Patent Application
20180128421
The present disclosure pertains to the mounting of objects to microphone stands and, more particularly, to a rigid, compliant body to which objects can be attached that snaps into place on a microphone stand pole.
Microphone stand mounts and accessories are commonplace in the music and spoken word performance industry. Most microphone stand mounting devices are designed for use with telescoping pole stands. The devices include an oversized, roughly C or V-shaped receptacle that fits loosely around a microphone stand pole and that relies on adjustable spring or screw tension to secure the mounting device to the pole, in a similar fashion to a C-clamp or bulldog clip. Many form factors are present in the current market, yet all have the disadvantage of a multi-part mounting or gripping system, which can fail due to lost parts, stripped screws, loose springs, or pieces subject to breakage from over-tightening or excessive torque due to the weight of the devices they support.
The present disclosure is directed to a mounting clip that solves the inherent problems in multi-part microphone stand clips. In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a device is provided that uses a single, highly durable molded piece with flexible gripping flanges to accomplish what is usually achieved through screw or spring tension. The frictional force exerted by the flanges' grip on a microphone stand pole is sufficient to secure devices that would otherwise require a heavy duty clamp. The pole surface area that is in contact with the clip is substantially greater than that of a traditional clamp-style mount because of the shape and size of the gripping flanges. Therefore, the disclosed microphone stand mounting clip achieves grip and stability comparable to mounting systems that are much bulkier, heavier, and less reliable.
In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a molded clip device to mount to a pole-like structure is provided, the device including a body having first and second semi-circular flanges, wherein the flanges are aligned along a first axis and configured to receive and grip the pole-like structure so the pole-like structure is aligned with the first axis, without requiring disassembly of either the pole-like structure or an object to be mounted to the pole-like structure. The first and second flanges are sufficiently flexible to conform to the shape and diameter of the pole-like structure, and are capable of supporting the weight of the object by frictional force and mechanical grip on the pole-like structure.
In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, the foregoing device includes a channel between the two flanges that is sized and shaped to act as an insertion groove to receive the pole-like structure, the channel being offset at an angle relative to the first axis to enable the body to be rotated into engagement with the pole-like structure by twisting. Ideally the body is scaled to fit a standard microphone stand pole for the purposes of mounting one or more objects used in music or spoken word performance or recording.
In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure a device is provided to mount an object to a pole. The device includes a body; a first flange extending from the body and positioned in spaced relationship to the body, the first flange having a terminal end; a second flange extending from the body and positioned in spaced relationship to the body and in spaced alignment with the first flange, the second flange having a terminal, the second flange positioned in alignment with the first flange along a first axis; and a channel formed between the first flange and second flange and having a longitudinal axis that is at an angle to the first axis, the channel sized and shaped to receive the pole and to enable rotation of the first and second flanges into frictional engagement with the pole when the body is rotated in a first direction about a rotational axis that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the channel and the first axis.
In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, the body of the foregoing device is capable of attachment to the object by one or more of an adhesive or at least one fastener.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present disclosure, the first flange extends in a first direction and the second flange extends in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction of the first flange.
In accordance with still yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the first and second flanges have an arcuate shape sized and shaped to receive the pole and grip the pole bilaterally, the first and second flanges are sufficiently flexible to conform to the shape and diameter of the pole and are capable of supporting the weight of the object(s) by frictional force and mechanical grip on the pole.
Microphone stand mounted accessories are increasingly prevalent in the music industry, and with the proliferation of smartphones and tablets in addition to purpose-built musical accessories, there is an increasing need for a versatile, lightweight, robust microphone stand mounted clip to support such accessories.
In the following description, certain specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various disclosed implementations. However, one skilled in the relevant scientific techniques will recognize that implementations may be practiced without one or more of these specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures or components or both associated with microphone stands, telescoping poles, and accessories for mounting to the microphone stand have not been shown or described in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring descriptions of the implementations.
Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout the specification and claims that follow, the word “comprise” and variations thereof, such as “comprises” and “comprising” are to be construed in an open inclusive sense, that is, as “including, but not limited to.” The foregoing applies equally to the words “including” and “having.”
Reference throughout this description to “one implementation” or “an implementation” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the implementation is included in at least one implementation. Thus, the appearance of the phrases “in one implementation” or “in an implementation” in various places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same implementation. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more implementations. For ease of reference, similar structures and features will be illustrated and described using the same reference number.
