Patents by Inventor Charles L. Bay

Charles L. Bay has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4348935
    Abstract: An improved thumb rest and thumb rest mounting bracket for woodwind musical instruments such as clarinets, oboes, and saxophones, wherein the weight of the instrument is distributed evenly over a large portion of the player's thumb, and the thumb may be positioned so that the fingers are properly placed for opening and closing the tone holes and operating the keys of the instrument. The thumb rest is shaped concavely to conform to the lateral curvature of the player's thumb to provide support and a positive positioning of the thumb when placed in contact with the thumb rest. The thumb rest is attached to the instrument body with a thumb rest attachment bracket that is adjustable, providing adjustment of the position of the thumb rest rotationally about an axis parallel to that of the clarinet, radially outward from this axis of the clarinet, and axially parallel to the axis of the clarinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1982
    Inventor: Charles L. Bay
  • Patent number: 4206680
    Abstract: A front-operated Bb key for clarinets, enabling a pure Bb note to be obtained without the player's having to remove his right-hand first finger from its basic finger-hole position. The original side Bb key is extended laterally across the front of the instrument, and downwardly to a position adjacent to the finger-hole normally covered by the first finger of the right hand. An additional spatula is provided for actuation by the first finger in a rolling motion, the spatula contacting the finger at a point near the first knuckle joint. The additional spatula is adjustable in both position and angular orientation, to suit the size and fingering style requirements of different players.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1980
    Inventors: Shelley J. Hanson, Charles L. Bay