EP0301967B1 - Harp of composite material - Google Patents

Harp of composite material Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0301967B1
EP0301967B1 EP88401960A EP88401960A EP0301967B1 EP 0301967 B1 EP0301967 B1 EP 0301967B1 EP 88401960 A EP88401960 A EP 88401960A EP 88401960 A EP88401960 A EP 88401960A EP 0301967 B1 EP0301967 B1 EP 0301967B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
harp
neck
pillar
soundboard
cone
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EP88401960A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0301967A1 (en
Inventor
Didier Budin
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Individual
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Individual
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
    • G10D—STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACCORDIONS OR CONCERTINAS; PERCUSSION MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; AEOLIAN HARPS; SINGING-FLAME MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G10D1/00—General design of stringed musical instruments
    • G10D1/04—Plucked or strummed string instruments, e.g. harps or lyres
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
    • G10D—STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACCORDIONS OR CONCERTINAS; PERCUSSION MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; AEOLIAN HARPS; SINGING-FLAME MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G10D3/00—Details of, or accessories for, stringed musical instruments, e.g. slide-bars
    • G10D3/06—Necks; Fingerboards, e.g. fret boards
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
    • G10D—STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACCORDIONS OR CONCERTINAS; PERCUSSION MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; AEOLIAN HARPS; SINGING-FLAME MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G10D3/00—Details of, or accessories for, stringed musical instruments, e.g. slide-bars
    • G10D3/22—Material for manufacturing stringed musical instruments; Treatment of the material

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a harp and more particularly to a new harp made of composite material.
  • Harps have been known since antiquity, and are traditionally made of wood.
  • a harp is made up of a set of strings stretched between a ras called “console” and a soundboard secured to a resonance box, this box being placed at about 30 to 35 ° relative to the direction of the strings.
  • the body is connected on the one hand to the console by means of an upper sole and a bent piece called abutment, and on the other hand to the base by a lower sole.
  • the harp further comprises a vertical column connecting the console to said base.
  • pedal harps The two best known types of harps are pedal harps and Celtic harps.
  • pedal harps the vibrating length of each string can be adjusted using a "mechanical", which allows sharp and beak changes. Consequently, the column is pierced with a longitudinal central orifice allowing the passage of several rods connecting the mechanics located on the console to adjustment pedals placed in the base.
  • the console is made of glued laminated wood covered with veneer, then a solid carved wooden abutment, also glued, is adjusted on it.
  • the body is made of molded wood, it has a U-shaped cross section, and it is reinforced by vertical "beams” and arches, and provided towards the rear with openings (gills) allowing the sound to escape. On its high ends and Low are adjusted upper and lower soles which respectively receive the console abutment and the base.
  • the soundboard is made of special wooden slats, whose thickness decreases from bottom to top and from the center to the sides. These slats are arranged contiguously. This table is reinforced inwards by a large counter bridge and outwards by a lighter bridge. These last three pieces are glued together and drilled for the passage of the strings, it will be noted that the bridge is reinforced at this passage.
  • the column is, in turn, formed of several pieces of wood of a length corresponding to the total height of the column, glued parallel to each other. This column is connected by a fitting on the lower sole.
  • the base supporting the assembly is formed from various wooden parts and has notches for the passage of the pedals.
  • harps have many drawbacks: they are very heavy and therefore difficult to transport, they are sensitive to variations in temperature and humidity, which cause the woods to play, and as a result the harps are likely to go out of tune, to break and take off.
  • woods are not homogeneous and it is only when the harp is built that we know if we have made a good quality instrument or not.
  • the objective of the invention is to make a harp from composite material and to no longer use wood.
  • Composite materials make it possible to make a harp that weighs less than a conventional harp, by around 40%, and therefore easier to transport.
  • Composite materials also have better mechanical characteristics, are less sensitive to variations in temperature and humidity and are homogeneous.
  • a second objective of the invention is to obtain a harp at a lower cost price.
  • a third objective of the invention is to be able to easily disassemble the mechanics without having to relax all the strings.
  • a final objective of the invention is to control the quality of the sounds and to personalize the harps by their tones, their shapes or their colors.
  • a harp in particular of the type of pedal harps or Celtic harps, comprising a console, a abutment, a column joining said console to a table, a body provided with the soundboard and an easel, said body being connected on the one hand to the abutment of said console by an upper sole and on the other hand to a base by a lower sole, harp characterized in that the console and the abutment are formed in one and the same piece, as well as the body and its upper and lower soles, the soundboard being molded with the bridge and pierced with gills and having another lower sole s extending laterally, the column being, in turn, produced in a single piece, and being connected by each of its ends to the console and to the second lower flange respectively by an upper cone and a lower cone, c es various constructive elements of the harp being made of identical or different composite materials.
  • the harp according to the invention will now be described, it is entirely made of composite material.
  • the harp comprises just like a conventional harp a console 1, and a soundboard 2 secured to a body 3, between which the strings are normally stretched.
  • a bridge 4 is further molded on said soundboard 2 and these two parts are pierced with holes allowing the passage of the strings.
  • a column 5 connects the console 1 to a sole, and the body 3 is itself fixed on a base 6. Said base is only used to support the harp and to accommodate the bottom bracket.
  • the console 1 and the abutment 7, whose shapes are identical to those of conventional harps, are formed in one and the same piece.
  • the console 1 carries perpendicularly pegs 12 on which the strings are fixed and wound, these pegs allowing the tension of the strings to be adjusted.
  • the body 3 is a kind of "gutter", that is to say that its cross section is U-shaped, nevertheless its depth p (distance between the bottom of said body and the opening of the U) is decreasing from the bottom of the harp up.
  • This body is molded with an upper sole 15 and a lower sole 25.
  • the upper sole 15 closes the upper U-shaped end of the body and the sole 25 the lower end of said body 3. These parts have a half shape -circle.
  • the body 3 being wider at its lower part than at its upper part, the sole 25 is consequently of dimensions greater than the sole 15.
  • the box 3 is closed at the top by a soundboard 2 in the form of an isosceles trapezoid extending in its lower part by a lower sole 16.
  • This sole 16 is horizontal and makes an angle of approximately 125 ° with the soundboard 2.
  • the thickness of the soundboard 2 is decreasing from the bottom up and from the center to the sides.
  • This soundboard 2 is reinforced towards the outside by an easel 4 extending longitudinally and in the center of said table.
  • adjustment spacers 40 are placed inside said box 3 towards the opening of the U, these spacers can for example consist of a hollow cylinder 41 tapped at one end and closed at the other, and provided with a screw 42, the closed end of the cylinder 41 is provided with a square 43 which is housed in a cavity 44 of the same shape and corresponding dimensions, located on the internal face of one of the side walls of the body 3.
  • This screw 42 has a threaded part 45, integral with a smooth cylinder 46 and a screw head 47.
  • the diameter of the threaded part 45 is slightly less than the internal diameter of the cylinder 41 so that it can be screwed into it.
  • the diameter of the cylinder 46 is less than the diameter of the threaded part 45, and this cylinder 46 is designed to pass through a cylindrical opening 48, of very slightly greater diameter, provided in the side wall of the body 3 opposite the cavity 44.
  • the screw head 47 is provided with a groove intended to allow screwing by means of a screwdriver for example.
  • the cylinder 46 is provided with two grooves intended to each receive a circlip 49. The distance between the two grooves is slightly greater than the length of the opening 48, so that, when the spacer 40 is in place, there is a groove on each side of the side wall of the box 3.
  • the cylinder 41 can be opened at its two ends and provided at each end with a screw 42.
  • the cavity 44 is then replaced by an opening identical to the opening 48.
  • Column 5 is cut from a standard tube made of composite material, it is therefore formed in one piece and has a central cylindrical recess 17 extending substantially along the axis of the column, from one end to the other of it, and allowing the possible passage of the rods of the mechanics.
  • the junctions between said column 5 and the console 1 on the one hand, and between column 5 and the bottom flange 16 (and therefore the table 2) on the other hand, are produced respectively by an upper cone 10 and a lower cone 11 These two cones are truncated.
  • the small bases of the lower 11 and upper 10 cones are provided in the center with a cylindrical cavity 50, the diameter of which corresponds to the external diameter of the column 5.
  • This cavity 50 is extended in the cone 11 by a recess 18 and in the cone 10 by a recess 24 described later.
  • the recesses 18 and 24 have a diameter smaller than that of the cavities 50.
  • the upper cone 10 can be molded with the console 1 and the lower cone 11 can be molded directly with the lower sole 16 and the soundboard 2.
  • All of the lower soles 16 and 25 are screwed onto a base 6 which is parallelepiped.
  • All of the other connections between the parts are preferably made by gluing with epoxy or polyester glues.
  • the column 5 can be molded directly with the console and the cone 10 in order to form a single assembly.
  • the lower cone 11 is molded with a recess 18, the lower sole 16 with an orifice 19, and the upper cone 10 with a recess 24 opening on the one hand into the cavity 50 and on the other hand, laterally, in the direction of the console 1.
  • the base generally has five faces and does not necessarily have an upper face, however if this is the case it will be pierced of an orifice 21. When all these parts are assembled, all of these recesses and orifices are superimposed in order to allow the passage of the rods.
  • one of the side walls of the base 6 is provided with openings 22 for the passage of the pedals.
  • the cheeks 8 are fixed by ankles or screwed on the console 1 and they are made of composite material or possibly metal. Thus, during a repair, said cheeks 8 can easily be removed without having to dismantle the strings, since the tension exerted by the strings can easily be supported by the console 1.
  • All the parts of the harp according to the invention are made of composite materials chosen from the group comprising glass fibers, carbon, and a fiber consisting of polyparaphenyleneterephthalamide, known commercially under the name of Kévlar.
  • the base 6 is made of fiberglass, the carbon or fiberglass table, the body and the column in a carbon / Kevlar mixture and the console in a carbon, Kevlar and glass mixture. All of these parts are glued with epoxy or polyester glues.

Description

La présente invention concerne une harpe et plus particulièrement une nouvelle harpe en matériau composite.The present invention relates to a harp and more particularly to a new harp made of composite material.

