Feb. 2, 1965 F. P. M.

BASCHET 3,167,994
MUSICAL INSTRUMENT WITH MECHANICAL RADIATING MEANs
Filed June 10, 1963

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1.
3,157,994
R/SUSCAL ENSRUMENT WITH MECHANCA,
s the spindle 3 and the bore provided at one end of a flat
RASATING MEANS
rancois Pierre Maurice Baschet, 38 Rue Boiiea,
Paris, France
Fied ji:se 10, 1963, Ser. No. 286,542
(Ciaras priority, application France, Miar. 2, i957,
733,963
3 Cairns. (C. 84-434)
This application is a continuation-in-part of my co
pending application Serial No. 720,685, now Patent No.
3,101,022, which was filed March 11, 1958, and directed
to a compound musical instrument.
The object of my invention is an instrument producing
musical sounds having a new timbre and quality of tone.
The present invention has for its object a musical in
strument comprising a metal carrier bar, a plurality of
generators of tuned vibrations composed of metallic rods
one end of which is rigidly connected to said carrier bar
so as to have a node of vibration at the connecting point
thereof, said carrier bar having a mass such that it is
incapable of undergoing any substantial shifting in space
under the action of vibrations imparted thereto by said
generators, said generators when set in vibratory motion
imparting to said carrier bar vibrations corresponding to
the tuned frequency thereof, at least one large radiating
noniuned element or means of substantially rigid material
engaging said carrier bar so as to transform the vibrations
imparted thereto into sounds and radiating same into the
atmosphere, and means for imparting vibrations to said
generators of tuned vibrations.
According to another feature of the present invention,
the large radiating nontuned elements or means is each
made from a thin metal sheet or a plasticized carboard
sheet and has a substantially conical shape.
According to another feature of the present invention,
the large radiating elements or means of substantially
conical shape have a directrix of noncircular configura
tion and generating lines of a variable length.
According to still another feature of the present inven
tion, the vibration-imparting means includes a rod mem
ber having a frictional coefficient similar to that of glass
which engages each metallic rod in a substantially per
pendicular direction. So that when the rod member is longi
tudinally energized or rubbed, the corresponding metallic
rod is set into vibratory notion.
According to still another feature of the present inven
tion, the vibration-imparting means includes a percussion
member adapted to strike said generators to set same into
vibratory motion.
Two embodiments of the invention will now be de
Scribed, reference being made to the accompanying draw
ings given by Way of example and by no means in a
binding sense. In said drawings:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective diagrammatic view of an
instrument of the percussion type;
FIGURE 2 is a view of a detail of FIGURE 1; and
FiGURE 3 is a perspective diagrammatic view of an
instrument comprising vibration-imparting means con
stituted by a rod member.
The musical instrument illustrated in FIG. 1 is con
stituted by a mounting means including two opposite
pedestals carrying, on the one hand, the actual musical
instrument and, on the other hand, the means for striking
the latter. The two opposite pedestals i (only one being
shown so as not to clutter the drawings) forming the
mounting means are rigid with two aligned metal brackets
2 carrying a vertical spindle 3 also made of metal. Over
said spindle are fitted washers 4 and 5 (FIG. 2) which
are preferably made, respectively, of soft wood and of
lead so as to form vibration-absorbing means.
3,167,994
Patented Feb. 2, 1965
A.
2
An upper washer 6 of smailer diameter is fitted between
iron member 7 forming the carrier bar of the instrument
resting on the washers 4 and 5. Different means may be
provided for securing the carrier bar to the pedestal
while ensuring however a suitable insulation so as to
transmit a vibratory energy reduced to a minimum from
the carrier bar to the pedestal.
In the carrier bar there are fitted parallel metal rods
O 8 of which the lengths are selected so that each of them
vibrates at a predetermined frequency. In the case of a
musical instrument adapted to play pieces of music written
On a conventional scale, each rod is tuned so as to vibrate
at the frequency of a note of said scale, but it is also pos
5 sible to select any other desired scale of frequencies.
Said rods are consequently considered as tuned, which
means that each rod vibrates at a predetermined fre
quency without Said frequency being necessarily a fre
queincy forming part of a diatonic or chromatic scale.
20 To the carrier bar 7 there are furthermore secured
metal Supports such as angle members 9 the upstanding
Sections of which have apertures therein through which
rods it pass. The inner ends of rods 10 are threaded so
as to receive nuts on each side of carrier bar 7 or by
any other Suitable means, whereby they are rigidly se
cured to the flat carrier bar 7. At their outer ends, the
rods 10 are rigidly connected to the apices of the cor
responding radiating nontuned elements or means 12, each
being made from a thin metal sheet or a plasticized sheet
30 of cardboard. Each element is substantially conical and
has a directrix of a noncircular shape and generating lines
of different lengths.
