Bass clarinet with low E tone hole not on the bell

A low E-flat bass clarinet with low E tone hole not on the bell is provided. The clarinet includes a mouthpiece coupled to a neck. The clarinet further includes an upper joint coupled to the neck on one end and coupled to a lower joint on an opposing end, the upper and lower joints comprising tone holes and associated key mechanisms mounted thereon, and further having thereon a finger spatula terminating in a cam end positioned adjacent to the lower end of the lower joint. The clarinet also includes an low E joint coupled to a lower end of the lower joint, the low E joint having a low E tone hole. Further, the clarinet includes a bell coupled to the lower end of the low E joint, the bell having no low E tone hole and no low E key mechanism located thereon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

This invention relates to clarinets and more particularly to a Low Eb (E-flat) Bass Clarinet with the low E tone hole moved from the metal bell and placed on an additional joint positioned above the metal bell and below the traditional lower joint.

2. State of the Art

Bass clarinets as conventionally constructed with a low E tone hole. Many bass clarinet musical score parts, such as those used in traditional concert or chamber music, are written to require the playing of low E flat notes. Low Eb (E-flat) Bass Clarinets traditionally always have the low E flat tone hole located on the metal bell, as shown inFIG. 1, which is substantially thinner than the joint sections located above the bell, where all of the other tone holes are located.

The sound produced by the low E flat tone hole is limited in its ability to be adjusted as the other tone holes in the low Eb clarinet because it is located on the bell section construction from thin metal. Accordingly, there is a need for a new design of the traditional Low Eb (E-flat) Bass Clarinets to allow for the easy adjustment of the tonal frequency thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a Low Eb (E-flat) Bass Clarinet with the low E tone hole moved from the metal bell and placed on an additional joint positioned above the metal bell and below the traditional lower joint.

In an embodiment of the present invention provides a Low Eb (E-flat) Bass Clarinet with the low E tone hole moved from the metal bell and placed on an additional joint positioned above the metal bell and below the traditional lower joint. The amount and shape of the material around the other tone holes in the joints is often modified to adjust the exact frequency of sound produced by that particular tone hole. Thus, by placing low E flat tone hole on the additional joint allows for the low E flat tone hole to be modified in a similar fashion as the other tone holes of the clarinet.

Uniquely, there is an embodiment, a low E-flat bass clarinet with a mouthpiece coupled to a neck, further including: a first joint, coupled to the neck, having tone holes and associated key mechanisms mounted thereon, and further having thereon a finger spatula terminating in a cam end positioned adjacent to the lower end of the first joint; a second joint, coupled to fit to a lower end of the first joint, having a low E tone hole thereon, and low E key mechanism having an operating finger coupled to the cam end and extending to a key that is positioned to cover the E tone hole; and a bell, coupled to fit on the lower end of the second joint, and having no key mechanism located thereon.

An embodiment may also include a low E-flat bass clarinet with a mouthpiece coupled to a neck. The clarinet further comprises an upper joint coupled to the neck on one end and coupled to a lower joint on an opposing end, the upper and lower joints comprising tone holes and associated key mechanisms mounted thereon, and further having thereon a finger spatula terminating in a cam end positioned adjacent to the lower end of the lower joint; an low E joint, coupled to fit to a lower end of the lower joint, the low E joint comprising a low E tone hole, and a low E key mechanism operatively coupled to the cam end and extending to a key that is positioned to cover the E flat tone hole; and a bell coupled to the lower end of the low E joint, the bell having no low E tone hole and no low E key mechanism located thereon. In further embodiments, the bell may comprise a tone adjustment hole on the bell.

