Abstract:
A protective cap for the mouthpiece of a musical instrument includes a cap body fitting over the mouthpiece tip and an extension that is positively captured by a ligature normally holding the reed for the mouthpiece. The cap is designed to replace the reed when the instrument is left idle.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     None  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     A. Field of Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention pertains to an improved cap covering and protecting the mouthpiece of a saxophone or clarinet mouthpiece.  
         [0004]     B. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0005]     Woodwind instruments are referred to herein as musical instruments consisting of a main body used to define a column of air. As is well known in the art, within the body the acoustic characteristics of the column may be modified by various means that are beyond the scope of this invention. Importantly, the air column is vibrated-by a reed disposed in a mouthpiece attached to the body intake by means of a ligature made of metal, or other material. The ligature normally extends circumferentially around the entire outer body of the mouthpiece. The ligature is provided with an integral tightening mechanism that is used to secure the reed to the mouthpiece. Because of the mechanical coupling between the ligature, the mouthpiece and the reed, the structure ligature plays a roll in the sound produced by the instruments, and various types of ligatures are available from different companies, each having its own sound characteristics.  
         [0006]     The ligature is normally permanently mounted to the mouthpiece but before performances or practice sessions, a musician has a choice of leaving the reed attached to the mouthpiece, or removing from the instrument.  
         [0007]     Because both the reed and the ligature are relative fragile members and because they do play an important role in the operation of the respective musical instruments, such as saxophones, a protective cap is normally attached to the mouthpiece to protect these members. As will be described in more detail below, the protective cap is sized and shaped to form an interference fit with the mouthpiece and the ligature, and only used when the instrument is idle and not in use.  
         [0008]     Over time, the cap gets warn away or gets distended, and therefore, the interference fit is not sufficient to hold the cap securely on the mouthpiece, but instead, it falls off and gets lost.  
         [0009]     Moreover, when the ligature holds the reed in place, its element and the reed are held tightly against the mouthpiece and there is no movement therebetween. Accordingly, the cap is stable on the mouthpiece as well (especially when it&#39;s new). However, if the reed is removed, the ligature is held loosely on the mouthpiece, and, as the musical instrument is being carried, the ligature can move and shift with respect to the mouthpiece. If a cap is mounted on the mouthpiece, because of the movement of the ligature, the cap cannot be secured adequately on the mouthpiece and can fall off very easily.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     A mouthpiece cap for a musical instrument constructed in accordance with this invention is adapted to be used with a mouthpiece having a ligature with a screw. The cap includes a hollow body partially fitting over the mouthpiece; and an extension attached to said body and shaped to be engaged by said screw when said hollow body is disposed over said mouthpiece. Preferably, the musical instrument includes a removable reed and the extension replaces a portion of the reed.  
         [0011]     Preferably the extension is shaped to be captured between said screw and the body of said mouthpiece.  
         [0012]     Preferably, the body is shaped to be inserted longitudinally over the mouthpiece with said extension passing simultaneously into said ligature.  
         [0013]     Preferably, the cap&#39;s hollow body and the extension form a single unitary piece.  
         [0014]     In another aspect of the invention, a cap and mouthpiece assembly is disclosed with a mouthpiece having an elongated mouthpiece body with an attachment end for attaching to a musical instrument, a lip and a circumferential surface between said lip and said attachment end; a ligature disposed on said circumferential surface; a removable reed having a reed end extending to said ligature and being captured by said ligature; and a cap having a cap body sized and shaped to fit over said tip and an extension attached to said cap body and shaped to be captured by said ligature; wherein said reed is replaced by said cap to provide protection to said tip while the musical instrument is idle.  
         [0015]     Preferably the reed has a reed end captured by said ligature and wherein said extension has the approximate shape and size of said reed end to fit into said ligature.  
         [0016]     Preferably, the ligature includes a capture screw for selectively capturing one of said reed and said cap.  
         [0017]     Preferably, one of an end of said reed and said extension are captured between said screw and said mouthpiece.  
