GB2546323A

GB2546323A - Musical instrument bow

Info

Publication number: GB2546323A
Application number: GB1600822.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Annigje Schrijver Cornelia
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-01-16
Filing date: 2016-01-16
Publication date: 2017-07-19
Also published as: GB201600822D0

Abstract

A bow used for playing musical instruments comprises a stick made in two separable parts for ease of transportation. The two halves of the stick are assembled by means of a connecting sleeve or housing, with the addition of a locating device to prevent undesirable rotation of the two halves when in use.

Description

Musical instrument bow.

Background

This invention relates to a bow to be used to play musical instruments, i.e. violin bow, viola bow, which can be taken apart to fit into a flight cabin luggage case.

Because of the fragile nature of Stringed instruments and their bows, they cannot safely be transported in the hold of an aeroplane.

In recent years, due to security threats, it has become very difficult to take musical instrument cases i.e. a violin case, as cabin luggage on aeroplanes.

The bow needs to be a certain length and is often much longer than the instrument, therefore dictating the length of the instrument case.

Statement of invention

To overcome this problem, this present invention proposes a bow of which the stick is made of two halves and which can be taken apart. The two halves will be joined by a sleeve or housing with a locating device.

These, plus the tension of the bow when assembled, will ensure the halves remain solidly together when in use, while coming apart easily when needing to be stored away for transportation.

Advantages; 1) By reducing the length of the bow for transport, the size of the instrument case can be reduced to a size much more acceptable to airline operators as cabin luggage. 2) Pernambuco wood, regarded as the species with the best strength and acoustic qualities for the manufacture of bows, is subject to CITES restrictions. This two part bow stick can be made using shorter lengths of wood for its manufacture than is essential for the existing bow design. Therefore, old stocks of wood not suitable for making the single piece full length bow, can be used to make these two part bows.

Preferably; 1) The sleeve or housing fitted flush with the rest of the stick. 2) The weight and balance of the entire bow to be within traditional margins. 3) The stick fitted with a taper inside the sleeve or housing to prevent the stick from kinking under tension.

Description

Three versions will now be described by referring to the following drawings. 1/1

Figure 1) where the bottom half of the stick (B) is made of carbon fibre, or other suitable material, with a hole bored into it to receive the top half of the stick (T), turned down to fit into this hole. A locating device (LD) is situated at the blind end of the hole.

Figure 2) where a sleeve(S) is fitted around the entire bottom half of the stick (B), including around the handle(HA). The sleeve being longer than the bottom half of the stick in order to receive the top half of the stick (T), which has been turned to fit into the remainder of the sleeve. A locating device, (LD) is situated where the two halves meet (Y)

Figure 3) where a short sleeve (S) is fitted in any suitable place around the stick. The top half (T) and bottom half(B) turned down to fit inside the sleeve and meeting in the centre of the sleeve (Y) where the locating device(LD) is situated.

Each of these versions can use one of the same locating devices (LD) Version 1 and 2 have the locating device, and housing or sleeve, fixed to the bottom half of the stick. Version 3 may have the sleeve and housing device fixed to either the top or bottom half of the stick.

In each drawing, The hatched areas denote the part of the stick preferably made out of carbon fibre or other man-made materials. The white parts indicate the part of the stick preferably made out of wood, but which may also be made of man-made materials.

Detailed description A full size violin bow, of which the stick is made of two parts instead of being made of a single long piece of wood as is usual. With the intention of the two halves being easily separated.

Version 1) (Fig 1 )The top half of the stick (T) is fitted into a housing (H) which is integral with, bored into, the bottom half of the stick (B). The bottom half of the stick incl. handle (HA) could typically be made of carbon fibre, the top half of the stick including the head (HE) could typically be made of wood or carbon fibre.

In order to stop the two halves of the stick rotating, a locating device (DL) is fixed into the blind end of the housing in the shape of either a flat sliver of metal, wood or other suitable material (cross section fig2, X2) or consisting of two or more pins, ( cross section Fig. 1, XI). This locating device will slot into the matching recess cut or drilled into the top half of the stick.

Version 2) Fig. (2) The top half (T) and bottom half (B) of the stick are connected by a sleeve (S) which fits around the entire length of the bottom half of the stick, including the handle, (HA). The protruding part of this sleeve provides a socket in which to insert the top half of the bow. A choice of the same locating devices as for version 1) is to be used.

Version 3), Fig.(3) The two halves of the stick are connected by a short sleeve (S), which provides a socket for the top half of the stick (T) and the bottom half of the stick (B) to be inserted into, meeting in the middle of the sleeve. The sleeve and locating device(LD) are permanently fixed to the bottom half of the stick.

Claims

Claims

1- A bowed stringed instrument bow stick made in two halves, with a sleeve or housing connecting the two to make a full length bow.
2- A bow stick in two halves according to claim 1, which can be taken apart for storage or transport.
3- A bow stick in two halves, according to claim 1&2, incorporating a locating device to prevent the two halves rotating when assembled and in use.