Abstract: A device for reducing sound emitted by the air intake of a internal combustion engine is provided. The device includes a dampening chamber formed of a one piece construction by rotational molding. Included as part of this mold are two tubular pipe-like sections designating both an inlet and an outlet whereby air is directed into the engine through the inlet and sound emitted by the engine is dampened as it enters the outlet of the silencer. The inlet and outlet are each formed within a pocket constructed in the mold that assists in creating the flow path for air as it moves throughout the chamber. The arrangement of the inlet and outlet in relation to one another assists in defining the sound reduction capability of the instant design and construction.

Abstract: A height-adjustable nut assembly for stringed musical instruments can be implemented as a single elongate nut block that can be height-adjusted at each end, or as two such nut blocks disposed end-to-end. The nut block has a cross-sectional shape that provides at row of V-shaped channels for string support and guidance. A primary embodiment has a stabilizing flange extending from the bottom portion of the nut block toward the instrument body region. The nut block is adjustably supported by tripod mounting system including a pair of set-screws in the nut block under the channels and a fastening screw through the stabilizing flange, which is compressibly spaced from a support landing machined in the neck. A step formed by the landing is utilized for anti-rotation. The V-shape of the string support channels accommodates all sizes and tunings of strings with precise center-to-center spacing assured, and provides increased clearance for thicker strings.

Abstract: A muffler (20) is provided by upstream and downstream outer shells (28 and 30) and a single sole internal baffle (32 or 110 or 120), all three of which are joined to each other around an outer peripheral edge (34). The internal baffle defines a first chamber (36) between the internal baffle and the upstream outer shell. The internal baffle has an extension portion (38) extending away from the upstream outer shell and toward and into the downstream outer shell and forming second and third chambers (40 and 42) between the internal baffle and the downstream outer shell and forming multiple sound attenuating tubed passages (44 and 46, 114, 124 and 128) bounded by the downstream outer shell and the extension portion and connecting the second and third chambers on distally opposite ends (48 and 50) of the extension portion. The baffle has an opening (52) therethrough adjacent the extension portion and connecting the first and second chambers.

Abstract: The sheet music turning system has a stack of a plurality of rectangular transparent envelopes with their closed end attached to an elongated rod. An opened slot is formed at their opened edge or at two side edges close to the opened edge. The slots are formed in offset locations in alternate envelopes. The music sheets are mounted in the envelopes sequentially. The elongated rod is pivotally mounted in a horizontal position to a lower end of a forward leaning upper frame which has a sliding arm provided at its upper end or at the two sides. The sliding arm has a finger extending over the top edge portion or two fingers extending over the two side edge portions of the stack and being slidable between the offset locations of the opened slots to cause the first envelope to flip forward by gravitational force one page at a time to display the music sheets sequentially one page at a time.

Abstract: A cable reel comprises a cable enclosure having a rubbing face, and a flat cable provided on the rubbing face. A noise-absorbing material is then fixed, without using adhesives, on the rubbing face on which the flat cable moves. The noise-absorbing material is prepared integrally by superposing a highly-slidable noise-absorbing sheet on a support plate, and is formed into a torus shape. The cable enclosure has an outer circular wall and an inner circular wall. The outer circular wall and/or the inner circular wall includes a plurality of holding tabs which are integrally provided in the circumferential direction with substantially a same distance and at a position corresponding to where the noise-absorbing material is mounted. The holding tabs hold the external circular rim and/or the internal circular rim of a highly-slidable noise-absorbing sheet, whereby the noise-absorbing material is immobilized.

Abstract: A sound muffling material for use in combustion engine exhaust mufflers is provided. The material includes volumized fibers retained in compressed form by a material of lower softening temperature than the fibers. When the material is heated by exhaust gases, the material of lower softening temperature is softened allowing the compressed fibers to expand. The fibers may be formed into a knitted fabric retained by a sacrificial thread. The material may be used to support catalyst bricks.

Abstract: A replaceable muffler structure with an adjustable length includes a muffler, a tail pipe having a rear end provided with an insertion section movably mounted in a rear end of the muffler, and a positioning ring mounted on the rear end of the muffler for locking the insertion section of the rear end of the tail pipe. The rear end of the muffler has an air outlet provided with an annular flange for receiving the insertion section of the rear end of the tail pipe. The positioning ring is provided with a fitting portion fitted on the annular flange of the muffler and defines a plurality of screw holes. A plurality of bolts are each screwed into a corresponding one of the screw holes, and each urged on an outer periphery of the insertion section of the rear end of the tail pipe. A plurality of nuts are each screwed on a corresponding one of the bolts.

Abstract: Synchronous dustproof cover structure for sound membrane. The dustproof cover structure being made of a light and rigid material. Multiple reinforcing ribs are perpendicularly disposed on one face of the dustproof cover at equal intervals. Bottom ends of the multiple reinforcing ribs are connected with adjoining sections of the sound basin and the sound ring. The circumference of the dustproof body is connected on the sound basin, whereby the dustproof cover, the sound basin and the sound ring are connected into an integral body and the sound basin and the dustproof cover are synchronously vibrated with the sound ring to emit sound. The multiple reinforcing ribs are connected with the sound basin and the sound ring at multiple points so as to enhance the rigidity and strength of the sound basin. Therefore, the distortion of the sound basin at high volume can be reduced and a good quality of sound can be achieved.

Abstract: A reed maintainer for woodwind instruments for extending the life span of the reed in woodwind instruments. The reed maintainer for woodwind instruments includes a tubular member having a first end and a second end and having a bore extending therethrough; and also includes slat members being attached to the tubular member and extending outwardly therefrom; and further includes an annular flange member being securely attached to the tubular member.

