GB2453960A

GB2453960A - A Ligature for a Single Reed Musical Instrument

Info

Publication number: GB2453960A
Application number: GB0720752A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alfred Poole Smith; Nigel Smith; Tom Evans
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-10-24
Filing date: 2007-10-24
Publication date: 2009-04-29
Anticipated expiration: 2027-10-24
Also published as: GB2453960B; GB0720752D0

Abstract

A ligature (fig.1, 1) for a musical wind instrument is of unitary construction and has at least one recess (fig.4, 4) to accommodate the reed (fig.1, 2). When firmly pushed onto the mouthpiece (fig.1, 3) the ligature retains its position by means of friction.

Description

1***** Ligature for a Single Reed Woodwind Musical Instrument This invention relates to a device known as a ligature whose purpose is for attaching a reed to a mouthpiece of a single reed musical wind instrument, such as a saxophone or clarinet.

This ligature is for use with mouthpieces made usually, but not exclusively, of hard rubber or other plastic, the outside of which forms a truncated cone.

Background

A ligature circumscribes the mouthpiece and holds the reed in place onto the flat part of the mouthpiece known as the table. The player has to place the mouthpiece in the mouth and blow to make the thin end of the reed vibrate. This initiates a resonance in the body of the instrument to produce a musical sound A wide variety of ligatures are available, made of metal, leather, rubber or other materials. They hold the reed in place on the mouthpiece when tightened by the action of one or two thumbscrews. The thumbscrew type of ligature, such as is often used with a mouthpiece made of hard rubber or other plastic, is used here for comparison.

The disadvantages of the thumbscrew ligature This type of ligature requires the skill, dexterity and strength of the player to successfully position and assemble the reed onto the mouthpiece. The task is difficult even for the well practiced because of the need to hold the mouthpiece, reed and ligature in their correct relative positions whilst the thumbscrew is turned. Each of these parts has to be delicately handled. Adjusting the position of the reed tip is done when the thumbscrew is only partially tightened. Even when great care is taken when making this adjustment the reed may inadvertently skew or the ligature become displaced.

Statement of invention

To overcome these disadvantages this invention proposes a ligature of unitary construction that has a retaining and aligning receptacle for the reed, and that is self-gripping on the mouthpiece onto which it is assembled.

Advantages The ligature has a slot that matches the shape of the reed base, and in which the reed can be retained once it has been placed there. This slot is called the receptacle. The reed and ligature can therefore be handled as one item when the reed is in the receptacle. Assembly of the reed and ligature onto the mouthpiece is thus made much easier.

Additional receptacles in the ligature may be required to accommodate variations in the reed base dimensions. 2.

The tapering bore of the ligature and the presence of the reed in the receptade ensure that they will assemble with the appropriate orientation and alignment onto the mouthpiece.

The ligature bore resembles the outside of the mouthpiece and, by friction, can thus hold itself in place on the mouthpiece when they are firmly pushed together. As this is done the reed base becomes gripped between the ligature and the table of the mouthpiece.

The receptacle holds the reed in alignment with the mouthpiece.

The final adjustment can be made when the grip of the ligature on the mouthpiece is loosened slightly. This is enough to allow the reed to be moved, yet prevent the assembly from separating or becoming misaligned.

Introduction to Drawings

The invention wilt now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows the view from the right hand side and in which the ligature 1, and the reed 2 are assembled onto the mouthpiece 3.

Figure 2 shows the underside of the mouthpiece 3 with the reed 2 in position on the mouthpiece. In this drawing the ligature I has been sectioned along its horizontal axis to show the taper of the bore.

Figure 3, the view on the underside of the ligature. The receptacle 4 is shown by the chain dotted line.

Figure 4 the view on the larger diameter end of the ligature I showing the receptacle 4 in the bore.

Claims

Claims 1. A ligature of unitary construction for attaching a reed to the mouthpiece of a single reed wind instrument.
2. A ligature as claim I having a receptacle, or more than one receptacle, to retain the reed without the presence of the mouthpiece, into which the reed will fit only one way and yet allow the reed to be moved along its longitudinal axis.
3. A ligature according to claims I and 2 having a bore that conforms to the taper on the outside of the mouthpiece so that the mouthpiece can fit only into the larger diameter of the ligature, and, in the presence of the reed, only when the reed and the table of the mouthpiece are in juxtaposition.
4. A ligature according to claim 3 that will align axially and hold itself in place by friction when assembled onto the mouthpiece.