SOUND BOX FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENT

Abstract

 The present invention concerns a sound box (2) for a chordophone musical instrument (1), particularly for a harp (8) further comprising at least one column (5) and a neck (4). Advantageously, the sound box (2) is a hollow elongated tubular body (7) being removably connected to said column (5) and said neck (4).
The sound box (2) is the harp case of the column (5) and neck (4) of the harp (1) and it is preferably made of a transparent synthetic plastic material, for example of Plexiglas.

Description

[0001] The present invention in general terms refers to a sound box for a musical instrument.

[0002] More particularly, but not exclusively, the invention concerns a sound box for a harp and the following description is made referring to this specific application field only with the purpose of simplifying the explanation.

[0003] The invention also refers to a chordophone musical instrument that includes the above-mentioned sound box.

Known art

[0004] As it well known in this specific technical field, a sound box is the part of a musical stringed or percussion instrument, which has the function both to increase the produced sound intensity and to characterize its timbre, by exploiting the resonance physical phenomenon.

[0005] In the specific case of the harp, which is a plucked chordophone musical instrument having a very ancient origin, the sound box is a fundamental component of the musical instrument, because it is responsible of the particular acoustic properties and frequencies of the sound produced by the strings.

[0006] Usually, the sound boxes for harps are made of wood, and they are assembled from multiple parts in order to give the particular shape being shown in the attached figure 1. The sound box of the harp has well defined dimensions and internal air volumes as well as such a longitudinal extension that contributes in making the instrument itself overall dimensions remarkable.

[0007] For example, it is the case of the concert harp of figure 1, whose overall dimensions certainly do not promote its diffusion outside the concert field.

[0008] The sound box of a harp is solidly connected to the other parts forming the instrument, typically a column, a neck or curvilinear neck and a base. It should be noted that the transportation of such a musical instrument occurs using cases whose shape and dimensions are in turn quite cumbersome.

[0009] The structure of a sound box for a harp of a known type for example is described in the international patent application n° WO2011/158187 which shows a sound box having strengthening means adapted to give it greater strength and stability during the instrument use. The box is permanently connected to the other components of the musical instrument, therefore creating a harp being transportable as a whole.

[0010] With respect to other musical instruments, the harp diffusion is smaller probably due to the complexity of its structure, the related high cost as well as the remarkable overall dimensions, which does not simplify its transportation.

[0011] These limitations are particularly unfortunate because the harp would be an instrument deserving a wide if not very wide diffusion, also with educational purposes, because of its wide harmonic range and the timbre richness of its sound.

[0012] The technical problem underlying the present invention is to devise a new musical instrument, particularly a harp, and more particularly a sound box for that musical instrument, which has such structural and functional characteristics to make the instrument transportability and even its assembly when needed extremely easy.

[0013] The object of the invention is also to devise a sound box for a harp being able to guarantee a high structural stability and to have optimal and long-lasting sound and resonance properties, and which is easily transportable and able to be assembled in order to make a musical harp, for example when needed.

[0014] Another object of the invention is to make available a chordophone musical instrument having a particularly reduced cost in order to promote the childhood harp learning and the use by amateurs and/or professionals as a travel instrument.

Summary of the invention

[0015] The solution idea underlying the present invention is to devise a sound box structure that, besides carrying out its natural function, allows housing the other component parts of the musical instrument itself therein.

[0016] In other words, the solution idea underlying the invention is to devise a musical instrument, particularly a harp, being made of component parts being removable and easily combinable to each other as well as being able to be housed inside a tubular sound box.

[0017] Based on that solution idea, the technical problem is solved by a sound box of the previously shown type and being characterized by being a hollow elongated tubular body and being removably connected to said column and said neck.

[0018] The sound box according to the invention is the harp case of said column and said neck.

[0019] Moreover, the hollow body is cylindrical and is made of a transparent synthetic plastic material, for example of Plexiglas.

[0020] Advantageously, the hollow body has an upper end being closed by a potentially removable cap, for example a cap that can be screwed or pressure fitted on that end. The opposite end, the lower one, is in turn provided with a removable cap that normally is used to allow accessing the sound box in order to exploit it as a case for the other component parts of the musical instrument.

[0021] The tubular sound box includes a plurality of slot openings being regularly aligned along a generating line of the tubular body in order to adjust its acoustic resonance.

[0022] The invention also concerns a chordophone musical instrument, particularly a harp further comprising at least one column, a neck and a base wherein the sound box is structured having a hollow elongated tubular body and being removably connected to said column and said neck.

[0023] Advantageously, the column and neck are made of wooden rods having their respective end interconnected at a right angle.

