Patent Application
20240249705
The present invention relates to the field of vibration generation through aerophone instruments using enclosed air-filled objects.
The background to the invention provides information about the state of the art in the field relating to enclosed air-filled objects and the means for producing vibration and sound in aerophone instruments.
In the case of aerophones, an elastic material (such as but not limited to lips, wood, plastic, or metal) vibrates when in contact with the force of compressed air, which generates a musical tone. Despite using similar materials and air-based applications, there are currently no means available, to the best of our knowledge, to use an enclosed air-filled object as a musical vibration generator in an aerophone instrument. Air-filled objects such as toy balls and balloons, however, share similar material properties to vibration-generating objects like the musical reeds used in aerophone instruments. Both toy balls and musical reeds use air and elastic materials for deformation, whether for bouncing or to create vibration, respectively. In the case of balls and balloons, an elastic material encloses air, which allows the ball or balloon to maintain a resting three-dimensional profile.
Within the current state of the art, traditional aerophone instruments are hard to assemble, often involving an arduous and careful placement of precision manufactured reeds onto a mouthpiece. Reeds can be expensive, fragile, and easily chipped or otherwise damaged, which deters learning for young children and adults. The assembly of a musical reed uses fasteners to connect a reed to a mouthpiece or holder, and a slip fit connection between a mouthpiece and a horn. To add to the subtle complexity within the assembly, the reed tongue must be carefully oriented in line with the aerophone instrument, which is difficult for young users to implement. Difficult assemblies and placements create a learning curve when playing complex musical pipe instruments, especially for children or other people unfamiliar with fasteners, pipe connections, and pipe instruments.
In addition, the player must learn particular techniques in order to position their mouth inside or around a mouthpiece. In various mouthpiece configurations, a mouthpiece provides an air conduit that acts as a means for positioning a wooden or solid musical reed. A mouthpiece allows a player's lips to be positioned relative to a musical reed in such a way as to allow the successful delivery of air (e.g. the player's breath) over a reed and into the instrument in order to generate vibration. Once the vibration produced via the reed measures 20 Hz or more, it is effectively communicated as audible sound through the horn, woodwind, flute, or other aerophone instrument. Within instruments that contain lip reeds such as horns and trumpets, it may take significant practice for a user to learn how to use their lips and breath to produce vibration with lip embouchure. Assembly, reed fragility, and lip embouchure technique create a steep learning curve that can deter people from playing aerophone musical instruments.
Enclosed air-filled objects such as balls and balloons are some of the most popular toys and focal points of games and activities. A user can see, touch, and hear a ball or balloon when the object is bounced, thrown, caught, or vibrated. Enclosed air-filled objects like balls and balloons, as well as the various devices, instruments, and apparatuses that can functionally interact with them, hold a unique place in the cultural fabric of societies all over the world.
With reference to the following overview of prior art, while relevant to either enclosed air-filled objects or sound making aerophone devices, there is no integration of these two aspects in a manner that addresses the desire for more accessible, user-friendly, aerophone instruments.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,704,934A discloses an outer musical balloon that has an electronic music-producing device contained within a nearly opaque inner balloon. Music is activated when sufficient light permeates both balloons.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,219,162A discloses a toy ball having a solid body of foam plastic material and a noisemaker completely embedded within the foam plastic body. The noisemaker includes a hollow rigid housing, which may be formed of a hard plastic, and a marble within the housing that is free to roll around so as to create a clattering sound when the ball is moved around.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,126,634A discloses a dilating catheter for intraluminal use which has an elongated shaft and an enclosed inflatable member or section on the distal extremity of the catheter shaft which has multiple working sections. The first working section elastically expands upon inflation to a first pressure within a first pressure range, and a second working section elastically expands upon inflation to a second pressure range.
CA Patent Document No. 2764839A1 discloses an underwater musical instrument comprising hydraulically resonant bulbs. The spherical bulbs are made of or filled with non-gaseous material, and respond acoustically when they are hit by the user by causing water or other liquid to flow past rigid pipes that are connected to non-enclosed elastic reservoirs.
US Patent Document No. 20060009319A1 discloses a novelty ball assembly that produces noise when squeezed by discharging and releasing air. A noisemaker is disposed of within a self-expanding resilient shell that defines an internal chamber, proximate to the first vent port so that air displaced through the first vent port passes through the noisemaker. As air passes through the noisemaker, the noisemaker produces an audible sound.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,814,999B2 discloses toy aerophone building blocks that produce a plurality of sounds from a plurality of building block configurations. The building blocks are all four-sided polyhedrons that interlock to create aerophone instruments with a plurality of airway channels inside an inner space, whereby larger blocks create lower pitched sounds, while smaller blocks create higher pitched sounds when an air source provides airflow to each aerophone instrument.
US Patent Document No. 20140233780A1 discloses diaphragms for use in air horns or similar noise-producing devices. The diaphragms may have concave or convex non-linear shapes, wherein protrusions are included in the body of the rigid or semi-rigid diaphragm. The diaphragms may be made of any relevant materials and keep their unenclosed non-flat shapes during and without application of compressed gas.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,483,017B1 discloses a method and apparatus for tensioning or relaxing a membrane of a musical instrument, such as a traditional frame drum, using pressurized fluid that is guided into one or more variable pressure chambers formed by an expandable hollow body. Pressure is exerted evenly all around the circumference of the membrane, which is fixed only by a band so that it can be tensed or relaxed very rapidly. The band is arranged to vibrate freely in relation to the body while the membrane is subjected to pressure from the variably pressurized chamber.
As can be appreciated from the art overviewed above, related to enclosed air-filled objects, the application of these objects does not result in the production of a series of sounds through vibration in a way that can be tuned or played as an instrument. Furthermore, in the art overviewed above, related to sound production using compressed air, none of the solutions employ an enclosed air-filled object as its vibration-producing mechanism.
There remains a need to reimagine the traditional aerophone by replacing standard reeds with a durable, affordable, and workable alternative that helps players bypass the steep learning curves associated with assembly, embouchures, and skill acquisition with respect to this genre of instruments.
