Abstract:
A portable sound recording device and method comprises a first enclosure having symmetrical halves and a second enclosure having symmetrical halves. The second enclosure is fitted inside the first enclosure such that neither enclosure has direct contact with each other. The symmetrical halves pivot about the device handle. A sound resistant material aligns the inside walls of the second enclosure and the outside walls of the second enclosure. The device eliminates unwanted echoes and allows sound to be clearly captured by an attached microphone or input device.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates in general to a portable device having an enclosure with a sound barrier material and more particularly the device provides a quality recording without the user being confined to a particular room. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Songs and parts of songs such as the lyrics or beats are typically recorded at a professional recording studio. The artists are likely to have to travel to the professional studio, at the request of the producer. To cut costs, many artists build home studios; however, the sound quality is often compromised due to large amounts of noise bleeding in or out the room. Most home studios are not conducive to recording or monitoring audio. They are often small causing the recorded sound to be uneven. Wall and ceiling treatments may be added to home studios to reduce bad sound effects but these treatments are difficult to install, expensive, and the treatments often require professional installation in order to work properly. 
     Additional recording studio issues also include handling noise leaking into the studio, noise leaking out of the studio (and bothering your neighbors), electrical power distribution to and within the home studio, grounding for the equipment within your studio, where to get good audio cables and how best to use them in the studio, and many other important issues. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention introduces a device that allows anyone with recording capabilities to turn any reasonably quiet room into a sound dampened room by capturing sound in a localized enclosure that eliminates unwanted echoes and allows the sound to be clearly captured by an attached microphone. 
     An aspect of an embodiment of the invention provides a portable sound resistant enclosure that can also house recording equipment. 
     A further aspect of an embodiment of the invention provides sound dampening foam positioned in the enclosure which aids in achieving a professional quality recording. 
     Additional aspects, objectives, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a first enclosure of the portable sound recording device. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a second enclosure of the portable sound recording device. back view of the portable sound recording device in a closed position. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the second enclosure positioned inside the first enclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the portable sound recording device in a closed position. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the portable sound recording device placed on its front side in a closed position. 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of the portable sound recording device in an open position. 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of the portable sound recording device in an open position. 
         FIG. 8  is a front view of the portable sound recording device in an open position with an attached input device. 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of the portable sound recording device in its transportable state. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates sectional pieces of the portable sound recording device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a first enclosure  110  of the portable sound recording device  100 . The device  100  features a first enclosure  110  having a first half  111  and second half  112 . The first enclosure may be a box with dimensions of at least one cubic foot. The first enclosure  100  comprises four inside corners  101 ,  102 ,  103 , and  104 . The inside corners  101 - 104  are the four corners inside of the box located between each wall on the enclosure where the walls make a 90 degree angle. The first enclosure also features four outside edges  105 ,  106 ,  107 , and  108 . The outside edges  105 - 108  are located at the corners of the enclosure  100  parallel to the inside corners. The enclosure features four walls  131 ,  132 ,  133  and  134 . Inside corner  101  is located inside enclosure  100  at a corner where wall  131  joins  130 . Inside corner  102  is located inside enclosure  100  at a corner where wall  131  joins wall  132 . Inside corner  104  is located inside enclosure  100  at a corner where wall  132  joins  133 . Inside corner  103  is located inside enclosure  100  at a corner where wall  133  joins wall  130 . Corners  101  and  103  are located inside the first half  111  and corners  102  and  104  and edges  106  and  108  are located inside the second half  112 . Sound resistant material in the form of strips are secured to the first enclosure  100  between inside corners  101 - 105  and their respective edges  105 - 107 . Strip  141  extends between corner  101  and edge  105 . Strip  142  extends between corner  102  and edge  106 . Strip  143  extends between corner  103  and edge  107 . Strip  144  extends between edge  104  and corner  108 . The strip is a sound dampening foam that creates actual sound barriers that absorb sound just like in a studio therefore providing the user with the optimal high performance results. However, other known sound dampening materials may be substituted. The strip may be a sound dampening foam of dimensions of at least 1 in×1 in×1.5 in at all inside corners. 
