Flexible microphone boom

• US 6,411,709 B1
• Filed: 11/17/1994
• Issued: 06/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GN Netcom/Unex Inc.
• Original Assignee: Unex Corporation (GN Store Nord A/S)
• Inventors: Lucey, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chiang, Jack
• Application Number:
  US08/341,500
• Time in Patent Office: 2,777 Days
• Field of Search: 379/430, 379/433, 381/183, 381/187, 381/168, 381/169, 381/188, 381/189, 174/102.R, 174/105.R, 174/113.R
• US Class Current: 379/430
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/083 Special constructions of mouthpieces

Abstract

A flexible microphone boom includes an inner conductor provided from a plurality of wire strands. Disposed about the inner conductor is Fin inner insulator having a first predetermined thickness. Disposed about the inner insulator is a conductive layer and disposed about the conductive layer is a an outer jacket having a second predetermined thickness.

Claims

1. A microphone boom comprising:

an inner conductor including;

a microphone wire strand in electrical communication with a microphone; and

a plurality of wire strands;

a first insulator concentrically disposed about said inner conductor;

an outer conductor concentrically disposed about said first insulator; and

an outer jacket concentrically disposed about said outer conductor,

wherein said inner conductor imparts to said microphone boom a characteristic of being freely positionable by a user, said microphone boom maintaining a first position until moved to a further position by said user.

2. The microphone boom of claim 1 wherein:

a first one of said plurality of wire strands is centrally located and each of said remaining plurality of strands including said microphone wire are disposed about said centrally located strand; and

the microphone wire is disposed about said centrally located strand.

3. The microphone boom of claim 2 wherein said remaining plurality of wire strands and said microphone wire are wrapped in a spiral pattern about said centrally located strand.

4. The microphone boom of claim 3 wherein:

said microphone strand is provided from a, first type conductive material; and

said plurality of wire strands are provided from a second conductive material.

5. The microphone boom of claim 4 wherein said first type conductive material is copper and said second type conductive material is steel.

6. The microphone boom of claim 1 wherein said plurality of wire strands comprise:

a first stainless steel strand; and

five stainless steel strands disposed about said first stainless steel strand; and

wherein said microphone wire comprises;

a copper strand disposed about said first stainless steel strand.

7. The microphone boom of claim 6 wherein:

said first stainless steel strand is provided having a diameter of about 0.020 inches;

each of said five stainless steel strands are provided having diameters of about 0.020 inches; and

said copper strand is provided having a diameter of about 0.020 inches.

8. The microphone boom of claim 6 wherein said five stainless steel strands and said microphone wire are wrapped in a spiral pattern about said first stainless steel strand.

9. A microphone boom having a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to a microphone, the second end coupled to a headset amplifier, the microphone boom comprising:

a conductive core comprised of a plurality of strands of wire;

a first insulator concentrically disposed about said core;

an outer conductor concentrically disposed about said first insulator; and

an outer jacket concentrically disposed about said outer conductor,

wherein said conductive core maintains said microphone boom in a first position until movement to a further position by a user.

10. The Microphone boom of claim 9 wherein at least one of said plurality of strands is provided from copper.

11. A headset comprising:

a microphone;

a flexible microphone boom having first and second opposing ends wherein a first end of said boom is electrically coupled to said microphone, said microphone boom including an inner conductive core having of a plurality of strands, a first insulator disposed about said core, an outer conductor disposed about said first insulator for shielding said core, and an outer jacket disposed about said outer conductor; and

a connector having a first end and a second end, said first end electrically coupled to a second end of said boom, said second end adapted to couple to a headset amplifier.

12. The headset of claim 11 wherein said flexible microphone boom further comprises:

a microphone wire among said plurality of strands of said core.

13. The headset of claim 11 wherein said plurality of strands of said inner conductive core of said flexible microphone boom comprises:

a first stainless steel strand;

five stainless steel strands disposed about said first stainless steel strand; and

a copper strand disposed about said first stainless steel strand.

14. The microphone boom of claim 13 wherein said five stainless steel strands and said copper strand are disposed about said first stainless steel strand in a spiral pattern.

15. A microphone boom comprising:

a conductive core including a microphone wire and a plurality of wire strands, said microphone boom capable of being bent from a first shape to a second shape, said core retaining said microphone boom in said first and second shape;

a first insulator concentrically disposed about said core;

an outer conductor concentrically disposed about said first insulator; and

an outer jacket concentrically disposed about said outer conductor.