The present invention relates generally to vibration production through an aerophone instrument using an air-filled object that remains enclosed during use without the loss of air. The air-filled object begins to vibrate by its association with an apparatus that comprises an air conduit and a means for positioning the object along an air pathway (defined by an air conduit with an air passage) between one or more air inlets and one or more air outlets of the air conduit (e.g. a pipe) as air is delivered through the air passage of the air conduit. A first volume of compressed air is delivered through one or more air inlets of an air conduit, which produces a vibration on the external surface of a wall of the air-filled object, and exits one or more air outlets of the air conduit as a second volume of compressed air. The air-filled object can be situated at any point along an air pathway of the apparatus disclosed herein, provided that it causes a resistance to, or partially blocks the flow of compressed air within or through the air conduit. Depending on the configuration of the apparatus and the location of the air-filled object along an air pathway of the air conduit, and/or the pressure within the air-filled object, and/or the wall thickness or rigidity of the air-filled object, the degree of air compression required may be varied (e.g. by way of a player blowing, a foot pump, an air compressor, or a piston) to cause a wall of the air-filled object to vibrate at frequencies sufficient to produce sound that is audible to the human ear. The means used to position the air-filled object along an air pathway of the air conduit results in the creation of an interface conducive to sound-producing vibration. The means used and characteristics of the interface can also be varied (e.g. by a user holding the enclosed air-filled object in their hand at the air outlet of the air conduit, or by the application of various structures for securing, holding, and shifting the air-filled object's position relative to the air outlet) to provide options for producing a range of sounds and tones. For example, by changing the surface tension area of a wall of the air-filled object that vibrates when struck by the pressure of the first volume of compressed air before exiting one or more air outlets of the conduit as a second volume of compressed air. In this way, the apparatus of the present disclosure provides a user with an experience of playing an aerophone instrument using an air-filled object to generate sound in a multi-sensory, accessible (user-friendly), and dynamic way.
In one aspect there is provided an apparatus for assembling an aerophone instrument comprising:
wherein when an air-filled object is operatively associated with the air conduit using the means for positioning the air-filled object and a first volume of compressed air is delivered to enter the air conduit through one or more air inlets, a wall of the air-filled object vibrates and causes a second volume of compressed air to vibrate in the air passage before some or all of said second volume of compressed air exits the air conduit from one or more air outlets.
In another aspect there is provided an aerophone instrument comprising:
wherein when a first volume of compressed air is delivered to enter the air conduit through one or more air inlets, a wall of the air-filled object vibrates and causes a second volume of compressed air to vibrate in the air passage before some or all of said second volume of compressed air exits the air conduit from one or more air outlets.
In still another aspect there is provided a method of assembling an aerophone instrument comprising the steps of:
In yet another aspect there is provided a method of producing a vibration comprising the steps of:
In one embodiment, when the air-filled object is operatively associated with the air conduit using the means for positioning the air-filled object a vibration gap is formed through which the vibration of the area of the wall of the air-filled object causes the vibration of the second volume of air.
In another embodiment, the means for positioning the air-filled object comprises one or more vibration anchor points to keep the air-filled object stationary in a desired position.
In still another embodiment, the one or more segments of the air conduit each define a segment of the air passage.
In yet a further embodiment, one of the one or more segments of the air conduit may be interchanged with another segment of an air conduit.
In yet another embodiment, the apparatus further comprises one or more sound modulation means.
In a further embodiment, one of the one or more sound modulation means comprises a means to alter the one or more air pathways, a means to change the position of the air-filled object and remain operatively associated with the air conduit, or a means to alter the tension of the wall of the air-filled object when operatively associated with the air conduit.
In yet a further embodiment, one of the one or more sound modulation means comprises one or more of a segment of an air conduit; one or more mouthpieces, tone holes, keys, valves, sliders, horn attachments, and tuning connectors; the means for positioning an air-filled object to be operatively associated with the air conduit; a means for deflating or inflating and resealing the air-filled object; fasteners operatively associated with an actuation mechanism for stretching the wall of the air-filled object; sand, styrofoam balls, and other rigid or semi-rigid structures placed inside of the air-filled object.
In another embodiment, two or more apparatuses are connected to join their respective air conduits and multiply the available air pathways.
In still another embodiment, the one of the one or more air inlets is configured to be operatively connected to a source of compressed air.
In a further embodiment, the one of the one or more air inlets is configured with a mouthpiece to receive compressed air from the lungs of a user.
In still a further embodiment, the one of the one or more air inlets is configured with a connector to receive compressed air from a pump.
These and other features of the invention will become more apparent in the following detailed description in which reference is made to the appended drawings.
The present disclosure provides apparatuses, systems, and methods for assembling and playing aerophone instruments configured to produce vibration, including audible sound vibration, using an air-filled object.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains.
The use of the word “a” or “an” when used herein in conjunction with the term “comprising” may mean “one”, but it is also consistent with the meaning of “one or more”, “at least one”, and “one or more than one.”
As used herein, the terms “comprising”, “having”, “including”, and “containing” and grammatical variations thereof, are inclusive or open-ended and do not exclude additional, unrecited elements and/or method steps. The term “consisting essentially of” when used herein in connection with a device denotes that additional elements and/or method steps may be present, but that these additions do not materially affect the manner in which the recited device functions. The term “consisting of” when used herein in connection with a device excludes the presence of additional elements and/or method steps. A device described herein as comprising certain elements and/or steps may also, in certain embodiments consist essentially of those elements and/or steps, and in other embodiments consist of those elements and/or steps, whether or not these embodiments are specifically referred to.
As used herein, the term “about” refers to an approximately +/−10% variation from a given value. It is to be understood that such a variation is always included in any given value provided herein, whether or not it is specifically referred to.
The recitation of ranges herein is intended to convey both the ranges and individual values falling within the ranges, to the same place value as the numerals used to denote the range, unless otherwise indicated herein.
The use of any examples or exemplary language, e.g. “such as”, “exemplary embodiment”, “illustrative embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “another embodiment”, “prototypic embodiment”, “in one embodiment”, and “for example” is intended to illustrate or denote aspects, embodiments, variations, elements or features relating to the invention and not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
As used herein, the terms “connect”, “connected”, and “connection” refer to any direct or indirect physical association between elements or features of the instrument of the present disclosure. Accordingly, these terms may be understood to denote elements or features that are partly or completely contained within one another, attached, coupled, disposed on, joined together, protruding, plumbed, or ported into, etc., even if there are other elements or features intervening between the elements or features described as being connected.
As used herein, the terms “vibration”, “vibrating”, and “vibrational” refer to the periodic motion of a material's particles in alternately opposite directions from a position of equilibrium when that equilibrium has been disturbed. Vibration is thus created when force impacts any material, and becomes measurable as a mechanical phenomenon above frequencies of 0 Hz. For example, in the case of using an air-filled object, vibration is expressed as the periodic motion of the air-filled object in response to the pressure applied onto the external surface of the air-filled object using compressed air as the means to induce vibration, resulting in a measurable frequency above 0 Hz.
