Sound quality improvement clamp for wind instrument

Abstract

To provide a sound quality improvement clamp for wind instruments that has good appearance, can be simply and stably attached to various ligatures and instruments, enhances reed vibration efficiency, and enables sound shaping according to needs of a user to be realized.SOLUTION: A sound quality improvement clamp for wind instruments comprises a gripping portion 2 and a male screw portion 3. The male screw portion 3 is made of titanium. The outer surface of the gripping portion 2 has fine protrusions and depressions for slip resistance. The sound quality improvement clamp 1 for wind instruments can be used as a clamp for wind instruments such as saxophones. The housing of the gripping portion 2 is made of brass. A vibration-damping member is provided inside the housing of the gripping portion 2. The vibration-damping member is formed by mixing and pouring vibration-damping alloy powder with resin liquid, and solidifying the mixture inside the housing of the gripping portion 2. In the male screw portion 3, a wide top of the screw thread is provided and a slit is formed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a fastener that improves the sound of wind instruments. [Background technology]

[0002] A wind instrument is a type of instrument that produces sound when the player blows air into it. Most of these instruments are made of wood, but there are also metal and plastic instruments. The sound of a wind instrument is produced by the vibration of the reed or by the direct blowing of air into it. Prior art sound quality improvement fasteners used in wind instruments were made from nickel silver, nickel, gold alloy, silver alloy or titanium, and the type of plating was changed to gold, which gives a brilliant and sparkling sound, or pink gold, which gives a warm and enveloping rounded sound, changing the resonance and timbre of the instrument. It was believed that reducing the contact area between the mouthpiece and the reed resulted in better acoustics, and minimizing the tightening of the reed converted all of the reed's vibrations into sound, improving resonance.

[0003] Wind instruments such as saxophones are composed of two or more joints, and fasteners called neck screws secure the joint between the neck and body. However, the fasteners attached to instruments are small, lightweight, and made to the bare minimum. Therefore, traditionally, silver alloys or titanium have been used for these fasteners to enhance the resonance and tone. Furthermore, by adding fasteners of different weights to the fastener itself, the natural frequency is lowered by increasing the fastener weight, suppressing vibration at the joint between the neck and body, improving sound quality, volume, and playing feel. However, to increase the volume even further, the weight of the fasteners would need to be increased, but this was limited by the increased weight of the instrument.

[0004] The joint between the neck and the body of the saxophone, and the common fasteners on the ligature, are made of nickel silver or brass, which are lacquered or plated, but the material of the fasteners here is not particularly important in terms of sound quality, as they are simply used to secure the reed in place when attaching it to the ligature. Furthermore, the ligature itself can be plated with gold, pink gold, silver, platinum, etc. to change the tone, and performers can choose their preferred plating.

[0005] When the instrument is played in its normal state, the amplitude waveforms of both the reed and mouthpiece maintain a synchronized relationship, and if this continues, the sympathetic vibration of the mouthpiece will interfere with the proper function of the reed vibration energy.

[0006] Here, we will explain two reasons why the resonant vibration of the mouthpiece inhibits the proper function of the reed's vibration energy, using a bare speaker suspended by a string as an example. We will consider the relationship between "reed vibration and mouthpiece vibration" and "speaker vibrating paper vibration and speaker frame vibration." The "reed and speaker vibrating paper" are the vibration source, and the "mouthpiece and speaker frame" are the vibration source that generates the resonant vibration. When sound is played from a bare speaker alone, the speaker vibrating paper activates, causing the speaker frame to vibrate violently in a resonant manner. This causes the speaker frame to vibrate in the same direction as the vibrating paper, ultimately inhibiting the vibration of the speaker vibrating paper. This is similar to sharpening a knife, where the whetstone moves in the same direction as the knife, resulting in poor sharpening. To prevent this, it is well known that by fixing the whetstone to a stand and mounting the speaker in a sturdy speaker box, the speaker frame will no longer vibrate in a resonant manner, improving sound quality. This eliminates the interference with the speaker vibrating paper's vibration.

[0007] Another example of sound loss due to sympathetic vibration is the ring of iron wire inside the tip of the bell of a saxophone, which is used to tighten it. This strengthens the tip of the bell and prevents unnecessary deformation even when it is hit. However, over the years of playing the instrument, the vibrations of the instrument can cause this tightening to loosen. To check this, lightly tap the periphery of the bell with a rubber-grip screwdriver or similar tool. If there is a change in sound, this is evidence that the tightening has loosened. When a low note is played in this state, the vibrations of the bell will cause the iron wire to vibrate at the loosened point, resulting in sympathetic vibration, which causes sound to escape. Repairing this and correcting the looseness of the tightening will result in a richer mid- and low-range sound.

[0008] This is the same result as when, as mentioned above, a bare speaker is hung by a string and sound is played, the speaker frame vibrates in resonance, hindering the movement of the vibrating paper and allowing the sound to escape.If a speaker is attached to a speaker box made from thin tin plate and sound is played, the speaker box will vibrate in resonance violently, causing vibrations to escape from the speaker box, resulting in an unattractive sound with no high or low tones.

[0009] In the case of a reed wind instrument, the relationship between the reed and mouthpiece cannot be suppressed by fixing it in place like a grinding stone or a speaker, because the player holds the instrument while playing. As a result, the mouthpiece, the neck fixing part, and the instrument body vibrate in a sympathetic manner, and the reed vibration energy escapes through this sympathetic vibration part, impairing the reed's inherent vibrational capacity.

[0010] Currently, the general concept of improving sound is that the best way is to increase the reed vibration as much as possible, causing the mouthpiece and the instrument body to vibrate more, and it has been thought that actively damping and suppressing the resonant vibration of the mouthpiece would reduce the vibration of the reed, resulting in poor sound quality and being harmful.

[0011] Therefore, the inventor has already proposed an acoustic improvement device for reed wind instruments that improves reed vibration efficiency compared to conventional devices, enables sound creation that has a favorable effect on sound quality, and allows the sound quality of the instrument to be adjusted to suit the player's preferences (see Patent Document 1). However, although the acoustic improvement device for reed wind instruments in Patent Document 1 was characterized by its ability to accommodate ligatures of various shapes, it had the problem of giving the instrument an unnatural appearance because it had to wrap a belt around the mouthpiece, clarinet barrel, and saxophone neck to attenuate and suppress the amplitude waveform phase of the resonant vibration. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0012] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7343248 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0013] The objective of this invention is to actively disrupt the amplitude waveform of the sympathetic vibration of the mouthpiece and neck joint, which vibrate in sync with the reed vibration, by using a metal or other material with vibration-damping properties. To illustrate this, by actively disrupting the waveform of the sympathetic vibration gear at the mouthpiece and neck joint, which is meshed with a gear of the same size as the reed vibrating side of the power source, the entire tooth tip is disrupted and reduced, separating the contact points between the tooth tips. This creates an environment in which the sympathetic vibration that interferes with the reed's inherent vibration capacity is reduced. This increases the reed vibration, greatly increasing the amount of sound that passes through the instrument with exhaled air, improving the instrument's resonance, improving the playing feel and the appeal of the sound, and allowing the performance to be better conveyed to audiences even in outdoor settings without public address systems.

[0014] If the reed vibration is synchronized with the mouthpiece and neck joint and vibrates in sympathetic vibration with the same amplitude waveform, the function of the reed vibration will be hindered by this sympathetic vibration.

[0015] The above problem will be explained in more detail by focusing on the vibrations that occur when cutting a thin board with a saw. First, the side that emits the (force) vibration is the saw, and the side that receives the (force) vibration is the thin board. If the side that emits the (force) vibration and the side that receives the (force) vibration vibrate simultaneously with the same amplitude waveform, this means that when cutting a thin board with a saw, the thin board will move up and down in the same way, following the up and down movement of the saw. However, in this state, it is not possible to cut efficiently, so the thin board must be held down firmly to prevent it from moving up and down. By holding down the thin board in this way when cutting, the saw's original performance can be fully utilized.

[0016] Similarly, in wind instruments, if the reed vibration efficiency can be improved and the reed's inherent performance can be fully utilized, it will be possible to create sounds that meet the user's needs.

[0017] In view of this situation, the present invention aims to provide a sound quality improving fastener for wind instruments that looks good, can be easily and stably attached to a variety of ligatures and instruments, improves reed vibration efficiency, and enables users to create sounds that meet their needs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0018] As long as standard fasteners are used for the ligature and neck screws, the mouthpiece, neck, and instrument body vibrate in sympathetic vibration with the reed. Therefore, no matter how much effort is put into refining the shape or material of the saw blade, it's like cutting a wood that moves up and down without being restrained. From ancient times to the present, wind players have produced sound in an environment where the inherent force of the reed vibration is suppressed. This sound is the familiar, original sound of the instrument, a sound that has been heard by performers and audiences since the invention of the clarinet around 1700 and the saxophone in the early 1840s. In other words, it sounds like the rough sound of a saw or wood cutting without restraining it. As a result of extensive research, the inventors have discovered that by providing a vibration-damping member in the ligature fastener or neck screw fastener itself, it is possible to create a fastener that looks good and is highly functional and convenient.

