US2207823A - Microphone umbrella - Google Patents

Description

July I6, 1940. B F. RYAN MICROPHONE UMBRELLA Filed Oct. 3,`l938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RHCROPHONE UMBRELLA Byron F. Ryan,

Los Angeles, Calif., assignmto Warner Brothers Pictures, Inc., a corporation of Delaware Application October 3,

7 Claims.

This invention relates to sound detecting apparatus and particularly to an attachment or device associated with a microphone for eliminating noises caused by falling fluids, such as rain.

In many instances in the production of motion pictures, the sets are out-ofdoors and the pictures with their concomitant sound are taken in the rain. Rain scenes are also made within a studio by creating an artificial storm on the set. 10 In these particular cases it has been found that raindrops striking the associated microphone produce extremely loud sounds which are not those of falling rain but which are, of course, recorded upon the sound track.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is to protect a microphoneused in the rain from being adversely a'ected thereby.

Another object of the invention is to eihciently dissipate the kinetic energy of falling rain drops 20 so as to prevent their reaction upon a microphone circuit and to protect the microphone itself from the moisture.

'I'he above objects are accomplished by the use oi' a rain umbrella as part of the microphone g5 unit which consists of an energy dissipating medium for finely dividing the rai'ndrops and absorbing them, while preventing any leakage thereof onto the microphone itself. By the use of an absorbent material, sound-wave reflections m and echo effects are minimized.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention are pointed out with particular-ity in the vclaims appended herewith, the manner mode of its operation will be better understood by referring to the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing :forming a part thereof, in which Figure i is an elevational view of a microphone 13@ showing one embodiment ofthe invention; and

" Figure 2 is an elevational view of a second embodiment of the invention. y Referring now to Fig. l, a rod or shat 5 supports a yoke vmember t, to which it is attached, while the other end of the rod t may be connected. to the end oi a microphone boom (not shown),

as is well irnownin the art. Suspended by resilient rubber bands or springs t within the yoke 5, but not in contact therewith, is a rectangular member t carrying a microphone suspension bolt l on the tower side thereof. The bolt 'it passes through a microphone yoke l2 and is fastened by a Wing nut i3. The yoke l 2 supports a microphone I5 between its two ends and is held thereto M by nuts I6 and I1.

of its organization and the 1938, Serial N0. 232,990 (Cl. 179-184) Mounted between the upper portion of the yoke l2 and the lower portion of member 9 is a screen and felt combination 2li- 2L respectively, the screen extending horizontally, while the ielt 2l is curved at the ends. The felt or other similar absorbing material may be attached to the screen by glue, rivets or the like. The screen and felt 2| may be circular in form or of any other appropriate conguration. The screen 20 .is of fine mesh, suilicient to dissipate the kinetic energy of the falling raindrops and to break them into small particles which are absorbed by the felt 2 I. Plate 22 aids in maintaining the felt in position. To protect the microphone from moisture which might seep through the felt, the lower surface 24 thereof is coated with shellac.

This device has enabled a microphone to be used in heavy rain scenes without disturbance by the rain, the felt not only absorbing the rain, but also serving as a sound-wave absorber to prevent refiections and echo eii'ects.

In Fig. 2, a different form oi rain umbrella for the microphone i5 is shown, this umbrella, however, being similar in construction to that shown in Fig. i since it has the sametype of screen 25 and felt 26 with 'a shellac under-surface. 21. There is some advantage in this modiiication, inasmuch as the sloping sides of the umbrella aid in breaking up the Water drops and thus dissipating the energy before absorption by the felt. The moisture may also drain 'oir at ardenite point thereof. This modcation may also be circular, polygonal, or any other suitable shape.

I claim as myfinvention:

i. An attachment for protecting a microphone from falling jfluids comprising an upper screen and an underlayer of absorbing material having one side thereof impervious to moisturasaid screen and absorbing material being positioned to intercept said fluid.

, 2. A rainurnbrella ier a microphone comprising a rine mesh screen for Erst contacting the raindrops and an adjacentV moisture absorbent material for absorbing said drops after division by said screen, and a layer of rnoisture-carooi7 material on the lower side ci said material.

3. A raindrop silencer comprising a fine mesh screen for rst contacting said raindrops, a layer of felt attached to the undersuriace of said screen for absorbing said rain, and moisture-proof material on the under-surface of said felt.

4. A raindrop silencer according toclaim 3 in which the moisture-proof material on the under surface of said felt is shellac for preventing said 2 rain from passing through the underside o! said feit.

5. A saindrop silencer in accordance with claim 3 in which the sides of said screen are at a slight downward ansie to the horizontal to aid in dissipating the kinetic energy in said raindrops.

6. A raindrop silencer forattachment to a microphone comprising a layer of fine mesh screen interposed between said microphone and a source o! said rain for iinely dividing said raindrops, and a layer of moisture absorbing material attached to the underside o! said screen for absorbing said moisture, the lower side of said screen being shellaced to prevent passage of said moisture to said microphone.

7. A-raindrop silencer for a microphone used in the rain comprising a fine mesh screen and a layer of felt attached to said screen, the lower surface of said felt having a coat of material impervious to moisture, said screen and felt being positioned directly above said microphone.

BYRON F. RYAN.

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