Pad and woodwind instrument

Abstract

This pad (23) for blocking a tone hole (12) of a woodwind instrument (1) comprises: a disk-shaped base material (31); a disk-shaped center core (32) provided to the base material (31); and a coating material (33) that covers the outer surface of the base material (31) and the center core (32) and uses collagen as a main raw material.

Description

Pads and woodwind instruments

[0001] The present invention relates to pads that cover tone holes and woodwind instruments that use pads.

[0002] Various woodwind instruments, such as piccolos, flutes, oboes, clarinets, saxophones, and bassoons, have been known for some time. These woodwind instruments can be adjusted to a desired pitch by manipulating levers and keys with the fingers and selectively covering multiple holes in the tube with pads.

[0003] The pads used in such woodwind instruments are formed in a disk shape. For example, the pads are formed by covering a core such as a backing card and felt with a covering material. Also, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3216324, a technique for pads used in such woodwind instruments is known in which an elastic body made of rubber or the like is interposed between the felt and the covering material.

[0004] Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3216324

[0005] The pads described above use natural hides such as animal intestines, bladders, or skin as covering materials for the cores made of felt or other materials. However, natural hides vary in strength and thickness. As a result, pads made of natural hides may have poor durability or poor dimensional accuracy due to uneven thickness. Such pads may require high running costs and time for adjustment.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a pad and a woodwind instrument that can improve durability and dimensional accuracy.

[0007] One embodiment of the pad of the present invention is a pad for sealing a tone hole of a woodwind instrument, and comprises a disk-shaped base material, a disk-shaped core provided in the base material, and a coating material made primarily of collagen that covers the outer surfaces of the base material and the core.

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a pad and a woodwind instrument that can improve durability and dimensional accuracy.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the configuration of a woodwind instrument according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the woodwind instrument taken along line II-II in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the woodwind instrument taken along line II-II in FIG. 1, with the pads covering the tone holes. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the pads. FIG. 5 is a side view showing the configuration of the pads. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the pads. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing an enlarged view of the main components of the pads. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing an enlarged view of the main components of a pad of a comparative example.

[0010] The structure of a woodwind instrument using pads 23 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 8. Note that woodwind instruments that use pads 23 include piccolo, flute, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, saxophone, and bassoon, and therefore in this embodiment, a flute 1 will be used as an example of a woodwind instrument.

[0011] Fig. 1 is a plan view showing the configuration of a flute 1 as an example of a woodwind instrument according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the flute 1 taken along line II-II in Fig. 1 . Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the flute 1 taken along line II-II in Fig. 1 , showing the pads 23 covering the tone holes 12. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the pads 23, Fig. 5 is a side view showing the configuration of the pads 23, and Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the pads 23. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the outer peripheral edge of the pads 23 on an enlarged scale, and Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the outer peripheral edge of the pads 23 as a comparative example on an enlarged scale.

[0012] As shown in Figure 1, a flute 1, which is an example of a woodwind instrument, is formed in a tubular shape with one end closed and the other end open. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the flute 1 comprises a tubular body 10, a lip plate 11 provided on the body 10, a plurality of tone holes 12 that protrude cylindrically from the outer circumferential surface of the body 10, a plurality of keys 13 provided on the body 10 and capable of opening and closing each of the tone holes 12, a plurality of shafts 14 on which one or more keys 13 are rotatably provided, and a plurality of levers 15 for operating one or more of the plurality of shafts 14.

[0013] Such a flute 1 comprises a head joint 16, a body joint 17 connected to the head joint 16, and a foot joint 18 connected to the body joint 17. A lip plate 11 is provided on the head joint 16, and a plurality of keys 13, a plurality of shafts 14, and a plurality of levers 15 are provided on the body joint 17 and foot joint 18. By operating the keys 13 and / or levers 15, the flute 1 can produce a corresponding pitch by selectively closing the tone holes 12. Note that, although the example in Figure 1 shows an example of an H-tube foot joint 18, the foot joint 18 is not limited to this and may also be a C-tube.

[0014] The main body 10 is formed by integrally assembling a head joint 16, a body joint 17, and a foot joint 18. The end of the main body 10 opposite the end to which the body joint 17 of the head joint 16 is connected is closed, and the end of the foot joint 18 opposite the end to which the body joint 17 is connected is open, thereby forming a tube with one closed end.

[0015] The lip plate 11 is provided on the head joint 16. The lip plate 11 is formed with a mouthpiece 11a.

[0016] 2 and 3, the tone hole 12 is formed in a cylindrical shape that is integral with the main body 10. The tone hole 12 is formed in a cylindrical shape that protrudes in a radial direction perpendicular to the central axis of the main body 10, and by opening, the inside and outside of the main body 10 are fluidly connected.

[0017] 2 and 3, the key 13 includes, for example, an arm 21, a cup 22 fixed to the arm 21, and a pad 23 provided on the cup 22. Some of the multiple keys 13 have fasteners 24 that fasten the pad 23 to the cup 22. For example, some of the multiple keys 13 may be formed as ring keys.

[0018] The arm 21 is fixed to a core metal 42 (described later) of the shaft 14 and the cup 22. By connecting the shaft 14 and the cup 22, the arm 21 is formed so that the cup 22 can be rotated around the shaft 14 as a rotation axis by rotation of the shaft 14, and the shaft 14 can be rotated by operation of the cup 22.

[0019] The cup 22 is formed in a dish shape. As a specific example, the cup 22 has a top plate portion 22a formed in a disk shape and a tubular portion 22b provided on the top plate portion 22a. Here, the disk shape includes a shape without an opening as well as a shape with an opening in the center. However, for the sake of convenience, a shape without an opening in the center will be defined as a disk shape, and a shape with an opening in the center will be defined as an annular plate shape.

[0020] As shown in Fig. 2, the pad 23 moves away from the tone hole 12, thereby opening the opening of the tone hole 12. The pad 23 is also called a pad. As shown in Fig. 3, the pad 23 comes into contact with the tip of the tone hole 12, thereby closing the opening of the tone hole 12. The pad 23 is formed in the shape of a disk, or, as shown in Fig. 4, in the shape of an annular disk with an opening in the center. The pad 23 comprises a first substrate 31, a core 32, a covering material 33, and a second substrate 34.

[0021] The first substrate 31 is formed in a disk shape or an annular plate shape with an opening in the center. The first substrate 31 is formed from a resin material. The resin material forming the first substrate 31 is, for example, a material that has no or low moisture absorption, such as polyester. Furthermore, for example, the first substrate 31 has an adhesive layer formed of an adhesive or adhesive tape on the outer layers of both main surfaces.

[0022] The core 32 is formed in a disk shape or an annular plate shape with an opening in the center. The core 32 is formed, for example, from felt fabric. Note that the material of the core 32 may be a material other than felt fabric, as long as it can function as the pad 23. A first base material 31 is attached to one main surface of the core 32. Also, for example, the outer diameter of the core 32 is formed to be larger than the outer diameter of the first base material 31. The outer diameter of the core 32 is formed to be the same as or slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical portion 22b of the cup 22. The outer diameter of the core 32 is formed to be larger than the outer diameter of the tone hole 12.

[0023] The covering material 33 is formed to a predetermined film thickness. For example, the covering material 33 covers the outer surfaces of the integrally assembled first substrate 31 and core 32. Specifically, the covering material 33 covers the main surface and outer peripheral surface of the core 32 where the first substrate 31 is not provided with a predetermined tension, and is fixed to the first substrate 31 by being attached to the first substrate 31. For example, the covering material 33 may be formed in a film-like shape that is large enough to cover the outer surfaces of the integrally assembled first substrate 31 and core 32. The main surface of the covering material 33 facing the tone hole 12 of the core 32 is positioned at the center of the film-like shape of the covering material 33, and the covering material 33 is attached to the first substrate 31 in a state where it completely covers the core 32.

[0024] The covering material 33 is made of artificial leather and has moisture permeability. The covering material 33 is made of a material whose main raw material is collagen or cellulose.

[0025] For example, one covering material 33 is used for each pad 23, and the thickness of the covering material 33 is, for example, 0.03 mm to 0.04 mm. This is because a thickness thinner than the lower limit of 0.03 mm results in insufficient strength, while a thickness greater than the upper limit of 0.04 mm increases the difficulty of assembly (winding process). Here, assembly refers to a method of wetting the covering material 33, wrapping it around the core 32 and first substrate 31, and then, while drying with an iron, creating wrinkles on the first substrate 31 to secure it to the first substrate 31. If the thickness of the covering material 33 exceeds the upper limit, excess material may be produced when the wrinkles are created, or the thickness of the wrinkled area may increase. This is particularly noticeable in the case of relatively small pads 23, and therefore pads 23 for relatively large woodwind instruments may have a thickness exceeding this upper limit.

[0026] In addition, for example, the tensile strength of the covering material 33 is set to 15 N or more, preferably greater than 15 N, and more preferably 30 N or more, taking durability into consideration. The upper limit of the tensile strength of the covering material 33 is set within the strength range of artificial leather made from a material whose main raw material is collagen or cellulose. For example, the tensile strength of the covering material 33 is 40 N.

[0027] The second substrate 34 is formed in a disk shape or an annular plate shape with an opening in the center. The second substrate 34 is formed of a resin material. The resin material forming the second substrate 34 is, for example, a material that has no or low moisture absorption, such as polyester. The second substrate 34 also has adhesive layers formed of adhesive or adhesive tape on the outer layers of both main surfaces. For example, the second substrate 34 has the same configuration as the first substrate 31. For example, if the core 32 is disk-shaped, the first substrate 31 and the second substrate 34 are formed in a disk shape or annular plate shape, and if the core 32 is annular plate shape, the first substrate 31 and the second substrate 34 are formed in annular plate shape. The second substrate 34 is fixed on a covering material 33 fixed to the first substrate 31.

[0028] The thickness of the second substrate 34 is, for example, 0.25 mm or more, preferably 0.25 mm to 0.30 mm. The lower limit of the thickness of the second substrate 34 is a thickness that allows the wrapping of the covering material 33 on the first substrate 31 to form unevenness due to wrinkles, but the unevenness is not reflected in the second substrate 34 when the covering material 33 with unevenness is covered by the second substrate 34, resulting in a smooth surface. The upper limit of the thickness of the second substrate 34 may be any value that provides a favorable relationship between the thickness of the pad 23 and the depth of the cup 22. The first substrate 31 is set to the same thickness as the second substrate 34. This is because sharing parts reduces manufacturing costs. The thicknesses of the first substrate 31 and the second substrate 34 include, for example, adhesive layers when these layers are provided on both main surfaces of the substrates 31 and 34.

[0029] In such a pad 23, the thickness of the core 32 is formed to be thicker than the thicknesses of the first substrate 31 and the second substrate 34, and is also thicker than the thickness when the first substrate 31 and the second substrate 34 are laminated together. The thickness of the pad 23 is also greater than, for example, the depth of the cup 22, i.e., the height of the tubular portion 22b of the cup 22 from the top plate portion 22a. When the pad 23 is fixed in the cup 22, for example, the covering material 33 that covers part of the core 32 and the main surface of the core 32 protrudes from the cup 22.

[0030] The fixing device 24 includes, for example, a washer 24a and a screw 24b. The washer 24a is formed in a circular plate shape that abuts against the center of the pad 23. The head of the screw 24b is held by the washer 24a, and the tip is threaded into a female thread 22c formed in the cup 22 to which the pad 23 is fixed by the fixing device 24, thereby fixing the pad 23 placed in the cup 22 to the cup 22. Note that the pad 23 may be adhered to the top plate 22a of the cup 22 with an adhesive or adhesive tape or other affixing member without using the fixing device 24, or a combination of the fixing device 24 and an affixing member may be used. For example, a disc-shaped pad 23 without a central opening is fixed to the cup 22 with an affixing member rather than the fixing device 24. Even a disc-shaped pad 23 can be fixed to the cup 22 with an affixing member, even if the key 13 is a ring key.

[0031] The shaft 14 includes a plurality of posts 41 and a plurality of cores 42, each of which is rotatably supported by two or more posts 41. The shaft 14 also includes a spring that biases the cores 42 in one direction around one axis.

