US2073425A - Musical instrument - Google Patents

Description

March 9, 1937. LEBLANQ 2,073,425

MUS I CAL INS TRUMENT Filed May 16, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l L 50. 7 LEZVZEHE March 9, 1937,, L. LEBLANC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed May 16, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 9, 1937 PATENT OFFICE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Leon Leblanc, Paris, France Application May 16, 1935, Serial No. 21,881 In France May 22, 1934 2 Claims.

This invention is directed to an improvement in wind musical instruments, with the improvements particularly applicable to saxophones.

The invention is particularly directed to a modification in the mechanism for the control of the low Ci, normally open at rest to obtain a more efficient stopping of the hole of low D; to suppress the jrnechanism of low Ct normally closed at rest, and to obtain the emission of the latter by the aid of the little finger of the left hand alone; to stop more effectively low Ct while playing notes like B natural and Bb; to

arrange the holes of Eb, E natural, F and Ft in a predetermined manner to stop the outfiow of 10 the condensationof water which is generally produced by these holes, mechanism being included to emit each ofthese notes by the aid of their corresponding finger-piece alone, without the necessity of employing the finger-pieces of lower conjointed notes to obtain the higher tone; and

to vary the shape of the conventional fingerpieces for the little fingers in order to add materially to the convenience of the player.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a more or less diagrammatic View showing the mechanism for the control of low Ct.

Figure 2 is a more or less diagrammatic View showing the change in the arrangement of the holes of high Eb, E, F and Ft.

Figure 3 is a view of a detail.

With particular reference to Figure 1, conventional studs and 2 support independent rock shafts 3, 4, '5 and 5. A finger-piece i is operatively connected to the rock shaft 3 by a bar 8. A finger-piece 9 is operatively connected to the rock shaft '4 by a bar If). A finger-piece H is operatively connected to the rock shaft 5 by a bar |2. Bars l3 and i4 fixed to and projecting from rock shafts 3 and -6 are connected by a rod l5 to cause the rock shafts 3 and 8 to move in unison, that is, in operation of the fingerpiece 1. Rock shaft '6 is connected by a bar 5 to the stop'of high Eb, indicated at H. The stop of 'D, indicated at i8, is connected by a bar Hi to rock shaft 5. A spring 25 carried by stud rests behind a stop 2| on rock shaft 3, while a spring 22 cooperating with a stop 23 on rock shaft 4 is also carried by the stud i. A spring 24 carried by stud 2 cooperates with a stop 25 on rock shaft 5. The springs in each instance are shown for convenience as free of their stops, it being understood, however, that the spring 25 acts on the rock s'haft 3 to hold the finger-piece 1 raised and through the rod l5 to hold the stop of Db closed. The spring 22 acts on the rock shaft 4 to hold the finger-piece 9 raised, while the spring 24 acts on the rock shaft 5 to hold the finger-piece raised and also the stop of hole D raised.

Studs 26 support aligned rock shafts 27 and 28. To the rock shaft 27 is connected a lever 29 extending toward and underlying a lever 30 carried by the rock shaft 4; the rock shaft 28 having a corresponding lever 3| extending to- Ward and underlying a lever 32 on the rock shaft 5. Studs 33 support aligned rock shafts 34 and 35, the rock shaft 34 having a lever 36 extending toward and overlying a lever 31 carried by the rock shaft 2?. The rock shaft 35 carries 15 a lever 38 extending toward and overlying a lever 33 carried by the rock shaft 28.

Studs 40 support a rock shaft 4| to which is secured an arm 42 controlling the stop 43 for the hole Ct. This rock shaft 4| has a lever 20 44 extending toward and underlying a lever 45 carried by the rock shaft 34. Rock shaft 4| is influenced by spring 46 cooperating with stop pin 4'! to be moved when permitted in a direction to maintain the stop 43 in a position to close the hole Ct. In this connection, it is to be understood that the spring 22 which in operation maintains the finger-piece 5 raised is stronger than the spring 45, so that as long as the spring 22 is free to act, the spring 46 is without influence on 30 the rock shaft 4|.

