US935539A - Musical device. - Google Patents

Description

J. W. NUNN.

MUSICAL DEVICE.

APPLIGATIONHLED AUG. 24., 190s.

Patented $9165.28, 1909.

UNITED STATES JAMES W. NUNN, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

MUSICAL DEVICE.

To all 'whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JAMES W'. NUNN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Denver' and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Musical Devices; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying' drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a musical device having a reed or vibrating-sound-producing member adapted to be operated while held in the mouth of the operator.

The object of the invention is to provide a novel musical device which shall be simple in construction and which may be economically manufactured, the same being so constructed that it may be held between the lips in proper position without the use of the hands.

An important feature of my improved construction consists of a convexly curved contacting surface immediately below the vibratory member, the latter being brought into contact with the said surface by pressure of the lips, thus varying at will the length of the free end of the vibrating element.

The device is further provided with a lower or downwardly turned end extenoling below the convexly curved portion, which downwardly turned part helps to hold the device in proper position in the mouth `and serves as a handle when putting the device in or taking it out of the mout-h. This extremity is exposed to view when the device is operated and in a conspicuous manner, whereby it may be adapted if desired for advertising purposes. In the simplest form of the device the downwardly bent end extends but a short distance below the mouth. This. lower extremity of the device, may, however, be attached to a tube whose lower extremity is closed and whoseupper extremity is open, the open end of the tube occupying a position just below the outer extremity of the vibrating element, thus serving to increase the volume of the tone when the device is in use.

Having briefly outlined my improved construction, I will proceed to describe the same Specification of Letters Patent.

Application ed August 24, 1908.

Patented Sept. 28, 1909. Serial No. 450,014.

in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In this drawing, Figure l is a top plan view of my improved device. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, or a view looking in the direction of arrow 2 Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a. front view of the deviceor a view looking in the direction of arrow 3 Fig. 2. Fig. et shows the blank from which the device is made and consists of a flat piece of sheet metal or other suitable material, cut to receive the reed or vibratory element, the latter, however, being absent. Fig. 5 shows the reed or vibrating element in detail. Fig. 6 is a side view of the complete device shown on a larger scale. Fig'. 7 shows a modified form of construction, the device being provided with a tube. l Fig. S shows a modified form of blank. Fig. 9 is a top plan view of a complete device made from the blank shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 shows still another form of blank. Fig. 11 is a top view of the device made from the blank shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a side view similar to Fig. (i, of the form of device illustrated in Fig. 11.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designate the body portion of the device from which members G and 7 extend forwardly. The member 6 consists of a flat or approximately flat horizontal member, having an opening S, and two slits or cuts 9 and 10 in the rear of the opening', to facilitate the fastening of a reed or thin vibrating element 12. The reed is passed underneath the strip 13, immediately in the rear of the opening 8 and above the strip 14, betweeirthe two slits 9 and 10. The strips 1S and let may be bent in opposite directions to facilitate the insertion of the reed, care being taken to arrange these strips so that they shall hold the reed rmly in place, at its rear extremity. The part 7 which extends forwardly from the tubular body 5 as heretofore stated, is curved downwardly as shown at 15 and occupies a position immediately below the reed forming the convex contacting surface against which the reed is pressed in order to vary the length of its vibratory portion during the operation of the device. Below the bend 15 the device is curved downwardly as shown at 16 terminating in a small handle-piece 17.

In the modied form of construction shown in Fig. 7 the device is provided with a part 18 bent downwardly from the part 7 and secured to the upper' extremity of a tube 19 which is closed at its lower extremity and open at the top, the top opening lying just below the reed or vibrating member 12. This tubular part 19 performs two functions, since it serves as a handle whereby the device may be held in one hand by the operator, while playing; and also serves to vary the volume of sound during the operation of the device.

In the form of construction shown in Figs. 8 and 9 the device is formed from an integral piece of sheet material which is reinforced at its edges as shown at 2O except in front where it is left thin, as shown at 21. This part 21 in this form of construction constitutes Athe vibrating medium being sufficiently thin for the purpose. This form of the device has substantially the same outline and form as that shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 1, and G.

In the form of construction shown in Figs. 10 and 11 the device isformed from an integral piece ofsheet material and its forward portion is provided with a slit 22 forminga vibrating member 23.

From the foregoing,description the operation of my improved instrument will be readily understood. The enlarged part 5 is placed in the mouth just inside the lips, allowing the forwardly extending vibrating element to rest against the upper lip with the free end thereof pointing forwardly or outwardly. Then by contracting the lips and blowing, the escaping air is caused to impinge against the free end of the vibrating element whereby motion is imparted thereto and sound produced. Then by pressing the upper lip more or less against the vibrating element, the latter is brought down into contact more or less with the convex surface 7'whereby the pitch of the sound is varied.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A musical device comprising a holder to be held between the lips and carrying a vibratory element and a -relatively fixed curved'contact-ing element arranged in close proximity thereon, the vibratory element having its free end pointed forwardly when the device is held in the mouth.

2. A musical device comprising a holder to be held between the lips and carrying a resilient vibratory element, a relatively fixed curved contactingelement located below and adjacent to the vibratory element, the latter being adapted to be' pressed downwardly against the curved contacting element for the purpose set forth.

3. A musical device of the class described comprising a body part adapted to be held Abetween the lips, the body part consisting of arisinoa transversel arranged roll constituting its body portion and carrying a forwardly extending resilient vibratory element, a relatively fixed curved contacting element arranged below the vibratory element, the two elements being connected by the said roll, substantially as described.

5. A musical device formed from an integral piece of sheet material and comprising a rearwardly located transversely arranged tubular bod part carrying a forwardly extending vibratory element and a relatively fixed forwardly extending downwardly curved element forming a contacting surface arranged below the vibratory element, substantially as described.

6. A musical device comprising a body part adapted to be held between the lips and carrying a forwardly extending vibratory element and a relatively fixed forwardly extending downwardly curved portion arranged below the vibratory element and against which the latter may be pressed for vthe purpose of varying the tone.

7. A. device of the class described comprising a holder adapted to be held between

Images