US1552944A

US1552944A - Musical instrument

Info

Publication number: US1552944A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1925-09-08
Anticipated expiration: 1942-09-08

Description

Sept. 8, 1925;

C. S. MUDGE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed April 25. 1923 IN VEN TOR Patented Sept. 8, 1925.

UNITED STATES CLARK S. MUDGE, OE DAMASCUS, OREGON.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Application filed April 23, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARK. S. MUDGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Damascus, in the county of Clackamas and State of Oregon, have invented a new and useful Musical Instrument, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in musical instrument in which a tongue-like membrane is held in a clamp and placed against the lips to produce a musical sound by blowing.

The objects of my invention are to produce an instrument Which First, small enough to be carried in a vest pocket;

Second, requires only one hand for playing, leaving the other hand free for the manipulation of an accompanying instrument such as bones, bass drums, castanets, cymbals, xylophones or other such like instruments Third, does not require any tuning;

Fourth, plays anytune in any key, in sharps or flats, loud or soft;

Fifth, accords with all other instruments in bands, orchestras or drum corps;

Sixth, can be played by any one who can whistle;

Seventh, furnishes an excellent lung exer cise;

Eighth, furnishes a delightful entertainment, even when played without accompaniment;

Ninth, produces a peculiarly sweet and beutiful tone, comparable to a saxaphone, fife, flute, piccolo or similar pipe instrument's;

Tenth, can be learned with a minimum of effort.

Other objects and advantages are to be found in the construction and arrangements of parts as will be described in the specification and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

I attain these objects with themechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1, is a front elevation of my device in full size.

Fig. 2, is a rear elevation of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section through Fig. 1 on a somewhat enlarged scale to show the details of construction more clearly.

Fig. 4-, gives an approximate idea of the Serial No. 633,824.

manner in which the instrument is employed.

Fig. 5 13 the same device as shown in the previous figures, except that ivory, celluloid,

hard rubber or wood is substituted for the metal clamps.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A tongue or membrane 1, preferably of celluloid, is placed against a loop of soft, flexible rubber 9.. The upper edge of the tongue is rounded off semi-circularly and projects above the loop. Tongue and loop are separated by a thin strip of celluloid 3, which latter encircles the loop and, together with the tongue and loop, is held in a clamp whereof lis the front member and '5 the rear member. By means of the bolts 6 all of the above named elements are rigidly connected with each other. The front member 4 reaches only to the bottom of the loop, thus leaving the latter exposed throughout its entire height, to be pressed against the lips when necessary. The back member 5 curves around the loop nearly to the top, and furnishes acounter bearing whereby the loop can be compressed when it is de sired to shorten the vibrating length of the tongue and to obtain a higher pitch of tone.

The celluloid strip 3, by furnishing a smooth contact line for the tongue, greatly improves the tone qualities without detracting from the flexibility and compressibility of the loop.

If the clamping members are made of metal, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4:, they are preferably stamped of one piece, and the lateral edges may be turned over as shown at 7. If ivory, pyrolin or wood is employed, the members are made separate, and the lateral edges of the inserted members may be left uncovered.

In playing, the instrument is held bet-ween the thumb and index finger of one hand, and a current of air, issuing between the contracted lips, is permitted to strike against the upper edge of the tongue 1, and at approximately right angles to the surface of said tongue, producing a pecu liarly sweet and mellow tone.

Having thus described my invention, it will be seen that my objects have been accomplished and, though I have shown the preferred form of construction, I reserve to myself the right to make minor changes,

providing I do not violate the spirit and principle of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a musical instrument, the combination of a vibrating tongue, with a compressible loop backing the lower end of the tongue.

2. In a musical instrument, the combination o1 a Vibrating tongue having the upper edge rounded to a sen'iici.rclc, with a com pressible loop backing the lower end of the tongue.

3. In a musical lllStlUlllGIlt, the combination of a vibrating tongue, with a compressible loop backing the lower end of the tongue, and means for holding tongue and loop lirmly together.

In a musical instrument, the combination of a vibrating tongue, a variable backing at the lower end of the tongue, said backing including a loop of soft rubber, and a clamp holding loop and tongue lirnily together.

5. In a musical instrument, the combination of a vibrating tongue, a variable backing at the lower end of the tongue. said backing including av thin strip of celluloid bent into a loop, and av clamp holding the loop of celluloid and the tongue firmly together.

6. In a musical instrument, the combination of a vibrating tongue, a variable burl:- ing at the lower end of the tongue, said backing comprising a loop of soft rubber and a covering o'l. celluloid over the rubber, and a clamp holding the tongue, rubber loop and celluloid covering lirn'il'y together.

7. In a musical instrument, the combina tion o'l vibrating tongue, a variable backing at the lower end of the tongue, and a clamp holding the tongue and backing firmly together, said clamp having a front men'iber extending to the bottom of the buck ing and a rear member extending around and to the top of the backing.

S. In a musical instrun'ient. the combina lion of a clamp, a tongue projecting beyond the upper edge of the clamp, a rubber strip in. the clamp parallel to the tongue and forming a loop beyond the upper edge of the clamp but below the upper edge of the tongue, a. celluloid strip enclosing the loop and separating the tongue from the rubber, and bolts through the clamp holding the tongue, rubber strip and celluloid strip firinly together.

Signed by me at Portland, Oregon this 16th day of April, IDLE C. 5. MUDGE.