Valve casings and assemblies for valve-based musical instruments and methods for manufacturing same

A valve casing for a valve-based musical instrument, comprising:

• a body, including
• a central body portion, the central body portion including
• a plurality of channels configured to receive a plurality of valves for directing a flow of air received by the valve casing, and
• one or more inner ports, with each inner port of the one or more inner ports placing two adjacently positioned channels of the plurality of channels in fluid communication with each other, and
• a plurality of protuberances extending from the central body portion, with each protuberance of the plurality of protuberances defining one or more outer ports for directing the flow of air out of the valve casing or the flow of air into the valve casing;
• wherein the plurality of protuberances includes a first protuberance configured to receive a first conduit for directing the flow of air;
• and
• wherein the first protuberance is curved, such that, when the first conduit is received in the first protuberance, a longitudinal axis defined by the first conduit and a plane along which a first face of the central body portion resides intersect at an angle ranging from about 1° to about 200.

An assembly for a valve-based musical instrument, comprising:

• a valve casing, including
• a body, including
• a central body portion, the central body portion including
• a plurality of channels configured to receive a plurality of valves for directing a flow of air received by the valve casing, and
• one or more inner ports, with each inner port of the one or more inner ports placing two adjacently positioned channels of the plurality of channels in fluid communication with each other, and
• a plurality of protuberances extending from the central body portion, with each protuberance of the plurality of protuberances defining one or more outer ports for directing the flow of air out of the valve casing or the flow of air into the valve casing;
• a first conduit for directing the flow of air into the valve casing;
• and
• a second conduit for directing the flow of air away from the valve casing;
• wherein the plurality of protuberances includes a first protuberance in which the first conduit is received;
• wherein the first protuberance is curved, such that, when the first conduit is received in the first protuberance, a longitudinal axis defined by the first conduit received in the first protuberance and a plane along which a first face of the central body portion resides intersect at an angle ranging from about 1° to about 20°;
• wherein the plurality of protuberances includes a second protuberance in which the second conduit is received;
• and
• wherein the second protuberance is curved, such that, when the second conduit is received in the second protuberance, a longitudinal axis defined by the second conduit received in the second protuberance and a plane along which a second face of the central body portion resides intersect at an angle ranging from about 1° to about 20°.