US2194513A - Musical instrument - Google Patents

Description

March 26, 1940. H. N. WHITE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Feb. 25, 1939 FIG. 2

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Patented Mar. 26, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 MUSICAL IN STRULIENT corporation of Ohio Application February 25, 1939, Serial No. 258,481

2 Claims.

This invention relates, as indicated, to musical instruments, but has reference more particularly to clarinets, especially the bell portion thereof, and to methods of making the same.

In clarinets made of wood and like materials, the mouth portion of the bell is usually of considerably greater wall thickness than the narrower or neck portion thereof, such a construction having been found to produce improved tonal qualities.

In similar instruments made of metal, similar thickening of the wall of the mouth portion of the bell is objectionable for a munber of reasons, among which may be enumerated the following: (1) The bell must necessarily be made of a casting, and the weight of the instrument is increased to an undesirable degree; (2) Where the bell is made of silver, the cost of the instrument is increased to a prohibitive point, and (3) The tonal qualities of the instrument are not appreciably improved.

The present invention, accordingly, has as its primary object the provision of clarinet bells and the like, of light weight, inexpensive construction, and the incorporation of which, in an instrument, produces a marked improvement in the tonal qualities of the instrument, particularly in the lower tones.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same- Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view, illustrating the first step in the manufacture of a clarinet bell, in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the second step in the manufacture of the bell;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the completed bell; and

Fig. 4 is a view, similar to Fig. 3, but showing a modified form of construction.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the first step in the manufacture of the bell consists in providing a tubular member I, preferably of silver, having a flared mouth portion 2, which terminates in an outwardly and upwardly extending curved flange 3, which, in actual practice, is made by a spinning operation.

The second step in the manufacture of the bell comprises placing an annular member 4, of arcuate cross-section, over the member I, so that it occupies the position shown in Fig. 2,

after which a marginal portion 5 of the flange 3 is spun over the lower marginal edge of the memher 4 as clearly shown in Fig. 3, thereby locking the member 4 in position.

The curvature of the member 4 is such that I a hollow annular space 6 is provided between the portion 2 of the member I and the member 4.

In order to permanently unite the members I and 4, silver solder or the like is applied along the seams, as indicated at I and 8.

In that form of the bell shown in Fig. 4, the marginal portion of the flange 3' of the member I is first turned inwardly to provide a rebent flange 5', after which an annular member 4' is placed in position, as shown, the member 4 having a downwardly and vertically extending flange 9, the diameter of which is substantially that of the internal diameter of the flange 5'. As in that form of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the curvature of the member 4' is such 90 that a hollow annular space 6' is provided between the portion 2' of the member I and the member 4'.

In order to permanently unite the members I and 4' silver solder or the like is applied along I the seams, as indicated at l and 8'. It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the bell, being made of sheet metal throughout, is of light weight, inexpensive construction, and that the hell can be manufactured quickly and I! easily by methods now used in the manufacture of wind instruments generally.

Due to the provision of the hollow spaces 6 and 6', the tonal qualities, particularly in the lower register, are considerably improved over that of clarinets now obtainable.

In addition, the double wall construction at the mouth of the bell greatly augments the strength of the bell.

Although the invention has been described par- 40 ticularly with reference to clarinets, it is applicable generally to wind instruments having bell portions of a similar character.

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention, herewith shown and described, are to 45 be taken as preferred examples of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, Without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A bell for a musical instrument, said bell consisting of a flared member having an annular flange at the mouth thereof, and an annular member of curved cross-section disposed adja- 55 cent said mouth portion and forming therewith and with said flange a hollow annular closed space, a portion of said flange locking said annular member in position.

2. A bell for a musical instrument, said bell consisting of a flared member having an annular flange at the mouth thereof, a portion of said flange extending inwardly toward said member,

and an annular member of curved cross-section disposed adjacent said mouth portion and forming therewith a hollow annular closed space, said annular member having a flange Whose external diameter is substantially that of the internal diameter of said inwardly extending portion of said first-named flange.

HENDERSON N. WHITE.

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