Abstract
The instant invention relates to new attachments for the round tubular body of flutes. It attaches firmly, but removably, to the flute and stabilizes the relation between the flute and the player's left index finger (and/or thumb) without pressure on the player's mouth, which enhances the flexibility of the player's lips to more perfectly play the flute. This is especially beneficial for the player's lower lip, which, under extant art, is forcibly pinned against the lower teeth and gums to stabilize the flute. This invention comprises a finger connector and a spacer attachment to the flute, constituting a comfortable surface for the base of the left index finger and an opening through which the flute player's left index finger (and/or thumb) is inserted, as like wearing a ring.
Claims
1. An attachment for flutes having a round tubular flute body formed with tone holes and finger keys, comprising: a flute-finger connecting attachment for firmly fastening onto the round tubular flute body, without modification of the flute, where the side of the left index finger of a flute player normally rests against the flute body while playing, constructed so as to retain a player's left index finger in fixed relation to the flute to facilitate the multiple functions of the left index finger as pivot point, pressure point and operating finger, said flute-finger connector being removable and relocatable along and around the tubular body to accommodate differing individual hand characteristics and requirements; said flute-finger connector comprising a comfortable finger rest surface for the side of the left index finger of a flute player and a spacer offsetting the finger rest surface in the radial direction of the tubular flute body away from the flute body, thereby increasing the outer diameter of the tubular flute body at the finger rest surface; said spacer comprising a thickness to offset the left index finger of a flute player in the radial direction of the tubular flute body outwardly and away from the flute body a sufficient radial distance for minimizing cramping or fatiguing of the left index finger and left wrist of a flute player while permitting the left index finger to perform the multiple functions as pivot point, pressure point, and operating finger; said flute-finger connector having built into it a left index finger retainer which partially or wholly circumnavigates the flute player's left index finger so as to partially immobilize and solidly connect the flute player's finger to the flute thereby providing rotational and other support of the flute by the player while not impeding the left index finger's performance of its multiple functions as pivot point, pressure point, and operating finger.
2. The flute attachment of claim 1 wherein the left index finger retainer is adjustable with respect to its size.
3. The flute attachment of claim 1 which attaches to the flute body with a part made of a relatively soft but resilient plastic to avoid marring the surface of the round tubular flute body.
4. The flute attachment of claim 1 wherein the finger rest surface comprises a saddle shaped surface.
5. The flute attachment of claim 1 wherein the finger rest surface comprises a soft elastic material.
6. The flute attachment of claim 1 wherein the finger retainer is movably attached to the spacer rest surface so that the finger retainer may move relative to it, permitting the player's index finger greater range of motion and greater comfort while also providing essential support for the flute.
7. The flute attachment of claim 1 wherein the finger rest surface extends over a length of the flute body at least from the upper C tone hole to the upper C finger key and wherein the attachment is by a skewed side lobe for elastic retention on the flute body without interfering with adjacent tone holes or finger keys of the flute.
8. The flute attachment of claim 1 wherein the finger rest surface and spacer are offset around the circular arc of the attachment part from the center of the arc for positioning where the side of the left index finger of a flute player normally rests against the flute body when the device is fastened onto the flute body.
9. The flute attachment of claim 1 which attaches to the tubular flute body by a clamping mechanism.
10. The flute attachment of claim 1 wherein the finger retainer is removable and interchangeable with similar parts of different sizes and/or other differing characteristics.
11. The flute attachment of claim 1, constructed without an integral finger retainer, but which accepts and retains common rings of different sizes; a ring retention mechanism capable of accepting extant fine and decorative jewelry rings.
12. The flute attachment of claim 1 wherein said finger retainer is designed to operate with respect to the thumb, retaining the flute player's right thumb in fixed relation to the flute so as to provide substantial additional support for the flute, and constructed to fit the flute where the player's right thumb would normally rest while playing the flute.
13. The flute attachment of claim 12 wherein said thumb retainer part is removably attached to the flute-finger connector and interchangeable with other thumb retainer parts of differing size or other characteristics.
14. The flute attachment of claim 12 wherein said thumb retainer part is adjustable as to its size.
15. The flute attachment of claim 1 wherein the left index finger retainer is adjustable as to its position on the spacer's finger rest surface.
16. The flute attachment of claim 1, wherein the left index finger retainer is of fixed size, and accepts inserts to reduce its size.
17. The flute attachment of claim 1 wherein the left index finger retainer is adjustable as to its angle in relation to the spacer's surface.
18. The flute attachment of claim 1, constructed without integral provision for attaching to the flute, but so constructed as to be attachable to the tubular flute body by extraneous, extant, attachment devices, such as cable ties.
19. The flute attachment of claim 1, wherein attachment to the tubular flute body is by elastic bands.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side view of a flute showing a left index finger flute-finger connector comprising a spacer and a clip flute-attachment with ring-like adjustable-size opening in place between the upper C# tone hole and upper C finger key.