     The first enclosure  100  also features a base  400  shown in  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 4  is a front view of the portable sound recording device  100  in a closed position. The first enclosure is divided in half at a cut line  401  creating two identical and symmetrical halves  111 ,  112 . The device  100  is in a closed position when half  111  is moved towards half  112  such that the half base edge  411  makes contact with half base edge  412 . The device  100  opens and closes along the cut line  401 . Sound dampening strips  415 ,  416  are positioned along either side of the dividing cut line  401  on the inside of the first enclosure  110 . The cut line  401  is a plane perpendicular to the plane of the open end of the device  100  going through the midpoint of two parallel sides of the device  100 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the second enclosure  120  of the portable sound recording device  100 . The second enclosure  120  is smaller than the first enclosure  110 . The second enclosure  120  is a smaller rigidly reinforced box that may be at least 10 inches cubed. The second enclosure  120  features four walls  230 ,  231 ,  232  and  233 . The second enclosure also features a base  200 . Similar to the first enclosure  110 , the base  200  of the second enclosure  120  is divided in half at a cut line  501  creating two identical and symmetrical halves  211 ,  212 . 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the second enclosure  120  positioned inside the first enclosure  110 . The second enclosure  120  features outside edges  503 ,  504 ,  505 , and  506 . The outside edges  503 - 506  are located on an outer surface  510  of the second enclosure  120 . Wall  230  and  231  join at edge  503 . Wall  232  and  231  join at edge  504 . Wall  233  and wall  230  join at edge  505 . Wall  232  and  233  join at edge  506 . Second enclosure  120  is positioned inside of the first enclosure  110 . The edges  503 - 506  are attached to the sound dampening strips  141 - 144 , respectively. Specifically, edge  503  is attached to strip  141 , edge  504  is attached to strip  142 , edge  505  is attached to strip  143  and edge  506  is attached to strip  144 . The second enclosure  120  floats inside of the first enclosure  110 . The second enclosure  120  surface  510  does not make any direct contact with the inside surface  610  of the first enclosure  110 . Sound dampening strips  141 - 144  and  415 ,  416  are positioned between the first enclosure  110  and second enclosure  120 . The area between the first enclosure  110  and second enclosure  120  that does not feature strips  141 - 144  and  415 - 16  form an open space  600  filled with air. The open space  600  serves as a bass trap. The space  600  is an acoustic absorber or sound baffle which has the ability to capture low frequency sound. A sound resistant material  700  is attached to the inside walls of the second enclosure  120 . The inside walls are the inside base  603 , side walls  606 ,  607 , top wall  604  and bottom wall  605  which are located on the interior of the second enclosure  120 . The sound resistant material  700  may be sound dampening foam with at least 1 inch thickness. The material  700  covers the interior of the second enclosure  120  on both halves  211 ,  212  and the material is attached in alternating patterns such that the material  700  on the inside walls of half  211  is a mirror image of the material  700  on the inside walls of half  212 . 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the portable sound recording device  100  placed on its front side in a closed position. The base  400  of the device  100  is its front side. The first enclosure  110  features a second cut line  800  which extends from edge  411  upward along wall  133  to a first angled top edge  801  such that the first half  111  is separated from the second half  112  along cut lines  800  and  401 . The first half  111  remains symmetrical to half  112  because the first enclosure is cut from edge  412  upward along wall  133  to a second angled top edge  802  on the second half  112 . The second enclosure  120  is a smaller version of the first enclosure  110  such that it also features a second cut line extending from the cut line  501  upward along its walls. The device  100  is cut in half or divided in half by a plane perpendicular to the plane of the open end of the device going through the midpoint of two parallel sides of the device. Two symmetrical mirror imaged halves are created such that connected halves  112  and  212  are symmetrical and mirror image to connected halves  111  and  211 . A cut is made from the first angled top edge  801  to an upper top edge  803  so that the top portion of wall  133  is angled at about 45 degrees. The same cut is made from the second angled top edge  802  to the upper second top edge  804  such that the wall is angled at about a 45 degree angle. The same angled cut is made on the opposite wall  131  and on second enclosure walls  231  and  233 . The portion of the enclosure  110  between angled top edge  801  and upper top edge  803  and second angled top edge  802  and upper second top edge  804  form a V-shape. A V-shape is also formed on the opposite edges of the first enclosure on wall  131  and also on walls  231  and  233  of the second enclosure  120 . 
       FIG. 6  is a top view of the portable sound recording device  100  in an open position. The device  100  further comprises a handle  900  having a first leg  901  connected to the first half  111  and a second leg  902  connected to the second half  112 . The first leg  901  is inserted into an aperture  905  on the first half  111  and the second leg  902  is inserted into an aperture  906  on the second half  907 . The apertures  905  and  906  are positioned on wall  133  of the first enclosure  110 . Symmetrical and identical apertures are positioned on wall  131  of the first enclosure to receive the third and fourth legs of the handle  900 . The halves  111  and  112  are connected together near the inner vertex of the cut  800  with the corner bracket or handle  900 . The corner bracket/handle  900  is in the same plane as the cut  800  and along the open side of the device. The corner bracket/handle  900  features two 0.25 inch diameter aluminum rods of length 27 inches, machined into a C-shape of dimension: 13 inches long in the middle, two 4.5 inch long sections extended perpendicularly from the each end of the 13 inch section and two 2 inch long sections extending perpendicularly from each end of the 4.5 inch sections. The corner bracket connects to and together the first enclosure halves  111  and  112  and connected second enclosure halves  211  and  212  by inserting the 2 inch long sections of the C rods into pre-drilled holes or apertures  901 ,  902  and two additional apertures (not shown). The apertures are positioned one on each side of the first enclosure halves  111 ,  112  near the vertex of the cut  800 . There are four holes/apertures total. The legs  901 ,  902  are capped into place once inserted through their respective apertures. The first enclosure  110  and second enclosure  120  are both reinforced at the corner bracket/handle connections which are the points where the leg is inserted inside the aperture to prevent shear. The handle  900  may be adjustable such that its height can be adjusted. The handle  900  may collapse to rest along a top surface of cover or lid  910  which can be placed over the open inside area of the connected first and second enclosure during transit or when the device is not in use. 
