Mouthpiece for wind musical instruments

Application filed November

This invention belongs in the general class of musical instruments, and in that particular group technically designated as “brass” wind instruments: which includes trumpets, δ cornets, tubas, trombones, and all others in which notes are produced by lip vibration as distinguished from those which produce sounds by reed vibrations, or direct vibrations of air columns having no mouthpiece, ¹⁰ tonal production, e. g., flutes, fifes and the like.

The objects of the invention are to provide a mouthpiece for the class of instruments specified, which, fundamentally, distribute ¹⁵ the total lip pressure, thereby reducing the unit pressures between the activating human lip and the metal mouthpiece, which will provide an annulus around themouthpiece against which the inactive portion of the human lip ²⁰ may rest and steady itself. From these conditions proceed important improvements and results, to-wit, reduction or elimination of the so-called “lip paralysis” of performers on brass wind instruments; the enabling of ° playing of wind instruments by persons having no front teeth, the prevention of tooth injuiy, and other beneficial effects which will be made manifest as this description proceeds.

³⁰ In playing brass wind instruments the human lips vibrate thereby setting in vibration the air column in the instrument. Fundamental variations in the pitch of notes are produced by variation in the vibration ⁵ of the outer, mid-zone of the player’s lips, the upper lip being the principal and the important element in effecting tonal changes. As is well known in physics, the time period of vibration of any member, substance, or ^υ cord, increases with the tension to which it may be subjected. In accordance with this general law, the higher notes, corresponding to more rapid vibrations, are produced by _4g increasing the pressure on the lips. Where⁰ from, follows the practice of pressing the lip forcibly against the mouthpieces of brass instruments when. higher notes are to be played.. In every.branch of musical note production the ability to produce a clear sus^υ tained note of high pitch is regarded as the

18, 1929. Serial No. 408,107.

most desirable quality for any performer and one which is the mark of a superior technique and musical attainment, and so it is also in playing brass wind instruments. For these reasons, performers on brass wind in- 55 struments, and especially those of a higher general range or pitch, e. g., the cornet, learn early to press hard with the lips against the border of the mouthpiece and this pressure of a comparatively narrow metal annulus 60 against the outer mid-zone of the lip, combined with the rapid vibration of the small free end of the lip, causes a lip paralysis which frequently terminates the ability of the performer to produce music and’ the 65 necessity of turning to some other vocation. Furthermore, this paralysis often comes early in the career of wind brass instrument players so that it is particularly harsh in its results on the life and fortunes of those 70 musicians who have adopted this class of instruments for their usual performances.

A second important condition is that of the essential requirement of front teeth, for any performer on this group of brass wind 75 instruments. The lips are clamped between the metal annulus and the teeth. Obviously, clamping the upper part of the upper lip between the annulus and the teeth leaves the lower end of the lip free to vibrate, and 80 it is this condition which produces the initial vibration of the air column in the instrument. The rapidity of lip vibration, combined with severe pressure of the exterior member, or mouthpiece, makes the use of 85 any form of removable false teeth impossible as a backing, or pressure member, cooperating with the annulus to compress the lips. . False teeth are jarred or pushed from position, and performers who lose front ⁹⁰teeth can no longer play brass wind instruments. Furthermore, the combined pressure and vibratory action to which the teeth are subjected in playing these instruments, tend to cause serious tooth diseases and cor- ⁹⁵responding losses even in early years.

Obviously, other troubles are engendered by the foregoing conditions which it is needless here to catalogue, and it is towards the elimination of these various difficulties, dis- ^10f

1,852,749 the increased area of contact, the unit pressure of lip against metal can never be very great. Hence, there can be no forcing the narrow mouthpiece rim against the lips to the detriment of both lips and teeth before mentioned, but the pressure, being distributed over two concentric rounded rings forming a wide flange, can be nowhere very great or injurious.

