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US 6,639,134 B2Granted
High flow stringed instrument sound hole
AssigneeEric T. Schmidt
InventorEric Thomas Schmidt
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AssigneeEric T. Schmidt
InventorEric Thomas Schmidt
Estimating the term…
This invention provides for increased resonance quality and volume in a stringed instrument having a resonant chamber, where the chamber has a defined opening that is also known as a “sound hole.” Guitars and related instruments tend to have sound holes defined as rounded or circular openings. Violins and related instruments tend to have a more ornate sound hole, similar to an “S” or “f” shape. The increase in sound volume and quality is derived from resonance flanges, that are positioned adjacent to the sound hole, within the resonance chamber, and which define curved surfaces that affect the sound waves striking them. The resonance flanges are defined by internal expanding curved edges, that are attached to the inner side of the resonant chamber, adjacent to the sound hole opening, and exhibit a defined curve away from the sound hole opening. As vibrational sound waves move into the resonant chamber, the sound waves strike various the inner walls of the chamber, and the pressure created by the sound waves are expelled back out the sound hole. The resonance flanges provide an increase in volume to the vibrational sound waves, due to the bell or horn shape of the flanges, which effect the sound saves in a manner similar to how a trumpet horn or bell shape affects the sound emanating from the tube end of a trumpet.
An improved musical stringed instrument, having a resonance sound hole, and a resonance chamber, where said resonance sound hole comprises an opening which allows access into the resonance chamber, which is defined by inwardly projecting flange, that is parallel to the resonance chamber wall, and define an arcual surface that recedes into the resonance chamber, and where said flange projects into the resonance chamber to define a resonance sound hole having a side that decreases in circumference in relation to the depth into the resonance chamber.
An improved musical stringed instrument, having a resonance chamber, having a circular uniform resonance sound hole, with a single circular shaped flange defining the resonance sound hole, where said resonance sound hole comprises an opening through the chamber wall of the musical instrument, which is defined by a single inwardly projecting flange, where said flange comprises:
An improved musical stringed instrument, having a resonance chamber, having an f-hole, with said f-hole defined through the top panel of the instrument by two flanges that each encircle a panel extension where said flanges comprise an extension into the resonance chamber, having an internal and external side, with a terminating lip, and where the internal and external sides are initially parallel to the resonance chamber wall of the musical instrument, and where said exterior side defines an arcual surface that recedes into the resonance chamber, and where said exterior surface defines the opening of the sound hole, that decreases in circumference as the flange projects into the resonance chamber, and where said flanges have a varying depth in relation to their position along the length of the resonance hole.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.