Chimney Member Tone Altering Apparatus for Wind Instruments

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Solution Overview

Problem

Musical wind instruments often have tone holes spaced too far apart, making it difficult for users with small, short, or compromised fingers to produce desired pitches, leading to compromised acoustic integrity and requiring cumbersome structural extension keys.

Innovation Solution

A tone-altering apparatus with a chimney member is affixed to the barrel of the instrument, creating a tone-altering channel that generates a chimney tonal frequency equal to the simulated tone frequency, reducing the distance between tone holes and allowing easier access and improved handling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If tone holes are spaced far apart to achieve desired pitch frequencies, then the pitch accuracy is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates as users with small or compromised fingers cannot reach the distant tone holes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepitch accuracyVSAvoidaccessibility of tone holes

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces a lateral dimension by extending keys that protrude outward from the instrument body, allowing tone holes to be accessed from the side rather than requiring longitudinal reach along the instrument. This dimensional shift enables users with limited finger length to cover tone holes that would otherwise be out of reach.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The extended key acts as an intermediary mechanism between the user's finger and the tone hole. Instead of the finger directly covering the tone hole, the extended key serves as a mediator that transmits the covering action from a more accessible location to the distant tone hole, solving the reachability problem while maintaining pitch accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If structural extension keys are added to extend reach to distant tone holes, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity and weight increase making the instrument more cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility of tone holesVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the key structure into modular extended portions that can be selectively added only where needed to reach specific distant tone holes. Rather than adding a complex overall extension mechanism, individual key segments are extended locally, reducing overall device complexity while improving accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The extension keys are implemented with local quality by providing extensions only at specific locations where tone holes are difficult to reach, rather than uniformly extending all keys. This localized approach minimizes added complexity and weight while targeting the specific accessibility problems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If structural extension keys are added to reach distant tone holes, then the ease of operation is improved, but the weight increases making the instrument more difficult to handle

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility of tone holesVSAvoidinstrument weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The extended keys are designed as simple, lightweight additions rather than complex permanent structures. They function as minimal-weight extensions that provide the necessary reach without adding significant mass to the instrument, treating them as simple functional additions rather than major structural components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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 users with limited dexterity to comfortably produce pitches equivalent to those produced by distant tone holes without the need for structural extension keys, enhancing ergonomics and sound quality.

Implementation Method 1

When a sound wave resonates it repetitively travels back and forth between two reflectors. The frequency or pitch of the sound heard is a function of its velocity and the distance between these reflectors.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic resonance: Resonance

Data Source

PatentUS11127382B1Tone-altering apparatus and method for musical wind instruments

Publication Date: 2021.09.21 RUGGLES RICHARD

AI summary

A tone-altering apparatus and method for musical wind instruments wherein the apparatus, used in combination with a musical wind instrument, comprises a chimney member with an upper chimney surface defining an upper enclosed aperture, with a chimney sidewall extending through one of a plurality of tone holes and defining a tone-altering channel, and with a lower chimney surface defining a lower enclosed aperture, the lower enclosed aperture and the upper enclosed aperture separating the tone-altering channel. The method of ergonomic altering the tone within a musical wind instrument comprises the steps of providing a musical wind instrument, providing a simulated tone hole generating a simulated tonal frequency, and affixing the chimney member to the barrel of the musical wind instrument to generate a chimney tonal frequency substantially equal to the simulated tonal frequency and provide a chimney member length less than the simulated tone hole length.