US1783244A - Resonating means for banjos - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 2, 1930. w. .LANGE RESONATING MEANS FOR BANJOS Filed July 11, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 77 /}P- 7 06 F I 65 G .1mm

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RESONATING MEANS FOR BANJOS Filed July 11, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIIIIIIIK-I. I?

@W A TOFQNEY Patented Dec. 2, 1930 ENI'EED STATES WILLIAM L. LANGE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

RESONATING MEANS FOR BANJOS Application filed July 11,

This invention relates to stringed musical instruments and more particularly to resonating means for banjos, though it is noted that the invention is not limited to banjos nor in some respects to resonating means.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved stringed musical instrument having very eficient resonating means for increasing the tone and distributing the tone more evenly throughout the difierent registers.

Other objects or" the invention are to provide an improved resonating tone ring, an improved cast metal tone ring, and an improved strain ring.

()ther objects of the invention are to provide an improved resonator attaching means and an improved neck adjusting means.

Other objects or" the invention are to improve generally the tone and simplicity of such instruments and to provide an instrument of this kind which is durable and reliable in operation, and economical to manufacture and assemble.

Still other objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds; and while herein details of the invention are described and claimed, the invention is not limited to these, since many and various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed in the broader claims.

The inventive features for the accomj'ilishment of these and other objects are shown herein in connection with an improved sound instrument which, briefly stated, includes an annular wooden frame around which are disposed a resonator ring provided with an airnular wall, and a foraminous spacing ring secured around said frame and engaging the upper part of said wall to provide upper sound outlets.

A lower spacing ring around said frame is placed under and in contact with the lower flange of said resonator ring and is provided with sound openings; said spacing ring has detachably secured thereto the side wall of a wooden resonator, which is spaced clownwardly and with its side wall outwardly from said frame and has a closed bottom.

1929. Serial No. 377,375.

A cast metal one-piece tone ring member comprises inner and outer spaced tone rings spaced over the frame and forming a clownwardly opening resonating chamber, the inner ring being provided with small sound openings communicating with the interiorspace of the instrument.

The diaphragm engages over both said tone rings.

A suitable three point adjustable support holds the neck on the frame.

In the accompanying drawing showing, by way of example, one of many possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a fragmental plan showing a banjo embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmental approximately longitudinal vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, showing the resonating chambers in cross-section, the section being taken sub stantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows of said line;

Fig. 3 is a fragmental vertical sectional view, drawn to a larger scale, the section being taken substantially on the same line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmental side elevation, partly in section, showing the latch;

Fig. 5 is a fragmental vertical sectional view, showing the principal parts disassembled, the section being taken substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a plan showing the tone ring member;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the tone ring member; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmental plan of the upper spacing ring.

Ihe various parts of my improved stringed musical instrument are carried on a wooden annular frame or rim 10 (Figs. 2 and 8) having its outer face cylindrical at the middle part 11 and rabbeted at the edges to form up per and lower shoulders 12 and 13.

A metallic resonator ring 15 around said frame against the lower shoulder 13 is provided with small strain hook openings 16 (Fig; 5) and an outer cylindrical wall 17 spaced from the frame and projecting beyond the front or upper plane 18 of the ring.

'An upper spacing ring has a downturned flange 21 secured by screws 22 around said frame in engagement with said upper shoulder 12, the ring being provided with a series of large sound outlets 2a and strain hook openings 25 (Fig. 1) therebetween axially alined with the strain hook openings of the resonator ring.

The frame 10 and rings 15 and 20co-operate to form a resonating chamber.

A flat filler or lower spacing ring 28 is disposed around said frame against the lower face of the resonator ring and provided with large semi-circular sound openings 29 near its outer edge, and small strain hook openings 30 (Fig. 8) near its inner edge concentric with the strain hook openings 25 of the resonator ring.

A wooden resonator spaced from the frame 10 and having a closed convened bottom 36 spaced from the bottom of the frame has a side wall 37 inwardly rabbeted as at 38 at the upper edge to removably receive the outer edge of the spacing ring 28 and to provide a ledge engaging under the spacing ring. Said frame 10 and resonator 35 co-operate to provide a sound passage from the interior of the frame under the frame and up through said semi-circular sound openings 29.

