US1599750A - Banjo attachment - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 14 1926. 1,599,750

A. w. FORCHIELLI BANJO ATTACHMENT Filed Sept. 15. 1923 Ji/ .Z. Anal- 0 W Forchielli INVENTOR 6' 49 ywi WITNESS:

Patented Sept. 14, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ATTILIO WM; FORCHIELLI, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

- BANJO ATTACHMENT.

Application filed September 15, 1923. Serial No. 662,902.

This invention relates to musical instruments and more particularly to an amplifier for attachment to banjos.

The approved type of banjo amplifiers now in use are designed in such manner that the amplifier must be removed to permit ad- 'ustment of the tension hoop rods of the anjo head which is inconvenient, tedious and time absorbing especially where different adjustments of the head are desired durin the rendering of an orchestral program. t is an object of the present invention to i provide an amplifier construction which will permit adjustment of the tension hoop rods without requiring detachment in any manner with the operation of efficiency of the amplifier.

Another object is to provide a device so constructed and so related to the banjo that the tension rods employed for tightening or tensioning the head of the banjo ma also be employed for securing the ampli er in operative position.

Further objects will appear from the detail descri tion.

In the rawings:

Figure 1is a side elevation of the banjo with the amplifier in section attached.

Figure 2-is a top plan view of the amplifier per se partly in section.

The device is'intended to be used in connection with a banjo of standard construction which includes an annular rim (1 over which is stretched a head 1;, the peripheral portion of this head bein wrapped about a flesh rim, not shown, whic fits snugly about rim a. A straining or tensioning hoop d fits about rim a and above the flesh-ring so that by forcing this hoop downwardly about the mm, by means of straining or tensioning rods 0 provided at their upper elements with hooks e which engage over hoop d the head b can be tensioned or stretched to the desired extent. The banjo constructed in this manner isof standard construction and forms no part of my invention except in so far as it co-operates with means to be descrlbed to accomplish the desired result.

The attachment, which may be termed a deflector or amplifier in that it acts to deflect the sound u wardly from beneath the banjo head, includes a disc 1 which is preferably of concavo-convex cross section and is provided with an upwardly extending peripheral flange or wall 2. A plurality of equally spaced bosses or lugs 3 project inwardly from wall 2 and each boss is formed adjacent to its lower end with an inwardly projecting shoulder 4, these shoulders provide seats for reception of the lower portion of rim (1 of the banjo. Each of the lugs 3 is provided with a bore 5 and with a recess 6 concentric with the bore but of greater diameter, this recess extending from the lower face of disc 1. In applying the device or attachment the shanks of rods 6 are inserted through bores 5 of lugs 3 and suitable nuts f such as are common] employed on banjos are threaded on to t e lower ends of these shanks, these nuts being positioned within recesses 6. For this purpose, a key of a known type is employed, this key being adapted to fit into recesses 6 and about the nut f. This provides ver simple and efficient means for securing t e device in place while permitting ready adjustment or tensioning of the head of the banjo without any necessity for removing the attachment or other parts.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings it will be noted that, when the attachment is in place the tension rods can be adjusted as quickly and easily as if there were no attachment on the banjo, which is of great practical importance. As an additional feature, it will be noted that, when the attachment is in place, the nuts and the lower portions or ends of the s anks of tension rods e are positioned within recesses 6 so that there are no projections such as would tend to catch in the players clothing. This provides a device of extremely simple construction and high efficiency which may be quickly and easily applied to banjos of standard construction without necessitating any change whatever in the construction of the banjo itself.

What I claim is The combination with a banjo including a rim, of an amplifier formed of a single piece of material and having a concavo-convex circular bottom with the concave side facing the ban'o, an upstanding circular rim formed a out said bottom and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced lugs formed thereon and extending inwardly, said lugs being spaced to provi e sound escaping spaces, shoulders formed on the inner sides of said lugs, the rim of said banjo resting upon said shoulders and against the adjaeent faces of the lugs, whereby sound space will be provided beneath the banjo and escape of the sound will be permitted through the spaces formed by the lugs said lugs be-' ing provided with clamping boltreceiving openings, and with countersinks extending upwardly from the bottom of the amplifier for receiving the clamping nuts.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature ATTILIO WM. FORCHIELLI.

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