USRE22949E - Wind instrument - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 16, 1947. c. F. w. FORSSBERG WIND INSTRUMENT Original Filed June 30, 1959 I 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 1'9. 31 IN VEN TOR: $2,

Dec. I6, .1947. c. F. w. FORSSBERG 22,949

WIND INSTRUMENT Original Filed June 50, 1939 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 16,1947.

C. F. W. FORSSBERG WIND INSTRUMENT 7 Sheets-Shae?- 5 Original Filed June 30, 1939 I u U IN V EN TOR:

1947. c. F. w. FORSSBERG 49 WIND INSTRUMENT Original Filed June 30, 1339 'T Sheets-Sheet 4 c. F. w. FORSSBERG Re. 22,949

WIND INSTRUMENT I Original Filed June 30, 1939 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 ran/bla IN V EN TOR.

Mag

Dec. 16, 1947. 3. F. w. FORSSBERG WIND INSTRUMENT 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed June so, 1939 N... H I mar e:

IIJIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 225 T {F1 L INVENTOR.

Dec. 16, 1947. I c. F. w. FORSSBERG 22,949

WIND INSTRUMENT Original Filed June 30, 1939 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Reissued Dec. 16, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WIND INSTRUMENT Carl F. W. Forssberg, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Original No. 2,373,110, dated April 10, 1945, Serial N0. 282,221, filed June 30, 1939.

Application for reissue filed April 10, 1946, Serial No.-

Claims.

, tubes, etc., in its construction by including special covered channels or grooves constituting sound ducts or passages in at least one member or even in two or more members forming main portions of the structure of the instrument.

Another obiect is to produce an instrument of the mentioned character from molded material such as plastics or die castings of metal in order to simplify construction and greatly reduce cost of manufacture and thus facilitate marketing the instrument at such a low figure as to encourage general use in large quantities.

A further object is to make an instrument of this type of at least one channel or body member or even two main channel members and a rigidly associated or intermediate sandwich structure, sheet or member, which when assembled by cementing or riveting or even soldering or welding together will at once form the main body of the instrument to which a mouthpiece may be added to complete the simplest embodiment which may be taken to correspond to a bugle.

Yet another object is to do away with slides for fine tuning and instead have a, simple, partly rotatable or slidable adjusting valve which is capable of fine adjustments.

It is also an object to have the instrument pro vided with valves for playing in all desirable keys so that it may take its proper place with the comet, trumpet, fiuegelhorn, trombone and alto horn, etc.

It is even an ob ect to do away altogether with exposed tubular slides for changing the key of the instrument from F to G or vice versa in the embodiment corresponding to the bugle, and from A to Bb, and/or, from Bb to C, etc., in the form corresponding to the trumpet or cornet, by having a novel form f key changing mouthpiece which is arranged to cooperate with one or more fixed loops of tubing or sound ducts or passages in the air column in order to cut in or cut out said loops at will.

It should be mentioned that it is an object wlthal to arrange the sound ducts or passages and double them on themselves or each other and otherwise condense the entire construction and all dimensions of the instrument as well as to lighten the same without sacrificing pitch, volume, tone or overtones in such fashion that an exceedingly compact, portable and attractive as Well as effective wind instrument results, which if made of the modern plastics, may have any one of a, large range of colors and finishes.

Other objects and numerous advantages of the present instrument and accruing from its nature, construction and practical use will appear more fully in detail as this specification proceeds.

In order to facilitate ready comprehension of this invention and its various features, the same is illustrated by way of non-limiting examples in the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, and in which Fig. 1 is an elevation of a form of my instrument which may be considered as corresponding in pitch, tone and volume to an army bugle and embodying certain main principles of my inven tion.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the same instrument.

Fig. 4.illustrates one of the main channel or body members of the instrument of Figs 1-3 prior to assembling, with a portion of the upper end and a mouthpiece in section.

Fig. 5 shows an opposite or corresponding main channel or body member of the same instrument.

Fig. 6 illustrates in partial perspective an intermediate member or sandwich sheet or plate intended to be secured between the two corresponding main channel members of Figs. 4 and 5.

Fig. 7 is a transverse section taken on line 'l-'! in Fig. 1.

Fig, 8 is a fragmentary view of the upper portion of Fig. 4, showing the mouthpiece in altered position.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged front elevation of the mouthpiece alone of Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8.

Fig. 10 is another view of the same as seen from the bottom.

Fig. 11 is a further side elevation of the enlarged mouthpiece.

Fig. is an enlarged fragmentary view of valve detail. I

Fig. 16 is a section of Fig. 15 taken on line iii-I6.

Fig. 17 shows a valve key of Figs. 12, 15 and 16 in perspective.

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary view of the'upper portion of a modification of the instrument of Figs. 12, 15 and 16 with a portion broken away to disclose the interior construction of a tuning valve.

