Patent · US Expired

Ligature for woodwind instruments

US5648623A · kind A · utility

14Cited by
7References
18Claims
0Family size

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 13, 1995
Grant dateJul 15, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 13, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG10D7/06
  • WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A ligature for affixing a reed to the mouthpiece of a woodwind instrument, primarily saxophones and clarinets. A spiral of non-stretching cord, with a mechanism for defining the spiral's shape and for providing a way of tightening it, extends around the reed and the mouthpiece. The mechanism is suspended and tightened by a vertical bridge and an integral puller assembly. The spiral cord passes through holes in the puller. The puller is raised by way of a tightening nut through a non-resonant bridge all of which tightens the spiral cord to firmly hold the reed to the mouthpiece. The bridge bears down against the mouthpiece which applies force to the bridge's contact points. The tension of each wrap of the spiral is equalized by the forces upon the bridge and the puller's design. The spiral cord is damped from extraneous vibration by use of spacing combs and by way of this self equalizing design.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.