Patent Publication Number: US-8993864-B1

Title: Support device for harmonica and microphone

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/713,473, filed on Oct. 12, 2012, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to devices for supporting microphones structured to receive sound from a harmonica. 
     Musicians frequently desire to play a harmonica simultaneously with another instrument (for example, a guitar). In such cases, a mechanism must be provided for holding or securing the harmonica in a desired position with respect to the musician&#39;s mouth. In addition, it is frequently necessary to position and secure a microphone adapted for receiving sounds from a harmonica at a predetermined distance from the harmonica or in contact with the harmonica. This positioning may be difficult to maintain while the harmonica is being played. Thus, a need exists for a mechanism and method for securing a harmonica and a suitable microphone in a desired position with respect to each other while the harmonica is being played. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the embodiments described herein, a device is provided for supporting a harmonica and a microphone. The support device includes a base, a microphone retainer secured to the base, and a harmonica securement mechanism secured to the base adjacent the microphone retainer. 
     In another aspect of the embodiments of the described herein, a device is provided for maintaining a desired spatial relationship between a harmonica and a microphone. The device includes a base, a microphone retainer secured to the base, and a harmonica securement mechanism secured to the base adjacent the microphone retainer. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a device for supporting a microphone and a harmonica in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1A  is a side view of an end of an arm on a brace in accordance with an alternative embodiment described herein. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is another side view of the device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is the view of  FIG. 1  showing operation of a harmonica securement mechanism incorporated into the device. 
         FIG. 5  is the view of  FIG. 1  showing a harmonica and microphone mounted in the device. 
         FIG. 6  is the side view of  FIG. 3  showing a harmonica and microphone mounted in the device. 
         FIG. 7  is the side view of  FIG. 2  showing a harmonica and microphone mounted in the device. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic side view of a particular embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a plan view of alternative embodiment of the biasing member. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1-7  show views of an embodiment of a device  10  for supporting a harmonica  99  and a microphone  90  configured to receive sound from the harmonica. In the embodiment shown, the support device  10  includes a base  12 , a microphone retainer  14  secured to the base, and a harmonica securement mechanism  16  secured to the base in a position adjacent the microphone retainer. 
     Base  12  serves as a mounting structure onto which the securement mechanism  16  and the microphone retainer  14  may precisely located and mounted with respect to each other. This, in turn, enables precise positioning and securement of a microphone (mounted in the retainer) and a harmonica (mounted in the securement mechanism) with respect to each other. 
     In the embodiment shown, base  12  includes holes  12   a  structured to receive therethrough adjustable or removable fasteners  18  used to secure a cross-member  17  of the securement mechanism  16  to the base  12 , in a manner described below. In a particular embodiment, metallic fasteners are used to secure the microphone cross-member  17  to the base  12 . However, any suitable method may be used to secure the cross-member  17  to base  12 , depending on the materials from which the retainer and cross-member are formed and other pertinent factors. Possible attachment methods include adhesives, ultrasonic welding, and any other suitable method. 
     Base  12  also includes one or more holes  22  structured to receive therethrough adjustable or removable fasteners  24  used to secure the microphone retainer  14  to the base, in a manner described below. In a particular embodiment, metallic fasteners  24  are used to secure the microphone retainer  14  to the base  12 . 
     In one embodiment, the base is in the form of a flat plate formed from a suitable material (for example, aluminum). However, the base can have any shape or configuration suitable for the purposes described herein, and suitable for mounting on a given microphone stand or boom. 
     In a particular embodiment, holes  22  are in the form of longitudinal slots having longitudinal axes (not shown) extending parallel to an axis Y oriented perpendicular to a longitudinal extent or length dimension L of the harmonica  99  (as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 ) when mounted in the securement mechanism, or perpendicular to a longitudinal extent or length dimension of cross-member  17 . This permits the position of the microphone retainer  14  to be adjusted with respect to a harmonica  99  mounted in the securement mechanism  16 , by simply loosening the fasteners and relocating the microphone retainer  14  to a desired position. 
     Any suitable method may be used to secure the retainer to base  12 , depending on the materials from which the retainer and base are formed and other pertinent factors. Possible attachment methods include adhesives, ultrasonic welding, and any other suitable method. 
     Base  12  may be formed from aluminum, steel, plastic or any other suitable material. In a particular embodiment, the base is formed from an electrically insulative material, such as a suitable polymer. This aids in interrupting potential electrical ground paths for static charges from the device components to ground. 
     In the embodiment shown, securement mechanism  16  includes cross-member  17  and brace  20  secured to the cross-member. Cross-member  17  may be formed from a metallic material or any other suitable material. Cross-member  17  may be secured to base  12  using any suitable means (for example, by using metallic fasteners  55 ) 
     In one embodiment, securement mechanism brace  20  is generally “U”-shaped, having a first portion  20   b  with a first end  20   c  and a second end  20   d , and one of arms  20   a  extending in a first direction from each of the first end  20   c  and the second end  20   d . Arms  20   a  are spaced apart a distance sufficient to enable harmonicas of various lengths to be inserted therebetween, as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     In one embodiment, the end of each of arms  20   a  has an exteriorly threaded portion structured to permit attachment of a suitable threaded fastener  30  thereto, for securing the arm to cross-member  17  through an associated one of base openings  17   a . In another embodiment (shown in  FIG. 1A ), the end of each arm  20   a  has a threaded cavity  20   e  formed therein for receiving therein a complementarily-threaded portion of a suitable fastener, for securing the arm to cross-member  17 . 
