Flanged tone chamber window for woodwind mouthpieces

Abstract

A woodwind mouthpiece has a tone chamber in communication with a central bore running through the mouthpiece and a window exposing the tone chamber. A table is located at a first end of the window, and a tip rail is located at a second end of the window opposite the first end. A pair of side rails run along opposite sides of the window from the table to the tip rail. Each side rail includes a side rail top surface. A pair of flanges are provided in the mouthpiece such that each flange extending out from one of the side rail top surfaces in a direction opposite the window. This arrangement reduces the intensity of the shock fronts at the aperture into the tone chamber.

Claims

1. A woodwind mouthpiece comprising: a tone chamber in communication with a central bore running through the mouthpiece; a window exposing the tone chamber; a table at a first end of the window and a tip rail at a second end of the window opposite the first end; a pair of side rails running along opposite sides of the window from the table to the tip rail, each side rail comprising a side rail top surface; and a pair of flanges, each flange extending out from one of the side rail top surfaces in a direction opposite the window.

2. The woodwind mouthpiece of claim 1, wherein the flanges are coplanar with the side rail top surfaces.

3. The woodwind mouthpiece of claim 1, wherein the flanges extend at an angle from a plane containing the side rail top surfaces.

4. The woodwind mouthpiece of claim 1, wherein: each side rail top surface comprises a side rail length from the table to the tip rail; and each flange extends along only a portion of the side rail length of one of the side rail top surfaces.

5. The woodwind mouthpiece of claim 1, wherein each flange extends along one of the side rail top surface up to about 15 mm to about 16 mm.

6. The woodwind mouthpiece of claim 1, wherein each flange extends from one of the side rail top surfaces by a flange width.

7. The woodwind mouthpiece of claim 6, wherein the flange width is up to about 4 mm.

8. The woodwind mouthpiece of claim 7, wherein: each flange extends along one of the side rail top surfaces from a point of intersection of the side rail top surface and a tip rail top surface; and the flange width decreases along the flange from the point of intersection.

9. The woodwind mouthpiece of claim 1, wherein: the tip rail comprises a tip rail top surface; and each flange extends out from a portion of the tip rail top surface in a direction opposite the window.

10. The woodwind mouthpiece of claim 9, wherein each flange extends out from a portion of the tip rail top surface having a length up to about 9 mm.

11. The woodwind mouthpiece of claim 9, wherein the flanges are spaced from each other along the tip rail.

12. The woodwind mouthpiece of claim 11, wherein the flanges are spaced from each other by a separation distance up to about 2 mm.

13. The woodwind mouthpiece of claim 9, each flange extends from at least one of the tip rail top surface by a flange width, the flange width constant along the tip rail.

14. The woodwind mouthpiece of claim 13, wherein the flange width is up to about 3 mm.

15. The woodwind mouthpiece of claim 9, wherein: the window is disposed on a bottom of the mouthpiece; and each flange extends from the tip rail top surface away from the bottom at an angle to a plane containing the tip rail top surfaces.

16. The woodwind mouthpiece of claim 1, wherein each flange comprises a flange thickness measured from the tip rail top surface up to about 3 mm.

17. The woodwind mouthpiece of claim 1, wherein each side rail comprises an interior surface running from the side rail top surface to a bottom surface of the tone chamber; the tone chamber comprises a tone chamber width defined by a distance between the interior surfaces of the side rails, the tone chamber width greater at the side rail top surface than at the bottom surface of the tone chamber; and the bottom surface comprises a bottom surface width defined by a distance between the interior surfaces of the side rails at the bottom surface, the bottom surface width varying from the second end of the tone chamber adjacent the tip rail to the first end of the tone chamber adjacent the table.

18. The woodwind mouthpiece of claim 17, wherein the tone chamber width is greater at the side rail top surface than at the bottom surface of the tone chamber along only a portion of an entire length of the tone chamber from the tip rail to the central bore.

