Abstract:
A brass wind instrument and method comprising: a momobody valve block further comprising a plurality of valve cylinders for receiving valves and a plurality of ports and interfaces in fluid communication with said valve cylinder, wherein said ports and interfaces are substantially perpendicular to the axis of said valve cylinder.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The subject invention pertains to brass-wind musical instruments and more specifically to mono body valve blocks for brass-wind instruments.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     In brass-wind musical instruments, sounds are initially produced by players pressing their lips against bell-shaped mouthpieces and blowing into the mouthpieces while maintaining their lips in a rigid configuration. The air passing through the rigid lips of the players causes the skin of the lip to resonate thereby resulting in a concentric column of air comprising a “buzzing” sound. As this column of buzzing air passes into the instrument, it flows through a series of tubes and valves comprising the instrument wherein it is amplified before it exits from the bell portion of the instrument thereby creating a tone. It is the series of valves and tubes that generally alter the consistency of the density of the air column and have a negative effect on the tone and intonation.  
         [0003]     The negative effects resulting from the numerous deficiencies in current brass-wind instruments have been necessary evils due to the currently widely accepted designs. While minor changes have been proposed to improve brass-wind instruments, musicians have had little choice but to “live with” and play music with the current designs.  
         [0004]     To alter the tones emanating from the instrument, players will adjust the rigidity of their lips, press a series of valves and/or adjust any of the tuning pipes in the instrument. Adjusting the rigidity of the lips alters the initial pitch of the column of air prior to its entering the instrument. Depressing the valves can operate to elongate the column of air resonating through the instrument thus resulting in differing notes. Adjusting any of the tuning pipes operates to fine-tune the instrument. By combining the proper pitch with the proper valve configuration and the proper tuning, players are able to play specific notes and thus music.  
         [0005]     Current brass-wind instruments are generally adequate for producing the desired music, however, there is always room to improve the quality of sound produced. Most of the drawbacks to current brass-wind instrument sounds find their genesis undesirable inconsistencies of the density within the concentric column of air flowing through the instrument. These inconsistencies in the column of air can originate from a number of causes.  
         [0006]     Brass-wind instruments such as, for example, the trumpet, comprise valve sections consisting of valves in separate valve chambers. These valve chambers are generally connected to one another by way of soldered or brazed brass tubes. There are at least three defects inherent in this design that cause impedance in the flow of the column of air traveling through the instrument leading to an interruption of the positive vortex, thereby resulting in an imperfect sound.  
         [0007]     First, due to the distance between the valve chambers, there is a size restriction on the valve. With this size restriction, pistons have restricted air channels caused by two air channels occupying the same general area in the piston valve. Because any open connection in the air channels of a single valve would effectively rend the instrument useless, one of the valves must have impedance. As a result, one of the conflicting air channels is required to have a shape comprising the impedance. This impedance is generally a bubble shaped protrusion located in the air channel. Such impedance in the air channel operates to disrupt the positive vortices of the column of air thus negatively altering its sound.  
         [0008]     Another defect that causes a disruption of the column of air comes as a result of the method of connecting the valve chambers to each other, as well as the remainder of the instrument. Where two tubes are connected, often a sharp ridge or edge operates to disrupt the flow of the air column causing additional impedance in sound. Because tubes are soldered or brazed, the connection resulting from the manufacture of the instrument is often less than perfect. This causes a negative effect on the positive vortices, thereby resulting in a diminished sound  
         [0009]     Additional defects inherent in the size of the valve section are the odd shapes and sharp bends of the tubes connecting the valve chambers to one another. As the column of air passes through the instrument, it is desirable to have a perfectly smooth transition throughout. Odd shapes and sharp bends can hinder the desired smooth transition and impede the sound. Sharp bends are not limited to the valve sections as there are many sharp bends in brass-wind instruments that can act to disrupt or impede the flow of the column of air created by the player. For example, the tuning tubes that operate to elongate the column of air often have sharp 180° bends that further impede the sound created by the player. With these defects in mind, there has long been a desire in the brass-wind instrument industry to improve the quality of sound.  
         [0010]     Apparatus for tuning instruments in an attempt to overcome many sound deficiencies are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,990,342 to Reeves discloses an adjustable piston valve having a mechanical means for continuous adjustment of the upstroke and down stroke of the valve. The adjustment means can be used to tune the instrument for improved play and sound.  
         [0011]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,273,020 to Happe discloses a method of constructing a brass-wind instrument comprising a lead pipe having an increased taper. The gradually increased taper results in a more pure column of air thereby creating an improved sound.  
         [0012]     U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,276,804 and 4,512,233, both to Holland disclose pitch adjusters attached in series with the tubes comprising the instrument. The pitch adjusters operate to change the length of the column of air to fine tune the instrument.  
         [0013]     With all of these inventions furthering the state of the brass-wind instrument art, there is still a need to remedy the inherent defects in currently accepted designs that cause an impedance in sound due to the interruption of the air column. Accordingly, improvements to current brass-wind instruments are both desirable and possible. The following describes such improvements.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]     In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a brass-wind instrument and method for making such having improved sound characteristics through a monobody valve block, unimpeded air channels, a gapless mouthpiece and larger radii throughout the instrument.  
         [0015]     This and other objects, features, and advantages in accordance with the present invention are provided by a brass-wind instrument comprising a mouthpiece, a lead-pipe, a monobody valve block, a series of tubes connected to said monobody valve block provided to change the length of the air column in the instrument, valves disposed in said monobody valve block, an exit-pipe, and a bell. More specifically, the monobody valve block comprises a series of tubes and valves having sufficient size and shape to avoid impeding the travel of the air column there through.  
         [0016]     The monobody valve block is comprised of a single solid piece of material having valve chambers milled therein. For example, the valve chambers are milled vertically through the material. All tube interfaces entering and exiting the valve block are milled at substantially right angles to the body of the valve block and perpendicular to the corresponding valve chamber. Each valve chamber has a guide means that operates to keep the valve disposed therein from rotating within the valve chamber during use.  
         [0017]     The configuration of the monobody valve block is such that the size of the valves may be increased while the valve block size is substantially similar in overall size to that of conventional valve blocks that comprise separate valve chambers. The valve&#39;s pistons are of sufficient size to comprise air channels that do not compete for space. This provides for un-occluded air channels thus resulting in improved acoustical performance.  
         [0018]     The top and/or bottom of each valve chamber may contain threaded regions. The top threaded region operates to maintain the position of the valve and keep it in its proper place. The bottom-threaded region can receive a cap having a small basin that operates to collect residual valve lubricant, or other undesirable materials.  
         [0019]     The valve indexing can be substantially similar to that of conventional brass-wind instruments, such as, for example, trumpets, coronets, baritones, tubas and the like. Accordingly, the improved acoustical characteristics of the present invention may be employed in a brass-wind instrument without having to learn to play an additional instrument.  
         [0020]     Attached to the monobody valve block is generally a first slide, a second slide, and a third slide in fluid communication with the valves to allow for a change in the length of the air column. The plurality of slides may be adjusted accordingly to further tune the instrument and further improve the acoustical characteristics thereof.  
         [0021]     The radii of the bends in the brass-wind instrument of the present invention are enlarged to reduce the sharp bends associated with conventional instruments. The enlarged radii allow for the vortices in the air column to travel through the instrument with little to no impedance thus adding to the improved acoustical performance.  
         [0022]     The mouthpiece of the present invention can comprise, for example, a gapless mouthpiece. The gapless mouthpiece substantially eliminates negative vortices resulting from the “gap” that generally occurs between the shank of current mouthpieces and the mouthpiece receivers attached to the lead-pipes. In general, as the buzzing air column crosses the gap of conventional instruments negative vortices are created as a result of the turbulence that occurs. The mouthpiece of the present invention is comprised of a solid piece of material bored out to further comprise a negative conical shape having a diameter equal to that of the smaller end of the positively conical lead-pipe. The turbulence resulting from any existent gap can be controlled by modification of the mouthpiece shank and the air column undergoes no further constriction once it leaves the mouthpiece. Accordingly, the result is a positive concentric vortex having very little or no impedance.  
         [0023]     Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description of the invention and appended drawings wherein like reference numbers refer to the same feature, element, or component. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0024]      FIG. 1  is an elevational side plan view of a brass-wind musical instrument comprising a monobody valve block according to the present invention.  
         [0025]      FIG. 2  is an elevational top plan view of a brass-wind musical instrument comprising a monobody valve black according to the present invention.  
         [0026]      FIG. 3  is an elevational side plan view of a prior art trumpet.  
         [0027]      FIG. 4  is an elevational top plan view of a prior art trumpet.  
         [0028]      FIG. 5  is an elevational side plan view of a prior art cornet comprising a shepard&#39;s crook design.  
         [0029]      FIG. 6  is an elevational side plan view of a conventional prior art valve block.  
         [0030]      FIG. 7  is an elevational side sectional view of the monobody valve block according to the present invention.  
         [0031]      FIG. 8  is an elevational sectional top view illustrating the valve indexing of the monobody valve block according to the present invention.  
         [0032]      FIG. 9  is an elevational sectional side view illustrating the valve indexing of the monobody valve block according to the present invention.  
         [0033]      FIG. 10  is an elevational sectional side view of the gapless mouthpiece according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0034]     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a brass-wind apparatus comprising a monobody valve block according to the present invention is illustrated and generally referred to by the reference number  10 .  