Les harpes sont connues depuis l'antiquité, et sont traditionnellement réalisées en bois. Une harpe est constituée d'un ensemble de cordes tendues entre un ras dénommé "console" et une table d'harmonie solidaire d'une caisse de résonnance, cette caisse étant placée à environ 30 à 35° par rapport à la direction des cordes. La caisse est réliée d'une part à la console par l'intermédiaire d'une semelle supérieure et d'une pièce coudée nommée culée, et d'autre part au socle par une semelle inférieure. La harpe comporte en outre une colonne verticale reliant la console audit socle.Harps have been known since antiquity, and are traditionally made of wood. A harp is made up of a set of strings stretched between a ras called "console" and a soundboard secured to a resonance box, this box being placed at about 30 to 35 ° relative to the direction of the strings. The body is connected on the one hand to the console by means of an upper sole and a bent piece called abutment, and on the other hand to the base by a lower sole. The harp further comprises a vertical column connecting the console to said base.

Les deux types de harpes les plus connues sont les harpes à pédales et les harpes celtiques. Dans les harpes à pédales, la longueur vibrante de chaque corde peut être ajustée grâce à une "mécanique", ce qui permet d'obtenir les altérations dièse et becarre. En conséquence, la colonne est percée d'un orifice central longitudinal permettant le passage de plusieurs tringles reliant la mécanique située sur la console à des pédales de réglage placées dans le socle.The two best known types of harps are pedal harps and Celtic harps. In pedal harps, the vibrating length of each string can be adjusted using a "mechanical", which allows sharp and beak changes. Consequently, the column is pierced with a longitudinal central orifice allowing the passage of several rods connecting the mechanics located on the console to adjustment pedals placed in the base.

Au contraire, dans les harpes celtiques, il n'y a pas de pédales et il n'est donc pas nécessaire d'avoir une colonne creuse.On the contrary, in Celtic harps, there are no pedals and therefore it is not necessary to have a hollow column.

De façon classique, la console est réalisée en bois lamellé-collé recouvert de placage, puis on ajuste sur celle-ci une culée en bois massif sculpté, également collée. La caisse est réalisée en bois moulé, elle présente une section transversale en forme de U, et elle est renforcée par des "poutres" verticales et des arceaux, et munie vers l'arrière d'ouvertures (ouies) laissant échapper le son. Sur ses extrémités haute et basse sont ajustées des semelles supérieure et inférieure qui reçoivent respectivement la culée de la console et le socle.Conventionally, the console is made of glued laminated wood covered with veneer, then a solid carved wooden abutment, also glued, is adjusted on it. The body is made of molded wood, it has a U-shaped cross section, and it is reinforced by vertical "beams" and arches, and provided towards the rear with openings (gills) allowing the sound to escape. On its high ends and Low are adjusted upper and lower soles which respectively receive the console abutment and the base.

La table d'harmonie est formée de lattes de bois spéciaux, dont l'épaisseur décroît du bas vers le haut et du centre vers les côtés. Ces lattes sont disposées de façon jointive. Cette table est renforcée vers l'intérieur par un contre chevalet de grandes dimensions et vers l'extérieur par un chevalet plus léger. Ces trois dernières pièces sont collées ensemble et percées pour le passage des cordes, on notera que le chevalet est renforcé au niveau de ce passage.The soundboard is made of special wooden slats, whose thickness decreases from bottom to top and from the center to the sides. These slats are arranged contiguously. This table is reinforced inwards by a large counter bridge and outwards by a lighter bridge. These last three pieces are glued together and drilled for the passage of the strings, it will be noted that the bridge is reinforced at this passage.

La colonne est, quant à elle, formée de plusieurs morceaux de bois d'une longueur correspondant à la hauteur totale de la colonne, collés parallèlement les uns aux autres. Cette colonne est reliée par une ferrure sur la semelle inférieure.The column is, in turn, formed of several pieces of wood of a length corresponding to the total height of the column, glued parallel to each other. This column is connected by a fitting on the lower sole.

Enfin, le socle supportant l'ensemble est formé de diverses pièces en bois et présente des encoches pour le passage des pédales.Finally, the base supporting the assembly is formed from various wooden parts and has notches for the passage of the pedals.

Ces harpes présentent de nombreux inconvénients : elles sont très lourdes et donc difficiles à transporter, elles sont sensibles aux variations de température et d'humidité, qui font jouer les bois et de ce fait les harpes risquent de se désaccorder, de se rompre et de se décoller.These harps have many drawbacks: they are very heavy and therefore difficult to transport, they are sensitive to variations in temperature and humidity, which cause the woods to play, and as a result the harps are likely to go out of tune, to break and take off.

D'autre part, lorsqu'un réparateur veut travailler sur la mécanique d'une harpe à pédales, il est obligé d'enlever toutes les cordes, avant d'enlever la mécanique sous peine de rompre la console, or ceci est une opération longue et fastidieuse.On the other hand, when a repairer wants to work on the mechanics of a pedal harp, he is obliged to remove all the strings, before removing the mechanics under penalty of breaking the console, but this is a long operation and tedious.

De plus les bois ne sont pas homogènes et c'est seulement lorsque la harpe est construite que l'on sait si l'on a réalisé un instrument de bonne qualité ou non.In addition the woods are not homogeneous and it is only when the harp is built that we know if we have made a good quality instrument or not.

L'objectif de l'invention est de réaliser un harpe en matériau composite et de ne plus utiliser de bois. Les matériaux composites permettent de réaliser une harpe d'un poids inférieur à une harpe classique, d'environ 40%, donc plus facile à transporter. Les matériaux composites présentent de plus, de meilleures caractéristiques mécaniques, sont moins sensibles aux variations de température et d'humidité et sont homogènes.The objective of the invention is to make a harp from composite material and to no longer use wood. Composite materials make it possible to make a harp that weighs less than a conventional harp, by around 40%, and therefore easier to transport. Composite materials also have better mechanical characteristics, are less sensitive to variations in temperature and humidity and are homogeneous.

