Pad, pad holder and fastener for woodwind musical instruments
US6344604B1 · kind B1 · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 30, 2000 |
| Grant date | Feb 5, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 30, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG10D9/047
- WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A pad for closure of a musical wind instrument tonehole. The pad consists of a cushion that is contained within a rigid holder that has a recess with a lip (lips) or angular, constricting lateral side (sides) to secure the cushion within the holder. A notch is provided in the cushion's rigid holder that allows a tool to be inserted in order to pry out the cushion from the cushion holder so that shims may be easily installed and adjusted to obtain a precise seal between the pad surface and the tonehole rim. The shimming procedure can be performed without having to remove the cup/key and the pad from the wind instrument. An improved way of shimming pads, such as flute pads, by providing a pad fastening device which does not require removal of the pad closing mechanism from the instrument body. This is achieved by replacing the usual pad retining screw with a magnet that can easily be removed and replaced with a tweezers. The tone or acoustical properties of various pad materials and their manner of construction is of considerable importance. Reducing the detrimental sound absorbing qualities of pads by adhering a slick sealing surface directly to the underlying cushion further enhanc…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.