Abstract:
A microphone holder holds a microphone in which an upper surface and a lower surface of a step portion are formed on an outer surface of a housing, and the microphone holder includes: a holder which is formed in a cylindrical shape having openings on upper and lower sides and in which a plurality of through passages penetrating a wall of the cylindrical shaped body is provided; a sliding portion provided movably in a circumferential direction along the openings of the holder; a lock ring configured to cover the through passage formed to the holder, from an outer side by a lock plate extending from the sliding portion; and a contact member which is movably held in the through passage and can contact on an upper surface side of the step portion of the microphone.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a microphone holder and a step formation member used with the microphone holder, and a microphone shock mount using the microphone holder, and especially relates to a microphone holder, in which a microphone can be easily attached to and detached from, and a step formation member used with the microphone holder, and a microphone shock mount which can absorb vibration of the microphone holder holding a microphone. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Conventionally, a microphone shock mount for absorbing vibration while holding a microphone includes, for example, a large diameter ring-shaped outer peripheral member  50  and a small diameter ring-shaped holder  55  arranged in a ring of the outer peripheral member  50  and configured to hold the microphone, as illustrated in  FIGS. 17 and 18 . The outer peripheral member  50  includes a screw portion  51  and can connect to a microphone stand. 
         [0005]    A rubber string  57  is stretched between the outer peripheral member  50  and the holder  55 . By this rubber string  57 , the holder  55  is elastically suspended movable in vertical direction with respect to the outer peripheral member  50 . In an illustrated example, a pair of rubber bands  58  (flat rubber) is stretched in parallel to a horizontal direction in the ring-shaped holder  55 . A microphone housing (not illustrated) is sandwiched in the rubber band  58 , and a rubber band  59  is fitted to a groove formed in the microphone housing. Thus the holder is held. A holder having such a configuration is disclosed in JP 2000-152360 A. 
         [0006]    Further, in addition to the above-described configuration, examples of a conventional configuration of means for holding a microphone include a configuration in which a microphone is fixed by screwing to a threaded hole provided on a microphone housing, a configuration in which a microphone is held by clipping a microphone housing by a clip, and a configuration in which a microphone is fixed by being pressed from four directions by a tip of a screw, although those are not illustrated. 
         [0007]    However, in the configuration in which a microphone is held by sandwiching a microphone housing by the rubber bands  58  and  59  as illustrated in  FIGS. 17 and 18 , it is difficult to attach a microphone because a microphone housing is caught to the rubber band  58  when the microphone is attached. Further, even if the rubber band  59  is not fitted to a groove formed to a microphone housing, a microphone can be held by sandwiching only a lower portion of the microphone housing. Therefore, a user might use it improperly. A microphone might be fallen by such improper usage. 
         [0008]    Further, a screw is visible in the configuration in which a microphone is screwed to a screw hole cut in a microphone housing shape, and a grip of a clip is conspicuous in the configuration in which a microphone housing is clipped by the clip. Therefore, there is a problem that appearance is not good in both of the configurations. 
         [0009]    Furthermore, attaching/detaching operations are not easy in the configuration in which a microphone housing is fixed by being pressed from four directions by a tip of a screw, and also it is difficult to arrange a microphone at a center. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The present invention is focused on the above-described issues, and an object of the present invention is to provide a microphone holder in which a microphone is easily and certainly attached to and detached from and which has an excellent appearance, a step formation member used with the microphone holder, and a microphone shock mount using the microphone holder. 
         [0011]    To solve the above-described problems, a microphone holder according to the present invention is a microphone holder holding a microphone in which an upper surface and a lower surface of a step portion are formed on an outer surface of a housing, and the microphone holder includes: holder which is formed in a cylindrical shape having openings on upper and lower sides and in which a plurality of through passages penetrating a wall of the cylindrical shaped body is provided; a sliding portion provided movably in a circumferential direction along the openings of the holder; a lock ring configured to cover the through passage formed to the holder, from an outer side by a lock plate extending from the sliding portion; and a contact member which is movably held in the through passage and can contact on an upper surface side of the step portion of the microphone, wherein the lock plate of the lock ring is arranged adjacent to a pressing portion, which presses and moves the contact member from an outer side to an inner side, and an escape hole configured to store a part of the contact member and move the part of the contact member to an outer side, and either of the pressing portion or the escape hole of the lock plate is arranged on an outer side of the through passage by turning the sliding portion of the lock ring in a predetermined direction. 
