Patent ID: 6020545
Filing Date: 2000-02-01
Classification: G10D

Abstract:
A ligature apparatus used around the mouthpiece and reed of a woodwind instrument comprising:a ligature strap having a curvilinear shape consisting of three layers of the same size and shape joined together, said three layers including an inner layer and an outer layer made of a thin MYLAR.RTM. material and a middle layer made of a thin fiberglass mesh, such that elongated holes located at the ends of said strap are cut through the three layers and a pair of circular holes are cut transverse at the center of the strap, both the ends being looped backward and affixed to the strap by an attachment means;a plastic ramp, trapezoidal in shape lengthwise, having a ""V"" shaped bottom and raised side rails, said ramp having a narrow end and a wide end, with a pair of holes through the center of the bottom;a pair of plastic rivets, having a hemispherical shaped end, one surface of which is flat, with a cylindrical projection affixed perpendicularly and centrally to the flat surface and said projection having an open end, passing through the holes in the ramp and through the center holes in the ligature strap and having a means of affixing said rivets to the ramp and the ligature, such that when the ramp is affixed to the ligature, the narrow end of the ramp is positioned towards the mouthpiece tip and the wide end positioned toward the instrument;a pair of locking cylinders, having a lengthwise axis, and a hole perpendicular to the lengthwise axis, said cylinder passing through the ligature strap loops;a locking screw passing through the holes in the locking tubes, such that the ligature can be tightened around the reed and mouthpiece.