     The first half  111  and second half  112  pivot around their respective handle legs  901 ,  902  to move the device  100  into an open and closed position. The first and second angled top edges  803 ,  804  make contact when the halves  111  and  112  are pivoted. The portion  10  of the first enclosure  110  between the first angled top edge  801  to an upper top edge  803  and the portion  20  between the second angled top edge  802  and upper second top edge  804  act as a rail such that the halves  111  and  112  are moved in a direction  30  along portions  20  and  30  until first enclosure walls  130  and  132  make flush contact with flange  50 . When the walls  130  and  132  make flush contact with flange  50 , the device  100  is in a functional and open position and ready to use. Similarly, portions on wall  131  act as a rail in an identical location on the wall as discussed for wall  133  since the device is symmetrical.  FIG. 7  is a front view of the portable sound recording device  100  in an open position. 
       FIG. 8  is a front view of the portable sound recording device  100  in an open position with an attached input device  99 . Flange  50  has a circular opening  81  located in the center which acts as an attachment mechanism for input devices  99 . Once an input device, such as a microphone  99 , is placed in the opening  81  of the rectangular flange  50  and connected to a power/recording source, the device  100  is ready for use in any mostly quite room with the user doubling as a movable baffle. The cord of the input device  99  is inserted through the opening  81  such that the power source, recording source or output device can easily be connected to the device  99 . During transport or when the device is in a closed position, the device houses recording equipment (i.e. microphone, headphones, USB storage, and audio studio cd) inside of the interior of the second enclosure  120 . The device  100  is lightweight and small in size and can be carried by most people with at least the strength of a young child. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates sectional pieces of the portable sound recording device. Two triangular flanges  51 ,  52  are made using the section of material cut from the 45 degree cut. This is the material removed when the portion of the enclosure  110  between angled top edge  801  and upper top edge  803  and second angled top edge  802  and upper second top edge  804  were cut to form a V-shape. This is also the material removed from wall  131  which is the identical size, shape and cut in the same position as the cut described for wall  133 . The triangular flanges  51 ,  52  are lined with two inches of sound dampening foam  700  substantially near the center of the triangle. A rectangular flange  50  having an approximate length one foot is lined with at least a two inch thick layer of sound dampening foam  700  and contains a circular opening  81  in the center for placement of an input device  99 . Flanges  51  and  52  are placed parallel and flush with walls  133  and  131  of the device to fill in the voids  801 - 804  left by closing the original open side. Flange  50  shall be positioned so that its length edges connect walls  130  and  132  and its width edges connect  50  and  51  when device  100  is in an open state. The width of the flanges  50 - 52  are trimmed to fit into the device  100 . 
       FIG. 9  is a top view of the portable sound recording device in its transportable state. The device  100  is shown in a closed state having a lid  910  covering the interior of the first and second enclosures  110 ,  120 . The lid  910  extends across the tops of the first and second halves  111 ,  112  and downward to cover the V-shaped opening on the device. Brackets  920 ,  930  are secured to the second half  112  outer surface. The brackets  920 ,  930  have straps  970  extending from the brackets  920 ,  930 . The straps  970  may be Velcro straps. The straps  970  have a length that affords the straps the ability to extend across the top opening of the device to the opposite half  111 . The outer surface of the first half  111  features an a strap attachment mechanism  921  which secures the strap to the first half  111 . The strap attachment mechanism may be a Velcro attachment that will allow the strap  970  to easily remain secure to the device. When the lid  910  is on the device  100 , the straps  970  will be used to keep the device closed and prevent contents from falling out. Or, the Velcro straps  970  may be used to extend along the back of the device and connect to the attachment mechanism to aid in keeping the device  100  in an open position. 
     The device  100  is portable and easy to use. The user will receive the device in a closed state having the necessary equipment requested or required and the rectangular and triangular flanges  50 - 52 . The flanges  50 - 52  will be removed from the device and positioned so that flanges  51  and  52  lay parallel and flush with walls  131  and  133  and fill in voids  801 - 804  when device is in an open state, as shown in  FIG. 6 . Flange  50  shall be positioned so that its length edges connect walls  130  and  132  and its width edges connect  50  and  51  when device is in an open state. The halves  111 ,  112  will be moved such that they pivot around the handle to move the device to an open state. The strap  970  will extend around the outer walls and across the flush walls  130 ,  132  to the strap attachment. An input device  99  such as a microphone is attached to the second enclosure  112  through a circular opening  81  located in the center of  50 . The microphone  99  is connected to its power source and the device is ready for functional use. The user can put on headphones, press record and speak into the device opening opposite where the microphone is attached. The recorders&#39; head and body acts as the fourth corner creating a movable baffle and a virtual four cornered sound dampened room. When the user speaks into the microphone and if the microphone is connected to a recording source, a professional quality recording can be achieved. 
     The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.