         [0012]    The microphone holder preferably includes a locking portion by which a lower surface of the step portion of the microphone is locked. 
         [0013]    The contact member is preferably formed in a ball shape. 
         [0014]    The through passage preferably inclines downward toward an inner side of the holder. 
         [0015]    A microphone is inserted into a microphone holder having such a configuration when the microphone is attached, and a lock ring rotates in a predetermined direction with respect to a holder. Accordingly, the microphone can be easily and certainly held in a locked state. 
         [0016]    On the other hand, when the microphone is removed, the lock is unlocked by rotating the lock ring in a direction opposite to the locking direction. Accordingly, the microphone can be easily removed. 
         [0017]    According to a configuration according to the present invention, a lock mechanism is provided in a microphone holder, and therefore a microphone holder having an excellent appearance can be provided. 
         [0018]    In addition, to solve the above-described problems, a microphone shock mount according to the present invention is a microphone shock mount using the microphone holder, and the microphone shock mount includes: the microphone holder, a ring shaped member arranged so as to surround a periphery of the microphone holder and including a member for attaching to an outside; and a string shaped elastic member stretched between the microphone holder and the ring shaped member. 
         [0019]    According to such a configuration, a microphone can be easily attached and detached by the above-described microphone holder, and also a microphone shock mount having an excellent appearance can be provided. 
         [0020]    To solve the above-described problems, a step formation member according to the present invention is a step formation member used with the microphone holder, and the step formation member is formed attachably/detachably to the microphone and configured to form a step portion on a peripheral surface side of the microphone by attaching the step formation member to the peripheral surface of the microphone. 
         [0021]    The step formation member is preferably formed of hard rubber. Alternatively, the step formation member may be formed of an annular band including a tightening portion and fixed to the microphone since a diameter of the band is decreased by tightening the tightening portion. 
         [0022]    By using the step formation member, a step portion can be formed to a microphone which does not have a step portion on a peripheral surface, and the microphone is held by a microphone holder according to the present invention. 
         [0023]    According to the present invention, a microphone holder in which a microphone can be easily and certainly attached and detached and which has an excellent appearance, a step formation member used with the microphone holder, and a microphone shock mount using the microphone holder can be provided. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0024]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of a microphone shock mount according to the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the microphone shock mount illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a microphone holder included in the microphone shock mount illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the microphone holder illustrated in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a locked state of a microphone holder; 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view illustrating an unlocked state of a microphone holder; 
           [0030]      FIG. 7  is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating an unlocked state in which a microphone is inserted into the microphone shock mount illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 8  is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a locked state in which a microphone is inserted into the microphone shock mount illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 9  illustrates a variation of the microphone shock mount according to the present invention, and is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a locked state; 
           [0033]      FIG. 10  illustrates a variation of the microphone shock mount according to the present invention, and is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating an unlocked state; 
           [0034]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a locked state of the microphone holder according to the present invention, which holds a microphone in which a cross section is a rectangular shape; 
           [0035]      FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view illustrating an unlocked state of the microphone holder according to the present invention, which holds a microphone in which a cross section is a rectangular shape; 
           [0036]      FIG. 13  illustrates another variation of the microphone holder according to the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view illustrating a locked state; 
           [0037]      FIG. 14  illustrates another variation of the microphone holder according to the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view illustrating an unlocked state; 
           [0038]      FIGS. 15A and 15B  are perspective views of a microphone in which a first adapter is mounted; 
           [0039]      FIGS. 16A and 16B  are perspective views of a microphone in which a second adapter is mounted; 
           [0040]      FIG. 17  is a plan view of a conventional microphone shock mount; and 
           [0041]      FIG. 18  is a side view of a conventional microphone shock mount. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0042]    An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 8 .  FIG. 1  is a plan view of a microphone shock mount according to the present invention, and  FIG. 2  is a side view of the same.  FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a microphone holder included in the microphone shock mount illustrated in  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the same.  FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a locked state of a microphone holder included in the microphone shock mount illustrated in  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view illustrating an unlocked state.  FIG. 7  is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating an unlocked state in which a microphone is inserted into the microphone shock mount illustrated in  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 8  is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a locked state. 
         [0043]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a microphone shock mount  1  includes an outer peripheral member  3  which is a large diameter ring (a ring shaped member) and a microphone holder  5  arranged in the outer peripheral member  3 . 
         [0044]    A screw portion  2  (attaching member) is provided by connecting to an outer peripheral surface of the ring-shaped outer peripheral member  3 , and the microphone shock mount  1  is connected by screwing to a microphone stand (not illustrated). 
         [0045]    A hook  4  projected in a button shape is arranged at equal intervals in a circumferential direction at multiple points (four points in the figure) on an outer peripheral surface of the outer peripheral member  3 . Around rubber string  7  (elastic member) can hook to this hook  4 . 
         [0046]    A microphone holder  5  is formed in a cylindrical shape, and multiple (four in the figure) projecting portions  8  are arranged at equal intervals along a circumferential direction on an upper peripheral surface thereof. Each projecting portion  8  is provided so as to project upward, and the round rubber string  7  is inserted through two through holes  8 a (see  FIG. 3 ) formed at a tip of each projecting portion  8 . 
         [0047]    Multiple (four in the figure) projecting portions  9  are arranged at equal intervals along a circumferential direction on a lower outer peripheral surface of the microphone holder  5  so as to be vertically symmetric with respect to the projecting portion  8 . Each projecting portion  9  is provided so as to project downward, and the round rubber string  7  is inserted through two through holes  9   a  (see  FIG. 3 ) formed at a tip of each projecting portion  9 . 
         [0048]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the round rubber string  7  is stretched between the hook  4  of the outer peripheral member  3  and the projecting portions  8  and  9  of the microphone holder  5 . The microphone holder  5  is held in a state of floating in a hollow in the ring-shaped outer peripheral member  3  by having elasticity by the round rubber string  7 . Specifically, the microphone holder  5  is reciprocably held in a vertical direction with respect to the outer peripheral member  3  by the round rubber string  7 , and vibration is absorbed. 
         [0049]    Next, a configuration of the microphone holder  5  will be described in detail. 
         [0050]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the microphone holder  5 .  FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the microphone holder  5 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the microphone holder  5  is assembled by three members, roughly classified. Specifically, the microphone holder  5  includes the cylindrical-shaped holder  10 , a lock ring  15  attached so as to cover from above the holder  10 , and multiple (four in the figure) balls  20  (contact member). The holder  10  has a cylindrical shape which vertically opens and includes the projecting portions  8  and  9 . In addition, multiple through passages  11  are formed on a wall of the holder  10 , and the balls  20  are held in the through passages  11 . The lock ring  15  can rotate within a predetermined range in a circumferential direction with respect to the holder  10 . 
         [0051]    In the present embodiment, the holder  10  is formed of a resin material, and the lock ring  15  and the ball  20  are formed of a resin material, such as polyacetal resin (POM), having a certain hardness and friction resistance. A reason why POM resin is preferable to a material of the ball  20  is that the POM resin is softer and has a lighter weight than metal. Further, POM resin has a friction force suitable for holding a microphone. In the case where the ball  20  is a metal ball such as an iron ball, a housing of a microphone  30  might be scratched by friction, and the weight thereof is too heavy. Further, in the case where the ball  20  is formed of rubber and silicon, there is a problem that a friction force is too strong when the lock ring  15  is rotated, and a surface is roughened in an early stage due to aging deterioration. Therefore, POM resin or a material having physical property similar to the POM resin is preferably used in a material of the ball  20  according to the present embodiment. 
         [0052]    A microphone is inserted into the cylindrical holder  10 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , a lower end of the holder  10  is folded inward, and a flange portion  12  (locking portion) is formed. This flange portion  12  is for locking a lower surface side of a step portion formed to a microphone housing. On a wall of the holder  10 , multiple (four in the figure) through passages  11 , for example, horizontally penetrating in a radial direction as described above are formed at equal intervals in a circumferential direction. The balls  20  are stored in the through passages  11  so as to be movable in a radial direction. An opening  11   a  communicated with the through passage  11  is provided on an inner peripheral surface side of the holder  10 . 
         [0053]    A diameter of the through passage  11  is larger than a diameter of the ball  20 . A diameter of the opening  11   a  is smaller than a diameter of the ball  20 . The ball  20  moves to a radial direction inner side in the through passage  11 , and therefore a part of the ball  20  projects from the opening  11   a . 
         [0054]    Further, the lock ring  15  includes a ring-shaped slider  16  (sliding portion) rotatable in a circumferential direction and multiple lock plates  17  extended and suspended from the ring-shaped slider  16 . The ring-shaped slider  16  is rotatable in a circumferential direction by using an upper end of the cylindrical holder  10  as a rail. In addition, the lock plate  17  is provided at equal intervals at multiple portions (four in the figure) along a circumferential direction of the ring-shaped slider  16 . A grip  18  is provided at an upper side of the lock plate  17 . A recessed wave is formed on a surface of the grip  18  so as to easily grip the lock ring  15  by the palm when the lock ring  15  is rotated. 
