The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 12, 1999
Filed:
Sep. 21, 1998
Christian Lindberg, Stockholm, SE;
United Musical Instruments U.S.A., Inc., Elkhart, IN (US);
Abstract
A rotary valve for selectively inserting and removing a slide loop from the sound path of a musical instrument is disclosed. The valve includes a cylindrical rotor housed in a cylindrical casing coupled to the instrument's lead pipe, main bore and slide loop leading and trailing ends. The rotor has two passages extending through it. The first passage is generally 'Y' shaped with two leading ends and a trailing end, while the second passage is generally straight having a leading end and a trailing end. In a first valve position, the first leading end and the trailing end of the 'Y' shaped rotor passage coaxially align with the instrument's lead pipe and main bore, respectively, providing an air pathway excluding the additional slide loop. In a second valve position, the second leading end and the trailing end of the 'Y' shaped passage coaxially align with the instrument's lead pipe and slide loop leading end, respectively, while the leading end and trailing end of the straight rotor passage coaxially align with the instrument's slide loop trailing end and main bore, respectively, to provide an air pathway including the additional slide loop. The present rotor design eliminates undesirable noises during rotor operation common to prior rotors while not adversely affecting the integrity and quality of the air column during play.