EP4515523A1

EP4515523A1 - Saxophone

Info

Publication number: EP4515523A1
Application number: EP23739382.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Maciej Zielinski
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2022-04-27
Filing date: 2023-04-27
Publication date: 2025-03-05
Anticipated expiration: 2043-04-27
Also published as: PL441044A1; EP4515523B1; WO2023211297A1; PL246496B1

Abstract

In the lying position, on the side part of the upper body (1), the uppermost part of the surface of the second button (2), constituting the end of the second lever of the "c" flap is located at the height X ranging from 1.5 to 3 mm, and preferably 2 mm, measured from the uppermost part of the surface of the first button (3), which runs parallel to the horizontal planeconstituting the end of the first lever of the high "e" flap. The uppermost part of the surface of the third button (4), constituting the end of the third lever of the "b" flap is located at the height Y ranging from 12 to 14 mm, and preferably 13 mm, measured from the uppermost part of the surface of the first button (3), which runs parallel to the horizontal plane, constituting the end of the first lever of the high "e" flap. In the lying position, on the side part of the upper body (1), the uppermost part of the surface of the forth button (5), constituting the end of the forth lever of the high"f sharp" flap is located at the height Z ranging from 14 to 16 mm, and preferably 15 mm, measured from the uppermost part of the surface of the first button (3), which runs parallel to the horizontal plane, constituting the end of the first lever of the high "e" flap. The uppermost part of the surface of the fifth button (6), constituting the end of the fifth lever of the "f sharp" chromatic flap is located at the height V ranging from 16 to 18 mm, and preferably 17 mm, measured from the uppermost part of the surface of the first button (3), which runs parallel to the horizontal plane, constituting the end of the first lever of the high "e" flap.

Description

Saxophone

The subject of the invention is a saxophone belonging to the group of woodwind instruments where the length of the pulsating air column and the number of segments into which the pulsating air column is divided can be changed by opening the side holes; the control of the side holes is by a key mechanism, and the present invention aims to improve the fingering mechanism of the saxophone.

International patent application number WO2014016499A1 discloses a saxophone consisting of a saxophone body and an octave control mechanism comprising a spatula and a hinge rod which is attached to a lifting system. Said spatula is movable between the first position and the second position. The spatula is mounted on a fixed support integral with the saxophone body where the saxophone has a lever integrated with the hinge rod. The movement of the blade causes said lever to move between the spatula and the lever, and the stationary support forms the thumb bump. The movement of the blade is a rotational movement around an axis of articulation substantially parallel to the surface of the saxophone body and/or to the axis of the hinge rod. The center of the fixed support is located between the spatula and its hinge axis. The lever comprises a portion in direct contact with the blade, said part forming a shaft rotatably mounted on said lever and means for adjusting the amplitude of its displacement generated by the displacement of the spatula between said first and second positions. The fixed support is arranged to allow adjustment of the position of the spatula relative to the saxophone body, such as angular adjustment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the saxophone includes adjustment locking means shaped to prevent any modification of blade adjustment. The fixed spatula support has a fixed base integral with the saxophone body, a removable support portion adapted to support the spatula between its first and second positions, and means for securing the removable supporting part to the fixed base. The fixed base and the removable supporting part are arranged to allow angular adjustment movement of the removable supporting part relative to the fixed base about an axis substantially perpendicular to the surface of the saxophone body to which the fixed support is attached. The fixed base and the removable supporting part are arranged in such a way that the angular displacement of the movable supporting part relative to the fixed base is limited, in particular by a system of groove and protrusion formed on the surfaces in contact with the fixed base and the removable supporting part.

From the application description of the invention published by the US Patent Office under the number US4453445A, known is a saxophone that has a body" and a bell and a left C-sharp key connected by a first connection for actuation of a low-register C- sharp valve, consisting of a combination of: a right C-sharp key with a pivot allowing rotational movements on said body; a second connection connecting said right C-sharp key and the lower register valve C-sharp ; and said C-sharp low register valve is actuated alternatively by said first or second connection by actuation of said left or right C-sharp down keys, respectively. Said second connection is connected to said first connection to actuate said C-sharp valve. Said second connection comprises a connector extending around a portion of the periphery of said body, said connector extending between a lever operated by said additional key and a lever connected to said left C- sharp key. On the saxophone, a new key for playing the C-sharp note with the right hand in the lower register, which is adjacent to the lower end of the saxophone body, so you can play the C-sharp bass with either the little finger of the left hand or the little finger of the right hand. Said extra key is set to be actuated by the player’s right hand.

The object of the invention is to enable and facilitate playing the saxophone, especially in the high register.

It is also the object of the invention to improve the saxophone key mechanism by ensuring the stability of the key adjustments and/or allowing the keys to be operated correctly, respectively.

The object of the invention is also to increase the ergonomics when using the saxophone, and especially when operating the keys.

