GB2235851A

GB2235851A - Microphone mounting

Info

Publication number: GB2235851A
Application number: GB8919730A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George John Vincent
Original assignee: Technophone Ltd
Current assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Ltd
Priority date: 1989-08-31
Filing date: 1989-08-31
Publication date: 1991-03-13
Anticipated expiration: 2009-08-31
Also published as: GB2235851B; GB2235607A; GB9006384D0; GB8919730D0; GB2235607B

Abstract

A handsfree microphone mounting for a mobile telephone comprises a generally C-shaped clip (1) having extended limbs (3) which are biased towards each other for slidable attachment to a sun-visor in a vehicle. A microphone holder (6) is fastened to the clip (1) by a connector which allows the holder (6) and hence the microphone (20) to be moved about the contour of the C-shaped portion (2) of the clip (1). Preferably a click-stop mechanism (9, 11) is provided so that the holder can be moved to one of several pre-set positions. <IMAGE>

Description

A- MICROPHONE MOUNTING This invention relates to a bracket for removably

mounting a microphone on a sun-visor or the like in a vehicle particularly, but not exclusively for use with a mobile-radio telephone.

For safety reasons, mobile telephones installed in vehicle s are commonly adapted to operate in a so-called Ohandsfreet mode whereby the user can make or receive calls without lifting or holding the handset. To this end it is necessary to use a loudspeaker and a microphone in addition to the earphone and microphone In the.handset.- The loudspeaker may-for example be incorporated-in a cradle on which the handset-rormally rests. The microphone, however, needs to be positioned for optimum performance relative to the caller, specifically.the driverof the vehicle.

Until now only relatively crude handsfree microphone_ mountings have been available. For example a commonly-used type includes a microphone holder fastened to a crocodile clip, which is intended to be attached to the'sunvisor in the vehicle. The user can then alter the position of the microphone simply by moving the sun-visor. However this kind of mounting suffers from the drawback that the freedom of movement of the micropho ne is quite restricted and, in(feed, it is necessary to move the sun-visor to move the microphone. Furthermore the jaws of a crocodile clip tend to cause damage to the upholstery on the sun-visor.

According to the present invention there is provided a bracket for renovably mounting a microphone on a sun-visor or the like in a vehicle, comprising a first member adapted to be slidably attached to the sunvisor, and a further member comprising a holder for a microphone and means for connecting the holder to the first member"wherein the connecting means and the first member are adapted to'. cooperate in such manner that the holder is movable relative to the first member.

A microphone mounting bracket in accordance with the invention has the advantage that it can be manufactured simply and cheaply, eg. out of a plastics material by injection moulding. It is -also relatively robust,but unlikely to cau se damage to'-the uphol-stery on the sun-visor. Furthermore this microphone mounting enables the user to-change the position and orientation of the microphone for optimum performance without the need to move. the sun-visor itself. Also, if the sun-visor is in use and has to be moved the position of the microphone can be corrected independently of the sun-visor in any-sun-visor postion.

In a preferred embodiment, the first member comprises a substantially Cshaped port ion (as viewed in side elevation) and has extended limbs which are biased towards each other. The first member is thus in the form of a spring clip which can be slidably attached to the visor. Preferably the microphone holder is movable about the contour of the C-shaped portion concentrically therewith.

Suitably detent means are provided on the holder and the first member respectively, whereby the holder is movable to a selected one of a plurality of 3 e predetermined positions. Additionally the holder may be capable of pivotal motion about the axis of the connecting means.

Embodiments of the -invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a microphone attached to a sun-visor with a first mounting bracket in accordance with the present invention.

Figures 2a and -2b are two different versions of a part of the mounting bracket in Figure 1,- Figure 3 is a perspective view of the arrangement shown in Figure" 1 with the microphone in a different position and orientation, Figure 4 is a perspective view of an alternative mounting bracket in accordance with the invention, Figure 5 is a cross-section of the mounting bracket in Figure 4, Figure 6 is a cross-section of a further mounting bracket in accordance with the invention, and Figure 7 is a perspective view of the mounting bracket -in Figure 6 with the main components separated.

