Patent Publication Number: US-10762882-B2

Title: Ligature for a wind instrument

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates in general to reed affixing devices for wind instruments, and, more particularly, to a reed affixing device for a wind instrument, which is intended to secure a reed to a mouthpiece of a wind instrument, such as a saxophone or a clarinet. 
     Generally, a reed is coupled to a mouthpiece of a wind instrument, such as a saxophone or a clarinet, to produce the sound of the instrument via vibrations. There are various kinds of reeds classified according to the thickness or material used. Further, reeds are capable of making various tones. Thus, different kinds of reeds are used according to the style of music, for example, classical music, jazz or pop. 
     A ligature is used to secure a reed to a mouthpiece. However, conventional ligatures used to secure a reed to a mouthpiece have a fixed size and are thus suitable only for a specifically sized mouthpiece. Thus, a need still exists for a ligature that is capable of effectively securing a reed to mouthpieces of various sizes and which allows for effective vibrations. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a ligature for a wind instrument that includes a cord harness, an adjuster, and a cord. The cord harness includes a plurality of apertures extending transverse to a longitudinal axis of the cord harness. The adjuster connects to and extends transverse to the longitudinal axis of the cord harness. The cord passes through the plurality of apertures in a spiral manner and engages a distal end of the adjuster. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a wind instrument mouthpiece assembly that includes a mouthpiece, a reed, and a ligature. The ligature secures the reed to the mouthpiece. The ligature includes a cord harness, an adjuster, and a cord. The cord harness includes a plurality of apertures extending transverse to a longitudinal axis of the mouthpiece. The adjuster engages with the cord harness and extends transverse to the longitudinal axis of the mouthpiece. The cord is wound about the mouthpiece, passes through the plurality of apertures, and engages the adjuster. 
     In accordance with yet another aspect of the preferred embodiment, the present invention provides an adjuster for a ligature of a wind instrument that includes an elongated body and a cord guard. The elongated body includes a front end having a curved surface and a rear end opposite the front end. The cord guard includes a distal end and a posterior end opposite the distal end. The posterior end includes a recess and the front end of the elongated body is engaged with the recess of the cord guard. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a ligature for a wind instrument in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the ligature of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a cord harness and adjuster of the ligature of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  a perspective view of a cord harness of the ligature of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of an adjuster of the ligature of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a rear perspective of a cord guard of the adjuster of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 6A  a schematic cross-sectional side view of alternative configurations of a recess for a cord guard of the ligature of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a sound adjusting positioner of the ligature of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of a mouthpiece assembly having the ligature of  FIG. 1  assembled to a mouthpiece; 
         FIG. 9  is a rear perspective view of the mouthpiece assembly of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a left side view of the mouthpiece assembly of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a right side view of the mouthpiece assembly of  FIG. 8 ; and 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of a variety of cords applicable to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same or like reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like features. It should be noted that the drawings are in simplified form and are not drawn to precise scale. In reference to the disclosure herein, for purposes of convenience and clarity only, directional terms such as top, bottom, above, below and diagonal, are used with respect to the accompanying drawings. The term “proximal” shall mean towards the center of an object. The term “distal” shall mean away from the center of an object. Such directional terms used in conjunction with the following description of the drawings should not be construed to limit the scope of the invention in any manner not explicitly set forth. 
     Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “right,” “left,” “lower” and “upper” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the identified element and designated parts thereof. Additionally, the term “a,” as used in the specification, means “at least one.” The terminology includes the words noted above, derivatives thereof and words of similar import. 
     In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a ligature  10  for a wind instrument, as configured and shown in  FIG. 1 . The ligature  10  includes a cord harness  12 , an adjuster  14 , and a cord  16 . 
     The cord harness  12  is configured as best shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , having an elongated body  18  with a plurality of apertures  20 . The plurality of apertures  20  are spaced apart and extend along a longitudinal axis or longitudinal direction of the elongated body  18 . Preferably, each of the plurality of apertures  20  face in a direction transverse i.e., in a cross direction, to the longitudinal axis of the elongated body e.g., at an acute or obtuse angle or perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. That is, each of the plurality of apertures  20  can face a direction traversing the longitudinal axis for example at a 30, 45 or 70 degree acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis or at a 90 degree angle relative to the longitudinal axis. Each of the plurality of apertures have rounded inner walls or edges to allow for smooth passage of the cord  16  therethrough. 
