Abstract:
A microphone holder is provided that allows a microphone to be attached and detached by a one-touch operation and to be securely held. A microphone grip G is pressed into between clamp arms  6  and  6  in a state where front ends  6   a  are opened. This causes the microphone grip G to press rear ends  6   b  of the clamp arms  6  and  6  to swing the front ends  6   a  in closing directions. Thus, the microphone can be attached and detached by a one-touch operation without causing collision noise and the like.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application is based on, and claims priority from, Japanese Application Serial Number JP2011-195601, filed Sep. 8, 2011, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a holding device of a cylindrical body that holds the body having a cylindrical shape to be held, and more specifically to a microphone holder that can hold a microphone grip, as the body to be held, easily and securely by a light operation. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0003]    An example of a holder that regards a cylindrical body as a body to be held is a microphone holder. In the case of holding a microphone at a prescribed position, a microphone stand is typically used. The stand includes a stand body placed on an installation surface, such as a floor. A microphone holder for holding the microphone is attached to the distal end of the stand body. 
         [0004]    There are various types of microphone holders for respective uses. For instance, the most popular type is described in Japanese Utility Model No. 3093594. As described therein, a holder includes an elastically deformable clamp member formed to have a C-shaped section. The grip of a microphone is pressed into an opening of the holder, and elastically clamped. 
         [0005]    However, such microphone holders are a forcedly fitting type according to which the opening of the clamp member is pressed open and the grip is mounted. Since a strong pressing force is required, this type is inferior in operability. Furthermore, when the grip is pressed against the opening to be forcedly fit, the microphone holder and the grip sometimes collide with each other and the microphone picks up collision noise caused by the collision. 
         [0006]    Thus, microphone holders used for a hand-held microphone that frequently repeats attachment and detachment include a shock absorbing material that is made of an adhesive engineering plastic and adheres to the inner surface of the holder. However, this configuration is unfavorable in cost and causes a problem in that long-term deterioration of peeling off. 
         [0007]    Another holding device holding any of cylindrical bodies equivalent to the microphone grips, for instance, a flashlight and various types of grips, adopts the forcedly fitting type and requires a strong pressing force. This causes a problem in inferior operability. 
         [0008]    It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a holding device of a cylindrical body that can hold various types of cylindrical bodies, including a cylindrical microphone grip, more easily and securely, by a light operation. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    In order to achieve the object, the present invention includes any of following characteristics. That is, a holding device of a cylindrical body adopting the cylindrical body as a body to be held, includes: an arc-shaped holding frame disposed along an outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical body; and a clamp arm swingably connected to at least one end of the holding frame, wherein an opening through which the body to be held can be inserted into an inside of the holding frame is formed by opening the clamp arm, and the holding frame and the clamp arm hold at least half a circumferential length of the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical body by closing the clamp arm. 
         [0010]    In a more preferable mode, the holding frame is disposed along the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical body, formed into an arc shape having a length of a circumference equal to or less than half the circumferential length of the outer circumferential surface and includes a pair of clamp arms connected via swing shafts at opposite ends of the frame, each of the clamp arms is formed into an arc shape having a curvature identical to a curvature of the holding frame, the swing shaft is disposed at a substantial center of the clamp arm, and a sum of the length of the circumference from a front end of each of the clamp arms to the swing shaft and the length of the circumference of the holding frame is at least half of the length of the circumference of the cylindrical body. 
         [0011]    Accordingly, pressing of the cylindrical body into between the clamp arms in the state where these arms are opened allows the cylindrical body to press the rear ends of the clamp arms to swing in directions where the front ends are closed. Thus, the cylindrical body can be held more easily and securely by a light operation without causing collision noise and the like. 
         [0012]    In a more preferable mode, lock means for holding the clamp arm in a closed state is provided between the holding frame and the clamp arm. Accordingly, the body to be held can be held for a long time. 
         [0013]    Furthermore, the clamp arm is disposed such that a part of the clamp arm and a part of the holding frame overlap with each other, and a pair of magnets, as the lock means, are provided on the overlapping opposite surfaces such that different poles are opposed to each other. This allows the clamp arm to be fixed using magnetic fixing force of the magnets. 
