Music – Instruments – Rigid vibrators
Utility Patent
1999-09-14
2001-01-02
Nappi, Robert E. (Department: 2837)
Music
Instruments
Rigid vibrators
C084S403000, C084S404000, C084S102000
Utility Patent
active
06169237
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to musical instruments and more particularly, a scratch board instrument which yields a “bluegrass” musical effect when played with the implement of this invention to the beat of music.
Musical instruments having a playing surface made of rigid metal similar to a washboard are sometimes used in bluegrass music. Normally a utensil, like a spoon or knife, is rubbed against the ridges of the playing surface to the beat of music. Unfortunately, playing such musical instruments with utensils yields an inconsistent musical effect. Thus, there is a need for a scratch board musical instrument with a playing implement or striker that provides a consistent musical accompaniment.
The prior art includes washboard-like musical instruments, but none like the present invention with a novel playing implement. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. Des 326,470 issued to Broussard on May 26, 1992, discloses a musical type instrument with wavy ridges, but the ridges do not have ripples and there is no playing implement or striker provided. U.S. Pat. No. Des 384,186 issued to Teaman on Sep. 30, 1997 shows a button fastener which could be used as a striker with a washboard-type instrument, but it is different from the present invention. U.S. Pat. No. Des. 254,230 issued to Sanger on Feb. 19, 1980 discloses a design for a washboard with wavy lines and ridges, but does not include a striker. U.S. Pat. No. Des. 259,993 issued to Kunze on Jul. 28, 1981, shows yet another washboard. U.S. Pat. No. Des. 325,295 issued to Shepard on Apr. 14, 1992 discloses a design for another button remover, but is different from the playing implement of the present invention. U.S. Pat. No. 1,433,431 issued to Thomas on Oct. 24, 1922 shows yet another washboard. U.S. Pat. No. Des. 237,448 issued to Sunday on Nov. 4, 1975 and U.S. Pat. No. 1,987,232 issued to Gilbert on Jan. 8, 1935, disclose other washboards.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A major object of the present invention is to provide a scratch board musical instrument with a playing implement or striker that can be used therewith.
An ancillary object of the present invention to provide such a musical instrument and playing implement that would yield a consistent musical effect.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a musical instrument which can be hand held and does not require a strap to hold around the neck of a musician.
A further object of the present invention is to provide such a scratch board-type musical instrument and playing implement that is easy to learn and use.
The present invention fulfills the above and other objects by providing a scratch board musical instrument and playing implement that produces a “bluegrass” musical effect when the playing instrument is scratched against the playing surface of the instrument. The playing surface of the instrument has a playing surface with a plurality of ridges and valleys. The ridges have a plurality of ripples alone the crest of each ridge. The playing surface is surrounded by a border which holds the playing surface firmly in place. A handle on one side of the border allows the musical instrument to be held by hand. The playing implement has a handle with a rod extending from one end which has a tip at a distal end for scratching against the musical instrument. The tip is bent to form a curved portion which can be used to run across the ridges of the musical instrument. The tip on the distal end of the playing surface may also be curved. Although the horizontal rippled ridges and valleys on the playing surface of the musical instrument may follow any pattern, they would preferably be alternating.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention should become even more readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described illustrative embodiments of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 237448 (1975-11-01), Sunday
patent: D. 254230 (1980-02-01), Sanger
patent: D. 259993 (1981-07-01), Kunze
patent: D. 325295 (1992-04-01), Shepard
patent: D. 326470 (1992-05-01), Broussard
patent: D. 384186 (1997-09-01), Teaman
patent: 1433431 (1922-10-01), Thomas
patent: 1965996 (1934-07-01), Wilder
patent: 3890812 (1975-06-01), Sunday
patent: 5529526 (1996-06-01), Wesley
Hsieh Shih-yung
Livingston, Esq. Edward M.
Nappi Robert E.
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