As used herein, the term “sound” refers to a vibration that propagates as an acoustic wave through a transmission medium such as gas, liquid, or solid. This term also refers to the reception and perception of acoustic waves by the human body and brain. Measurable frequency ranges of an acoustic wave that are between about 20 Hz-20 kHz, and any decibel ranges higher than 0 dB, can be registered as audible sound by those who have little to no hearing impairment. Frequency ranges that fall below about 4000 Hz might register more as vibratory sensation than audible sound for those with severe hearing impairment (e.g. hearing loss of over about 61 dB). Decibel ranges above about 194 dB are generally not measurable, and decibel ranges above about 140 dB can be physiologically dangerous to a listener even after short term exposure, and therefore will not be considered as desirable target ranges for a listener. It should be noted that sound volume measured in decibels decreases over increased distance between a listener and a sound source, and a listener may move away or position themselves spatially within a more desirable range of sound decibels relative to the sound source, which for a listener with little to no hearing impairment may be comfortable at 40 dB-95 dB. In the present disclosure, the frequency and decibel ranges of different instrument embodiments can vary greatly depending on the configuration of components within that embodiment, and those ranges can vary further depending on how the vibration is being altered. For instance, in one embodiment of the instrument that measures about 19 inches between its longest points, and features tone holes as one might encounter on a flute, the frequency range produced might be between 200 Hz-1000 Hz. If most or all of this embodiment's holes were covered by the user's fingers, the sub-range of frequencies would become closer to about 800 Hz-1000 Hz. Most aerophone instruments which are blown by a user produce sound at about 0.001 psi to 2.5 psi above atmospheric pressure. If a user's breath was used as a means to deliver about 0.75 psi of compressed air into an instrument to vibrate the air-filled object, and the pressure within the air-filled object was about 0.7 psi, while the thickness of the air-filled object's wall was about 0.04 mm, the decibel level of the instrument might measure between about 60 dB-85 dB. If a user were to blow into another embodiment of an instrument with about 7.5 psi with alternate sources of compressed air (e.g. a manual hand or foot pump), and the air-filled object's internal pressure in that instrument measured around 7.0 psi would produce a sound decibel level in amplitude to about 70 dB-95 dB.
As used herein, the terms “elastic”, “elasticity”, and “elastically” refer to the physical deformation properties of materials, as well as the ability of an object or material to return to its original shape and size following deformation, such as compression or expansion. For example, at the most extreme end of deformation, air can be compressed indefinitely, and will return to its original state after the compression is removed, therefore air is an extremely elastic material. In the present disclosure it is to be understood that, while any components of the invention may be discussed with reference to these terms, there will be a primary focal emphasis on the vibrational and sound-producing capacities of enclosed air-filled objects. It is also to be understood that elasticity can refer to, and not be limited by, any number of fully or partially malleable materials, spanning a range from easily deformed or semi-rigid materials (e.g. silicone, latex, rubber) to more rigid materials (e.g. plastic, metal, carbon fibre).
As used herein, the term “tension” refers to how the physical properties of elastic materials change when they are subject to compression, expansion, pushing, pulling, repositioning, stretching, and/or squeezing when those forces are transmitted by any three-dimensional object. It is to be understood in the present disclosure that the correlation between the tension values of air-filled objects, when they are positioned in any embodiment of the instrument, and the altered vibrational and sound qualities that the instrument produces as a result of tensioning the elasticity of those air-filled objects, will be a primary focus when using any variations of the term tension.
As used herein, the term “pressure” refers to any force applied perpendicular to the surface of an object, or perpendicular to a tangent plane of a curved object's surface, as well as to a measurement from a pressure gauge relative to atmospheric pressure. For example, when referring to a measurement of 2 psi, 2 psi above atmospheric pressure is implied. The pressure of compressed air can apply force to an enclosed air-filled object's external and internal walls, which alters its vibration, elasticity, and/or tension, while the measurable quantity of that compressed air can be gauged in pounds per square inch (psi). It is to be understood in the present disclosure that pressure can refer to either the force of compressed air within an instrument's air conduit to produce vibration against the external surface of an enclosed air-filled object, as well as to the force of compressed air required inside that same enclosed air-filled object in order for it to retain an inflated form. The term pressure can also refer to the amount of force impact applied by any part of an instrument on another part of the instrument to alter compression. For example, certain embodiments in the present disclosure include a means for positioning an air-filled object where the amount of pressure applied to its external surface area can be adjusted using a threaded apparatus, resulting in increased compression.
As used herein, the terms “modulate” and “modulation” refer to any adjustment of a vibration and/or sound's frequency, pitch, amplitude, timbre, envelope, velocity, wavelength, and/or phase. For example, in the present disclosure a sound modulation means can refer to any segment of any embodiment where a user can manipulate the delivery pathway of air through the instrument (e.g. by covering holes) in such a way as to increase the audible vibrational frequency produced by the instrument.
As used herein, the term “modular” refers to any physical units of an object that are constructed with standardized dimensions to allow for flexibility and variety in use. In the present disclosure, some embodiments of the invention include modular segments that can be removed, adjusted, and/or interchanged with other similar or different parts that feature the same or interchangeable connector means in order to change the functional, sonic, and/ornamental qualities of the instrument. For example, one modular embodiment of the invention featuring a linear 7 inch cylindrical pipe segment that connects an air inlet to an air outlet can be interchanged with a nonlinear 20 inch conical pipe segment using the same connector joints, which would in turn modulate the sound-producing vibration that results when compressed air is delivered through the instrument by lowering the resulting frequency due to the increased length of the pipe, while changing its timbre due to the different shape of the pipe.
As used herein, the term “segment” refers to each of the parts into which something is or may be conceptually divided to describe various features and aspects of the apparatuses, systems, and instruments of the present disclosure. Segments and segmentation are, in other words, understood to refer to the functional delineation and/or configuration of a part, or portion of an apparatus, system, or instrument according to the present disclosure. Segments may or may not be marked by visibly discernable physical features along or on a part, or component of a structure. It is to be understood that one segment can be considered further subdivided into multiple parts with different functions. Alternatively, one segment may refer to a part that spans or straddles two visually discernible parts of the apparatuses, systems, and instruments of the present disclosure. For example, in the present disclosure, one end segment of an air conduit may include an air inlet, mouthpiece, and extended hose, all of which extend the delivery pathway of air through the air passage. Furthermore, it is to be understood that when any of these segments extend the air conduit, they extend the air passage inside of the air conduit in a corresponding manner, through which there may be one or more air pathways. For example, in the present disclosure, interchangeable segments can be used to build modular instrument systems where the total length of an air conduit is generally substantially equal to the total length of its respective air passage, and can be configured for the delivery of air through multiple air pathways, which may or may not correspond to the total length of the air passage.
As used herein, the term “interface” refers to any area, region, or space where there is a change in structure or composition from one substantially distinguishable material to another, which materials are by way of the interface operatively associated or connected and interact with one another in a system (e.g. an apparatus). The change may be a clear and sharp delineation or a phased, gradient type of delineation through an interface region. In the present disclosure, it is to be understood that this term refers to, among other things, regions that allow a user to generate and/or manipulate sound-producing vibrations with a body part (playable interface). Also included are interfaces between, or that are segments of the apparatuses, systems, and instruments. Interfaces may or may not be configured or varied by interchanging parts or using interface parts, such as new segments, connectors, hoses, valves, and the like. Interface parts may also be used to alter an instrument's vibrational qualities at its vibration gap (vibration point), or source (e.g. where the air-filled object connects with the delivery of air through a conduit), as well as segments on the instrument that can be directly modulated by the user in a manner that alters the instrument's airflow, vibration, and sound properties. For example, in certain embodiments, an air conduit segment may feature tone holes with or without additional structures that can be manipulated with a user's fingers to alter sound properties, and can be referred to as a playable interface.
It is contemplated that any embodiment of the compositions, devices, articles, methods and uses disclosed herein can be implemented by one skilled in the art, as is, or by making such variations or equivalents without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
While the following description and the figures detail certain embodiments to illustrate and exemplify the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited by the details of the construction and specific illustration of such embodiments which follows.
The present disclosure provides an apparatus for assembling an aerophone instrument for generating vibration using an enclosed air-filled object. The apparatus comprises an air conduit wherein air is delivered from one or more air inlets to one or more air outlets, and a means for positioning an air-filled object to be operatively associated with the air conduit to assemble an aerophone instrument.
The apparatus for assembling an aerophone instrument comprises an air conduit, including a first end and a second end for delivering compressed air through the air conduit. The first end is configured with one or more air inlets for delivering at least a first volume of compressed air through the air passage to the external surface of a wall of an air-filled object, and the second end is configured with one or more air outlets for releasing a second volume of compressed air from the air passage. One or more air conduit segments correlate to one or more air passage segments as its internal counterpart, which connect the air inlet(s) to the air outlet(s) while defining air pathways for compressed air delivered from an external source. A means to modulate vibration and sound using an enclosed air-filled object can be integrated into, or otherwise operatively associated with, or connected to one or more segments of the air conduit.
An air conduit segment can be cylindrical, conical, polygonal, ovular, spiral, or any number of other shapes, as exemplified by various embodiments in
The air passage exists in a one to one correlation with the total length of the air conduit, and refers to the measurable internal distance that air can travel from one end of the conduit to the other. The addition or removal of any segment that lengthens, shortens, or otherwise reshapes the air conduit also changes the air passage.
The delivery and directionality of air through the air passage is referred to as an air pathway, and may or may not correspond to the full length of an air passage depending on where air inlets and outlets are positioned along an air conduit. This said, an air pathway can be similarly extended or shortened by interchanging air conduit segments. In one embodiment, an air pathway can be less than or exceed the full length of an air passage, and/or alter directionality as the air pathway moves through one or more segments of an air passage. The air pathway can be less than the full length of an air passage when compressed air is delivered through an air inlet that is not located at an end of the air conduit, or when the air passage divides into two or more segments (bifurcated, trifurcated, etc.), diverting an air pathway. Conversely, the air pathway can exceed the length of an air passage when compressed air is delivered into the instrument from a distance, or released back into the atmosphere beyond the air passage through an air outlet.
An air inlet(s) is where a first volume of compressed air (e.g. breath) begins to travel through an air passage inside an air conduit, and can be configured with a mouthpiece that facilitates the delivery of compressed air supplied from an air source. All segments of the air inlet can be rigid (e.g. plastic pipe), flexible (e.g. a corrugated plastic hose attachment), or any combination of the two. Compressed air sources other than human breath (e.g. analog or electric air pumps) can also be connected to an air inlet.
An air outlet(s) is where a second volume of compressed air is released from the air passage, and can be made from the same or different materials as the air inlet(s). Air outlets can take the form of a pipe opening, or other hole in the air conduit, and may or may not be configured with additional structures (e.g. a valve), or manipulated (e.g. by user's finger), to arrest, impede, or divert the flow of air along a given air pathway.
In certain embodiments, the air conduit comprises more than one air inlet, more than one air outlet, and/or additional segments to further extend or reduce the available air delivery pathways. When piping, tubing, and/or chambers are used to construct an air conduit, air pathways accessible from or through the air conduit may include air inlets, air outlets, and intervening segments between said inlets and outlets. These various segments may protrude into or be nested within one another. Connecting air conduit segments may be achieved using a variety of other connecting means, such as threaded, slip fit, snap fit, union, magnetic connecting means, and other segment interface parts. Modular air conduits can also be disassembled or collapsed to facilitate ease of transportation, especially when combined with flexible manufacturing materials.
The apparatus for assembling an aerophone instrument comprises a means for positioning an air-filled object to be operatively associated with (connected to) the air conduit in such a way that it can securely hold an air-filled object stationary while an external surface (wall) of an air-filled object vibrates when it comes into contact with a volume of compressed air.
The function of the means for positioning an air-filled object is to hold the air-filled object's external wall about 0-10 mm away from an air conduit's opening so that vibration may occur when air is delivered through the air passage that pushes against the external wall of the air-filled object. The means for positioning an air-filled object can thus be alternately referred to as simply an object holder, since its primary function is to position, reposition, and/or hold an air-filled object securely in a desired position to be operatively associated to an apparatus of the present disclosure (e.g. more particularly, the air conduit).
The means for positioning an air-filled object is able to resist the force of compressed air pushing against the external wall of the air-filled object during vibration to keep the air-filled object stationary, and can be made out of any rigid or semi-rigid material, such as, but not limited to metal, plastic, wood, cement, resin, rubber, or glass, and can also be designed to include ornamental features. In certain embodiments, a user's hand and/or fingers can serve as a means for positioning the air-filled object, as illustrated in
Certain embodiments feature systems wherein the means for positioning the air-filled object involves placing the object inside a chamber of the air conduit, wherein a region of the air-filled object's exterior wall is positioned along, within, aligned with, or otherwise in fluid communication with an opening of the air conduit. In embodiments where the object holder comprises a region of an internal wall of the air conduit, air must be able to pass around the air-filled object so that the air-filled object does not completely impede airflow through the air passage. Therefore, an air conduit segment which holds the air-filled object may have a minor and major diameter, or an air-filled object may be used, which has a minor or major diameter to provide for air pathways around the air-filled object.
For example, in embodiments exemplified by
Alternative embodiments of a means for positioning an air-filled object may also feature a compression interface with threaded fasteners as seen in
The means for positioning an air-filled object facilitates the formation of a vibration gap, which is the space formed when an air-filled object is positioned in relation to an opposing surface (of an air-filled object or of the air conduit in fluid communication with an opening to the air passage, to impact airflow and enable the vibration of a compressed volume of air). As compressed air travels through the air passage to the vibration gap along an air pathway, it causes at least a portion of the external wall of the air-filled object to vibrate when it is within about 0-10 mm of an opposing surface. Even if the vibration gap is initially 0 mm, the air pressure of a compressed volume of air can displace the wall sufficiently to create a gap that is more than 0 mm and still less than or equal to about 10 mm. If the vibration gap distance exceeds about 10 mm, the external wall of the air-filled object is less likely to vibrate to a sufficient degree for audible sound to be experienced by a user or audience.
Vibration gaps can be configured or delineated along one or more points or regions of an air-filled object's external surface area using an object holder (e.g. a means for positioning an air-filled object according to the present disclosure). When vibration gaps are formed between two or more opposing surfaces (one of which is a surface of the air-filled object), the space formed between those opposing surfaces may be any number of different shapes through which compressed air may produce vibration, including but not limited to curved, angular, biconvex, or bell shapes (as illustrated in
An object holder will generally include two or more vibration anchor points (points of connection) that serve to delineate and position the region of the wall of the air-filled object that will be operatively associated with the air conduit in order to vibrate as compressed air is delivered through the air passage of the air conduit along a given air pathway. The vibration anchor points allow the air-filled object to be operatively associated with the air conduit when the distance between the external wall of the air-filled object is within about 0-10 mm of being in fluid communication with the closest air passage segment within the air conduit.
Certain embodiments feature a continuous surface of vibration anchor points (a vibration perimeter delineating a segment around the vibrating air-filled object wall), instead of discrete regions of contact between the air-filled object and object holder. For example, in one embodiment, the object holder may be the external wall of one or more air conduit segments, which provides a continuous surface of vibration anchor points along a vibration perimeter. One variation of this embodiment is exemplified by
In certain embodiments, a combination of discrete and continuous vibration anchor points can be used to configure a vibration gap. For example, as depicted in
An air-filled object may refer to an object that is filled with any gaseous substance, such as the air in the atmosphere, a noble gas, or any other gas that can be safely managed, if it were to escape from the air-filled object. Such objects remain enclosed when integrated with an apparatus of the present disclosure for use to assemble an aerophone instrument according to the present disclosure. Once the air-filled object is securely positioned to be operatively associated with an air conduit, using the object holder's vibration anchor points to define a vibration gap, a source of compressed air can be delivered through an air passage along an available air pathway, as provided by the air conduit to vibrate a region of the air-filled object's external wall, producing vibration, and allowing the apparatus to function as an aerophone instrument. It is noted that when the external membrane of an air-filled object is generally impacted, it functions as a membranophone within musical instrument classification systems, however when it is configured to produce vibration using compressed air within the instrument in the present disclosure, it functions as part of an aerophone.
An enclosed air-filled object can be described as any object in which an elastic wall surface divides an interior space from an exterior space or environment (e.g. a balloon, a ball). In order to remain enclosed during use, an air-filled object can contain pressure either above or below atmospheric pressure and may use a valve, tie, knotted ends, or an O-ring to become sealed. Multiple pieces of different materials can also be stitched, fastened, and/or fused together to form the air-filled object. When depressurized below atmospheric pressure, the object can use a rigid structure to hold its 3D form. Additionally, an air-filled object can be formed by combining elastic surfaces to a rigid structure, and can be attached to various object holders using external anchor points.
Air-filled objects can be spherical, ovular, polygonal (e.g. having four or more sides), spiral, or a hybrid combination of any of these shapes. Air-filled objects may also integrate protruding or intruding segments along the overall body of a singular enclosed object. A non-exhaustive list of air-filled object shapes are exemplified in
It is to be understood in the present disclosure that the air-filled object's diameter and material durometer dictates how much air pressure would have to be applied to generate the desired vibration from the wall material of the air-filled object. The input pressure of compressed air must be sufficient to cause the wall of the object to vibrate and as a result generate vibration in the compressed air volume flowing along an air pathway as it exits an air outlet. High durometer object materials like steel and nitinol require higher input pressures to create vibration relative to lower durometer air-filled objects of the same size and wall thickness. Higher durometer materials may require an air compressor with pressures up to 5000 psi. Similar to higher durometer materials, thicker walled objects require more pressure to vibrate, and may require pressures up to 5000 psi to enable vibration. Materials like rubbers, plastics, and mylar—which are commonly used to make balloon walls measuring about 0.005-1.0 mm that can be inflated by a user's lung power—can also easily be made to vibrate by delivery of air from a user's lung power at pressures 0.001-3 psi above atmospheric pressure. Thus, the durometer of the material used in an air-filled object can be shore 00:00 to any hardness whatsoever. Depending on the air-filled object's material properties, the use of pressure values, and varying wall thicknesses, can result in the generation of different vibration properties. It is also to be understood that gases other than air (e.g. helium, sulphur hexafluoride) can be used inside of the enclosed air-filled object, which may also result in different vibration properties when played.
The enclosed air-filled object can be experienced as a three-dimensional object that produces sounds of varied tones and volumes when it vibrates, depending on properties, such as, but not limited by the air-filled object's material, size, wall thickness, internal air pressure, and shape. In order to generate audible sound (20 Hz-20 kHz) through vibration, the air-filled object must not completely obstruct passage or flow of air through the air conduit. A relationship between pressure and sound volume exists where additional air pressure inside the air-filled object requires that higher air pressure be applied to the outside of the air-filled object in order to produce vibration, which in turn emits a louder sound.
In certain embodiments, an enclosed air-filled object is interchangeable with other enclosed air-filled objects of different shapes, sizes, designs, wall thickness, and materials, provided that: a) the air-filled object can still fit sufficiently secure within the object holder as to remain stationary when operatively associated with the air conduit and in use, and b) can be positioned to define a vibration gap of about 0-10 mm using vibration anchor points.
In embodiments of an instrument according to the present disclosure, a user's lips do not directly touch the vibrating air-filled object. Therefore, no embouchure is required to play the instrument. Any learning curves associated with embouchures are eliminated, which makes the instrument user-friendly by allowing the user to immediately be able to play the instrument without specialized training. Using an enclosed air-filled object to modulate sonic qualities independently of using an embouchure broadens performative range.
For example, in one embodiment depicted in
In certain embodiments, the aerophone instrument may include a means to modulate sound vibrations that can be manipulated by the user as a playable interface. Sound modulation means, which may be integrated into or otherwise connected to the air conduit may take the initial pitch generated at the vibration gap and modulate it using methods for increasing or decreasing resistance to the flow of compressed air out of the air conduit. Methods of modulating said resistance may include connecting one or more playable interfaces to an air conduit segment, adjusting the object holder and thereby the positioning of an air-filled object and resulting vibration gap, and any other means of modulating the resistance to a volume of compressed air exiting the air passage of the air conduit of an instrument according to the present disclosure.
