US 6,673,992 B1 · Saxophone mouthpiece

Abstract

The present invention, is a new design for a woodwind musical instrument mouthpiece capable of harmonic vibration. The mouthpiece is fitted with an interchangeable tone-altering member including an interchangeable secondary reed having a wave form which vibrates inside the tone chamber of the vibratable mouthpiece for the purpose of adding intensity and character to the tone quality when the mouthpiece is played with an associated appropriate musical instrument the secondary reed includes on one end thereof a wedge-shaped member which alters the size of the tone chamber and, thereby, further changes the tone produced by the instrument. The interchangeable, tone-altering element is preferably mounted within the interior of the tone chamber such that the secondary reed is positioned in a plane substantially on the longitudinal axis of the tone chamber and is positioned on the side of the secondary reed facing the primary reed and at the end nearest the opening of the mouthpiece tapering in the direction of the opening of the mouthpiece. The combined tone-altering member is positioned within the interior of the tone chamber and retained therein by friction alone against opposite sides of the tone chamber. Varying the sizes and shapes of the wedge, the interchanging of the combined tone-altering element combined with the harmonic vibration of the mouthpiece induces a wave form which intensifies the tone or sound of the instrument and allows the individual artist to produce the varying volume and types of sound that may be produced.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A mouthpiece, one end of which is adapted to be engaged by the player's mouth and teeth and the other end of which is adapted to be installed in a woodwind musical instrument, the mouthpiece comprising:

a) a tubular body having an elongated shape extending along a central axis, the tubular body having a uniform wall thickness of less than 0.100 in., a portion of the rearward end of the tubular body having a slightly thinner wall to allow an external portion thereof to be inserted into a wind instrument;
b) a generally flattened, inclined upper wall surface located at the forward end of said tubular body, said upper wall surface adapted to be engaged by the mouth and teeth of a player, the inclined upper wall surface extending from a point on said central to a shoulder transitioning the inclined upper wall surface and the outer diameter of the tubular body forming a tone chamber therein;
and
c) a plainer surface having a slight arc therein extending from said central axis at point of contact with said flattened, inclined upper wall surface and extending rearward at an acute angle relative to said central axis, said plainer surface adapted for supporting a primary reed on the mouthpiece across an open portion of said air passageway below said central axis adjacent the upper wall surface portion of the mouthpiece, said plainer surface forming an elongated opening in said tubular member culminating in a radius, the center point of which is rearward of said shoulder.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Saxophone mouthpiece

Life of this patent

Saxophone mouthpiece

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16