US2526604A - Remote control swivel mounting for boom-supported microphones - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 17, 1950 E. A. DICKINSON ETAL 2,526,604

REMOTE CONTROL SWIVEL mouuwma FOR BOOM-SUPPORTED MICROPHONES Filed Oct. 24, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS. EDWIN A. DICKINSON Y GEORGE L. PRQSS ATTORNEY Oct. 17, I950 E. A. DICKINSON ETAL REMOTE CONTROL SWIVEL MOUNTING FOR BOOM-SUPPORTED MICROPHONES.

Filed Oct. 24, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. EDWIN A. DICKINSON GEORGE L. PROSS W ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 17, 1950 REE [GTE CQNTROLSVVIVEL MOUNTING FOR BQOM- SUPPORTED MICROPHONES Edwin A. Bickinson, Verona, N. .i'g'and George L.

Press, Valley Stream, N. Y., assignors to Reeves- Ely Laboratories, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporaticn of New York Application 0ctober 24, 1946, Serial No. 705,418

This invention relates to a microphone swivel and more particularly to the type adapted to effectively support a microphone from a boom or other similar supporting structure.

In recent years, it has been the common practice in the motion picture and radio broadcasting industries to support the microphone above the actors so that the desired dialogue will be properly picked up. This apparatus usually consisted of a long pole with a hook at one end thereof and from which the microphonewas suspended. This was carried from place to place as desired and turned about from time to time in order to always keep the microphone above and in front of the actor speaking, but out of the range of the camera or other stage equipment.

It is imperative that the microphone always face the actor in order that the dialogue will be properly recorded thereby. Since it is well known that the actors, particularly in the movie industry, are always moving about on the' stage during the course of their performance, it is essential therefor that the microphone which is suspended from a boom or other supporting structure be supported in such a manner that the microphone proper can be turned about in order that it will face the actor at all times. This obviously necessitates a turning movement of the microphone to substantially a 360 angle since the actor may be compelled to walk about 3 With the above in view, the primary-object of this invention is to provide a microphone swivel capable of being suspended from a microphone boom or other supporting structure and which will be so connected thereon that it will be capable of rotation from a remote point and out of range of the camera when used in making sound motion pictures.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein a satisfactory embodiment of the invention is shown. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all variations and modifications as 1 Claim. (Cl. 179-152) from an angle of about 45.

fall within the spirit of the invention andv the scope of the appended claim.

In the drawings: V b

Fig. l is a front elevational view showing a microphone suspended on the swivel of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the microphone swivel and mounting, parts being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view with parts broken away; and

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional View taken on line 44 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

From past experience, it has been found tha 'the most advantageous position for the recording microphone, when recording sound motion pictures, is pointing directly down at the speaker This is easily accomplished when there is only one speaker or actor on the stage within range of the camera. If there are a number of speakers or actors on the stage within range of the camera, the microphone must be turned quickly from one to the other in order to follow the conversation. Also, as stated previously, the microphone should always be pointing directly at the speaker.

Toaccomplish the above, there is provided a microphone swivel including a stationary part including an upstanding eyelet l8 adapted to be connected in any well known manner .to the microphone boom or other similar supporting structure. A bearing holder It includes a bolt 9 to which the eyelet I0 is threaded with a cover or shell 62 interposed between the bearing holder and the eyelet. In this manner, the bearing holder H, covering or casing member [2 and eyeletmember [8 are effectively retained in proper working assembly. The cover may be stamped or drawn of sheet metal or may be molded of bakelite or other plastic material.

A ball bearing race 13 is retained upon the lower portion of the bearing holder H by means of a nut M engaging an externally threaded shank I5 extending from the lower portion of the aforementioned bearing holder. Fitted on the ball race l3 and thereby mounted for free rotation within the casing or cover [2 is a rotor iii. A flexible element H, as a cord or string, has one of its ends secured at 8 to the rotor 16 and is wrapped about the rotor being received as in a groove I. The other end of element or means I! extends outwardly to some remote point convenient for manipulation.

