US1576903A

US1576903A - fontanella

Info

Publication number: US1576903A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1926-03-16
Anticipated expiration: 1943-03-16

Description

March 16 1926.

H. F. FONTANELLA MUSICAL TOY Filed May 18, 1925 INVENTOR W, BY AW ATTORNEY WITNE Patented Mar. 16, 1926.

UNITED STATES HENRY F. FONTANELLA, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MUSICAL TOY.

Application filed May 18, 1925.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY F. Forum- NELLA, a citizen of Italy, residing at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Musical Toys, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in the type of musical toys known as a kazoo and its principal object is to provide an instrument embodying a cylindrical element in which a plurality of vibratory members are supported, and which are capable of adjustment so that they can be operated to produce the desired tone.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character adapted to be actuated by humming a melody into the same and the tone of which may be regulated by adjusting means which is provided therefor.

With the preceding and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists in the novel construction of elements and arrangement of parts and operations, to be hereinafter specifically referred to, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved musical instrument.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same, and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of a slightly modified embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail where in corresponding characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 5 designates a cylinder provided with an opening 6 at one side against which the mouth of the operator is adapted to be pressed. Removably arranged upon each end of the cylinder 5 is a cap 7 having a depressed central part or cup-shaped member 9 each of which is provided with a central opening 10.

Disposed in each of the caps 7 is a vibratory diaphragm 11 of tissue, leather or other similar material and which rests against the ends of the cylinder 5 and is adapted to be engaged by the cup-shaped members 8 upon movement of the same towards the inner ends of the cylinder.

The ends of the caps 7 are rolled upon themselves to provide beads 14; which are Serial No. 31,192.

adapted to be grasped by the operators fingers to slide the cap longitudinally on the cylinder.

Upon holding the cap with greater or less force to engage the cup-shaped members with the diaphragms, the latter will be correspondingly tensioned and thereby regulate the sound reproduced by the instrument.

From the disclosure it will be apparent that a person. may operate the device by simply pressing his mouth against the opening provided in the side and hum a note between the teeth and by adjusting the caps so that the diaphragms vibrate at the same rate to produce the same sound value as the note hummed, the device is then ready to be played, and with a little practice the player can give a good imitation of a cello, saxophone, cornet, bugle, etc.

In Figure 3 a modified form of the invention is illustrated, and in this connection the ends of the cylinder 5 are provided with exterior screw threads 15 while the caps are provided with interior screw threads 16 which are threaded upon the threaded ends 15. Upon rotation of the caps it will be observed that the cup shaped elements will engage the diaphragms with greater or less force to hold the same at the desired tension and thereby regulate the sound of the device to correspond to the voice of the player.

lVhile I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, I desire to have it understood that such changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of parts and operations, as will not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Vhat is claimed is A musical toy comprising a cylinder hav ing an opening centrally disposed in one side thereof and adapted to receive the mouth of the player, cap members movable longitudinally on the ends of the cylinder, diaphragms arranged'within said cap me1nbers and adapted to contact the ends of the cylinder, and inwardly extending cup shaped elements formed on the cap members and formed with openings and adapted to .adjustably engage the diaphragms to hold the same under tension.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HENRY F. FONTANELLA.