Abstract:
A harmonica comprising an integral design of a single molded body as well as a reed fastening system providing releasable attachment of said reed.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to musical instruments, and most particularly to harmonicas. One form of the harmonica is a ten-hole diatonic, another is the chromatic. The harmonica commonly has a plurality of reeds overlying slots in the reed plate. Currently the reed plate is either nailed or held with screws to a wood comb, which provides the sound chambers underlying the slots and reeds. Or the reed plate is screw mounted into a pocket molded into the plastic comb, which houses the reed plate thus aligning the slots and reeds over the sound chambers. 
     Reed plates are currently constructed of metal, such as brass or steel. Reeds are commonly made of brass and are held in place by a rivet to the reed plate. 
     A cover plate then protects the instrument. The cover plate is either nailed to the wooden comb or held on with screws to the plastic comb. In each instance it is nailed or screwed threw a hole also placed in the reed plate and comb. 
     The harmonica is played by blowing breath or drawing air into the sound chamber. This action moves the air around the reed in the slot, thus activating it to vibrate and creating tones associated with this instrument. 
     A problem with this type of construction is that it provides no protection from the deteriorating effects associated with playing the harmonica due to the caustic properties of human saliva, which enters into the harmonica when blown into. This deterioration results in rust formation, erosion and pitting on the reed plates as well as on the reeds. In the case of the wooden comb there is also the swelling of the wood from this moisture and then the shrinking as it dries. The result is the warping of the comb the reed plates are attached to. 
     The resulting problems are: 
     1. A loss of air tightness within the sound chamber due to changes in the fitting of the reed plate to the comb from the corrosive properties of human saliva, resulting in rendering the harmonica unplayable. 
     2. A loss of air tightness due to the wooden comb warping from moisture induced swelling and then shrinking. This creates a lack of air tightness between the reed plate and comb. 
     3. A reed failing due to the corrosive properties of human saliva, resulting in an unresponsive reed, thus rendering the harmonica unusable. 
     4. Currently the only solutions to these construction problems are to either buy a new harmonica, or, where available and applicable, buy an entire set of reed plates and install them. 
     Prior art has not addressed the problems associated with this type of construction as detailed above. 
     An object of this invention is to provide a consistently airtight harmonica. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide an improved comb/reed plate fit within the harmonica that is less susceptible to the corrosive properties of human saliva. 
     A further object of this invention is an improved reed fastening system whereby the harmonica player can easily change an individual reed without altering the air tightness of the sound chambers. 
     A still further object of this invention is to provide an overall improved harmonica. 
     These objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the Detailed Description of the Invention proceeds. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The improved harmonica construction of the present invention provides maximum airtight sounding chambers by implementing a solid, molded and adhered placement of the reed plates and comb together, as opposed to being screwed or nailed together as is currently used in harmonica manufacturing. This improved construction directs the wind/air used to activate a reed solely around the reed with no loss of air moving under or out of the sound chamber via between the reed plate and comb. 
     The improved harmonica construction of this invention also addresses the need of the harmonica player to change only one reed at a time. In one embodiment a threaded reed fastener plate has been constructed into the harmonica invention. Harmonica players can simply unscrew/screw a reed to replace it. 
     In another embodiment the reed fastener plate is removable with applied pressure. A rivet is used to hold the reed in place. The entire reed fastener plate can be easily replaced, or if desired the player can replace the damaged reed only. With the use of a rivet tool, a reed can easily be removed and the repair made with out affecting the airtight relationship within the sound chamber. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is an angled isometric front view of the harmonica invention completely assembled. 
     FIG. 2 is a top isometric view of the harmonica invention, the bottom being a mirrored and flipped image. 
     FIG. 3 is a straight front isometric view of the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a rear isometric view of the harmonica invention. 
     FIG. 5 is an isometric exploded assembly view of a preferred embodiment of the invention showing a frontal view of the harmonica showing the top and bottom reed fastener plates uninstalled, and the top reed slots molded into the comb. 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged detailed isometric view of a portion of the top reed fastener plate from FIG. 5 illustrating the mounting of reeds to the reed fastener plate of the harmonica invention. 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged detailed isometric view of the top reed fastener plate housing from FIG. 5 molded into the comb showing its relationship to the reed slots and to the sound chamber of the harmonica invention. 
     FIG. 8 is an isometric exploded assembly view of the preferred embodiment of the invention showing a bottom/front view of the harmonica invention with the bottom reed housing plate before being permanently affixed to the comb, as well as the uninstalled bottom and top reed fastener plates. 
     FIG. 9 is an enlarged detailed isometric view of a portion of the bottom reed fastener plate from FIG. 8 illustrating the mounting of the reeds to the reed fastener plate of the harmonica invention. 
     FIG. 10 is an enlarged assembled detailed isometric view of the bottom reed housing plate FIG. 8 assembled into the harmonica of invention showing the relationship of the reed slots and reed fastener plate-housing slot to the sound chamber. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referencing the figures, the harmonica  10  of this invention has four planes of interest. A top and bottom plane  12 , 14  where the reeds are positioned. The front  16  provides access to the sound chambers  34  where air is blown or drawn into the instrument to activate the reeds  20  positioned on the top and bottom  12 , 14 , and a rear  18  providing the rear walls of the internal sound chambers. 
     The harmonica of this invention has a new molded body  19  consisting of reed slots  28 , two reed fastener plate-housing slots  30 , nine internal sound chamber dividing walls  32 , and twenty wind baffles  36 . This new molded body provides maximum air tightness by providing a molded relationship between the reed slots  28  and the sound chambers  34 . As seen in FIG. 8 the bottom reed slots as well as the bottom reed fastener plate-housing slot  30  are molded into a separate piece, the bottom reed housing plate  46 , and adhered into the bottom reed housing plate pocket  48  upon final assembly. 
     The molded material of the preferred embodiment may be plastic. The molded material of another preferred embodiment would be wood composite. The molded material of the highly preferred embodiment would be a ceramic composite. These materials provide the resistance to corrosion and swelling necessary to maintain an improved airtight relationship between reed slots  28  and the sound chambers  34 . 
     FIG.  6  and FIG. 9, enlarged detailed isometric views, demonstrate the improvement in this invention of reeds  20  fastened to the metal reed fastener plate  26  with a screw or rivet  24 , providing the player with the ability to easily change an individual reed  20 . The screw  24  holds the reed in place as the screw moves through the clearance hole  22  that is provided in the reed  20  and threads into the metal reed fastener plate  26  securing the reed tightly in place. 
     When a rivet  24  is used, it securely holds the reed in place by nature of its finished composition when it moves through the clearance holes  22  in the reed  20  and metal reed fastener plate  26 . To change a reed  20  when a rivet  24  is used, the metal reed fastener plate  26  is removed for easy access to the reed  20 . 
     In FIG. 7 the enlarged detailed isometric view of the top/front plane of the molded body, demonstrates the attention to air tightness that this invention offers. FIG. 7 shows that the reed slots  28  on the top plane of the harmonica of this invention are newly molded into the body itself. Wind baffles  36  are provided in the top reed slots  28  ensuring a consistent airtight relationship at the entry point of the reeds  20  into the sound chamber  34 . The metal reed fastener plate  26  sits in the molded reed fastener plate-housing slot  30  thus providing center alignment for the reed  20  with the reed slot  28 . On this plane the reeds  20  are fastened at the front of the harmonica onto the metal reed fastener plate  26  with the free vibrating end in the rear of the sound chamber  34 . Blowing into the sound chamber  34  activates the reeds  20  on this plane. 
     FIG. 10 provides an enlarged detailed assembled isometric view of the bottom/front plane of the harmonica of invention. As with FIG. 7, the airtight relationship between the sound chamber  34  and reed slot  28  is maintained. The metal reed fastener plate  26  sits in the molded reed fastener plate-housing slot  30  thus providing center alignment for the reed  20  with the reed slot  28 . On this plane the reeds  20  are fastened at the back of the harmonica onto the metal reed fastener plate  26  with the free vibrating end at the front and above the sound chamber  34 . Drawing air into the sound chambers  34  activates the reeds on this plane. 
     The entire invention is then protected with cover plates  38 , which are held in place by two screws  44 . The cover plate screws are aligned through the cover plate clearance holes  42  by moving through the molded body and secured at the opposite end with a nut or a threaded sleeve enclosure. The cover plate  38  sits behind the cover plate-housing wall  40  ensuring air tightness between the cover plate  38  and the respective top/bottom planes of the harmonica of the invention. 
     LEGEND 
       10 . Harmonica 
       12 . Top Plane 
       14 . Bottom Plane 
       16 . Front Plane 
       18 . Rear Plane 
       19 . Molded Body 
       20 . Reed 
       22 . Clearance Hole 
       24 . Screws or Rivet 
       26 . Metal Reed Fastener Plate 
       28 . Reed Slots 
       30 . Reed Fastener Plate Housing Slot 
       32 . Internal Sound Chamber Dividing Walls 
       34 . Sound Chamber 
       36 . Wind Baffle 
       38 . Cover Plate 
       40 . Cover Plate Housing Wall 
       42 . Cover Plate Clearance Holes 
       44 . Cover Plate Screws 
       46 . Bottom Reed Housing Plate 
       48 . Bottom Reed Housing Plate Pocket