Wind Instrument Mute with Segmented Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mutes for wind instruments cannot be stored compactly with the instrument due to their design, making them cumbersome to carry and store, especially in limited spaces like musical instrument cases.
Innovation Solution
A mute design featuring a pipe-like hollow body and head with a sliding rod-like member, allowing the mute to be disassembled and stored entirely within the instrument's bell, while maintaining functionality by reconnecting for use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the mute is designed with a conventional structure (body extending beyond bell), then the mute can maintain its structural integrity and functionality, but the mute cannot be stored within the bell space
Solution Approach 1:
The mute is divided into two separable parts: a body portion and a head portion. The body portion has a first open end that abuts the bell, and the head portion contains the sound-absorbing material. This segmentation allows the mute to be disassembled for compact storage within the bell while maintaining full functionality when assembled.
Solution Approach 2:
The head portion is designed to be insertable into the body portion, creating a nested configuration during storage. The second open end of the body portion receives the head portion, allowing both components to occupy minimal space within the bell when not in use.
2Volume of moving object
If the mute is designed to be compact for storage, then the mute can be stored within the bell, but the mute requires complex assembly and disassembly operations
Solution Approach 1:
The mute is divided into two separable parts: a body portion and a head portion. The body portion has a first open end that abuts the bell, and the head portion contains the sound-absorbing material. This segmentation allows the mute to be disassembled for compact storage within the bell while maintaining full functionality when assembled.
Solution Approach 2:
The head portion is designed to be insertable into the body portion, creating a nested configuration during storage. The second open end of the body portion receives the head portion, allowing both components to occupy minimal space within the bell when not in use.
3Volume of moving object
If the mute is designed with a simple structure, then the mute is easy to manufacture, but the mute cannot be stored within the bell space
Solution Approach 1:
The mute is divided into two separable parts: a body portion and a head portion. The body portion has a first open end that abuts the bell, and the head portion contains the sound-absorbing material. This segmentation allows the mute to be disassembled for compact storage within the bell while maintaining full functionality when assembled.
Solution Approach 2:
The head portion is designed to be insertable into the body portion, creating a nested configuration during storage. The second open end of the body portion receives the head portion, allowing both components to occupy minimal space within the bell when not in use.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
A mute is provided that can be stored together with a wind instrument. A mute 1 comprises a main body portion 10, a rod-like member 50, and an inner head 60. The main body portion 10 comprises a body 20, a head 30, and a connecting member 40. When in use, a large diameter end 21 of the body 20 is connected to a large diameter end 31 of the head 30. When the inner head 60 is in a bell 3, the body 20 is fixed to the inner circumferential face of the bell 3. For storage, the mute 1 is reassembled into a mode for storage in which the body is separated from the head 30, the head 30 is in the head 30, and the inner head 60 is in the head 30. The entire mute 1 reassembled into this mode is in the bell 3.