GB2557937A

GB2557937A - A reed cushioning device for a mouthpiece of a woodwind instrument

Info

Publication number: GB2557937A
Application number: GB1621584.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Turner Maximilian
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-12-20
Filing date: 2016-12-20
Publication date: 2018-07-04
Also published as: GB201702989D0; GB201621584D0; GB201702829D0

Abstract

A reed cushioning device 1 for a mouthpiece 6 of a single reed woodwind instrument of at least one lamina and having at least one aperture. The cushioning device 1 has attachment means to releasably attach to the mouthpiece and may allow the free portion of the reed to rebound more readily from the device and oscillate with less blowing effort from the musician. The cushioning means 1 may be elastic and may be provided by a gasket of stiff film material 4 having: a cushioning adhesive layer 3; an inward projecting tab functioning as a leaf spring; or at least one depression which provides an air cushion or spring. The film 4 may alternatively be flexible. The releasable attachment may be provided by a second layer of adhesive 5.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: A reed cushioning device for a mouthpiece of a woodwind instrument Abstract Title: A reed cushioning device for a single reed woodwind instrument (57) A reed cushioning device 1 for a mouthpiece 6 of a single reed woodwind instrument of at least one lamina and having at least one aperture. The cushioning device 1 has attachment means to releasably attach to the mouthpiece and may allow the free portion ofthe reed to rebound more readily from the device and oscillate with less blowing effort from the musician. The cushioning means 1 may be elastic and may be provided by a gasket of stiff film material 4 having: a cushioning adhesive layer 3; an inward projecting tab functioning as a leaf spring; or at least one depression which provides an air cushion or spring. The film 4 may alternatively be flexible. The releasable attachment may be provided by a second layer of adhesive 5.

figure 1

This print incorporates corrections made under Section 117(1) ofthe Patents Act 1977.

1/2

2/2

figure 6 figure 7

A reed cushioning device for a mouthpiece of a woodwind instrument

This invention relates to a device for reducing the energy input required to instigate and sustain the oscillations of the sound producing reed part of a single reed mouthpiece of a woodwind instrument.

When a musician is playing a single reed woodwind instrument the musician blows air through a tubular mouthpiece and reed combination to create sound. The sound is produced by the action of forced air passing through the gap created between the flexible reed and the edges of the aperture of the rigid mouthpiece causing the reed to oscillate at high frequency and repeatedly slap against and seal the edges of the aperture that it covers.

12 16

However, to produce the sound, the natural and complete oscillation cycle of the reed is interrupted by the action of the reed slapping against the rim of the tubular mouthpiece where the kinetic energy of the moving reed is arrested and converted to sound energy (a shock wave) and additionally, is wastefully lost to the body of the mouthpiece in the form of vibration (movement of the mouthpiece). This wasteful loss of energy in the cycle of the oscillating reed to vibration is regarded as normal and is overcome by the excessive blowing effort and skill of the musician to produce an even note and sound, although there are some instances where even the most experienced musician may, and a student musician will, experience problems controlling the sound and volume of the note and sustaining the oscillating cycle of the reed. For example, to play the lowest note, being the slowest and largest oscillating frequency, on a saxophone, and to prevent the reed from stalling by not having enough moving energy and stopping mid cycle, the musician must input a large volume of low pressure air to initiate and sustain the oscillation of the reed in order to overcome the higher energy losses per cycle of sound production and wasteful higher energy losses per cycle to the mouthpiece as vibration. This necessity to over-blow in order to produce the low frequency note leads to a sound that is initially greater in volume than may be desired. Moreover, a musician with some experience or particularly someone who is beginning to learn to play a clarinet or saxophone or other single reed instrument may find it difficult to successfully control the volume and regulate the tone of the instrument and to play the full range of notes with confidence and subtlety. This can particularly be a problem to a musician needing to practice at a lower volume. To overcome these problems, the present invention proposes a reed cushioning device for a mouthpiece of a single reed woodwind instrument of at least one lamina and having at least one aperture and having attachment means to attach to the mouthpiece and to substantially emulate the reed contacting surface of a tubular mouthpiece in the manner of a gasket such that the reed, being mounted on the device and to the mouthpiece, and in particular, the free portion of the reed may rebound more readily from the device and oscillate with less blowing effort from the musician when caused to oscillate by the blowing effort of a musician.

The cushioning means is preferably provided by a layer of elastic material, although the cushioning may be provided by other means, such as by a gasket of stiff film material having a cushioning adhesive layer or a gasket of stiff and flexible material having an

12 16 inward projecting tab to function as a leaf spring, or a gasket having a depression or depressions at the open surface of the device to function as an air cushion or spring for the oscillating read.

The reed cushioning device may project or encroach inward from the reed contacting surface to partially cover the aperture of the single reed mouthpiece.

The reed cushioning device may project outward from the reed contacting surface.

The reed cushioning device may project or encroach inward from the reed contacting surface of the single reed wind instrument mouthpiece to form sound altering or sound interfering baffles.

The reed cushioning device may project inward from the reed contacting surface of the single reed wind instrument mouthpiece to form a leaf spring type device.

The reed cushioning device may project outward from the reed contacting surface of the single reed wind instrument mouthpiece to form a tab to aid application to and removal from the mouthpiece.

The reed cushioning device may project inward from and or outward from and at right angles to the reed contacting surface of the single reed wind instrument mouthpiece to form location means.

The reed cushioning device may project outward from and fold backward and under itself to form a hook device for attachment means to the tip of the mouthpiece.

The hook portion of the reed cushioning device may project further backward and have attachment means to the upper part of the beak of the mouthpiece to form a cushioned pad to protect the mouthpiece from damage by the biting force of the teeth.

The invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which.

Figure 1 shows a reed cushioning device and a mouthpiece in diagrammatic view.

Figure 2 shows a reed cushioning device attached to a mouthpiece in side view.

Figure 3 shows a reed cushioning device with a finger lift tab.

Figure 4 shows a reed cushioning device with sound altering features.

Figure 5 Shows a reed cushioning device with a sound baffle device.

Figure 6 shows a reed cushioning device including a leaf spring device.

Figure 7 shows a reed cushioning device with a hook device attachment means.

12 16

In figure 1, a reed cushioning device 1 includes an elastic cushioning layer 2 which is secured to a dimensionally stable and flexible film layer 4 by a lamina of adhesive 3. To the open face of the dimensionally stable film layer 4 is secured a second layer of adhesive 5 for the purpose of releasably securing the reed cushioning device 1 to the reed contacting surface 7 of the single reed woodwind mouthpiece 6. A reed 8 is included in the diagram to illustrate the purpose of the reed cushioning device.

Items 3, 4 and 5 may be applied individually or as a group, commonly known as double sided tape, where the adhesive bonding qualities may be asymmetric and where the bond between the assembly 1 and the mouthpiece 6 is releasable and may be rejoined.

Figure 2 shows, in side view, a reed cushioning device 1 secured to a mouthpiece 6 with a reed 8 mounted to the assembly. The reed 8 is shown secured to the mouthpiece by an adjustable ligature 9.

Figure 3 shows, in plan view, an alternative embodiment of a reed cushioning device 1 with a finger lift tap 10 to facilitate removal of the the reed cushioning device from the mouthpiece.

Figure 4 shows, in plan view, an alternative embodiment of a reed cushioning device 1 in which the reed cushioning device is shown with a reduced aperture to provide a sound altering feature.

Figure 5 shows, in plan and side view, an alternative embodiment of a reed cushioning device 1 in which an elongate tab 11 projecting inward from the tip of the reed cushioning device provides a formable and adjustable sound baffle that may be attached to the floor of sound chamber of the mouthpiece.

Figure 6 shows, in plan and side view, an alternative embodiment of a reed cushioning device 1 in which an elongate tab 12 projects inward from the rear of the aperture and provides a leaf spring to provide cushioning to the oscillating reed.

Figure 7 shows, in plan and side view, an alternative embodiment of a reed cushioning device 1 in which attachment and location means for the front (tip) portion of the device is provided by a hook device 13. The rear portion of the reed cushioning device may be secured by adhesive means to the mouthpiece or solely by the clamping force of the reed securing ligature on the reed and hence the cushioning device.

12 16

Claims

1. A reed cushioning device for a mouthpiece of a single reed woodwind instrument of at least one lamina and having at least one aperture and having attachment means to attach to the mouthpiece and to substantially emulate the reed contacting surface of a tubular mouthpiece in the manner of a gasket such that the reed, being mounted on the device and to the mouthpiece, and in particular, the free portion of the reed may rebound more readily from the device and oscillate with less blowing effort from the musician when caused to oscillate by the blowing effort of a musician.

2. A reed cushioning device according to claim 1, in which the cushioning means is provided by a lamina material having elastic qualities.

3. A reed cushioning device according to claim 1, in which the cushioning means is provided by the adhesive layer of the device.

4. A reed cushioning device according to claim 1, in which the cushioning means is provided by a tab of the gasket material projecting across the aperture to form a leaf spring device.

5. A reed cushioning device according to claim 1, in which the cushioning means is provided by a depression or depressions to the open surface of the device to function as air springs/cushions.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: Claims searched: