US445385A - Banjo - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

W. A. TODD.

BANJO.

No. 445,385. Patented Jan. 27, 1891,

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PATIENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. TODD, OF SAN lliANClhCt), (ALlliOliNLt BANJO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 445,385, dated January 27, 1891.

Application filed August 11, 1890. Serial No. 361,670. (No model.)

To ctZZ who/1t it may concern.-

Be it known that l, \VILLIAM A. TODD, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city and in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Banjos; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of said invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it most nearly appertains to make, use, and practice the same.

My invention has relation to a certain new and useful improvement in banjos, which consists of the parts and details of construction, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth in the drawings, described, and pointed out in the specification.

My invention relates more particularly to the means whereby the tension upon the banjo-head may be more perfectly regulated, so as to produce a sweeter and stronger musical sound, in providing for the easier and quicker attachment or removal of the entire head and frame from the banjo-frame proper, and, further, in providing a simpler and less expensive instrument.

Referring to the drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference are used to denote correspond ing parts throughout the entire drawings and specification, Figure 1 is a top plan view showing the head secured to the banjo frame or rim, and Fig. 2 a longitudinal sectional view thereof.

In the carrying out of my invention I employ the ordinary closed-back banjo, as shown in Fig. 2. Reference being had thereto, the letter A indicates the outer frame or rim of the instrument, and B the head thereof. The holding or securing frame for the head consists of the movable and immovable inner and outer circular rims (J C, which are united together and movably attached to the rim of the banjo, as hereinafterset forth. The outer immovable rim is provided with the downwardly-extendin g flange 0, while the movable rim has a series of laterallyextenct in g arms 0 projecting therefrom, which I pro vide with screw-threaded openings cl. Said rim is adapted to fit and move within the outer rim C, and is connected thereto through the medium of screws D, which pass through openings formed in the face of the outer rim C and screw-threaded openings formed in the laterally-extending arms 0. The downwardlyegtcnding flange 0 of rim 0 bears against the metallic ring D. The head of the banjo extends over said ring and between the rim 0 and flange 0, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, and the screwing or unscrewing of screws D serves to tighten or loosen the tension of the head. The screwing of said screws not only serves to cause rim C to move within the outer rim, but at the same time to increase the tension upon the head proper. The inner and outer rims I form circular; but inasmuch as the inner one is made movable within the outer one, it is immaterial whether or not the former is a true circle, as the outer one being true the head will when drawn taut be accurate. Ordinarily the tension of the head is regulated before adjustment to the banjo; but the same may be regulated by the user by the tighteningor loosening of the adj Listing-screws.

The rim O and head are movably secured to the banjo-frame through the medium of the short arms E. These arms are secured to the rim 0 by means of the regulating-screws D and to the banjo-frame by screws 6. By thus forming the arms movable I am enabled, in case of damage resulting thereto, to easily remove either thereof and insert others in place.

I am aware that minor changes may be made in the arrangement and details of construction herein shown and described without causing or creating a departure from the nature and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure protection in by Letters Patent of the United States, 1s

1.. In a banjo, the combination of an outer frame, an outer annular rim within the same, the latter provided with a depending annular flange, a ring against which the lower end of said flange bears, an inn er rim provided with an outwardlyextending annular flange, vertical screws passing through the outer rim and through the annular flange of the inner banjo and their inner ends to the outer rim, IO rim, whereby the latter may be adj usted,and substantially as set forth. the head having its edges fitting between the In testimony whereof I affix my signature in outer and inner rims and passing around the presence of two witnesses. ring, substantially as set forth. TH I IAM A TODD 2. In a banjo, the combination of an inner J and an outer rim and a head having its edges fitting therebetween, of radial arms having their outer ends secured to the frame of the Witnesses:

N. A. AOKER, M. G. LOEFLER.

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