Improvements in Cases or Covers for Mouth Harmonicas.
Year: 1893

page_text: Improvements in Cases or Covers for Mouth Harmonicas.
A communication by MATHIAS HOHNER, of Trossingen, in the Empire of Germany,
Harmonica Manufacturer.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S. M.I.M.E. of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool and 6, Bank Street, Man-
chester, both in the County of Lancaster and 323 High Holborn in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention has for its object to protect mouth harmonicas, when not in use,
in a closed case from impurities such as dust, dirt, etcetera, and to facilitate the use
of the instrument.
According to this invention the case is so arranged or made that when its lid
is opened and folded back the harmonica is automatically pushed forward so far
that it can be conveniently played on without removing the case.
The harmonica and case are shown in Figures 1-5 on the accompanying
drawing.
Figures 1-3 show a case in which the harmonica is pushed forward on the
playing side, whilst
Figures 4 and 5 show a case in which the harmonica is pushed out longitudinally.
When the harmonica is pushed forward on the playing side, it is movably
supported in slots b b of the side walls of the case B by means of one or two pins a a
attached sideways to the wood of the instrument, and is pressed constantly forward
within the case against the lid B' of the same by means of a flat spring C. If the
lid be opened, the instrument is pushed automatically, in consequence of this spring
pressure, as far forward as its guide pins a in the slots 6 allow, that is to say
sufficiently far to allow of its being conveniently played upon. The back of the
case has sound holes d d, which are completely covered by the flat spring C when
the case is shut so that neither dust nor dirt can penetrate from this side, and more-
over when the case is opened, the spring C bends back, and the openings are laid
bare so that the sound waves can escape therefrom. For this latter object the
flat spring C is made narrower than the opening in the case.
When the instrument is not in use, it is pushed back into the case and the lid
closed. The spring C then lies flat against the back wall of the case, and closes
the sound holes. Instead of a single flat spring, two or more or even other kinds
of springs could be employed.
When the instrument is to be pushed out in a longitudinal direction from its
case, the case lid is arranged on one of the two ends, and a spring C¹ (preferably a
spiral spring) is placed between the other end of the case and the bottom of the lid.
The harmonica A is then, on the opening of the lid B₁, pushed forward longi-
tudinally in the case and thus sound holes in the latter are dispensed with.
The guiding of the harmonica again takes place by means of pins a¹ in the
slots b¹.
The case itself can be made of any suitable material, such for instance as sheet
metal, papier maché, celluloid, compressed leather, etcetera, according as it is
required to be of greater or less solidity. The fastening of the lid may be of any
of the usual well known kinds.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The improvements in cases or covers for mouth harmonicas consisting in

page_text: providing such with one or more springs, which, on the opening of the case or cover,
will push forward the instrument sufficiently far to allow of it being played without
becoming detached from its case or cover, substantially as herein before described.
2. The case or cover for mouth harmonicas having sound holes (d) which, when
the case or cover is shut, are covered by the spring or springs C, substantially as
described with reference to Figures 1 to 3.
Dated this 5th ICA
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.