GB2386497A

GB2386497A - Micophone pop filter with a bracket

Info

Publication number: GB2386497A
Application number: GB0205707A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew White
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-03-12
Filing date: 2002-03-12
Publication date: 2003-09-17
Also published as: GB0205707D0; GB0212422D0

Abstract

A microphone pop filter (18) comprises a filter screen (26) and a bracket (18) attached to the screen and for releasable attachment to the microphone body (12) so that the screen covers but is spaced from the sound receiving portion (14) of the microphone (10). A karaoke singer can have their own pop filter. Before they commence singing, the singer can attach their pop filter to the microphone, and once they have finished they can detach it and take it away with them. Accordingly, the pop filter serves not only to reduce the level of pop that the singer produces, but also acts, at least to some extent, as a barrier to infection that might otherwise be transmitted from the microphone to the singer. The filter screen may be medicated, for example with an antibacterial and/or antiseptic agent, so as to reduce further the risk of cross-infection. The filter screen may also be scented, so as to counteract or overpower the stench given off by a microphone that has been well used in a smoky atmosphere.

Description

1 2386497

TITLE Microphone Pop Filter DESCRIPTION

This invention relates to pop filters for microphones.

When a word including the consonant 'up" (and to a lesser extent the consonant Ub") is spoken or sung into a microphone, it can produce distortion, known as a "pop" signal, in the audio signal produced by the microphone. With training, a speaker or singer can reduce the 5 amount of pop that they produce. Also, it is known to provide a fine mesh screen between the speaker's or singer's mouth and the sound-sensitive element of the microphone in order to reduce the pop signal. For example, patent document US-A-5282245 describes a microphone having an internal pop filter screen. As another example, it is known in professional recording studios to place an external pop filter screen between the speaker's or singer's mouth and the 10 microphone. In this case, the microphone would typically be mounted on one stand, and the pop filter screen, having a diameter of perhaps 15 to 25 cm and formed of fine mesh material similar to ladies' stocking material, would be mounted on a separate stand in front of the microphone, between the microphone and the speaker's or singer's mouth.

Karaoke has become popular. On a typical karaoke evening in a club or pub, many 15 people will take turns to sing a song using a single microphone, and there can be great rivalry among them as to the quality of their singing. Many karaoke singers have had no training to reduce the pop that they produce, and a typical microphone used for karaoke does not include any significant internal pop filtering. Accordingly, not only is pop a problem, but also the risk of cross-infection from one karaoke singer to another via the microphone. The present invention 20 is concerned with these problems.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a pop filter for a microphone having a body and a sound receiving portion, the pop filter comprising a filter screen (for example of fine mesh material, such as stocking material or like mesh material or a fine metal mesh) and a bracket attached to the screen and for releasable attachment to the microphone body 25 so that the screen covers but is spaced from the sound receiving portion of the microphone.

Considering the karaoke scenario, a karaoke singer can have their own pop filter.

Before they commence singing, the singer can attach their pop filter to the microphone, and

- 2 once they have finished they can detach it and take it away with them. Accordingly, the pop filter serves not only to reduce the level of pop that the singer produces, but also acts, at least to some extent, as a barrier to infection that might otherwise be transmitted from the microphone to the singer. By being attached to the microphone, the singer can hold the microphone and s move the microphone and pop filter around, unlike the case in a recording studio where the microphone and pop filter are both intended to be static. By being attached in particular to the body of the microphone rather than to the sound receiving portion of the microphone, attachment and detachment of the pop filter to/from the microphone will not cause any significant noise if the microphone is left switched on when this is done.

10 Preferably, the filter screen is medicated, for example with an antibacterial and/or antiseptic agent, so as to reduce further the risk of cross-infection.

With use, the sound receiving portion (typically covered by a coarse wire mesh guard) of a microphone inevitably becomes covered with sputum. Considering again the karaoke scenario, the air in karaoke clubs and pubs is typically full of tobacco smoke. The smoke 15 particles combine with the sputum on the microphone guard to form a sticky layer that, even to a smoker, can smell disgusting and to many is revolting if it inadvertently touches the lips. The filter screen of the invention does, of course, prevent direct contact between the person's lips and the microphone, but, preferably, the filter screen is also scented, so as to counteract or overpower any stench given off by the microphone.

20 The filter screen preferably has a diameter of at least 3 cm (or an area of at least 7 cm2) so as to provide adequate coverage of a typical microphone. The filter screen preferably also has a diameter of at most cm (or an area of at most 60 cm2) so as not to be unduly large and hide the user's face from their audience's view.

The bracket may be adjustable to adjust the spacing between the filter screen and the 25 sound receiving portion of the microphone, for example so that the pop filter may be used with different sizes of microphone. This may be accomplished by adjusting the position at which the bracket is attached to the microphone body. However, the bracket is preferably attached to the microphone body as close as possible to the user, thus leaving the reminder of the microphone body free for the user to hold. Accordingly, the bracket may be adjustable in length, for 30 example by being telescopic.

The bracket may be hinged so that the pop filter can be folded-up when not in use and conveniently placed in a handbag or jacket pocket.

- 3 In one version, the bracket is arranged for attachment to the microphone body in a self-

supporting manner. In this case, the bracket may have a spring clip for attachment to the microphone body. The spring clip may have a pair of spring-loaded hinged jaws so that the clip can more readily accommodate different sizes of microphone body.

