Patents by Inventor Michael J. Heinrich

Michael J. Heinrich 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: 5648623
    Abstract: A ligature for affixing a reed to the mouthpiece of a woodwind instrument, primarily saxophones and clarinets. A spiral of non-stretching cord, with a mechanism for defining the spiral's shape and for providing a way of tightening it, extends around the reed and the mouthpiece. The mechanism is suspended and tightened by a vertical bridge and an integral puller assembly. The spiral cord passes through holes in the puller. The puller is raised by way of a tightening nut through a non-resonant bridge all of which tightens the spiral cord to firmly hold the reed to the mouthpiece. The bridge bears down against the mouthpiece which applies force to the bridge's contact points. The tension of each wrap of the spiral is equalized by the forces upon the bridge and the puller's design. The spiral cord is damped from extraneous vibration by use of spacing combs and by way of this self equalizing design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Inventors: Steven Silverstein, Michael J. Heinrich