US3535973A - Music device - Google Patents

Description

Uni-ted States Patent Leon D. Rosen [72] Inventor 569 Burllngame Ave., Los Angeles,

California 90049 [21] Appl. No. 845,137 [22] Filed July 28,1969

Division of Ser. No. 500,704, Oct. 22, 1965, now Patent No. 3,476,004. [45] Patented Oct. 27, 1970 [54] MUSIC DEVICE 9 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,071,939 9/1913 McMurtry 84/1.03X 1,197,910 9/1916 Clement .1 84/1.03X

German Printed Application No. 1,009,463, 5/29/57, lsreal Shamah, c1.84, Sub. 97

Primary Examiner- Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-Stanley A. Wal

ABSTRACT: Apparatus for automatically playing a musical composition comprising a record base having music staff lines and adapted to receive note producing members on and between the staff lines. The base can move parallel to a playing head which is responsive to the note producing members, so that it produces sounds of a pitch corresponding to the positions of the note producing members with respect to the staff lines. The pitch of the sound corresponds to the pitch that would be designated by a mark at the same position on the music staff lines of a music manuscript.

Patented fo'ct. 27', 1970 3,535,973

Shet 3 of3 INVENTOR.

. 501v arose/v MUSIC DEVICE CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This is a division of application Ser. No. 500,704, filed Oct. 22, I965, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,476,004, issued Nov. 4, 1969.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention relates to musical devices and, more particularly, to devices for recording and playing tunes.

2. Description of the Prior Art The playing of a musical composition generally involves the production of sounds by a musician playing a musical instrument. Such an arrangement provides for great flexibility inasmuch as new and old musical compositions and variations in them may be thereby readily played and heard. However, it is often the case that a person who desires to hear a musical composition or tune which is recorded only in the form of a written musical manuscript, cannot play a muscial instrument with the required skill. Apparatus which enabled such a person to readily produce a record representing any musical composition within a certain range of complexity, and which could automatically play the composition thus recorded, would be very entertaining and useful. Such apparatus preferably should guide the person in the recording of each note to facilitate rapid and accurate construction of a record, yet should provide great freedom to allow the person to choose any notes in any sequence.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for enabling a person to accurately and rapidly record any musical composition within a wide range and to automatically play the record to produce sounds representing the composition.

Another object is to provide a device for teaching persons to read conventionally written musical manuscripts.

In accordance with the invention, apparatus is provided for recording a tune or musical composition by creating a record which closely resembles a written musical manuscript, and for automatically playing the record to produce the tune. The record carries or apparently carries lines resembling the staff lines of written music. Individual note members or note bits such as opaque spots are positioned on or between music staff lines so that the bits correspond to notes as written on the staff lines of music paper. The note bits move past a row of tone producing members such as a light source and photocells which detect the presence of opaque spots to activate the tone producing members and play a series of notes corresponding to a desired tune. The record which produces the melody closely resembles a written musical manuscript with which a musician could play the melody.

The device of the invention enables a person to readily produce a record for playing a tune, using as a guide a manuscript intended for use by a musician. Additionally, the close resemblance of the record to a conventionally written musical composition teaches the relationship between written notes and the sounds they produce. In assembling a record a person learns to read conventionally written music and, by observing the playing of the record and the relationship between the placement and/or length of a note bit and the pitch and duration of the actual sound created thereby. the learning process is considerably enhanced.

A more complete understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the following description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a pictorial representation of a first embodiment of the invention, wherein a combination of plunking pins and vibrating bars is utilized;

FIG. 2 is apartial plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 showing the playing head and a portion of the record base;

FIG. 3 is a partial, sectional, front elevation view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 showing the playing head and a portion of the record base;

FIG. 4 is a partial plan view of a second embodiment of the invention which utilizes a plurality of switches which operate a battery of oscillators, showing the playing head and a portion of the record base thereof,'and including a plurality of note members for playing a particular melody, specifically, a per tion of the United States National Anthem;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a portion of a typical music manuscript on which is written notes representing the melody which is recorded on the record shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a partial side elevation view of the apparatus of FIG. 4, showing the playing head and a portion of the record base;