Un second objectif de l'invention est d'obtenir une harpe à un coût de revient plus faible.A second objective of the invention is to obtain a harp at a lower cost price.

Un troisième objectif de l'invention est de pouvoir démonter facilement la mécanique sans avoir à détendre toutes les cordes.A third objective of the invention is to be able to easily disassemble the mechanics without having to relax all the strings.

Un dernier objectif de l'invention est de maîtriser la qualité des sons et de personnaliser les harpes par leurs sonorités, leurs formes ou leurs couleurs.A final objective of the invention is to control the quality of the sounds and to personalize the harps by their tones, their shapes or their colors.

Ces objectifs ainsi que d'autres qui apparaîtront par la suite sont atteints à l'aide d'une harpe, notamment du type des harpes à pédales ou harpes celtiques, comprenant une console, une culée, une colonne joignant ladite console à une table, une caisse munie de la table d'harmonie et d'un chevalet, ladite caisse étant reliée d'une part à la culée de ladite console par une semelle supérieure et d'autre part à un socle par une semelle inférieure, harpe caractérisée en ce que la console et la culée sont formées d'une seule et même pièce, de même que la caisse et ses semelles supérieure et inférieure, la table d'harmonie étant moulée avec le chevalet et percée d'ouies et possédant une autre semelle inférieure s'étendant latéralement, la colonne étant, quant à elle, réalisée en un seul morceau, et étant reliée par chacune de ses extrémités à la console et à la seconde semelle inférieure respectivement par un cône supérieur et un cône inférieur, ces divers éléments constructifs de la harpe étant réalisés en matériaux composites identiques ou différents.These objectives and others which will appear subsequently are achieved with the aid of a harp, in particular of the type of pedal harps or Celtic harps, comprising a console, a abutment, a column joining said console to a table, a body provided with the soundboard and an easel, said body being connected on the one hand to the abutment of said console by an upper sole and on the other hand to a base by a lower sole, harp characterized in that the console and the abutment are formed in one and the same piece, as well as the body and its upper and lower soles, the soundboard being molded with the bridge and pierced with gills and having another lower sole s extending laterally, the column being, in turn, produced in a single piece, and being connected by each of its ends to the console and to the second lower flange respectively by an upper cone and a lower cone, c es various constructive elements of the harp being made of identical or different composite materials.

D'autres caractéristiques et avantages de l'invention apparaîtront à la lecture de la description suivante d'un mode de réalisation préférentiel de l'invention donnée à titre illustratif et des dessins annexés dans lesquels :

  • la figure 1 est une vue éclatée d'une harpe selon l'invention,
  • la figure 2 est une vue en coupe de la caisse et d'un écarteur.
Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention given by way of illustration and the appended drawings in which:
  • FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a harp according to the invention,
  • Figure 2 is a sectional view of the body and a spacer.

La harpe selon l'invention va maintenant être décrite, elle est entièrement réalisée en matériau composite.The harp according to the invention will now be described, it is entirely made of composite material.

Comme illustré en figure 1, la harpe selon l'invention comprend tout comme une harpe classique une console 1, et une table d'harmonie 2 solidaire d'une caisse 3, entre lesquelles les cordes sont normalement tendues. Un chevalet 4 est en outre moulé sur ladite table d'harmonie 2 et ces deux pièces sont percées d'orifices permettant le passage des cordes. Une colonne 5 relie la console 1 à une semelle, et la caisse 3 est elle-même fixée sur un socle 6. Ledit socle ne sert qu'à supporter la harpe et à loger le pédalier.As illustrated in Figure 1, the harp according to the invention comprises just like a conventional harp a console 1, and a soundboard 2 secured to a body 3, between which the strings are normally stretched. A bridge 4 is further molded on said soundboard 2 and these two parts are pierced with holes allowing the passage of the strings. A column 5 connects the console 1 to a sole, and the body 3 is itself fixed on a base 6. Said base is only used to support the harp and to accommodate the bottom bracket.

L'utilisation d'un matériau composite, extrêmement résistant permet de simplifier la structure de la harpe et de procéder à certaines modifications permettant de changer la mécanique sans avoir à enlever les cordes. Ces modifications de structure vont maintenant être décrites, et tout d'abord les parties communes aux harpes celtiques et aux harpes à pédales.The use of a composite material, extremely resistant makes it possible to simplify the structure of the harp and to carry out certain modifications allowing to change the mechanics without having to remove the strings. These structural modifications will now be described, and first of all the parts common to Celtic harps and pedal harps.

Selon l'invention, la console 1 et la culée 7, dont les formes sont identiques à celles des harpes classiques, sont formées d'une seule et même pièce. La console 1 porte perpendiculairement des chevilles 12 sur lesquels les cordes sont fixées et enroulées, ces chevilles permettant le réglage de la tension des cordes.According to the invention, the console 1 and the abutment 7, whose shapes are identical to those of conventional harps, are formed in one and the same piece. The console 1 carries perpendicularly pegs 12 on which the strings are fixed and wound, these pegs allowing the tension of the strings to be adjusted.

