Device for supporting a saxophone

Abstract

A device (13) for supporting a saxophone (30) on the body of a player, comprising a rod whose first end-piece features a mechanical adapter for connection to the saxophone, wherein the second end of the rod is connected to a plate via a ball joint or a universal joint, and wherein the mechanical adapter has a felt bumper as impact protection for mechanical parts of the saxophone.

Claims

1. Device (13) for supporting a saxophone (30) on the body of a player, comprising a rod (4) whose first end has a mechanical adapter for connection to the saxophone (30), characterized in that the mechanical adapter comprises an adjustment screw adapter (1) that provides a detachable connection to the first end of the rod (4), wherein the adjustment screw adapter (1) is connectable to an Eb key guard (14) on its end facing away from the end of the rod (4) and has a bumper pad (2) on its end facing away from the end of the rod (4) as impact protection for mechanical parts of the saxophone (30), and wherein a second end of the rod (4) is connected to a plate (8) via a ball joint or a universal joint (7).

2. Device (13) according to claim 1, characterized in that the mechanical adapter has an external thread by means of which the device (13) can be connected to an internal thread of the bumper adjustment screw adapter (1) of an Eb key guard (14) of a saxophone (30).

3. Device (13) according to claim 1, characterized in that the mechanical adapter is designed as a plug by means of which the device (13) can be connected to a corresponding connector socket of the bumper adjustment screw adapter (1) of the Eb key guard (14) of a saxophone (30).

4. Device (13) according to claim 3, characterized in that the plug and/or the bumper adjustment screw adapter (1) has a magnet.

5. Device (13) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the rod (4) is inserted into a tube by sliding (5), wherein the position of the rod (4) within the tube (5) can be fixed in place with a clamping screw (6) that is attached to the tube (5) to produce a telescopically adjustable connection between the plate (8) and the mechanical adapter.

6. Device (13) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the plate (8) has a support pad, which preferably consists of felt, rubber, silicone, or a mixture thereof.

7. Device (13) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the bumper pad (2) consists of felt.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

(1) The invention is explained below in greater detail based on examples of embodiments shown in the drawings.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of the device in section A-B,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a side view of the device according to the invention,

(4) FIG. 3 shows detail A of FIG. 1,

(5) FIG. 4 shows detail B of FIG. 2,

(6) FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of the lower part of the alto saxophone in the side view from the left,

(7) FIG. 6 shows a schematic representation of the key guard and the bumper adjustment screw,

(8) FIG. 7 shows a schematic representation of an alto saxophone in a side view from the right, and

(9) FIGS. 8 to 10 show a sectional view of the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(10) The device (13) described here is a saxophone playing aid according to FIG. 1 that acts as a saxophone support device primarily for standing players of alto and curved soprano saxophones. In addition to all conventional harnesses and comfort straps, it is attached to the saxophone as a supportive add-on mechanism, and in case of all modern saxophones, it is screwed on at the key guard (14) of the Eb key (16) in place of the bumper adjustment screw (15) according to FIG. 5. The existing bumper adjustment screw (15) of the Eb key (16) is unscrewed and in its place, the device (13) is instead screwed on by means of the bumper adjustment screw adapter (1), rendering it an extension of the holder for supporting the saxophone.

(11) Hence, the device (13) or the end-piece facing the saxophone (30) additionally has the same function as the bumper adjustment screw (15) of the Eb key (16) with felt bumpers (2).

(12) For vintage saxophones (built before or around 1935) and all other saxophones that do not feature such a bumper adjustment screw (15) at the key guard (14) of the Eb key (16), a modification is possible by using a three-cleat mechanism to attach the saxophone playing aid to the key guard of the Eb key.

(13) In order to obtain a saxophone playing aid that is easy to manage and reliable, the device (13) according to FIG. 1 features a rod (4) that is inserted into a tube (5) to provide a telescopic connection between a plate (8) and a mechanical adapter on the other side of the rod (4). The rod (4) can be slid smoothly into the tube (5) and fixed by means of a setting screw (6) that is attached to the tube (5) through the inner thread (11) according to the individual wishes and measurements of the player. The tube (5) is connected to the plate (8) by a ball joint, or alternatively, a universal joint (7), to achieve individual adjustability in this position as well. Meanwhile, when the plate is a non-pivotable position, the plane of the plate (8) is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rod (4). Typically, the plate (8) can be pivoted within a small angle range and can also remain pivotable while the instrument is being played to provide comfortable support to the player. To ensure better wearing comfort, the plate (8) consists of a support pad in its entirety, or is equipped with a support pad or a piece of felt. Preferably, the material that is used should have non-slip properties, such as silicone or rubber, or a mixture of silicone and rubber.

(14) The ball joint (7), which is screwed into a matching internal thread (10) on the tube (5), can be attached via an external thread (9).

