FR2793063A1 - Stringed musical instrument has arcuate frame with fret board, and sound box clamped adjustably to rear of frame - Google Patents

Abstract

The stringed musical instrument has an arcuate frame (1) with a fret board (6) and a sound box (2) which is movable longitudinally on the rear part of the frame using a clamping saddle (3). The clamp is movable fixed to the sound box and has an adjustable fixing using a tensioned strap.

Description

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STRINGED MUSIC INSTRUMENT

  The present invention relates to a stringed musical instrument

hereinafter referred to as Arc-Vièle.

  Such an instrument belongs to the category of stringed instruments. It is equipped with a play key that can be struck, rubbed or pinched, and a sound box associated or not with an amplifier device. The present invention aims to provide a new musical instrument that can be played solo or in concert, and adapted to a varied audience to

  different levels of musical learning.

  The instrument described in the present invention can be made of different sizes, and allows the game by a beginner audience. It can be combined with supports

  mobile and / or adjustable allowing play to an audience with reduced mobility, or others.

  To this end, the present invention provides an instrument of the musical arc type

  string equipped with a sound box and with a play key.

  The present invention more particularly relates to a stringed musical instrument composed of an arc with a playing key, characterized in that it is provided with a resonance box movable longitudinally on its rear part and secured to the arch by a tensing bridge, said bridge being movable integrally with the sounding board and comprising a fixing means

adjustable.

  According to a characteristic of the present invention, the adjustable fixing of the bridge consists of a link having the shape of a U whose lower part crosses the upper wall of the sound box in two piercings, the two branches of the U surrounding the arch from both sides and fixing on the easel in two

  distinct and symmetrical attachment points, at least one attachment being adjustable.

  The fixed attachment of the link on the bridge is constituted by a stop ring.

  The adjustable tie of the link on the easel is constituted by an adjustable ligature. According to another characteristic, the adjustable fixing of the bridge consists of a link comprising two rods located on either side of the arch, the lower part of each rod being threaded and respectively screwed into a nut fixed under a

  drilling in the upper wall of the sound box at two points.

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  According to another characteristic, the instrument further comprises a blocking system capable of fixing the position of the resonance box along the arc, said

  locking system that can be unlocked at any time.

  The blocking system consists of at least one screw passing through the arc and fixed to the upper wall of the sound box by a nut. The locking system consists of a loop strap passing through the

  side walls of the sound box and surrounding the arch.

  The bow is further provided with a dowel in its upper part and a device for attaching strings in its lower part, the lower device for attaching the strings being constituted by a lower nut comprising notches and receiving the or the strings attached directly to an axis located at the end

bottom of the arch.

  According to an alternative embodiment, the arc is further provided with a tailpiece.

  According to one characteristic, the vibrating lower part of the string (s), delimited by the bridge and the lower nut, is tuned harmonically with respect to the vibrating upper part, or the strings, delimited by the bridge and an upper nut located on the 'upper end of the playing key, this harmonic agreement being achieved by means of dowels housed in the dowel and / or by the

  longitudinal displacement of the sound box.

  According to another characteristic, the game button has a movable nut

  modifying the length of the upper vibrating part of the strings.

  The mobile nut consists of a tenon capo, the play button

  having perforations at predetermined points.

  According to another characteristic, the game key further comprises a

mobile hooping.

  According to another characteristic, the playing key has a fixed hooping.

  The instrument according to the invention has a size between the sixteenth

violin and octobass.

  According to another characteristic, the instrument can be placed on a support

mobile and / or adjustable.

  The instrument can also be placed on a horizontal support so

  to allow a zither-type musical game.

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  According to another characteristic, at least one microphone is placed on the resonance box and / or on the bridge and / or on the arch, said microphone being connected

to an amplifier system.