One of the studs 40 and additional studs 48 and 49 support aligned rock shafts 50, 5| and SP, rock shafts 5D and 5| through arms 52 and 53, respectively, control stops 54 and 55, respectively, of holes low C and low B. Rock shaft 55 is provided with a rigid bar 56 which overlies a lever 51 projecting from rock shaft 4|, and rock shafts 50 and 5| are connected for simultaneous movement through a bar 58 connected at 59 and 5t 40 to the respective rock shafts. A rock shaft 5| supported in studs 62 carries a lever 63 which extends toward and overlies a lever 64 carried by the rock shaft 4|; the rock shaft 6| also carrying a lever 65 which extends toward and under- 45 lies a lever 66 carried by the rock shaft 35. A finger-piece B1 is connected by an arm 68 to the rock shaft 6|; a second finger-piece 69 being connected by a bar ill to the rock shaft 5|", and a third finger-piece being connected by a bar 12 50 to rock shaft 5|.

It will be remembered that the spring 22 is stronger than spring 46. Therefore, with the parts at rest, the spring 22 holds the rock shaft 4 in position to maintain the finger-piece 9 55 raised. This lowers the levers 39 and 29, raises the levers 31 and 36, lowers the levers 95 and 98, raises arm 42 and stop 98 of hole Ct. The efiect of spring 96 is thus eliminated as long as the instrument is at rest. If the finger-piece 9 is depressed by the little finger of the right hand, it is quite apparent that the rock shaft M is released to the influence of the spring 98 and arm 42 is moved in a direction to cause the stop 93 to close the Ct hole. If at this time the fingerpiece 81 is depressed by the little finger of the left hand, the rock shaft 82 is correspondingly operated, causing the lever 63 to depress the lever 64 operating the rock shaft 4| against the influence of the spring 46 and raising the stop 98 of the CII hole. Provision is thus made to emit low Cit through the operation of the fingerpieces 9 and 67 by the little fingers of the right and left hands. If the finger-piece 9 is released and finger-piece 67 lowered, the lever 65 is raised carrying the lever 66 and lowering the levers 38, 39 and 3I. This raises the lever 32, turning the rock shaft 5 against the influence of the spring 24 and closing the stop I8 of hole D. Through this operation, low Ci? is easily emitted through the operation of the finger-piece 61 by the little finger of the left hand only.

At will, the stop 43 of the hole Ct may be closed by the operation of the finger-piece 69 which, operating through the rod 79, the rock shaft 5|", the bar 58, the rock shaft 59, the lever 56 and the lever 51, will operate the rock shaft 4| to depress the stop 43.

The player is thus given the possibility to depress finger-pieces 9 and II and close the stops 43 and I8. B natural and Bb may thereby be emitted through the use of the little finger of the left hand only on the closing of the holes of C9 and D.

In Figure 2, mechanisms are shown to permit the producing of F major, Fit, E major and high Eb, together with a novel disposition of the holes of these notes, with the particular function to expel the water through these holes, which accumulates and proves troublesome after a prolonged period of closing of the holes.

When the musician plays the saxophone, the instrument is standing in such a position that the water of condensation from blowing goes right through the stop side keys which produce high D, Eb and F notes, which are situated uppermost on the instrument. Through the present invention the same stops producing Dt, F and Ft are placed on the back of the body of the instrument where there is no water of condensation incident to the position of the instrument when blowing.

Studs 13 support a rock shaft I9 influenced in one direction by a spring 15 carried by one of the studs and engaging behind a pin i8 on the rock shaft. A finger-piece TI is connected to the rock shaft and the rock shaft further carries a lever I8 which overlies a lever I9 carried on a rock shaft 89 which, together with an aligned rock shaft 89*, is mounted in studs 9|. The spring '15 acts to normally maintain the finger-piece I? in raised position.

