US3432001A - Sound improving devices - Google Patents

Description

March 11, 1969 s. c. ANASTIN SOUND IMPROVING DEVICES Filed Aug. 31, 1966 United States Patent 3,432,001 SOUND IMPROVING DEVICES Samuel C. Anastiu, 4723 N. Dover St., Chicago, Ill. 60640 Filed Aug. 31, 1966, Ser. No. 576,273 U.S. Cl. 181-31 Int. Cl. Gk 13/00 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE My invention relates to speakers of radio sets, television sets, tape recorders and the like, and more particularly to speakers of table or transistor radio sets. When a radio set is large or of the professional type, various techniques may be used to improve the sound-particularly music-in terms of depth, resonance and purity. However, where the set is small-and served by a small magnetic speaker-it is not possible to include the refinements which improve sound quality, such as in music played on the violin, viola, cello or guitar. Thus, what is gained in the convenience, compactness and portability of the smaller sets is lost to some degree in the inferior quality of the music rendered by the same.

In view of the above situation, it is one object of the present invention to supplement the speaker of the radio or other type of set with an added tone chamber which improves the music emitted by the speaker in terms of depth, purity and overtones.

Another object is to employ the body of a violin, viola or like instrument as the added tone chamber.

A still further object is to mount the speaker over the top of the sound chamber in order to transmit the music of the speaker directly into the sound chamber.

An additional object is, where a violin, viola or cello instrument body is employed, to attach the speaker directly to the bridge of the instrument in order that the musical vibrations may be transmitted from the same through the bridge and the conventional sound post to the sound chamber of the instrument.

A better understanding of the invention may be gained by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which-- FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a portable radio set connected to a violin by means of the novel sound improving device;

FIG. 2 is a view of the connection from the right-hand end of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the connection; and

FIG. 4 is a plan view where the connection is extended to additional instruments.

Referring specifically to the drawing, 10 denotes a typical portable radio set. For the present purpose a switch 11 is connected to the radio set in a manner to cut out the regular speaker in favor of a remote speaker of the conventional cone-type having a conventional 3,432,001 Patented Mar. 11, 1969 frame 13 whenever desired, such speaker served by a cord 14.

The musical instrument presently illustrated is a violin 16, the top of the same being shown at 16a, the bridge at 17, and the internal sound post at 18.

The preferred connection between the speaker and the violin is a clip 20 engaging the speaker 13 and the bridge 17. Thus, the clip is preferably a downwardly-tapered piece of hardwood presenting hooks 20a which firmly engage the rim 13a of the speaker when the clip is slid on the rim from the side; and glue may be used to make the clip fast to the speaker in the region of the hooks 20a. It is, of course, conceivable that means other than hooks may be devised to connect the clip rigidly with the speaker. The clip is divided in its lower end, as shown at 20b, for application to the bridge 17 with a firm grip in the manner of a mute. The sound post 18 of the violin is usually under the bridge, as shown in FIG. 2.

It will now be apparent that the musical vibrations of the radio or other type of set will be transmitted into the body of the violin from the speaker 13 through the clip 20, bridge 17, top 16:: and sound post 18. The violin body will now serve as a sound chamber to develop the music in terms of depth and purity; and the overtones and harmonious efiects otherwise lost in speakers of small size will be amplified by the added sound chamber with pleasing and relaxing tonality.

As described, the invention is immediately applicable, and without cost, to any violin or viola. However, where violins are to be supplied by a manufacturer or violin maker, they need not have a finger board. Material is thus saved, and the sound chamber made much shorter and easier to carry and handle. In such event the strings would also be cut short, and would serve mostly to hold the bridge in place.

FIG. 4 shows a development of the invention where the eifects of more than one sound chamber are desirable. In such event, each instrument receives a speaker;

and the feed wires 24 of the first speaker are extended in parallel to serve the succeeding speakers, as shown. Where the instrumentslike a guitar, zither or banjodo not have a bridge, the speaker may be applied directly to the top of the sound chamber by suitable attaching or sealing means for the direct transmission of its vibrations to the sound chamber of the instrument.

It is now apparent that the invention serves to develop depth, resonance and other desirable qualities in music emitted by the speakers of portable radios, television sets and tape recorders, and to add realism and fidelity to the same. At the same time, the invention comprises a simple connection ready to mount between an outside speaker and a violin, or may be easily modified for application to sound chambers of other string instruments.

I claim:

1. A sound producing assembly comprising in combination:

electrical means for reproducing sound;

cone-type speaker means operatively connected to and remote from said means for reproducing sound;

a stringed-instrument sound chamber including a bridge overlying the sound chamber; and

means on said bridge connecting said speaker means to said bridge with said speaker cone in downwardlyopening relation over said sound chamber for directly transmitting sounds to said chamber whereby the sounds emitted from said speaker means are ampli- 3 fied by said chamber and are changed to the unusual degree customarily characteristic to said sound chamber providing a tonal quality, overtones and harmonious effects not normally attained by the speaker per se, said means on said bridge comprising a clip integrally attached to said bridge, said clip extending transversely of said speaker means whereby sounds are transmitted through said clip and bridge from said speaker means.

2. The structure as claimed in claim 1 including at least one supplemental cone-type speaker means operatively connected to said first-mentioned speaker means; and a second stringed instrument sound-chamber, said supplemental speaker means being operatively connected to said second stringed instrument sound-chamber.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Dessureau 84-274 Kalaf 84296 Kressmann 1813 1 Gray 1813 1 Doschek 181-31 Sears et a1 l8131 US. Cl. X.R.

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