Recorder

Abstract

 A recorder (9,10) adapted for use by people with functional impairment of the finger(s) comprises an assembly of plural tube members (9,11a-11g) having one or plural tone holes (12,12a,12b) each hand is characterized in that each one of the tube members can be rotated so that the position of the tone holes can be adjusted depending on the state and the degree of functional impairment of the finger(s). The tube members are easily assembled by firmly connecting them.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART STATEMENT

[0001] The present invention relates to a recorder suitable for use by people with functional impairment of the finger(s), and more particularly to a recorder structure wherein the positions of tone holes that are manipulated by the fingers can be arbitrarily adjusted depending on the condition or the degree of functional impairment of the finger(s).

[0002] As is well known, ordinary recorders comprise a head joint provided with a mouth piece and a window, and a tubular body including a middle joint and a foot joint connected with the head joint. When a healthy person plays a recorder, he/she manipulates the eight tone holes bored in the middle and the foot joints using the thumb, the index, the middle and the ring fingers of the left hand and the index, the middle, the ring and the small fingers of the right hand. For people with functional impairment of the finger(s), it is not always easy to adequately manipulate the tone holes.

[0003] There have been developed recorders that can be played by people with such difficulties. As the state or the degree of functional impairment differs depending on individuals, there are known two types of recorders: the standard type intended for use by those with functional impairment of one hand, and the custom-made type which is provided with tone holes at positions suitable for a particular player to manipulate.

[0004] Referring to Fig. 8, a recorder to be played using one hand is provided on the surface of the tubular body 1 with the same number of tone holes 3a, 3b, 3c ... as an ordinary recorder that are adequately manipulated by opening/closing them by means of keys 2, because manipulation of only five tone holes using one hand alone would not produce musical scales or melodies. On the other hand, custom-made recorders usually have six, seven or eight tone holes that are bored at suitable positions where the fingers of a player can reach.

[0005] The number or the position of the tone holes differs depending on the state or the degree of functional impairment of the finger(s). If a player has no impairment on one hand and four impaired fingers on the other hand , a recorder with six tone holes will be used. If he/she has three impaired fingers on one hand and none on the other, then the number of tone holes will be seven. Likewise, if one of the hands has two impaired fingers and the other none, then the player will be able to use a recorder with eight tone holes.

[0006] In case of a conventional recorder for the handicapped which is played by one hand alone and is provided with keys such as shown in Fig. 8, production cost is enormous and the price of the final product is ten times higher than an ordinary recorder because of the complicated key construction. A key 2 includes rod members 4 implanted on a tubular body 1, shafts 5 connected to the rod members 4, pipes 6 inserted over the shafts 5 in a rotatable manner, and levers 7 and arms 8 for manipulation and cups 9 for opening/closing the tone holes that are respectively attached to the pipes 6.

[0007] Because the recorder mentioned above is intended for use with only one hand, a handicapped person who is more or less capable of opening/closing the tone holes with the dysfunctional fingers is prevented from using such fingers, which is not desirable when the recorder is intended as a means of rehabilitation. Moreover, the player must open/close the tone holes or manipulate the keys with only one finger. This requires highly sophisticated manipulation skill, and it takes a defectively long time to master the skill.

[0008] The other type of custom-made recorder for the handicapped, on the other hand, is less expensive and relatively easy to manipulate because the tone holes are intentionally bored at positions that allow the player to easily open/close them. The problem associated with this type of recorder is that a handicapped person cannot by him/herself perforate the tone holes at positions that are most suitable for his/her use, or seal the tone holes that are already bored; the handicapped is thus totally dependent on the manufacturer as far as such operations and modifications are concerned. Moreover, the positions of the tone holes or other modifications to the recorder may not always be optimum and adequate. It often happens that the finished product from the factory does not have the tone holes at originally intended positions or at adequate positions, requiring further modifications. Ordering a recorder with tone holes bored perfectly at optimum positions is extremely difficult, as it takes an enormously long time and precise specifications to find the right positions of the tone holes for a particular person.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] In view of the defects encountered in the prior art recorders, the present invention aims at providing a recorder adapted for use by people with functional impairment of the finger(s) of which the tone hole positions can be easily adjusted by the player him/herself to accommodate to his/her condition after purchase, which can be purchased at low a price, manipulated with ease for opening/closing of the tone holes and therefore be used even immediately after purchase.

[0010] As a means to achieve the above mentioned object, the present invention is characterized in that the tubular body where the tone holes are bored comprises plural tube members with one or plural tone holes. Each of the tube members can be turned for any suitable angle so that the position(s) of the tone hole(s) can be adjusted to where the handicapped person can easily manipulate. The number of tube members constituting the tubular body differs depending on the degree of the finger impairment(s). If the impairment is relatively minor, about seven tube members may be used so that the player can manipulate with seven to eight fingers. If the impairment is relatively grave, about six tube members that can be manipulated with six fingers are preferable.

[0011] Each of the tube members to be joined to constitute the tubular body of the recorder includes a male insertion section which is located on one of end and is smaller in diameter than the outer diameter of the tube, and a female section that receives the male insertion section of another tube member, and is connected to each other in a rotatable manner by virtue of such male and female sections. After the tube members are rotatably connected to each other, each one of them is turned by any suitable angle to adjust the position of the tone holes bored thereon to suit the degree of functional impairment of the player's finger(s). After the adjustment, the tube members are integrally fixed to each other by adhesive.

[0012] The tube members each are provided with a marker on their outer peripheral surface and are joined in a given order according to the indication of the marker. To adjust tone hole position(s) to suit the degree of functional impairment(s), angle scales are provided on one end of each of the tube members where they are connected, and a register mark is provided on the other end of the tube member on its outer peripheral surface at a position corresponding to that of said angle scales.

[0013] As the present invention recorder is so constructed that plural tube members having one or plural tone hole(s) are connected to form the body of the recorder, the tone holes are not at position(s) that are suitable for a particular user when first purchased. At the stage of distribution, the present invention recorder is sold either as assembled with the tube members rotatably connected with each other or as disassembled without such members. After purchase, a user connects the tube members in the prescribed order if the recorder comes as disassembled. To bring the connected tube members in the right positional relationship with each other, each of the tube members is rotated slightly in either direction to find the right angle that locates the tone hole bored thereon at a position that allows the user to manipulate it most easily with his/her impaired finger.

[0014] Because the tube members are provided with a marker on their outer peripheral surface to indicate the order of connection, angle scales and a corresponding register mark, it facilitates a user to find the right position of each of the tone holes that can be manipulated by his/her impaired fingers.

[0015] After the tube members are connected with their tone holes opening at the angles that are most suitable for the user, the tube members are fixedly connected to each other by adhesive. Before applying the adhesive, final adjustment should be carried out once again to ascertain whether the tone holes are adequately positioned. Thereafter, the tube members are firmly connected using adhesive, either by the user or by the manufacturer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Fig. 1 is a front view to show the construction of the recorder according to the present invention.

[0017] Fig. 2 is a sectional view along the line A-A in Fig. 1.

[0018] Fig. 3 is a front view to show another embodiment of the recorder according to the present invention.

[0019] Fig. 4 is a sectional view along the line B-B in Fig. 3.

[0020] Fig. 5 is a front view to show still another embodiment of the recorder according to the present invention.

[0021] Fig. 6 is a sectional view along the line C-C in Fig. 5.

[0022] Fig. 7 is a partial front view to show the marker and angle scales provided on each of the tube member.

[0023] Fig. 8 is a front view of the prior art recorder for use by people with functional impairment of the finger(s).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] The recorder according to the present invention will now be described by way of preferred embodiments. The present invention recorder comes in two types of construction; namely, one includes, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, a tubular body 10, 20 which is an assembly of seven tube members 11, 21 bored each with a tone hole 12 and which is connected to the head joint 9 at the top of the recorder, and the other includes, as shown in Fig. 5, a tubular body 30 which is an assembly of six tube members 31. A user buys either one of the types depending on the degree of his/her functional impairment of the finger(s), and adjusts the positions of the tone holes 12, 22, 32 bored on the tube members 11, 21, 31 to suit him/her.

[0025] The tubular body 10, 20 shown in Figs. 1 through 3 is an assembly of what are generally called a middle joint and a foot joint, and is therefore substantially an assembly of a middle joint 10a comprising six tube members and a foot joint 10b. As shown in Fig. 7, each of the tube members 11 is provided with a marker 15 on its outer peripheral surface indicating the order of connection to enable a user to re-assemble the tube members 11 in the right order.

[0026] When the tube members 11 are assembled into a tubular body, each of the members 11 is rotated toward the right or the left so that the tone hole 12 thereon is positioned at an angle suitable for the user to open/close with his/her impaired finger. In addition to said marker 15 indicating the connection order, angle scales 16 are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the tube member 11 on its one end and a register mark 17 is provided on the opposite end at a position corresponding to the angle scales of another tube member 11 to be connected, facilitating adjustment of the angle of tone holes 12 by said turning of the tube members 11.

