DE102020006272A1 - Cover attachment for microphone holder for clip-on microphones - Google Patents

Abstract

The patent describes a replaceable and reusable cover attachment for miniaturized microphone holders for clip-on microphones. Depending on the situation, these cover attachments are used, for example, as a windscreen or to mask the microphone holder. If their use is not required, the microphone holder with clip-on microphone can be used alone. This connection can be made and disconnected multiple times in a row without tools or consumables, without having to change the underlying assembly of the microphone holder with the lapel microphone. The connection between the base mount and the material-covered cover attachment can be made between permanent magnet(s), permanent magnet(s) and a magnetizable material, mechanically by materials of different stiffness and by a combination of these. The arrangement, alignment and number of connecting elements can be implemented in many ways, and the assembly and disassembly direction of the cover attachment is theoretically arbitrary, but is expediently parallel or perpendicular to the surface for sensible and simple handling. The base bracket is designed for the corresponding clip-on microphone geometry to be adjusted accordingly, the cover attachment is also to be adjusted geometrically. The illustration shows the cover attachment without a material cover.

Description

State of the art:

The invention disclosed here relates to miniaturized microphone holders for clip-on microphones in connection with interchangeable cover attachments, which are primarily used in (film) sound recording technology. The actual sound or speech is recorded using the clip-on microphones, which are available in different sizes and shapes depending on the manufacturer, while these are attached to the actors / speakers. Depending on the situation at hand, the function of the cover attachment, which can be made of different materials, is to reduce wind noise (e.g. via "furs" or "felt") and/or to mask (e.g. by using the same costume material as the actor/speaker) of an exposed microphone holder during sound recording.
In addition to the wind-related ambient noise, there are other possible sources of background noise with the recording technique described in more detail below on the actor/speaker, etc., which must also be taken into account, but are not part of the patent here and are fulfilled indirectly (when the microphone is mounted between/below layers of clothing : primarily due to noise from the overlying rubbing layers of material and technical frequency distortions).

• A: mechanische / hardwareseitige Lösungen: Erste Ansätze sind bereits in den 1920-er Jahren zu finden. Das Mikrofon liegt innerhalb eines zur Umgebung hin abgeschirmt Innenraums. Dieser Innenraum kann entweder integrierter Bestandteil des Mikrofonkörpers sein oder als optional aufsetzbarer „Schutz“. Die Abschirmung erfolgt in allen Fällen „schildartig“ über beispielsweise wie im ersteren integrierten Teil über das harte Gehäuse, teilweise mit zusätzlichen dämpfenden Elementen, oder wie im letzteren aufsetzbaren Fall über ein Gewebe, metallische Netze/Geflechte, Körbe, Schäume... die ihrerseits nach innen hin je nach Ausführungsart mit weiteren dämpfenden Materialien wie Schäume ausgefüllt sein können.
• B: elektronische / hardwareseitige Lösungen: Hierbei werden mitunter gesamte signalmesstechnische Ketten mit entsprechenden Signalfiltern basierend auf elektronischen Bauteilen eingesetzt sowie meist mehrere Mikrofone zur Bestimmung der herauszufilternden Störsignale angewendet.
• C: softwareseitige Lösungen: Diese Lösungsansätze stellen die neuesten Ansätze dar und bestehen aus z.B. digitalen Filtern, die die zuvor genannten elektronischen Filter ergänzen oder ersetzen.

