US1284280A - Musical wind instrument. - Google Patents

Description

R. FIELD.

MUSICAL WIND INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2. i9l8.

1,284,280. Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

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UNITED STATES PATENT UFFICE.

y ROBERT FIELD, OF HUDDERSFIELID, ENGLAND.

MUSICAL WIND INSTRUMENT.

Application filed March 2, 1918.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, ROBERT FIELD, a sub ]ect of King George V of Great Britain. residing at Huddersfield, in the county of York, England, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Musical Wind Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a new or improved musical wind instrument or organ and has for its object the production of a simple and cheap instrument adapted to give the equivalent of the notes or octaves of say the strings of a violin by the action of the upper lip over an elastic or flexible ribbon or band in blowing into the instrument and the movement of a finger over the said ribbon or band, the sounds produced being an imitation of that of a violin, or it may give the miniature tone of a violin or of a flute.

In order that my llflVGlltlOlll'HiLY be fully understood reference is hereinafter had to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a wind instrument constructed according to my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the front or mouthpiece end of the instrument and,

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on line a b of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, my'invention consists in providing, in its preferred form, a hollow wood device 1 of suitable length built up of sections of wood or other suitable material secured together by an adhesive, or by pins, or both, or formed out of the solid, or composed of metal, and either square or angular or other desired shape in cross section, one end of the device being sealed up at 2 (or having a substantially blank end) and the opposite end thereof formed to constitute a mouthpiece 3, or provided with a suitable mouthpiece which is open to the interior of the instrument.

At a suitable distance from the mouthpiece 3 is formed in the upper side or wall of the hollow device an opening 4 of suitable shape, but whatever the shape of the said opening may be I form the side 5 thereof straight or parallel with the longitudinal axis of the device. Ordinarily the said opening is bored to present a circular opening and the side 5 is afterward cut square or straight as shown. To the rear Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

Serial No. 220,041.

side of the opening 4t there is provided in the interior of the device a partition. (3 courposed of wood, parchment, or skin or other suitable material, such partition separating the rear end of the device from the mouthpiece and forming a sound chamber 7 the space or chamber 8 in direct communication with the mouthpiece and the sound opening a forming a wind chamber.

The mouthpiece could be lined with thin metal or the like to prevent access of moisture to the wood and such metal liner might be continued to approximately the position occupied by the partition 6 pipe fashion with the inner end thereof closed up. tn form the wind chamber, the partition 6 in this case not being necessary although it would be of advantage to the production of sound to connect the upper and lower walls of the sound chamber together by means of a sound post.

Laid taut oiysli atly distended along the upper outer and preferably flat surface of the device 1, and covering the sound opening 4:, is a thin ribbon or band 9 of india rubber or other suitable elastic or flexible material which will vibrate readily under wind pressure, a thin rubber band or ribbon giving very good results. The ends of the said band or ribbon 9 are suitably secured to each end of the instrument or device to retain it in close contact with the upper surface thereof, the fastenings at each end being covered by metal plates 10, 10.

With the device constructed as before described and shown on the drawing, I obtain the notes of approximately an octave and a half by the action of the upper lip alone when blowing into the instrument, the finger meanwhile being pressed or laid upon the elastic band 9 at a point close to the rear of the sound opening 4:, that is to say, from the mouthpiece to the sound opening the action of the upper lip moved along the corresponding portion of the band 9, as wind is blown through the chamber 8 and through the opening i against the band 9, will produce notes of the compass say of a single string on any stringed instrument. The movement of the finger over the portion of the band 9 from the rear of the instrument to the sound opening t ontinues the scale approximately another octave and a half so that with the two said portions of the rubber band 9 one pressed upon by the upper lip and the other by the rolling or movement of the finger over same, a range of approximately three octaves is obtained or double the compass of an ordinary violin string and equal within a few notes to the range obtained on the whole of the four strings of a violin.

The side of the instrument can be suitably marked as a guide to the position of the finger for given notes although this is readily ascertained in practice.

The elastic or flexible ribbon or band 9 is clamped or held down against the face of the device 1 at a point on one edge thereof adjacent to or opposite the sound opening 4L by a finger 11 secured to the device. The band 9 with the exception of the clamped portion and the portion held by the finger can vibrate freely between the fastened down ends, thus admitting of a greater volume of sound being obtained than when the edge of the band is not so held.

The instrument in use is played in a similar manner to an ordinary wind instrument, the wind passing into the wind chamber 8 and then through the sound openingttherein where it impinges upon the elastic or flexible ribbon or strip 9 and vibrates same, the action of the upper lip on the device or its position thereon up to the opening 4:, giving the range of approximately an octave and a half if the ribbon or strip be pressed against the device immediately to the rear of the opening. By shifting the pressure of the finger from the rear toward the sound openin g 4 the notes of approximately another octave and a half are obtained, the pressure of the finger being shifted backward and forward along the ribbon or strip somewhat in the same manner as in fingering the violin to obtain the requisite notes of the piece being played, the action of the upper lip also having a control in the notes produced.

The device may be )lain or coated with metal, or may be made of metal or other suitable material, wood, however, being preferred for giving purity and sweetness of tone.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is l. A musical instrument, comprising an air chamber having a blow opening, and having an air outlet hole at its middle portion. a vibrating band secured to the chamber and overlapping the outlet hole, and means for clamping one edge of the said band to the chamber adjacent to the said hole.

2. A musical instrument, comprising an air chamber provided with a blow opening at one end, and having a transversely extend ing member at its middle part, and an air outlet hole in one side between the said memher and the blow opening, and a vibrating band secured to the chamber and overlapping the outlet hole.

3. A. wind instrument having a wind chamber in communication with a mouthpiece and with a sound opening, a thin band or ribbon of india rubber or like suitable material or required length secured at each end to the instrument and lying stretched or taut over the sound opening, a bridge piece or clamp holding the hand against the instrument at one side of the sound opening and a sound chamber to the rear of the wind chamber all arranged in the manner and for the purposes substantially as herein shown and described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT FIELD.

Witnesses:

THOMAS H. BARRON, MARY BARRON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0.

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