     In another embodiment, the holes  17   a  in cross-member  17  are structured to receive therethrough portions of arms  20   a  of brace  20 . The arms  20   a  may form an interference fit with edges of the holes to secure the brace  20  to the cross-member. Alternatively, the arms  20   a  may be soldered, staked, or otherwise suitably secured to the cross-member so as to securely attach the brace  20  to the cross-member and maintain the brace firmly in position on the cross-member so as to permit manipulation by a user without loosening or detaching the brace from the cross-member or the securement mechanism from the base. 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic side view of a particular embodiment in which a harmonica secured in the securement mechanism  16  may be biased against brace  20  along a shoulder  990  formed in most harmonicas. This aids in retaining the harmonica in a desired position. 
     A biasing member  20   j  has a pair of openings  20   k  spaced apart a distance corresponding to the spacing of the arms  20   a  and is slidingly mounted on the arms. A spring member  20   m  (in the embodiment shown, a coil spring member) is positioned along each of arms  20   a  so as to reside between the biasing member  20   j  and cross-member  17  when the brace  20  is secured to the cross-member. Spring members  20   m  are configured to be in compression when the biasing member  20   j  is spaced apart a maximum distance from cross-member  17 , so as to consistently bias the biasing member in a direction away from the cross-member. In this embodiment, the biasing member  20   j  is forced toward the cross-member  17  (thereby compressing the springs  20   m ) to permit insertion and securement of the harmonica between the cross-member and biasing member. 
     Spring members  20   m  are structured so as to, when deflected, exert sufficient force on biasing member  20   j  to firmly retain the harmonica between the biasing member and the cross-member  17 , while still enabling a user to manually press the biasing member in direction A (as shown in  4 ) to enable the harmonica to be inserted between the biasing member and the cross-member  17 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , in a particular embodiment  120   j  of the biasing member, a recess  122   j  is formed in a side of the biasing member facing the lips of a user playing a harmonica secured in the securement mechanism. Recess  122   j  provides added clearance or space for the lips of the user, while the remainder of the biasing member still retains the harmonica in the securement mechanism. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , to secure a harmonica in the securement mechanism, biasing member  20   j  is pulled in the direction “A”, thereby compressing springs  20   m  further and providing a space S suitable for insertion of the harmonica between the brace first portion  20   b  and the biasing member  20   j . The harmonica  99  is then inserted into the space S and the biasing member  20   j  slowly released to engage the harmonica, whereby the instrument is secured between the first portion  20   b  and the biasing member  20   j . The springs  20   m  are specified so that the forces exerted by the springs when compressed between the cross-member  17  and the biasing member  20   j  are sufficient to securely hold the harmonica in place while a user plays the instrument. Although coil springs are shown in the drawings, other types of spring members  20   m  may also be used. 
     The structure of the securement mechanism also enables some adjustment of the mounting position of the harmonica within the mechanism. That is, the final position of the harmonica in the securement mechanism when mounted may be adjusted so as to vary the distance of the harmonica from the microphone. 
     In another particular embodiment, the retainer is formed from a relatively rigid material (for example, a polymer) and is structured so that the microphone can be secured in a particular location within the retainer. In addition, the retainer and/or the securement mechanism  16  are adjustably positionable and securable on the base  12  with respect to each other (for example, using fasteners or other suitable means) such that a harmonica secured within the securement mechanism will abut an edge of the retainer closest to the securement mechanism responsive to a force pressing the harmonica toward the retainer, and before being forced out of the securement mechanism. This permits the position of the microphone relative to the harmonica to be adjusted within the retainer, while at the same time preventing the harmonica from being pushed out of the securement mechanism by a user. For example, the retainer and/or the securement mechanism may be secured on the base such that the end of the microphone is flush with an edge of the retainer closest to the securement mechanism, while permitting a harmonica secured in the mechanism to abut the edge of the retainer. In this manner, the retainer edge serves as a hard stop against which the harmonica is pushed while making contact with the microphone end residing flush with the retainer edge. Thus, contact between the harmonica and the microphone is conveniently maintained. 
     Brace  20  and biasing member  20   j  may be formed from a metallic material, a polymeric material, or any other suitable type of material. 
     In the embodiment shown, retainer  14  is generally circular and defines a cavity  14   a  structured to receive the microphone  90  therein. Retainer  14  may be shaped and sized to receive and secure therein a harmonica microphone having a predetermined size or diameter. Alternatively, the retainer may be structured so that a size or diameter of the microphone-receiving cavity defined by the retainer is adjustable. For example, the retainer  14  may be in the form of a ring with a gap formed therein to permit expansion of the ring to accommodate microphones of various sizes. The ends of the ring may be secured to each other using a bolt or other suitable means after the microphone has been positioned within the ring and the ends of the ring forced toward each other to securely grip the microphone within the ring. 
