US636848A

US636848A - Tambourine.

Info

Publication number: US636848A
Application number: US70136199A
Authority: US
Inventors: Orlando Richards
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1899-01-06
Filing date: 1899-01-06
Publication date: 1899-11-14
Anticipated expiration: 1916-11-14

Description

No. 636,848. Patented Nov. l4, I899. 0. RICHARDS.

TAMBOURINE.

(Application filed Jan. 6, 1899.)

(N0 Modal.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ORLANDO RICHARDS, OF BRISTOL, WISCONSIN.

TAMBOURINE.

STECIFIOATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 636,848, dated November 14, 1899.

Application filed January 6, 1899. Serial No. 701,361. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ORLANDO RICHARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bristo], in the county of Kenosha and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Tambourine, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to musical instruments of the tambourine class; and the object thereof is to provide such an instrument with means for increasing and prolonging the vibration of the head of the instrument, and thereby adding to the volume of sound thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a musical toy especially adapted for children.

To these ends the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, pointed out in the claims, and shown in the drawings.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the instrument. Fig. 2 is a plan view having one of the heads removed. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line a: m, Fig. 2.

Corresponding parts are designated by like characters of reference in all the figures of the drawings.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the instrument is in the usual form, comprising a rim or band 1 and the usual circular or disk-like sounding-heads 2, there being two such heads instead of one, as in the common form. .A suitable handle 3 is provided exterior of the rim, whereby the instrument may be conveniently operated. The rim may be made of wood or metal, as desired; but the heads should be of metal or other material which will produce the proper vibration.

The means for increasing and prolonging the vibrations of the heads comprises a coil or convolute spring-wire gong 4, arranged within the body of the instrument, preferably midway between the heads thereof, and with its outer coil near the rim. A pin 5 extends inwardly from the center of one of the heads, which is perforated and carries the gong, which is spaced away from the head by means of a suitable collar 6 and is retained thereagainst by a nut or suitable fastening 7.

By securing the gong to the center of a vi= bratory head the least movement of the free end of the gong is transmitted to the center of the head, which will be thereby vibrated to the greatest possible extent, thus increasing the tone of the instrument and causing the head to vibrate so long as the free end of the gong is moving. In addition to this by locating the free end of the gong substantially midway between the heads it can be thrown with greater or less force against the heads in succession, as by vibrating the instrument on an axis at right angles to the axes of its head in the usual manner. This, in addition to the effect produced by striking one of the heads with sui'ncient force to cause the gong to vibrate, will produce a varied and pleasing effect, and especially if the heads are of metal, as the peculiar vibrations of the gong itself will be added to the resonance of the metallic head.

By securing theparts together by means of the pin or bolt 5 they can be quickly assembled or taken apart for repair, or the gong may be entirely removed, so that the instrument can be used in the ordinary manner.

In the operation of the instrument it is manipulated by means of the handle 3 to strike one of the heads with the hand or against another object, whereby the heads are set in vibration, and the gong, which is carried by one of the heads and movable therewith, is given a lateral movement, striking the oppo site heads and increasing the volume of sound. By forming the handle substantially bailshaped, with its ends secured to the rin1,the instrument can be held in one hand, so as to be easily rotated or given a half-turn to bring either head in position to be struck by the other hand. By reason of the convolute form of the gong it Will be vibrated more violently than the heads, and being connected to one of them the gong will impart its vibration to the contiguous head, increasing and prolonging the vibrations thereof, as will be understood.

It is not essential that both heads be constructed of material that will vibrate and give forth sound, as one such head to which the gong is connected will be sufficient, the other head serving as a cover to protect the gong.

As a toy the instrument is preferably constructed of tin or other suitably strong sheet metal to form a durable device proof against a ceases rough handling by young children. The gong may be of wire, as shown, or formed from flat spring metal, the object being to provide a gong which may be readily thrown into vibration by striking the heads of the instrument.

By arranging the gong entirely within the body of the instrument it is effectively protected against breakage or displacement, and by connecting the same directly to one of the heads the vibrations thereof are effectively increased and prolonged, and the gong itself adds to the volume of sound.

The size of the gong and the number of convolutions thereof may be varied and the same may be connected to either or both of the heads, as desired, and various other changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a tambourine, the combination, with a rim, of a laterally-projecting substantially bail-shaped handle secured thereto, an unobstructed head secured to each end of the rim, and a convolute gong secured at one end to one of the heads with its outer coil adjacent to the rim and adapted to be thrown into engagement with the head when the gong is vibrated.

2. In a tambourine, the combination, with a cylindrical rim, of a bail-shaped handle secured thereto, a fiat disk-shaped head secured to each end of the rim, one of which is perforated at its center, a perforated collar upon the inner face of said head, a convolute gong upon the collar, the inner end of which is provided with an eye, a pin through the eye, the collar and the perforation of the head, and a nut upon theinner end of the pin, said heads being parallel with each other and unobstructed upon their outer faces and the gong lying in a plane parallel therewith and substantially midway therebetween.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ORLANDO RICHARDS;

Witnesses:

A. E. BUOKMASTER, W. S. GIBBON.