  The present invention will be better understood from the description which

  follows, given by way of illustrative and nonlimiting example, and made with reference to the drawings in which - Figure I schematically illustrates a front view of the bow-fiddle according to a first embodiment of the present invention - Figure 2 schematically illustrates a side view of the arc-fiddle according to a second embodiment of the present invention - FIGS. 3a and 3b are diagrams respectively in axial section and from the front of the lower attachment device for ropes with tailpiece - the figures 4a and 4b are diagrams respectively in axial and front section of the lower attachment device for strings without tailpiece; - Figure 5 is a diagram of the lower attachment device of the strings according to a particular embodiment of the instrument of the invention; - Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating the fixing of the tensioning bridge according to a first embodiment of the present invention; - Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating the fixing of the tensioning bridge according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Figuire 8 is a diagram illustrating the device for blocking the sound box along the arc - Figure 9 is a section of Figure 8 along the axis AB - Figures 10a and 10Ob are diagrams respectively of profile and from the front illustrating a mobile hooping on the play key - FIG. 11 is a detailed diagram of a mobile capo with studs; - Figures 12a and 12b are diagrams illustrating views, respectively in cross section and from the front, of the contact surfaces between the sounding board and the arc, in the case of a concave arc - Figures 13a and 13b are diagrams illustrating views, respectively in cross section and from the front, of the contact surfaces between the sound box and the arc, in the case of a convex arc

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  Referring to FIG. 1, the musical instrument according to the invention comprises an arc 1 provided with a playing key 6, a resonance box 2, a

  tensor bridge 3 and one or more strings 5.

  In the following description, we will always refer to several strings,

  but the same description nevertheless applies to an arc-fiddle provided with a single

  rope. Arc 1 is made up of a monobloc element or assembled elements, made of solid or composite wood, or any other material. It includes a solid or hollow peg 10 in its upper part, and a device 12 for attaching the strings 5 in its lower part. The arc I also includes, on its upper part, a contoured playing key 6 and a handle or a handle which facilitate the playing and the holding of the instrument. The game key 6 is advantageously provided

  a nut 7 fixed on its upper end.

  The strings 5 are fixed to the fastening device 12 of the lower part of the bow 1 and are stretched using ankles 15 housed in the peg 10 located on the upper end of the bow 1. According to the embodiments, the dowels can be simple in cylindrical or frustoconical shape. They can

  also be geared down to facilitate tuning.

  The fixed nut 7 delimits the vibrating upper part of the strings 5.

  According to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the device 12 for attaching the strings 5 to the lower part of the arc 1 is associated with a tailpiece 13 fixed to the lower end of the arc I and delimiting the part vibrating lower part of the strings 5. This embodiment makes it easy to arrange ball or

trade loops.

  According to another embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 2, the strings 5 are

  attached to the lower part of the arc I without tailpiece, directly on an axis 12.

  The vibrating lower part of the strings 5 is delimited by a lower nut

  1 1 comprising notches receiving the strings 5.

  The sound box 2 is located at the rear of the arc 1 and has one or more

  several partial openings, towards the rear and / or towards the front and / or on the ribs.

  According to the embodiments, the sound box 2 can have a

shape and variable size.

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  The resonance box 2 is secured to the arc 1 by a tensor bridge 3, the arc assembly 1- resonator 2- strings 5 being maintained by the tension of the strings 5

crossing the easel 3.

  According to a feature of the present invention, the bridge 3 brings the strings 5 towards the sound box 2, the force vector of the pressure of the bridge 3

  on the body 2 being oriented from the inside to the outside of the body.

  Each string 5 thus has a vibrating upper part delimited by the upper nut 7 and the bridge 3, and a vibrating lower part delimited by the tensioning bridge 3 and the lower nut 11 or the tailpiece 13, the upper part

  vibrating with play key 6.

  According to a characteristic of the present invention, the sound box 2

  is movable longitudinally along the arc 1.

  This feature of the invention makes it possible to harmonize the lower part

  vibrating strings with the upper part.

  When the arc 1 has a tailpiece 13, the longitudinal displacement of the

box 2 is possible but limited.