     Each of the plurality of apertures is sized sufficiently to accommodate the passage of cords of various thicknesses. Thus, the present embodiment advantageously allows a user to utilize cords of various thicknesses ( FIG. 12 ) to secure a reed to a mouthpiece (see  FIG. 8 ) so as to control or adjust the tone characteristics of a wood instrument mouthpiece. Tone characteristics are controlled or adjusted by varying the thickness of the cord which limits or changes the vibration amplitude and vibration absorbing area of the reed. 
     About a mid-portion of the cord harness is a receiving member  22  for operatively engaging the adjuster  14 , as further described below. The receiving member  22  is preferably configured as a through hole  24  having inner or female threads  26  for threadedly engaging corresponding threads on the adjuster  14 . A longitudinal axis of the through hole  24  substantially aligns with the facing direction of the apertures  20  or in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the elongated body  18 . 
     Preferably, the cord harness  12  is configured with three apertures on either side of the receiving member  22 . 
     The cord harness  12  further includes a fastener  28  about its posterior end and a fastener  30  about its anterior end. Each fastener  28 ,  30  is configured to engage the cord  16  so as to secure the cord to the cord harness. Preferably, each of the fasteners  28 ,  30  are configured as setscrews for fastening the cord to the cord harness. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the cord harness  12  further includes a barrier member  32  about a bottom end of the elongated body  18 . Preferably, the barrier member  32  is positioned directly beneath the receiving member  22  and configured as a pliable pad. The barrier member  32  can be formed out of any non-rigid or rigid material sufficient for purposes of providing a protective barrier between the elongated body of the cord harness and a mouthpiece  102  ( FIG. 8 ) upon which the cord harness is to be assembled to. For example, the barrier member can be formed of a polymer, such as silicone. 
     The adjuster  14  is configured as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3, 5 and 6 . The adjuster includes an elongated body  34  and a cord guard  36 . The elongated body  34  includes a shaft or body having outer or male threads  38  i.e., a threaded shaft or threaded body, for threadedly engaging female threads  26  on the receiving member  22 , and a handle  40  about its rear end. The front end of the elongated body  34  opposite the rear end, is configured as a curved surface. Preferably, the front end is configured as a protruding nipple  42  having a rounded end for slidingly engaging in and to the cord guard  36 , such that the elongated body is rotatable relative to the cord guard. 
     The cord guard  36  forms the distal end of the adjuster and attaches to a distal end or front end of the elongated body or threaded body. The cord guard includes a distal end and a posterior end or rear end. The posterior end opposite the distal end includes a recess  37  ( FIG. 6 ) i.e., a female rear end, for receiving the nipple of the elongated body  34 . The recess  37  is sized and shaped to slidingly receive and engage the front end or nipple  42  of the elongated body  34 . In other words, the front end of the elongated body is engaged with the recess of the cord guard. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5, 6 and 6A , the recess  37  can be configured as a counterbore  37 . As such, the recess includes a planar surface  37 A that directly engages a most distal end  42 A of the front end of the elongated body  34 . This configuration of the elongated body and cord guard minimizes frictional contact between the nipple  42  and the recess  37  so as to allow sufficient rotation of the elongated body relative to the cord guard by a user rotating the elongated body. In other words, once the nipple  42  is received within the recess  37 , the nipple can rotate freely therein so as to allow the elongated body  34  to rotate within the receiving member  22  without causing the cord guard  36  to rotate. That is, the cord guard  36  remains in a rotationally stationary position while the elongated body is threadedly engaging the receiving member. 
     Alternatively, as shown in cross-section in  FIG. 6A , the recess can be configured to have a complementary shape  37 ′ to that of the nipple, such as a concave shape, or a recess having a convex shape  37 ″, such as a spherical convex shape at a bottom of the recess. 
     The front end of the cord guard  36  includes a recessed path  44  for receiving and guiding the cord  16  therethrough. The recessed path  44  extends along a path from one lateral side, across a distal end of the cord guard, to an opposite lateral side. 
     The threaded engagement of the adjuster  14  with the receiving member  22  allows for a distance “L” ( FIG. 1 ) from the receiving member to a distal end of the adjuster to be adjusted according to a user preference. Thus, the overall size or diameter of the cord assembled to the cord harness can be adjusted by adjusting the position of the adjuster relative to the cord harness. 
