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US 4,589,322 AGranted
Glass harmonica
OwnerGerhard Finkenbeinerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A glass harmonica with a plurality of quartz cups of different sizes coaxially arranged on a spindle which is rotated by a variable speed motor. The cups are held on the spindle by intermediate mounting members which are slidable along the axis of the spindle. End mounting members, which are mounted on the spindle, clamp the cups so that they rotate with the spindle. A range of musical tones are produced when the rims of the rotating cups are touched by a player's fingertips, either the fingertips are moistened or the edges of the cups are moistened by a moisturizer.
Claims14
A musical instrument comprising:
- (a) a frame:
- (b) a rotatable spindle mounted to said frame;
- (c) a plurality of quartz cups of different sizes coaxially mounted to said spindle, said quartz cups slidable along the axis of said spindle, said quartz cups configured to produce musical tones;
- (d) mounting means for mounting said quartz cups on said spindle, said quartz cups being fixed against slidable movement along the axis of said spindle and fixed against rotation movement relative to said spindle by said mounting means;
- and
- (e) drive means operatively connected to said spindle, said quartz cups constrained to rotate with said spindle, said musical tones being produced by rubbing said rotating quartz cup.
3 more elements
A musical instrument comprising:
- (a) a frame;
- (b) a rotatable spindle mounted to said frame;
- (c) a plurality of quartz cups configured to produce musical tones, said quartz cups coaxially arranged on said spindle, said quartz cups slidable along the axis of said spindle;
- (d) mounting means for mounting said quartz cups on said spindle, said quartz cups fixed against movement along the axis of said spindle and fixed against rotational movement relative to said spindle by said mounting means;
- (e) drive means operatively connected to said spindle for rotating said spindle, said quartz cups producing said musical tones when rubbed while being rotated with said spindle;
- and
- (f) moisturizing means positioned near said quartz cups for providing moisture thereto.
4 more elements
A musical instrument comprising:
- (a) a frame;
- (b) a rotatable spindle mounted to said frame;
- (c) a plurality of quartz cups of different sizes coaxially mounted to said spindle, said cups slidable along the axis of said spindle;
- (d) mounting means for mounting said cups on said spindle, said cups being fixed against slidable movement along the axis of said spindle and fixed against rotation movement relative to said spindle by said mounting means;
- (e) drive means operatively connected to said spindle for rotating said spindle, said quartz cups constrained to rotate with said spindle;
- and
- (f) a steam generator positioned near said quartz cups for providing moisture thereto, said steam generator having ports for directing steam toward said quartz cups.
4 more elements
A musical instrument comprising:
- (a) a frame;
- (b) a rotatable spindle mounted to said frame;
- (c) a plurality of musical cups coaxially arranged on said spindle, said cups slidable along the axis of said spindle, said cups comprised of quartz, each said quartz cup having a cylindrical body and a narrowed neck;
- (d) mounting means for mounting said cups on said spindle, said cups fixed against movement along the axis of said spindle and fixed against rotational movement relative to said spindle by said mounting means;
- (e) drive means operatively for rotating said spindle, said cups constrained to and rotating with said spindle;
- (f) moisturizing means positioned near said cups for providing moisture thereto;
- (g) said mounting means including cup mounting means and end mounting means, said cup mounting means coaxially and slidably received on said spindle, said cup mounting means slidable along the axis of said spindle, said cups captively held to said cup mounting means, said end mounting means mounted on said spindle, said cup mounting means fixed against movement along the axis of said spindle and fixed against rotatable movement relative to said spindle by said end mounting means;
- and
- (h) said cup mounting means including a plurality of corks for mounting said cups to said spindle, said corks slidable along the axis of said spindle, said cups tightly fitted to said corks.
6 more elements
A musical instrument comprising:
- (a) a frame;
- (b) a rotatable spindle mounted to said frame;
- (c) a plurality of musical cups coaxially arranged on said spindle, said cups slidable along the axis of said spindle;
- (d) mounting means for mounting said cups on said spindle, said cups fixed against movement along the axis of said spindle and fixed against rotational movement relative to said spindle by said mounting means;
- (e) drive means operatively connected to said spindle for rotating said spindle, said cups constrained to and rotating with said spindle;
- and
- (f) a steam generator positioned near said cups for providing moisture thereto, said steam generator having a plurality of ports which are positioned to direct steam emitted from said steam generator toward said cups.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.