# US 10,482,853 B1 · Pad ring retainer

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- Number: US 10,482,853 B1
- Document ID: US10482853B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 16/173,634
- Filed: 2018-10-29
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2018-10-29
- Applicants: Kanichi Nagahara
- Inventors: Kanichi Nagahara
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10482853B1

## CPC

- G10D 9/047: for wood wind instruments
- G10D 7/026: with air currents blown into an opening arranged on the cylindrical surface of the tube, e.g. transverse flutes, piccolos or fifes
- G10D: STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACCORDIONS OR CONCERTINAS; PERCUSSION MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; AEOLIAN HARPS; SINGING-FLAME MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (organs, harmoniums or similar wind musical instruments with associated blowing apparatus G10B; pianos, harpsichords, spinets or similar stringed musical instruments with one or more keyboards G10C; automatic musical instruments G10F; electrophonic musical instruments in which tones are generated by electromechanical means G10H)

## Abstract

A pad for a woodwind instrument is provided. The pad is formed of a pad material, and a pad ring retainer about a perimeter side edge of the pad material. The pad ring retainer is adapted to support the pad material as well as any membrane which encloses the pad material. As constructed, the pad utilizes the ring retainer as a type of internal skeleton to support the pad but also provide added flexibility and versatility to the pad.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A pad for a tonehole cover of a woodwind instrument comprising:
a pad material;
a pad ring retainer, the pad ring retainer having a vertical wall surrounding a vertical edge of the pad material; and
wherein the pad ring retainer comprises a lower side with an inward taper extending inwardly from the vertical wall, the pad material abutting and being supported by the inward taper, the taper compressing the pad material.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The pad of claim 1 further comprising a membrane surrounding the pad material and the pad ring retainer.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The pad of claim 2 wherein a top of the vertical wall of the pad ring retainer forms an angled transition for the membrane from the vertical edge of the pad material to a top surface of the pad material.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The pad of claim 3 wherein the angled transition is an approximately 90 degree angle.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The pad of claim 1 wherein the pad material comprises a base layer and a cushion layer.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The pad of claim 1 further comprising a back label on a rear face of the pad material.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The pad of claim 1 wherein the pad material defines an inner opening concentric with the vertical wall of the pad ring retainer.

### Claim 8

A pad assembly for a woodwind instrument comprising:
a key cup; and
a pad secured to the key cup, the pad comprising:
a pad material;
a pad ring retainer, the pad ring retainer having a vertical wall surrounding a vertical edge of the pad material; and
wherein the pad ring retainer comprises a lower side with an inward taper extending inwardly from the vertical wall, the pad material abutting and being supported by the inward taper, the taper compressing the pad material.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The pad assembly of claim 8 further comprising a membrane surrounding the pad material and the pad ring retainer.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The pad assembly of claim 9 wherein a top of the vertical wall of the pad ring retainer forms an angled transition for the membrane from the vertical edge of the pad material to a top surface of the pad material.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The pad assembly of claim 1 wherein the angled transition is an approximately 90 degree angle.

### Claim 12

A woodwind instrument comprising:
a body;
a plurality of toneholes formed by the body;
a plurality of key cups, each positioned adjacent to one of the plurality of toneholes, each key cup movable between an open position allowing air flow through the adjacent one of the plurality of toneholes, and a closed position preventing air flow through the adjacent one of the plurality of toneholes; and
a pad secured to each of the plurality of key cups, each pad comprising:
a pad material;
a pad ring retainer, the pad ring retainer having a vertical wall surrounding a vertical edge of the pad material; and
wherein the pad ring retainer comprises a lower side with an inward taper extending inwardly from the vertical wall, the pad material abutting and being supported by the inward taper, the taper compressing the pad material.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The woodwind instrument of claim 12 wherein the instrument is one of a flute or a piccolo.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The woodwind instrument of claim 12 wherein the pad further comprises a membrane surrounding the pad material and the pad ring retainer.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The woodwind instrument of claim 14 wherein a top of the vertical wall of the pad ring retainer forms an angled transition for the membrane from the vertical edge of the pad material to a top surface of the pad material.