The essence of the construction of the saxophone, which according to the invention comprises a hollow body in the form of an open tube, the end of the upper part of which is crowned by the mouthpiece and the end of the lower part by the bell, the upper part having a set of holes for the high tones and the lower part having a set of holes for the low tones in addition, mechanisms for changing the position of the closing flaps are mounted on the body, connected to the flaps closing the upper tone openings and the lower tone openings, characterized in that in the lying position, the side upper part of the body, the uppermost part of the surface of the second button, which is the end of the lever of the second flap "c", is located at a height X ranging from 1.5 to 3 mm, and preferably 2 mm, measured from the uppermost part of the surface of the first button, which is the end of the first lever of the flap of the high "e", passing parallel to the horizontal plane, while the uppermost fragment of the surface of the third button, constituting the end of the lever of the third flap "b", is located at the height Y in the range of 12 to 14 mm, and preferably 13 mm, measured from the uppermost fragment of the surface of the first button, which runs parallel to the horizontal plane which is the end of the lever of the first high "e" flap. According to another, advantageous feature of the invention, in the lying position, on the side part of the upper body, the uppermost part of the surface of the fourth button, constituting the end of the lever of the fourth flap of the high "f sharp", is located at the height Z ranging from 14 to 16 mm, and preferably 15 mm , measured from the uppermost part of the surface of the first button, which runs parallel to the horizontal plane, constituting the end of the first lever of the high "e" flap. According to another, advantageous feature of the invention, the uppermost part of the surface of the fifth button, constituting the end of the lever of the fifth flap of the "f sharp" chromatic, is located at the height V ranging from 16 to 18 mm, and preferably 17 mm , measured from the uppermost part of the surface of the first button, which runs parallel to the horizontal plane, constituting the end of the first lever of the high "e" flap. According to the next, advantageous feature of the invention, in the horizontal plane, a fragment of the side of the fourth button, located on the side of the fifth button, is tilted outwards from its remaining part in the direction determined by the course of the side edges of the first button, the second button and the third button.

The advantageous effect of the invention is to improve the key mechanism of the saxophone, guaranteeing the durability of key adjustment. Another advantageous effect of the invention is the ability to "create sounds" of different frequencies with a single grip in the range of "floating tones". An unexpected effect of using the invention is the possibility of repetitively emitting - performing sounds in previously unattainable scales. Another beneficial effect of the invention is the increase in ergonomics while using the saxophone, and especially when operating the keys, which will significantly facilitate musicians performing difficult parts related to the emission of high register sounds. The solutions constituting the essence of the invention are related to the position of the flap buttons operated by the saxophonist's right hand. By changing the position of the flap buttons, the fingers come closer to the mechanism of the instrument, and the performer feels the effect of close contact between the hand and the instrument. The biggest changes occur in the functioning of the 3rd and 4th fingers of the right hand. The invention makes it possible to operate the flap buttons with different finger members. Such a solution exists in the left hand, where the 2nd finger operates the flap buttons "h", "d" and "dis". Raising the key of the key "f sharp" chromaticallows you to play this note with the second finger joint. As a result, the finger does not lose contact with the "d" button and at the same time approaches the "f sharp" chromatic button. Even greater changes are related to the functioning of the third finger. Raising the key of the high “f sharp” and “b” key allows you to play the notes “e”, “b”, and high “f sharp” with the same finger. The third finger operates the "e" button with the first member, the "f sharp" high button with the second member, and the "b" button with the third finger. An exceptionally advantageous effect of using the solution according to the invention is the ability to play grips that require the simultaneous use of the "b" and "f sharp" buttons with one finger and that the finger does not lose contact with the "e" button to which it is assigned. The introduced changes cause that the second finger supports only two flap buttons - high "e" and "c". The flap buttons "b" and "c" are operated with different fingers - which eliminates the sliding effect of the second finger and improves the technique of playing the instrument. Such solutions make it easier to overcome technical difficulties in playing the instrument. They give a sense of greater comfort in playing and enable the production of sounds beyond the previously known saxophone scale. Thanks to the introduced solutions according to the invention, it has become possible to introduce modular sounds significantly enlarging the scale of the instrument. They require the simultaneous use of several flap buttons with one finger.

The subject of the invention is explained in more details using exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is an axonometric view of the saxophone from its right side, Fig. 2 is a schematic view of the arrangement of buttons on the right side of the saxophone on a vertical plane, and Fig. 3 is a schematic view of the arrangement of buttons on the right side of the saxophone on the horizontal plane. In the embodiment of the saxophone according to the invention, most of the well-known, conventional parts of saxophones are intentionally omitted, and the description thereof has also been omitted. The above procedure was used in order not to obscure the essence of the solution contained in the construction of the present invention. These well-known and conventional parts may take any of the many possible forms that will cooperate with the new, essential features of the invention to make physically a saxophone according to the embodiment disclosed below.

Embodiment

The saxophone, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, comprises a hollow body 1 in the form of an open tube, the end of the upper part of which is crowned with the mouthpiece la and the end of the lower part is crowned with the bell lb. The upper part of the body 1 has a set of holes for high tones, and the lower part of the body 1 has a set of holes for low tones. On the body of the body 1 there are mechanisms for changing the position of the closing flaps connected to the flaps closing the upper tone holes and the lower tone holes . In the lying position, on the side part of the upper body 1, the uppermost part of the surface of the second button 2, constituting the end of the lever of the second flap of the high "f sharp", is located at the height X of 2 mm , measured from the uppermost part of the surface of the first button 3, which runs parallel to the horizontal plane, constituting the end of the first lever of the "e" flap. In the lying position, on the side part of the upper body 1, the uppermost part of the surface of the third button 4, constituting the end of the third lever connected with the "b" flap, is located at the height Y of 13 mm , measured from the uppermost part of the surface of the first button 3, which runs parallel to the horizontal plane, constituting the end of the first lever of the "e" flap. In the lying position, on the side part of the upper body 1, the uppermost part of the surface of the forth button 5, constituting the end of the fourth lever connected with high "f sharp" flap, is located at the height Z of 15 mm , measured from the uppermost part of the surface of the first button 3, which runs parallel to the horizontal plane, constituting the end of the first lever of the high "e" flap. In the lying position, on the side part of the upper body 1, the uppermost part of the surface of the fifth button 6, constituting the end of the fifth lever connected with "f sharp" chromatic flap, is located at the height V of 17 mm , measured from the uppermost part of the surface of the first button 3, which runs parallel to the horizontal plane, constituting the end of the first lever of the high "e" flap. In the horizontal plane, located on the side of the fifth button 6, a fragment of the side of the fourth button 5 is tilted outwards from its remaining part in the direction determined by the course of the side edges of the second button 2, the first button 3 and the third button 4. The location of the fragment of the surface of the third button 4 enables operating the "b” flap with the third member of the 3rd finger of the right hand. As a result, the notes "b" and "c" are played with different fingers of the right hand. The location of a fragment of the surface of the fourth button 5, constituting the end of the fourth lever connected to the high "f sharp" flap, makes it possible to perform many modular sounds requiring the simultaneous pressing of the second button 2 with the index finger of the right hand, constituting the end of the second lever connected to the "c" flap, and the surface of the fourth button 5. The location of the surface of the fourth button 5 makes it possible to operate the high "f sharp" flap with the fourth finger of the right hand without having to bend the finger, which facilitates the chromatic progressions of the sounds performed. The above-mentioned, mutual arrangement of the surface fragments of the buttons makes it easier to overcome technical difficulties that appear when playing the high register of the saxophone according to the compositions fixed in the existing literature written for the saxophone. A fragment of the surface of the second button 2, the uppermost part of the surface of the first button 3, the uppermost part of the surface of the third button 4, the uppermost part of the surface of the fourth button 5 and the uppermost part of the surface of the fifth button 6 run along a curve line constituting a smooth connection of arcs with different lengths of the rays.

Claims

Patent claims

1. A saxophone which comprises a hollow body in the form of an open tube, the end of the upper part of which is crowned by the mouthpiece and the end of the lower part by the bell, the upper part having a set of holes for the treble tones and the lower part having a set of holes for the low tones in addition, mechanisms for changing the position of the closing flaps are mounted on the body, connected to the flaps closing the upper tone openings and the lower tone openings, characterized in that in the lying position, the side upper part of the body (1) , the uppermost part of the surface of the second button (2), which is the end of the lever of the second flap "c", is located at a height X ranging from 1.5 to 3 mm, and preferably 2 mm, measured from the uppermost part of the surface of the first button (3), which is the end of the lever of the first flap of the high "e", passing parallel to the horizontal plane, while the uppermost fragment of the surface of the third button (4), constituting the end of the lever of the third flap "b", is located at the height Y in the range of 12 to 14 mm, and preferably 13 mm, measured from the uppermost fragment of the surface of the first button (3), which runs parallel to the horizontal plane which is the end of the lever of the first high "e" flap.

2. The saxophone according to claim 1 characterized in that in the lying position, on the side part of the upper body (1), the uppermost part of the surface of the forth button (5), constituting the end of the forth lever of the high “f sharp” flap is located at the height Z ranging from 14 to 16 mm, and preferably 15 mm , measured from the uppermost part of the surface of the first button (3), which runs parallel to the horizontal plane, constituting the end of the first lever of the high "e" flap.

3. The saxophone according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the uppermost part of the surface of the fifth button (6), constituting the end of the fifth lever of the “f sahrp” chromatic flap is located at the height V ranging from 16 to 18 mm, and preferably 17 mm , measured from the uppermost part of the surface of the first button (3), which runs parallel to the horizontal plane, constituting the end of the first lever of the high "e" flap.

4. The saxophone according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in the horizontal plane, a fragment of the side of the fourth button (5), located on the side of the fifth button (6) , is tilted outwards from its remaining part in the direction determined by the course of the side edges of the first button (3), the second button (2) and the third button (4).