[0024] Moreover, the neck has a harmonic straight-line shape on which an end of the strings is fixed, the other end of the strings being fixed in a mutual spaced relationship along a generating line of said tubular body.

[0025] The base includes two detachably interlocking connectable portions and it is in turn housed inside the sound box.

[0026] The column and neck are also interconnected with a quick-fit interlocking.

[0027] Substantially, the invention provides a kit of parts to realize a musical harp wherein the sound box is structured as a hollow elongated tubular body being removably connected to said column and said neck and into which are contained at least:

• the column (5),
• the neck (4),
• the base (6), and possibly
• a plurality of strings (8),
• a corresponding plurality of sharping levers (9).

[0028] Characteristics and advantages of the sound box and musical instrument according to the present invention will be evident from the following description of an exemplary embodiment being given by way of a non-limiting example referring to the attached drawings.

Brief description of the drawings

[0029] 

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a musical instrument, particularly a classic concert harp of a known type;

Figure 2 shows a schematic side view of a musical instrument, particularly a harp, being realized according to the present invention;

Figure 3 shows an exploded perspective view of a musical instrument,

particularly a harp, being realized according to the present invention;

Figure 4 shows a detail of the musical instrument of figure 2;

Figures 5A and 5B show respective enlarged details of the musical instrument of figure 2;

Figure 6 shows a further enlarged detail of the instrument of figure 2;

Figure 7 shows few component parts of the instrument of figura2, from a different perspective;

Figure 7A is a perspective detail of figure 7;

Figure 8 schematically shows a kit of parts being object of the present invention.

Detailed description

[0030] Referring to those figures, with 1 there is globally and schematically shown a pluck chordophone musical instrument being realized according to the present invention.

[0031] The musical instrument 1 is classifiable as harp; however, this designation must not be of any limitation for the applicant rights because the whole structure of the musical instrument 1 at a first sight can be different from the one of a classic concert harp or a Celtic harp.

[0032] The harp 1 is a musical instrument having reduced overall dimensions and being easily transportable.

[0033] The harp 1 essentially includes a sound box 2, a column 5, a neck 4, a base 6 and a plurality of strings 8. Each of these component parts will be described more in details in the following in order to underline all the peculiarities.

[0034] Advantageously, the harp 1 has been devised for the childhood harp learning and the use by amateurs and/or professionals as a travel instrument.

[0035] Particularly referring to Figure 2, it is possible to observe how the sound box 2 is an elongated hollow body 7, having a substantial tubular straight shape. The box 2 preferably is cylindrical and has a circular cross-section having an external diameter between about 95 mm and about 105 mm and an internal diameter between about 92 mm and about 96 mm.

[0036] Preferably, the box 2 length is between about 950 mm and about 1100 mm.

[0037] Clearly, those skilled in the art will understand that these dimensions are purely indicative and representative of an elongated tubular body having the length prevailing with respect to the width.

[0038] In one particularly preferred embodiment, the box 2 has a tubular hollow shape being made of a transparent material, for example Plexiglas. Clearly, it is possible that the box 2 can also be obtained with a different synthetic plastic material, for example polycarbonate, and that it can be opaque or matted.

[0039] This or these synthetic plastic materials, together with the above-mentioned dimensions, allow obtaining a high structural strength and an air volume being suitable to the instrument acoustic needs, and also allow a convenient building ease.

[0040] The box 2 thus realized also has significantly less weight with respect to the sound boxes of the known art being made of wood. Effectively, the harps usually are made with wooden sound boxes, composed of at least two parts: the soundboard and the box itself, the latter being in turn composed of multiple parts.

[0041] The box 2 of the invention has two opposing ends: the upper one 13 being structured to be connected to one end 4a of the neck 4, and the lower one 14 being structured to be connected to the lower portion 5a of the column 5 and to the base 6.

[0042] Advantageously, according to the present invention, the column 5 and/or the neck 4 are made of wood. Preferably, said components are made of respective slats or rods of plywood, for example birch.

[0043] Clearly, it is possible to use other woody starting materials such as for example beech or cherry wood or moreover another type of solid wood. However, it should be noted that using wood, even a raw one, can allow the musician to decorate or paint the column and neck to their liking in order to personalize its aesthetical effect.

[0044] Preferably, the rods thickness is between 20 and 23 mm. The connection between the components of the harp 1 and the sound box 2, namely between column 5, neck 4 and base 6 is of a quick-fit type and it can be carried out with an interlocking as it is well shown in the figures.

[0045] More particularly, the end 4a of the neck 4 has a notch, which is inserted in a slot 15 being obtained in the perimeter wall of the tubular body 7 at the upper end 13 thereof.

[0046] Moreover, the end 5a of the column 5 also has a notch, which is inserted in a slot 16 being obtain in turn in the perimeter wall of the tubular body 7 at its lower end 14.

[0047] The opposite ends 4b and 5b of the column 5 and neck 4 are connected to each other so that column 5 and neck 4 are arranged perpendicular to each other forming a 90° angle.

[0048] The fitting between the ends 4b and 5b is obtained for example by means of a tenon and slot mortice interlock. Alternatively, other interlocking types can be used, for example a dovetail one, which allow realizing a corner interconnection in which the angular joint between the ends 4b and 5b of the wooden rods forming neck 4 and column 5 seems to be free of discontinuities. Preferably, the interconnection between the above-mentioned ends 4b and 5b can be temporarily secured and stabilized by means of a tightening screw 18 with related bolt 19 being inserted in a hole 20 passing through both the ends 4b and 5b. In this case, the joint constraint can be tightened by using a tool, for example an Allen key to be inserted in a corresponding hidden seat 21 being obtained in the head of screw 18. Advantageously, the same tool can be used to tune the strings 8.

[0049] As it can be deduced from Figure 2, the neck 4 is not curvilinear shaped, like in most of the instruments of known art, but it is shaped like a harmonic straight line. This simplifies the manufacturing of the neck itself and consequently it reduces the manufacturing costs, advantaging the final selling price of the instrument. The sound box 2 of the invention preferably is connected to the neck 4 in order to form an acute angle of about 45°. Therefore, the harp 1 dimensions and angles are optimal in order to obtain an excellent sound and an improved structural stability.

[0050] The strings 8 are anchored from one side to the neck 4, through sharping levers 9, and from the other side directly to the sound box 2.

[0051] In the embodiment being described here by way of non-limiting example, the strings 8 are twenty-two and they guarantee a proper coverage of the harmonic scale. The strings 8 preferably are made of new-nylongut having the related string fixing cord. Supplied with the harp 1 there is an assembly/tuning key 11 and two nuts being pre-fastened to the neck 4.

[0052] The strings are pulled between the neck 4 and the sound box 2 being fastened with one of their ends to the perimeter surface 23 of the box 2, particularly along a generating line 10 of the tubular body 7. The strings are evenly arranged in a mutual spaced relationship being parallel to each other.

[0053] The string length and the related frequencies have been calculated in order to optimize the acoustic performance and the dimensions of the instrument. Preferably, only a single material type is used for the strings and, purely by way of a non-limiting example, the following table reports the length being used and the respective obtained frequency.

[0054] It should be underlined that the tubular body 7 has a plurality of slot openings 29 being arranged on the opposite side with respect to the generating line along which the strings are fastened. Those openings 29 are aligned and evenly spaced along a generating line 30 of the tubular body 7 and they are provided in order to optimize the acoustic performances of the sound box 2 and the resonance effect.

[0055] According to the invention, the lower end 14 of the tubular sound box 2 is closed by a removable cap 12, as well the upper end 13. However, the latter end 13 is closed by a potentially removable cap 25, but being normally present to close that end 13. The cap 25 for example can be of the type being provided with a protruding threaded portion 28, being screwed in a corresponding female threaded seat that is provided on the entrance of the end 13.

[0056] Alternatively, the cap 25 can be provided with deformable wings and can be pressure fitted on the upper end 13 of the tubular body 7.

[0057] The cap 25 guarantees the upper closure of the sound box 2 and the structural stability in spite of the torsional stresses caused by pulling the strings 8 being fixed along a generating line of the perimeter wall.

[0058] The opposite end 14, the lower one, is provided with the removable cap 12, which is normally used to allow accessing the sound box 2 in order to exploit it as case for the other component parts of the musical instrument 1.

[0059] Advantageously the sound box 2, besides allowing realizing a kit 3 of parts, acting itself as a case for the other components of the instrument like described in details in the following, it also allows using a neck 4 having a harmonic straight line shape, instead of the necks having a harmonic bend which are usually and classically used in this kind of musical instrument.

[0060] The straight-shaped neck represents a peculiarity of the invention, which allows separately storing all the component parts of the harp inside the sound box 2.

[0061] Due to this expedient, it is possible to obtain lower manufacturing costs and a greater convenience in the final assembly of the instrument. Moreover, the rod-like neck can be easily housed with the column 5 inside the sound box 2 for their transportation.

[0062] A further advantage is that the box 2, when made of Plexiglas, can have a substantially transparent aspect, being able to be lighted from the inside, for example using battery supplied LED lamps, thus forming an optical effect being similar to a lamp. For example, this allows using a harp 1 being realized also as a lamp when it is not used, or at the same time of its use in order to increase the evocative characteristic effect of the instrument itself.

