US2678517A

US2678517A - Combined castanet and tambourine

Info

Publication number: US2678517A
Application number: US217529A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gibson Glenn Dean
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1951-03-26
Filing date: 1951-03-26
Publication date: 1954-05-18
Anticipated expiration: 1971-05-18

Description

y 18, 1954 s. D. GIBSON 2,678,517

COMBINED CASTANET AND TAMBOURINE Filed March 26, 1951 IN V EN TOR.

Patented May 18, 1954 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 1 Claim. (Cl. 46-477) This, invention relates to a combined castanet and tambourine. More particularly it relates to a. combined castanet and tambourine wherein the. soundboard elements of the castanet are fixed rather than movable and wherein the tambourine elements move between such soundboard elements to product the sounds characteristic of a castanet.

It is a general object of my invention to provide a novel and improved combined castanet and tambourine of simple and cheap construction and capable of easy manipulation.

A more specific object is to provide a combined castanet and tambourine requiring a minimum of parts and capable of being utilized in a proficient manner with a minimum of training on the part of the user.

Another object is to provide a castanet wherein the user need not attain any material skill in the manipulation of his fingers.

Another object is to provide a combined castanet and tambourine of small dimensions, capable of improved performance, and constructed to facilitate the production of sounds characteristic of a tambourine and castanet by a relatively inexperienced user.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will be more apparent from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. l is a top plan view of one embodiment of my invention with a portion of the upper soundboard element broken away to show the relation of the tambourine elements thereto.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same with the outer end portion shown in section to more clearly depict its structure.

Qne embodiment of my invention may include as shown in Figs. 1-2 a pair of spaced soundboard elements 5 and 5 mounted on the outer end portion of a handle member indicated generally as 3. As shown these soundboard elements 5 and 5 are rigidly secured to the outer end portion 1 in spaced and fixed relation with respect to each other. As best shown in Fig. 2 each of these soundboard elements 5 and 5 is formed integrally with the wooden handle 8. The inner surfaces 50. and of the soundboard elements are flat.

Extending between the soundboard elements 5 and i5 and mounted therein in fixed position is a guide pin 9. This guide pin 9 carries at least a pair of separate concavely shaped metallic discs ill in piercing relation thereto.

The outer edge portions ll of each of the discs Ill extend approximately parallel to the soundboards 5 and 6 and to each other to register with each other along these portions. As best shown in Fig. 2 each of the discs of a pair are mounted on the guide pin- 9 to face each other. The apertures l2 of the discs is are suificiently large so that each of the discs is mounted loosely on the guide pin 9 to permit the discs to vibrate and move slightly in a direction radial to the guide pin 9.

The outer end surface of the outer end portion '5 which is disposed between the soundboard elements 5 and 6 is hollowed out concavely as at I3. This hollowed out portion is shaped in a manner comparable to amphitheater construction.

In operation the combined castanets and tambourine shown may be moved rapidly backwardly and forwardly in the same general direction as that in which the guide pin 9 extends to produce sounds characteristic of a castanet. When this is done the two pairs of discs It shown in Fig. 2 will move backwardly and forwardly as a unit between the soundboard elements 5 and E, causing a sharp clacking sound to be emitted therefrom. These sharp clacking sounds caused by the striking of these discs against the soundboard elements 5 and 6 is highly characteristic of the sound of a castanet produced by clapping together the edges of a pair of concavely shaped castanet shells. It is substantially simpler to produce the desired sounds by manipulating the handle 3 than it is to learn how to manipulate a pair of castanet shells which are movable with respect to each other. The tone of the sound produced by my combined castanet and tambourine is substantially the same as that produced by clapping together two wooden castanet shells.

When it is desired to produce sounds characteristic of a tambourine the user of the combined castanet and tambourine needs only to move the device backward and forward in a direction generally normal to the longitudinal center of the guide pin 9. Such movement will cause the discs it to vibrate with respect to the guide pin 9 and with respect to each other thereby producing the desired jingling sounds. Here again the production of such sounds is made substantially simpler through the use of my device.

The concavely shaped end portion 5 of my device is constructed to maintain the clarity and distinctness of each of the sounds produced. At the same time it serves to amplify the sounds of the above construction which would be normally produced if the end portion were not so shaped.

It should be noted that my combined tambourine and castanet are extremely compact and easy to manipulate. A relatively inexperienced person may use such a combined castanet and tambourine as is shown herein at a high degree of proficiency Within a very short time. It should also be noted that in contrast to the conventional type of castanet the soundboard elements in my instrument are fixed with respect to each other and the tambourine elements, or discs are utilized to produce the clacking sounds characteristic of a castanet. It is understood of course that any guideway which will maintain the discs 10 in proper position with respect to each other might be used to supplant the guide pin 9.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of my invention.

What I hereby claim is:

A combined castanet and tambourine comprising a wooden handl member bifurcated at one end to form a pair of soundboard elements in fixed and spaced relation to each other, the outer ends of said elements being free, at least a pair of separate concavely shaped metallic discs of approximately equal diameters, and a guide pin extending between said soundboard elements and carrying said discs in piercing relation, said discs being mounted on said pin for free sliding movement therealong between and against said soundboard elements when said handle member is moved sharply in the general direction along which said pin extends to produce sounds characteristic of a castanet and facing each other and being mounted loosely on said pin for free vibratory movement with respect to each other when said handle member is moved backwardly and forwardly in a direction generally normal to the longitudinal center of said pin to cooperatively produce sounds characteristic of a tambourine, the portion of said handl member extending between and connecting said soundboard elements being disposed opposite said discs and said guide pin and being concavely formed in a direction parallel to said pin and in a direction normal to said pin to amplify and maintain the clarity and distinctness of each of said sounds.

References Cited in the file of this patent Di Angele June 7, 1949