Golf flagpole stand

• US 8,858,353 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2010
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Double D Golf, LLC
• Original Assignee: Double D Golf, LLC
• Inventors: Wiggins, Dennis, Wiggins, Rick
• Primary Examiner(s): GRAHAM, MARK S
• Application Number:
  US13/500,840
• Publication Number:
  US 20120244956A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,469 Days
• Field of Search: 248/166, 248168-171, 473173-178
• US Class Current: 473/176
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 57/00 Golfing accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 57/357 for golf cups or holes, e.g. flags
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 57/40 Golf cups or holes
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 17/00 Flags; Banners; Mountings therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2017/0066 Stands for flags

Abstract

A stand for supporting a golf flagpole in an inclined position includes a collar rotatably secured to the shaft of the flagpole and one or more legs pivotably coupled to the collar. The one or more legs hang generally parallel to the shaft when the flagpole is in an upright position. When the flag of the flagpole is tipped toward the green, the one or more legs swing outwardly away from the shaft to a position generally perpendicular to the shaft to support the flagpole in an inclined position. Regardless of the position or direction that the legs are facing when the flag is tipped toward the green, the collar rotates so that the legs extend to the green to support the flagpole.

Claims

1. A stand for a golf flagpole, the golf flagpole having a shaft having two ends, a flag secured to one end of the shaft and an adapter secured to the other end of the shaft and adapted to be received in a cup on a golf putting green and support the golf flagpole in an upright position, said stand comprising:

a collar having an aperture for receiving said shaft of the golf flagpole;

said collar adapted to freely rotate on the shaft;

a first leg having a first end pivotably coupled to said collar and a second end opposite said first end, said first leg extending downwardly and generally parallel to the shaft in a first position when the golf flagpole is in the upright position;

a base secured to said second end of said first leg; and

a spring-biased latch secured to said collar and coupled to said first end of said first leg, said spring-biased latch releasably retaining said first leg in said first position when the golf flagpole is in the upright position;

whereas said first leg pivots from said first position when the golf flagpole is in the upright position to a second extended position when the golf flagpole is pulled from the cup in the putting green and the flag is tipped toward the putting green;

whereas said collar rotates about said shaft so that said first leg extends toward the putting green; and

whereas said first leg extends generally perpendicularly from the shaft and said base supports the golf flagpole in an inclined position on the putting green.

2. The stand of claim 1 wherein said base includes a coupler and a pair of legs extending from said coupler in a generally inverted V-shaped configuration.

3. The stand of claim 1 further comprising a second leg having a first end pivotably coupled to said collar proximal said first end of said first leg and a second end opposite said first end;

said second leg extending downwardly and generally parallel to the shaft in a first position when the golf flagpole is in the upright position; and

whereas said first leg and said second leg pivot from said first position when the golf flagpole is in the upright position to said second position when the golf flagpole is pulled from the cup in the putting green and the flag is tipped toward the putting green;

whereas said first leg and said second leg extend generally perpendicularly from the shaft to support the golf flagpole in an inclined position on the putting green;

whereas said collar rotates about said shaft so that said first and second legs extend toward the putting green; and

whereas said first leg and said second leg present a generally inverted V-shaped configuration and form a tripod configuration with the adapter of the golf flagpole.

4. The stand of claim 3 wherein each of said second ends of said first and second legs includes a foot for contact with the putting green in said second position.

5. The stand of claim 1 further comprising an at least one notch in a side of said collar opposite said first leg for receiving and supporting a golf club when said stand is in the inclined position.

6. The stand of claim 1 further comprising a first retainer secured to the shaft of the flagpole below said collar and a second retainer secured to the shaft of the flagpole above said collar to retain said collar at a desired position on the shaft.

7. The stand of claim 1 further comprising a cover secured to the shaft at a location along the shaft that is higher than said collar to provide limited protection for said collar.

8. The stand of claim 1 further comprising a spring-biased ball bearing extending into said aperture from an outer surface of said collar, said spring-biased ball bearing extending into an annular channel cut in the surface of the flagpole shaft at a desired height, whereas said spring-biased ball bearing rotatably couples said collar to the flagpole shaft at said desired height.

9. The stand of claim 1 further comprising a grip secured to the shaft of the flagpole near the center of gravity of the flagpole and said stand to aid in placing said stand in said second position.

10. The stand of claim 1 wherein said aperture is centered through said collar.

11. The stand of claim 1 wherein said aperture is off-center through said collar.

12. A stand for a golf flagpole, the golf flagpole having a shaft having two ends, a flag secured to one end of the shaft and an adapter secured to the other end of the shaft and adapted to be received in a cup on a golf putting green and support the golf flagpole in an upright position, said stand comprising:

a collar having an aperture for receiving the shaft of the golf flagpole, and a pair of notches on a first side of said collar, said collar adapted to freely rotate on the shaft;

a pair of legs each having a first end pivotably coupled to said collar on a second side opposite said notches, and a second end opposite said first end, said legs extending downwardly and generally parallel to the shaft in a first position when the golf flagpole is in the upright position; and

a pair of spring-biased latches secured to said collar and one of each coupled to said first ends of said first and second legs, said spring-biased latches releasably retaining said first and second legs in said first position when the golf flagpole is in the upright position;

whereas said pair of legs pivot from a said first position when the golf flagpole is in the upright position to a second position when the golf flagpole is pulled from the cup in the putting green and the flag is tipped toward the putting green;

whereas said collar rotates about said shaft so that said first and second legs extend toward the putting green in said second position; and

whereas said pair of legs each extend generally perpendicularly from the golf flagpole shaft forming a generally inverted “

V”

with respect to each other.

13. The stand of claim 12 further comprising a first retainer secured to the shaft of the flagpole below said collar and a second retainer secured to the shaft of the flagpole above said collar to retain said collar at a desired position on the shaft.

14. The stand of claim 12 further comprising a cover secured to the shaft at a location along the shaft that is higher than said collar to provide limited protection for said collar.

15. The stand of claim 12 further comprising a spring-biased ball bearing extending into said aperture from an outer surface of said collar, said spring-biased ball bearing extending into an annular channel cut in the surface of the flagpole shaft at a desired height, whereas said spring-biased ball bearing rotatably couples said collar to the flagpole shaft at said desired height.

16. The stand of claim 12 further comprising a grip secured to the shaft of the flagpole near the center of gravity of the flagpole and said stand to aid in placing said stand in said second position.

17. The stand of claim 12 wherein said aperture is centered through said collar.

18. The stand of claim 12 wherein said aperture is off-center through said collar.