US4807510A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Suspended musical idiophone
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1987-03-16
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Granted: 1989-02-28
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Expires: 2007-03-16
Abstract
Abstract A suspended idiophone is described in which a plate of sonorous material is formed along an axis in a manner by which the plate will be capable of expanding and contracting resiliently to produce an acoustical vibrato. The musical sound produced by the present idiophone will resemble that produced by a standard cymbal or gong with the addition of vibrato afforded through the particular configuration due to resiliency of material along an axis. When sounded, the resilient material will oscillate axially to produce the vibrato effect.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen M. Croteau
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 00:25
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10D; G10D13/00; G10D13/01; G10D13/06; G10D13/063; G10D13/10; G10D13/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
A suspended idiophone, comprising: an elongated resilient plate formed of a sonorous material and having suspension means thereon for facilitating free suspension of the plate from a support; an axis passing through the plate; and wherein the plate is formed along the length thereof in a series of flights that depend from the suspension means and that are resiliently expandable and contractible relative to one another along the axis to produce a musical sound with a vibrato effect responsive to sounding of the plate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
84 words
A suspended idiophone, comprising: an elongated resilient plate formed of a sonorous material and having suspension means thereon for facilitating free suspension of the plate from a support; an axis passing through the plate; and wherein the plate is formed along the length thereof in a series of flights that depend from the suspension means and that are resiliently expandable and contractible relative to one another along the axis to produce a musical sound with a vibrato effect responsive to sounding of the plate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The idiophone of claim 1 wherein the plate is formed in a spiral configuration with the flights winding about the axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The idiophone of claim 2 wherein the spiral configuration includes a central inward end; and wherein the suspension means is situated at the central inward end for suspending the plate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The idiophone of claim 1 wherein the plate is formed in a sprial configuration with the flights winding about the axis in progressively increasing distances therefrom.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The idiophone of claim 1 wherein the plate is substantially circular.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The idiophone of claim 1 further comprising a dome shaped bell along the plate and wherein the suspension means is comprised of a suspension aperture through the bell.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
111 words
A suspended idiophone, comprising: substantialy flat elongated plate of a resilient sonorous material; suspension means on the plate facilitating hanging of the plate for relatively sustained vibration producing a muscial sound when struck; means forming the plate with respect to the suspension means for resilient oscillation along an axis passing through the plate for producing a vibrato effect on the musical sound produced with the plate is struck; wherein the elongated plate includes a thickness dimension between top and bottom surfaces and wherein the plate also includes elongated side edges joined at plate ends by plate end edges; and wherein the thickness dimension diminishes toward at least one of the edges.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
111 words
A suspended idiophone, comprising: substantialy flat elongated plate of a resilient sonorous material; suspension means on the plate facilitating hanging of the plate for relatively sustained vibration producing a muscial sound when struck; means forming the plate with respect to the suspension means for resilient oscillation along an axis passing through the plate for producing a vibrato effect on the musical sound produced with the plate is struck; wherein the elongated plate includes a thickness dimension between top and bottom surfaces and wherein the plate also includes elongated side edges joined at plate ends by plate end edges; and wherein the thickness dimension diminishes toward at least one of the edges.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The suspended idiophone of claim 7 wherein the means forming the plate is comprised of a spiral configuration formed along the length of the plate and defining a plurality of integral flights that are movable resiliently along the axis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The suspended idiophone of claim 7 further comprising a bell formed in the plate along the length thereof; and wherein the suspension means is located on the bell.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
61 words
The suspended idiophone of claim 5 wherein the plate includes a substantially flat surface and the axis passing through the plate is substantially perpendicular to the flat surface; wherein the plate is formed in an elongated substantially rectangular strip with the suspension means arranged along the length thereof to enable axial oscillation of the plate along the axis passing through plate.
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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) | 1992-02-28 | 1992-08-29 | 1993-02-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-02-28 | 1996-08-29 | 1997-02-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-02-28 | 2000-08-29 | 2001-02-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |