Patent Abstract:
Disclosed is a musical training device to determine when the air support applied to a musical instrument is sufficient to produce an acceptable musical tone, and to alert the musician when the air support required to produce an acceptable musical tone has been achieved. The device can be incorporated into a musical instrument without altering the manner and style in which the musical instrument is played, allowing the musician to correlate the feel of producing an air support sufficient to produce an acceptable musical tone, with the sound of the correct musical tone.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure relates to a musical training device for measuring the air support applied to a musical instrument, so that the musical training device alerts the musician when the air support applied to the instrument is sufficient to produce an acceptable musical tone. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Wind musical instruments can be divided into two large classes, the woodwind instruments and the brass instruments. The woodwind instruments include those with reeds (saxophone, clarinet, oboe, and bassoon) and those with resonance openings (piccolo and flute). To produce sound the musician forms a pressure cavity with his mouth and blows air into or over (for piccolo and flute) the mouthpiece. The air travels through the reeded mouthpiece intermittently as the reed vibrates, or passes over the resonance opening in the flute and piccolo. Both actions cause the air mass in the mouthpiece to oscillate in pressure. This pressure oscillation then propagates into the musical instrument thereby producing sound. By varying the length of the air column in the instrument (by opening and closing valves on the instrument), tones of different frequencies are produced. 
     Many factors have an impact on the musical tone that is produced. The design of the instrument mouthpiece itself can have profound effects. For example, the design and depth of the tone chamber and the type of reed employed can alter the tone. In addition, the tuning or repair of the instrument can be a factor. These and other affects are equipment related. Parameters relating to the artist&#39;s technique include air speed or air pressure (known in the field as air support) and embouchure, both of which are factors that affect the musical tone. Embouchure is the physical placement of the artist&#39;s mouth on the instrument and includes the development of a pressure chamber to blow air into or over the mouthpiece. Air pressure in the mouth cavity and air velocity in a stream of air blown from the mouth are directly related mathematically (Bernoulli equation). Teachers of woodwind instruments are generally agreed that the foundational parameter for proper technique in these instruments is air support (pressure) for reeds, or air speed for flutes and piccolo. 
     The role of the embouchure is to provide an efficient pressure chamber by which to direct air into the mouthpiece and to allow the reed to vibrate freely or provide the correct flow (speed) of air over the open hole (flute and piccolo). A correct air support will strengthen the embouchure, while a weak one will damage it. In short, without proper air support, the student cannot produce a tone even with a good embouchure. If the musician does not produce the proper air support, the tendency is to compensate for the improper air support by altering the embouchure. As a result, a poor musical tone will be produced. Therefore, it is essential that a musician learn how to produce the proper air support consistently as the baseline for proper musical technique development. 
     In order to avoid the problems that are associated with improper air support, music instructors spend a great deal of time teaching musicians how to produce the necessary air support that will produce an acceptable musical tone. However, it is quite difficult to teach a student how to produce the proper air support without some feedback on the results of his or her efforts. Unless the musician already knows how producing the correct air support relates to an acceptable musical tone, the musician will require an instructor or some other knowledgeable observer in order to learn the correct level of air support. Furthermore proper air support varies with the instrument. 
     There are several training devices that are currently available that attempt to teach a musician how to produce the proper air support. However, they all suffer from disadvantages in their use. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,749,368 to Kase describes a breath air flow device that can be used to measure the air support applied to the device and provides a gauge readout of the air pressure downstream of the mouthpiece. A standard mouthpiece can be connected to the device, and the resistance of the device to the air that is flowed through the mouthpiece can be changed by opening and closing an aperture in the device in order to simulate the “feel” of different musical instruments. However, the device described by Kase suffers from the disadvantage that no sound is produced. While a musician may be able to correlate the feel of producing air support that produces a certain pressure reading, the musician will not be able to associate how producing that level of air support feels with how an acceptable musical tone sounds. In addition, since the musician is not using his/her own instrument, the musician must manipulate the aperture to make the device simulate the feel of his/her own instrument. Obviously, if the aperture setting is not correct, the device will not be even minimally effective as the musician will be training to produce an incorrect air support. 
     Therefore, what is needed is a training device that will measure the air support applied to a musical instrument and provide a signal to the musician when the air support is sufficient to produce an acceptable musical tone. This feedback signal must be generated while the musician is playing the instrument in a normal fashion, i.e., without any interference from the measurement device. In this manner, the musician will be able to correlate the feel of producing an air support sufficient to produce an acceptable musical tone with the sound of that tone. In addition, since the needed device allows a musician to use his/her own instrument, the issue of training to produce an air support that may be correct for a training device, but not appropriate for the musician&#39;s instrument is made mute. The present disclosure describes such a device. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure describes a musical training device that can measure the air support applied to a musical instrument and alert the musician when he or she is providing sufficient air support to produce an acceptable musical tone. In addition, the device can be incorporated into a musical instrument without altering the manner and style in which the musical instrument is played. Therefore, the musician can correlate the feel of producing an air support sufficient to produce an acceptable musical tone with the sound of the musical tone. There are no special adjustments to be made by the musician to the device to attain the benefits described as was required by many of the devices of the prior art. 
     The present disclosure describes a musical training device comprising a modified mouthpiece and a pressure sensor operationally coupled to the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece is of conventional design for a given type of musical instrument and comprises a directing means, such as an air passage within the mouthpiece, to direct at least a portion of the air support applied to the instrument to the pressure sensor. The pressure sensor comprises a measuring means, an indicating means and a housing to contain at least a portion of the above components. The measuring means comprises the components required to measure the air support applied to the instrument by a musician and to determine when the air support applied to the musical instrument is sufficient to produce an acceptable musical tone. The indicating means is functionally coupled to the measuring means and comprises the components necessary to alert the musician when the measuring means determines the air support applied to the instrument is sufficient to produce an acceptable musical tone. The housing comprises the components required to functionally arrange the components of the pressure sensor. In one embodiment, the measuring means comprises a flexible diaphragm in communication with a spring switch and a power source, the power source separated from the spring switch by a distance. The indicating means may comprise a light emitting diode, an incandescent light bulb or similar element that is capable of alternating between a first state and a second state. In the description that follows, the first state will alert the musician that the air support applied to the instrument is sufficient to produce an acceptable musical tone, while the second state will alert the musician that the air support applied to the instrument is not sufficient to produce an acceptable musical tone. It is preferred that the first state be characterized by a light emitting from the indicating means and the second state be characterized by an absence of light emitting from the indicating means. 
     In operation, the indicating means is functionally coupled to the measuring means in such a manner that when the air support applied to the instrument reaches a predetermined level sufficient to produce an acceptable musical tone, the measuring means causes an electrical circuit to close and current to flow through the indicating means, which causes the indicating means to switch to the first state. In the embodiment described above, when the air support is sufficient to produce an acceptable musical tone, the diaphragm flexes upward, an amount sufficient to bring the spring switch into contact with the power source. As a result, current flows from the battery into the indicating means, causes the indicating means to switch to the first state. 
     The first state of the indicating means alerts the musician that the air support being applied to the instrument is sufficient to produce an acceptable musical tone. The indicating means may be visible to the musician only, to an observing party only (such as a music instructor) or to both the musician and an observing party. It is preferred that at least the musician be able to view the indicating means at all times. Since the musician is provided with immediate feedback regarding the proper air support needed to produce an acceptable musical tone, the musician can learn and train to associate the correct air pressure with an acceptable musical tone. 
     The detailed description, in conjunction with the figures provided, will discuss various embodiments of the musical training device and its method of operation. The musical training device of the present disclosure can be adapted to fit any woodwind musical instrument, including, but not limited to, the saxophone, clarinet, piccolo and flute. For the instruments that are played by blowing a stream of air over a resonance opening (flute and piccolo), a pitot tube may be used to measure the air velocity. The pitot tube is a gas dynamic device that converts air velocity to air pressure (commonly used on airplanes). It is positioned on the mouthpiece at a location such that at least a portion of the air stream from the player&#39;s mouth impacts the tube and is converted to pressure. Hence for all the woodwind instruments, air support produced by the musician is the quantity measured by the musical training device herein disclosed. The figures described below illustrate a musical training device intended for use with a clarinet, but this illustration is way of example only and should not limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a cross sectional side view of one embodiment of the musical training device of the present disclosure. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded cross sectional side view of one embodiment of the musical training device of the present disclosure. 