         [0018]     Preferably, the cap and the extension are forming a unitary piece. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0019]      FIG. 1  shows a side elevational view of typical mouthpiece for a musical instrument;  
         [0020]      FIG. 2A  shows an orthogonal view of a known prior art cap;  
         [0021]      FIG. 2B  shows an orthogonal view of the prior art cap of  FIG. 2A  mounted on the mouthpiece of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 3A  shows an orthogonal view of a protective cap constructed in accordance with invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 3B  shows an orthogonal view of the protective cap of  FIG. 3A  being mounted on the mouthpiece of  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0024]      FIG. 3C  shows a bottom view of the protective cap of  FIG. 3A  being mounted on the mouthpiece of  FIG. 1 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0025]      FIG. 1  shows a typical saxophone or clarinet mouthpiece  100 , it being understood that the invention may be used to protect other instruments as well. The mouthpiece  100  includes a somewhat cylindrical body  114  having a narrowed portion  116  at one end used to attach the mouthpiece to the body of an appropriate instrument (not shown). The opposite end of the mouthpiece  100  is formed with a tip  112 . The body  100  is hollow and a hole (not shown) leads into the interior of the body. The body  100  also has a reed seat (not shown). A ligature  120  is attached to the body by forming a band around said body, and extending over the seat. The ligature includes a thumbscrew  115  that extends toward the seat on the body  100 . A reed  118  extends from the reed seat until the tip  112  as shown and is pressed by the thumbscrew  115  against the reed seat thereby securing the reed  118  to the mouthpiece  100 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 2A  shows a typical known cap  122 . The cap  122  has a generally cylindrical body that fits over a portion of the mouthpiece  100 . The cap  122  has a cutout  123  with two lateral tabs  124 . The purpose of cap  122  is to protect the tip  112  of the mouthpiece  100  and the reed  118  (unless the reed  118  is removed). All saxophone and clarinet mouthpiece caps known to the inventor have been held in place by an interference or pressure fit over the ligature  120 , and mouthpiece body  114 , as shown in  FIG. 2B . The tabs  124  fit over the ligature and made a physical contact with it. Therefore, any motion of the ligature was transmitted to the cap and eventually, the cap could be loosened sufficiently to fall off.  
         [0027]     A novel protective cap constructed in accordance with this invention is shown in  FIG. 3A . This cap  126  includes a hollow body  130  that fits over the tip  112  and an extension  128 . The extension  128  has the approximate shape and size of the back portion of the reed  118 . This cap  126  is used by removing the reed  118  and then placing the cap  126  over the tip  112  with the extension  128  being inserted into the ligature  120  so that it is resting on the reed seat. In effect, the cap  126  takes the place of the reed  118  in the ligature. Once the cap  126  is in place, the thumbscrew  115  is tightened thereby capturing the extension  128  and thereby providing a positive locking mechanism for the cap, as indicated in  FIGS. 3B, 3C .  
         [0028]     The novel cap  126  has a number of advantages over the prior art cap. Since a reed is very malleable, being made from bamboo cane, it should be removed between uses and stored separately to function properly and not warp or deform. The pressure exerted by the ligature against the reed not only holds the reed in place, but also holds the ligature in place. So when the reed is removed the ligature is loose as well. The new invention allows the ligature to be securely held in place even when the reed is removed for storage. Previously one had to choose between having a properly secured ligature or a properly stored reed.  
         [0029]     A further advantage is that previous mouthpiece caps are pressure fit over the ligature. When the ligature is loose, so is the cap. So even with the cap being pressure fit over the ligature there is no way for previous caps to be positively secured in place. On the other hand, the cap disclosed herein is very securely held in place by the ligature. The invention is screwed down in place, whereas previous inventions are only pressure fit over the entire mouthpiece and ligature assembly. Being pressure fit, a traditional cap is prone to move, bend and unexpectedly come off. Moreover, tabs  124  must be bent in to press against ligature,  120 , and are the only points where positive contact exists for holding the cap. The present invention provides a much more positive and reliable holding and locking mechanism.  
         [0030]     Being held on by the same mechanism (the ligature,  120 ) that holds the reed,  118 , on, the invention is very secure and does not move or unexpectedly come off. One must consciously unscrew the ligature in order to take the cap off. This makes the delicate mouthpiece tip much safer when it is accidentally hit or dropped, a common, though unfortunate, occurrence.  
         [0031]     Numerous modifications may be made to this invention without departing from its scope as defined in the appended claims.