US2205695A

US2205695A - Clarinet key

Info

Publication number: US2205695A
Application number: US274947A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harry E O'brien
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1939-05-22
Filing date: 1939-05-22
Publication date: 1940-06-25
Anticipated expiration: 1957-06-25

Description

June 25, 1940. OBRIEN 2,205,695

CLARINET KEY Filed May 22, 1939 J7 TOP/V6171? Patented June 25, 1940 UNITED STATES CLARINET KEY Harry E. OBrien, Washington Township, Marion County, near Indianapolis, Ind.

Application May 22, 1939, Serial No. 274,947

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a key for wind instruments, and particularly for clarinets constructed with keys in the Boehm system.

It is a primary object of my invention to provide a key of extremely simple construction which can be made in one piece as a stamping or a casting, in such form that it will close a tone hole when manipulated with the proper fingers to produce the desired tones on the clarinet in the Boehm system. It is a further important object of the invention to provide extremely simple means for mounting the key on the clarinet without use of posts as have heretofore customarily been employed, and also to provide simple means for mounting a spring to hold the key normally off of the tone hole. A still further important object of the invention is to provide means for adjusting the key for the proper degree of opening of the key in relation to the hole to be closed.

My invention primarily consists of a one piece key having essentially three open rings joined one to the other integrally, each ring surrounding a respective tone hole, and having a part of the key extending from the last key over a tone hole above the three tone holes which are surrounded by the rings. Furthermore the invention consists of hinging this key directly to the tube of the instrument in such manner that the key will travel not transversely across the tube but longitudinally in line therewith from one end which is hinged to the tube. In the practice heretofore followed, it has been the usual procedure to mount separate rings upon a rod which is rockably carried by posts projecting from the instrument tube so that these rings may rock in paths transversely positioned in relation to the tube. It is an exceedingly difficult job to align these rings upon the rod and then secure them for the required degree of travel. The same rod normally carries a member having a pad to close off one tone hole and, of course, this pad must be maintained in adjustment in relation to the travel of the rings. This structure as heretofore employed requires a considerable degree of accuracy and, therefore, much time and expense to complete its assembly. By my simple form of invention, all of this individual adjusting of rings upon a cam rod and the mounting of posts to secure the desired alignment are eliminated.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent to those versed in the art in the following description of one particular form as illustrated in the accompanying drawing/in which Fig. l is a top view in perspective of a section of a clarinet tube to which my invention is applied;

Fig. 2, a central longitudinal section on a slightly enlarged scale on. the line 2-2 in Fig. l; and

Fig. 3, a view in top perspective of the key alone.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

I form a metal key of the general configuration as illustrated in Fig. 3. This key is made to have the three rings IE), I l and I2 joined together by the interconnecting necks l3 and 14. From the ring. l2 extends a shank l5 for a distance therefrom. A pair of arms l6 and I! extend laterally from the shank l5, one from each side thereof, and these arms are curved around downwardly therefrom to be substantially concentric with the curvature of the clarinet tube l8 but having a larger radius of curvature. From the upper key ring ill continues a tongue l9 and on the under side of the tongue I!) at its upper end is carried a suitable pad 20. The shank [5 extends beyond the arms I6 and I! to provide a stop member limiting the travel of the key when it is assembled on the tube l8.

As indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, the key is mounted on the tube It by positioning the rings H], II and I2 to be concentric with the tone holes 2|, 22 and 23 in the tube l8. When the key is in this position, the arms I6 and I! are pivotally attached to the tube l8 by any suitable means such as by the

screws

24 and 25. The

screws

24 and 25 are dropped downwardly along the sides of the tube I8 a suii'icient distance as will permit the rings Ill, H and H. to be lowered sufficiently to permit the holes 2|, Z2 and 23 to be covered selectively by the players fingers 'when the key is pushed toward the tube. The pad 20 is also positioned so that it will cover the upper tone hole 26 when the key is depressed.

Normally the key is held in a raised position, as indicated in Fig. 2, by a suitable spring 21, herein shown as a leaf spring, one end of which rides on the surface of the tube i8 and the other or lower end is fixed to the key itself by any suitable means such as by soldering, welding, or by a rivet 28. In order to limit the upward swing of the key through the action spring 21, the lower end of the shank [5 below the arms It and H is provided with a suitable stop to come into abutment with the tube It. In the form herein shown, a screw 29 is employed which may be adjusted as to its length extending under the shank E5 to abut the tube Hi.

The operation of the key is had by the usual fingering for the system indicated. For example, when the tone hole 22 is closed by the middle finger of the right hand, the key is depressed to close the pad 20 against the tone hole 25, this action in the Boehm fingering producing the tone of F sharp, top line of the staff, and also the twelfth tone below which is B natural. When tone hole B is covered, the tone hole 26 is also covered and in this position of the key, F natural is produced, top line of the staff, also producing the twelfth tone below which is B fiat.

When all tone holes (not shown) above those indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, are covered down to but not including the tone holes associated with the key of the present invention, the tone of G above the staiT-and the twelfth below, C natural, may be produced. This tone is produced in its proper pitch through the tone hole 2% then open.

1e principal use of the key of this invention is to close tone hole 26 in order to produce the tones Bb, A and G below the staff, and F sharp, F natural, E and D in the staff, also all tones below the above tones in the Boehm system clarinet.

While I have herein shown and described my invention in the one particular form, it is ob vious that structural changes may be employed, such, for example, as bending down the lower free end of the shank iii to form a stop in the absence of the set screw 29, the particular type and mounting of the leaf spring, etc., and I, therefore, do not desire to be limited to that precise form beyond the limitations as may be imposed by the following claims.

I claim:

1. For a Boehm system clarinet, a key extendin:; longitudinally of the clarinet tube and hinged by one end to swing longitudinally thereof, and

Y carrying integrally plurality of spaced apart tone hole rings and an end tone hole cover, said key having a pair of integral arms, one extending laterally from each side of the key, both of said arms curving around from the key substantially concentrically of said tube, and means pivoting the arms to the sides of said tube, a spring between said tube and said key normally holding the key in open tone hole position, and a stop extending from the key to abut said tube to limit the travel of the key under the influence of said spring.

2. For a Boehm system clarinet, a key extending longitudinally of the clarinet tube and hinged by one end to swing longitudinally thereof, and carrying integrally a plurality of spaced apart tone hole rings and an end tone hole cover, said key having a pair of integral arms, one extending laterally from each side of the key, both of said arms curving around from the key substantially concentrically of said tube, and means pivoting the arms to the sides of said tube, a spring between said tube and said key normally holding the key in open tone hole position, and a stop extending from the key to abut said tube to limit the travel of the key under the influence of said spring, said stop consisting of a screw adjustably extending through the key below its junction with said arms.

3. For a Boehm system clarinet, a key consisting of a plurality of rings integrally joined one to another in line by intervening necks, a tongue extending beyond the last of said rings, a tone hole cover pad carried on the under side of said tongue, a shank extending from the opposite end ring, an arm extending laterally from each side of the tongue and each extending outwardly and downwardly to form key supporting members, and a stop member turned downwardly back of substantially the center line through said arms.

a. For a Boehm system clarinet, a key consisting of a plurality of rings integrally joined one to another in line by intervening necks, a tongue extending beyond the last of said rings, a tone hole cover pad carried on the under side of said tongue, a shank extending from the opposite end ring, an arm extending laterally from each side of the tongue and each curved outwardly and downwardly to form key supporting members, and a stop member turned downwardly back of substantially the center line through said arms, and a spring carried on the under side of the key having an end spaced below the key forwardly of said arms.

HARRY E. OBRIEN.