Abstract: A musical device includes a mounting base, a plurality of sound producing bodies, and a plurality of striking mechanisms for striking the sound producing bodies to create a melody. Each striking mechanism includes two striking arms, each for striking a respective sound producing body at a striking position. Each striking mechanism includes a driving device for driving each striking arm from a rest position to a position intermediate the rest position and the striking position. The momentum of the striking arm carries the striking arm from the intermediate position to the striking position while the striking arm is not in contact with the driving device. This enables the musical device to recreate desired tones without any damping.

Abstract: Described are control apparatus and method for a motor applicable to an electric vehicle in which a motor drive circuit having a plurality of arms, each arm including same series-connected semiconductor switching devices for controllably switching a voltage applied thereacross from a DC power supply so as to apply an AC power to the motor, is associated with the motor, switching operations of the respective semiconductor switching devices so as to regulate a driving of the motor according to a torque instruction inputted thereto are controlled, a temperature having a correlation to a junction temperature of at least one semiconductor switching device is detected, the detected temperature is read, the junction temperature of the semiconductor switching device from the detected temperature is estimated, a determination is made whether the estimated junction temperature is above an allowable limit of the junction temperature, and an output of the motor drive circuit to the motor is adjusted so that the estimated

Abstract: In a wiper system using a reversible motor for reciprocating angular movement of a wiper arm, a separate relay and a separate position detecting segment are used for selectively defining a path for regenerative braking. Because the third relay and the third position detecting segment are provided separately from those used for controlling the power supply of the electric motor, and are therefore relatively free from any large time constant, it is possible to start the regenerative braking action at a prescribed angular location without involving any substantial time lag so that the wiper arm can be stopped at a prescribed angular position at each terminal point at high precision at all times.

Abstract: A stringed instrument having a hollow body including a top wall, a spaced apart bottom wall, and a side wall interconnecting the top and bottom wall, each of the walls having a plurality of strategically located sound holes which efficiently release sound vibrations generated within the hollow body of the instrument. The stringed instrument also includes an extended bridge disposed internally of the hollow body and interconnecting the top and bottom walls in a manner to transmit vibrations formed in the top wall to the bottom wall thereby making two sound boards increasing vibration and in so doing increasing sound dynamics and volume of the instrument.

Abstract: A cymbal (10) sound muffling device (18) for use during practice includes a flexible circular disc (20) of elastic sheet rubber or plastic with an edge margin (24) that extends back onto the disc lower surface (25). In assembly, the edge margin (24) is stretched over the cymbal edges such that disc covers the cymbal upper surface and the edge margin (24) contacts the cymbal lower surface. Practice striking of the so-enclosed cymbal with a drumstick (26) provides an authentic playing feel to the practicing musician.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for activating drum lights in response to audio signals is disclosed. A drum having a light and a transducer within its inner area is disclosed. The light and the transducer are attached to a single bracket which is attached to the drum. Circuitry is disclosed for connecting the transducer with the light and causing the light to turn on when the drum is hit with sufficient force. The bracket is attached to a metal tube which has been placed through an existing air hole of the drum.

Abstract: An upright piano has a fall board for covering a keyboard, and a damper assembly is provided between a side arm and the fall board; the damper assembly includes a rotary damper generating large damping force during a turning motion in the counter clock wise direction and small damping force during the opposite turning motion and a link mechanism connected between the fall board and a shaft member of the rotary damper for changing the turning motion on the way between the closed position and the open position of the fall board; and a player is not expected to strongly support the fall board so as to prevent the fall board and the piano case from violent collision therebetween.

Abstract: A sound attenuating drum head that comprises a support ring, a synthetic membrane carried by the ring, a thin coating extending in an annular direction on the membrane, and acting to attenuate vibration of the head, when struck.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a percussion detecting apparatus, which is excellent in percussion feeling, and the percussion sounds of which are very small, in electric percussion instrumental system. The percussion detecting apparatus is provided with a head prepared from a net-like raw material composed of a first net and a second net, and the net-like raw material being obtained by such a manner that both are nets having been woven in accordance with plane weaving manner wherein the longitudinal and traverse fibers cross at right angles are laminated in such a way that the weave patter directions thereof intersect obliquely with each other; and a head sensor which is in contact with the center position of the under side in the head and detects percussion with respect to the head as electric signal.

Abstract: An apparatus has a mass suspended between two mounting plates by a separate springs to form a resonant structure that absorbs vibration in a structural member to which the mounting plates are attached. Permanent magnets are fixed to opposite sides of the mass. A sensor produces a signal indicating the frequency of the vibration. A feedback circuit receives the signal from the sensor and produces an output signal having first component frequency which corresponds to a harmonic of the frequency of the vibration. The output signal is applied to a separate voice coil adjacent to each permanent magnet. The magnetic fields produced by the output signal flowing through the voice coils interact with the magnetic fields from the permanent magnets to generate forces that act on the mass in a manner that increases the impedance of the absorber to the vibration in the structural member.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a device for teaching students of stringed instruments note locations and proper finger placement on the fingerboard of the instrument. The device may be adapted for use with either a fretted or non-fretted instrument. The device comprises a sheet of autogenously adhesive plastic, such as cling vinyl, on which is printed a series of markers indicating note locations, scales or chords. If the device is to be applied to a fretted instrument, the device further has fret openings cut therein, adapted to engage the frets when applied to the instrument. The device is applied to the instrument by inserting it between the strings and the fingerboard, wrapping it around the neck of the instrument and adhering it onto itself along the back of the neck of the instrument.

