US1378212A - Banjo - Google Patents

Description

J. A. BOLANDER.

' 1 BANJO.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25, 1917.

Patented May 17, 1921.

INVENI' R EULA NOE/7 JOHN A- UNITED STATES JOHN A. BOLANDER, OF BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA.

BANJO.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patentgd lay 17, 1921.

Application filed June 25, 1917. Serial No. 176,775.

To aZZ w ham it may concern Be it known that I, JoHN A. BoLANnnR,

a citizen of the United States, residin at Berkeley, county of Alameda, State of alifornia, have invented certain new and use,- ful Improvements in Banjos, whereof the following is a specification.

This invention comprehends improve ments in musical instruments and relates more particularly to stringed instruments of the banjo family.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved means for securing the head to the body or rim of an instrument of this type.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel means which does away with the use of a tail piece for connecting the strings to the rim of the instrument.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter described, illustrated and claimed.

In the one sheet of drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved instrument.

Fig. 2 is an inverted perspective view showing the body of the'instrument.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged central sectional view through the body of the instrument, and

Fig. 4. is an enlarged section through the rim showing the manner of attaching the strings thereto.

Referring in detail to the embodiments of my invention shown in the drawings,1 designates the preferably wooden rim to which is secured the neck 2 provided with the tuning pegs 3 in the usual manner. The rim is mortised or recessed to receive the neck, whereby a firm connection between these two members is obtained.

The rim or shell 1 is formed of substantial thickness with an interior continuous groove 4, into which the marginal-portion of the flexible head 5 is forced by the clamping ring 6, which is a ring of preferably spring wire and which forces the marginal portion into the groove and clamps it therein. The head 5 is carried beyond the clamping ring 6 and is bent back upon itself into engagement with the body portion of the head, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

To tighten the head and hold it taut a hoop 7 is employed which fits within the rim 1 and holds the edge of the head against the body portion thereof. This hoop is held in position and adjusted to bear against the head with the proper pressure by means of a plurality of screws 8 which thread through angular brackets 9 secured to the interior of the rim 1 by any suitable means, such as the fastening screws 10. The upper ends of the screws are pointed and engage centers in the lower edge of the hoop 7, and their ends are'slotted to be engaged by a screw driver or other tuning tool.

.To throw the sound of the instrument for+ ward and minimize the quantity absorbed by the clothes and body of the player, a reflector 11 in the form of a curved plate is secured to the rear edge of the rim by any suitable means, such as screws 1.2, or may be adjustably mounted thereon if desired.

The reflector curves downwardly away from the head 5 and covers a portion of the hollow of the rim so that the sound may easily escape through the uncovered portion.

The strings 13 pass over the bridge 1 1 and through the inclined openings 15 to recesses 16 where they are knotted as shown particularly in Fig. 4. The other ends of the strings are connected to the pegs 3 in the usual manner. This manner of attaching the strings to the rim 1 is very simple and practical, and does away with the use of a tail piece, such as is now commonly employed.

While I have shown my invention embodied in a banjo, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to this particular kind of instrument but may apply the idea to other instruments of a similar nature, to which it is readily applicable.

Having thus described my invention, and an embodiment of it, in the full, clear and exact terms required by law, and knowing that it comprises novel and valuable improvements in the art to which it pertains, I hereby state that I do not wish to be limited to the precise construction and arrangement of the several parts, as herein set forth, as the same may be variously modified by a skilled mechanic without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is the following, to-wit:--

1. A musical string instrument, comcontinuous groove, a head, a spring ring fitting in said groove and holding the head therein, the edge of the head being extended beyond said spring ring and bent back beneath the head, a hoop within said lOO y engaging the extended edge of the head and means for forcing said hoop outwardly.

2. A musical instrument, comprising an annular body, a neck and a flexible head for said body, strings mounted above said flexible head, and extending entirely across the same, said strings being secured to said neck and to said annular body.

3. A musical instrument, comprising an annular body, a neck and a flexible head for said annular body, passages in said annular body, strings mounted above said flexible head and extending entirely across the same, said strings being secured to said neck and in said passages.

4. A musical instrument, comprising an annular body, a neck and a flexible head for said annular body, the rear edge of said annular body being formed with passages, strings mounted above said flexible head and extending entirely across the same, said strings being secured to said neck and ex tending through said passages, and means to secure said strings in said passages.

5. A musical instrument, comprising an annular body, a neck and a flexible head for said annular body, passages provided with recesses, in said annular body, strings mounted above said flexible head and extending entirely across the same, said strings bein secured to said neck and extendin D 10 through said passages and secured in said recesses.

65. A musical instrument, comprising an annular body of substantial thickness, a neck and a flexible head for said annular body, the rear edge of said body being provided with an inwardly extending recess, inclined passages communicating with said recess, strings mounted above said flexible head and extending entirely across the same, said strings being secured to said neck and extending through said passages and secured in said recess.

7. A musical string instrument, comprising an annular body of substantial thickness having downwardly opening recesses formed therein, passages leading from said recesses to the top face of the body and strings extending over said body through said passages into said recesses and there secured.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing, I have hereto set my hand in the presenceof two witnesses, this 9th day of June, 1917 JOHN A. BoLANmER, Jr., LOUISE BEARDEN.

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