpole to a smooth surface, the method including mounting a flagpole onto a flagpole holder; mounting the flagpole holder to a smooth surface by means of a suction cup.

The method may include the step of locking an activation lever of a suction cup in position once the flagpole holder is mounted to the smooth surface.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following diagrammatic drawings.

DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a three-dimensional top view of a flagpole holder, in accordance with one aspect of the invention;

Figure 2 shows the flagpole holder of Figure 1 with a cover removed; Figure 3 shows a three-dimensional bottom view of the flagpole holder of Figure 1 ; and

Figure 4 shows the flagpole holder of Figure 1 , in use.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In Figures 1 , 2 and 3 a flagpole holder 10 is shown. The flagpole holder 10 includes a rigid body 12 (see Figure 2), a suction cup 14 (see Figure 3) and a cover 16.

The rigid body 12 is moulded PVC material and defines a first side of the body 12.1 and a second side of the body 12.2.

On the first side of the body 12.1 , flagpole mounting means in the form of two sockets 18, 20 are provided. The sockets 18, 20 are shaped and dimensioned to receive a flagpole of similar diameter than the sockets 18,

20. It is to be appreciated that the flagpole is to fit snugly into one of the sockets 18, 20.

As can be seen the socket 18 extends substantially parallel to an operative mounting plane of the suction cup 14 and the socket 20 extends substantially upright from the operative mounting plane of the suction cup.

The two sockets can therefore accommodate a flagpole in two directions, depending of the mounting orientation of the flagpole holder 10.

The sockets 18, 20 includes fastening means in the form of transversely extending apertures 18.1 , 20.1 , through the walls of the sockets 18, 20. The apertures are shaped and dimensioned to receive locking pins (not shown) through the apertures and through a flagpole mounted in one of the sockets 18, 20. The fastening means are for fastening a flagpole in position in the sockets 18, 20.

The suction cup 14 is provided on the second side 12.2 of the body 12. As alluded to above, the surface 14.1 of the suction cup 14 defines an operative mounting plane of the flagpole holder 10.

A central portion of the suction cup 14 forms a protrusion 14.2 protruding through the body 12 to be exposed on the First side 12.1 of the body 12. An aperture (not visible) is provided through the protrusion 14.2 for attachment with an activation lever 22. The aperture through the protrusion 14.2 provides for a hinge pin 24, which extends through apertures 22.1 in the

lever 22 and the protrusion 14.2. The protrusion and the lever 22 are therefore hingedly connected together.

In operation, the lever 22 is moveable between an activated condition (shown in Figure 2) in which the suction cup is tensioned and a deactivated condition (when it is moved in the direction of arrow 26), in which the suction cup is not tensioned. When activated, the suction cup will attach to a smooth surface and when de-activated, the suction cup will release from the smooth surface.

The flagpole holder 10 further includes a locking mechanism in the form of the lockable cover 16. The cover 16 forms an aesthetically pleasing surround by partially enclosing the first side 12.1 of the body 12. The lockable cover 16 includes a keyed lock 28 (shown schematically in position in Figure 2 as well). The lock 28 has a locking member 28.1 which can be locked to a locking formation 12.3

In use, once the activation lever has been moved to the activated condition, thereby attaching the flagpole holder to a smooth surface, the cover 16 can be placed in position and locked to the body 12.

The cover 16 will then prevent the lever from being moved to the de-activated condition and will cover the locking pins retaining a flagpole in position in the sockets 18, 20.

In Figure 4, the flagpole holder 10 is shown in use holding a flagpole and flag in an upright position, on a surface (not shown).

The inventor believes that the invention as described and illustrated provides a new flagpole holder and a new method of mounting a flagpole to a smooth surface.