FIG. 7 is a partial side elevation view of a variation of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 6, in which completion of an electrical circuit is accomplished by electical contact between a note bit and a spring-like conductor of the playing head; and

FIG. 8 is a partial exploded view of the playing head portion of a third embodiment of the invention, which utilizes light beams that activate photocells.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to a first embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. the invention comprises a case 10 of wood or the like within which is mounted a motor with speed reducer I2. The motor 12 carries a shaft 14 which revolves at a speed of about one revolution per minute when the motor is connected to an appropriate electrical source (not shown). The shaft 14 carries a disc-like record base 18 which is situated immediately above the top of the case 10.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the record base I8 is a composite of two discs: a facing disc 20 and a back-up disc 22. The facing disc 20 includes a circumferential portion which has numerous small bit holes 26 formed therethrough. Five circular staff lines 28 shown in FIG. 2 are marked concentrically with the center of the disc 20 on the upper surface 21 of its circumferential portion. The staff lines 28 have the same general appearance as the staff lines used in conventional musical manuscripts to denote the pitch of written notes. Alphabetical notations 29 are marked on the record base and so positioned that the device may be used for music written in the trebel clef.

A bracket 30 is fixed to the top of the case and includes a portion which overhangs the circumferential portion of the record base. A comb 32 of brass or the like, one portion of which is formed as a plurality of tone bars 34, is fixed to the overhanging portion of the bracket 30 so that the ends of all the tone bars lie immediately above the upper surface 21 of the record base. When a tone bar 34 is plucked, it vibrates at a predetermined frequency and produces a note similar to the kind produced by a typical music box. The bracket 30 carries the vibrations of the tone bars to the wooden case 10 whose large surface vibrates and transmits or couples the sound of the tone bar 34 to the ambient air to produce a sound of significant volume.

The bit holes 26 formed in the record base are small circular holes which serve to hold note bits 33. The note bits are small rods of steel or the like which fit within the holes 26 so that a portion of each bit protrudes above the upper surface 21 of the facing disc 20. The protruding portion of each note bit 33 is sufficiently long to extend past the bottom of the tone bars 34. When the record base 18 is rotated, the note bits are moved past the comb 32 and each bit plunks a tone bar 34 of the comb to produce a sound.

As shown in FIG. 2, the bit holes 26 are arranged in a pattern whereby they lie in concentric circles and also along lines radiating from the center of the record base 18. The comb 32 is so mounted above the circumferential portion of the record base that each tone bar 34 is centered above one circle of holes concentric with the center of the record base 18, and all bars 34 are situated along an imaginary line 27 radiating from the center of the record base 18. The particular circle in which a bit 33 lies determines which tone bar 34 it will strike, and the particular radiating line along which the bit lies determines when it'will strike a tone bar. All bits 33 situated along the same radiating line strike tone bars at the same time.

A plurality of bit holes forming a circle lies on each of the five staff lines 28, on each of at least two equally spaced circles between adjacent staff lines, and on similarly spaced circles on either side of the staff lines. The foregoing arrangement provides for the placing of note bits 33 in positions corresponding to each possible lateral position of a note on a written musical manuscript, and in addition, enables the placing of notes slightly above or below such positions to obtain tone pitches corresponding to sharps and flats, respectively. For example, the note commonly referred to as the first C above middle C, which is a vibration of approximately 261 cycles per second. is written on music paper or manuscript as a circle placed between the staff line B and staff line D. in the device of this invention, the note C is obtained by' placing a bit 33 in a hole lying on the imaginary circle 36 situated midway between the stafflines B and D. AC sharp is played by placing a bit in a hole lying on an imaginary circle 38 adjacent to the circle 36 and on the side nearest the D staff line. The note D is played by placing a bit in a hole lying on the D staff line. The note D flat, which is generally identical in pitch with the note C sharp, is played by placing a bit in a hole on the imaginary circle 38 which is adjacent to the D staffline and is the same circle used for the note C sharp. Thus, the note bits are interspersed with the staff lines and therefore may lie on or between the staff lines or in the case of notes of very high or low pitch, outside the basic five staff lines.

