Flag football system

Abstract

A flag system includes a flag carrier and a flag unit. The flag unit includes a flag, and a flag coupler connected to the flag and configured to be releasably connected to the flag carrier. The flag unit is user reconfigurable between a first flag unit separation difficulty state and a second flag unit separation difficulty state.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A flag system comprising:
 a flag carrier;   a flag unit comprising:
 a flag; and 
 a flag coupler connected to the flag and configured to be releasably connected to the flag carrier, 
 wherein the flag comprises a band having a hanging length extending from and projecting beyond the flag coupler to a terminal end, and a nonuniform width along the length, wherein a proximal 50 percent of the length has a first surface area and wherein a distal 50 percent of the length has a second surface area at least 20% less than the first surface area. 
   
     
     
         2 . The flag system of  claim 1 , wherein the second surface area is at least 30% less than the first surface area. 
     
     
         3 . The flag system of  claim 1 , wherein the second surface area is at least 40% less than the first surface area. 
     
     
         4 . The flag system of  claim 1 , wherein the second surface area is at least 50% less than the first surface area. 
     
     
         5 . The flag system of  claim 1 , wherein the flag tapers along at least 50% of the hanging length. 
     
     
         6 . The flag system of  claim 1 , wherein the flag comprises a first tapered portion of the length tapering at a first angle and a second tapered portion of the hanging length tapering at a second angle different than the first angle. 
     
     
         7 . The flag system of  claim 1  further comprising a flag connector carried by the flag carrier, wherein the flag carrier comprises a belt and wherein the flag connector is slidable along the belt. 
     
     
         8 . The flag system of  claim 7 , wherein the flag connector comprises a pair of parallel slots through which the belt passes. 
     
     
         9 . The flag system of  claim 7 , wherein the flag connector comprises one of a hollow tube and a plug, wherein the flag coupler comprise the other of the hollow tube and the plug, wherein the plug is slidably received within the hollow tube and wherein the plug comprises at least one stop surface configured to abut an axial rim the hollow tube when the plug is fully received within the hollow tube. 
     
     
         10 . The flag system of  claim 9 , wherein the plug comprises a second hollow tube having internal ribs. 
     
     
         11 . The flag system of  claim 9 , wherein an exterior of the hollow tube has a first visual appearance and wherein an exterior of the plug has a second visual appearance different than the first visual appearance. 
     
     
         12 . The flag system of  claim 11 , wherein the first visual appearance comprises a first color and wherein the second visual appearance comprises a second color different than the first color. 
     
     
         13 . The flag system of  claim 12 , wherein the second color is selected from a group of colors consisting of a neon color, orange, yellow, white and red. 
     
     
         14 . The flag system of  claim 9 , wherein the hollow tube has a first internal axial length and wherein the plug has a second axial length less than the first internal axial length. 
     
     
         15 . The flag system of  claim 14  further comprising a second flag unit identical to the flag unit except that the plug has a third axial length different than the first axial length. 
     
     
         16 . The flag system of  claim 9 , wherein an exterior surface of the plug comprises spaced indicia along its axial length indicating different extents to which the plug is inserted into the hollow tube. 
     
     
         17 . The flag system of  claim 9 , wherein the plug comprises a tube insertion portion and wherein the at least one stop surface projects outwardly beyond the tube insertion portion to engage a rim of the hollow tube in response to the tube insertion portion being fully received within the hollow tube. 
     
     
         18 . The flag system of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one stop surface comprises a ring encircling a longitudinal axis of the tube insertion portion on an axial end of the tube insertion portion. 
     
     
         19 . The flag system of  claim 7 , wherein the flag connector comprises a first portion having a pair of slots through which the belt extends, and a second portion angled away from the first portion, the second portion configured to releasably connect to the flag coupler. 
     
     
         20 . The flag system of  claim 1  further comprising a flag connector carried by the flag carrier, wherein the flag carrier comprises a belt and wherein the flag connector comprises one of a hollow tube and a plug, wherein the flag coupler comprise the other of the hollow tube and the plug, wherein the plug is slidably received within the hollow tube and wherein the plug comprises at least one stop surface configured to abut an axial rim the hollow tube when the plug is fully received within the hollow tube.