US1404131A - Attachment for stringed instruments - Google Patents

Description

G. MALVICA.

' APPLICATION FILED APR.26, I920.

Patented Jan. 17, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY e. MALVICA. ATTACHMENT FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS.

- APPLICATION FILED APR. 26, 1920. 1,404,131 I I P ented Jan. 17, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- ooo 6 0 g 46 i I E I v I, 45

INVENTOR ATTORNEY PATENT OFFICE.

GIUSEI'PE MALVICA, 0:9 PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

ATTACHMENT FOR STRINGED INST RUMENTS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jan. 17, 1922.

Application filed April 26, 1920. Serial No. 376,827.

To a l whom it ma concern:

Be it'know'nthat I, Grnsnrrn MALVIOA, subject ct theiKing of Italy, residing at ittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State'o'f P nnsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Attachments .i or Stringed Instruments, of which the toltion is read in connection with the accomparry drawings.

in the drawing. v

1 is planview of astring instrun'ient withthe invention applied thereto.

Fi 2 is a side elevation of the same.

{Bis an end view. 1 1

alis a scctionon the line 4l- 1 of e 1.

is a detailed perspective view of ring arch. urc G is a sectional view taken on a gitudinally of the strings. nct'erring in detail to the drawings, wherein lilze characters of reference denote corr spending parts, there is illustrated a i153: instrument which includes a head 10, a ree 11 and strings 12, the latter being the l i spaced trom the head by means of the usual bridge 13. The foregoing structure is or" the usual construction, the invention residing in the provision of a device which is detachably and adjustably secured to the instrument.

This device comprises a member 14 which is preferably formed of spring wire and has its ends bent substantially at right angles for insertion in clamps 15 provided upon opposite sides of the instrument head.

he right angular portions of the member 1-lare adjusta ly secured in position by means of setscrews 16, so that the intermediate portion of the member, which extends across the banjo head may be adjusted with respect thereto. The member 14 further includes an oiiset portion 17 which is curved downwardly and positioned directly over and spaced above the strings between the tailpiece and the bridge, so that it may be easily depressed into contact with the strings. ny providingt-he oiiset curved portion 17, the right angled portions of the member 14 may be of sufiicient length to afford greater flexibility and thus increase the effective actionot the device. Looped around the ofiset portion 17 of the member 1 1 is a flexible member which. is formed of any suitable material and whose ends are secured to the instrument head by any desired means; for example, by the fastening device which secures the tail piece to the instrument. 7 This offset portion 17 of the member 1 1 has a tendency to maintain the loop of the flexible member in proper position.

In the use of the invention, the member leis adjusted to its proper position, with the offset portion 17 slightly spaced above the strings 12. In playing the instrument, the wrist or ball of the hand which isused for picking the strings, rests upon the flexible member, the latter being indicated at 18. A'slight pressure upon this member 18ivill depress the offset portion 17 into contact with the strings to vary the tone of the latter. Thus the device may be used to produce'a tremulous or vibrating tone, by alternately pressing the same upon and permitting it to rise from the strings, or it may be held in contact with the strings to soften the tone after the manner of a mute.

The invention is susceptible of Various changes in its form, proportions and minor details of construction and the right is here in reserved to make such changes as properly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention what is claimed is 1. The combination with a stringed instrument including a head, of a spring membcr secured to the rim of the head and extending transversely over the strings and capable of being depressed into contact therewith.

2. The combination with a stringed instrument including a head, of a resilient member secured to the rim of the head and normally extending transversely over the strings, said member comprising vertically V strument includinga'head, of a sprin'gmemdisposed arms and a bar connecting the arms and meansfor adjustably securing the arms to the rim. 7

3. The combination with a stringed instrument including a head, 'of'a vertically adjustable spring member secured to the rim of "the. head and extending over the strings and capable of'being depressed into contact therewith. V I i 4. The combination with a stringed inberf hav'ing each of its ends adjnstably secured to therim ofthe head and extending over .tlie'strings and capable of being de-,

pressed into contact therewith anda flexible member extending. around the spring mem-.

hand restconnected to, said member and providing'mean's for depressing the same.

' 6.}Tlie'gcomb natioii with a stringed 1n- 'strumentlincludinga head, of a spring member-secured; to .theqr'im of the. head and extending over the strings and capable of being,, depressed into. contact therewith and a strip offiexible material passing around sai'dmember andsecured to said rimjtoprovidelacombin'ed handrest and member depressing; means.

7. The combination with a, stringediinstrumentjrincluding ahead, of aspring mem-f ber,gsai d inenlber comprisingvertically disposedarmsanda bar connecting the arms,

sockets located upon opposite sides of the rim of the instrument head. for receiving the arms, means for-adjustably holding the arms within the sockets, whereby the bar will be positioned transversely over and spaced above the stringsin a manner to permitt of said bar beingdepressed into contact with the strings to vary the tone. 7

8. The combination with a stringed instrument including a head, of aspring memher secured to the head and extending over i the strings and capable of being depressed into contact therewith and a hand rest connected to said member andjp'rovidingmeans for depressing the same;

I 9; The combination with a stringed in-i' strument'including ahead, of a springmember secured to the headand extending over thef'strin'gs and capable of'being depressed 7 into; contact therewith'and a strip of flexible material passing around the member and secured to saidhead'to provide acombined handcrest and member depressing. means.

, l0ijThe'combination with a stringed 1 str unentincluding a head, of a spring memher, said member comprising vertically disposedarms anda bar connecting the arms, sockets" located upon opposite sides of the instrument head fon receiving the arms,

means for adjustably holding the arms within the jsockets,vwhereby the bar will be positioned transversely over andspaced above the strings of the instrument in a manner to permit of its being depressed into con tact therewith to vary the tone.

In testimony whereof Iafiix my signature.

, GIUSEPRE; MALVICA.

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