US2483880A - Violin ring mute - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 4, 1949. 1. cLEvELAND vIoLIN RING-MUTE Filed May 25, 1946 Inventor /zyram (Yeye/and.

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Patented Oct. 4, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VJQLIN RING'MUTE IngramfGleveland; Oklahoma City, kla. Application May. 25, 1946,;Serialf1No., 672;,31;7

'Ehepresentfinvention -relates to mutes such as aretused. on and in connection with. bridges for stringed2 musical .instruinents, and, has, reference in, particular to. a. novel, type ring. and. mute com,- bned; that is. anne-mete which, may. be readily, andexneditiously transferred from the bridge to afinger, and vicegversa..

Although .themute isY susceptible., of usage in connection wlith, other types. of stringed, musical instruments, itv is. expressly designed and radapted for use in connection with a violin, viola, cello, and, double bass, and. theV drawings, description and;7 claims. aretto .be so interpreted.

Violinists .and others. .using .mutes are full. well .aware of. .thef inconyeniences. met. in. employing conventional; imites,` Since requirements. for utilization. ofv mutes. vaifyr according to. particular renditions,v factors of, time and. expediency are ever-so important to players. Such; being the conditionsregularly met, I. have evolvedand pro.- .duced a. simple, dualfpurpose unit embodying the .prerequisite of both. a, mute, and. finger ring., whereby tor provide the performer with a, mute which.,may bev quickly. snanpecl. on. the crown of thebridge while/in. use, and readily. detached and wornfas .a finger ringwhennot in use...

A. limteV consitructed in, accordance. with the principles of the instant' invention, is possessed of thefeatures and, advantages so far enumerated and is also de'sira'ble because of the combined ornamental and: utlitarian vcharacteristics provided.

Other-objects, features, and advant'ages` will become more readily apparentffromthefollowing descriptiong and theaocomparryingf.v illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, whereinilike numeralszare remplo'yed-y tofdesigna-te like parts-throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form or stylel of ring-mute constructed in accordance With the principles ofX the instant invention, said figure showing the manner in which the mute is worn as a ring upon a finger,

Figure 2 is an enlarged edge elevational view of the ring-mute shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a rim or side elevation, that is, a view observing Figure 2 in a direction either left or right,

Figure 4 is an edge elevation showing a different embodiment of the ring-mute,

Figure 5 is a marginal or rim elevation observing Figure 4 in a direction from right to left,

Figure 6 is a similar elevational view showing a,

:till further form or, embodiment of the inven-r ion,

Fgure 'I isaview observing Figure 6, for .example, inv ax direction from right to left, and

Figure 8 is a top plan View of Figures 'and 73.

Inasmuch as the various figures disclose several modifications stemming rfromthe same broad inyentivel idea,v it is advisable, for clearness, to descriloe each form` individualy. Figures 1, to v3 willv be covered first; then Figures- 4 and 5'will 'ber considered, and finally Figures 6 to 8, inclusive.,

Reference being had first toeFigures 2'rand 3; it will heV seen7 that the accessory, as a unit, isreferred, to as a, ring-ninte, the same beingV denoted, as. ar single article, by the general reference nu'- mera'l. IO, Itl might he pointed' out in this connecton that the ring-mute is constructed from suitable material, for examplehplastics, woodror metal, asi the case may be. In the form ofy the invention under advisement, the mute is actually a part of the ring. The ring llis inv the form of a splitband; and the free ends of thelimbs are bifurcated, as at l`2', thus defining furcations 3 which, in turn,l constitute the prongs orgrips for releasably fitting upon the crown portion of the Conventional violin or equivalent bridge (not shown). The intermediate or crown portion of thejring, is provided with an ornament l`4gw hiich is here shown in the form4 of a rectangular boss. This may. obviously` be ofI varying designs, and, if desired, may be-supplemented bythe addition theret'o ofl suitable jewels (not shown), this within the descretion ofthe user.

rPhe ring or band'portion is sufficiently resilient tor be readily applicable to one's finger, as shown v'in Figure; 1, and ifv desired` the terminals |5 may he bevelled to facilitate' application and removal.

In practice,V it is clear that the mute may be worn `on the finger, as shown in7 Figure hor may bereadily detachedr and applied to the violin This makes it possible to and vice versa. Valuable time -and'inconVen-ience is saved in the adoption and use of a special mute of the type shown and described..

The same fundamental ideas and results attend the modification shown in Figures 4 and 5, and diiferentiated by the numeral IE. Here the ring l'l is of the type illustrated and includes inturned extensions or lugs IS spaced apart to provide the desired opening and closing for use as a ring. The extensions below the ring proper are bifurcated, as at 19, and, again, the bifurcated formations dene furcations 20 which constitute the grips or prongs. The mode of use and application of the ring-mute IG is the same as the aforementioned ring-mute HJ.

Reference is now had to the final modifcations` seen in Figures 6 to 8, inclusive. Here the principle is basically the same, but the precise construction varies slightly. That is to say, the mute El appears as a separate element or part and is formed integral with the central top or crown portion of the split finger ring 22. As brought out in Figure 8, the body of the mute as denoted at 23 is elongated, appearing as a bar, and the T-heads on the opposite ends are fashioned into the prongs. That is to say, the opposite end portions of the respective heads are bifurcated, as at the points 24 and 25, to provide furcations or prongs 26-26 and 21-21, as illustrated. The sets of prongs 26 may be used together or the prongs 21 may be used together, depending upon choice and expediency. It may be said, therefore, that in this form the mute is, in efiect, a separate part integrated With the ring and is of a duplex style, the same being built for longevity as well as uniqueness in appearance and design.

The several forms of the invention herein shown and described are exemplary as preferred embodiments of the overall nventive idea. Obviously, many other styles and variations may be adopted and utilized to advantage and with equal facility. It is unnecessary, however, to attempt to picture such species and forms, for the gist of the invention has to do with a single article of manufacture which is so fashioned and made, from suitable material, to function as a ring, on the one hand, and as a mute, on the other. The claims are to be construed with such interpretations in mind.

Ring-type mutes of the form herein shown and described are practical in that they may be made of modern durable plastics such as may be molded to obtain the desired weight, the requisite features of ela-sticity and the incorporation of colors, if desired, to inject eye appeal where desired.

It is submitted that the construction and designing of the mutes hereinunder advisement embody basic scientific laws of physics and acoustics and serve to filter out disturbing fuzzy and dull nasal-like tones which are so characteristic of many of the types of mutes now on the market. Experience with my mute has shown that it insures a rich mellow quality of tone and resonance so necessary to fine performance. It makes possible a noteworthy advancement in artistic expression and interpretation by bringing out the delicate shading and nuance-s of the masters, the blending of lights and Shadows in full color tones.

The split prongs are so tapered and arranged that they serve to fit snugly on any one of the selected strings between the tail piece and bridge whereby to render the mute, thus suspended, readily accessible.

As before stated the ring portion serves not only as the essential part of the body of the mute as a unit or instrumentality but serves as a convenient means of wearing the mute on the finger of the bow hand as well as a convenient grip when applying or removing the mute from the bridge, making possible a quick smooth transition technique that is virtually imperceptible to the audience and average onlooker.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention after considering the description in connection with the drawings. Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Minor changes in the Shape, size and arrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

I claim:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a bridgetype mute for violins and similar members of the stringed musical instrument family comprising a body structure including a split ring having co-acting prong means, the latter being adapted to be detachably mounted on a Conventional bridge in usual fashion, said split ring being expandible and contractible for adaptablity and adjustability and suitable, if and when desired, to be temporarily worn on the finger of the bow hand of the user.

2. The structure defmed in claim 1, wherein the stated prong means is comprised of a pair of complemental prongs forming integral complements of said ring, said prongs having bridge grips, being in spaced parallelism and being spaced from the terminal ends of said split ring.

3. A violin and viola mute of the multiple purpose type illustrated and described comprising a one-piece body embodying a resilient radially expandible and contractible split ring, the terminals of the split end portions of said ring being slightly spaced from each other, and a pair of tangental bridge gripping prongs carried by and forming integral portions of the split end portions of said ring, said prongs being substantially parallel to one another and being circumferentially spaced from said terminals.

INGRAM CLEVELAND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number lName Date i 1,843/144 Chapin Feb. 2, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 7,733 Great Britain Mar. 25, 1897

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