Phonograph tone arm and cartridge damping system

A damper for use in a phonograph record and reproduction system and adapted to be functionally coupled to the tone arm of said system and to ride on the surface of said record comprising:

• mounting means for coupling said damper to said tone arm wherein said mounting means is adaptable to adjustably couple said damper to said tone arm;
• a housing;
• a slideable member within said housing having a substantially airtight sliding fit wherein said slideable member is adapted to be functionally coupled to said mounting means;
• air passage means in said slideable member for permitting a preselected quantity of ambient air to flow through said slideable member and within said housing to serve as the damping medium by providing a preselected resistance to said system;
• and
• fabric means affixed to said housing and adapted to ride on the surface of said record, said fabric means having a plurality of whisker like projections which extend below said record surface and engage the encoded grooves of said record whereby the effect of variations on the surface of said record on said tone arm are minimized.

A damper for use in a phonograph record reproduction system, said damper being integrally connected to the tone arm of said system and adapted to ride on the surface of said record, comprising:

• a housing;
• a slideable member having a substantially airtight sliding fit within said housing, wherein said slideable member is functionally coupled to said tone arm;
• air passage means in said slideable member for permitting a preselected quantity of ambient air to flow through said slideable member and within said housing to serve as the damping medium by providing a preselected resistance to said system;
• and
• fabric means affixed to said housing and adapted to ride on the surface of said record, said fabric means having a plurality of whisker like projections which extend below said record surface and engage the encoded grooves of said record whereby the effects of variations on the surface of said record on said tone arm are minimized.