Shoulder marching tuba

A shoulder marching tuba having a compact slide arrangement for instrument spot tuning. The shoulder marching tuba includes an air inlet mouthpiece, an air outlet bell, and a series of airflow tubing and valves in fluid communication therebetween. The series of airflow tubing and valves include at least four pairs of tubes in sliding, telescoping engagement, wherein the four pairs of tubes are mounted in parallel arrangement and in sequential fluid communication. The first tubes of each of the four pairs of tubes are secured in a first bundle the second tubes of each of the four pairs of tubes are secured in a second bundle. One of the first bundle and the second bundle is mounted for sliding movement relative to the other of the first bundle and the second bundle for adjustment of musical pitch of sound issued from the shoulder marching tuba.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to musical instruments, and more particularly to shoulder marching tuba musical instruments.

BACKGROUND

Brass instruments typically have a slide arrangement for quick, spot tuning. On larger volume instruments, such as tubas, a lengthy slide arrangement is required. This works for concert tubas, but not for shoulder marching tubas, which are held in a different, relatively unwieldy position. As a result, shoulder marching tubas are typically built without a slide, instead requiring the player to overcome tuning issues by varying his or her embouchure (lip shape) to pull a note into tune.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, a shoulder marching tuba includes an air inlet mouthpiece, an air outlet bell, and a series of airflow tubing and valves in fluid communication therebetween. The series of airflow tubing and valves include at least four pairs of tubes in sliding, telescoping engagement, wherein the four pairs of tubes are mounted in parallel arrangement and in sequential fluid communication. The first tubes of each of the four pairs of tubes are secured in a first bundle and the second tubes of each of the four pairs of tubes are secured in a second bundle. One of the first bundle and the second bundle is mounted for sliding movement relative to the other of the first bundle and the second bundle to permit adjustment of musical pitch of sound issued from the shoulder marching tuba.

In another aspect, the shoulder marching tuba includes first, second, and third valve systems. A first substantially U-shaped stationary tube has first and second ends. The first valve system is in fluid communication with the second end of the first substantially U-shaped stationary tube. The first valve system includes a first valve and a slide assembly in fluid communication with the first valve. The slide assembly includes first and second substantially U-shaped slide tubes, each having first and second legs, and third and fourth substantially U-shaped slide tubes, each having first and second legs. The first and second legs of the first and second substantially U-shaped slide tubes slidably engage the first and second legs of the third and fourth substantially U-shaped slide tubes. In one example, the third substantially U-shaped slide tube is secured to the fourth substantially U-shaped slide tube to provide mutual support and maintain alignment of the slide tubes.

The following arrangement of the slide tubes provides a variable length tube system in fluid communication with the first valve. The first leg of the first substantially U-shaped slide tube slidably engages the first leg of the fourth substantially U-shaped slide tube. The second leg of the first substantially U-shaped slide tube slidably engages the second leg of the third substantially U-shaped slide tube. The first leg of the second substantially U-shaped slide tube slidably engages the first leg of the third substantially U-shaped slide tube. The second leg of the second substantially U-shaped slide tube slidably engages the second leg of the fourth substantially U-shaped slide tube.

The second valve system is in fluid communication with the first valve system. The second valve system includes a second valve and a second substantially U-shaped stationary tube having first and second ends, both in fluid communication with the second valve. In one example, the second substantially U-shaped stationary tube further includes a crook and first and second legs joining the crook to the second valve. The first and second legs are curved to position the crook along side the slide assembly.

The third valve system is in fluid communication with the second valve system. The third valve system includes a third valve and a third substantially U-shaped stationary tube having first and second ends, both in fluid communication with the third valve. In one example, the third substantially U-shaped stationary tube further includes a crook and first and second legs, which are both in fluid communication with the crook. First and second curved ends join the first and second legs, respectively, to the third valve such that the first and second legs of the third substantially U-shaped stationary tube are substantially parallel to the slide assembly.

A fourth substantially U-shaped stationary tube has first and second ends. The second end is in fluid communication with the first end of the first substantially U-shaped stationary tube. A mouth piece is in fluid communication with the first end of the fourth substantially U-shaped stationary tube.

Fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth substantially U-shaped stationary tubes, each having first and second ends, are in fluid communication to form a series of tubing between the third valve and a bell. The first end of the fifth substantially U-shaped stationary tube is in fluid communication with the third valve. The first end of the sixth substantially U-shaped stationary tube is in fluid communication with the second end of the fifth substantially U-shaped stationary tube. The first end of the seventh substantially U-shaped stationary tube is in fluid communication with the second end of the sixth substantially U-shaped stationary tube. The first end of the eighth substantially U-shaped stationary tube is in fluid communication with the second end of the seventh substantially U-shaped stationary tube. Finally, the bell is in fluid communication with the second end of the eighth substantially U-shaped stationary tube.

In one example, the first and second substantially U-shaped slide tubes are associated for simultaneous movement. This allows a user to control the variable length of the slide assembly by moving the first and second substantially U-shaped slide tubes in unison, rather than independently.

In another example, a first brace is secured between the first and second legs of the first substantially U-shaped stationary tube in a manner to hold both legs substantially parallel. Similarly, in another instance, a second brace is secured between the first leg of the first substantially U-shaped stationary tube and the third valve in a manner to hold the first and second legs of the first substantially U-shaped stationary tube substantially parallel.

A user of the shoulder marching tuba is benefited by means for holding the apparatus and actuating the slide assembly. In one implementation, the tuba includes first, second, and third rings which may be configured for engagement by the user's fingers. A first ring is mounted upon the first substantially U-shaped slide tube; a second ring is mounted upon the second substantially U-shaped stationary tube; and a third ring mounted upon the fourth substantially U-shaped stationary tube. A user may move the first and second rings relative to each other to alter the effective length of the slide assembly.

To provide ergonomic placement of a user's head in relation to the tuba, in another example, the tuba includes a mouthpiece tube having first and second ends, where the second end of the mouthpiece tube is in fluid communication with the first end of the fourth substantially U-shaped stationary tube. The first end of the mouthpiece tube is in fluid communication with the mouthpiece.

The details of one or more implementations of the disclosure are set in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A shoulder marching tuba has a compact slide arrangement permitting spot tuning of the instrument. Referring toFIG. 1-3, shoulder marching tuba10includes air inlet mouthpiece20, air outlet bell30, and a series of airflow tubing32and valves34in fluid communication therebetween. The series of airflow tubing32and valves34include at least four pairs of tubes40,50,60, and70, respectively, in sliding, telescoping engagement, the four pairs of tubes40,50,60, and70, respectively, mounted in parallel arrangement and in sequential fluid communication. The first tubes41,51,61, and71, respectively, of the four pairs of tubes40,50,60, and70, respectively, are secured in a first bundle81and the second tubes42,52,62, and72, respectively, of the four pairs of tubes40,50,60, and70, respectively, are secured in a second bundle82. One of the first bundle81and the second bundle82is mounted for sliding movement relative to the other of the first bundle81and the second bundle82for adjustment of musical pitch of sound issued from shoulder marching tuba10.

On a trumpet and other relatively smaller brass instruments, there are “slip slides” that are put in motion while playing for adjustment of pitch, but they consist of two inner slides, a return bow, and two outer slides. This works well on a trumpet, because the length of adjustment required to pull a note back into tune is relatively short. On a tuba, the length of adjustment required is relatively long for a two tube slide, which would make it unwieldy for a player to use effectively while marching. In contrast, the path of the air flow tubes of the shoulder marching tuba10of the disclose is doubled up, utilizing four pairs of slide tubes40,50,60, and70, respectively, providing a relatively shorter adjustment length. In one example, adjusting the four pairs of slide tubes40,50,60, and70, respectively, by a distance of two inches is equivalent to adjusting a two tube slide a distance of four inches.

On a concert tuba the length of adjustment is not a particular impediment due to the position in which a concert instrument is held. However, instrument spot tuning of shoulder marching tubas without adjustable slides requires players to change their embouchure (lip shape) to pull notes into tune, which requires a degree of expertise not possessed by players of all levels, often resulting in an adverse effect on sound quality.

Referring toFIGS. 1,2, and4, another example of a shoulder marching tuba10includes first, second, and third valve systems200,300, and400, respectively. First substantially U-shaped stationary tube110has first and second ends112and114, respectively. First valve system200is in fluid communication with the second end114of first substantially U-shaped stationary tube110. First valve system200includes first valve202and slide assembly204in fluid communication with first valve202. Slide assembly204includes first and second substantially U-shaped slide tubes,210and220respectively, each having first and second legs212,214and222,224, respectively. Slide assembly204also includes third and fourth substantially U-shaped slide tubes230and240, respectively, each having first and second legs232,234and242,244, respectively.

The first legs212and222, respectively, of first and second substantially U-shaped slide tubes210and220, respectively, slidably engage the first legs232and242, respectively, of third and fourth substantially U-shaped slide tubes230and240, respectively. Similarly, the second legs214and224, respectively, of first and second substantially U-shaped slide tubes210and220, respectively, slidably engage the second legs234and244, respectively, of third and fourth substantially U-shaped slide tubes230and240, respectively. In one example, third substantially U-shaped slide tube230is secured to fourth substantially U-shaped slide tube240to provide mutual support and maintain alignment of the slide tubes.

The following arrangement of the slide tubes provides a variable length tube system in fluid communication with first valve202. The first leg212of first substantially U-shaped slide tube210slidably engages the first leg242of fourth substantially U-shaped slide tube240. The second leg214of first substantially U-shaped slide tube210slidably engages the second leg234of third substantially U-shaped slide tube230. The first leg222of second substantially U-shaped slide tube220slidably engages the first leg232of third substantially U-shaped slide tube230. The second leg224of second substantially U-shaped slide tube220slidably engages the second leg244of fourth substantially U-shaped slide tube240.

Second valve system300is in fluid communication with first valve system200. Second valve system300includes second valve302and second substantially U-shaped stationary tube310having first and second ends312and314, respectively, both in fluid communication with second valve302. In one example, second substantially U-shaped stationary tube310further includes crook315and first and second legs316and318, respectively, which join crook315to second valve302. First and second legs316and318, respectively, of second substantially U-shaped stationary tube310are curved to position crook315along side slide assembly204.

Third valve system400is in fluid communication with second valve system300. Third valve system includes third valve402and third substantially U-shaped stationary tube410having first and second ends412and414, respectively, both in fluid communication with third valve402. In one example, third substantially U-shaped stationary tube410further includes crook415and first and second legs416and418, respectively, both in fluid communication with crook415. First and second curved ends417and419, respectively, join first and second legs416and418, respectively, to third valve402, such that first and second legs416and418, respectively, of third substantially U-shaped stationary tube410are substantially parallel to slide assembly204.

Fourth substantially U-shaped stationary tube120has first and second ends122and124, respectively. The second end124is in fluid communication with the first end112of first substantially U-shaped stationary tube110. Mouth piece20is in fluid communication with the first end122of fourth substantially U-shaped stationary tube120.

Referring toFIGS. 1-2and7-8, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth substantially U-shaped stationary tubes130,140,150, and160, respectively, are in fluid communication to form a series of tubing between third valve402and bell30. Fifth substantially U-shaped stationary tube130has first and second ends132and134, respectively. The first end132is in fluid communication with third valve402. Sixth substantially U-shaped stationary tube140has first and second ends142and144, respectively. The first end142is in fluid communication with the second end134of fifth substantially U-shaped stationary tube130. Seventh substantially U-shaped stationary tube150has first and second ends152and154, respectively. The first end152is in fluid communication with the second end144of sixth substantially U-shaped stationary tube140. Eighth substantially U-shaped stationary tube160has first and second ends162and164, respectively. The first end162is in fluid communication with the second end154of seventh substantially U-shaped stationary tube150. Bell30is in fluid communication with the second end164of eighth substantially U-shaped stationary tube160.

In one example, first and second substantially U-shaped slide tubes210and220, respectively, are associated for simultaneous movement. This allows a user to control the variable length of slide assembly204by moving first and second substantially U-shaped slide tubes210and220, respectively, in unison, rather than independently.

In another example, shoulder marching tuba10includes first brace116secured between the first and second legs112and114, respectively, of first substantially U-shaped stationary tube110in a manner to hold both legs substantially parallel. Similarly, in a further embodiment, tuba10includes a second brace118secured between the first leg112of first substantially U-shaped stationary tube110and third valve402in a manner to hold the first and second legs112and114, respectively, of first substantially U-shaped stationary tube110substantially parallel.

A user of tuba10is benefited by first, second, and third rings510,520, and530, respectively, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 4, e.g. for holding the apparatus and actuating the slide assembly204. First ring510is mounted upon first substantially U-shaped slide tube210. Second ring520is mounted upon second substantially U-shaped stationary tube310. Third ring530is mounted upon fourth substantially U-shaped stationary tube120. A user may move first and second rings510and520, respectively, in relation to each other to alter an effective length of slide assembly204.

FIG. 6provides a bottom view of a shoulder marching tuba10. To provide ergonomic placement of a head of a user in relation to tuba10, in another example, tuba10includes mouthpiece tube21having first and second ends22and24, respectively. The second end24of mouthpiece tube21is in fluid communication with the first end122of fourth substantially U-shaped stationary tube120. The first end22of mouthpiece tube21is in fluid communication with mouthpiece20.