Outdoor musical instruments
AssigneePlaycore Wisconsin, Inc.
InventorsJoshua Rannells, Richard Cooke, Lindsay Hill, Kate Morrison
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure is directed to a musical instrument comprising a plurality of chimes, each of which has a fork portion comprising first and second prongs, or tines, and a resonator portion. Each chime is configured to produce a note of a predetermined pitch and frequency when one of the tines is struck by a mallet. The instrument may also be configured so that the note produced by striking one of the tines with a mallet has a desirable sustain. Embodiments of the musical instrument may be configured for installation in an outdoor environment, such as a playground or other recreational area, and thus to withstand the stresses associated with such an installation.
Claims25
An outdoor musical instrument comprising:
- a plurality of chimes, each chime comprising
- a fork portion, the fork portion comprising first and second tines, and a resonator portion;
- each chime being configured to produce a note having a defined pitch when one of the first and second tines is struck by a mallet;
- wherein the plurality of chimes comprises a first set of chimes and a second set of chimes;
- wherein the first set of chimes is positioned above the second set of chimes;
- and
- wherein the first set of chimes and the second set of chimes are positioned so that the fork portion of the first set of chimes and the fork portion of the second set of chimes face one another.
An outdoor musical instrument comprising:
- a plurality of chimes, each chime comprising
- a fork portion, the fork portion comprising first and second tines, and a resonator portion;
- each chime being configured to produce a note having a defined pitch when one of the first and second tines is struck by a mallet;
- and
- each chime having a longitudinal axis that spans between a fork end and a resonator end;
- wherein each chime is positioned such that the longitudinal axis is perpendicular with a ground surface;
- and
- wherein the plurality of chimes are positioned such that
- (a) the fork end of each chime is below the resonator end
- (b) the fork end of each chime is above the resonator end, or
- (c) the fork end of at least one chime is below the resonator end and the fork end of at least one chime is above the resonator end.
An outdoor musical instrument comprising:
- a plurality of chimes, each chime comprising
- a fork portion, the fork portion comprising first and second tines, and a resonator portion;
- each chime being configured to produce a note having a defined pitch when one of the first and second tines is struck by a mallet;
- and
- in which each chime is configured so that the note sustains for between about 2 seconds and about 30 seconds when one of the first and second tines is struck by a mallet.
An outdoor musical instrument comprising:
- a plurality of chimes, each chime comprising
- a fork portion, the fork portion comprising first and second tines, and a resonator portion;
- each chime being configured to produce a note having a defined pitch when one of the first and second tines is struck by a mallet;
- one or more support posts having a top end and a bottom end, the bottom end being configured for mounting to an outdoor surface;
- and
- one or more mounting plates securing the plurality of chimes to the one or more support posts.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.