     In one embodiment, the retainer is formed from a polymeric or other electrically insulating material molded or formed into the desired shape. However, the retainer may be formed from any suitable material. 
     In a particular embodiment, metallic fasteners  24  positioned in holes  12   a  are used to secure the microphone retainer  14  to the base  12 . However, any suitable method may be used to secure the retainer to base  12 , depending on the materials from which the retainer and base are formed. Possible attachment methods include adhesives, ultrasonic welding, and any other suitable method. 
     Using any of the retainer embodiments described above, the position of the microphone  90  can be adjusted with respect to a harmonica  99  secured in the securement mechanism  16 , to enable the microphone to be positioned and secured in contact with the harmonica. 
     The retainer  14  may be structured to provide clearance for user access to a microphone volume control located on the microphone body. 
     In a particular embodiment, the microphone-receiving cavity  14   a  is cylindrical, and securement mechanism  16  and retainer  14  are positioned with respect to each other so as to align a central axis Z of the harmonica receiving space S with a central axis M of the microphone receiving cavity  14   a , along a plane bisecting and lying perpendicular to a line extending along cross-member  17  and connecting central axes of arms  20   a  as shown in  FIG. 1 ). This helps ensure alignment of the harmonica secured in the space S with a microphone secured in the cavity  14   a  during use. 
     In particular embodiments, the device  10  is structured such that a microphone  90  mounted in the retainer is electrically insulated from any metal used in fabricating the device. In one embodiment, a spacer (not shown) is configured to either encircle or wrap around a portion of a body of the microphone or otherwise be positioned between the microphone and the retainer, to space apart at least a portion of the microphone from the retainer when the microphone is mounted in the retainer. The spacer may be formed from an electrically insulating material which enables the spacer to be positioned along an exterior surface of the microphone, and also enables gripping, attaching, adhering, or otherwise securing the spacer in the desired position on the microphone. When the spacer is attached to the microphone, the spacer and microphone may be inserted into retainer cavity  14   a  and positioned such that the spacer is interposed between the microphone and the retainer. 
     In a particular embodiment, the spacer is configured so as to space the microphone apart from any metal used in construction of the device  10  when the microphone is secured in the retainer. This aids in interrupting any potential ground path for static charge from the microphone to ground. 
     In a particular embodiment, the spacer is positioned proximate a volume control knob (not shown) located along a lower surface of the microphone, to space apart the volume control knob from a surface of the retainer  14  against which the microphone rests, to provide further clearance between the volume control know and the retainer and permit easier access of the user to the knob. 
     The spacer may also be sized to occupy a portion of a space between the retainer and a microphone having an outer dimension which is too small to contact the retainer when position in cavity  14   a . In this usage, the retainer takes up the “slack” between the retainer and the microphone, thereby enabling various different sizes of microphones to be secured in a retainer of having a single, fixed size of cavity  14   a . To this end, the spacer may be formed from a resiliently deflectable insulating material (such as rubber or a foam material) structured to resiliently deflect to any of a relatively wide range of dimensions. 
     The spacer may also be structured so as to maximize static frictional forces between the spacer and the retainer and/or between the spacer and the microphone. This helps prevent movement of the microphone relative to the retainer, thereby aiding in maintaining the microphone in a desired position. 
     The spacer may be formed from any suitable electrically insulating material, such as a polymeric or rubber material. In a particular embodiment, the spacer is formed form a resiliently stretchable or deflectable material (such as rubber or neoprene) which is expandable to accommodate microphones of different sizes. 
     If desired, the spacer may be secured within and to retainer  14  after positioning therein, using any suitable method, such as adhesive application, etc. 
     As seen in the drawings, the base  12  of an embodiment of the support device may be securely affixed to a first angle adjusting boom (generally designated  70 ), which enables adjustable positioning and orientation of the base  12  with respect to a user. The first angle adjusting boom  70  adjusts the angle and position of the harmonica and harmonica microphone to accommodate the user&#39;s playing preference. The first angle adjusting boom pivots about a second height adjusting boom  72  that operates to adjust the height of the first angle adjusting boom  70  with respect to a horizontal ground surface (not shown). 
     The embodiments of the present invention described herein operate to simultaneously retain both a harmonica and a harmonica microphone in linear alignment while allowing a performer&#39;s hands free to play another instrument such as a guitar. As both the securement mechanism and the retainer are affixed to the base, the relative position of the securement mechanism with respect to the retainer does not vary. 
     When a harmonica is held in place in the securement mechanism, a user is free to play another instrument such as a guitar and to change instruments without having to worry about either manually holding the harmonica or wearing a cumbersome neck device to hold the harmonica. 
     As both the harmonica securement mechanism and the harmonica microphone retainer are each affixed to the first angle adjusting boom, the relative position of the harmonica securement mechanism with respect to the harmonica microphone retainer does not vary. 
     It will be understood that the foregoing descriptions of the various embodiments are for illustrative purposes only. As such, the various structural and operational features herein disclosed are susceptible to a number of modifications, none of which departs from the scope of the appended claims.