GB626478A - Improvements in and relating to a mouthpiece for wind-instruments and reed holder for such a mouthpiece - Google Patents

Abstract

626,478. Wood and like wind instruments; mouthpieces. KJELDSEN, E. July 23, 1946, No. 21931. Convention date, Aug. 28, 1945. [Class 88 (ii)] In a mouthpiece for a wind instrument such as a clarinet or a saxophone comprising a reed for producing acoustic vibrations and two curved surfaces forming the lay along which the contact points of said reed can be displaced under the influence of lip pressure, the reed is clamped resiliently against the mouthpiece so as to be yieldable along the whole of its length when the vibrating part of the reed is pressed on to said lay. In one embodiment, Fig. 4, the reed 1 is held in place by leaf-springs 13 carried by a detachable clamping ring 12, and rests upon the end of a screw 16 and upon the ends 8 of a pair of curved surfaces 7, Fig. 3. Adjustment of the screw 16 rocks the reed on the surfaces 7 to vary the pitch. During playing, lip pressure applied to the reed shortens the vibrating portion and raises the pitch, the yieldable securing means enabling the resulting strains produced to be distributed along the full length of the reed. Pressure of the springs 13 may be adjusted by screws 15. A thin flexible plate 9, Fig. 3, presses against the underside of the-reed to provide air sealing means. In a further embodiment, Fig. 6, not shown, the clamping ring 12 is replaced by a bridge-like structure secured to the mouthpiece and the air sealing means comprises a rubber strip contained in a groove in the mouth-piece. The air seal may be formed by liquid in a trough sealed by the reed.