Articulating microphone mount

A microphone having an integral ball along the microphone body is mounted in a housing that defines a socket for receiving the ball. The microphone may be articulated on the ball and socket mount and the resistance to the articulation force may be varied by tightening and loosening a slotted cap that exerts a spring force on the microphone. The microphone and housing may be mounted to a surface such as a wall or ceiling and plenum ratings may be maintained through ceiling mounts.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an apparatus for mounting electronics equipment including audio equipment such as microphones, and more specifically is an articulating mount that utilizes a ball and socket type of pivot for improved control over audio equipment positioning.

BACKGROUND

Properly positioning audio equipment such as a microphone is a constant challenge in order to maximize the performance of sound reproduction. Depending on the intended use of a microphone, different mounting equipment may be needed. For example, there are different mounting considerations and requirements for mounting a microphone that is being used to amplify sound emanating from a drum than exist when using a microphone to amplify sound that is originating at a distance from the microphone. Regardless of what kind of microphone is being used and what instrument or device is being amplified through the microphone, it is always important to have the microphone oriented relative to and spaced apart from the instrument in appropriate manners.

Given the great variety of mounting situations, there are many types and designs of microphone mounts on the market today. Many of these mounts allow for adjustable positioning of the microphone on the mounting device. However, there is a continuing need for mounting apparatus for a microphone or other audio equipment that is adaptable to a variety of different mounting needs and which provides for a broad range of control over microphone positioning.

The invention described herein and illustrated in the drawings is defined by a mounting apparatus that allows for significant freedom and ease of movement for an electronics device such as a microphone on a surface such as a ceiling or wall so that the microphone may be properly positioned in order to maximize performance.

The mounting apparatus has a main housing member that mounts to an opening formed in a surface. The main housing has a central “socket” into which a microphone that has an integral “ball” formed as part of the microphone is received. A slotted cap threads onto the housing and the slots in combination with an O-ring provide a compressive and spring-like force that allows the microphone to be articulated and positioned accurately.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

A first illustrated embodiment of a mount10according to the present invention is shown in the drawing figures. With reference toFIGS. 1 and 2, mount10is defined by a main housing12, a microphone14that comprises a microphone capsule16and an integrated, spherically-shaped ball18approximately midway along the length of the microphone, an O-ring20and a slotted cap22. The mount10is mounted to a surface such as a ceiling, wall or floor, or to a surface on another piece of equipment. In any event, the surface to which the mount10is mounted has a bore formed therein through which the main housing12is inserted from one side and attached. With reference toFIGS. 4 and 5, the mount10is shown being mounted to a wall or ceiling24. The wall or ceiling24has a circular bore26formed therein with a diameter the same size as the diameter of the primary wall section28of main housing12. The main housing12is inserted into the bore26from one side of the wall (as illustrated) until a lip30having a larger diameter than the bore26abuts the facing surface of the wall24. The housing is attached to the wall in this installed position with appropriate fasteners.

The interior portion32of main housing12is generally open and defines a socket34formed by an upper opening36defined by a circumferential and inwardly projecting shelf37and an identically sized lower opening38defined by a circumferential and inwardly projecting shelf39that is spaced from the upper opening. An internal annular and circumferential slot40is defined between shelves37and39and the slot40is sized to receive and retain the O-ring20.

The microphone14has a ball18formed as an integral part of the microphone body and located at a desired position along the length of the microphone—as shown herein, the ball18is about midway along the length of the microphone. The ball18may be fabricated as part of the microphone body or added as a separate part. The diameter of the enlarged portion defined by the ball18is greater than the diameter of the opening defined by O-ring20and upper opening36so that when the end of the microphone14is inserted into the housing12the ball18is received on and supported by the O-ring20.

Turning to the series ofFIGS. 6athrough6d, the slotted cap22has a circumferential central opening42, internal threads44on the inner wall of the cap and plural slots46formed around the shoulder48of the cap and extending through the shoulder and radially outwardly from the central opening42and terminating at the edge of the shoulder48. The diameter of central opening42is less than the diameter of ball18.

The mount10is assembled by first attaching the main housing12to the wall24in the manner described above. The O-ring20is then installed into slot40and the microphone14is inserted through the opening36until the ball18rests on O-ring22. The slotted cap is then attached to the main housing by inserting the upper, exposed end of microphone14through the opening42in the slotted cap22and threading the cap onto the housing—internal threads44of slotted cap22are threaded onto external threads47on main housing12. As shown in the figures, the central opening42of slotted cap22has a diameter that is larger than the diameter of the elongate body of the microphone14but smaller than the diameter of the ball18. Accordingly, when the cap22is threaded onto the housing12a portion of the ball18extends through the central opening42of the slotted cap22.

With the mount10assembled as described and as shown in the drawings, the microphone14may be freely articulated as shown inFIG. 5. When a desired position for the microphone is achieved, the microphone will remain in that position until it is affirmatively and intentionally moved.

As the slotted cap22is tightened onto the main housing12the ball18is compressed between the O-ring20and the interior of slotted cap22, and more particularly, the inner circumferential walls50of the central opening42, which are preferably inwardly chamfered to closely adapt to the spherical outer surface of the ball18bear on the ball and exert pressure thereon. As the slotted cap is tightened, the resistance to articulation of the microphone14is increased because the pressure applied to the ball by the cap increases. The slots46tend to open or deflect as the slotted cap is tightened onto the main housing. This gives the cap to act as a spring tensioning means to maintain articulation resistance even with variations in temperature, and assembly and tolerance variations. Stated another way, the portions of shoulder48between slots46define resilient tabs that exert a spring force on the ball18when the cap22is tightened onto the housing. It will be appreciated that as the slotted cap is loosened, the resistance to articulation is decreased. Thus, as the slotted cap is loosened, the slots46close toward their normal positions and the pressure exerted on ball18(i.e., the pressure that pushes ball18into O-ring22) is decreased. It will further be appreciated that the microphone may be oriented to the desired position relative to the housing as noted above, and then fixed in that position by tightening the cap onto the housing sufficiently to prevent further articulation of the microphone. The slotted cap22thus defines a mechanism both for retaining the microphone in its position in the housing and for locking and unlocking the position of the microphone14relative to the housing12.

As noted above, mount10is adapted to be mounted to a surface such as a wall24. The surface may be a wall, a floor, a ceiling or some other surface such as a cabinet. Many other possibilities exist. As an illustration of a specific mounting location, the mount may be attached to a ceiling in a manner that is compatible with maintaining plenum ratings in the building. In building codes, fire codes and similar ordinances for many localities there are specific requirements for creating a plenum between the living or working space and the space above a drop ceiling. When a microphone or the microphone cable is extended through the drop ceiling, the cable may destroy the plenum rating of the installation by creating a passageway from the occupied space to the space above the drop ceiling. In order to maintain the plenum rating, the opening through the ceiling where the cable extends through the ceiling is often sealed to prevent passing of air through the opening. Alternately, the cable may be run under the ceiling rather than passing it through the ceiling. This tends to be unsightly.

The present invention may be mounted to a ceiling while maintaining the plenum rating. This is done by sealing the plenum side of the microphone (above the ceiling tile24) in a plenum-rated enclosure. Alternately, the plenum rating of a structure may be maintained by using plenum a rated O-ring, seal and microphone cabling with the mount10.

While the present invention has been described in terms of preferred and illustrated embodiments, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill that the spirit and scope of the invention is not limited to those embodiments, but extend to the various modifications and equivalents as defined in the appended claims.