US1849091A - Banjo - Google Patents

Description

March 15, 1932. HUNTER 1,349,091

BANJO Filed Sept. 14, 1928 Patented Mar. 15, 1932 UNITED- STATES PATENT o1=1=1 ALBERT E. HUNTER, OF I'ARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 REGAL MUSICAL INSTRU- MENU. (30., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS BANJO 7 Application med September 14, 1928. Serial no. 806,011.

The object'of this invention'is to provide a string musical instrument, for example, of thebanjo type having an improved construction'for tightening the head to the shell of the instrument by which the necessity for perforating the shell is eliminated and that'also serves as a resonator for improving and en: 3

riching the tone of the instrument.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the followingdescription, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a'preferred embodiment thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a string musical instrument of the banjo type provided with an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the shell head and back showing the improved construction for tightening the head the shell;

Fig. 3 is a perspective of one of the supporting lugs for the head tightening rods, and

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through the shell and backof the instrument.

The string instrument shown in the drawings is of the banjo type and comprises a back 11 made of suitable wood and provided-with an upstanding rim 12 having in its top edge an inside annular groove 13, the purpose of which will appear hereinafter. The shell 14 of the instrument is also made of suitable wood and is of somewhat smaller diameter than the back 11. Stretched over the top of the shell is the usual membrane 15 formed of a suitable skin, such as calf skin. The edge-of the membrane 15 is rolled around a supporting ring 16 adapted to fit tightly the outer cylindrical surface of the shell 14. Mounted above the supporting ring 16 is the membrane or head tightening ring 17. This ring 17 is dimensioned to fit tightly the depending edge portion 18 of the membrane or head and is depressed. relatively to the top of the shell 14 20. The finger-board 21 is mounted on top of the neck 19 and extends thereover'rrom the base of the scroll 20 to the bottomof the neck 19. As shown, the scroll 20-is inclined ,backwardly in the usual manner from "the neck 19 and the top ofthe finger-board 21. If desired, the'fingering of the instrument in playing may be assisted by a plurality of frets 22 which mark the tone positions of different pitch on the finger-board.

' The strings are secured at their'upper ends to the tuning'pins 23 whichmayybe operated in the ordinary manner by tuning pegs 24. From the tuning pins 23, the strings 25 are strung over the finger-board 21 andbridge 26 mounted on the head of the banjo and are secured at their'lower ends to the tail piece 27 which is mounted at the bottom of the shell 14 and projects ov'er the and areformed with hooks 29 at their upper ends which engage'over the. shoulder .30 of" and enter a retaining groove 31 provided in the top of the tightening ring 17. 1

According to the illustrative embodiment of the invention, the several tightening rods 28 are individually supported by lug mem bers 32. These lug members 32 respectively engage the outer face of the shell 14 and are formed at their bottoms with seating portions 33 comprising a depending flange 34, a seat 35 for engaging the bottom edge of the shell 14 and an inside relatively low upstanding flange 36 which extends upwardly from the base of the shell and engages the inside surface thereof: Extending outwardly from the respective lug members 32 are, bracket portions 37, the outer'edges of which rest in the inside groove 13 provided in the rim 12 of the back 11. The tightening rods 28 are extended through holes 38 provided in the bracket portions 37 of the lug members, and nuts 39 are screw-threaded on the lower ends of the rods below the bottom of said bracket portions 37. a t

The lug members 32 serve to brace and hold in accurate position the back 11 which is secured at its center by the bolt l1 threadedly engaged within the usual underbrace 42 arranged across the shell 1a and secured at its ends in registration with the neck 19 of the instrument. The bolt 41, upon tightening, causes the upper edge of the rim 12 of the back to press firmly against the bracket ends of the lugs to bind the parts in tight, firm engagement.

WVith the foregoing construction, the tightening ring 17 may be readily depressed by screwing up the nuts 39 against the bottom faces of the bracket portions 37 of the respective lug members. This is accomplished by first removing the back 11 of the instrument by removing the bolt 41. After the several tightening rods have been adjusted to exert the proper downward pressure on the tightening ring 17 and cause the proper stretch to the membrane which provides the head of the banjo, the back 11 may be reapplied to the instrument so that the edges of the bracket portions 37 of the lug members rest in the inside groove 13 at the top of the rim 12 at the back.

The improved banjo provides for ready and rapid adjustment of the head to the shell l-fl: of the instrument and a secure holding of the head by the tightening ring 17 in adjusted relationship, by a supporting and tightening means which avoids any necessity for piercing the shell and thus impairing its resonance. The lug members 32 not only add to the ornamental appearance of the instrument, as shown in Fig. 1, but also provide a simplified construction eliminating the necessity for any separate flange between the shell 14 and the edge of the rim 12. These lug members may be made of relatively heavy metal, thus increasing the weight of the instrument, a desirable feature in the banjo types, and improving its resonance.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof. Moreover, it is not indispensable that all features of the in vention be used conjointly, as they may be advantageously employed in various sub-combinations and other combinations.

I claim:

1. In a stringed musical instrument of the banjo type, a shell, a back larger circumferentially than the shell and provided with an upstanding rim spaced from the wall of the shell, a head, a series of lug members disposed circumferentially of the shell and bridging the gap between the shell and said back rim, said lug members engaging both the shell and the rim of said back member, and means securing said back member to said shell and pressing said rim against said lug members.

2. In a musical instrument of the banjo type, a shell, a back larger circumferentially than the shell and provided with an upstanding rim spaced from the wall of the shell, a head, a series of lug members disposed circumferentially of the shell and engaging the bottom of the shell and the top of said back rim, and hooked head tightening rods engaging said head and said lug members.

3. In a musical instrument of the banjo type, a shell, a membranous head adapted to be stretched over the top of the shell, a tightening ring in engagement with said head and adapted on depression relatively to the shell to stretch said head, hooked head tightening rods engaging said tightening ring, lugs engaging the bottom of the shell and said tightening rods, and a back member secured to the shell and bearing against said lug members.

ALBERT E. HUNTER.

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