Music – Instruments – Wind
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-02
2001-12-04
Nappi, Robert E. (Department: 2837)
Music
Instruments
Wind
Reexamination Certificate
active
06326532
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improved harmonica and more specifically to a harmonica having means operatively associated with the reeds of the harmonica that converts the mechanical vibration of harmonica reeds into electrical energy.
2. Background Information
Harmonicas are among the world's oldest musical instruments. Harmonicas produce musical tones by a player blowing or drawing air into the harmonica to vibrate one or more of the reeds of the harmonica.
The means of projecting sound to an audience by harmonica is typically performed by direct acoustic means. That is, the air pressure produced by the player blowing or drawing air through the harmonica is transmitted to the audience as an acoustical wave of sound. If amplification means are desired to reinforce this sound, a microphone is typically used in conjunction with the harmonica. The microphone is placed either adjacent to the musician, or cupped in the musician's hands in close proximity with the harmonica. The sound generated by any individual reed of the harmonica is mixed with sound produced by all other active reeds. This therefore limits the isolation of individual sounds, or notes, produced from the discrete reeds.
A problem with conventional means of amplification is the tendency of spurious sounds to enter the microphone, such as the air flow caused by the player's breath, or amplified sound emanating from a nearby speaker, for example, that can produce undesirable feedback noise. In the context of stringed instruments, there have been suggested electronic means for obviating these problems by more directly converting the mechanical movement of the string to an electrical voltage. The voltage, in turn, is transmitted to an amplifier or recording device to produce audible sound. However, no such means have been taught or suggested for similar application to a harmonica.
There have been suggested electronic harmonicas that control electronic sound synthesizing devices. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No.4,984,499. This patent teaches replacement of the reeds in a conventional harmonica with airflow sensors comprised of electrical strain gages on an elastic member. Flexing of the elastic member by the flow and direction of air drawn or blown into the harmonica is stated to cause a detectable change of resistance. This change of resistance is fed into a synthesizer that reproduces a musical note. It will be appreciated that this “harmonica” differs from a traditional harmonica that includes vibrating reeds and therefore does not provide the dynamic expression that is associated with the diatonic harmonica. See also, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,619,175.
What is needed, however, are an apparatus and associated method including a harmonica having conventional reeds that can convert mechanical reed vibrations into electrical signals that can be amplified, mixed and otherwise manipulated. What is also needed is an improved harmonica that is inexpensive to manufacture. In addition, a retrofitting method is needed that can provide a traditional diatonic harmonica with the benefits of electrical conversion of mechanical reed vibrations into electrical signals representative of the mechanical vibrations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The improved harmonica and associated method of the present invention have met and/or exceeded the above-mentioned needs, as well as others. The improved harmonica includes means operatively associated with at least one of the reeds of the harmonica that converts the mechanical vibration of the reed into electrical energy. The present invention can also include a sensor board having sensors thereon that are adapted to be placed adjacent to at least one of a plurality of reeds of a harmonica. The sensor board converts the mechanical vibration of the reed or reeds into an electrical signal or signals that are representative of that reed or reeds. The present invention also provides a method for retrofitting a conventional harmonica with a sensor board to impart the harmonica with the benefits of the improved harmonica of the present invention.
Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved harmonica wherein mechanical vibrations of its reeds are transformed to electrical signals.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a harmonica that incorporates electrical sensors for converting the mechanical motion of its reeds to electrical energy.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that can be applied to a diatonic harmonica to enhance the function of the harmonica.
It is an additional object of this invention is to provide a method for retrofitting an existing acoustic harmonica to provide for the conversion of mechanical reed vibrations into electrical signals.
It is an additional object of this invention to provide an improved harmonica that allows a broader range of effects than can be obtained acoustically or with an external microphone.
These and other objects of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following description of the invention and by reference to the figures and claims appended hereto.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2407312 (1946-09-01), Magnus
patent: 2592220 (1952-04-01), Wetzler
patent: 2595316 (1952-07-01), Wetzler
patent: 3580125 (1971-05-01), Heatwole
patent: 4196650 (1980-04-01), Fricke et al.
patent: 4619175 (1986-10-01), Matsuzaki
patent: 4984499 (1991-01-01), Schille et al.
patent: 5245130 (1993-09-01), Wheaton
patent: 5367937 (1994-11-01), Epping
patent: 5377574 (1995-01-01), Lempe
patent: 4328600 (1992-11-01), None
Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott , LLC
Lockett Kim
Nappi Robert E.
Radack David V.
LandOfFree
Harmonica having reed vibration conversion capability and... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Harmonica having reed vibration conversion capability and..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Harmonica having reed vibration conversion capability and... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2562798