US2162595A

US2162595A - Musical string instrument

Info

Publication number: US2162595A
Application number: US224245A
Authority: US
Inventors: Virzi Giuseppe
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1938-08-11
Filing date: 1938-08-11
Publication date: 1939-06-13
Anticipated expiration: 1956-06-13

Description

June 13, 1939. Q V|RZ| MUSICAL STRING INSTRUMENT Filed Aug. 11, 1938 /ENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented June 13, 1939 PATENT OFFICE 2,162,595 MUSICAL STRING INSTRUMENT Giuseppe Virz,

Application August 11,

5 Claims.

This invention relates to musical string instruments, and has among its objects the provision strument.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of the nature set forth having improved means whereby the bridge post can exert varying degrees of relatively cushioned pressure or a relatively hard pressure, as desired, for dierent sound eiects.

Another object is to provide a string instrument having a post at the bridge provided with cushioning portions of the latter.

Another object of the invention is to provide an instrument of the nature set forth having improved peg means forcontrolling the string tension of the instrument in an improved cushioned manner to permit free sounding but without a deadening eifect on the instrument.

A further object of the invention is to furnish a device of the type alluded to having few and simple parts and which is inexpensive to manufacture and assemble, and durable, reliable and eilicient to a high degree in use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as thespecification proceeds.

With the aforesaid objects in View, the invention consists in the novel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in their preferred embodiments, pointed out in the subjoined claims, and illustrated in the annexed drawing, wherein like parts are designated by the same referencevcharacters throughout the several views.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan View of a violin showing a device embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view thereof taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view with parts in elevation showing a bridge post device embodyingthe invention.

Fig. 4 is a smaller fragmentary vview of the bridge post devicein a different position for exerting a hard pressure..A

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of ment of modified construction.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a peg element according to the invention.

The advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized when all of its features and instrumentalities are combined in one and the same structure, bua-useful devices may be produced embodying less than the Whole.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to a bridge post ele- New York, N. Y.

1938, Serial No. 224,245 (Cl. 84-277) which the invention appertains, that the same may be incorporated in several different constructions. The accompanying drawing, therefore, is submitted merely as showing the preferred exemplication of the invention.

Referring in detail to the drawing, I0 denotes a string instrument such as a violin embodying the invention. The same may include the usual sounding chamber II, neck I2, strings I3, secured by the tail piece I4, held in place by a peg I5, and the strings being adjustably tensioned by the pegs I6 of the neck. The strings I3 extend over a bridge piece Il' that rests on the upper wall I8 of the instrument body II, which upper wall is furnished with sound openings I9. Between the upper and lower walls I8, 20 of the body II, and supporting the former to take up the pressure of the bridge Il is a post 2I embodying the invention.

The post 2I may be in the nature of an adjustably expandible device such as a turnbuckle. For example, it may include a tube 22, perforated at 23 for engagement by a screw or wire to rotate the tube 22 through a sound opening I9 in order to adjust the turnbuckle. Extending from the tube 22 are alined rightand left-hand screw portions 24. Engaging the latter are the heads 25 which are thus moved toward or away from each other on operating the turnbuckle.

Each of the heads 25 may be provided with a cushioning element 26 which imparts the pressure of the post 2| on the adjacent wall of the sound chamber II, and serves to yieldingly support the same but without deadening the vibra- 1tions of the sound chamber. For this purpose the elements 26 may consist of a ne grained leather, cork, fabric, or rubber, although I prefer to use cork. The latter may be suitably impregnated with an adhesive to moderate or otherwise control its yielding qualities. The pressure face of the element 26 may be covered with a member 21 of a fine sheet material such as leather or a textile fabric to prevent any crumbling of the cork.

Preferably the element 26 is of generally co- Anoidal shape and is set into an opening 28 of generally similar shape. The purpose of this arrangement is to permit the yielding element 26 to be wedged into the opening 28 to a degree according to the increased pressure to which the post 2I is subjected. As the maximum pressure is approached, the element 26 is substantially entirely received in the opening 28 so that the wooden head 25 begins to contact or bear on the adjacent wall of the sound chamber as shown in Fig. 4, thereby affecting the vibratory qualities thereof, Such direct pressure of the heads 25 may be varied as desired. Upon relieving the pressure the cushioning elements 26 may move slightly outward of the openings 28.

It will be appreciated that the wooden sound chamber of a musical instrument is subjected to considerable stress due to various causes including temperature and humidity. Since the cuter surface of the sound chamber is covered. with varnish whereas the inner surface is not, the latter is readily influenced by climatic conditions, and hence the conditions at the different 1 surfaces cause various slight bending and other stresses. Thus the musician may make adjustments to suit, not only as to temperature and humidity, but also with respect to the different vibratory and tonal effects that may be required from time to time.

