Stable attachment microphone stand systems

• US 7,412,069 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2004
• Issued: 08/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ACT Lighting Incorporated (ACT Lighting Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Swift Distribution Incorporated
• Inventors: Eimen, Todd, Workman, Jonathan P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ni; Suhan
• Application Number:
  US10/894,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20060013427A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,485 Days
• Field of Search: 381361-368, 381386-390, 381/395, 248158-159
• US Class Current: 381/363
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/08 Mouthpieces; Microphones; Attachments therefor

Abstract

Microphone stand attachment systems to attach a support base to a longitudinal axial element easily, quickly and securely. An attachment guide may include a threaded plug and a support base may include a threaded socket. In embodiments, a male tapered flange may frictionally lock with a female tapered element of a socket to secure a longitudinal axial element to a support base. Specific attachment structures, in embodiments, are also described, as are various plugs, tapers, sockets and methods of attaching a support base to a longitudinal axial element.

Claims

1. A method of assembling a microphone stand comprising the steps of:

attaching an end of a longitudinal axial element to a support base, wherein said end of said longitudinal axial element comprises a plug and a male tapered flange, and wherein said support base comprises a socket and a female tapered element;

engaging said plug at said end of said longitudinal axial element with said socket of said support base;

frictionally lockingly mating said male tapered flange of said end of said longitudinal element with said female tapered element of said support base, wherein said male tapered flange and said female tapered element comprise corresponding angled tapers which fit into each other when mated; and

stably securing said longitudinal axial element to said support base.

2. A method of assembling a microphone stand according to claim 1 wherein said step of attaching said end of said longitudinal axial element to said support base comprises the step of threadingly attaching said end of said longitudinal axial element to said support base.

3. A method of assembling a microphone stand according to claim 2 wherein said step of threadingly attaching said end of said longitudinal axial element to said support base comprises the step of threadingly attaching multiple threads of said plug into said socket of said support base.

4. A method of assembling a microphone stand according to claim 1 and further comprising the step of easily guiding said plug of said longitudinal axial element into said socket of said support base.

5. A method of assembling a microphone stand according to claim 4 wherein said step of easily guiding said plug of said longitudinal axial element into said socket of said support base comprises the step of engaging a multiple lead threaded plug into said socket.

6. A method of assembling a microphone stand according to claim 4 wherein said step of easily guiding said plug of said longitudinal axial element into said socket of said support base comprises the step of easily guiding a coarse thread of said plug into said socket of said support base.

7. A method of assembling a microphone stand according to claim 1 wherein said plug comprises a threaded plus, wherein said socket comprises a threaded socket, and further comprising the step of engaging at least one thread of said threaded plug with said threaded socket of said support base.

8. A method of assembling a microphone stand according to claim 7 wherein said step of engaging at least one thread of said threaded plug with said threaded socket of said support base comprises the step of easily catching said least one thread of said threaded plug to said threaded socket of said support base.

9. A method of assembling a microphone stand according to claim 7 wherein said step of engaging at least one thread of said threaded plug with said threaded socket of said support base comprises the step of engaging at least one course thread of said threaded plug with said threaded socket of said support base.

10. A method of assembling a microphone stand according to claim 7 and further comprising the step of removably attaching said threaded plug to said longitudinal axial element.

11. A method of assembling a microphone stand according to claim 7 and further comprising the step of universally attaching said threaded plug to said longitudinal axial element.

12. A method of assembling a microphone stand according to claim 7 and further comprising the step of locating said male tapered flange above said threaded plug of said longitudinal axial element.

13. A method of assembling a microphone stand according to claim 7 wherein said step of engaging said at least one thread of said threaded plug with said threaded socket of said support base comprises the step of engaging at least one coarse thread of said threaded plug with said threaded socket of said support base.

14. A method of assembling a microphone stand according to claim 7 and further comprising the step of providing a number of thread starts of said threaded plug selected from a group consisting of:

two thread starts;

three thread starts; and

four thread starts.

15. A method of assembling a microphone stand according to claim 1 wherein said plug comprises an internally threaded plug, wherein said socket comprises a male threaded element, and further comprising the step of attaching said internally threaded plug to said male threaded element.

16. A method of assembling a microphone stand according to claim 1 wherein said wherein said plug comprises an externally threaded plug, wherein said socket comprises a threaded socket, and further comprising the step of attaching said externally threaded plug to said threaded socket.

17. A method of assembling a microphone stand according to claim 1 and further comprising the step of attaching a microphone to an opposite end of said longitudinal axial element.

18. A method of assembling a microphone stand according to claim 1 and further comprising the step of adjusting said longitudinal axial element to a desired height.

19. A method of assembling a microphone stand according to claim 18 wherein said step of adjusting said longitudinal axial element to said desired height comprises the step of telescopically adjusting said longitudinal axial element to said desired height.

20. A method of assembling a microphone stand according to claim 1 and further comprising the step of providing a material of said longitudinal axial element selected from a group consisting of plastic, metal, aluminum, steel, iron, cast iron, non-metallic materials, ceramic, glass, resins, carbon fiber, polymers, ferrous metals, nonferrous metals, pure metallic elements, composites, ceramic, boride, carbide, halide, nitrides, oxides, glass, glass ceramic and wood.

21. A method of assembling a microphone stand according to claim 1 and further comprising the step of providing a taper angle of said male tapered flange between about 5 degrees and about 20 degrees.

22. A method of assembling a microphone stand according to claim 1 and further comprising the step of providing a taper angle of said male tapered flange selected from a group consisting of:

less than about 45 degrees;

less than about 30 degrees;

less than about 20 degrees;

less than about 15 degrees;

less than about 10 degrees; and

less than about 5 degrees.

23. A method of assembling a microphone stand according to claim 1 wherein said step of attaching said end of said longitudinal axial element to said support base comprises the step of quickly attaching said end of said longitudinal axial element to said support base.

24. A method of assembling a microphone stand according to claim 23 wherein said step of quickly attaching said end of said longitudinal axial element to said support base comprises the step of rotating said plug into said socket for a total rotation amount selected from a group consisting of:

less than four rotations;

less than three rotations;

less than two rotations, and

less than one rotation.

25. A method of assembling a microphone stand according to claim 1 wherein said support base comprises a round base.

26. A method of assembling a microphone stand according to claim 1 wherein said support base comprises a u-shaped base.

27. A method of assembling a microphone stand according to claim 1 and further comprising the step of providing said support base made of a material selected from a group consisting of plastic, metal, aluminum, steel, iron, cast iron, non-metallic materials, ceramic, glass, resins, carbon fiber, polymers, ferrous metals, nonferrous metals, pure metallic elements, composites, ceramic, boride, carbide, halide, nitrides, oxides, glass, glass ceramic and wood.