Patent IT-1244404-B (IT)
Title: Sponge pads in neoprene for clarinet in B-flat, A, E-flat or C which, compared to the very common pads, have a life of 40 months, maintaining the initial characteristics of not causing air leaks from the instrument and rendering the sound itself uniform and fuller
Inventor: BAROSSI GIULIANO
IPC: G10D/
Filed: 1990-05-15
Granted: 1994-07-11
Abstract: Said pads are for use in the musical sector of wind instruments, more precisely on clarinets. The clarinet in the key of B-flat is the most used of all around the world and has a well-defined musical range from low B- flat up to obtaining all the notes in the B-flat musical scale which lead to high E-flat. The instrument in itself is able to give an extension of an octave, from low B- flat to B-flat, and thanks to a hole located on the top called the "speaker" you will obtain a passage in the same musical scale which will lead to the top octave, until you obtain a range of about two and a half octaves. Sometimes it is possible to go beyond this, obtaining very high notes with difficulties of emission and intonation, which are rarely used. All these notes are due to the opening and closing of the pads on the holes which are generally 17 and in various sizes in the most widely used model of clarinet in the world. They must guarantee more than perfect tightness of the holes for a precise, ready and secure sonic response, rich in harmonics. They are made of Musstik, Neoprene sponge, that is, a foam rubber material with closed cells with a density of about 160 kg/m3. It is available in self-adhesive form on the market, thanks to tape which is adhesive on both sides and sticks directly on the rubber. It is obtained by punching sheets of neoprene rubber, with a pellicular face without porosities. Their ideal thickness is 4 mm excluding the thickness of the adhesive tape which must not exceed 0.3 mm. The face of the pad with the adhesive tape is housed inside the keys of the instrument (keys are intended to be understood as those levers and those mechanisms in metal which, with their movement, close or open the holes in the instrument, permitting the sound to be emitted). The smooth and pellicular face of the pad works directly on the hole, opening it and closing it or closing it and opening it thanks to the movement of the keys. As in the drawing in table 1, the pads of neoprene sponge have different diameters. It is possible to obtain sizes starting from a minimum of 3 mm to a maximum of 18 mm, depending on the internal diameter of the keys, for use on all models of clarinet and all brands existing in the world. Small sizes such as 3-4-5 mm, can be used for much shorter and smaller clarinets in C and E-flat. For example, for a clarinet in B-flat or A of the BUFFET brand, model RC or PRESTIGE 17/6, the following number of pads will be necessary: #11 of 9 mm #3 of 16 mm #2 of 11 mm #1 of 14 mm These pads are coloured black, the colour of the neoprene sponge, and their weight is the weight of the material, to the extent to which the sizes of the same are respected. They are of a soft nature of such a kind as to rest perfectly against the holes, taking their impression in every size. They maintain their softness over time, as the material they are composed of does not dry, does not harden and does not alter. They have been subjected to a test of about 40 months, maintaining the initial characteristics constant. Over this period, several instruments responded in the same way, providing all the scrupulous guarantees necessary for continuous use. The most important test was in fact that of continuous use, for an average of seven hours per day. Beyond said period they require a complete overhaul by specialized technical personnel to check that the closure of holes does not cause leakage of air. They can increase their use for a period of about 15/20 months, a period which is however controlled and guaranteed in 80% of cases.