5 In another version, the bracket is arranged for attachment to the microphone body by having a portion that can be held against the microphone body by the hand of the user. It will appreciated,.however, that this does require the user to hold the microphone all the time and makes it difficult to swap the microphone from one hand to the other.

Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described, purely by way of 10 example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an isometric view of a microphone and one embodiment of pop filter; Figure 2 is a sectioned side view, in the direction 2 in Figure 1, of part of the pop filter and the head of the microphone; Figure 3 is a sectioned end view, taken on the section line 3- 3 of Figure l, but showing a 15 modified clip for attaching the pop filter to the microphone; and Figure 4 is an isometric view of a microphone and another embodiment of pop filter.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the microphone 10 (which is conventional) has a slightly-

tapered body or barrel 12, with a sound-receiving head 14 at the larger end of the barrel 12 and a connection lead 16 or aerial extending from the other end of the barrel 12.

20 The pop filter 18 comprises a bracket having an annular portion 20, a stem portion 22 extending from the annular portion 20 generally parallel to the axis of the annular portion 20, and a resilient clip portion 24 at the other end of the stem portion 22. The annular portion 20 has a diameter D of about 50 mm. The clip portion 24 is of a size such that it can be fitted to and grip the microphone barrel 12, but so that it can be readily detached from the microphone 25 barrel 12. The general arrangement of the bracket is such that, when the clip portion 24 is fitted to the microphone barrel 12 adjacent the microphone head 14, the stem portion 22 extends alongside, but spaced from, the microphone head 14, and the annular portion 20 is generally coaxial with the microphone 10 but spaced from the microphone head with a spacing S of about 6 to 10 mm. A piece of fine mesh, plastics material 26 (similar to the material used for ladies' 30 stockings or tights) extends across and is secured to the annular portion 20 so as to provide the

- 4 filtering element of the pop filter 18. The filter material 26 is supplied ready-impregnated with a pleasant-smelling scent and with an antibacterial/antiseptic agent, and the user may, from time to time, apply more scent and more antibacterial/antiseptic agent to the filter material 26.

A modification to the clip portion 24 is shown in Figure 3, in which the clip portion 24 5 is provided by a pair of jaws 28 hinged together about a pivot provided by one end of the stem portion 22. A spring 30 urges the jaws 28 together so as to grip the microphone barrel 12, and the jaws 28 have extension ears 32 that can be squeezed together by the user so as to release the grip of the jaws 28 on the microphone barrel 12. In order to improve the grip of the jaws 28 on the microphone barrel 12, both in the case of a tapered and a cylindrical barrel 12, the jaws 28 10 are lined with soft rubber material 34 or the like.

Figure 4 shows another embodiment of pop filter 18 which is similar to that described above with reference to Figures 1 and 2, except that the clip portion 24 of the bracket is replaced by a portion 36 that is arranged to be held against the microphone barrel 12 by the user's hand. The portion 36 extends to a significant extent along the length of the microphone 15 barrel 12 and has a concave face 38 for abutting the microphone barrel 12 to assist in maintaining the pop filter 18 in proper alignment. The concave face 38 may be covered with soft rubber material or the like.

It will be appreciated that many other modifications and developments may be made to the pop filters 18 described above. For example, the stem portion 22 may be hinged to the 20 circular portion 20 and/or to the clip portion 24 so that the pop filter 18 may be folded flat when not in use. Also, the stem portion 22 may be telescopic, or other ways may be provided of adjusting the distance between the filter material 26 and the clip portion 24, so that the pop filter 18 can be used with a greater range of microphone sizes.

It should be noted that the embodiments of the invention have been described above 25 purely by way of example and that many other modifications and developments may be made thereto within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

- 5 CLAIMS

1. A pop filter for a microphone having a body and a sound receiving portion, the pop filter comprising a filter screen and a bracket attached to the screen and for releasable attachment to the microphone body so that the screen covers but is spaced from the sound receiving portion of the microphone.

5 2. A pop-filter as claimed in claim 1, wherein filter screen is formed of fine mesh material. 3. A pop filter as claimed in claim 2, wherein filter screen is formed of stocking material or like mesh material.

4. A pop filter as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the filter screen is medicated.

10 5. A pop filter as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the filter screen is scented.

6. A pop filter as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the filter screen has a diameter of at least 3 cm or area of at least 7 cm2.

7. A pop filter as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the filter screen has a diameter of at most 9 cm or area of at most 60 cm2.

15 8. A pop filter as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the bracket is adjustable to adjust the spacing between the filter screen and the sound receiving portion of the microphone.

9. A pop filter as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the bracket is hinged so that the pop filter can be folded-up when not in use.

10. A pop filter as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the bracket is arranged for 20 attachment to the microphone body in a self-supporting manner.

11. A pop filter as claimed in claim 10, wherein the bracket has a spring clip for attachment to the microphone body.

12. A pop filter as claimed in claim 11, wherein the spring clip has a pair of spring-loaded hinged jaws.

- 6 13. A pop filter as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the bracket is arranged for attachment to the microphone body by having a portion that can be held against the microphone body by the hand of a user of the microphone.

14. A pop filter for a microphone, substantially as described with reference to the drawings.