Apparatus and method for chime dampening
AssigneeHayes-Ivy Mfg., Inc.
InventorPeter Knight
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus is disclosed for chime damping. A chime includes a suspension element from which hangs a sound generating element, such as one or more chime tubes or a side wall of a bell chime. A cord retractor is affixed to the suspension element and a center cord is secured to the cord retractor to be windable and unwindable between retracted and extended positions. A damper, a clapper, and/or a windcatcher are affixed to the center cord. Moving the center cord between retracted and extended positions alters the relative position of the damper, the clapper, and/or the windcatcher with respect to the suspension element and the sound generating element to cause noise generation or noise damping.
Claims20
A chime, comprising:
- a suspension element;
- a sound generating element extending from the suspension element;
- a cord retractor secured to the suspension element;
- a center cord secured to the cord retractor, the center cord windable and unwindable on the cord retractor between retracted and extended positions;
- a clapper secured to the center cord;
- and
- a windcatcher secured to the center cord below the clapper.
A chime, comprising:
- a suspension element;
- a sound generating element extending from the suspension element;
- a cord retractor secured to the suspension element;
- a center cord secured to the cord retractor, the center cord windable and unwindable on the cord retractor between retracted and extended positions;
- a damper secured to the center cord;
- a clapper secured to the center cord;
- and
- a windcatcher secured to the center cord below the damper and below the clapper.
A method for chime dampening, comprising:
- configuring a chime having:
- a suspension element;
- a sound generating element extending from the suspension element;
- a cord retractor secured to the suspension element;
- a center cord secured to the cord retractor, the center cord windable and unwindable on the cord retractor between retracted and extended positions;
- a clapper secured to the center cord;
- and
- a windcatcher secured to the center cord below the clapper;
- moving the center cord from the retracted position to the extended position;
- and
- moving the center cord from the extended position to the retracted position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.