Fig. 19 is a similar view showing the tuning valve in a different position of adjustment.

Fig. 20 is a section of Fig. 18 taken on line 2020.

Fig. 21 is a partial section taken a little lower in Fig. 18 than Fig. 20 and shows substantially a side elevation of the tuning valve of Figs. 18, 19 and 20 as taken on line 2l2l in Fig. 18.

Fig. 22 is a top plan view of the same tuning valve with the shaft and control knob cut off and the interior walls indicated by broken lines.

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary elevation of the upper part of the instrument of Fig. 1, showing a modificatio'n.

Fig. 24 is a vertical section of Fig. 23, but avoiding any section of the mouthpiece.

Fig. 25 is an enlarged side elevation of the mouthpiece alone of Figs. 23 and 24.

Figs. 26 is a rear elevation of the same.

Fig. 27 is a modification of the mouthpiece of Fig. 26.

Fig. 28 is a modification in transverse section of the body of the instrument as shown in section in Fig. 7, the general plan and appearance of the instrument being exteriorly about the same as shown in Fig. 1, While the section is taken approximately on line l-'| Fig. 29 is another modification similarly shown in section.

Fig. 30 is a further modification of a similar form in section.

Fig. 31 is a fragmentary perspective view of part of an intermediate member or sandwich sheet of Fig. 30.

Fig. 32 is yet another modification in section of the instrument, similar to the section shown in Fig. 30.

Fig. 33 illustrates a simpler form or modification of the instrument of Fig. 1.

Fig. 34 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 35 illustrates a simple bugle or horn of the ordinary type with an important feature of my invention shown in section and combined with said bugle.

Fig. 36 is a partial side elevation of the same.

Fig. 37 is a fragmentary view of the bugle showing the mentioned feature in full from the same point of view as in Fig. 35.

Fig. 38 is a vertical section of a modification of the upper part of the instrument of Figsl and 2, as seen from the same point of view asFig. 2.

Fig. 39 is a further modification of the body of the instrument shown in a transverse section similar to that of Figs. 7 and 28.

Fig. 40 is a fragmentary view of the upper part of the instrument showing a modification of Fig. 12.

Fig. 40a is a perspective view of a rear part of Fig. 40.

Fig. 41 is a transverse section of the same taken on line 4l4| in Fig. 40.

Fig. 42 isavertical section also of the same taken on line 42-42 in Fig. 40.

Fig. 43 is a fragmentary view of the lower part of a channel member of the body of the instrument showing how the same may be modified throughout to include air spaces which are not connected to the main air channel but are independent thereof.

Fig. 44 is a transverse section of the instrument as taken on line 44-44 in Fig. 43.

Fig. 45 is a fragmentaryperspective of the intermediate member or sandwich sheet which may be used with the channel member of Fig. 43.

Fig. 46 is a transverse section of the instrument taken on line 45-46 in Fig. 33, but showing a further modification of the construction.

Fig. 47 illustrates a modification of the instrument of Fig. 12.

Fig. 48 is the upper fragment of one of the channel members of said instrument, while Fig. 49 is the upper portion of the other channel member, the mouthpiece being omitted better to reveal the construction.

Fig. 50 shows the mouthpiece of the same instrument, while Fig. 51 is a plan view of a tuning valve of the instrument of Fig. 47.

Fig. 52 is a section of part of a modified instrument as taken on line 52, 52 in Fig. 53, and illustrates a slide for tuning.

Fig. 53 is a transverse section of the instrument of Fig. 52 on line 53, 53 in Fig. 52.

Fig. 54 is a side elevation of the upper portion of the instrument of Fig. 47.

Fig. 55 is a front elevation of a modification or simplification of the instrument of Figs. 33 and 34.

Fig. 56 is a side elevation'of the same.

Fig. 57 illustrates a channel member of the same instrument.

Fig. 58 shows an opposite corresponding channel member of said instrument.

Fig. 59 is a front elevation of another modification of the instrument of Figs. 33 and 34.

Fig. 60 shows one channel member of the instrument of Fig. 59, and Fig. 61 illustrates the correspondingly opposite channel member, while Fig. 62 is a perspective view of a sandwich plate for the same instrument.

Finally, Fig. 63 is a fragmentary section as seen in perspective, of a further modification of the construction of the body portion of the instrument of Figs. 33 and 34.

Throughout the views, the same reference numerals indicate the sameor like parts.

Arrong the brass wind instruments used in musical organizations such as bands and orchestras as well as in military organizations, and also for solo work. etc., it is noteworthy that no radical changes have been introduced for quite a long time. All of these instruments occupy considerable space and require more or less large and bulky carrying cases or covers, but judged by the cubical content of their air columns, could well be reduced in size. In case a player is near sighted or has poor eyes. and uses a stand for his music, the length and actual size of the instrument used may prevent a sufiiciently near approach to the music to see well. It is also quite obvious that such brass instruments consist mainly of tubing whichis bent at several points and also has several joints which require to-be soldered or brazed, and the manufacture thereof requires great skill, much fitting. adjustment and finishing, worth from ten to fifty or m'ore'times the actual value of the material of which the instruments are made. The necessity for polishing such instruments and carefully cleaning and taking care of them,-'and their very high'pri'ce, as a rule, militate against general adoption and use and also prevents many talented people from learning to play upon them and even from learning music for this reason.

Now, in order to avoid all such disadvantages and particularly with the foregoing and other objects in mind, the present invention has been designed to fill a place of its own and reatly encourage the study and playing of good music.

Hence, in the practice of my "invention, an instrument body, generally indicated at I has a mouth piece 2 which is removably inserted and shown alone in Figs. 9, nd 11 in enlarged form. A pair of oppositely extending projections 3, 3 are fixed upon the mouthpiece, while upon the upper portion of the instrument proper are a pair of opposite side horns or projections 4, 4, so that if an elastic member 5 is caught beneath the projections 4, 4 and passed over the mouthpiece projections 3, 3, said member will tend to hold the mouthpiece down in position and retain the same against accidental loss.

Before going into further detail in regard to the mouthpiece and its possible modifications, it is perhaps better to direct attention to the main feature of the invention which refers to the general construction of the body of the instrument. The instrument proper is preferably composed of three main members, namely, two opposed outer members, which may for convenience be termed channel or body members 6 and 1, whose main walls 8A and 83 respectively form the rear and front walls of the instrument body I and connect with the external side walls 6A and IA (Figs. 1, 2 and 3), and an intermediate partition member or sandwich plate 8. The body or channel member 6 has a plurality of channels or grooves 9, ll, l2, l4, l6, ll, 22, etc., separated by a series of mutually spaced separating walls 9A (Fig. 4), and the other body or channel member I has corresponding grooves or channels Ill, I3, l5, I8, etc., similarly separated by a series of spaced separating walls 93 (Fig. 5). The separating walls 9A in body member 6 extend to, and connect with side walls GB and 13 thereof to limit the length of the channels or spaces between the separating walls. In similar fashion, separating walls 913 in body member I extend to, and connect with side walls 6C and 10 of said body member. In reference to the partition means or sandwich plate 8 as shown in Fig. 6 has a pluraiity of marginal holes along the two sides at 25, 21, 29 and 3|, etc., and 26, 28, 30 and 32, etc., which connect the outer ends of channels 9 and II in member 6 with channel II) in member I, the higher end of channel I3 in member 'I with the outer end of channel [2 in member 6, the lower end of channel l3 in member 'I with the higher end of channel [4 in member 6, and so on down to channel I! in member 6 which connects at its lower end through aperture 3| in the sandwich plate with the upper end of channel IS in member I. The lower end of channel [8 connects through aperture 32 with channel 22 in member 6, and this channel enlarges into a half bell 23 which is open to and connects directly with the correspondingly opposite half bell portion 24 in member 1 through the open slot 33 in the lower end of the sandwich sheet 8 to form the bell 36.

It should be noted that the sandwich sheet or plate 8 is preferably flat in the form of the instrument disclosed in Figs. 1 through 8, as well as in other forms also shown, and the corresponding surfaces 34 and 35 of channel members 6 and I are intended to be correspondingly flat so as to make contact entirely about the majority of the channels with the sandwich sheet through its general extent. It should likewise be noted that the main intermediate area 36 of the sandwich sheet serves to cover the channels 9-I'I of the channel members so as to convert them into con duits or the equivalents of tubes, while the marginal apertures in said sandwich sheet or plate serve to connect one end of a channel in one channel member on one side of the sandwich sheet to one end of another channel in the other channel member on the other side of said sheet or plate. The channels are so arranged in the two members on the opposite sides of the plate 8 that if the instrument stands upright, drainage for water of condensation will tend to occur by gravity.

The two channel members and the sandwich sheet or plate are preferably made of plastic material such as any modern or known plastic that can be given a definite form by a mold or die, examples of such being the cellulose derivatives, phenol urea and phenol formaldehyde products, vinyl resins, etc., ebonit or shellac compositions, polymerized derivatives of methacrylic acid., etc., or said members may be made of any kind of die cast metal or alloy. In case plastic material is used, the members may be cemented or fused together by means of a suitable solvent or a solution of the plastic used, but in case die castings are used for the channel members a metal sheet can be used for the sandwich plate and these members screwed, soldered, brazed, fused or riveted together, as may be most suited to the particular material used. I prefer to use a plastic, as it is convenient merely to apply a solvent or a plastic cement to the fiat general surfaces 34 and 35 of both members and to both sides of the sandwich plate, and then bring the two members together with said plate between, when it will shortly be found that these members are firmly united into a single inseparable unit. The tone varies somewhat according to the metal or plastic used, but mainly depends on the form of the channel section and the length of the channel. A handle 3! may be added to the instrument together with the thumb piece 38, the opening 39 serving to accommodate the fingers when the instrument is in use, so that it will be convenient to hold the whole in horizontal position.

