Motorcycle helmet microphone mount and plug mount

Abstract

A microphone mount and plug mount for attaching to the side of a motorcyclist's helmet, said microphone mount adapted to secure a microphone boom positioning a microphone proximate the motorcyclist's mouth, the motorcycle mount characterized by a clamp portion adapted to forcefully engage the bottom edge of the helmet with minimum structure below the edge of the helmet, and a boom seat to receive the boom base and passage of electrical wires from the microphone mount. The plug mount defines a clamp portion similarly adapted to surround the lower edge of the helmet, and a plug seat defining a cavity adapted to receive a electrical plug and an opening to said plug seat cavity to receive electrical wires from said microphone mount and from a headset mounted interiorly to said helmet, the electrical plug receiving a mating electrical plug attached to wires connecting with audio accessories located on said motorcycle.

Description

motorcycle microphone mount 10. Secured to lower jaw 14 by machine bolts 18 is the upper jaw 13 and attached plug seat 42 which, like upper jaw 13 and microphone boom seat 12 of FIG. 1, works in conjunction with lower jaw 14 to surround and securely hold to the edge of the motorcycle helmet. Lastly, situated atop plug seat 42 is top plug holder 46. All other aspects of similarity to microphone mount 10 remain the same, namely the machine bolts 18 which secure the upper jaw 3 and the lower jaw 14 together as well as the arcuate shaped concavity formed in each of the upper jaw 13 and lower jaw 14. The resultant elliptical shaped opening formed between the two pieces, like the same elliptical shaped opening cavity formed in microphone mount 10, has transverse gripping ridges 24 attached to lower jaw 14 and gripping ridges 22 attached to upper jaw 13.

Formed in the top plug holder 46 is a circular plug opening 48 which permits a female electrical plug (not shown) to reside within the opening with the face of the plug flush or nearly flush with the top surface of top plug holder 46. The vertical multiple indexing grooves 50 receive indexing tags of the female electrical plug to secure the plug in a constant orientation. Not shown in FIG. 7, but on the side of the plug opposite the left hand side shown is an opening which is partially in the top plug holder 46 and partially in the plug seat 42 which allows passage of electrical wires to the microphone mount 10. Electrical wires running from the motorcycle frame or from a radio, stereo music player, or two-way radio mounted to the motorcycle frame attach to a male plug which mates with the female plug held securely in plug opening 48.

Components comprising plug mount 40 are shown in FIGS. 8-10, and commencing with FIG. 8 shows a side view of plug mount 40 (less lower jaw 14) from the side opposite that side illustrated in FIG. 7. Here shown residing between top plug holder 46 and plug seat 42 is wire opening 52 which, like its similar counterpart and microphone mount 10, is surrounded by boss 53 defining the interior opening 52. Wire opening 52 leads interiorly to the cavity formed interiorly to plug seat 42. The plug opening 48 shown in FIG. 7 leads into the slightly larger cavity 54 shown by the dotted line in the plug seat 42 (FIG. 8). Also shown in dotted fashion are the sides of top plug holder opening 48.

FIG. 8 also shows the features which it has in common with microphone mount 10, namely the arcuate shaped concavity along its bottom portion of upper jaw 13 which is adapted to surround the outside edge of the motorcycle helmet with protruding pointed gripping ridges 22 adapted to engage the outside of the helmet to hold plug mount 40 to the helmet. Also, the countersunk recess and machine bolt opening 58 is shown proximate the left end of the upper jaw 13. Also, similarly to the upper jaw 13 and microphone boom seat 12 of microphone mount 10, upper jaw 13 in plug mount 40 possesses the fulcrum 31 against which the lower jaw 14 engages as well as the top gripping surface 37 which is urged against the outside of the motorcycle helmet.

FIG. 9 is a top view of upper jaw 13 and plug seat 42 with top plug holder 46 removed. Here shown are the walls which constitute the cavity 54, and the wire opening 52 leading from the interior of the cavity 54 to the outside. Wire opening 52 is surrounded by boss 53. Opening 52 is located partially in top plug holder 46 and partially in plug seat 42. Additionally shown in FIG. 9 are the pair of grooves 55 formed in the side walls of plug seat 42 surrounding cavity 54 to permit alignment of the top plug holder 46. Lastly, machine bolt openings 58 are shown which allow passage of the machine bolts to hold the clamped portions together.

FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the top plug holder 46 showing firstly the circular plug opening 48, the multiple grooves 50 formed vertically in the same direction as the axial direction of plug opening 48, the wire opening 52 which top plug holder 46 shares with plug seat 42 as well as boss 53 surrounding the wire opening 52. Lastly, alignment protrusions 56 adapted to mate with alignment grooves 55 of plug seat 42 are detailed in FIG. 9. After the female plug is situated in the cavity 54 of plug seat 42, and top plug holder 46 set about it with the female electrical plug indexed properly in groove 50, and the plug wires exiting through opening 52, all parts are held together with an appropriate adhesive.

Referring now to FIG. 11, a perspective view of an alternate microphone mount 60 is illustrated. This alternate microphone mount is adapted to secure the boom of the microphone at a different angle. In the invention, two optional microphone booms are offered. One option employs the microphone at the end of a steel flexible shaft boom where the shaft is sufficiently rigid that the microphone mount may be mounted at a point approaching approximately mid-point of the edge of the helmet between the front and the back. This option employs the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1. The other option is to use a flexible plastic microphone boom which is of shorter length than the flexible steel boom and as a consequence, the microphone mount must be at a point closer to the driver's mouth and thus is usually on the lip of the curve of the helmet near the point where the helmet begins opening for the face. This option employs the alternate embodiment shown in FIG. 11. These are illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14 which will be discussed presently.

The only difference between the microphone mount 10 and the alternate microphone mount 60 of FIG. 11 is that the boom seat of the alternate embodiment, i.e., the portion which contains the cavity to receive the microphone boom base, has been placed at an angle such that the longitudinal axis of the boom seat barrel or cylindrical shaped cavity is skewed or offset from the right angle relationship with the elongated upper jaw of microphone mount 10. The lower jaw 14 and upper jaw 13 remain the same as in microphone mount 10. Microphone boom seat 62 and top cap 64 of the alternate embodiment are identical to boom seat 12 and top cap 16 of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1 as well as the interior cavity thereto.

Referring now to FIG. 12, a cross-sectional view is shown of microphone mount 10 in place surrounding the bottom edge of a motorcyclist's helmet. For ease of illustration, the microphone mount 10 is shown not actually engaging the helmet edge, but in a position ready to engage the helmet. Lower or inside jaw 14, which resides interiorly to the helmet, is held to upper or outside jaw 13 and microphone boom seat 12 by means of machine bolts 18 shown connecting both sides. For ease of illustration, the divisional line between the top cap 16 and the microphone boom seat 12 are shown in the same cross hatch because the parts have been glued together. Shown emerging from opening 20 is a cross-sectional view of the microphone boom 70. Sandwiched between the lower jaw 14 and upper jaw 13 is the edge of the helmet 72. To clamp the helmet in the microphone mount 10, machine bolt 18 is tightened, and as it tightens, the gripping ridges on the jaws on both sides of the helmet, together with the gripping surfaces 26 and 27 of the lower jaw 14 and upper jaw 13 respectively engage the side of the helmet in a fixed securing manner.

Through the use of high strength plastic in the microphone mount, and the fact that the helmets also use high strength plastic in their construction and have a scratch resistant surface, it has been determined that Applicant's clamp may be firmly secured to the helmet, is easily removable by unscrewing the machine bolts, and leaves no scars upon the helmet by its use.

Referring now to FIGS. 13 and 14, Applicant's invention is shown in place on a motorcyclist's helmet. In FIG. 13, microphone mount 10 is shown attached to helmet 72 at a position 1/3 to 1/2 the distance from the front of the bottom opening to the rear and shows microphone boom 70 emerging from microphone mount 10. At the end of microphone boom 70 is wind sock 74, made of soft porous plastic, and which encompasses the microphone element (not shown). As can be seen from FIG. 13, the microphone is in position immediately forward of the motorcyclist's mouth. As illustrated in FIG. 13, the only portion of microphone mount 10 which extends below the bottom edge 76 of helmet 72 is that portion of microphone mount 10 containing the machine bolts which hold the mount in place. The bottom edge 76 of helmet 72 is approximately three-quarters of a circle and defines substantially a flat plane which, when the helmet is worn by an upright rider, substantially horizontal to the ground. Obviously discernible from FIGS. 13 and 14 is the fact that the longitudinal direction of the microphone boom seats are approximate parallel to the plane defined by the bottom edge of the helmet and that the microphone boom seat of the preferred embodiment is at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the upper jaw.