     FIG. 3 is a cross sectional side view illustrating one embodiment of the arrangement of the pressure sensor in the housing; and 
     FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram illustrating one embodiment of the electrical circuit. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the specification and claims that follow, the following terms should be given the definitions set forth below: Acceptable musical tone—An acceptable tone from a musical instrument is one that sounds the fundamental frequency and the overtone characteristic to that particular instrument. This can be determined electronically, but is more commonly judged by a musician experienced with the instrument being played. Air support—The pressure generated by the musician using his/her lungs and diaphragm and applied to the musical instrument. 
     With reference to FIGS. 1-4 a novel musical training device employing the concepts of the instant disclosure will be described. The musical training device  10  comprises a mouthpiece  12  for use with a musical instrument and a pressure sensor  14  operationally coupled to the mouthpiece  12 . The mouthpiece is of conventional design common for a given musical instrument and comprises a directing means to direct at least a portion of the air support applied to the instrument to the pressure sensor  14 . The pressure sensor  14  comprises a measuring means, an indicating means and a housing  16 , the measuring means and the indicating means being at least partially enclosed in the housing  16 . The measuring means comprises the components required to measure the air support applied to an instrument by a musician and to determine when the measuring means determines the air support applied to the instrument is sufficient to produce an acceptable musical tone. The indicating means is functionally coupled to the measuring means and alerts the musician when the air support applied to the instrument is sufficient to produce an acceptable musical tone. The musician may be alerted either though a visual signal, an audio signal or any other signal method made responsive to the measuring means, however, a visual signal is preferred. 
     In the embodiment illustrated, the measuring means comprises a flexible diaphragm  100  in communication with a spring switch  102  and a power source  104 . The spring switch  102  is separated from the power source  104  by a distance, the distance preferably being adjustable. The indicating means may comprise a light emitting diode, an incandescent light bulb or similar element that is capable of alternating between a first state and a second state. As stated above, the first state will alert the musician that the air support applied to the instrument is sufficient to produce an acceptable musical tone, while the second state will alert the musician that the air support applied to the instrument is not sufficient to produce an acceptable musical tone. It is preferred that the first state be characterized by a light emitting from the indicating means and the second state be characterized by an absence of light emitting from the indicating means. 
     In operation, the indicating means is functionally coupled to the measuring means in such a manner that when the air support applied to the instrument reaches a predetermined level sufficient to produce an acceptable musical tone, the measuring means causes an electrical circuit to close and current to flow through the indicating means, which in turn causes the signaling means to switch to the first state. In the embodiment described above and illustrated below, when the air support reaches the predetermined level, the diaphragm  100  flexes upward a sufficient amount so that the spring switch  102  traverses the distance and contacts the power source  104  such that current flows from the battery into the indicating means causing the indicating means to switch to a first state. 
     With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the mouthpiece  12  comprises a tip opening  18  and a generally cylindrical opening  20  opposite the tip opening  18  for joining the mouthpiece  12  to a musical instrument (not shown). Upper side  22  and lower side  24  extend from the tip opening  18  to the second opening  20  and are joined by an outer wall. The upper side  22 , lower side  24  and outer wall define the mouthpiece, and further define an interior tone chamber  28 . The mouthpiece  12  further comprises a directing means. The function of the directing means is to direct at least a portion of the air support applied to the instrument to the sensor  14  such that the air support is in communication with the measuring means. In FIGS. 1 and 2 the directing means comprises an internal channel  30  extending from the tip opening  18  to the upper side  22 , specifically to inlet channel  56  on receiving notch  32 , such that the air support is in communication with the measuring means. Other configurations of the directing means are possible, such as an external tube or hose that delivers at least a portion of the air support to the measuring means as described above. For certain musical instruments, such as the flute and piccolo, a pitot tube is used to divert a portion of the stream of air blown across the resonance opening to the pressure sensor  14 . Therefore, the pitot tube is also considered to be an alternate embodiment of the directing means and should be considered within the scope of the disclosure. 
     The housing  16  functionally arranges and protects at least a portion of the measuring means and the indicating means and is coupled to the mouthpiece  12 . Although many arrangements are possible, the applicant provides the following embodiment as illustration. Other arrangements that accomplish the functional arrangement are within the ordinary skill of one in the art and should be considered within the scope of this disclosure. With reference to FIGS. 1-3, the housing  16  comprises a mouthpiece adapter base  50 , a cap  52  and an internal housing  54 , the base  50  and cap  52  being adapted to adjustably receive the internal housing  54 . Generally, the base  50  serves to support the measuring means, the internal housing  54  functions to hold the power source  104  and the cap  52  serves to provide a seal for the housing and to receive a portion of the indicating means. 