Sound modulation means may include any means that effect changes to sound properties such as frequency, pitch, timbre, amplitude, or phase. For example, frequency refers to an amount of vibrations per second and is measured in Hertz. Note changes, octave changes, pitch bends, and fine-tuning, for example, change the frequency of a sound. For example, an instrument similar to a flute (illustrated in FIG. 35B) may produce different frequencies at each tone hole. Pitch refers to the perceived high or low quality of a sound, determined respectively by how high or low a frequency is. Timbre refers to various characteristics of a sound such as resonance (e.g. a vowel sound), or colorings of the sound derived from differences in vibrations using different instrument shapes or materials (e.g. mylar versus rubber). An instrument similar to an oboe (the vibration gap illustrated in
In certain embodiments, a playable interface may contain tone holes, keys, sliding joints, and/or valves to adjust the total resistance to vibration within the air passage, and may allow a user to modulate audible sound properties once that vibrational frequency on the surface of an air-filled object measures more than 20 Hz. For example, in embodiments featuring tone holes, if a user covers and uncovers any of the holes with their fingers, a given air pathway through the air passage of an air conduit becomes longer or shorter. Sound-producing vibration becomes lower pitched as more holes closer to the air inlet are covered, provided that the vibration's harmonic frequency remains constant.
In other embodiments, the internal diameter of the playable interface may be variable as a method of increasing or decreasing air resistance through the air passage. In one embodiment, as the diameter of the playable interface increases, the pitch may become higher. In another embodiment, as the diameter of the instrument's opening in fluid communication with the air-filled object becomes smaller, the frequency may decrease. Compressed air delivered through the aerophone instrument's air passage creates friction, which resists oscillatory movements produced from the air-filled object's vibration. In a further embodiment, as the length of the air conduit becomes longer, the pitch of sound produced as a result of vibrating a wall of an air-filled object decreases.
In certain embodiments, increased or decreased air pressure delivered through an aerophone instrument according to the present disclosure will produce different sound properties. For example, if air conduit segments are made out of flexible materials, such as, but not limited to rubbers or plastics, a segment can itself be squeezed or bent to modulate the pitch of sound produced. The use of any mechanism which alters the shape and/or other physical qualities of the air passage provided by the air conduit impacts the sound properties of the instrument, or notes that can be played using a given instrument according to the present disclosure.
In yet another embodiment, the user can change the diameters or shapes of the holes on the playable interface, including the diameter of the instrument itself as a sound modulation means. For example, openings in the air conduit may contain mechanical irises, flapper valves, spring-loaded keys, expandable rubber donuts, chucks, or any mechanism that can alter the shape of the opening during performance. These features are similar to how mutes and plungers may be used in trumpets to modulate sounds coming from the horn.
In other embodiments, the shape of any of the air conduit's segments, including the playable interface, can modulate sound properties. For example,
In certain embodiments, another vibration and/or sound modulating element or feature contained within the air conduit segments relates to indentations or corrugated textures found inside an air conduit's inner walls. This sound modulation means can be related to fipples in the whistle and pipe organ family of instruments, where sound is created by compressing air across or over a protruding or sharp edge. The elasticity of air passing across a sharp edge facilitates high and low oscillating pressures, which in turn creates audible vibration, and pitch alterations in the instrument. The production of a vibration from a sharp corrugated edge, or fipple within the air conduit, may in turn modulate the vibrations of the air-filled object downstream from the vibration gap (with reference to the flow of air from the air source), or vice versa.
The modular design options for the aerophone instrument according to the present disclosure allow for differently shaped and sized embodiments with expanded sonic applications and qualities. For example, an instrument with multiple air inlets makes it possible for multiple users to play the instrument simultaneously, multiple air outlets allow multiple sounds to be produced from a single instrument, and modular playable interfaces allow users to easily interchange one tuned musical key and/or playable interface style for another (e.g. switching from an interface that is tuned to the key of C using holes as a sound modulation means to an interface tuned to E flat using valves).
Optional tension altering means can be added to embodiments which may be used to modulate sound properties by compressing or expanding the enclosed air-filled object and/or by repositioning the entire air-filled object so as to alter the vibration gap. A tension altering means can range from the hand of the player and separate structures used by the player, to features incorporated into the apparatus itself, coupled with the means for positioning the air-filled object. For example, adjusting the space or angle of the air-filled object's surface area at the vibration gap, in fluid communication with an air outlet on an aerophone instrument, can further modulate the instrument's sound properties. Tension altering means featured on the apparatus itself can be made from but are not limited to rigid or semi-rigid materials such as wood, rubber, plastic, metal, and carbon fibre.
In one embodiment, the inflation or deflation of an enclosed air-filled object may be used as a tension altering means by stretching the air-filled object's wall material. Inflation or deflation of an air-filled object may also be used as a sound modulation means by adjusting the distance between an air-filled object's external wall and an opposing surface which forms a vibration gap.
In another embodiment, compression may be used to adjust the elasticity and tension on the external surface of the wall of an air-filled object. This results in the modulation of the instrument's sound properties. The ability to change frequencies by altering the tension or position of the enclosed air-filled object simulates what trumpet and lip reed players do with their lips to alter frequencies when selecting octaves via lip tension. For example, in one embodiment of the instrument shown in
In yet another embodiment, expansion forces applied from outside of the air-filled object may also be used to stretch the external surface of the wall of an air-filled object to modulate sound. For example, in one embodiment illustrated in
Optional liquids and/or solids can be added inside the enclosed air-filled object before it is sealed to modulate sound properties while producing visual effects. These embodiments relate to non-electric acoustical sound waves that can produce visual patterns and effects within a vibrating air-filled object that has been filled in some capacity with various liquids (e.g. water, non-corrosive oil) or solids (e.g. sand, miniature styrofoam balls).
When matter other than gas is also sealed inside the enclosed air-filled object, as shown in
Certain embodiments may feature solids and/or light effects in or around the air-filled object that can function more ornamentally. For example, the extremely lightweight nature of glitter allows for an additional visual component to be present inside of the air-filled object without drastically affecting the instrument's sound, while non-analog components such as battery or air turbine-powered LED lights can be affixed to the air-filled object, and/or any of the adjoining segments of the instruments to illuminate it. Furthermore, any mounted light or laser aimed at the vibrating surface(s) of certain air-filled objects (e.g. a transparent or semi-transparent balloon) can also generate visual patterns inside or outside of the object.
