US1901065A

US1901065A - Microphone windshield

Info

Publication number: US1901065A
Application number: US525716A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ralph K Spotts
Original assignee: RADIO KEITHORPHEUM CORP
Current assignee: RADIO KEITHORPHEUM CORP; RADIO-KEITHORPHEUM Corp
Priority date: 1931-03-27
Filing date: 1931-03-27
Publication date: 1933-03-14
Anticipated expiration: 1950-03-14
Also published as: FR732592A; GB375246A; DE597206C

Description

March 14, 1933. K -r5 1,901,06P

MICROPHONE WINDSHIELD Filed March 27, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l WIND INVENTOR RALPH K. SPOTTS QATTORNEY 45 the microphone.

PatentedMar. 14, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENIO-JF'FICE RALPH x. srorrs, or Los menus, cam-roman, assrenon. 'ro RADIO-KEITH- onrnmm oonronuron, A coaroaarron 03mm mcnoraonn wmnsmnnn Application filed larch 27, 1931. Serial Ho. 525,718.

The present invention relates to a system and apparatus for shielding a microphone used for pick-up 'work in connection with sound recording or transmission from wind 5 or pressure disturbances. In using a microphone in the open for any pick-up I purpose, and particularly when making a record of sounds, it may be that the wind, or the motion of the micro hone through the air in the case it is locate on a moving vehicle, will cause unpleasant sounds to be picked up and recorded. The strength of these sounds in fairly moderate winds ma exceed that of the sound it is desired to pic up and record, which fact frequently precludes the making of combined sound pictures under otherwise ideal conditions. This imposes a considerable additional limitation.

may be made. It is the object ofthe present invention to produce a new and improved method and apparatus for sound recording.

upon the time during which talking movies It is a further object of this invention to provide a means for recording sounds in a wind.

An additional object of this invention is to produce a device for shielding a microphone, adapted to be used in the open, from air currents.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an apparatus for producing improved sound effects. I

These and other objects of my invention will become apparent from the following specification taken in connection with the appended drawings.

In accomplishing the objects of my invention, I provide a wind-shield around the mi- 40 crophone used for pick-up purposes, as, for instance, in connection with sound recording apparatus as in talking motion picture productions. The wind-shield is preferably of a streamline type which completely encloses The head of the windshield is of wind proof material and the remainder of the wind-shield "is streamlined and of sound transparent material. The design is carefully made to prevent differences of pressure or eddy currents resulting inside ,material to prevent resonances which would produce undesired noises in the output of the microphone. The sound transparent material is stretched to avoid flapping.

Having thus briefly descrlbed my invention, attention is invited to the accompanying figures in which;

Figs. 1 and 2 r present a side elevation and front view resp ctively, partially in cross section, illustrating the preferred form of my invention; and,

Figs. 3 and 4 are top and side views respectively of an alternative form of windshield em odying the present invention.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1, the microphone 1, attached to the usual microphone amplifier v3 and suspended by means of the hanger 5 in the usual manner, is completely surrounded .b a ze pelin shaped wind-shield generally indicate at 7. The wind-shield 7 consists of a light framework 8 suitably covered as will be explained hereinafter and is clamped to the barrel of the amplifier 3 by means of a clamping ring 9, surrounding the barrel thereof, adapted to be secured by any appropriate fastening. The microphone is completely enclosed, and the form thereof is as nearly a perfect streamline as it is possible to construct. The material of the covering is composed of two parts; 5 part 11 covering the nose of the wind-shield being of wind proof material which is sufficientlyrigid and dead as to avoid flapping. The material of this portion of the windshield may be the same as that covering the rest of the bodyas described hereinafter, but

with the flowof air need be only sufliciently impervious to prevent eddies passing therethrough. The porous material does not permit the passage of air as there is never sufficient pressure or vacuum created next to it to. force the air through it. China silk or fine muslin is sufiicientl soundtransparent to ermit the making 0 a very*satisiactory pic -u by a microphone enclosed in the wind-sliield of my invention. The interior of the nose portion 11 is filled with a sound absorbent material to prevent any possible resonance in this air tight portion.

It is obvious that the microphone windshield shown in Figs. '1 and 2 must be at all times turned to oint into the wind and that it would be ine ective to prevent undesired wind noises being picked up by microphone 1 unless it is so pointed. Therefore, this type of wind-shield is not satisfactory for use in gusty or uneven winds, although when the wind is steady, or the pick-up apparatus is being used on a moving vehicle, where the efiectof the motion of the vehicle greatly exceeds that of the actual wind, this type of wind-shield is most satisfactory.

However, under the condition of shifting winds, I find it desirable to use the modification shown more particularly in Figs. 3 and 4 to which attention is now invited. In this modification, the wind-shield generally indicated at 13 completely surrounds the microphone 1 connected to the amplifier 3. A ring 13 similar to that of. Figs. 1 and 2 serves to secure the windshield to the amplifier. The wind-shield is constructed of framework 15 covered by the covering material. The streamline permitted by this form is necessarily not nearly as perfect, but the doped portion of the covering material is inthe form of a ring adapted to act as both the nose or pressure area, and the tail or vacuum area depending up n of the wind. The windproog zone isindicated at 17. The bottom portion 19, through the direction microphone mounted within said assembly with its sound wave receiving surface paralent portions, a microphone arranged with in said wind-shield to receive the sound transmitted through said transparent portion, and means whereby the relation between said microphone and said wind-shield may be adjusted.

3. A sound pick-up device including an amplifier, a streamlined wind-shield assembly mounted upon said amplifier, and a microphone mounted within said wind-shield and connected to said amplifier. r

4. A sound pick-up device including an amplifier, a streamlined wind-shield assembly adjustably mounted on said amplifier,

and a microphone mounted within said windshield and connected to said amplifier.

- RALPH K. SPOTTS.

which the sound passes to the microphone,

is quite accurately streamlined. The interior of the ring portion may be filled with sound absorbent material to prevent resonances,

which filling, however, will not afiect the passage of sound through the sound transparent covering 19 to the microphone.

It is obvious that whereas. the nose portion 11 of the wind-shield of Figs. 1 and 2 and the zone 17 of the mushroom type shown in Figs. 3 and 4 are described as wind proof, these portions may be partially or: wholly sound opaque as desired.

Having thus described my invention, attention is invited to the fact that various modifications may be devised coming within its scope, and I am therefore not to be limited to the specific embodiments shown and described for the purpose of illustration only, but by the actual scope of my invention as set forth and determined in the appended claims.

' I claim 1. A sound pick-up device including a streamlined wind-shield assembly,v and a