         [0055]    The four lock plates  17  contact with an outer peripheral surface of the holder  10  and are arranged so as to cover each of multiple through passages  11 . The lock plate  17  includes an escape hole  17   a  and a plate-like pressing portion  17   b . A diameter of the escape hole  17   a  is smaller than a diameter of the ball  20 , and the plate pressing portion  17   b  is provided next to the escape hole  17   a . By sliding and rotating the lock ring  15  within a predetermined rotation range, either of the escape hole  17   a  or the pressing portion  17   b  of the lock plate  17  is arranged on an outer side of the through passage  11  of the holder  10 . 
         [0056]    Herein, a usage state of the microphone holder  5  will be described.  FIG. 5  illustrates a state in which a microphone is held (fixed).  FIG. 6  illustrates an unlocked state. In the state illustrated in  FIG. 6  (initial state), a microphone housing is inserted into the holder  10 . When the microphone housing is inserted, the lock ring  15  is rotated in a predetermined direction (a clockwise direction in the embodiment), and the pressing portion  17   b  of the lock plate  17  is arranged on an outer side of the through passage  11  as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . At this time, the pressing portion  17   b  presses the ball  20  and moves the ball  20  on a radial direction inner side. Therefore, the ball  20  is projected from the opening  11   a  on an inner side of the holder  10 , and the microphone housing is fixed (a locked state). When the housing is locked, the microphone housing is made of metal, and the lock ring  15  is made of resin. Therefore, the pressing portion  17   b  of the lock ring  15  is bent to an outer side by being pressed by the ball  20 . At this time, proper friction and a click feeling in the locked state are generated by an elastic force of the pressing portion  17   b  generating and a force to press the ball  20 . 
         [0057]    Further, the ball  20  is a sphere, and the pressing portion  17   b  is elastic. Therefore, a difference in size by variation in production is allowed, and a microphone housing can be certainly held. The ball  20  contacts at a point, not on a plane with respect to a housing of the microphone  30 . Therefore, rattling in a locked state can be prevented. Further, the ball  20  is fitted to a groove on an inner side of the lock plate  17 , and the ball  20  has an effect equivalent to a latch on the lock ring  15 . Therefore, the ball  20  also plays a role on preventing unexpected rotation of the lock ring  15 . 
         [0058]    On the other hand, when the lock ring  15  rotates in an opposite direction (counter clockwise direction in the present embodiment) with respect to the holder  10 , the escape hole  17   a  of the lock plate  17  is arranged on an outer side of the through passage  11  as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . At this time, the ball  20  moves to a radial direction outer side (escape hole  17   a  side). Accordingly, the ball  20  returns to a state in which the ball  20  does not project from the inner side opening  11   a  of the holder  10  (unlocked state). In this unlocking operation, the ball  20  is released from the state in which the ball  20  comes into contact with a microphone housing and moves to the escape hole  17   a  of the lock plate  17 . Specifically, a complicated unlocking mechanism is not necessary in the microphone holder  5 . The ball  20  freely rotates in the through passage  11  and the escape hole  17   a . Attachment/detachment of a microphone housing is easy because the rotation of the ball  20  prevents generation of an unnecessary friction force when the microphone housing is attached and detached. 
         [0059]    In the case where a microphone is held by the microphone shock mount  1  configured as described above, the microphone  30  is inserted from an upper side into the unlocked microphone holder  5  (holder  10 ) as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . At this time, the flange portion  12  arranged at a lower end of the holder  10  locks a lower surface of a step portion  31  formed to a housing of the microphone  30 . 
         [0060]    Next, when the lock ring  15  rotates in a predetermined direction, the pressing portion  17   b  of the lock plate  17  presses the ball  20  as illustrated in  FIG. 8 . The ball  20  moves to a radial direction inner side in the through passage  11  and projects from the opening  11   a.    
         [0061]    In this state, the ball  20  comes into contact with an upper surface side of a step portion  32  of the microphone  30 . When the ball  20  comes into contact, a step portion of a microphone housing is sandwiched (a locked state) between the ball  20  and the flange portion  12 , and the microphone  30  is held by a microphone holder. 
