Visor mounting of microphone for vehicle operator

• US 6,345,103 B1
• Filed: 01/28/1999
• Issued: 02/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Cipolla, Thomas Mario, Maes, Stephane Herman, Moskowitz, Paul Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, SINH N
• Application Number:
  US09/239,357
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• Field of Search: 381/86, 381/361, 381/362, 381/365, 381/91, 455/90, 455/99, 455/345
• US Class Current: 381/365
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 11/04 Microphones

Abstract

A structural means is provided that positions an operator'"'"'s voice communication microphone in a vehicle in the vicinity of the visor without interfering with the movement and functions of the visor. The positioning being achieved by attaching a portion of a microphone holder in connection with an escutcheon- type plate that is part of the visor retention and the visor support member and attaching the microphone to another portion of the microphone holder so as to extend the microphone to a position above the visor when the visor is in the stored position.

Claims

1. A mounting device for positioning a voice communication microphone for a vehicle operator in the vicinity of a rod supported, escutcheon-type plate retained, visor, in said vehicles, comprising:

an “

L”

shaped flat member, having a long leg and a short leg each extending from a bend in said flat member,

said “

L”

shaped flat member having a microphone positioned at the end of said long leg, and,

said “

L”

shaped flat member, at the end of said short leg, having a region that is adapted for attachment in connection with said escutcheon-type plate and a visor support member that is attached to said vehicle.

2. The mounting device of claim 1 wherein said short leg of said “

L”

shaped member has said region for attachment constructed as a separate piece at the end of said short leg that is attached to the remaining portion of said short leg.

3. The mounting device of claim 2 wherein said separate piece having a first slot and a width to accommodate said visor supporting rod, and a second , arc shaped slot, having a width to accommodate a compressive retention member passing through said escutcheon-type plate into said visor support member that is attached to said vehicle.

4. The mounting device of claim 3 wherein said remaining portion of said short leg, involves a pivot retaining member and a retaining member in a curved slot in the remaining portion of said short leg of said “

L”

shaped member.

5. The method of mounting an operator'"'"'s voice communication microphone in the vicinity of an operator'"'"'s visor of the type where said visor is mounted on a rod with essentially horizontal and vertical rotation capability and where said visor is retained by an escutcheon type plate that is attached to a support portion of said vehicle, comprising the steps of:

providing a flat “

L”

shaped, with a long and a short leg separated by an “

L”

shaped bend, a structural support member for said microphone,

fabricating on the end of said short leg, a region to be attached in connection with said escutcheon-type plate and said support portion of said vehicle, and,

fabricating said long leg with a length extending to a microphone attachment location on the end that positions said microphone beyond any area occupiable by said visor.

6. The method of claim 5 including in the steps of providing a flat “

L”

shaped, with a long and a short leg separated by an “

L”

shaped bend, structural support member for said microphone, through fabricating on the end of said short leg, a region to be attached in connection with said escutcheon type plate and said support portion of said vehicle, the additional step of constructing said region as a separate piece at the end of said short leg for attachment to the remaining portion of said short leg.

7. The method of claim 6 including in the step of constructing said region as a separate piece at the end of said short leg, the additional step of adapting said separate piece with a first slot in the end of having a width to accommodate said visor supporting rod, and a second, arc shaped slot, having a width to accommodate a retention member.

8. The method of claim 7 including the additional step of fabricating on the remaining portion of said short leg, a pivot retaining member hole, and a retaining member curved slot in the remaining portion of said short leg of said “

L”

shaped member.

9. In vehicle visor structure of the type where the visor is mounted on a rod with essentially horizontal and vertical rotation capabilty that in turn has retention to a support portion of the vehicle, the improvement comprising:

said retention to a support portion of the vehicle including, an at least partially surrounding escutcheon-type plate, with, said microphone structural support means having first and second portions, said microphone structural support means having a first portion that is a first separate part that is flat with a locating capability that is a visor accommodating slot and an arced retention screw accommodating slot and with extended part attachment in connection with said retention of said visor to said vehicle, and, said microphone structural support means further having a second portion that is a second separate part extending to a microphone attachement location, said microphone attachment location being located beyond any are occupiable by said visor.