La caisse 3 est une sorte de "gouttière", c'est à dire que sa section transversale est en forme de U, néanmoins sa profondeur p (distance entre le fond de ladite caisse et l'ouverture du U) est décroissante du bas de la harpe vers le haut. Cette caisse est moulée avec une semelle supérieure 15 et une semelle inférieure 25. La semelle supérieure 15 vient fermer l'extrémité supérieure en U de la caisse et la semelle 25 l'extrémité inférieure de ladite caisse 3. Ces pièces présentent une forme en demi-cercle. La caisse 3 étant plus large à sa partie inférieure qu'à sa partie supérieure, la semelle 25 est en conséquence de dimensions supérieures à la semelle 15.The body 3 is a kind of "gutter", that is to say that its cross section is U-shaped, nevertheless its depth p (distance between the bottom of said body and the opening of the U) is decreasing from the bottom of the harp up. This body is molded with an upper sole 15 and a lower sole 25. The upper sole 15 closes the upper U-shaped end of the body and the sole 25 the lower end of said body 3. These parts have a half shape -circle. The body 3 being wider at its lower part than at its upper part, the sole 25 is consequently of dimensions greater than the sole 15.

Comme illustré aux figures 1 et 2, la caisse 3 est fermée sur le haut par une table d'harmonie 2 en forme de trapèze isocèle se prolongeant dans sa partie inférieure par une semelle inférieure 16. La base la plus large du trapèze se trouvant en bas. Cette semelle 16, est horizontale et fait un angle d'environ 125° avec la table d'harmonie 2. L'épaisseur de la table d'harmonie 2 est décroissante du bas vers le haut et du centre vers les côtés. Cette table d'harmonie 2 est renforcée vers l'extérieur par un chevalet 4 s'étendant longitudinalement et au centre de ladite table. Ces deux pièces sont moulées dans le même temps et percées de plusieurs orifices 30 permettant le passage des cordes. Il n'est plus nécessaire d'ajoindre à la table un contre-chevalet. Dans les harpes traditionnelles, c'est le fond de la caisse qui est percé d'ouies, mais alors le son s'échappe dans la direction du joueur de harpe. Au contraire, selon l'invention, la grande résistance des matériaux composites permet de percer les ouies 20 dans la table d'harmonie 2, sans risque de rupture de celle-ci. Le son s'échappe alors vers l'auditeur. Ces ouies 20 sont espacées régulièrement de chaque côte du chevalet 4 sur toute la longueur de la table 2.As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the box 3 is closed at the top by a soundboard 2 in the form of an isosceles trapezoid extending in its lower part by a lower sole 16. The widest base of the trapezium being located low. This sole 16 is horizontal and makes an angle of approximately 125 ° with the soundboard 2. The thickness of the soundboard 2 is decreasing from the bottom up and from the center to the sides. This soundboard 2 is reinforced towards the outside by an easel 4 extending longitudinally and in the center of said table. These two parts are molded at the same time and pierced with several orifices 30 allowing the passage of the strings. It is no longer necessary to add a counter-easel to the table. In traditional harps, it is the bottom of the body which is pierced with gills, but then the sound escapes in the direction of the harp player. On the contrary, according to the invention, the high resistance of the composite materials makes it possible to pierce the gills 20 in the soundboard 2, without the risk of breaking thereof. The sound then escapes to the listener. These louvers 20 are regularly spaced from each side of the easel 4 over the entire length of the table 2.

Plusieurs écarteurs de réglage 40 sont placés à l'intérieur de ladite caisse 3 vers l'ouverture du U, ces écarteurs peuvent par exemple être constitués d'un cylindre creux 41 taraudé à une extrémité et fermé à l'autre, et muni d'une vis 42, L'extrémité fermée du cylindre 41 est munie d'un carré 43 qui vient se loger dans une cavité 44 de même forme et de dimensions correspondantes, située sur la face interne d'une des parois latérales de la caisse 3. Ainsi, une fois l'écarteur en place, cette extrémité est bloquée et ne peut tourner lorsque l'on serre la vis 42. Cette vis 42 présente une partie filetée 45, solidaire d'un cylindre lisse 46 et d'une tête de vis 47. Le diamètre de la partie filetée 45 est légèrement inférieur au diamètre interne du cylindre 41 de façon à pouvoir y être vissée. Le diamètre du cylindre 46 est inférieur au diamètre de la partie filetée 45, et ce cylindre 46 est conçu pour traverser une ouverture cylindrique 48, de diamètre très légèrement supérieur, prévue dans la paroi latérale de la caisse 3 en face de la cavité 44. La tête de vis 47 est munie d'une gorge destinée à permettre le vissage au moyen d'un tournevis par exemple. De plus, afin de maintenir l'écarteur en place le cylindre 46 est muni de deux gorges destinées à recevoir chacune un circlips 49. La distance entre les deux gorges est légèrement supérieure à la longueur de l'ouverture 48, de façon que, lorsque l'écarteur 40 est en place, il y ait une gorge de chaque côté de la paroi latérale de la caisse 3.Several adjustment spacers 40 are placed inside said box 3 towards the opening of the U, these spacers can for example consist of a hollow cylinder 41 tapped at one end and closed at the other, and provided with a screw 42, the closed end of the cylinder 41 is provided with a square 43 which is housed in a cavity 44 of the same shape and corresponding dimensions, located on the internal face of one of the side walls of the body 3. Thus, once the spacer in place, this end is blocked and cannot rotate when the screw 42 is tightened. This screw 42 has a threaded part 45, integral with a smooth cylinder 46 and a screw head 47. The diameter of the threaded part 45 is slightly less than the internal diameter of the cylinder 41 so that it can be screwed into it. The diameter of the cylinder 46 is less than the diameter of the threaded part 45, and this cylinder 46 is designed to pass through a cylindrical opening 48, of very slightly greater diameter, provided in the side wall of the body 3 opposite the cavity 44. The screw head 47 is provided with a groove intended to allow screwing by means of a screwdriver for example. In addition, in order to keep the spacer in place, the cylinder 46 is provided with two grooves intended to each receive a circlip 49. The distance between the two grooves is slightly greater than the length of the opening 48, so that, when the spacer 40 is in place, there is a groove on each side of the side wall of the box 3.

Selon un autre mode de réalisation non représenté, le cylindre 41 peut être ouvert à ses deux extrémités et muni à chaque bout d'une vis 42. La cavité 44 est alors remplacée par une ouverture identique à l'ouverture 48. De préférence, on disposera ainsi trois écarteurs, répartis uniformément sur toute la longueur de la caisse 3. Ces écarteurs permettent de régler la couleur du son, à tout moment, en fonction des goûts de l'interprète. En effet, en réglant la longueur des écarteurs 40 au moyen de la vis 42, on peut écarter les parois de la caisse 3 et donc tendre la table 2, ce qui modifie le son.According to another embodiment not shown, the cylinder 41 can be opened at its two ends and provided at each end with a screw 42. The cavity 44 is then replaced by an opening identical to the opening 48. Preferably, one will thus have three spacers, distributed uniformly over the entire length of the body 3. These spacers can adjust the color of the sound, at any time, according to the tastes of the interpreter. Indeed, by adjusting the length of the spacers 40 by means of the screw 42, it is possible to spread the walls of the body 3 and therefore to stretch the table 2, which modifies the sound.

La colonne 5 est coupée dans un tube standard en matériau composite, elle est donc formée d'un seul morceau et présente un évidement cylindrique central 17 s'étendant sensiblement le long de l'axe de la colonne, d'un bout à l'autre de celle-ci, et permettant le passage éventuel des tringles de la mécanique. Les jonctions entre ladite colonne 5 et la console 1 d'une part, et entre la colonne 5 et la semelle inférieure 16 (et donc la table 2) d'autre part, sont réalisées respectivement par un cône supérieur 10 et un cône inférieur 11. Ces deux cônes sont tronqués. Les petites bases des cônes inférieur 11 et supérieur 10 sont munies au centre d'une cavité cylindrique 50, et dont le diamètre correspond au diamètre externe de la colonne 5. Cette cavité 50 se prolonge dans le cône 11 par un évidement 18 et dans le cône 10 par un évidement 24 décrit ultérieurement. Les évidements 18 et 24 ont un diamètre inférieur à celui des cavités 50.Column 5 is cut from a standard tube made of composite material, it is therefore formed in one piece and has a central cylindrical recess 17 extending substantially along the axis of the column, from one end to the other of it, and allowing the possible passage of the rods of the mechanics. The junctions between said column 5 and the console 1 on the one hand, and between column 5 and the bottom flange 16 (and therefore the table 2) on the other hand, are produced respectively by an upper cone 10 and a lower cone 11 These two cones are truncated. The small bases of the lower 11 and upper 10 cones are provided in the center with a cylindrical cavity 50, the diameter of which corresponds to the external diameter of the column 5. This cavity 50 is extended in the cone 11 by a recess 18 and in the cone 10 by a recess 24 described later. The recesses 18 and 24 have a diameter smaller than that of the cavities 50.

La colonne 5 s'emboîte ainsi dans les cônes par ces cavités 50. Ces cônes 10 et 11 sont moulés dans un matériau composite. Les liaisons sont assurées par exemple par collage avec des colles époxy ou polyester. Dans le but de pouvoir réaliser la liaison entre le cône supérieur 10 et la console 1, celle-ci est munie à son extrémité la plus large d'une cavité (non représentée) semi-tronconique correspondant au profil du tronc de cône 10. Ainsi, cette cavité entoure partiellement le cône 10.Column 5 thus fits into the cones through these cavities 50. These cones 10 and 11 are molded from a composite material. The connections are ensured for example by bonding with epoxy or polyester adhesives. In order to be able to make the connection between the upper cone 10 and the console 1, the latter is provided at its widest end with a semi-frustoconical cavity (not shown) corresponding to the profile of the truncated cone 10. Thus , this cavity partially surrounds the cone 10.

Selon une variante de réalisation, le cône supérieur 10 peut être moulé avec la console 1 et le cône inférieur 11 peut être moulé directement avec la semelle inférieure 16 et la table d'harmonie 2.According to an alternative embodiment, the upper cone 10 can be molded with the console 1 and the lower cone 11 can be molded directly with the lower sole 16 and the soundboard 2.

L'ensemble des semelles inférieures 16 et 25 est vissé sur un socle 6 parallélépipédique.All of the lower soles 16 and 25 are screwed onto a base 6 which is parallelepiped.

L'ensemble de toutes les autres liaisons entre les pièces est réalisé de préférence par collage avec des colles époxy ou polyester. Dans le cas particulier des harpes sans mécanique, de type "celte", la colonne 5 pourra être moulée directement avec la console et le cône 10 afin de former un seul ensemble.All of the other connections between the parts are preferably made by gluing with epoxy or polyester glues. In the particular case of harps without mechanics, of the "Celtic" type, the column 5 can be molded directly with the console and the cone 10 in order to form a single assembly.

Dans le cas particulier des harpes à pédales,et afin de permettre le passage des tringles de la mécanique, le cône inférieur 11 est moulé avec un évidement 18, la semelle inférieure 16 avec un orifice 19, et le cône supérieur 10 avec un évidement 24 débouchant d'une part dans la cavité 50 et d'autre part, latéralement, en direction de la console 1. Le socle présente en général cinq faces et n'a pas nécessairement de face supérieure, néanmoins si tel est le cas elle sera percée d'un orifice 21. Lorsque toutes ces pièces sont assemblées, tous ces évidements et orifices sont superposés afin de permettre le passage des tringles. De plus, une des parois latérales du socle 6 est munie d'ouvertures 22 pour le passage des pédales.In the particular case of pedal harps, and in order to allow the passage of the mechanical rods, the lower cone 11 is molded with a recess 18, the lower sole 16 with an orifice 19, and the upper cone 10 with a recess 24 opening on the one hand into the cavity 50 and on the other hand, laterally, in the direction of the console 1. The base generally has five faces and does not necessarily have an upper face, however if this is the case it will be pierced of an orifice 21. When all these parts are assembled, all of these recesses and orifices are superimposed in order to allow the passage of the rods. In addition, one of the side walls of the base 6 is provided with openings 22 for the passage of the pedals.

Dans les harpes classiques, la mécanique permettant le réglage des dièses et des becarres (fourchettes 23) est placée sur des ferrures rajoutées de chaque côté de la console 1. Lorsque l'on souhaite changer cette mécanique, il est nécessaire d'enlever toutes les cordes, car sinon la tension engendrée par les cordes et s'exerçant alors sur la console 1 débarrassée de ses ferrures, provoquerait la rupture de ladite console 1. Au contraire, en utilisant un matériau composite plus résistant, on peut placer sous la console 1 deux joues 8 amovibles portant lesdites fourchettes 23. Chaque joue 8 est une pièce allongée présentant une forme en S identique à celle de la console 1, et une section transversale rectangulaire. Chaque joue 8 est conçue pour s'emboîter exactement sous la console 1 et est donc moins épaisse que la console 1. Les joues 8 sont fixées par des chevilles ou vissée sur la console 1 et elles sont réalisées en matièriau composite ou éventuellement en métal. Ainsi, lors d'une réparation on pourra aisément retirer lesdites joues 8 sans avoir à démonter les cordes, puisque la tension exercée par les cordes pourra facilement être supportée par la console 1.In conventional harps, the mechanism for adjusting the sharps and the beakers (forks 23) is placed on fittings added on each side of the console 1. When you wish to change this mechanism, it is necessary to remove all strings, because otherwise the tension generated by the strings and then exerted on the console 1 stripped of its fittings, would cause the rupture of said console 1. On the contrary, by using a more resistant composite material, it is possible to place under the console 1 two removable cheeks 8 carrying said forks 23. Each cheek 8 is an elongated part having an S shape identical to that of the console 1, and a rectangular cross section. Each cheek 8 is designed to fit exactly under the console 1 and is therefore thinner than the console 1. The cheeks 8 are fixed by ankles or screwed on the console 1 and they are made of composite material or possibly metal. Thus, during a repair, said cheeks 8 can easily be removed without having to dismantle the strings, since the tension exerted by the strings can easily be supported by the console 1.

L'ensemble des pièces de la harpe selon l'invention, est constitué en matériaux composites choisis parmi le groupe comprenant les fibres de verre, le carbone, et une fibre constituée de polyparaphenylénetéréphtalamide, connue commercialement sous le nom de Kévlar. De préférence, le socle 6 est réalisé en fibre de verre, la table en carbone ou en fibre de verre, la caisse et la colonne dans un mélange carbone/Kévlar et la console dans un mélange carbone, Kévlar et verre. L'ensemble de ces pièces est collé par des colles époxy ou polyester.All the parts of the harp according to the invention are made of composite materials chosen from the group comprising glass fibers, carbon, and a fiber consisting of polyparaphenyleneterephthalamide, known commercially under the name of Kévlar. Preferably, the base 6 is made of fiberglass, the carbon or fiberglass table, the body and the column in a carbon / Kevlar mixture and the console in a carbon, Kevlar and glass mixture. All of these parts are glued with epoxy or polyester glues.