         [0062]    On the other hand, holding of the microphone  30  is unlocked by turning the lock ring  15  in an opposite direction. As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the escape hole  17   a  is again arranged on an outer side of the through passage  11  by rotation of the lock ring  15 . Accordingly, the ball  20  moves to the escape hole  17   a  side, and the locked state is released. 
         [0063]    According to the above-described embodiment according to the present invention, when the lock ring  15  rotates in a predetermined direction, the microphone  30  attached to the microphone holder  5  can be easily held in a locked state. On the other hand, the lock is unlocked when the lock ring  15  rotates in a direction opposite to a locking direction. Therefore, attachment, detachment, and fixing of the microphone  30  become easy. 
         [0064]    According to a configuration according to the present invention, a locking mechanism is provided inside the microphone holder  5 , and therefore the microphone holder  5  and the microphone shock mount  1  having excellent appearance can be provided. 
         [0065]    In the above-described embodiment, the through passage  11  provided to the holder  10  is horizontally provided in a radial direction, but not limited to the configuration. 
         [0066]    For example, as illustrated in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the through passage  11  may be formed so as to incline downward toward a radial direction inner side.  FIGS. 9 and 10  illustrate variations of a microphone shock mount.  FIG. 9  is a sectional view illustrating a locked state, and  FIG. 10  is a sectional view illustrating an unlocked state. 
         [0067]    In the case where the through passage  11  inclined in such a way is formed, the ball  20  does not fall down from the through passage  11  when a microphone holder is assembled. Therefore, assembly becomes easy, and operability is improved. In addition, the through passage  11  is inclined downward on a housing side of the microphone  30 . Therefore, all of the balls  20  certainly come into contact with a housing (the step portion  32 ) of the microphone  30  when locking. Therefore, a microphone can be certainly held and fixed. 
         [0068]    In the above-described embodiment, a cylindrical housing of the microphone  30  (perfect circle cross-section) is illustrated as an example. However, in the present invention, a housing shape of the microphone  30  which can be held by the microphone holder  5  is not limited thereto. 
         [0069]    For example, as illustrated in a sectional view (a locked state) of  FIG. 11  and a sectional view (an unlocked state) of  FIG. 12 , even if a cross section (a plane shape of a step portion) of a housing of the microphone  30  is a rectangular shape, the microphone  30  can be held. 
         [0070]    In the above-described embodiment, the spherical ball  20  is stored in the through passage  11  as a contact member, and locking and unlocking are performed by rotating and moving the ball  20 . However, the contact member is not limited to the spherical ball  20 . For example, as illustrated in a cross-sectional view (locked state) of  FIG. 13  and a cross-sectional view (unlocked state) of  FIG. 14 , a contact member  21  in which curvatures of spherical surfaces on an inner side and an outer side are different may be used. 
         [0071]    In the above-described embodiment, with respect to the microphone  30  including the step portions  31  and  32  in a housing, the flange portion  12  and the ball  20  are locked to the step portions  31  and  32 . However, regarding a microphone holder according to the present invention, the microphone  30  which does not include a projecting portion like the step portions  31  and  32  as illustrated in  FIG. 15A  can be held by inserting to a ring-shaped first adapter  35  (step formation member) and forming a projecting portion as illustrated in  FIG. 15B   
         [0072]    Further, in the present embodiment, the holder  10  is made of resin. However, a material forming the holder  10  is not limited to resin materials and may be, for example, a metal material. 
         [0073]    The adapter  35  is made of hard rubber, resin, and metal, and can be attached to a microphone housing. The adapter which is a step formation member is not limited to the adapters illustrated in  FIGS. 15A and 15B . It may be two ring-shaped adapters  36  and  36  (second adapters) as illustrated in FIGS.  16 A and  16 B. In the case where the adapter is made of hard rubber, the adapter may have a ring shape or a cylindrical shape, which is formed slightly smaller than an outer diameter of a microphone housing. In this case, the adapter  35  or  36  is certainly fixed to a microphone housing by elasticity and a friction force of a rubber. In the case where the adapter is made of resin or metal, the adapter is a cylindrical member or annular member. The cylindrical adapter  35  is directly fixed to a microphone by such as a screw. The annular adapters  36  and  36  include, for example, a tightening portion to decrease a diameter of an annular band by screw-tightening and pulling a fitting portion, and the adapters maybe fixed so as to tighten a microphone housing. The adapters  36  and  36  including the tightening portion may be configured similar to a binding band made of resin or metal.