Patent US4237766A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US4237766A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Harmonica

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1979-04-16
•
Granted: 1980-12-09
•
Expires: 1999-04-16
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract An harmonica having a conventional body shaped so as to form a series of adjacent cavities and a plurality of reeds each of which is responsive to the passage of air to produce an audible musical note of a certain fixed pitch. Two reeds are associated with each cavity such that one reed is responsive to blowing into the cavity to produce a blownote and the other is responsive to drawing on such cavity to produce a drawnote. In one embodiment, the reeds are constructed and arranged such that the blownotes include the first, fourth and sixth notes of the major scale of a keynote and all the drawnotes are notes of the major scale of that keynote. Harmonicas utilizing modal scales are also provided.

Inventors

  • 👤 Michael A. Marshall

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 14:47
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10D; G10D7/00; G10D7/12; G10D7/14

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim 114 words
A harmonica comprising a body shaped so as to form a series of adjacent cavities and further comprising a plurality of reeds each of which is responsive to the passage of air to produce an audible musical note of a certain pitch, two reeds being associated with each cavity such that one reed is responsive to blowing into such cavity to produce a blownote and the other is responsive to drawing on such cavity to produce a drawnote, the reeds being constructed and arranged such that the blownotes include the first, fourth and sixth notes of the major scale of a keynote, and all drawnotes are notes of the major scale of the keynote.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 114 words
A harmonica comprising a body shaped so as to form a series of adjacent cavities and further comprising a plurality of reeds each of which is responsive to the passage of air to produce an audible musical note of a certain pitch, two reeds being associated with each cavity such that one reed is responsive to blowing into such cavity to produce a blownote and the other is responsive to drawing on such cavity to produce a drawnote, the reeds being constructed and arranged such that the blownotes include the first, fourth and sixth notes of the major scale of a keynote, and all drawnotes are notes of the major scale of the keynote.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 23 words
The harmonica of claim 1, wherein the blownotes include only the first, fourth and sixth notes of the major scale of the keynote.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 24 words
The harmonica of claim 1, wherein the drawnotes include the first, second, third, fifth and seventh notes of the major scale of the keynote.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 56 words
The harmonica of claim 1, wherein the body comprises ten cavities, wherein the sequence of drawnotes associated with sequentially adjacent cavities is five-one-three-five-seven-two-three-five-seven-two, wherein the sequence of blownotes associated with such cavities is four-six-one-four-six-one-four-six-one-four respectively, wherein the numbers one through seven refer to the first through seventh notes respectively of the major scale of the keynote.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 114 words
A harmonica comprising a body shaped so as to form a series of adjacent cavities and further comprising a plurality of reeds each of which is responsive to the passage of air to produce an audible musical note of a certain pitch, two reeds being associated with each cavity such that one reed is responsive to blowing into such cavity to produce a blownote and the other is responsive to drawing on such cavity to produce a drawnote, the reeds being constructed and arranged such that the blownotes include the first, fourth and sixth notes of the Dorian scale of a keynote, and all drawnotes are notes of the Dorian scale of the keynote.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 114 words
A harmonica comprising a body shaped so as to form a series of adjacent cavities and further comprising a plurality of reeds each of which is responsive to the passage of air to produce an audible musical note of a certain pitch, two reeds being associated with each cavity such that one reed is responsive to blowing into such cavity to produce a blownote and the other is responsive to drawing on such cavity to produce a drawnote, the reeds being constructed and arranged such that the blownotes include the first, fourth and sixth notes of the Dorian scale of a keynote, and all drawnotes are notes of the Dorian scale of the keynote.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 23 words
The harmonica of claim 5, wherein the blownotes include only the first, fourth and sixth notes of the Dorian scale of the keynote.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 24 words
The harmonica of claim 5, wherein the drawnotes include the first, second, third, fifth and seventh notes of the Dorian scale of the keynote.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 56 words
The harmonica of claim 5, wherein the body comprises ten cavities, wherein the sequence of drawnotes associated with sequentially adjacent cavities is five-one-three-five-seven-two-three-five-seven-two, wherein the sequence of blownotes associated with such cavities is four-six-one-four-six-one-four-six-one-four respectively, wherein the numbers one through seven refer to the first through seventh notes respectively of the Dorian scale of the keynote.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 114 words
A harmonica comprising a body shaped so as to form a series of adjacent cavities and further comprising a plurality of reeds each of which is responsive to the passage of air to produce an audible musical note of a certain pitch, two reeds being associated with each cavity such that one reed is responsive to blowing into such cavity to produce a blownote and the other is responsive to drawing on such cavity to produce a drawnote, the reeds being constructed and arranged such that the blownotes include the first, fourth and sixth notes of the Phrygian scale of a keynote, and all drawnotes are notes of the Phrygian scale of the keynote.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 114 words
A harmonica comprising a body shaped so as to form a series of adjacent cavities and further comprising a plurality of reeds each of which is responsive to the passage of air to produce an audible musical note of a certain pitch, two reeds being associated with each cavity such that one reed is responsive to blowing into such cavity to produce a blownote and the other is responsive to drawing on such cavity to produce a drawnote, the reeds being constructed and arranged such that the blownotes include the first, fourth and sixth notes of the Phrygian scale of a keynote, and all drawnotes are notes of the Phrygian scale of the keynote.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 23 words
The harmonica of claim 9, wherein the blownotes include only the first, fourth and sixth notes of the Phrygian scale of the keynote.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 24 words
The harmonica of claim 9, wherein the drawnotes include the first, second, third, fifth and seventh notes of the Phrygian scale of the keynote.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 56 words
