US3407700A

US3407700A - Humidifier for musical instruments

Info

Publication number: US3407700A
Application number: US597711A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hollander Ralph
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1966-11-29
Filing date: 1966-11-29
Publication date: 1968-10-29
Anticipated expiration: 1985-10-29

Description

Oct. 29, 1968 R. HOLLANDER 3,407,700

' HUMIDIFIER FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed Nov. 29, 1966 I N VENTOR.

United States Patent 3,407,700 HUMIDIFIER FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Ralph Hollander, 425 W. 57th St., New York, N.Y. 10019 Filed Nov. 29, 1966, Ser. No. 597,711 7 Claims. (Cl. 84453) This invention relates generally to humidifiers or dampeners for musical instruments, and more particularly to a humidifying snake which is insertable into a small natural opening in the wooden soundboard of a stringed instrument to impart moisture thereto.

In the violin family of stringed instruments, strings are extended across a wooden resonator cavity or soundboard whose back and front are slightly convex, the front being pierced by two f-shaped resonance holes. This family of instruments includes the violincello and viola, the smallest being called the violin. In the violin, four strings are provided which run from the tailpiece at the base over a bridge in the lower center of the soundboard, along a fingerboard and into a peg-box. As the strings are bowed, the resultant tones set up resonant effects in the soundboard. Consequently, the physical and acoustic condition of the soundboard affects the brilliance, warmth and quality of the sounds produced by the player.

The wooden soundboard is constituted by suitably shaped pieces which are bonded together with an adhesive agent of suflicient strength to close the seams, but capable of yielding when it is necessary to dismantle the pieces for repairs. The exterior surfaces of instruments of the violin family are generally varnished, but the interior is uncoated, with the pores of the wood open and receptive to moisture.

Moisture plays an important role in instruments of the violin family, as well as in fretted instruments, such as guitars, mandolins, and lutes, which include wooden soundboards. Should the wooden body become dessicated, this may adversely affect the physical condition of the instrument as well as its tone. Wood, when excessively dry, tends to check, that is, to form minute fissures along the ring-lines of the wood, or even to crack. Central heating and dry climate both give rise to excessive atmospheric aridity. Those instruments of the violin family which are highly prized, are often very old and the need to condition the wood structure by moisture is therefore a matter of crucial importance.

Moreover, prolonged dryness adversely affects the adhesive used in soundboards, and may cause the seams to give way. But of even greater concern to the player, is the influence of aridity on the tonal quality of a violin and similar instruments, for this tends to impart a brittle or dry tone to the instrument. The reason for this is that the acoustic characteristics of the wood are a function of its moisture content.

Musicians have recognized the need to maintain their instruments in a somewhat, but not excessively humid atmosphere in order to prevent drying out of the wood. To this end, it has been known to place humidifiers within the carrying case of the instrument. Such humidifiers usually take the form of a perforated metal container filled with a water-absorbent material. However, such humidifiers have had limited success, for their action is localized and they do not provide an adequately dispersed humid atmosphere.

Furthermore, the moisture content of container-type humidifiers is relatively small and quickly exhausted. It must be borne in mind that soundboards are completely enclosed, save for small resonance holes, hence when a humidifier exudes moisture at one point within a carrying case, very little of that moisture ever penetrates the interior of the sound-box.

3,407,700 Patented Oct. 29, 1968 Accordingly, it is the main object of this invention to provide a humidifying snake which is capable of penetrating the interior of a musical soundboard to impart adequate moisture thereto over a relatively large area.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a snake in the form of an elongated tubular sheath having a water-absorbent core with a relatively large capacity, the sheath being perforated along its length to emit moisture into the atmosphere omnidirectionally as well as longitudinally, the snake being readily insertable into the interior of the sound-box through a resonance hole therein and having dimensions appropriate to the instrument for which it is intended.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a snake of the above-identified type, which is completely safe to use, and which may be manufactured and sold at low cost.

A significant advantage of the invention is that even if the snake is inadvertently left in the instrument when in use, it will not materially affect its playing quality. In fact it is desirable to leave the snake within the instrument, at least during practice sessions, for the resultant agitation of the air within the soundboard when playing serves to bring about a better distribution of the moist atmosphere.

For a better understanding of the invention, as well as other objects and further features thereof, reference is made to the following detailed description to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a humidifying snake in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section taken through the snake;

FIG. 3 shows the snake inserted in a violin; and

FIG. 4 illustrates in perspective another embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to the drawing, a snake in accordance with the invention is constituted by an outer tubular sheath 10 formed of soft, flexible material such as rubber, or of a suitable elastomeric plastic, within which is a core 11 formed of a water-absorbent material. The sheath is perforated by evaporator apertures 12, the apertures being distributed uniformly both circumferentially and longitudinally.

One end of the sheath may be open or enclosed by a tapered tail piece (not shown), whereas the other end is enclosed by a button-like headpiece 13 having a tapered shank 14 insertable within the sheath and held therein, the head of the button extending laterally beyond the sheath. Core 11 may be constituted by a rod-like sponge or by a cluster of sponge yarn of the type wherein sponge-like material is supported on a filament.

The outside diameter of the snake is such that it may be introduced without difiiculty into the resonance hole of the soundboard of the instrument. Thus, in the case of a violin, as shown in FIG. 3, having a soundboard 15 with an f-shaped resonance hole 16 in the front, the snake is inserted within this hole. The body of the snake lies within the interior of the soundboard but the headpiece 13 rests slightly above the 1 hole to facilitate subsequent removal of the snake.

In practice, the snake is saturated with water by dipping it, or by the use of a dropper for injecting water through the apertures. The diameter, number and distribution of the evaporator apertures determines the moisturizing characteristics of the snake, and these parameters may be selected as desired. The length of the snake is tailored to the size of the instrument for which it is intended. Thus, for violins, I have found a nine inch length suitable, whereas for a viola twelve inches is preferred, and for a cello and a bass fifteen inches is preferred. For heavy moisturization, a long snake may be used which is coiled fying area.'The diameter of the snake varieswith the size of the instrument.

In lieu of a button as the headpiece, a spider or other means may be used which is adapted to lie against the front of the instrument without damage thereto. In place of a tubular sheath, the outer covering of the snake may, as shown in FIG. 4, take the form of a helix or coil 17 of vinyl, latex, or other soft rubber-like material having small spaces between the convolutions to provide openings for exhaling moisture from a sponge-like core 18. In this instance, the headpiece 19 is in the form of a multilegged spider.

For guitars, the headpiece may be in the form of a pencil clip having a rubberized coating on the tongue. This clip may attach onto the wall of the guitar opening. The snake is also useful for percussion instruments to prevent the drum skin head from drying out. In this instance, the snake is inserted in any natural opening in the tympani or drums, thereby maintaining the calf-skin head in a moist condition.

While there have been shown and described preferred embodiments of humidifier for musical instruments in accordance with the invention, it will be appreciated that many changes and modifications may be made therein without, however, departing from the essential spirit of the invention as defined in the annexed claims.

What I claim is:

1. A humidifying snake insertable into a natural opening in the soundboard of a musical instrument, said snake comprising:

(a) an elongated flexible core of water-absorbent ma- 4 circumferentially and longitudinally distributed, and (c) an enlarged headpiece secured to the end of the sheath to permit removal of the snake, said snake having a diameter permitting its insertion through said natural opening, the dimension of the headpiece being greater than said opening.

2. A snake as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sheath is a perforated tube.

3. A snake as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sheath is a helix having spaces between the convolutions thereof.

4. A snake as set forth in claim 1, wherein said core is formed by a bundle of longitudinally-extending sponge yarns.

5. A snake as set forth in claim 1, wherein said core is formed by a rod-shaped sponge.

6. A snake as set forth in claim 1, wherein said headpiece is a spider.

7. A snake as set forth in claim 1, wherein said instrument is of the violin family and said snake has a length appropriate to the volume of the soundboard of the instrument.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,306,953 6/1919 Fisher. 2,418,878 4/1947 Harkins 23953 2,435,096 1/1948 Peterson 239--55 2,620,227 12/1952 Iwase et a1 84453 X 3,128,664 4/1964 Bango 84453 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,200,635 6/1959 France.

M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Primary Examiner.

a V. C. WILKS, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A HUMIDIFYING SNAKE INSERTABLE INTO A NATURAL OPENING IN THE SOUNDBOARD OF A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT, SAID SNAKE COMPRISING: (A) AN ELONGATED FLEXIBLE CORE OF WATER-ABSORBENT MATERIAL, (B) A SHEATH OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL SURROUNDING SAID CORE AND HAVING EVAPORATOR OPENINGS THEREIN WHICH ARE CIRCUMFERENTIALLY AND LONGITUDINALLY DISTRIBUTED, AND (C) AN ENLARGED HEADPIECE SECURED TO THE END OF THE SHEATH TO PERMIT REMOVAL OF THE SNAKE, SAID SNAKE HAVING A DIAMETER PERMITTING ITS INSERTION THROUGH SAID NATURAL OPENING, THE DIMENSION OF THE HEADPIECE BEING GREATER THAN SAID OPENING.