Abstract:
The present invention features apparatuses that include a wristband and a pitch pipe rotatably attached to the wristband, wherein the apparatuses are disposed to be worn on a user&#39;s wrist. The invention further features methods of use thereof.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 61/655,614, filed Jun. 5, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Teachers of toddler music and movement classes need to sing songs in a key in which children can sing along, and it is best for the children if the teachers sing a given song in the same key every time. For this purpose, teachers need to have a pitch pipe at hand for periodic reference throughout every class. Teachers also periodically role-model gross-motor actions such as dancing, jumping, spinning, skipping, and hopping during class. A pitch pipe held in the teacher&#39;s pocket frequently falls out and gets picked up, and perhaps even mouthed, by a toddler. There is a need in the art to provide improved pitch pipe apparatuses and methods of use thereof. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The invention features apparatuses that safely and conveniently hold a pitch pipe, e.g., on a user&#39;s wrist. Such an apparatus is termed a “pitch watch.” 
         [0004]    Advantageously, apparatuses of the invention provide continuous hands-free access to the attached pitch pipe and avoid the need to store the pitch pipe, e.g., in a pocket. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, the invention features an apparatus including: a) a wristband; and b) a pitch pipe rotatably attached to the wristband, wherein the apparatus is disposed to be worn on a user&#39;s wrist. In some embodiments, the pitch pipe includes a post disposed through the center of the pitch pipe, and wherein the post is rotatably attached to the wristband. 
         [0006]    The invention further features an apparatus including a) a wristband including a primary band and an auxiliary band, wherein at least a portion of the auxiliary band is disposed above the outer surface of the primary band and wherein the auxiliary band is attached to the primary band by at least both ends of the auxiliary band; and b) a pitch pipe rotatably attached to the wristband, the pitch pipe including a post disposed through the center of the pitch pipe, wherein the post is rotatably attached to the auxiliary band and does not penetrate the primary band, wherein the apparatus is disposed to be worn on a user&#39;s wrist. 
         [0007]    In some embodiments, the auxiliary band is woven through the primary band and includes a plurality of non-contiguous portions disposed above the outer surface of the primary band. The apparatus may also include a plurality of decorative rings disposed between the primary band and the auxiliary band. In some embodiments, the thickness of the primary band is about 2 millimeters, and/or the width of the primary band is about 40 millimeters. The wristband may include any material, e.g., leather. 
         [0008]    In some embodiments, the apparatus further includes an adjustable mechanism for fitting said apparatus to said user&#39;s wrist. The adjustable mechanism may include, for example, a buckle attached to one end of the wristband and a plurality of holes at the other end of the wristband, or may include Velcro attached to each end of said wristband. 
         [0009]    In some embodiments, the pitch pipe includes: i) a plurality of metal reeds inside the pitch pipe; and ii) proximal to each reed, an opening in the pitch pipe to allow the user to blow air over the reed, thereby causing the reed to resonate at a preselected frequency. The pitch pipe may include, e.g., 13 metal reeds substantially tuned to Middle C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G#, A, A#, B, and High C, respectively. 
         [0010]    In some embodiments, the pitch pipe is substantially disk-shaped. 
         [0011]    In some embodiments, the diameter of the pitch pipe is about 65 millimeters. 
         [0012]    The invention further features a method of using an apparatus described herein, the method including the steps of: fastening the apparatus to a user&#39;s wrist; and blowing air into the pitch pipe, thereby producing a desired pitch. 
         [0013]    By “about” is meant ±10% of the recited value. 
         [0014]    By “outer surface” in reference to a wristband or a primary band thereof is meant the band surface that is not intended to be in direct contact with the user&#39;s wrist. 
         [0015]    By “pitch pipe” is meant an apparatus used to provide a pitch reference, e.g., for musicians, music teachers, or music students, and of suitable size to be incorporated into an apparatus of the invention that is worn on a user&#39;s wrist. 
         [0016]    By “wristband” is meant a strap of material that is disposed to be worn on a user&#39;s wrist, e.g., similar to a watch band, and is sufficiently sturdy to hold a pitch pipe substantially against a user&#39;s wrist. 
         [0017]    Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description and from the claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a top view of an apparatus of the invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a bottom view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIGS. 3 and 4  are side views of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a bottom view of an apparatus of the invention that does not include an auxiliary band. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    There now follows a description of particular embodiments of the invention, which should not be construed as limiting. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , apparatus  100  includes wristband  102 , which in turn includes primary band  104  and auxiliary band  106  woven through primary band  104 ; and disk-shaped pitch pipe  108  rotatably attached to auxiliary band  106  by post  110 . Primary band  104  also includes adjustable buckle  112  at one end and holes  114  at the other end, which allow apparatus  100  to be fitted and secured to a user&#39;s wrist. Wristband  102  also includes decorative D-rings  116  disposed between primary band  104  and auxiliary band  106 . 
         [0024]    Pitch pipe  108  is commercially available and includes thirteen reeds (Middle C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G#, A, A#, B, High C) with corresponding labels and holes to allow the user to blow air over a selected reed in order to produce a desired pitch. Pitch pipe  108  is larger (at about, e.g., 65 millimeters in diameter) and heavier (at about, e.g., 3 ounces) than an ordinary wristwatch; accordingly, primary band  104  is a very thick strap of leather (about, e.g., 2 millimeters) cut very wide (about, e.g., 40 millimeters) to keep pitch pipe  108  stable against the user&#39;s wrist. Adjustable buckle  112  and holes  114  are used to fit and secure apparatus  100  to wrists of various sizes. Pitch pipe  108  is fastened to auxiliary band  106  by replacing a central screw with longer post  110  extending through the leather of auxiliary band  106 . Post  110  allows pitch pipe  108  to rotate with a moderate degree of freedom: pitch pipe  108  stays still until the user actively rotates pitch pipe  108  to point the desired pitch reed in the direction of the user&#39;s mouth. Advantageously, by inclusion of auxiliary band  106  in wristband  102  and attachment of post  110  directly to auxiliary band  106 , post  110  does not come into direct contact with the user&#39;s wrist, thereby protecting the user&#39;s skin from chafing. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , apparatus  200  includes wristband  202  and pitch pipe  204  rotatably attached to wristband  202  by post  206 . Wristband  202  also includes Velcro straps  208 , which allow apparatus  200  to be fitted and secured to a user&#39;s wrist. 
       Other Embodiments 
       [0026]    All publications, patents, and patent applications mentioned in the above specification are hereby incorporated by reference. 
         [0027]    Various modifications and variations of the described method and system of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, any appropriately-sized pitch pipe may be used in the apparatuses and methods of the invention. Likewise, any wristband capable of securing a pitch pipe, e.g., a wristband that is similar or identical to watch bands known in the art, may be used. 
         [0028]    Although the invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention that are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the invention. 
         [0029]    Other embodiments are in the claims.