PORTABLE SAFETY FLAG DEVICE AND METHOD THEREFOR

• US 20090165698A1
• Filed: 12/28/2007
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alan J. Lapkin
• Original Assignee: Alan J. Lapkin
• Inventors: Lapkin, Alan J.
• Application Number:
  US11/966,066
• Publication Number:
  US 20090165698A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 116/173
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 17/00 Flags; Banners; Mountings therefor

Abstract

A portable safety flag device and method therefor capable of being coupled to a wheelchair, trailer or the like to improve visibility and improve safety. The portable safety flag device may include a handle at one end of a pole with a flag at the opposite end or may include a coupling mechanism, preferably a clamp, at the end of the pole opposite the flag and capable of coupling the device to a vehicle or other object.

Claims

1. A portable safety flag device comprising, in combination:

a pole having a first end and a second end,

a flag coupled to the first end of the pole; and

means for engaging the second end of the pole for maintaining the portable safety flag device in a substantially vertical position.

2. The portable safety flag device of claim 1, wherein said engagement means comprises a coupling mechanism.

3. The portable safety flag device of claim 2, wherein the coupling mechanism is a clamp.

4. The portable safety flag device of claim 3, wherein the clamp being spring-biased.

5. The portable safety flag device of claim 3, wherein the engagement means further comprises a flexible cable having a first end and a second end, the first end of the flexible cable being coupled to the second end of the pole and the second end of the flexible cable being coupled to the clamp, the flexible cable having sufficient flexibility to be bent between the first end and the second end while at the same time the flexible cable having sufficient rigidity to remain in a fixed position after the flexible cable is bent.

6. The portable safety flag device of claim 5 wherein the second end of the pole being threaded and the first end of the flexible cable defining a threaded sleeve dimensioned to be coupled to the threaded second end of the pole.

7. The portable safety flag device of claim 4, wherein the coupling mechanism further comprises an adapter dimensioned for coupling the clamp to an object, wherein the adapter has substantially a T-shaped configuration comprised of a base portion adapted to be mounted to the object and a wall portion having an opening therein adapted to provide a clamping surface therethrough.

8. The portable safety flag device of claim 4, further comprising a chain having a first end and a second end, the first end of the chain being coupled to the second end of the pole and the second end of the chain being coupled to the clamp.

9. The portable safety flag device of claim 1, wherein the engagement means comprises a handle threadably engaged with the second end of the pole.

10. A method for substantially improving the visibility of a person, vehicle or other object comprising, in combination, the steps of:

providing a pole having a first end and a second end;

providing a flag coupled to the first end of the pole; and

providing engagement means at the second end of the pole; and

supporting the pole in a substantially vertical position.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the engagement means comprises a coupling mechanism and the method further comprises the step of coupling the coupling mechanism to an object to support the pole in a substantially vertical position.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the coupling mechanism is a clamp.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the clamp being spring-biased.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of:

providing a flexible cable having a first end and a second end; and

coupling the first end of the flexible cable to the second end of the pole, the second end of the flexible cable being coupled to the clamp, the flexible cable has sufficient rigidity to remain in a fixed position after the flexible cable is bent.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the second end of the pole being threaded and the first end of the flexible cable defining a threaded sleeve dimensioned to be coupled to the threaded second end of the pole.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of:

providing a chain having a first end and a second end;

coupling the first end of the chain to the second end of the pole; and

coupling the second end of the chain to the clamp.

17. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of coupling the first end of the chain to the second end of the pole through an aperture defined by the second end of the pole.