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US 4,462,295 AGranted
Beam and cylinder sound instrument
OwnerCraig R. Hundleyinventor
Life of this patent
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OwnerCraig R. Hundleyinventor
Estimating the term…
A sound producing instrument is shown having a plurality of vibrating strings supported over an elongated aluminum sounding board. The strings are solid wires of brass, bronze or steel that are tensioned to produce a range of vibrations within the audible sound range. The strings may be manipulated along their lengths in various ways to control the mode of vibration of each of the respective strings. An electronic means such as a crystal or magnetic microphone is provided adjacent to the sounding board to pick up the vibrations resulting from activating the vibratory motion of the strings, and amplifying means are used to reproduce the sounds developed by the instrument. In one embodiment, the microphone may be caused to move during the pickup by a remote controller, so as to provide different sound effects. A special cylinder is provided for creating special sound effects when used to agitate the strings. In a modification, cylindrical elements may be used when placed in contact with the strings to alter the vibratory action of the strings. The cylinders are formed of aluminum and may be manipulated in various ways to stimulate the motion of the respective strings in characteristic modes for the production of unusual sounds.
An instrument for producing sound effects made substantially entirely of aluminum, comprising an elongated flat topped beam, said beam having a web and integral side legs with the cross-section shape being substantially the same throughout most of the beam's length, a plurality of string supports at one end of said beam and a cooperating plurality of string holding and tensioning means at the other end of said beam, a plurality of strings formed of solid wire, each string respectively being stretched from said supports at said one end of the beam to said holding and tensioning means at said other end of said beam, separate bridge means at each end of said beam for holding said strings spaced above said web, said holding and tensioning means including means to individually adjust the tension of each of said respective strings, a hollow aluminum cylindrical tube means closed at one end and having a collar integral with its other end, said tube means being in contact with said strings to produce sound effects, and means including a pick-up between said web and said strings that is responsive to vibratory motion produced from time to time in certain combinations or the individual ones of said strings to produce various kinds of audible sound effects.
An instrument for producing sound effects made substantially entirely of aluminum, comprising an elongated flat topped beam, said beam having a web and integral side legs with the cross-section shape being substantially the same throughout most of the beam's length, said web having an opening therein, a plurality of string supports at one end of said beam and a cooperating plurality of string holding and tensioning means at the other end of said beam, a plurality of strings formed of solid wire, each string respectively being stretched from said supports at said one end of the beam to said holding and tensioning means at said other end of said beam, separate bridge means at each end of said beam for holding said strings spaced above said web, said holding and tensioning means including means to individually adjust the tension of each of said respective strings, means including a pick-up between said web and said strings that is responsive to vibratory motion produced from time to time in certain combinations or the individual ones of said strings to produce various kinds of audible sound effects, a movable car projecting through said web opening and carrying said pick-up, and a reversible and variable speed drive means for causing said car and pick-up to move while said instrument is being played.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.