US1788745A

US1788745A - Violin

Info

Publication number: US1788745A
Application number: US271337A
Authority: US
Inventors: Simon M Rowland
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1928-04-19
Filing date: 1928-04-19
Publication date: 1931-01-13
Anticipated expiration: 1948-01-13

Description

Jan. 13, 1931.

S. M. ROWLAND VIOLIN Filed April 19. 1928 Smara M 0 w Zand.

A Patented Jan. 13, 1931 f the iront of the body.

= srMoN M. RowLANp, .or cLovEnroIriz KN'ruoxY VIOLIN Applicaties ined April 1K9,

rllliis invention relates to stringed musical instrumentsl of which lthe violin istypical and aims to increasetlie volume and'insure aconsonance of vibration between the strings and the iront and back ofthe instrument.

. The invention contemplates a resilient tongue projecting from the neck of the instrunientinto the body and terminating a short distance from the tail end and spaced from the front and back thereof. A sound post extends from the, top of the tongue to An auxiliary sound post extends from the bottom of the tongue tothe back of the body and is adjustable to tension the parts to the requisite degree to obtain the desired tonal results.

The invention relates to the manner of connecting the resilient tongueto the stem, and

- the formation of the `auxiliary sound post and the manner of connection betweenit and the back of the instrument.

`While the drawing illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be uny Yderstood that in adapting the means to meet specific needs and` requirements the design may be varied, and such other changes'in the minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the invention as ciaimed, without departing from the spirit thereof.

For a full understanding oi the invention and the merits thereof, reference is to be had to the :following description and the dra-wing hereto attaci'ied, in which,-

Figure 1 is a central, longitudinal sectional view of the body portion oi a stringed musical instrument' embodying the intention.

eigure 2 is a vertical, transverse sectional view on the line 2--2 oi Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail perspective view of 'the butt portion of the neck and the adjacent end of the resilient tongue, the parts being separated.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional View' on the line 4 4 of Figure 2.

Corresponding' and like parts are referred to in the following description and designated in the several views of the drawing by like reference characters.

50 The body of the instrument comprises a the fingerboard 5.

192s. seriai No. 271,337.V

body of the instrument and is spaced 'from the front andzbaclr thereof. The tongue 9 is thin and rbroad and terminates a short distance from thetail ,of the instrument, as indi'- cated mostclearly in Figure'l of the draw ings. @The resilient tongue 9 may consist of metalor wood and is detachably connected to the butt of the neck 4f. The end of the tongue A9 adapted `to be coupled to the neck i is thickened and rformed with `a'frib 10 which lis adapted to obtain aV snug ,lit within a groove 1l formed in the b utt'of'the ne'elrl.

The rib and groove are of wedge shaped outlineto provide a dove tail joint which is made secure by glue or other determinate means.

' A sectional sound post is disposed between the tongue 9 and the front and back of the instrument-` The top section of the post is designated byv the numeral 11 and the bottom section by the numerals l12 and 13. The lower end ofthe section 11 is widened, as indicated at 14,`and is tapered to a knife edgewhich .engages the top side of the tongue 9. VThe upper end of the section 11 is formed similar to the usual sound post. The

members

12 and 13 comprising'the bottom; section of the sound post are connectedby'means of ai screw thread which provides for adjustment of the sound 'post' to meet requirements. The part 13 has an opening formed therein whichis threaded torreceive the threaded stem ofthe part 12. An outer flange 16 'formedwith the part 13 is confined between plates 15 boltedto the backf2 of theV instrument. y A portion is cut from the back 2 to receive the flange 16. The plates 15and flange 16 result in a swivel connection of the vparti?) with the back 2. The

I accordancewith the present invention l .theA resilient tongue 9 1s `disposed within the upper end of the part 12 is widened, as incated at 17, and terminates in a knife edge which engages the bottom side of the tongue 9.

Rotation of the part 13 effects a longitudinal movement of the part 12,' with the result that the front and back of the instrument and the resilient tongue 9 are subjected to a variable tension which results in a modulation of the tone quality of the instrument. The sections comprising the sound posts are disposed out of line, as indicated most clearly in Figure 1 of the drawings. In the preferable arrangement the bottom section of the sound post is set forwardly of the top section, and the latter is in line with the bridge 7 to sustain the direct stress of the musical strings exerted upon the front 1. The invention may be applied to an instrument already completed by removing either the lfront or the back, the parts thus detached being subsequently replaced and glued to the part from which it was previously disengaged. The resilient tongue 9 vibrates in unison with the front and the back of the instrument and adds to the tonal eiiect which is further varied by adjustment of the bottom section of the sound post to vary the tension uponthe tongue and the front and back of the instrument.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. The combination with the body of a stringed musical instrument, and a resilient tongue therein connected at one end with the body of a sectional sound post having the sections interposed between and contacting with the tongue and front and back of the body, one oi' the sections comprising elements, one oi which is connected to the back of the body by means of a swivel joint, and the other element having an end portion in screw thread engagement with the element swiveled to the back of the body, and having its opposite end widened and terminating in a knife edge in contact with the tongue.

2. A stringed musical instrument comprising a hollow body having a neck, a resilient tongue projecting into the body from the butt o1" the neck and terminating a distance from the tail, and a sectional sound post having the sections interposed between and contacting with the said tongue and the front and back of the body.

3. A stringed musical instrument comprising a hollow body having a neck, a resilient tongue projecting into the body from the butt of the neck and terminating a distance from the tail, and a sectional sound post having the sections interposed between and contacting with the said tongue and the front and back ot' the body, the bottom section being adjustable and positively connected to the back by means of a swivel joint.

4l. A stringed musical instrument comprising a hollow body and neck, a f resilient tongue Within the body and detachably connected to the butt of the neck, and a sectional sound post interposed between and contacting with the tongue and the front and the back of the body and having positive connection with the back by means of a swivel joint.

5. A stringed musical instrument comprising a hollow body having an opening in its back, a sectional sound post within the body, comprising two sections and means connecting them disposed between the front and the back thereof and including complemental elements having screw thread connection, one of the elements having an outer flange fitted in the opening provided in the back of the body, and plates secured to opposite sides of the back and confining the said flange therebetween.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

SIMON M. ROVVLAND. [L s]