GB2047323A

GB2047323A - Clamp for boom

Info

Publication number: GB2047323A
Application number: GB8009434A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Barton A P
Current assignee: Barton A P
Priority date: 1979-03-20
Filing date: 1980-03-20
Publication date: 1980-11-26
Also published as: GB2047323B

Abstract

A connecting member is described by means of which a microphone boom 5 may be locked in any desired position by applying a single upward force along the length of an actuating rod 20. A support tube 18 has a stub member 8 with flanged surface 9 secured coaxially to the tube and through which the actuating rod 20 extends. The boom is carried in a boom support 1 pivotally mounted to a head stock 10 on an axle pin 13. Between the boom support 1 and the stock 10 a wedge 6 is interposed and engaged by the actuating rod. Force exerted on the wedge produces frictional engagement between the wedge and the boom rod 5 and between the stock surface 11 and stub surface 9 such that rotation and displacement of the boom with respect to the tube 18 is prevented. The boom is unlocked by releasing force on the rod 20. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A connecting member primarily for coupling a microphone boom to a support stand This invention relates to a connecting member for coupling a boom to a stand and in which the boom is afforded the necessary degree of freedom enabling same to be positioned as required and locked. The connecting member is principally intended to connect a microphone support boom to a stand but it may be used for other purposes.

It is an object of this invention to provide a connecting member for coupling a boom to a stand wherein the boom is locked in position by a simple operation.

According to this invention there is provided a connecting member having a support tube (or a coupling for such a tube) and stub member, a stock rotatable around said stub member, a boom support housing a boom, said support or boom contacting a wedge, said boom support and wedge being pivotally coupled to said stock, an actuating rod extending through said support tube, one end of which rod bears against said wedge, the arrangement being such that force applied to the rod longitudinally thereof displaces said wedge into frictional engagement with said boom or boom support and a surface of said stock into frictional engagement with said stub member, locking said boom in position.

Preferably, the support tube has a stub member releasably affixed thereto, the stub member including either a flanged end or tapered surface.

The stock is freely rotatable around the stub and many have an internal bored profile corresponding to the stub flanged or tapered surface.

The boom support preferably includes a bore housing in the boom, and two parallel mounting brackets between which the wedge may be inserted. A preferred wedge is segment shaped with an enlarged aperture capable of alignment with an aperture in each boom support mounting bracket.

The actuating rod preferably passes through both the support tube and a bore in the stub before reaching the wedge.

A single operation of the actuating rod locks up the connecting member in respect of rotation about the support tube axis; the wedge axis and movement along the boom axis.

By way of example only, an embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein; Figure 1 is an exploded view of the connecting member components, Figure 2 is a view of the stand and boom, Figure 3 is detailed view of the connecting member, Figure 4 shows the wedge and boom in upright position, and Figure 5 shows the wedge construction, and Figure 6 illustrates alternative stocks and stubs.

Referring firstly to Figure 1, a boom support 1 has a bore 2 for housing a boom (not shown) and mounting brackets 3 each provided with an aperture 4. The wedge 6 fits between these brackets 3, wherein its aperture 7 aligns with those apertures 4 in the brackets 3. A stub or buffer 8 has a tapered surface 9 which is a snug fit within the bore 11 of a stock 10. The stock 10 is further provided with apertures 1 2 which correspond in diameter to those apertures 4 in the boom support brackets 3.

An alternative buffer 14, shown in greater detail in Figure 6, has a flanged end 15, which buffer fits within a bore 1 7 in the alternative stock 16. The boom support and wedge are pivotally coupled to the stock 10 through an axle pin 13, the wedge 6 being capable of lateral displacements from this pin 13 within the limits of its aperture 7.

Figure 2 shows the compiete microphone stand with support tube 18 and boom rod 5, shown in greater detail in Figure 3.

Referring to Figure 3, the boom rod 5 is located within the bore 2 of the boom support 1. The boom support 1 and wedge 6 are secured to stock 10 by axle pin 1 3 passing through the associated apertures. A stub or buffer 8 is secured at 1 9 to the support tube 1 8. This stub has a longitudinal bore 25 through which an actuating rod 20 passes, and further includes a tapered surface 9 corresponding to a tapered bore 1 i in the stock 10.

