AU2018100975A4

AU2018100975A4 - Bagpipe Chanter Guide

Info

Publication number: AU2018100975A4
Application number: AU2018100975A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Colin Horton; Edward Laverty; Anaru Terei
Original assignee: Ace Product Holdings Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Ace Product Holdings Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2017-07-07
Filing date: 2018-07-09
Publication date: 2018-08-23
Anticipated expiration: 2026-07-09

Abstract

The Chanter Guide (5) is a tube-like device or tool that assists with the assembly or removal of a Bagpipe Chanter (4) into or from the Bagpipe Stock (1) to prevent damage to the Chanter Reed (2). The Chanter Guide (5) locates on the Bagpipe Stock (1), which then provides the support for the Bell End (3) of the Bagpipe Chanter (4), as the Bagpipe Chanter (4) is pushed forward to locate in the Bagpipe Stock (1). The Bagpipe Chanter (4) is removed from the Chanter Stock (1) by locating the Chanter Guide on the Bagpipe Stock (1) as above, and then the Bagpipe Chanter (4) can pulled back to disengage the Bagpipe Chanter (4) from the Bagpipe Stock (1) with control without damaging the Chanter Reed (2).

Description

DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0001] The Chanter Guide is a device intended to prevent breakage of chanter reeds.

[0002] Bagpipe reeds are available in both natural and synthetic varieties. The preferred tonal quality generally comes from natural reed, which is made from cane. Both types of reed are at risk of damage when being fitted; cane reeds are particularly sensitive to damage by cracking and chipping of edges.

[0003] It can take the Bagpipe player considerable time and involve some effort on their part to find and fine-tune a reed. This leads to a "good" reed being perceived as a personal treasure by many players, none of whom want to lose that reed or to have it damaged, as the search for a new reed could take time and there is always some degree of uncertainty around finding a replacement that will perform as well as the old one.

[0004] The Bagpipe Chanter Guide is designed to protect reeds when they are at their most vulnerable, that is: when being inserted into and removed from the chanter stock, which is attached to the bagpipe bag and into which, the chanter is fitted.

[0005] The chanter stock has a narrow aperture, just a little wider than the reed, into which the chanter (with reed fitted) is inserted. This operation requires skill and dexterity to avoid damaging the reed. If there is any shake in the hand or if aim is poor, there is a significant chance of the reed being chipped, rendering it unusable. Many reeds are damaged at this point.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0006] The Chanter Guide engages with both the chanter stock on the bag and the bell-end of the chanter and facilitates a controlled installation of the chanter into the stock. The reed is always visible and can be guided easily into the aperture with minimal risk of damage.

[0007] A chanter guide in accordance with this invention, comprises a tube-like device split along its length (the external form of the guide does not necessarily have to reflect the internal form and may be of flat faces, composite curvature surfaces or any form suitable for providing such a guide). The internal diameter of the tube-like device is such that it will fit well with smaller chanter bell-end diameters, but can comfortably expand to accommodate the larger diameter bell-ends of some chanters.

[0008] The split along the length of the Chanter Guide has a second purpose in that it permits the removal of the guide once the chanter has been fitted the chanter stock or bag.

[0009] One end of the device is open-cut to allow the chanter with attached reed to be easily fitted into the guide. Once the chanter bell-end has been placed in the guide, it can then be controllably slid along the length of the guide. As it approaches the chanter stock on the bag, the chanter and reed are held steady by the guide; the clear nature of the polycarbonate (in the preferred form) offers excellent visibility, making it easy to see if any minor adjustments are required to the attitude of the reed before inserting it into the stock. Once the chanter is pushed fully home into the chanter stock, the chanter guide can be removed by sliding it along the axis of the chanter towards the region of the finger holes, where it can easily be separated from the chanter; this area of the chanter is slimmer, and it is thus easy to remove the chanter guide by slipping the chanter through the split along the chanter guide length.

[0010] The Chanter Guide is preferably made from polycarbonate, however, other materials can also be used, for example: acrylic, clear ABS, PCT polymers and the like, though it is envisaged that in some forms, the guide may be made from other polymers and could even be formed in metal.

DISCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Drawing 1. Shows 4 components: No.l Chanter Stock (part of the bag assembly); No.2 the Reed;

No.3 Bell End of the Chanter; No. 4 the Body of the Chanter.

Drawing 2. Shows the Chanter and Reed sitting inside the start of the Chanter Guide (item No. 5).

Drawing 3. Shows the Guided Chanter and Reed as it progresses towards the Chanter Stock.

Drawing 4. Shows the Chanter pushed fully home against the Chanter Stock and the undamaged Reed safe within the Bagpipe Stock.

Drawing 5. Shows one possible alternative form for the Chanter Guide (item No.6).

Claims

1. The Bagpipe Chanter Guide (in its preferred form) is a tube-like device or tool, designed to assist with the engagement of, or removal of the Bagpipe Chanter into, or from the Bagpipe Stock, minimising risk of damage to the reed.

2. The Bagpipe Chanter Guide as described in Claim 1 is used to support the Chanter and Reed when inserting the Bagpipe Chanter into the Bagpipe Stock, the preferred form offers an open end which permits easy insertion of the chanter and reed.

3. The Bagpipe Chanter Guide as described in Claim 1 is used to guide the Chanter and Reed when inserting the Bagpipe Chanter into the Bagpipe Stock, the preferred form has a diameter close to that of the chanter bell-end, this reduces error and improves aim when guiding the chanter and reed.

4. The Bagpipe Chanter Guide as described in Claim 1 is designed to adjust to differing diameters of chanter bell-ends, the preferred form is of a flexible polycarbonate.

5. The Bagpipe Chanter Guide as described in Claim 1 is used to support the Chanter and Reed when removing the Bagpipe Chanter from the Bagpipe Stock, the preferred form offers an open end which permits easy removal of the chanter and reed.

6. The Bagpipe Chanter Guide as described in Claim 1 is used to guide the Chanter and Reed when removing the Bagpipe Chanter from the Bagpipe Stock, the preferred form has a diameter close to that of the chanter bell-end, this reduces error when guiding the chanter and reed back out and away from the stock.

7. The Bagpipe Chanter Guide as described in Claim 1 is designed to be easily removed from the chanter once the chanter has been fitted to the stock, the preferred form has a split along the length of the axis of the guide and is sufficiently flexible to allow passing over a thicker chanter if needed.