US1681220A

US1681220A - Key pad for wind instruments

Info

Publication number: US1681220A
Application number: US746378A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ciccone Anthony
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1924-10-28
Filing date: 1924-10-28
Publication date: 1928-08-21
Anticipated expiration: 1945-08-21

Description

Aug. 21, 1928. I 1,681,220

A. clcco'rgE,

KEY PAD FOR WIND INSTRUMENTS I Filed Oct. 28, 1924 Patented Aug. 21, 1928.

warren srarss ANTHONY CICCONE, or

FOR-T VI'AYITE, INDIANA.

KEY PAD FOR'WINID IISTEUIVEENTS.

Application filed October 28, 1924. Serial No. 746,378.

My invention relates to saxophones and like wind instruments, and more particularly to valves or keys for stopping the ports or openings thereof.

Keys of the type referred to usually have for a base a shallow meta-l cup inwhich seats a pad faced with a leather covering. The pad is ordinarily of felt and is designed to cushion the impact of the key, while the'covering is usually of kid leather and wrapped over the pad to form a smooth, yet tough facing to act as a lid against the rim of the port or open ing in the side of the instrument. rescnt day methods of fitting the key to such rim involve the binding of the key firmly to the instrument until the facing has received an impression from the edge of the rim referred to, heating of such facing frequently being resorted to in order to'rendcr the facing more pliable whereby to yield to the edge of the rim. Vi' hile asubstantially good fit of the key results from the above treatment, the effect is but temporary, and the instrument soon begins to'leak, as evidenced by false notes, squeaks and other noises which interfere with the purity and mellow quality of thetones. The imperfect fit of the key is due to deterioration of the facing on accountof heat and moisture presentin the instrument. These elements cause the facing to become limp and uneven, whereby it fails to meet the edge of the port rim in places, so that leaks are occasioned.

It is the object of the present invention to remedy the chief defect in keys of the current type, as above outlined, by providing the facing with a special form which one properly shaped, controls the impression in the facing, whereby the latter always assumes the shape of the form and therefore properly seats on the port rim.

A further object of the invention is to provide a form. of the character referred to which is impervious to moisture or the heat of the instrument, to avoid deterioration.

Another object of the invention is to provide a form of the kind referred to which is of utmost simplicity, and which involves no departure from the accepted design of the key.

Vith the above objects in mind, and others which may suggest themselves hereinafter, reference is had to the accompanying draw- Fig. 3 is a cross section showing the app-lication of the improved key to a wind instrument; and V Fig. 4 is a disassembled perspective'view of the parts making up the filling for the improved :ey.

Referring specifically to the drawing, 5 de notes the body of a. -saxophone or like wind instrument, 6 the rim of one of its ports or openings,7 a key applicable to such port, 8 the bracket for the toy, and 9 the shaft-rod which operates the key.

As mentioned, the shallow metal cup forms the base orfoundation for the key 7 The filler for the cup is usuallymade of a round felt pad 10 and a patch 11 of kid leather, the latter being wrapped over the disk 10. gathered about the center, as indicated at 12, and sewed at 13 to hold fast. A cement is then applied whereby the filler will'adhere to the cup when inserted therein, as indicated in Fig. '3. The gathering of the covering 11 makes the filler mound-shaped, the high portion filling the cup and the flat base forming the facing and projecting somewhat beyond the edges of the cup.

The impression formed in the facing 11 upon striking the port rim 6 indicated at 15, and the edge of such rim may be plain or somewhat reinforced bya bead 6 In order that the filler may be equipped with the special form to lend it the advantageous qualities above enumerated, a disk 16 of tinfoil, sheet-lead or the like is cemented between the pad 10 and the patch 11 as the filler is as sembled. When the key is fitted to the instrument, it need be pressed but once upon its seat to give its facing the desired impression 15, this impression being in the present instance permanently uniform or true to its seat 6 whether the latter is plain or beaded. The firmness of the impression is due to the shape received by the disk 16, which thus acts as a backing or form for the kid leather facing 11. Since this form is impervious to moisture or the heat of the instrument, 1t retains its impression indefinitely, so that upon the impact of the key the facing 11 will of necessity take the shape of the backing form 16 and seat properly. Also, the disk does not absorb or deaden part of the musical vibrations, as is the case where merely the felt pad backs the facing.

The novel disk or form 16 need not be metal, although that has been found preferable. lVhatever the material it must be impervious to moisture and the heat of the instrumentas mentioned beforeand of a yielding, tough, yet firm and non-resilient nature. The thickness of the disk is so much as to lend it sufficient firmness without adding unnecessary bulk or weight.

A key is thus had which is highly efficient, yet adds but a trifle to the cost of the presentday article and does not alter its form, being invisible from the outside. lVhile the pre ferred form of the improven'ienthas been described and shown, it will be evident that minor changes or refinements may suggest themselves without occasioning a departure fromthe scope and spirit of the invention.

By means of my invention it is possible to crease the pad without heating. The creas ing may be accomplished in any desired manner. If desired, the crease may be formed by simply placing the pad in position on the instrument and then moving it to close the opening in connection with which it is used, thereby pressing it against the edge of said opening. This pressure permanently creases the foil of the pad. The foil used is of such thickness as to receive and hold the crease and also to maintain a corresponding crease in the pliable or kid facing, which crease is formed simultaneously with the crease in the foil. The pad of this invention maintains a tight seat or closure of the opening and will operate satisfactorily for a long period with out warping or bulging or otherwise becoming defective.

I claim: 7

1. A key-pad for wind musical instruments comprising a filler cushion, a pliable facing therefor, and a ply of permanent impressionretaining material between the cushion and the facing.

2. A key-pad for wind musical instruments comprising a filler cushion, a pliable facing therefor, and a ply of flexible, non-resilient metallic material between the cushion and the facing "adapted to be deformed by pressure against the edge of the key opening.

3. A key-pad for wind musical instruments comprising a filler cushion, a pliable facing therefor, and a ply of malleable metal between the cushion and the facing.

4. A key-pad for wind musical instruments comprising a filler cushion, a pliable facing therefor, and a plyof metallic foil between the cushion and the facing. I

5. A key-pad for wind musical instruments comprising a filler cushion, a pliable facing therefor, and a ply of tinfoil between the cushion and the facing;

6. A key pad for wind instruments comprising a filler cushion of soft material, a thin pliable facing therefor adapted to be brought into contact with the edge of the key opening in connection with which the pad is used, a piece of metal foil interposed between the facing and the cushion adapted to receive and hold a crease formed by the edge of the key opening when the pad is pressed against said edge.

7. A key pad for wind instruments comprising a filler cushion of soft material, a. thin pliable facing therefor, adapted to be brought into contact with the edge of the key opening in connection with which the pad is used, a piece of metal foil interposed bet-ween the facing and the cushion adapted to receive and hold a crease formed by the edge of the key opening when the pad is pressed against said edge, said metal foil being of such thickness as to hold and maintain a corresponding crease in said pliable facing formed simultaneously with the crease in the foil.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ANTHONY CICCONE.