Connection Assembly for Audio Equipment

A connection assembly configured for connection to an audio device, comprising:

• a connector module including a connector configured for electronic connection to a mating connector of the audio device and a casing supporting the connector, the connector module having a first locking structure and a latch supported by the casing, wherein the latch has a latching portion and an actuation surface and is moveable between a latched position, where the latching portion is configured to engage the audio device to retain the connector module in connection with the audio device, and a release position, where the latching portion is not configured to retain the connector module in connection with the audio device;
• a housing having a cavity with an opening, where the connector module extends into the opening and a first portion of the connector module is received in the cavity;
• and
• an actuator moveably received within the cavity of the housing and axially moveable with respect to the connector module between a first position and a second position that is axially shifted from the first position, wherein the actuator has an engagement surface configured to engage the actuation surface of the latch to move the latch to the release position when the actuator is moved to the second position;
• and
• wherein the actuator further has a second locking structure, and the actuator is further moveable by rotation between a free position, where the second locking structure does not engage the first locking structure of the connector module and the actuator is moveable between the first and second positions, and a locked position, where the second locking structure engages the first locking structure of the connector module and resists axial movement of the actuator.

A connection assembly configured for connection to a microphone, comprising:

• a connector module including a connector configured for electronic connection to a microphone connector of the microphone, an electronic component in communication with the connector, and a casing supporting the connector and the electronic component, the connector module having a first threaded portion on an outer periphery of the casing and a first pathway separate from the first threaded portion, wherein the connector module further includes a latch having a latching portion and an actuation portion spaced from the latching portion and having an actuation surface, wherein the latch is moveable by pivoting between a latched position, where the latching portion is configured to engage the microphone to retain the connector module in connection with the microphone, and a release position, where the latching portion is not configured to retain the connector module in connection with the microphone;
• a housing having a cavity with an opening, where the connector module extends into the opening and a portion of the connector module is received in the cavity;
• a collar having a central passage defined by an inner surface, wherein the connector module extends through the central passage, wherein the collar is moveably received within the cavity of the housing and is axially moveable with respect to the connector module between a first position, where a top of the collar extends out of the opening of the housing, and a second position, where the collar is moved axially further into the housing relative to the first position, wherein the collar has an engagement surface on the inner surface of the collar, and the engagement surface is configured to engage the actuation surface of the latch to move the latch to the release position when the collar is moved to the second position;
• and
• a biasing member engaging the housing and the collar to bias the collar toward the first position, wherein movement of the collar from the first position to the second position is configured to compress the biasing member,
• wherein the collar further has a second threaded portion on the inner surface, and the collar is further moveable by rotation between a free position, where the second threaded portion is positioned within the first pathway of the connector module and the collar is moveable between the first and second positions such that the second threaded portion moves axially within the first pathway, and a locked position, where the second threaded portion engages the first threaded portion of the connector module and resists axial movement of the collar, and
• wherein engagement between the first and second threaded portions during movement of the collar from the free position to the locked position is configured to move the collar axially toward the connector of the connector module.

A microphone assembly comprising:

• a microphone comprising an audio receiver, a microphone body connected to the audio receiver, and a microphone connector connected to the microphone body and in communication with the audio receiver, the microphone body having an engagement surface proximate to the microphone connector;
• and
• a connection assembly configured for connection to the microphone, the connection assembly comprising:
• a connector module including a connector configured for electronic connection to the microphone connector, an electronic component in communication with the connector, and a casing supporting the connector and the electronic component, the connector module having a first threaded portion on an outer periphery of the casing and a first pathway separate from the first threaded portion, wherein the connector module further includes a latch having a latching portion and an actuation portion spaced from the latching portion and having an actuation surface, wherein the latch is moveable by pivoting between a latched position, where the latching portion is configured to engage the engagement surface of the microphone to retain the connector module in connection with the microphone, and a release position, where the latching portion is not configured to engage the engagement surface to retain the connector module in connection with the microphone;
• a housing having a cavity with an opening, where the connector module extends into the opening and a portion of the connector module is received in the cavity, the housing having a rim extending inward around at least a portion of an interior of the housing;
• a collar having a central passage defined by an inner surface, wherein the connector module extends through the central passage, the collar having a flange extending outward from an outer surface, wherein the collar is moveably received within the cavity of the housing and is axially moveable with respect to the connector module between a first position, where a top of the collar extends out of the opening of the housing and the rim of the housing engages the flange to limit further movement of the collar outward through the opening, and a second position, where the collar is moved axially further into the housing relative to the first position, wherein the collar has an engagement surface on the inner surface of the collar, and the engagement surface is configured to engage the actuation surface of the latch to move the latch to the release position when the collar is moved to the second position;
• and
• a biasing member engaging the housing and the collar to bias the collar toward the first position, wherein movement of the collar from the first position to the second position is configured to compress the biasing member,
• wherein the collar further has a second threaded portion on the inner surface, and the collar is further moveable by rotation between a free position, where the second threaded portion is positioned within the first pathway of the connector module and the collar is moveable between the first and second positions such that the second threaded portion moves axially within the first pathway, and a locked position, where the second threaded portion engages the first threaded portion of the connector module and resists axial movement of the collar, and
• wherein engagement between the first and second threaded portions during movement of the collar from the free position to the locked position is configured to move the collar axially toward the microphone and to press the collar into closer engagement with the microphone.