Sound generator module

Abstract

To provide a sound generator module that can change pitch of sound while being a clapper-type body percussion instrument of small size enough to fit in a palm of a child's hand.SOLUTION: In a sound generator module 102 that produces sound when struck against each other, the sound generator module 102 comprises at least two striking members 2a, 2b, and a plurality of projections 41 of different heights are provided on at least one of the pairs of striking surfaces 3a, 3b of the striking members 2a, 2b.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a sound producing module that produces sounds to enjoy rhythm, melody, and even harmony, and more specifically, to a small and simple castanet-like sound producing module that even small children can play. [Background technology]

[0002] There are two types of percussion instruments: membranophones, which make sound by vibrating a stretched membrane like a drum, and idiophones, which do not use a membrane and make sound by vibrating the instrument itself. Idiophones are one of the oldest musical instruments in human history.

[0003] There are two types of idiophones: those that produce sound by striking them with mallets or with the hands, such as xylophones, metallophones, mokugyo (wood blocks) and slit drums, and those that produce sound by striking them together, such as castanets, rattles, cymbals and claves (interpercussion idiophones).

[0004] Additionally, there are types of instruments that produce sounds with a sense of pitch (such as xylophones, metallophones, slit drums and tubular bells) and types that do not produce sounds with a sense of pitch (such as castanets, wooden clappers, cymbals and agogos). All idiophones that have a sense of pitch are the type that are struck with a drumstick, and idiophones that produce sound by striking each other do not have a sense of pitch.

[0005] An idiophone, which produces sound by striking it with a mallet like a xylophone, can adjust the pitch by changing the size of the sounding body, so it is possible to create a scale by arranging multiple sounding bodies of different pitches, that is, sounding bodies of different sizes, and to play all melodies, chords, and rhythms. However, they cannot be made small enough to fit in a child's hand.

[0006] On the other hand, educational castanets, which are also used in children's education, are simple percussion instruments that consist of two planks 5 to 8 cm in diameter with a recess on the inside like a seashell, connected together with a rubber cord, and are struck from the outside with the hand or fingers to produce sound.

[0007] Educational castanets naturally return to their original open position due to the force of the elastic cords when they are struck, making them easy for children to use, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and widely used as an instrument for enjoying rhythm.

[0008] Castanets do not require mallets and can be made small enough to fit in a child's hand, but although they can play rhythm, they have no sense of pitch and so cannot play melodies, chords, or accompaniments (harmonies, chords). Therefore, it can be said that there are no strike-type idiophonic percussion instruments that have a sense of pitch and are small enough to fit in the palm of a child's hand.

[0009] In response to this, it has been proposed to change the tone of a clapping-type percussion instrument. For example, Patent Documents 1 to 3 each propose a clapper in which the board member is specially designed to change the tone. Moreover, Patent Document 4 proposes a castanet that is designed to change the volume. Moreover, Patent Document 5 proposes a megaphone in which the shape of the sound generating body is improved to improve the resonance of the impact sound. Moreover, Patent Document 6 proposes a cheering percussion instrument that resonates with air columns at specific frequencies. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0010] [Patent Document 1] Utility Model No. 3120446 [Patent Document 2] Utility Model No. 3137326 [Patent Document 3] Utility Model No. 3212449 [Patent Document 4] Utility Model No. 3172564 [Patent Document 5] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 7-244488 [Patent Document 6] JP 2015-70986 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0011] The above conventional percussion instruments have a problem that they cannot produce a pitched sound when they are small enough to fit in the palm of a child's hand. This is particularly difficult in the relatively low range of 2000 Hz or less. In addition, to produce a scale for one octave, sounds with a difference in pitch of twice as much or a half are required, but since they cannot produce low sounds with a pitched sound, they have a problem that they cannot produce a scale. In addition, since they cannot produce a scale, they have a problem that they cannot play melodies, chords, or accompaniments. In addition, since there are no small-sized, palm-sized, percussion instruments that can be played in a rhythmic manner and have a sense of pitch, there is a problem in that, although rhythm can be taught to young children, melody, chords, and chord progressions cannot be taught. In addition, there is a problem that it is difficult for adults, as well as children, to learn melodic instruments such as the piano or guitar to play melodies, chords, and chord progressions.

[0012] The present invention aims to solve the above problems and provide a sound generating module that is small enough to fit in the palm of a child's hand, yet capable of emitting a sense of pitch and a relatively low frequency (around 1000 Hz) sound. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] In order to achieve the above object, the sound generating module of the present invention comprises: A sound-producing module having at least two mating members that produce sound by being mated with each other, The at least two mating members have a pair of mating surfaces that have a typical dimension of 20 mm to 100 mm and are mated with each other; The pair of mating surfaces includes a pair of abutting portions that abut against each other when the mating surfaces are in a mated state, and a pair of non-abutting portions that define a gap therebetween that communicates with the outside when the mating surfaces are in a mated state, At least one of the mating surfaces has a recess whose at least a part of its area is covered by the non-contact portion of the other mating surface in the mated state, and the recess is open in a non-matted state in which the mating surfaces are not mated, The average depth of the recess is greater than 20% of the equivalent diameter of the mating surface. The characteristic dimension here refers to the longest outer dimension of each of the two mating members that are mated with each other.

[0014] In addition, the sound generator module of the present invention is characterized in that the sound includes Helmholtz resonance, the frequency spectrum of the sound has a single main peak, and the volume dB of all sub-peaks that are in a frequency range more than 500 Hz away from the main peak and are in a dissonant relationship with the main peak are all 3 dB or more smaller than the volume dB of the main peak.

[0015] The sound generator module of the present invention is characterized in that it has at least two pairs of striking surfaces, and the sounds produced by the at least two pairs are of different pitches and form a chord. Effect of the Invention

[0016] As described above, the sound-producing module of the present invention has a typical dimension of 20 mm to 100 mm, and the average depth of the recesses is deeper than 20% of the equivalent diameter of the striking surface, so that it has the advantage of being small enough to fit in the palm of a child's hand, yet capable of producing a lower-pitched sound with a sense of pitch compared to conventional castanets.

[0017] In addition, the sound produced by the sound generator module of the present invention includes Helmholtz resonance, and the volume dB of the sub-peak that is in a dissonant relationship with the main peak in the frequency spectrum is 3 dB or more lower than the volume dB of the main peak, resulting in the effect of producing a sound with a high pitch and less noise.

[0018] In addition, the sound producing module of the present invention has at least two pairs of striking surfaces so that when struck together they produce sounds of different pitches, meaning that multiple sounds, i.e. chords, can be obtained by simply striking one sound producing module (chord module).

[0019] In addition, by combining multiple sound producing modules of the present invention, each producing a single note with a different pitch, it is possible to form a sound producing set that can produce a scale like a xylophone or keyboard instrument, which has the effect of making it possible to play melodies despite being a simple, strike-and-play type body-sounding percussion instrument like a castanet.

[0020] In addition, by preparing multiple chord modules of the present invention that produce different chords, chord progressions and accompaniments can be played. In particular, when playing a chord progression using multiple chord modules, it is only necessary to play the same chord module for one measure, which has the effect of making the difficulty of playing much lower than that of playing a melody. Therefore, even people who have given up on playing music because of the difficulty of playing melodies can easily enjoy playing music.

[0021] Furthermore, because it is possible to provide a small, palm-sized, percussion instrument that can be played in a variety of ways and has a sense of pitch, it has the effect of being able to teach not only rhythm but also melody, chords, and chord progressions in music education for young children.

[0022] Furthermore, it allows people to experience new realizations and surprises that a percussion instrument with a simple structure like the castanet has resonance characteristics like a wind instrument, and has the effect of making people think in a fun way about what a musical instrument is. Also, the invention of a chord percussion instrument that cannot play melodies but can play chord progressions has a philosophical effect of questioning the assumption in Western music education that melody is primary and chords and rhythm are secondary. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a sound generating module according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a sound generating module showing a first embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 3] Schematic diagram of the Helmholtz resonance model [Figure 4] Relationship between sound frequency generated by the sound generator module of the present invention and total volume of recesses [Diagram 5] An example of the frequency spectrum generated by the sound generating module of the present invention [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is an external perspective view of a sound generating module showing a second embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is an external perspective view of a sound generating module showing a third embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of how pitch is changed in the third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is an external perspective view of a sound generating module showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 10] 13 is a side view of a sound generating module showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 11] 11 is a cross-sectional view of a sound generating module showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is an external perspective view of a sound generating module showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is an external perspective view of a sound generating body set showing a sixth embodiment of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a sound generator module and a sound generator set according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. [First embodiment]

[0025] A sound generator module 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 1, the sound generator module 1 includes hemispherical members (meeting members) 2a and 2b that produce sound when they are fitted together. Fig. 1 is an external perspective view of the sound generator module 1 in a state in which the fitting members 2a and 2b are not fitted together (hereinafter referred to as a "non-fitting state"). The fitting members 2a and 2b have paired fitting surfaces 3a and 3b, which are arranged so that the fitting surfaces 3a and 3b face each other.

[0026] The mating surfaces 3a and 3b refer to the entire parts that, when the mating members 2a and 2b mating with each other, 1) are close to each other in the mating direction until the moment of mating, 2) one mating surface covers the other mating surface in the mating state (hereinafter referred to as the "matting state"), and 3) move away from each other in the opposite direction to the mating direction after mating. In addition, in the mating state, one mating surface does not necessarily completely cover the other mating surface, but it must cover it at least partially. If it does not cover it at least partially, the Helmholtz resonance described below will not occur. In this embodiment, the mating surfaces 3a and 3b are formed with hemispherical recesses 6a and 6b, respectively.

[0027] The mating members 2a, 2b are movably connected to each other at a connecting portion 7 by a connecting means (not shown) such as a rubber band. Further, the mating surface 3b is formed with a protrusion 4. In this embodiment, the protrusion 4 is located on the opposite side to the connecting portion 7 in the radial direction of the mating member 2b.

[0028] Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the mating members 2a, 2b in the mated state. The mating surfaces 3a, 3b have a pair of abutting portions 4a, 4b that abut against each other in the mated state, and a pair of non-abutting portions 5a, 5b that define a gap between them in the mated state, and the recesses 6a, 6b communicate with the outside through the gap in the mated state. In this embodiment, the mating surface 3a is composed of the abutting portion 4a and the non-abutting portion 5a, and the non-abutting portion 5a also includes the bottom surface of the recess 6a. Similarly, the mating surface 3b is composed of the abutting portion 4b and the non-abutting portion 5b, and the non-abutting portion 5b also includes the bottom surface of the recess 6b. Further, the recesses 6a, 6b are covered by the non-contact portions 5b, 5a in the mating state, and are open in the non-matting state.

[0029] A user can generate a sound by placing the sound module 1 thus configured in one hand and striking the striking member 2a with the other hand. Then, when the user releases the hand from the striking member 2a, the sound module 1 is released from the striking state by the connecting means and returns to a state where it can be struck again (non-striking state).

[0030] Here, the outer shape of the contact members 2a and 2b shown in Figures 1 and 2 is hemispherical, but the outer shape of the contact members 2a and 2b is not limited to this and may be any three-dimensional shape, but a shape that is easy for children to hold is preferable. For example, an elliptical shape, a rectangular parallelepiped with rounded corners, or the shape of an animal character or vehicle can be appropriately adopted.

[0031] In this embodiment, the size of the sound generator module 1 is about 40 mm in diameter, but it is not limited to this, and a representative dimension of about 20 mm to 100 mm is preferable because it is easy for children to hold in their hands. More preferably, it is 40 mm to 70 mm.

[0032] The size of each of the semi-spherical recesses 6a, 6b is preferably about 0.3 cc to 60 cc in volume, and more preferably about 1 cc to 40 cc in volume. If the volume of each of the recesses 6a, 6b is less than about 0.3 cc, it becomes difficult to process, and if it is more than about 60 cc, it becomes difficult to reduce the size of the sound generating module 1, so this is not preferable. The total volume of the recesses 6a and 6b is preferably about 0.3 cc to 120 cc in consideration of the difficulty of processing and the size, and more preferably about 10 cc to 40 cc.

[0033] The average depth of each of the recesses 6a, 6b is deeper than 20% of the equivalent diameter of the mating surfaces 3a, 3b having the recesses 6a, 6b. Here, the average depth is the value obtained by dividing the recess volume by the recess inlet area. The equivalent diameter is a value that expresses the representative length of any mating surface shape as the diameter of a circle, and is calculated by 4 × (area of ​​the mating surface) ÷ (periphery length of the mating surface).

[0034] In this embodiment, the mating surfaces 3a, 3b are circular and the recesses 6a, 6b are hemispherical, so that the equivalent diameter is the mating surface diameter and the average recess depth is 1 / 3 (about 33%) of the recess entrance circle diameter. The inventors have found through research that if the average depth of the recesses 6a, 6b is deeper than 20% of the equivalent diameter of the striking surfaces 3a, 3b, then a small size that can fit in a child's hand can be achieved, yet the sound produced by striking the recesses can have an unprecedented low pitch and an improved sense of pitch.

[0035] In addition, it was newly discovered that, when the recesses 6a, 6b are sufficiently deep, 1) spatial resonance occurs even in an idiophone whose main body vibrates, and 2) the gap that is created between the non-contact portions 5a, 5b of the mating surfaces 3a, 3b when the instruments are struck together forms a passageway between the recess space and the outside, resulting in 3) substantial Helmholtz resonance occurring overall.

[0036] Helmholtz resonance is a phenomenon in which the air inside a container with an opening acts as a spring, resonating and generating sound, as seen in the theoretical model diagrammed in Figure 3. When a thin tube with an opening cross-sectional area S and neck length L extends from a container (cavity) with an internal volume V, the resonant frequency is proportional to the square root of the opening area S divided by the neck length L and the internal volume V of the container. Therefore, as the internal volume V increases, the resonant frequency decreases, and as the opening area S increases, the resonant frequency increases. In other words, Resonance frequency ∝ √( S / (L·V)) It is.

[0037] When sound-generating modules with different total recess volumes were created, a graph like that shown in Figure 4 was obtained. It was possible to find characteristics of the substantial Helmholtz resonance similar to the theoretical model. In other words, it was found that the frequency of the generated sound becomes lower when the total volume of the recesses 6a and 6b is increased, and conversely, the frequency of the generated sound becomes higher when the total volume of the recesses is reduced. In addition, it was found that if the total volume of the opposing recesses 6a and 6b is the same, there is no significant difference in the substantial Helmholtz resonance even if the shape of the recesses 6a and 6b is changed, and the pitch of the sound generated is basically roughly the same.

[0038] In other words, the volumes and shapes of the recesses 6a and 6b do not necessarily have to be the same, and the volume of one recess may be larger than the volume of the other. In an extreme case, a recess may be provided only on one of the mating surfaces, and the other surface may not have a recess. If neither of the mating surfaces has a recess, it becomes difficult to establish Helmholtz resonance, which is not desirable, so at least one of the mating surfaces must have a recess.

[0039] It was also confirmed that the resonance frequency can be changed by changing the height of the protrusion 4. It was found that the higher the protrusion 4, the higher the frequency of the generated sound, and conversely, the lower the protrusion 4, the lower the frequency of the generated sound. This can be explained by the Helmholtz resonance model, as it is due to the change in the gap, which is the communication path between the recess and the outside.

[0040] In addition to changing the height of the protrusion 4, the shape and position of the protrusion 4, the shape of the non-contact parts 5a and 5b, and holes in the mating members 2a and 2b can be changed to change the communication path between the recess and the outside, and the pitch of the sound can be changed. When the top of the protrusion 4 is rounded as in this embodiment, the sound quality tends to be soft, and conversely, when the top of the protrusion 4 abuts against the mating surface 3a over a relatively large area, the sound quality tends to be hard, so it can be selected appropriately. However, when the protrusion 4 abuts over the entire outer circumference of the mating surface 3a, that is, when there are no non-contact parts 5a and 5b, Helmholtz resonance is unlikely to occur, which is not preferable.

[0041] Also, Figure 5 shows an example of the frequency spectrum of a sound that produces a sound with a stronger sense of pitch when the mating members 2a and 2b are struck together. It can be seen that there is a single maximum peak P (main peak, fundamental tone) at approximately 1000 Hz, which corresponds to the pitch of C6, and there are no significant peaks in other regions. In this way, when there is only a single main peak P and few prominent sub-peaks (higher-order peaks, harmonics) in the high-pitched range, the sound has less noise, and therefore a stronger sense of pitch.

[0042] By adjusting the material of the mating members 2a, 2b, the shape and volume of the recesses 6a, 6b, the shape of the non-contacting portions 5a, 5b, the thickness from the inner surfaces of the recesses 6a, 6b to the outer surface of the sound generating module 1, the shape of the protrusions 4, etc., a spectrum like that shown in Figure 5 can be obtained and the sense of pitch can be improved.

[0043] If there is a sub-peak other than the main peak P, it is not preferable because if this sub-peak becomes noise, it will impair the sense of pitch. An example of a sub-peak that does not become noise is a sub-peak that is in a consonant relationship with the main peak P. Here, when a sound is said to be in a consonant relationship with another sound, it generally means that the intervals are the same, or that the sound is in a harmonic relationship with an even multiple of each of these intervals, such as a perfect 8th, perfect 4th, perfect 5th, major 3rd, major 6th, minor 7th, etc. Anything other than that is dissonant.

[0044] In instruments such as xylophones, secondary and tertiary peaks are often set as consonant tones with respect to the main peak P in order to create a sense of pitch. In the present invention, it is more preferable to set sub-peaks as consonant tones with respect to the main peak P by adjusting the material, shape, etc. of the sound generating module 1 in various ways in order to create a sense of pitch. As preferable frequencies of sub-peaks, consonant sounds such as an 8th, i.e., an octave and its even multiples, with respect to the main peak P, or the fourth and tenth harmonics often used in marimbas, or the third and seventh harmonics used in xylophones can be set as sub-peaks.

[0045] Furthermore, as a result of examining sub-peaks that are dissonant with the main peak P (hereinafter referred to as "dissonant sub-peaks"), it was found that it is effective for increasing the sense of pitch to not have dissonant sub-peaks whose difference in volume dB from the main peak P is less than 3 dB in a frequency region more than 500 Hz away from the main peak P. In other words, it was found that dissonant sub-peaks that exist in a frequency region within 500 Hz from the main peak P are unlikely to become noise, and even if there is a dissonant sub-peak in a frequency region more than 500 Hz away from the main peak P, it is preferable that the volume dB of the dissonant sub-peak is 3 dB or more lower than the volume dB of the main peak P (the difference in volume dB from the main peak P is more than 3 dB), since this allows for a sound with less noise and a higher sense of pitch to be obtained. More preferably, the volume dB of all dissonant sub-peaks existing in the frequency range away from the main peak P by more than 500 Hz is at least 10 dB lower than the volume dB of the main peak P, and even more preferably, the volume dB of all dissonant sub-peaks existing in the frequency range away from the main peak P is at least 20 dB lower than the volume dB of the main peak P.

[0046] To improve the sense of pitch, it is better for the main peak P to be sharp. A main peak P with a broad base is undesirable because it increases noise and impairs the sense of pitch. The base width of the main peak P is preferably 1500 Hz or less, and more preferably 800 Hz or less. The same applies to sub-peaks that are in a consonant relationship with the main peak P.

[0047] The material of the mating members 2a, 2b may be any material that produces a stable sound, and can be appropriately selected from wood, bamboo, plastic, metal, stone, etc. In the case of wood, the air-dry specific gravity is preferably 0.2 to 1.2. If the air-dry specific gravity is less than 0.2, the sound quality becomes muffled and durability decreases, and the abutting parts 4a, 4b in particular tend to deteriorate, which is not preferable. If the air-dry specific gravity is more than 1.2, the sound becomes sharp, which is not preferable. More preferably, the air-dry specific gravity is 0.4 to 1.0. Also, a plurality of materials can be used in appropriate combination. Also, various known coating methods can be used to improve durability and enhance aesthetics.

[0048] As long as the joints can be repeatedly joined together, various known joining means can be used for the joints 7, not limited to rubber cords. Although ordinary cords that have no elastic properties can be used for joining, it is preferable to use elastic joining means such as rubber cords, because after joining, a restoring force acts and the joints naturally return to their original unjoined state, i.e., non-joined state.

[0049] The connecting form of the mating members 2a and 2b does not have to be in direct contact with each other. The mating members 2a and 2b may be connected in a non-contact manner using a magnet or the like. Alternatively, the mating members 2a and 2b do not necessarily have to be connected to each other. In this case, for example, the mating members 2a and 2b may be held in the right hand and the left hand, respectively, and may be connected together.

[0050] Alternatively, the striking members 2a and 2b may be fitted to two opposing fingers, such as the thumb and middle finger of one hand, and then struck together. By fitting striking members of different volumes to the four fingers other than the thumb, four different pitches can be produced by changing the finger combination. [Second embodiment]

[0051] A sound generator module 101 according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown in Fig. 6. In the following embodiments, the same reference numerals are used for components that are substantially the same as those in the first embodiment described above, and descriptions thereof will be omitted. 6 shows an external perspective view of the sound generator module 101 in a non-fitted state. The sound generator module 101 is substantially the same as the sound generator module 1 described above, but differs from the sound generator module 1 in that the fitting member 2a has a communication hole 8, and the recess 6a communicates with the outside through the communication hole 8.

[0052] In this embodiment, the opening area communicating with the outside during striking is increased by the communication holes 8, so that the pitch becomes higher due to the principle of Helmholtz resonance compared to when there are no communication holes 8. By closing and opening the communication holes 8 with fingers etc. when striking, it becomes possible to play different pitches of sounds.

[0053] In this embodiment, the communication hole 8 is circular, but is not limited to this, and can be of various shapes and sizes as long as it connects the recess 6a to the outside. Also, in this embodiment, the communication hole 8 is only one in the mating member 2a, but is not limited to this, and a communication hole may also be provided in the mating member 2b, and multiple communication holes of any size and shape may be provided in any location of the mating members 2a and 2b. [Third embodiment]

[0054] 7 and 8 show a sound generating module 102 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 shows an external perspective view of the sound generating module 102 in a non-fitted state. The sound generating module 102 has mating members 2a and 2b each having a length of about 100 mm, a width of about 25 mm, and a thickness of about 20 mm. The mating members 2a and 2b are connected to each other at a connecting portion 7 by a rubber band (not shown). A plurality of protrusions 41 are formed at intervals on a mating surface 3a of the mating member 2b. The plurality of protrusions 41 each have a different height, and in the example of FIG. 7, the height is set to become lower as it approaches the connecting portion 7. Other features are the same as those of the first embodiment, such as the formation of recesses 6a and 6b on the mating surfaces 3a and 3b of the mating members 2a and 2b, respectively.

[0055] In this embodiment, the mating members 2a and 2b are long and connected with a rubber band, so that when they are twisted slightly, an angle is created, and they can be mated in a twisted manner, as shown in Fig. 8. Since multiple protrusions 41 of different heights are formed, the protrusions 41 at positions appropriate to the angle form a contact portion, and they can be mated even when twisted. That is, the protrusions 41 that come into contact with the mating surface 3a are determined according to the twist. The height and arrangement of the protrusions 41 are set so that when the twist angle is zero, the central protrusion 41 farthest from the connecting portion 7 comes into contact with the mating surface 3a, and when the twist angle is increased, the protrusions 41 closer to the connecting portion 7 come into contact sequentially.

[0056] It was discovered that when the mating parts 2a and 2b are struck together in this way with the mating parts shifted, the pitch of the sound changes according to the angle of the shift. This can be explained using the Helmholtz resonance model, because when the twist angle is zero, the opening area is at its smallest when the mating parts are struck together, resulting in the lowest pitch, and when the twist angle is increased, the opening area becomes larger, resulting in a higher pitch.

[0057] In this embodiment, the protrusions 41 are provided on only one side of the striking surface 3b (the right side in FIG. 8), and not on the other side (the left side in FIG. 8). The protrusions 41 may be provided on both sides, but if there is only one side, the sound generated when the parts without the protrusions 41 are twisted to the side without the protrusions 41 and struck together will have a hard sound quality like a clapper, which is different from the sound produced when the protrusions 41 come into contact, so two different sound qualities can be enjoyed with one sound module 102.

[0058] In this embodiment, the shape of the mating members 2a and 2b is vertically long, but this is not limited to this, and various shapes can be used as long as the position of the abutment part can be changed by shifting them. In addition, the height and arrangement of the protrusions 41 are also not limited to this, and various heights and arrangements can be appropriately selected. In the above embodiment, the entire recess is covered by the non-contact portion in the mating state, but the recess does not necessarily have to be entirely covered by the non-contact portion in the mating state, and it is sufficient that at least a portion of the recess is covered by the non-contact portion in the mating state, as shown in Figures 8(b) to 8(d). [Fourth embodiment]

[0059] 9 to 11 show a sound generator module 103 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 9 shows an external perspective view of the sound generator module 103 in a non-striking state. Fig. 10 shows a side view of the sound generator module 103 in a non-striking state. Fig. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of the sound generator module 103 in a non-striking state.

[0060] As shown in Fig. 9, the sound module 103 is a spherical sound module with an overall outer diameter of about 60 mm obtained by stacking the mating members 21a to 21d. Also, as shown in Fig. 10, the mating member 21a has a mating surface 31a, the mating member 21b has mating surfaces 31b and 31c, the mating surface 21c has mating surfaces 31d and 31e, and the mating member 21d has a mating surface 31f. The mating members 21a to 21d are assembled so that the mating surfaces 31a and 31b face each other, the mating surfaces 31c and 31d face each other, and the mating surfaces 31e and 31f face each other.

[0061] The mating surfaces 31b, 31d, and 31f are formed with protrusions 41a, 41b, and 41c, respectively. The mating members 21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d are connected to each other at connecting portions 71a, 71b, and 71c by rubber strings (not shown).

[0062] As shown in the cross-sectional view of Fig. 11, recesses 61a, 61b, 61c, 61d, 61e, and 61f are formed on the mating surfaces 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e, and 31f, respectively. The volumes formed by the pair of recesses 61a and 61b, the pair of recesses 61c and 61d, and the pair of recesses 61e and 61f are different from each other, so that each pair generates a Helmholtz resonance with a different pitch. Each pair of recesses is the same as in the first embodiment, so a description thereof will be omitted.

[0063] In the sound generator module 103 of this embodiment, the shape and dimensions are set so that the total volume formed by the pair of recesses 61c, 61d is the largest, the second largest is the total volume formed by the pair of recesses 61e, 61f, and the smallest is the total volume formed by the pair of recesses 61a, 61b. Therefore, according to the principle of Helmholtz resonance, the pitch generated by the pair of recesses 61c, 61d is the lowest, the next highest is the pitch generated by the pair of recesses 61e, 61f, and the highest is the pitch generated by the pair of recesses 61a, 61b.

[0064] The sound generator module 103 of this embodiment can produce multiple sounds with a simple action like playing a castanet, and can produce chords by appropriately adjusting the shapes of the recesses 61a to 61f. In this embodiment, the pitches are approximately 1400 Hz, approximately 1760 Hz, and approximately 2100 Hz from the lowest, which constitute the chords F6 (Fa), A6 (La), and C7 (Do).

[0065] If multiple sound generating modules 103 that produce different chords are prepared, the corresponding sound generating modules 103 can be played in accordance with the chord progression of the song, allowing you to enjoy playing like an accompaniment. When playing chords as accompaniment, for example, the changes in chords within one measure are much less than in a melody, making it easier for even small children who have difficulty playing melodies to play.

[0066] In this embodiment, the outer shape is a sphere with a diameter of about 60 mm, but this size is suitable for small children to hold in the palm of their hands and play. However, the size and shape are not limited to this, and any outer shape and size can be used as long as the recesses 61a to 61f can be set. For example, a sphere with a diameter of about 72 mm can compose chords of about 1050 Hz, about 1320 Hz, and about 1570 Hz, that is, C6 (do), E6 (mi), and G6 (sol).

[0067] In addition, in the sound generating module 103 of this embodiment, the number of mating members is four, but the number of mating members can be changed to appropriately change the number of sounds to be generated at different pitches. In addition, since the external shape does not easily affect the pitch of the sound, any three-dimensional shape can be selected. For example, character shapes such as animals that children like can be used.

[0068] In this embodiment, the striking members 21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d are connected at the connecting parts 71a, 71b, and 71c with rubber bands (not shown), so the striking members 21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d can be struck simultaneously or can be made to sound in a scattered manner (arpeggio). In an actual performance, one sound generating module 103 can alternately produce tight sounds and scattered sounds that are sounded simultaneously, further emphasizing the sense of rhythm and beat. [Fifth embodiment]

[0069] A sound generator module 104 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention is shown in Fig. 12. Fig. 12 is an external perspective view of the sound generator module 104 in a non-striking state. The sound generator module 104 is made up of short cylindrical fitting members 21a to 21e. The striking member 21a can be attached to the thumb by a connecting portion 71a. Similarly, the striking members 21b to 21e can be attached to the index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and little finger by connecting portions (not shown), respectively. As with the sound generating module 1 described above, the contact members 21a to 21e have contact surfaces 31a to 31e, respectively, and the contact surfaces 31a to 31e are provided with recesses. The contact surface 31a of the contact member 21a worn on the thumb can be brought into contact with the contact surfaces 31b to 31e of the contact members 21b to 21e worn on the other fingers. A protrusion 41 is formed on the contact surface 31a.

[0070] In this embodiment, the contact surfaces 31b to 31e are provided with recesses of different volumes, so that the total volume of the recesses can be changed by changing the combination such as contact members 21a and 21b, contact members 21a and 21c, contact members 21a and 21d, and contact members 21a and 21e, and four different pitches can be obtained. Therefore, eight sounds can be produced with both hands, so a scale of one octave can be produced, for example, Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La, Si, Do. [Sixth embodiment]

[0071] A sound producing body set 1001 according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention is shown in Fig. 13. Fig. 13 shows an external perspective view of the sound producing body set 1001 in a non-striking state. The sound producing body set 1001 is made up of eight sound producing body modules 105a-105h. Although the sound producing body modules 105a-105h are each individual, independent modules, they are mounted on a base (not shown) in an acoustically independent manner so as not to become disjointed.

[0072] Each of the sound generator modules 105a to 105h has substantially the same configuration as the sound generator module 1 described above.

[0073] The sound generating body modules 105a to 105h are sound generating body modules that generate sounds at different pitches. That is, the recessed portion pairs of each sound generating body module 105a to 105h have different total volumes. In the sound generating body set 1001 of this embodiment, the total volumes of the recessed portion pairs become smaller in the order of sound generating body modules 105a to 105h, and therefore the pitch becomes higher in the order of sound generating body modules 105a to 105h. Using this, the total volumes of the recessed portion pairs can be adjusted to configure the sound generating body set 1001 to have a scale. For example, in the commonly used C major (G major) octo-scale, Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La, Si, and Do can be assigned to the sound generating body modules 105a to 105h, respectively. By appropriately selecting the number and pitch of the sound generating body modules, various other arbitrary scales can be configured.

[0074] Since the instrument is structured with musical scales, melodies can be played with simple movements, like playing castanets. Alternatively, multiple sound modules can be played at the same time to produce chords. Because no mallets are used, as in a xylophone, there is greater freedom in the number of sounds that can be played simultaneously and the timing. Each sound module can be made small enough to fit in the palm of a child's hand, so if the width is made about 25 mm, for example, each sound module can be played with one finger, like a keyboard instrument. In addition to playing melodies, it can also be used as a percussion instrument to keep rhythm by playing quick arpeggios.

[0075] As described above, in this embodiment, the sound generator modules 105a-105h are acoustically independent. Being acoustically independent means that the vibrations and resonances of the sound generator modules 105a-105h do not interfere with each other. Known methods can be used to acoustically isolate the sound generator modules 105a-105h, for example, by providing gaps between the sound generator modules 105a-105h, or by separating the sound generator modules 105a-105h or the bases with cushioning material such as sponge between them. If they are acoustically independent, multiple sound generating modules may be linked and integrated so that multiple sounds are generated simultaneously with one striking motion. For example, to produce a C-Mi-So triad, three corresponding sound generating modules may be linked horizontally and integrated. [Explanation of symbols]

[0076] 1, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105a~105h Sound module 1001 Sound body set 2a, 2b, 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d, 21e Meeting materials 3a, 3b, 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e, 31f Meeting surface 4, 41, 41a, 41b, 41c protrusions 4a, 4b Contact part 5a, 5b Non-contact part 6a, 6b, 61a, 61b, 61c, 61d, 61e, 61f recesses 7, 71a, 71b, 71c connection part 8 Communication hole P Main Peak

Claims

[Claim 1] A sound-producing module having at least two mating members that produce sound by being mated with each other, The at least two mating members have a pair of mating surfaces that are mated to each other, The pair of mating surfaces has abutting portions that abut against each other when the mating surfaces are in a mated state, and a non-abutting portion that defines a gap therebetween that communicates with the outside when the mating surfaces are in a mated state, At least one of the mating surfaces has a recess whose at least a part of its area is covered by the non-contact portion of the other mating surface in the mated state, and the recess is open in a non-matted state in which the mating surfaces are not mated, At least two projections having different heights are provided on at least one of the contact surfaces, and each of the at least two projections functions as a part of the contact portion. A sound generating module characterized by:

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