The rotor I6 is turnable on the ball bearing mounting against the action of a spring member 18, by pulling on the element 17. One end of spring 18 is secured to a stud-like extension I9 of the threaded shank [5, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing, and the other end of said spring is secured to a bolt 20 carried by the rotor. As herein illustrated, the inner end of the spring is anchored by being received in a kerf or slot in the stud-like extension l9. This spring is normally under some tension and is adapted to be wound and put under further tension on the means I! being pulled and the rotor 15 rotated.

The return rotation of the rotor l5 under the action of spring member i8 is limited by reason of stopper member 2| contacting the entrance tube 22 which is formed with the wall of the cover or casing member i 2. As the eyelet [0, bearing holder l! and casing or housing l2, are fixed together and held by a boom or the like, it

Will be clear that the microphone can be rotated relative to such parts, and from a remote point, by pulling on the means ll. Further, the microphone and the rotor will be returned to or toward whatever position the operator sees fit under the action of the tensioned spring member l8. This return movement will be limited by the stopper member 2| contacting the tube member 22.

A plate 23 forms the bottom closure for the swivel housing I2. The plate 23 is maintained in proper position on the casing or housing by means of insulating blocks 24 threaded or molded or otherwise secured on studs25 threaded into the rotor member I6. Insulating blocks 26 are provided with or carry threaded studs 26 for engagement with an inverted V-shaped frame 21 supporting a microphone 28 on a pair of trunnions 29 having knurled tightening nuts. The insulating blocks 24 not only properly insulate the swivel from the microphone id, but they also form effective means for cushioning or dampening any vibration which might be imparted to the microphone by reason of the supporting boom being moved about from place to place.

In the operation of the device, the microphone 28 is set at the desired angle and position in frame 21 and the knurled nuts of trunnions 29 tightened. The eyelet iii supporting the swivel and microphone attached thereto is secured to the microphone boom or other supporting structure. As it is found necessary to move the microphone from one position to the other, the means I! is manipulated to rotate the microphone on the swivel whereby to keep the microphone facing in the desired direction.

When it is found necessary to return the microphone to or toward its original position in order to keep the microphone facing in the proper direction, the cord [7 is released and, since the rotor was rotated against the action of spring l8 when the cord was pulled, the rotor will return under action of the spring to or toward its 4 original position. It will be seen, therefore, that the microphone can be rotated from a remote point by operation of the cord member I! and in this manner the microphone can always be maintained facing the actor or person on the stage.

Preferably the means I! comprises a length,

of stout cord so there will be no sound made by it running out of the housing or casing I 2. However, the invention is not limited to such a structure since a covered or mufiied chain could also be used. Additionally, it is pointed out that in lieu of a metallic spring I8 some form of elastic may be used. Thus, for silence, a length of rubber might be used to turn the microphone back to or toward normal position. Therefore, where the word spring is used in the following claim, it is to be taken in a comprehensive sense to include any means or construction for accomplishing the desired results.

Having thus set forth the nature of our invention, what we claim is:

In a mounting for suspending a microphone from a supporting boom and the like, a casing comprising a housing including a top and side walls and open through its underside, means on the outer side of said top wall for fixedly supporting said housing from a boom, a stud rigid with said housing and depending from the lower side of said top Wall, a rotor within said housing, bearing means rotatably mounting said rotor on said stud, mounting means rigid with said rotor and extending through the lower open side of said housing and adapted to have a microphone secured thereto, said rotor having a socket opening through one side of its mid-portion and into which said stud projects, a spring in said socket and anchored at one end to said rotor and at its other end to said stud, a flexible element entering said housing through a side wall thereof and-carried partly about and anchored to said rotor whereby a pull on said element will result in rotation of said rotor in one direction about said stud and in opposition to said spring and thereafter on release of said element said spring will rotate said rotor in the opposite direction, and stop means to limit turning movement of said rotor by said spring.

' EDWIN A. DICIUNSON.

GEORGE L. PRO-SS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,122,778 Mueller July 5, 1938 2,421,437 Ryan June 3, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 243,248 Great Britain c- Nov. 26, 1925

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