19. The woodwind mouthpiece of claim 17, wherein the bottom surface width comprises a first width at the first end of the tone chamber, a second width at the second end of the tone chamber and a third width at a point along the tone chamber between the first end and the second end, the third width less than the first width and the second width, the bottom surface tapering from the first width to the third width and the third width to the first width and the point along the tone chamber disposed closer to the second end.

20. The woodwind mouthpiece of claim 17, wherein: the tone chamber comprises a tapered cross section from side rail to side rail; and the bottom surface comprises a tapered shape from the first end to the second end.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a plan view of a bottom side of an embodiment of a mouthpiece in accordance with the present invention;

(2) FIG. 2 is a view through line 2-2 of FIG. 1 with the bottom side facing downwards;

(3) FIG. 3 is the view of FIG. 2 showing a reed positioned over the tone chamber to define the apertures;

(4) FIG. 4 is a view through line 4-4 of FIG. 1 with a reed positioned over the tone chamber to define the apertures;

(5) FIG. 5 is a partial side view of the mouthpiece showing a flange; and

(6) FIG. 6 is an end view of the mouthpiece from the tip rail end showing the pair of flanges extending along the tip rail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) Referring initially to FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of a woodwind mouthpiece 100 in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. The view of the mouthpiece is from the side of the mouthpiece configured to engage a reed. This side of the mouthpiece is called the bottom of the mouthpiece as this side is positioned pointing downward or on the bottom when the mouthpiece is attached to a saxophone or clarinet. The woodwind mouthpiece includes a tone chamber 102 in communication with a central bore 104 running through the mouthpiece.

(8) The mouthpiece also includes a window 106 exposing the tone chamber 102 disposed within the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece includes a table 108 at a first end of the window and a tip rail 110 at a second end of the window opposite the first end. A pair of side rails 112 extend from the table and run along opposite sides of the window from the table to the tip rail. Each side rail includes a side rail top surface 114. The window 106 is a generally rectangular window, and in one embodiment, the window narrows from the tip rail 110 at the second end of the mouthpiece or window to the table 108 at the second end of the window. The table, which is in contact with the window, is configured to engage a reed and in particular, the heel end of the reed. A ligature (not shown) is placed around the reed and the outer surface 116 of the mouthpiece at the table to secure the reed to the mouthpiece. The window transitions to the table at a table end of the window opposite the first end. Conventionally, this transition between the window and the table is straight, i.e., perpendicular to the central axis, or is effectively straight, having only a slight curvature.

(9) The mouthpiece includes at least one and preferably a pair of flanges 118. Each flange extends out from one of the side rail top surfaces in a direction opposite the window, i.e., from the side of the top rail surface that is adjacent the outer surface of the mouthpiece and opposite the window. In one embodiment, the flanges overlap at least a portion of the side rail top surfaces. Alternatively, the flanges extend completely over the side rail top surfaces. In one embodiment, the flanges extend from and are coplanar with the side rail top surfaces. Preferably, the flanges extend at an angle from a plane containing the side rail top surfaces. The flanges can be formed and molded together with the mouthpiece to form a single, unitary structure. Alternatively, the flanges are separate structures attached to the mouthpiece, for example, using adhesives. In one embodiment, the flanges are releasably attached to the mouthpiece. In one embodiment, the flanges are formed with or attached to the mouthpiece, and the desired angle between the flanges and the plane containing the side rail top surfaces is polished or machined into the flanges.

(10) Each side rail top surface has a side rail length 119 from the table to the tip rail. In one embodiment, the side rail length is about 35 mm to about 42 mm (1.4 inches to 1.6 inches). Each flange extends along one of the side rails from the point of intersection between the side rail and the tip rail. Preferably, each flange extends along only a portion of the side rail length. In one embodiment, each flange extends along one of the side rail top surfaces by a distance 120 that is less than about 25.4 mm (1 inch). Preferably, the distance is up to about 15 mm to about 16 mm (0.59 inches to 0.63 inches).