         [0035]     The brass-wind instrument  10  generally includes a mouthpiece  20 , a mouthpiece receiver  22 , a lead-pipe  26 , an entrance tube  28 , monobody valve block  30 , valves  40 ,  42 ,  44 , a first-slide  32 , a second-slide  34 , a third-slide,  36  an exit tube,  38  and a bell  100 .  
         [0036]     Sound comprising a column of air is made at the mouthpiece  20  that is complementarily received in a mouthpiece receiver  22 . The mouthpiece  20  preferably comprises a negative conical internal shape and is received in the mouthpiece receiver  22 . The mouthpiece receiver  22  further comprises a friction means  24  to removably retain and adjust the mouthpiece  20  therein. The mouthpiece  20  may be adjusted to fine tune the instrument  10 . The column of air is pushed from the mouthpiece  20  into the lead-pipe  26  and then into the entrance tube  28 .  
         [0037]     The entrance tube  28  may comprise a spring valve  80  at a low point on the entrance tube  28  to allow for the release of accumulated moisture or other material. The entrance tube  28  preferably comprises an arch with an enlarged radius to allow for minimal interruption of the air column. The entrance tube  28  is in fluid communication with the monobody valve block  30 , preferably at the third valve chamber  94  through the lead-pipe interface  46 .  
         [0038]     The column of air can be subjected to elongation as it passes through the monobody valve block  30 . Thus, tones are created and music can be played. This elongation is facilitated through a plurality of elongation tubes comprising slides  32 ,  34 ,  36 . The monobody valve block  30  is in fluid communication with a first-slide  32 , a second-slide  34 , and a third-slide  36 , each of which may be adjusted to tune the instrument and each of which are connected in fluid communication with the monobody valve block  30  to allow for the elongation of the column of air when corresponding valves  40 ,  42 ,  43 , are depressed. The preferred valve indexing of the present invention is substantially similar to conventional brass-wind instrument indexing.  
         [0039]     The first-slide  32  is in fluid communication with the first valve chamber  90  at a first first-slide interface  56  and a second first-slide interface  58 . The second-slide is in fluid communication with the second valve chamber  92  at a first second-slide interface  52  and a second second-slide interface  54 . The third-slide  36  is in fluid communication with the third valve chamber  94  at a first third-slide interface  48  and a second third-slide interface  50 . Each interface  46 ,  48 ,  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58 ,  60  in the monobody valve block is positioned in a location so as to substantially align with the appropriate air channels (not shown) in the corresponding piston valves (not shown) when the valves are fully depressed or not depressed at all.  
         [0040]     When played, the column of air enters into the monobody valve block wherein it then passes through the valves and various elongation tubes. The column of air exits the monobody valve block  30  at the first valve chamber  90  wherein it enters the exit tube  38  at the exit tube interface  60 . The air column travels through the exit tube  38  and out of the instrument  10  through the bell  100 .  
         [0041]     The instrument may further comprise finger holes  68 ,  70 ,  72  for maintaining a better grasp on the instrument during play.  
         [0042]     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a prior art trumpet design is illustrated and generally referred to by the reference number  110 .  
         [0043]     As can be easily seen from a view of the prior art trumpet  110  the bends of the tubing comprising the instrument are substantially sharper than those of the present invention. For example, the bend in the entrance tube  128  is sharper than that of the present invention in all aspects including the entrance tube interface  146 . The first slide  132 , the second-slide  134  and the third-slide  136  all have a sharper bend than that of the instant invention. In addition, all have sharper bends at their respective interfaces  156  and  158 ,  152  and  154 , and  148  and  150 . Moreover, the exit interface  160  of the exit tube  138  has a shaper bend before the air column exits the instrument.  
         [0044]     Referring now to  FIG. 5 a  prior art coronet having a shepard&#39;s crook design is illustrated and generally designed by the reference numeral  210 . The enlarged radii of the entrance tube  228  and exit tube  238  theoretically remedied a small portion of the defects inherent in conventional trumpet design. This design however did not achieve its intended purpose because although the entrance tube  228  and exit tube  238  had larger radii initially, each tube still had an abrupt and sharp bend prior to interfacing with the valve chamber. As can also be seen, the first-slide  232 , the second-slide  234 , and the third-slide  236  largely remained unchanged. Each slide has an acutely sharp bend resulting in an impedance in the air column. While some impedance occurred as a result of the tube structure comprising much of the prior art instruments  110  and  210 , the lion&#39;s share of the impedance occurred as a result of the design of the prior art valve sections.  
