Brass-Wind Mouthpiece
AssigneeHarrison Mouthpieces Inc.
InventorDavid W. Harrison
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is directed to brass-wind mouthpieces (20), and in particular brass-wind mouthpieces (20) configured for improved performance and endurance. One aspect of the invention provides that the lateral shoulders (38) of the mouthpiece (20) rim (24), which respectively would face the corners of the musician's lips when the mouthpiece (20) is in use, slope outwardly away from the proximate end of the mouthpiece (20) cup (22).
Claims17
A brass-wind mouthpiece (20) comprising:
- a cup (22) having a rim (24) at its proximate end and a throat (26) at its distal end, the distal end having a receptacle (28) for a hollow shank ((not shown)) adapted to connect the throat (26) to a mouthpiece-receiver ((not shown)) of a brass-wind instrument ((not shown)), the rim (24) having a circumferential inside edge (30), a circumferential outside edge (32) and a surface contour (34) extending between the inside edge (30) and the outside edge (32), the contour (34) having a superior abutment (36) adapted to abut a musician's upper lip, an inferior abutment (36) adapted to abut the musician's lower lip, and lateral shoulders (38) adapted to face the corners of the musician's mouth where his upper lip and lower lip meet, the contour (34) further having an impression (40) that is the path of apex points on the contour (34) around the circumference of the rim (24) and a bite (42) that is the portion of the contour (34) between the impression (40) and the inside edge (30)
- and characterized by,
- the lateral shoulders (38) sloping outwardly away from the proximate end of the cup (22);
- the impression (40) having a variable radius, the radius of the impression (40) being shortest proximate the lateral shoulders (38), where the impression (40) is proximate the inside edge (30) and the radius of the impression (40) being longest proximate the superior and inferior abutments (36), where the bite (42) is pronouncedly rounded;
- the inside edge (30) having a smaller radius proximate the lateral shoulders (38) than the abutments (36) such that the rim (24) presents an ovular opening (44) with its major axis aligned with the upper and lower abutments (36);
- the shoulders (38) defining a dip (46) in the contour (34) toward the distal end of the cup (22) and thereby reducing the volume of the cup (22);
- the bite (42) being sharper proximate the shoulders (38) than the superior and inferior abutments (36);
- and
- the bite (42) being narrower proximate the shoulders (38) than the superior and inferior abutments (36).
A brass-wind mouthpiece (20) having a cup (22) with a rim (24) at its proximate end and a throat (26) at its distal end, the rim (24) having a circumferential inside edge (30), a circumferential outside edge (32) and a surface contour (34) extending between the inside edge (30) and the outside edge (32), the contour (34) having a superior abutment (36) adapted to abut a musician's upper lip, an inferior abutment (36) adapted to abut the musician's lower lip, and lateral shoulders (38) adapted to face the corners of the musician's mouth where his upper lip and lower lip meet, the contour (34) further having an impression (40) that is the path of apex points on the contour (34) around the circumference of the rim (24) and a bite (42) that is the portion of the contour (34) between the impression (40) and the inside edge (30), characterized by the lateral shoulders (38) sloping outwardly away from the proximate end of the cup (22).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.