Angled Flute Head Joint Redistributes Weight Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
The transverse Western Concert flute's straight cylindrical shape leads to unnatural playing positions, causing significant muscular stress on the user's arm, neck, and back muscles due to the weight being solely supported by extended arms, rather than the body.
Innovation Solution
A downward and outward-sloping head joint design for the flute, which allows the instrument to be held closer to the body, redistributing the weight and reducing strain by introducing a vertical and horizontal component to the weight force-vector, thereby alleviating muscular stress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the flute is held in a straight cylindrical position parallel to the ground, then the instrument can be played with both hands while keeping arms close to the body, but the weight of the instrument places significant stress on the user's arm, back, and neck muscles
Solution Approach 1:
The head joint is designed to slope downward and outward at an angle of approximately 30-45 degrees from the horizontal plane, changing the instrument's orientation from a straight cylindrical shape to a angled configuration. This dimensional change allows the flute to be held closer to the body, redistributing the weight force-vector into vertical and horizontal components, thereby reducing muscular stress on the arms, back, and neck while maintaining playing comfort.
2Weight of moving object
If the flute is held parallel to the ground at a right angle to the head, then the entire weight of the instrument must be supported by the outstretched arms, but no prior art devices modify the instrument shape to reduce this stress
Solution Approach 1:
The head joint incorporates a downward and outward slope of approximately 30-45 degrees, changing the instrument's spatial orientation. This modifies the weight force-vector by introducing vertical and horizontal components, allowing the instrument to be supported more naturally by the body rather than requiring outstretched arms to bear the entire weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The head joint breaks the symmetric cylindrical shape of the flute by introducing an asymmetric angled configuration. This asymmetric design allows the instrument to be held in a more ergonomic position closer to the body, redistributing the weight force and reducing stress on the arms and back while maintaining acoustic performance.
3Ease of operation
If the head joint is designed with a downward and outward slope, then the instrument can be held closer to the body reducing muscular stress, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The head joint is designed with a downward and outward slope of approximately 30-45 degrees from the horizontal plane. This angular configuration allows the flute to be held closer to the body in a more natural position, redistributing the weight force-vector and reducing muscular stress on the arms, back, and neck while maintaining ease of manufacture through standard machining techniques.
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
The ergonomic design significantly reduces fatigue and discomfort in the arm, neck, and back muscles while maintaining acoustic tone quality comparable to traditional flutes, making it easier to manufacture and more commercially viable.
Implementation Method 1
Holding the flute in this manner places the entire weight of the instrument on the user's outstretched arms. The downward and outward-sloping head joint introduces a vertical and horizontal component to the weight force-vector
Implementation Method 2
The stream of air flowing across a given hole in the flute creates a vibration of the air moving past that hole. This air stream moving across the hole creates a vacuum or Bernoulli Effect which causes the air moving inside the flute to resonate at a specific frequency.
Data Source
AI summary
An ergonomic flute having a head joint that bends slightly downward and away from the user thereby reducing the muscular stress of holding the instrument for long periods of time is disclosed herein.