  In the case where the bow I does not have a tailpiece 13, the strings 5 are fixed on the lower axis 12 and are guided by the lower nut I 1, the vibrating lower part of the strings 5 is harmoniously tuned with the upper part vibrating strings. The tuning can advantageously be carried out using the dowels 15 housed in the dowel 10 of the arc I and / or by displacement

  longitudinal of the sound box 2 along the arc 1.

  Figures 3a and 3b schematically illustrate a first variant of the

  lower string attachment device 5.

  The strings 5 are fixed on the lower part of the arc I on the tailpiece 13.

  A tailpiece nut 131 defines the vibrating part of the strings 5, and a fastener

  tailpiece 132 allows the tailpiece 13 to be fixed at the bottom of the arc on the axis 12.

  Figures 4a and 4b schematically illustrate a second variant of the

  lower string attachment device 5.

  The strings 5 are directly received by the lower nut 1 1 which delimits their vibrating part and they are fixed on the axis 12 FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a third variant of the device

lower rope attachment 5.

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  In this variant, the arch has a cleaved end so as to receive a chin strap in order to allow play similar to that of the violin by

example.

  The strings 5 are directly fixed to the tailpiece 13 which is itself fixed to the bottom of the arc I on a button 121 by means of a tailpiece attachment 132. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the fixing of the tensioning bridge according to a

  first embodiment of the present invention.

  The bridge 3 is a thin piece which brings the strings stretched towards the resonance box 2. Perforations 31 or notches 32 are arranged in the thickness of the bridge 3 in order to allow the positioning of the strings to

determined intervals.

  The bridge 3 used furthermore has a blocking system allowing the height of the strings to be adjusted and ensuring the retention of the bow - resonator - strings assembly. Such a system is constituted by a rigid or flexible link 4. Link 4 can

  be made, for example, of hose, or synthetic fiber, or metal wire.

  According to this first embodiment, the link 4 has the shape of a U. The lower part of the U crosses the upper wall of the sound box 2 in two holes 9 symmetrical with respect to the axis of the arc 1, then the two branches of the U surround the arc 1 on either side and are fixed on the easel 3 at two distinct and symmetrical attachment points 40, 41. Thus, the bridge 3 is completely integral with the sound box 2 and moves with the latter along

the arc 1.

  According to a characteristic of the present invention, at least one fastener is adjustable. The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6 comprises a fixed fastener 41 constituted by a stop ring for example, and an adjustable fastener 40

  constituted by an adjustable ligature for example.

  During the longitudinal displacement of the sound box 2 along the arc 1, the bridge 3 is loosened and / or the tension of the strings 5 is reduced using

ankles 15.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the fixing of the tensor bridge according to a

  second embodiment of the present invention.

  According to this embodiment, the link 4 is preferably composed of two threaded rods 42 on their lower end. Fixed nuts 43 are placed

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  inside the sound box 2 below the perforations 9 in order to allow the screwing of the rods 4 from above so as to adjust the height of the

  bridge 3 above the sound box 2.

  Each rod 4 has at its upper end a head or a stop ring 41 as a means of fixing to the easel 3. According to a particular embodiment of the bow-fiddle, illustrated by FIG. 8, a blocking system allows to fix the position of the sound box 2 the

along the arc 1.

  This system is constituted, for example, by one or more screws 19 screwed through the arc 1 and fixed in nuts 20 located in the body 2. In the case of an elongated instrument, the locking system is constituted , for example,

  a strap 21 passing through the body 2 and surrounding the arch 1.

  Figure 9 is a section of Figure 8 along the axis AB. The strap 21 crosses the side walls of the body 2 to surround the arch 1. A system of

  conventional fixing such as a loop 22 makes it possible to fix the strap 21.

  Whatever the locking system used to freeze the position of the body 2 along the arc 1, it is reversible, the screws 19 can be unscrewed and the loop 22 of the strap 21 can be opened. Box 2 can always be moved to be repositioned differently. This blocking system simply allows

  find a preferred position of the body 2 on the arc 1.

