Lighted microphone cable indicator

• US 6,690,804 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2001
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Peavey Electronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Peavey Electronics Corporation
• Inventors: Everett, Samuel Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Mei, Xu
• Application Number:
  US09/878,241
• Publication Number:
  US 20020001190A1
• Time in Patent Office: 973 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.25, 340/5.8, 340/825.49, 381/105, 381/104, 381/109, 381/110, 381/56, 381/58, 381/91, 381/92, 381/95, 381/111, 381/113, 381/118, 381/119, 381/122, 381/356, 381/172, 381/124, 362/86, 439/488, 439/490, 439/491
• US Class Current: 381/91
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0056 Audio equipment, e.g. music instruments, radios or speakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/406 microphones

Abstract

A lighting apparatus for use with a microphone and a sound mixing system wherein each microphone has an associated channel located in the sound mixing system. Each microphone has a lighting means that assigns a particular color to that particular microphone and each channel has the same color associated with it as the color identifying the microphone. The color coding of the microphone and the channel allow for both to be visually identified. The apparatus has an audio connector for connecting the lighting apparatus to the microphone; a light source connected to the audio connector; a holder means for holding the light source; a power conductor for providing a pathway for power to the apparatus; and a strain relief connector for preventing the power conductor from being strained when the microphone is in use. The apparatus allows the microphone to be identified visually by the color it emits.

Claims

1. A lighting apparatus for use in a microphone system, the apparatus to be attached to a microphone cable and used to identify a particular microphone, the apparatus comprising:

an audio connector for connecting the lighting apparatus to a microphone;

a colored light source connected to said audio connector;

a translucent holder for holding said light source;

a power conductor for providing a pathway for power to said lighting apparatus;

a strain relief means for preventing said power conductor form being stained, said holder becoming illuminated when said light source is energized to enable visual identification of the microphone from a location remote from the microphone;

a control means for controlling the brightness of said light source, said control means being located on said power conductor; and

a power source for providing power to said lighting apparatus.

2. The lighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said holder is made of translucent material; and

said light source is colored.

3. The light apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

said light source is a light bulb.

4. The lighting apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

said light source is a light emitting diode.

5. The lighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said holder is made of translucent material.

6. The lighting apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

said translucent material is colored.

7. The lighting apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:

a control means for controlling the brightness of said light source, said control means being located on said power conductor.

8. The lighting apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

a power source for providing power to said lighting apparatus.

9. An identification system for identifying a particular microphone and its associated mixing channel within a sound mixing system, said identification system comprising:

at least one microphone;

at least one microphone lighting apparatus having

an audio connector for connecting the lighting apparatus to said microphone

a light source connected to said audio connector,

a holder means for holding said light source,

a power conductor for providing a pathway for power to said microphone, and

a strain relief means for preventing said power conductor from being strained,

wherein said light source is used to identify the microphone visually;

a mixing board, said mixing board having at least one channel and at least one identification strip;

at least one microphone cable for connecting said microphone with said mixing board;

wherein said light source and said holder means from the identifying system for identifying a particular microphone and associating it with a particular channel in the mixing board.

10. The identification system of claim 9, wherein:

said holder is made of translucent material; and

said light source is colored.

11. The identification system of claim 10, wherein:

said at least one lighting apparatus further comprising a control means for controlling the brightness of said light source, said control means being located on said power conductor.

12. The identification system of claim 11, further comprising:

a power source for providing power to said at least one lighting apparatus and said at least one microphone.

13. The identification system of claim 9, wherein:

said holder is made of translucent material.

14. The identification system of claim 13, wherein:

said translucent material is colored.

15. The identification system of claim 14, wherein:

said at least one lighting apparatus having a control means for controlling to brightness of said light source, said control means being located on said power conductor.

16. The identification system of claim 15, further comprising:

a power source for providing power to said at least one microphone and said at least one lighting apparatus.

17. An identification system for identifying a microphone and a related mixing channel within a mixing board, said identification system comprising:

a microphone;

a first identification means connected to said microphone including a light source and a holder for holding the light source, said holder, being illuminated when the light source is energized to enable visual identification of the microphone from a location remote therefrom;

a mixing board having a channel that is for controlling said microphone;

a second identification means connected to said mixing board;

wherein said first identification means identifies said microphone and said second identification mean identifies said related channel such that said microphone can be identified and associated with said identified and related channel, and wherein said first identification means is a lighting apparatus having

an audio connector for connecting the lighting apparatus to said microphone,

the light source being connected to said audio connector,

a power conductor for providing a pathway for power to said microphone, and

a strain relief means for preventing said power conductor from being strained,

a microphone able for connecting said microphone with said mixing board; and

said second identification means is an identification strip.

18. An identification system as claimed in claim 17, wherein:

said light source is colored;

said identification strip is colored;

wherein the color of said light source is the same as the color of said identification strip.

19. An identification system as claimed in claim 17, wherein:

said holder means is colored;

said identification strip is colored,

wherein the color of said holder means is the same as the color of said identification strip.

20. A lighting apparatus for use in a microphone system, the apparatus to be attached to a microphone cable and used to visually identify a particular microphone, the apparatus comprising:

an audio connector for connecting the lighting apparatus to a microphone;

a light source connected to said audio connector;

a holder formed of translucent material for holding said light source;

a power conductor for providing a pathway for power to said lighting apparatus;

a control located on the power conductor coupled to the light source for controlling brightness of said light; and

a strain relief means for preventing said power conductor from being strained.

21. An identification system for identifying a microphone and a related mixing channel within a mixing board, said identification system comprising:

a microphone;

a first identification means connected to said microphone including;

an audio connector for connecting the lighting apparatus to said microphone,

a light source connected to said audio connector,

a holder for holding said light source,

a power conductor for providing a pathway for power to said microphone, and

a strain relief means for preventing said power conductor from being strained, wherein said light source is used to identify the microphone visually;

a mixing board having a channel that is for controlling said microphone;

a second identification means connected to said mixing board;

wherein said first identification means visually identifies said microphone and said second identification means identifies said related channel such that said microphone can be identified and associated with said identified and related channel; and

wherein

said second identification means comprises of an identification strip.