US1562038A - Mouthpiece for saxophones - Google Patents

Description

Patented Non. 17, 1.925.

JULIUS J. NEUMANN,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MOUTHPIECE FOR SAXOPHOITES.

Application filed July 14, 1922. Serial No. 574,950.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, .lutins J. NEUMANN, a citizen ot the United States, and a resident ot Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in tfIou-thpieces t'or Saxophones; nnd I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which torni a part ot' this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in reed clamps for the n'iouthpieces ot saxophones, clarionets and like musical instruments and consists of the matt-ers hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

The object ot the invention is to provide a reed clamp by means of which the reed may be securely clamped and held on its base, may be reinforced against warping and which at the same time permits the ready and quick insertion, adjustment, or removal and replacement of the reed.

This and other objects and advantages the invention will appear as I proceed with my specification.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a View in side elevation ot the mouthpiece ot a saxophone, clarionet, or the like instrument having a reed-clamp embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional View through the mouthpiece on a enlarged scale.

Figs. 4 and 5 are cross sectional views through the mouthpiece as taken on the lines 1- 4 and 55, respectively ot' Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a housing member embodiedl in my improved reed clamp as it appears when removed from the housing.

Iiig. 7 is a perspective view of the clamping plate included in my improved reed clamp.

Referring now to that embodiment ot the invention illustrated in the drawings 1() indicates the mouthpiece of a reed instrument provided with the improved reed clamp. Said body is preferably made oit' cast metal, although it may be of vulcanized rubber as usual in instruments of the kind. 11 indicates the part oit the mouthpiece known as the lay surface which is formed of the mouthpiece at the shoulders 18.

to receive the reed 12 and which at the rear, as indicated at 13, is made lat to provide a base against which the reed is attached and supported in a familiar manner. 15 indicates the bevel tip of the mouthpiece. "An shown in the drawings, the bevel part of the tip is preferably provided with a pad 17 of yielding material suclnas hard rubber.I which inset in the said bevel part, being held in place by means of transversely eiftending, overhanging tianges 16 which provide a transverse recess extending across the bevel top of the mo'utl1piece,-the recess being open at either end i'or the inscrtion oit' said pad. The said pad may be held 1n place by shellac or other convenient means and provides a grip` for the teeth which absorbs and relieves the vibration ot the instrument in a Vfamiliar manner.

The bottom part of the mouthpiece is formed at each side of the rear end part 1&5 of the lay surface with longitudinal shoulders 18 (see Fig. 1) at each side of and eX- tending at right angles to the said lay surface. 19 indicates a housing' (see Fig. 6). Said housing is made of sheet metal and is in the form of a channel having laterally spaced side walls 2O and a transversely curved or arched bottom wall 21. The side walls 2O of the housing engage against the longitudinal shoulders 18 and the bottom wall 21 stands below the flat part 13 of the clay surface 11. The housing is secured in place by means of screws 22 which extend through the side walls 2O of the housing and into the body 23a` 23a, indicate thumb screws which are threaded through the bottom wall 21 of the housing and are adapted to engage and hold the reed against the flat part 13 ot the lay surface 11. As shown, the said bottom wall 21 of the housing is provided with apertured threaded bosses 23 to receive said thumb screws.

The thumb screws do not engage the reed directly but indirectly through the medium ot a clamping plate 2G which is ioinicd to fit between the side walls oi" the housing and to engage the rounded, butt end oi 'the reed, said clamping plateis provided intermediate its ends with an interiorly threaded stud 27, and the bottom wall of the housing is provided with a corresponding opening 25 (see Fig. 3) through which said stud extends. A thumb screw 28 is engaged in the interiorly threaded stud 27 of the clamping plate 26 and a coiled spring 30, of a diameter large enough to embrace the end of the stud 27 which projects through the opening 25 in the bottom wall of the housing, is interposed betweenk the outer surface ot' the aforesaid bottom wall of the said housing and the head 29 of the said thumb screw-an annular flange being formed on the 'bottom wall of the housing to enclose and protect the said coil spring. It is manifest that since the coil spring is interposed between the head 29 ot' the thumb screw 28, which is threaded into the stud 27 on the clamping plate 26, that the spring will tend to draw or pull the clamping plate towards the bottom wall of the housing. Thus, when "the 'thumb screws 23a which, as above described, through the medium of the clamping plate, khold the base ot the reed in place yare unscrewed to release the clamping plate, `the coil spring 30 will act against the head 29 of 'the thumb screw 28 to dislodge the clamping plate from its engagement with the reed, thereby breaking any connection that mayhave been made between the clamping plate andthe reed due to moisture acquired inthe process of playing the instrument, or otherwise. The tension of the spring 30 may apparently be adjusted by 'means of the screw 28.

The clamping plate 26 is formed so that its 'lateral edges may slide freely within the side walls of the housing. The thumb screws are arranged so that their pressure may be brought to bear along the median line of the reed. As the clamping plate is rounded to fit the outer surface o'l the reed butt the screws will thus apply an even pressure which extends equally over the base against which the reed is seated. The operation and advantages of the improved reed clamp will be lapparent to those familiar with the art. A reed may be removed and replaced with certainty and precision by means ot the thumb screws 23a.

Vhile in describing my invention I have referred to certain details of mechanical construction and arrangement, it is to be understood that the invention is in no way limited thereto, except as 'may be pointed out in the appended claim.

l claim as my invention A reed clamp tor a musical instrument` comprising in combination with a tubular mouthpiece body provided with a lay surface for a reed, a channel shaped housing member mounted on the body and enclosing the flattened rear end part of said lay sur'lace which provides a base for the butt end of the reed, said housing member including a back wali spaced from said llay surface, a clamping 4plate in said housing JULIUS J. 'NEUMANiNx

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