  According to the embodiments and the uses of the desired instrument, the playing key 6 can be profiled with or without hooping 8, the latter being able to be fixed or mobile. The play button can also be fitted with a tenon capo

18.

  Figures lOa and lOb schematically illustrate an arc-fiddle, respectively in profile and in front, whose playing key is provided with hooping 8

  mobile and a tenon capo.

  The movable hoop 8 is fixed on the play key 6, below the strings 5,

  so as to serve as a benchmark during the game.

  The tenon capo 18 is fixed on the play key 6 and plucks the strings 5

  so as to shorten their upper vibrating part.

  8g 2793063 Figure 11 schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of

  the arc-fiddle equipped with a tenon capo.

  Within the framework of group harmony, a capo 18 can act as a mobile adjustment in order to define different pitches of sound. The playing key 6 is then perforated at several predetermined points 181 and receives a capo 18 with stud 182 at one of these points 181 after harmonic agreement of the instrument with the whole group. A capo 18 can thus be placed on different instruments at different points of the playing key 6 so as to obtain a

  group harmony exploiting extra-European or other ranges.

  Figures 12a, 12b and 13a, 13b illustrate the contact surfaces between the arc

1 and the sound box 2.

  In the case of a concave arch, FIGS. 12a and 12b, the sound box 2 has a longitudinal projecting profile 16 capable of cooperating with the arc 1, the two holes 9 for the passage of the bridge attachment link being located leave and

on the other side of this projection 16.

  This projection 16 can extend over all or part of the length of the body

  2, depending on the length of the arch 1 and the shape of the body 2.

  In the case of a convex arc, figs 13a and 13b, the sound box 2 has a longitudinal groove 17 extending over its entire length and able to cooperate with the arc 1, the two piercings 9 for the passage of the link fixing the

  easel being located on either side of this groove 17.

  In some instrument cases, the contact surface may be flat and

surrounded by two guide rails.

  In the case of small instruments, the contact surface can be

flat and without guide.

  The fiddle bow according to the present invention is subject, during its manufacture, to a dynamometric calibration so as to adjust the parameters of string tension and elasticity of the bow. It is also the subject of the following series of agreements. A first chord, called "cordophonic", establishes a first relationship between the frequency of the strings and the frequency of the air volume of the sound box.

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  A second chord, called "idiophonic", establishes a second relationship between

  the intrinsic frequency of the mass of the instrument and the frequency of the strings.

  A third agreement, called "aerophonic", establishes a third relationship between

  the air volume of the sound box and the area of the box openings.

  These agreements advantageously make it possible to obtain an arc-fiddle in accordance with the present invention having different arc lengths and different shapes of

soundboard.

  The arc-fiddle according to the present invention also allows different types of

musical games.

  A first game, called classic, obtained by a fingering identical to that of the violin, for example, and played with a bow. The instrument then comprises from one to

  five strings and has a fretted playing touch, or without fret and with tailpiece.

  A second game, called non-classical, is obtained with a two-string assembly with fixed sounds, and played firappé, rubbed or pinched. The instrument then includes a fretted or not fretboard play key, with or without tailpiece, and with or without a nut

  upper mobile modifying the length of the vibrating strings.

  According to a variant, the arc-fiddle according to the invention further comprises

sympathetic strings.

  According to an alternative embodiment of the arc-fiddle, the latter can receive a spike 25 fixed on the lower end of the arc 1. This spike is illustrated in

dashed in Figure 2.

  According to another variant, not illustrated, the arc-fiddle can be placed on an adjustable mobile support, for example, a horizontal supLpor-t allowing a

  disabled person playing arc-fiddle like a zither.

  The arc-fiddle according to the present invention can be produced in different sizes, depending on professional, educational, or musical applications

  desired. These sizes can range from the sixteenth of the violin to the October.

