Mute for brass instruments

Abstract

A mute for a brass instrument is provided. The mute includes a main body having a bottomed cylindrical shape and a mounting table located at an axially intermediate portion, on which a bell of the brass instrument is mounted. A lid body is threadedly engaged with an upper portion of the main body, such that the bell mounted on the mounting table is sandwiched between the lid body and the mounting table. A sound-absorbing material covers an inner wall of the main body below the mounting table. The lid body comprises two or more lid bodies. A buffer member is disposed on an upper surface of the mounting table and on a back surface of the lid body. This configuration enables stable mounting of the instrument, effective sound absorption, and suppression of vibration or damage during use.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a brass instrument mute, such as a trumpet, that is attached to the bell and used.[Background Art]

[0002] A silencer and a mute are known as devices for reducing the volume of a brass instrument such as a trumpet. A device that is inserted into the bell's opening is commonly known as a silencer. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a brass instrument silencer, which has a body part formed by a conical tube. The body part has an outer diameter that decreases from a large-diameter end to a small-diameter end and conforms to an inner wall of a bell of a brass instrument. The brass instrument silencer is provided with a depression that functions as an exhalation discharge path for discharging exhaled air to the outside when blown into the outer wall near the small-diameter end of the conical body.

[0003] Patent Literature 2 discloses a brass instrument silencer, which has a sound muting member made of a non-breathable material provided inside a cover body that covers a brass instrument's bell from the outside, a first buffer member made of a breathable material, and a second buffer member. The brass instrument silencer is assembled by placing the sound muting member on the bottom of the cover body, placing the first buffer member on the sound muting member, and engaging an outer peripheral edge of the first buffer member with the bottom of the second buffer member.[Citation List][Patent Literature]

[0004] [PTL 1] JP 4124236 B2 [PTL 2] JP 5689559 B1 [Summary of Invention][Technical Problem]

[0005] A brass instrument silencer that is inserted into the opening of the bell of a brass instrument generally provides excellent sound volume reduction. However, it tends to impair blowing feel, pitch, and controllability due to increased resistance during performance. On the other hand, a brass instrument silencer with a structure that allows exhaled air to escape easily reduces the resistance during a performance but does not sufficiently reduce the volume of sound.

[0006] As described above, brass instrument silencers attached to the bell of a brass instrument generally involve a trade-off between sound volume reduction and an excellent feeling of blowing. Although improvements have been made to both brass instrument silencers and mutes to achieve both sound volume reduction and an excellent feeling of blowing, the results are still not sufficient.

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a brass instrument mute capable of achieving both effective sound reduction and excellent blowing feel.[Solution to Problem]

[0008] The present invention is a brass instrument mute. The brass instrument mute includes a main body having a bottomed cylindrical shape and including a mounting table at an axially intermediate portion configured to mount a bell of a brass instrument; a lid body configured to be threadedly engaged with an upper portion of the main body and to sandwich the bell which is mounted on the mounting table between the lid body and the mounting table; a sound-absorbing material configured to cover an inner wall of the main body below the mounting table. The lid body comprises two or more lid bodies. A buffer member is provided on an upper surface of the mounting table and on a back surface of the lid body.

[0009] In the brass instrument mute of the present invention, the lid body includes a flare-shaped member having a central opening configured to allow insertion of the bell of the brass instrument therethrough; and a cylindrical member having a male thread configured to be threadedly engaged with a female thread provided on the upper portion of the main body. The buffer member is provided on the back surface of the flare-shaped member.

[0010] In the brass instrument mute of the present invention, the buffer member is attached to the upper surface of the mounting table in its entirety or in part and is attached to the back surface of the lid body in its entirety or in part.

[0011] In the brass instrument mute of the present invention, the mounting table has an air hole configured to discharge breath blown into the main body toward the side of the lid body.

[0012] In the brass instrument mute of the present invention, the lid body has a connector configured to connect the two or more lid bodies and maintain them in the connected state.

[0013] In the brass instrument mute of the present invention, a sound-insulation material between the inner wall and the sound-absorbing material.

[0014] In the brass instrument mute of the present invention, the brass instrument mute further comprises a sound-insulation material between the inner wall and the sound-absorbing material.

[0015] In the brass instrument mute of the present invention, the lid body is configured as a pair of split lid bodies.

[0016] In the brass instrument mute of the present invention, the main body includes a first cylindrical member having a bottom; a second cylindrical member having an inner diameter larger than that of the first cylindrical member and having an opening at an upper part; and a conic member connecting the first cylindrical member and the second cylindrical member. The female thread which is threadedly engaged with the lid body is provided on the second cylindrical member.

[0017] In the brass instrument mute of the present invention, the main body is configured to be attachable to the bell of the brass instrument when a central axis of the main body and a central axis of the bell of the brass instrument are either aligned or offset.[Advantageous Effects of Invention]

[0018] According to the present invention, the brass instrument mute can achieve both sound reduction and improved blowing feel.[Brief Description of Drawings]

[0019] [FIG. 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a brass instrument mute 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [FIG. 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the brass instrument mute 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [FIG. 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a split lid body 31 of the brass instrument mute 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [FIG. 4] FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional end view of the brass instrument mute 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [FIG. 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of connectors 51, 55, and 57 of the split lid body 31 of the brass instrument mute 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [FIG. 6] FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating the arrangement of the buffer members 40 and 42 of the brass instrument mute 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [FIG. 7] FIG. 7 is an external view showing the state in which the brass instrument mute 1 is attached to a trumpet according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [FIG. 8] FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional end view of a brass instrument mute 2 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [FIG. 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the structure of a mounting table 14 of the brass instrument mute 2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [FIG. 10] FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional end view of a brass instrument mute 3 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [FIG. 11] FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional end view of a brass instrument mute 4 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Description of Embodiments]

[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a brass instrument mute 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the brass instrument mute 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a split lid body 31 of the brass instrument mute 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional end view of the brass instrument mute 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of connectors 51, 55, and 57 of the split lid body 31 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating the arrangement of the buffer members 40 and 42 of the brass instrument mute 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is an external view showing the state in which the brass instrument mute 1 is attached to a trumpet according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG.4, the female thread 18 formed on a main body 10 of the brass instrument mute 1 and a male thread 36 formed on a lid body 30 are not shown.

[0021] In this embodiment, the direction of a central axis (a center line M) of the main body 10 of the brass instrument mute 1 in FIG. 4 is defined as an axial direction. The direction orthogonal to the center line M is defined as a radial direction. The direction along the arc centered on the center line M is defined as a circumferential direction. The side of the bottom plate 12 of the main body 10 is defined as downward or distal direction. The axial direction, the radial direction, and the circumferential direction each include an approximately axial direction, an approximately radial direction, and an approximately circumferential direction, respectively, which can be regarded as being substantially the same. This also applies to the other embodiments.

[0022] The brass instrument mute 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is a device that is attached to the bell of a brass instrument, such as a trumpet, trombone, or alto horn (tenor horn), in order to reduce sound volume during playing. In the following, the structure of the brass instrument mute 1 will be described, with a trumpet as an example. Hereinafter, the brass instrument mute 1 may be simply referred to as the mute 1.

[0023] The mute 1 has a main body 10 that covers a bell 100 of a trumpet, and a lid body 30 that closes an upper opening of the main body 10. A sound-absorbing material 20 is attached to the inside of the main body 10. Buffer members 40, 42, and 44 are attached to the upper surface of a mounting table 13 of the main body 10 and to the rear surface of the lid body 30.

[0024] The main body 10 has a bottom plate 12 and is configured as a cylindrical body. The main body 10 has an opening at its upper part. The main body 10 is made of a synthetic resin such as ABS resin. The main body 10 has a substantially constant diameter in the axial direction. However, when the body 10 is manufactured by injection molding, its diameter expands slightly toward the top due to the necessary draft angle. The main body 10 may have the shape described above. This also applies to the other embodiments.

[0025] A mounting table 13, which is ring-shaped, is provided in the middle of the main body 10 in the axial direction to be placed on the bell 100. A female thread 18, which threadedly engages with the male thread 36 of the lid body 30, is provided on the upper inner wall surface of the main body 10.

[0026] The inner diameter D I of the main body 10 is, needless to say, sufficiently large to accommodate the bell 100 of a trumpet, but it is preferable that the inner diameter D I should be as small as possible. Similarly, it is preferable that an outer diameter D O should also be as small as possible. In other words, it is preferable that the thickness of the main body 10 should be as thin as possible, provided that a moderate rigidity can be ensured. It is preferable that the mute 1 should be as lightweight as possible, since it is attached to the bell 100 of the trumpet. If the main body 10 is made unnecessarily large and its thickness is made unnecessarily thick, the main body 10 becomes heavy, which is undesirable.

[0027] It is preferable that the inner diameter D I of the main body 10 and the outer diameter D O of the main body 10 are set to correspond to the size of the bell 100 of a trumpet, but the size of the bell 100 of commercially available trumpets varies widely. Therefore, when manufacturing the mute 1, the inner diameter D I and the outer diameter D O of the main body 10 may be designed to fit a certain range of trumpet sizes. In this embodiment, the size of the bell 100 refers to the outer diameter of the distal end of the bell.

[0028] The bell 100 of a typical commercially available trumpet has a diameter of 115 to 140 mm. In particular, the most common range is 120 to 127 mm. Considering these ranges, the inner diameter D I of the main body 10 of the mute 1 is preferably 142 mm for the former case and 130 mm for the latter.

[0029] The mounting table 13 is ring-shaped and has a central opening. The mounting table 13 may be formed integrally with the cylindrical body that constitutes the main body 10. Alternatively, the mounting table 13 may be formed separately from the cylindrical body and then bonded to it. This also applies to the other embodiments.

[0030] When the mute 1 is not attached, a trumpet can be played with no obstacle in front of the bell 100. By contrast, when the mounting table 13 is attached, it interferes with playing. The bell 100 diameter of typical commercially available trumpets is 115 to 140 mm, so the diameter D I of the opening of the mounting table 13 corresponding to these is preferably about 100 mm.

[0031] The buffer member 40 is attached to the upper surface of the mounting table 13. When the mute 1 is attached to the trumpet, the bell 100 contacts the buffer member 40.

[0032] The length of the main body 10 is not particularly limited. If a preferred distance from the top of the mounting table 13, including the buffer member 40, to the bottom of the sound-absorbing material 20 can be ensured, and a preferred thickness of the sound-absorbing material 20 can be ensured, a shorter length is preferable from the viewpoint of weight reduction.

[0033] The distance H from the top of the mounting table 13, including the buffer member 40, to the sound-absorbing material 20 at the bottom part-in other words, the distance H from the end of the bell 100 to the sound-absorbing material 20 at the bottom part when the bell 100 is attached, affects blowing feel, pitch, and controllability during performance.

[0034] The longer the distance H, in other words, the more open the end of the bell 100 is, the closer the state is to one where the mute 1 is not attached. As a result, the feeling of blowing improves. On the other hand, the longer the distance H, the greater the weight and length of the mute 1, and the greater the weight when attached to a trumpet. As a result of tests conducted using three types of trumpets with bell 100 diameters of 127 mm, 123 mm, and 116 mm, it was found that the distance H is preferably around 50 mm.

[0035] The sound-absorbing material 20 is attached so as to cover the side wall portion and the bottom portion of the main body 10 below the mounting table 13. The sound-absorbing material 20 in this embodiment is made of a thick sponge-like material with a surface having a mountain-and-valley form. The material and thickness of the sound-absorbing material 20 are determined as appropriate based on the sound reduction performance required of the mute 1. It is preferable to use a lightweight material for the sound-absorbing material 20.

[0036] The amount (thickness) of the attached sound-absorbing material 20 is preferably large from the perspective of reducing sound volume, but it also affects the volume of the internal space V of the main body 10. In this embodiment, the internal space V refers to a space surrounded by the sound-absorbing material 20 below the mounting table 13. The size of the internal space V affects the feeling of blowing, musical pitch, and control performance when playing a trumpet. In cases where the internal space V is extremely small, the feeling of blowing becomes poor. The thickness of the sound-absorbing material 20 attached to the side wall is preferably approximately the same as the width of the mounting table 13.

[0037] The sound-absorbing material 20 may be attached to the main body 10 using an adhesive. When a sponge-like material is used as the sound-absorbing material 20, it has elasticity, so a sponge-like material with dimensions slightly larger than the bottom wall and side wall is used. The sound-absorbing material 20 is fixed by being pressed into the main body 10.

[0038] The lid body 30 consists of a pair of split lid bodies 31 made of synthetic resin and is threadedly engaged with the female thread 18 provided on the upper portion of the main body 10. The pair of split lid bodies 31 are identical in material, shape, and structure. When the lid body 30 is screwed into the upper part of the main body 10, the bell 100 of the trumpet placed on the mounting table 13 is clamped between the lid body 30 and the mounting table 13.

[0039] The lid body 30, which is formed by joining the pair of split lid bodies 31, has a flare-shaped member 33 having an approximate shape of the bell 100 of a trumpet, a cylindrical member 35 including the male thread 36 that is threadedly engaged with the female thread 18 provided on the upper portion of the main body 10, and a flat plate part 37 that connects to the outer periphery of the distal end of the flare-shaped member 33 and the outer periphery of the distal end of the cylindrical member 35. The flare-shaped member 33 is formed to narrow toward the upper end. An opening 34 through which the bell 100 of the trumpet is inserted is provided at the center of the upper end of the flare-shaped member 33.

[0040] The lid body 30 is configured to be thin in order to reduce its weight. On the other hand, since the lid body 30 is composed of the pair of split lid bodies 31 and the flare-shaped member 33 has an opening 34, the upper end of the flare-shaped member 33 is susceptible to deformation. For this reason, a reinforcing member 38 made of a thick material is provided around the entire periphery of the upper end of the flare-shaped member 33.

[0041] The buffer members 42 and 44 are attached to the back surface of the flare-shaped member 33 of the lid body 30 and the back surface of the flat plate part 37, respectively. When the mute 1 of this embodiment is attached to a trumpet, at least one of the buffer members 42 and 44 contacts the bell 100. In this embodiment, the buffer member 42 attached to the back surface of the flare-shaped member 33 and the buffer member 44 attached to the back surface of the flat plate part 37 are separate. However, the buffer member 42 and the buffer member 44 may be integrally formed.

[0042] The pair of split lid bodies 31 are screwed to the main body 10 while clamping the bell 100 from the left and right with their ends abutted against each other. For this reason, integrating the pair of split lid bodies 31 when they are abutted against each other improves usability.

[0043] FIG. 5 shows a pair of split lid bodies 31, having connectors 51, 55, and 57 which connect the pair of split lid bodies 31 to each other. All of the connectors 51, 55, and 57 are disposed in a position so as not to interfere with the butting of the pair of split lid bodies 31, thereby making it possible to easily connect and separate the pair of split lid bodies 31.

[0044] The connector 51 shown in FIG. 5(A) is comprised of a snap-fit member 52 and a holder 53 into which the snap-fit member 52 fits. The snap-fit member 52 and the holder 53 are configured to fit together when the pair of split lid bodies 31 are butted together from the left and right. When the snap-fit member 52 is pressed against the holder 53 with a slight force, the snap-fit member 52 engages with the holder 53, and the pair of split lid bodies 31 is connected. When force is applied to pull the connected pair of split lid bodies 31 apart, the snap-fit member 52 disengages from the holder 53, and the pair of split lid bodies 31 are thereby separated.

[0045] The connector 55 shown in FIG. 5(B) consists of a magnet and is attached to the end face of a cylindrical member 35 of the pair of split lid bodies 31. As a result, the pair of split lid bodies 31 can be easily connected and separated. The magnet is preferably a lightweight one, such as a rubber magnet or a plastic magnet.

[0046] The connector 57 shown in FIG. 5(C) consists of a hook-and-loop fastener and is attached to the end of the flat plate part 37 of the pair of split lid bodies 31. As a result, the pair of split lid bodies 31 can be easily connected and separated.

[0047] The connectors 51, 55, and 57 for the pair of split lid bodies 31 may have other configurations. The connectors are intended to facilitate attachment to the main body 10 by preventing the lid body 30 from separating during attachment to the bell 100 of a trumpet and when screwing the lid bodies 31 onto the main body 10. Therefore, the connectors 51, 55, and 57 only need to be able to temporarily fasten the pair of split lid bodies 31 together, and do not need to be capable of firmly connecting the pair of split lid bodies 31. Furthermore, the connectors 51, 55, and 57 are preferably easily connected, removable, and lightweight.

[0048] The buffer members 40, 42, and 44 are elastic and flexible members attached to the upper surface of the mounting table 13, the rear surface of the flare-shaped member 33 of the lid body 30, and the rear surface of the flat plate part 37, respectively. The buffer members 40, 42, and 44 are in pressure contact with the bell 100 when the bell 100 is clamped and fixed between the mounting table 13 and the lid body 30. Since the buffer members 40, 42, and 44 are elastic, the bell 100 is firmly fixed without being damaged when clamped and fixed between the mounting table 13 and the lid body 30.

[0049] The buffer members 40, 42, and 44 may be made of any material having elasticity and flexibility and are preferably lightweight. When made of a sponge-like material, the buffer members 40, 42, and 44 function as both sound-absorbing materials and flow paths for discharging the blown breath that has entered the main body 10 to the outside during playing. The buffer members 40, 42, and 44 may also be made of a cloth-like material such as felt. This also applies to the other embodiments.

[0050] In the mute 1 of this embodiment, the buffer member 40 attached to the upper surface of the mounting table 13 is not attached to the entire upper surface but is partially attached and has an opening 46. Similarly, the buffer member 42 attached to the bottom surface (rear surface) of the flare-shaped member 33 of the lid body 30 is not attached to the entire bottom surface but is also partially attached and has an opening 47. Likewise, the buffer member 44 attached to the bottom surface (rear surface) of the flat plate part 37 of the lid body 30 is not attached to the entire bottom surface but is also partially attached and has an opening 48. The openings 46, 47, and 48 function as flow paths for outputting the blown breath into the main body 10 to the outside during playing.

[0051] In this embodiment, the buffer members 40, 42, and 44 are partially attached, and the respective openings 46, 47, and 48 are provided. However, the buffer members 40, 42, and 44 may alternatively be attached without any gaps to the entire upper surface of the mounting table 13, the entire bottom surface of the flare-shaped member 33 of the lid body 30, and the entire bottom surface of the flat plate part 37 of the lid body 30, thereby eliminating the openings 46, 47, and 48. In cases where the openings 46, 47, and 48 are not provided, buffer members 40, 42, and 44 with relatively good air permeability may be used, such that the blown breath introduced into the main body 10 passes through the buffer members 40, 42, and 44 and escapes to the outside.

[0052] The method of using and the operational effects of the mute 1 according to this embodiment will now be described. The trumpet is positioned such that the end portion of the bell 100 contacts the buffer members 40 attached to the upper surface of the mounting table 13 of the main body 10. In this state, the lid body 30 is firmly screwed into the main body 10. As a result, the bell 100 of the trumpet is clamped between the mounting table 13 and the lid body 30, whereby the mute 1 is securely fixed.

[0053] When the trumpet is played with the mute 1 attached, the blown breath from the trumpet spreads into the internal space V of the main body 10 and is absorbed by the sound-absorbing material 20. Subsequently, the blown breath introduced into the mute 1 passes through the buffer members 40 and the openings 46 of the buffer members 40, which are attached to the mounting table 13. The blown breath then passes through the buffer members 42 and 44 and their respective openings 47 and 48, which are attached to at least a portion of the back surface of the lid body 30 and is muted therein. Finally, the blown breath escapes through the gap between the bell 100 and the opening 34 of the lid body 30.

[0054] The mute 1 of the first embodiment as described above has an internal space V, which provides a feeling of blowing, musical pitch, and control performance that closely resembles a trumpet without the mute 1 attached. In the mute 1, the sound-absorbing material 20 is attached to the inside of the main body 10, and the buffer members 40, 42, and 44 are attached to the mounting table 13 and the lid body 30. Furthermore, when the mute 1 is attached, the gap between the opening 34 of the lid body 30 and the bell 100 of the trumpet is narrow, so that the mute 1 has a sufficient sound deadening effect.

[0055] In addition, since the mute 1 in the first embodiment can be attached firmly to a trumpet without shaking, it is possible to play the trumpet without any playability issues even with the mute 1 attached.

[0056] FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional end view of a brass instrument mute 2 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the structure of a mounting table 14 of the brass instrument mute 2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the brass instrument mute 2, configurations identical to those of the brass instrument mute 1 of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals as those used for the mute 1, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted. In FIG. 8, the female thread 18 of the main body 10 and the male thread 36 of the lid body 30 are not shown.

[0057] The basic configuration of the brass instrument mute 2 (hereinafter, "mute 2") of the second embodiment is identical to that of the brass instrument mute 1 (hereinafter, "mute 1") of the first embodiment. However, the configuration of the main body 11 of the mute 2 differs from that of the main body 10 of the mute 1.

[0058] Specifically, the main body 11 of the mute 2 differs from the main body 10 of the mute 1 in that the mounting table 14 has an air hole 15. The method of mounting the buffer member 40 on the upper surface of the mounting table 14 is also different from that of the mute 1. Except for the mounting table 14 having the air hole 15 and the method of mounting the buffer member 40, the other configurations, structures, and dimensions of the mute 2 are the same as those of the mute 1.

[0059] The air hole 15 provided in the mounting table 14 of the main body 11 serves as a vent for discharging breath blown from a trumpet that has spread into the internal space V of the main body 11 toward the lid body 30. The air hole 15 is provided in the mounting table 14 so as to conform to the inner side wall surface 16 of the main body 11.

[0060] In the second embodiment of the mute 2, four air holes 15 are respectively provided on the mounting table 14 at 90° intervals in the circumferential direction. The number and size of the air holes 15 are determined as appropriate. As a result of tests conducted with three types of trumpets having bell 100 diameters of 127 mm, 123 mm, and 116 mm, it was found that the length (arc length) of each air hole 15 is preferably 10 to 20 mm, and the width of each air hole 15 is preferably 3 to 5 mm.

[0061] In the mute 2 of the second embodiment, the buffer member 40 is attached in a gap-free manner to the entire upper surface of the mounting table 14. The material of the buffer member 40 is identical to that of the mute 1 of the first embodiment.

[0062] The usage of the brass instrument mute 2 of the second embodiment is identical to that of the brass instrument mute 1 of the first embodiment. The mute 2 for brass instruments according to the second embodiment, compared with the mute 1 of the first embodiment, allows superior muting performance and blowing feel to be obtained. This is because the blown breath spreads into the internal space V of the main body 11, contacts the sound-absorbing material 20 and is absorbed, then passes through the air holes 15 provided in the mounting table 14, is further absorbed by the buffer member 40, and is finally discharged toward the lid body 30.

[0063] FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional end view of a brass instrument mute 3 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In the brass instrument mute 3, configurations identical to those of the brass instrument mute 1 of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals as those used for the mute 1, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted. In FIG. 10, the female thread 18 of the main body 11 and the male thread 36 of the lid body 30 are not shown.

[0064] The basic configurations of the brass instrument mute 3 (hereinafter, "mute 3") of the third embodiment are the same as those of the brass instrument mute 1 (hereinafter, "mute 1") of the first embodiment, and, unlike the mute 1, the mute 3 includes a sound insulator 60.

[0065] The sound insulator 60 is a rubber plate disposed between the side wall surface of the main body 10 below the mounting table 13 and the sound-absorbing material 20, and also between the bottom surface of the main body 10 and the sound-absorbing material 20. In this embodiment, the sound insulator 60 is clamped and fixed between the main body 10 and the sound-absorbing material 20 so as to be removable. Although a rubber plate is used for the sound insulator 60 in this embodiment, the material is not limited thereto. The sound insulator 60 is preferably lightweight and has excellent sound insulation properties.

[0066] The usage of the brass instrument mute 3 of the third embodiment described above is the same as that of the brass instrument mute 1 of the first embodiment. The brass instrument mute 3 of the third embodiment is equipped with a sound insulator 60. Accordingly, the brass instrument mute 3 has better sound insulation properties than the brass instrument mute 1 of the first embodiment. Other operational advantages of the brass instrument mute 3 of the third embodiment are the same as those of the brass instrument mute 1 of the first embodiment. The brass instrument mute 3 of the third embodiment corresponds to the brass instrument mute 1 of the first embodiment with a sound insulator 60 attached, but the sound insulator 60 may be attached to the brass instrument mute 2 of the second embodiment using the same method.

[0067] Fig. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional end view of a brass instrument mute 4 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the brass instrument mute 4, components that are the same as those of the brass instrument mute 1 of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and thus their descriptions are omitted. In Fig. 11, the female thread provided on the main body 65 and the male thread provided on the lid body 85 are not shown.

[0068] The brass instrument mute 4 (hereinafter referred to as the mute 4) of the fourth embodiment is a mute for a trombone. The basic configuration of the mute 4 is the same as that of the mute 1 of the first embodiment. However, since a bell 100 of a trombone is larger than that of a trumpet, and a trombone also has a slide pipe 110, the shapes of the main body 65 and the lid body 85 are different from those of the main body 10 and the lid body 30 of the mute 1. Therefore, the following description focuses on the differences from the mute 1 of the first embodiment.

[0069] The main body 65, which covers the bell 100 of the trombone, is a cylindrical member having a bottom plate 12 and an opening at the top, similar to the mute 1 of the first embodiment. The main body 65 is made of a synthetic resin such as ABS resin and has a female thread on its upper inner wall surface, into which the lid body 85 is threadedly engaged with. A mounting table 13, on which the bell 100 is placed, is provided in the axial middle portion of the main body 65, similar to the mute 1.

[0070] The main body 65 comprises a first cylindrical member 66 having a bottom plate 12, a second cylindrical member 68 having a larger diameter than the first cylindrical member 66, and a conical member 67 connecting the first cylindrical member 66 and the second cylindrical member 68. The first cylindrical member 66 is provided at one end of the main body 65. The second cylindrical member 68 has an opening at its top. The axial diameter of the first cylindrical member 66 is constant, and the axial diameter of the second cylindrical member 68 is also constant.

[0071] The mounting table 13 is provided at the lower end of the second cylindrical member 68. A female thread 18 is provided on the upper inner wall surface of the second cylindrical member 68, into which a male thread 36 of the lid body 85 is threadedly engaged with. A sound-absorbing material 20 is attached to an inner wall surface of the main body 65 below the mounting table 13. These configurations are the same as those of the mute 1 described above.

[0072] The inner diameter D1 I and the outer diameter D1 O of the first cylindrical member 66 are the same as the inner diameter D I and the outer diameter D O of the main body 10 of the first embodiment. An inner diameter D2 I of the second cylindrical member 68 is preferably as small as possible, as long as it can accommodate the bell 100 of a trombone. Similarly, an outer diameter D2 O of the second cylindrical member 68 is also preferably as small as possible. It is preferable that the main body 65 be configured to be thin and lightweight, provided that the necessary rigidity can be ensured. This is the same as the main body 10 of the first embodiment.

[0073] In order to make the second cylindrical member 68 compact, it is preferable that the inner diameter D2 I and the outer diameter D2 O of the second cylindrical member 68 correspond to the size of the bell 100 for a trombone. In this regard, a plurality of bells 100 for trombones available on the market come in a wide variety of sizes. Therefore, when the mute 4 is manufactured, the inner diameter D2 I and the outer diameter D2 O of the second cylindrical member 68 may be configured to accommodate a certain range of trombone sizes. In this embodiment, the size of the bell 100 refers to the outer diameter of the end of the bell.

[0074] The bell 100 size of a commercially available trombone is typically between 200 mm and 241 mm. For a trombone equipped with a bell 100 of this size, it is preferable that the second cylindrical member 68 of the mute 4 has an inner diameter D2 I of 243 mm and an outer diameter D2 O of 247 mm.

[0075] The mounting table 13 of the mute 4, similar to the mounting table 13 of the mute 1, is ring-shaped and has a central opening. A trombone without the mute 4 attached can be played with no obstacles in front of the bell 100. On the other hand, when the mute is attached, the mounting table 13 would interfere with playing the trombone.

[0076] The bell 100 size of a trombone is typically between 200 and 241 mm. When the bell 100 is small, as shown in Fig. 11, the bell 100 is attached to the main body 65 with a central axis (a centerline m) of the bell 100 offset relative to a central axis (a centerline M) of the main body 65. As a result of experiments, the diameter D I of an opening of the mounting table 13 is preferably approximately 140 mm.

[0077] The buffer member 40 is attached to an upper surface of the mounting table 13. When the mute 4 is attached to a trombone, the bell 100 contacts the buffer member 40. This configuration is the same as that of the mute 1 of the first embodiment.

[0078] The length of the main body 65 is not particularly limited. Provided that the preferred distance from the top of the mounting table 13, including the buffer member 40, to the bottom of the sound-absorbing material 20 and the preferred thickness of the sound-absorbing material 20 are ensured, the length of the main body 65 is preferably as short as possible in terms of reducing weight.

[0079] The distance H from the top of the mounting table 13, including the buffer member 40, to the bottom of the sound-absorbing material 20, in other words, the distance H from the end of the bell 100 to the bottom of the sound-absorbing material 20 when the bell 100 is attached, affects the feeling of blowing, musical pitch, and control performance when playing the trombone. The longer the distance H (in other words, the more the end of the bell 100 is open), the closer the feeling of blowing becomes to the state where the mute 4 is not attached. On the other hand, a longer distance H makes the mute 4 heavier and longer, thereby increasing the weight when it is attached to the trombone.

[0080] Representative dimensions of the mute 4 are as follows: the inner diameter D1 I of the first cylindrical member 66 is 142 mm; the inner diameter D2 I of the second cylindrical member 68 is 243 mm; the distance H from the mounting table 13 to the bottom of the sound-absorbing material 20 is 105 mm; the total length is 190 mm; the diameter D I of the opening of the mounting table 13 is 140 mm; and the diameter of the opening 34 at the top end of the flare-shaped member 33 is 140 mm. However, the dimensions of the mute 4 are not limited to these.

[0081] The amount (thickness), shape, material, and attachment method of the sound-absorbing material 20 attached to the main body 65 are basically the same as those of the mute 1 in the first embodiment.

[0082] The basic structure of the lid body 85 is the same as that of the lid body 30 of the mute 1 of the first embodiment. The lid body 85 is configured with two lid members made of a synthetic resin. The lid body 85, which is formed by butting two lid members, includes a flare-shaped member 33 at its center, which approximates the outer shape of a trombone bell 100, a cylindrical member 35 including a male thread 36 that screws into a female thread 18 provided on the upper part of the second cylindrical member 68 of the main body 65, and a flat plate part 37 that connects the outer periphery of the end of the flare-shaped member 33 and the outer periphery of the end of the cylindrical member 35.

[0083] The flare-shaped member 33 is formed to narrow toward the upper end. An opening 34, through which the bell 100 of the trombone is inserted, is provided at the center of the upper end of the flare-shaped member 33. In the case of a mute 4 that corresponds to trombones having different bell 100 sizes, the mute 4 is attached to the bell 100 so that a centerline m of the bell 100 is eccentric to a centerline M of the main body 65 of the mute 4. Therefore, the opening 34 is sized accordingly.

[0084] While the lid body 30 of the mute 1 in the first embodiment is formed by a pair of split lid bodies 31, the lid body 85 is formed by two lid members with different arc lengths. When the size of the arc is expressed as the central angle θ of the sector, the central angle θ of one lid member is approximately 90° to 120°, and the central angle θ of the other lid member is approximately 240° to 270°.

[0085] The lid body 85, which is formed by butting two lid members, has an outer shape that is circular in a plan view, similar to the lid body 30 of the first embodiment. In this embodiment, while the lid body 85 is formed by two lid members with different arc lengths, it may also be formed by a pair of split lid bodies, similar to the lid body 30 of the first embodiment.

[0086] The amount (thickness), shape, material, and attachment method of the buffer members 42 and 44 attached to the back surface of the flare-shaped member 33 and the back surface of the flat plate part 37 of the lid body 85 are similar to those of the buffer members 42 and 44 attached to the back surface of the lid body 30 of the mute 1 in the first embodiment. It is preferable to provide a connector that integrates the two lid members in a butted state in the lid body 85. This connector is the same as the connector that connects a pair of split lid bodies 31 in the first embodiment.

[0087] The method of attaching the mute 4 to the bell 100 is basically the same as that of the mute 1 of the first embodiment. However, since a trombone has a slide pipe 110, the attachment method for the mute 4 differs depending on the size of the bell 100. In the case of a trumpet, regardless of the size of the bell 100, the mute 1 is attached to the bell 100 so that the central axis (centerline M) of the main body 10 of the mute 1 aligns with the central axis (centerline m) of the bell 100.

[0088] When the size of the trombone bell 100 is approximately the same as the inner diameter D2 I of the second cylindrical member 68, the mute 4 is attached to the bell 100 so that the central axis (centerline M) of the main body 65 of the mute 4 aligns with the central axis (centerline m) of the bell 100.

[0089] When the mute 4 is attached to the bell 100 so that the centerline M of the main body 65 of the mute 4 aligns with the centerline m of the bell 100, if the size of the trombone bell 100 is smaller than the inner diameter D2 I of the second cylindrical member 68, the distance ΔL between the slide pipe 110 and an outer wall 69 of the second cylindrical member 68 is narrow, which makes it difficult to operate the slide pipe 110. In such a case, the mute 4 is attached to the bell 100 so that the centerline m of the bell 100 is eccentric to the centerline M of the main body 65 of the mute 4 so as to widen the distance ΔL.

[0090] In short, the mute 4 is attached to the bell 100 so that the distance ΔL between the slide pipe 110 and the outer wall 69 of the second cylindrical member 68 is equal to or greater than the distance necessary for operating the slide pipe 110.

[0091] The method of usage and the operational advantages of the mute 4 are the same as those of the mute 1 of the first embodiment. Since the internal space V is provided within the mute 4, the feeling of blowing, musical pitch, and control performance when playing the trombone are close to those of a trombone without the mute 4 attached. The mute 4 also provides a sufficient sound deadening effect because the sound-absorbing material 20 is attached to the inside of the main body 65, and the buffer members 40, 42, and 44 are attached to the mounting table 13 and the lid body 85. In addition, there is no discomfort when playing the trombone even when the mute 4 is attached, since the mute 4 is firmly attached to the trombone without shaking.

[0092] The configuration of the mute 4 has been described above in comparison with the mute 1 of the first embodiment, but the mute 4 may also adopt the configurations of the mute 2 of the second embodiment and the mute 3 of the third embodiment. For example, the mute 4 may have an air hole 15 in the mounting table 13, similar to the mute 2, and a buffer member 40 may be attached to close the air hole 15. A sound insulator 60 may also be attached, similar to the mute 3.

[0093] As described above, the brass instrument mute of the present invention has been described using the first, second, third, and fourth embodiments of brass instrument mutes 1, 2, 3, and 4, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments and may be modified without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, while representative dimensions of the brass instrument mutes 1, 2, 3, and 4 have been shown in the above embodiments, the brass instrument mutes according to the present invention are not limited to these dimensions.

[0094] In the brass instrument mute 1 of the first embodiment, the buffer member 40 attached to the upper surface of the mounting table 13, the buffer member 42 attached to the bottom surface of the flare-shaped member 33 of the lid body 30, and the buffer member 44 attached to the bottom surface of the flat plate part 37 of the lid body 30 each have openings 46, 47, and 48, respectively. On the other hand, in the brass instrument mute 2 of the second embodiment, the buffer member 40 attached to the mounting table 13 does not have an opening.

[0095] In the brass instrument mute according to the present invention, none of the buffer members attached to a mounting table, a flare-shaped member, and a flat plate part may have a gap (opening). Alternatively, a buffer member of the mounting table may have a gap (opening), while the buffer members of the flare-shaped member and the flat plate part may not have a gap (opening). The presence or absence of gaps (openings) in the buffer members attached to the mounting table, the flare-shaped member, and the flat plate part, and their combinations, may be determined as appropriate. Also, a buffer member with an opening may be attached to a mounting table having an air hole.

[0096] The lid bodies 30 and 85 in the brass instrument mutes 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the first, second, third, and fourth embodiments include the flare-shaped member 33, the cylindrical member 35, and the flat plate part 37. However, the flat plate part 37 may be omitted by connecting the distal end of the flare-shaped member 33 to the cylindrical member 35. The flat plate part 37 may also be gently curved and configured as a portion of the flare-shaped member 33. Furthermore, the flare-shaped member 33 and the flat plate part 37 may be configured as a single flare-shaped member.

[0097] In the brass instrument mutes 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the first, second, third, and fourth embodiments, the female thread 18, into which the male thread 36 of each lid body 30 and 85 screws, is provided over 360° in the circumferential direction on an upper inner wall surface of each main body 10 and 65. However, the female thread 18 may be provided partially in the circumferential direction, as long as each lid body 30 and 85 is firmly fixed.

[0098] For example, the female thread 18 may be provided on the upper inner wall surface of the main body 10 in four circumferential sections: 15° to 75°, 105° to 165°, 195° to 255°, and 285° to 345°.

[0099] In the brass instrument mute 1 of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the male thread 36 is provided on the entire outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical member 35 of the lid body 30, but the male thread 36 may be provided partially on the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical member 35. For example, the male thread 36 may be provided on about half or two-thirds of the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical member 35 of the lid body 30. This also applies to the other embodiments of the brass instrument mutes.

[0100] In the brass instrument mute 1 of the first embodiment, the connectors 51, 55, and 57 that connect the pair of split lid bodies 31 to each other are shown in FIG. 5. In order to prevent the pair of split lid bodies 31, which are connected via the connectors 51, 55, and 57, from shifting, the lid body 30 or the pair of split lid bodies 31 may be further provided with a deviation prevention mechanism, such as a projection. This makes it easier to attach and detach the lid body 30 to and from the main body 10. This also applies to the other embodiments of the brass instrument mutes.

[0101] In the lid bodies 30 and 85 of the brass instrument mutes 1, 2, 3, and 4 according to the first, second, third, and fourth embodiments, the reinforcing member 38 is provided with a substantial thickness around the entire upper end of the flare-shaped member 33. However, a rib may be provided instead of the reinforcing member 38. For example, a rib may have a width of 2 to 3 mm and a length of about 10 mm. The ribs are attached in the longitudinal direction parallel to the centerline M of the main body 10, with about 12 ribs protruding outward from the outer circumferential surface at the upper end of the flare-shaped member 33, at intervals of 30° in the circumferential direction.

[0102] The rib can be easily provided by integrally molding it with the pair of split lid bodies 31 that constitute the lid body 30 or with the two lid members that constitute the lid body 85. In this case, it is preferable to arrange one rib at the circumferential end of the flare-shaped member 33 of the pair of split lid bodies 31 or the two lid members. This reliably prevents deformation of the upper end of the flare-shaped member 33.

[0103] A plurality of ribs provided on an outer peripheral surface of the upper end of the flare-shaped member 33 of the lid bodies 30 and 85 protrude from the outer peripheral surface. Therefore, the plurality of ribs can be used as handles for screwing each lid body 30 and 85 into each main body 10 and 65 and for removing each lid body 30 and 85 from each main body 10 and 65.

[0104] The lid bodies 30 of the brass instrument mutes 1, 2, and 3 according to the first, second, and third embodiments are configured by a pair of split lid bodies 31, and the lid body 85 of the brass instrument mute 4 according to the fourth embodiment is configured by two lid members. However, each of the lid bodies 30 and 85 may also be configured by three, four, or more lid members.

[0105] In the above embodiments, a single type of sound-absorbing material is used, but two or more types of sound-absorbing materials may be used in a layered configuration. The sound insulator may also be adhered to the inner wall surface of the main body or the back surface of the sound-absorbing material. In the above embodiments, the main body is cylindrical and its distal end is flat, but the distal end of the main body may also have a rounded shape.

[0106] Although the brass instrument mute has been described with reference to the drawings, a person skilled in the art can easily conceive of various changes and modifications within the scope of the present disclosure by referring to this disclosure. Accordingly, such changes and modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.[Example]

[0107] A mute was manufactured for a trumpet, and its performance was verified. The configuration of this mute is the same as that of the brass instrument mute 1 of the first embodiment. The mute had a main body 10 made of ABS resin with an outer diameter D O of 145 mm, an inner diameter D I of 142 mm, an opening diameter D I of the mounting table 13 of 100 mm, and a distance H of 50 mm from the top of the mounting table 13 including the buffer member 40 to the bottom of the sound-absorbing material 20. The sound-absorbing material 20 used was a material having a surface with a mountain-and-valley shape (see FIG. 2) and a thickness of 20 mm. The buffer members 40, 42, and 44 used were porous and elastic materials with a thickness of 5 mm, and each had openings 46, 47, and 48, respectively.

[0108] Three types of trumpets were used, with bell diameters of 127 mm, 123 mm, and 116 mm. The sound volume in the room when the trumpets were played was measured with a small digital sound level meter. The feeling of blowing, the musical pitch, and the control performance when playing the trumpet with the mute attached were also evaluated.

[0109] The sound volume in the room when playing a trumpet without the mute attached was over 100 dB, whereas the sound volume in the room when playing a trumpet with the mute attached was approximately 80 dB. The feeling of blowing, the musical pitch, and the control performance when playing the trumpet with the mute attached were not significantly different from when the mute was not attached.

[0110] 1, 2, 3, 4 - Brass instrument mute 10, 11, 65 - Main body 13, 14 - Mounting table 15 - Air hole 18 - Female thread 20 - Sound-absorbing material 30, 85 - Lid body 31 - Split lid body 33 - Flare-shaped member 34 - Opening 35 - Cylindrical member 36 - Male thread 37 - Flat plate part 40, 42, 44 - Buffer member 46, 47, 48 - Opening 51, 55, 57 - Connector 60 - Sound-insulation material 66 - First cylindrical member 67 - Conic member 68 - Second cylindrical member 100 - Bell 110 - Slide pipe DI - Inner diameter of the main body D1I - Inner diameter of the first cylindrical member D2I - Inner diameter of the second cylindrical member DO - Outer diameter of the main body D1O - Outer diameter of the first cylindrical member D2O - Outer diameter of the second cylindrical member dI - Diameter of opening of the mounting table H - Distance from the mounting table to the bottom sound-absorbing material M - Centerline of the main body of the brass instrument mute m - Centerline of the bell V - Internal space Δ L - Distance between outer wall of the second cylindrical member and the slide pipe

Claims

1. A brass instrument mute, comprising: a main body having a bottomed cylindrical shape and including a mounting table at an axially intermediate portion configured to mount a bell of a brass instrument; a lid body configured to be threadedly engaged with an upper portion of the main body and to sandwich the bell which is mounted on the mounting table between the lid body and the mounting table; a sound-absorbing material configured to cover an inner wall of the main body below the mounting table; wherein the lid body comprises two or more lid bodies; and wherein a buffer member is provided on an upper surface of the mounting table and on a back surface of the lid body.

2. The brass instrument mute according to claim 1, wherein the lid body includes: a flare-shaped member having a central opening configured to allow insertion of the bell of the brass instrument therethrough; and a cylindrical member having a male thread configured to be threadedly engaged with a female thread provided on the upper portion of the main body; wherein the buffer member is provided on the back surface of the flare-shaped member.

3. The brass instrument mute according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the buffer member is attached to the upper surface of the mounting table in its entirety or in part and is attached to the back surface of the lid body in its entirety or in part.

4. The brass instrument mute according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the mounting table has an air hole configured to discharge breath blown into the main body toward the side of the lid body.

5. The brass instrument mute according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lid body has a connector configured to connect the two or more lid bodies and maintain them in the connected state.

6. The brass instrument mute according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sound-absorbing material is removably attached to the inner wall.

7. The brass instrument mute according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a sound-insulation material between the inner wall and the sound-absorbing material.

8. The brass instrument mute according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lid body is configured as a pair of split lid bodies.

9. The brass instrument mute according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the main body includes: a first cylindrical member having a bottom; a second cylindrical member having an inner diameter larger than that of the first cylindrical member and having an opening at an upper part; and a conic member connecting the first cylindrical member and the second cylindrical member; wherein the female thread which is threadedly engaged with the lid body is provided on the second cylindrical member.

10. The brass instrument mute according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the main body is configured to be attachable to the bell of the brass instrument when a central axis of the main body and a central axis of the bell of the brass instrument are either aligned or offset.

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