US1408437A

US1408437A - Modifier for phonograph sound boxes

Info

Publication number: US1408437A
Application number: US363258A
Authority: US
Inventors: Burr B Blood
Original assignee: JEWEL PHONOPARTS Co
Current assignee: JEWEL PHONOPARTS Co
Priority date: 1920-03-04
Filing date: 1920-03-04
Publication date: 1922-03-07
Anticipated expiration: 1939-03-07

Description

3.a. BLOOD.

MODlFIER FOR FHONOGRAPH SOUND BOXES. AP'LlcATloN FILED MARA. w20.

'1 ,408,437., Patend Mar. 7, 1922.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BUR-R B. BLOOD, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BYr MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO JEWEL P-IONOPARTS COMPANY, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION' OF ILLINOIS.

y MODIFIER FOR PHONOGRAPH SOUND BOXES.

Patented Mar. l7, 1922.

Application filed March 4, 1920. Serial No. 363,258.

To all whomz't may concern.'

Be. it known that I, BURR B. BLOOD, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Chicago, inthe county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful .Improvements in a lModifier for Phonograph Sound Boxes, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanyin drawing, which forms a part of my specification.

My invention relates to a device whereby the tones or sounds produced by the reproducer or sound-box of a phonograph may be readily modified; that is the volume of the tones, reduced or moderated without, however, affecting the tone quality; the object of the invention being to provide means whereby the modifying of the tones or sounds may be quickly accomplished without necessitating any change or alteration in the sound-box or reproducer, per se; the invention comprising means whereby the tonesor vsounds may be modified without dissipating the tones as is the case with many modifiers at present `in `use.

rlhe invention contemplates means adapted to be readily secured to any of the well known types of sound-boxes at present employed and which may be easily adjusted to the varying sized sound-boxes or reproducers in use.

The objects and advantages of my invention will be readily comprehended from the following detailed description of the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a front elevation of a soundbox or reproducer with my improved modifier attached thereto.

1figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the modifier, unattached to a sound-box.

Y Figure il is a front elevation of a soundbox or reproducer illustrating a modified form of my invention.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the sound-box and modified form of modifier mechanism shown in Fig. 1i.

My improved sound-controlling device or modifier is intended to be adjustable to the usual style of reproducers or sound-boxes at present in use, which are usually provided with a circular `shell or casing 10, composed of front and rear portions'removably secured together to permit the insertion of the flexible diaphragm or mica 11, which is usually firmly held at the` perimeter between two non-metallic or

rubber rings

12, 12, as

shown in Figure 2. The shell or casing 10 on its perimeter is shown provided with a pair of parallelly disposed and properly spaced apart lugs as at 13, 13, between which the cross-,head or piece 111 of the stylus-bar 15 is pivotally mounted, in order that the vibrations or movements encountered by the stylus or needle (not shown), carried in the socketed end of the stylus-bar may be freely transmitted to the flexible or mica diaphragm 11 by the upper end of the stylusbar 15 which is firmly attached to the flexible diaphragm. The parts that have thus far been referred to are the usual elements of a sound-box and therefore need no further specific description as they form no part of my present invention.

As is well known, the reproduced tones or sounds are the result of the flexing of the mical or flexible diaphragm 11 whereby varying degrees of impulses are set up in the air space or chamber within the soundbox, rearward of the mica or flexible diaphragm 11; the volume orl degree ofthe sound-impulses depending upon the degree of flexure or vibrations imparted to the flexible or mica diaphragm 11 and the amount of flexing area presented by the flexible or mica diaphragm 11.

My invention comprises a mica or flexible diaphragm-engaging member 16, which is preferably in the nature of a metallic ring provided with a cut-out portion or opening as at 17 `for the passage of the stylus-bar l5, which is usually secured at a central point on the diaphragm 11. The `member 16 is preferably of metal and thejlower surface or side disposed toward the diaphragm 11 is provided with acushion 18 composed of soft fabric or material which may be secured in any suitable manner to the member 16; as for example, themember 16 may be provided with a groove, disposed circuitously throughout the lower side', in which a ring of rubber, felt or other soft fabric may be embedded, so that a more or less yielding pressure on vthe flexible diagraph will be Vprovided when the memberl 16 is forced toward the diaphragm. i

The member or ring 16 is secured to one arm of an angular lever or element 19 which is pivoted at 20 between the bifurcations 21 of an attaching clamp 22.

The clamp or member 22 is intended to fit about th'e'ed'ge of the casing 1Q of the soundbox so as to have the ring 16 disposed substantially parallel with the forward side of the flexible diaphragm. In order to permit the bracket or member 22 to be clamped onto the 4sound-box, the bracket 22 is shown provided with the two depending and spaced apart

portions

23 and 24, which are adapted to engage with opposite sides of the casing as shown in Fig. 2; the spacing between the

portions

23 and 24 being preferably slightly greater than the thickness or depth of the casing of the usual reproducer or soundbox. The portions or

lugs

23 and 24 are of length sufficient to enable suitable purchase 'on the casing; and the portion or lug 24 is shown preferably provided with a thumb or set-screw 25 which extends therethrough and is adapted to engage with the casing of the sound-box when screwed inwardlyand thereby firmly secure the bracket or clamp member 22 to the sound-box. The lobes or bifurcations 21 of the bracket' or clamp member entend slightly forward of the lug 28 as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3, soas to permit the Adepending 'arm of lever or member 19 and the member 16 to normally be disposed slightly forward of the sound-box and out of contact therewith. The upper arm of angular member or lever 19 is disposed substantially parallel with the top of the clamp member or bracket 22. The lever or angular member 19 is so formed and mounted that the upper arm will normally have spaced relation with "the clamp member or bracket 22, thus enabling` slight tilting movement of the lever 19 when desired.

Intermediate of the depending arm of the lever 19 and the lug or portion 23 of the clamp member 22, I prefer to provide a small coil spring 26, see Figure 2, which tends to force the depending arm of angular 'lever 19 and the member or element 16 away from the forward side of the soundbox, so that the normal direction of movement of element 16 is away from the flexible or mica diaphragm. The action of the coil spring 26 will therefore cause the angular lever 19`to swing on` its pivotalpoint 2O and induce the upper arm ofthe lever to move toward the bracket or clamp member 22. In order to control the action of lever 19 and 'therefore regulate the 'relation of the member or ring 16 to the diaphragm, I provide the upper arm ofthe lever 19 with a thumb or set-screw 27, adapted to screw through a tappedopening which is preferably arranged near the end of the arm sothat rapid and greater regulation of the lever 19 and member or ring 16 be obtained. The screw 27 is intended to screw through the upper arm of the lever 19 and engage with the top or adjacent surface "of `the bracket or clamp-member 22; it being apparent that the farther the screw 27 is screwed through the arm, or rather the' greater the length of ,the screw disposed between thearm of the lever and the bracket or clamp-member, the greater will be the separated relation between the bracket and the upperarm of the lever and therefore the closer will the depending arm of the lever 19 and the ring or member 1G be moved toward the flexible or mica diaphragm 11 of the sound-box.

In practice, the modifier is secured to thc sound-box by placing the bracket or clamp member 22 at any convenient point on the perimeter of the sound-box, so that the cut-- out portion or opening 17 in the member or ring 16 will coincide with the stylus-bar 15 ofthe reproducer, while the

lugs

23 and 24; are arranged on opposite sides of the soundbox. Ihe modifier having been properly positioned,'thumb-screw `25 is then screwed inwardly into engagement with the rear side of the sound-box and the bracket or clampmember thereby firmly held in position.

If it is desired to reduce or modify the vtones or sounds of a selection, 'namely if it is intended to diminish or soften the tones, the ring or member 16 is then'forced or made to move into contact with the flexible or mica diaphragm through the proper turning of thumb-screw 27, that is by screwing thumbscrew 27 inwardly against the bracket or clamp-member 22 so as to' increase the distance between the bracket and the arm of the lever 19. This action will cause the' depending arm of the lever 19 with ring or member 16 tov be moved toward the: flexible diaphragm; the amountfof pressure on the diaphragm determining the degree of tone or sound modification. It is apparent, that the firmer ring 16 is brought into contact with the diaphragm, the less flexing will be possible through the action thereon of the Vso stylus-bar and Yhence the softer or more subduedwill be the tones or sounds; as `the relation of the member 16 to the diaphragm will control the flexing area'of the latter.

`I prefer to have the ring or member 16 disposed substantially concentric with the center of diaphragm 11 and therefore have shown the ring or member 16 as adjustably secured to the depending arm of the lever 19, so as to adapt themodifier to different sized sound-boxes.

In the exemplificatiomthe ring or member 16 is formed with a pair of spaced `

lugs

28, 28 between which the depending arin of the lever 19 extends, and this armis shown1provided with a slot 29'disposed lengthwise thereof. y

A. set-screw 30 is disposed throughthe slot 29 of lever 19and screws into 'the member 1Gor lug thereof; so that after the ring 16 has been positioned so as to bring it substantially concentric with the centerof the diaphragm, the set-screw 30 is then screwed tightly, causing its head to firmly grip the lever on opposite sides of. slot 29.

In Figure ll show a modified form of my invention wherein the shell or housing` of the sound-box l0, namely the front side of 'the rim portion, is provided preferably with a pair of spaced lugs 3l formed integral therewith; the lugs aligned apertures to receive a pivot-forming member 3Q whereby the angular member or lever 33 is pivotally secured in place, to permit the lever to4 oscillate in a direction substantially at right angles to the front face of the sound-box.

The angular construction of lever 33 may be identical with the construction of the lever shown in Figure 3; with one arm of the lever being disposed transversely of .the periphery or rim of the sound-box. This transversely disposed arm is vprovided with an adjusting member or thumb-screw 34 adapted to screw through the arm of the lever and engage with the rim or shell of the sound-box. The other arm, namely the arm disposed substantially parallel with the front face ofthe sound-box, terminates in the perimetric portion 35, similar to that shown in the previous figures; the portion being preferably in the nature of a ring and provided with a slit or cut-away portion for the passage of the stylus-bar 15 of the soundbox. Inpractice, the lugs 3l; are disposed at a point where they will be located atV what may be termed the top edge of the soundbox when the latter is in playing position, so that any pressure Caused bythe hand of the operator in manipulating the regulating member or screw 34 while the sound-box is traveling across the record will be in a direction as not to interfere with the movement of the sound-box nor cause the stylus or needle to slide across and damage the record. With the modifier pivoted to the shell of the sound-box, as previously described, manipulation of the regulating member or screw 34 and therefore adjustment of the modifier during movement of the soundfbox may be easily accomplished. The arm of the lever 33, provided with the portion 35, like in the previously described construction, is

intended to be normally heldoutward or away from the front face of-thesound-box" and therefore in spaced relation with the 'flexible diaphragm Aof the sound-boi; by a suitablespring 3G which may be disposed between the shell of the soundbox andthe arm of the lever at a point beneath the fpiw so that the normal tendency,v of the spring will cause the arm ofthe lever' otal point- 32,

which is disposed transversely of the edge or rim of the sound-bonv to come into close relation therewitlnexcept when the 'regulating member or screw 34 is turnedk so as to have the inner end of the screw engage with the being provided with` shell of the sound-box, which forces the arm upward or away from the rim of the soundbox and thereby swings the other arm with portion 35 toward the flexible diaphragm.

The constructions shown and described, l believe to be simple adaptations of the invention, but modifications may be made in certain details which I believe would still embody the principles of my invent-ion.`

What I claim is l. A modiiier of the class described, ccmprising, in combination with a phonograph sound-box having a flexible diaphragm and stylus-carrying member, a supporting bracket adapted to fit about the peripheral edge of the shell of `the sound-box, means whereby the bracket may be removably clamped in place, a lever pivotally secured to said. bracket so as to have one end thereof swing toward or away from the diaphragm of the sound-box, a diaphragm engaging ring adr justably secured to said lever and provided with a cutaway portion for the passage of thestylus-carrying member, and regulable means coacting with said lever and said bracket whereby the position of said ring relative yto the diaphragm may be controlled. v

2. A modifier of the class described, comprising an attaching bracket adapted to clamp onto the peripheral edge ofthe Shell of a phonograph sound-box, a lever pivoted,k

mentioned member is normally held awayfrom the iiexiblediaphragm ofthe soundbox', and means whereby said annular member may be brought into engagement with the flexible diaphragm with regulable pressure; f

3. A modier of the class described, vcomprising, in combination with a phonograph sound-box provided with a diaphragm and a stylus-carrying member, means adapted to litabout the peripheral edge of the shell of the sound-box with a portion thereof dis` posed 'into a plane forward of the plane of the front edge of the shell of the sound-box, -a lever pivoted intermediate of its ends on i said forwardly presented portion of said means so as to 'have one endl of the lever ex-r tend'forward of the front face of the sound- 'boX" and substantially parallel therewith, arr ring secured to said last mentioned end of the lever and provided with a cut-away portionvadapted for the passage of the stylus# rlOO llO

carrying member, the under surface of said ring being provided with cushion-providing material adapted to contact with the dia` phragm of the sound-box, and regulable means whereby the position of said ring,

relative to the diaphragm, may be con-` trolled.

4. A modifier of the class described, comprising, in combination with a phonograph sound-box provided with a flexible diaphragm and a stylus-carrying member, an attaching member adapted to fitonto the peripheral edge ot' the sound-box, said member being provided with a forwardly presented pivot-providing portion, an angular lever pivoted intermediate of its ends' to said portion so as to have one end of the lever dis-` posed in a radial manner forwardly s of `the sound-box, a ring adpistablysecuredto said last mentioned end ofthe leverand adapted to be concentrically arranged with thecenter ot the fiexible diaphragm, `said ring being provided with a cut-away portionadaptr-V ed for the passage of the stylus-carry1ng member of the sound-box, and means where-V by the position of said ring relative tothe iiexible diaphragm may be controlled.

5. A modifier ot' the class described, com'- prising an attaching member adapted to be disposed about the peripheral edge of a -pho.

nograph sound-box, said member havingxa pivot-providing portion disposed` intol a plane forwardly thereof, an angular lever pivoted intermediate ot its ends to said portion, with the ends of the lever being disposed in proximity todifferent sides of said attaching member, a spring disposed inter-A mediate of one side of saidmemberand one end of said lever whereby the latte-r is normally held away from said side of the member, a ring secured to the last mentioned end of said member and adapted to be disposed forward ot the flexible diaphragm. .of a sound-box, the; rear side ofsaid ringbeing provided with a cushion-providing element, while the ring has a cut-away portion for the passage of the styluswcarryingmember of the sound-box, and manually operable means secured to the other end of said'lever whereby v the tilt of said lever andthe position of said ring relative to the flexible diaphragm of the sound-box may be controlled.

6. A modifier of the class described, comprising an attaching portion adapted to t onto the edge of phonograph sound-box,

amember pivoted to said-portion so as` to adapt it to extend in a -radial direction inl front ot the sound-box, a circular member adjustably secured to the first member and provided with an opening adapted forthe passage of the stylus-carrying,memberof asound-box,4 means whereby said circular member is normally held in a forwardly swung position, and regulable means where- `lby the circular member may be forced in a direction opposite to that induced by said lirst means.

7. A modifier ofthe class described, comprising a. phonograph sound-box, the shell or casing whereof is provided with a pair of spaced lugs, an angular member pivoted between said lugs so as to have one endof said member move at an angleto the front face ot the sound-box, said end terminating inan annular portion .or ring of smaller diameter thanrthe inner diameter Vof the peripheral ange at the `front ot the sound-box, said portion or ring being provided with a slot or cut-out portion for the passa ge of the stylusbar of the sound-box and adapted to engage with the flexible` diaphragm Aof: the soundbox and thereby provide a smaller fiexing area in the diaphragm', means whereby saidV portion or ring is normally held out of contact with' the diaphragm,'and means where by the position of said portion or ring relative to the Ydiaphragm may be controlled.

8. A modifier of the class described, comprising, in' combination with a `phonograph sound-box having' a` flexible diaphragm, pivot-providing means arranged on the rim ofthe soundibox, meanspivotally secured to said first means so as to swingftoward and away from the diaphragm, said last means includingia perimetricfportion adaptedto provide arestricted flexing area inthe diaL phragmk bounded by said portion, means whereby the perimetric portion isyieldingly held out of operative position, and regulaV ble means whereby movement of the second meansmaybe controlled and the position of the perimetric portion relative to the diaphragm determined.

9. A modifier of the class described, com-v prising a sound-box provided with a fiexible diaphragm, `the rim whereof is provided with a pivot-providing portion,` means piv- Y the perimetric portion out of contact with,

the diaphgram, and regulable means oper atively connected with said arm whereby the position of the perimetric portion relative to the diaphragm may be regulated;

BURR B. BLOOD;

,Witnesses G.'HEIDMAN. F. A. FLORELLE.