  The table below illustrates the possible tuning of the different instruments adjusted with two octave strings, the reference being the DO of the temperate range

LA 440H2

  o 2793063 Arco Violin octave note instrument 523.25112 261.63 F12 Arco Viola 261.63 12 130.8 H2 Arco Cello 130.8 [2 65.41 H2 Arco Bass 65.41 112 32.70 [H2 According to an alternative embodiment of the arc-fiddle according to the present invention, at least one microphone is placed on the sound box 2 and / or on the bridge 3 and / or on the arc 1 for taking an electrostatic, piezoelectric, or electromagnetic sound.

Claims (19)

  1. Stringed musical instrument composed of an arc (1) provided with a playing key (6), characterized in that it is provided with a resonance box (2) movable longitudinally on its rear part and secured to the arc (1) by a tensor bridge (3), said bridge (3) being movable integrally with the sound box (2) and comprising an adjustable fixing means. 2. Instrument according to claim 1, characterized in that the adjustable fixing of the bridge (3) consists of a link (4) having the shape of a U, the lower part of which crosses the upper wall of the sound box (2) in two holes (9), the two branches of the U surrounding the arch (I) on either side and attaching to the bridge (3) at two distinct and symmetrical attachment points (40, 41),   at least one clip (40) being adjustable.   3. Instrument according to claim 2, characterized in that the attachment   adjustable (40) of the link (4) on the easel (3) is constituted by an adjustable ligature.   4. Instrument according to claim 2, characterized in that the fixed fastener   (41) of the link (4) on the bridge (3) is constituted by a stop ring.   5. Instrument according to claim 1, characterized in that the adjustable fixing of the bridge (3) consists of a link (4) comprising two rods located on either side of the arch (1), the lower part of each rod being threaded (42) and respectively screwed into a nut (43) fixed under a bore (9) made in the   upper wall of the sound box (2).   6. Instrumenlt according to any urn of the preceding claims,   characterized in that it further comprises a blocking system capable of fixing the position of the resonance box (2) along the arc (1), said blocking system   can be unlocked at any time. 12 2793063   7. Instrument according to claim 6, characterized in that the blocking system consists of at least one screw (19) passing through the arc (1) and fixed on the   upper wall of the resonance chamber (2) by a nut (20).   8. Instrument according to claim 6, characterized in that the blocking system consists of a strap (21) with loop (22) passing through the side walls of the resonance box (2) and surrounding the arch (1)   9. Instrument according to any one of the preceding claims, the arc   (1) being further provided with a dowel (10) in its upper part and a fastening device (12) of ropes (5) in its lower part, characterized in that the lower fastening device ( 12) strings (5) is constituted by a lower nut (11) comprising notches and receiving the strings attached (5)   directly on an axis (12) located at the lower end of the arch (1).   10. Instrument according to claim 9, characterized in that it is further provided with a tailpiece (13) 11. Instrument according to claim 9, characterized in that the vibrating lower part of the string (s) (5), delimited by the bridge (3) and the lower nut (11), is granted harmonically with respect to the vibrating upper part of the string (s) (5), delimited by the bridge (3) and an upper nut (7) located on the upper end of the playing key (6), this harmonic agreement being achieved by means of dowels (15) housed in the pin (10) and / or by the   longitudinal displacement of the sound box (2).   12. Instrument according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized   in that the play key (6) is provided with a movable nut.   13. Instrument according to claim 12, characterized in that the movable nut is constituted by a capo (18) with stud (82), the play key (6)   having perforations (81) at predetermined points.   14. Instrument according to one of claims 12 or 13, characterized in that   the play key (6) further comprises a movable hoop (8).   15. Instrument according to any one of claims I to 11, characterized   in that the play key (6) has a fixed hoop (8).   16. Instrument according to any one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that it has a size between the sixteenth of the violin and The octobass.   17. Instrument according to any one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that it can be placed on a mobile and / or adjustable support.   18. Instrument according to any one of claims I to 16, characterized   in that it can be placed on a horizontal support so as to allow play zither type.   19. Instrument according to any one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that at least one microphone is placed on the sound box (2) and / or on the bridge (3) and / or on the arch (1), said microphone being connected to a amplifier system.