The harmonica of claim 9, wherein the body comprises ten cavities, wherein the sequence of drawnotes associated with sequentially adjacent cavities is five-one-three-five-seven-two-three-five-seven-two, wherein the sequence of blownotes associated with such cavities is four-six-one-four-six-one-four-six-one-four respectively, wherein the numbers one through seven refer to the first through seventh notes respectively of the Phrygian scale of the keynote.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 114 words
A harmonica comprising a body shaped so as to form a series of adjacent cavities and further comprising a plurality of reeds each of which is responsive to the passage of air to produce an audible musical note of a certain pitch, two reeds being associated with each cavity such that one reed is responsive to blowing into such cavity to produce a blownote and the other is responsive to drawing on such cavity to produce a drawnote, the reeds being constructed and arranged such that the blownotes include the first, fourth and sixth notes of the Lydian scale of a keynote, and all drawnotes are notes of the Lydian scale of the keynote.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 114 words
A harmonica comprising a body shaped so as to form a series of adjacent cavities and further comprising a plurality of reeds each of which is responsive to the passage of air to produce an audible musical note of a certain pitch, two reeds being associated with each cavity such that one reed is responsive to blowing into such cavity to produce a blownote and the other is responsive to drawing on such cavity to produce a drawnote, the reeds being constructed and arranged such that the blownotes include the first, fourth and sixth notes of the Lydian scale of a keynote, and all drawnotes are notes of the Lydian scale of the keynote.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 23 words
The harmonica of claim 13 wherein the blownotes include only the first, fourth and sixth notes of the Lydian scale of the keynote.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 24 words
The harmonica of claim 13, wherein the drawnotes include the first, second, third, fifth and seventh notes of the Lydian scale of the keynote.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 57 words
The harmonica of claim 13, wherein the body comprises ten cavities, wherein the sequence of drawnotes associated with sequentially adjacent cavities is five-one-three-five-seven-two-three-five-seven-two, wherein the sequence of blownotes associated with such cavities is four-six-one-four-six one-four-six-one-four respectively, wherein the numbers one through seven refer to the first through seventh notes respectively of the Lydian scale of the keynote.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 114 words
A harmonica comprising a body shaped so as to form a series of adjacent cavities and further comprising a plurality of reeds each of which is responsive to the passage of air to produce an audible musical note of a certain pitch, two reeds being associated with each cavity such that one reed is responsive to blowing into such cavity to produce a blownote and the other is responsive to drawing on such cavity to produce a drawnote, the reeds being constructed and arranged such that the blownotes include the first, fourth and sixth notes of the Aeolian scale of a keynote, and all drawnotes are notes of the aeolian scale of the keynote.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 114 words
A harmonica comprising a body shaped so as to form a series of adjacent cavities and further comprising a plurality of reeds each of which is responsive to the passage of air to produce an audible musical note of a certain pitch, two reeds being associated with each cavity such that one reed is responsive to blowing into such cavity to produce a blownote and the other is responsive to drawing on such cavity to produce a drawnote, the reeds being constructed and arranged such that the blownotes include the first, fourth and sixth notes of the Aeolian scale of a keynote, and all drawnotes are notes of the aeolian scale of the keynote.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 23 words
The harmonica of claim 17 wherein the blownotes include only the first, fourth and sixth notes of the Aeolian scale of the keynote.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 24 words
The harmonica of claim 17, wherein the drawnotes include the first, second, third, fifth and seventh notes of the Aeolian scale of the keynote.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 57 words
The harmonica of claim 17, wherein the body comprises ten cavities, wherein the sequence of drawnotes associated with sequentially adjacent cavities is five-one-three-five-seven-two-three-five-seven-two, wherein the sequence of blownotes associated with such cavities is four-six-one-four-six- one-four-six-one-four respectively, wherein the numbers one through seven refer to the first through seventh notes respectively of the Aeolian scale of the keynote.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 114 words
A harmonica comprising a body shaped so as to form a series of adjacent cavities and further comprising a plurality of reeds each of which is responsive to the passage of air to produce an audible musical note of a certain pitch, two reeds being associated with each cavity such that one reed is responsive to blowing into such cavity to produce a blownote and the other is responsive to drawing on such cavity to produce a drawnote, the reeds being constructed and arranged such that the blownotes include the first, fourth and sixth notes of the Locrian scale of a keynote, and all drawnotes are notes of the Locrian scale of the keynote.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 114 words
A harmonica comprising a body shaped so as to form a series of adjacent cavities and further comprising a plurality of reeds each of which is responsive to the passage of air to produce an audible musical note of a certain pitch, two reeds being associated with each cavity such that one reed is responsive to blowing into such cavity to produce a blownote and the other is responsive to drawing on such cavity to produce a drawnote, the reeds being constructed and arranged such that the blownotes include the first, fourth and sixth notes of the Locrian scale of a keynote, and all drawnotes are notes of the Locrian scale of the keynote.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 23 words
The harmonica of claim 21 wherein the blownotes include only the first, fourth and sixth notes of the Locrian scale of the keynote.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 24 words
The harmonica of claim 21, wherein the drawnotes include the first, second, third, fifth and seventh notes of the Locrian scale of the keynote.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 57 words
The harmonica of claim 21, wherein the body comprises ten cavities, wherein the sequence of drawnotes associated with sequentially adjacent cavities is five-one-three-five-seven-two-three-five-seven-two, wherein the sequence of blownotes associated with such cavities is four-six-one-four-six one-four-six-one-four respectively, wherein the numbers one through seven refer to the first through seventh notes respectively of the Locrian scale of the keynote.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US574625A Cited
US1735645A Cited
US882575A Cited
US863960A Cited
US1676154A Cited
US2276501A Cited
US2511302A Cited
US4069735A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1983-12-09 1984-06-09 1984-12-09 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1987-12-09 1988-06-09 1988-12-09 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1991-12-09 1992-06-09 1992-12-09 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag