US1559657A - Violin-sound-post setter - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 3, 1925. 1,559,657

C. H. TODD VIOLIN SOUND POST SETTER Filed lay 22. 1923 l l/ llfll III/A J u/WZ r. 6- b" 7200 Patented Nov. 3, 19135.

UNITED STATES CHARLES 11. mom), or new RICHMOND, WISCONSIN.

VIOLIN-SOUND-POST snrrnn.

Application filed May 22, 1923. Serial No. 640,674.

T 0 all whom-it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. Toni), a citizen of the United States, residing at New Richmond, in the county of Saint Croix and State of isconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Violin- Sound-Post Setters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a device adapted to perform the measuring operations for and to place in position the sound posts used in violins. These sound posts comprise small cylindrical members which are placed in the violin body and extend between the upper and lower walls thereof. The posts must be inserted into the body through the narrow slots which are usually provided in the upper side thereof and the placing of these posts has been a tedious and diiiicult operation.

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 post may be held and quickly and easily placed in position or removed.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a device comprising a member against which the post is received, said member having a handle extending upwardly therefrom and another member being provided extending longitudinally of the handle to engage the post and hold the same against the first mentioned member.

It is more specifically an object of the invention to provide a device comprising a semi-cylindrical sleeve having a handle sup port extending upwardly therefrom at ,an angle to the longitudinal axis thereof, which handle carries a pointed pin adapted to be pressed against the post in said sleeve to hold the same, which pointed pin is resiliently retracted.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the di'ife'rent'vie'ws, and in i Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device also showing a portion {of a violin and illustiati'ng the operation of the device;

Fig. 2 is a vertical central section through the device showing the same holding the post in the violin which is also shown in vertical section;

3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a portion of the device holding a measuring device for the post; and

Fig. 4 is a plan view of one end of the device.

Referring to the drawings, a portion of a violin body is illustrated as 1, through the upper wall of which is formed the usual slot 2 through which slot the sound post illustrated as 3 must be inserted. The device for handling and placing the post comprises a member 4 against which the side of the post abuts and which is illustrated as a semi-cylindrical sleeve and thus has a longitudinal groove extending longitudinally thereof. Said sleeve is formed of a comparatively thin sheet metal and has a laterally extending portion 5 to which is secured a sleeve of comparatively small diameter forming a hollow support 6. The support 6 extends upwardly from the sleeve 4 at an angle to the longitudinal axis thereof and the open portion of the sleeve 4 is disposed toward said support. A hollow handle 7 illustrated as of cylindrical form is attached to the upper end of the support 6 and a coiled spring 8 is disposed in the handle 7 abutting at one end against the end of the support 6. A short hollow sleeve 9 is disposed in the upper end of handle 7 and abuts the upper end of the spring 8. A pin or rod 10 having its lower end sharpened, extends longitudinally through the support 6, the spring 8 and the sleeve 9 and is provided with a handle in the form of a knob 11 at its outer end.

In operation, the handle 7 will be grasped in the hand with the knob 11 seated in the palm of the hand. The sleeve 4 will be engaged about the post and by relative movement of the handle 7 and the knob 11 the pointed end of the pin 10 will be pressed against the post firmly clamping the "same in sleeve 4 and preventing any rotation thereof. "This relative movement of the members 7 and 11 is readily obtained by a slight movement or bending of the fingers. The knob 11 presses against the upper end of the sleeve 9 and the spring 8 is compressed by the longitudinal movement of pin 10 and sleeve 9 so that when the pressure is relieved from the parts 7 and 11, the spring 8 will retract knob 11 and pin 10. With the post gripped in the tool the same can be easily inserted through the slot 2 and moved about to various positions. The present device is an improvement of that disclosed and claimed in my co-pending application, S. N. 492,876, filed August 17, 1921. The device disclosed in the application is very convenient and efiicient for placing the sound post, but after the same is in position or if the same has been knocked down in the violin body it was dilticult to again secure a hold upon the same. With the present device the post can be readily engaged and removed when in position in the violin or when loose therein.

In order to determine the length of the post required the device shown in Fig. 3 is used consisting of ashort cylindrical member 12 having a screw'13 projecting therefrom which is engaged by a threaded sleeve 14. The members 12 and 14 can be readily moved to extend the distance between the ends thereof and by inserting the device in the violin the exact length of post necessary may readily be gauged. The post is then cut to substantially the same length and placed in position.

