US3410170A - Ligature for reed instruments - Google Patents

Ligature for reed instruments Download PDF

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Publication number
US3410170A
US3410170A US678595A US67859567A US3410170A US 3410170 A US3410170 A US 3410170A US 678595 A US678595 A US 678595A US 67859567 A US67859567 A US 67859567A US 3410170 A US3410170 A US 3410170A
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United States
Prior art keywords
ligature
mouthpiece
reed
spacing
vibration
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Expired - Lifetime
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US678595A
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English (en)
Inventor
Anthony M Gigliotti
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ANTHONY M GIGLIOTTI
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Anthony M. Gigliotti
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Priority to US678595A priority Critical patent/US3410170A/en
Priority to FR1594695D priority patent/FR1594695A/fr
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Publication of US3410170A publication Critical patent/US3410170A/en
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Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
    • G10D—STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACCORDIONS OR CONCERTINAS; PERCUSSION MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; AEOLIAN HARPS; SINGING-FLAME MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G10D7/00—General design of wind musical instruments
    • G10D7/06—Beating-reed wind instruments, e.g. single or double reed wind instruments
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
    • G10D—STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACCORDIONS OR CONCERTINAS; PERCUSSION MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; AEOLIAN HARPS; SINGING-FLAME MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G10D9/00—Details of, or accessories for, wind musical instruments
    • G10D9/02—Mouthpieces; Reeds; Ligatures

