US4187635A — Method and apparatus for sound production

Claim 1

Independent Claim 79 words

An apparatus for producing sound effects comprising: two diaphragms; a resonator affixed to each diaphragm; a helically-coiled spring positioned between and attached to the diaphragms whereby said diaphragms can be moved with respect to each other to induce spring, diaphragm, and resonator vibrations, said spring having a lowest resonance frequency less than 18 hertz; and at least one support member affixed to each resonator whereby each resonator can be supported vibrations without substantially muffling the vibrations of each resonator.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 79 words

An apparatus for producing sound effects comprising: two diaphragms; a resonator affixed to each diaphragm; a helically-coiled spring positioned between and attached to the diaphragms whereby said diaphragms can be moved with respect to each other to induce spring, diaphragm, and resonator vibrations, said spring having a lowest resonance frequency less than 18 hertz; and at least one support member affixed to each resonator whereby each resonator can be supported vibrations without substantially muffling the vibrations of each resonator.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 11 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the support members comprise pins.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 19 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the spring has a spring constant between 0.02 and 25.0 newtons per meter.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 16 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one diaphragm is a semi-rigid, closed-cell polymer foam.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 29 words

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the diameter of the diaphragm is between 1 and 30 centimeters, and the thickness of the diaphragm is between 0.02 and 2 centimeters.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 16 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one resonator is a semi-rigid, closed-cell polymer foam.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 24 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each resonator is frusto-conical in shape so that the walls of each resonator flare away from the diaphragm.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 27 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the resonator has a volume of between 60 milliliters and 2 liters and a depth of between 3 and 30 centimeters.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 19 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the diameter of the spring varies gradually along the length of the spring.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 58 words

An apparatus for producing sound effects, comprising: at least one diaphragm; a resonator affixed to the diaphragm; a spring attached to the diaphragm, said spring having a lowest resonance frequency less than 18 hertz; and at least one support member affixed to the resonator whereby the resonator can be supported without substantially muffling the vibrations of the resonator.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 58 words

An apparatus for producing sound effects, comprising: at least one diaphragm; a resonator affixed to the diaphragm; a spring attached to the diaphragm, said spring having a lowest resonance frequency less than 18 hertz; and at least one support member affixed to the resonator whereby the resonator can be supported without substantially muffling the vibrations of the resonator.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 11 words

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the support members comprise pins.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 97 words

A method for producing sounds on an instrument including at least one diaphragm, a resonator affixed to the diaphragm, a spring attached to the diaphragm so that said diaphragm and said spring can be moved with respect to each other to induce spring and diaphragm vibrations, said spring having a lowest resonance frequency less than 18 hertz, and at least one support member affixed to the resonator, whereby the resonator can be supported without substantially muffling the vibrations of the resonator, comprising: exciting an echophone frequency of the spring by the activating longitudinal motion of the spring.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 97 words

A method for producing sounds on an instrument including at least one diaphragm, a resonator affixed to the diaphragm, a spring attached to the diaphragm so that said diaphragm and said spring can be moved with respect to each other to induce spring and diaphragm vibrations, said spring having a lowest resonance frequency less than 18 hertz, and at least one support member affixed to the resonator, whereby the resonator can be supported without substantially muffling the vibrations of the resonator, comprising: exciting an echophone frequency of the spring by the activating longitudinal motion of the spring.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 103 words

A method for producing sounds on an instrument including at least one diaphragm, a resonator affixed to the diaphragm, a spring attached to the diaphragm so that said diaphragm and said spring can be moved with respect to each other to induce spring and diaphragm vibrations, said spring having a lowest resonance frequency less than 18 hertz, and at least one support member affixed to to the resonator, whereby the resonator can be supported without substantially muffling the vibrations of the resonator, comprising: exciting an echophone frequency of the spring by jerking at least one end of the spring in a longitudinal direction.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 103 words

A method for producing sounds on an instrument including at least one diaphragm, a resonator affixed to the diaphragm, a spring attached to the diaphragm so that said diaphragm and said spring can be moved with respect to each other to induce spring and diaphragm vibrations, said spring having a lowest resonance frequency less than 18 hertz, and at least one support member affixed to to the resonator, whereby the resonator can be supported without substantially muffling the vibrations of the resonator, comprising: exciting an echophone frequency of the spring by jerking at least one end of the spring in a longitudinal direction.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 115 words

A method for producing sounds on an instrument including at least one diaphragm, a resonator affixed to the diaphragm, a spring attached to the diaphragm so that said diaphragm and said spring can be moved with respect to each other to induce spring and diaphragm vibrations, said spring having a lowest resonance frequency less than 18 hertz, and at least one support member affixed to the resonator, whereby the resonator can be supported without substantially muffling the vibrations of the resonator, comprising: exciting an echophone frequency of the spring by longitudinally displacing a section of the spring from a rest position, and allowing the longitudinally displaced section to return to and beyond the rest position.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 115 words

A method for producing sounds on an instrument including at least one diaphragm, a resonator affixed to the diaphragm, a spring attached to the diaphragm so that said diaphragm and said spring can be moved with respect to each other to induce spring and diaphragm vibrations, said spring having a lowest resonance frequency less than 18 hertz, and at least one support member affixed to the resonator, whereby the resonator can be supported without substantially muffling the vibrations of the resonator, comprising: exciting an echophone frequency of the spring by longitudinally displacing a section of the spring from a rest position, and allowing the longitudinally displaced section to return to and beyond the rest position.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 40 words

The method of claims 12, 13 or 14, wherein a first step prior to the exciting step comprises positioning the diaphragm to stretch the spring so that no two adjacent coils of the spring are in contact with each other.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 81 words

A method for producing sounds on an instrument including a spring having a lowest resonance frequency less than 18 hertz and a diaphragm connected to the spring, a resonator affixed to the diaphragm, and at least one support member affixed to the resonator, comprising: positioning the diaphragm to stretch the spring so that no two adjacent coils of the spring are in contact with each other; and moving at least one end of the spring longitudinally to excite an echophone frequency.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 81 words

A method for producing sounds on an instrument including a spring having a lowest resonance frequency less than 18 hertz and a diaphragm connected to the spring, a resonator affixed to the diaphragm, and at least one support member affixed to the resonator, comprising: positioning the diaphragm to stretch the spring so that no two adjacent coils of the spring are in contact with each other; and moving at least one end of the spring longitudinally to excite an echophone frequency.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1983-02-11	1983-08-13	1984-02-12	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1987-02-11	1987-08-13	1988-02-12	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1991-02-11	1991-08-13	1992-02-12	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for sound production

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag