Abstract:
The present invention provides an apparatus for securing a pivoting device to abase location. The device includes a base plate, a clamping assembly, a pivot post rotationally coupled to the base plate and removably coupled to the clamping assembly. The clamping assembly is also secured to a base location, such as the tower portion of a sport boat, such as a ski boat or wakeboard boat. The base plate is secured to a sound-emitting device. The pivot post allows the sound-emitting device to be rotated about the clamping assembly.

Description:
REFERENCE TO PENDING APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is not based upon any pending domestic or international patent application. 
       REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
       [0002]    This application is not referenced in any microfiche appendix. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0004]    The present invention generally relates to a pivot device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a pivoting device for securing a detachable audible sound emitting device thereto. 
         [0005]    2. Background 
         [0006]    Music has become a very important part the boating culture. In particular, personal watercraft, such as ski boats and wakeboard boats, are commonly outfitted with external speakers so that music can be played during the operation of the craft. These speakers are typically permanently fixed to a portion of the boat. One such position is the tower portion of the craft. 
         [0007]    One disadvantage to the prior art external speaker systems is that due to being fixed in a permanent position, the direction of the music is also fixed, usually toward the back portion of the watercraft. When a person moves away from the direction of the music, the quality of the music is negatively impaired or is lost entirely. 
         [0008]    Accordingly, there is a need to create a device for securing a detachable audible sound emitting device to a nautical vessel that addresses the needs set out above. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention satisfies the needs discussed above. The present invention generally relates to a pivot device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a pivoting device for securing a detachable audible sound emitting device thereto. 
         [0010]    One aspect of the present invention provides for a pivoting device having generally a base plate, a pivot post rotatably coupled to the base plate and a clamping assembly. The clamping assembly is removably secured to the pivot post by way of a locking device, such as a locking pin. The clamping assembly is also secured to a base location, such as a water sport vehicle tower. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the water sport vehicle tower is illustrative and is not meant to be limiting. 
         [0011]    Various items can be secured to the base plate, such as an audible sound emitting device, namely a speaker. Due to the clamping assembly being secured to the base location and the rotational ability of the base plate, the sound emitting device is capable of projecting sound in multiple directions. 
         [0012]    One aspect of the clamping assembly comprises a top clamp and bottom clamp that can be coupled to form a cavity. The cavity can be dimensioned to receive that portion of the nautical vessel by which the inventive pivoting device is secured. The top claim and bottom clamp can be configured to include an insert to adjust the dimensions of the cavity to conform to various portions of the nautical vessel. 
         [0013]    One aspect of the base plate includes having a cavity therein. The pivot post is coupled to a detent assembly which is located within a cavity in the base plate. The detent assembly allows the base plate to rotate around the clamping assembly via the pivot post. 
         [0014]    One aspect of the present invention provides for transmitting sound on a nautical vessel. This is comprised of a securing pivoting device, such as the inventive device as set out above, which attaches to a nautical vessel. Then a detachable audible sound emitting device that emits audible sound is secured to the pivoting device. Due to the rotational ability of the pivoting device, the sound emitting device is capable of projecting audible sound to the bow, stem, starboard and port sides of the nautical vessel. 
         [0015]    Further features of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the accompanying drawings and upon reading the following description of the preferred embodiment. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is an expanded perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view the embodiment of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the pivot post aspect of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a top view of the embodiment of the pivot post aspect of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the embodiment of the pivot post aspect of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the base plate aspect of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view along line AA of the embodiment of the base plate aspect of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the top clamp aspect of the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is a side view of the embodiment of the top clamp aspect of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 11  is a bottom view of the embodiment of the top clamp aspect of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the bottom clamp aspect of the present invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view along line BB of the embodiment of the bottom clamp aspect of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 12 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 14  is a bottom view of the embodiment of the bottom clamp aspect of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 12 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the bottom clamp insert aspect of the present invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of an additional embodiment of the bottom clamp aspect of the present invention having a groove to receive the embodiment of bottom clamp insert as shown in  FIG. 15 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the top clamp insert aspect of the present invention; and 
           [0033]      FIG. 18  is a perspective view of an additional embodiment of the top clamp aspect of the present invention having a groove to receive the embodiment of top clamp insert as shown in  FIG. 17 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0034]    Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments contained herein. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in a variety of ways. It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and not of limitation. 
         [0035]    The present invention satisfies the needs discussed above. The present invention generally relates to a pivot device, and more particularly, to a pivoting device for securing a detachable audible sound emitting device to a base location. In the following discussion, the general practice of the invention will be discussed with particular reference to emitting audible sounds in the outdoors. However, it is to be understood that these uses of the invention are simply exemplary uses and should not be considered as limiting. 
         [0036]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , an embodiment  100  of the inventive pivot device is disclosed. The embodiment  100  is shown secured around a tubular member  102  and to an audible sound emitting device  104 . While this embodiment is shown secured around a tubular member  102  that is circular, such is for illustrative purposes and is not meant to be limiting. Further, the terms “audible sound emitting device” or “sound emitting device” refer to those devices that produce sound such as one or more speakers. 
