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US 10,380,980 B2Granted
Bass clarinets, including improvements to the register key and vent tube in bass clarinets, and related methods
AssigneeCannonball Musical Instruments
InventorsSheryl Laukat, Tevis Laukat, John Daron Bradford, Ryan Lillywhite
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is a bass clarinet that enables even splitting of the harmonics without compromising the efficacy of the instrument, without increasing manufacturing costs, and without the requirement of a clarinettist relearning how to play the instrument. It is further an object of the disclosure to describe bass clarinets with the ability to change harmonics without requiring the player to compensate with embouchure and air pressure.
Claims4
A bass clarinet comprising:
- a straight-bodied tube 2400 with (a) an upturned metal bell 2600 at one end and (b) a crook and a reeded mouthpiece 2100 at the other end;
- keyed holes 2300 at various positions along the body 2400 where the keyed holes 2300 are provided such that musical notes are produced by passing air into the mouthpiece 2100, through the straight-bodied tube 2400, and out of the bell 2600;
- wherein the clarinet 2000 is constructed of a neck 2700, an upper joint 2200, a middle joint 2250, a lower joint 2285 and the bell 2600;
- wherein the mouthpiece 2100 is coupled to the neck 2700, the upper joint 1200 is connected to the middle joint 1250 at an upper connection point 2225, the middle joint 2250 is connected to the lower joint 2285 at a middle connection point 2275, the lower joint 2285 is connected to the bell 1600 at the lower connection point 2295;
- a register key 2310 that closes or opens an associated vent tube via manipulation of the register key control spatula 2315;
- a supplementary vent hole key 2320 that closes or opens an associated supplementary vent hole positioned adjacent the bell 2600 and proximate a low E-flat key via either (a) the register key spatula 2315 or (b) a low E-flat key motion transfer paddle 2910 such that intonation is close to perfect (0 cents flat or sharp).
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.