US1603371A - Stringed-instrument bow guide - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 19, 1926.

L. J. ZAHN STHINGED INSTRUMENT BOW GUIDE Filed Feb. 27. 1924 Patented Oct. 19, 1926 UNITED STATES Lonnnz J. alarm, on LONG ISLAND CITY, New YORK.

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Application filed February 27, 1924.

This invention is directed to means for assisting in training beginners to bow an instrument, such as a violin, in the proper manner. In learning to play a violin, it' is rather hard for a beginner to keep the bow straight and much time may be lost in sliding the bow up and down or back and forth on the strings without accomplishing the desired result. In my Patent 1,508,830, issued Sept. 16, 1924, I have shown and de scribed a bow guide which is adapted to be mounted on the bridge of the instrument, thereby acting also as a mute.

My present invention has to do with a bow guide which is not mounted on the bridge of the instrument and, therefore, does not act as a mute. T

It is the principal object of my invention to provide a bow guide which is simple and cheap to manufacture and one that can be quickly attached or removed from the instrument.

A still further object is to provide a guide which is light and can be easily carried about.

My invention will be best understood by reference to the attached drawing, where- 1n:

Figure 1 shows a partial view of a violin with one form of my bow guide attached to v the finger board.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the guide itself detached from the holding bracket.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the holdbracket used in connection with the guide shown in Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is a modified form of bow guide shown attached to the end of the finger board.

Figure 5 is a still further modified form somewhat like that shown in Fig. 4.

Figures 6, 7 and 8 are detailed views of the parts forming the bow guide shown in Fig. 5.

Figure 10 is a still further modified form showing the bow guide constructed of one piece of metal. 7

Figure 9 is a fragmentary plan view showing how the guide of Fig. 10 is attached to the finger board.

Referring now to the details wherein like numbers refer to corresponding parts in the various views, 1 illustrates the body of a violin, a bridge 2 and strings 3 being attached to the tail piece 4. 5 is the finger board. 6 is a narrow bracket member which Serial No. 695,406.

is adapted to slide over the end of the finger board 5 between two of the strings andis held to the finger board by the set screw 7, a protecting plate 8 being used so that the set screw does not mar the finger board, and the lowerlimb of the bracket 6 is preferably provided with apiece of rubber or felt 20. The bra'cketb is provided with a hole-19, into which fits a mounting arm '11, the outer end of which is attached to one of the vertical arms 21 of the bow guide, generally referred to as 10. The arms 21 of the bow guide are provided with a buffer strip of rubber or felt 12 in order to protect the bow from mechanical rubbing or from metallic noise due to the hitting of the bow frame on the arms 21. The lower end of the arms 21 are preferably formed outward at 13 in the immediate vicinity of the strings of the instrument to prevent injury to the hairs of the how by rubbing on the uprights of the guide. The formed part 13 on one side of the guide 10 engages a portion 22 of the bracket 6, thereby obtaining a guiding support on the bracket 6 so that the guide 10 will be held securely in position.

In Fig. 4, the guide 10 is constructed of two parts, one of these being formed as shown at 23, to act as a common pivot point for the two parts. While the arms 21 extend substantially parallel in a vertical direction, these arms continue generally in a horizontal direction and are spaced apart so as to engage the finger board 5, being clamped thereto by set screw 7. It is seen by loosening the set screw, the two parts of the guide can be pivoted about the point 23 so as to provide the necessary opening between the horizontal portions 17 and 24, whereby these portions will engage the finger board 5 as explained.

In Fig. 5 the upper member has cars 16 formed downward thereon as well as a loop 25, the ears 16 being adapted to cooperate with ears 18 to receive a pivot pin 14, a spring 15 having one 'end to engage the lower horizontal portion 24 of the lower member of the guide and the upper arm of the spring engages the loop 25 to cause the horizontal portion 17 to move about the pivot 14, whereby the two horizontal portions 17 and 24 grip the finger board 5.

In Fig. 10 the entire guide is made out of one piece of wire bent into shape as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the buffers 1.2 in

this case being adapted to slide over the formed ends of the wire.

From what has been illustrated in the various figures, it will be readily understood that the details for applying my invention may be varied over a considerable range and L therefore, do not wish to be limited except as by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus What I claim is 1. For a stringed instrument having a fingerboard, a bow guide comprising; a guide member having two substantially parallel arms with buffer members thereon and spaced to permit a bow to move between said arms, each of said arms having portions extending laterally therefrom, one of described my invention,

said lateral portions having a pivot 011 the other and means for causing said lateral portions to move about the pivot to grip the end of the finger board of the instrument.

2. For a stringed instrument having a fingerboard, a bow guide comprising; a guide member having two substantially parallel arms spaced to permit a bow to move therebetween, each arm having a portion extending laterally therefrom, one portion adjacent the other, said laterally extending portions slipped over to grip the free end of the fingerboard of the instrument.

In testimony whereof, I ailix my signature.

LORENZ J. ZAHN

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