     The base  50  is functionally coupled to the mouthpiece  12  such that the air support applied to the instrument is brought into communication with the measuring means. The base  50  is coupled to the upper side  22  of mouthpiece  10 . Several means to couple the base  50  to upper side  22  are possible. FIG. 2 illustrates base  50  interacting snugly with receiving notch  32  of upper side  22  so that base  50  is retained in notch  32  via adhesive bonding. Alternatively, the base  50  may be retained in notch  32  by a pressure fit or through the use of complementary threaded sections on the base  50  and notch  32 . In each of these methods to couple the pressure sensor  14  to the mouthpiece  12 , the path of the air support to the measuring means must be maintained. Other means for coupling that maintain the path of the air support to the measuring means are within the ordinary skill of one in the art and should be considered within the scope of this disclosure. 
     The base  50  has a bottom  58  and a generally circular wall  60 . The base  50  has a housing inlet channel  56  in bottom  58  in register with the directing means, in this case internal channel  30 , for delivering the air support to the measuring means, which is illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 as diaphragm  100 , spring switch  102  and power source  104 . The spring switch  102  is separated from the power source  104  by a distance when no air support is being applied to the instrument. The diaphragm  100  rests on the bottom  58  and is in communication with the air support delivered via the internal channel  30  and inlet channel  56  and the spring switch  102 . A gasket (shown in this embodiment as an O-ring)  62  separates the spring switch  102  from the internal housing  54 . 
     The internal housing  54  comprises a generally circular outer wall  64  which defines a cavity  65 , with an internal lip  66  extending around the circumference of one end of the wall  64  into cavity  65 . The exterior surface of the outer wall  64  has machine threads  68  for interaction with complementary threads  51  and  53  on the interior of wall  60  of base  50  and wall  80  on cap  52 , respectively. Therefore, the internal housing is removably and adjustably coupled to the base  50  and cap  52 . Any means that will allow this removable coupling can be used. A power source insulator  70  fits within internal housing  54  and comprises a generally circular wall  71 , with an internal lip  72  extending around the circumference of one end of the wall  71  into cavity  65 . The insulator  70  and spacer  73  isolate the power source  104  from the remainder of the housing  16  and ensure the electrical circuit path necessary for the activation of the indicating means is maintained by preventing the battery from contacting any conducting components that may cause a short in the electrical circuit (discussed below). A spacer/insulator  73  with opening  74  rests on power source  104  to add further insulation. The opening  74  in the spacer  73  allows components of the indicating means to be in communication with the power source  104 . In the embodiment illustrated, the indicating means is shown comprising a light emitting diode (LED)  106 , with a positive leg  108  and a negative leg  110 , both functionally linked to the LED  106 . The positive leg  108  extends through opening  74  to be in contact with power source  104 , while the negative leg  110  rests on the spacer  70  in contact with a conductive element, illustrated as the components of the housing  16 . However, the conductive element may be a section of conductive foil arranged within housing  16  or an additional section of wire. The function of the conductive element is to provide a return path for the current flow back to the power source  104  to produce a closed electrical circuit when required. The cap  52  comprises a top side  78  and a generally circular outer wall  80  surrounding the top side  78 . The top side  78  has an opening  82  to receive at least a portion of the indicating means, in this embodiment the LED  106 . 
     The pressure sensor  14  functions to provide a signal to the musician when the air support reaches a predetermined level sufficient to produce an acceptable musical tone as determined by the measuring means. In operation of the embodiment illustrated, the diaphragm  100  is in communication with spring switch  102  and is situated on bottom  58  of base  50  such that the diaphragm is in communication with the air support delivered by the internal channel  30  (directing means) and inlet channel  56 . As a result of this placement, the diaphragm  100  is responsive to the air support applied to the instrument, causing the diaphragm to flex upwards (away from bottom  58 ) and bear against spring switch  102  when air support is applied to the instrument. With increasing air support, the diaphragm  100  and spring switch  102  flex upward toward the power source  104  in proportion to the pressure level. With sufficient upward flexing (pressure), the spring switch  102  traverses the distance separating spring switch  102  and power source  104 , and is brought into contact with the power source  104 . In this manner the measuring means creates a closed electrical circuit and current flows from the power source  104  into LED  106  through positive leg  108 , and out of the LED  106  through negative leg  110 , causing the LED  106  to switch to the first state. The current then completes the electrical circuit back to the power source  104  through the conductive element (illustrated here as components of the housing  16 ). The circuit path described above is illustrated in FIG.  4 . However, as discussed above the conductive element may be a separate return wire or an internal conducting element (such as a conductive foil) situated as appropriate within housing  16 . In addition to LED  106 , other indicating means, such as incandescent lights may also be used. The electrical circuit may further comprise an in line resistor to modulate the current supplied to the LED  106  or other indicating means. As the air pressure decreases, the diaphragm  100  and spring switch  102  no longer flex upward a sufficient amount to bring spring switch  102  into contact with power source  104 , and the electrical circuit is opened and no current flows through the indicating means, switching the LED  106  from the first state to the second state. 
