US3783733A

US3783733A - Musical instrument

Info

Publication number: US3783733A
Application number: US00313511A
Authority: US
Inventors: D Zirimis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-12-08
Filing date: 1972-12-08
Publication date: 1974-01-08
Anticipated expiration: 1991-01-08

Abstract

A hand held sound emitting instrument embodying a sounding shell having a handle formed integrally therewith and a clapper freely hinged to the shell. Back and forth motion of the shell produced by hand yields rotational motion of the clapper with respect to the shell. Such clapper rotation is limited by a stop in a direction substantially away from the shell and by the shell itself in the opposite direction. Sharp contact between the clapper and the shell results in a particular sound emanating from the unit.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Zirimis Jan. 8, 1974 MUSICAL INSTRUMENT [76] Inventor: Demosthenes Zirimis, 25 Croley St., Pnmary Emmmer-Lawrence Franklm Huntington L I. 11743 Att0rneySamuel J. Stoll et al.

[22] Filed: Dec. 8, 1972 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl NO" 313,511 A hand held sound emitting instrument embodying a sounding shell having a handle formed integrally U-S. Cl. th rewith and a clapper freely to the hell [5 Int. Cl. Back and forth motion of the shell produced hand of Search rotational motion of the clapper respect to 84/410; 46/191 the shell. Such clapper rotation is limited by a stop in a direction substantially away from the shell and by References Cited the shell itself in the opposite direction. Sharp contact UNITED STATES PATENTS between the clapper and the shell results in a particu- 90,832 6 1869 Fessenden 46/l9l 13f Sound emanating from the Imit- 166,344 8/1875 Crandall 84 402 2,386,561 10/1945 Magnuson....; 46/191 4 Clam, 11 Drawmg Flgures MUSICAL INSTRUMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention is in the field of musical instruments, but may also be for childrens playful use. By careful adjustment of dimensions and proportions of the device of the present invention, a selected sound may be produced whereby the device may be professionally useful as a musical instrument.

2. Description of the Prior Art The prior artknown to the applicant consists of the following five U.S. Pats. wherein two separate piece noise making devices are shown:

192,999, Hutchings, July 10,1877;

237,850, Fisher, February 15, 1881;

1,982,888, Tsukamoto, AUG. 4, 1934;

2,436,283, Birl, June 14,1945;

2,713,805, Flores, July 26, 1955.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention comprises a base member having a channel shaped shell section and a handlesection. An

' elongated clapper is hingedlysecured within the chan- DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a top view of the musical instrument of the present invention shown in a first embodiment as when the device is made from wood or like material. The hinge pin is shown in phantom.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the musical instrument shown in FIG. 1 with a portion shown in phantom. The clapper is in engagement with the shell and contacts the shell along a line contact at the open end of thechannel.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2, showing the clapper in the position defined as rotated away from the shell. The clapper has reached the limit of its travel in its rotation away from the shell as controlled by the contact between the inner end of the clapper and the inner end of the channel.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view across line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view taken across line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5A is an enlarged end view of the shell shown in FIG. 2, the view being taken across line 5A-5A of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a top view of second embodiment of the invention wherein the musical instrument is manufactured from plastic or likematerial. A bifurcated hinge pin is shown in phantom.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken across line 77 of FIG. 6. The clapper is shown to rotate into engagement with the shell.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the musical instrument shown in FIG. 6 with the clapper shown rotated out of engagement with the shell. A portion of the figure is shown broken away to expose the resilient pad which spring.

urges the clapper back into engagement'with the shell.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the drawing, and to FIGS. 1-5 in particular, the musical instrument 10 of the present invention comprises a shell 12 having a handle portion 14 and a channel portion 16. Shell 12 is generally. a right rectangular cylinder. The channel portion 16 of shell 12 is substantially rectangular in cross-section and is formed by U-shaped walls of shell 12. Channel 16 extends from an open end 18 of shell 12 more than l/2 but less than all the way to the opposite or handle end 14 of shell 12. Channel 16 tapers to a narrower channel 16a approaching closed end 20 of the channel.

Clapper 22 of musical instrument 10 is a substantially right rectangular cylinder an inner end 24 of which fits into narrow portion 16a of channel 16 and extends therefrom throughchannel 16 and out past open end 18 of shell 12. Clapper 22 is secured to shell 12 by means of a hinge pin 26 located in shell 12 at narrow portion 16a of channel16 and passing through the inner end 24 of clapper 22. Hinge pin 26 is located at right angles to the longitudinal axes of shell 12 and clapper 22 and is parallel to the bottom 28 of channel 16. With respect to clapper 22, hinge pin 26 is located near, but not at, inner end 24. Clapper 22 is accordingly unbalanced at hinge pin 24, having a substantially larger mass toward outer end 25 than toward inner end 24. The clapper is positioned by hinge pin 26 such that inner end 24 is slightly above bottom 28 of channel 16. When musical instrument 10 is held in the horizontal position shown in FIG. 2 with the open channel 16 facing vertically upwardly, clapper 22 rests at a slight downward angle toward its outer end 25, being located by hinge pin 26 and by a line of contact between bottom 30 of clapper 22 and the end 32 of bottom 28.