Certain notes in the conventional or most common musical scale are close in pitch to the next named note in the musical scale; for example, the notes B and C are so close together that B sharp is normally identical with C and C flat is normally identical with B. Thus, there is no need for a circle of holes between the circle corresponding to notes B and C. Accordingly, the record base 18 is constructed without a circle between these notes. A tone bar 34 corresponding to the circle between B and C is, of course. not needed and is not included in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3.

The notes of conventionally written music are generally divided into groups called measures, each measure normally including three or four notes of a quarter-note length or the equivalent. In order to enable persons using the device to easi ly recall and keep track of the length of the various parts of a recorded melody, the record base 18 is divided into measures by radially extending lines. One group of lines 40 illustrated in FIG. 2 extends between the radially outer edge of the record base to the B staff line. These lines 40 are spaced eight holes apart. Thus, if bit holes 26 are considered to be an eighth-note apart, the lines 40 mark measures of four quarter-note lengths each and thus, mark four-four time Similarly, radially extending lines 42 extending between the radially inner edge of the arrangement of bit holes and the staff line B mark three-four time. These lines 40 and 42 are useful as reference marks in recording music which is in four-four or three-four time, respectively, or any multiple thereof.

in order to record a melody, note bits 33 are placed in bit holes 26 which extend through the upper disc of the record base 18. Each note bit is generally a simple rod with almost square ends, though rounded or other shaped ends may be used. The bits are of approximately the same diameter as the bit holes 26 in which they fit, the clearance provided being such as to enable the facile insertion of the bits while assuring adequate support by the walls of the holes. The note bits are all of the same length. The back-up plate 22 serves as the bottom of each bit hole and assures that each note bit will protrude the same, proper amount from the upper surface 21 of the facing disc. 20 when fully inserted in its hole.

The combination of two discs, one having cylindrical holes therethrough, in combination with straight rods provides for note bits 33 of simple design which are easily inserted into the record base 18. However, numerous other arrangements may be used to enable the easy placement and removal of note bits which assure their uniform protrusion, such as providing collars on each bit or using a guide for pushing all pins into a uniform depth either from the back or front of a record base.

The recording of a melody may be accomplished by simulating an already written musical composition or by simulating a melody as it would be written on music paper. The beginning or first measure of the composition is conveniently begun on the right side of the line 44. The line 44 extends radially across the circumferential portion of the record base and marks a coincidence of the three-four and four-four measure lines 40 and 42.

in order to more clearly indicate the pitch corresponding to each circle of bit holes, the names of notes 'A, B, C, D, E, F and G are marked along the line 44 and beside circles of bit holes, in such relationship to the staff lines as to define notes in the treble clef. Such markings enable a person using the device to learn the names of the notes in music scales by relating the names or letters of the notes to positions on the staff lines and the pitch of sounds played by the device.

In order to more adequately indicate the correspondence of the note bit positions and notes written on music paper. several conventionally written notes 46 are marked on the staff lines 28. These notes 46 are. much largenthan the bit 'holes 26 and more nearly approximate the size and appearance of notes relative to separation of staff lines, as conventionally written on musical manuscript.

Recording a melody is accomplished in any of a number of ways. if a melody already written on sheet of music is to be played, bits 33 are placed in bit holes 26 lying on circles of holes corresponding closely to the placement of the written notes on the manuscript. A slight shifting radially outwardly or inwardly is made to account for sharps and flats, respectively. as explained hercinbefore. The position of the note bits circumferentially around the disc is determined by the particular measure it is in and the length of the preceding notes in that measure. Where the sounds made by the particular embodiment of this invention are of a percussion nature as is the case for the first embodiment shown in H65. 1. 2 and 3 which employs vibrating bars, it is appropriate to sound the note at the very beginning of its occurrence. For example, a whole note which would normally occupy an entire four-four measure. would be played at the very beginning of the measure.

