US3027794A - Musical device - Google Patents

Description

April 3, 1962 R. L. CHUTE MUSICAL DEVICE Filed NOV. 7, 1960 IN VEN TOR. ,flwpo L. C/lurE United States Patent 3,027,794 MUSICAL DEVICE I Richard L. Chute, 418 Union St., Springfield, Mass. Filed Nov. 7, 1960, Ser. No. 67,537 3 Claims. (Cl. 84-406) individually on the fingers of both hands so as to sound the scale when adjacent fingers are moved in proper sequence. g

V There is "a continuing need for a musical instrument which is inexpensive, easy to play and yet is capable of pro ducing' sounds endowed with a genuine musical quality,as distinguished from the sounds of a mere toy.

Another point of importance lies in the desirability of developing a musical sounding device which is adaptable to the defects or irregularities which handicap the hands or movements of a particular player. While the playing of instruments is widely utilized in therapy and for the readaptation of handicapped patients, most orchestral instruments require the use of all the fingers of both hands and a high degree of coordination for correct playing and are not readily modifiable to suit individual needs. The musical device of this invention, on the other hand, could be adapted to suit persons possessing various handicaps without losing an inordinate amount of its playability or its musical value.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a device for producing musical sounds which is very easy to learn and to play, and yet is capable of producing sounds endowed with a genuine musical quality.

Another object of my invention is to provide a musical instrument which ofiers some measure of adaptability to defects or irregularities in the hands or movements of the player.

A further object of my invention is to provide a musical irisltrument which is comparatively small and easily porta e.

Another object of this invention is to provide a musical instrument which is relatively inexpensive.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the musical device of the inven tion showing ten difierently pitched bells installed consecutively on the fingers of both hands so as to produce the first ten tones of the aeolian mode when sounded in succession.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view partially showing the detail of a bell holder and the action of a finger when a bell is sounded.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention, showing a simpler and alternate form of bell holder without any accompanying glove.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that, as shown in FIG. 2, a bell 10 typically comprises a clapper 12 designed to strike against the inside of a hollow, resonant metallic vessel or barrel 15. Depending "ice . on the size, weight of the barrel, bells 10 may be produced which possess different pitches as well as a pleasing and truly musical quality. For instance the bells inthe preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1 may range in weight 5 from about 14 oz. for the heaviest (low A) to'about 7 /2 oz. for the lightest (high C). With a range of one octave and a minor third, the arrangement which I have shown.

in FIG. 1 will be'adequate to play many melodies in the key of C and in the aeolian mode.

In their inactive position, the bells 10 are held upright, with the hands and fingers raised, as shown in FIG. 1.

When it is desired to strike a bell, the appropriate finger should be rapidly lowered into a more or less horizontal position by a motion in the direction of the arrow as shown in FIG. 2. A variety of special effects is possible with the bells. Thus, one may strike several bells together, creating harmonies and overtones. One can also lower several bells in quick succession, creating a harp-like effect.

' Another special effect is provided by raising ones arm suddenly, or by any other sudden, fast movement of the arm.

In order to insure that the bells remain fast on the fingers, special gloves '13 can also be used for that purpose, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings. They are held in place securely by a string 9 tied around the wearer's wrist. Of course, other suitable fastening means may also be used, if desired. Furthermore, if desired, the gloves may be connected to each other by any well known means, thus preventing any of the gloves with their associated bells from dropping to the floor when they are untied or loosened and therefore preventing any damage to the bells.

Rigid tubes 11 preferably mounted in the fingers of the gloves may be made of metal or any other suitable material. The tubes help in directing the movements of the fingers and in keeping them straightened so as to avoid the accidental hitting of the bells against each other. The tubes also make it easier to slip the gloves on and off.

The bells themselves may be made of polished brass or some other suitable material. They are individually mounted to the end of each metal tube by any desired means, for example by being tied with a solid metal wire (not shown) which goes through the top of the tube itself.

Altemately, as shown in FIG. 3, instead of mounting the bells on the fingers of gloves, the bells '10 may be mounted on tight-fitting finger tip rings 14.

Although I have described my invention in terms of a ten-fingered combination of bells pitched on the aeolian mode, it is evident that many variants could be introduced in this arrangement without thereby departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, it would be possible to use only one hand with bells attached to it, and to accompany oneself with the other hand on an organ, thus lending a beautiful and unusual efiiect to the music of a church service. It would also be possible for a handicapped person to use a smaller number of bells arranged in a convenient manner to produce a great variety of sounds of genuine musical beauty. Naturally, the musical beauty of the sounds depends to a large extent on the quality of the bells themselves, but it has been found that suitable bells of excellent musical quality can be obtained at comparatively inexpensive prices.

The invention can also be easily varied by tuning the bells at a great variety of pitches. Thus, the bells could be played by several persons, combining to form the intervals of the full chromatic scale. Obviously, the bells could also be tuned so as to produce only arpeggios in any key that might be desired.

The bells can be played easily in any prescribed order Patented Apr. 3, 1962- 3 since they can be lettered, numbered, or marked with different colors so that matching indicia can be marked over the music corresponding to the notes which are to be played. I

It will be seen that the present invention provides a musical sounding device which is simple, portable and inexpensive and which may be easily played without special instructions.

As various. changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it, is to be understood that, all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and, not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A device for the production of musical sounds comprising a plurality of differently pitched note-producing bells, means for mounting said-bells on the fingers of the hand, the pitch of a hell on one fingerbeing different from the pitch of the bell on another finger, said bells being pitched in a pre-arranged manner whereby sounds can be produced by motion of the fingers and whereby consecutive bells sound successive notes on the scale.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bells are mounted on the fingers of; a glove and wherein tubes are mounted in the fingers of the gloves to keep the fingers rigid.

3. A device as claimed in, claim 1', wherein said bells are mounted on finger-tip ring adapted to be affixed to the fingers of the user.

References Cited in the. file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS,

Re. 16,272 Green Feb. 23,, 1,926. 385,002 Pagan June 26, 1888' 1,084,718 Wanamaker Ian. 20, 1914 1,885,843 7 Langer Nov. 1', 1932 2,311,276 Wilcox n Feb. 16', 1943 2,612,135 Iny '$ept. 30', 1952 2,713,805 Flores July 26, 1955' 2,787,929 Musser q Apr. 19, 1957 2,811,071 Gorr Oct. 2 9', 195.7 2,929,170 Brown et all Mar. 22, 1960

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