(11) Each flange extends from one of the side rail top surfaces to a flange width 122. This flange width can be constant along the distance each flange extends along the side rail top surface. Preferably, the flange width varies along the distance each flange extends along the side rail top surface. In one embodiment, the flange width is greatest or thickest at the point of intersection of the side rail and tip rail and decreases along the side rail. In one embodiment, the width decreases to about zero at the distance each flange extends along the side rail top surface. In one embodiment, the flange width 122 is up to about 4 mm (0.16 inches), for example, from about 3 mm (0.12 inches to about 4 mm. In combination with the width of the top surface of the side rail, the overall width of the side rail top surface and flange is up to about 5 mm (0.2 inches).

(12) In one embodiment, each flange is located only along one of the side rails and extends from the portion of intersection between the side rail and tip rail. Preferably, each flange wraps around the point of intersection between the side rail and tip rail and extends out from a portion of the tip rail top surface. Alternatively, the mouthpiece includes one of more separate tip rail flanges, each extending out from a portion of the tip rail top surface. In one embodiment, each flange extends along only a portion of the tip rail. In one embodiment, the portion of the tip rail along which the flange extends has a length 124 up to about 9 mm (0.35 inches). When combined with the width of the flange along the side rail, the portion has an overall length 126 of up to about 12 mm to about 13 mm (0.47 inches to 0.51 inches).

(13) In one embodiment, the flanges do not extend completely across the tip rail either individually or in combination. Therefore, the flanges are spaced from each other along the tip rail. This leaves an exposed portion 128 of the tip rail. In one embodiment, this exposed portion of the tip rail has a size 130 of from about 1 mm to about 2 mm (0.04 inches to 0.08 inches). Therefore, the flanges are spaced from each other by a separation distance of up to about 2 mm (0.08 inches). Leaving the exposed portion of the tip rail provides an alignment edge of the tip of the reed. In one embodiment, the flanges are curved or tapered into the exposed portion. Therefore, a finger or fingernail can be inserted against the tip rail to align the tapered end of the reed with the tip rail. This facilitates proper alignment of the reed over the window. Each flange extends from the tip rail top surface 132 by a flange width 134. In one embodiment, the flange width constant along the tip rail. Alternatively, the flange width varies along the tip rail. In one embodiment, the flange width is up to about 3 mm (0.12 inches).

(14) Each side rail on a side adjacent the window has an interior surface 136 that runs from the side rail top surface to a bottom surface 138 of the tone chamber. The tone chamber width is defined by a distance between the interior surfaces of the side rails. The tone chamber width can be constant or can vary from the side rail top surfaces to the bottom surface and from the table to the tip rail. In one embodiment, the tone chamber width is larger at the side rail top surface than at the bottom surface of the tone chamber. In one embodiment, the tone chamber width is greater at the side rail top surface than at the bottom surface of the tone chamber along only a portion of an entire length of the tone chamber from the tip rail to the central bore.

(15) The bottom surface width is defined by a distance between the interior surfaces of the side rails at the bottom surface. The bottom surface width varies from the second end of the tone chamber adjacent the tip rail to the first end of the tone chamber adjacent the table. In one embodiment, the bottom surface width includes a first width 140 at the first end of the tone chamber, a second width 142 at the second end of the tone chamber and a third width 144 at a point 146 along the tone chamber between the first end and the second end. The bottom surface tapers from the first width to the third width and the third width to the first width. In one embodiment, the second width is larger than the first width. In addition, the third width is less than the first width and the second width. In one embodiment, the first width is up to about 10 mm (0.4 inches), and the second width is up to about 15 mm (0.59 inches). In one embodiment, the third width is from about zero to about 1 mm (0.04 inches). The point along the tone chamber can be any distance between the first and the second end. Preferably, the point along the tone chamber disposed closer to the second end. In one embodiment, the point along the tone chamber is located a distance of from about 11 mm (0.43 inches) to about 12 mm (0.47 inches) from the second end. As the point along the tone chamber is located closer to the second end, and the second width is greater than the first width, the taper or slope from the point along the tone chamber to the second end is greater or larger than from the point along the tone chamber to the first end. These changes in tone chamber width from table to tip rail and top surface to bottom surface yield a tone chamber with a tapered cross section from side rail to side rail and a bottom surface with a tapered shape from the first end to the second end.