A user can position an enclosed air-filled object into the object holder of an apparatus according to the present disclosure to assemble an instrument according to the present disclosure. The air-filled object held stationary by vibration anchor points connected to the object holder, defines a vibration gap, which provides the instrument functionality to generate vibrations and, more particularly, sound vibrations. In one embodiment, a user can play the instrument by first holding the instrument at one or more segments of its air conduit, and then by providing 0.001-3 psi of compressed air from a user's lungs into an air inlet of the air conduit in order to vibrate the external wall of the air-filled object at the vibration gap interface. Additional optional features of the assembled aerophone can consist of alternative sources of compressed air and advanced modular instrument systems.
All aerophone instruments require a source of air to create sound-producing vibration. It is understood in the present disclosure that a source of compressed air may refer to any gas that can be safely used to power the instrument. For example, a source of compressed air may consist of atmospheric air, a noble gas, or any other gas that can be safely delivered through embodiments of the instrument according to the present disclosure. Typically, breath is the most accessible source of compressed air used in many embodiments, but other embodiments feature different sources of compressed air (modes of air delivery) that are used to power the instrument and vibrate the wall of an enclosed air-filled object.
For example, air-pumping shoes (illustrated in
Embodiments configured for sound production at volumes loud enough to be heard by an audience across a stadium-sized space, or otherwise configured to project sound (at about 85 dB at the point of listening) across about one kilometer, can be connected to powered air compressors or pumps in order to provide enough sustained air pressure to vibrate the air-filled object's external wall in order to produce louder sound. In certain embodiments, an air compressor, or air pump may be used in order to free up a user's breath, legs, and/or energy to allow a user to play (one or more) aerophones with full focus, or even to play an aerophone while moving around unencumbered.
In certain embodiments, the apparatuses and instruments of the present disclosure may be configured to have interchangeable components providing for modular instrument systems. Each of the air conduit, object holder, and air-filled object components, as well as additional features can be made in interchangeable formats to readily reconfigure individual instrument embodiments and create systems of interconnected instruments with a wide variety of sound properties and capabilities with a wide variety of playable interface configurations.
In certain embodiments, a plurality of air conduit segments and vibration gaps are joined together with a single enclosed air-filled object. For example, when one air-filled object can become the ‘reed’ for a plurality of air passage segments, each air passage segment generates sound using a different section of the air-filled object's external surface area as a vibration gap, as shown in
Additional embodiments relate to producing sound using a plurality of enclosed air-filled objects disposed in one playable interface, as illustrated in
Additional embodiments relate to generating sound using a plurality of enclosed air-filled objects connected to a plurality of playable interfaces, as exemplified by
In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure's modular aspect, latching note coverings may allow the user to actuate multiple instruments simultaneously. Latches are defined as mechanisms that allow two objects to be easily joined or separated. The use of latches can allow the player of an instrument to select a first note, and perform other actions and/or select a second note while a latch holds the instrument's first note. For example, using latches in a piano interface can allow for nearly impossible sequences of notes to be played by holding one piano key down, and freeing up fingers to press other keys. The use of latches within all aerophone user interfaces can allow a player to sequence three or more instruments with only two hands. The use of a latching hole cover system within aerophones which contain multiple playable interfaces in parallel, similar to uilleann pipes (or other types of bagpipes), allow a user to resume and maintain an ergonomic body position after selecting note changes.
To gain a further understanding of the invention and embodiments detailed herein, the following examples are set forth below. It will be understood that these examples are intended to describe illustrative embodiments of the invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
Modular instrument systems, component parts and accessories may be configured as kits for assembly of the apparatus and instrument of the present disclosure. Kits may contain interchangeable instrument or apparatus parts to allow a user to select from different combinations of various object holders, air conduit segments, air-filled objects, sound modulation means, or other accessories. Kit components may have different sizes, shapes, colors, textures, and/or be made of different materials, which allows for a wide variety of instrument assemblies as well as ornamental design elements. For example, air-filled objects and air conduit segments used within kits may visually represent or be shaped like animals, people, characters, globes, or colors. Interchangeable air-filled objects constructed out of different materials or wall thicknesses may result in the production of different sound properties that correlate with whatever visual imagery is represented on them or by their shape, as can air conduit segments of different shapes and sizes made from various materials. For example, a red air-filled object may produce a different sound when compared to an interchangeable blue air-filled object when connected to a given apparatus of the present disclosure. In another example, a chicken-shaped instrument configured for vibration using an a air-filled object that resembles an egg may produce a different sound when compared to a dolphin-shaped instrument configured for vibration using the same air-filled object.
Certain kits may contain additional accessories to the core instrument components of an air conduit (segment), object holder, and air-filled object. For example, a bellow pump can be purchased separately, or may be included with such a basic or simple instrument kit with instructions for how to assemble the instrument, and then use the pump with a hand, foot, or tool, like a toy hammer, to supply (deliver) air into the instrument. Other kits may be configured to provide for the assembly of more complex instruments by including instructions, and may also include a multitude of modular air conduit segments, which may become part of a user's larger collection, and allow said user to build and play numerous instrument configurations with different forms using multiple interchangeable air-filled objects, air conduit segments, object holders, sound modulation means, and other accessories.
Kits may be provided for use during activities like birthday parties, sports events, festivals, or other celebrations where a group of people can trade or share air-filled objects or other components of their modular instrument systems with each other to produce different sounds and/or instrument collections. For example, a backyard-sized instrument can feature playable interfaces for an entire group of people at a party, which can literally connect family members and friends to the same musical activity, and also allow for spontaneous modular instrument systems, performances, and makeshift orchestras. At a sports event, portable embodiments of modular instruments, featuring multiple mouthpieces and hoses can be assembled which would allow a group of people to motivate their favourite sports team by either blowing into individual assemblies of the instrument (each comprising an air conduit, object holder, and air-filled object), and/or by joining the hoses from their respective instruments to a single longer air conduit configured with a larger air-filled object to produce a louder sound in unison. Analogous to when sports fans have used a vuvuzela (a monotone lip-reed horn) to produce a monotone sound, the instrument according to the present disclosure allows a user to produce polyphonic sounds (the simultaneous combination of two or more tones) using their lung power and without requiring embouchure. Kits may also include plumbing fittings, pipe fittings, and/or provide instructions for everyday household items, which may be used as part of a modular instrument system. For example, plumbing fittings and/or pen shells, and or bottles, and/or straws, and/or hollow vegetables or other items may be used to create an instrument's air conduit, and be interchangeable. Other kits of different scales and sizes may contain apparatuses which may be assembled into instruments with the addition of commonly available or readily constructed air-filled objects such as beach balls, urethane balls, balloons, or using latex (e.g. gloves), bubble wrap, and plastic bags to make air-filled objects.
