US4967632A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pad with impression memory
Assignee: Verne Q Powell Flutes Inc
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Filing: 1988-10-24
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Granted: 1990-11-06
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Expires: 2008-10-24
Abstract
Abstract A pad for use in a pad cup positioned over an opening in a musical instrument, the pad having a seal element which initially forms an impression of the rim of the opening and fixes the impression. The pad further includes a support member which carries the seal element to securely position the impression relative to the rim to seal the opening when the pad is brought to bear against the rim. The support element also damps vibrations generated when the seal element contacts the rim.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert W. Etheredge, III
- 👤 Steven A. Wasser
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 23:53
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10D; G10D9/00; G10D9/04; G10D9/047
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A pad for use in a pad cup positioned over an opening in a musical instrument, comprising: seal means for initially forming an impression of the rim of the opening to establish a custom fit with the rim, and for fixing the impression; and support means, disposed within the pad cup, for carrying said seal means to securely position the impression relative to the rim to maintain the custom fit to ensure that the opening is sealed when the pad is brought to bear against the rim, and for damping vibrations generated when said seal means contact the rim; and positioning means for minimizing rotational and translational movement of said seal means relative to the rim, said positioning means including an indentation on one of said seal means and said support means and a matching projection on the other of said seal means and support means for engaging said indentation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
A pad for use in a pad cup positioned over an opening in a musical instrument, comprising: seal means for initially forming an impression of the rim of the opening to establish a custom fit with the rim, and for fixing the impression; and support means, disposed within the pad cup, for carrying said seal means to securely position the impression relative to the rim to maintain the custom fit to ensure that the opening is sealed when the pad is brought to bear against the rim, and for damping vibrations generated when said seal means contact the rim; and positioning means for minimizing rotational and translational movement of said seal means relative to the rim, said positioning means including an indentation on one of said seal means and said support means and a matching projection on the other of said seal means and support means for engaging said indentation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The pad of claim 1 in which said seal means is formed of thermoplastic material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The pad of claim 1 in which said seal means is formed of thermosetting material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The pad of claim 2 in which said seal means is formed of material having a lower melting point than said support means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The pad of claim 1 in which said seal means is formed of material which bonds with said support means when melted and then solidified.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The pad of claim 1 in which said seal means is formed of material which is hydrophobic.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The pad of claim 1 in which said seal means includes a resin.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The pad of claim 1 in which said seal means is a mixture of resin and wax.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The pad of claim 8 in which the wax is Carnauba wax.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The pad of claim 9 in which the mixture includes one to fifty percent Carnauba wax.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The pad of claim 8 in which the resin includes vinyl acetate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The pad of claim 8 in which the resin is a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The pad of claim 12 in which the wax is a microcrystalline wax.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The pad of claim 1 in which said support means is formed of elastomeric material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The pad of claim 14 in which the elastomeric material is a silicone elastomer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The pad of claim 1 in which said support means includes a recess in which said seal means is disposed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The pad of claim 16 in which said recess and said seal means are ring-shaped.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The pad of claim 16 in which said recess and said seal means are disk-shaped.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The pad of claim 16 in which the recess and said seal means are curved in cross-section.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
The pad of claim 16 in which the surface of said seal means having the impression lie; substantially flush with the surface of said support means which faces away from the pad cup.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The pad of claim 7 further including positioning means for minimizing rotational and translational movement of said seal means relative to the rim.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
42 words
The pad of claim 21 in which said positioning means includes an indentation on one of said seal means and said support means, and a matching projection on the other of said seal means and said support means for engaging the indentation.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
The pad of claim 22 in which said positioning means includes at least two annular indentations on said support means and matching annular projections on said seal means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The pad of claim 1 further including means for securing said support means within said pad cup.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
The pad of claim 1 in which said seal means includes at least one of a volatile agent, a germicide, and an antistatic agent.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
138 words
A pad for use in a pad cup positioned over a tone hole in a musical instrument, comprising: thermoplastic seal means having a softening point temperature above the highest storage temperature of the instrument for initially forming an impression of the rim of the tone hole to establish a custom fit with the rim whenever said seal means is heated to said softening point and for fixing the impression when said seal means is cooled below said softening point; and elastomeric support means, disposed within the pad cup, for carrying said seal means to securely position the impression relative to the rim to maintain the custom fit to ensure that the tone hole is hermetically sealed when the pad is brought to bear against the rim, and for damping vibrations generated when said seal means contacts the rim.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
138 words
A pad for use in a pad cup positioned over a tone hole in a musical instrument, comprising: thermoplastic seal means having a softening point temperature above the highest storage temperature of the instrument for initially forming an impression of the rim of the tone hole to establish a custom fit with the rim whenever said seal means is heated to said softening point and for fixing the impression when said seal means is cooled below said softening point; and elastomeric support means, disposed within the pad cup, for carrying said seal means to securely position the impression relative to the rim to maintain the custom fit to ensure that the tone hole is hermetically sealed when the pad is brought to bear against the rim, and for damping vibrations generated when said seal means contacts the rim.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
The pad of claim 26 further including positioning means for minimizing rotational and translational movement of said seal means relative to the rim.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of constructing a pad having seal means carried by a recess in support means comprising: placing the seal means in the recess; heating at least a portion of the pad to melt the seal means to induce flow into the recess to match the shape of the recess; solidifying the seal means within the recess; installing the pad in a paid cup positioned over an opening in a musical instrument; softening the seal means and depressing it against the rim of the opening to form an impression of the rim; and hardening the seal means to fix the impression of the rim.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of constructing a pad having seal means carried by a recess in support means comprising: placing the seal means in the recess; heating at least a portion of the pad to melt the seal means to induce flow into the recess to match the shape of the recess; solidifying the seal means within the recess; installing the pad in a paid cup positioned over an opening in a musical instrument; softening the seal means and depressing it against the rim of the opening to form an impression of the rim; and hardening the seal means to fix the impression of the rim.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
92 words
A cup assembly for valving an opening in a musical instrument comprising: a cup; an adhesive medium in said cup; a support member securely embedded in said adhesive medium in said cup, said support member including an annular channel; and a thermoforming seal means disposed in said channel for forming and fixing an impression of the rim of the opening one of said channel and said seal means including an indentation and the other including a projection for engaging said indentation and securing the position of said seal means in said channel.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
92 words
A cup assembly for valving an opening in a musical instrument comprising: a cup; an adhesive medium in said cup; a support member securely embedded in said adhesive medium in said cup, said support member including an annular channel; and a thermoforming seal means disposed in said channel for forming and fixing an impression of the rim of the opening one of said channel and said seal means including an indentation and the other including a projection for engaging said indentation and securing the position of said seal means in said channel.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
19 words
The cup assembly of claim 29 in which said indentation and projection are annular and coaxial with said channel.
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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) | 1993-11-05 | 1994-05-07 | 1994-11-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-11-05 | 1998-05-07 | 1998-11-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-11-05 | 2002-05-07 | 2002-11-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |