Abstract:
An air flow restrictor which is adjustable and removable and is installed on the sound hole of a stringed instrument having a sound box to interrupt and/or restrict the air flow emanating from the sound box through the sound hole so as to affect tonal quality.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Applicant claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 61/399,530, filed Jul. 14, 2010. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to an adjustable air flow restrictor for stringed instruments having a sound box, and one or more sound holes. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    Stringed instruments having a sound box, and one or more sound holes for the creation of music, include the violin, the viola, the viola cello, the double bass cello, and the guitar. Through the use of fingers, and/or a bow, the musician creates sound and music by manipulating the strings drawn taughtly over the exterior of the instrument, causing air vibration within the sound box, which emanate through the sound holes. 
         [0006]    With respect to the violin, viola, viola cello, and double bass cello, the sound holes are normally in the form of a S-shaped curve formed in the sound board, the sound board being that surface of the instrument proximate the taut strings. The S-shaped curve sound holes are positioned symmetrically on both sides of the strings, proximate the bridge of the instrument. 
         [0007]    The sound holes are normally unrestricted during play allowing for the instrument to provide the tonal quality particular to the instrument. However, there may be situations when it is desirable to interrupt or restrict the air flow through the sound holes in order to obtain a different tonal quality. 
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    An object of the present invention is to provide for a novel air flow restrictor which can be easily installed and removed from the sound hole of a stringed instrument having a sound box in order to affect the tonal quality of the instrument. 
         [0009]    A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel adjustable air flow restrictor for installation on the sound hole of a stringed instrument having a sound box. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    An air flow restrictor which is adjustable and removable and is installed on the sound hole of a stringed instrument having a sound box to interrupt and/or restrict the air flow emanating from the sound box through the sound hole so as to affect tonal quality. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent, particularly when taken in light of the following illustrations wherein: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a violin representing the type of instrument to which the invention pertains; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the violin of  FIG. 1  on Plane  2 - 2 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of an air restrictor of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the air restrictor of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of a second embodiment of an air restrictor of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of an air restrictor as removably positioned on a sound hole of a musical instrument such as illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a top planar view of the second embodiment of the present invention removably secured to a sound hole of a musical instrument such as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a violin  10  which is a stringed instrument incorporating a sound box, and  FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the violin  10  of  FIG. 1 . The violin  10  comprises a body  12  and a neck  14 . The body  12  comprises a front face or sound board  16 , and a back  18 , with an arcuate circumferential periphery  20 . The sound board  16 , back  18 , and arcuate circumferential periphery  20  define an enclosed sound box  22  having a sound post  21 . Mounted to body  10  is a tail piece  24  and neck  14 . Neck  14  terminates with a peg box  26 . Also mounted on sound board  16  is a bridge  28 . A plurality of strings  30 , are anchored in tail piece  24  and tautly stretched across bridge  28  and down neck  14  terminating at peg box  26  which includes a plurality of pegs  32  for adjusting the tautness of strings  30 . The top face  34  of neck  14  serves as the fingerboard  36  for applying pressure to the strings with the fingers of the hand, while a bow is drawn across the strings at a position proximate bridge  28 . 
         [0020]    There is formed in sound board  16  two sound holes  40  and  42  proximate to and on opposing sides of bridge  28 . These sound holes  40  and  42  are in the form of mirror image, S-shaped curves. The action of the fingers on the fingerboard  36  and the bow drawn across the strings  30  causes vibrations within the sound box  22  which emanate as the tonal quality of the violin through the sound holes  40  and  42 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of Applicant&#39;s air restrictor, and  FIG. 4  is a perspective view of Applicant&#39;s air restrictor. Air restrictor  50  comprises a T-shaped receiver  52  having a cylindrical leg  54  having an internal threaded bore  56  formed therein. Cylindrical leg  54  terminates in a planar cross member  58 . Threaded interior bore  56  is dimensioned to receive an exteriorly threaded fastener member  60  having a finger tip engagable fastener  62 . The restrictor assembly also includes a restrictor plate  64  having an aperture  66  therethrough. Aperture  66  in restrictor plate  64  is alignable with the bore  56  of T-shaped receiver  52  and is secured between T-shaped receiver  52  and exteriorly threaded fastener  60  when exteriorly threaded fastener  60  is secured in bore  56 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 6 , a cross sectional view, is illustrative of the air restriction assembly secured to a sound hole  40  of a violin. The air restrictor assembly is dimensioned such that the distance A between the planar cross member  58  and the restrictor plate  64  when secured to the assembly is equal to the thickness of the sound board  16  of the violin or similar stringed instrument. With the air restrictor assembly assembled, the exteriorly threaded fastener  60  is loosened slightly and allows the planar cross member  58  to be inserted through a sound hole  40  or  42  and then turned  90  degrees such that the planar cross member  58  now traverses the sound hole  40  or  42 . The exteriorly threaded fastener  60  is then tightened, which compresses the restrictor plate  64  against the outer surface of sound board  16 , thus partially restricting air flow through the sound hole  40  or  42 . An identical air restrictor assembly could also be applied to the opposing sound hole. The musician, by loosening the exteriorly threaded fastener could slide the air restrictor assembly within the sound hole to any desired position to achieve the desired tonal quality. 
         [0023]      FIG. 5  is illustrative of the air restriction assembly secured to a sound hole  40  of a violin. 
         [0024]    With respect to the first embodiment of the air restrictor assembly as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 ,  4 , and  6 , the restrictor plate  64  is illustrated as being disc shaped. In this configuration, the user can position the restrictor plate at any desired point along a single air hole or using two restrictor plates  64 , position of restrictor plate at any desired location on both sound holes. 
         [0025]    It will be recognized by those having ordinary skill in the art that the selection of a disc shaped or circular air restrictor is one of choice, and that any suitable geometric shape may equally perform. 
         [0026]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of a second embodiment of an air restrictor of the present invention, and  FIG. 7  is a top planar view of this second embodiment of the air restrictor of the present invention removably secured to a sound hole of a musical instrument such as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The second embodiment utilizes a T-shaped receiver  52  identical to that illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4  with respect to the first embodiment. It also utilizes an exteriorly threaded fastener member  60  identical to that as utilized in the first embodiment as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The difference between the first embodiment and the second embodiment lies in the shape of the restrictor plate. The second embodiment, restrictor plate  70 , is propeller shaped having a central narrow body portion  72  the width of which is greater than the width of the sound hole. From the central body portion, the restrictor plate  70  extends outwardly in 180 degree relationship to form two tear drop end portions  74  and  76 . The body of restrictor plate  70  is dimensioned such that it could substantially cover an entire sound hole  40  or  42 . Restrictor plate  70  would be positioned in sound hole  70  in the same manner as the first embodiment, only it would be centrally positioned such that the restrictor plate  70  once installed, could be rotated to effectuate the opening or closure of sound hole at both ends of the sound hole simultaneously as opposed to having loosen and slide and retighten the restrictor plate of the first embodiment. 
         [0027]    Therefore, while the present invention has been disclosed with respect to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore manifestly intended that the invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalence thereof.