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US 7,732,691 B2Granted
Methods and apparatus for vibrato effects in keyboard percussion musical instruments
AssigneeLeigh H. Stevens
InventorsLeigh H. Stevens, Josef Eberl, Roger Clerc
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Improved methods and apparatus of producing vibrato on keyboard percussion/tone bar instruments such as the vibraphone and marimba are provided. Means are disclosed for real time control of the expressive qualities of both the speed and strength of the vibrato of such instruments, while eliminating the need for an electrical motor. According to certain embodiments, methods and apparatus are disclosed to easily produce a change of dynamic level (crescendo and diminuendo) after a single strike of a tone bar or chord.
Claims21
A keyboard percussion instrument comprising:
- at least one tone bar disposed over at least one resonator tube having a first opening;
- a tube cover which is configured to cover at least a portion of the first opening, the cover being moveable between a first position and a second position in which a greater or lesser portion of the first opening is covered than when the tube cover is in the first position, and a plurality of positions between the first and the second positions;
- and
- an actuator mechanism adapted to allow a user to manually control movement of the tube cover through intermediate positions between the first position and the second position such that changes in position of the tube cover correspond in real-time to changes in position of a body part of the user actuating the actuator mechanism, wherein, in the first position, the tube cover is laterally offset from an axis of the resonator tube such that the first opening is completely exposed to the tone bar and, in the second position, the tube cover is interposed between the tone bar and the resonator tube such that the tube cover covers at least a portion of the first opening.
1 more element
A keyboard percussion instrument comprising:
- at least one tone bar disposed over at least one resonator tube having a first opening;
- a tube cover which is configured to cover at least a portion of the first opening, the cover being moveable between a first position and a second position in which a greater or lesser portion of the first opening is covered than when the tube cover is in the first position, and a plurality of positions between the first and the second positions;
- and
- an actuator mechanism adapted to allow a user to control movement of the tube cover through intermediate positions between the first position and the second position, wherein, in the first position, the tube cover is laterally offset from an axis of the resonator tube such that the first opening is completely exposed to the tone bar and, in the second position, the tube cover is interposed between the tone bar and the resonator tube such that the tube cover fully covers the first opening.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.