Patent Application
20060096441
Not Applicable
The JRT Harmonica Holder invention is a new holding device for the music instrument called the harmonica or mouth harp, an instrument played by breathing in and out or blowing and sucking out of a person's mouth over metal reeds which create a sound. The harmonica is a hand held instrument.
The JRT Harmonica Holder invention eliminates the use of hands in order to play the harmonica with out any device connected to a person playing the harmonica instrument.
My personal research endeavor into a similar harmonica holder involves a period of 34 years of playing the harmonica instrument and seeking out a device such as mine in music stores, instrument catalogs, and specifically a magazine that specializes in harmonica instruments, such as Kevin's Harps, 210 Farnsworth Avenue, Bordentown, N.J., 08505.
There have been a few inventions with the best of intentions to solve the hands free harmonica holder attached to a microphone stand like patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,541,321), it's too big and it totally hides the person's face while playing the harmonica creating a bad stage presence. The plastic clamp wears out loosing its holding strength. Similar problems with Hubbard's patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,212,219), this harmonica holder goes back to the spring clamp method with a wind screen that has too many parts that can fail. Strand patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,545,277) is still using a clamp but bolts and nuts secure the clamp and the microphone is inside his device which only allows one type of microphone used for amplification. Other types of microphones that many players prefer to use wouldn't even fit in to this invention.
The JRT Harmonica Holder addresses all the problems of the past and is able to play a harmonica and another musical instrument at the same time. First it's a small device, aesthetically perfect for stage performance. Second, it is clean looking with no rusty springs, screws, bolts, plates or rubber parts to look at. There are no moving parts to wear out except stainless set screws. There is no metal to electrically shock a person. It is adaptable to many different types of microphones and easy to clean from human saliva. It is easy to work with for the guitar player, singer, and harmonica player.
The JRT Harmonica Holder is a tool for the hand held harmonica particularly the ten hole harmonica. The JRT Harmonica eliminates the use of hands enabling a person to play more than one musical instrument simultaneously. The only harmonica holder on the market is made of metal and wire and operates with a spring loaded latch that mounts around a person's neck.
The JRT Harmonica Holder is a hollow tube that simulates the human hand cupped around the harmonica which is the original method used to play the harmonica. The tube is made of (PVC-Polyvinyl Chloride). The tube is slotted in a wedge pattern that traps the harmonica in a motionless position that allows for easy playing ability. The JRT Harmonica Holder mounts on a typical microphone stand. The microphone stand pedestal is bolted to a floor plate for stability and made for easy disassembly. One of the advantages is that the tube is made of PVC which is a product that has been approved for the use of water supply for human consumption and because of this fact the human mouth may contact, with the JRT Harmonica Holder. PVC has a smooth composition so bacteria is not prevalent and the tube can be washed and sanitized as easily as any dishware.
A main advantage of the JRT Harmonica Holder has to do with electrical shock which can cause harm, pain, and even death in the right circumstances. This problem arises when the harmonica player attempts to amplify the sound and his wet lips are touching on the metal made instrument and touching the microphone (that works by electricity) causing an electrical shock. This problem is currently happening in the music world. The PVC harmonica holder is a non-conductive and electrical shock is totally eliminated.
The harmonica holder's ¾″ extension shaft (24) is another necessary adjustment, allowing the performer to stand or sit closer or further from the microphone stand shaft (19) and the microphone stand pedestal (20). The ¾″ harmonica holder extension shaft (24) is slid into position through the microphone swivel holder (17) which is attached to the vertical ½″ microphone shaft by way of a common thread size for microphone swivel holders.
Referring again to
how the harmonica (23) sits in the actual holder (10). In order for the harmonica to be placed into the harmonica holder (10), the sound horn (12) must slide off the harmonica holder (10) and then the harmonica (23) can be slid into the harmonica holder (10) through the tapered wedged slot. The harmonica (23) is locked in by the sound horn (12) by sliding the sound horn back on the harmonica holder (10) and then tightening the adjustment (32), the harmonica (23) is ready for playing. The tubular elbow (13) as shown is a slip to thread elbow, the threaded elbow allows an up and down adjustment for easy playing ability and a connection for a cpvc ¾″ to ½″ reducing male adapter (31). The male adapter (31) is permanently glued to extension arm (14). The tubular elbow (13) has one more adjustment on the slip side of the elbow. Adjustment screw (26) allows the harmonica holder (10) to turn for easy playing ability.
The microphone arm (16) is also shown in
The support bar (27) does just what it is titled, it gives support to the bottom side of the harmonica during insertion of the harmonica (23) and after the harmonica has reached its designed stable position ready for playing.