A rock shaft 82 is mounted in alignment with the rock shaft I9, being supported in one of the studs I3, and an additional stud 83. An arm 89 secured to the rock shaft 82 carries a stop 85 for the hole E and a spring 86 carried by the stud 83 and engaging behind a pin 81 influences the rock shaft in a direction to maintain the stop 85 closed. The rock shaft89 is provided'with a lever 88 underlying a lever 89 secured to the rock shaft 82. Pivotally secured beneath and to the rock shaft 89 at 99 is a rocker arm 9! which, at the respective ends, is formed to engage stops 92 and 93 carried respectively by the rock shafts 89 and 89 Studs 94 support a rock shaft 95 carrying an arm 96 to which is connected the closure 91 for the high Eb hole. A spring 98 carried by the stud 94 and cooperating with a pin 99 on the rock shaft 95 influences the rock shaft in a direction to maintain the stop 9'! closed. The stop I99 of the adjacent D hole has secured thereto a projection I9I which overlies but is not connected to the stop 91. The rock shaft 95 carries a finger-piece I92 which operates the rock shaft in opposition to the spring 98 and in which operation the stop 91 is raised and through the projection I9I, stop I 99 is also raised.

A rock shaft I93 is supported in studs I 94. These studs are preferably of the conventional double type, the rock shaft I93 being supported in the upper portions of the studs while the lower portions support a rock shaft (not shown) for controlling the stop I95 of the Fit hole. Finger-pieces I96 and I91 are secured to the rock shaft I98 and an arm I98 carried by the rock shaft controls the stop I99 of the F major hole. The rock shaft is influenced in a direction to maintain the stop I99 closed by a spring I I9 carried by the stud I94 and cooperating with a pin III on the rock shaft I93. The rock shaftI93 also carries a lever II2 which underlies the lever II3 on the rock shaft 89'. The rock shaft 89 also carries a lever H4 which underlies the arm 96 of the closure 97. I

If the player depresses the finger-piece I98 or I91, the closure I99 of hole F is raised against the influence of the spring II 9. The lever H2 is also raised, which raises lever II3, actuates rock shaft 89, causing stop 92 on said rock shaft to move one end of the rocker arm 9|, causing the opposite end of said arm to engage the stop 93 on the rock shaft 89*, actuating said rock shaft, raising lever88 and thereby raising lever 89 and actuating rock shaft 86 to raise stop 85 of hole E major. This operation of rock shaft 89 also raises lever H4 which raises arm 96, raising stop 91 of hole high Eb and through the projection I9I also raising stop I99 of hole D.

If the player raises stop I99 of hole F major and uses a finger-piece II5, he raises also stop I95 through a projection II-6 welded to the stop I 95 and overlying the stop I99. This same movement, of course, opens stop I99 of hole F, stop 91 of high Eb, stop I99 of hole D and stop 85 of high E. In depressing the finger-piece 11, the player depresses the lever I8 and lever 19. This rocks shaft 89, raising the lever H4 and actuating the rocker arm 9|, thus raising stops 85 of high E, 9'! of high Eb and I99 of D.

It is to be particularly noted that the finger--v pieces for the little fingers particularly are in oblong shape in plan, so as to facilitate and accommodate the control of the mechanism through such finger-pieces.

The bar I9 of finger-piece 9 carries a projection I9 overlying a projection I2 carried by the bar I2 of finger-piece II and as finger-piece II isconnected to rock shaft 5 which carries stop trolling the sounding of F sharp, F, E, and E fiat, a single finger piece for controlling each stop independently, and connections whereby the finger piece of the stop for any one of said notes will simultaneously'operate the stops for all lower of said notes without recourse to the individual finger pieces for said lower notes.

2. In a wind musical instrument, stops for controlling the sounding of F sharp, F, E, E fiat, and D, a single finger piece for controlling each stop independently, and connections whereby the finger piece of the stop for any one of said notes will simultaneously operate the stops for all lower of said notes without recourse to the individual finger pieces for said lower notes.

LEON LEBLANC.

Images