BACKGROUND
Music-rich classroom environments help children practice the listening and verbal skills necessary for understanding and communicating through spoken language. Music is also a fun activity for children and can be used to celebrate special events such as birthdays or holidays.
DRAWINGS
The Detailed Description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the use of the same reference numbers in different instances in the description and the figures may indicate similar or identical items.
FIG. 1 is an isometric view illustrating a drop chime set comprising a plurality of drop chimes in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 2 is an isometric view illustrating an example drop chime of the drop chime set shown in FIG. 1 in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.
FIGS. 3A through 3E are isometric views illustrating drop chimes having a variety of cross-sections in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side elevational view illustrating a drop chime equipped with a clapper assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for playing drop chimes in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating the playing of a melody employing the method shown in FIG. 5, using a drop chime set, such as the drop chime set shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Overview
The present disclosure is directed, at least in part, to a drop chime set comprising a plurality of drop chimes configured to be individually dropped onto a hard surface in a specific sequence to play the melody of a song (tune). In embodiments, individual drop chimes of the drop chime set may be tuned to emit a sound having a specific note (frequency and wavelength) and may be provided with indicia such as a number, note, letter, or the like, to indicate its position within the sequence of drop chimes. To play a song, the drop chimes are dropped in sequence, for example, by multiple users. The drop chimes may be dropped individually. However, it is contemplated that two or more drop chimes may be dropped simultaneously, for example, to play a chord.
Example Embodiments
Referring to FIG. 1, an example drop chime set is 100 is disclosed. The drop chime set 100 is comprised of a plurality of drop chimes 102 configured to play a melody (e.g., a song or tune) when dropped to a hard surface, such as a floor (not shown) in a predetermined sequence. In embodiments, each drop chime 102 comprises a short tube having an outer wall 104 defining a hollow interior volume 106 and having a first end 108 and a second end 110. The outer wall 104 may have a length (“L”) between the first end 108 and the second end 110, width (diameter “D”), wall 104 thickness (“T”), or the like, that causes the drop chime 102 to play (emit) a specific note (tone or sound having a predetermined wavelength and frequency) when dropped to the hard surface.
In embodiments, the drop chime set 100 comprises drop chimes 102 that are configured to play the various notes of a desired melody. For example, drop chimes 102 of the drop chime set 100 may have differing lengths (“L”), widths (diameter “D”), wall 104 thicknesses (“T”), or the like, that cause the respective drop chimes 102 to play (emit) different notes (tone or sound having a predetermined wavelength and frequency) when dropped to the hard surface in a predetermined sequence. Moreover, the drop chime set 100 may include multiple drop chimes 102 that are configured to play (emit) the same note as required to play a desired melody having multiple instances of one or more notes. The drop chimes 102 may be dropped individually. However, it is contemplated that two or more drop chimes 102 may be dropped simultaneously, for example, to play a chord.
In embodiments, the drop chime set 100 includes a specific number of drop chimes 102 preconfigured to play the notes of specific melody when dropped on a hard surface such as the floor. In such embodiments, the drop chime set 100 contains the number of drop chimes 102 required to play the desired song such that there are no extra chimes of notes not used by the song. For example, a drop chime set 100 may be comprised of twenty-one (21) drop chimes 102 that play the musical notes of the song “Happy Birthday (Anniversary)”/“Good Morning to You!” The drop chimes 102 of this drop chime set 100 are configured (e.g., formed (cast, molded, cut etc. and/or tuned) with different lengths so that the drop chimes 102 play (emit) the different notes of the song. It will be appreciated that, in other embodiments, drop chime sets having more or less chimes may be made to play the melodies of other songs/tunes. In such embodiments, the drop chime set 100 may have multiple drop chimes 102 configured to play (emit) the specific notes required by the song to be played.
In other embodiments, the drop chime set 100 includes a sufficient number of drop chimes 102 to play the melodies of a variety of songs. In such embodiments, the drop chime set 100 may have a sufficient quantity of drop chimes 102 configured to play (emit) various notes within a range or scale of notes so that the drop chime set 100 includes multiple drop chimes 102 configured to play (emit) each note. In such embodiments, a user, such as a music director, teacher, or the like, may select drop chimes 100 from the drop chime set and then order the selected drop chimes to play the melody of the desired song when the drop chimes 102 are thereafter dropped.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the drop chimes 102 of the drop chime set 100 are provided with indicia 112 indicating the position of the drop chime 102 within the pre-determined sequence of the melody to be played. In embodiments, these indicia may comprise numbers (shown), letters (e.g., A, B, C, etc.), musical notes (e.g., Ab, C, B #, etc.), pictographs, or the like. For example, in the embodiment comprising a drop chime set 100 having twenty-five (25) drop chimes 102 that play the musical notes of the song “Happy Birthday (Anniversary)”/“Good Morning to You!”, the drop chimes include indicia 112 comprised of numbers such that the drop chimes 102 are numbered in order from 1 to 21 (see FIG. 1). When the drop chimes 102 are dropped in the numbered sequence (e.g. chime “1”, chime “2”, chime “3”, and so forth), the drop chime set 100 plays the melody of the song, i.e., “Happy Birthday (Anniversary)”/“Good Morning to You!”
In embodiments, the drop chimes 102 of the drop chime set 100 can be unpainted or untinted (e.g., a steel galvanized color). In other embodiments, the drop chimes 102 can be colored, e.g., painted, tinted, chromed, or the like or made of colored metal, plastic, or wood. In embodiments, the drop chimes can be color coded to specific notes or position in the drop sequence (e.g., rainbow colored, colors corresponding to specific notes, etc.).
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, drop chimes 102 of the drop chime set 100 comprise cylindrical tubes 104 formed of metal (e.g., steel, aluminum, brass, etc.) having a circular cross section and defining an interior volume 106 having a cylindrical shape. For example, in one embodiment, the drop chimes 102 may be manufactured from EMT conduit pipe (or similar metal pipe) that is cut to various lengths and tuned (e.g., ground, or polished) to play different notes. However, it is contemplated that drop chimes 102 of the drop chime set 100 may be made of materials other than metal such as wood, plastic, composite, and the like. Moreover, it is contemplated that the drop chime set 100 can comprise multiple drop chimes 102 wherein respective ones of the drop chimes 102 are made of varied materials (e.g., metal, wood, plastic, composite, etc.)
As shown in FIGS. 3A through 3E, the drop chimes 102 may, in embodiments, have cross-sections other than circular and need not be hollow. For example, FIG. 3A illustrates a drop chime 102 comprising a solid tube (rod) 104; FIG. 3B illustrates a drop chime 102 comprising a hollow tube 104 having a square cross-section defining hollow interior volume 106 having a rectangular prism shape; FIG. 3C illustrates a drop chime 102 comprising a hollow tube 104 having a triangular cross-section defining a hollow interior volume 106 having a triangular prism shape; FIG. 3D illustrates a drop chime 102 comprising a hollow tube 104 having a octagonal cross-section defining a hollow interior volume 106 having a octagonal prism shape; and FIG. 3E illustrates a drop chime 102 comprising a hollow tube 104 having an oval cross-section defining a hollow interior volume 106 having a oval cylinder shape. Drop chimes 102 comprising solid or hollow tubes 104 having other cross-sections are possible. Further, it is contemplated that the drop chime set 100 can comprise multiple drop chimes 102, wherein respective ones of the drop chimes 102 have different cross-sections, with respective ones of the drop chimes 102 made of varied materials (e.g., metal, wood, plastic, composite, etc.). Thus, in an example embodiment, a drop chime set 100 may, for example, comprise drop chimes 102 formed of metal having a hollow circular cross section, drop chimes 102 formed of wood having a hollow square cross section, and drop chimes formed of a solid plastic having a triangular cross-section.
FIG. 4 illustrates a drop chime 102 of the drop chime set 100 that includes a clapper assembly 114 disposed within the interior volume 106 of the hollow tube 104. In such embodiments, the clapper assembly 114 permits the drop chime 114 to produce unique musical qualities such as overtones, or the like. As shown, the clapper assembly 114 comprises a clapper (striker) 116 mounted to the interior of the hollow tube via a hinge spring 118. In embodiments, the hinge spring 118 is sufficiently rigid to hold the clapper 116 away from the hollow tube 104 until the drop chime 102 strikes a hard surface after being dropped, whereupon the hinge spring 118 allows the clapper 116 to move back and forth in a single direction to strike the interior of the hollow tube 104. The hinge spring 118 may thereafter hold the clapper 116 away from the interior of the hollow tube 104 to allow the drop chime 102 to ring freely. In embodiments, all drop chimes 102 of the drop chime set 100 may be provided with clapper assemblies 114. In other embodiments, only selected drop chimes 102 of the drop chime set 100 may be provided with clapper assemblies 114. Moreover, clapper assemblies 114 may be provided for drop chimes 102 employing hollow tubes 104 of any cross-section (e.g., circular, square, triangular, oval, hexagonal, etc.) and formed of any material (e.g., metal, wood, plastic, composite, etc.).
FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a method 200 for playing drop chimes 102 of a drop chime set 100 in accordance with the present disclosure. The method 200 may, for example, be employed by a user such as a music director, teacher, or the like for teaching a melody to a group of users such as, for example, a class of school children 300.
In embodiments, the method 200 comprises distributing a plurality of drop chimes 102 of a drop chime set 100 to the group of children 300 so that each child 302 in the group of children 300 is provided with at least on drop chime 102 of the drop chime set 100. As discussed herein in the description of FIGS. 1 through 4, each drop chime 102 of the drop chime set 100 is configured to play (emit) a sound having a musical note when dropped onto a hard surface 304 such as a floor or ground surface, so that when dropped in a pre-determined sequence the drop chimes 102 play a desired melody (e.g., “Happy Birthday (Anniversary)”/“Good Morning to You!”) 306 (Block 202).
Each child 302 in the group of children 300 is then caused (directed or instructed) to drop the drop chime(s) 102 distributed to him/her in the predetermined sequence so that the desired melody 306 is played. (Block 204).
Each child 302 of the group of children 300 may then be caused (directed or instructed) to retrieve the drop chime(s) provided to that child 302 (Block 206) and thereafter to again drop the drop chime(s) 102 in the predetermined sequence if the desired melody 306 is to be played again (“YES” at Decision Block 208). Alternately, the group of children 300 may be instructed to hold the drop chimes 102 if the melody 306 is not to be played further (“NO” at Decision Block 208)
In embodiments, individuals (children 302 within the group of children 300) need not be able to read music or have any musical training to use the drop chime set 100. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the individual drop chimes 102 of the drop chime set may be provided with indicia 114 numbering the drop chimes 102 in the order to be played. A group of users (children 302) can stand in a line or circle to play the melody. Individuals (children 302) withing the group can hold/drop more than one drop chime 102 or divide into groups as desired.
As described herein, the drop chime set 100 can be used by music directors or teachers in a classroom setting to teach music, music theory, and the responsibilities of playing an instrument to young children. The drop chimes 100 may also be used by teachers as a fun activity for their students to promote teamwork among the students. Since drop chimes 102 of the drop chime set 100 are played individually rather than in unison, each student is thus only responsible for playing the drop chimes 102 assigned to him or her.
CONCLUSION
Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or process operations, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.
Patent Application
20250124899