[0063] Moreover, the internal cavity of the box 2 allows housing objects or tools such as for example: a cellular phone, a wallet, a key to tune the instrument and the like, thus giving a convenience of use, which can be particularly valued by the performer.

[0064] The musical instrument 1 of the present invention also includes the base 6 that is made of two detachably interlocking interconnected portions 24, 26. The two interconnected portions form a base having a central hole in order to house the lower end 13 of the sound box 2. The two portions 24, 26 can be divided in order to house the base 6 inside the tubular body 7 during the transportation of the instrument 1.

[0065] The base 6 is particularly useful in order to realize the harp 1 because it allows obtaining greater structural stability and solidity of the final instrument. Actually, it is necessary that the instrument is able to stand in an upright position, in order to allow the performer to play without the risk the harp 1, having a circular cross-section box 2, rotates around its vertical axis or moves during the musical activity. Moreover, the base 6, together with the upper cap 25, has also an important structural function to avoid that the strings tension warps or makes the box 2 itself to collapse.

[0066] The base 6 dimensions and/or shape are such that it can be housed inside the sound box of the invention, and thus it can be part of the kit 3 as described in details in the following.

[0067] It is evident from the description above that all the component parts of the harp 1 are detachable and they can be placed inside the sound box 2, thus forming a kit 3 of parts, which allows transporting the instrument in a handy and convenient way.

[0068] Therefore, according to a further aspect of the invention, and as shown in one embodiment in Figure 3, the present invention concerns a kit 3 of parts for assembling a harp 1, comprising at least: the sound box 2, one column 5, one neck having a harmonic straight line 4, a plurality of strings 8 and as many sharping levers 9. Such a kit 3 is characterized in that the components 5, 4, 8 and 9 are contained inside the box 2, thus acting also as a case.

[0069] Therefore, the kit 3 of the invention allows easily transporting the different components of the harp 1, without the need for an additional case, since the box 2 itself acts as a container for the other parts of the musical instrument. Moreover, given the assembly ease of the different components, the kit 3 of the invention allows assembling the musical instrument 1 without the need for particular expedients, tools or auxiliary devices.

[0070] A further characteristic that will be particularly appreciated by those skilled in the art, is that the box 2, by acting also as a case for the different components of the harp, once the musical instrument is assembled, avoids the problem of where to place the instrument case that usually is used by the harp performers to transport the instrument, for example between a concert and the next one, and that often in turn has overall dimensions which can be inconvenient for the storage during the instrument use.

Claims

1. Sound box (2) for a chordophone musical instrument (1), in particular for a harp (8) further comprising at least one column (5) and a neck (4), characterized by the fact of being a hollow elongated tubular body (7), removable connected to said column (5) and to said neck (4).

2. Sound box (2) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact of being the harp case of said column (5) and said neck (4).

3. Sound box (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that said hollow body (7) has a cylindrical shape.

4. Sound box (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that it is made of a transparent synthetic plastic material.

5. Sound box (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that it is made of Plexiglas.

6. Sound box (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that said hollow body (7) has a lower end (14) closed by a removable cap (12), and an upper end (13) closed by a further removable cap (25).

7. Sound box (2) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact of presenting a plurality of openings (29), regularly aligned along a generating line (30) of the tubular body (7).

8. Sound box (2) according to claim 1, having a length comprised between 950 mm and 1100 mm.

9. Sound box (2) according to the preceding claims, having an outer diameter comprised between 95 mm and 105 mm.

10. Chordophone musical instrument (1), in particular a harp (8), further comprising at least a column (5), a neck (4) and a base (6), characterized in that it comprises the sound box (2) according to any one of the preceding claims.

11. Chordophone musical instrument (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that said column (5) and said neck (4) are made of wooden rods having their respective ends (4a, 5a) interconnected each other at right angle.

12. Chordophone musical instrument (1) according to claim 10, wherein the neck (4) has a straight harmonic shape on which one end of the strings (8) is fixed, being the other end of the strings (8) fixed in a mutual spaced relationship, along a generating axis of said tubular body (7).

13. Chordophone musical instrument (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the base (6) comprises two detachably connectable portions, said base being able in its turn to be housed within the sound box (2).

14. Chordophone musical instrument (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that the column (5) and the neck (4) are interconnected each other by a quick-fit interlocking.

15. Kit of parts (3) for the realization of the harp (1) according to claims 10 to 14, said kit (3) comprising the sound box (2) according to claims 1-9, into which are contained at least:

the column (5),

the neck (4),

the base (6), and optionally

a plurality of strings (8), and

a corresponding plurality of sharping levers (9).

Drawing