A MOUTHPIECE FOR A WIND INSTRUMENT

Abstract: A mouthpiece (10) for a wind instrument comprises a tone chamber (12) limited by a cover (14). The cover (14) has a raising (18) so that the position of the mouth of a musician is more open than in case of a cover without a raising. Preferably the cover (14) also comprises an excavation (20). Both the excavation (20) and the raising (18) improve the quality of the sound produced by the wind instrument.

Description: A MOUTHPIECE FOR A WIND INSTRUMENT Field of the invention. The present invention relates to a mouthpiece for a wind instrument and to a wind instrument comprising such a mouthpiece. The terms "wind instrument" generally refer to musical instruments such as woodwind instruments with mouthpiece. Examples of such an instrument are clarinets, saxophones, beak flutes, recorders, flageolets, crumhoms, bagpipes, windcontrollers, ... State of the art. Such wind instruments are known in the art. A number of attempts have been done to improve the quality of the sound produced by such wind instruments. For example, EP-A1-0 198 541 discloses a wind instrument with a tone chamber more or less in the form of a constricted tear drop. As another example, WO-A 1-91/14258 discloses with a cover divided into four surface regions. Summary of the invention. It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative way to obtain an improved sound quality by means of a wind instrument. According to the invention there is provided a mouthpiece for a wind instrument. This mouthpiece comprises a tone chamber which is limited by a cover. The cover has a raising so that the position of the mouth of a musician is more open than in case of a cover without a raising. The specific height of the raising may vary according to the physiognomy and wishes of the musician. This more open position improves the quality of the sound without loss of stability. Indeed the cover determines in a stable way the position of the teeth. Before the invention, attempts have been made to increase the volume of the mouth by only holding contact with the lips and thus by loosing contact with the teeth. These attempts have led to a loss of support on the mouthpiece, which was in its turn harmful for the stability of the sound. In one embodiment this raising may extend over the whole length and width of the cover. In another embodiment this raising extends only partially of the whole length and/or width of the cover. Preferably this raising has a height of more than 1.0 mm, most preferably more than 1.5 mm, for example 2.0 mm. The height may range up to 12 mm. In a preferable embodiment of the invention, the cover further comprises an excavation which increases the volume of the tone chamber and further improves the quality of the sound produced by the wind instrument by providing more possibilities for resonance. The depth of the excavation may range from 1.0 mm on. This excavation may be positioned on the same place as the raising or on a place different from the position of the raising. The excavation may extend over the whole length and width of the ceiling or may extend only partially of the length and/or width of the ceiling. The present invention is to be distinguished from the mouthpiece disclosed in German Patent DE 593 340, which discloses a mouthpiece with a type of raising. This raising, however, is not part of the cover and does not come into contact with the teeth of lips of a musician. The present invention is also to be distinguished from Belgian Patent BE 881.452, which discloses a mouthpiece with a spherical excavation. This excavation, however, does not increase the tone chamber itself, but is positioned at the end of the tone chamber. The invention also relates to a wind instrument which comprises a mouthpiece as described hereabove. Brief description of the drawings. The invention will now be explained on the basis of drawings wherein - Figure 1 shows a transversal cross-section of a mouthpiece according to the prior art ; - Figure 2 shows a transversal cross-section of a first embodiment of the mouthpiece ; - Figure 3 shows a mouthpiece in the mouth of a musician ; - Figure 4 shows a transversal cross-section of a second embodiment of the mouthpiece. Detailed description of preferable embodiments. Figure 1 shows a transversal cross-section of a mouthpiece 10 according to the prior art with a tone chamber 12 which is limited by a substantially flat cover 14. Figure 2 shows a transversal cross-section of a first embodiment of a mouthpiece 10. The mouthpiece 10 comprises a tone chamber 12 limited by a cover 14 and a table 16. The mouthpiece 10 may further comprises a reed 17. The cover 14 has a raising 18 and at. the same position an excavation 20 which increases the volume of the tone chamber. The height of the raising 18 is measured starting from the level of a conventional flat cover as shown in Figure 1. The raising 18 may be realised by adhering additional material to the cover 14 of the mouthpiece 10 or may be realised in the material of the cover 14 so that the raising 18 forms one single part with the mouthpiece 10. Figure 3 shows the normal position of a mouthpiece in the mouth of a musician. The upper teeth 22 are in direct contact with the raising 18 of the cover 14. Figure 4 illustrates another embodiment of the mouthpiece. Here the raising 18 is located at a different position than the excavation 20.

Claims: Claims. 1. A mouthpiece (10) for a wind instrument, said mouthpiece (10) comprising a tone chamber (12) limited by a cover (14), characterised in that said cover (14) has a raising (18) so that the position of the mouth of a musician is more open than in case of a cover without a raising. 2. A mouthpiece (10) according to claim 1 , wherein said raising (18) extends over the whole length and width of the cover. 3. A mouthpiece (10) according to claim 1 , wherein said raising (18) extends only partially over the whole length and/or width of the cover. 4. A mouthpiece (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said raising (18) has a height of more than 1.0 mm. 5. A mouthpiece (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said cover (14) further comprises an excavation (20) which increases the volume of the tone chamber. 6. A mouthpiece (10) according to claim 5, wherein said excavation (20) is positioned in said cover (14) on a place different from the position of said raising (14). 7. A mouthpiece (10) according to claim 5, wherein said excavation (20) extends over the whole length and width of the cover (14). 8. A mouthpiece (10) according to claim 5 wherein said excavation (20) extends only partially over the length and/or width of the cover (14). 9. A mouthpiece (10) according to claim 5, wherein said excavation (20) has a depth of more than 1.0 mm. 10.A wind instrument comprising a mouthpiece (10) according to any one the preceding claims.

Inventors: VANDAMME DIRK J M, VANDAMME, DIRK, J., M.
Applicants: VANDAMME DIRK J M, VANDAMME, DIRK, J., M.
Application year: 1998
Main classification: G10D9
IPC codes: G10D9