US1949284A - Musical toy or instrument - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 27, 1934. E c PECKHAM 1,949,284

MUSICAL TOY OR INSTRUMENT Filed March 24, 1932 C as 1 Patented Feb. 27, 1934 UNETEE STATES PATENT QFFEQE MUSICAL TOY OR INSTRUMENT Edwin G. Peckham, New York, N. Y.

Application March 24, 1932. Serial No. 600,892

1 Claim.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in musical instruments in the nature of a musical toy.

- It is one object of the invention to provide a device of the above mentioned character which is capable of manipulation in such a manner as to produce the several notes of the chromatic scale.

Another object of the invention resides in a novel construction whereby the instrument will be practically invisible when in use.

Another object of the invention consists in the provision of a device, which, although depending to some extent upon the ability of the player to produce musical tones or notes in large varieties, will be cheap and simple of manufacture.

With the above, and other objects in view, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a detail bottom plan View of a portion of the air tube of the instrument,

Figure 2 is a similar view of another portion of the air tube,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the bell or trumpet portion of the instrument,

Figure 4 is a perspective View of the complete instrument, and Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a persons mouth showing the device in operative position therein and Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the portion of the air tube shown in Figure 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the instrument comprises a main body portion 3 which preferably is bell or trumpet shape, having a flared end 4. Both ends of the body are open as illustrated. The air tube is designated 5, and it is preferably formed from two elements 1 and 2.

The element 2 of the air tube has one of its ends rounded as at 6, the curve of said rounded portion corresponding to the curve of the inner face of the cylindrical portion of the body 3 and between said curved end and the opposite end, this member 2 is formed with side flanges 7. The member 1 of the air tube is also provided with flanges 8 which when the two elements of the air tube are assembled, engage beneath the flanges 7 of the element 2 as illustrated in Figure 4.

The body of the instrument is provided with a cut-out portion 10 into which the projecting curved end 6 of the element 2 of the air tube is secured as illustrated in Figure 4. This project ing curved end 6 is formed with an opening 12 and a struck up tongue or projection 14, both of which Will be positioned within the body portion when the air tube is in position in said body portion. T 1e extension 6 is free within the body to permit vibration of the extension and the tongue carried thereby, when subjected to pressure of air currents passing through the body. 50 Zhe body is substantially closed by the extension except for the opening 12, and the tongue 14 is positioned at a proper angle to deflect air currents passing through the body by way or" the opening 15 of the air tube 5 as shown in Figures a and 5, to cause the vibration of the entire lower end 6 oi the tube 5.

The device is operated in the following manner: The instrument is placed in the mouth with the airtube occupying a vertical position as illustrated in Figure 5. The air tube will be positioned immediately behind the upper teeth with the lips closed around the bell or trumpet end of the body portion between the end thereof and the vertically positioned air tube but not closing said bell or trumpet end. The persons breath is now blown into the instrument through the air tube along the path indicated by the arrow shown in Figure 5 producing a musical tone, the pitch of which may be varied by movements of the lower jaw of so the person operating the instrument. An air cavity A is formed in the lower part of the mouth by positioning the tongue B on top of the inner end of the instrument and by moving the lower jaw the area of this cavity may be increased as indicated by the dotted lines a, b and c. This variation in the cavity A serves to alter the pitch or tone of the instrument.

While the invention has been herein illustrated in a preferred form, it is to be understood that it is not limited to the specific construction herein illustrated, and that it may be practiced in other forms without departing from the scope and spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:

A device of the class described comprising a hollow cylindrical body portion having a bell or trumpet end and provided with an opening in one side, a relatively thin air tube extending radially into said opening, an extension having a perfora tion, said extension closing said cylindrical body portion except for said perforation, and a tongue extending angularly with respect to said extension from one edge of the perforation thereof, said extension and tongue being free to vibrate in the body under pressure of air passing therethrough.

EDWIN C. PECKHAM.

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