Collapsible arced flagpole and kit for the same

Abstract

This specification describes a curved or arced collapsible flagpole for a feather flag. The collapsible flagpole is assembled from a kit comprising a plurality of straight hollow shafts, hollow arced shafts and a base shaft and tip shaft. Having the flagpole curved and not under tension from the flag is important as it makes the flag last longer.

What I claim is: 
     
         1 . A kit for assembling into a flagpole assembly, said kit comprising unassembled assembly elements of:
 a plurality of shafts;   the plurality of shafts comprising   a base shaft ( 100 ) having a base shaft terminal end ( 110 ) and a base shaft insert end ( 111 ) opposite the base shaft terminal end;   a plurality of straight shafts ( 120 ) each having a straight shaft insertion end ( 121 ), and a straight shaft insert end ( 122 ) opposite the straight shaft insertion end;   a connecting shaft ( 130 ) having a connecting shaft insertion end ( 131 ), a connecting shaft insertion end outside diameter ( 133 ), and a connecting shaft insert end ( 132 ) opposite the connecting shaft insertion end;   at least one arc shaft ( 140 ) having an arc shaft insertion end ( 141 ), an arc shaft insertion end outside diameter and an arc shaft insert end ( 142 ) after the arc shaft insertion end; and   a tip shaft ( 150 ) having a tip shaft insertion end ( 151 ) and a tip shaft terminal end ( 152 ) opposite the tip shaft insertion end.   
     
     
         2 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of the arc shaft insertion end outside diameter to the connecting shaft insertion end outside diameter is less than 1. 
     
     
         3 . The kit of  claim 1 , further comprising a string ( 160 ) having a string base end secured at the base shaft and a string tip end secured at the tip shaft, wherein the string ( 160 ) passes through the plurality of straight shafts, the connecting shaft, and the at least one arc shaft. 
     
     
         4 . The kit of  claim 3 , wherein the string is under tension after the flagpole assembly is assembled. 
     
     
         5 . The kit of  claim 3 , wherein the string is secured at the base shaft with a first cap comprising a first plug ( 171 ) with a first plug diameter ( 172 ) greater than the base shaft insert end inside diameter ( 114 ), a first cap insert end ( 173 ) with a first cap insert end diameter ( 174 ) less than the base shaft insert end inside diameter, and a first cap string attachment member ( 176 ). 
     
     
         6 . The kit of  claim 4 , wherein the string is secured at the base shaft with a first cap comprising a first plug ( 171 ) with a first plug diameter ( 172 ) greater than the base shaft insert end inside diameter ( 114 ), a first cap insert end ( 173 ) with a first cap insert end diameter ( 174 ) less than the base shaft insert end inside diameter, and a first cap string attachment member ( 176 ). 
     
     
         7 . The kit of  claim 5 , wherein the string is secured at the tip shaft with a second cap comprising a second cap plug with a second cap plug diameter greater than the tip shaft terminal end inside diameter, a second cap insert end with a second cap insert end diameter less than the tip shaft terminal end inside diameter, and a second cap string attachment member. 
     
     
         8 . The kit of  claim 6 , wherein the string is secured at the tip shaft with a second cap comprising a second cap plug with a second cap plug diameter greater than the tip shaft terminal end inside diameter, a second cap insert end with a second cap insert end diameter less than the tip shaft terminal end inside diameter, and a second cap string attachment member. 
     
     
         9 . The kit of  claim 7 , wherein the string base end is attached to the first cap string attachment member. 
     
     
         10 . The kit of  claim 8 , wherein the string tip end is attached to the second cap string attachment member. 
     
     
         11 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the unassembled assembly elements can fit together into a box having internal dimensions of 18 inches long, 14 inches wide and 8 inches deep. 
     
     
         12 . The kit of  claim 1  wherein the base shaft insert end is configured to be inserted into at least one straight shaft insertion end, at least one straight shaft insert end is configured to be inserted into the connecting shaft insertion end, the connecting shaft insert end is configured to be inserted into the arc shaft insertion end of the at least one arc shaft, and the at least one arc shaft with the arc shaft insert end configured to be inserted into the tip shaft insertion end. 
     
     
         13 . The kit of  claim 12 , wherein a ratio of the arc shaft insertion end outside diameter to the connecting shaft insertion end outside diameter is less than 1. 
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 12 , wherein the kit further comprises a string ( 160 ) secured at the base shaft and secured at the tip shaft, wherein the string ( 160 ) passes through the plurality of straight shafts, connecting shaft, and the at least one arc shaft. 
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 14 , wherein the string is under tension after the flagpole assembly is assembled. 
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 14 , wherein the wherein the string is secured at the base shaft with a first cap comprising a first plug ( 171 ) with a first plug diameter ( 172 ) greater than the base shaft insert end inside diameter ( 114 ), a first cap insert end ( 173 ) with a first cap insert end diameter ( 174 ) less than the base shaft insert end inside diameter, a first cap string attachment member with the string is attached to the first cap string attachment member ( 176 ); and
 wherein the string is secured at the tip shaft with a second cap comprising a second cap plug with a second cap plug diameter greater than the tip shaft terminal end inside diameter, a second cap insert end with a second cap insert end diameter less than the tip shaft terminal end inside diameter, a second cap string attachment member and the string is attached to the second cap string attachment member.   
     
     
         17 . The kit of  claim 12 , wherein the unassembled assembly elements can fit together into a box having internal dimensions of 18 inches long, 14 inches wide and 8 inches deep. 
     
     
         18 . The kit of  claim 1 , assembled into the flagpole assembly wherein the base shaft insert end is inserted into at least one straight shaft insertion end, at least one straight shaft insert end is inserted into the connecting shaft insertion end and at least one arc shaft insert end is inserted into the tip shaft insertion end. 
     
     
         19 . The kit of  claim 18  assembled into the flagpole assembly wherein a length of the flagpole assembly is in a range of 7 feet to 19 feet.