(16) Referring now to FIG. 2, the window 106 exposing the tone chamber 102 is positioned or disposed on the bottom 150 of the mouthpiece. The interior surfaces 136 of the tone chamber slope or taper from a side rail top surface width 152 between the side rail top surfaces 114 and a bottom surface width 154 at the bottom surface 138 of the tone chamber. The side rail top surface width is larger than the bottom surface width. In addition, each flange extends from the tip rail top surface away from the bottom at an angle 156 to a plane 158 containing the tip rail top surfaces, i.e., away from the bottom of the mouthpiece. In one embodiment, this angle is up to about 29.8, which is the maximum angle likely to occur in the shock front.

(17) Referring to FIG. 3, a reed 160 is positioned over the window. Without the flanges and the tapered interior surfaces, the shock fronts 162 extend from the bottom surface of the reed to the side rail top surfaces 114. These conventional shock fronts are perpendicular to the direction of air flow into the tone chamber as indicated by arrows A. The sloped surfaces of the flanges 118 and the interior surfaces 136 of the tone chamber provide for migrated shock fronts 164 extending from the bottom surface of the reed along the slope surfaces of the flanges and interior surfaces. These migrated shock fronts are not perpendicular to the direction of air flow.

(18) Referring to FIG. 4, the reed 160 is positioned over the window of the tone chamber 102 on the bottom surface 150 of the mouthpiece and is aligned with the tip rail top surface 132. Without the flanges and the tapered interior surfaces, the shock front 170 extends from the bottom surface of the reed to the tip rail top surface 132. This conventional shock front is also perpendicular to the direction of air flow into the tone chamber across the aperture between the reed and the tip rail as indicated by arrow B. The sloped surfaces of the flanges 118 and the bottom surface 138 of the tone chamber provide for migrated shock fronts 172 extending from the bottom surface of the reed along the slope surfaces of the flanges and bottom surface. These migrated shock fronts are not perpendicular to the direction of air flow.

(19) Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, each flange has a flange thickness 174 measured from the tip rail top surface 132 or side rail top surface 114. The surface 176 of the flange extending away from the tip rail top surface or side rail top surface is within this thickness. In one embodiment, the flange thickness is up to about 3 mm (0.12 inches). The flange thickness can be constant along the side rails and tip rail or can vary. In addition, the flange thickness can be constant along the length 124 of the flange along the tip rail or the flange width 122 extending from the tip rail top surfaces. In one embodiment, the flange thickness decreases near the exposed portion 128 of the tip rail. In addition, the flanged width is decreased to provide a tapered surface 178 on each flange that effectively increases the size 130 of the exposed portion away from the tip rail to facilitate insertion of a finger or fingernail for reed alignment with the tip rail.

(20) The present invention is also directed to methods for making or creating a woodwind mouthpiece that takes advantage of the gap provided at the aperture between the reed and the tone chamber. A tone chamber is formed in the mouthpiece in communication with the central bore. This tone chamber includes a bottom surface and a pair of opposing interior surfaces extending from the bottom surface. A window is formed in the mouthpiece in communication with the tone chamber. This window exposes the tone chamber. In one embodiment, a pair of flanges are formed to run along a portion of the length of each one of the side rails and at least a portion of the tip rail. Each flange has a surface that intersects the side rail top surface and tip rail top surface of the mouthpiece.

(21) While it is apparent that the illustrative embodiments of the invention disclosed herein fulfill the objectives of the present invention, it is appreciated that numerous modifications and other embodiments may be devised by those skilled in the art. Additionally, feature(s) and/or element(s) from any embodiment may be used singly or in combination with other embodiment(s) and steps or elements from methods in accordance with the present invention can be executed or performed in any suitable order. Therefore, it will be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and embodiments, which would come within the spirit and scope of the present invention.