US1248196A - Banjo construction. - Google Patents

Description

E. A. STATHOPOULO.

BANJO CONSTRUCTION APPLICATION mm JULY 11. I916.

Patented Nov. 27, 1917.

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To all whom it may concern: 1 I

Be it known that I, EPAMINONDAS A. ST/rrHoPoULo, a citizen of the United States, and resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Banjo Constructions; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to stringed instruments, more particularly to a banjo construction.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a banjo which possesses sound qualities of a very high degree.

The second object of my invention is to provide a banjo having a tone amplifier or chamber mounted thereon.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tone chamber or amplifier which is detachable from the banjo body.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tone chamber or amplifier that may be applied to any conventional musical instrument of the banjo type.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a musical instrument of the above mentioned character which consists of few parts, is inexpensive to manufacture and which may be placed on the market at a comparatively low cost.

With the above and other objects in view, which will become apparent from the following description, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, the invention consists of the general arrangement of parts and constructions that will be hereinafter set forth. 1

In the drawing Figure 1 shows a top view of a musical instrument constructed in accordance with my invention having part of the drum thereof broken away, and Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts in both the views. Referring to the drawing, the numeral 5 designates the shell of body of the banjo, which is constructed from a plurality of annular strips 6. For the purpose of ornamentation a semi-cylindrical beading 7 is secured to the lower longitudinal edges of the strips. Extending vertically of the body 5 are a plurality of openings or cavities 8.

The numeral 9 designates the tone chamher or amplifier in general which consists Specification of Letters Patent. Patented N 27, 1917, i 3 Application filed July 11, 1916. Seria1-No. 108;730.

of an inner ring 10 havingalined openings 11 therein. The lower edges of this rim 1O lies against the inner face ofthe body shell 5. Extending outwardly from the rim 10 adjacent the lower edge thereof is a horizontal web or flange 12 which lies against the upper edge of the body shell 5 and has connected thereto an outer rim 13, the lower edge of which extends below the lower edge of the rim 10 and engages the outer face of the body shell 5 and the upper edge of which extends below-the upper edge of the inner rim 10. Formed in the web 12 is a plurality of openings 12 which register with the cavities 8.

Stretched across the body shell 5 at the upper edge of the inner rim 10 and the outer rim 13 is a head '14, the edge of which extends around the outer rim 13 and is held in this position by a clamping band 15. The usual ring is secured to the extremities of the head.

Supported on the outer face of the body shell 5 are angular brackets 16 which are held in place by means of bolts 17 that extend through the body shell 5. Supported in the bracket 16 are adjustable hooks 18 which engage the upper edge of the clamping band 15, whereby to regulate the tension of the head 14.

The numeral 19 designates the neck of the banjo, which is connected to the body shell 5 in any desirable manner, while 20 indicates the banjo strings, which are extended over the usual bridge 21 and connected with the usual tail-piece 22.

From the foregoing specification it will be obvious that the sound issuing from the banjo will pass through the openings 11 and between the inner rim 10 and the outer rim 13 and travel therearound and into the cavities 8, which will greatly amplify the musical sounds or vibrations.

While I have disclosed one form of the invention it is to be understood that this disclosure is illustrative only and that the invention may be modified in many diiferent ways that may fall within the limits of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A musical instrument comprising a frame having a plurality of resonating cavities therein, spaced rims mounted upon one edge of the frame and defining a sound amplifying channel therebetween, a web connecting the rims having openings therein,

the openings being in communication with prising upper and lower channels mounted the resonating cavities, the inner rim being upon one edge of the frame, the upper chan- 1; also provided with openings, and a vibranel of the annular member being in comtory head stretched across the frame and munication with said cavities, and a head covering the channel. stretched across the annular member, and

2. A musical instrument comprising an covering the upper channel therein. integral frame, cylindrical resonating cavities in said frame, an annular member corn- EPAMINONDAS A. STATHOPOULO.

Copies-0t this'patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patent.

Washington, D. 0. c

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