Device for Attaching a Microphone-Speaker to an Article of Clothing

My invention relates to a device for attaching a microphone-speaker or the like to an article of clothing, and particularly to such a device that permits the device to be rotated so that the microphone-speaker can be positioned as desired.

Small radio receivers, or radio transmitters and receivers, of the personal or portable type, are frequently attached to a user's clothing such as a belt or strap. To permit the user's hands to remain free and yet provide good communication, the speaker or the microphone or the microphone-speaker should be near the user's head so that he can hear received signals well or can communicate readily.

Accordingly, a primary object of my invention is to provide a new and improved device for attaching a speaker, or a microphone, or a microphone-speaker to a user's article of clothing.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved device for removably attaching a speaker, or a microphone, or a microphone-speaker to a user's article of clothing.

Users of such radios have different preferences for where they attach the speaker, microphone, or microphone-speaker. Some users may prefer a pocket having a horizontal edge. Other users may prefer a coat lapel with a vertical or almost vertical edge. In any case, the speaker, microphone, or microphone-speaker should be capable of being positioned at any desired angle, regardless of the orientation of the edge of clothing material where attachment is made.

Accordingly, another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved attaching device that can be pivoted so that a speaker, microphone, or microphone-speaker can be oriented as desired and removably attached to a user's clothing.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved attaching clip for a speaker, microphone, or microphone-speaker, and that also permits the speaker, microphone, or microphone-speaker to be oriented for the best use.

Briefly, these and other objects are achieved in accordance with my invention by an attaching device having a first flat surface with a plurality of depressions spaced along a circular arc that is a selected radial distance from a center. The flat surface and depressions can be in the speaker, microphone, or microphone-speaker itself. Or, the flat surface and depressions can be provided from a flat plate of material having openings therethrough that form the depressions when attached to the speaker, microphone, or microphone-speaker. A flat spring is rotatably attached to the flat surface at the center, and extends from the center to reach the depressions. The spring has a flat surface which contacts the first flat surface, and has a projection facing the first flat surface and located so as to engage the depressions. A clip is pivotally mounted on the spring, and extends from its pivotal mounting in a direction toward the center to an engaging end of the clip. Means are provided for resiliently urging the engaging end of the clip toward the first flat surface for removably holding thin material between the engaging end and the first flat surface. The flat spring is resiliently urged to cause the projection to engage the first flat surface and to fit into one of the depressions in response to the flat spring being rotated to the desired angular position. Thus, the clip can be rotated to the desired angular position and its projection allowed to engage the desired depression. This holds the clip and speaker, microphone, or microphone-speaker in the desired angular relation, and also permits the clip to removably attach the device to a user's article of clothing in the best or most desired manner.

The subject matter which I regard as my invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims. The structure and operation of my invention, together with further objects and advantages, may be better understood from the following description given in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a microphone-speaker provided with an improved attaching device in accordance with my invention;

FIG. 2 shows a microphone-speaker provided with an attaching device in accordance with my invention during its assembly; and

FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 show cross-sectional views of my attaching device of FIGS. 1 and 2.

In FIG. 1, I show the rear of a microphone-speaker 10 provided with an improved attaching device in accordance with my invention. While I describe my attaching device for use with a microphone-speaker, it is to be understood that my device can be used with other electronic devices, such as a loudspeaker, or a microphone. The microphone-speaker 10 is typically provided with a push button 11 for operating the microphone, and with a cord or cable 12 for connecting the microphone-speaker 10 to electronic equipment such as a radio transmitter and receiver. As previously pointed out, it is sometimes desirable that the microphone-speaker 10 be attached to a user's article of clothing, and that it be oriented in a particular position. This attachment can be made in accordance with my invention by a clip 20. The clip 20 is generally rectangular in shape, and can be pivoted toward and away from the microphone 10 so that a user's article of clothing or other thin material can be removably held between an end 21 and the back of the microphone-speaker 10. Further, the clip 20 can be pivoted around a circle indicated by the arc 22 so that the microphone-speaker 10 can be oriented in the desired position and held by engaging the user's clothing between the end 21 and the back of the microphone-speaker 10.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show constructional details of my improved attaching device. FIG. 2 shows the rear of the microphone-speaker 10 with my device, but with the clip 20 not yet positioned. FIG. 3 shows a side view, partly in cross-section, of my attaching device with the clip 20 in position for attachment to my device. My device includes a flat, generally square metallic plate 30 which is provided with a plurality of similar, rectangularly shaped openings 31 which are spaced around the circumference of a circle having a predetermined radius and a center 32. Thus, the openings are equally spaced from the center 32. I prefer that the angular spacing of the openings 31 be equal so as to provide symmetrical pivoting of the clip 10. Any number of openings 31 can be provided, but the 12 openings shown provide good angular orientations. A thin, flat resilient spring 40 is formed from an elongated strip of spring metal. A pivot hole is punched through the strip at one end, and a projection 42 is formed at a distance from the pivot hole equal to the distance between the openings 31 and the center 32 of the plate 30. The projection 42 is formed so that it fits snugly in the openings 31. The spring 40 is then bent or formed so that it has an S or Z shape as shown in FIG. 3. After forming, the spring 40 has a long portion with the projection 42. Beyond the projection 42, the spring 40 is bent back along itself for a length 43, and then bent back along itself again for a length 44. In the vicinity of the projection 42, the spring 40 is provided with two tabs or ears 45 which extend upward away from the projection 42. Each of these tabs 45 is provided with a hole or opening 46 which receives a pivot pin 50 for the clip 20. In FIG. 3, it will be noticed that the opening 46 is aligned on the inside curvature of the bend between the lengths 43, 44 of the spring 40. After being formed, the spring 40 is rotatably attached by suitable means such as a rivet 41 to the plate 30 with the spring pivot hole at the plate center 32, with the projection 42 facing the plate 30, and with the surface of the long portion of the spring 40 engaging the surface of the plate 30.

