US2263665A - Mute - Google Patents

Description

E. WHITE Nov. 25, 1941.

MUTE

Filed July 8, 1941 IN'VENTOR an, 744L217 WM ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 25, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MUTE Edna White, New York, N. Y., assignor of fourfifths to herself and one-fifth to Crichton Clarke, New York, N. Y.

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved mute for use on all musical instruments with which mutes are now used, and which employ a cup mouthpiece.

The present practice is to mute such instruments by inserting a cone-shaped or other mute into the fiare or bell mouth of the trumpet, cornet, trombone, baritone, French horn or other instrument.

My invention is based on my discovery of the principle of muting such instruments at or near the mouthpiece or beginning at the breath stream rather than at the horn, flare, or exit of the breath stream.

I accomplish this result preferably by inserting any suitable muting unit into or near the mouthpiece tube at or near its jointure with the tube of the instrument.

In ordinary practice, the upper end of the horn or other instrument is fitted around the tube or outlet from the mouthpiece and held thereon by a close or friction fit.

The mute of my invention may be similarly and removably fitted frictionally or otherwise in the tube of the mouthpiece, so that from the inside to the outside of the instrument comes first the mute fitted frictionally into the lower end of the mouthpiece away from the mouthpart. Then around the outside of the mouthpiece tube fits the upper end or tube of the instrument.

Several embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawing, it being understood that other changes in the shape form and location of the improved mute may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows an elevation partly in section showing location of mute when in use.

Fig. 2 shows an enlarged vertical section of mute.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a modified form of mute in vertical section.

Fig. 5 is a cross section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Like reference numerals indicate corresponding parts in the different figures of the drawing.

The mute shown in Figure 1 consists of a hollow tube I which contains a cone-shaped sleeve 2 around which are four air channels 333-3.

The mute proper 4 is cone-shaped as shown and its pointed end 5 is threaded into the top of the cone shape sleeve 3.

The mute can be adjusted by turning it one way or the other to let a greater or lesser amount of air around the cone.

The modified form of mute shown in Figure 4 consists of a sleeve Ii having its closed lower end I perforated as shown, with air channels 8.

This improved mute is for all brass or other similar mouthpiece instruments and is designed on an entirely new principle, that of muting the tone at the source of the breath stream instead of the principle now in use, that of muting at the end or intermediate places of the breath stream. The mute fits into the end or stem of the mouthpiece 9. Stem of horn I0 is then slid onto stem of mouthpiece 9.

This mute can be used for trumpets, cornets, trombones, baritones, French horns, tubas or any other brass or similar instruments employing a cup-mouthpiece, by varying the dimensions of the models.

The advantages of the mute are many. First and foremost the pitch remains unchanged from the pitch of the instrument. Second, the tiny size of this mute makes it very convenient to carry and the appearance of the instrument remains unchanged when the mute is in use. Use of different materials and several variations in construction provide a range of tone colors from which the artist can choose.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A wind instrument comprising a mouthpiece with a stem, a mute inserted in the stem, and a horn stem surrounding the stem of the mouthpiece.

2. A wind instrument comprising a mouthpiece with a stem, an adjustable mute inserted in the stem and a horn stem surrounding the stem of the mouthpiece.

EDNA WHITE.

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