Pairs of spaced screws 39 (Fig. 4) secured inv approximately diametrically opposite parts of the inner face of the resonator side wall 37, with their heads slightly spaced from the side wall, carry latch plates 40, each having a horizontal slot 41 slidably received 'on the screws of said pairs respectively.

Each plate is provided with an upwardly projecting end 42 adapted to project through one of the sound openings 29 and provided with an enlarged upper end or head 43 provided with a lower latching shoulder 44 adapted to engage the top face of the lower spacing plate 28 to hold the resonator in place.

Sliding movement of the latch plate causes disengagement of said shoulder from the plate, permittingremoval of the resonator.

A cast aluminum tone ring member (Figs. 2 and 7) disposed over the frame 10 is formed with diaphragm-engaging inner and outer tone rings 51, 52 (Figs. 3 and forming an annular resonating chamber and sound passage 53 therebetween. These rings are oined at wide intervals at the lower edge b downwardl )roiectin s acin lu s 55 1, .1 D O c;

(Fig. 7) secured by screws 56 (Fig. 2) against the upper face 18 of th frame 10, thus holding the body spaced from the frame to form a sound passage, designated by the arrow 57, between the frame and tone ring member. The inner ring 51 is the taller and is provided with a plurality of small sound openings 58 therearound to provide additional sound passages through said small openings, chamber 53 and under the outer I tone ring.

A diaphragm 6O engaging over said tone rings is provided with a flesh ring 61 (Fig. 3) disposed against the outer face of the outer tone ring and receiving a strain rim 62 resting thereon. The strain rim is provided with upper and lower outwardly projecting flanges 63, 64:, the latter having an upturned flange 65v over which engage strain hooks 66 passing through said hook openings 16, 25 and 30 of the resonator and spacing rings and having threaded lower ends 67, receiving nuts 68 engaging the lower face of the spacing ring 28 to pull the diaphragm against the tone ring and to hold the tone ring member and rings 15 and 28 against the frame.

T'he ring 28 and resonator side wall 3'? are provided with recesses 70 (Fig. 8) and 71 (Fig. in which is seated the inner end 7 2 of the neck 73. Said end has its inner face curved horizontally to conform to the outer outlines of said annular wall 17 and the strain ring 62. The neck is held in place by a bolt 7 5 and set screws 7 6 (Fig. 1). The'bolt 7 5 is anchored in the lower part of said end 72 and has a threaded end -77 passing. through the frame and receiving a nut 7 8 for 'adjustably holding the lower part of the neck end.

vEars (Fig. 1) on the neck, near an arcuate plate 81 interposed between'the neckand strain ring, carry the set screws 76 ad uStably engaging said plate and forming with said bolt an adJustable support for the neck, the

bolt drawing the neck against the lower part of the wall 17, and holding the set screws against the plate.

The strings 78, bridge 79 and tail piece 80 may be of any preferred or usual arrangement.

In use the sound from the interior of the instrument passes out through the passages indicated by the arrows 57 and 82 (Fig. 2), as well as through the openings 58 (Fig. and chamber 53, the resonator 35 and chamber 53 resonating the sound and increasing the volume. In addition vibrations from the diaphragm and tone rings 51 and 52 increases the sound in, and passing from, the chamber 53; while the vibrations received from the wooden frame 10 are resonated and strengthened in the chamber defined by the frame and rings. 15 and 20, from which the sound passes out at the arrow 83 to be combined with that at the arrows 57 and 82.

The chambers enclosed by the parts 35, 17

and 50 are thus enclosed by. respectively,

mostly wood, partly wood and metal, and mostly meta-l giving a wide variety to the tones and overtones. These chambers are also T he latch plate lO (Fig. 4) is efficient for positively holding the resonator 35 in place, and is very easily operated for release, merely by pushing back the head 43.

Ihe neck may o easily adjusted by manipulating the set screws 76 and nut 78.