(2) FIG. 1A is a more distant fragmentary environmental perspective view of the flute in the direction of the flute head showing the position of the invention comprising a flute-finger connector adjustable ring-like opening in relation to the flute head and alternatively viewed with the finger rest surface and spacer clipped to the tubular flute body.
(3) FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side view of the flute of FIG. 1 from the other side showing the same left index finger spacer clip with its flute-finger connecting adjustable ring-like opening in place with attachment by resilient, flexible lobes.
(4) FIG. 3 is a side view of the flute-finger connector with resilient flexible attaching lobes.
(5) FIG. 4 is a plan view from above of the device shown in FIG. 3.
(6) FIG. 5 is a plan view looking from below at the inside of the flute-finger connector, showing the undersurface of the spacer clip that engages the tubular flute body.
(7) FIG. 6 is a side view of the flute-finger connector with a saddle shaped finger rest surface attached to the flute.
(8) FIG. 7 is a horizontal cross section view through the saddle shaped finger rest surface of the flute-finger connector.
(9) FIG. 8 is a plan view of the saddle shaped finger rest surface and ring-like opening of the flute-finger connector.
(10) FIG. 9 is a longitudinal cross section view through the saddle shaped finger rest surface of the flute-finger connector with ring-like opening.
(11) FIG. 10 is a more distant environmental view of the flute-finger connector with ring-like opening for the thumb.
(12) FIG. 11 is more distant environmental view of the flute-finger connector with a clip under which a player's thumb is inserted to stabilize the flute substituted for a ring.
(13) FIG. 12 is more distant environmental view of the flute-finger connector with both an adjustable ring and an adjustable clip, when constructed of malleable material. This embodiment connects the player's thumb to the flute in all dimensions.
(14) FIG. 13 is a more distant fragmentary environmental view of the flute with attached flute-finger connector and ring-like opening for the left index finger comprising a partially open ring, 25.
(15) FIG. 14 is a side view from the left index finger flute-finger connector with ring-like opening removed from the flute, but in this refinement the ring, 25, is detachable from the finger spacer, 5, and interchangeable with rings of other dimensions, and, depending on its relation to the surface of the finger spacer more or less rotatably movable when attached.
(16) FIG. 15 shows three views of an insert, 28, made from flexible material with good memory with a gap, 29, of appropriate size such that the sides of the insert can be squeezed toward one another and the insert placed inside of a ring. On releasing pressure on the sides of the insert it will re-expand to its normal size and the flanges along its edges lock it removably into the ring. With removable inserts of varying thickness the inside diameter of the flute-finger connector ring-like part easily can be altered to accommodate fingers of many different sizes. Greater player comfort and facility can be achieved if the inner surface of the insert is made of a soft elastic material.
(17) FIG. 16 depicts the flute-finger connector with a detachable ring. This ring fits into slots in the spacer rest surface, permitting rings of differing sizes to be employed.
(18) FIG. 17 depicts an embodiment of the flute-finger connector similar to FIG. 16, but with a flat as opposed to an ergonomically formed rest surface. Comparing FIGS. 16 and 17 shows how rings of different diameters can be fit into the same rest surface, when the spacing between slots is of sufficient width.
(19) FIG. 18 shows the ring-like portion of another embodiment of the flute-finger connector. In this example, the ring-like portion has notches cut into its base for fitting onto corresponding pegs located on the spacer's rest surface.
(20) FIG. 19 shows the combination of the ring-like device and the spacer flute-attachment device, which, together, comprise an embodiment of the instant invention. This shows the pegs on the rest surface of the spacer to which the ring-like portion of the invention can be removably fastened. This permits interchanging rings of different diameters.
(21) FIG. 20 shows an embodiment of the invention which permits a variety of attachments to the flute. It comprises only a ring-like portion, a rest surface/spacer, and arms. It can then be attached to a flute by, for example, cable ties, elastic bands, or any other tensionable device circumnavigating the circumference of the flute's tubular body. Because the attachment device is extraneous to the invention, and variable as to the length of its arms, this permits this embodiment to be attached to many different kinds of flutes, such as alto, bass, treble, and even piccolos.
(22) FIG. 21 shows an embodiment of the invention which attached to the flute with two arms of material of good memory. It comprises only a ring-like portion, a rest surface/spacer, and attachment arms.
(23) FIG. 22 shows an embodiment similar to those shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, but with attachment to the flute via elastic bands which, after circumnavigating the tubular body of the flute attach to pegs on the ends of the device. By changing the lengths of the attachment elastic bands, the device can be affixed to flutes of various circumferences.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS AND BEST MODE OF THE INVENTION
(24) A left index finger flute-finger connector, 25, and spacer clamp or clip attachment, 5, is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, comprising easily removable resilient lobes for attachment to the flute, in position on the round tubular body, 2, of a standard flute 1. Plan views of the finger rest and spacer clip, 5, from the side, above, and below separated from the flute are shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5. The spacer clip, 5, is formed with a smooth, or ergonomically shaped, finger rest surface, 10. The spacer, spacer element or spacer portion, 5, displaces or offsets the finger rest surface, 10, from the round tubular flute body 2 for more favorable positioning of the left hand, and left wrist and the flute-finger connecting ring, 25, allows the flute player to better stabilize the flute without impeding its operation in any way.