Claims (10)

1. Harp, particularly a pedal harp or Celtic harp, comprising a neck (1), a pier (7), a pillar (5) joining said neck (1) to a soundboard (2), a body (3) provided with the soundboard (2) and a bridge (4), said body (3) being connected on the one hand to the pier (7) of said neck (1) by an upper sill (15) and on the other hand to a base (6) by a lower sill (25), characterized in that the neck (1) and the pier (7) are formed from the same piece, in the same way as the body (3) and the upper (15) and lower (25) sills, the soundboard (2) being moulded to the bridge (4) and provided with sound holes (20), whilst having another lower sill (16) which extends laterally, the pillar (4) being made in one piece and being connected by each of its ends to the neck (1) and to the second lower sill (16) respectively by an upper cone (10) and a lower cone (11), these various components of the harp being made from identical or different composite materials.
2. Harp according to claim 1, charaterized in that the upper (10) and lower (11) cones are independent and are respectively bonded to the neck (1) and the lower sill (16) and are fitted at each of the pillar (5) by means of cavities (50) provided on their small bases, the diameter of said cavities (50) corresponding to the external diameter of the pillar (5).
3. Harp according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper (10) and lower (11) cones are integrally moulded, first to the neck (1) and the second to the soundboard (2).
4. Harp according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two flanges (8) carrying the control mechanism for the sharps and naturals are detachably fixed beneath the neck (1), said flanges (8) having a shape substantially similar to that of the neck (1), whilst being thinner and in that the two flanges (8) are made from a composite material.
5. Harp according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the composite materials used are chosen from within the group constituted by carbon, Kevlar (registered trademark) and glass fibres.
6. Harp according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base (6) is made from glass fibres, the soundboard is made from amaterial chosen from among carbon and glass fibres, the body (3) and the pillar (5) are made from a carbon/Kevlar (registered trademark) mixture and the neck (1) is made from a mixture of carbon, glass and Kevlar (registered trademark).
7. Harp according to any one of the preceding claim, characterized in that the body (3) having a U-shaped cross-section is internally provided with at least one sound control spacer (40), which is positioned towards the opening of the U, perpendicular to the side walls of the body (3).
8. Harp according to claim 7, characterized in that the spacer (40) is constituted by a hollow cylinder (41) tapped at at least me of its ends and provided with a screw (42) engaging in the tapped portion and traversing an opening (48) provided in the side wall of the body (3).
9. Pedal harp according to any me of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pillar (5) is provided with a longitudinal recess (17) extending from one end to the other of said pillar, the layer cone(11) with a recess (18), the lower sill (16) with an opening (19), the upper face of the base (6) with an opening (21), the upper cone (10) with a recess (24) issuing on the one hand into the cavity (50) and on the other laterally in the direction of the neck (1) and in that one of the side walls of the base (5) is provided with at least me pedal passage opening (22).
10. "Action" free harp of the Celtic type according to any me of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the pillar (5), the upper cone (10) and the neck (1) are moulded from a single block of material.
EP88401960A 1987-07-31 1988-07-28 Harp of composite material Expired - Lifetime EP0301967B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8710900 1987-07-31
FR8710900A FR2618935B1 (en) 1987-07-31 1987-07-31 NEW HARP IN COMPOSITE MATERIAL

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EP0301967A1 EP0301967A1 (en) 1989-02-01
EP0301967B1 true EP0301967B1 (en) 1992-03-04

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EP (1) EP0301967B1 (en)
DE (1) DE3868759D1 (en)
FR (1) FR2618935B1 (en)

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2654859B1 (en) * 1989-11-17 1992-04-03 Budin Didier PROCESS FOR REINFORCING THE HARMONY TABLE OF A HARP, AND FOR PREVENTING THE BREAKING POINTS OF THIS TABLE.
DE29503455U1 (en) * 1995-03-01 1995-06-08 Spindler Wolfgang Prof Dr Spitz harp
US20110185877A1 (en) * 2009-07-17 2011-08-04 Sunny Ahn Stringed musical instrument
IT1401000B1 (en) * 2010-06-15 2013-07-05 N S M S P A IMPROVED HARMONIC CASE FOR AN ARPA AND PROCEDURE FOR ITS REALIZATION
US20140366704A1 (en) * 2013-06-13 2014-12-18 David Charles Woodworth Carbon fiber pedal harp

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US526630A (en) * 1894-09-25 Leopold lehman
US608058A (en) * 1898-07-26 Gustaye frantz lyon
US147689A (en) * 1874-02-17 Improvement in harps
US1501907A (en) * 1921-08-19 1924-07-22 Walter I Kirk Harp
US1637539A (en) * 1922-06-28 1927-08-02 Wurlitzer Co Harp damper
US1702643A (en) * 1927-05-28 1929-02-19 Robert W Claiborne Musical instrument
US1817951A (en) * 1929-08-05 1931-08-11 Emil O Starke Harp
US3427915A (en) * 1964-08-19 1969-02-18 Melvin Mooney Acoustic panels
FR2304976A1 (en) * 1975-03-20 1976-10-15 Le Bihan Pierre Miniature celtic harp sold in kit form - has 24 metallic strings spanning four octaves or three octaves and two additional notes
US4364990A (en) * 1975-03-31 1982-12-21 The University Of South Carolina Construction material for stringed musical instruments
JPS5990205A (en) * 1982-11-15 1984-05-24 Nitto Electric Ind Co Ltd Plate material for acoustic equipment
DE3333683A1 (en) * 1983-09-17 1985-04-04 Hans-Joachim 8451 Kümmersbruck Burger Harp with box frame and sounding board

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FR2618935B1 (en) 1989-11-24
FR2618935A1 (en) 1989-02-03
DE3868759D1 (en) 1992-04-09
US4919024A (en) 1990-04-24
EP0301967A1 (en) 1989-02-01

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