         [0037]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , embodiment  100  is disclosed in further detail. Embodiment  100  comprises a base mount assembly  110  in rotation communication with a clamping assembly  130 . The base mount assembly  110  includes a base plate  112  being in rotation communication with a pivot post  114 . In operation, base mount assembly  110  is secured to audible sound emitting device  104 . Clamping assembly  130  is secured to tubular member  102 . Due to the rotational ability of base mount assembly  110  around clamping assembly  130 , the attached sound emitting device  104  is capable of rotational movement with respect to tubular member  102   
         [0038]    An embodiment of pivot post  114  is shown in  FIGS. 4-6  and comprises a lower portion  200  a middle portion  202  and an upper portion  204 . A detent assembly bore  210  is located within lower portion  200 . Middle portion  202  is circular to allow for rotational movement. Upper portion  204  has two opposing straight side  206 , and a locking device bore  208 . Those skilled in art will recognize that the configuration of upper portion is illustrative and not meant to be limiting. 
         [0039]    An embodiment of base mount assembly  10  is disclosed in further detail, as shown in  FIGS. 7-8 . This embodiment includes a base plate  112  being in rotation communication with a pivot post  114 . Base plate  112  has a plurality of securing openings  182  in order to secure an audible sound emitting device  104  or other item, and pivot post opening  176 . Lower portion  200  of pivot post  114  is positioned within pivot post opening  176  and rotatably secured to base plate  112  by detent assembly  160 . 
         [0040]    A detent assembly  160  allows pivot post  114  to rotate about base plate  112 . Detent assembly  160  includes a plurality of ball bearings  164  being positioned between a guide plate  162  and a spring disk  166 . Guide plate  162  has a plurality of openings  168  therein, one for each ball bearing  164 . 
         [0041]    Guide plate  162  is located within a cavity  170  located along the bottom side of base plate  112 . Cavity  170  includes a plurality of indentations  174  which act as a detent mechanism for the restraint of ball bearings  164 . Guide plate  162  and spring disk  168  are secured inline with pivot post  114  by screw  150 . A washer  172  can be used to aid in securing spring disk  166 . 
         [0042]    When pivot post  114  rotates, ball bearings  164  are moved out of indentations  174  and into openings  168  and rotated until they encounter another indentation  174 . At this point, pivot post  114  is not free to rotate until additional force is applied thereto. 
         [0043]    An embodiment of clamping assembly  130  is disclosed in further detail, as shown in  FIGS. 9-14 . This embodiment includes a top clamp portion  132  removably secured to a bottom clamp portion  134 . Top clamp portion  132  is dimensioned in an approximate half-cylindrical configuration, having a cylindrical top inner surface  146 . Bottom clamp portion  134  is dimensioned in an approximately rectangular configuration having a top side  136 , a bottom side  138 , opposing end walls  140  and opposing side walls  142 . A semi-cylindrical indentation defining a cylindrical bottom inner surface  144  is located along the top side  136 . 
         [0044]    Top clamp portion  132  and bottom clamp portion  134  are dimensioned and configured such when the two clamp portions are in communication, a circular opening  148  is defined there through. While both clamp portions are defined as having semi-cylindrical surfaces defining a circular opening, such is illustrative and not meant to be limiting. Further, those skilled in the art would recognize that other geometrical shapes, such as rectangular, may be utilized with the inventive pivot device. 
         [0045]    Clamping assembly  130  is secured to tubular member  102  by fitting top clamp portion  132  and bottom clamp portion  134  around tubular member  102  and within the circular opening  146 . Opening  146  is dimensioned to provide a secure fit for tubular member  102  to prevent rotation of embodiment  100  around tubular member  102 . 
         [0046]    Top clamp  132  is secured to bottom clamp portion  134  by screws  149 . Screws  149  extend through bottom clamp portion  134  via screw bores  147  and are threadedly mated with top clamp portion  132  via screw holes  151 . 
         [0047]    Another embodiment of clamping assembly  130  is illustrated in  FIGS. 15-18 , and provides for inserts  150 ,  152  to be communication with top and bottom inner surfaces  144 ,  146 . These inserts  150 ,  152  are secured to the inner surfaces by way of grooves  154 ,  156  therein, and can be dimensioned to allow various tubular members or other base locations. 
         [0048]    Pivot post  114  is removably in communication with bottom clamp portion  134 . A pivot post cavity  180  is located in the bottom side of the bottom clamp portion  134 . Pivot post cavity  180  is dimensioned to receive upper section  204  of pivot post  114 . The pivot post  114  is coupled to the clamping assembly  130  by a locking device  136 . As illustrated in the Figures, locking device  136  is a quick release pin  138  that is inserted into a bore  182  located within bottom clamp portion  134 . 
         [0049]    By having the base mount assembly  110  being removable from clamping assembly  130 , a user is able to easily remove and later replace the audible sound emitting device  104 . 
         [0050]    While the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein for purposes of exemplification, but is to be limited only by the scope of the attached claims or including the full range of equivalency to which each element thereof is entitled.