Acute-Angled Headpiece for Symmetrical Transverse Flute Posture

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing transverse flutes require either a body posture aligned to one side, complex hand positions, or restricted sound quality due to the orientation of the head joint, leading to potential postural defects and uneven sound distribution.

Innovation Solution

A head joint with two legs arranged at an acute angle, forming an L-shape, allowing the transverse flute to be played with a straight posture and maintaining or improving sound quality by extending from one side to the other, enabling symmetrical arm and body posture and sound distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the head joint is oriented to the right side of the flautist, then the transverse flute can be played in the traditional position, but the flautist develops postural defects and experiences restricted breathing due to asymmetric body alignment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraditional playing positionVSAvoidpostural defects and restricted breathing

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry in reverse by creating a symmetric playing position through an asymmetric head joint design. The head joint features a first leg extending horizontally and a second leg extending vertically downward at a 90-degree angle, allowing the flute to be held symmetrically in front of the body rather than angled to the right side, thereby eliminating postural defects and breathing restrictions while maintaining traditional playing technique

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

2Length of moving object

If the head joint is bent by 180° to shorten the flute, then children can play more comfortably, but the sound field orientation remains restricted to one side

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflute lengthVSAvoidrestricted sound field orientation

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the head joint into two distinct legs: a first leg that extends horizontally from the embouchure hole and a second leg that extends vertically downward. This segmentation allows the flute to maintain a compact, child-friendly length while orienting the sound field vertically downward, enabling symmetric sound distribution in all directions rather than restricting it to one side

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If the head joint is made up of multiple angled parts, then the flute can be oriented vertically in front of the body, but the production becomes complex and sound quality is restricted due to pronounced curves

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevertical orientationVSAvoidcomplex head joint structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making the head joint a simple, localized 90-degree angular structure rather than a complex multi-part assembly with pronounced curves. The head joint consists of just two straight legs meeting at a right angle, which simplifies production while maintaining vertical orientation capability and preserving sound quality by avoiding disruptive curves in the air column path

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12112729B2Headpiece for a transverse flute, and transverse flute

Publication Date: 2024.10.08 MUMBERG ARND

AI summary

A headpiece is provided for a transverse flute having a first leg and a second leg, which is connectable to a tube of the transverse flute. The two legs are arranged at an acute angle to one another.