Abstract: A portable, temporary, emergency distress signal capable of being collapsed and carried in the dash compartment of an automobile or quickly erected and placed on the outside of a stranded vehicle includes a telescopable, rod type staff, a magnet base and a fabric flag. The flag is rollable into a small roll, but held outstretched in use by a three section, pivot jointed, rod fitted into the edge seams. The telescopable staff is pivoted to the magnet base so that the staff may be vertical on top of the vehicle or at right angles, on the side of the vehicle. A sleeve lock slides over the pivot to hold the staff vertical, a sleeve lock stop holds the sleeve lock out of the way when the staff is at right angles to the magnet and the sleeve lock is threadedly secured.

Abstract: A flag support assembly coupled to a halyard/pulley combination secured to an upper portion of a flagstaff for raising and lowering a flag includes a pivoting member which is free to rotate about the flagstaff so as to maintain the flag downwind relative to the flagstaff and in an unfouled, unfurled condition. With the flag fully raised, the pivoting member extends above the top of the flagstaff and may be rotated by wind direction changes about a vertical axis clear of the flagstaff. With the flagstaff positioned downwind of the halyard/pulley combination, the pivoting member extends over and straddles the flagstaff so as to maintain the flag downwind with respect thereto. The lower end of the flag support assembly is coupled to the halyard by means of an elastic or tension member which permits the tension applied to the support assembly to be varied in a controlled manner.

Abstract: A flag waving machine for automatically waving a flag in a figure 8 pattern. A rod provides a support for the flag to be waved, this rod being attached to a pitman arm through a universal joint, the rod being pivotally supported in a bushing. The pitman arm is rotatably driven at one end to provide reciprocal motion of the rod, this reciprocal motion being guided in a figure 8 pattern by means of a guide channel. The channel is formed between a figure 8 shaped wall formed on a base member and a pair of spring-urged elliptical guide members which are also shaped and positioned to form a figure 8, the guide members operating to guide the path of the arm in the channel through a figure 8 pattern.

Abstract: A device for preventing a flag from wrapping around a flagpole, especially one which is inclined at an angle with the vertical. The flag is mounted along one edge to a support member which in turn is pivotally mounted for rotation about the flagpole. A semi-flexible rod is sewn into the hem along a lower edge of the flag. This semi-flexible rod is pivotally attached to the support member such that it can pivot from a position perpendicular to the support member to a position essentially parallel with the support member. Thus, the flag can be stored by folding the semi-flexible rod parallel with the support member and the material of the flag wrapped around the support member and/or the flagpole. When not in storage, the semi-flexible rod extends the lower portion of the flag outward from the flagpole effectively preventing the flag from wrapping back around the flagpole and becoming entangled.

Abstract: A self-threading flagpole having two spaced pulleys fixed to a rotatable cap on its upper end and a slot connecting the outer periphery of the pulleys so that a rope in the form of a loop can be placed in the slot and over the pulleys by means of a pole without climbing the flagpole. The loop of rope passes over the periphery and down around the pulleys and down and around lower pulleys which are supported on a sleeve. The sleeve, in turn, is supported on the lower part of the flagpole by the rope and its weight provides tension on the ropes. When the wind blows the flag, the flag pulls the rope thereby lifting the sleeve and avoiding tearing of the flag.

Abstract: A burgee, particularly for boats and yachts, and comprising a flag mounted on a frame carried by a staff is enabled to be more sensitive by providing a pivot bearing mounting for the frame on the staff. The pivot is preferably a pointed tip to the staff bearing against a flat surface provided by the frame. The frame may be made from a single length of wire or strip material, appropriately bent to shape, and may include a loop to the side of the staff opposite to the flag.

Abstract: A burgee, particularly for boats and yachts, comprising a frame supported by pivot bearing means on the upper end of a staff has a detachable flag. The flag may be fitted on a frame, for example a wire frame, adapted to be coupled to the frame supported on the staff, the latter frame preferably being made from resilient strip material such as spring steel. The flag frame is preferably clipped into upper and lower locating holes in the staff-supported frame.

Abstract: An improved flag waving unit for supporting a flag and causing the same to flutter, and including a rotatably-attached support for the flag whereby the flag may be maintained in a substantially vertical orientation when the unit is not in use to preclude wrinkling or other distortion of the flag material.

Abstract: A flag storage and display device comprising a fixed lower housing, a connector pivotally connected to the top of the lower housing and an upper housing rotatably mounted on the top of the connector. An electric motor is mounted in the lower housing and linked to the connector to cause pivotal movement of the connector and upper housing between a vertical position for display of the flag and a horizontal position for projection and retraction of the flag. A second electric motor mounted within the upper housing controls the rotation of the storage roller to which the flag is attached. The flag extends outwardly through a slot in the upper housing, such housing preferably being eccentrically weighted so that the slot automatically moves to a downwardly directed position when the upper housing is pivoted to the horizontal position.

Abstract: A device is provided for displaying a flag or the like in waving condition, wherein such condition is produced or simulated by mechanical means, rather than by the effects of air currents. The device employs a rotatably supported pole, to which one edge of the flag is secured; a support element, to which another edge of the flag is secured, extending laterally from the pole and rotatable with the latter; and drive means for oscillating the pole about its axis through an angular rotation of less than 90 degrees.

Abstract: An automatic flag storage and display device which has a hollow tubular member and a first pole member supported within the tubular member. The axis of the tubular member and the axis of the first pole member are parallel. The first pole member is adapted for extension and retraction from the tubular member. The device further has a second pole member pivotally mounted to the outward end of the first pole member. There is a release means for automatically extending the second pole member so as to unfurl a flag attached to the first and second pole members, when the first pole member is extended from the hollow tubular member. The device further has a pole extension means for automatically extending the first pole member.