Musical instrument with cam controlling reed vibration

Claim 1

In a musical instrument including a plurality of individually tuned vibratory members of substantially equal length, said members being secured at one end and free at the other and extending in parallel relationship, a pivotally mounted elongated member associated with each vibratory member, a plucking device pivotally mounted on one end of each of said elongated members, each plucking device comprising a plucking plate and a cam follower mounted at opposite ends of said plucking device and on opposite sides of the pivot thereof, said plucking plate being so positioned that when said plucking device is positioned on its pivot parallel to said elongated member, said plucking plate will engage the associated vibratory member adjacent its free end when the elongated member is moved about its pivot, a U-shaped cam member fixedly mounted adjacent said cam follower with the cam follower received between the legs of said U-shaped memBer and with one of the legs of said U-shaped member so positioned as to engage said cam follower at substantially the time when said plucking plate engages said vibratory member, so that upon further movement of said elongated member about its pivot the plucking member will pivot about the point of engagement of the cam and follower and the plucking plate will be moved out of engagement with the vibratory member, the other leg of said Ushaped member being so positioned that, on return of said elongated member, said other leg will engage the cam follower after the plucking plate has returned past the end of the vibratory member and will restore the plucking member to a position parallel to the elongated member; stop means for arresting the pivotal movement of said elongated member in a position in which said cam follower engages said other leg of the U-shaped member, and resilient means normally holding said elongated member against said stop means.