GB2113446A

GB2113446A - Mouthpiece for bagpipes

Info

Publication number: GB2113446A
Application number: GB08200921A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sir Patrick Alexander Be Grant
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-01-13
Filing date: 1982-01-13
Publication date: 1983-08-03

Abstract

A mouthpiece for attachment to a bagpipe blow stick, has an air passage therethrough and a flap valve in said passage moveable to permit the passage of blown air through said air passage in one direction only. The mouthpiece is in two separable parts 10, 11 which locate the flap valve 18 there between. One of said parts 11 permits movement of the flap 21 of the valve 18 there into on pressure from blown air and the other part 10 has an abutment 15 to restrict movement of the flap in the opposite direction. The flap valve 18 comprises a ring portion 20 for securement between the parts of the mouthpiece body and a disc-like flap member 21 located within the ring portion and attached thereto over a short arcuate length or neck 22. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Mouthpiece for bagpipes This invention relates to a mouthpiece for bagpipies.

It is known to provide mouthpieces which are separable from the blow stick by which air is blown into the bag of a set of bagpipes. It is also known to incorporate a non-return valve in a mouthpiece rather than inthe blow stick.

The non-return valve used in the known mouthpiece is a ball and chamber and it has several disadvantages such as the noise created by movement of the ball, and the effort required to blow air past the ball; also the diameter of the mouthpiece is necessarily restricted to accommodate the ball.

An object of the present invention is to obviate or mitigate the aforesaid disadvantages.

According to the present invention there is provided a mouthpiece for attachment of a bagpipe blow stick, said mouthpiece having an air passage therethrough and a flap valve in said passage moveable to permit the passage of blown air through said air passage in one direction only.

Preferably, the mouthpiece comprises a body formed in two separable parts, connectable together axially and which locate the flap valve there between, one of said parts permitting movement of the flap of the valve there into on pressure from blown air and the other part having an abutment to restrict movement of the flap in the opposite direction.

Preferably the flap valve comprises a ring portion for securement between the parts of the mouthpiece body and a disc-like flap member located within the ring portion and attached thereto over a short arcuate length or neck.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a mouthpiece for bagpipes, showing its two parts separated; and, Figure 2 is a plan view of a flap valve for location within the mouthpiece.

The mouthpiece body is made of synthetic plastics or other suitable material and consists of two parts namely a tubular stem 10 into one end of which the piper blows, and a barrel or sleeve 11 which has internally threaded ends, one (12) for connection axially to the stem and the other (13) for connection axially to the blow stick, (not shown) of a set of bagpipes. Thus one end of the stem has external threading at 14, said end having an annular end face 15 surrounding the opening of the tubular passage 16 in the stem.

The sleeve 11 includes an internal shelf 17 onto which is located a non-return valve 18, and when the stem 10 is screwed into full engagement with the sleeve 11, the end face 15 of the stem abuts the valve 18 to secure it in position and also to prevent it opening into the stem.

The valve 18 is formed of soft rubber or synthetic rubber or suitable plastics material and consists of a ring portion 20 and a disc like part 21 located within the ring portion and joined thereto over a short arcuate length, or 'neck' 22.

When the valve 18 is in position within the mouthpiece body, the disc 21 lies across the tubular passage 16 but is freely deflectable into the sleeve 11 when air is blown into the stem. However, the end face 15 of the stem prevents deflection of the disc 21 into the stem because the diameter of the air passage 16 is less than that of the disc 21.

Advantages of the mouthpiece as hereinbefore described are that its operation is silent and no additional effort is required to operate the valve.

Thus, it is easier to blow through the mouthpiece of the invention (relative to the mouthpiece having a ball and chamber valve) and, being easier, can also be more controlled.

In addition, the diameter of the air passage in the mouthpiece can be greater than that in the ball-andchamber mouthpiece.

CLAIMS (Filed on 14/12/82) 1. A mouthpiece for attachment to a bagpipe blow stick, said mouthpiece having an air passage therethrough and a flap valve in said passage moveableto permitthe passage of blown air through said air passage in one direction only.

2. A mouthpiece as claimed in claim 1 comprising a body formed in two separable parts, connectable together axially and which locate the flap valve there between, one of said parts permitting movement of the flap of the valve there into on pressure from blown air and the other part having an abutment to restrict movement of the flap in the opposite direction.

3. A mouthpiece as claimed in claim 2, in which the flap valve comprises a ring portion for securement between the parts of the mouthpiece body and a disc-like flap member located within the ring portion and attached thereto over a short arcuate length of neck.

4. A mouthpiece for attachment to a bagpipe blow stick substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Mouthpiece for bagpipes This invention relates to a mouthpiece for bagpipies. It is known to provide mouthpieces which are separable from the blow stick by which air is blown into the bag of a set of bagpipes. It is also known to incorporate a non-return valve in a mouthpiece rather than inthe blow stick. The non-return valve used in the known mouthpiece is a ball and chamber and it has several disadvantages such as the noise created by movement of the ball, and the effort required to blow air past the ball; also the diameter of the mouthpiece is necessarily restricted to accommodate the ball. An object of the present invention is to obviate or mitigate the aforesaid disadvantages. According to the present invention there is provided a mouthpiece for attachment of a bagpipe blow stick, said mouthpiece having an air passage therethrough and a flap valve in said passage moveable to permit the passage of blown air through said air passage in one direction only. Preferably, the mouthpiece comprises a body formed in two separable parts, connectable together axially and which locate the flap valve there between, one of said parts permitting movement of the flap of the valve there into on pressure from blown air and the other part having an abutment to restrict movement of the flap in the opposite direction. Preferably the flap valve comprises a ring portion for securement between the parts of the mouthpiece body and a disc-like flap member located within the ring portion and attached thereto over a short arcuate length or neck. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a mouthpiece for bagpipes, showing its two parts separated; and, Figure 2 is a plan view of a flap valve for location within the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece body is made of synthetic plastics or other suitable material and consists of two parts namely a tubular stem 10 into one end of which the piper blows, and a barrel or sleeve 11 which has internally threaded ends, one (12) for connection axially to the stem and the other (13) for connection axially to the blow stick, (not shown) of a set of bagpipes. Thus one end of the stem has external threading at 14, said end having an annular end face 15 surrounding the opening of the tubular passage 16 in the stem. The sleeve 11 includes an internal shelf 17 onto which is located a non-return valve 18, and when the stem 10 is screwed into full engagement with the sleeve 11, the end face 15 of the stem abuts the valve 18 to secure it in position and also to prevent it opening into the stem. The valve 18 is formed of soft rubber or synthetic rubber or suitable plastics material and consists of a ring portion 20 and a disc like part 21 located within the ring portion and joined thereto over a short arcuate length, or 'neck' 22. When the valve 18 is in position within the mouthpiece body, the disc 21 lies across the tubular passage 16 but is freely deflectable into the sleeve 11 when air is blown into the stem. However, the end face 15 of the stem prevents deflection of the disc 21 into the stem because the diameter of the air passage 16 is less than that of the disc 21. Advantages of the mouthpiece as hereinbefore described are that its operation is silent and no additional effort is required to operate the valve. Thus, it is easier to blow through the mouthpiece of the invention (relative to the mouthpiece having a ball and chamber valve) and, being easier, can also be more controlled. In addition, the diameter of the air passage in the mouthpiece can be greater than that in the ball-andchamber mouthpiece. CLAIMS (Filed on 14/12/82)

1. A mouthpiece for attachment to a bagpipe blow stick, said mouthpiece having an air passage therethrough and a flap valve in said passage moveableto permitthe passage of blown air through said air passage in one direction only.