Definitions

  • this invention applies to all musical instruments using a single beating reed held against a mouthpiece.
  • Such instruments include clarinets and all members of the clarinet family, such as bass clarinets, and all members of the saxophone family. While the foregoing are the principal reed instruments of this class, other and lesser known instruments using the same principles are also deemed to be included in this field.
  • oboes are not normally in this class, but occasionally an oboe is provided with a mouthpiece and a single beating reed of small proportions and the ligature of this invention is applicable here also.
  • Certain attempts to promote freer vibration have required a change in the structure of the mouthpiece.
  • Patents such as 2,837,003 and 2,411,380 have required such structural changes.
  • Such expedients preclude the possibility of use with specially prized individual mouthpieces, or even with mouthpieces of standard and established characteristics, since following the teachings of these patents required gouging or other changes in the shape of the mouthpiece itself, even if mouthpiece vibration is promoted.
  • Patent 2,292,584 is an attempt toward another ideal, since it discloses the use of felt strips and also what are described as sound-deadening plastics.
  • Summary of the inventiom-It is an object of this invention to provide a ligature for single reed wind musical instruments.
  • a ligature which in its main body structure is basically of the currently standard type. That is, it comprises a resilient collar or ring, having a longitudinal split, and being adjustably held together across the split by adjustable screws.
  • Such ligatures commonly are used to hold reeds on the tables or lays of mouthpieces and the preceding brief description is of a conventional device.
  • Longitudinal spacers are provided as part of the interior of the ligature. These spacers hold the ring or main portion of the ligature out of direct contact with the body of the mouthpiece, and contact is elfected only at the areas under spacers.
  • the ring or main portion, the spacers, and the other portions of the ligature described below are all made of non-damping or vibration enhancing materials, that is, materials chosen for low sound adsorption properties.
  • Metal is a preferred material, and among metals, steel has been found suitable.
  • This second type is a series of pointed members arranged longitudinally on each side of the gap or split in the ligature ring. These pointed members are the means by which the ligature contacts the reed and holds it on the lay or table of the mouthpiece. This contributes to the freedom of vibration of the reed and together with the first described spacing means, contributes to the over-all response of the instrument.
  • FIGURE l is a perspective view of the ligature
  • FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the ligature in position on a mouthpiece and holding a reed on the mouthpiece;
  • FIGURE 3a is a cross-sectional view of the ligature taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;
  • FIGURE 3b is a cross-sectional view of the ligature in position'on a mouthpiece and holding a reed on the mouthpiece, taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.
  • the ligature is generally designated 10. Its overall general shape is that of a truncated cone. It comprises a main portion, ring, or collar 12.
  • the ring 12 is provided with cut-away portlons or windows whose shape and extent is best shown for example in FIGURE 3a as the central aperture in that figure.
  • the ring 12 is provided with a longitudinal split or gap extending its entire length. Near each end of this gap are provided means to adjustably close the gap. These means lnclude a pair of thumbscrews 14. For each thumbscrew 14, the following associated structure is provided. On each side of the gap in ring 12, and closely adjacent to the gap, an internally threaded extension is provided on the ring 12. The extension on one side of the gap is identified as a and the extension on the other side is identified as 15b. Each thumbscrew 14 is provided with a pair of these extensions 15a, 15b.
  • a mouthpiece generally designated is provided. This 1s a conventional mouthpiece and its structure is internally and externally unaltered from conventional or standard structure. Such mouthpieces are generally of synthetic plastic, wood, or glass.
  • the structure and material of the mouthpiece is not part of the present invention.
  • the main body of the mouthpiece is designated 22, and it is provided with a shank 23.
  • the shank is intended to be inserted in the main body of an instrument, not shown, so as to effect a coupling of the mouthpiece to the main body of the instrument.
  • the mouthpiece 20 is provided with a channel therethrough and the main body 22 of the mouthpiece has a general taper to a reduced diameter away from the shank end.
  • the conical surface of the main body 22 is interrupted to provide a relatively fiat table or lay against which a reed 25 is held. In fact, the table is not exactly flat but is furnished with a certain specific longitudinal curve.
  • Reed 25 is generally of cane, and its characteristics and dimensions are critical, but the reed itself is beyond the scope of this invention.
  • the reed 25 is held against the relatively flat lay of the mouthpiece body 22 by the ligature 10 which embraces the mouthpiece body 22 and the reed 25.
  • the thumbscrews 14 are tightened to produce the necessary gripping effect. The amount of tightening of the thumbscrews and the differences in tightening between the two thumbscrews are matters that are important to the musicians art, but are not in the scope of this invention.
  • Each side of the gap in the ring 12 is interiorly provided with a raised land or extension 16 which borders the gap and extends its length.
  • the structure of the preferred embodiment so far described is conventional.
  • the lands 16, in known structures, are means which actually press against the reed 25 and hold it in position. It has been found by others that reeds perform best when they are restrained by forces exerted in this region of the reed.
  • ligature 10 there are two additional features or aspects of the ligature 10.
  • One of these aspects lies in the provision of certain additionalspacing means in conjunction with the reedrestraining lands 16, which may be termed reed-ligature spacing means.
  • These additional means are a plurality of relatively pointed members 16a which extend inwardly from each of the lands 16. These relatively pointed members may also be described as small buttons or knobs extending inwardly from the surface of the lands 16. That is, themembers 16a should not be brought to an actual sharp point.
  • each land 16 is provided with three pointed members 16a which are arrranged longitudinally along the land 16 and are evenly spaced.
  • the pointed member 16a on the land 16 there are several criteria followed in providing the pointed member 16a on the land 16. It is desirable to apply all the pressure on the reed within the area that otherwise would have the pressure applied by the land 16. It is also desirable to have the pressure distributed evenly or regularly throughout this area, that is, not all applied merely in one portion of the area. Finally, and importantly to this invention, it has been found desirable to approach more nearly a point contact application ofthe pressure rather than to apply it over the relatively broad surface of a land 16. Following these criteria, the provision of the three pointed members 16a provided as shown, with two of them adjacent the ends of the land 16 and the ligature, and the third centrally located, has been found preferable.
  • the other aspect of this ligature, in which itdiifers from previous ligatures is that it is provided with means to enhance the vibration of the mouthpiece.
  • These means are spacing means to space the main portion 12 of the ligature 10 away from the main body 22 of the mouthpiece 20 except for contact at certain selected areas and are broadly called mouthpiece-ligature spacing means.
  • three spacing bars are provided in the interior of the ligature. Each of the spacing bars runs longitudinally in the ligature and extends its length. One of the bars is positioned diametrically opposed to the gap, and for reference, this is identified as top spacing bar 18. Two other spacing bars are similarly provided, each approximately on opposite sides of the top spacing bar 18. These two bars are identified .as side spacing bars 17.
  • each of the side spacing bars 17 is intercepted by one of the cut-away portions or windows provided in the main portion 12 of the ligature 10. As best shown in FIG. 30, each bar 17, after its interruption by the cut-out portion, thereafter continues so that each side bar 17 is considered as a single bar, although it is interrupted by the cut-out portion of the ligature. As has been explained, the provision of these spacing bars has been found to enhance the desirability of the musical instrument as a whole. It is believed that this is due to an enhancement of the freedom of vibration in the mouthpiece itself.
  • the material used may be broadly described as vibration-enhancing, non-sound deadening, or non-sound absorbing. It is highly preferred that all the elements be made of metal, and preferably of the same metal. It has been found that steel is highly satisfactory. The steel may or may not be plated.
  • a ligature for single reed musical instruments to hold a reed on a mouthpiece comprising a main portion having a longitudinal gap extending the entire length thereof and adjustable means on said ligature to tend to close said gap, mouthpiece-ligature spacing means provided on the interior of said ligature, said mouthpieceligature spacing means permitting said ligature to contact said mouthpiece only at areas under said spacing means, and said ligature and said mouthpiece-ligature spacing means both being of vibration-enhancing material.
  • a ligature as set forth in claim 2 wherein said mouthpiece-ligature spacing means comprises a top spacing bar diametrically opposed to said gap and at least one other side spacing bar running at least partly the entire length of said ligature.
  • a ligature for single reed musical instruments to hold a reed on a mouthpiece comprising a main portion having a longitudinal gap extending the entire length thereof, and adjustable means on said ligature to tend to close said gap, reed-ligature spacing means provided on the interior of said ligature, said reed-ligature spacing means being provided closely adjacent each side of said gap and comprising a plurality of pointed members on each side of said gap and being distributed along the entire length of said gap, said ligature and said reed-ligature spacing means both being of vibration-enhancing material.
  • a ligature as set forth in claim 5 wherein three said pointed members are provided on each said land, two of said pointed members being adjacent the end of said land and the other said pointed member being spaced equidistantly from the first named two pointed members.
  • a ligature for single reed musical instruments to hold a reed on a mouthpiece comprising a main portion having a longitudinal gap extending the entirelength thereof, and adjustment means on said ligature to tend to close said gap, mouthpiece-ligature spacing means provided on the interior of said ligature, said mouthpiece-ligature spacing means permitting said ligature to contact said mouthpiece only at areas under said mouthpiece-ligature spacing means, and reed-ligature spacing means provided on the interiors of said ligature, said reed-ligature spacing means being provided closely adjacent each side of said gap and comprising .a plurality of pointed members on each side of said gap and being distributed along the entire length of said gap, all of said ligature, said mouthpiece-ligature spacing means and said reed-ligature spacing means being of vibration-enhancing material.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Stringed Musical Instruments (AREA)
US678595A 1967-10-27 1967-10-27 Ligature for reed instruments Expired - Lifetime US3410170A (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US678595A US3410170A (en) 1967-10-27 1967-10-27 Ligature for reed instruments
FR1594695D FR1594695A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1967-10-27 1968-10-28

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Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4080866A (en) * 1976-09-28 1978-03-28 Milo Rockwood Toof Ligature means and a method of securing a reed in a wind instrument
US4428271A (en) 1980-12-01 1984-01-31 Winslow Thomas W Method and means for attaching reed to wind instruments
US6020545A (en) * 1998-06-23 2000-02-01 Consoli; John J Ligature for the mouthpiece of a woodwind musical instrument
RU197231U1 (ru) * 2020-02-03 2020-04-14 Андрей Владимирович Параничев Лигатура для духовых музыкальных инструментов
USD964457S1 (en) * 2019-06-12 2022-09-20 General James Gholson, Jr. Ligature for wind instruments

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2438311A1 (fr) * 1978-10-03 1980-04-30 Vandoren Ets Perfectionnements aux ligatures pour bec d'instrument a vent
FR2754624B1 (fr) * 1996-10-16 1998-12-31 Vandoren Ets Nouvelle ligature pour bec d'un instrument a vent a anche

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2791929A (en) * 1955-04-01 1957-05-14 Bonade Daniel Ligatures for clarinets or the like

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2791929A (en) * 1955-04-01 1957-05-14 Bonade Daniel Ligatures for clarinets or the like

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4080866A (en) * 1976-09-28 1978-03-28 Milo Rockwood Toof Ligature means and a method of securing a reed in a wind instrument
US4428271A (en) 1980-12-01 1984-01-31 Winslow Thomas W Method and means for attaching reed to wind instruments
US6020545A (en) * 1998-06-23 2000-02-01 Consoli; John J Ligature for the mouthpiece of a woodwind musical instrument
USD964457S1 (en) * 2019-06-12 2022-09-20 General James Gholson, Jr. Ligature for wind instruments
RU197231U1 (ru) * 2020-02-03 2020-04-14 Андрей Владимирович Параничев Лигатура для духовых музыкальных инструментов

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Publication number Publication date
FR1594695A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1970-06-08

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