Acoustical reflector for wind instruments

Abstract

A panel of acoustically reflective material is removably supported on the bell of a wind instrument by a bracket which is jointed so that selectively the panel can be, (1) angularly positioned to reflect the sound back to the player or in other directions, (2) moved toward and away from the bell to adjust reflection of the sound, (3) moved to a muting position, and (4) moved to a non-reflecting location.

I claim: 
     
       1. In an acoustical reflector of the type having a panel with an acoustically reflective surface and bracket means on said panel including a clamp adapted to be mounted on the rim of the bell of a wind instrument for supporting said panel generally in front of the bell, improved structure wherein said bracket means comprises, a rod connected with said panel by means including an articulable joint,   said clamp having means forming a socket which supports a portion of said rod,   said socket being so oriented that when said clamp is mounted on the rim of the bell of an instrument with which said reflector is adapted to be used the axis of said rod is generally parallel to the axis of the instrument bell,   said rod portion being axially movable relative to said socket through a distance sufficient to facilitate locating said panel axially clear of the bell of the instrument when said panel is positioned in axial alignment with the bell,   said rod portion being rotatable relative to said socket for swinging said panel about said rod axis when said panel is so located and positioned,   and means effective to secure said rod against axial and rotatable movement relative to said socket.   
     
     
       2. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein said clamp has two members, one of which is provided with said socket. 
     
     
       3. The structure defined in claim 2 wherein said effective means comprises a screw threaded through a portion of said one clamp member and having an end engageable with a portion of said rod within said socket. 
     
     
       4. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein said rod has a bend between said portion and said joint to generate conical movement of said joint and panel upon rotation of said rod portion relative to said socket. 
     
     
       5. The structure defined in claim 4 wherein said joint is a universal joint. 
     
     
       6. In an acoustical reflector of the type having a panel with an acoustically reflective surface and bracket means on said panel including a clamp adapted to be mounted on the rim of the bell of a wind instrument for supporting said panel generally in front of the bell, improved structure wherein said bracket means comprises, a rod connected with said panel by means including an articulable joint,   said rod and clamp being cooperable to support said panel in alignment with but axially clear of the bell of an instrument with which said reflector is adapted to be used,   said rod being rotatable relative to said clamp for swinging said panel transversely of the instrument bell,   said rod having a bend between said clamp and joint to generate conical movement of said joint and panel upon rotation of said rod relative to said clamp.   
     
     
       7. The structure defined in claim 6 wherein said rod has an intermediate portion extending away from both ends of said bend, one intermediate portion terminating at said clamp and being longer than the other intermediate portion. 
     
     
       8. The structure defined in claim 7 wherein said intermediate portions are substantially straight. 
     
     
       9. The structure defined in claim 8 wherein said joint is a universal joint. .Iadd. 
     
     
       10.  In an acoustical reflector of the type having a panel with an acoustically reflective surface and bracket means on said panel including a clamp adapted to be mounted on the rim of the bell of a wind instrument for supporting said panel generally in front of the bell, improved structure wherein said bracket means additionally comprises, first means having a longitudinal axis and connected with said panel by means including an articulable joint,   second means in said clamp for slidably supporting a portion of said first means,   said second means being so oriented that when said clamp is mounted on the rim of the bell of an instrument with which said reflector is adapted to be used, said axis of said first means is generally parallel to the axis of the instrument bell,   said portion of said first means being axially slidable relative to said second means through a distance sufficient to facilitate locating said panel axially of the bell of the instrument when said panel is positioned in axial alignment with the bell,   said first means including said articulable joint being constructed to permit said panel to rotate relative to said clamp for swinging said panel about an axis parallel to the bell axis when said panel is so located and positioned,   and means in said bracket means effective to secure said panel against axial and rotatable movement relative to said clamp. .Iaddend. .Iadd.   
     
     
       11.  An acoustic reflector adapted to be mounted on the bell of a wind instrument comprising a panel having a plane reflective surface and bracket means including a clamp adapted releasably to grip the rim of an instrument bell and means extending from said clamp to said panel so as to position said plane reflective surface generally in front of the bell opening when said clamp is affixed to a said bell rim, said means extending from said clamp including first means for adjustably positioning said reflective surface axially of the bell opening and second means separate from said first means both for adjusting the angular orientation of said plane reflective surface with respect to the axis of the bell opening and for rotating said reflective surface about an axis parallel to the bell axis to swing said panel and said reflective surface away from said bell opening. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 
     
     
       12.  The acoustic reflector set forth in claim 11 wherein said second means comprises a ball-in-socket universal joint. .Iaddend. .Iadd.13. The acoustic reflector set forth in claim 10, 11 or 12 wherein said panel is oval having a longer dimension cantilevered from said bracket means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.14. The acoustic reflector set forth in claim 13 wherein said panel is of transparent plastic construction. .Iaddend.