Sound-producing reed for wind instruments

Details Sound-producing reed for wind instruments Sound-producing reed for wind instruments

1994-11-04

1996-08-06

Spyrou, Cassandra C.

Music

Instruments

Wind

G10D 902

Patent

active

055423310

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to a sound-producing reed for wind instruments made from fiber-reinforced plastic.
Numerous wind instruments are provided with a sound-producing reed, e.g., saxophones and clarinets among others. These instruments have a mouthpiece to which the reed is fastened in a suitable manner, e.g., by means of a reed clamp. There are also instruments having double-reeds, e.g., oboes and bassoons.
Generally, cane wood is used to manufacture such sound-producing reeds. The disadvantage to wooden reeds lies in their very limited durability and very costly manufacture. Moreover, every wooden reed must be broken in: every time the wooden reed is attached to the mouthpiece of the instrument--that is, not only when an unused, new reed is used for the first time--a break-in period of roughly one half hour is required. During this period, the playing properties of the wooden reed change as a result of taking on moisture. Also, this natural material is very sensitive. In particular, tears frequently occur in the region of the tip of the reed rendering the reed unusable.
It is also known to manufacture sound-producing reeds from plastic. However, the sound produced by these reeds falls far short of the quality which can be achieved by wooden reeds. Moreover, it is necessary at least to accustom oneself to the surface structure or texture and many players reject such reeds for this reason.
Finally, it was attempted to produce sound-producing reeds from fiber composites or fiber-reinforced plastic. However, the sound quality which could be achieved by reeds of this type was still such that many players of wind instruments were compelled to use wooden reeds in spite of the disadvantages mentioned above.
The object of the present invention is to provide a sound-producing reed for wind instruments from fiber-reinforced plastic which has substantially improved sound qualities, playing characteristics which very closely approximate those of wooden reeds, and a surface texture which is very pleasant to the user.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This object is met in a sound-producing reed by novel means according to the present invention. In order to achieve very good sound quality in a sound-producing reed whose durability is at the same time considerably improved over conventional plastic reeds and wooden reeds, the basic material of the plastic or plastics matrix has at least one layer having strands of fibers which extend in the longitudinal direction so as to be parallel to one another in one direction, some of which fiber strands have material characteristics differing from the other fiber strands for the purpose of damping vibrations in the reed.
In a preferred embodiment example of a reed, some of the unidirectional fiber strands comprise hollow fibers. The latter have proven particularly successful in influencing the sound characteristics of the sound-producing reed. Moreover, a reed blank containing hollow fibers is very amenable to further processing.
In another preferred embodiment example of the sound-producing reed, the layer of unidirectional fiber strands is constructed as a carbon-fiber woven fabric. A layer of this kind is relatively easy to produce. Moreover, a reed constructed in this manner is characterized by particularly good sound qualities.
In another preferred embodiment example of the sound-producing reed, there is provided, in addition to a carrier layer whose fibers preferably extend at right angles relative to one another, at least one supporting layer having fibers which preferably extend at right angles relative to one another and are arranged so as to be offset to the fibers of the carrier layer. Due to this construction, the reed has a high degree of stability and, as a result, uniform sound characteristics. Further, wear occurring with use is kept very low. Tearing particularly in the region of the front edge of the reed--the tip of the reed--is prevented due to the offset arrangement of the fibers of the supporting layer and carrier layer.
In a parti

REFERENCES:
patent: 3420132 (1969-01-01), Backus
patent: 4355560 (1982-10-01), Shaffer

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