Abstract: Novel plug devices having tactile and aesthetic properties are disclosed that effectively close the opening within a flute's open-hole key cup, simplify the fingering necessary to play the instrument and improve the instrument's tone, pitch and timbre. When installed near the key cup's upper surface, the key cup has the feel and appearance of a standard key cup. When installed deeper within the key cup, the key cup has the feel of an open-hole key cup.

Abstract: Pad assemblies are described having novel backing disks, a cushion layer in contact with a surface of the backing disk, and a skin covering the cushion and at least one surface to the backing disk. The novel backing disks have a flexible outer collar that in conjunction with the cushion provides support for the pad's sealing surface and maintains an even tension on the pad's skin. Preferred embodiments providing additional support for the pad's sealing surface further utilize a backing disk having an inner collar, coaxial to the flexible outer collar, and have a cushion extending between the collars and over the inner collar. As a result of the improved support, fewer tears in the pad's skin result from repeated contacts with the tone hole and from fluctuations in the skin's moisture content.

Abstract: Novel stabilizing and adjusting disks are described in addition to a method utilizing the disks for aligning or seating the pad assembly of a woodwind instrument within its pad cup. The novel disks have flexible outer regions which can be made to conform to the contour of a tone hole surface or interface by applying an appropriate force against the stabilizing and adjusting disk combination. The stabilizing disk is held within the pad cup in an adjusted position by an adhesive or other material capable of being transformed from a liquid to a solid under the conditions utilized for adjustment of the pad assembly. Examples illustrate the method utilizing forces derived from magnetic fields and pressure differentials to cause the stabilizing and adjusting disks to conform to the tone hole surface. After adjustment, the adjusting disk is replaced with a pad assembly having an appropriate thickness.

Abstract: A sealing pad assembly for closure of a wind instrument's tone hole and device for containing and securing the pad assembly. The pad's felt backing provides a soft support over the sealing surface of the tone hole to minimize noise but has a firm outer and central regions to minimize deformation of the pad surface and damage from abrasive contacts and to optimize the instrument's tone. The pad cup and retainer are designed to allow the retainer to pivot when the pad is leveled. As a result, stress is relieved which could otherwise damage the pad's surface or cause the pad nut to break away from the pad cup.