In operation, clamping of the boom rod 5 is effected by the action of a single upward force applied to the push rod 20, by the action of a spring, foot pedal, hydraulic or similar means.

When the boom rod 5 is in the required position, push rod 20 forces the wedge 6 against the boom rod 5 in its housing support 1. As the boom support 1 is secured to the stock 10 through axle pin 13, these component parts rise slightly until the stock surface 11 frictionally engages the buffer surface 9. The boom rod 5 is then locked until the force on the push rod 20 is released.

Referring to Figure 4, wherein the boom rod 5 is in a vertical position, clamping is achieved by the same force applied to the push rod 20 and acting on the wedge at 21. This force is transmitted through 900 to the boom 5 through the wedging action of the wedge 6 at the boom pivot point 24 against the axle pin 13 at 22 within the wedge aperture 7.

The weight of the wedge 6 is such that it pivots about the axle pin 1 3 when the connecting member is in the free mode, ensuring the lower edge of the wedge clamping face engages the boom 5 first allowing same to be clamped about pivot point 24, or pivot point 23 when the boom faces vertically downwards.

Figure 5 illustrates the wedge 6 with details defining the wedge aperture 7 configuration, based on the wedge radius 26.

In Figure 6, showing alternative stocks and stubs, a first stock 10 has a tapered internal bore 11 and apertures 12 for receiving axle pin 1 3 in shoulders extending from the stock base. This primary stock 10 is adapted to cooperate with a primary buffer or stub 8, having a similar tapered surface 9.

In an alternative embodiment, a secondary stock 1 6 has a generally T-shaped bore 1 7 corresponding to the external face 1 8 of a secondary stub 14. The stub 14 is substantially cylindrical with a flanged end.

Both stubs 8 and 14 are provided with longitudinal bores 25 through which the actuating push rod may pass.

Claims

1. A connecting member having a support tube, or a coupling for such a tube, and stub member, a stock rotatable around said stub member, a boom support housing a boom, said boom support or boom contacting a wedge, the boom support and wedge being pivotally coupled to said stock, and actuating rod extending through the support tube whereby an end of said rod bears against the wedge and the arrangement being such that force applied to the rod longitudinally thereof displaces said wedge into frictional engagement with said boom or boom support and a surface of said stock into frictional engagement with said stub member, locking the boom in position.

2. A connecting member according to Claim 1, wherein the support tube has a stub member releasably affixed thereto.

3. A connecting member according to either preceding claim, wherein the stub member is secured to the support tube coaxially at an end of said tube.

4. A connecting member according to any preceding claim, wherein the support tube has a longitudinal bore through which the actuating rod extends.

5. A connecting member according to any preceding claim, wherein the stub member includes a flanged end.

6. A connecting member according to any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the stub member includes a tapered surface.

7. A connecting member according to any preceding claim, wherein the stub member includes a longitudinal bore through which the actuating rod extends.

8. A connecting member according to any preceding claim, wherein the stock has a profiled surface engaging a complementary surface of the stub member.

9. A connecting member according to any preceding claim, wherein the stock comprises a base having spaced upstanding shoulders.

10. A connecting member according to Claim 9, wherein each shoulder has an aperture through which an axle pin is located.

1 A connecting member according to Claim 10, w,herein the boom support has a bore in which the boom is located and a pair of spaced parallel mounting brackets.

12. A connecting member according to Claim 11, wherein each mounting bracket has an aperture through which the axle pin is located.

13. A connecting member according to Claim 12, wherein the wedge is segment shaped and located between the boom support and stock.

14. A connecting member according to Claim 13, wherein the wedge includes an aperture through which the axle pin is located.

1 5. A connecting member according to either claim 13 or 14, wherein an end of the actuating rod engages an arcuate surface of the wedge.

1 6. A connecting member according to any of Claims 4 to 15, wherein the actuating rod extends through a bore in the support tube and the bore in the stub to engage the wedge.

1 7. A connecting member according to any preceding claim, wherein force is applied to the actuating rod by the action of a spring, a foot pedal or hydraulic means.

1 8. A connecting member substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in any of Figures 1 to 5 or as modified by Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.