After the plate 30 and spring 40 are assembled as shown in FIG. 3, the clip 20 can be attached. The clip 20 may be made of cast metal or plastic and provided with a transverse pivot hole 25 between an engaging end 21 and an operating end 26. The clip 20 is positioned between the tabs 45 so it extends from the tabs 45 toward and beyond the center 32 in one direction, and along the spring length 44 in the opposite direction. The pivot hole 25 is aligned with the two holes 46 formed in the tabs 45 of the spring 40. Then a pivot pin 50 may be inserted through the hole 25 and the holes 46 to pivotally secure the clip 20 to the spring 40. The ends of the pivot pin 50 may be enlarged or shaped so that it will not slip out of the holes 25, 46. When this assembly is completed, the clip 20 is pivotally attached to the spring 40, and the spring 40 is rotatably attached to the plate 30 as shown in FIG. 4. This assembly is attached to the rear of the microphone-speaker 10 by rivets 33 at the four corners of the plate 30. In FIG. 4, it will be noted that the length 44 of the spring 40 engages the clip 26 and has been flexed downward. This causes the operating end 26 of the clip 20 to be urged upward as viewed in FIG. 4 and the engaging end 21 of the clip 20 to be urged downward toward the microphone-speaker 10 as viewed in FIG. 4. When the microphone-speaker 10 is to be attached to a user's article of clothing, the operating end 26 can be manually pressed downward toward the microphone-speaker 10 (in the direction of the arrow 27) to cause the clip 20 to pivot about the pin 50. The engaging end 21 moves upward as viewed in FIG. 4. An article of clothing can be inserted between the end 21 and the microphone-speaker 10, the end 26 released, and the microphone speaker 10 will be firmly held by the engagement of the engaging end 21 pressing against the microphone-speaker 10. This engagement can be enhanced or improved by placing a soft resilient material, such as rubber, at the end 21 to provide additional gripping power or friction.

When a user desires to pivot the clip 20 about the microphone-speaker 10 along the circular line 22 of FIG. 1, he can pull the operating end 26 of the clip 20 upward and away from the microphone-speaker 10 as shown by the arrow 28 in FIG. 5. This causes the pin 50 to pull the tabs 45 and bend the long portion of the spring 40 upward so that the projection 42 is free of its engaged opening 31 in the plate 30. With the end 26 held as shown in FIG. 5, the clip 20 may then be rotated about the center 32 (and along the line 22 of FIG. 1) until it has the desired angular orientation with respect to the microphone-speaker 10. The end 26 may then be released and the projection 42 then permitted to engage a different opening 31 in the plate 30. This fixes the angular orientation of the clip 20 with respect to the microphone-speaker 10, so that the user can then push the end 26 down and cause the engaging end 21 to pivot upward and away from the microphone-speaker 10 to engage the user's article of clothing.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a new and improved device for attaching a microphone-speaker or the like to a user's article of clothing. My improved device is relatively simple and easy to manufacture, but provides a clip that can be rotatably oriented with respect to a microphone-speaker and that also can be operated to engage a user's article of clothing. The spring 40 provides resilient and firm engagement of its projection 42 with any desired opening 31, and also provides the resilient force (at its length 44) to cause the clip 20 to firmly engage clothing or the like between the end 21 and the microphone-speaker 10. While I have shown only one embodiment, persons skilled in the art will appreciate the modifications which can be made. For example, the openings 31 may have shapes other than the rectangular shape shown. Whatever the shape the openings 31 are given, I prefer that the projection 42 have a similar shape. Also, it is possible for the plate 30 to be omitted, and depressions (comparable to the openings 31) formed directly into the surface of the microphone-speaker. The clip 20 may be urged by a compression spring instead of by the length 44. Therefore, while my invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment, it is to be understood that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the claims.