US1466681A - Violin-sound-post setter - Google Patents

Description

c. H. TODD VIOLIN SOUND POS T SETTERO Sept. 4, 1923.

Filed Aug. 17. 1921 I IV VE/V r00. 2 0. I1. 7000.

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Patented Sept. 4, 1923.

CHARLES K. rom), or New nrciriuonn, WISCONSIN.

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Application filed August 17, 1921.- Seria1 No. 492876.

1 '0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARnns lLToDD, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Richmond, in the county ofSaint Croix and tate of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Violin- Sound-Post Setter; and I dohereby declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as" will enable others skilled in the art to WlllClI it appertains to make and usethe same.

This invention relates to a ClBVlCG adapted to perform the measuring operationsfor and to place in position the sound posts provided between the upper and lower walls ofa violin body. These sound posts which comprise small cylindrical members are placed after the violin body is assembled and it has been a tedious and difficult job to properly meas ure and place the same-in position.

It is an object of this invention to provide an extremely simple device by which the required length of the post may be determined and by means of which the posts may be held and quickly and easily placed in position.

Iti's a further object of the invention to provide the devicewith a clamping means for holding the post, comprising a flexible member, by means of which the posts can be readily released from the clamping device.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from .the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawing in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views, and in which Fig. 1 represents a perspective view showing the use of the device on a violin;

Fig. 2 shows the device in side elevation as used with a violin;

Fig. 3 shows the device as used to the length of the sound post;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4:"4: of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; and V V Fig. 5 is a partial plan view showing a modification.

Referring to the drawings, in Fig. 1 is shown a portion of a violin body a comprismeasure ing the strings 1, the bridge 2 and the usual curved openings or slots 3in the top thereof. Thesound post 4. is placed on the inside of the. violin body adjacent the bowed portion of the strings and extends from. the top to the bottom of said body, being glued or otherwiseheld permanently in position.

' said sleeves, as shown in Fig. 3.

*and' rod (ican then be introduced The device of-this invention comprises a handle portion 5inwhicl1 is rigidly fastened a small rod 6. This rod is bent downwardly near itsend and has a forwardly projecting portion 6 extending substantially parallel to its main body portion. A semi-cylindrical sleeve 7 is soldered or otherwise suitably se-- cured at its fEOIIVGX SIClB to theend of the portion 6, said portion being secured to the sleeve at substantially its vertical central portion. The portionfi has a hole formed transversely [therethrough adjacent the sleeve 7 and a cord or string member 8 passes through said hole and has a knot on its end to prevent its withdrawal therethrough." The other end of the member 8 is secured to a ring 9. The device comprises a measuring post comprisin a threaded sleeve 10 into which screws at readed shank -11 ofa head 11.

In the use of the instrument, to determine the required length of the sound post, the sleeve 10 is placed in the sleeve 7and the cord 8 wrapped one or more times around through the slot 3 of the violin. By adjusting the head. 11 until the post just fits between the top and bottom of the violin body, the exact length of post required can be determined.

. In placing the sound post proper into the violin body, the post 4 is placed in-the sleeve 7 in the same manner as was the post 10, and as shown inFig. 52..v The member8 is then wrapped one or more times around the post and sleeve and this member held tight by one finger engaging in ring 9, as shown in Fig. 1. The post is thus rigidly and firmly supported in the holder and can be introduced through the slot 3, as shown in Fig. 1. The post is moved to the desired position between the top and bottom portions of the violin bodyand when placed in the desired position can be permanently secured. After the post has been located the ring 9 is released and the handle 5 moved away when the cord Sand ring 9 will be loosely drawn out of the violin body around the post without disturbing the same.

7 Fig. 5 shows a convenient method of securing the cord or string used." In this form, the cord is formed with two strands 8", the loose' ends of which are passed through the portion 6% of rod 6 and knotted so that it cannot be withdrawn there- The post through. The ring 9 is held. by the two strands by simply passing the loose ends through the bight or end loop oi? the strands thus forming a holding loop for the ring. The two strands of the cord function just as the one strand previously described.

From the above description it will be seen that applicant has provided a very simple and ellicient tool by which the sound post can be easily and quickly measured and placed in position. The device has proven very eilicient in actual practice and been very successful in its use.

It will, oil course, be understood that various changes maybe made in the form, details and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of applicants invention,which generally stated, consists in the matter shown and described and set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: p

1. A sound post placing device comprising a handle, a member extending therefrom and having a holding means including a flexible member at the end thereof adapted to be introduced into a violin body through the usual opening in the top thereof.

2. A sound post placing device comprising a handle, a member extending therefrom and having a clamping means at one end including arigid member having a concave surface adapted to extend longitudinally of the post, and aflexible member cooperating therewith.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2, the

flexible member being attached at one endv adjacent the said rigid member and extend ing to said handle portion and having a holding means attached thereto at its other end.

4. A sound post placing device comprising a handle, a rod extending therefrom having its end portion bent into a lower plane than the portion connected to the handle, a semicylindrical sleeve secured to the end or the rod, a flexible cable secured adjacent said sleeve, and a holding means on the end or the cable.

5. A. sound post placing device comprising a handle portion, a wire rod secured thereto and extending therefrom having its end portion parallel to but disposed in another plane iii in the portion secured to the handle, a rigid clamping member rigidly secured to the end of the rod, and a flexible cable cured to the rod adjacent said clamping member and having a holding means at one end.

6. A sound post placing device comprising a handle,. a wire or rod extending longitudinally therefrom and bentat substantially a right angle at some distance from said handle and again bent at a substantially right angle to extend parallel tothe portion adjacent the handle, and a clamping means on the end of said wire or rod.

7. Thestructure set forth in claim 6, said clamping means including a segment or a hollow cylinderhaving its convex surface attached to the end of the rod withthe longitudinal axis ot the segment normal. to the axis of said rod.

8. The structure set forth in claim 7, a flexible member being attached to the end of a Wire or rod adjacent said segment and extending to thehandle portion.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CHARLES H. TODD.

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