(15) Furthermore, the rod (4) according to FIGS. 1 to 4 at the opposite endhere referred to as the first endfeatures a mechanical adapter for connection to parts of the saxophone. Here, it is surprisingly advantageous that an alto saxophone (30) (see FIGS. 5 and 7) has a suitably located Eb key guard (14), which in turn has a bumper adjustment screw (15) that can be removed and replaced by the mechanical adapter of the device (13). The saxophone features three additional adjustment screws, namely, at the low C key guard (15b), at the low B key guard (15c), and at the low Bb key guard (15d). A further surprising advantage is that mechanical elements, such as the device (13), when connected to the bumper adjustment screw adapter (1), have no negative effect on the sound or intonation of the saxophone when played. This advantage is produced by the geometry of the Eb key guard (14), which is connected to the body of the saxophone (30) at three discrete points, and which, for its part, also features tone holes (17) so that the tone development and its overall resonance is not muffled. Now the first end of the rod (4) has a bumper adjustment screw adapter (1), by means of which the rod (4), or the device (13) as a wholeinstead of the bumper adjustment screw(15) can be connected securely to the Eb key guard (14) of the saxophone (30). For this purpose, the bumper adjustment screw adapter (1) has an external thread and additionally a felt bumper (2) according to FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, to cushion any impact of the Eb key (16) (see FIG. 5).

(16) The bumper adjustment screw adapter (1) can be connected to an external thread (12) of the rod (4) via an internal thread (3). The device (13) allows the support to be attached very easily by means of the bumper adjustment screw adapter (1) instead of the original bumper adjustment screw (15) in the key guard (14) of the Eb key (16).

(17) As can be seen in FIG. 5, a saxophone (30) has a harness ring (19), which may still be used, and a thumb rest (18) for the right hand. However, according to FIG. 7, if the device (13) is used together with the saxophone (30), the saxophone (30) no longer has to be held or supported by the right thumb on the thumb rest (18). This leaves the thumb of the right hand available as another playing finger. As a result, the right hand of the player can assume new positions, thus allowing new playing techniques.

(18) It is understood that the examples of embodiments described can be modified in different ways within the scope of the inventive concept. For example, the plate (8) can be made smaller or larger than shown in the figures. Furthermore, the connector between the device (13) and the saxophone (30) can be designed differently. Current technology offers numerous well-known connectors that provide a secure and firm connection on the one hand, and can be disconnected quickly by means of a specific handle or application of a certain force, on the other. Possible connectors are shown in FIGS. 8 to 10.

(19) According to FIG. 8, however, a telescopic connection is provided by means of a rod (4) and a tube (5) between the plate (8) and the bumper adjustment screw adapter (1). The rod (4) is now positioned with the bumper adjustment screw adapter (1) just like with certain types of bits in a screwdriver that have a hexagonal cross-section and can be inserted into a hexagonal opening. The rod (4) features a hexagonal cross section (130) on its first end, while the bumper adjustment screw adapter (1) has an inner hexagonal cross-section (140). A connector with square cross-sections is also conceivable. In addition, in the case of a bumper adjustment screw adapter (1) with an inner hexagonal cross-section, a magnet (150) is provided to hold the device in the bumper adjustment screw adapter (1). As a result, the device (13) can be removed from the saxophone (30) as needed, while the bumper adjustment screw adapter (1) remains in the Eb key guard (14).

(20) According to FIG. 9, the rod (4) has a ball (110) at its first end that can press against the pressure of a spring inside a cavity in the rod (4) in order to form a snap-in element that can snap into a groove (120) in the bumper adjustment screw adapter (1).

(21) According to FIG. 10, the bumper adjustment screw adapter (1) once again features a magnetic disk (100), which attracts the front side of the rod (4) analogously to the embodiment of FIG. 8, provided that the rod (4) is metallic, wherein a projection (160) that fits into a hollow of the magnetic disk (100) is also formed on the first end of the rod (4).

(22) With the saxophone playing aid, we avoid all the above-mentioned disadvantages: The saxophone (30) no longer comes into contact with the body except through the saxophone playing aid. Thanks to the attachment of the device (13) by means of a bumper adjustment screw adapter (1) instead of the original bumper adjustment screw (15), all muffling, all the corpus resonance problems, and especially the intonation problems of the Eb key or the Eb tone (16) are thereby eliminated. The entire saxophone resonates much more freely and without any muffling; in addition, the tones become more responsive, especially in the low register. The sound becomes more balanced throughout the entire register. The right hand and the muscles of the right arm are released and relieved. The thumb hook (18) should only serve as a posture orientation, since it is no longer needed to hold the instrument and the thumb itself is relieved considerably, which in turn promotes flexibility in the remaining fingers of the right hand. The thumb of the right hand is therein freed up and made available as another playing finger. The right hand of the player can therefore assume new positions, thus allowing new playing techniques. Thanks to the saxophone playing aid, the entire posture of the saxophonist becomes more upright and more ergonomic. The head and shoulders can remain in an upright and straight position, the feet stand at about shoulder width apart, and the energy can flow freely due to the fact that the weight of the instrument is no longer shifted onto the foot or abdominal area at hip level.

(23) The left arm is also released and relieved, since it is no longer necessary to buttress the saxophone (30) continuously forward with the left thumb over a thumb rest in order to press the saxophone (30) against the upper front teeth, as with conventional saxophone holding techniques. This invention makes this pressure of the left thumb unnecessary, by permanently releasing and relieving the left thumb, since the forward pressure which is usually necessary, is now largely compensated for by the device itself (13).