Abstract: The invention concerns a resonance box for tonal amplification of a string instrument acoustically connected therewith, in particular one being supported by means of an end pin. This type of resonance box should be configured in such a fashion that it facilitates a significant resonance effect which can be heard and felt and amplifies the sound of the corresponding string instrument in that region in which the tonal spectrum is weaker. This is achieved in that the resonance box (1) is acoustically optimized through choice of material, shape and sound holes (2). An advantageous embodiment provides for configuring the resonance box in a compactable fashion to assume a reduced volume.

Abstract: A musical instrument warmer including a horn in combination with a cover for warming. A warming means is positioned around the horn for heating. The warming means is provided with an electrical power source for activation. Whereby, providing power to the warming means raises the temperature of the warming means for heating the valves when temperatures being below 32.degree. Fahrenheit. Lastly, the cover has a body member with a front side and a rear side. The body member is formed by attaching two layers of a fabric. The front side of the body member has a cone-like portion projecting outwardly. The body member is adapted to be removably mounted onto the horn when the heating means is positioned on the horn. The body member retains heat generated by the warming means therein, when the warming means is activated.

Abstract: A combination table, desk and digital piano is presented. The combination device features a flat writing surface with desk drawers which is made accessible by a folding top and side located at the front of the device. Located at the back of the device is a digital piano portion which is made accessible by folding back the top and side of the back portion of the device. When the digital piano portion is in the open position, the flat surface for a digital keyboard is made accessible and a hinged piano music marquee may be raised. The back portion also has a cut-out in the side of the body for speakers. When both the front desk portion and the rear back portion are closed, the device can be utilized as a flat table top.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling a player to simultaneously hold and utilize two or more guitars. Two guitars are shaped and dimensioned to be stacked one on to the other and interconnected.

Abstract: An electric motor control system for a motor vehicle rear wiper assembly. The system includes an electric motor including a motor housing. A gear mechanism is coupled to the electric motor to selectively connect the motor to a motor application. A plurality of resistive contacts are located either on the motor housing or on the gear mechanism and are arranged in a predetermined resistance pattern to indicate motor operational data. A controller is connected to the motor and is programmed to control operation of the motor. A contact mechanism is connected opposite the resistive contacts either on the gear mechanism or the motor housing to selectively contact one of the plurality of resistive contacts dependent upon a selected motor application. A resistance measuring device is connected between the wiper and the controller to generate a sensed resistance signal and communicate the sensed resistance signal to the controller for motor control purposes. Exact output location can be determined at any time.

Abstract: There is provided a closing control device for a fallboard of a piano. A fallboard support is detachably mounted on a body of the piano, and the fallboard is rotatably attached to the fallboard support. A linkage has one end thereof connected to the fallboard. A slow closing device is fixed to the fallboard support, and has the other end of the linkage connected thereto, for braking the fallboard by way of the linkage when the fallboard rotates in a closing direction.

Abstract: A device for locating and adjusting a set of cymbals includes a tri-lobic pedestal connected with a support frame of a cymbal device via a stanchion. The tri-lobic pedestal has a tubular post longitudinally extends substantially from a top face thereof. A resilient pad is mounted around the tubular post and rests on the top face of the tri-lobic pedestal. The resilient pad has three wings pieces formed therewith, each wing piece having a cambered upper surface for supporting a lower cymbal of the cymbal device. A tripod is mounted around the tubular post and between the resilient pad and a lower cymbal of the cymbal device to secure the resilient pad on the tri-lobic pedestal. The tri-lobic pedestal further defines a couterbore in the top face thereof and communicating with a screw hole thereof for receiving a nut in a non-rotatable condition, such that a screw extends therethrough and threadedly engages with the nut.

Abstract: In order to adjust the tone of a machine made stringed instrument, so the notes of the machine made stringed instrument are balanced, the sounding box of an initial test instrument is constructed. Then the surface of the sounding box is tested to determine regions of excessive resonance. Next, to control excessive resonance, resonating regions of the sounding box are covered with one or more layers of a wood based sheet material until the overall tone of the test instrument is satisfactory. Then machine made duplicates of the sounding box of the instrument are made. The location of the wood based sheet material having been determined, the new instruments are provided with the same material at the same locations, so the resulting instruments all have the same tone.

Abstract: A stringed instrument having a hollow body including a top wall, a spaced apart bottom wall, and a side wall interconnecting the top and bottom wall, each of the walls having a plurality of strategically located sound holes which efficiently release sound vibrations generated within the hollow body of the instrument. The stringed instrument also includes an extended bridge disposed internally of the hollow body and interconnecting the top and bottom walls in a manner to transmit vibrations formed in the top wall to the bottom wall thereby making two sound boards increasing vibration and in so doing increasing sound dynamics and volume of the instrument.