Portable component marimba

• US 9,406,287 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2015
• Issued: 08/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John Glowka
• Original Assignee: John Glowka
• Inventors: Glowka, John
• Primary Examiner(s): HORN, ROBERT WAYNE
• Application Number:
  US14/951,161
• Publication Number:
  US 20160148601A1
• Time in Patent Office: 252 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G10D 13/08 Multi-toned musical instruments with sonorous bars, blocks, forks, gongs, plates, rods or teeth

Abstract

A portable component marimba comprising a frame having two opposing sections facing each other. A resonator support rack held in place by gravity extends between the two frame sections. A resonator assembly having a linearly arranged series of resonators extends between the two frame sections and is engaged with the resonator support rack by means of two lateral support brackets. A tone bar assembly extends between the two frame sections and includes a linear series of tone bars interconnected by two lateral laces and is supported by a tone bar support rack. The laces may be tied off on cleats located on the crossbeams. The tone bar support rack may include dampening lace support brackets. The resonator assemblies may incorporate balanced resonators. The tone bars may include sustained dampeners.

Claims

1. A portable component marimba comprising:

a first frame section having a crossbeam, the crossbeam having a mounting block and two mounting posts positioned on each side of the mounting block;

an opposing second frame section having a crossbeam, the crossbeam having a mounting block and two mounting posts positioned on each side of the mounting block;

a resonator support rack extending between the first and second mounting blocks;

a resonator assembly having a series of resonators and lateral support brackets on either side of the series of resonators;

two tone bar support racks, each engaged with and extending between two opposing mounting posts on the first frame section and the second frame section;

a linear series of tone bars interconnected by two laces; and

,

cleats for tying off the laces.

2. The portable component marimba of claim 1 further comprising a stabilizing bar extending between the first frame section and the second frame section.

3. The portable component marimba of claim 1 wherein the components are held in place by gravity.

4. A resonator for use with a marimba comprising:

an elongate resonator tube;

a proximal region of the elongate resonator tube having an opening below and substantially parallel to a tone bar of a percussion instrument;

two lateral support brackets positioned on opposing sides of the opening in the proximal end of the resonator tube;

a distal region having an opening;

a crook between the proximal region and the distal region of the resonator tube, the resonator tube being curved about 180°

in the crook;

wherein the proximal region of the resonator tube is bent at an angle sufficient to place the center of gravity of the resonator tube along a line perpendicular to the proximal opening of the resonator tube and equidistant from the lateral support brackets.

5. A resonator for use with resonators of a percussion instrument comprising:

an elongate resonator tube having an inside wall and suspended below a tone bar of an instrument, open at a proximal end adjacent to the tone bar and open at a distal end;

a cap covering the distal end of the resonator tube, the cap having a body sized to fit within the distal end of the resonator tube;

an annular flange extending outward from a top of the cap body and covering a rim of the resonator tube;

a piston within the resonator tube and abutting the inside wall of the resonator tube;

a threaded stem extending from the piston, through a bore in the body and outward to a knob, wherein turning the knob adjusts the distance of the piston from the distal end of the resonator tube.