Therefore, the extension of the area of pres- 75 sure prevents the several ills before mentioned which arise from the severe, cutting effects of a narrow, single annulus and its small area. Further, by reason of the greater area of the mouthpiece end, persons without front 80 teeth can play wind brass instruments just as prior to removal of their teeth. The wider mouthpiece presses the lips against the gums thereby holding the lips in compression so that they can vibrate similarly to the action 85 when the lips are pressed between mouthpiece and the teeth. Also, the pressure on any single tooth is less than in the case of the narrow, single annulus and its much smaller area. Hence, it is obvious that the double 00 ring mouthpiece, having the far greater area, saves the lips and the teeth and enables performers who have lost their front teeth to continue to play brass band instruments'

A modification of this structure is shown 05 in Fig. 4, whereby the outer annulus is adjustable relative to the inner one by threading the exterior of the mouthpiece, which is made cylindrical over a short distance, 14, just under the annulus 11 to receive the threads. ¹⁰⁰The outer annulus is made as a separate member and bored and threaded to fit the threaded cylindrical portion of the exterior of the mouthpiece. The outer edge of the inner annulus 11 is also made cylindrical, at 17, N5 the outer member being dimensioned to fit around the short cylindrical lengths 14 and 17 of the mouthpiece exterior.

Obviously, by turning the outer member 12 around mouthpiece exterior 11, member 12 ¹¹⁰is caused to move axially along mouthpiece 11 over a narrow range so that the relative projection of the two annuli may be slightly varied to suit the personal preferences of the player. ^1,9

The dotted outline indicates the changed position of the exterior annulus when screwed upward as far as the parts permit.

A second modification is shown in Fig. 5.

In this form the upper surface is curved in ^ϊ2(ιelevation, when viewed from one direction, so that the mouthpiece tends to follow the contour of the mouth, somewhat like the mouthpiece of a trumpet, as shown.

Having described my invention, in connec- ¹tion with illustrative embodiments, forms and arrangements of parts, it will be understood that many variants thereof are possible to those skilled in the art, and my invention, in its broader aspects, is not limited to the pareases and conditions that this invention is directed and the mouthpiece of this invention corrects these evils and also permits a far better lip disposition or “embouchure.” _β With the foregoing, and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel and useful formation, construction, interrelation and combination of parts, members and features, as well as mode and methods of use ₁₀ thereof, and steps and performances taken and had, all as hereinafter described, shown in the drawings and finally pointed out m claims.

In the drawings: . .

Fig. 1 is an elevation of an. improved mouthpiece made in accordance with this invention and showing a fragmentary portion of the entrant end of an instrument into which the mouthpiece tube is fitted;

Fig. 2 is a plan of same.;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of same, omitting the fragment of the horn;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of a modification of the same; and

Fig. 5 is an elevation of a modification of Fig. 1.

In the figures, A represents the entire device, B is the entrant end of any kind of horn or brass instrument, the end 10 of the con30 necting tube forming part of the mouthpiece, and cooperating end of B, being ground, or otherwise formed, to fit together, making an ordinary taper, slip-joint as is customary in all musical instruments of this 35 type, the tube end 10 fitting into entrant end of the instrument, B.

The standard form of mouthpiece is indicated by that portion of each figure which terminates at the upper end in the rounded an40 nulus 11. This invention contemplates, the provision of two annuli, each with its projecting rounded portion in substitution for the standard mouthpiece, thereby producing an inner annulus 11 and an outer annulus 12, 45 both whereof are somewhat raised. The outer annulus 12 extends, radially, a comparatively large distance outward from the edge of the orifice, thereby presenting a relatively wide flanged member encircling the mouth50 piece opening with an inner raised annulus around and adjacent the. opening, and a second raised annulus outside of and adjacent the said first named annulus, as shown by the figures.

Obviously, this construction permits the lips to contact with both of the annuli so that they are pressed against the inner ring of the orifice tightly enough to make a high note, while the rest of the lip is pressed ⁶⁰ against the outer annulus so that the total area over which the pressure is distributed is much greater than that of the narrow inner annulus, which thereby prevents the pressure from being concentrated around the single ⁶³ annulus and cutting into the lips. Due to

1,852,749 ticular construction or application herein shown and described, as changes in the size, proportions, . configurations, arrangements, assemblage, interaction, juxtaposition and j mechanical relations, as well as additions, omissions, substitutions, combinations and alterations of forms, parts, members, features and in the kind and order of operations and successive steps may be made without depart10 i^Rg from the broad spirit of this invention.