GB2451266A

GB2451266A - Padded handling wraparound for microphone boom poles

Info

Publication number: GB2451266A
Application number: GB0714515A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Benoit Bradley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-07-25
Filing date: 2007-07-25
Publication date: 2009-01-28
Also published as: GB0714515D0

Abstract

A nylon wraparound-style handle or grip, padded with high density foam, for microphone boom poles used by sound recordists in the TV and Film industries. The wraparound comprising thick foam padding between two layers of nylon, two lengths of loop and hook fastening to attach the device to the pole, and an outer nylon guide sleeve through which the sound cable passes. The thick foam between the two nylon layers and outer cable sleeve both reduces handling noise on the boom pole and increases comfort for the operator.

Description

I

Padded handling wraparound for boom poles used by Sound Recordists This invention relates to a device that, amongst other uses, provides handling comfort for sound recordists using boom poles to record sound in the Television and Film industry. Its concept, design and applied functions result from a decade experience in Television Broadcast. The pressures and strains on the hands and arms associated with boom work experienced by sound recordists is a neglected area and one in which the device can help ease the physical pressures associated with such work.

Figure 1 outlines the orthodox handling technique of the sound recordists boom pole. There are several effects associated with hands on contact to the boom handle and XLR cable. During long periods of usage the combined weight and hard edged feel of the XLR cable and boom pole can be uncomfortable (fig 1.1); they are both hard objects that add unnecessary wear and tear on the hands. The XLR cable is usually coiled around the handle (fig 1.2), which means contact with the hands and also less control over the cable. Direct hand contact to the handle and cable also increases the chance of rubbing and knocking noise on the auxiliary return of the boom channel on the mixer. This can be better illustrated by demonstration.

Initial design for prototype demonstration is based on one particular brand of boompole. In figure 2 the device pre-application is a rectangular shaped piece of double sided thick nylon. Contained within the double sided sheath of nylon a layer of dense foam is sandwiched between the two skins (flg2. 1). A strip of Velcro runs along the remaining portion of the inside lip (fig 2.2). Attached to the opposite and outside edge of the device is another strip of Velcro (fig 3.1). On the opposite side of this Velcro strip shown on the outer skin of nylon there is a wide nylon sleeve (fig 3.2). This acts as a guide and tidy away for the XLR cable that is fed along the length of the pole. With the XLR cable safely inside the sleeve the cable is tidied and controlled. Positioned above the handling position the cable sleeve protects the hands from the hard XLR cable and so increasing handling comfort. When wrapped around the length of the boom pole handle, the two Velcro strips meet on the outside and tightly grip the device around the handling area (fig 4).

There is a level of give in the cable when inside the cable sleeve; lengthening and shortening is made easy by simply pulling the XLR cable through the cable sleeve (fig 5.1). Now that the cable is no longer in contact with the boom handle the level of rubbing and knocking noise of the cable against the boom pole is reduced therefore aiding cleaner sound on the boom channel of the mixer. Again, this is better illustrated by demonstration.

The density of the foam used in the device is what ultimately gives comfort to the hands in contact with the boom handle. It also reduces handling noise on the auxiliary return of the boom microphone channel.

The triple skinned wrap creates a sound barrier between the hands of the operator and the graphite material of the boompole.

The device adds an extra dimension to Boom handling technique. When recording in fixed situations the device can be comfortably balanced on top of the head and so freeing up the other hand to mix other channels (fig 6). The boom mic can be left in exactly the same position and held at a good height whilst other channels on the mixer can be used (fig 6.1).

Claims

1 -A padded handling aid for boom poles used by sound recordists comprising a cushioned triple layered nylon skin wrapped around the girth of the boom handle, a Velcro attachment means for attaching the unit to the boom handle and a cable sleeve outside the unit allowing the XLR sound cable to be controlled.

2 -A padded handling aid for boom poles used by sound recordists according to claim 1 in which the padded cushioning is provided by dense foam between the two layers of nylon.

3 -A padded handling aid for boom poles used by sound recordists according to claim 2 in which Velcro is attached to the inside and outside edge of the device and so holding the unit firmly around the handling area.

4 -A padded handling aid for boom poles used by sound recordists according to claim 3 in which a niyon cable sleeve on the outside of the unit allows the XLR sound cable to be channelled through the space and so improving control over the XLR cable.

-A padded handling aid for boom poles used by sound recordists according to claim 4 in which the padded cushioning inside the lining of the unit eliminates handling rub noise on the auxiliary return of the boom microphone channel.

6 -A padded handling aid for boom poles used by sound recordists according to claim 5 in which the padded cushioning of the unit allows the operator to balance the boompole on their head and so freeing the other hand to mix other channels on the sound mixer.