US1311670A - Plandgraph co - Google Patents

Description

H.G. WATSON.

CHIN BEST FOR VIOLINS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-12.1918.

1,3 1 1 ,670. Patented Ju1 29, 1919.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY HENRY c. WATSON, or NEW .50mi, n.

CHEW-REST FOR VIO'LINS.

Specification of Lcttersl'atent.

' Patented Jul 29,1919.

Applicatiomfiledlseptember12;l918. serial No. 253,672;

To all whom it may. concern;

Be it known that I, HENRY G- WATSON, a subject of the King of England, residing in the city of New York,borough of Manhattan, inthe county and State. of" New York, have invented a. certain new and useful Improvement in Chin-Rests for Violins,

of which the following is a. specification;

The invention relates to the form of thechin-rest, and more particularly to the mode of attaching it to the violin.

The object of the invention is to provide a rest which shall be light and of such form as to receive the chin of the player comfortably and permit the instrument to be firmly grasped thereby, and adapted to be securely attached to the violin without interfering with the vibrations of the instrument or affecting its tone, and eliminating the usual screws and clamps employed for such attachment.

The invention consists in certain novel features and arrangement of parts by which the above objects are attained, to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and show the invention as it has been carried out in practice.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the rear portion of the body of a violin equipped with the improved chin-rest.

Fig. 2 is a corresponding rear elevation.

Fig. 3 is a corresponding vertical section, taken on the line 3-3 in Fig. 1, and partly in side elevation.

The remaining figures are on a larger scale and show the chin-rest alone.

Fig. 4 is a plan or top view.

Fig. 5 is a similar view from below.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken on the line 6-6 in Fig. 4.

Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

A is the body of a violin, having the breast A joined thereto at the marginal bead A and carrying the strings B and tail-piece C held by the tail-piece gut C to the tailpin A all of the usual or any approved construction.

The chin-rest may be of wood or other suitable material and is preferably carved or otherwise formed in a single piece; its body is in the form of a shell or bowl D hollowed and curved to conform to the chin of the player and joined by a leg or short c0luInn ,D to a ]oase-'--l) securedtov the instrument. 1

The. base, has 3.; depending flange D slightly curved toymatch. against .the rear face. of the violin, and grooved as: at d at. its angular junction with the. base D to match upon the bead A The base D and flange extend across the center line of the violin beyond the bowl D and are hollowed on the upper face at such center to receive the rear end of the tailpiece C which is seated firmly thereon under the strain of the strings B.

The chin-rest is held to the violin by the tail-piece which lies upon the base in the hollow above mentioned, and by the tailpiece gut C which extends in two legs from the tail-piece over the shoulder of the base and downward against the rear face of the flange D to the tail-pin A which lies in the loop of the gut as usual. Slight grooves d d are formed on these faces of the base and flange to insure the proper position of the chin-rest upon the violin, and the flange is of such thickness as to cause the tail-piece gut to clamp the flange and base by an inward and downward compression into firm contact with the adjacent surfaces of the instrument, with the force induced by the strains of the violin strings B. The inner faces of the base I) and flange D presented against the violin are preferably lined with velvet or felt E or other yielding material to prevent marring the violin, and in the hollowed portion of the base is a slot d extending lengthwise of the latter to insure that the points of contact at the sides of the concave tail-piece shall apply squarely upon the forward portion of this part of the base, as shown in Fig. 3.

Thus held it will be noted that the employment of screws or other clamping devices is entirely eliminated, together with the objectionable features of weight and projecting portions; that the back of the violin is entirely clear; and the only contact of the chin-rest with the instrument is along a narrow line at the upper rear margin of the body, while the chin-rest attached in this manner is held more firmly than is possible by the use of screw clamps.

Experiments show that the improved chin-rest thus attached in nowise affects the vibrations of the instrument or modifies its tonal effects, and the bowl is shaped to conby which it is form to the chin-when presented thereto in playing position.

claim p 1. The chin-rest described having a base adapted to lie upon a violin and support the, tai1-piece thereof, to be held in place thereon we in .engagement therewith by said tail-piece and the tail-piece gut of such instrument,

in engagement therewith by said tail-piece and the tail-piece gut of such instrument, said base being cut away to receive and support the end of the. tail-piece and for determining the points of contact of said tailpiece with said base.

' 3; The chin-rest described having a bowl adapted to receive the chin of the player, and abase adapted to lie upon the upper face of. a violin and having a flange adapted to lie against the rear face of such instrument, said :base being adapted to receive and support the end of the tail-piece and said base and flange arranged to be held to said violin by the pressure of said tailpiece and its gut.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I aflix my signature.

HENRY C. WATSON.

Copies of thil patent may be obtained for me cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, 'D. G.

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