Abstract: An acoustical ceiling tile having an improved sound absorption value and having a dual layer of acoustical materials. The base mat layer has either no mineral wool or a low mineral wool content. The surface layer has a high mineral wool content which provides improved sound absorption values with or without perforating or fissuring the tile. The dual layer acoustical ceiling tile has a noise reduction coefficient (NRC) value of at least about 0.50.

Abstract: A snare drum assembly is provided which enables the snare drum element to be positioned internally of a drum. In the preferred embodiment, the snare mechanism acts against the top drum head of a drum, and permits the drum manufacturer to eliminate the lower drum head and related structure, greatly simplifying drum construction and cost.

Abstract: A bridge is releasably mountable on a stringed musical instrument and used in conjunction with a release mechanism such that when the release mechanism is activated, the distance between one end of a string being held by the bridge and a second end of the string secured elsewhere on the musical instrument is decreased, thereby decreasing the tension on the instrument caused by the tuning of the string.

Abstract: A powered random chiming mechanism, related to the traditional outdoor wind chime that includes a body (10) by which a pendulum (20) is suspended centrally to a plurality of chimes (11a). A fan (14), integral to the device, generates a vertically rising column of air that emits from a point beneath the center rest position of the pendulum. A concave sail (20c) at the termination of the pendulum is then agitated, pulling the pendulum into random lateral motion. A striker (20a) located along the pendulum axis impacts the surrounding chimes to create tones of random sequence and degree for the purpose of enjoyment.

Abstract: In a tunable drum, a connector member in the drum is attached by cables to a tuning ring, and is threadedly coupled by a tuning linkage to a retaining member fixed to the drum. Rotation of the tuning linkage with respect to the drum moves the connector member longitudinally and, as a result, adjusts the tension of the drumhead. In one embodiment, a handle fixed to the tuning linkage is positioned to engage a complementary coupling in a drum stand when the drum is retained by the drum stand. In another embodiment, the complementary coupling is movable between an operative position in which the drum can be tuned by rotating it with respect to the stand, and inoperative position in which the drum can be placed in the stand without the handle engaging the complementary coupling.

Abstract: A drum body made of bamboo. A joined board is obtained by joining a plurality of rectangular bamboo elements, which are cut out of bamboo stem, so that the top surfaces and undersurfaces of these bamboo elements are alternately inverted. A laminated board is manufactured by stacking and bonding a plurality of these joined boards, and this laminated board is rolled into a cylindrical shape so as to form the drum body with its both ends opened.

Abstract: A panel-like sound absorbing structure comprising an upper surface, a lower surface separated from said upper surface and a side surface connecting said upper surface to said lower surface. In the interior of the structure there are a plurality of quarter wave sound absorbing channels disposed in a planar array between said upper and lower surface, said channels having a first, sound-receiving, end into which sound waves are introduced and an end remote from the sound-receiving end, and means for introducing sound waves into said first end of said quarter wave sound absorbing channels. The distance between said upper surface and lower surface is not greater than about 1″. Alternatively, the interior of the structure can contain one or more Helmholtz resonator cavities.

Abstract: The present invention involves a solid compensated nut for a stringed musical instrument which improves the intonation of each string of the instrument. The compensated nut includes one or more intonation portions on a face of the nut and the intonation portions have different dimensions according to the desired pitch or intonation of the instrument. Desirably, the number of intonation portions is equal to the number of strings of the instrument, and each particular intonation portion is dimensioned to improve the intonation of a particular string. Advantageously, the nut is compensated different amounts according to the desired pitch of a particular string and the compensated nut is especially effective in improving the intonation of the strings near the nut.

Abstract: A musical system for stringed instruments based on tuning in fifths in conjunction with component control reduces dissonance and discord while increasing harmony and consonance. In a stringed instrument, the main music-making portion of the string serves to drive the other non-music-making portions or supporting portions of the string. This is particularly true at the end of the string past the stop point toward the fixed end and upward past the nut towards the turnable post controlled by a key. By appropriately selecting and providing adjustment for the stop point, as well as the length of the strings past the bridge, less dissonance arises from the individual string as it is played. A string retainer or the like, as well as a compound head, may serve to provide adjustable or selectable means by which tension on a plurality of strings may be adjusted to provide uniform tension between individual strings. Tuning in fifths provides inter-string harmony.

Abstract: The invention is a grip for drumsticks. In the preferred embodiment, the invention consists of a cylindrical drumstick being lathed to have one or a plurality of external faceted surfaces in the longitudinal plane about its circumference. In an alternative embodiment the invention has an axial bore and a plurality of external facets in the longitudinal plane in its exterior structure, the axial bore receiving a cylindrical drumstick. In another embodiment the cylindrical drumstick may be retracted or extended within the axial bore of the invention. In another embodiment, the facets forming the gripping means may be knurled. It is irrelevant to the practice of the invention whether the structure is of a unitary, lathed form or a sheath-type, injection molded form. The facets may run the entire length of the drumstick, may be limited to the butt end portion of the drumstick or may be limited to the central portion of the drumstick.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pedal device for a bass drum mounted with a mobile pedal (2, 3) which is connected to a mallet (15, 16) which beats against the bass drum via an operating mechanism (8-10, 12, 13). The pedal (2, 3) is configured in two mobile parts which are independent of each other. They each act on a mallet (15, 16) via an associated operating mechanism (8-10, 12, 13).