US1772725A - Stringed-musical-instrument mute - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 12, 1930. l. LEWIS STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MUTE Filed Oct. 8, 1928 wanes: 3.60 am Patented Aug. 12, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ISRAEL LEWIS, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR OF FOB-TY PER GEN! TO MAX LEVIN, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND STRINGED-MUSICAL-INSTBUMENT MUTE Application filed October 8, 1928. Serial. No. 311,183.

The invention aims to provide an exceptionally simple and inexpensive, yet an efficient, easily applied, easily adjusted and quickly removable mute for stringed musical instruments, which will effectively perform its oflice without impairing the quality of the tones.

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, description being supplemented by the accompanying drawing.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a violin and a mute attached thereto between the bridge and the tail piece.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan View of a portion of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating the mute applied between the bridge and the neck.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view partly in elevation on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view on the plane indicated by lines 55 of Figs. 2 and 4.

Fig. 6 is a plan View of a banjo showing the mute applied between the bridge and the neck.

Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse sectional view on line 7-7 of Fig. 6, partly in elevation.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view on line 8-8 of Fig. 7

The preferred form of construction has been illustrated in the accompanying drawing and while such construction will be herein specifically explained, it is to be understood that within the scope of the invention as claimed, minor variations may be made. Moreover, I wish it understood that regardless of the form of instrument with which the mute is used, it may be employed either between the bridge and the neck or between the bridge and the tail piece and at any de sired distance from said bridge, determined by the results to be obtained. Moreover, when the mute is constructed for use with bowoperated instruments such as the violin, viol, etc., it will be longitudinally curved as shown for instance in Fig. 4, whereas for use upon stringed instruments upon which all of the strings are in a common plane, such as a banjo, ukelele, guitar, etc, the device will be of straight form as seen in Fig. 7. With the exception of this difference in longitudinal shape, both forms of mutes herein disclosed are identical and hence one description will suffice for both.

The numbers 9 and 10 on the drawing, designate two closely spaced arms for disposition at opposite sides of the group of strings Sand. 11 denotes resilient means connecting said arms at one end, said means exerting a constant force to move the arms toward each other but permitting spreading thereof when applying or removing the mute. Preferably, the arms 9-10 and their connecting means 11 are formed by bending a single length of resilient wire substantially upon itself, the two end portions constituting the arms 91O wh le the bend or bight portion forms the resilient connecting means 11.

Extending longitudinally of the arms 910 respectively, are two pads 1213 for yielding contact with opposite sides of the strings S. Each of these pads is preferably in the form of a resilient rubber tube and these tubes snugly surround the arms 910 to be frictionally held upon them. In most instances, I prefer that the upper tube 12 shall be of less diameter than the other tube 13, but this is not absolutely essential.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the device is of exceptionally simple and inexpensive construction, that it may be quickly and easily slipped onto or from the strings of an instrument and that when it is being adjusted to obtain the desired muting effect, it may be merely slid longitudinally of the strings and need not be taken off and again ap lied repeatedly to obtain themost desirable positioning.

Attention is again invited to the fact that while the preferred construction has been shown and specifically described, variations may be made.

I claim 1. A stringed musical instrument mute comprising two closely spaced arms to extend transversely at opposite sides of the usual group of strings, resilient means connecting said arms at one end for moving them toward each other, and two resilient tubes snugly surrounding and extending longitudinally of said arms to grip the strings.

2. A stringed musical instrument mute comprising a single length of resilient wire bent substantially upon itself to provide two closely spaced resiliently connected arms to extend transversely at opposite sides of the the usual group of strings, and two resilient tubes snugly surroundin and extending longitudinally of said arms to grip the strings.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

ISRAEL LEWIS.

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