Music – Instruments – Rigid vibrators
Patent
1997-04-24
2000-06-06
Nappi, Robert E.
Music
Instruments
Rigid vibrators
84403, 84408, 84410, G10D 1302
Patent
active
060721111
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a device for producing at least one sound by means of at least one sounding plate which has vibrationally neutral surfaces.
So-called plate bells are known in which one or more rectangular metal plates are suspended vertically by cords in a frame and are caused to give off sounds by drumsticks or mallets. The holes to receive the cords are located at vibrationally neutral points on the diagonals of the sounding plates (generally at a distance of one-fifth the diagonal from the two upper corners). The sounding plate is suspended in such a manner that its wide side is horizontal.
A sounding plate which is suspended at these points produces, when struck, longitudinal, transverse, and diagonal vibrations, i.e. different frequencies corresponding to the different side ratios are produced, they, however, having a high proportion of noise.
Since sounding plates of the previously known type are suspended vertically, playing on them is cumbersome and fatiguing. Furthermore, a continuous pendulum movement after striking prevents rapid repetitions of the sound, which makes further striking of sounds impossible. Since these sounding plates are very loud even without additional resonators as a result of their relatively large radiation surface, they form the basis for a new type of sounding plate which can be used both in the bass and in the treble regions.
The object of the present invention is to create a device of the above-indicated type which also has the advantages (loud sound without resonator, large tone range) but which, furthermore, can produce an extremely pure tone and can be played in both horizontal and vertical position.
In order to achieve this object, the sounding plate is attached to a holder at least in the region of a vibrationally neutral surface.
By means of the holder, the sounding plate is held relatively rigidly, in particular in horizontal or inclined position, so that playing of the sounding plate can be effected better and faster. During the playing, the musician can move freely around the room and use his steps in this connection as meter, which is very important in the early musical education of children. A large number of tuned sounding plates can be combined with each other in any desired arrangement, for instance so as to form a chromatic instrument with piano arrangement.
The holder preferably consists of a foam material, at least at the place of connection with the sounding plate. For this, there is particularly suitable a plastic foam or, for instance, also a sponge rubber. The foam should, in this connection, have at least a stiffness which, on the one hand, does not interfere with the vibration of the sounding plate but at least holds the sounding plate in a desired position. For the sake of simplicity, the foam rubber has a pocket or a slot into which the sounding plate is inserted. The sounding plate can be glued or otherwise held fast therein.
In order better to delimit vibrationally neutral surfaces from vibrating surfaces, the sounding plate should have indentations and particularly slits. In individual cases, one slit may be sufficient. Preferably, however, there are two slits, a tongue being formed between the two slits and the holder being fastened to that tongue. In this way there is a clear demarcation between active and passive vibrational surfaces, which leads to a lengthening of the dying-out time. At the same time, the sounding plate is thereby precisely tuned.
For the tuning of the sounding plate, grooves of any desired geometrical arrangement or troughs can be developed on its surface. There is no limit here in the inventive concept.
In a preferred embodiment, the sounding plate is approximately square. A square sounding plate which is struck at the center and is held in the center of any side thereof forms vibrationally neutral surfaces (passive surfaces) at the centers of the four sides, which surfaces are suitable for attachment to a holder. The very pure sound produced with a sounding plate held in this manner sounds like the so-
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patent: 3633453 (1972-01-01), Musser
patent: 4619178 (1986-10-01), Kodoh
patent: 4718964 (1988-01-01), Sawada et al.
patent: 5207769 (1993-05-01), Malta
patent: 5602354 (1997-02-01), Martin
Lockett Kim
Nappi Robert E.
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