Generally, the present disclosure is an improvement on the aforementioned mounting devices for attaching objects to a microphone stand, particularly a pole or telescoping pole that forms part of the stand. These prior devices, some of which rely on rubber grips and gravitational force provided by the accompanying object or accessory, such as a loudspeaker system, to increase friction with the microphone stand pole. The device of the present disclosure provides an improved design inasmuch as it employs a rigid yet compliant, flexible material that snaps into place, providing superior gripping and increased friction with a smaller mass and volume of material.
A representative implementation of the present disclosure as described herein is directed to a microphone stand mounting clip, including apparatus and methods, for mounting devices relevant to musical or spoken word performance to a microphone stand pole. It is to be understood that other implementations through structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the preferred implementation described herein. The representative implementation described and illustrated herein is directed to one preferred implementation of the disclosure for the sake of clarity, not intending to limit the scope of the disclosure and the appended claims.
Referring initially to
The flanges 14, 16 of the clip 10 are arranged such that the channel 18 is sized and shaped to accommodate the microphone stand pole 20 through an opening 22 formed between the two flanges 12, 14, and axis X-X is oriented at an angle relative to the first axis Y-Y. The channel 18 is partially circumscribed by the flanges 14, 16, which allows the clip 10 to be rotated into place on the pole 20, securing the flanges 14, 16 at least partially around the microphone stand pole 20
As shown more clearly in
More particularly, the channel 18 and the clamp assembly 36 are sized and shaped to receive the pole 20 and to enable rotation of the first and second flanges 14, 16 into frictional engagement with the pole 20 when the body 12 is rotated in a first direction about a rotational axis that is substantially perpendicular to the axis X-X of the channel 18 and the axis Y-Y of the longitudinal bore 38 of the tubular-shaped clamp assembly 36.
To enhance the secure engagement of the device 10 on the pole 20, a first ridge 40 and a second ridge 42 are formed on the body 12. The first and second ridges 40, 42 are formed adjacent the respective first and second semicircular openings 28, 34, and each have a corresponding arcuate face 44, 46 that further defines the size and shape of the longitudinal axial bore 38 of the clamp assembly 36. Ideally the first and second ridges extend into their respective first and second semicircular openings 28, 34 a distance of 1.5 mm, although it can be in the range of 1.0 to 2.0 mm, such as 1.1 mm, 1.2 mm, 1.3 mm, 1.4 mm, 1.6 mm, 1.7 mm, 1.8 mm, 1.9 mm, and 2.0 mm.
In use, the clip 10 is initially pressed against the microphone stand pole 20 with the pole 20 positioned in the channel 18, as shown in
The flanges 14, 16 are designed with sufficient flexibility to bend around the diameter of a microphone stand pole 20 and have sufficient rigidity to generate strain on the flanges 14, 16 when they are bent. This translates into friction between the flanges 14, 16 and the microphone stand pole 20. The actual radius of the arcuate flanges 14, 16 is smaller than a bending radius that is created when flanges open around the diameter of a microphone stand pole 20 during attachment. Friction by way of strain of the flanges 14, 16 against the microphone stand pole 20 is generated due to the tendency of the flanges 14, 16 to spring back to their actual radius. The flanges 14, 16 initially bend outward away from the body 12 when their terminal ends 24, 30 are initially urged against the microphone stand pole 20 then snap back into position when securely in place around the pole 20.
The microphone stand mounted clip 10 as depicted may be constructed by injection molding of a thermoplastic material. When used in connection with a pole and an object to be mounted to the pole, the clip 10 forms a mounting system that may be structurally configured to accommodate a variety of brackets, peripherals, or accessory arms to be attached to the clip 10 with fasteners or adhesives or both.
It is possible to employ the system disclosed herein in many applications in which an arbitrary object is to be mounted to a pole-like structure. Arbitrary parameters such as the actual radius and bending radius of the flanges 14, 16, the incident angle of the pole 20, and the orientation and mass of the object to be mounted on the pole 20 with the clip device 10 can be accommodated by changing these parameters to suit the application.
In music industry-specific applications, the clip and system of the present disclosure could be employed to quickly mount: an additional microphone boom or gooseneck, a pad controller or keyboard, a table-top or box for handheld percussion and peripherals, a support stand or holder for a laptop, tablet, or smartphone, inline signal processing equipment, a light onto a lighting truss, or a loudspeaker to a speaker stand or structural frame.
The various implementations described above can be combined to provide further implementations. Aspects of the implementations can be modified, if necessary to employ concepts of the various patents, applications and publications to provide yet further implementations.
These and other changes can be made to the implementations in light of the above-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific implementations disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible implementations along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, the claims are not limited by the disclosure.