[0032] The plurality of posts 41 are fixed to the outer surface of the main body 10. Of the plurality of posts 41, at least the plurality of posts 41 that rotatably support the same core bar 42 are arranged side by side in one direction, for example, a direction along the central axis of the main body 10. Also, for example, some of the plurality of posts 41 are arranged side by side in the circumferential direction of the main body 10 so as to be able to support the core bar 42 in an orientation along the tangential direction of the outer peripheral surface of the main body 10.

[0033] The core metal 42 is formed in a columnar or cylindrical shape that is long in one direction. The core metal 42 is biased by a spring in a direction that moves the fixed keys 13 away from the tone holes 12, or in a direction that presses the pads 23 against the tone holes 12. The direction in which the spring biases the core metal 42 is set based on the initial positions of the multiple keys 13, i.e., the preset positions that cover the tone holes 12 and the positions that are spaced apart from the tone holes 12.

[0034] The lever 15 is connected to the core 42 and is configured so that, when operated, it can rotate the core 42. The lever 15 is formed on, for example, a part of the core 42.

[0035] The flute (woodwind instrument) 1 constructed in this manner uses a pad 23 whose outer surface is covered with a covering material 33, which is an artificial skin. Because the artificial skin is manufactured using a manufacturing device, it is formed flatter than natural skin and has a uniform thickness, without unevenness. In other words, the covering material 33 is uniform and does not have any uneven portions. By ensuring the uniformity of the thickness of the covering material 33, the covering material 33 does not become weak in parts, and durability can be improved.

[0036] By ensuring uniformity in thickness, the covering material 33 can improve the dimensional accuracy of the pad 23 using the covering material 33 relative to the cup 22, thereby improving workability and shortening the time required for assembling the pad 23 to the cup 22 and for adjustments after assembly. Furthermore, because the cup 22 and the pad 23 have an optimal dimensional relationship, when inserting the pad 23 into the cup 22, twisting of the pad 23 due to pressure-fitting the pad 23 into the cup 22 can be prevented, and water intrusion due to gaps occurring between the cup 22 and the pad 23 can be prevented.

[0037] Furthermore, in the process of covering the first base material 31 and the core 32 with the covering material 33 and securing the pad 23 to the cup 22, the covering material 33 is wound around the first base material 31 and the core 32 with tension applied to the covering material 33. Therefore, compared to conventional natural leather, which has an uneven thickness, the covering material 33 has a uniform thickness, so that the amount of shrinkage after being wound around the first base material 31 and the core 32 and secured thereto is uniform, and therefore the thickness of the covering material 33 after being wound around the first base material 31 and the core 32 is also uniform. This allows the pad 23 to abut uniformly against the tone hole 12. Furthermore, by abutting the pad 23 uniformly against the tone hole 12, a pressure area can be secured when the pad 23 is pressed against the tone hole 12, and the uniform applied load prevents rutting. Furthermore, the core 32 and covering material 33 can easily recover, which improves the life of the pad 23.

[0038] Furthermore, the pad 23 is prevented from absorbing moisture and expanding because the first substrate 31 and second substrate 34 provided on the main surface of the core 32 facing the cup 22 are made of a resin material. This prevents the pad 23 from changing thickness and allows it to be held in the cup 22 in an optimal positional relationship with the tone hole 12.

[0039] The pad 23 is configured such that a first substrate 31 is attached to one main surface of the core 32, a covering material 33 wrapped around the core 32 is fixed to the first substrate 31, and a second substrate 34 is attached to the covering material 33 fixed to the first substrate 31. Therefore, the portion of the covering material 33 fixed to the first substrate 31 is not exposed to the outside, and is covered by the second substrate 34.

[0040] As a result, the pad 23 can be fixed to the cup 22 in a preferred position. This effect will be specifically explained below using a comparative example shown in FIG. 8 . First, for example, in a pad 23A of the comparative example shown in FIG. 8 as a conventional technique, a backing 31A made of a paper base material is attached to one main surface of the core 32, and a covering material 33A made of natural leather is attached to the outer surface of the backing 31A. In this configuration, the backing 31A absorbs moisture and expands. Furthermore, because the portion of the covering material 33A attached to the backing 31A is exposed to the outside, the surface of the pad 23 facing the top plate 22a of the cup 22 becomes uneven rather than flat. Furthermore, if the backing 31A expands, there is a risk that the covering material 33A will further deform. For this reason, it can be difficult to position the pad 23A in the desired position relative to the cup 22, i.e., so that the main surface of the pad 23A that abuts the tone hole 12 is aligned in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the tubular portion 22b of the cup 22, and adjustment can take time.

[0041] In contrast, the pad 23 has a disk-shaped or annular plate-shaped second substrate 34 made of a resin material on the outer surface of the covering material 33 fixed to the first substrate 31, which is in contact with the top plate 22a of the cup 22, so that the pad 23 comes into contact with the top plate 22a on a flat surface or with an adhesive material provided on the top plate 22a. This allows the pad 23 to be fixed to the cup 22 in a preferred position.

[0042] Furthermore, by setting the thickness of the covering material 33 to 0.03 mm to 0.04 mm, it is possible to obtain suitable strength and to facilitate the assembly of the covering material 33 to the first base material 31 and the core 32. Conventional pads using natural leather use two covering materials each about 0.02 mm thick, which require the two sheets to be assembled to the core and backing at the same time. This results in low strength per sheet, and not only is strength reduced due to thickness variations and irregularities, but the combination of the two covering materials during assembly can also result in greater thickness variations and irregularities. However, by using one artificial leather covering material 33 with a thickness of 0.03 mm to 0.04 mm as in this embodiment, assembly is facilitated, the strength of each covering material 33 is improved, and thickness variations are reduced, making this preferable compared to conventional covering materials.

[0043] Furthermore, by making the first substrate 31 and the second substrate 34 have the same configuration, it is possible to reduce manufacturing costs. Furthermore, by making the thickness of the second substrate 34 0.25 mm or more, unevenness that occurs when the covering material 33 is wrapped around the second substrate 34 is not reflected, and the surface facing the cup 22 is made smooth. Therefore, the pad 23 can be fixed to the cup 22 with high precision.

[0044] As described above, the pad 23 and woodwind instrument 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention can improve durability and dimensional accuracy.

[0045] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. As described above, the pad 23 can be applied to various woodwind instruments 1, and the woodwind instrument 1 is not limited to a flute. Furthermore, the thickness of the covering material 33 can be appropriately set depending on the type of woodwind instrument 1 to which it is applied.

[0046] That is, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made in the implementation stage without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, the embodiments may be implemented in appropriate combinations, in which case the combined effects can be obtained. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments include various inventions, and various inventions can be extracted by combining selected elements from the disclosed elements. For example, if the problem can be solved and the desired effect can be obtained even if some elements are deleted from all elements shown in the embodiments, the configuration from which these elements are deleted can be extracted as an invention.

[0047] 1...flute (woodwind instrument), 10...body, 11...lip plate, 11a...mouthpiece, 12...tone hole, 13...key, 14...shaft, 15...lever, 16...head joint, 17...body joint, 18...foot joint, 21...arm, 22...cup, 22a...top plate portion, 22b...tubular portion, 23...pad, 23A...pad, 24...fixing device, 24a...washer, 24b...screw, 31...first base material, 31A...mounting cardboard, 32...core, 33...covering material, 33A...covering material, 34...second base material, 41...post, 42...core wire.

Claims

1. A pad for sealing a tone hole of a woodwind instrument, comprising: a disk-shaped base material; a disk-shaped core provided in said base material; and a covering material made primarily of collagen that covers the outer surfaces of said base material and said core.

2. The pad according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is a first substrate, the covering material is fixed to the first substrate, and the pad comprises a second substrate covering the covering material fixed to the first substrate.

3. The pad according to claim 2, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate are formed of a resin material.

4. A woodwind instrument comprising: a pad according to any one of claims 1 to 3; a cup to which said pad is fixed; and a body having formed therein tone holes that are closed by said cups.

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