US2370460A

US2370460A - Tone post for violins and similar musical instruments

Info

Publication number: US2370460A
Application number: US470858A
Authority: US
Inventors: Patmor John Bell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1942-12-31
Filing date: 1942-12-31
Publication date: 1945-02-27
Anticipated expiration: 1962-02-27

Description

.1. B. PATMOR 2,370,460

TONE POST FOR VIOLINS AND SIMILAR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Feb. 27, 1945.

Filed Deg. 51, 1942 Inventor Patented Feb. 27, 1945 TONE POST FOR, VIOLINS AND SIMILAR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS John Bell Patmor, Zion, Ill.

Application December 31, 1942, Serial No. 470,858

Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in tone posts for violins, guitars, mandolins and similar musical instruments and has for its primary object to provide a support in the body or sound box of the violin positioned beneath the bridge to act as a support therefore and in which the tone post is constructed of material adapted to yield to pressure subjected thereto by the bridge and thus improve the flexibility, tone filtration and perceptible overtone by setting up tonal vibrations which have a tendency to improve the sound qualities of the instrument.

The invention further has for an object to act as a wooden spring adapted to stringed instruments, which imparts the proper tensity to the sound post.

A further object is to provide a device of this character of simple and practical construction, which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and install in operative position in the musical instrument 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 drawing forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout and in which:

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view through the sound box of a violin showing the tone post in position therein. t

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on a line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a p rspective view of the tone post forming the subject matter of the present invention, and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of a modified tom of the invention.

Referring now to the drawing in detail and with particular reference to Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, the numeral 5 designates the body or sound box of a violin or similar musical instrument which includes the bridge 6 having the strings 1 extending thereover.

The body 5 includes the top section 8 and bottom 9 to produce a hollow sound box in the usual manner and positioned in the box, immediately beneath the bridge 6 is a tone post designated generally at l0 which has its bottom portion resting on the bottom 9 of the sound box and is formed with a tapering upper portion H on top of which is supported a cross head l2 and which includes a substantially U-shaped bottom portion having the upstanding columns I! p0si- 'tioned laterally outwardly from the opposite sides of the post and supported on the columns is a relatively thin, flat top member l4.

As shown to advantage in Figure 2 of the drawing the cross head l2 extends transversely beneath the bridge 6 so that the bridge is positioned transversely substantially over the unsupported center of the top member I4. By reason of this construction pressure exerted on the bridge 6 by the strings I is subjected to the central portion of the relatively thin top H of the cross head l2 and thus provides limited flexibility for the cross head.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, the top ember I4 is constructed of a separate piece of material adhesively or otherwise secured to the upper ends of the cross head l2 whereas in Figure 4 of the drawing the cross head designated at H: is integrally constructed.

The post HI is preferably constructed of sea soned spruce while the cross head [2 and to plate M are preferably constructed of bamboo.

By providing a post in the tone box for the bridge member of the violin or similar stringed musical instruments and in which the tone post embodies limited flexibility better tone qualities are found to be produced when playing the instrument.

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

Having described the invention, What I claim as new is:

1. A tone post for stringed musical instruments of a type including a hollow tone box and a bridge, said tone post comprising an upright member, a bottom cross-member at the top of the upright member, upstanding members at the end of the cross-member, and a top cross-member on the upper ends of the upstanding members, said top cross-member having its intermediate portion unsupported and positioned transversely of the bridge and against the underside of the top of the tone box and adapted to yield to pressure of the bridge.

2. A tone post for stringed musical instruments of a type including a hollow tone boX and a bridge, said tone post comprising an upright member, upper and lower cross-members centered on top of the upright member, and columns spacing the cross-members apart, said upper cross member being positioned transversely of the bridge and against the underside of the top of the tone box,

and said upper cross-member being unsupported at its intermediate portion and yieldable to pressure of the bridge.

3. A tone post for stringed musical instruments of a type including a hollow tone box and a bridge, said tone post including a cross-head projecting laterally at opposite sides of the top of the post and having a yieldable intermediate portion and rigid end portions and arranged in a position with the cross-head centered beneath the bridge of the instrument and transversely thereof;

4. A tone post for stringed musical instruments of a, type including a hollow tone box and a bridge, and a cross-head projecting laterally at 15 opposite sides of the top of the post having a yieldable intermediate portion and rigid end portions and arranged in the tone box against the top thereof in the region of the bridge and transversely thereof, said cross-head being yieldable to pressure of the bridge.

5. A tone post for stringed musical instruments of a type including a hollow tone box'and a bridge and a cross-head projecting laterally at opposite sides of the top of the post and sup- 10 ported in the tone box against the top thereof in the region of the bridge and transversely thereof, said head having an opening extending from side to side and including a top member rigidly supported at its end to provide a yieldable center responsive to pressure of the bridge.

JOHN BELL PATMOR.