In the various Figures corresponding parts ar designated by the same reference numerals.

The mounting bracket shown in Figure 1 comprises a spring clip 1 having a generally C-shaped portion 2 with extended limbs 3. The two limbs 3 are biased towards each other so that the clip-1 is firmly held in place when it is slidably attached to a sun-visor 10. It is noted that the thickness of sun--visor may-vary significantly from one vehicle to another.

A microphone 20 is held in a holder 6 comprising a generally C-shaped member into which the-microphone can either be slid or snap-fitted. As can be seen most clearly in Figures 2a and 2b the holder 6 has an integral projection in the form of a neck portion-7 and a stud 8.,, Various stud.forms are possible. In Figure 2a the stud 8 is shown as a split frusto-conical member, - w1Tereas the.stud 8 in Figure 2b is simply in the form of a flattened head..- A-slot 5 is present around the circumference of the C-shaped portion 2 of clip 1. The microphone holder 6 is attached-to the clip 1 by pressing the stud 8 through the slot 5 so that the neck 7 locates in the slot and the stud 8 and holder 5 bear against respective opposite faces of the clip to provide a firm fastening for the holder.

The holder can be moved slidably in a path around the contour of the Cshaped portion 2 of the clip 1 as defined by the slot 5 therein which forms a track in which the neck portion 7 attached to the holder 6 locates.

As shown, the mounting bracket comprises a click-stop mechanism. To this end a ridge is provided around the periphery of slot 5 and a plurality of grooves 11 are present in the ridge g. Complementary projections 12 are provided on the external face of the microphone holder 6. In Figure 2a the projections 12 are shown as a first pair of ribs arranged in a straight line and a second pair of ribs arranged in a straight line orthogonal to-the first pair.- In Figure 2b the projections are in the form of a plurality of -hemispherical (or otherwise r ounded) bumps arranged concentrically around the neck portion 7. The projections 12"engag-e in'the groves 11 of ridge 9 on the clip 1 so that the holder 5 can bemoved to aselected one of several positions determined by-the location of the grooves 11.

The cruciform.arrangement of projections 12 shown in Figure 2a enables the microphone to be rotated in 90 steps about the axis of the neck portion 7, as illustrated in Figure 3. The arrangement of projections 12 in Figure 2b allows the microphone to be pivoted through smaller angular steps depending on the number.and disposition of projections which can be varied as desired.

An alternative microphone bracket in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to Figures 4 and 5.

The bracket again comprises a spring-like clip 1 having a generally Cshaped portion 2 with extended limbs.3 which are biased towards each other.

In this case the microphone holder 6 is formed integrally with a collar 16 on a boss 17. The collar 16 may be formed integrally with the boss 17 or may be fastened thereto. The boss is rotatably mounted in close-fitting relation within the C-shaped portion 2.

A knurled knob 18 and integral lever 19 is provided adjacent the collar 16 on the side-remote from the boss 17. The position of the microphone holder 6 can thus be altered by rotating the knob 18 or applying upward or downward pressure to the-lever 19.

The C-shaped_pottion 2 of the clip comprises a - -U-shaped slot-14 defining.a tongue-like member 15 which is biased against.the boss 1 and remains in engagement therewith even when the limbs 8 of-the clip 2 are opened relatively widely,.as shown most clearly in Figure 5 which is a cross-section of the bracket taken.through-the tongue member 15 inFigure 4.. As-shown in Figure-6, the outer surface of the boss 17 may be provided with.'grooves 13-extending parallel to theaxis thereof, and the tongue may be provided with a projection 23 on-its inwardly facing free end to co-operate with the grooves and so provide ca detent mechanism by which_.the microphone holder may be moved to one of several pre-set positions. In this case the boss may have a narrower diameter central section 17a in which the grooves 13 are present, see Figure 7.

As shown in Figures'5, 4 and 7 the holder 6 is fixedly connected to the collar 16, but the holder 6 may alternatively be pivotably connected thereto, for example, with a ball and socket arrangement.

In view of the foregoing description it will be evident to a person skilled in the art that various modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention.

