US4252045A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mouth-piece for electronic musical instruments
Assignee: Nippon Gakki Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1979-04-16
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Granted: 1981-02-24
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Expires: 1999-04-16
Abstract
Abstract A mouth-piece for electronic musical instruments includes at least one flexible valve flap exposed in the air passage formed therein each of which carries a pressure responsive element generative of electric signals in accordance with the extend of flexion of the valve flap when blown by the player.
Inventors
- 👤 Yasuo Nagura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 19:25
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H3/00; G10H3/12; G10H3/14; G10H3/143; G10H5/00; G10H5/002; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S84/00; Y10S84/21
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
183 words
An improved mouth-piece for an electronic instrument, comprising: (a) a main body defining an air passage having a blow in opening and a blow out opening; said air passage being arranged such that air forced into said blow in opening passes through said air passage and out said blow out opening; (b) a reed assembly located in said air passage of said main body and including a valve body having an opening formed therein and a valve flap lying adjacent said opening and depending from an edge of said opening, said reed assembly being so located within said air passage that air flowing through said passage passes through said opening and vibrates said valve flap so as to cause the generation of a musical tone; (c) a pressure responsive element attached to said valve flap at a position near said edge of said opening, said pressure responsive element adapted to generate electrical signals which vary as a function of the vibration of said valve flap; and (d) means for connecting said pressure responsive element to a signal processing circuit of said musical instrument.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
183 words
An improved mouth-piece for an electronic instrument, comprising: (a) a main body defining an air passage having a blow in opening and a blow out opening; said air passage being arranged such that air forced into said blow in opening passes through said air passage and out said blow out opening; (b) a reed assembly located in said air passage of said main body and including a valve body having an opening formed therein and a valve flap lying adjacent said opening and depending from an edge of said opening, said reed assembly being so located within said air passage that air flowing through said passage passes through said opening and vibrates said valve flap so as to cause the generation of a musical tone; (c) a pressure responsive element attached to said valve flap at a position near said edge of said opening, said pressure responsive element adapted to generate electrical signals which vary as a function of the vibration of said valve flap; and (d) means for connecting said pressure responsive element to a signal processing circuit of said musical instrument.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
112 words
An improved mouth-piece as claimed in claim 1, further including: a second opening formed in said valve body, the dimensions of said second opening being different from the dimensions of said first opening; a second valve flap lying adjacent said second opening and depending from an edge thereof, the dimensions of said first and second valve flaps being substantially similar to the dimensions of said first and second openings, respectively; and a second pressure-responsive element attached to said second valve flap at a position near said edge of said second opening, said second pressure-responsive element adapted to generate electrical signals which vary as a function of the vibration of said valve flap.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
113 words
An improved mouth-piece as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a second opening formed in said valve body, the shape of said second opening being different from the shape of said first opening; a second valve flap lying adjacent said second opening and depending from an edge thereof, the shape of said first and second valve flap being substantially similar to the shape of said first and second openings, respectively; and a second pressure-responsive element attached to said second valve flap at a position near the edge of said second opening, said second pressure-responsive element adapted to generate electrical signals which vary as a function of the vibration of said second valve flap.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
An improved mouth-piece as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the flexibility of said first valve flap is different from the flexibility of said second valve flap.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
An improved mouth-piece as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein said connecting means also connects said second pressure responsive element to said signal processing circuit and wherein said connecting means includes means for selectively applying the electrical signal generated by one of said pressure responsive elements to said signal processing circuit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
92 words
An improved mouth-piece as claimed in claim 1, further including: a second opening formed in said valve body; a second valve flap lying adjacent said second opening and depending from an edge thereof, the flexibility of said first valve flap being different from the flexibility of said second valve flap; and a second pressure-presponsive element attached to said second valve flap at a position near said edge of said second opening, said second pressure-responsive element adapted to generate electric signals which vary the function of the vibration of said second valve flap.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
An improved mouth-piece as claimed in claim 6, wherein said connecting means also connects said second pressure-responsive element to said signal processing circuit and wherein said connecting means includes means for selectively applying the electric signals generated by one of said pressure-responsive elements to said signal processing circuit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
An improved mouth-piece as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pressure-responsive element is embedded within said valve flap.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
An improved mouth-piece as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pressure-responsive element is connected to an outer surface of said valve flap.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
An improved mouth-piece as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connecting means includes electric connections printed on the surface of said valve body.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
An improved mouth-piece as claimed in claim 1, wherein said opening and said valve flap are both planar and wherein said opening lies in a plane which is spaced from and generally parallel to a plane in which said valve flap lies when said valve flap is at rest.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
An improved mouth-piece as claimed in claim 11, wherein said opening and said valve flap are both rectangular in shape.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-02-24 | 1984-08-25 | 1985-02-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-02-24 | 1988-08-25 | 1989-02-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-02-24 | 1992-08-25 | 1993-02-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |