US1761245A - Multiple xylophone finger - Google Patents

Description

June 3, 1930.

\ Failed Sept. 12, 1929.

Patented June 3, 1930 o FicE.

BEN VITTO, OF CHICAGO,- ILLINOIS MULTIPLE XYLOPHQNEIINGER Application filed September 12, 1929.? Serial No. $82,000.

It is usual for xylophone players to hold the sticks of a pair of Xylophone fingers in one hand, manipulating them so as to spread the balls or heads or bring them closer together in order to span various numbers of keys. While it is easy to hold the fingers so that the balls are spread a short distance apart, it is very difiicult successfully to produce a wide spread.

The object of the present invention is to make it possible for a player, holding two Xylophone fingers in one hand, to produce a spread of any required distance in a very simple and convenient manner.

In carrying out my invention, I connect the butt ends of the sticks or stems ot a pair of fingers by suitable resilient means that tends constantly to spread the heads far apart, whereby the distance between the heads is controlled by the player through variation of the pressure that he applies in gripping the device. The resilient connecting means may be in the form of a holder into which ordinary Xylophone fingers may be inserted. Therefore, viewed in one of its aspects, my invention may be said to have for its object to produce a simple and novel holder for a pair of xylophone fingers that will make it possible for a player easily to manipulate a pair of such fingers in playing chords.

The various features of novelty whereby my invention is characterized will hereinafter be pointed out with particularity in the claims; but, for a full understanding of my invention and of its objects and advantages, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing. wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a device constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of my invention, the balls or heads being shown in dotted lines in several of the various positions into which they may be brought; Fig. 2 is a side or edge view of a part of the device; and Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig. 1, on a somewhat larger scale.

In the particular embodiment of my invention illustrated, there are two Xylophone fingers of any usual or preferred form, each embodying a stick or stem 1 and a ball or head 2; these fingers being adapted to be detachably andadjustably mounted in a suitable holder. In the arrangement shown, the hold er comprises a more or less U-shaped piece of spring metal'3 "whose arms, or at least the outer ends of whose arms, are in the form of tubes 4 whose long axes extend lengthwise of the arms. enough to rece These tubular parts are large ive the sticks or stems of the Xylophone fingers, and are provided with means for clamping the sticks or stems in place. The clamping means for the sticks or stems may conveniently be set screws 5, of which there are preferably a plurality spaced from each 0th members.

er lengthwise of the tubular N ormallythe holder maintains the fingers in spread relation 'to each other, so that the balls or heads are at least as 'fariapart as may be required in playing.

By making the arms of the holder rather long, the sticks or stems may be adjusted in the direction of their lengths, thereby permitting the heads of short fingers initially to be spaced at the proper distance apart; or making possible a greater spacing fingers.

In using the device the the holder, exerting between the heads of longer player simply grasps a light pressure to press the arms of the holder toward each other: such pressure being alternately applied and released in whole or in balls or heads toward part, so as to bring the each other and permit them to spread as the distance between the particular pair gers varies during the tion.

of keys to be struck by the finplaying of a composi- The outer sides or faces of the arms of the holder may be so that the device will of the player.

roughened, as indicated at 6, not slip in the hand and described; and arrangeme initions of my pended claims.

but intend to cover all forms nts which come within the definvention constituting the ap- I claim 1. A device of the character described comprising two Xylophone fingers, a bowed spring member, and means for fastening the butt end of each of said fingers to one end of said spring member.

:2. In a deviceof the character described, a member 'com'prisin a pair of holders for thebutt ends of XYIOP IlODG fingers, and spring means connecting said holders together and tending to position the holders in diverging relation with each other.

3. In a device of the character described l a member comprising a pair of elongated. holders for the butt ends of a pair of xylo phone fingers, springmeans coimecting the holder-s and. tending constantly to..hold themdi; rging relation. toeaeh other,:and means toradjnstingeach finger lengthwise on its holder.

4;;. In a device oi the character described, two tubular elements each, adapted to receive the butt end of axylop'eone-finger, and spring means connecting corresponding ends ofsaid; elements together and tending constantly to hold them in diverging relation to each other.

'5. In a device of the character described. two, tubular elements each adapted to receive the butt end of a. Xylophone finger, spring means conneetiing correspondin en ds. of said elements together and tending constantly to hold them in diverging relation to each other. and thumb screws extending through a wall of eachtubnlar element toengage with the stick of a, finger engaged? there-in.

6. A -device of jthe character described comprising two Xylophone fingers, and a hinge connecting the-butt ends of the lingers together.

7. A- d'e-vice-of the characterdescribed comprising two Xylophone lingers, and resilient means connecting the butt ends of the lingers together and tending constantly to spread the head ends of'the fingers apart- In testimony whereof. I sign this specification.

BEN VI'LTO.

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