In operation musical instrument 10 is manually gripped at handle 14 and is moved rapidly or shaken in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to hinge pin 26. The result of the unbalanced mass of clapper 22 is that the clapper is forced to rotate about hinge pin 26 as far as possible within the limits of its travel. The limit of travel in the outward direction of clapper end 25 from channel 16 is the point at which inner end 24 of the clapper strikes bottom 28 of the channel. This condition is shown in FIG. 3. Continued motion of mu sical instrument l0 forces a rapid return of the clapper to its next limit of travel which is the contact between bottom 30 of the clapper and end 32 of shell 12. It is that contact, when occasioned with force, which emits the particular sound'produced by the instrument The characteristics of the sound emitted are dependent upon the material employed in the construction of 'wide and inches high. Channel 16 is approximately as incheswide and inches deep at its wider portion, and extends for its entire length including narrow portion 16a forapproximately 5% inches long. Clapper 22 is approximately 7% inches long by k inches'wide by 5/16 inches high. Hinge pin 26 is located approximately 3% inches from handle end 14 and approximately 7/16 inches from inner end 24 of clapper 22. The hinge pin itself is preferably steel.

DESCRIPTION OF A MODIFIED EMBODIMENT The modified embodiment of musical instrument 50 is shown in FIGS. 6 10 and is intended primarily for the case in which the instrument is molded or machined from plastic. Relative dimensions and features of the modified embodiment of the musical instrument are substantially similar to those of the preferred embodiment except that clapper 52 is itself grooved from outer .end 54 more than half but not all the way to inner end 56. The channel 58 is formed by substantially U-shaped walls of clapper 54 and is situated opposite channel 16 such that when channel 16 points upwardly, channel 58 points downwardly.

Inner end 56 of clapper 52 is bifurcated and consists of a pair of

parallel arms

60 and 60a. Although a single hinge pin similar to hinge pin 26 may be used to pass entirely through both

arms

60 and 60a in the modified embodiment it is practical to utilize two shorter

coaxial hinge pins

62 and 62a. Hinge pin 62 passes from shell 12 through arm 60 and hinge pin 62a passes from the opposite side of shell 12 through arm 60a.

The operation of the modified embodiment is identical to that of the preferred embodiment.

A further modification of the invention may be seen in FIGS. 6-8 and 10 although it may also be utilized in the primary embodiment. This modification is the use of a resilient pad 70 located at the inner closed end 20 of channel 16. Resilient pad 70 has two functions, the first of which is to act as a spring bearing against inner end 56 of clapper 52 thereby rotating the clapper to the position shown in FIG. 7, that is, with the clapper resting on end 32 of shell 12. A second function of resilient pad 70 is to act as a cushion to prevent contact between inner end 56 of clapper 52 and'bottom 28 of channel 16, thereby preventing secondary noise from such contact.

While the foregoing is illustrative of preferred and modified embodiments of the invention, it is clear that other variations and modifications may be had. For example, a leaf or coil spring may be utilized in the place and stead of resilient pad 70. By way of another example, terminal edge 32 of channel 16 may be downwardly beveled at the angle assumed by the clapper when it is in contact with such edge thereby increasing the contact from line to area or surface contact. By way of further illustration of modifications which are possi' ble with the present invention, it may be desirable to utilize a material for the clapper which is different from the material used for shell 12.

What is claimed is: 1. A musical instrument, comprising: a shell, said shell having a channel portion and a haridle portion, a clapper, said clapper being hingedly secured to said shell within said channel, said clapper being hingedly secured by means of at least one hinge pin located closer to one end of the clapper than the other end thereof, said hinge pin being located substantially adjacent an inner end of said channel in said shell, said clapper being of a length sufficient to extend beyond an outer end of said shell, the channel formed in said shell being narrower at said outer end, and resilient means being provided between said clapper I and said shell to bias said clapper into contact with said channel. 2. A musical instrument in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said clapper is provided with a bifurcated inner end. 3. A musical instrument in accordance with claim 2, wherein;

said clapper is hingedly secured by a pair of co-axial hinge pins. 4. A musical instrument in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

said resilient means comprises a resilient pad located at the inner end of said channel.

Claims

1. A musical instrument, comprising: a shell, said shell having a channel portion and a handle portion, a clapper, said clapper being hingedly secured to said shell within said channel, said clapper being hingedly secured by means of at least one hinge pin located closer to one end of the clapper than the other end thereof, said hinge pin being located substantially adjacent an inner end of said channel in said shell, said clapper being of a length sufficient to extend beyond an outer end of said shell, the channel formed in said shell being narrower at said outer end, and resilient means being provided between said clapper and said shell to bias said clapper into contact with said channel.

2. A musical instrument in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said clapper is provided with a bifurcated inner end.

3. A musical instrument in accordance with claim 2, wherein: said clapper is hingedly secured by a pair of co-axial hinge pins.

4. A musical instrument in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said resilient means comprises a resilient pad located at the inner end of said channel.