Abstract:
A system is disclosed for safely and efficiently removing or returning a radio microphone from a mounting surface. The system includes a first magnet attached to the rear side of a radio microphone and a second magnet located at a desired mounting position on the mounting surface. The second magnet preferably includes an outer vinyl layer to prevent breaking or cracking of the first second magnet when returning the radio microphone to its mounting position.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority to provisional application No. 61/089,071 filed Aug. 15, 2008 titled Hang Up Magnet for Radio Microphone. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    This invention relates to the field of radio microphone devices. More particularly, this invention relates to a system for safely and efficiently removing or returning a radio microphone from its mounting device using magnets. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Radio microphones have traditionally been attached to their mounting device in an automobile using a clip assembly. The clip assembly utilizes a tongue and groove attachment. As such, when the radio user wants to remove or replace a radio microphone from the traditional ‘hang-up clip’ mount, they might find it difficult to locate the precise positioning required to attach the radio microphone to its mounting device. This normally requires them to either waste time trying to remove or replace the microphone or causing them to concentrate on removing or replacing the microphone rather than concentrating on their driving. 
         [0004]    What is needed, therefore, is a system for safely and efficiently removing or returning a radio microphone from its mounting device. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    Embodiments of the invention described herein pertain to a magnetized radio microphone mounting system. According to one embodiment of the invention the radio microphone mounting system includes a radio microphone having a rear surface. A magnet is externally attached to the rear surface of the radio microphone for mounting the radio microphone to a magnetically attractable mounting surface. In preferred embodiments, the mounting system includes a second magnet for attaching to the mounting surface and for attracting the magnet attached to the rear surface of the radio microphone, the attraction between the magnets being of sufficient strength for the mounting of the radio microphone to the mounting surface. An external shock absorbent layer may be provided for covering at least one of the magnets for preventing damage to the magnets and the mounting surface. In preferred embodiments, the external shock absorbent layer is vinyl. 
         [0006]    According to another embodiment of the invention, the second magnet is disposed within an outer layer of a plastic housing. The plastic housing includes at least one hole for attaching the plastic housing to the mounting surface, and the hole may be elongated for adjusting the height of the plastic housing with respect to the mounting surface. In other embodiments, the magnet attached to the rear surface of the radio microphone may be disposed within a plastic housing. 
         [0007]    According to another embodiment of the invention, the radio microphone mounting system includes a first magnet for attaching to a rear surface of a radio microphone and a second magnet for attaching to a mounting surface, the second magnet for attracting the first magnet and the attraction between the first and second magnets being of sufficient strength for the mounting of the radio microphone to the mounting surface. An external shock absorbent layer may be provided for covering at least one of the magnets for preventing damage to the magnets and the mounting surface. In preferred embodiments, the external shock absorbent layer is vinyl. 
         [0008]    According to another embodiment of the invention, the radio microphone mounting system includes a radio microphone having a non-magnetic rear surface receptive to magnetic flux and a magnet for attaching to a mounting surface, the magnet for attracting the non-magnetic rear surface of the radio microphone and for mounting the radio microphone to the mounting surface. In preferred embodiments, the non-magnetic rear surface is a metallic material receptive to magnetic flux. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    Further advantages of the invention are apparent by reference to the detailed description in conjunction with the figures. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  depicts a traditional hang-up clip assembly for mounting a traditional radio microphone as commonly known in the prior art; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  depicts a tongue assembly attached to the rear end of a radio microphone for mounting upon the traditional hang-up clip assembly of  FIG. 1  as commonly known in the prior art; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  depicts a magnet attached to the rear surface of a radio microphone according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  depicts a magnet attached to the rear surface of the radio microphone and mounted to a second magnet attached to a mounting surface according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  depicts a plastic housing for mounting second magnet to the microphone mounting surface; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a right side view of the plastic housing depicted in  FIG. 5 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    Shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is a device well known in the art for attaching a radio microphone  10  to an automobile dashboard or other mounting location using a traditional hang-up clip assembly  12 . Referring to  FIG. 1 , the traditional hang-up clip assembly  12  utilizes a metal groove  14  for mounting the radio microphone  10  when the microphone is not being used. As depicted in  FIG. 2 , a metal tongue  16  is attached to the rear side  18  of the radio microphone  10  for placement in the metal groove  14  when hanging up the radio microphone  10 . 
         [0017]    A radio microphone  20  according to one embodiment of the present invention is depicted in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The radio microphone  20  has a front side  22  and rear side  24 , and a first magnet  26  is externally attached to the rear side  24  of the radio microphone  20 . The first magnet  26  is of a sufficient strength to attach to a second magnet  28  disposed at a desired location  29 , such as the dashboard of an automobile, for mounting the radio microphone  20 . Due to the attraction between the first  26  and second magnets  28 , a user of the microphone  20  preferably only has to place the rear side  24  of the microphone  20  in the general vicinity of the second magnet  28  for the mounting of the radio microphone  20  to the mounting surface  29 . Thus, the user can quickly and efficiently mount the radio microphone  20  after use without taking his eyes off the road, or otherwise diverting his attention from driving, to accurately place the microphone  20  in the traditional clip assembly  12 . Furthermore, the user will be able to easily remove the microphone  20  from its mounted location for use by merely pulling on the microphone  20  with enough strength to separate the first  26  and second magnets  28 . 
         [0018]    The second magnet  28  disposed at the mounting surface  29  may also include an outer vinyl layer  30 . The outer vinyl layer  30  acts as a cushion or shock absorber that allows the user to hang up the radio microphone  20  without fear of cracking or breaking either of the first  26  or second magnets  28  when they are pulled together. Alternatively, the first magnet  26 , or both the first  26  and second magnets  28 , may include an outer vinyl layer  30 . 
         [0019]    According to another embodiment of the invention, the second magnet  28  may be disposed within a plastic housing  32 , and the plastic housing can be attached to the desired mounting surface  29 . As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the plastic housing  32  may include an upper hole  34  and a lower hole  38  for attaching the plastic housing  32  to the desired mounting surface  29  using screws or other attachment means. The mounting surface  29  may include, for example, the dashboard of a vehicle, a desk, or any other mounting location where radio microphones may be used. Thus, the user may attach the plastic housing  32  and associated second magnet  28  to any desired mounting surface  29 , and the plastic housing  32  may be removed and utilized with a different radio microphone  20  and/or another mounting location. The upper hole  34  and/or lower hole  32  may also be elongated to allow for adjustment of the plastic housing  32  in an upward or downward direction when attaching the housing  32  to the mounting surface  29 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the second magnet  28  is preferably embedded within the outer surface  40  of the plastic housing  32  so that the attraction of the second magnet  28  is not diminished. Furthermore, the plastic housing  32  and/or second magnet  28  may also include the outer vinyl layer  30  to prevent breaking of the magnets  26  and  28  as described above. 
         [0020]    While the plastic housing  32  is discussed above with respect to the second magnet  28 , a similar plastic housing as described above may also be used to attach the first magnet  26  to the radio microphone  20 . 
         [0021]    In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the radio microphone  20  does not include the first magnet  26 . Instead of the first magnet  26 , the rear side  24  of the radio microphone  20  has a metal body for attraction to the second magnet  28 . Thus, a user only has to place the metal body of the radio microphone  20  near the second magnet  28  to replace the radio microphone  20  at the mounting location. 
         [0022]    The foregoing description of preferred embodiments for this invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments are chosen and described in an effort to provide the best illustrations of the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention.