US2287183A

US2287183A - Musical instrument

Info

Publication number: US2287183A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1942-06-23
Anticipated expiration: 1959-06-23

Description

June 23, 1942. v 2,287,183

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Dec. 29, 1941 I 3 Sheets-Sheet l Ill/l? 690%,? H l W54;

' 0 By Allan/0y June 23, 1942. H, LIVELY MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Dec. 29, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 6:01am f2! .ZZ/VEZ @Mwi ih June 23, 1942- a. H. LIVELY MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Dec. 29, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Gnome HZ/i/EL Patented June 23, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Grover H. Lively, St. Albans, W. Va. Application December 29, 1941, Serial No. 424,819

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in musical instruments and has particular reference to a sounding board having corrugations on its upper surface similar to a washboard and across which a metal thimble or similar tool on the hand of a person may be rubbed to produce the desired sound vibrations.

A further object is to provide a flat hollow sound box of this character which is closed at its top and having a tone hole in its bottom, the top including a center metal section having a roughened surface over which a tool may be rubbed, and the top also including wooden end sections on which the fingers may be drummed to produce various rhythmic sounds.

Another object is to provide a musical instrument of this character of simple and practical construction, which is neat and attractive in appearance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details-of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan View.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view showing the rear edge of the instrument supported on legs.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view.

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view.

Figure 7 is a top plan view of a modification, and,

Figure 8 is a side elevational view thereof.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the numeral 5 designates a substantially flat hollow body or sound box which is composed of a rim 6 having parallel front and rear edges 1 and 8 and rounded ends 9. The inner edge of the rim is provided with upper and lower grooves 10 and l l, the upper groove having a top I2 with its edges fitted in the groove and the bottom groove having the edges of a bottom 13 fitted therein.

The top is composed of a metallic intermediate section M which is corrugated transversely and end sections l5 and 18 of thin wood. The

bottom is constructed of thin wood and has a central tone hole ll therein.

The rim is provided on its upper edge with hooks IB to which a strap (not shown) may be attached for suspending the device from the neck of a person, and the underside of the rear edge of the rim is provided with sockets 19 in which short pegs or legs 20 may be fitted to elevate the rear of the device when resting on a supporting surface.

The instrument is played by rubbing the fingers of a person provided with metal thimbles over the surface of the corrugated metallic section M or by tapping or drumming the fingers on the Wooden end sections 15 and IS.

A drawer 2| is slidably fitted in the front edge of the rim to hold the thimbles and the front edge is curved longitudinally as shown at 22 to conform to the front of a person's body when the device is supported on the persons knees.

In Figure 7 of the drawings the central metallic section 23 is provided with a roughened surface arranged in a, suitable design and includes corrugated sections 24 and upstanding protuberances 25 punched upwardly from the surface of the metal.

A carrying handle 26 may also be secured to one edge of the rim.

It is believed the details of construction and manner of use of the device will be readily understood from the foregoing without further detailed explanation.

Having thus described the invention what I claim is:

l. A musical instrument comprising a substantially flat hollow box having an imperforate top and a bottom provided with a tone hole, said top being formed of a central metallic section having its surface roughened and relatively thin end sections of fibrous material, said bottom being disposed in spaced relation under both the central and end sections.

2. A musical instrument comprising a substantially flat hollow box having an imperforate top and a bottom provided with a tone hole, said top being formed of a central metallic section having its surface roughened and relatively thin end sections of fibrous material, and means at the rear edge of the box for supporting the same in an elevated position.

3. A musical instrument comprising a substantially flat hollow box having an imperforate top and a bottom provided with a tone hole, said top being formed of a central metallic section having its surface corrugated and relatively thin end sections of fibrous material, said bottom being disposed in spaced relation under both the central and end sections.

GROVER H. LIVELY.