     The distance the spring switch  102  must travel to contact the power source  104  is adjustable by moving the internal housing  54  relative to the base  50 , which can be done by virtue of their threaded connections as illustrated in FIG.  2 . Internal housing  54  compresses O ring  62  to facilitate adjustment of the distance spring switch  102  must flex to contact power source  104 . The adjustment is made to cause the measuring means to close the electrical circuit at a level of air support determined to be that level of air support which is sufficient to produce an acceptable musical tone for a given instrument. As the air support to produce an acceptable musical tone can vary depending upon the instrument, it is important that the measuring means can be adjusted so that the indicating means is switched to the first state at the appropriate level of air support. If the distance is increased, the diaphragm will have to detect increased air support to bring spring switch  102  into contact with the power source  104 , requiring a greater air support before the indicating means is switched to the first state. Alternatively, the type of diaphragm may be altered so that the types of diaphragms used flex upward a different amount in response to a given level of air support. In a preferred embodiment, the pressure sensor  14  is adjusted so that the indicating means is switched to the first state at a pressure level of 15 to 18 inches of water. However, as discussed above, this pressure level can be adjusted either up or down by varying the distance between the spring switch  102  and the power source  104 , or by varying the diaphragm  100  used in the pressure sensor  14 . 
     The pressure sensor  14  may be modified so that the indicating means is visible to the musician only, to an observer only, or to both the musician and an observer. Such an arrangement can be helpful in various situations. For example, the observer may be a music instructor who may prefer that the indicating means be visible only to him/her and not to the musician in teaching situations. However, when the observer/instructor is not present, it is advantageous that the indicating means be visible to the student for training purposes. The modification may be as simple as a removable cap (not shown) that blocks out one half of the indicating means. When desired the cap may be placed on the indicating means to block the indicating means from being viewed by the musician or the observer and be removed so that both the musician and the observer can view the indicating means. 
     As discussed above, the pressure sensor  14  may be removable from the mouthpiece  12 . This is advantageous when the sensor  14  needs repair or adjustment or battery replacement. In the present embodiment, base  50  is adhesively bonded to the mouthpiece  12 , but the components of the sensor  14  can be removed for replacement of the power source  104 . All other parts of the pressure sensor  14  may be removed by unscrewing the internal housing  54  and indicator cap  52 . 
     The components of the pressure sensor  14  and the sensor housing  16  may be constructed from a variety of materials. The choice of materials can be made based on durability, costs and aesthetic considerations. In the present embodiment, the housing  16  is used to complete the electrical circuit used to provide current to the signaling means as discussed above and illustrated in FIGS. 1-4. When the housing  16  is used in this manner, it is preferred that the base  50 , cap  52  and internal housing  54  be manufactured from conductive materials such as aluminum or brass. If conductive materials are not used, a wire may be used to complete the electrical circuit, or the interior parts of the housing  16  may be lined with a conductive foil as appropriate. 
     The diaphragm  100  must be constructed of a flexible membrane. In the present embodiment, the diaphragm  100  is made of thin latex rubber, but other rubbers may be used. The spring switch  102  must exhibit elastic characteristics and be conductive. In the present embodiment, the spring switch  102  is constructed of phosphor bronze, but other conductive materials may be used. The power source  104 , LED indicator  106  and O ring  62  are commercially available and several varieties and sizes may be used. Battery size and LED characteristics together determine battery life. The battery insulator  70  and spacer/insulator  73  may be made of a variety of non-conducting materials. The mouthpiece  12  may be constructed from any material, but a variety of hard plastics are in more common use in musical instruments.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6