US1937025A - Thumb-hook for musical instruments - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 28, 1933. A. LOOMIS THUMB-HOOK FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Original Filed March 15, 1930 Ma gi UNITED STATES rarest Patented Nov. 28, 1933 THUMB-HOOK Application March 15,

FOR MUSICAL INSTRU- MENTS Ind., assignor to O. G. Ind., a corporation of 1930, Serial No. 435,990

Renewed April 20, 1933 10 Claims.

This invention relates to reed musical instruments and particularly to saxophones.

In the playing of a saxophone the weight of the instrument is supported by the carrier cord, which passes about the players ne k, and the thumb of the players right hand which engages the thumb-hook mounted on the saxophone body adjacent the lower end thereof. The present prevailing type of thumb-hook is rigidly attached to the saxophone body, and in certain playing positions of the instrument the players right hand may be severely cramped thereby, whereby the efficiency and flexibility of the players right hand fingers in key operation are materially impaired, the varying sizes and shapes of the human thumb being responsible for this, in great part.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a saxophone thumb-hook adapted for either rigid or pivotal connection with the instrument to enable the player to exercise his option in'that respect and set the hook accordly.

Other and more specific objects of the invention are mentioned herein or suggested from the l detailed description of the device.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 illustrates the invention as applied to a saxophone body;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the thumb-hook unit alone;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the thumb-hook unit;

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view thereof; and

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 66 of Fig. 4 illustrating the pivotal condition of the hook.

Similar numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views on the drawing.

Referring to the details of the drawing the numeral 1 indicates the body of a conventional type of saxophone upon the exterior of which my improved thumb-hook is mounted adjacent the lower end thereof. Generally, my invention may comprise the elongated base element 2, the curved hook section 3, the headed pivot pin or screw 4, by which the hook 3 is connected with the base 2, and a detachable stop screw 5, the

latter being threaded into the extremity of the base section 2.

The base 2 may have its under surface 6 concavically formed to conform with the curvature of the saxophone body, and may be rigidly fastened to the latter in any suitable manner, as by soldering. The hook 3 is provided with an integral bearing section '7 which is suitably bored at at substantially right to base 2, to gain a bearing on the cyli drical body of the headed screw icwer end of said screw being somewhat reduced at 9 and threaded into the base 2 through the cylindrical boss 10 integral therewith, said boss te o' g into a suitable cylindrical socket 11 foil 11 hock bea' section '7. The boss socket 11, which is in con niica ion with the screw bore 8 and arranged a. J lly thereof, is substantially larger in diameter than said screw bore and extends upwardly beyond the top end of the boss 19 to provide a clearance chamber above said boss, for the purpose hereinafter set forth. The head of screw 4 may have a transverse slot 12 formed therein to enable application of a suitable tool for screw actuation.

The numeral 13 indicates a washer or shim arranged below the head of screw 4 and against the upper end of the hook bearing section 7. When screw 4 is turned up snugly against the washer 13 the hook section 3 is thereby rigidly clamped against the base 2 and thereby rendered non-pivotal. Fig. 4. But when the washer-shim 13 is transposed to the clearance chamber above the boss 10, where it rests loosely, thereby providing clearance below the head to the screw pin 4 when the latter is turned up snugly or screwed home into the base 2, the hook element 3 is thereby rendered pivotal on the screw pin 4, due to the clearance below the head of said screw pin. When the washer-shim 13 has been thus transposed to the clearance chamber above the boss 10 the hook element 7 is held against axial movement, relatively to the screw pin 4, by the tongue and groove connection at 14.

The numeral 14 indicates a curved tongue and groove connection between the lower edge of the hook 3 and the base 2 which, in coaction with the boss and socket connection at 10 and 11, respectively, insures the maximum stability of said hook section and the elimination of audible vibration of the parts. The opposite end of the hook base is provided with a pair of opposed stop lugs 15 and 16, respectively, which are arranged on opposite sides of the stop screw 5, spaced therefrom, normally, and adapted to engage said stop screw to limit the swing of the hook 3 in either direction.

I claim:-

1. In a reed musical instrument, a furcated thumb-hook pivotally carried upon the instrument and provided with means within the hook furcation for limiting the pivotal action thereof.

2. In a reed musical instrument, a furcated thumb-hook pivotally mounted upon the instrument, and removable stop means arranged within the hook furcation for limiting the pivotal action thereof.

3. In a reed musical instrument, a forked thumb-hook pivotally mounted upon the instrument exterior, and removable stop means for limiting the pivotal action thereof, and stop means arranged within said thumb-hook fur-cation.

4. In a reed musical instrument, the combination of a thumb-hook base rigidly mounted upon the instrument exterior, a thumb-hook, a complementary boss and socket connection between said thumb-hook and the instrument and screw means engaging said boss for removably securing said thumb-hook to the instrument.

5. In a reed musical instrument, a thumb-hook base member, a thumb-hook, means for non-rotaably mounting said hook upon said base member, said means including a releasable clamping screw, and means for rendering said thumb-hook pivotal on said screw and relatively of said base member upon release of the clamping function of said screw, said means including a curved complementary tongue and groove connection between said hook and base members to prevent axial movement of said hook upon said screw.

6. In a reed musical instrument, a thumb-hook base secured to the instrument exterior, a thumbhook, and means for removably and pivotally or rigidly securing said thumb-hook to said base, said means including a headed screw provided with a shoulder at its lower end and a transposable shim.

7. A reed musical instrument provided with a thumb-hook which is pivotally mounted thereon, and a complementary tongue and groove connection between said thumb-hook and the instrument.

8. In a reed musical instrument, a thumb-hook base rigidly mounted upon the instrument exterior, a thumb-hook pivotally mounted thereon, and a complementary tongue and groove connection between said hook and base elements.

9. In a reed musical instrument, a base section, a hook section pivotally mounted thereon, and stop means for limiting the pivotal action of said hook, said means comprising a pair of spaced stop lugs carried by said hook and a stationary stop element on said base element.

10. In a reed musical instrument, a thumbhook base member, a thumb-hook, means for non-rotatably mounting said hook upon said base member, said means including a releasable clamping screw, and means for rendering said thumb-hook pivotal on said screw and relatively of said base element upon release of the clamping function of said screw, said means including a complementary tongue and groove connection between said hook and base elements.

ALLEN LOOMIS.

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