# US 9,520,111 B1 · Musical instrument and method of assembling same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,520,111 B1 - Document ID: US9520111B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 14/968,436 - Filed: 2015-12-14 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2015-12-14 - Assignees: Nuvo Instrumental (Asia) Ltd - Applicants: Nuvo Instrumental (Asia) Ltd - Inventors: Maximilian Spencer Clissold - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9520111B1 ## CPC - G10D 7/08: Saxophones - G10D 9/04: Valves; Valve controls - G10D: STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACCORDIONS OR CONCERTINAS; PERCUSSION MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; AEOLIAN HARPS; SINGING-FLAME MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (organs, harmoniums or similar wind musical instruments with associated blowing apparatus G10B; pianos, harpsichords, spinets or similar stringed musical instruments with one or more keyboards G10C; automatic musical instruments G10F; electrophonic musical instruments in which tones are generated by electromechanical means G10H) ## Abstract A musical instrument including a tubular body having an internal tube with at least one tone hole disposed in a surface of said internal tube to provide air communication between a region inside the internal tube and a region outside of the internal tube; and a first outer shell member configured for attachment to an outer surface of the internal tube; at least one key member including a tone hole closure portion, an axle portion and a biasing member, the tone hole closure portion being movable relative to the tubular body between at least a closed position in which said tone hole closure portion covers the at least one tone hole disposed in the internal tube, and, an opened position in which said tone hole closure portion does not cover the tone hole disposed in the internal tube; wherein at least one of said axle portion and said biasing member are configured for location in a seating location provided by a seating portion disposed on at least one of the first outer shell member and the outer surface of the internal tube whereby the first outer shell member is configured for attachment to the outer surface of the internal tube so as to secure therebetween at least one of the axle portion and the biasing member in its seating location for operation of the key member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A musical instrument comprising: a tubular body having an internal tube with at least one tone hole disposed in a surface of said internal tube to provide air communication between a region inside the internal tube and a region outside of the internal tube; and a first outer shell member configured for attachment to an outer surface of the internal tube; at least one key member including a tone hole closure portion, an axle portion and a biasing member, the tone hole closure portion being movable relative to the tubular body between at least a closed position in which said tone hole closure portion covers the at least one tone hole disposed in the internal tube, and, an opened position in which said tone hole closure portion does not cover the tone hole disposed in the internal tube; at least one of said axle portion and said biasing member are configured for location in a seating location provided by a seating portion disposed on at least one of the first outer shell member and the outer surface of the internal tube whereby the first outer shell member is configured for attachment to the outer surface of the internal tube so as to secure therebetween at least one of the axle portion and the biasing member in its seating location for operation of the key member, wherein the first outer shell member includes a plurality of holes disposed thereon whereby when the first outer shell member is attached to the internal tube, the plurality of holes disposed in the first outer shell member are configured to align with the tone hole portions disposed in the internal tube. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A musical instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein the musical instrument is at least one of a woodwind and a brass type musical instrument. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A musical instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein the musical instrument is a saxophone-type musical instrument. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A musical instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first outer shell member and the internal tube are configured for at least one of click-fitted, snap-fitted, press-fitted and friction-fitted attachment together. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A musical instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tone hole closure portion includes a recess for receiving a silicone pad, whereby when the tone hole closure portion is arranged in the closed position the silicon pad seals the corresponding tone hole. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A musical instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein the internal tube is a single-piece tube that is molded from a polymeric material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A musical instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of the first outer shell member and the key member are at least partially molded from a polymeric material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A musical instrument as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: an octave vent disposed in a surface of the internal tube whereby closure of said octave vent is configured to allow play of the musical instrument in a first octave and opening of the octave vent is configured to allow play of the musical instrument in a relatively higher octave. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A musical instrument as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: a mouthpiece having a body and a ligature movably attached to the body, said ligature being configured for movement relative to the body between at least a first configuration in which a reed may be inserted into position relative to the body for securement to the body, and, a second configuration in which the ligature is positioned to secure the reed against the body. ### Claim 10 A musical instrument, comprising: a tubular body having an internal tube with at least one tone hole disposed in a surface of said internal tube to provide air communication between a region inside the internal tube and a region outside of the internal tube; and a first outer shell member configured for attachment to an outer surface of the internal tube; at least one key member including a tone hole closure portion, an axle portion and a biasing member, the tone hole closure portion being movable relative to the tubular body between at least a closed position in which said tone hole closure portion covers the at least one tone hole disposed in the internal tube, and, an opened position in which said tone hole closure portion does not cover the tone hole disposed in the internal tube; at least one of said axle portion and said biasing member are configured for location in a seating location provided by a seating portion disposed on at least one of the first outer shell member and the outer surface of the internal tube whereby the first outer shell member is configured for attachment to the outer surface of the internal tube so as to secure therebetween at least one of the axle portion and the biasing member in its seating location for operation of the key member; and a thumb rest disposed on the tubular body, said thumb rest being movable between a plurality of positions relative to the tubular body. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A musical instrument as claimed in claim 10 wherein the first outer shell member includes a plurality of holes disposed thereon whereby when the first outer shell member is attached to the internal tube, the plurality of holes disposed in the first outer shell member are configured to align with the tone hole portions disposed in the internal tube. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) A musical instrument as claimed in claim 10, further comprising: a second outer shell member configured for attachment with the internal tube so as to enclose a first portion of the thumb rest therebetween and allow a second portion of the thumb rest to extend outwardly from the tubular body, whereby said first portion of the thumb rest is slidable in a space disposed between the second outer shell member and the internal tube so as to allow adjustment of the position of the thumb rest relative to the tubular body. ### Claim 13 A method of assembling a musical instrument, said method including steps of: (i) providing a tubular body having: an internal tube with at least one tone hole disposed in a surface of said internal tube to provide air communication between a region inside the internal tube and a region outside of the internal tube; and a first outer shell member configured for attachment to an outer surface of the internal tube; and (ii) providing at least one key member having a tone hole closure portion, an axle portion and a biasing member, the tone hole closure portion being configured for movement relative to the tubular body between at least a closed position in which said tone hole closure portion covers the at least one tone hole disposed in the internal tube, and, an opened position in which said tone hole closure portion does not cover the tone hole disposed in the internal tube; and (iii) locating at least one of said axle portion and said biasing member in a seating location provided by a seating portion disposed on at least one of the first outer shell member and the outer surface of the internal tube; and attaching the first outer shell member to the outer surface of the internal tube so as to secure therebetween at least one of the axle portion and the biasing member in its seating location for operation of the key member, wherein the first outer shell member includes a plurality of holes disposed therein whereby when the first outer shell member is attached to the internal tube, the plurality of holes disposed in the first outer shell member are configured to align with the tone hole portions disposed in the internal tube. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the musical instrument is at least one of a woodwind and a brass type musical instrument. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the musical instrument is a saxophone-type musical instrument. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the first outer shell member and the internal tube are configured for at least one of click-fitted, snap-fitted, press-fitted and friction-fitted attachment together. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) A method as claimed in claim 13 including providing a recess in the tone hole closure portion for receiving a silicone pad, whereby when the tone hole closure portion is arranged in the closed position the silicon pad seals the corresponding tone hole. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the internal tube is a single-piece tube that is molded from a polymeric material. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein at least one of the first outer shell member and the key member are at least partially molded from a polymeric material. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) A method as claimed in claim 13 further comprising: a thumb rest disposed on the tubular body, said thumb rest being movable between a plurality of positions relative to the tubular body. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) A method as claimed in claim 20, further comprising: providing a second outer shell member configured for attachment with the internal tube so as to enclose a first portion of the thumb rest therebetween and allow a second portion of the thumb rest to extend outwardly from the tubular body, whereby said first portion of the thumb rest is slidable in a space disposed between the second outer shell member and the internal tube so as to allow adjustment of the position of the thumb rest relative to the tubular body. ### Claim 22 (depends on 13) A method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising: providing an octave vent disposed in a surface of the internal tube whereby closure of said octave vent is configured to allow play of the musical instrument in a first octave and opening of the octave vent is configured to allow play of the musical instrument in a relatively higher octave. ### Claim 23 (depends on 13) A method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising: providing a mouthpiece for use with the musical instrument, the mouthpiece including a body and a ligature movably attached to the body, said ligature being configured for movement relative to the body between at least a first configuration in which a reed may be inserted into position relative to the body for securement to the body, and, a second configuration in which the ligature is positioned to secure the reed against the body.