Flag Deployment Device with Hollow Cylinder and Extendible Pole
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for an apparatus and system that effectively stores and deploys flags on extendible poles, while also conveying enthusiasm or affiliation with a particular activity, sport, or sporting event, and allows for easy storage and display modes.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising an elongate pole with a flag attached, which fits into a hollow cylindrical member for storage and can be extended for deployment, featuring closing mechanisms like hook and loop, and optionally includes a removable symbolic object and illuminable light source, simulating sports equipment for visual representation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the flag is stored in a hollow cylindrical member, then the storage efficiency and compactness are improved, but the deployment mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The flag and pole are nested within the hollow cylindrical member during storage, with the pole fitting through the center of the cylinder and the flag wrapped around the pole. This nesting arrangement maximizes storage compactness while maintaining a simple deployment mechanism where the user simply needs to pull the pole out of the cylinder to deploy the flag.
2Length of moving object
If the pole is made extendible, then the display capability is improved, but the storage space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pole is designed as an extendible structure that can transition between a compact retracted state for storage and an extended state for display. The pole can be manually extended by pulling it out of the hollow cylindrical member, allowing the flag to be displayed at various heights and distances from the mounting surface, then retracted back into the cylinder when not in use.
3Reliability
If closing mechanisms like hook and loop are used, then the flag attachment reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hook and loop closing mechanisms are designed to be self-aligning and self-securing. The hook elements automatically engage with the loop elements when the flag is attached to the pole, providing reliable attachment without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms or multiple fastening steps. The mechanisms can be easily opened by pulling the flag away from the pole.
4Adaptability or versatility
If symbolic objects and light sources are added, then the visual appeal and thematic representation are improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The symbolic objects and light sources are implemented as separate, modular components that can be independently attached to or removed from the pole and cylinder assembly. The symbolic objects can be positioned at various locations along the pole, and the light sources can be attached to the cylinder or pole, allowing for flexible configuration and easy replacement of thematic elements without affecting the core structural functionality of the device.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for selectively stowing a flag in a coiled condition and displaying the flag in an unfurled condition. The flag may be affixed to a pole. The device comprises a hollow cylindrical member which encloses the flag and pole. The pole may be captively retained to the hollow cylinder. An illuminable light source may be formed as part of the device. The device may visually simulate sports equipment such as a baseball bat, hockey stick, golf club, and others. The device may have a symbolic object such as a ball, hockey puck, or object symbolic of automobile racing such as an engine fluid dipstick removably affixed thereto. The device may be a toy or souvenir in some embodiments.