(25) Referring to FIGS. 4-7, the spacer clip attachment grasps the tubular body of the flute by means of an open circular arc, 20, greater than a half circle formed on the undersurface of the clip. The actual location of the finger rest surface, 10, is offset from the center of the arc, 20, for optimum positioning of the left index finger relative to the flute body. The actual thickness of the spacer, 5, at the center of the finger rest surface, 10, offset from the center of the arc, may be of any appropriate, comfortable thickness. The left hand and wrist thereby are more favorably oriented in a natural position to minimize fatigue and cramping. The spacer can be covered with a soft pad and ergonomically shaped so as to distribute the contact pressure of the flute across the base of the index finger so as to considerably reduce the pressure in comparison to that of the very hard and smaller diameter flute tube. The provision of the flute-finger connecting ring-opening design permits the flute player to better stabilize the flute.
(26) Because the radius of curvature of the cylindrical curvature configuration finger rest surface, 10, is different from the radius of curvature of the arc 20, the thickness profile tapers to a greater thickness on either side of the middle of the finger rest surface, 10.
(27) Referring to FIG. 3 the ring in the preferred embodiment is composed of two overlapping malleable, bendable arms, 30 and 31. This permits the size of the ring-like opening easily to be adjusted for proper fit simply by bending the arms. This adjustment can easily be made more permanent by the judicious application of a more or less permanent bonding medium to the overlap between the arms.
(28) Referring to FIG. 2 it is noted that the finger rest surface, 10, of the clip extends over an appropriate distance between the upper C finger key and the upper C# tone hole so as to permit a comfortable support with the flute-finger connector attachment. As also clearly shown in FIG. 2 the spacer clip, 5, is formed with a skewed or off center lobe, 21, on one side for elastic retention to the tubular body, 2, without interfering with adjacent finger keys and tone holes.
(29) FIGS. 10-12 show the flute-finger connecting device for the thumb. They show different possible configurations for retaining the thumb in a fixed and supportive relation to the flute so as to better stabilize it.
(30) FIG. 13 depicts the flute-finger connector with a partial ring. This permits quicker entry and exit from the device and also permits somewhat easier adjustment as only the single arm, when made of malleable material, need be bent.
(31) FIG. 14 shows an embodiment of the flute-finger connector with a removable and interchangeable ring. This makes altering the device to fit different players' hands both easy and quick.
(32) FIG. 15 shows several views of an insert ring that can be used in conjunction any fixed ring. That is, a somewhat oversized, fixed ring can be adjusted by inserting such a ring as shown in FIG. 15 of appropriate thickness.
(33) FIGS. 16 and 17 show interchangeable ring parts and demonstrates how different sized rings can be accommodated by a single spacer clip, if sufficient width is provided between the rest surface attachment points, 60.
(34) FIGS. 18 and 19 show a system of interchangeable ring parts, similar to FIGS. 16 and 17, but utilizing a ring part with notches, 80, cut into its base. If the ring is compressed slightly and placed between the mounting pegs, 90, on the surface of the spacer clip, then on releasing the pressure, the ring part will expand and removably lock onto the spacer surface. This permits simple and inexpensive adjustment of the device to fit many different players' hands by the use of variously sized ring parts.
(35) FIG. 20 shows a simplified and inexpensive version of the flute-finger connector. In this embodiment no provision for attachment to the flute is provided. Rather, it is constructed so that extraneous attachment devices, common to extant art, can be utilized, such as cable ties, elastic bands, or any device that can circumnavigate the body of the flute with sufficient tension. If the arms, 21, of this device are of proper length, then it can be fitted to many, if not all, different kinds of flutes as it can be attached independent of the specific circumference of the flute's tubular body.
(36) FIG. 21 shows a device similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 20, but with attachment arms, 16 and 17, made of memory retaining, flexible material, and properly spaced to as to attach to a flute without interfering with its operation.
(37) FIG. 22 shows an embodiment of the invention similar to that shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, but with elastic bands, 90, for attachment. These bands, of length less than the circumference of the flute, have holes, 85, in their ends such that after circumnavigating the tubular flute body they are attached to the arms of the device, 21, via pegs, 95.
(38) While the invention has been described with reference to particular example embodiments it is intended to cover all modifications and equivalence within the scope of the following claims. For example, though specific embodiments of the invention include a flute-finger-connecting ring with adjustable arms (FIGS. 1-12) and with differently sized inserts (FIG. 15), many other modifications can also fall within this description such as, non-adjustable rings, adjustable arms comprising overlying plastic strips carrying spaced projecting pegs and holes, adjustable arms comprising hooks and loops, simple ties, or sliding clamps, etc.