From the above description it is seen that ap licant has provided an extremely simple anc efiicient tool for handling, placing and removing the sound posts of violins. The device is exceedingly simple and can be easily and inexpensively made. An ordinary hat pin which can be easily and cheaply procured has been found to be very eflicient for use as the pin 10 and knob 11. The applicant is an experienced manufacturer and repairer of violins and the success of the device has been amply demonstrated in actual use.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which, generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above enumerated, such as shown, described and set forth in the ap pended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A violin sound post setting device comprising, a semi-cylindrical sleeve for receiving the sound post, a support extending at aninclinatio-n to the axis of said sleeve, and substantially rigid means carried by and movable longitudinally of said support toward said sleeve and into contact with said post.

2. A violin sound post handling device comprising, means for receiving and partially embracing the sound post, a supporting means extending at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said means, and a substantially rigid member carried by and movable toward and from said first mentioned means for engaging the post to clamp the same against said first mentioned means.

3. A violin sound post handling device having at one end a member having an inwardly directed concave recess for receiving the post, a hollow support secured to said member extending from the concave side of said recess at an angle to the longitudinal axis thereof and a pointed rod slidable in said support mounted to move toward said end and recess and engage the post to clamp thesame against said member.

1-. A device of the class described having in combination, a member having a longitudinal groove therein against which the side of a violin sound post abuts, a support secured to said member and extending at an angle therefrom, and means carried and guided by said support and movable longitudinally thereof toward said member to clamp the post there-against.

5. A device of the class described having at one end means for engaging and partially surrounding a violin sound post, a support extending from the inner side of said means at an angle to a longitudinal axis of said means, a handle rigidly secured to said support, resilient means carried by said handle, a member movable longitudinally of said handle to contact with said resilient means, and a means movable longitudinally of said handle and support for engaging the post and clamping the same against the first mentioned means and engaging said mem ber whereby it moves said member against said resilient means and is retracted thereby.

6. A device of the class described, comprising means adapted to engage and par tially embrace a sound post, a support extending at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said means, a handle secured to said support, resilient means in said handle, a sleeve in said handle engaging said resilient means, a pin slidable through said sleeve, said re silient means and said sleeve and pin being movable toward said first mentioned means and said pin having a pointed end for engaging said .post and pressing the same against said first mentioned means, and a knob secured to the outer end of said pin engaging said sleeve.

7. A violin sound post setting device having at one end a semi-cylindrical member provided with an open concave side facing the other end of said device, a support rigid with said member and alined with said open concave side of said member and with its axis making an acute angle to the axis of said member, a pin slidable in said support and movable toward said first mentioned end of said device and said open concave side of said member to engage a sound post therein and press the same against said member.

8. The structure set forth in claim 7., said member, a cylindrical handle secured to said support, resilient means in said handle act ing to move said pin away from said member, and a knob on the outer end of said pin.

9. A violin sound post setting device having at one end a semi-cylindrical member provided with an open concave side facing the other end of said device, a support rigid with said member and alined with said open concave side of said member and with its axis making an acute angle with the axis of said member, a pin slidable in said support and movable toward said first mentioned end of said device and said open concave side of said member to engage a sound post therein and press the same against said member, a handle secured to said support adjacent its upper end, resilient means in said handle surrounding said pin and having one of its ends engaging said support, a sleeve surrounding said pin slidable in said handle and engaging the other end of said resilient means, said pin having a knob at its outer end in engagement with said sleeve whereby when said pin is moved to engage a sound post the same will be retracted by said resilient means.

10. A violin sound post handling device having at one end a substantially semicylindrical sleeve having its convex side disposed outwardly, a support secured to said sleeve and extending from the open concave side thereof and at an acute angle to the axis thereof, said sleeve being much longer axially than the outer diameter of said sup port. a pin slidable in said support toward said open concave side of said sleeve and adapted to engage a sound post disposed in said sleeve and press the same thereagainst.

11. The structure set forth in claim 10, a handle surrounding said support, a knob on the end of said pin and rigid therewith and means tending to move said pin away from said member.

12. A device of the class described, comprising a member having a longitudinal groove formed in one side thereof for receiving a violin sound post, a supporting member secured to said first mentioned member transversely alined with said groove and extending away from the same, and a pointed member movable longitudinally of said second mentioned member and alined transversely of said groove for engaging a violin sound post disposed therein to hold said post against said first mentioned member.

13. A violin sound post setting device comprising, a semi-cylindrical sleeve for receiving the sound post, a support extending at an inclination to the axis of said sleeve, and means carried by and movable longitudinally of said support toward said sleeve and into contact with said post.

1.4. A violin sound post handling device comprising, means for receiving and partially embracing the sound post, a supporting means extending at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said means, and a member carried by and movable toward and from said first mentioned means for engaging the post to clamp the same against said first mentioned means.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature.

CHARLES H. TODD.

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