An embodiment of the present invention may include A method of operating a low E-flat bass clarinet. The method may comprise coupling a mouthpiece to a neck; coupling an upper joint to the neck on one end; coupling a lower joint to the upper joint on an end opposing the end coupled to the neck, wherein the upper and lower joints comprise tone holes and associated key mechanisms mounted thereon, and further having thereon a finger spatula terminating in a cam end positioned adjacent to the lower end of the lower joint; coupling an low E joint to a lower end of the lower joint, the low E joint comprising a low E tone hole, and a low E key mechanism operatively coupled to the cam end and extending to a key that is positioned to cover the E flat tone hole; coupling a bell to the lower end of the low E joint, wherein the bell includes no low E tone hole and no low E key mechanism located thereon; and playing music by passing air through a reed of the mouthpiece and operating the key mechanisms.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to a Low Eb (E-flat) Bass Clarinet with the low E tone hole moved from the metal bell and placed on an additional joint positioned above the metal bell and below the traditional lower joint.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiment. Wherein, each statement of an embodiment is to be considered independent or any other embodiment, despite any use of similar or identical language.

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment, different embodiments, or component parts of the same or different illustrated invention. Additionally, reference to the wording “an embodiment,” or the like, for two or more features, elements, etc. does not mean that the features are related, dissimilar, the same, etc. The use of the term “an embodiment,” or similar wording, is merely a convenient phrase to indicate optional features, which may or may not be part of the invention as claimed.

Finally, the fact that the wording “an embodiment,” or the like, does not appear at the beginning of every sentence in the specification, such as is the practice of some practitioners, is merely a convenience for the reader's clarity. However, it is the intention of this application to incorporate by reference the phrasing “an embodiment,” and the like, at the beginning of every sentence herein where logically possible and appropriate.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated one embodiment a prior art conventional Low Eb (E-flat) Bass Clarinet showing only a lower branch (or joint)10and an attached bell18. The lower branch10carries a number of keys including four finger spatulas11,12,13, and14, which are arranged close together in the usual manner to be selectively engaged by the little finger of the player's right hand. As shown, the spatula11controls a key15on the lower branch and the spatula12controls a similar key16on the lower branch, further toward its lower end than the key15. The spatula13controls a key17toward the extreme lower end of the branch10. All of these keys are normally open and are adapted to be closed when the corresponding spatulas are engaged and depressed by the player.

The lower end of the joint10is adapted to receive a traditional bell18that terminates in an enlarged cup-shaped bell, and has a socket19(best seen inFIG. 4) to fit over a reduced end21at the lower end of the lower branch (not seen inFIGS. 1 and 2, but an exact match is shown inFIG. 3as element32). The lower branch10has a cylindrical longitudinal tone-carrying bore extending completely therethrough as in the conventional bass clarinet construction. When the lower branch10is assembled with the traditional bell18, the opening through the bell18adjacent to the enlarged socket19forms a substantially smooth continuation of the bore throughout the entire instrument. The traditional thin metal bell18carries a key22that is adapted to close a low E tone hole opening (not shown, but located under key22as typically designed). For this purpose, the key terminates in an operating finger23that is adapted to overlie a cam end24when the bell18is assembled on the lower branch10. The cam end24is connected to the spatula14to be swung outward from the lower branch when the spatula is depressed thereby to rock the key22to its closed position. The instrument as so far described is a purely conventional bass clarinet.

According to some of the present prior art, an additional finger spatula25may be provided on the lower branch lying closely adjacent to the spatulas11to14. The spatula25is connected to an operating cam26that projects slightly beyond the lower end of the lower branch10. Additionally, a thumb-operated spatula27may be mounted on the rear side of the lower branch substantially opposite to the spatulas11to14and25to be operated by the thumb of the player. These spatulas terminates in a cam end28which projects beyond the end of the lower branch on the side thereof opposite to the cam ends24and26.

As shown inFIG. 3 through 5, there is one embodiment that allows for a thicker region around the E flat tone hole. Specifically, the traditional tone hole located on the bell18, shown inFIG. 1, has been eliminated and moved to an extra joint31or low E joint31, shown inFIG. 3. This low E joint31is formed using the same materials and methods as is joint10, with a longitudinal tone carrying bore of the same size as the bore in the lower branch10and has in its upper end fitted with a socket39to snugly receive the reduced end21of the lower branch10as traditionally done in other similar traditional clarinet instruments. At its lower end, the extra joint31is formed with a reduced diameter mating end32designed to fit into the socket19of the modified bell40as shown inFIG. 4. It is noted that this reduced mating end32, is designed exactly as the reduced end21of the lower joint10that is mated to the receiving socket39.

