Adhesive Tone Hole Covers for Small-Handed Saxophone Players
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Solution Overview
Problem
Small-handed individuals face difficulty playing woodwind instruments like the saxophone due to bulky palm keys that are hard to reach, leading to incorrect notes and frustration, with limited affordable solutions available for adjusting the instrument size.
Innovation Solution
A device that removes bulky woodwind keys and seals the related tone holes with airtight and watertight cover pieces, allowing for easier access and playability by adhering flexible adhesive discs to the tone hole chimneys.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If palm keys are kept on the saxophone, then the instrument can play all notes properly, but small-handed players cannot reach the keys easily
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the bulky palm keys (D, D#, F) from the saxophone, extracting only the necessary tone hole sealing function while eliminating the problematic key mechanisms that prevent small-handed players from reaching the instrument.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses inexpensive adhesive cover pieces that can be easily applied and removed to seal the tone holes formerly accessed by palm keys, providing a temporary or permanent solution without requiring expensive custom instrument modifications.
2Ease of operation
If palm keys are removed, then small-handed players can reach around the instrument, but the tone holes need to be sealed properly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible adhesive discs that conform to the tone hole chimney surface, creating a reliable seal while allowing the tone hole to remain accessible when needed. The flexible material adapts to the instrument's curvature and maintains sealing integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive cover piece acts as an intermediary between the tone hole opening and the player's hand, providing a sealed closure that prevents air leakage while allowing the tone hole to be accessed when the cover is removed.
3Stability of the object's composition
If standard-sized saxophone is used, then the instrument maintains its original structure, but small-handed students experience frustration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the saxophone's key mechanism by removing only the specific palm keys (D, D#, F) while leaving the rest of the instrument structure intact, allowing selective modification without compromising overall structural integrity or requiring complete instrument replacement.
4Ease of operation
If 1/4 scale violins are made for smaller students, then accessibility is improved, but smaller scale saxophones are expensive and rare
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring expensive custom-scale saxophones, the patent uses inexpensive adhesive cover pieces that can be applied to standard saxophones, providing an affordable alternative to costly instrument customization while achieving the same accessibility goal.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables small-handed players to comfortably reach and play the saxophone by making the instrument more slender, reducing errors and frustration, and providing a cost-effective solution not previously available.
Implementation Method 1
adhering flexible adhesive discs to the tone hole chimneys
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure describes a device for sealing woodwind musical instrument tone holes.