     About the distal end of the cord guard  36  is configured a through hole  46  for the passage of the cord  16  therethrough. The through hole  46  is formed by a portion of the recessed path  44  and a retaining member  48  spaced from the recessed path. The retaining member  48  facilitates maintaining the cord in position during assembly. In general, the cord guard  36  has an overall shape similar to that of a bullet-nose. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 2 , the cord  16  is assembled to the cord harness by being spirally wound through the apertures  20  starting from the most anterior aperture or the most posterior aperture. In threading the cord through the cord harness, the cord is initially threaded in the same direction in which the adjuster  14  is pointing. For example,  FIG. 2  illustrates a posterior perspective view of the ligature  10  in which a cord is initially threaded through the most posterior aperture of the cord harness in a clockwise direction i.e., a first direction, until it reaches the adjuster  14 . Then the cord is positioned along recessed path  44  and threaded through the through hole  46 . Afterwards, the cord is threaded through the next adjacent aperture in a counter clockwise direction i.e., a second direction opposite the first direction, until it passes through all remaining apertures  20 . The fasteners  28 ,  30  are then assembled to secure the cord to the cord harness. 
     While the overall length of the cord effectively utilized to secure a reed to a mouthpiece can vary, once the fasteners  28 ,  30  are secured the total effective length of the cord is fixed. That is, the overall length of the cord from its attachment points at fasteners  28  and  30  utilized to secure a reed to a mouthpiece is fixed. 
     The cord  16  is a flexible elongated member. Preferably, the cord  16  is a string made from a textile or synthetic fiber, such as Kevlar® material manufactured by Du Pont of Wilmington, Del. The cord  16  can also be elastic or non-elastic. 
     The ligature  10  further includes a sound adjusting positioner  50 , as best shown and configured in  FIGS. 1, 2 and 7 . The sound adjusting positioner  50  includes a plurality of recesses  52  that are spaced apart, sized and configured to receive the cord  16  so as to be movable or positionable about various positions along the length of the spirally wound cord. Preferably, the ligature  10  includes a pair of sound adjusting positioners, but can alternatively include more than two, such as three, four, five or more sound adjusting positioners. The sound adjusting positioner is spaced from the cord harness and the cord passes through at least one of the plurality of recesses. 
     The sound adjusting positioner  50  serves to adjust the length of the vibration absorbing region of the cord  16 . That is, if the sound adjusting positioner  50  is moved closer towards a reed, it absorbs a small amount of vibrations from the reed. Meanwhile, if the sound adjusting positioner  50  is moved further away from the reed, it absorbs a relatively larger amount of vibrations from the reed. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the present embodiment, the present invention provides a wind instrument mouthpiece assembly  100 , as configured and shown in  FIGS. 8-11 . The mouthpiece assembly  100  includes a mouthpiece  102 , a reed  104 , and the ligature  10 . The ligature  10  secures the reed to the mouthpiece. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , the ligature  10  is disposed on an upper portion of the mouthpiece  102  with the adjuster  14  pointed left. However, the adjuster can alternatively be pointed to the right when viewing the mouthpiece in the orientation as shown in  FIG. 8 . The ligature  10  secures the reed to the mouthpiece by the cord  16  being spirally wound around both the mouthpiece and reed. Once the cord is wound about the mouthpiece and reed, and secured in place by fasteners  28 ,  30 , the adjuster  14  is adjusted to adjust and control the tension on the cord. That is, the opposite ends of the cord are fixedly secured and positioned to the cord harness  12  by fasteners  28 ,  30  such that the tension on the cord is directly controlled by the distance the distal end of the adjuster extends from the cord harness. In other words, the adjuster  14  is adjustably positionable relative to the cord harness for increasing or decreasing tension on the cord. 
     A pair of sound adjusting positioners  50 ,  50 ′ are shown positioned about opposite lateral sides of the mouthpiece. Each sound adjusting positioner controls the position of the cord relative to the cord harness  12 , mouthpiece  102 , and reed  104 . Owing to the configuration of the sound adjusting positioner, the sound adjusting positioner can be adjusted and positioned along the length of the cord so as to change or adjust the brightness of the sound generated by the mouthpiece assembly. 
     The foregoing ligature  10  advantageously provides for a reed affixing device for a mouthpiece of a wind instrument that can be adjusted in size to accommodate mouthpieces of various sizes and various instruments. Moreover, the ligature provides an adjuster to allow a user to variably adjust the tension of the ligature for effectively controlling and maximizing reed performance. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present embodiment, the present invention provides a ligature kit that includes the ligature  10  and a plurality of chords  16 ′ ( FIG. 12 ) having various thicknesses. 
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is to be understood, therefore, that the present invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.