Abstract: A new harmonica holding device for holding a plurality of harmonicas on a user. The inventive device includes a neck member having an arcuate portion and a pair of spaced apart elongate arms extending from the arcuate portion. Extending from the terminal end of each arm of the neck members is a rod. Mounted to each one of the rods is a mount member having a center and a plurality of spokes radially extending outwards the from the center. Each of the spokes of each mount member has a clip member which is adapted for holding an end of a harmonica.

Abstract: A harmonica holder that has multiple sides, with clips that hold a harmonica securely to each side of the holder, so that a musician may play a harmonica without use of his hands. The musician can quickly change harmonicas by rotating the harmonica holder by hand or by use of a motor that can be operated by a footswitch. The harmonica holder has a microphone inside, for amplifying the sound of the harmonica being played, this microphone is controlled by a volume control/on-off switch. Sympathetically vibrating strings assist in the resonance of the harmonicas, these strings are secured inside the harmonica holder, and can be adjusted from the outside of the harmonica holder with a friction tuning peg. The harmonica holder has a standard bracket that enables it to be mounted on a standard microphone stand.

Abstract: A polyphonic breath controlled electronic musical instrument includes a hand held breath sensor unit having a plurality of bidirectional air flow sensing passageways for detecting sucking or blowing action of the performer in a manner similar to a conventional acoustic harmonica. The breath sensor unit further includes pressure sensing transducers on the surface thereof, adapted to sense lip pressure and finger pressure of the performer, as well as a plurality of switches activated by the fingers of the performer holding the breath sensor unit. A microphone configured in the breath sensor unit picks up the vocal sounds of the performer. A thumb wheel controller is provided on the sensor unit to allow a control of tone parameters, such as volume, by the thumb of the performer.

Abstract: An air responsive control forms the basis for a mouth-blown device having a series of pipes in side-by-side relation into which the user blows or sucks. Signals are produced to operate apparatus such as a music synthesizer for a typewriter or computer. Each pipe has at least a section of light transmitting material. Inside that section, movable actuator such as a ball moves out of a light path between a light source and a photo-sensitive responder by sucking on or blowing by an operator. When the ball blocks the light path there is now signal to the operated apparatus but when it moves out of the light path there is a signal. Both the light source and the photo-sensitive responder are outside the pipe, thus ensuring that there is no contact with saliva of any directly connected electrical part.

Abstract: A reedless harmonica generates control signals for a sound synthesizer which may, if desired, be situated away from the harmonica. The harmonica body has multiple air passages, each generating different musical notes through a plurality of air flow sensors which initiate electrical signals which identify each note being played and indicate changes in the amplitude of the note through transducers. In the preferred embodiment, the sensors are strain gages and circuits are provided for sequentially detecting the electrical resistivity of each gage in a repetitive scanning cycle to produce repetitive sequences of digitally coded signals. Signals produced by the harmonica can be used to control MIDI equipped sound synthesizers or for controlling other forms of electrically operated sound generating equipment.

Abstract: An input device for an electronic musical instrument, has blown air apertures and suction air apertures alternately disposed on the front face of its main body. This input device also has elastic members provided within the blown air apertures and suction air apertures, in such a way as to be deformed by the force of the air caused to flow through said blown air apertures and suction air apertures. The input device also has magnets or pressure members serving as operation members, which magnets or pressure members are each displaced by an elastic member, and a plurality of musical tone input switches are driven by the displacement of the magnets or pressure members.

Abstract: A through hole is formed in the top wall of an inhalation hole which communicates with the outside by means of an elongate channel. The through hole is closed by an elastic member having a bulging portion. A projection is formed in the center of the bulging portion, and retains the extreme end of a movable contact of a contact mechanism. A fixed contact is fixed on a circuit board. When the bulging portion is depressed downward by inhalation, the movable contact is brought into touch with the fixed contact to produce an input signal.

Abstract: A sound attachment for a reed instrument such as a harmonica. A housing is provided having an open end adapted for attachment to the instrument, covering the full width of the portion of the instrument from which sound is emitted, and a closed opposite end. Interior walls of the housing converge from the open end to an area intermediate the length of the housing, defining a sound funnel. A sound absorbing collar is mounted transversely within the housing, located between the intermediate area and the closed end of the housing, and has an electronic sound pick up element mounted therein. The pick up element is located to provide an air chamber on both sides of the collar pick up element assembly, the rear chamber being at least partially filled with sound absorbing material such that virtually total sound from the instrument is received by the pick up element with very little or no distortion, and thus may be amplified without distortion.

Abstract: A harmonica support clamp which attaches any standard harmonica to any standard vocalist-type stand-held microphone. Which harmonica support clamp comprising a hollow, one-piece extruded plastic body open at both ends and with two juxtaposed harmonica-clamping edges; each of which harmonica-clamping edges extends the length of an attached clamping side wall and is formed simultaneously with and as a part of the associated clamping side wall; and between which harmonica-clamping edges a harmonica is receivable. Each clamping side wall is a continuation of a common central base wall.

Abstract: A mouth organ comprising two molded plastic half air slot bodies with integral voice reeds. The half air slot bodies are joined together and are protected externally with respective cover shell halves which are also preferably molded plastic parts.

Abstract: A sound attachment for a reed instrument such as a harmonica. A housing is provided having an open end adapted for attachment to the instrument, covering the full width of the portion of the instrument from which sound is emitted, and a closed opposite end. Interior walls of the housing converge from the open end to an area intermediate the length of the housing, defining a sound funnel. A sound absorbing collar is mounted transversely within the housing, located between the intermediate area and the closed end of the housing, and has an electronic sound pick up element mounted therein. The pick up element is located to provide an air chamber on both sides of the collar pick up element assembly which achieves a balanced condition such that when the chambers are filled with air, virtually total sound from the instrument is received by the pick up element with very little or no distortion, and thus may be amplified without distortion.

Abstract: A harmonica holder and shroud comprising a base plate and a parallel movable, spring-biased bar, together forming a clamp to grip a harmonica between them in position directly in front of a microphone, as determined by an insulated backstop. A leather shroud is folded over each bar and extends rearward therefrom over and under the microphone so that both harmonica and microphone are enclosed or shrouded together. A sleeve clamp secures the ends of the shrouds, as well as a rearwardly extending support for the base plate, to the microphone to hold the harmonica and shrouds in place.

Abstract: To simplify playing of an electronic instrument and to avoid the otherwise clearly recognizable synthetic sound quality, the operating elements are arranged in a wind or blowing body constructed and playable similar to a mouth-harmonica. These operating elements comprise a pressure sensor responsive to the blowing and suction air current or stream of a human being and which is coupled to a mouthpiece displaceable along the wind or blowing body, and a number of position sensors which respond in accordance with the momentary position of the mouthpiece. The pressure sensor and the position sensors are coupled to an evaluation circuit which is structured such that it generates, as a function of the response of these sensors, the control voltages required for controlling the synthesizer.

Abstract: A holder for a harmonica comprising a pole mounted on a floor stand, a harmonica seat removably secured to the top of the pole and a pressure bar to releasably clamp a harmonica against the seat. A wind shield extends behind and above the seat to prevent respiratory sounds from reaching a microphone positioned immediately behind and below the wind shield, but an opening in the wind shield aligned with the harmonica enables the pickup of harmonica tones. A flexible screen extends between the pressure bar and the upper portion of the wind shield to block nasal respiratory sounds.