73results about "Flutes/fifes" patented technology

A lip plate for a flute, the lip plate including an air guide positionable adjacent an embouchure hole of the flute when the lip plate is attached to the flute wherein the air guide is adapted for directing a stream of air from a user's mouth in a direction relative to the embouchure hole to enable the flute to be played.

A flute attachment includes a flexible securing member and a resisting member. The securing member is attached to a lower flute surface for resting of a thumb of the flute player, and has a base segment defining a rear pad region and having a front lateral edge in frictional engagement with a front flute surface. The resisting member includes a fulcrum region joined with a rear lateral edge of the base segment, a weight end extending outward from the fulcrum region, and a tab end extending from the fulcrum region and away from the flute axis. The tab end and the rear pad region define a thumb abutting area for application of forces to prevent undesirable rotation of the flute about the flute axis and to prevent undesirable downward displacement and deviation of the flute during playing.

A headjoint stopper is arranged for mounting within the headjoint of a transverse flute of the type that includes an embouchure hole, a crown fitting, and an inside wall having a circumference. The headjoint stopper includes a front shoulder which is located closer to the embouchure-hole and a back shoulder located closer to the crown fitting. The front and back shoulders each contact the entire circumference of the inside wall to provide a seal between the headjoint and the headjoint stopper at the front and back shoulders. A midsection is located between the said front and back shoulders. The midsection does not contact the inside circumference of the headjoint to create a resonance chamber between the headjoint stopper and the inside wall of the headjoint to improve the sonic qualities of the instrument while preserving the sound characteristics of the existing headjoint.

A flute stopper having at least one sealing means able to seal the musical cavity and translation means to adjust the positioning of said seal. Said flute stopper is designed to be capable of interfacing with the original factory screw, nut and crown via nuts and/or fittings, including either compression or NPT fittings. Both or either end of said plug may be tapered to facilitate said interfacing.

A wind instrument, includes: a hollow tube having an open lower or distal end; a mouth hole formed in an upper or proximal portion the tube; a first set of holes including three holes formed in the tube for application of an index finger, a middle finger and a ring finger of an upper hand of a user; and a second set of hole including five holes formed in the tube for application of a thumb, an index finger, a middle finger, a ring finger and a pinky finger of a lower hand of the user. Another wind instrument, includes: a hollow tube having an open lower or distal end; a mouth hole formed in an upper or proximal portion the tube; a first finger support attached to and extending away from the tube; and a second finger support attached to and extending away from the tube.

The invention is an automatic embouchure comprising a device body, one or more latches, a primary connection means, one or more secondary connection means, an air flow modulator, a lip plate cover, a lip position panel, a left air channel guide rail and a right air channel guide rail, one or more latch canals, an air flow channel and, optionally a lower lip receptacle.

A pad assembly for a flute or other woodwind instrument is provided. The pad assembly may have an upwardly protruding chimney on either a pad base or integral to the pad itself. The pad assembly may be held in place by a washer and screw that is screwed into a spud of a cup, which moves to open and close a tone hole. The upwardly protruding chimney causes compression between the pad and washer, and prevents the washer from directly contacting the spud by creating a spacing between washer and spud. Such a configuration allows the pad assembly to remain in a correct orientation if the cup and a tone hole are misaligned.

Instrument having automatic fine-tuning of pitch with no moving parts. In prior flutes the notes are slightly off pitch because of compromises in locations of the holes, and musicians must compensate. In this invention a sensor picks up sound and a circuit identifies the played note. The played note is compared with a frequency reference, in a closed loop. The frequency difference generates an additional signal in phase quadrature relationship with the played note. A tuning actuator at one end adds the quadrature signal to correct the pitch by altering its phase. The closed loop causes the tone to have precisely correct pitch. A feature permits a player to intentionally deflect the pitch for artistic expression.

This invention relates to new designs of tubular body flutes both to facilitate more natural and more consistent placement and orientation of the flute player's hands and to enhance the flexibility of the player's lips so as to more perfectly play the flute by greatly increasing the stability of the flute in the player's hands by firmly connecting the flute to the player's finger (and/or thumb) by provision of a finger connecting part through which the flute player's left index finger is inserted, as like wearing a ring. It firmly fixes the flute to the player's left index finger (and/or thumb) so that the flute is stabilized without pressure on the player's mouth. Thus, it enhances the flexibility of the player's lips to more perfectly form the airstream sounding the flute while also more exactly and repeatedly locating the player's fingers on the flute by preventing inadvertent rotation of the flute. This is especially beneficial for the player's lower lip, which, under extant art, is forcibly pinned against the lower teeth and gums so as to stabilize the flute. This benefit is achieved by completely stabilizing the flute in the player's hands by firmly connecting the flute to the player's finger (and/or thumb) with a finger connecting means incorporating an opening in the invention through which the flute player's left index finger (and/or thumb) is inserted, as like wearing a ring.

In the preferred embodiment the finger connecting means is a ring-like structure built onto the flute and for economy this additional device is hereafter referred to as a ring. The use of a ring provides a firm connection between the player's fingers and the flute permitting the left index finger and right thumb to completely stabilize the instrument with no pressure on the player's lips whatsoever, while completely preventing inadvertent rotation of the flute.

A very substantial benefit of the instant invention over extant art is that it allows the flute to be safely played by growing children without disrupting the proper development of their gums and teeth. Many parents permit their children to start their music education only with a piano or a violin because wind instruments have a tendency to put severe stress and strain on the mouth, teeth and gums, which can distort their development. Because the instant invention permits, even encourages, the best use of the flute without strong, or even any, pressure on the teeth and gums, a flute so equipped can be used even by young children without orthodontial concerns.

A wind instrument includes a body defining a body with a plurality of tone holes. A plurality of keys are attached to the body, each key of the plurality of keys further including a key pad that is configured to selectively seal at least one of the plurality of tone holes to produce notes of different pitch. In one example, the body includes one monolithic piece of a metal extrusion having a “D”-shaped cross-section that provides a substantially flat upper surface and a lower curved surface. In another example, a biasing member includes a pair of magnets associated with each key, each pair of magnets including a first magnet attached the body and second magnet attached to one of the keys. A position of at least one of the first and second magnets is selectively adjustable relative to the other.

An apparatus is worn on a finger of a user while playing the flute. The apparatus comprises a stabilization pad, an inner support pad, and an outer support pad. The stabilization pad is disposed at a first end of the apparatus and is positionable to abut at least one of the finger and a palm of the user. In contrast, the outer support pad is disposed at a second end of the apparatus and is positionable to project outward from the finger of the user. The inner support pad and the outer support pad are operative to at least partially support the flute.

The present invention is directed to musical instruments that are based on the operation of an air reed and, in particular, encompasses end-blown flutes comprising an acoustic air space and a fluid air space. The communication between the acoustic and fluid air spaces is positioned so as to minimally interfere with the flow of air introduced, i.e., blown, into the fluid space and enables the instrument to produce rich, in-tune tones across a three octave range. The acoustic air space is formed by a hollow tuning chamber positioned opposite the air reed. In alternate embodiments, the invention encompasses a head-joint of a musical instrument, which head joint comprises a an acoustic space and a fluid space. The head joint of the invention may be used to replace or in place of the head joint or mouthpiece of common musical instruments of the woodwind family, e.g., the Western flute, saxophone, clarinet, oboe, nay, shakuhachi, or recorder.

A wind-blown instrument tone hole configuration is provided. Further, a key mechanism to operate the instrument is provided to allow various opening and closing of the instrument tone holes.

The instant invention relates to new attachments for the round tubular body of flutes. It firmly, but easily and removably, affixes the flute to the player's left index finger (and/or thumb) so that the flute is stabilized without pressure on the player's lower lip. Thus, it enhances the flexibility of the player's lips so as to more perfectly play the flute while also more exactly and repeatedly locating the player's fingers on the flute, while preventing inadvertent rotation of the flute. This is especially beneficial for the player's lower lip, which, under extant art, is forcibly pinned against the lower teeth and gums so as to stabilize the flute. This benefit is achieved by completely stabilizing the flute in the player's hands by firmly connecting the flute to the player's finger (and/or thumb) with a finger retainer incorporating an opening through which the flute player's left index finger (and/or thumb) is inserted, like wearing a ring.

In the preferred embodiment, the finger retainer is a ring-like structure built into the flute-finger connector and for economy this system is hereafter referred to as a ring. The use of a ring provides a firm connection between the player's fingers, the flute-finger connector and the flute permitting the left index finger and right thumb to completely stabilize the instrument with no pressure on the player's lips whatsoever, while completely preventing inadvertent rotation of the flute.

One benefit of the instant invention over extant art is its flexibility with respect to the types of flutes it may be connected to. In one embodiment, attachment to the flute body is by an extraneous, extant, devices, such as cable ties, hook and loop, etc., which are adjustable and flexible so as to permit attachment of the device to tubular body flutes of widely varying cross-sectional dimensions, such as alto, bass, piccolo and treble flutes, as well as the more common C flute. Thus, a player could invest substantially in a device made of high-quality material, such gold with precious stones, assured of their ability to easily move it from flute to flute and between any number of different types of flutes.

A second benefit of the instant invention over extant art is that a player can use it without altering their hand position from how they would play the flute without the device. The absence of any pad between the ring and the body of the flute means that the player's left hand index finger rests directly on the body of the flute, exactly the same as it would rest on the flute absent the invention. Thus, this invention requires no adjustment to the player's style of playing whatsoever, except that it enhances the stability of the flute and allows it to be played with any amount of pressure on the player's lower lip, including none.

Another very substantial benefit of the instant invention over extant art is that it allows the flute to be safely played by growing children without fear of distorting the proper development of their gums and teeth. Many parents permit their children to start their music education only with a piano or a stringed-instrument because wind instruments have a tendency to put severe stress and strain on the mouth, teeth and gums, which can distort their development. Because the instant invention permits, even encourages, use of the flute without strong, or even any, pressure on the teeth and gums, a flute so equipped can be used even by young children without orthodontia concerns.

The present invention is directed to an improved flute-type instrument having a reduced bore diameter in the head section, a conical bore in the intermediate section and a standard sized bore diameter in the main section. The reduced bore diameter in the head section is dimensioned to closely correspond to the circumferential diameter of the mouth hole opening to promote laminar-like flow of air through the mouth opening and into the head section bore.

A piccolo comprising a conical-bore headjoint, and a cylindrical-bore main body having toneholes of particular size disposed at particular intervals along the length of the body.

A pad for a woodwind instrument is provided. The pad is formed of a pad material, and a pad ring retainer about a perimeter side edge of the pad material. The pad ring retainer is adapted to support the pad material as well as any membrane which encloses the pad material. As constructed, the pad utilizes the ring retainer as a type of internal skeleton to support the pad but also provide added flexibility and versatility to the pad.

The invention relates to a flute headjoint comprising a cylindrical pipe section (2), an embouchure hole (3) bounded by a reinforcing element (4), a crown (6) adapted to terminate the pipe section (2) situated to the left of the embouchure hole (3), and a concave tuning plug (8) disposed in the pipe section (2) in a sonic chamber (5) situated under the embouchure hole (3). The flute headjoint according to the invention is characterised in that the cylindrical pipe section (2) is longer compared to conventional configurations, the crown (6) is configured to be open, the tuning plug (8, 12, 15, 23) being a cylindrical body with its face situated facing the embouchure hole (3) having a sunken three-dimensional configuration made as a combination of regular or irregular arcuate and flat faces, and has a balance weight (40) adapted to be placed in the resonator cavity (5a) between the tuning plug (8, 12, 15, 23) and the crown (6), and also has an additional extension piece (42, 43).