The flanges 63, 6e and 3) of the strain rim serve to strengthen the rim and at the same time dispose the strain hooks out of the way and make them inconspicuous, improving the appearance of the instrument.

The parts 10, 35 and 73 are preferably made of wood, the part 50 of cast aluminum and the other principal parts of suitable metal, but it is understood, that the claims are not limited to these materials or other materials, except when distinctly stated.

lVhile in some of the claims herein are mentioned the top, bottom and upper and lower parts of the instrument, it is understood that these are for designation and that the claims are to be construed broadly enonghto cover other positions and relative dimensions, and in general the claims should be given a broad construction when possible,

I claim as my invention:

1. In astringed musical instrument a frame, parts encompassing said frame, being spaced therefrom, and enclosing therebetween and said frame three resonator chambers, forming and including annular spaces, disposed substantially one above the other around said frame and each provided with one or more sound outlets.

2. In a stringed musical instrument; a frame; parts encompassing said frame and enclosing therebetween and said frame, a

resonator chamber around said frame provided with upper sound outlets; a resonator spaced below the frame and chamber and projecting beyond said chamber and provided with upper sound openings; spaced tone rings spaced over the frame and forming an upper downwardly opening resonator chamber provided with inner sound openings; and a diaphragm engaging over said tone rings.

3. In a stringed musical instrument a wooden frame, a metal resonator ring disposed in a plane parallel to said frame around a shoulder at the lower part of said frame, said ring being provided with an upwardly extending annular wall spaced away from and disposed in a plane parallel to said frame, and a means for connecting said ring with said wall thereon to said frame.

at. The elements of claim 8, combined with a spacing ring, having therein sound outlets and having thereon a cylindrically disposed flange secured to the upper end of said frame, said spacing ring encompassing said frame in a plane parallel thereto and being engaged with said wall thereby forming an annular resonator chamber around said frame.

5. In a stringed musical instrument a frame, parts encompassing said frame and enclosing therebetween and said frame an annular resonator chamber encompassing said frame, said chamber being provided at the top thereof with sound outlets, and a circular wooden resonator including a closed bottom and a side wall integral therewith, a spacing ring on said resonator, forming with said resonator another chamber disposed under said annular chamber, the periphery of the lower chamber extending in a plane parallel to said frame beyond the projections of said frame and said first mentioned chamber, and said last mentioned chamber being provided at the said periphery thereof with upper sound openings.

6. In a stringed musical instrument, a Wooden annular frame or rim having its outer face cylindrical at the middle part andrabbeted at the edges to form upper and lower shoulders; a metallic resonator ring around said frame against the lower shoulder and provided with small strain hook openings and an outer cylindrical wall spaced from the frame and projecting beyond the front or upper plane of the ring and forming therewith a resonating chamber; a spacing ring having a downturned flange secured around said frame in engagement with said upper shoulder, the ring being provided with a series of large sound outlets and small strain hook openings therebetween alined with the strain hook openings of the resonator; a diaphragm disposed over said frame and provided with a flesh ring; a strain ring on the flesh ring; strain hooks engaged over the strain ring and passing through small openings; and nuts on the lower ends of said hooks engaging the underside of the resonator ring.

7. In a stringed musical instrument, a frame; a resonator ring around the lower part of said frame provided with an outer cylindrical wall spaced from the frame; a spacing ring secured around the upper part of said frame and engaging said wall and provided with sound outlets; a flat filler or lower spacing ring around said frame against the lower face of the resonator ring and provided with large semi-circular sound openings near its outer edge; a wooden resonator spaced from the frame and having a closed convened bottom spaced from the bot tom of the frame and a side wall inwardly rabbeted at the upper edge to removably receive the outer edge of the lower spacing ring and to provide a ledge engaging under the spacing ring, said frame and resonator cooperating to provide a sound passage from the interior of the frame under the frame and up through said semi-circular sound openings; and a diaphragm over the frame.

8. In a stringed musical instrument, a frame; a resonator ring around the lower part of said frame provided with an outer cylindrical wall spaced from the frame; a spacing ring secured around theupper part of said frame and engaging said wall and provided with sound outlets; a lower spacing ring around said frame against the lower face of the resonator ring and provided with sound openings; and a resonator having a closed bottom spaced from the frame and a side wall on said resonator removably secured to the lower spacing ring.

9. In a stringed musical instrument a frame, a spacing ring encompassing said frame at the lower end of the latter and having therein sound openings, a resonator having a closed'bottom, spaced from said frame and contacting with said ring at the outer periphery of the latter, thereby forming a chamber therewith, and latches, slidably adjustably connected to said resonator and provided with hooked ends, projecting through said sound openings and slidably removably engaging the top face of said spacing ring, whereby said resonator may be readily connected to and disconnected from said rin 10. In a stringed musical instrument, a frame; a spacing ring around said frame provided with sound openings; a resonator having a closed bottom spaced from the frame and a sidewall on said resonator, removably secured to the spacing ring; pairs of spaced screws. secured in approximately opposite parts of the inner face of the resonator side wall with their heads slightly spaced from the side wall; and a latch plate having a slot, disposed parallel to said frame and slidably received 'on the screws of said pairs respectively, the plate being provided with an upwardly projecting end adapted to project through one of the sound openings and provided with an enlarged upper end provided with a lower latching shoulder adapted to engage the top face of the lower spacing ring to hold the resonator in place; sliding movement of the latch plate causing disengagement of said shoulder from the ring.

11. A tone ring member adapted to be disposed over a frame and formed with inner and outer tone rings joined at intervals at the lower edge by downwardly projecting spacing lugs disposable against the upper face of the frame.

12. In a stringed musical instrument a frame, an inner and an outer tone ring, spaced from each other, disposed over said frame at a suitable distance above said frame, a diaphragm distended over said tone rings, said inner ring with said diaphragm forming an upper downwardly open resonating chamher, said rings forming therebetween a downwardly open sound passage, and means for spacing said rings from each other and from said frame,

13. In a banjo, a frame, parts encompassing said frame and spaced therefrom forming three resonator chambers and including stepped annular extensions about said frame, said extensions having sound outlets.

ing chamber and sound passage therebetween and provided with, joined at wide intervals at the lower edge by, downwardly projecting V spacing lugs adapted to be secured by screws against the upper face of the frame for holding the body spaced from the frame to form a sound passage between the frame and tone ring member; the inner ring being the taller and provided with a plurality of small sound openings therearound to provide additional sound passages through said small openings, resonating chamber and under the outer tone ring.

15. In a stringed musical instrument, a frame; a diaphragm over the frame; a strain ring engaging the diaphragm; a resonator ring around said frame provided with a wall; a spacing ring secured around said frame and engaging said wall and provided with sound outlets; a lower spacing ring around the same frame against the lower face of the resonator ring and provided with sound openings; a resonator spaced from the frame having a closed bottom and a side wall removably secured to the spacing ring; strain hooks en gaging the strain ring and passing through said resonator and spacing rings and having. threaded lower ends; and nuts on said ends engaging the lower spacing ring.

16. In a stringed musical instrument, .a

frame; a resonator ring around said frame provided with an annular wall; a spacing "ing secured around said frame and engaging said wall and provided with sound outlets; one or more tone rings, disposed above said spacing ring, a strain ring encompassing said tone rings; a lower spacing ring around the said frame against the lower face of the resonator ring and provided with sound openings; a resonator spaced from the frame having a closed bottom and a side wall removably secured to the spacing ring; the resonator side wall being provided with an upwardly opening recess; a neck having its inner end seated in said recess and its end face curved horizontally when said frame is horizontal to conform to the outer face of saidannular wall and the strain ring; a bolt anchored in the lower part of said end and having a threaded end passing through the frame; a nut on said end for adjustably holding the neck; an arcuate plate interposed between the neck and strain ring; ears on the neck near said plate; and set screws in said ears and engaging said plate and forming with said bolt a three point support for the neck.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this 10th day of July, A. D. 1929.

WILLIAM LANGE.

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