KEY CAP FOR FLUTE

Abstract

The present invention relates to a flute key cap with an auxiliary key piece which allows even children with small hands to facilitate flute performance. In particular, the present invention relates to a flute key cap including: a key cover having a hollow interior with an open bottom corresponding to a shape of a flute key; and an auxiliary key piece formed on an upper surface of the key cover.

Claims

1. A key cap for a flute, comprising: a key cover (210) having a hollow interior with an open bottom corresponding to a shape of a flute key; and an auxiliary key piece (220) formed on an upper surface (211) of the key cover (210).

2. The key cap of claim 1, wherein a center (250-1) of the auxiliary key piece (220) is spaced by a predetermined distance from a center (250-2) of the key cover (210).

3. The key cap of claim 2, wherein the key cover (210) includes: a top surface that contacts a top surface of the flute key; and a circumferential portion (212) that contacts a side surface of the flute key, to cover the flute key.

4. The key cap of claim 3, wherein the circumferential portion (212) has at least one groove formed for preventing interference of keys adjacent to the flute key.

5. The key cap of claim 3, wherein the circumferential portion (212) has at least one groove (230-2) and (230-3) formed for preventing the interference of the body joint (120).

6. The key cap of claim 3, wherein the circumferential portion (212) has at least one groove (230-1) for preventing interference with a connector (280) of the flute key.

7. The key cap of claim 3, wherein the circumferential portion (212) further includes a hook portion (270) protruding inwardly from a lower end of the circumferential portion (212).

8. The key cap of claim 7, wherein: a center (250-1) of the auxiliary key piece (220) is spaced from a center (250-2) of the key cover (210) in a predetermined direction (260); and the hook portion (270) is provided at a lower end of the circumferential portion (212) in an opposite direction (261) to the predetermined direction (260).

9. The key cap of claim 8, wherein, in the circumferential portion (212), the second interference-preventing groove (230-1), the hook portion (270), and the third interference-preventing groove (230-2) are sequentially formed in a clockwise direction from a position where the auxiliary key piece is provided.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a whole body of a general flute.

[0027] FIG. 2 is a cress-sectional view taken along a line A-A for describing an internal structure of a flute key.

[0028] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line B-B for describing an internal structure of a flute key.

[0029] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a key cap 200 for a flute according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] FIG. 5 shows a top view and a bottom view of the key cap 200 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] FIG. 6 shows left and right perspective views of the key cap 200 in an inverted state according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] FIG. 7 shows a side view of the key cap 200 according, to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] FIG. 8 is a view for describing a role of an interference-preventing groove 230-1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] FIG. 9 illustrates state views before and after the key cap 200 is put on third and fourth keys 173 and 174 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] FIG. 10 shows views for describing a relative position of a hook portion 270 which can be easily removed without interference with flute performance according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention

[0036] FIG. 11 illustrates a change in the left-handed fingernail before and after the key cap 200 is covered according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0037] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments disclosed in the present specification be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present specification, the same or similar components will be denoted by the same or similar reference numerals, and a repeated description thereof will be omitted. Terms unit for components used in the following description are used only in order to easily make a specification. Therefore, these terms do not have meanings or roles that distinguish them from each other in themselves. In addition, the accompanying drawings are provided only in order to allow exemplary embodiments disclosed in the present specification to be easily understood and are not to be interpreted as limiting the spirit disclosed in the present specification, and it is to be understood that the present invention includes all modifications, equivalents, and substitutions without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

[0038] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a whole body of a general flute 100.

[0039] In addition, the flute 100 is formed to include a head joint 110 positioned at one end to include a head screw 111 capable of adjusting the volume and a mouthpiece 112 for allowing air to be injected by using the lips, a body joint 120 connected and coupled to the head joint 110 to have a plurality of holes 121 drilled for to adjust the pitch, a foot joint 130 connected and coupled to the body joint 110 such that a key assembly 131 for adjusting tone is coupled thereto, and a flute key 170 for opening and closing the holes 121 of the body joint 120.

[0040] The head screw is rotationally coupled to one end of the head joint 110 for adjusting the volume to form the mouthpiece 112 or injecting air. The head joint 110 is generally formed in a straight-line shape as illustrated FIG. 1, but may be formed by being bent by 180 in the case of a head joint for children.

[0041] The body joint 120 may have the holes 121 drilled for adjusting the pitch.

[0042] The holes 121 of the body joint 120 may protrude a guide 122 to constantly maintain cross-sections of the holes 121, a blocking cork or silicon pad may be attached to a stopper 123 to completely close and seal trill key holes 121.

[0043] The foot joint 130 is connected, and coupled to the body joint 110 and is coupled to the key assembly 131 for adjusting the tone. When used, the foot joint 130 may be connected to the body joint 120.

[0044] In addition, the main key 170 is connected to a connection rod so as to be interlocked with each other, and the connection rod 144 is coupled to a supporting ball 145 to be rotated. In this case, it is resiliently installed by coupling a spring to the connection rod 145.

[0045] In general, the flute key 170 may include first to fourth keys 171 to 174 which are opened and closed by using a left finger. According to left-fingering of the first to fourth keys 171 to 174 for playing the flute, the first key 171 is pressed with a left index finger, and the third key 17 and the fourth key 174 are respectively pressed by a middle finger and a ring finger as shown in FIG. 9(a).