The Striking means comprise hammers 13 each being
carried in registry with the corresponding metal rod 8 by
a bell Crank lever 4. All the bell crank levers 14 are
pivotally carried at their apices by a common carrier
Spindle 15. Levers 16, the number of which corresponds
With that of the bell crank levers 14, are furthermore
pivotally carried by a common carrier spindle 17 parallel
40 with Spindle 15. Each of levers 16 forms at one end an
engaging key 18 which is similar to a piano key, while the
other end forms a lever arm 19 on which rests a pusher
member 20 cooperating with the arm of the be crank
lever i4 facing away from the arm-carrying hammer 13.
Upon depression of a key 18, the corresponding hammer
13 strikes the rod 8 which starts vibrating at its natural
frequency. The vibratory energy is transmitted through
the carrier bar 7, the members 9 and the rods 10 to the
conical surfaces of radiating elements 12 which transform
50 said vibratory energy into audible vibrations which are
then propagated into the atmosphere.
The musical instrument illustrated in FIG. 3 includes
a frame or trestle 21 comprising an aSSenably of flat me
tallic bars welded or connected together and carrying by
55 reans of ropes or similar elements 22, 23, 24, of which
Some may be elastic, a flat metallic member 25 forming
the carrier bar. Said flat member 25 is provided with a
plurality of tapped holes inside of which threaded bars
26 are Screwed, each of said bars being locked in position
60 by a nut 27. On each threaded bar 26 is fitted a plate 28
forming a counterweight and held fast at an adjustable
point of said threaded bar 26 by nuts 29 disposed on each
side thereof. Said counterweights 28 are adapted to ad
just in accordance with the different lengths of the cor
65 responding bars 26 the natural frequency of vibration of
Said bars with a view to tuning them. Each bar carries
furthermore a metal plate 3i held fast therein between
two nuts 30. Piate 31 is somewhat elastic and terminates
With a sleeve 32 inside which is fitted the end of a glass
70 rod 33 or a rod of material which has a coefficient of
friction similar to that of glass.
To the flat metallic member 25 there is secured, by
 3,167,994
3.
means of nuts 34, a rod 35 projecting beyond the surface
of the flat metallic member facing away from the bars 26.
The outer end of rod 35 is secured to the apex of a coni
cally shaped radiating element or means 36 made from a
thin metal sheet or of plasticized cardboard. The sub 5 gaging Said carrier bar for transforning the vibrations
stantially conical surface of the radiating element 36 has
a directrix of a noncircular shape and generating lines of
different lengths.
The playing of said instrument is performed by longi
tudinally rubbing with one's fingers the rod 33 which starts
the corresponding bar 26 vibrating at its natural frequen
cy. The vibratory energy is transmitted by the carrier bar
25 and the rod 35 to the surface of radiating element 36
which transforms said energy into audible vibrations
which are propagated into the air.
What I claim is:
1. A musical instrument comprising a metal carrier
bar, a plurality of generators of tuned vibrations includ
ing metal rods one end of each being rigidly connected to
said carrier bar so as to have a node of vibration at the 20
connecting point thereof, said carrier bar having a mass
such that it is incapable of undergoing any substantial
shifting in space under the action of the vibrations im
parted thereto by said generators, said generators when
Set in vibratory motion imparting to said carrier bar vi 25
brations corresponding to the tuned vibrations thereof, at
least one large radiating nontuned means of substantially
rigid material engaging said carrier bar for transforning
the vibrations thereof into sound and radiating same into
the atmosphere, and means for imparting vibrations to 30
said generators of tuned vibrations.
2. A musical instrument comprising a metal carrier
bar, a plurality of generators of tuned vibrations includ
ing metal rods one end of each being rigidly connected to
said carrier bar so as to have a node of vibration at the
connecting point thereof, said carrier bar having a mass
such that it is incapable of undergoing any substantial
shifting in space under the action of the vibrations im
4.
parted thereto by said generators, said generators when
set in vibratory motion imparting to said carrier bar vi
brations corresponding to the tuned frequency thereof,
at least one large metallic radiating nontuned means en
thereof into sound and radiating same into the atmos
phere, and means for imparting vibrations to said gener
ators of tuned vibrations.
3. A musical instrument according to claim 1, in which
O said vibration-imparting means includes a rod member
having a frictional coefficient similar to that of glass en
gaging each metal rod in a substantially transverse direc
tion so that when the rod member is rubbed longitudinal
ly, the corresponding metal rod is set into vibratory mo
tion.
4. A musical instrument according to claim 1, in which
said vibration-imparting means includes a percussion
member adapted to strike said generators to set same into
vibratory motion.
5. A musical instrument according to claim 1, in which
said radiating means is made from metal.
6. A musical instrument according to claim 1, in which
said radiating means is made from piasticized cardboard.
7. A musical instrument according to claim 1, in which
said radiating means has a substantially conical configura
tion.
8. A musical instrument according to claim 1, in which
said radiating means has a directrix of noncircular con
figuration and generating lines of a variable length.
References Cited by the Examiner
UNITED STATES PATENTS
3,004,620 10/61 Baschet ------------- 84-410 X
3,101,022 8/63 Baschet --------------- 84-404
LEYLAND M. MARTIN, Primary Examiner.
LEO SMILOW, Examiner.