To hold the extra joint31securely in place on the lower branch10a pivoted latch member33may be provided thereon to engage in a socket34located in the lower joint10. This not only holds the extra joint securely on the lower branch10, and accurately fixes the rotational relationship therebetween.

The extra joint31is formed with a low E tone hole41opening, that was previously located on the bell18. There is also a key mechanism42made of a key35, a pivot rod29, and an operating finger23extending from the key35and having the pivot rod29perpendicularly extending loosely therethrough as illustrated. When the extra joint31is assembled on the lower branch10, the operating finger23will overlie the cam end24. In operation, when the spatula14is depressed the cam end24will contact operating finger23causing key mechanism42to pivot around pivot rod29and force key35to close the tone hole41in the extra joint31.

Referring toFIG. 4, there is illustrated a new bell40design. Specifically, there is the elimination of the traditional low E tone hole and associated key mechanism that is illustrated inFIG. 1. Additionally, there are is at least one, but illustrating two, tone adjustment holes53and55located as illustrated. The tone adjustment holes may or may not have circular collars fitted and circumferentially positioned as illustrated. The tone adjustment holes53and55, adjust the tone of the notes played through the clarinet are particularly useful in creating a quality tone of notes being played because the low E joint31adds length to the clarinet. These tone adjustment holes53and55may adjust the resonance and/or the timbre, and accordingly may be referred to as resonance holes or timbre holes.

Regarding the assembly of the new instrument, it can easily be understood by those skilled in the art of making bass clarinets that the new design can be made from most of the conventional bass clarinet upper parts and attaching the extra joint31and new bell40as illustrated herein. More specifically, it will be easily understood to skilled artisan that the new instrument is now made of the lower joint10illustrated inFIG. 3and all normal other parts associated with a bass clarinet that is located above the lower joint10, whereby the new joint31will be coupled to the bottom of joint10, and the new bell40will be coupled to the bottom of joint31by coupling the reduced mating end32to the bell socket19. These changes or additions, however, are relatively simple and inexpensive ones and enable the player to utilize a conventional bass clarinet and modify, adjust or tune the low E tone hole by eliminating some of the material around the inner section of the tone hole as is customary to do to the other tone holes in the instrument. This may be referred to as undercutting the tone hole.

It is noted that although the application discusses and illustrates a single joint10, one skilled in the art of designing clarinets and in particular bass clarinets will easily understand that several joints are commonly incorporated into the design of a traditional bass clarinet. Wherein, this disclosure teaches the addition of an additional joint31that incorporates the low E tone hole and related key mechanism and removes such from the typical metal walled bell18to allow for the advantages of having tone holes located on thicker walled portions of an instrument, which includes the tuning of notes by removal of material located in the tone hole.

Referring to the drawings again,FIG. 6depicts a flow chart of a method60of operating a low E flat clarinet. The method60includes coupling a mouthpiece to a neck (Step61); coupling an upper joint to the neck on one end (Step62); and coupling a lower joint to the upper joint on an end opposing the end coupled to the neck (Step63). The upper and lower joints comprise tone holes and associated key mechanisms mounted thereon, and further having thereon a finger spatula terminating in a cam end positioned adjacent to the lower end of the lower joint. The method60may also include coupling a low E joint to a lower end of the lower joint (Step64). The low E joint comprising a low E tone hole, and a low E key mechanism operatively coupled to the cam end and extending to a key that is positioned to cover the E flat tone hole. The method may also include coupling a bell to the lower end of the low E joint (Step65), wherein the bell includes no low E tone hole and no low E key mechanism located thereon. Additionally, the method60may include playing music by passing air through a reed of the mouthpiece and operating the key mechanisms (Step66).

Other steps in operating a low E flat clarinet are available and the method is not limited to these steps. For example, the method may include disassembling the clarinet, storing the components of the clarinet in a case and the like.