US3743758A

US3743758A - Optical metronome

Info

Publication number: US3743758A
Application number: US00171249A
Authority: US
Inventors: Castillo J Del
Original assignee: Castillo J Del
Current assignee: Castillo J Del
Priority date: 1971-08-12
Filing date: 1971-08-12
Publication date: 1973-07-03
Anticipated expiration: 1990-07-03

Abstract

An optical metronome using a strip with musical staff thereon folded in zig-zag form moved past a lamp in accordance with the speed of the musical tempo. The notes therefor are viewed through a channel window as the strip moves from one triangularly shaped depository to another.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Del Qastillo 1 OPTICAL METRONOME [76] Inventor: Juan M. Del Castillo, Risco 119,

Mexico 20, DR, Mexico [22] Filed: Aug. 12, 1971 [21] App1.No.: 171,249

[52] US. Cl. 84/484 [51] Int. Cl. G101) 15/00 [58] Field of Search 84/484, 483, 470,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1969 Keir 84/484 X 7/1882 Damborg 84/483 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS France 40/100 [111 3,743,758 51 July 3,1973

3/1952 France ..84/486 10/1950 France 84/483 Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant ExaminerJohn F. Gonzales Attorney-Karl W. Flocks [5 7] ABSTRACT An optical metronome using a strip with musical staff thereon folded in zig-zag form moved past a lamp in accordance with the speed of the musical tempo. The notes therefor are viewed through a channel window as the strip moves from one triangularly shaped depository to another.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENIEB Jill 3 I878 JUAN M. DEL CASTILLO BY KAR U fiocx ATTORNEY OPTICAL METRONOME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention deals with apparatus to allow a pupil of the piano or other musical instrument to play the instrument with proper timed spacing between notes which are viewed as each note is to be played.

This function has been performed by metronomes which in the past have indicated by sound a timing beat or by optical means passed from roller to roller.

The present invention utilizes optical means with a simple device which additionally allows storing of the strips of musical selections in flattened condition in files in a manner unlike the rolls of present devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an optical metronome of very simple design.

A further object is to utilize musical score printed on a zig-zag strip to facilite storage of the strip in flattened condition in files.

A still further object of the present invention is to have the printed strip with musical score thereon ready for reuse without the necessity of refolding or rewinding between uses. I

Basically the present device is an optical metronome having depositories at opposite ends of a channel with at least one window in the channel and motor driven rollers to move a zig-zag folded strip past the window for observation of the notes on a musical staff on said strip.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The above, as well as further objects and advantages which are inherent in the invention, will become apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention with the strip with a musical score thereon being started through the device;

FIG. 2 is a similar perspective view of the device with the strip at an intermediate position in the device; and

FIG. 3 is a top plan sectional view of the device of the present invention along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the figures there is shown an optical metronome having depositories 11 and 12 connected to each other by a channel 13. A strip 14 of paper or some similar foldable material is passed from one depository to the other, in the case shown, from depository 11 to depository 12.

The commencement of the feeding of the strip 14 from depository 11, which is done by manual means, is shown in FIG. 1. The strip 14 is fed to roller 16-17 which then continues the movement of strip 14 through channel 13 from depository 11 to depository 12 at a rate in accordance with the tempo of the music and at the speed determined by motor 18 driving roller 16 which speed is related to the spacing between notes printed or otherwise marked on the musical staff on strip 14.

Channel 13 has openings therein, the first of which is shown closest to depository 11 and is to aid in starting the strip 14 therethrough, which opening may be either on only one wall of channel 13 as shown or on both walls. Another opening is centered on channel 13 and has a vertical hairline l9 beneath which the note to be played passes at the time it is to be played by the observer of the optical metronome 10. To facilitate the reading of the notes the center opening on the walls of the channel 13 may be made on both walls of the channel and a lamp 2] may be mounted in housing 22 which housing is mounted on the back wall of channel 13. In this case which is illustrated in the figures the translucent quality of strip 14 if such is of a thin paper or similar material, will aid in the reading of the notes on the musical staff.

The

rollers

16 and 17 are mounted on channel 13 so as to extend into channel 13 and contact strip 14 on its back and front faces respectively with roller 16 driven by motor 18 and roller 17 acting in the capacity of an idler roller. The motor 18 may have its speed controlled by rheostat, gears, or other means so as to set the required speed of feedthrough of strip 14 in relation to the tempo of the music being played and marked on the strip 14.

Depositories l1 and 12 are somewhat triangular in shape with their side walls approaching an apex of the triangle at each end of channel 13 in order to facilitate both the feeding of strip 14 to channel 13 from depository 11 and the receiving of strip 14 into depository 12 from channel 13.

Grooves

23 and 24 in the side walls fonning the bases of the triangular forms of depositories 11 and 12 facilitate placing strip 14 therein or its removal. A bottom of course, holds the strip 14 in the depositories.

Although as stated above the depositories 11 and 12 have a somewhat triangular shape it should be noted that parallel wall portions 26-26 and 27-27 are shown so that strip 14 which is folded in zig-zag fashion may be held in each of the depositories 11 and 12. The parallel wall portions 26--26' and 27-27 should be long enough to accommodate the thickness when folded of the longest strip 14 that it is expected to use with the optical metronome 10. In use, the strip 14 placed in depository 11 in folded zig-zag fashion will be folded in this same manner when removed from depository 12 after use, ready to be used over again without refolding.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention such as variations in the means to move the strip through the channel. Therefore the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification.

What is claimed is:

1. An optical metronome comprising a zig-zag folded strip having musical notes deposited thereon,

first and second depositories to hold and receive said strip,

a channel connecting between said first and second depositories,

means to move said strip through said channel in relation to the tempo of the musical notes depicted thereon,

means to aid in viewing the notes on said strip,

said depositories having a substantially triangular shape with side walls converging toward openings in said channel,

said side walls positioned for guiding said strip into and out of said channel and having lengths measured from said openings in said channel substantially the width of a folded portion of said strip. 2. The optical metronome of claim 1, further characterized by said means to move said strip through said channel including a pair of rollers mounted on said channel to receive said strip therebetween, motor means to rotate one of said rollers at a speed related to the tempo of the music depicted on said Strip, the other of said roller acting as an idler. 3. The optical metronome of claim 1, further characterized by said means to aid in viewing the notes on said strip 4 including a window in said channel extending therethrough,

and

converging side walls.

Claims

1. An optical metronome comprising a zig-zag folded strip having musical notes deposited thereon, first and second depositories to hold and receive said strip, a channel connecting between said first and second depositories, means to move said strip through said channel in relation to the tempo of the musical notes depicted thereon, means to aid in viewing the notes on said strip, said depositories having a substantially triangular shape with side walls converging toward openings in said channel, said side walls positioned for guiding said strip into and out of said channel and having lengths measured from said openings in said channel substantially the width of a folded portion of said strip.

2. The optical metronome of claim 1, further characterized by said means to move said strip through said channel including a pair of rollers mounted on said channel to receive said strip therebetween, motor means to rotate one of said rollers at a speed related to the tempo of the music depicted on said strip, the other of said rollers acting as an idler.

3. The optical metronome of claim 1, further characterized by said means to aid in viewing the notes on said strip including a window in said channel extending therethrough, and lighting means mounted at said window at the side opposite from which the notes on said strip are viewed, to pass light through said strip.

4. The optical metronome of claim 1, further characterized by each of said depositories having parallel wall portions extending from the outer portions of Said converging side walls having a length at least the thickness of said strip in zig-zag folded condition, said parallel wall portions connected by a wall at their opposite ends from their attachment to said converging side walls.