Over the past few decades, attempts have been made to reduce wind noise in a variety of ways, which has resulted in numerous patents being granted for a wide variety of microphone applications (e.g. film/sound technology, mobile phones or walkie-talkies, headsets, ...). The approaches and types of solution found here can be roughly divided into:

• A: Mechanical / hardware solutions: The first approaches can be found as early as the 1920s. The microphone is located within an interior space that is shielded from the environment. This interior can either be an integrated part of the microphone body or as an optional "protection" that can be attached. In all cases, the shielding is "shield-like", for example, as in the first integrated part, via the hard housing, sometimes with additional damping elements, or as in the latter case, which can be attached, via a fabric, metallic nets/mesh, baskets, foams... which in turn depending on the type of design, can be filled with other damping materials such as foams towards the inside.
• B: Electronic / hardware-based solutions: In this case, entire signal measurement chains with corresponding signal filters based on electronic components are sometimes used, and usually several microphones are used to determine the interference signals to be filtered out.
• C: Software-based solutions: These solutions represent the latest approaches and consist of, for example, digital filters that supplement or replace the electronic filters mentioned above.

1. 1: passiv (z.B. durch räumliche „Abschirmung“ des Mikros, Verwendung von dämpfenden Materialien) oder
2. 2: aktiv (z.B. aktiv Geräuschunterdrückung durch elektronische / softwaretechnische. Lösung und Verwendung künstlicher Energie)

Furthermore, depending on the technical solution, the background noise is suppressed either

1. 1: passive (e.g. through spatial "shielding" of the microphone, use of damping materials) or
2. 2: active (e.g. active noise reduction by electronic / software-technical solution and use of artificial energy)

According to this rough subdivision, this patent falls into categories A-1, so that the approach to reducing wind noise is not new, as mentioned at the beginning, nor is the masking of the microphone holder with a wide variety of material coatings. The advantages of the invention described here lie in the efficient handling when converting mounted microphone holders for clip-on microphones and in the material-friendly handling made possible here, since the material used can be reused due to the new type of connection of both main components.

The quality of the (film) sound recording depends very much on the position of the microphone in relation to the speech source. This sometimes places increased demands on the positioning of the microphone on the actor/speaker, etc.: They are to be attached "invisibly" and protected near the head, which leads to the regular modifications to the actor/speaker, etc can lead to the corresponding material consumption.

The products already on the market are comparable in their basic function, but do not offer such a clearly pronounced advantage in their application with regard to conversion efficiency, material protection and compactness as the present invention.

patent research

Patents have been found that include removable wind noise reducing solutions. However, these are not tailored to the film sound technology with clip-on microphones attached directly to the actor/speaker, but to “free” microphones, which, for example be held in the hand or on a fishing rod or designed for headset-like applications.

The patent comes closest to this invention using permanent magnets US5444790 (A ) "Microphone windscreen mounting" from 1995 (see ). In the first claim, this patent refers to a windscreen held by a single magnetic ring and also mentions the simple and user-friendly application of removing and putting on the windscreen. This patent references the patent specification in the citation US4319097A from 1980 for a handheld microphone, which also describes a permanent magnet in connection with a microphone (see ). However, the function of the permanent magnet mentioned therein is that of a (wall) mount, which in turn should enable quick and practical use.

• - Dieses bezieht sich nicht auf Ansteckmikrofon, sondern auf handgehaltene Mikrofone. Die Kombination aus Ansteckmikrofonhalterung für Stoffgeräuschedämpfung mit möglichem Aufsatz für Windschutz ist darin nicht aufgeführt
• - In der offengelegten Patentschrift ist die Ausrichtung des/r Permanentmagnets/-e erfolgt senkrecht zur Mikrofonausrichtungsachse (im o.g. Patent sind diese parallel ausgerichtet)
• - Die o.g. Patentschrift beschreibt einen einzelnen großflächigen Permanentmagneten in Ringform, bei dieser Erfindung weist/-en der/die Magnet/-e bevorzugt eine kleinflächige Kreisform auf, wobei andere Formen auch möglich sein können.
• - Bei dieser Erfindung werden bevorzugt mindestens 2 Magnete insgesamt, einer pro Hauptkomponente, vorgesehen,
• - In Ergänzung zu dem/n Magneten ist konstruktiv bedingt auf eine korrekte Ausrichtung des Abdeckungsaufsatzes gegenüber der Basishalterung erforderlich. Im o.g. Patent ist der Windschutz rotationssymmetrisch ausgeführt
• - Der Windschutz besteht lediglich aus einem Schaumstoff. Ein Miniatur-Wmdfell oder generell die Verhüllung mit anderen Stoffen je nach Anwendungssituation, wird im o.g. Patent nicht angeführt.