         [0045]     Referring next to  FIG. 6 a  prior art valve casing is illustrated and generally designed by reference number  130 . As is shown the first valve  190 , second valve  192 , and third valve  194  are separately constructed and attached by attachment means  186  a through  186   f . Also shown are the acutely sharp bends at the entrance tube interface  146 , the second slide exit interface  152 , the second slide  134 , the second slide entrance interface, the first slide exit interface  160 , the third valve second valve interface  184 , and the second valve first valve interface  182 . Not shown but present in the design are acutely sharp bends at the third slide entrance interface (not shown) and the exit tube interface (not shown). Also not shown, bur present are the occluded air channels in the valve pistons (not shown), which cause further impedance of the air column. Turning next to  FIG. 7 , the monobody valve block  30  provides for a smoother transaction of the air column over the prior art. The monobody valve block comprises a series of valve cylinders  90 ,  92 ,  94  milled directly out of a solid piece of metal. Each interface  46 ,  48 ,  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58 ,  60  is also milled directly into the monobody valve block at an angle substantially perpendicular to the respective valve cylinder  90 ,  92 ,  94 . The valve pistons (not shown) are of sufficient size to comprise unoccluded air channels. The monobody valve block  30  may comprise a threaded region at the top of the valve cylinders  90 ,  92 ,  94  as well as the bottom to receive valve retention caps  74 ,  76 ,  78  and valve wells  62 ,  64 ,  66 , respectively.  
         [0046]     Referring next to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the valve indexing of monobody valve block  30  is illustrated. The arrows indicate the pathway that the column of air created by the player will follow through the instrument. The reference letter A indicates the path of the particular valve in an “at rest” position. The reference letter B indicates the path of a particular valve in the “depressed” position.  
         [0047]     The column of air created by the player travels down the lead pipe  26  to the lead pipe interface  46  of the third valve  44 . When the third valve  44  is in the rest position A, the column of air travels through the lead pipe interface  46  to the third valve-second valve interface  82 A and into the second valve  42 . When the third valve  44  is in the depressed position B, the air column travels through the lead pipe interface  46  through an air channel (not shown) in the third valve  44 , out through the third-slide exit interface  48  through the third-slide  36 , back into the third valve  44 , through the third-slide entrance interface  50 , through the valve  44 , through the third valve-second valve interface  82 B and into the second valve  42 .  
         [0048]     The column of air enters the second valve  42  at the third valve-second valve interface  82 . When the second valve  42  is in the past position A, the column of air travels through the third valve-second valve interface  82 , through an air channel (not shown) in the second valve  42 , through the second valve first valve interface  82  and into the first valve  40 .  
         [0049]     When the second valve  42  is in the depressed position B, the air column travels through the third valve-second valve interface  82 , through an angled air channel (not shown) in the second valve  42 , through the second slide exit interface  52 , through the second slide  34 , through the second slide enhance interface  54 , into another angled air channel (not shown) in the second valve  42  and into the second valve-first valve interface  84 .  
         [0050]     When the first valve  40  is in the rest position A, the column of air travels into an air channel (not shown) in the first valve  40  from the second valve-first valve interface  84  and exits the monobody valve block  30  through the exit tube interface  60 , through the exit tube  38  and out through the bell  100 .  
         [0051]     When the first valve  40  is in the depressed position B, the air column travels through the second valve-first valve interface  84 , through an angled air channel (not shown) in the first valve piston  40 , through the first slide exit interface  56 , through the first slide  32 , through the first slide entrance interface  58 , through another angled air channel(s) in the first valve piston  40 , through the exit tube interface  60 , through the exit tube  38  and out of the instrument  10  through the bell  100 .  
         [0052]     Referring finally to  FIG. 10  the gapless mouthpiece assembly is illustrated. The mouthpiece  20  comprises a negative conical interval shape and is generally milled from a solid piece of metal. The mouthpiece  20  is received in the mouthpiece receiver  22 . The mouthpiece receiver  22  comprises a fiction means  24 ,  25  and for removably retaining and adjusting the mouthpiece  20 . In a preferred embodiment the function means  24  comprises a split collar  25  surrounding the end of the bad pipe  26  that is tightened is loosened by tuning a thumbscrew  27 . When the mouthpiece  20  is in the mouthpiece retainer  22 , the retention means  24  operates to retain the position of the mouthpiece  20 . The mouthpiece  20  comprises a generally negative conical shape and has an exit bore  27  substantially equal to the entrance  31  of the positiviely conical head pipe  26 .  
         [0053]     Inasmuch as the preceding disclosure presents the best mode devised by the inventor for practicing the invention and is intended to enable one skilled in the pertinent art to carry it out, it is apparent that methods incorporating modifications and variations will be obvious to those skilled in the art. As such, it should not be construed to be limited thereby but should include such aforementioned obvious variations and be limited only by the spirit and scope of the following claims.