1 N.

Claims

1. A bracket for removably mounting a microphone on a sun-visor or the like in -a vehicle, comprising_ a first member (1) adapted to be slidably attached to-the sun-visor,- and a further member (6,7,8; 6,16,17) comprising a holder (6) for a microphone and means. (7,8; 16,17) for connecting the holder (6 to the first member (1), wherein the connecting means and the first member are adapted to cooperate in- such manner that the holder (6) is movable relative to the first-member (1).

2.. A mounting -bracket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first member (1) comprises- a -substantially C-shaped portion (as viewed in side elevation) (2)-having extended limbs (3) which are biased toward each other..

3. A mounting bracket as claimed in claim 2, wherein the holder (6) is movable about the contour of the C-shaped portion (2) concentrically therewith.

4. A mounting bracket as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein detent means (9,11,12; 15) are provided whereby the holder (6) is movable to a selected one of a plurality of predetermined positions.

5. A bracket for removably mounting a microphone on a sun-visor or the like in a vehicle. substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

11 Published 1991 at The Patent Office. State House. 66171 High Holbom. London WC1R4TP. Further copies may be obtained from Sales Branch. Unit

6. Nine Mile Point Cwmfelinfach. Cross Keys. Newport. NPI 7HZ. Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd. St Mary Cray. Kent

5. A mounting bracket as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the holder (6) is pivotable relative to the connecting means (7,8; 16,17).

6. A mounting bracket as claimed in any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the first member (1) comprises a slot (5) around the circumference of the Cshaped portion (2) providing a track in which the connecting means (7, 8) locates.

-7. A mounting bracket as claimed in claim 6, wherein the connecting means comprises a neck portion (7) and an integral stud-like member (8), the neok portion being adapted to- extend through the slot (5) in such manner. that the stud-like member (8) - and the holder (6) bear against respective opposite faces of the C-shaped portion (2) 8. A-mounting bracket as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7 when dependant from claim 4, wherein the detent means -are Provided by complementary protrusions (12) and recesses (11) present -on the holder -(6) and the- - first member (1).

9. A mounting bracket as claimed in any of claims 2 to 5, Wherein the connecting means comprises boss -means (17) rotatably mounted within theC-shaped portion (2).

10. A mounting bracket as claimed in-claim 9, wherein the connecting means comprises a collar _(16) on said' boss means (17).

11. A mounting bracket as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the further member comprises a knob (18) and/or a lever (19) connected to the boss means (17) for manually rotating the holder (6). - 12. A mounting bracket as claimed in any of claims 9 to 11 when dependant from claim 4, wherein the detent means is provided by a cut-out portion (15) of the first member, which cut-out portion is biased towards M i the boss means (17) and engages a complementary detent feature on said boss means.

13. A bracket for removably mounting a microphone on a sun-visor or the like in a vehicle, substantially as herein described withreference to Figures 1 to 3-or Figures 4 and 5 or Figures 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A bracket for removably mounting a microphone on a sun-visor or the like in a vehicle, comprising a first member (1) adapted to be slidably attached to the sun-visor,, the first member (1) comprising a substantially C-shaped portion (as viewed in side elevation) (2) having extended limbs (3) which are biased toward each other. and a further member (6,,7,,8) comprising-a holder (6) for a microphone and means (7,,8; 16,17) for connecting the holder (6) to the first member (1). wherein the connecting means and the first member are adapted to cooperate in such manner that the holder (6) is movable about the contour of the C-shaped portion (2) concentrically therewith,, detent means (9,11,12) being provided whereby the holder (6) is movable to a selected one of a plurality of predetermined positions, characterized in that the first member (1) comprises a slot (5) around the circumference of the C-shaped portion (2) providing a track in which the connecting means (7,8) locates.

2.. A mounting bracket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holder (6) is pivotable relative to the connecting means (7,8).

3. A mounting bracket as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the connecting means comprises a neck portion (7) and an integral stud-like member (8), the neck 1 11 portion being adapted to extend through the slot (5) in such manner that the stud-like member (8) and the holder (6) bear against respective opposite faces of the C-shaped portion (2).

4. A mounting bracket as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the detent means are provided by complementary protrusions (12) and recesses (11) present on the holder (6) and the first member (1).