The practicability of the invention resides to a large degree in the fact that the post 2I` can be easily adjusted, and can be removed and replaced, all through the openings I9. In fact, this is the accepted way of periodically replacing bridge posts, in all violins. Certain musicians have the necessary tools for performing these operations without requiring the services of a violin mechanic. By using a turnbuckle, I have found that the adjustment is easily effected because the heads 25 will not turn. Any turning of these heads would result in lateral movement of the post 2| because the latter bears on inclined portions of the walls I8, 20 as shown in Fig. 2. The cushioning material is also of advantage in this respect because it grips the walls I8, 2i? of the violin body so as to resist any tendency to turning.

In Fig. 5 is shown a modified head 29Vwhich may be substituted for one or both of the heads Z5. The same may have a conoidal cushioning element 3c mounted like that at 26, but having an integral pad portion SI having a covering-Z like that at 2,1. This pad portion overlies-the wooden head 29 and may be flat, but ispreferably convexed so that the central area, supported by the part 35 has the most resilience. As the post pressure increases, the portion 3l` comes into play to assume a large part of the stress', whereby varying cushioning effects may be produced.

In Fig. 6 is shown the peg I5 which affords a suitable limited degree of resilience or yielding quality under the constraint of the peg structure. Thus the latter includes a head 33 groovedv a-t Eil to receive a strand for attachment to the member Ill. Said head may have a conoidal stem 35, which receives a conoidal sleeve 3610i a cushioning material of the kind hereinbefore mentioned. Tightly tted over the sleeve 36 is a metallic sleeve member 31 having an annular portion 33 spun inward into a groove 3 9- ofthe stem. Between the portion 39 and a wall 6!) of the groove is a ring washer 4Iy of a cushioning material of the type hereinbefore set'Y forth. The external surface of the sleeve 3.1 maybe knurled or longitudinally grooved so as to be frictionally engaged with the violin body I I when the sleeve 31 is forced into an opening thereof. Thus it is seen that the peg head 33 is wholly out of direct contact with the violin body and is in cushioned engagement with the same, the cushioning elements being under compression, particularly the former.

It will be understood that the pegs IG- may be constructed like that at I5, except that the sleeve 31 would be externally smooth for easy rotation and would besuiiiciently long for proper mounting thereof and for receiving the strands I3'.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a musical string instrument which is free sounding in the body and in the mounting of the vibrating strands, and which fulfills the objects of the invention and is well adapted for practical use I claim: 1. Al device including a sound post for the sounding box of a musical string instrument, the sound post comprising end heads and an intermediate turnbuckle for adjusting the length of the post, at least one head of the post having an axial inwardly tapered opening, said head having an element of generally porous elastic material wedged into said opening and projecting axially out of the opening to bear against an adjacent wall of the sounding box, the relative sizes of the element and said opening being such that the element is yieldingly movable inward and outward of said opening upon increasing and decreasing the pressure on the 2. A device including a sound post for the sounding box of a musical string instrument, the sound post comprising end heads and an intermediate turnbuckle for adjusting the length of the post, at least one head of the post having an axial inwardly tapered opening, said head having an element of generally porous elastic material wedged into said opening and projecting axially out of the opening to bear against an adjacent wall ofthe sounding box, said element being yieldingly movable into saidopening with constantly increasing resistance upon increasing the pressure to which the element is subjected, and the depthof the said opening and length of' said eleme t being relatively such that the element is substantially entirely movable into the opening so that the outer end faces of the element and its end are-substantially flush to permit the head to directly contact the wall of the sounding box.

3; A device including a post for the bridge section of a musical string instrument, said post being adjustable in length and having an end portion having an axial inwardly tapered bore,

and a correspondingly tapered element of a gen- A.

erally porous resilient cushioning material, said element beingset into said bore with. its outer end projecting from the bore' beyond the end portion of the post, said element bei-ng adapted to` be wedgi-ngly moved inward of the bore upon increasing the pressure to which the element is subjected with the element bearing against 'a walI of the sounding box.

4. A device including a post for the bridge section of a musical string instrument, said post being adjustable in length and having an end portion having anaxial inwardly tapered bore, and a correspondinglyA tapered element-oi a generally porousn resilient cushioning material, said element beingk set intosai'df' bore` with its outer end projecting from the bore beyond the end portion of the post, sadlelementi being adapted to be wedgingly moved inward of the bore upon increasing the pressurev towhich the elementis subjected with the element bearing against a wall of the sounding box, and the bore having sumcient size to substantially wholly receive the element under .high pressure, so that both the element and the end portion of.' the post make contact with the said; wall;

5i A device: according.; to cla-imr 3;. wherein said material consists; of finely grained cork impregnated withV an. adhesive.

. GIUSEPPE VIRZI..

element.