US1504387A

US1504387A - Tone modifier

Info

Publication number: US1504387A
Application number: US629351A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frederick E Shane
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1923-04-02
Filing date: 1923-04-02
Publication date: 1924-08-12
Anticipated expiration: 1941-08-12

Description

- Aug. 12, 2924 0 v l m F. E. SHANE TONE MODIFIER Filed April 2, 1925 sauna-nice TGNE MODIFIER.

Application filed a rn a, we. Serial No. 629,351.

State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tone Mourners;

and I do declare the following to be a r- .l, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and useth'e same, reference being had to the accofn'ipanying drawings, and to the figures o reference marked thereon, which form a p of this specification. I

p This invention relates to tone modifying attachment adapted for use in connection with reed instruments, such as saxophones and the like, the primary object being to provide a device which will modify the sound or tone of the saxophone to render it adaptable when the device is functioning for the so-called azz music.

I am aware that devices have been provided for eifecting the same result but these devices have generally been applied to the key orifices so that when the tone-modifier is applied to any particular key orifice, that particular key becomes ineffective to perform its normal function. In other words the application of the tone-modifier is introduced into the instrument at the sacrifice of a key and while it is generally applied to one of the keys for the higher tones, the key is sometimes required to produce its tone in a natural way and when the devices hereto fore known have been in use, the key is not available. I I x My invention consists in providing a tone- 'modifier on the mouthpiece of the saxophone so that it can be used without in any way affecting the mechanical operation of the instrument and to this end the invention consists in certain novel arrangements of parts which will be specifically referred to hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a saxophone to which my invention is attached.

Fig. 2 is a vertical, longitudinal, sectional view through the mouthpiece, showing the invention applied.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, longitudinal, sectiona1 view through the tone-modifier and part of the mouthpiece.

Fig. 4 is a disassooiated ,view of the various parts, showing their relative positions when they are ready to be assembled, and

Fig. 5 is a vertical, sectional view through a slightly modified form of tone modifier.

The saxophone 1 is of usual construction with an appropriate mouthpiece 1' thereon. The mouthpiece conforms in all essential particulars with the conventional type of mouthpiece, having the usual mou ipiece proper, the reed 2 and the ligature 3.

Transversely through the wall of the mouthpiece and preferably in the top there of is an opening 1. Surrounding the open ing l is a seat 5, bound by an internally threaded collar 6, which receives the esiter nally threaded portion 7 of a clamping collar or ring 8. Upon the seat 5 may be placed a diaphragm or disk 9 of tissue, fish paper, gut or the like. Tn actual practice I prefer to use fish paper.

The disk 9 is clamped between the clamping collar and the seat 5 so that it will be held taut over the opening at and so that it will vibrate under certain conditions when the instrument is alayed. The clamping collar is provided with an enlarged offset portion 10 with a conical inner 11 merging into a diameter approiiinnitely equal to that of the opening a The offset portion of the collar or clamping ring is threaded to receive the threaded fiange of a cap 18 having a central opening 14; coinciding with the central opening 15 in a valving disk 16. The cap 13 and the valving disk lfi have

complementary openings

17 and 18 which can be caused to coincide, or the edges of the openings 18 may be caused to overlap the edges of the openings 1? by turning the valving disk 16.

Projecting through the openings 1% and 15 is a bushing 20, the lower end of which is in threaded engagement with the opening 1%. The upper portion near the head 21 is unthreaded so that the disk 16 may rotate freely about it. The bushing carries an adjustable damper screw 22 having knob or head 43 so that it can be turned and at the inner end of the damper screw is a damper 2a which may be moved toward and away from the diaphragm 9 to have a damping effect thereon. The diaphragm may have its outer edge reinforced by a ring 25 if desired. The ring also affords suffi cient material to permit the diaphragm to be firmly clamped between the collar 8 and the seat 5.

The ligature 3 is shown as provided with a central opening 26, which fits over the collar 6 so that the ligature may properly function to hold the reed fast to the mouthpiece proper.

hen the parts are assembled and the player plays the instrument in the usual Way, there will be no effect. By the usual way, reference is had to the natural manner of playing a saxophone. If the instrument is to be played as a jazz instrument, the screw 22 is turned so as to move the damper 24 away from the diaphragm. Then the diaphragm will vibrate during the time that the instrument is played, with the result that the an effect will be produced.

The disk 16 can be turned to vary the effective areas of the openings 17 so that the effect can be loud or soft; therefore, the disk 19 in effect constitutes a damper while the element 16 is more in the nature of a mute. Indeed, when the openings 17 are closed, there will be no perceptible effect on account of the vibration of the diaphragm; the full effect will be had when the openings are open to their fullest extent.

The mute damper 24 can be moved toward or away from the diaphragm to vary the effect of the tone rather than its volume and-I prefer to make the opening in the collar 8 conical as shown, although I do not Wish to be limited in all forms of the device to that particular shape of the openmg.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a slightly modified form of tone modifier. In this form the construction conforms generically to the form shown in Fig. 3 but instead of having a screw 22, I prefer to provide a sliding stem 27, the upper end of which engages a slotted lever 28 pivoted to the bracket 29 carried by the bushing. The lower end of the stem 27 carries a plunger valve 30, which acts as a mute in the manner that the device 24: functions.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the device can be placed upon the ordinary saxophone, it being only necessary to modify the mouthpiece, and that the application of the device to the saxophone will in no wise affect the playing of the instrument in a natural way, provided the diaphragm is muted so as to render it unable to function. However, by a slight adjustment, the device can be converted from a natural form of saxophone to one ntrticularly suitable for jazz music.

lVhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is:

l. A mouthpiece for musical instruments having a transverse opening, a tone-modifying diaphragm closing the opening, means for securing the diaphragm to the mouthpiece comprising a collar, a damper on the collar, the damper comprising rotatable disk having openings for varying the effective opening of the collar, and a mute movable toward and away from the diaphragm.

2. A mouthpiece for musical instruments having a transverse openi a toneanochfying diaphragm closing the opening, means for securing the diaphragm to the 1nouthpiece comprising a collar, a camper on the collar, the damper comprising a rotatable lisk having openings for varying the effective opening of the collar, and a mute movable toward and away from the diaphragm, said mute comprising a screw stem having a disk thereon.

3. A mouthpiece for musical instruments having a transverse opening and a recess surrounding the opening to provide a diaphragm seat, a diaphragm in the seat, a. collar in the recess for clamping the diaphragm on the seat, a removable cap on the collar, a bushing projecting through the cap, a rotatable perforate disl: having epeuii s adapted to be brought into and out of register with corresponding openings in the cap, and a unite-carrying stem longitudinally adjustable in the bushing.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FREDERICK E. SHANE.