Abstract
A stringed instrument bow includes an elongated stick (102) having a head (110) and a frog (112) holding a ribbon of bow hair (108). The head and frog are configured such that bow hair (108) held under tension between the head and the frog forms a longitudinally twisted ribbon as held.
Claims
1-18. (canceled)
19. A frog (112) for use in a stringed instrument bow (100), the frog comprising: a stick mount defining a mount axis (121) parallel to a longitudinal bow direction, for mounting the frog on a bow-stick (102); and a bow ribbon support surface (137) on a side of the frog opposite the stick mount, the support surface defining a hair ribbon plane (139) between two longitudinal edges of the support surface; wherein one longitudinal edge (141) of the support surface is closer to the mount axis than the other longitudinal edge (145) of the support surface.
20. The frog of claim 19, wherein the bow hair ribbon support surface (137) comprises a base surface of an elongated groove (138) defined by an underside of the frog (112).
Description
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0023] FIG. 1 is a broken side view of a stringed instrument bow.
[0024] FIG. 2A is a bottom view of the head of the bow of FIG. 1.
[0025] FIG. 2B is a top view of the head of FIG. 2A.
[0026] FIG. 2C is a front view of the head of FIGS. 2A and 2B.
[0027] FIG. 3A is a front view of the frog of the bow of FIG. 1, removed from the bow-stick.
[0028] FIG. 3B is a side view of the frog of FIG. 3A.
[0029] FIG. 3C is a bottom view of the frog of FIGS. 3A and 3B.
[0030] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating bow hair ribbon twist induced by canting the underside of the frog.
[0031] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating bow hair ribbon twist induced by canting the underside of the head.
[0032] FIG. 6 is a photograph comparing the frog of FIG. 4 and the frog of FIG. 5.
[0033] Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0034] Referring to FIG. 1, a stringed instrument bow 100 features a bow-stick 102 having a slender, elongated body extending, along a bow plane 103 that longitudinally bisects the body, from a frog end 104 (which is also referred to as the handle) to a head end 106 (which is also referred to as the tip). Stick 102 is designed to be grasped by a user at frog end 104 to maneuver bow 100, such as while playing a stringed musical instrument (e.g., a violin, cello, viola, bass, etc.). The body of the stick is curved inward to create a convex profile, called camber which can vary between different implementations. Of course, it would also be possible to use a stick having an elongated body that is substantially straight. The stick can be fashioned from any appropriate type of natural (e.g., Pernambuco wood) or synthetic (e.g., carbon or glass fiber) material. Generally, the precise contour of the stick, as well as the material used to fashion it, can vary without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
[0035] As shown, a continuous ribbon of bow hair 108 (which may also be referred to as a hank) is held taut between a head 110 positioned at the head end of stick 102 and a frog 112 positioned at the frog end. The bow hair can include a set of natural strands of hair (e.g., horsehair) or a set of synthetic fibers of material (e.g., nylon). The ends of the ribbon (not shown) may be tied, knotted, glued or otherwise tethered to facilitate handling of the bow hair and even spreading of the individual strands.
[0036] In this example, the head and the frog each feature a mortise device that functions to secure a respective end of the bow hair ribbon. However, it is envisioned that various other types of fastening systems and techniques can also be used to secure the ends of the ribbon. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,624,225, 3,759,131, and 4,713,998, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference, describe some alternative types of fastening systems that can be used in conjunction with implementations of the present disclosure.
[0037] In any event, as described below, the end of the bow hair ribbon secured by the frog is held at a laterally tilted angle relative to the end of the ribbon secured by the head, such that the ribbon of bow hair is, to some degree, twisted longitudinally along the length of the stick. Specifically, in this example, the surface of the underside of the frog against which the ribbon of bow hair presses when held taut, thereby maintaining its ribbon shape, is fashioned to cant the ribbon at an angle other than perpendicular to the plane containing the bow-stick and ribbon centerlines, while the head end of the bow holds the other ribbon end perpendicular to such a plane. The longitudinal twist of the bow hair ribbon induced by the difference in ribbon angle between its ends unfolds in continuity with the user's natural wrist movement as the arm develops and extends while drawing the bow back and forth. Given the natural trajectory user's arm, such a twist of the bow hair ribbon facilitates keeping the bow hair ribbon in full contact with the strings of the instrument across its width over the course of the pushed and pulled bow draws, which can improve the comfort of playing. This arrangement can also provide more stability to the bow and help performing difficult bow strokes.
[0038] FIGS. 2A-2C provide illustrative views of head 110 from various perspectives. The head is carved with a central cavity 116 (mortise) that houses one end of the bow hair ribbon 108. An insert (wedge) 118 is specifically designed to fit in the cavity. Together, the cavity and the insert form a mortise-type clamping device to hold the first end of the bow hair ribbon in place. Typically the head includes an ivory or metal tip at its face, for strength and/or aesthetics. When the bow hair ribbon is secured by the head and held taut on the bow, at least a portion of the ribbon bears against the substantially flat face 117 of the head, orienting the ribbon at one end along a first bow ribbon plane 119 that is horizontally level (i.e., perpendicular to the plane of the bow 103). In this example, the main body of the head extends integrally from the stick, forming a contiguous mass of material. In some other examples, the head can be formed as a separate piece that is subsequently mounted to the stick.
[0039] FIGS. 3A-3C provide various illustrative views of frog 112. The frog is fitted to the frog end of the bow-stick, using a mount that defines an axis 121 parallel to a longitudinal direction of the bow, and provides a second housing (mortise) for securing the second end of the bow hair ribbon. Its U-shaped front end 124 faces the head of the bow (see FIG. 1). In this example, frog 112 is composed of a monolithic body 120 and various functional parts. The frog is movable along the stick to facilitate tensioning of the bow hair, via a conventional screw-and-button system that results in longitudinal movement of the frog body along the stick. Other tensioning techniques and frog designs, however, can also be used for achieving the same purpose of tensioning the bow hair ribbon.
[0040] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2A-2C and 3A-3B, once both ends of the conventional bow hair ribbon are secured in place in head and frog mortises, an inward portion of the ribbon lays flat against the substantially flat base 117 of the head while, on the frog side, a ferrule 135 is adjusted over the tongue 136 to firmly hold in place the flattened bow hair ribbon 108 and evenly spread it outward on the tongue part of the frog. A distal portion of the frog body is designed to secure the second end of the bow hair ribbon. This distal portion of frog body 120 features a semi-cylindrical tongue 136 and an elongated groove 138 leading back from the tongue and having a flat base surface 137. Tongue 136 provides a mount to support a ferrule 135 that is used to spread and firmly hold a portion of bow hair ribbon 108. As shown, the entrance of groove 138 is defined by inwardly projected shoulders 140, which are provided with a taper to define a dove-tailed shape therebetween. The dove-tailed shape of the groove entrance can be designed to receive a spread wedge (not shown) that is held against a portion of the bow hair ribbon by the ferrule. The base of groove 138 gives way to a mortise cavity 142 that is bored into frog body 120. Cavity 142 features an undercut rear wall 143 against which the second end of bow hair ribbon 108 is fixedly held. An insert (not shown) is provided to plug the cavity, effectively clamping the second end of the bow hair ribbon against the rear wall. To secure the bow hair ribbon to the frog, the second end of the ribbon is inserted into the mortise cavity, while an inward portion of the ribbon is laid flat to bear against the base of the elongated groove. The ferrule slides over the outwardly projecting tongue to spread the ribbon evenly along the base of the groove. The insert is wedged into the mortise cavity to secure the second end of the ribbon in place. In some examples, a thin slide piece (not shown) covers the groove to protect the mortise and the bow hair ribbon.
[0041] In this example, when frog 112 is properly aligned with bow plane 103, the face of the frog body 120 farthest from the bow-stick is sloped, such that one longitudinal edge 141 of the lower face of the frog body is closer to the mount axis than its other longitudinal edge 145 (see also FIGS. 1 and 3C). At least the portion of the lower frog face that determines hair ribbon orientation is thereby laterally biased at an inclined angle relative to the flat face 117 of head 110. Accordingly, when bow hair ribbon 108 is held taut on the bow, frog 112 orients the second end of the ribbon along a second bow ribbon plane 139 that is laterally tilted at an angle relative to the first bow ribbon plane 119, along which the first end of the ribbon is oriented by head 110. This arrangement causes the bow hair ribbon to exhibit a measured longitudinal twist along the length of the elongated bow-stick.
[0042] FIG. 4 provides an illustrative diagram showing the relative orientations of the bow hair at the head and frog of the above described example. As noted above, the lateral tilt of the second bow ribbon plane 139 defined by the frog, with respect to the first bow ribbon plane 119 defined by the head, causes the ribbon to twist along the length of the elongate stick. Geometrically speaking, the ribbon of bow hair defines a plane that is twisted about a line extending between the frog and the head. The angle of twist is equal to the angle between the two bow ribbon planes (in this case, a). As shown, the centerlines of the bow head and the frog, and the longitudinal axis of the twisted bow hair ribbon, all lie in the same plane (the bow plane 103), thereby avoiding bow-stick warping caused by frog misalignment.
[0043] As noted above, the twist of the bow hair ribbon is designed to complement the natural twist of a user's wrist as the arm is extended during a playing stroke of the bow. The angle of twist may range from 1 to 45 degrees. The musician may choose a bow configuration with the most appropriate angle in regards to his or her playing style, body disposition and style of bow. For a violin bow, the direction of twist of the bow hair ribbon will typically be such that, looking along the bow hair ribbon from the frog end of the bow, the plane of the ribbon will twist in a clockwise direction, moving from the frog to the head, while for a cello bow, the direction of twist of the bow hair ribbon will typically be in the opposite sense (i.e., a counter-clockwise twist).
[0044] FIG. 5 provides a diagram illustrating another example, where the face of head 110 is tilted relative to the bow plane perpendicular, while the outer surfaces of frog 112 remain perpendicular to the bow plane. In this example, the first end of bow hair ribbon 108 is oriented, by head 110, along a first bow ribbon plane 119 which is inclined by a lateral angle relative to the second bow ribbon plane 139 (the bow plane perpendicular), along which the second end of the ribbon is oriented by frog 112. Similar to the previous example, this arrangement causes the bow hair ribbon to become twisted longitudinally when tightened.
[0045] FIG. 6 shows a comparison of the angled frog 112 of FIG. 4 with the standard frog 112 of FIG. 5. A standard bow-stick (i.e., one having a typical head and frog) may be fitted with the angled frog 112 to take advantage of the above described concepts, by simply replacing standard frog 112 with angled frog 112. Such a replacement does not alter the balance point of the bow.
[0046] While several examples have been described for illustration purposes, the foregoing description is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the scope of the appended claims. There are and will be other examples and modifications within the scope of the following claims. In particular, it is understood that there are numerous ways to design the bow to secure the ends of the bow hair ribbon that have not been explicitly described herein, but which do not depart from the spirit of the present invention. For example, either end may be adapted to allow the angle of the bow hair ribbon to be adjusted by the player, to achieve a desired hair twist angle.