[0046] However, in the case of a child with a short finger length, the distance between the keys is too long to learn the fingering. Thus, unless you buy a flute for children separately, it is difficult for a child to learn the flute. Therefore, in the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, it is proposed to install a key cap for providing auxiliary key pieces in at least one key among the flute keys 170

[0047] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a key cap 200 for a flute according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 shows a top view and a bottom view of the key cap 200 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 shows left and right perspective views of the key cap 200 in an inverted state according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 shows a side view of the key cap 200 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a view for describing a role of an interference-preventing groove 230-1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 illustrates state views before and after the key cap 200 is put on third and fourth keys 173 and 174 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 shows views for describing a relative position of a hook portion 270 which can be easily removed without interference with flute performance according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 illustrates a change in the left-handed fingernail before and after the key cap 200 is covered according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0048] According to illustrated drawings, the flute key cap 200 according to the present exemplary embodiment may include a key cover 210 having a hollow interior with an open bottom corresponding to a shape of the flute key; and an auxiliary key piece 220 formed on an upper surface 211 of the key cover 210.

[0049] Referring to FIG. 5, a center 250-1 of the auxiliary key piece 220 may be spaced by a predetermined distance from a center 250-2 of the key cover 210.

[0050] The key cover 210 may include: a top surface that contacts a top surface of the flute key; and a circumferential portion 212 that contacts a side surface of the flute key, so as to cover the flute key.

[0051] The circumferential portion 212 may have at least one groove formed for preventing the interference of keys adjacent to the flute key.

[0052] The circumferential portion 212 may have at least one groove 230-2 and 230-3 formed for preventing the interference of the body joint 120. Specifically, when a key is pressed in a state in which the flute key cap 200 is fitted in (covered with) the flute key according to the present exemplary embodiment, a part of the key cap circumferential portion 212 may interfere with the body joint 120. Accordingly, in the present exemplary embodiment, as illustrated therein, two grooves 230-2 and 230-3 may be formed. In this case the two grooves 230-2 and 230-3 may be formed opposite to each other with respect to the center 250-2 of the key cover 210 (see FIG. 5(b)).

[0053] As illustrated in FIG. 8, the circumferential portion 212 may have at least one groove 230-1 for preventing the interference with a connector 280 of the flute key.

[0054] The circumferential portion 212 may further include a hook portion 270 protruding inwardly from a lower end of the circumferential portion 212. Generally, in the case of musical instruments, the tone changes sharply even in a small variation. For this reason, the key itself should not be deformed or overloaded in the process of engaging and disengaging the key cap on the key of the flute.

[0055] Therefore, the present exemplary embodiment suggests a structure of a key cap that can be fitted in and removed from a flute key easily without interference in instrument performance.

[0056] As illustrated therein, a center 250-1 of the auxiliary key piece 220 is spaced from the center 250-2 of the key cover 210 by a predetermined distance in a predetermined direction. When playing the flute in a state of being covered by the key cap, a player plays the flute by pressing the auxiliary key piece 220 (pressure in a direction 801 in FIG. 10(a)). In this case, an opposite direction 261 of the auxiliary key piece 220 is raised by the principle of leverage. Therefore, in the present exemplary embodiment, a position of the hook portion 270 is limited in order to suppress this raising phenomenon.

[0057] Specifically, in the present exemplary embodiment, the center 250-1 of the auxiliary key piece 220 is spaced from the center 250-2 of the key cover 210 in a predetermined direction 260, and the hook portion 270 may be provided at a lower end of the circumferential portion 212 in an opposite direction 261 to the predetermined direction 260.

[0058] When the hook portion 270 is provided in a direction that is different from the aforementioned direction, the key itself may be deformed or unstable during the process of fitting and removing the key cap. Moreover, it may not certainly prevent the raising phenomenon when the auxiliary key piece 220 is pressed. Accordingly, as in the present exemplary embodiment, the hook portion 270 may be formed at a position in the opposite direction 261 (about 180 degrees) to the direction 260 from the center 250-2 of the key cover to the center 250-1 of the center 250-1 of the auxiliary key piece 220. As a result, no hook is formed at a position (point or direction) other than the hook portion 270. This is to easily perform the fitting and removing operations without interference in instrument performance.

[0059] As illustrated in FIG. 10, in the hook portion 270 formed in this way, the key cap 200 may not be removed or raised even though a pressure is applied in a direction 801. When the auxiliary key piece 220 is held and pushed in an upward direction 802 as illustrated in FIG. 10(b), the key cap 200 may be easily removed without damaging or straining the flute key.

[0060] Referring to FIG. 6, in the circumferential portion 212, the first interference-preventing groove 230-3, the second interference-preventing groove 230-1, the hook portion 270, and the third interference-preventing groove 230-2 may be sequentially formed at a position where the auxiliary key piece is provided, based on a clockwise direction. Grooves thus formed may prevent any interference caused by the key cap 200 when a player plays the flute.

[0061] The above detailed description is not to be interpreted as being restrictive, but to be considered as being illustrative. The scope of the present invention is to be determined by a reasonable interpretation of the claims, and all alternatives within equivalents of the present invention fall within the scope of the present invention.