Quick release connector
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional quick release connectors for microphones and sound equipment are not effective in minimizing vibrations, leading to poor sound quality and unwanted noise during attachment and detachment.
Innovation Solution
A quick release connector with a smooth, non-grooved shaft and multiple ball bearings that provide a precise press fit connection, minimizing lateral displacement and vibration transmission, and featuring rotational alignment members to prevent rotation and enhance stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional quick release connectors with grooved shafts are used, then attachment and detachment can be achieved, but vibrations are transmitted and sound quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into two separate members: a receiving member with a smooth bore and a releasable member with a shaft. The shaft is segmented with multiple discrete ball engagement surfaces (first, second, and third surfaces) rather than a continuous grooved structure. This segmentation allows the ball bearings to engage at specific points, reducing vibration transmission while maintaining connection stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft is provided with localized engagement surfaces at specific positions rather than continuous grooves. These localized surfaces (first ball engagement surface, second ball engagement surface, third ball engagement surface) are strategically positioned to provide stable engagement points for ball bearings while leaving the rest of the shaft surface smooth, thereby minimizing vibration transmission to the microphone.
2Productivity
If conventional microphone swapping methods are used, then microphone replacement is possible, but the process is time-consuming and generates unwanted noise
Solution Approach 1:
The connector employs a dynamic quick-release mechanism where a slide member can be moved between locked and unlocked positions. When unlocked, ball bearings are disengaged from the shaft, allowing rapid removal of the releasable member without manual manipulation. This dynamic system enables fast microphone replacement while minimizing noise generation during the attachment and detachment processes.
Solution Approach 2:
Ball bearings serve as intermediary elements between the shaft and the receiving member bore. These ball bearings facilitate smooth engagement and disengagement by rolling contact, reducing friction and noise during attachment and detachment operations while enabling quick microphone swapping.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a smooth shaft without grooves is used, then vibration is minimized, but connection stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft is designed with asymmetric engagement surfaces positioned at different locations and orientations (first, second, and third ball engagement surfaces). This asymmetric arrangement provides multiple stable engagement points for ball bearings, ensuring connection stability while maintaining a predominantly smooth shaft surface that minimizes vibration transmission to the microphone.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively reduces vibrations, improving acoustic quality and allowing for quick and noise-free attachment and detachment of microphones and cameras from tripods and other support structures.
Implementation Method 1
A ball bearing is positioned in the slot and aperture and engages the shaft such that when the releasable member is attached to the receiving member, the ball bearing engages the shaft
Implementation Method 2
A spring is positioned between the first and second terminal ends of the receiving member and the slide member, wherein when the spring is biased, the biasing force of the spring urges the slide member to the attached position
Implementation Method 3
A quick release connector with a smooth, non-grooved shaft and multiple ball bearings that provide a precise press fit connection, minimizing lateral displacement and vibration transmission
Data Source
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AI summary
A quick release connector is provided that uses a plurality of the ball bearings to engage shaft of a releasable member. The use of multiple ball bearings along different faces of a shaft of a releasable member minimizes vibrations and provides an improved quick release connector adapted for use with microphones, boom arms, ball joints and similar structures used with sound recording or photography equipment.