[0027] The angle of each tone hole 12 is determined depending on the degree of functional impairment of the finger(s). In case the fingers on the left hand are normal or their impairment relatively slight while only three fingers on the right hand are functioning, the left thumb opens/closes the tone hole 12a provided on the first tube member 11a of the tubular body 10 comprising seven tube members 11 as shown in Fig. 1. Similarly, the left index finger manipulates the tone hole 12b on the first tubular member 11a, the left middle finger the tone hole 12 on the second tube member 11a, the left ring finger the tone hole 12 on the third tube member 11c, and the left little finger the tone hole on the fourth tube member 11d.

[0028] The tone holes 12 on the fifth tube member 11e, the sixth tube member 11f and the seventh tube member 11g are opened/closed using the three impaired fingers of the right hand by turning the tube members 11e, 11f and 11g to adjust the angles of respective tone holes so that they can be easily manipulated with the impaired fingers. The suitable angles of the tone holes 12 can be ascertained by the angle scales 16 and the register mark 16.

[0029] After the tube members 11 are assembled and adjusted of the angles of the tone holes 12 in the manner described above, the tube members 11 are firmly fixed to each other using adhesive. Before applying an adhesive, it is preferable to check if the angles of the tone holes are adequate. Adhesion of the tube members 11 can be done by the user him/herself or consigned to the manufacturer.

[0030] The recorder shown in Fig. 3 is intended for use, for example, by a person whose left fingers are all normal or very slightly impaired while only two right fingers are capable. The tubular body 20 of this embodiment comprises seven tube members 21 as in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1. The first tube member 21a through the seventh tube member 21g are rotatably connected with each other in the order of the first member 21a, the second member 21b, the third member 21c, and so on. The first tube member 21a has a tone hole 22 located on the back which is manipulated by the left thumb. The tubular body 20 shown in Fig. 3 therefore has seven tone holes 22 provided on each of the seven tube members 21.

[0031] Except that said tubular body 20 has seven tube members 21 and seven tone holes 22, its construction is substantially the same as that of the tubular body 10 of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 in that the tube members 21 are connected with each other by means of a male insertion section 23 and a female section 24, that the sixth tube member 21f is provided with male insertion sections 23 on both ends and the seventh tube member 21g with a female section 24 at the top end so that the male insertion section 23 on the bottom of the sixth tube member 21f is inserted in the female section 24 at the top end of the seventh tube member 21g, whereby the tube members 21 are rotatably connected to each other.

[0032] With this embodiment, a user uses five left fingers and two right fingers such as the index and the ring fingers. In other words, the left thumb manipulates the tone hole 22 of the first tube member 21a, the right index finger the tone hole 22 of the second member 21b, the left middle finger the tone hole 22 of the third tube member 21c, the left ring finger the tone hole 22 of the fourth tube member 21d, and the left little finger the fifth tube member 21e. The tone holes 22 of the sixth tube member 21f and of the seventh tube member 21g are respectively manipulated using the index, the middle or the ring finger of the right hand which is functionally impaired.

[0033] As mentioned above, the tone holes 22 of the sixth and the seventh tube members 21f and 21g respectively are manipulated by two fingers of the impaired right hand. The tube members 21f and 21g are therefore rotated for any suitable angles in either direction so that the tone holes 22 would be at positions that can be easily reached by these two impaired fingers. Such positions can be confirmed by the angle scales 16 and the register mark 17.

[0034] The recorder shown in Fig. 5 is intended for people with a more serious case of disability than those shown in Figs. 1 and 3, such as that although the left fingers are either normal or very mildly disabled, only one right finger is fully capable. The tubular body 30 in this case comprises six tube members 31 with a tone hole 32 each and are rotatably connected in the order of the first member 31a, the second member 31b, the third member 31c and so on.

[0035] It is noted that the first tube member 31a has a length which is equal to the length of the first and the second tube members 11a and 11b of the embodiment in Fig. 1 combined. A tone hole 32 to be manipulated by the left thumb is bored on the back of the first tube member 31a. Thus, the tubular body 30 comprises six tube members 31 with six tone holes 32.

[0036] Except that the tubular body 30 has six tube members 31 with six tone holes 32, its construction is substantially the same as that of the tubular body 10, 20 of the embodiments shown in Figs. 1 and 3 in that the tube members 31 are connected with each other by means of a male insertion section 33 and a female section 34, that the fifth tube member 31e is provided with male insertion sections 33 on both ends and the sixth tube member 31f with a female section 34 at the top end so that the male insertion section 33 on the bottom of the fifth tube member 31e is inserted in the female section 34 of the sixth tube member 31f so that the tube members 31 are rotatably connected to each other.