         [0014]    Moreover, the clamp arm includes a pair of arm bodies disposed separated in an axial direction of the cylindrical body, and a plurality of connecting shafts bridging the arm bodies so as to connect the arm bodies to each other, and one of the connecting shafts also serves as the swing shaft of the clamp arm. This allows the entire cylindrical body to be gripped and to be held in a more secure state. 
         [0015]    In a more preferable mode, vibration isolators which contact the outer circumferential surface are provided at least at opposite ends of the clamp arm. Accordingly, the cylindrical body can be prevented from input of a vibration and an impact. 
         [0016]    The cylindrical body as the body to be held is a microphone grip; the present invention also includes a microphone holder for holding the microphone. 
         [0017]    A more preferable mode of the microphone holder further includes a microphone mounter to be attached to a prescribed microphone stand, wherein the holding frame is held in a state of being suspended by a rubber cord-like vibration control member from the microphone mounter. 
         [0018]    This allows the microphone to be easily attached and detached by a one-touch operation and enables the microphone to be securely held. Furthermore, a stand base for attaching the microphone to the microphone stand is provided. The holding frame is held in a state of being suspended from the stand base by the vibration control member. Accordingly, this technique is applicable to an environment of accurate recording, such as studio recording. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIG. 1A  is a front view of a microphone holder according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 1B  is a side view of the microphone holder according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the microphone holder; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3A  is a front view of the microphone holder in a state where a clamp arm is closed; 
           [0023]      FIG. 3B  is a front view of the microphone holder in a state where the clamp arm is opened; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the microphone holder in a state of being expanded into a plane. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to drawings. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. 
         [0026]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , a microphone holder  1  is for holding a microphone M including a cylindrical grip G, and preferably used in a state of being suspended by a vibration isolating rubber cord  4  from a microphone mounter  2  attached to a microphone stand, not shown. The microphone grip G does not necessarily have a simple cylindrical shape. Instead, this grip may be formed into a circular conical shape. 
         [0027]    The microphone mounter  2  includes a base  21  to be attached to, for instance, the front end of the microphone stand and a hanger  22  swingably attached to the base  21 , which are connected to each other swingably about a turning shaft  23 . 
         [0028]    The base  21  may be a molded article made of a rigid resin. A female thread is provided at the bottom (the right hand side in  FIG. 1B ) of this base. The female thread and a male thread, which is to be screwed into the female thread, are not shown. 
         [0029]    The hanger  22  may likewise be a molded article made of rigid resin, and includes a casing that has a C-shaped section and arranged along the outer circumference of the microphone holder  1  with a prescribed separation therefrom. As shown in  FIG. 1B , hooks  24  by which the rubber cord  4  is hooked are provided on opposite sides of the hanger  22 . In this example, the hooks  24  are provided at four sites on each side. The microphone holder  1  is held suspended within the hanger  22  by the rubber cord  4 . 
         [0030]    Instead, the hanger  22  may be made of steel and have a structure where a vibration control material adheres to the surface thereof, or have a structure made of a combination of a steel plate and a plastic. The specific form and specifications are arbitrary. 
         [0031]    The microphone mounter  2  has any specific shape only if the mounter can hold the microphone holder  1  in a suspended manner. Any material and shape may be selected as those of the rubber cord  4  in conformity with specifications only if the cord is an elastic cord-shaped body that has an appropriate elasticity capable of suspending the microphone holder  1  and has vibration controllability for suppressing input of noise. 
         [0032]    Next, also referring to  FIGS. 2 to 4 , the microphone holder  1  according to this embodiment includes: a holding frame  5  that has a C-shaped section formed to be arranged along the outer circumferential surface of the microphone grip G included in the microphone; and a pair of clamp arms  6  and  6  swingably attached to the respective opposite ends of the holding frame  5 . 
         [0033]    The holding frame  5  includes frame bodies  51  and  51  disposed to be opposite to and separated from each other by a prescribed interval along the axial direction of the microphone grip G, and has what is called a ladder-frame structure, in which, for instance, three connecting shafts  52  connect the frame bodies  51  and  51  to each other. 
         [0034]    The frame bodies  51  and  51  configuring the holding frame  5  are formed into a circular arc shape whose length of the circumference is equal to or less than half of the length of the circumference of the microphone grip G. In this example, this length is half the length of the circumference. 
         [0035]    In this example, the three connecting shafts  52  are fixedly screwed to opposite ends ( 52   b  and  52   b ) and the center ( 52   a ) of each frame body  51 . However, any number and fixing positions of connecting shafts  52  may be selected and adopted in conformity with specifications. 
         [0036]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , three hook rods  53 , by which the rubber cord  4  is hooked to the microphone holder  1 , are provided at respective positions on the outer surface of each of frame bodies  51  and  51 . Each hook rod  53  is integrally fixed onto the outer surface of the frame body  51  together with a screw  54  for fixing the connecting shaft  52  to the frame body  51 . 
         [0037]    A vibration isolating ring  55  as a vibration isolator which contacts the microphone grip G is attached to the center connecting shaft  52   a  among the connecting shafts  52 . The vibration isolating ring  55  is, for instance, a ring body made of an elastic rubber material. In this example, this ring is provided at each of the opposite ends of the connecting shaft  52   a . Instead, this ring may be provided at the center of the connecting shaft  52   a.    
         [0038]    In this example, the vibration isolating ring  55  is provided at each of the opposite ends of the connecting shaft  52   a . However, a vibration isolating ring  55  formed into a macaroni shape may be inserted over the connecting shaft  52   a  so as to cover the entire shaft. Instead, the ring is formed integrally on the surface of the connecting shaft  52   a.    
         [0039]    Next, each clamp arm  6  includes: a pair of arm bodies  61  and  61  disposed separated in the axial direction of the microphone grip G; and a plurality of connecting shafts  62  connecting the arm bodies  61  and  61  to each other. 
         [0040]    The arm bodies  61  and  61  are formed into a circular arc shape as with the frame body  51  described above. In this example, the arm bodies are formed to have the length of the circumference shorter than the length of the circumference of the holding frame  5 . 
         [0041]    The connecting shafts  62  are arranged at the opposite ends ( 62   b  and  62   b ) and the center ( 62   a ) of the arm bodies  61  and  61 . In this example, the connecting shafts  52   b  connecting the respective opposite ends of the frame bodies  51  also serve as the central connecting shafts  62   a . The clamp arms  6  are connected to the respective opposite ends of the holding frame  5  swingably about the connecting shaft  52   b  ( 62   a ) as the swing shaft. 
         [0042]    In this example, the swing shaft  62   a  is arranged at the substantially center of the clamp arm  6 . However, the swing position may be any intermediate position between a front end  6   a  to a rear end  6   b  of the clamp arm  6 . 
         [0043]    A vibration isolating ring  63  as a vibration isolator in contact with the microphone grip G is attached to each of the connecting shafts  62   b  and  62   b  at the opposite ends of the clamp arm  6 . In this example, the vibration isolating ring  63  is substantially the same as the vibration isolating ring  55  of the holding frame  5 , and arranged at each of the opposite ends of each of the connecting shafts  62   b  and  62   b , the ends being separated in the axial direction. 
         [0044]    In the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 3A , the holding frame  5  and the clamp arms  6  are formed into the circular arcs having the same curvature, and intermediate parts of the clamp arms  6  are attached to the respective opposite ends of the holding frame  5  swingably about the connecting shafts  52   b  ( 62   a ). Accordingly, the sum of the length of the circumference from the front end  6   a  to the swing shaft  62   a  of each of the clamp arms  6  and  6  and the length of the circumference of the holding frame  5  is at least half the length of the circumference of the microphone grip G. 
         [0045]    Thus, in the state where the clamp arms  6  and  6  are closed, the holding frame  5  and the clamp arm  6  hold the microphone grip G around at least half the circumferential length of the outer circumferential surface of the grip. This prevents the grip from dropping off. 
         [0046]    As shown in  FIG. 3B , outwardly opening of the front ends  6   a  of the respective clamp arms  6  and  6  allows the opening width W of the microphone holder  1  to be larger than the diameter D of the microphone grip G. Accordingly, the microphone grip G can be smoothly inserted into and removed from the microphone holder  1  in a direction orthogonal to the axis. 
         [0047]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , overlapping parts of the holding frame  5  and the clamp arms  6  and  6  are provided with lock means  7  for holding the respective clamp arms  6  and  6  in a closed state. 
         [0048]    In this embodiment, the lock means  7  includes: a recess  71  on the side of the holding frame  5  and a recess  71  on the side of the clamp arm  6  that are formed opposite to each other when each of the clamp arms  6  and  6  is closed (see  FIG. 3A ); and a pair of magnets  72  and  72  arranged in the respective recesses. 
         [0049]    In this example, neodymium magnets causing a strong magnetic fixing force are adopted as the magnets  72  and  72 , which are arranged such that different poles are opposite to each other. 
         [0050]    Accordingly, in a state where the clamp arms  6  are overlap with the holding frame  5 , that is, a state where the clamp arms  6  and  6  are closed, the magnets  72  and  72  are opposed and the different poles are attracted to each other. The magnetic attraction force allows the clamp arms  6  and  6  to be held in the closed state. 
         [0051]    Next, an example of procedures for using the microphone holder  1  will be described. First, the rubber cord  4  is hanged at the hook rods  53  of the microphone holder  1 . The rubber cord  4  is further hanged at the hooks  24  of the microphone mounter  2  such that the microphone holder  1  is suspended. 
         [0052]    Next, the front end  6   a  of each of the clamp arms  6  and  6  is outwardly opened so as to be resisted to the magnetic fixing force of the magnets  72  and  72 . This swings the clamp arm about the swing shaft  52   a , and the rear end  6   b  of each of the clamp arms  6  and  6  extends to the inside of the holding frame  5 . 
         [0053]    The microphone is pressed from the widened opening at the front ends  6   a  of the clamp arms  6  and  6  into the center of the holding frame  5 . 
         [0054]    The microphone M comes into contact with the rear end  6   b  of each of the clamp arms  6  and  6 . Further pressing by the microphone closes the front end  6   a  of each of the clamp arms  6  and  6 . Subsequently, when the clamp arms  6  and  6  reach respective positions where the magnets  72  and  72  are opposite to each other, the magnetic fixing force of the magnets  72  and  72  fixes the clamp arms  6  and  6 . 
         [0055]    In this example, the structure of a type of microphone holder  1  that holds a large-diameter capacitor microphone for studio recording has been exemplified. For instance, a typical dynamic microphone, capacitor microphone or the like may be adopted. 
         [0056]    In this example, the microphone holder  1  is suspended by the rubber cord  4  from the microphone mounter  2 . However, a mode where the microphone holder  1  is solely attached to the microphone stand may be adopted. 
         [0057]    In this example, the case where the microphone holder  1  horizontally holds the microphone M has been exemplified. However, vertical orientation of the microphone holder  1  allows the microphone M to be held in a vertically standing state. The holding orientation by the microphone holder  1  is not particularly limited. 
         [0058]    In this example, the microphone grip G is vibration-isolated and prevented from slipping so as not to deviate from the holding position by the vibration isolating rings  55  and  63 . In order to improve the close contact force between the microphone holder  1  and the microphone grip G, a non-slip sheet, for instance, a rubber sheet, may intervene therebetween to more securely prevent microphone grip G from positionally deviating. 
         [0059]    Furthermore, in this embodiment, the description has been made using the case of application to the microphone holder for holding the microphone grip as a cylindrical body to be held. However, the holding device of a cylindrical body according to the present invention is not limited thereto. More specifically, for instance, a bottle, a can, a PET bottle, a mug, a cup or the like can be held, and the grip of a flashlight, a mop or the like can also be held.