Referring again to the mouthpiece 2, the shank 40 is rectangular in cross section (Figs. 1, 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11) and has a main conduit or channel 4| which, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, connects with the inner end of channel H in channel member 6, while a short arcuate channel 42 in the lower portion of the shank on the other side serves to connect the inner ends of channels 9 and 12 in the same channel member. In this position the mouthpiece may be used to direct a sound through channel II and by way of plate aperture 26 through channel IE] and thence through plate aperture 25 through channel 9 and through mouthpiece bottom channel 42 into channel l2, and thence through the remaining plate apertures and successive channels in both channel members. Naturally, the tones produced will be pitched according to the total length of the air column of the instrument, and if the latter is intended to correspond to a bugle, the same may be pitched at F. The mouthpiece is replaceable so as to change the pitch to G, for example, and to effect this change, it is but necessary to lift said mouthpiece out of the instrument and, after turning the same one half turn without inverting it, to replace the same in the instrument so as to occupy the relatively reversed position'illustrated in Fig. 3, in which the main channel 4| connects directly with channel 12 instead of with channel I I, whil the shank 453 forms a complete cutoff for channel 9 and the lower shank channel 42 cuts off channel H by being itself directed against the interior wall of the mouthpiece socket43, the result being that the two stationary channels '9 and H and the longer channel ID connected thereto through plate apertures 25 and 26 are entirely blind and cut out of the air column so as to be inactive. As the air column is then shorter, the pitch will be higher.

In the figures thus far described, the shank 40 of the mouthpiece member lies against the sandwich sheet or plate 3 upon one side and is in fact located wholly upon that side of said plate in the socket or enlargement 44 of channel member 6, and is retained in the socket by the elastic 5. However, as shown in Fig. 38, the shank can be disposed directly against the channel member 45 (which corresponds to member 1), extending through the sandwich sheet 4'8 (which corresponds to plate 8), while the socket 41 of channel member 48 (corresponding to socket 44 on member 6) projects less than said socket 44 as a consequence, which is the main advantage gained. The same construction may be incorporated in the more elaborate valved instrument generally indicated at 49 in Figs, 12, 13 and 14, although the construction can also be like that of Figs. 1 through 8.

In Fig. 12, one of the. channels 55 leading from the mouthpiece 2 in one channel member before reaching the lower end channels 53 and the bell, has a passage 5| which may be interrupted and lengthened by a plurality of valves 55, which are controlled by manual keys or levers 55, 56, etc., by which said valves may be individually depressed.

These valves are practically the same in form and construction, so that a description of one describes them all, but each controls a different length of channel loop, the first valve controlling a medium channel loop 51, the second valve a smaller loop 58 and the third a much longer loop 59, so as to provide for any and all half tones in the chromatic scale. The passage 54 is'blocked when a valve 55 is depressed by a lever 56 as in Figs. 15 and 16, but then, when the lower edge of the valve member 55 comes into contact with the bottom wall of passage 54, the upper curved sides 59 and 65 are spaced from the fixed curved sides of upper valve seats GI and 62 so as to present curved passages up to the apertures 63 and 64 in the sandwich plate 65 (Fig. 16) which connect directly with the ends of channel loop 51 in channel member 52. Each valve has an open area 66 in which a rigid spring support 61 fixed upon the sandwich plate may be located for the purpose of supporting a resilient member 58 tending to raise the upper portion 69 of the Valve so that said valve will normally occupy the upper raised position in operating space 19 in Fig. 15 so as to take against seats 6i and 62 and leave passage 54 clear. The lever or key 56 is provided upon its inner end with a fulcrum head H lying in a recess 12 in channel member 52, the lever passing through a slot 13 the sandwich plate 65 and having an operating pin M of valve 55 passing through an elongated aperture or slot 15 so as to allow arcuate rising and falling movements of the lever to occur without binding when operating the valve.

' In order to cover each valve when assembling the same, a somewhat flexible cover plate 15 having a clearance opening or slot (not shown) for the valve key or lever 55, a pair of undercut gibs I1, 18 holding'said plate in place. Said plate may be set into position by sliding the same upward over a bottom stop 19 and under the overhanging portions of the gibs l1, 18 until the upper end of the plate meets upper stop 80, when the lower end will snap into position above said bottom stop 19 and remain between the gibs and stops. Of course, other means occurring to anyone skilled in the art may be used to hold the cover plates for the valves in place and the covers need not be flexible, in contrast with those shown, and in fact, even the exact type or detail of the valves disclosed need not be used. It is also possible, and even feasible to use difierent plastic material for the valves than for the sandwich plate, valve cover plate and channel member, or even a metal or alloy, without essentially changing the shape of the parts involved and the plastic material may be so selected as to have antifriction characteristics with respect. to the material of which said channel member is composed. The main features'thus considered in connection with Figs. 12 through 1'! refer to the valves and channel loops controlled thereby for playing in any key desired.

It is frequently desirable to be in a position-to slightly sharpen or lower the pitch of the instrument by less than a full note and in fine gradations, and means for this are shown in Figs. 18 through 22. Figs. 18 and 19 illustrate a modification of the upper end of the instrument of Figs. 12 to 14 just described, a portion being removed to disclose the interior structure and a special adjusting or tuning valve 8| controlled by a knob 82 and capable of partial rotation in a valve chamber 83 from one extreme position against a stop 84 in Fig. 18 to another extreme position against the other side of the same stop. The valve membcr 8| operates against the arcuate wall 85 of channel member 86 of the instrument and has itself an arcuate wall 81 spaced from the fixed wall 85 and operating against an arcuate wall 88 of less diameter than, and forming a continuation of wall 85, so that a channel loop 89 is formed. This channel loop connects through apertures 96, 9| in the sandwich plate 92 with channels 93 and 94 communicating with the general channel system of the instrument as a whole. The solid connection of the wall 85 with the wall 83 above aperture 9| determines the connection of one end of the channel loop 89 with said aperture, while the other end is determined by a fixed terminal block 95 secured upon the sandwich plate above aperture in said plate, the result being that upon rotation of the tuning valve 8| from one extremeto the other, thechannel loop is gradually shortened so that the pitch of the instrument gradually rises. The apertures remain fixed, but the looped end of the channelloop approaches or recedes from said apertures in accordance with the direction of rotation, and When the instrument has been tuned to a local piano or band including other instruments, the tuning valve is left in whatever its attained position may be, and the instrument played by fingering the other valves in the same manner as upon a comet or trumpet. A cover plate 96 for the adjusting valve may be riveted, screwed or cemented in place.

While only one form of mouthpiece and shank have been considered thus far, other preferable forms may be used which are centrally and symmetrically disposed instead of being offset as in Figs. 2 and 3. for example. Hence, in Figs. 23 through 26 are shown a fragment of the upper portion of an instrument with modified mouthpiece and shank as well as modified channels to cooperate therewith.

The channel member 91 of Figs. 23 and 24 has the short channels 98. 99 wh ch cooperate with the mouthpiece shanks, connected by rear channel I in channel member 91 which is raised so as to pass the rear of the shank transversely, while the shank IOI itself has a part of the transverse portion of said rear channel cut into the same as a groove I02 in order to avoid increasing the cross section of the instrument-at that point. The channel or duct port ons I03 and I04 connect w th channels 98 and 99 in the position shown, but when the mouthpiece I05 is sim ly rotated toward the right until duct I03 registers wth channel I06 of the general channel system of the instrument, the groove I02 on shank IOI no longer registers with channel I00 and he shank itself blocks channels 98 and 99. A'slight modification of the mouthpiece is shown in Fig. 27 having the same type of shank. groove and duct portions, but the mouthpiece I01 has a ring I08 resting upon a flange I09 and provided with side studs I I0, I I0 adapted to be engaged by an elastic or the like in order to hold the mouthpiece as a whole down in place while allowing the same to be rotated for pitch changing, the ring remaining stationary without rotation meanwhile.

The body of the instrument is susceptible to modification, as will be more fully developed herein. For example, in the section of Fig. 28 the two channel members II I and H2 are shown as completely enveloping the edges or periphery of the sandwich plate II3 so that the recesses H4, H5 at the sides are used instead of marginal apertures or perforations as in plate 8 of Fig. 6. The partitions II6 etc., between the channels support the sandwich plate in position, but the plate is then wholly contained with said channel members.

Another form is shown in Fig. 29 wherein the channel members H1, H8 contain a sandwich plate I I9 which is so narrow as to be spaced from the side walls of the channel members and is wholly supported between and suspended in position by the partitions I20 and I2I which of course extend to said side walls of the channel members. In Fig. 30, a form of construction is shown in which not only the channel members I22 and I23 have the rounded channels and intermediate partitions I24, I25, etc., but also the sandwich plate I26 has correspondingly rounded partition portions I21, I28, said sandwich plate being thus more than a fiat, simple plate and instead forming a channeled structure of some thickness as shown in fragmentary perspective in Fig. 31.

Along similar lines of design is the modification shown in Fig. 32. the two channel members I29, I30 having a sandwich plate I3I between them and being en arged toward the side edges at I32, I33 and I34, etc.. so that the sandwich plate is thickened toward the sides I35, I36 to correspond in sectional profile with said channel members.

In connection with modifications of the structure of the channel members, it may be pointed out that the whole ensemble of the instrument body may be assembled in somewhat different manner that already described. Hence, the channel members I36 and I31 of the instrument shown in Figs. 33 and 34 with an intermediate sandwich plate I38 may terminate at the bottom at a line I39 at which a bell I40 i attached or cemented in place, while at the top, a simple mouthpiece I4I which may have a shank I42 is inserted or secured. The pitch changing channels and features of instrument and mouthpiece may be omitted, if desired and the latter may simply connect directly with the main channel I43 of fixed pitch. Of course, the pitch changing features of the instruments of Figs. 1-5, 18-23, etc., may be incorporated, if so desired when thus adding the bell as a unit.

On the other hand, the pitch changing feature alone i susceptible of application as such in appropriate form to existing types of brass wind instruments such as bugles, cornets, trumpets and horns as exemplified by the horn I44 in Figs. 35 and 36. To the stem I45 of the horn is attached a tube I46 which is connected to the bottom of a casing I41, to another portion of the bottom of which is connected one end I48 of a looped tube I49, while the other end I50 of said tube is connected to the lower part of one side of the same casing. This casing virtually forms a valve casing and contains the semi-rotary shank I5I of a mouthpiece I52, this shank having a channel I53 communicating with the interior of the mouthpiece at the upper end and at the lower end communicating either with left end I48 of the looped tube I49, or with the tube I46, depending on the position of the shank I5I. (See also Fig. 37 for an alternate position of said shank.) In the lower portion of this shank is a bypass channel I54 which connects the end I50 of looper tube I49 with tube I46 when shank channel I53 connects with the left end I48 of said looped tube. A finger piece I55 upon the channel is displaceable in the cutout portion I56 in casing I41 and facilitates manual rotation of the mouthpiece and shank for changing the pitch.

Various other modifications of the body of the instrument are possible, but a few more hav ing particular advantages and falling within the scope of the invention will be discused. In Figs. 30 to 32, forms of the sandwich plate were shown which were not simply fiat plates but actually recessed or channelled, or shaped to some extent and in each case of some considerable thickness, but in Fig. 39, a form is illustrated in which the portion corresponding to the sandwich plate forms the main frame of the instrument body I 51 in which the partition I58, for example forms an integral portion of said frame and the apertures I59, I60 pierce the interior portion I0! of said frame. The outer plates I62. I53 are set into or onto the sides and serve to enclose the channels I64, I65, etc., and finish ofi the sides of the instrument.

Another form particularly involving an advantageous arrangement of the mouthpiece and its related channels is shown in Figs. 40 to 42, there being, for example, two channel members IE6, IE5! and a sandwich plate I68, while the mouth piece IE9 has a shank I10 centrally and symmetrically disposed with respect to the sandwich plate and channel members. This shank has the main channel I1I which in the position shown connects with the instrument channel I12 and the short bypass channel I13 connecting the two instrument channels I14 and I15 which in turn connect with the rear instrument'channel I16. forming with channels I12 and I14 the pitch changing loop capable of being cut in or out by rotating the mouthpiece one-half revolution in either direction, The mouthpiece or its shank may be provided with a finger piece as in Figs. 35-37, if desired. In order to allow for the molding of rear channel I16, the back of the same is left open, and then whenthe instrument is assembled, a strip I11 of plastic or metal also shown in Fig. 40a is cemented or otherwise secured in place to enclose the channel.

It may be desirable in some cases to include blind chambers to serve as resonance chambers in order to favorably affect the timbre and tone of the sounds produced by the instrument, and a form of the instrument embodying such construetion is shown at least partly in Figs. 43 to 45 but suifi'cien-tly to show how such chambers maybe incorporated at various points of the structure; The channel members I18 and I19 are provided with the sandwich plate I89 (Fig. 44) but in those portions not usually occupied by any sound channels IBI for example, resonance chambers or hollow portions I82, I83 which may extend as open areas I84, I85 through the sandwich plate I80 and continue in channel member I13 as chambers I86", I81, or the sandwich plate can be solid and form a partition separating chambers I82 and I83 from chambers I84, I85, if desired.

While it has already been stated that the chan-- nel members and sandwich plate may be made of plastic material or of die cast metal, but they'can' also be stamped from sheet metal as shown in section in Fig. 46. The two stamped metal channel members I89 and I89 may be soldered or brazed to a sheet metal sandwich plate I99, or may be secured thereto by means of rivets I9I, I9I, etc., or'inany other practical manner, and the metal used may be sheet iron, steel, copper, brass, German silver, silver, gold or any alloy.

The valved instrument of Figs. 12 to 16 may have a tuning valve added to the same as shown in Figs. 18 to 21, or of any other type, as shown in Figs, 47, 48, 51 and 54, and the mouthpiece and its related channels may be modified and rotatable for pitch adjustment, if desired. Th instrument generally indicated by I92 has the finger pieces 56, 56, etc., controlling valves as in said former figures, while the channel I92 leading to and controlled by said valves, may be tuned by a valve I93 by means of a finger piece or head I94. The valve may. conveniently be housed in the rear channel member I95 in a recess I96 in which it may rotate part of a revolution in order to slightly lengthen or shorten the air column distance between apertures I91 and I98 connecting with channels I92 and I 99. The valve has an arcuate partition 29D and a bent channel connecting in all positions with channel 292 because partition 260 glides along fixed partition 203 and thus virtually forms a continuation of the latter in extended position and also increases the effective length of channel 292, thereby lowering the tone. The valve is preferably located wholly upon one side of the sandwich plate 224, but may, if desired, extend through the same and ride upon the flat inside portion or fac of channel member 205.

While in Figs. 18 and 19 the apertures 99 and 9| would seem necessary to make valve 8I opera-- tive, the valve I93 can operate directly with channels upon the same side of the sandwich plate, if desired, even though shown operating to and from apertures I91 and IE8, and I reserve such structure as part of the present disclosure.

Turning our attention to the mouthpiece 205, the same is preferably provided with a finger piece 201 upon its shank 298 shiftable in the recess- 299 to partly rotate the mouthpiece.

I95. Channel 2I2 again connects through the sandwich plate with the short channel 2I-3 in member I95, and this in turn connects through the bypass channel 214 in shank 208 with chan-- nel 2 I5 in member 295, and this forms the actual operating channel of the instrument" continuing through channels 2H5, I99 and I92, etc., down to the bell 2I1.. This deep or long form of shank and channel arrangement improves moisture drainage.

An alternative to the turning valves 81 and I93 of Figs. 18-21 and Figs. 47, 48 and 51, respec"-- tively', is shown by a tuning slide 218 in Figs. 52

and 53, which" may take the formoi a V-shaped' member or box with two hollow legs 2 I9 and 229- slidabl'e in. a channel 22 I bygmeans of a finger piece 222.

The channel member 223 preferably has a can tral partition 224 in the channel- 221 which is straddled by the legs 229 and 239 sothat no opening results between them in the channel member even when the turning slide 2 I 8' is drawn far out to the position indicated at 225; The channel 229 in the slide connects through the apertures 221, 223' the sandwich plate 229 with the channels 239 etc., in the channel member 231- It is clearly evident that when the tuning slide is drawn out into a more or less extended position, the air column is lengthened and the pitch lowered in accordance with the degree of extension, and if the slide is pushed in toward apertures 221 and 228, the air column is shortened and the pitch correspondingly raised.

In the remaining figures of the drawings, namely, Figs. 55 through 63', three further forms ofthe fundamental construction of the instru=- ment body are shown. In Figs. 55 to 58 is shown aform in which the instrument body indicated at 266 has a front wall 261 and a rear wall 268 joining opposite side walls 269' and 21B of the body, while the two channel members 232, 233iformi'ng the body portion of the instrument have a'simple mouthpiece 234 connected to the upper ends of the respectively corresponding channels 235, 236, but are devoid of any sandwich plate to form a partition for the channels. The channel or body member 232 contains separating walls 21 I- extending from side wall 212 thereof toward, but short of'juncti'on with the opposite side wall 213, and between the mentioned separat-- ing wallsthe further separating walls 214 extending from side wall 213 toward, but terminating short of actual junction with side wall 212, so as to form between said walls the sinuous channel or passage 235. In similar fashion, the body or channel member 233 has the alternately arranged separating Walls 215 and 216, respectively extending from side walls 211 and 218 in alternation and terminating short of junction with the walls toward which they extend, thus forming passage 236 When the two body mem-- bers 232 and 233 are superposed as shown in Figs. 55 and 56, the mentioned sinuous channels 235 and 236 complement each other and form a complete sound duct. Hence, said channels are simply doubled upon themselves in the same general plane which either coincides with the cleavage plane of the two channel members or is par tion shows that the channel 243m channel mem-,

ber 24I connects with the mouthpiece and in order to centraly nteet the same penetrates the sandwich plate 242 at 244 and has 9, corresponding short channel portion 245 in channel member 240. Said channel 243 is doubled upon itself in channel member 24! and terminates in said member at 245 where the end registers with the aperture 24'! in the sandwich or partition plate 242. This aperture registers upon the other side of the plate with the end 248 of the ascending channel 249 which in the main portion of member is doubled upon itself so as to form convolutions 250 and finally terminate in the flaring opening 25l wrich extends through the open portion 252 in the partition plate and together with the flaring portion 253 of member 24! forms the interior of the bell 254 of the instrument. In this form, the number of apertures in the sandwich plate is greatly reduced, which is an advantage for some purposes.

Finally, in the form illustrated in Fig. 63, two outer channel members 255, 255 have an intermediate or third channel member 251 disposed between them with two sandwich or partition plates 258, 259 interleaved between the outer and intermediate members, a mouthpiece 265 being of course included. The channel 26! of the first member 255, for example, thus connects through an aperture 262m plate 258 with the channel 263 in intermediate member 251, and this channel in turn connects through an aperture 264 in the second plate 259 with the channel 255 in bottom member 256. The channels may also follow some other course or arrangement in the channel members when three such members are used together with one or more interleaved plates. It is evident that the tuning and/or playing valves may be combined with all forms.

While the front and rear walls of the instrument body have been shown practically flat and smooth, this is of no actual importance for the successful operation of the instrument, as these walls may, if desired at least partly follow in form and contour the form of the sound passages within, and the same holds for the side walls. In any event, the front and rear walls are preferably wider than the side walls and in the form of instrument using the partition or sandwich plate, the latter is also wide and at least partly co-extensive with the front and rear walls. The terms, front. rear and side walls merely refer to the outside wall structure bounding the interior of the instriunent body, whatever be the actual surface form of these walls.

In the foregoing, my instrument has been shown capable of variation as to some features, the body channel members being always present and at least one, and often two in number or may be even three or more, while the partition plate or structure may have few (at least one) or many marginal apertures, while the construction may include other types of tuning valves or slides, or other manual playing valves than those described, not to mention that the mouthpiece may be simple and more or less conventional, or may be of special construction and combined with pitch changing channels in the instrument when desired.

Hence, variations within wide limits may be resorted to, and parts may be used without others or in difierent combinations therewith and of different plastics and metals, so as to result in various instruments within the scope of the invention as a broad basis of construction.

Having now fully described my invention, I claim:

1. An instrument body for a wind instrument, including an elongated body member having wide front and rear walls and relatively narrower side walls connected to the front and rear walls, said walls extending along the length of the instrument body and together bounding the interior thereof, a wide partition member located within said instrument body intermediate said front and rear walls and being coextensive with the major portions thereof along their length and width. a series of separating walls located within said instrument body between said partition member and said front wall and integral with the latter, and a second series of separating walls also located within said instrument body between the same partition member and said rear wall and integral with the latter, the separating walls in both series being spaced apart along said partition member and secured thereto, with the individual separating walls disposed transversely with respect to the length of said instrument body and secured at their ends to said side walls, the ends of the separating walls of each series at one side of the latter being advanced a step toward one end of the instrument body with respect to the ends of the series on the other side of the partition member to dispose both series together in the form of a flattened helix, and the partition member terminating short of the side walls between the separating walls of both series to form the spaces between the separating walls into a continuous air column sound duct of substantially flattened helical form.

An instrument body for a wind instrument according to claim 1, wherein the partition member is plate like and disposed in substantially a single plane.

3. An instrument body according to claim 1, wherein the partition member is connected at the side portions thereof to the side walls of the in strument body and is pierced by series of apertures within said side walls providing intercommunication between the ends of the spaces of both series of separating walls on both sides of said partition member.

4. An instrument body according to claim 1, wherein the separating walls in each series are generally inclined toward one end of the instrument body with respect to the separating walls of the other series, in order to cause gravity drainage of water of condensation from the instrument body when it is erected upright with said end thereof directed downwards.

5. An instrument body according to claim 1, having two coextensive partition members spaced apart and a third or intermediate series of separating walls secured between them, these separating walls being individually disposed transversely with respect to the length of the instrument body and having the ends thereof connected with the side walls of the latter, the separating walls of the three series being superposed to form superposed groups of walls, the outermost sep- 15' arating wall of one group immediatelyinside the front wall terminating short of junction with one side wall and the innermost separating wall of the next adjacent group inside the rear wall terminating short of junction with the other side wall, the one partition member nearer thefront wall having an opening formed within said other side wall between the two groups of separating walls, and the other partition member nearer the rear wall having an opening formed between the same two groups of walls within the first mentioned one side wall, in order to form all the spaces between the groups of separating Walls, of the three series into a continuous air column sound duct communicating forward through the spaces between one pair of mutually; adjacent groups, of separating walls toward the front wall REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

10 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,320,202 Thompson May 25, 1943 52,320,203 Thompson May 25, 1943 15 FOREIGN PATENTS;

Number- Country Date 388,091, France Mar. 22, 1908:

and then rearwardthrough the spaces between, one of said last mentioned groups of walls andv thenext adjacent group toward the-rear wall. CARL F. WM, FORSSBERG.

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