[0037] In this case, as mentioned above, five left fingers, the index or the ring finger of the right hand, for example, are used. In other words, the left thumb opens/closes the tone hole 32 on the first tube member 31g, the left index finger the tone hole 32 on the second tube member 31b, the left middle finger the tone hole 32 on the third tube member 31c, the left ring finger the tone hole 32 on the fourth tube member 31d and the left little finger the tube member 31e, respectively. The tone hole 32 on the sixth tube member 31f is manipulated by either one of the index or the ring finger of the impaired right hand.

[0038] As mentioned above, the tone hole 32 on the sixth tube member 31f is manipulated by only one finger of the impaired right hand. To facilitate the manipulation, the tube member 31f is turned for any suitable angle to bring the tone hole 32 to a position that can be easily reached by one finger. That particular position can be confirmed by reading the indication on the angle scales 16 pointed by the register mark 17. This way, the connection positions of the tube members can be established.

[0039] The embodiments shown in Figs. 1 and 3 include seven or six tube members, while the embodiment shown in Fig. 5 has only five tube members. It should be noted, however, that it is possible to form the first and the second tube members as an integral part of the tubular body shown in Figs. 1 and 3; it is also possible that the first and the second tube members of the embodiment shown in Fig. 5 are formed as one member.

[0040] The recorder according to the present invention comprises plural tube members, each of which has one or plural tone holes and which are connected in a freely rotatable manner, so that each one of the tube members can be freely rotated for any suitable angle at which the player can easily manipulate the tone hole(s) provided thereon with impaired fingers. This allows the handicapped persons to enjoy playing the recorder.

[0041] According to the present invention, the plural tube members with one or plural tone holes each are connected in a freely rotatable manner to allow positional adjustment of individual tone holes to suit particular needs of a player. Thus, the recorder according to the present invention can be manufactured as a standard product that can be purchased at a lower price than the conventional recorder for the handicapped persons which is provided with tone holes that are manipulated with keys. Moreover, the handicapped persons can select a product type which is most suitable for him/her, adjust the positions of the tone holes by simple operation and assemble the tube members by him/herself using an adhesive. The present invention recorder brings a great benefit to the handicapped people of all age groups who have heretofore been deprived of the pleasure of playing the recorder.

[0042] Although it is assumed in the foregoing description that the five fingers of the left hand are healthy while only one, two or three fingers are capable on the right hand, the present invention recorder can be adapted for use by a wide range of people with varying degree and state of functional impairment of the finger; for example by people whose left hand is normal while only one, two or three fingers of the right hand are usable.

Claims

1. A recorder which is characterized in that a tubular body having tone holes comprises plural tube members with one or plural tone holes that are rotatably connected with each other so that each one of the tube members can be rotated for any angle that will locate the tone holes at positions that can be easily manipulated by the player with his/her impaired fingers.

2. The recorder as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the tubular body having the tone holes includes a middle joint comprising six tube members and one foot joint comprising one tube member, said seven tube members being rotatably connected with each other so that the tone holes thereon can be adjusted at angles that can be manipulated by the player with seven to eight of his/her fingers.

3. The recorder as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the tubular body having the tone holes includes a middle joint comprising five tube members and a foot joint comprising one tube member, said six tube members being rotatably connected with each other so that the tone holes thereon can be adjusted at angles that can be manipulated by the player with six of his/her fingers.

4. The recorder as claimed in any one of Claims 1 through 3 wherein each one of the tube members is turned at an angle so that the tone hole(s) thereon can be manipulated with the impaired finger(s) and then firmly fixed with each other using adhesive.

5. The recorder as claimed in any one of Claims 1 through 3 wherein the tube members are connected with each other in the order prescribed by markers indicated on the outer peripheral surface of the tube members.

6. The recorder as claimed in any one of Claims 1 through 3 wherein each one of the tube members is provided with angle scales on one end and with a corresponding register mark to correspond to said angle scale on the other end of its outer peripheral surface.

7. The recorder as claimed in any one of Claims 1 through 3 wherein each one of the tube members has, on its one end, a male insertion section which is smaller in diameter than the outer diameter of the tube member and a female section on the opposite end which has an inner diameter sufficient to receive the male section of another adjacent tube member.

Drawing