A delimitation of this invention for the variant with permanent magnets is to the patent US5444790 (A ) possible for the following reasons:

• - This does not refer to lapel microphones, but to handheld microphones. The combination of lapel microphone holder for cloth noise reduction with possible attachment for windscreen is not listed therein
• - In the published patent, the alignment of the permanent magnet(s) is perpendicular to the axis of the microphone alignment (in the above patent, these are aligned parallel)
• - The above patent specification describes a single large-area permanent magnet in the form of a ring, in this invention the magnet(s) preferably has a small-area circular shape, although other shapes may also be possible.
• - In this invention at least 2 magnets are preferably provided in total, one per main component,
• - In addition to the magnet(s), due to the design, the cover attachment must be correctly aligned with the base bracket. In the above patent, the windshield is designed to be rotationally symmetrical
• - The windbreak consists only of foam. A miniature fleece or, in general, covering with other materials, depending on the application situation, is not mentioned in the above-mentioned patent.

Description of the invention

The invention consists of at least 2 main components, for the first exemplary design variant with A-1 and A-2 according to 1 until 5 or for the second design variant B-1 and B-2 according to 6 until 9 called, which in turn can consist of several items according to claims.
The invention includes two connection principles of the two main components: by a form fit in connection with permanent magnets or purely mechanically by form and force fit. In the purely mechanical connection, the connecting elements engage in a tongue and groove manner, whereby during the engagement of one main component with the other, the latter is deformed and put under tension due to the softer base material, which causes a pull-off resistance to separate the two main components.

In the following figures 1 until 5 and 6 until 9 two possible design variants A & B, each with four permanent magnets per main component, are shown as one of the two possible types of connection, as described in claim 2. The mechanical, interlocking elements can be arranged in a comparable way. The advantage of permanent magnets is that they can be connected without any assembly forces worth mentioning.

The two exemplary design variants of the illustrations 1 until 5 and 6 until 9 differ in the alignment and design of the contact zones of the two main components, the arrangement and alignment of the connecting elements and the component-aligning guide surfaces and thus the resulting connection direction of the cover attachment in relation to the base bracket, which is either vertical, shown as an example with variant A, or parallel, as an example shown with variant B, is to the mounting surface.

The material covering that can also be applied for the cover attachment is not illustrated.

If the base mount is installed on site by adhesion, the mounting surface used for this purpose is marked A-1.9. If the base bracket is installed at the place of use by plugging it in, the retaining hook required for this is marked with B-1.7 on the installation side.

Explanations for the illustrations 1 until 9 for two design variants: main component A-1 or B-1, the base bracket, has the permanent magnets A-1.1, A-1.2, A-1.3 (not shown in the picture provided), A-1.4 or B-1.1, B-1.2, B-1.3 (not shown), B-1.4 (not shown). Main component A-2, the cover attachment, has the permanent magnets A-2.1, A-2.2, A-2.3, A-2.4 or B-2.1 (not shown), B-2.2 (not shown), B-2.3, B-2.4 on. The lateral surface A-2.9 or B-2.7 of the main component A-2 or B-2 for the additional material coating according to claim 2 that can be applied is not shown completely in any of the figures.

In both main components, the permanent magnets are arranged in such a way that, when they are assembled and aligned with opposite poles, they are as close as possible to one another in order to generate a sufficiently high holding force. They are placed in the contact zone area of both main components. The permanent magnets are also distributed over the surface of the resulting contact zone, so that there is a uniformly acting holding force between the two main components. In order to prevent unwanted and uncontrolled displacements along the contact zones, both main components in the illustrated designs have shaped surfaces for mutual guidance: For design variant A, the surface areas A-1.5, A-1.6, A-1.7 (not shown), A-1.8 ( not shown) of the base bracket A-1 and for the cover attachment A-2 the surface areas A-2.5 (not shown), A-2.6 (not shown), A-2.7, A-2.8 and for the design variant B the surface areas B-1.5, B-1.6 (not shown) of the base bracket B-1 and for the cover attachment B-2 the surface areas B-2.5 (not shown), B-2.6 An exemplary opening for the clip-on microphone is marked A-1.10 or B-1.8, the position of the clip-on microphone is defined by the inner surface areas A-1.11 and B-1.9.

The patent described here offers the following advantages over the product solutions currently on the market:

# User-friendliness, conversion efficiency, material protection

• - Die Basishalterung kann bei solchen Wechseln i.d.R. an Ort und Stelle verbleiben. Mit einem einfachen Handgriff kann je nach Umbausituation der Abdeckungsaufsatz einfach, schnell und materialschonend aufgesetzt oder abgenommen werden. Bei derzeitigen Lösungen muss u.U. selbst die Mikrofongrundmontage komplett neu aufgebaut werden, was zeitlich aufwendig und u.U. mit einem hohen Materialverbrauch ausfallen kann, da v.a. das „verbaute“ Windschutzmaterial nach dessen Entfernung unbrauchbar geworden sein könnte. Dieser Wechsel ist mit dieser Erfindung sehr anwenderfreundlich, so dass der/die Schauspielerin / SprecherIn usw. sogar selber aktiv werden kann, was weniger Handgriffe an dem/der SchauspielerIn / Sprecherin usw. an mitunter sensibleren Körperstellen ermöglicht.
• - Insbesondere bei der magnetischen Lösung ist eine sehr vereinfachte Herstellung der Verbindung gegeben.
• - durch die Wiederverwendbarkeit der Komponenten wird die Menge des Verbrauchsmaterials reduziert.

If the environmental or application conditions change (e.g. moving the recordings from inside to outside or vv)

• - The base mount can usually remain in place during such changes. Depending on the conversion situation, the cover attachment can be attached or removed easily, quickly and gently with a simple movement of the hand. With current solutions, even the basic microphone assembly may have to be completely rebuilt, which can be time-consuming and possibly use a lot of material, since the "built-in" wind protection material in particular could have become unusable after it was removed. This change is very user-friendly with this invention, so that the actress/speaker etc. can even become active themselves, which means fewer hand movements on the actor/speaker etc. at sometimes more sensitive parts of the body.
• - Especially with the magnetic solution, a very simplified production of the connection is given.
• - Due to the reusability of the components, the amount of consumables is reduced.

# Versatility

For example, the user has a great deal of freedom in their design when it comes to choosing the fabric covers: for example, these can be adapted to the respective clothing/costume or covered with a fabric/material that is as inconspicuous as possible or that corresponds to the costume, or with a general wind-protecting characteristic.

# Compactness:

• - Further miniaturized components to be worn as unobtrusively as possible.
• - With the additional attachment of simple wind skins on mounted mini microphone holders, the installation height remains almost unchanged. With the current solutions, the construction height can increase by up to 0.5 cm, depending on the solution.

# sound quality

Microphone signal receives a passive, analog high-frequency enhancement, which is necessary under fabrics.

Reference List

A-1

Variant A: Main component 1: Base bracket

A-1.1

Variant A: Main component 1: permanent magnet at the front right

A-1.2

Variant A: Main component 1: Permanent magnet at the rear right

A-1.4

Variant A: Main component 1: permanent magnet at the front left

A-1.5

Variant A: Main component 1: Guide surfaces at the front right

A-1.6

Variant A: Main component 1: Guide surfaces at the rear right

A-1.9

Variant A: Main component 1: mounting surface for adhesive attachment

A-1.10

Variant A: Main component 1: Opening for the lapel microphone

A-1.11

Variant A: Main component 1: Surface areas for fixing the microphone in position

A-2

Variant A: Main component 2: Cover attachment

A-2.1

Variant A: Main component 2: permanent magnet at the front right

A-2.2

Variant A: Main component 2: Permanent magnet at the rear right

A-2.3

Variant A: Main component 2: Permanent magnet at the rear left

A-2.4

Variant A: Main component 2: permanent magnet at the front left

A-2.7

Variant A: Main component 2: Guide surfaces at the rear left

A-2.8

Variant A: Main component 2: Guide surfaces at the front left

A-2.9

Variant A: main component 2: lateral surface as carrier for material coating

B-1

Variant B: Main component 1: Base bracket

B-1.1

Variant B: Main component 1: Permanent magnet at the front right

B-1.2

Variant B: Main component 1: permanent magnet at the rear right

B-1.5

Variant B: Main component 1: Guide surfaces on the right

B-1.7

Variant B: Main component 1: Retaining hook

B-1.8

Variant B: Main component 1: Opening for the lapel microphone

B-1.9

Variant B: Main component 1: Areas for fixing the microphone in position

B-2

Variant B: Main component 2: Cover attachment

B-2.3

Variant B: Main component 2: Permanent magnet at the rear left

B-2.4

Variant B: Main component 2: permanent magnet at the front left

B-2.6

Variant B: Main component 2: Guide surfaces on the left

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• US5444790A [0008, 0009]
• US4319097A [0008]

Claims (3)

Exchangeable and reusable cover attachment for miniaturized microphone holder for clip-on microphones , characterized in that these consist of at least two main components, which in turn consist of between 1 and 10 individual parts, namely the directly mountable microphone-receiving main component 1 as a "base holder" for the clip-on microphone with a mounting surface facing the mounting surface or -side, adapted in shape and size to the clip-on microphone, and the main component 2, which is adapted to the size and shape of the main component 1 and can be attached from any direction parallel or perpendicular to the mounting surface, depending on the design, as a "cover attachment" in ring or square shape, between 50% - 100% of the circumference is closed, the lateral surfaces of which are covered between 10 - 100% by an additional, depending on the application situation, with a "skin" or any fabric in the function of wind protection or "masking" with the connection of these two main components without additional consumables or tools, both in the assembled and in the unassembled state of the base bracket, regardless of the type of assembly, which can be adhesive or mechanical by force and form fit at the place of use, can be manufactured and separated again several times, the cover attachment remains reusable and a generally advantageous small-scale and low-bulk solution. Exchangeable and reusable cover attachment for miniaturized microphone holder for clip-on microphones patent claim 1 characterized in that the multiple detachable, self-retaining and backlash-free component connection is based on magnetic, mechanical or a combination of both connecting elements to form a positive and non-positive connection, whereby the number of contact points based on these connecting elements can be between 1 and 10 in total and in the case of the magnetic Solution preferably between 1 - 5 per main component, with permanent magnets being used for only one or preferably for both main components, utilizing the attractive forces of opposite magnetic poles, whereby in the first case the second component without a permanent magnet uses a magnetic material either only locally in the corresponding contact area for contains the first component with the integrated permanent magnet or consists entirely of a magnetizable material or, as in the second preferred case, the permanent magnets distributed over the two components in relation to them n corresponding permanent magnets of the other main component are each placed in alignment and in the case of a purely mechanical solution, the connection is made by means of an elastic deformation of one of the two interlocking components due to a softer base material. Exchangeable and reusable cover attachment for miniaturized microphone holder for clip-on microphones patent claim 1 characterized in that to further reduce the structural height of the main component 1 design variant for adhesive mounting with lateral support wings whose mounting surface is shifted by between 0.1 - 3.0 mm towards the longitudinal axis of the microphone compared to its overall lowest mounting surface point.

Images