[0019] That is, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the sound quality improving fastener for wind instruments according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises a male screw portion with a cylindrical thread that is attached to the wind instrument, and a gripping portion that has a vibration-damping material made by mixing and solidifying a metal and resin material with vibration-damping properties, connected to the head of the male screw portion. By incorporating a vibration-damping member into the fastener itself, simply fastening the ligature or neck using the sound-quality improving fastener for wind instruments of the present invention attenuates, suppresses, and changes the amplitude and waveform phase of the resonant vibration of the mouthpiece or neck, creating an environment for the desired reed amplitude and waveform vibration. The sound emitted from the reed enters the instrument along with the breath and is amplified, resulting in a rich, expressive sound. Furthermore, by varying the amount and material of the vibration-damping member, or by varying the number of sound-quality improving fasteners for wind instruments of the present invention used, the desired playing feel and tone can be freely adjusted. Furthermore, the fastener of the present invention can be used in place of conventional fasteners, offering the advantages of easy installation and removal, and a beautiful appearance. Note that damping the resonant vibration of the mouthpiece does not mean completely eliminating the vibration to zero, but merely distorting the shape of the amplitude waveform on the side receiving the (force) vibration, but the vibration itself still remains. This is similar to when cutting a board with a saw, even if you hold the board firmly so that it does not move, the vibration of the board transmitted from the saw itself remains.

[0020] The material of the male screw portion is preferably iron, nickel silver, brass, stainless steel, pure titanium, or a titanium alloy, and more preferably pure titanium or a titanium alloy. The metal with vibration-damping properties is preferably a powdered metal consisting of one of manganese alloy, pure magnesium, magnesium alloy, aluminum, or an aluminum alloy, or a combination of these. The resin material is preferably a synthetic resin material, and suitable resins include two-component resins that are hardened by mixing a main liquid and a hardening liquid, and one-component resins that are hardened by ultraviolet light. The sound quality improving fastener for wind instruments of the present invention can be used in place of a standard ligature fastener attached to the mouthpiece that receives the vibration of the reed or a fastener at the neck joint. It can also be used in place of a standard fastener for inserting the mouthpiece into the mouthpiece of a brass fugelhorn to adjust and fix the pitch.

[0021] A second aspect of the present invention is a sound quality improving fastener for wind instruments, which comprises a female screw portion having a groove cut into the inner surface of a cylindrical hole to receive a male screw portion, and a gripping portion connected to the female screw portion and having a vibration damping material formed by mixing and solidifying a metal and resin material having vibration damping properties, or the female screw portion is formed inside the gripping portion. By providing a vibration-damping member in a fastener having a female screw portion, the resonant vibration of the mouthpiece can be damped and suppressed simply by using the sound quality improving fastener for wind instruments of the second aspect of the present invention and fixing it to the tip of a normal fastener of a ligature, etc., and the blowing feel, sound quality, and volume can be adjusted to suit the user's needs. The material of the female screw portion is preferably iron, nickel silver, brass, stainless steel, pure titanium, or a titanium alloy, and more preferably pure titanium or a titanium alloy.The material of the vibration-damping member is preferably a mixture of one type of vibration-damping alloy powder or a mixture of multiple types of vibration-damping alloy powders and a synthetic resin material, which has been kneaded and solidified.

[0022] A sound quality improving fastener for wind instruments according to a third aspect of the present invention comprises a female screw portion having a groove cut into the inner surface of a cylindrical hole to receive the male screw portion of the sound quality improving fastener for wind instruments according to the first aspect of the present invention, and a gripping portion having a vibration-damping material formed by mixing and solidifying a metal and resin material having vibration-damping properties connected to the female screw portion, or the female screw portion is formed inside the gripping portion. By providing a vibration-damping member to a fastener having a female screw portion corresponding to the sound quality improving fastener for wind instruments of the first aspect of the present invention, the resonant vibration of the mouthpiece can be damped and suppressed simply by using the sound quality improving fastener for wind instruments of the third aspect of the present invention and fixing it to the tip of the sound quality improving fastener for wind instruments of the first aspect of the present invention, and the blowing feel, sound quality, and volume can be adjusted in a more versatile manner to suit the user's needs. The material of the female screw portion is preferably iron, nickel silver, brass, stainless steel, pure titanium, or a titanium alloy, and more preferably pure titanium or a titanium alloy.The material of the vibration-damping member is preferably a mixture of one type of vibration-damping alloy powder or a mixture of multiple types of vibration-damping alloy powders and a synthetic resin material, which has been kneaded and solidified.

[0023] In the sound quality improving fastener for wind instruments according to any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention, a vibration-damping member is preferably housed inside the housing of the grip. For example, the fastener can be produced by kneading a vibration-damping alloy powder with a synthetic resin material, pouring the mixture into the housing of the grip, and solidifying it. By kneading not only the vibration-damping alloy powder but also the synthetic resin, vibration transmission is accelerated, further improving the vibration-damping performance of the fastener, leading to a reduction in size and weight. The material of the housing is preferably pure magnesium, magnesium alloy, pure titanium, titanium alloy, nickel silver, brass, pure aluminum, aluminum alloy, or a combination thereof. Furthermore, instead of using a metal housing, the vibration-damping member may be directly connected to the male screw portion, or a fixing nut may be glued to the vibration-damping member and then screwed onto the male screw portion to secure the member in place. In such cases, the vibration-damping member may serve as the gripping portion, or a viscoelastic body made of a polymer gel having damping properties and elasticity may be provided around the vibration-damping member to serve as the gripping portion. The viscoelastic body made of a polymer gel also contributes to improving the anti-slip effect and vibration-damping performance.

[0024] The sound quality improving fastener for a wind instrument according to any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention may have a magnet provided in the grip portion. The magnet may be provided in a location where no male or female thread is provided, and is preferably provided at the end on the side where no male or female thread is provided. By providing a magnet in the grip portion, the mass of the target part increases, lowering the natural frequency and providing the effect of further damping resonant vibrations, further increasing the volume. Additionally, a magnet or a component made of a ferromagnetic metal such as iron, cobalt, or nickel, and a vibration-damping component may be attached to the sound quality improving fastener for wind instruments of the present invention. In such cases, a bird feather or leaf may be sandwiched between the magnet constituting the component and the magnet attached to the sound quality improving fastener for wind instruments of the present invention while playing. By sandwiching a bird feather or leaf between the magnets, the feather's body vibrates in response to even the most sympathetic vibrations of the instrument, further damping and suppressing the sympathetic vibrations, improving the instrument's response and playing feel. In this way, players can customize the sound quality and volume to their own preferences.

[0025] In the sound quality improving fastener for wind instruments according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the male screw portion has a slit in the thread and a wide crest of the thread. This generates outward stress at the crest of the thread when the female screw portion and the male screw portion are screwed together, and the threads of the screwed portion are evenly distributed throughout, resulting in more contact with the female screw portion. This allows more vibrations from the instrument to be transmitted through the male screw portion to the vibration-damping member of the grip portion, improving the playing feel, volume, and sound quality. Another advantage is that the female screw portion and the male screw portion can be screwed together without loosening.

[0026] In the sound quality improving fastener for wind instruments according to any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention, the resin material is a resin liquid, the metal is a powdered metal made of any one of manganese alloy, pure magnesium, magnesium alloy, aluminum, or aluminum alloy, or a combination thereof, and the compounding ratio of the resin material to the metal is preferably 1:1 to 1:3. If the amount of resin is too small, the fluidity during kneading is low, making it difficult to pour into the housing, and molding becomes complicated. On the other hand, if the amount of resin is too large, there is a problem that the improvement in sound quality, etc. cannot be sufficiently obtained. Therefore, the compounding ratio of the resin to the metal is set to this range.

[0027] When the sound quality improving fastener for wind instruments of the present invention is used, the vibration-damping metal acts to dampen and suppress the resonant vibration at the joint between the mouthpiece and neck of the instrument, which causes the vibration of the instrument body to increase and the sound to become louder. To explain this, it is necessary to consider the vibration of the instrument in two parts.

[0028] The first is the amplitude waveform of the reed vibration caused by exhalation that is transmitted from the mouthpiece to the instrument body, and the second is the amplitude waveform of the air vibration sound that is generated by the reed vibration caused by the same exhalation that passes through the instrument.

[0029] The difference in vibrations mentioned above is that the vibrations of a person's voice that pass through the skull appear as the resonant vibration amplitude waveform of the instrument's tube, and the vibrations that come out of the mouth and are heard as air vibrations appear as the instrument's sound, that is, the airborne sound amplitude waveform. If we consider this difference, it is like suppressing the vibrations of the voice that pass through the skull to increase the volume of the voice. Next, we will explain why reed vibrations increase from two perspectives: the resonant vibration amplitude waveform of the instrument's tube, and the airborne sound amplitude waveform inside the instrument.

[0030] This invention provides a damping material on the standard ligature fastener or neck joint fastener that receives the vibrations generated by the reed. These materials dampen and suppress the amplitude waveform of the sympathetic vibration transmitted from the reed to the instrument body via the mouthpiece, disrupting the movement of this amplitude waveform, causing it to become out of sync with the sympathetic amplitude waveform that was in tune with the reed vibration. This creates an environment where the sympathetic vibration that was a burden on the reed's vibration performance is eliminated, causing the reed to behave as if it were lighter when played, allowing it to perform at its original performance and significantly increasing the reed vibration frequency even with the same amount of breath.

[0031] As a result, the amplitude waveform of the airborne vibrations resulting from the sound passing through the second instrument increases significantly, further amplifying the vibrations within the instrument. Compared to commercially available fasteners, the sound quality improvement fasteners for wind instruments made from titanium, magnesium, etc. are approximately half the weight and lightweight of conventional fasteners. In an alto saxophone, the amplitude frequency of the reed vibrates 700 times per second with a standard fastener. This increases the amplitude frequency of the sound generated per second to 2,100 times, three times that of a standard fastener, significantly expanding the dynamic range of the instrument. Compared to the frequency spectrum of a standard fastener, the frequency spectrum of the sound quality improvement fastener for wind instruments of the present invention exhibits more treble overtones in the 3 kHz to 20 kHz range, resulting in a richer sound quality, allowing for tighter, more cohesive, and more delicate tones to be played, and making it easier to produce high-pitched harmonics.

[0032] This configuration increases the volume, and in the case of the clarinet, the perforated keys allow the player to feel the increased vibrations in the instrument with their fingertips. This increased response from the instrument gives the player greater control over the sound, improving their playing ability, expressiveness, and appeal. [Effects of the Invention]

[0033] According to the sound quality improvement device of the present invention, by forcibly breaking up the amplitude waveform of the resonant vibration transmitted from the reed vibration to the instrument, the volume increases, making it easier to play, and improving the expressiveness of the sound. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0034] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a sound quality improving fastener for a wind instrument according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] Enlarged view and cross-sectional image of the gripping part [Figure 3] Male screw part illustration [Figure 4] Image of how the sound quality improvement fastener for wind instruments of Example 1 is used [Figure 5] Front view and cross-sectional image of the sound quality improvement fastener for wind instruments of Example 2 [Figure 6] 1 is a perspective view of a sound quality improving fastener for a wind instrument according to a second embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 7] Image of the use of the sound quality improvement fastener for wind instruments in Example 2 [Figure 8] Front view of the sound quality improving fastener for wind instruments of Example 3 [Figure 9] Image of the use of the sound quality improvement fastener for wind instruments in Example 3 [Figure 10] Front view of the sound quality improving fastener for wind instruments of Example 4 [Figure 11] Image of the use of the sound quality improvement fastener for wind instruments in Example 4 [Figure 12] Image of the alto saxophone's exterior [Figure 13] An explanatory diagram of a comparative example of a ligature fastener [Figure 14] Amplitude wave spectrum distribution diagram when the sound quality improvement fastener for wind instruments of Example 1 is used as a fastener for a ligature [Figure 15] Amplitude wave spectrum distribution diagram when the sound quality improvement fastener for wind instruments of Example 1 is used as a neck screw [Figure 16] Image of use with a two-piece ligature DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0035] An example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following examples and illustrated examples, and many modifications and variations are possible. [Example]

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a sound quality improving fastener for wind instruments according to a first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the sound quality improving fastener for wind instruments 1 of the first embodiment is composed of a gripping portion 2 having a vibration-damping material formed by mixing and solidifying a metal and resin material having vibration-damping properties, and a cylindrical male screw portion 3 for attachment to the wind instrument, with the gripping portion 2 connected to the male screw portion 3. The sound quality improving fastener for wind instruments 1 weighs approximately 10 g, has a longitudinal length of approximately 40 mm, and has a diameter of approximately 9 mm. The male screw portion 3 is made of titanium. The outer surface of the gripping portion 2 is provided with fine irregularities to prevent slipping. The sound quality improving fastener for wind instruments 1 can be used as a fastener for wind instruments such as saxophones. Here, an alto saxophone will be used as an example.

[0037] Fig. 12 shows an external view of an alto saxophone. As shown in Fig. 12, an alto saxophone 8 uses a ligature 5 to secure a reed 84 to a mouthpiece 82. The sound quality improving fastener 1 for wind instruments can be used as a fastener for securing the ligature 5. The sound quality improving fastener 1 for wind instruments can also be used as a neck screw 81 for the alto saxophone 8. In this embodiment, an example of use as a fastener for securing the ligature 5 will be described.

[0038] Figure 13 is an explanatory diagram of a ligature fastener of a comparative example. The ligature 5 shown in Figure 13 is an example of a common ligature. The ligature 5 consists of a ligature body 51 and a fastener 53, and a reed 84 is fixed to a mouthpiece 82 by screwing the fastener 53 into female screw portions (52a, 52b) provided on the ligature body 51. The fastener 53 has a roughly disk-shaped gripping portion, and the female screw portions (52a, 52b) are tightened by rotating the gripping portion.

[0039] Figure 2 shows an enlarged view and a cross-sectional image of the gripping part, with (1) being the enlarged view and (2) being the AA cross-sectional view of (1). The housing 21 of the gripping part 2 shown in Figure 2(1) is made of brass, but it may also be made of aluminum alloy, magnesium alloy, or titanium alloy. Inside the housing 21 of the gripping part 2, a vibration-damping member 4 is provided, as shown in Figure 2(2). The vibration-damping member 4 is made by mixing vibration-damping alloy powder and resin liquid, pouring it into the housing 21 of the gripping part 2, and solidifying it inside the housing 21 of the gripping part 2. The resin liquid is a two-component resin liquid that hardens by mixing a main liquid and a hardening liquid. Manganese alloy powder is also used as the vibration-damping alloy powder. Mixing and solidifying the resin liquid into the vibration-damping member 4, rather than just vibration-damping alloy powder, accelerates vibration transmission and improves the vibration-damping performance of the fastener. The vibration-damping member 4 may also include a viscoelastic material such as a polymer gel.

[0040] FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the male screw portion, with (1) showing the non-threaded state and (2) showing the threaded state. As shown in FIG. 3(1), the male screw portion 3 has a wide crest 30 of the thread 3a and a slit 3b. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3(2), when the female screw portion 52a and the male screw portion 3 are threaded together, the thread 3a firmly contacts the thread groove 54, generating outward stress at the crest 30 of the thread 3a. This structure not only ensures that the female screw portion 52a and the male screw portion 3 are threaded together without loosening, but also ensures that the entire thread 3a of the threaded portion is evenly distributed and comes into contact with the female screw portion 52a more frequently, allowing more vibrations from the instrument to be transmitted through the male screw portion 3 to the vibration-damping member 4 of the grip portion 2, improving the playing feel, volume, and sound quality. Unlike the structure of the male screw portion 3 of this embodiment, the grip portion 2 may be connected to a general male screw portion that does not have a slit in the thread and does not have a wide top.

[0041] Figure 4 shows an image of how the sound quality improving fastener for wind instruments of Example 1 is used. As shown in Figure 4, sound quality improving fastener for wind instruments 1 can be screwed into the female threads (52a, 52b) provided on ligature body 51 in place of fastener 53, thereby fixing reed 84 to mouthpiece 82. Because fastener 53 and sound quality improving fastener for wind instruments 1 have the same nominal diameter, no separate fixing device is required. Simply by using sound quality improving fastener for wind instruments 1 in place of fastener 53, it is possible to easily improve the playing feel, volume, and sound quality while still looking good.

[0042] An experiment was conducted using the sound quality improvement fastener 1 for wind instruments. As shown in Figure 12, for an alto saxophone 8, a neck 83 was connected to the neck joint 80 at the top of the saxophone body, and a mouthpiece 82 was attached to the neck 83. A reed 84 was attached to the mouthpiece 82 using a ligature 5. Ligatures generally come in two types: a "normal tightening" type, in which the fastening screw is located on the reed side, and a "reverse tightening" type, in which the fastening screw is located on the opposite side of the reed. Here, a "reverse tightening" type ligature was used. The instrument used was a Conn, the mouthpiece was a Yamaha 4C, the reed 84 was a Légère 2, and the ligature 5 was a Selmer reverse tightening single screw type. The measurement method involved using an alto saxophone 8 with the reed 84 secured to the mouthpiece 82 using the ligature 51 and the sound quality improvement fastener 1 for wind instruments. The scale "C#" was played with both fingers off the key, and the amplitude and frequency of the normal state were measured using a sound scope. The results showed that the reed was vibrating 700 times per second, with the amplitude spectrum distributed as shown in Figure 14.

[0043] Next, a reed 84 was fixed to the mouthpiece 82 of an alto saxophone 8 with the standard fastener 53 of the ligature 5, and a sound quality improvement fastener 1 for wind instruments was used as the neck screw for the neck joint 80, and a sound scope measurement test was conducted while playing. Again, the instrument used was a Conn, the mouthpiece 82 was a Yamaha 4C, the reed 84 was a Légère 2, and the ligature 5 was a Selmer reverse-tightening single screw type, and measurements were taken while playing the note C# with both fingers off the key. The audioscope measurement results showed that the reed was vibrating 2100 times per second, a three-fold increase in vibration. The frequency spectrum, as shown in Figure 15, had changed compared to Figure 14. [Example]

[0044] FIG. 5 shows a front view and a cross-sectional image of a sound quality improving fastener for wind instruments according to a second embodiment, with (1) showing the front view and (2) showing a cross-sectional view of (1) taken along the line B-B. The sound quality improving fastener for wind instruments 6 shown in FIG. 5(1) is a female-threaded fastener. A female threaded portion 62 is provided inside a cylindrical hole in a housing 61, with a groove cut into the inner surface of the cylindrical hole to accommodate the male threaded portion (3, 31). The housing 61 is made of a titanium alloy. The outer surface of the housing 61 is provided with fine irregularities to prevent slipping, similar to the gripping portion 2, and functions as a gripping portion. A vibration-damping member 4 is provided inside the housing 61, as shown in FIG. 5(2). The vibration-damping member 4 is formed by mixing a vibration-damping alloy powder and a resin liquid, pouring the mixture into the housing 61, and solidifying it inside the housing 61. The vibration-damping member 4 is made by mixing and solidifying not only the vibration-damping alloy powder but also the resin liquid, which speeds up vibration transmission and improves the vibration-damping performance of the fastener.

[0045] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the sound quality improving fastener for wind instruments of Example 2, where (1) shows the fastener of Example 1, (2) shows the male screw type fastener of Example 2, and (3) shows an image of attaching the male screw type fastener to the male screw type fastener of Example 2. The sound quality improving fastener for wind instruments 1 shown in Figure 6(1) and the sound quality improving fastener for wind instruments 1a shown in Figure 6(2) are both male screw-type fasteners, but the lengths of the male screw portions are different. That is, the length L2 of the male screw portion 31 of the sound quality improving fastener for wind instruments 1a is longer than the length L1 of the male screw portion 3 of the sound quality improving fastener for wind instruments 1, and this structure makes it easier to fix the sound quality improving fastener for wind instruments 6, which is a female screw-type fastener, as shown in Figure 6(3). Apart from the length of the male screw portion, the structure of the sound quality improving fastener for wind instruments 1a is the same as that of the sound quality improving fastener for wind instruments 1.

[0046] FIG. 7 shows an image of the use of the wind instrument sound quality improvement fastener of Example 2. As shown in FIG. 7, wind instrument sound quality improvement fastener 1a, like wind instrument sound quality improvement fastener 1, can secure a reed 84 to a mouthpiece 82 by threading it into the female threads (52a, 52b) provided on ligature body 51 instead of fastener 53. Furthermore, wind instrument sound quality improvement fastener 6 can be easily attached by threading female thread 62 of wind instrument sound quality improvement fastener 6 into male thread 31 protruding from female thread 52b. Simply using wind instrument sound quality improvement fastener 1a instead of fastener 53 can change the playing feel, volume, and sound quality. However, using wind instrument sound quality improvement fastener 6 in combination with fastener 53 can further change the playing feel, volume, and sound quality, allowing for a wider variety of sound quality to be enjoyed. For example, in the case of a ligature that uses two fasteners for fastening, only one of the fasteners may be replaced with wind instrument sound quality improvement fastener 1a (6). [Example]

[0047] Figure 8 shows a front view of the sound quality improving fastener for wind instruments of Example 3. As shown in Figure 8, sound quality improving fastener for wind instruments 1b has a gripping portion 2 with a male screw portion 3 at one end and a magnet 7 at the other end. The magnet 7 is adhered to the gripping portion 2 using a known adhesive. The rest of the structure is the same as sound quality improving fastener for wind instruments 1. By providing the magnet 7, the natural frequency of the fastener can be lowered, thereby increasing the sound volume.

[0048] FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram of the use of the sound quality improving fastener for wind instruments of Example 3, where (1) shows an example of clamping an object, and (2) shows an example of attaching another vibration-damping member. As shown in FIG. 9(1), the sound quality improving fastener for wind instruments 1b has a magnet 7 at the end of the gripping portion 2, allowing for clamping of an object 90 using another magnet 7 or an iron member. Examples of the clamped object 90 include leaves and bird feathers, but other objects are also acceptable. In addition to providing the magnet 7, clamping the object 90 can further enhance the volume. For example, clamping a bird feather between the magnets 7 and attaching it as a neck screw further increases the volume and makes playing easier. This is presumably because the feather dissipates vibrations from the neck. This effect is not limited to bird feathers; leaves of the same size or paper can also achieve roughly the same effect. However, the effect varies depending on the thickness and quality of the leaf or paper. Therefore, by changing the clamped object 90, the volume, sound quality, and playing feel can be adjusted to the player's preferences. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 9(2), by attaching a sound quality improvement aid 9 provided with a magnet 7 or an iron member to the vibration damping member 4, the sound quality can be easily changed. [Example]

[0049] FIG. 10 shows a front view of the sound quality improving fastener for a wind instrument according to the fourth embodiment. As shown in FIG. The sound quality improving fastener 6a for wind instruments has a female screw portion 62 at one end and a magnet 7 at the other end. The magnet 7 is adhered to the grip portion 2 using a known adhesive. The rest of the structure is the same as that of the sound quality improving fastener 1 for wind instruments.

[0050] FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram of the use of the sound quality improving fastener for wind instruments of Example 4, where (1) shows an example of clamping an object, and (2) shows an example of attaching another vibration-damping member. As shown in FIG. 11(1), the sound quality improving fastener for wind instruments 6a is provided with a magnet 7, so that another magnet 7, an iron member, or the like can be used to clamp an object 90. For example, a leaf or a bird feather can be used as the clamped object 90, but other objects can also be used. By changing the clamped object 90, the playing feel, sound quality, and volume can be varied in a variety of ways. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 11(2), by attaching a sound quality improvement aid 9 provided with a magnet 7 or an iron member to the vibration damping member 4, the sound quality can be easily changed.

[0051] (Other Examples) FIG. 16 shows an image of use with a two-fastener ligature. The ligature body 51a shown in FIG. 16 is configured to be fastened using two fasteners. Therefore, two wind instrument sound quality improving fasteners 1a are screwed into the female screw portions (52a, 52b), and two wind instrument sound quality improving fasteners 6 are then screwed into the male screw portions 31 for attachment. It is also possible to replace one of the fasteners with a standard fastener 53, or to remove one of the wind instrument sound quality improving fasteners 6 for adjustment. It is possible to achieve a variety of blowing sensations, sound quality, and volume to suit the user's preferences. [Industrial Applicability]

[0052] The present invention is useful as a technique for improving the sound quality of wind instruments. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 1,1a,1b,6,6a Sound quality improvement fasteners for wind instruments 2 Grip part 3,31 Male thread part 3a screw thread 3b Slit 4. Vibration-damping members 5 Ligatures 7. Magnets 8 Alto Saxophone 9 Sound quality improvement aids 21,61 Case 30 Top 51,51a Ligature body 52a, 52b, 62 Female thread part 53 Fasteners 54 screw groove 80 Neck joint 81 Neck Screw 82 Mouthpiece 83 Neck 84 leads 90 Object L1, L2 length

Claims

1. This fastener for improving sound quality for wind instruments is characterized by comprising: a male screw portion with a cylindrical thread that is attached to the wind instrument; and a grip portion connected to the head of the male screw portion, the grip portion having a vibration-damping material formed by mixing and solidifying a metal and resin material having vibration-damping properties.

2. A sound quality improving fastener for wind instruments, characterized in that it has a female screw portion with a groove cut into the inner surface of a cylindrical hole to receive a male screw portion, and a gripping portion connected to the female screw portion and having a vibration damping material made by mixing and solidifying a metal and resin material with vibration damping properties, or the female screw portion is formed inside the gripping portion.

3. A sound quality improving fastener for wind instruments, characterized in that it comprises a female screw portion having a groove cut into the inner surface of a cylindrical hole to accept the male screw portion of the sound quality improving fastener for wind instruments described in claim 1, and a gripping portion having a vibration-damping material formed by mixing and solidifying a metal and resin material having vibration-damping properties connected to the female screw portion, or the female screw portion is formed inside the gripping portion.

4. 4. The sound quality improving fastener for a wind instrument according to claim 1, wherein the vibration damping member is housed inside a housing of the grip portion.

5. 5. The sound quality improving fastener for a wind instrument according to claim 4, wherein a magnet is provided in the gripping portion.

6. 2. The sound quality improving fastener for a wind instrument according to claim 1, wherein the male screw portion has a slit in the thread and a wide top portion of the thread.

7. The resin material is a resin liquid, the metal is a powdered metal consisting of any one of manganese alloy, pure magnesium, magnesium alloy, aluminum, aluminum alloy, or a combination thereof; 4. The sound quality improving fastener for a wind instrument according to claim 1, wherein the compounding ratio of said resin material to said metal is 1:1 to 1:3.

Images