Handbell

A handbell comprising

• (1) a bell body member
• (2) a clapper suspension comprising an elongated resilient shaft member which flexes more easily in a first plane than in the plane perpendicular thereto;
• and
• (3) a clapper having a substantially circular periphery and comprising an inner member of a hard material and an outer member of a resilient material for contacting said bell body member, the radial extent of said resilient material between said inner member and the periphery of said clapper varying substantially continuously around said clapper;
• wherein said clapper suspension defines a fixed perferred plane of swing of said clapper substantially identical to said first plane of easy flex;
• wherein said clapper is rotatably adjustable such that different points on the periphery of said clapper may be selected to contact said bell body member, whereby the hardness of the contact between said clapper and said bell body member and tonal quality produced by said contact may be varied with respect to a given physical force exerted on the handbell, said rotatable adjustability being provided by affixing said clapper to said shaft member by a polygonal core member fitting into a corresponding-shaped orifice in a resilient bushing member carried in a bushing retainer so that upon application of a torque to said clapper, the bushing member is compressed permitting relative movement of the bushing member with respect to the shaft member, whereby variation between a number of predetermined relative positions of said clapper and the plane of swing of said shaft member is provided.

A musical instrument comprising a body for emitting a musical tone when struck, and a clapper for striking said body wherein:

• said clapper is mounted on a resilient clapper shaft comprising a single elongated strip of a flexible material, said strip having substantially greater extent in one direction in the plane perpendicular to its axis of elongation than in the direction orthogonal thereto, such that said strip flexes in a preferred plane, said shaft being fixed to said body at one end and to said clapper at the other end, whereby upon swinging of the musical instrument the resilient clapper shaft flexes in said preferred plane so that the clapper impacts the body at a predetermined location;
• said clapper is affixed to said clapper shaft by a polygonal core member fitting into a corresponding-shaped orifice in a resilient bushing member carried in a bushing retainer, so that upon application of a torque to said clapper, the bushing member is compressed permitting relative rotation of the clapper with respect to the shaft between a number of predetermined relative positions;
• and
• said clapper comprises a resilient outer portion for striking said body and a solid inner portion, said outer portion providing a separation between the solid inner portion and said body when said clapper and said body are in contact, said separation being adjustable by said rotation of the clapper to vary the tonal qualities of the sound produced by the body upon being struck.

A handbell comprising

• (1) a bell body member;
• (2) a clapper suspension comprising an elongated resilient shaft member which flexes more easily in a first plane than in the plane perpendicular thereto;
• and
• (3) a clapper having a substantially circular periphery and comprising an inner member of a hard material and an outer member of a resilient material for contacting said bell body member, the radial extent of said resilient material between said inner member and the periphery of said clapper varying substantially continuously around said clapper;
• wherein said clapper suspension defines a fixed preferred plane of swing of said clapper substantially identical to said first plane of easy flex;
• wherein said clapper is rotatably adjustable such that different points on the periphery of said clapper may be selected to contact said bell body member, whereby the hardness of the contact between said clapper and said bell body member and tonal quality produced by said contact may be varied with respect to a given physical force exerted on the handbell;
• and wherein a metallic pin covered with a sound absorptive and sound insulative material extends through said bell body member and into means locating the plane of swing of said clapper suspension, whereby said pin serves to orient said bell body member and the plane of swing of said clapper.