Immediately to the rear of microphone mount 10 is plug mount 40, plug mount 40 attached to the bottom edge 76 of helmet 72 as was microphone mount 10, and extending no further below helmet edge 76 than does microphone mount 10. Connected to microphone mount 10 by the electrical wire previously discussed, plug mount 40 has a female plug mounted in the plug opening which is in turn encompassed by an electrical male plug 79 attached to connecting wire 78 which is then connected with the selected audio instruments 75 mounted to the motorcycle, such as the two-way radio or stereo receiver or the like which are not shown. Further, wires 73 from plug mount 40 dive underneath the helmet's edge and run to the headset or earphones 71 (shown dotted) interiorly to the helmet.

FIG. 14 details use of the alternate embodiment of the Applicant's invention, namely microphone mount 60 which is adapted to receive the plastic microphone boom 80 rather than the flexible metal microphone boom 70 as shown in FIG. 13. Since the plastic microphone boom 80 is more susceptible to flexing with incoming wind than the steel microphone boom, the plastic microphone boom 80 is shorter and thus needed to be mounted closer to the rider's mouth. Like illustrated in FIG. 13, the microphone is held proximate the rider's mouth and covered with the same porous plastic wind sock 82. Because the microphone mount 60, to be closer to the rider's mouth, must be mounted on the curve portion of the helmet, the reason for skewing the microphone boom seat becomes apparent. The remainder of the helmet additions are the same, namely plug mount 40 is still connected to helmet 72 and connects with microphone mount 60 and interiorly located earphones by the originally previously discussed electrical wiring shown in connection with FIG. 13. Further, male plug 79 and connecting wire 78 connects with the female plug held by plug mount 40 and as previously discussed.

In the discussion above, the accessories or fixtures consisting of the microphone mount and the plug mount were discussed primarily in connection with application to a motorcyclist's helmet, however, it is readily apparent that the invention may be applied to helmets worn by persons in other professions, such as pilots, sports players, and parties that may be in noisy or contaminated environments.

In the invention, plastic has been incorporated to construct the elements with the exception of the machine bolts and nuts. Advantages in utilizing a resilient plastic is that the parts may be readily molded and, in case of an accident while the motorcyclist is riding, the lighter weight plastic presents a less dangerous flying object than a heavier metal part in the event the invention should break loose.

While a preferred embodiment together with an alternate embodiment of Applicant's invention has been shown and described, it is appreciated that other such embodiments of the invention are possible and that there is no intent to limit the invention by such disclosure, but rather it is intended to cover all modifications and alternate embodiments falling with the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. helmet accessories for helmets of the type having an opening for viewing and receiving the head of a wearer, the helmet opening having a lower side edge with adjacent inside and outside helmet surfaces above the lower side edge, said helmet accessories placing a microphone attached at the end of a boom proximate the helmet wearer's mouth, the accessories comprising:

a microphone mount for attachment to an associated helmet, said microphone mount adapted to receive and secure an associated microphone boom for placing the microphone proximate the wearer's mouth; and

a plug mount for attachment to the associated helmet proximate said microphone mount, said plug mount adapted to receive and secure an associated electrical plug and provide for electrical connection from the electrical plug to the microphone secured by said microphone mount, to associated earphones located in the helmet, and to associated audio instruments located distal to the helmet;

both said microphone mount and said plug mount each including an attached clamp portion engaging the lower side edge of the associated helmet, said clamp portion comprising an outside elongated jaw and an inside elongated jaw, each said jaws having opposite first and second ends, each said outside jaw and inside jaw second ends forcibly engaging the outside surface and the inside surface of the helmet above the lower side edge of the helmet respectively with each said outside jaw and inside jaw first and below the side edge of the helmet, each said jaw defining an arcuate shaped concavity situated between said first and second end and a pair of gripping ridges in each of said concavity, and tightening means situated at said first end of each said jaws to force said jaws together, said tightening means comprising at least one machine bolt and nut, said machine bolt passing through said first ends of both said outside and inside jaw, said machine bolt and nut operably tightening said jaws forcibly together, said gripping ridges together with said second ends engaging and holding said clamp portion and thus said microphone mount and said plug mount to the helmet by tightening said jaws together whereby said microphone mount and plug mount secure the microphone in position and provide for electrical connections in order that the wearer may utilize the associated microphone, earphones, and audio instruments.

