US1435027A - Banjo resonator - Google Patents

Description

R. STEGMANN.

BANJO RESONATOR.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 14, I921.

1 ,435027, Patented Nov. 7, 1922.

Patented Nov. 7, 1922.

UNITED STATES 1,435,027 PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT STEGMANN, OF HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY.

BANJO RESONATOR.

Application filed December 14, 1921.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT STEGMANN, a citizen of Russia, residin at Hoboken, in the county of Hudson and tate of New J ersey, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Banjo Resonators, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactspecification.

This invention relates to banjos and has for its object to provide an improved resonator therefor.

It is the aim of the invention to form and mount the resonator in such a way as to produce a silvery harp-like tone, and at the same time to simplify the construction of the resonator and of its supporting means. Other objects will appear as the description proceeds.

The invention will be first hereinafter described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which constitute part of this specification, and then more specifically defined in the claims at the end of the description.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein similar reference characters are used to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views Figure 1 is a plan View of the body portion of the head of a banjo equipped with a resonator substantially in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a section on the line Il-II of Figure 1.

The body of the banjo may be formed in the usual manner with a circular rim 1 over which a parchment head 2 is stretched by means of clamps 3. The neck 4 may be attached to the body by screws 5, and said body may be reinforced by a brace 6 secured in. position by screws 7. One of the screws 5 for attaching the neck to the body may be formed. integral with one of the screws 7 for attaching the brace to said body, as shown in Figure 2.

The resonator 8 consists of a flaring metal tube or bell having its smaller end formed with an outwardly rolled or turned flan 9, the outer edge of which is spaced away rom the outer walls of said resonator forming a groove 10 opening in the direction of the base of the body of the instrument. Said resonator is supported within the rim 1 above the brace 6 with its smaller flanged end pressed into contact with the under surface of the parchment head 2 by a pluralit Serial No. 522,285.

of spaced brackets 11 which are secured at their lower ends to the inner walls of the mm 1 by screws 12, or other suitable means. Said brackets extend upwardly and away from said rim so as to support the resonator entirely free from the latter: The upper ends of said brackets contact with the resonator at the middle of the groove 10 formed by the turned over flange 9, as illustrated in Figure 2, thereby supporting said resonator immediately below the points on said flange which contact with the head 2. The resonator is thus free to vibrate without hindrance by the brackets 11, so that a most pleasing silvery tone is produced when the instrument is played;

It is important that the groove 10 be broad enough to insure a space being left therein at either side of each of the supporting brackets so that said brackets will not come in contact with the body portion of the resonator or hell at one side, or with. the outer edge of the flange 9 at the other side of said groove. It will be understood that if the supporting brackets did contact with either of said side walls of the groove, the resulting tone would be seriously impaired or destroyed.

I claim:

1. The combination with the rim and head of a banjo body, of a resonator having a turned over flange at one end spaced from the same to form a groove, and supports for said resonator secured to the rim and engaging the middle portion of said groove and pressing said flanged end of the resonator into contact with the head, said engaging portions of the supports being spaced from both side walls of said groove for the purpose specified. v

2. The combination with the rim and head of a banjo body, of a resonator having an outwardly turned flange at one end spaced from the same to form a groove, and supports for said resonator secured to the rim and engaging the middle portion of said groove and pressing said flanged end of the resonator into contact with the head, said engaging portions of the supports being spaced from both side walls of said groove for the purpose specified.

3. The combination with the rim and head of a banjo body, of a tapered tubular resonator having a turned over flange at one end spaced from the same to form a groove, and supports for said resonator secured to the and supports for said resonator secured to the rim and engaging the middle portion of said groove and pressing said flanged end of the resonator into contact with the head, said engaging portions of the supports being spaced from both side Walls of said groove for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ROBERT STEGLIIANN.

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