Kits may offer opportunities within the field of education both in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics), wherein the physics of vibration may be explored using instruments. For example, sand placed inside of an air-filled object may produce an analog visualization of a sound wave or pattern when the object vibrates, which may be educational with regards to the physics of sound production. The tactile feeling of squeezing an air-filled object, as a subjective measure of pressure, may serve as a soothing mechanism while teaching about air pressure, prior to the user placing the air-filled object into an instrument to play it, which may produce a range of other desirable mental, emotional, and educational effects, even without prior musical knowledge. The bounciness and sound properties of an air-filled object in relation to the amount of air pressure inside of the object may function as an educational game that connects the physics of air pressure to sound. Modular instrument systems featuring multiple vibration gaps in series can be used to study how one frequency interacts with, or can influence another frequency, while modular instrument systems featuring vibration gaps in parallel may be used to learn about phase cancellation. Educational instructions may also be packaged with a kit that teaches a user about the origins of materials and their properties. For example, the instructions could teach about rubber as a material, and its biodegradability within ecosystems (e.g. how gum trees in the Amazon which produce rubber also produce rubber turpentine which biodegrades natural rubber). A kit may include an air-filled object made from natural rubber (e.g. a standard rubber balloon), and natural terpenes (e.g. lemon or pine oil) so that when the air-filled object is ready to be disposed of, it may be biodegraded.
Within a kit used by a professional, interchangeable parts may be of use to jugglers, musicians, installation artists, circus artists, street performers, and fitness and exercise groups. For example, a juggler may juggle air-filled objects within a performance while producing sound using the same interchangeable objects within an aerophone instrument. A kit may include enough parts to form instruments for an entire orchestra of musicians to provide an audience with a unique audiovisual experience. Whereas common aerophones do not reveal a line of sight between the listener and the vibrating material (e.g. reed), instruments that use an air-filled object to produce vibration according to the present disclosure may feature a line of sight between the air-filled object (e.g. a semi-transparent balloon accessorized with glitter and lights) and the listener. In addition, modular instruments constructed by providing kits for professional musicians may have parts that are ornamental (e.g. carved, engraved or embossed parts), manufactured out of high quality materials, and may feature spit valves, fine-tuning mechanisms, and carrying cases. Within the field of installation arts a kit may provide parts for the assembly of large geometric structures, and may include air conduit segments with translational symmetries, rotational symmetries, and/or other modular connectors for the assembly of a wide arrangement of geometrically formed air conduits. Within a circus arts context, an acrobat may connect aerophone instruments to their arms, and wear air-pumping shoes, or use spring-loaded air-pumping stilts to do backflips as a means to deliver air for the arm-mounted aerophone instruments. Within an exercise or fitness context, a kit may include an exercise ball that may serve a dual function as an air-filled object when placed into an apparatus of the present disclosure. For example, air pumps may be connected to the pedals or crank shaft of multiple exercise bikes in a spin class to provide air to an instrument, while the person leading the spin class can be utilizing the air produced by the group to play the instrument.
The following example(s) illustrate the various aspects and embodiments of the apparatus and instrument of the present disclosure.
An apparatus for assembling an aerophone instrument comprises an air conduit and an object holder, which with reference to
Referring to
With reference to
Air conduit segments which comprise air inlets, air outlets, and any other segments that in turn extend or reduce the length of an air passage can be cylindrical, conical, polygonal, ovular, spiral, or any number of other shapes, some of which are illustrated in
In certain embodiments, the air conduit comprises multiple (e.g. two or more) air inlets, air outlets, and/or other segments to form one or more air pathways through the air passage, which may or may not coincide with one another, as illustrated in
In
In another embodiment referring to
In another embodiment illustrated in
In yet another embodiment illustrated in
In
Air-filled objects may be inflated to pressures above atmospheric pressure while others may be stretched or expanded by the use of anchor points as tension adjusting means, as is the case in
In another embodiment, referring to
In one embodiment illustrated by
For example,
In other embodiments, the object holder may position the air-filled object with the purpose of resting it on an opening of the air conduit.
In another embodiment illustrated in
To assemble an aerophone instrument a user connects an air-filled object to an object holder which acts as a means for positioning the air-filled object relative to the air conduit and the air passage. As illustrated in
Other embodiments of the apparatus and instrument in the present disclosure may feature a combination of differently sized and shaped air conduit segments, which may create a compound form that is symmetrical or asymmetrical.
The vibration gap is formed by a narrowing of the air passage that occurs when two opposing surfaces of an aerophone instrument (see Example 2) are positioned within about 0-10 mm of each other, wherein one or more of the surfaces is a wall of an air-filled object. Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Within a vibration gap, once vibration of the wall of an air-filled object is initiated through the delivery of compressed air, the distance between a vibrating portion of the wall of an air-filled object and an opposing surface of an air conduit may exceed 10 mm. Varying the shape of the vibration gaps may change the frequency, tone, and/or other sound properties of the vibration. Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Air-filled objects may be differentially inflated or tensioned as a means to alter their surface area tension.
Referring to
By inflating an air-filled object, the surface tension of the air-filled object's wall is increased. It is also possible to deflate an air-filled object using a rigid structure within the object to increase surface tension of the object (for example the air-filled object in
Air-filled objects may contain anchor points 303, as illustrated in
Referring to
Sound may be modulated within the aerophone instrument using methods which adjust air resistance, which in turn may adjust sound properties of the air-filled object.
Referring to
Within the aerophone instrument of
Sound may be modulated by adjusting air pressure within the air conduit upstream of the vibration gap 401 with reference to the flow of air from the air source. For example, in
The specific shape of the air passage(s) nearest to the vibration gap may modulate the sound properties of the aerophone instrument. For example,
The configuration of the instrument leading to the generation of sound produced from a first vibration lead to the modulation of a second vibration (through the manipulation of volumes of compressed air) and may emulate the sounds of a didgeridoo, or the rolled linguistic “R” (e.g. an alveolar trill). For example, within the embodiment illustrated in
Another means for modulating sound may be interchanging pipe (air conduit) segments by adding or subtracting pipe segments to an instrument. Examples of pipe segments which may be interchanged to modulate sound are illustrated in
With reference to
In one embodiment, referring to
In yet another embodiment, referring to
With reference to
Referring to
Referring to
Certain embodiments may utilize nonlinear pipe segments, and/or may be hundreds of feet in length, while the pipe segments featured in other embodiments may be relatively short. Referring to
The disclosures of all patents, patent applications, publications and database entries referenced in this specification are hereby specifically incorporated by reference in their entirety to the same extent as if each such individual patent, patent application, publication and database entry were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.
Although the invention has been described with reference to certain specific embodiments, various modifications thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. All such modifications as would be apparent to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/CA2021/051293 | 9/16/2021 | WO |