2. The helmet accessories as defined in claim 1 wherein said microphone mount includes a microphone boom seat attached to said outside jaw, said seat adapted to receive and secure the boom of a microphone, and to provide means for wires associated with the microphone to exit said seat.

3. The helmet accessories as defined in claim 2 wherein said microphone boom seat is attached to said outside jaw proximate said second end, said microphone boom seat thereby located proximate the outside surface of the helmet above the helmet edge.

4. The helmet accessories as defined in claim 3 wherein said microphone boom seat includes a removable top cap, said cap removable to facilitate placement of the microphone boom therein for securing, and to facilitate exiting the wires associated with the microphone from said seat.

5. The helmet accessories as defined in claim 4 wherein said microphone boom seat defines a separable elongated cylinder having a pair of oppositely situated circular openings, the first of said openings adapted to pass the microphone boom, and the second of said openings smaller than said first opening, said second opening comprising said means providing an exit for electrical wires connected to the microphone to exit from said seat, said second openings centrally situated with respect to said first opening.

6. The helmet accessories as defined in claim 1 wherein said plug mount includes a plug seat attached to said outside jaw, said plug seat adapted to receive and secure the associated electrical plug, and to provide means for wires associated with the electrical plug to exit said seat.

7. The helmet accessories as defined in claim 6 wherein said plug seat attached to said outside jaw comprises a plug seat attached to said outside jaw proximate said second end, said plug seat thereby located proximate the outside surface of the helmet above the helmet edge.

8. The helmet accessories as defined in claim 7 wherein said plug seat includes a removable top plug holder.

9. The helmet accessories as defined in claim 8 wherein said plug seat defines a cavity, said cavity adapted to receive the associated electrical plug.

10. The helmet accessories as defined in claim 9 wherein said plug mount defines a pair of openings, the first of said openings situated in said removable top plug holder, said first opening leading to said cavity in said plug mount, said first opening also adapted to receive the associated electrical plug in conjunction with said cavity, and said second opening partially in said removable top plug holder said second opening providing an a means for wires associated with the electrical plug to exit for electrical wiring into and out of said cavity formed in said plug mount.

11. The helmet accessories as defined in claim 10 wherein said plug mount first opening includes indexing grooves, said indexing grooves adapted to receive the associated electrical plug to secure the electrical plug in a fixed configuration.

12. The helmet accessories as defined in claim 5 wherein said microphone boom seat includes a plurality of circular grooves formed interiorly to said seat, said circular grooves adapted to receive and secure the microphone boom.

13. The helmet accessories as defined in claim 12 wherein said microphone boom seat elongated cylinder is situated at right angles to said outside elongated jaw.

14. The helmet accessories as defined in claim 12 wherein said microphone boom seat elongated cylinder is situated at an angle skewed from a right angle to said outside elongated jaw.

15. An accessory mount for connection to a helmet having inner and outer surfaces and a bottom edge, said accessory mount comprising in combination:

(a) gripping means for engaging the inner and outer surfaces of said helmet above the bottom edge, the gripping means including a fulcrum located below the bottom edge;

(b) a microphone boom having first and second ends;

(c) an electronic microphone connected to the first end of said microphone boom;

(d) means for attaching the second end of said microphone boom to said gripping means above said fulcrum and for supporting said microphone in proximity to the mouth of a person wearing said helmet;

(e) means for attaching an electrical plug to said gripping means above said fulcrum;

(f) means for providing separate electrical connections between the electrical plug and (i) said microphone, (ii) at least one speaker in audio communication with the inner portion of the helmet, and (iii) electronic equipment external to said helmet. 16. The accessory mount of claim 15 wherein the gripping means is detachable from the helmet, and further comprising tightening means located between said fulcrum and said bottom edge for closing said gripping means on said helmet. 17. A method for mounting accessories to a helmet having inner and outer surfaces and a bottom edge, said method including the interchangeable steps of:

(a) securing a fulcrum including gripping means to the helmet by engaging the inner and outer surfaces thereof so that the fulcrum is below the bottom edge;

(b) securing one end of a microphone boom to the gripping means above said fulcrum;

(c) supporting an electronic microphone at the opposite end of the microphone boom and in proximity to the mouth of a person wearing the helmet;

(d) securing an electrical plug to the gripping means above said fulcrum;

(e) providing separate electrical connections between the electrical plug and (i) the electronic microphone, (ii) at least one speaker in audio communication with the inside of the helmet, and (iii) electronic equipment external to the helmet.