Thus, the circumferential placement is determined by first choosing the appropriate measure, the order of measures being identical with the order on the written music, although the placement of the first measure of music is generally unimportant. Next, the placement within the measure is determined by noting when the beginning of that note occurs. For example, if a measure of the manuscript of four quarter notes length includes the following notes placed in the listed order: quarter note, eighth note, eighth note, and half note, then pins are placed on the first radial line of holes or line marking the beginning of the measure, the third radial line of holes, the fourth line of holes and the fifth line of holes.

If a melody requires the placing of a note at a circumferential position between two radial lines of bit holes, such placement can be made by using a special note bit which fits into the bit holes but has a protruding portion which is not in line with the hole. A special note bit of the foregoing kind is illustrated at 48 in FIG. 2.

After note bits are placed in appropriate bit holes the motor 12 is energized to cause the record base 18 to turn slowly in a counterclockwise direction. As the record base turns, the note bits 33 move past the tone bars 34, plunk them and produce a sound. The series of sounds produced forms the recorded melody. Thus, the user of the music device who wishes to hear a musical composition can himself position the note bits on the record base, and he can rapidly remove the note bits to change the melody.

A second embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6. This embodiment includes a case and driving mechanism similar to that of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. However, it utilizes a record base 50 without bit holes, but constructed of a magnetic material such as iron for holding magnetized note bits 52 of a magnetically retentive material such as hardened steel or an alnico composition of the type used for permanent magnets. The note bits 52 are small magnets which magnetically grip the record base 50. The bits are adapted to move under a row of levers 56 of a playing head 58, each lever serving as an arm of an electrical switch 60, to thereby function as an element for interacting with note bits at one lateral position on the staff lines. The bits deflect the levers 56 so that they touch conductive strips 61 and close the switches. A sound system 62 comprising a plurality of electronic audio oscillators is used to produce sounds. The oscillators may be any of the numerous, well known types Each switch 60 is electrically connected to an oscillator in the sound system so that when a switch is closed the oscillator to which it is connected is activated and oscillates. The oscillator outputs are coupled to a loudspeaker 64 of the sound system, and a sound of appropriate pitch is emitted.

The note bits 52 are permanent magnets of substantially rectangular cross section and are slightly curved, the radius of curvature being approximately equal to the curvature of the B staff line which lies near the middle of the circumferential portion of the record base 50. The note bits used are of several different lengths, each length corresponding to a different length of note such as quarter-note, half-note, etc. Inasmuch as the angular extent or angle subtended by each bit depends to a small extent upon its radial positioning, the length of note represented by a bit depends upon where it is placed: the closer it is to the periphery of the record base 50, the briefer the tone played. Lengths can be varied by using several short bits to build up each individual note, as shown at 53 in FIG. 4, by using note bits of a length especially adapted for a particular position in order to play standard length notes such as quarter notes, by using two thin bits for each note wherein the bits are adapted for relative sliding like a trombone to lengthen or shorten the bit as shown at 55 in FIG. 4, or by other methods.

To play a predetermined tune, note bits 52 are placed on the record base 50, each bit radially positioned according to the pitch of the note to be played and circumferentially positioned according to the order in which it is to be played. For example, note bits corresponding to the first seven measures of the melody of the United States National Anthem, which begins, Oh Say Can You See are shown in position on the record base of FIG. 4. The appearance of the record base can be compared with the appearance of a typical musical manuscript shown in FIG. 5, on which is positioned the first seven measures of the National Anthem.

After the note bits are positioned to play a desired tune, the driving mechanism as shown, for example, in FIG. 1, is activated the record base 50 to rotate past the playing head 58 and cause the note bits 52 to move under the switches 60. As the note bits move under the switches, the bits 52 lift the levers 56 so that they contact conductive strips 61. When a lever 56 and strip 61 make contact, an oscillator in sound system 62 which is connected in series with a switch 60 is turned on. The series of notes played by the series of note bits 52 causes the playing of a desired tune or melody.

The note bits 52 may be attached to the record base by magnetizing the record base 50 instead of the bits. This allows for the move convenient storage of the bits, inasmuch as they are then unlikely to stick together, especially if made of a magnetically retentive material such as soft iron. Additionally, adhesives, undercut slots in the record base, and other methods may be used.

Any of a variety of sound producing mechanisms may be used in place of the oscillators of the sound system 62. Such mechanisms should be so constructed that they may be ac tivated or turned on and off mechanically; for example, a row of small whistles may be incorporated in the playing head, the

air supply to each whistle being controlled by a lever used in place of the lever 56.

Instead of employing switches activated by the note bits 52, the closing of an electrical circuit can be made directly through the note bits in a manner shown in FIG. 7. In this variation, a row of conductive springs 70 attached to a playing head 71 is employed to contact the note bits 72. Another conductive spring 73 continually makes electrical contact with the record base 74. The conductive spring 73 is electrically grounded, so that the record base 74 and note bits 72 attached thereto by magnetic forces are also electrically grounded. The top of the note bits may be plated with copper. paladium, etc., to assure better electrical contact.

Each conductive spring 70 is connected to one lead of an electronic oscillator of predetermined pitch, another lead of the oscillator being grounded. Thus, when a conductive spring 70 contacts a note bit, the oscillator connected to that conductive spring is activated and emits a tone of predetermined pitch. This variation of the second embodiment is similar to the device shown in FIG. 6 except that it is simpler.

A third embodiment of the invention, shown in FIG 8 cmploys a transparent record base and a playing head comprising a light source assembly positioned above the record base, and a photoelectric sensor assembly 87 including photoelectric cells 90, positioned below the record base. Short opaque lines 88 drawn on the surface of the record base 80 serve as note bits. When a note bit 88 is positioned between the light source assembly 85 and the photoelectric sensor assembly 87, no light reaches the cells and they become electrically conducting. Electrical oscillators in a sound system similar to the system 62 of FIG. 4, are connected to the photoelectric cells 90, and when the cells are conducting, the oscillators generate a tone.

The light source 85 of the playing head comprises a lamp 84 such as an elongated incandescent or florescent lamp. A concave light reflector 86 serves to concentrate the light rays from the lamp toward the record base 80. A thick mask 92 having a hole 94 for each pitch of sound playable by the device is positioned between the lamp 84 and base 80 to allow only narrow columns oflight to shine on the base. If there is no note bit 88 in the way of the column of light, it passes through the transparent base 80, through a hole 94' in a sensor mask 96, and shines on one ofa series of photocells 90.

Each photocell is preferably of the type which becomes conducting when no light falls on it and is nonconducting when illuminated; this property is generally called negative photoconductivity. However. the more generally available photocells displaying positive photoconductivity may be used with small changes. For example, if each oscillator is constructed so that some part required for oscillation is shorted out by the photocell 90, ordinary photocells may be used. Each photocell includes an electrical lead 98 connected to all other cells 90 and to the sound system 62. Another, second electrical lead 100 is connected to each cell 90, each second lead being connected to an oscillator of a predetermined pitch. Each photocell or photodetector serves as a switch that responds to light thereon to control the flow of electricity to a device such as an oscillator.

Note bits 88 are applied to the base 80 by drawing with a heavy grease pencil of rectangular cross section to enable the drawing of lines of uniform width. Many alternative methods such as pasting opaque tape on the base 80 may be used. Staff lines 81 are marked lightly on the surface as by scratches, to indicate the placement of the note bits.

A rotating mechanism similar to that shown in FIG. 1 is used and the operation of the third embodiment is, except as otherwise described, generally similar to that of the other embodiments. Many variations of the third embodiment may be utilized, including the employment of mirror-like bits to reflect light beams to photocells instead of blocking them.

The note bits should interact with incident light differently than the record base, to reflect or impede light differently than the base, Of course, note bits which interact differently with incident light than the base, such as black bits on a white or transparent base, as illustrated, also aid in their placement on the base and can be used in other embodiments of the invention.

While a circular, disc-like record base has been shown in each of the embodiments, obviously many other shapes may be used. One of the more important variations is a rectangularly shaped record base in which the staff lines are straight so that its appearance approaches even more closely that of the typical musical manuscript. Automatic feeding mechanisms of the nature of record changers may be employed to enable the playing of many record bases in succession to allow for the recording and play-back of longer musical compositions.

Thus, the invention allows the user of the device who wishes to hear a melody or other musical composition, to himself construct a record and play it. The construction of the record is accomplished by positioning note bits on appropriate positions with respect to the music staff lines of a record base. The record base is not covered, so it visually indicates substantially all positions at which note bits can be received. Thus, at a given position along the length of the staff lines, such as at line 44 in FIG. 2, the record base indicates all of the twenty-eight lateral positions at which note bits can be received to sound any of twenty-eight different pitches. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the record base visually indicates all twenty-eight lateral positions at closely spaced intervals with a spacing of perhaps an eigth-note. In the embodiments of FIGS. 4 and 8, the record base visually indicates all lateral positions at locations continually variable along the length of the music staff lines.

The invention provides apparatus which not only entertains, but is valuable in instructing persons to read and appreciate music.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated herein, it is recognized that modifications and variations may readily occur to those skilled in the art and, consequently, it is intended that the claims be interpreted to cover such modifications and equivalents.

Iclaim:

I. Apparatus for the automatic production of music comprising:

record base means having an area containing a plurality of music staff lines and having means visually indicating, at least at closely spaced intervals along the length of said lines, substantially all of the lateral positions at which dif ferent pitches can be sounded;

note bit means selectively positionalble on said record base means, said note bit means being readily visually distinguishable from said record base means, both said record base means and note bit means constructed to permit the rapid application of said note bit means at any selected position on said record base means; and

playing head means activable by said note bit means to sound notes with pitches corresponding to said lateral positions on said record base means.

2. The music device described in claim 1 wherein:

said means visually indicating lateral positions indicates positions continuously variable along the length of said music staff lines, whereby to enable the beginning of a note to occur at any desired time.

3. The music device described in claim 1 wherein:

said playing head means comprises means for projecting light at said record base, and photodetector means responsive to the presence of note bit means.

4. Apparatus for automatically playing a musical composition comprising: I

means defining an area having a plurality of music staff lines;

note bit means selectively positionable on said first-mentioncd means in a manner to permit easy application and removal; and

photosensitive means responsive to said note bit means on said first m eans, note bit means cooperating with said photosensitive means to govern the production of sounds,

with the pitches dependent upon the placement of said note bit means with respect to said staff lines and with duration dependent upon the extension of said note bit means along said staff lines.

5. The music device described in claim 4 wherein:

said photosensitive means comprises a light source and light sensor means for sensing light to detect the presence of note bit means.

6. The music device described in claim 4 wherein:

said means defining an area is substantially transparent;

said note bit means substantially opaque; and

said means responsive to note bit means comprises a light source for projecting light at said means defining an area and photodetector means for detecting the passage of light therethrough.

7. Apparatus for enabling the automatic production of a melody by the positioning of note bits on music staff lines of the apparatus in a manner corresponding to the conventional positioning of marks on a music manuscript comprising:

a record base containing a plurality of music staff lines, said record base constructed to permit the rapid positioning of said note bits on the area containing said staff lines at positions continually variable along the extension of said lines;

playing head means including a plurality of light sensitive means each responsive to the presence of a note bit for controlling the production of a sound of predetermined pitch; and

means for moving said record base relative to said playing head means for bringing said note bits into position to operate said switch means.

8. The apparatus described in claim 7 wherein:

said playing head comprises a light source for shining light at said record base; and

each of said light sensitive means comprises a photodetector means responsive to light at a particular lateral position on said record base for controlling the flow of current.

9. The apparatus described in claim 7 wherein:

said note bits comprise lines drawn on said record base; and

said record base has a surface for receiving drawn lines.

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