Music – Instruments – Wind
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-19
2001-09-18
Hsieh, Shih-Yung (Department: 2837)
Music
Instruments
Wind
C084S378000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06291751
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an improved harmonica enclosure which enhances the tone and increases the loudness of the sound produced by the harmonica, and whose ergonomic shape improves the control of the sound by the player's hands.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Existing harmonica covers protect the delicate reeds of the harmonica from damage and dirt and keep the player's lips from touching the reeds and reed slots of the harmonica while in use, and also serve a decorative function. Existing harmonica covers are not optimized for ergonomic or acoustic effects.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
I provide a harmonica enclosure comprising a wall in surrounding relationship to the harmonica. I further provide a first or mouthpiece opening in the enclosure in juxtaposition to the harmonica mouthpiece, and a second or outlet opening in the enclosure remote from the first opening and in communication with the reed slots of the harmonica. I position the wall of the enclosure at a varying distance from the reeds along the breadth of the harmonica. Additionally, I form the outlet opening of varying size along its breadth, being larger at one end than at the other.
I prefer to provide a lip groove in the wall of the enclosure adjacent to the mouthpiece opening of the enclosure and the mouthpiece of the harmonica. I prefer to provide a bulge of greater height and width than the mouthpiece opening, a cradle adjacent to the bulge of lesser height and width than the bulge, and a diffuser adjacent to the cradle of greater height and width than the cradle. The bulge, cradle and diffuser all smoothly curve around each end of the harmonica. The bulge, cradle and diffuser provide a saddle shape to the outer surface of the wall of the enclosure.
I prefer to provide that the enclosure forms at least one resonance chamber between the inner surface of the wall of the enclosure and the harmonica positioned within the enclosure. The inner surface of the wall at the bulge, cradle and diffuser provide room for the resonance chambers. I prefer to provide an outlet opening of lesser height and width than the adjacent diffuser.
I prefer to provide that the enclosure can be formed in one enclosure piece which can be slid or slipped onto the harmonica or off the harmonica. I also prefer to provide that the enclosure can be formed in at least two enclosure pieces which join together by means of snaps and sockets or other joining means to form the enclosure around the harmonica.
I further provide that the enclosure can be used with a harmonica comprising a comb and reed plates but without existing cover plates. Alternatively, I provide that the enclosure, with conforming dimensions of the inner surface of the wall and support members, can be used with a harmonica which includes existing cover plates.
The enclosure permits the mouthpiece of the harmonica to protrude from the mouthpiece opening of the enclosure so that the player's hand or hands can hold the harmonica by holding the enclosure and the player's mouth can contact the mouthpiece of the harmonica and the adjacent portion of the enclosure. The lip groove permits contact of the player's lips with the mouthpiece and lip groove of the enclosure. The front-to-back concavity of the outer surface of the wall helps to position the fingers of the player's hands on the enclosure relative to the mouthpiece of the harmonica and the convexity of the outer surface of the wall around the bass end of the harmonica provides a shape proportioned to fit comfortably between the player's finger and thumb. The harmonica enclosure is ergonomically shaped to facilitate easy gripping by one hand of the player thereby reducing or delaying the fatigue resulting from playing the harmonica.
The harmonica enclosure facilitates the player's use of the harmonica playing technique known as “cupping” in several ways: the enclosure supports the fingers and palms of the player's hands in good cupping position; the bulge, cradle and diffuser form a substantially airtight seal with the player's gripping hand; the outlet opening forms a substantially airtight seal with the player's other hand; the enclosure forms portions of the cup shape which otherwise would have to be formed by the player's hands or supplies portions of the cup shape which cannot be supplied by the player's hands; and the player can easily modify the cup shape to provide a greater range of expression and a more controlled modulation of tone while maintaining the airtight seal.
The assymmetric shape of the enclosure provides visual and tactile indications differentiating the bass end from the treble end of the harmonica that help prevent the player from inadvertently playing the harmonica with the positions of the bass end and treble end reversed.
The enlarged, bell-shaped portion of the resonance chamber provided by the diffuser amplifies the sound produced by the harmonica and improves acoustic impedance matching. The constricted outlet opening shapes the sound and provides acoustic back pressure.
The enclosure formed of one enclosure piece can be slid or slipped on or off the harmonica for easy disassembly and reassembly, such as when cleaning or maintaining the harmonica. The enclosure formed of two or more enclosure pieces also can be easily disassembled and reassembled.
REFERENCES:
patent: 712380 (1902-10-01), Hohner
patent: 752295 (1904-02-01), Messner
patent: 2407312 (1946-09-01), Magnus
patent: 5182413 (1993-01-01), Epping
patent: 727957 (1955-04-01), None
Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott , LLC
Hsieh Shih-yung
Pastel Clifford A.
Radack David V.
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